Respiratory tract infections are one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide urging better understanding of interactions between pathogens causing these infections and the host. Here we report that an extracellular matrix component proline/arginine-rich end leucine-rich repeat protein (PRELP) is a novel antibacterial component of innate immunity.We detected the presence of PRELP in human bron

Many of the transport processes across the Syncytiotrophoblast (ST), such as amino acid transport, are Na+-coupled. The maintenance of a low intracellular Na concentration by Na+-K+-ATPase is therefore crucial for placental transport of nutrients and consequently, foetal growth. In pregnancies complicated by diabetes foetal growth is often accelerated despite rigorous glycemic control of the mothe

Regulation of syncytiotrophoblast intracellular pH is critical to optimum enzymatic and transport functions of the placenta. Previous studies of Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) activity in the placenta from pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) have produced conflicting results. The possible role of altered placental pH regulation in the development of acidosis in some fetuses s

BACKGROUND: Autonomic disorders of the cardiovascular system, such as orthostatic hypotension and elevated resting heart rate, predict mortality and cardiovascular events in the population. Low-energy-fractures constitute a substantial clinical problem that may represent an additional risk related to such autonomic dysfunction.AIMS: To test the association between orthostatic hypotension, resting

This review article considers the purposes and mechanisms of regulation of placental transfer in general terms and then illustrates some key points with reference to the Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE), a transport protein found in the syncytiotrophoblast. NHE probably has a role in the homeostasis of syncytiotrophoblast intracellular pH and may also be involved in syncytiotrophoblast cell volume regulatio

Despite its importance for placental function, syncytiotrophoblast Na+-K+-ATPase has not been studied in detail. We purified syncytiotrophoblast microvillous (MVM) and basal (BM) membranes from full-term human placenta. Western blotting with isoform-specific antibodies demonstrated the presence of the α1-subunit, but not the α2- or α3-subunits, in MVM and BM. Relative density per unit membrane pro

The effects on renal sodium excretion of giving lithium chloride (LiCl; 0.75 mmol per kg body mass) by gavage or intravenously were investigated. The experiments were carried out on Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) or spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats in metabolic cages. The rats had been on a low-salt diet for 4 days. Urine excretion of water, sodium and potassium was followed before and for 24 h after giv

Previous studies have shown that an oral sodium load during sodium deprivation is excreted faster than an intravenous load. We wanted to study whether the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system might be associated with this phenomenon and therefore the influence of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril was investigated. The experiments were performed on four strains of rat: spo

An emerging concept in the ongoing battle against insect pests is that compounds thatinfluence the behavior of insects by modulating their ability to smell could be developedby targeting their chemoreceptors. This idea was identified by the annual horizon scan ofglobal conservation issues as a topic of concern for their 2015 report. Unfortunately, thepublication could only afford a short discussio

It is projected that forest disturbances, such as insect outbreaks, will have an increasingly negative impact on forests with a warmer climate. These disturbance events can have a substantial impact on forests' ability to absorb atmospheric CO2, and may even turn forests from carbon sinks into carbon sources; hence, it is important to develop methods both to monitor forest disturbances and to quan

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into, and guidance on, how to balance packaging standardisation and adaptation strategies in different markets in the fast moving consumer electronic goods (FMCEG) industry.Design/methodology/approach– The research was explorative in nature and was utilised in a case study format. The main data collection methods were a literature review, i

β-casein, a self-associating protein, has been extensively studied over the years, and it is a molecule that is of academic, industrial, and clinical relevance. Therefore it is of interest to understand the structural and conformational properties of the assemblies, also denoted micelles. Here we show that β-casein possess a polydisperse distribution of equilibrium micelles, which has, to the auth

Changes occurring in directly heated UHT milk were studied during storage at 5, 22, 30 and 40 °C. Industrially produced UHT milk samples were analysed for changes in enzymatic activity, protein modification, destabilisation of casein micelles and relocation of milk proteins in relation to sedimentation and gel formation. Sedimentation occurred at all temperatures, and the protein composition of th

Understanding the effects of different agricultural practices on the mycorrhizal symbiosis is important for agricultural production and the sustainable use of soil. We investigated the composition and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soils from fields under different agricultural practices (conventional and organic cereal fields, leys and permanent pastures) in southern Sweden. T

We have developed a straightforward technique for fabricating user-friendly and biomimetic microfluidic devices out of a gelatin/agar gel cross-linked with 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole. The fabrication procedure requires only inexpensive starting materials such as glass capillaries and wires to mold 3D cylindrical channels into the gel with the possibility of achieving channel diameters of 375 μm and

Echolocating bats are surveyed and studied acoustically with bat detectors routinely and worldwide, yet identification of species from calls often remains ambiguous or impossible due to intraspecific call variation and/or interspecific overlap in call design. To overcome such difficulties and to reduce workload, automated classifiers of echolocation calls have become popular, but their performance

An experimental study of subcooled flow boiling in a high-aspect-ratio, one-sided heating rectangular mini-gap channel was conducted using deionized water. The local heat transfer coefficient, onset of nucleate boiling (ONB), and flow pattern of subcooled boiling were investigated. The influence of heat flux and mass flux were studied with the aid of a high-speed camera. The bubbles were generated

Effects of the fungicide propiconazole on soil microorganisms were tested using [3H] leucine incorporation and [14C] acetate in ergosterol incorporation to measure bacterial and fungal growth inhibition, respectively. Growth was compared to basal respiration (BR) and substrate-induced respiration (SIR) in soil microcosms established according to the OECD 217 guideline. Fungal growth was most sensi