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Streptococcus pyogenes, an important human pathogen, expresses several proteins that interact with the immune system of the host. Among the proteins isolated from different bacterial strains are antiphagocytic M proteins, Ig Fc-binding proteins and exotoxins that act as superantigens. Here we report a novel interaction between S. pyogenes and the human immune system, the ability of most S. pyogene

Levels of nonantigen-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandin in macrophages isolated from human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-matched type 1 diabetes mellitus patients, first-degree relatives and healthy controls were determined. We hypothesize that monocytes isolated from patients are sensitized or preactivated and therefore, have an altered response to in vitro stimulus compared with cont

Pristane-induced arthritis (PIA) in rats, a model for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is a T cell-dependent disease. However, pristane itself is a lipid and unable to form a stable complex with a MHC class II molecule. Therefore, the specificity and function of the T cells in PIA are as unclear as in rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, we show that activated CD4+ alphabetaT cells, which target periphe

BACKGROUND: Neutrophils and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are suggested to be involved in irreversible myocardial reperfusion injury and stunning. We investigated the relations between circulating biochemical markers and myocardium at risk (MaR), myocardial infarct (MI) size, salvage, and recovery of function in man. METHODS AND RESULTS: In patients undergoing PCI serial blood samples were acquir

We present a novel method for monitoring isothermal lipid hydration using a sorption microcalorimeter. A measuring cell of the double-twin calorimeter consists of two vessels connected by a stainless steel tube. The upper vessel contains pure water, and the bottom vessel is loaded with the lipid sample. This calorimeter allows for simultaneous measurement of the partial molar enthalpy and the chem

Here we explore two new tree-ring parameters, derivedfrom measurements of wood density and blue intensity(BI). The new proxies show an increase in the interannualsummer temperature signal compared to establishedproxies, and present the potential to improve long-term performance.At high latitudes, where tree growth is mainlylimited by low temperatures, radiodensitometric measurementsof wood density

BACKGROUND Surgical site infections (SSIs) after dermatologic surgery cause pain, prolong healing, result in unaesthetic complications, and lead to excessive use of antibiotics. The pathogenesis of wound infections is complex and is dependent on bacterial load and diversity, among several factors. OBJECTIVE To investigate bacterial dynamics at dermatosurgical sites at different time intervals and

The damage caused by a dramatic worldwide increase in so-called natural disasters is staggering, with the poor in developing countries being most at risk. This paper analyses: (a) the key variables and their causal relations that underlie the complex system of risk and disaster occurrence in slums; (b) the impacts of disasters on slums; (c) the strategies used by local people to cope with risk and

Popular Abstract in Swedish Genetisk påverkan i ledgångsreumatism Ett väl fungerande immunsystem är en förutsättning för kroppens kamp mot diverse sjukdomar orsakade av t ex virus och bakterier. En grundläggande egenskap hos immunsystemet är dess förmåga att skilja på vad som är kroppens egna celler och molekyler och vad som är främmande. Ibland fungerar inte denna diskriminering som den ska och In this thesis the role of major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) class II molecules in development of autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), was studied. By combining an experimental model for RA, collagen type II induced arthritis (CIA), with molecular biology methods the importance of polymorphism in Mhc class II genes for disease development was investigated. The Mhc region con

Phototoxicity occurs when a substance is toxic only under the action of light, and can, depending on the mechanism of toxic action, be divided into type I and type II phototoxicity. Other types are sometimes recongnized, and sometimes toxicity occurs through more than one mechanism. Plants often use phototoxins for their defense. They may be harmful to man, but also exploited for medical treatment

In this talk we show some potential applications of a pair of conventional double positive (DPS) and single negative (SNG) metamaterial blocks for specific patch antennas. We propose two designs. One is a 900- and 1800-MHz dual-band rectangular patch antenna filled with a pair of juxtaposed DPS and mu-negative (MNG) metamaterial blocks. With proper constitutive parameters and filling ratio of the

The paper presents a feedback scheduling mechanism in the context of co-design of the scheduler and the control tasks. We are particularly interested in controllers where the execution time may change abruptly between different modes, such as in hybrid controllers. The proposed solution attempts to keep the CPU utilization at a high level, avoid overload, and distribute the computing resources eve

Spontaneous data from Swedish are presented which suggest that ‘creaky voice’ associated with the filler EH ‘UH’ is related to the realization of the speaker attitude ‘uncertainty’ in the sense of ‘indecisiveness’ as regards the optimal way to linguistically code referents and predicates. It is suggested that creaky fillers express a certain degree of speaker indecisiveness as regards the most rel

This chapter presents two case analyses, one situated in Sweden and the other in Poland, where attempts have been made to intervene in the existing laws regulating access to abortion. The first case involves the lawsuits filed by midwives in Sweden who claimed to have been discriminated against on the grounds of their religion when they had been turned down for work due to their objection to perfo