The glycosylation status of IgG has been implicated in the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis. Earlier, we reported the identification of a novel secreted endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (EndoS), secreted by Streptococcus pyogenes that specifically hydrolyzes the beta-1,4-di-N-acetylchitobiose core of the asparagine-linked glycan of human IgG. Here, we analyzed the arthritogenicity of EndoS-treat

Purpose Although there is evidence for interaction between epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) and estrogen receptor ( ER), it is still not clear how this affects response to endocrine therapies like tamoxifen. Here we assess the relationship between EGFR expression and tamoxifen response, with a new quantitative technology. Patients and Methods A tissue microarray was constructed from breast

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. The authors compared the physiologic and nephrotoxic effects of the magnetic resonance imaging contrast medium gadopentetate with two conventional radiographic contrast media. METHODS. Rabbits were injected intravenously with one of the following solutions: 1) gadopentetate (0.1 M); 2) iohexol (300 mg I/mL); 3) metrizoate (300 mg I/mL); and 4) NaCl (0.9%). Blood samples w

Streptococcus pyogenes adheres to epithelial cells of the human pharynx where it can cause pharyngitis. To counteract infection. inflamed epithelium produces peptide antibiotics, among them the CXC chemokine MIG/CXCL9. M protein is both a surface-associated and released virulence factor of S. pyogenes. Here we show that soluble M1 protein enhances MIG gene expression and synthesis in IFN-gamma sti

Spatial variations in nutrient concentrations and turnover may contribute to variations in productivity within forest ecosystems and be responsible for creating and maintaining diversity of plant species. The aim of this study was to relate spatial patterns in soil nutrient availability and microbial properties in the forest floor and mineral soil in order to explore the controls on variations in

Three process-oriented dynamic acidification models were applied to a long-term monitoring site without calibration to evaluate the influence of model structural differences on simulation. The models were simplified to share as many commonalities as possible so that the main structural differences could be investigated. The models differed in sub-models for cation exchange, organic acids and acid ani

The RuII spectrum emitted from a hollow cathode discharge has been recorded in the region 12500-55500cm(-1) (8000-1800Angstrom) using a Fourier transform spectrometer. 538 RuII lines have been measured with high accuracy (+/- 0.003-0.020cm(-1)). Improved energy level values have been derived from the lines and 17 new even levels have been found. The level structure has been interpreted by means of

Three authors, Levan (1975, 1978), Tjio (1978) and Hulten (2002)have independently described the establishment of the correct chromosome number of man Tjio and Levan 1956 and the background to that study. However, the three authors provide strikingly different accounts of this historical discovery. In this study I have examined the consistency between these accounts and details provided by the log

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Recent investigations-of the interaction between DNA and alkyltrimethyl ammonium bromides of various chain lengths are reviewed. Several techniques have been used such as phase map determinations, fluorescence microscopy, and electron microscopy. Dissociation of the DNA-surfactant complexes, by the addition of anionic surfactant, has received special attention. Precipitation maps for DNA-cationic

We examined prospectively the association between weight change during adulthood and breast cancer risk, using data on 1358 incident cases that developed during 5.8 years of follow-up among 40 429 premenopausal and 57 923 postmenopausal women from six European countries, taking part in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition study. Multivariate Cox regression models were u

Consider a transitive value ordering of outcomes and lotteries on outcomes, which satisfies substitutivity of equivalents and obeys ‘continuity for easy cases’, i. e., allows compensating risks of small losses by chances of small improvements. Temkin (2001) has argued that such an ordering must also - rather counter-intuitively - allow chances of small improvements to compensate risks of huge loss

Many large marine vertebrates are today threatened by human activities and it is therefore crucial to obtain information on their distribution and behaviour at sea. In particular little is known about the time necessary for juveniles to acquire the foraging skills of adults. We tracked 13 juvenile wandering albatrosses Diomedea exulans by satellite telemetry during their first year at sea. They co

Na+/H+ exchangers are ubiquitous in mammalian cells, carrying out key functions, such as cell volume defense, acid-base homeostasis, and regulation of the cytoskeleton. We used two screening technologies (FLIPR and microphysiometry) to characterize the signal transduction pathway used by the bradykinin beta(2) receptor to activate Na+/H+ exchange in two cell lines, KNRK and CHO. In both cell types

BACKGROUND: Currently there are major efforts to develop strategies for the in vivo imaging of pancreatic beta cell mass as a clinical and investigational tool for detecting and tracking the loss of beta cells that underlies the progression of Type I diabetes. However, beta cells constitute only about 1% of pancreatic mass and are distributed throughout the pancreas within tiny islets of Langerhan

The emissions of sulphur dioxide from the Italian volcanoes Mt. Etna and Stromboli were studied in ship-borne underpasses of their plumes. Four different optical spectroscopy techniques were used and inter-compared. All techniques utilise the absorption signature of the gas in the wavelength region of around 300 nm. A differential absorption lidar was employed in active gas concentration assessmen

Water in building materials not only influences important physical properties and chemical processes but is also related to the well-being of the occupants of a building. The drying of cementitious materials is complex, involving several different drying processes. The conditions for each drying process change as the material changes its properties as it goes from a particle suspension in the fres