Objective: Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) is a circulating factor involved in phosphate (Pi) and vitamin D metabolism. Serum FGF23 is increased at later stages of chronic kidney disease due to chronic hyperphosphatemia and decreased renal clearance. Recent studies also indicate that FGF23 may directly regulate the expression of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in vitro. Therefore, the objective of t

We discuss the age of the stellar disks in the solar neighborhood. After reviewing the various methods for age dating, we discuss current estimates of the ages of both the thin- and the thick disks. We present preliminary results for kineymatically-selected stars that belong to the thin- as well as the thick disk. All of these dwarf and sub-giant stars have been studied spectroscopically and we ha

1. Recent reviews demonstrate that genetically determined alternative mating strategies (AMS) are widespread and typically consist of morphs that are recognized by morphological or colour traits. Despite well-established behavioural differences associated with each morph, and evidence that androgens are involved in the induction of morphs, few studies have examined whether morphs also vary in whol

Background: The potential doubling time of a tumor has been suggested to be a measurement of tumor aggressiveness; therefore, it is of interest to find reliable methods to estimate this time. Because of variability in length of the various cell cycle phases, stochastic modeling of the cell cycle might be a suitable approach. Methods: The relative movement curve and the DNA synthesis time were esti

The purpose of this study was to assess the association between 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) in plasma, a biomarker of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and time to pregnancy (TTP) in a group of women with a varying dietary exposure to PCB. For 121 Swedish east coast fishermen's wives (median year of birth 1956, range 1945-1968), information on selt-reported TTP for the fi

To investigate the influence of sulfonated polysulfone (sPSU) in membrane–electrode assemblies (MEAs), sPSU-based gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) and sPSU membranes were studied both as complete MEAs and as separate components in assembled MEAs at 60–120°C. The complete sPSU MEAs showed mass-transport limitations, irrespective of ion exchange capacity, compared to Nafion MEAs. Cyclic voltammetry a

Patients with chronic liver impairment often display symptoms of affective psychiatric nature where the choice for antidepressant treatment is rational. Since caution is recommended when these drugs are used in such patients, a dose reduction is usually performed. We have previously reported that a dose reduction to liver-impaired portacaval shunted rats has resulted in similar brain concentration

Macrolides can be clinically effective in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, little is known about how these drugs affect pathophysiological features of CRS in vivo. In the present study, patients with CRS were subjected to long-term treatment with clarithromycin. Nasal lavages with and without histamine (40 and 400 mu g ml(-1)) were carried out prior to and late into the treatment period. His

Absence of laminin alpha2 chain leads to a severe form of congenital muscular dystrophy (MDC1A) associated with peripheral neuropathy. Hence, future therapies should be aimed at alleviating both muscle and neurological dysfunctions. Pre-clinical studies in animal models have mainly focused on ameliorating the muscle phenotype. Here we show that transgenic expression of laminin alpha1 chain in musc

Most group A streptococcal strains are able to bind immunoglobulin (Ig) in a non-immune manner, and the majority of these strains bind both IgA and IgG. Using molecular cloning and immunochemical techniques, we have purified and characterized the Ig Fc-receptors expressed by four such strains. Two of the strains express a novel type of receptor, designated protein Sir, which binds IgA and IgG of a

Myrosinase isoenzymes are known to be encoded by two different families of genes denoted MA and MB. Nucleotide sequence analysis of a Brassica napus genomic clone containing a gene for myrosinase revealed it to be a pseudogene of the MA family. The gene spans more than 5 kb and contains at least 12 exons. The exon sequence of the gene is highly similar to myrosinase cDNA sequences. However, the ge

Reagentless amperometric biosensors for glucose and ethanol were developed and successfully applied for monitoring glucose and ethanol concentrations in wine during the fermentation process. The glucose biosensor was based on commercially available glucose oxidase and horseradish peroxidase co-immobilized on solid graphite using Os(II)-redox hydrogel (RH) [1]. In the case of ethanol biosensor, the

Most chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) patients are genetically characterized by the t(9;22)(q34;q11), generating the BCR/ABL1 fusion gene. However, a few CML patients with rearrangements of 9q34 and 12p13, leading to ETV6/ABL1 chimaeras, have also been reported. Here we describe the clinical and genetic response to imatinib mesylate treatment of an ETV6/ABL1-positive CML patient diagnosed in blast

New electron density diagnostic line ratios are presented for the O IV 2s(2)2p P-2-2s2p(24)P and S IV 3s(2)3p P-2-3s3p(24)P intercombination lines around 1400 Angstrom comparison of these with observational data for the symbiotic star RR Telescopii (RR Tel), obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), reveals generally very good agreement between theory and observation. However

Moraxello catorrhalis is an emerging pathogen and all isolates are now considered beta-lactamase producing. Potential further use of vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae means that M. catarrhalis might be thrust further into the limelight. However, a vaccine has not yet been designed. In this review, the progress of M. catarrhalis adhesins as vaccine can