Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome is a dominant cause of mortality in the intensive care unit. Experimentally, a condition similar to the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome can be induced by the intraperitoneal injection of sterile zymosan. In the present study we investigate potential alterations in multiple organ functions, endothelial permeability, and antiproteinases after intraperitoneal i

This paper provides an overview of the aims, objectives, research activities under-taken, and a selection of results generated in the European Commission-funded project entitled "Modelling the Impact of Climate Extremes" (MICE) - a pan-European end-to-end assessment, from climate model to impact model, of the potential impacts of climate change on a range of economic sectors important to the regio

C1q deficiency is a rare condition associated with a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like syndrome and recurrent infections. Here we present the molecular basis behind C1q deficiency in three sisters of Inuit origin. Initial examination for complement deficiency showed no function of the classical complement activation pathway in the patients; the lectin and alternative pathways were intact. No

Objective: Little is known about the etiology of small bowel carcinoid tumor (SBC), but a few studies have pointed to certain medical and lifestyle factors as potential risk factors. This study aims to evaluate these findings and to identify new associations. Methods: A population-based European multicenter case-control study was conducted from 1995 through 1997. Incident histologically verified 3

Plate heat exchangers have been playing important role in the power and process industries in the recent past. Hence, it is important to develop simulation strategies for plate heat exchangers accurately. This analysis represents the dynamic behaviour of the single pass plate heat exchangers, considering flow maldistribution from port to channel. In addition to maldistribution the fluid axial disp

We revise the statistical foundations of the reverse Monte Carlo ( RMC) technique by constructing the associated functional of a variational principle which incorporates, without any ad hoc assumptions, the inherent errors accompanying the simulation and the experimental data. We propose a Bayesian criteria for acceptance/rejection of configurations, in terms of the variations of the functional. T

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of tympanic over- and under-pressure, induced by variations in ambient pressure on click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs) in healthy individuals. It was of particular interest to elucidate whether changes in the CEOAE response in both spectral and time domains could be attributed not only to tympanic, but also to co

We present a new method for quantification of the coupling efficiency between amphiphilic oligonucleotides and suspended small unilamellar lipid vesicles (SUVs). The method employs a supported (phospho) lipid bilayer (SLB)-modified sensor template, which upon exposure to a mixture of SUVs and amphiphilic DNA reacts neither with free SUVs nor with DNA-modified SUVs, but with free DNA only. Using ca

Inferior olivary cells projecting as climbing fibres to the forelimb area of the cerebellar C3 zone were investigated with respect to their cutaneous and muscle afferent input in barbiturate-anaesthetized cats. Climbing fibre responses were recorded from single cerebellar cortical Purkinje cells on natural stimulation of the skin and on electrical stimulation of nerves to m. biceps brachii, m. tri

B cell superantigens (SAgs) have been implicated in human diseases by demonstrating non-clonotypic expansion of B cells bearing certain immunoglobulin variable region genes. One possibility is that, during infection with microorganisms secreting SAgs, these potent molecules might modulate BcR expression. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the potential effects of a SAg, protein L from Peptos

In this paper, the structure and spectroscopic parameters of the C-5 cluster are determined using multiconfigurational quantum chemical methods as implemented in the MOLCAS software. A number of spectroscopic properties (band center positions, l-doubling parameters, and rotational constants) have been characterized. From the new results, the assignments of previous astrophysical observations [J. G

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) given i.v. to rabbits induced hypotension and a breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier. Glibenclamide, a blocker of ATP-sensitive K+ (K+ATP) channels antagonized both these effects. The K+ATP channel opener diazoxide reduced blood pressure but did not damage the blood-aqueous barrier. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase antagonized the effects of CGRP on the

Many recent studies of intraspecific geographic variation in maternally inherited chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) in European trees have revealed haplotype distributions that can be interpreted in terms of scenarios of postglacial migration and range expansion. However, there is still a lack of comparable information from widespread herb species. In the present study, we investigated the geographic distri

Plasma proteins occur in the airway lumen in inflammatory airway diseases. This study tests the hypothesis that airway microvascular-epithelial exudation of plasma proteins, as induced by a non-injurious inflammatory mediator, is characterized by loss of size-selectivity. Using a nasal pool-device, the nasal mucosa of 10 allergic individuals, without current disease, was sequentially exposed to sa

The objective was to determine the activation of white blood cells (WBCs) and endothelial cells in patients with healed venous ulcer and the influence of the standing position and of treatment with flavonoids. Ten patients with a healed venous ulcer were treated with flavonoid substance (90% diosmin), 1000 mg three times daily for 30 days. Blood samples were taken from arm and dorsal foot veins be

The fermentation kinetics for separate as well as simultaneous glucose and xylose fermentation with recombinant ethanologenic Escherichia coli KO11 are presented. Glucose and xylose were consumed simultaneously and exhibited mutual inhibition. The glucose exhibited 15 times stronger inhibition in xylose fermentation than vice versa. The fermentation of condensate from steam-pretreated willow (Sali