Complement is a key arm of the innate immune defenses against the pathogenic neisseriae. We previously identified lipooligosaccharide on Neisseria meningitidis as an acceptor for complement C4b. Little is known about other neisserial targets for complement proteins C3 and C4, which covalently attach to bacterial surfaces and initiate opsonization and killing. In this study we demonstrate that N. g

Incidence of cardiovascular (CV) and metabolic disease is increasing, in parallel with associated risk factors. These factors, such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, obesity, and insulin resistance have a continuous, progressive impact on total CV risk, with higher levels and numbers of factors translating into greater risk. Evaluation of all known modifiable r

Collagen VI, a collagen with uncharacteristically large N- and C-terminal non-collagenous regions, forms a distinct microfibrillar network in most connective tissues. It was long considered to consist of three genetically distinct α chains (α1, α2 and α3). Intracellularly heterotrimeric molecules associate to form dimers and tetramers, which are then secreted and assembled to microfibrils. The ide

Blood coagulation involves a series of enzymatic protein complexes that assemble on the surface of anionic phospholipid. To investigate whether apolipoproteins affect coagulation reactions, they where included during the preparation of anionic phospholipid vesicles using a detergent solubilization-dialysis method. Apolipoprotein components of high-density lipoproteins, especially apolipoprotein A-

In Huntington's disease (HD), the mutant huntingtin protein is ubiquitously expressed. The disease was considered to be limited to the basal ganglia, but recent studies have suggested a more widespread pathology involving hypothalamic dysfunction. Here we tested the hypothesis that expression of mutant huntingtin in the hypothalamus causes metabolic abnormalities. First, we showed that bacterial a

The absorption of soft x-ray radiation induces neutral and ionic core hole states in molecules. The relaxation of such states typically leads to a multi-step process, at the end of which photons in the visible and UV range can also be emitted from fragments. In this paper, we present results on Balmer and Lyman emission that originates from excited H atoms produced at the K-edge of the water, ammo

BACKGROUND: The Clara cell 10 (CC10) protein is produced by the airway epithelium. Reduced levels of CC10 are associated with allergic rhinitis and asthma. In experimental models, treatment with the CC10 protein may reduce features of airway inflammation. OBJECTIVES: To examine whether or not topical treatment with recombinant human CC10 (rhCC10) affects symptoms and signs of allergic rhinitis in

Abstract is not available

PURPOSE: To characterize a deletion of chromosome 2q at the molecular level in a patient suffering from severe epilepsy resembling severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy/Dravet's syndrome (SMEI/DS) and to correlate other cases harboring deletions in the same region to morphological and clinical data. METHODS: Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) was performed on DNA from the pat

It is unclear whether specific dairy products are associated with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this project was therefore to examine the association between intake of milk, cheese, cream and butter, and incidence of CVD in the Swedish Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort. Milk was separated into fermented (yoghurt and cultured sour milk) versus non-fermented milk, and low-fat versus hi

Endothelial cells express both estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and beta. The objective of this study was to investigate if and how mediators of inflammation regulate endothelial cell ERalpha and ERbeta expression. ERalpha and ERbeta transcript and protein expression were determined by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively, in endothelial cell line bEnd.3 cells stimulated with

Activation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (Erkl/2) by phosphorylation to p-Erkl/2, and proliferation of Schwann cells were investigated in the rat sciatic nerve by immunohistochemistry. Axotomy in vivo and culturing of nerve segments in vitro resulted in a rapid (30 min) increase of p-Erkl/2 in Schwann cells with peaks at 2 and 24 h. Proliferation measured by bromodeoxy uridine incor

Physical limitations based only on antenna volume, form factor and material parameters are applied to electrically small antennas in the form of single dipoles. The upper bound on the gain-bandwidth product is solely determined by the polarisability matrix that characterises the antenna when it is immersed in a uniform applied static field. The polarisability, and hence the bandwidth, is increased

Abstract Itch accompanies most inflammatory skin diseases but may occur as a solitary sensation in otherwise normal skin. Chronic itch often requires combined treatments but some cases remain therapy resistant. Complementary medicine is becoming increasingly popular among patients. Acupuncture is the oldest and most well-studied alternative option with evidence-based effect on pain. This article s