Three variants in the caspase recruitment domain 15/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (CARD15/NOD2) gene have been shown to be associated with Crohn's disease (CD). There is a strong support for shared genetic determinants between various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In particular, linkage of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and other autoimmune and inflammatory diseases has been reported

The removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) from wastewater-containing phenol was investigated using three-phase three-dimensional electrode reactor. Special attention was paid to experimentally probe the performance of the reactor in COD removal in the process of repeated batch runs. The experimental results showed that the reactor could remove COD from phenol-containing wastewater much more effi

In order to get to know the loads on bone and other tissues there is a need to measure motion. So far, the best way of measuring human locomotion is done in a gait laboratory. But since the equipment is quite expensive and it isn’t mobile, it cannot be used for measuring on people during their daily activities. There is a great interest of finding easier ways to capture the motion in daily situat

The Proteomics Data Collection (ProDaC) consortium, a "Coordination Action" funded by the 6th EU Framework Programme, started in October 2006. Its aim was to facilitate the collection and distribution of proteomics data and the public availability of data sets from proteomics experiments. Within the consortium standard formats are created and tools are developed to allow extensive data collection

Objective - Leukotriene B-4 (LTB4) has been implicated in the trafficking of monocytes to inflammatory pathologicconditions, such as transplant rejection and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanisms by which LTB4 contributes to monocyte capture from the circulation. Methods and Results - In in vitro and in vivo vascular models, the lipid chemoattractant LTB4 was an eq

The recently introduced nonvariational spline-Galerkin method [T. Brage and C. Froese Fischer, Phys. Scr. 49, 651 (1994)] for Rydberg series is applied to the J = 0, 1, 2, and 3 even states between the two first limits in neutral calcium. Energies for 3dnl levels up to n = 15-20 are reported and the position of different perturbers belonging to the 4 p2 and 4p 5p configurations are investigated. T

Stem cells undergo self-renewal and differentiate into multiple lineages of mature cells. The identification of stem cells in diverse adult tissues and the findings that human embryonic stem cells can be proliferated and differentiated has kindled the imagination of both scientists and the public regarding future stem cell technology. These cells could constitute an unlimited supply of diverse cel

Viruses may be part of the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) is a prototypic viral conformation of nucleic acid that is highly arthritogenic in mice. Therefore, we developed an ELISA to detect dsRNA in sera and synovial fluids (SF) in RA patients and in osteoarthritic controls. The developed ELISA recognizes picogram levels of viral or synthetic dsRNA but shows

We report on long-wavelength photoluminescence (PL) emission at room temperature from self-organized InAs surface quantum dots grown by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy on a GaInAsP/InP (113)B substrate. The influence of arsenic pressure conditions during growth on the PL emission of surface quantum dots is detailed as well as oxide/contamination layer formation after growth. Experimental results

Events with at least two high transverse momentum leptons (electrons or muons) are studied using the H1 and ZEUS detectors at HERA with an integrated luminosity of 0.94 fb(-1). The observed numbers of events are in general agreement with the Standard Model predictions. Seven di- and tri-lepton events are observed in e(+)p collision data with a scalar sum of the lepton transverse momenta above 100

Objectives: To compare the cost-effectiveness of the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with infliximab in the United Kingdom over lifetime estimated from two different clinical trials and adjusted for clinical practice guidelines. Methods: A cost-effectiveness model was developed to incorporate clinical, epidemiological, and economic data and allow extrapolation of trial results and incorpo

Arsenic (As) contamination of rice grains and the generally low concentration of micronutrients in rice have been recognized as a major concern for human health. Here, we investigated the speciation and localization of As and the distribution of (micro) nutrients in rice grains because these are key factors controlling bioavailability of nutrients and contaminants. Bulk total and speciation analys

A series of azapeptides as potential inhibitors of cysteine proteases were synthesized. Their structures, based on the binding center of cystatins, contain an azaglycine residue (Agly) in place of the evolutionarily conserved glycine residue in the N-terminal part of the enzyme binding region of cystatins. Incorporation of Agly should lead to deactivation of the acyl-enzyme complex formed against

We investigated the effect of B-cell reconstitution in immune-deficient Rag-1 knockout (KO) mice subjected to arterial injury. After 21 days, injury induced a 4- to 5-fold increase in neointimal formation in Rag-1 KO mice fed normal chow compared with wild-type (WT) mice (0.020+/-0.0160 [n=8] versus 0.0049+/-0.0022 [n=8] mm(2), respectively; P

Background: The GOLD classification of COPD severity introduces a stage 0 ( at risk) comprising individuals with productive cough and normal lung function. The aims of this study were to investigate total mortality risks in GOLD stages 0 - 4 with special focus on stage 0, and furthermore to assess the influence of symptoms of chronic bronchitis on mortality risks in GOLD stages 1 - 4. Method: Betw

A new species of Pegomya Robineau- Desvoidy, P. prisca sp. nov., is described from Europe ( Sweden, Czech Republic and Slovakia). It belongs to a species group together with the widespread West Palaearctic P. testacea ( De Geer) and P. hamata Wei described from China. Differential descriptions and illustrations of the terminalia are given for the two species of the Pegomya testacea species group f

The percentages of Type I muscle fibres were measured systematically in ATPase-stained, transverse cryostat sections of whole tibialis cranialis muscles from 8 young, adult beagles. The distance of the section from the origin of the muscle does not significantly affect the mean percentage. There are no identifiable differences in mean percentages between right and left muscles. Differences in mean