BACKGROUND: Circulating human osteocalcin (hOC) has been used as a marker of bone formation. Our aim was to validate three immunofluorometric assays (IFMAs), measuring different forms of hOC. METHODS: The two-site IFMAs were based on previously characterized monoclonal antibodies. Assay 2 recognized intact hOC, assays 4 and 9 measured the NH(2)-terminal mid-fragment and the intact hOC. In addition

Ring chromosomes are cytogenetic hallmarks of genomic amplification in several bone and soft tissue tumors, in particular atypical lipomatous tumors (ALT). In ALT, the ring chromosomes invariably contain amplified material from the central part of the long arm of chromosome 12, mainly 12q 12 -> 15, but often also segments from other chromosomes are involved. Previous studies have shown that one of

Vitryssland, Ukraina och Moldova började genom den politiska utvecklingen senhösten 2004 och vintern 2005 att skrivas in i ett europeiskt sammanhang. Det är inte omöjligt att det är fråga om en stor historisk förändring. Ukraina kom genom Jusjtjenkos seger i presidentvalet att tydligt orienteras närmare EU och bort från Ryssland. Praktiskt taget hela det politiska spektret i Moldova signalerade i

Purpose: To assess how general practitioners (GPs) from European countries prioritized their genetic educational needs according to their geographic, sociodemographic, and educational characteristics. Methods: Cross-sectional survey, random and total samples of GPs in five European countries (France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and United Kingdom), mailed questionnaires; Outcome: Genetic Edu

The main purpose of this study was to verify the feasibility of brain temperature mapping with high-spatial- and reduced-spectral-resolution magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI). A secondary goal was to determine the temperature coefficient of water chemical shift in the brain with and without internal spectral reference. The accuracy of the proposed MRSI method was verified using a wat

In patients with severe hypertension and in age and sex matched controls the circulating levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity (CGRP-LI) and substance P-LI were measured. Samples were taken before medication, after 2-4 weeks and 2-12 months of pharmacological treatment to normotension. In the control group CGRP-LI levels were significantly higher for females than for male

A thermostable glycoside hydrolase family-10 xylanase originating from Rhodothermus marinus was cloned and expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris (SMD1168H). The DNA sequence from Rmxyn10A encoding the xylanase catalytic module was PCR-amplified and cloned in frame with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor secretion signal under the control of the alcohol oxidase (AOX1) promoto

We conducted stable isotope analyses of nitrogen and carbon on feathers obtained from willow warblers in Africa to find an explanation for a previously observed pattern of different delta N-15 and delta C-13 values across a migratory divide in central Scandinavia. A new data set confirms that north Scandinavian birds of the subspecies P. t. acredula have higher delta N-15 values than south Scandin

Background Despite recent successes with biological agents as therapy for autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis ( RA), many patients fail to respond adequately to these treatments, making a continued search for new therapies extremely important. Recently, the prevailing hypothesis that reactive oxygen species (ROS) promote inflammation was challenged when polymorphisms in N

The growth arrest-specific gene 6 (Gas6) plays a role in pro-atherogenic processes such as endothelial and leukocyte activation, smooth muscle cell migration and thrombosis, but its role in atherosclerosis remains uninvestigated. Here, we report that Gas6 is expressed in all stages of human and mouse atherosclerosis, in plaque endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and macrophages. Gas6 expression

Based on articles published 1990-2004 in 21 LIS journals, a set of co-citation analyses were performed to study changes in research fronts over the last 15 years, where LIS is at now; and to discuss where it is heading. To study research fronts, here defined as current and influential co-cited papers, a citations among documents methodology was applied; and to study changes, the analyses were time

Current evolutionary models of dispersal set the ends of a continuum where the number of individuals emigrating from a habitat either equals the number of individuals immigrating (balanced dispersal) or where emigrants flow from a source habitat to a corresponding sink. Theories of habitat selection suggest a more sophisticated conditional strategy where individuals disperse from habitats where th

We studied if bladder cancers respond to HAMLET (human alpha-lactalburnin made lethal to tumor cells) to establish if intravesical HAMLET application might be used to selectively remove cancer cells in vivo. Patients with nonmuscle invasive transitional cell carcinomas were included. Nine patients received 5 daily intravesical instillations of HAMLET (25 mg/ml) during the week before scheduled sur

Fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction depends on collagen-binding ss1 integrins. Perturbation of these integrins reveals an alternative contraction process that is integrin aVss3-dependent and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) BB-stimulated. Connective tissue cells actively control interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) and inflammation-induced lowering of IFP provides a driving force for ed

The charge capacitance of metal containing complexes are studied. For molecules with multiple bonding between the metal atoms it is found that the charge capacitance is correlated to the maximum bond order, natural bond order, and to some extent the effective bond order. Furthermore the charge capacitance of some methylidene metal dihydride complexes are studied. These molecules have agostic inter

Introduction To prevent further lung damage in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome ( ARDS), it is important to avoid overdistension and cyclic opening and closing of atelectatic alveoli. Previous studies have demonstrated protective effects of using low tidal volume ( VT), moderate positive end-expiratory pressure and low airway pressure. Aspiration of dead space ( ASPIDS) allows a r