Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin is the most common neoplasm among the Caucasian population of the western world. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced p53 activation promotes cutaneous pigmentation by increasing transcriptional activity of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) in the skin. Induction of POMC/alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) activates the melanocortin 1 recepto

The objective of this study was to identify possible changes in mRNA and protein expression of high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) and its suggested receptors - receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) and Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4 - in human cervix during pregnancy, term and preterm labor. Cervical biopsies were taken from 58 women: 20 at preterm labor, 24 at term labo

Initial studies have indicated diabetes and obesity to be risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma; but the association between other metabolic risk factors and primary liver cancer (PLC) has not been investigated. The metabolic syndrome and cancer project (Me-Can) includes cohorts from Norway, Austria and Sweden with data on 578,700 subjects. We used Cox proportional hazard models to calculate r

The need for non-animal data to assess skin sensitisation properties of substances, especially cosmetics ingredients, has spawned the development of many in vitro methods. As it is widely believed that no single method can provide a solution, the Cosmetics Europe Skin Tolerance Task Force has defined a three-phase framework for the development of a non-animal testing strategy for skin sensitisatio

GPR30, or G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), is a GPCR reported to bind 17β-estradiol (E2), couple to the G proteins Gs and Gi/o, and mediate non-genomic estrogenic responses. However, controversies exist regarding the receptor pharmacological profile, effector coupling, and subcellular localization. We addressed the role of the type I PSD-95/Discs-large/ZO-1 homology (PDZ) motif at the r

High resolution palaeoenvironmental records in Far-Eastern Russia are rare, and the Kamchatka Peninsula is among the least studied areas of the region. This paper describes a record spanning the last ca. 11,000 yr, obtained from a bog in the southern part of Kamchatka. The radiocarbon dated core was analysed for pollen, testate amoebae, charcoal and loss-on-ignition (LOI). The vegetation during th

The paper presents results from the experimental testing of load-bearing timber–glass composite shear walls and beams. Shear wall specimens measuring 1200 × 2400 mm2 manufactured with three adhesives of varying stiffness were tested. Twelve specimens with a single 10 mm thick glass pane and one specimen with an additional insulating glass unit were produced. The testing procedures involved various

BackgroundIntracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) accounted for 9% to 27% of all strokes worldwide in the last decade, with high early case fatality and poor functional outcome. In view of recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the management of ICH, the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) has updated its evidence-based guidelines for the management of ICH. MethodA multidisciplinary writing committee

Background & Aims: The Glu167Lys (E167K) variant in the transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 protein (TM6SF2) was recently shown to influence liver fat (LFAT) content. We aimed at studying how this variant influences circulating triacylglycerol (TAG) signatures and whether it influences hepatic or adipose tissue insulin sensitivity. Methods: We genotyped 300 Finnish subjects for the E167K (rs5

The number of triangulations of a planar n point set S is known to be c^n, where the base c lies between 2.43 and 30. Similarly, the number of spanning trees on S is known to be d^n, where the base d lies between 6.75 and 141.07. The fastest known algorithm for counting triangulations of S runs in O^∗(2^n) time while that for counting spanning trees runs in O^∗(7.125^n) time. The fastest known arb

Magnetic drug targeting is a promising therapy that can benefit patients, as well as provide novel opportunities for pharmaceutical and medical technology/device industries.

The ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider is used to search for the lepton flavor violating process Z -> e mu in pp collisions using 20.3 fb(-1) of data collected at root s = 8 TeV. An enhancement in the e mu invariant mass spectrum is searched for at the Z-boson mass. The number of Z bosons produced in the data sample is estimated using events of similar topology, Z -> ee and mu mu, signifi

Background Current guidelines recommend tailoring of asthma management according to disease control, which is largely defined by increased symptoms and deterioration in lung function. These features do not reflect the severity nor the type of the asthmatic airway inflammation. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) is a simple, non-invasive and cost-effective online test applicable in both adults

In the present paper, we investigate the influence of corrosion driving forces and interfacial toughness for a coated material subjected to mechanical loading. If the protective coating is cracked, the substrate material may become exposed to a corrosive media. For a stress corrosion sensitive substrate material, this may lead to detrimental crack growth. A crack is assumed to grow by anodic disso

Robust and efficient numerical methods are an essential prerequisite for the computer based dynamical analysis of engineering systems. In vehicle system dynamics, the methods and software tools from multibody system dynamics provide the integration platform for the analysis, simulation and optimization of the complex dynamical behaviour of vehicles and vehicle components and their interaction with h

Many forms of learning require temporally ordered stimuli. In Pavlovian eyeblink conditioning, a conditioned stimulus (CS) must precede the unconditioned stimulus (US) by at least about 100 ms for learning to occur. Conditioned responses are learned and generated by the cerebellum. Recordings from the cerebellar cortex during conditioning have revealed CS-triggered pauses in the firing of Purkinje

Tetraplegic patients have to depend upon someone else for moving the wheelchair or typing on a computer. One of the ways to make them independent is by using tongue-controlled in-mouth wireless devices. This letter presents antennas and propagation for such devices in 2.45 GHz ISM band. A monopole and a loop antenna suitable in size and performance is presented for such devices. The propagation li

The intersection of the developing topic of rating curve and discharge series uncertainty with the topic of hydrological change detection (e.g., in response to land cover or climatic change) has not yet been well studied. The work herein explores this intersection, with consideration of a long-term discharge response (1964-2007) for a ~650-km2 headwater basin of the Mara River in west Kenya, start

In experimental studies, enkephalins (ENKs) and related opioids have been implicated as negative regulators of breast cancer development by enhancing immune-mediated tumoral defense as well as directly inhibiting cancer cells. We hypothesized that plasma levels of ENKs are predictive of the long-term breast cancer risk. Therefore, our objective was to measure pro-ENK A, a surrogate for mature ENK,