The Smad-signaling pathway downstream of the transforming growth factor–beta superfamily of ligands is an evolutionarily conserved signaling circuitry with critical functions in a wide variety of biologic processes. To investigate the role of this pathway in the regulation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), we have blocked Smad signaling by retroviral gene transfer of the inhibitory Smad7 to muri

Multichannel-quantum-defect theory analyses of J = 0, 1, and 2 even-parity Rydberg series 6pnp and 6pnf of neutral lead have been performed for the experimental energy levels, The channel admixture coefficients were deduced and used to evaluate theoretical lifetimes and Lande (g(J)) factors. Lifetime and g(J) values for higher-lying excited states have also been predicted.

Cooperatively breeding animals commonly avoid incestuous mating through pre-mating dispersal. However, a few group-living organisms, including the social spiders, have low pre-mating dispersal, intra-colony mating, and inbreeding. This results in limited gene flow among colonies and sub-structured populations. The social spiders also exhibit female-biased sex ratios because survival benefits to la

In the rat, gastric histamine is stored predominantly in the enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells, which are located basally in the oxyntic mucosa. The functional significance of histamine in the ECL cells is a matter of speculation. In this study the effect of depletion of histamine on the properties and ultrastructure of the ECL cells was examined. Histamine synthesis was inhibited with alpha-fluor

The t(1;19)(q23; p13), one of the most common translocations in childhoodand adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemias (ALLs), usually results in fusion of exons 1-16 of TCF3 (previously E2A) and exons 3-9 of PBX1. However, some t(1;19)-positive ALLs are negative for this chimaera. We here report an alternative TCF3/PBX1 transcript, fusing exon 17 of TCF3 with exon 5 of PBX1, in a paediatric t(1;19)-po

Papanicolaou-stained cervicovaginal smears (Pap smears) are used to screen for cervical cancer. Since there is a lack of consensus in published reports respecting the efficacy of Pap-stained smears in BV diagnostics, there is a need to validate their use for diagnosis of BV. Slides from the international BV00 workshop were Pap stained and independently analyzed by four investigators under a phase-

Garlic belongs to the Allium family of plants that produce organosulfur compounds, such as allicin and diallyl disulfide (DADS), which account for their pungency and spicy aroma. Many health benefits have been ascribed to Allium extracts, including hypotensive and vasorelaxant activities. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects remain unknown. Intriguingly, allicin and DADS shar

The purpose of the present article is to present an overview of a set of studies conducted in our own laboratory on cognitive and communicative development in children with cochlear implants (CI). The results demonstrate that children with CIs perform at significantly lower levels on the majority of the cognitive tasks. The exceptions to this trend are tasks with relatively lower demands on phonol

This paper examines the role of the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Uganda in the process of developing a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) within the health sector. Power dynamics are integral to any understanding of development assistance, and SWAps bring with them new opportunities for the deployment of influence. The SWAp process has changed the interaction between the donors and the Government, and the

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a calmodulin antagonist, calmidazolium, on the muscarinic receptor-mediated increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [I(1,4,5)P3] in SH-SY5Y cells. Exposure to 10 microM calmidazolium suppressed the initial I(1,4,5)P3 peak increase (IC50 1 microM) whereas the steady-state was less affected. Furthermore, calmidazolium displayed non-competitive

1. When assessing the cause of population absence or decline, it is important to understand the relative effect of local, regional and global factors. In this study we evaluated the first of these factors for two frog populations. 2. Amphibians are often absent from intensively farmed areas. There could be several reasons for this, one of them being the quality of the aquatic habitat available fo

Ten Swedish-Arabic children with severe language impairment (LI) and 10 matched controls were tested with Swedish and Arabic phonology tests. The children with severe LI displayed significantly more of both syntagmatic and paradigmatic processes in both languages. The results are also discussed in relation to monolingual children in Swedish and Arabic, both children with a normal language developm

Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total phenolic compounds (TPH), total flavonoids (TF) and individual phenolic compounds were determined in canihua collected at approx. 3850 in altitude. The TAC values varied among samples from 2.7 to 44.7 by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method and from 1.8 to 41 by the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) method expresse

Hematopoietic stem cell lineage choices are decided by genetic networks that are turned ON/OFF in a switch-like manner. However, prior to lineage commitment, genes are primed at low expression levels. Understanding the underlying molecular circuitry in terms of how it governs both a primed state and, at the other extreme, a committed state is of relevance not only to hematopoiesis but also to deve

The aim of this study was to characterize the xylanolytic activity of Cryptococcus flavus isolate I-11. This microorganism was isolated from the Brazilian Cerrado, and enzyme plate assays showed that it also produces amylase and CMCase activity. The xylanolytic production of C. flavus isolate I-11 was improved by using a suitable combination of the carbon and nitrogen sources, reaching 130 U/mL A

The influence of major surgery on HIV disease progression and decline in CD4+ cell count was evaluated in 23 seropositive haemophilia patients. 24 HIV-infected patients served as non-operated controls. In addition, 32 age-matched seronegative subjects were included. The follow-up time was up to 5 years. During the course of the study, eight of the operated (35%) and 11 of the non-operated (48%) su

A blend of rapeseed and butter oil was transesterified using immobilized Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (Lipozyme (R) TL IM) as catalyst. The reaction was followed by reversed-phase HPLC and the triacylglycerol peaks were tentatively identified from their elution times by calculating equivalent carbon numbers. Further identification was made using HPLC-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. A few