Aims/hypothesis Activation of the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS1) is a key initial step in the insulin signalling pathway. Despite several reports of association of the G972R polymorphism in its gene IRS1 with type 2 diabetes, we and others have not observed this association in well-powered samples. However, other nearby variants might account for the putative association signal. Subjects and

Retinitis pigmentosa comprises a heterogeneous group of incurable progressive blinding diseases with unknown pathogenic mechanisms. The retinal degeneration 1 (rd1) mouse is a retinitis pigmentosa model that carries a mutation in a rod photoreceptor-specific phosphodiesterase gene, leading to rapid degeneration of these cells. Elucidation of the molecular differences between rd1 and healthy retina

Abstract in Undetermined BACKGROUND: Testicular cancer (TC) patients have a high survival rate, and the question of post-therapy recovery of sperm production and its dependence on genetic predisposition is of major interest. METHODS: Ejaculates were obtained from 112 TC patients at one or more of the following time points: post-orchidectomy, or 6, 12, 24, 36 and 60 months post-therapy. The lengths

OBJECTIVE: To identify all new cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) within a defined area in Southern Sweden with validated methods of retrieval, and to compare 2 cohorts assembled during 1981-86 and 1987-91. METHODS: The catchment area, the health care district of Lund-Orup, had during 1981-91 a mean adult population (> 15 years of age) of 172,300 individuals. During 1987-91 we identified

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence and causes of visual impairment in children born prematurely in Finland from 1972 through 1989, and to determine what conditions and factors were associated with its occurrence. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: All visually impaired individuals from 0 to 17 years of age who had been born at fewer than 37 gestational weeks in Finland from

Subcellular localization of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) may be important in compartmentalization of cAMP/cGMP signaling responses. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, mouse (M) PDE3B was associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as indicated by its immunofluorescent colocalization with the ER protein BiP and subcellular fractionation studies. In transfected NIH 3006 or COS-7 cells, recombin

The fungicides vinclozolin and iprodione are widely used in agriculture. These pesticides are dicarboximide fungicides containing the common moiety 3,5-dichloroaniline (3,5-DCA). It ha; been suggested that low-level exposures to such compounds may be associated with adverse health effects such as endocrine disruption. In this study a method using liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectr

BACKGROUND: The intravenous anaesthetic propofol inhibits the neuronal uptake of noradrenaline (uptake1) from the vascular sympathetic neuromuscular junction, resulting in an enhancement of the sympathetic neurotransmission. This could be important for maintenance of blood pressure during propofol anaesthesia. The aim of the present study was to determine how propofol influences the kinetics of up

How well do we understand which enzymes are involved in the primary metabolism of the cell? A recent study using comparative genomics and postgenomics approaches revealed a novel pathway in the most studied organism, Escherichia coli. The analysis of a new operon consisting of seven previously uncharacterized genes thought to be involved in the degradation of nucleic acid precursors showsthe impac

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate possible associations between androgen concentrations in perimenopausal women and symptoms that may be associated with low androgen concentrations in the blood. Methods All women born in the period 1935-1945 and living in a defined geographic area in Sweden (n=10 766) were invited to a screening program that included physical and laboratory exami

Two different commercial polymeric materials, a silicone and a polyurethane (PUR), were studied with regard to correlations between the chemical and physical compositions of the polymer surfaces and the biological response on implantation. Test specimens of the materials were manufactured according to standard procedures. The specimens were implanted in rats for 10 and 90 days. Before implantation

A group of international experts met in May 2006 to develop clinical guidelines on the practical application of vacuum assisted closure (V.A.C.)+ therapy in deep sternal wound infections. Group discussion and an anonymous interactive voting system were used to develop content. The recommendations are based on current evidence or, where this was not available, the majority consensus of the internat

Abstract not available.

The presence of lignin has shown to play an important role in the enzymatic degradation of softwood. The adsorption of enzymes, and their constituent functional domains on the lignocellulosic material is of key importance to fundamental knowledge of enzymatic hydrolysis. In this study, we compared the adsorption of two purified cellulases from Trichoderma reesei, CBH I (Cel7A) and EG II (Cel5A) an

We used video-tracking of individuals of a Collembola, Protaphorura armata, on a clay surface in a petri dish to analyse their movement pattern in an environment with attractive and repellent cues. An area with dead conspecifics was repellent whilst live conspecifics made the area attractive. An area which had been occupied for 24 hours by the predatory mite, Hypoaspis aculeifer, was avoided only

The optimal choice of optical pathlength, source intensity, and detector for near-infrared transmission measurements of trace components in aqueous solutions depends on the strong absorption of water. In this study we examine under which experimental circumstances one may increase the pathlength to obtain a measurement with higher signal-to-noise ratio. The noise level of measurements at eight dif

Euro-Collins (ECS) and UCLA-formula organ preservation solutions induced strong vasocontraction in porcine pulmonary arteries when studied in organ baths at temperatures of 37 degrees C and 30 degrees C. At 20 degrees C ECS induced a 30% contraction, but at 6 degrees C no contraction (n = 5) or a weak contraction (n = 1) was elicited. Neither prostaglandin E1 nor nifedipine caused any significant

Consecutive electrocardiograms were recorded in 28 stroke patients without signs of primary heart disease. Individuals with subarachnoidal haemorrhage, or electrolyte disturbances were excluded. A computerized tomography of the brain was performed in each case and showed a cerebral haemorrhage (n = 4), cortical infarction (n = 6), subcortical infarction (n = 14) and normal finding (n = 4). One pat

Abstract in German Bei der Holztrocknung können Änderungen der Holzeigenschaften aufgrund von Behandlungstemperatur und -dauer auftreten. Erhöhte Trocknungstemperaturen führen im Allgemeinen zu einer Verkürzung der Trockendauer und einer negativen Beeinflussung einiger Eigenschaften. Die vorliegende Studie behandelt die Auswirkung unterschiedlicher Trocknungstemperaturen (80, 120 und 170 °C) auf GIn timber drying, mechanical properties may be changed due to treatment temperature and treatment duration. In general, when increasing the kiln temperature, drying time is decreased and some timber properties are negatively affected. In this study, the effect of different drying temperatures (80, 120 and 170 degrees C) on equilibrium moisture content and sorption rate, on bending strength and sti