Purpose: The purpose was to evaluate the utility of some bcl-2 family proteins fas and fasL as predictive indicators for chemotherapy response in advanced breast cancer. Experimental Design: Between October 1994 and October 1997, 283 patients with advanced breast cancer were included in a multicenter randomized study comparing docetaxel (D) to sequential methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (MF) after

Previous work has shown that amylose (AM) can cross-link hydrophobically modified polymers by inclusion complexation, whereby thermoreversible cold-setting gels are formed. Here we investigate the complexation of AM with different samples of hydrophobically modified ethyl(hydroxyethyl) cellulose (HMEHEC), distinguished by differences in the architecture of the hydrophobes (the hydrophobic side cha

1 Plant species differ in their capacity to influence soil organic matter, soil nutrient availability and the composition of soil microbial communities. Their influences on soil properties result in net positive or negative feedback effects, which influence plant performance and plant community composition. 2 For two grassland systems, one on a sandy soil in the Netherlands and one on a chalk soi

Radiative lifetimes of 11 levels belonging to the 5s5p P-1(1)o 5snd D-3(1,2) (n=6-9) and 5sns S-3(1) (n=7,8) series of Cd I, and of 5 levels of Cd II (i.e., 4d(10)5p P-2(1/2.3/2)o, 4d(10)6s S-2(1/2), and 4d(10)5d D-2(3/2,5/2)) have been measured using the time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique. Free neutral and singly ionized cadmium atoms have been generated by laser ablation. Single-

The reproduction of female Siberian lemmings in the increase and peak phases of the lemming cycle was investigated in connection with a ship-borne expedition along the Siberian arctic tundra. The cycle phase of each studied lemming population was determined using demographic analyses, i.e. current density indices (captured lemmings per 100 traps per 24 h), information on previous density (frequenc

Insufficient oxygen and nutrient supply often restrain solid tumor growth, and the hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) 1 alpha and HIF-2 alpha are key transcription regulators of phenotypic adaptation to low oxygen levels. Moreover, mouse gene disruption studies have implicated HIF-2 alpha in embryonic regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase, a hallmark gene of the sympathetic nervous system. Neuroblastoma

Enteric bacteria execute, via lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a pathogenic role in intestinal inflammation. The effects of LPS on survival and neurotransmitter expression in cultured porcine myenteric neurons were investigated. Myenteric neurons were isolated and cultured for 6 days in medium, in LPS (100 ng/ml) with or without α-ketoglutarate or the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-NAME, in α-ke

Although buttons are a frequently used type of control in car interiors, little research has been undertaken on how the usage of buttons affects the visual behaviour of the driver. In this study, the aim was to analyse the effect of push button location and auditory feedback on drivers' visual time off road and safety perception when driving in a real traffic situation. The effect of six button lo

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the dominant pathogen causing chronic lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). After an initial phase characterized by intermittent colonizations, a chronic infection is established upon conversion of P. aeruginosa from the non-mucoid to the mucoid, alginate-overproducing phenotype. During the chronic infection the isolation of both mucoid and non-mucoid iso

The enzymes needed for galactomannan hydrolysis, i.e. β-mannanase, α-galactosidase and β-mannosidase, were produced by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger. The β-mannanase was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity in three steps using ammonium sulfate precipitation, anion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The purified enzyme had an isoelectric point of 3.7 and a molecular mass of

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether women who made an early sexual debut differ from those with a later debut regarding genital signs and symptoms. METHODS: The study included women who considered themselves gynecologically healthy and who attended 17 family planning centers in 13 European countries for contraceptive advice. There were 629 women who made their sexual debut at the age of 16 years or

We show that the convergence behavior of the many-body numerical diagonalization scheme for strongly interacting bosons in a trap can be significantly improved by the Lee-Suzuki method adapted from nuclear physics: One can construct an effective interaction that acts in a space much smaller than the original Hilbert space. In particular for short-ranged forces and strong correlations, the method o

The Quaternary sedimentary succession in Vendsyssel, northern Denmark, contains a unique, high-resolution record of the last interglacial and glacial periods. There is still much debate, however, about the timing and ice extent in this southwestern part of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet, particularly during the Middle Weichselian. In this study, a detailed lithostratigraphical subdivision is establish

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Although national variation in short-term prognosis (that is, 30 day mortality) after a patients first hospitalisation for heart failure may depend on individual differences between patients, dissimilarities in hospital practices may also influence prognosis. This study, therefore, sought to disentangle patient determinants from institutional factors that might explain such variat

A study of modified carbon paste electrode employing Nile blue (NB) adsorbed on silica gel modified with niobium oxide (SN) for electrocatalytic oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is described. The adsorbed organic dye on SN was used to prepare a modified carbon paste electrode to investigate its electrochemical properties. The formal potential (E-o') of the adsorbed NB

The 80+ Studies are collecting longitudinal data regarding medical, psychological, and sociological aspects of 80-year-old people in Lund, Sweden and Reykjavik, Iceland. Methods and Samples: The research design and instruments were identical at the two cites. The number of participants was 139 and 151 respectively. Results: The Icelandic sample had a lower level of educational attainment, a higher