BACKGROUND: To determine normal blood levels of brain-specific proteins S-100 and neuron specific enolase (NSE) in healthy newborns and their mothers following uncomplicated birth. METHODS: Umbilical artery and vein blood and maternal venous blood was collected at 112 consecutive uncomplicated deliveries. Venous blood samples were taken from 18 of the neonates 3 days after birth. S-100 and NSE wer

BACKGROUND: Previous studies imply that human pancreatic cancer cells have a wide heterogeneity and their exposure to various agents may give unpredictable results in clinical situations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cell lines LPC-3, -5 and -10, established from primary cultures of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, were exposed to 5 microM of AAT or its C-terminal peptide C-36 for 24 hours and analysed fo

Nidogen-1 binds several basement membrane components by well-defined, domain-specific interactions. Organ culture and gene targeting approaches suggest that a high-affinity nidogen-binding site of the laminin gamma1 chain (y1III4) is important for kidney development and for nerve guidance. Other proteins may also bind gamma1III4, although human nidogen-2 binds poorly to the mouse laminin gamma1 ch

The mechanism of nutrient-evoked insulin release is clearly complex. One part of that mechanism is postulated to be the activation of the glycogenolytic enzyme acid glucan-1,4-alpha-glucosidase. As nitric oxide (NO) has been found to be a potent inhibitor of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, we have now investigated a possible influence of exogenous NO and inhibition of endogenous NO productio

Protein C is a member of the vitamin K-dependent protein family. Proteins in this family have similar gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla)-rich domains, but their affinities for negatively charged phospholipid membranes vary more. than 1000-fold.. We have shown that it is possible to enhance anticoagulant activity and membrane affinity of protein C by selective mutagenesis of the Gla domain. In this s

Purpose. When performing perimetry, refracting subjects with central visual field loss, and in emmetropization studies, it is important to accurately measure peripheral refractive errors. Traditional methods for foveal refraction often give uncertain results in eccentric angles as a result of the large aberrations and the reduced retinal function. The aim of this study is therefore to compare and

Aim: To explore the association between the coagulation protein fibrinogen and the fibrinolytic biomarker plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 ( PAI- 1) and the long- term mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting ( CABG). Patients and Methods: In 729 patients undergoing CABG at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, a blood sample for fibrinogen and PAI-1 was collected prior to the procedure. Patien

Our main result gives necessary and sufficient conditions, in terms of Fourier transforms, for an ideal in the algebra L-1(G parallel to K, omega), the convolution algebra of zonal functions on the automorphism group on the unit disc which are integrable with respect to the weight; function omega, to be dense in the algebra, or to have as closure an ideal of functions whose set of common zeros of

We present first results of three-dimensional numerical simulations ofthe non-magnetic solar chromosphere, computed with the radiationhydrodynamics code CO5BOLD. Acoustic waves which are excitedat the top of the convection zone propagate upwards into thechromosphere where the waves steepen into shocks. The interaction of thewaves leads to the formation of complex structures which evolve on shortti

The thermophilic marine bacterium Rhodothermus marinus produces a modular family 10 xylanase (Xyn10A). It consists of two N-terminal family 4 carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) followed by a domain of unknown function (D3), and a catalytic module (CM) flanked by a small fifth domain (D5) at its C-terminus. Several truncated mutants of the enzyme have been produced and characterised with respect t

The Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium (T1DGC), funded September 2002, is a collaborative effort to develop resources for the purpose of identifying risk genes for type 1 diabetes. One of the aims is to establish a renewable resource of DNA on 2500 affected sib-pair families. Regional networks have been established and in continental Europe, the European Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Network (ET1DGN)

Immunization of H2(p) and H2(q) congenic C3H mouse strains with the PLP 103-116 peptide elicited two distinct experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) disease courses. C3H.Q (H2(q)) mice developed an acute-phase disease with classical ascending paralytic signs whereas C3H.NB (H2(p)) developed a highly variable disease course with symptoms originating from CNS above the spinal chord. C3H.Q lac

Using the combined Golgi-electron microscopy technique, we have determined the three-dimensional dendritic fields of the short visual fibres (svf 1-3) and first-order interneurons or L-fibres (L1-4) within the first optic ganglion (lamina) of the nocturnal bee Megalopta genalis. Serial cross sections have revealed that the svf type 2 branches into one adjacent neural unit (cartridge) in layer A, t

The second coding exon of the adenosine A, receptor gene was eliminated by homologous recombination. The phenotype of mice (mixed C57B6/129OlaHsd background) was studied, using siblings from matings of heterozygous mice. Among the offspring the ratio between+/+, +/-and -/-animals was 1:2:1. Over the first half-year-at least-growth and viability were the same in all genotypes. Binding of A(1) ligan

The dynamics of adsorption and desorption of uncharged homopolymers have been investigated using a coarse-grained model comprised of a bead-spring chain and a planar surface. Brownian dynamics simulation has been used to examine the adsorption process for polymers released near the surface and with bulk properties as well as Monte Carlo simulations to explore equilibrium adsorption structures of t

We prepared a Au/CeO2 (111) model catalyst by depositing a thin cerium oxide film on a Ru(0001) surface and subsequently depositing gold. This model system was investigated using high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy. Gold forms metallic nanoparticles on CeO2 with an average particle size that depends on the Au dose. At 80 K adsorption of CO was observed on the supported Au particles, which i