OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have demonstrated that leptin inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from isolated islets, although a lack of leptin effect on insulin secretion has also been reported. The effect of long term in vivo leptin treatment of insulin secretion has, however, not been established. Therefore, in the present study, we have evaluated the effect of long term in vivo treatme

1 A study of allozyme variation in vegetatively propagating populations of the rhizomatous sedge Carex bigelowii, revealed high levels of clonal diversity (genet diversity) within populations. The structure of allelic variation within the populations suggests that sexual reproduction has played a significant role in these C. bigelowii populations, despite present lack of seedling recruitment. The

Background: Increasing numbers of intercountry adoptees are reaching adulthood, the age of onset for most serious mental disorders. Little is known about the development of schizophrenia in intercountry adoptees, a group with potentially increased vulnerability. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of developing schizophrenia in adoptees and in non-adoptees. Methods: Utilising data fr

Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is an agonist of the G-protein-coupled receptor GPR35, which is predominantly expressed in gastrointestinal tissues. The aim of this study was to determine the content of KYNA in gastric juice, bile and pancreatic juice and intestinal content. KYNA was determined by means of high performance liquid chromatography. The mean concentrations of KYNA in human gastric juice is 9.91

High HIF-2alpha protein levels in the sympathetic nervous system-derived childhood tumour neuroblastoma as well as immature phenotype correlate to unfavourable outcome. Here we show that a small subset of perivascularly located, strongly HIF-2alpha-positive tumour cells (MYCN amplified) lacks expression of differentiation markers, but expresses neural crest and early sympathetic progenitor marker

The main concern about the technology for the production of hydrogen and transport fuels by biomass gasification is the presence of contaminants (H2S, tars, fly ash, alkali, and heavy metals, ammonia) that are poisonous for the catalysts used for upgrading the biomass-generated gas. The impact of the main contaminants on a Ni/MgAl(O) reforming catalyst was studied in a laboratory environment, by e

The interferon inducible protein TRIM22 has been identified as a p53 target gene, with possible involvement in proliferation and differentiation of leukaemia cells. Here, the expression levels of TRIM22 during haematopoietic differentiation are characterised. Expression of TRIM22 correlates inversely to differentiation, as TRIM22 is highly expressed in CD34(+) human bone marrow progenitor cells, b

This is the final, accepted and revised manuscript of the article "Fracture-induced changes in bone turnover: a potential confounder in the use of biochemical markers in osteoporosis." Use alternative location to go to the published article. Requires subscription"

During drying, timber distortion is a major defect mainly due to shrinkage anisotropy, differences in longitudinal shrinkage, and spiral grain. The distortion can be reduced by external restraint and use of appropriate kiln schedules. The research presented here is part of a project on the improvement of shape stability of Norway spruce by high-temperature drying. The effects of drying temperature

Size-selective predation has been proposed to be one important evolutionary force shaping life-history traits in guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Populations living in the presence of the ring-tailed pike cichlid (Crenicichlasaxatilis) are smaller, mature earlier, allocate more energy to offspring and get more and smaller young than guppies in localities without Crenicichla. We investigated if Creni

Background: Some, but not all, reports suggest that patients with Gaucher disease are at increased risk of developing malignancies, particularly hematopoietic tumors. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of Gaucher disease and subsequent malignancies among male veterans admitted to US Veterans Affairs hospitals. Methods: Among 832 294 African American and 3 668 983 white male veterans w

A procedure that compensates for staticfriction (stiction) in pneumatic control valves is presented.The compensation is obtained by adding pulses tothe control signal. The characteristics of the pulses are determinedfrom the control action. The compensator is implemented inindustrial controllers and control systems, and the industrialexperiences show that the procedurereduces the control error dur

Human eosinophils perform several functions dependent on phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity, most notably the synthesis of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4). Several forms of PLA2 have been identified in mammalian cells. In the present study, the 14-kD, secretory form of PLA2 was detected in human eosinophils by immunocytochemical staining with the specific monoclonal antibo

A surface complexation model describing the adsorption of three benzenecarboxylates (phthalate, trimellitate, and pyromellitate) on goethite (alpha-FeOOH) was calibrated on data using goethite particles of 37 and 43 m(2)/g surface area. The models predict potentiometric titration and batch adsorption data with the multisite complexation model coupled with the three-plane model to account for surfa

The reported prevalence of malnutrition in pediatric hospitals ranges from 15% to 30% of patients, with an impact on growth, morbidity and mortality. Major deficits in nutrition care have been highlighted in European hospitals, and the implementation of nutrition support teams (NSTs) has been suggested as a means to improve malnutrition diagnosis and nutrition care for hospitalized patients. This

Numerical analysis of the instantaneous flow and heat transfer has been carried out for offset strip fin geometries in self-sustained oscillatory flow. The analysis is based on the two-dimensional solution of the governing equations of the fluid flow and heat transfer with the aid of appropriate computational fluid dynamics methods. Unsteady calculations have been carried out. The obtained time-de