Twelve populations of the epiphytic bryophyte Leucodon sciuroides from three major regions representing formerly glaciated and nonglaciated regions of Europe were screened for polymorphisms at 15 putative isozyme loci. The populations clustered into three distinct groups consisting of: (i) a single population from Crete, representing a cryptic unknown taxon; (ii) four Scandinavian populations and

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is characterized metabolically by defects in both insulin secretion and insulin action, resulting in hyperglycemia. Histopathologically, DM2 is characterized by depositions of protein in the pancreatic islets. This 'islet amyloid' is present in > 90% of patients with DM2, as well as in monkeys and cats with DM2. The pathogenesis of DM2 is heterogeneous and multifacto

For non-food uses starch generally is modified in order to obtain products with properties suitable for various applications. In the present work, starch and amylose were hydrophobically modified through reactions with long-chain alpha -alkyl epoxides (C-6 and C-12) in DMSO solution, in the presence of NaH as a catalyst. The molar substitution (MS) was calculated from NMR spectra. Derivatives with

Breast intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) improves dose distribution homogeneity within the whole breast. Previous publications report the use of inverse or forward dose optimization algorithms. Because the inverse technique is not widely available in commercial treatment planning systems, it is important to compare the 2 algorithms. The goal of this work is to compare them on a prospect

alpha(1)-Antitrypsin (alpha(1)-AT) is a serum protease inhibitor that is synthesized mainly in the liver, and its rate of synthesis markedly increases in response to inflammation. This increase in alpha(1)-AT synthesis results in an increase in peptides, like its carboxyl-terminal C-36 peptide (C-36), resulting from alpha(1)-AT cleavage by proteases. Atherosclerosis is a form of chronic inflammati

Attenuated total reflectance FTIR spectroscopy was used to characterize Al(III)-acetate complexation at 25 degrees C, in homogeneous aqueous solution and at the water-aluminum hydroxide interface. The data collected in aqueous solution, at [Al](tot) = 0.080 M, [OAc](tot) = 0.040 M, and pH < 4.3, indicate the presence of only one dominating complex which, by spectral analysis, is shown not to invol

OBJECTIVES: Male psychologic stress can affect semen quality and couple fecundability. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of 430 Danish couples who were trying to become pregnant for the first time. In each menstrual cycle, both partners filled out a 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), an assessment of psychologic stress. A blood sample was drawn from both partners

Background Screening for cervical cancer based on testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) increases the sensitivity of detection of high-grade (grade 2 or 3) cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, but whether this gain represents overdiagnosis or protection against future high-grade cervical epithelial neoplasia or cervical cancer is unknown. Methods In a population-based screening program in Sweden,

Although mechanisms for chromosomal instability in tumors have been described in animal and in vitro models, little is known about these processes in man. To explore cytogenetic evolution in human tumors, chromosomal breakpoint profiles were constructed for 102 pancreatic carcinomas and 140 osteosarcomas, two tumor types characterized by extensive genomic instability. Cases with few chromosomal al

The von Willebrand Disease Prophylactic Network (vWD PN) has been initiated to study the natural history of vWD bleeding, and to prospectively study the role of von Willebrand Factor (vWF) concentrate prophylaxis in vWD. Patients with all types of vWD in need of treatment with vWF concentrate will be enrolled into the study. Quality of life will be measured and safety and efficacy will be monitore

A gene encoding a novel fifth type of major intrinsic protein (MIP) in plants has been identified in the moss Physcomitrella patens. Phylogenetic analyses show that this protein, GlpF-like intrinsic protein (GIP1;1), is closely related to a subclass of glycerol transporters in bacteria that in addition to glycerol are highly permeable to water. A likely explanation of the occurrence of this bacter

o explore the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor for survival and generation of striatal neurons after stroke, recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors carrying brain-derived neurotrophic factor or green fluorescent protein genes were injected into right rat substantia nigra 4–5 weeks prior to 30 min ipsilateral of middle cerebral artery occlusion. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor–re

The conformation of the carbohydrate recognition domain of Galectin-3, a lectin known to bind galactose containing oligosaccharides in mammalian systems, has been investigated in the absence of ligand and in the presence of N-acetylactosamine. A new methodology based on the measurement of residual dipolar couplings from NMR spectra has been used to characterize differences in protein structure alo

Fibrin gel structure has been shown to be dependent on the thrombin concentration as well as the rate of thrombin generation. Accordingly, factor VIII (FVIII)and FIX-deficient plasma (hemophilia A and B) form loose fibrin clots with high permeability constants. By adding rFVIIa in vitro to FVIII-deficient plasma containing platelets (frozen and thawed), the fibrin gel permeability constant normali

The temporal confinement of high harmonic generation (HHG) via modulation of the polarization of the fundamental pulse is studied in both temporal and spectral domains. In the temporal domain, a collinear cross-correlation setup using a 40 fs IR pump for the HHG and a 9 fs IR pulse to probe the generated emission is used to measure the XUV pulse duration. The observed temporal confinement is found

An improved model for pure rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) has been developed or the dual-broadband approach. This model takes into account the fact that coherent anti-Stokes as well as Stokes radiation are generated simultaneously, and these two branches overlap and interact at high pressures giving rise to an inter-branch interference effect. In combustion studies, the an

Confidentiality is a major determinant of the accessibility and acceptability of sexual and reproductive health care for adolescents. Previous research has revealed that Lithuanian adolescents lack confidence in guarantees of confidentiality in primary health care settings. This study aimed to assess the factors that affect general practitioners' decisions whether to respect confidentiality for Li