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Alpha phase tricalcium phosphates (alpha-TCP) were produced using a solid-state reaction method and milled for various periods of time. The resulting four materials were alpha-TCPs, ranging in crystalline content. Powders were exposed to X-ray diffraction for material identification as well as for use in crystallinity and purity calculations. Powder particle size was investigated using laser diffr
Objective. To investigate whether IgG-degrading enzyme of Streptococcus pyogenes (IdeS), a bacterial cysteine endopeptidase that cleaves human IgG in the hinge region, can be used for blocking the development of arthritis. Methods. Recombinant IdeS was purified and tested for specificity against mouse IgG. IdeS was injected intravenously into mice with collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA), c
Isochromosome 7q - i(7q) - is seen in a wide variety of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, often as a secondary change to a characteristic primary translocation. Despite its high frequency, nothing is known about the formation and the pathogenetic outcome of this abnormality. To address these issues, we performed a detailed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) investigation of four ac
Neural stem and progenitor cells hold the promise to be used in cell-based therapies to treat both acute and degenerative neurological diseases. To date, most research has been focused on the use of in vitro propagated stem cells used as a source of cells in cell replacement therapies. However, mobilization of endogenous neural stem cells to generate a specific differentiated cell type offers an a
Application of cellulolytic enzymes for upgrading of secondary fibers has extensively been studied during the last decades. In many cases, research has been carried out with industrial enzyme preparations which often consist of several enzyme components. The presence of various enzymes makes the determination of the role of each of them difficult in changes of pulp and paper properties. Therefore,
Human calbindin D-28k is a Ca2+ binding protein that has been implicated in the protection of cells against apoptosis. In this study, the structural and functional significance of the five cysteine residues present in this protein have been investigated through a series of cystein e-to-serine mutations. The mutants were studied under relevant physiological redox potentials in which conformational
The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis proposes that testosterone (T)-dependent sexual signals are honest indicators of male health or genetic quality because only high-quality males are able to withstand the obligate effects of T-induced immunosuppression. In birds, the basic assumption that T suppresses immune function is equivocal, and the physiological mechanisms underlying T-induced immunos
Studies have indicated that females are more vulnerable to the deleterious effect of tobacco smoking than males. The current study aimed to investigate the associations between tobacco smoking and reported respiratory symptoms, self-rated health, and lung function by sex. In 1995-1997 65,225 subjects aged greater than or equal to 20 yrs (71% of invited) attended for screening within the Nord-Trond
Summary. Fifty-six ankle joints in 38 haemophilic boys were investigated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the findings were classified according to both the Denver- and the European scoring schemes. The different MRI scores were compared with each other and with clinical data on number of joint bleeds and the orthopaedic joint score. MRI changes that were more advanced than a small effusion
ELT science drivers stress aperture, Strehl ratio, PSF definition and stability, field of view, wavelength range, flexibility, low polarisation and thermal emittance, auxiliary instruments, site and infrastructure. Applicable science categories are planets and planetary systems, stars and stellar systems, galaxies and galaxy clusters, and cosmology. ELT observations are needed for our own and othe
Promoter methylation is a common phenomenon in tumours, including haematological malignancies. In the present study, we investigated 36 cases of high hyperdiploid (> 50 chromosomes) acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with methylation-specific multiplex ligase-dependent probe amplification to determine the extent of aberrant methylation in this subgroup. The analysis, which comprised the promoters
The transparent corneal stroma contains a population of corneal fibroblasts termed keratocytes, which are interspersed between the collagen lamellae. Under normal conditions, the keratocytes are quiescent and transparent. However, after corneal injury the keratocytes become activated and transform into backscattering wound-healing fibroblasts resulting in corneal opacification. At present, the mos
Desert locusts are guided by olfactory cues in different behavioural contexts. In order to understand the basis for the variable olfactory guided behaviour displayed by different developmental stages and by solitary and gregarious locusts, we investigated their central olfactory system with neuroanatomical and neurophysiological methods. The primary olfactory centre of the brain, the antennal lobe
The effects of salt, temperature, and deuterium oxide on the self-aggregation of n-tetradecyl-beta-D-maltoside (C(14)G(2)) in dilute solution have been investigated by static light scattering, dynamic light scattering (DLS), small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), tensiometry, and capillary viscometry. SANS data show that the micelles can be described as relatively flexible polymer-like micelles wi
Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin H (SEH) belongs to the staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) family of superantigens (SAgs). SEH has structural similarities to other SE; however, its biological properties are less well characterized. SEH binds with high affinity to human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and exhibits strong mitogenic activity in human T cells, although it was found to be
Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is toxic to multidrug-resistant neuroblastoma cells in vivo and in vitro. In neuroblastoma, As2O3 does not exert its cell death-promoting effects via a classical apoptotic pathway. A death mechanism involving proteolytic cleavage of Bax to a p18 form seems to be of importance, because inhibition of Bax cleavage coincides with diminished cell death. As existing models of ce
The human brm (hbrm) protein (homologue of the Drosophila melanogaster brahma and Saccharomyces cervisiae SNF-2 proteins) is part of a polypeptide complex believed to regulate chromatin conformation. We have shown that the hbrm protein is cleaved in NB4 leukemic cells after induction of apoptosis by UV-irradiation, DNA damaging agents, or staurosporine. Because hbrm is found only in the nucleus, w
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of oestrogen receptor (ER) beta activation on vascular protein synthesis and protein expression. Nuclear immunoreactivity towards ER beta was observed abundantly in vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells of mouse aorta. No ER alpha-positive cell nuclei were observed. In aorta from ovariectomized mice, treatment with the selective ER
The etiology of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), a disease characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of Langerhans cells, is unknown. Although some believe that LCH is reactive, others support a neoplastic origin. We tested the hypothesis that LCH is neoplastic by investigating potential consistent chromosomal aberrations in LCH cells. We used multiparameter DNA flow cytometry to analyze the
