Streptococcus pyogenes is a significant bacterial pathogen in humans. In this study, Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG), an abundant plasma protein, was found to kill S. pyogenes. Furthermore, S. pyogenes grew more efficiently in HRG deficient plasma, and clots formed in this plasma were significantly less effective at bacterial entrapment and killing. HRG deficient mice were strikingly more suscep

M1 serotype of Streptococcus pyogenes can cause STSS and acute lung damage. Herein, the purpose was to define the role of p38 MAPK signaling in M1 protein-induced pulmonary injury. Male C57BL/6 mice were treated with specific p38 MAPK inhibitors (SB 239063 and SKF 86002) prior to M1 protein challenge. Edema, neutrophil infiltration, and CXC chemokines were determined in the lung, 4 h after M1 prot

This article introduces a new database, based on official statistics, of regional manufacturing industries in Sweden. We employ this database to examine the distribution of manufacturing activity across Swedish regions and cities, 1900–1960. Over this period we observe an increasing concentration of manufacturing activities, reaching a peak around 1940, across the northern, southern and western pa

Recent reports demonstrate that somatic mouse cells can be directly converted to other mature cell types by using combined expression of defined factors. Here we show that the same strategy can be applied to human embryonic and postnatal fibroblasts. By overexpression of the transcription factors Ascl1, Brn2, and Myt1l, human fibroblasts were efficiently converted to functional neurons. We also de

Preeclampsia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. To date, the pathogenesis of the disease is not fully understood. Recent studies show that preeclampsia is associated with overexpression of the hemoglobin genes alpha2 and gamma and accumulation of the protein in the vascular lumen of the placenta. Hypothesizing that cell-free hemoglobin leaks from the placenta into the ma

A stratified viscoelastic medium in the time domain is characterised by two creep compliances that are functions of time and depth, and a density that is a function of depth. In this paper the direct scattering problem of a plane horizontal shear wave obliquely incident on a stratified viscoelastic medium is treated in detail. A general discussion of the corresponding inverse problem is given. A s

We have identified several transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) binding proteins in solubilized and glycoprotein-enriched porcine uterus membrane fractions by affinity cross-linking and in-gel ligand binding using 125I-labeled TGF-beta 1. By a ligand affinity chromatography using a column of immobilized recombinant TGF-beta 1, four components of apparent molecular weights 160,000, 80,000

The collagen phase in bone is known to undergo major changes during growth and maturation. The objective of this study is to clarify whether Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy, coupled with cluster analysis, can detect quantitative and qualitative changes in the collagen matrix of subchondral bone in horses during maturation and growth. Equine subchondral bone samples (n = 29) fro

Background: One key aspect of person-centredness is striving to understand both the patients' experiences and behaviours from their perspective. These aspects are precisely those that staff in dementia care highlight as causing them most difficulty because the people in their care have major problems expressing themselves. There is thus a need to develop a method to help the staff to achieve inter

No randomised study in the rituximab era has been performed specifically to evaluate addition of etoposide to treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The aim of this study was to compare the outcome with three chemotherapy regimens (R-CHOP-21, R-CHOP-14 and R-CHOEP-14) in a population-based cohort in terms of overall survival, adjusted for clinical prognostic factors. Through the Swedi

BACKGROUND: Some autoimmune disorders have been linked to venous thromboembolism. We examined whether there is an association between autoimmune disorders and risk of pulmonary embolism. METHODS: We followed up all individuals in Sweden without previous hospital admission for venous thromboembolism and with a primary or secondary diagnosis of an autoimmune disorder between Jan 1, 1964, and Dec 31,

Cyclins and CDKs play critical roles in DNA synthesis and cell division. Alterations in their function may lead to the disruption of normal cell growth and apoptosis, and subsequently, result in carcinogenesis. Elevated levels of cyclins and CDKs are frequently observed in a wide range of different types of human cancers. Understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the cell cycle effects in r

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) as an important clinical entity was rediscovered in Lund and Manchester in the early 1990s. Here we show that the large Lund pedigree with behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia previously described with this disorder has an expansion in the recently described C9ORF72 locus on chromosome 9.

BACKGROUND: Acute superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion leads to acute intestinal ischemia and is associated with high mortality. Early diagnosis is often missed, and confounding factors leading to diagnostic delays need to be highlighted. OBJECTIVES: To identify potential diagnostic laboratory pitfalls at admission in patients with acute SMA occlusion. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with acute