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Skin fibrosis is characterized by activated fibroblasts and an altered architecture of the extracellular matrix. Excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins and altered cytokine levels in the dermal collagen matrix are common to several pathological situations such as localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis, keloids, dermatosclerosis associated with venous ulcers and the fibroprolif
The human seminal vesicles secrete two proteins, semenogelin I and semenogelin II, at very high concentrations. It has previously been shown that the cotton-top tamarin (Sanguinus oedipus), a New World monkey, is lacking the semenogelin II gene. We have now determined the nucleotide sequence of DNA located 5--13 kilobases (kb) downstream of the tamarin semenogelin I gene---a region that in man is
Hypertension has been associated with raised plasma levels of complement factor 3 and 4 (C3 and C4). The nature of this association is unclear. This population-based longitudinal study explored whether C3 or C4 is associated with development of hypertension. Blood pressure and plasma levels of C3 and C4 were determined in 2178 healthy men, aged 35-50 years, initially without treatment for hyperten
A testicular form of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSLtes), a triacylglycerol lipase, and cholesterol esterase, is expressed in male germ cells. Northern blot analysis showed HSLtes mRNA expression in early spermatids. Immunolocalization of the protein in human and rodent seminiferous tubules indicated that the highest level of expression occurred in elongated spermatids. We have previously shown that
We recently demonstrated that the LKB1 tumour suppressor kinase, in complex with the pseudokinase STRAD and the scaffolding protein MO25, phosphorylates and activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). A total of 12 human kinases (NUAK1, NUAK2, BRSK1, BRSK2, QIK, QSK, SIK, MARK1, MARK2, MARK3, MARK4 and MELK) are related to AMPK. Here we demonstrate that LKB1 can phosphorylate the T-loop of all
MMPs are generally considered to regulate degradation and remodeling of the ECM. Convincing data also implicate a role for MMPs in inflammatory conditions, such as AP, although the mechanisms are not known. The aim of this study was to define the role of MMPs in regulating activation of trypsinogen and tissue damage in AP, which was induced by infusion of taurocholate into the pancreatic duct in m
The possible association between stress-related exhaustion and reduced activity in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is increasingly in focus. The aim of the present study was to examine whether exhaustion measured in a non-patient population is associated with alterations in diurnal cortisol profile. The study population included 78 working individuals. The study group was dichotomised
Introduction: Potassium voltage-gated channel shaker-related subfamily member 5 (KCNA5) is implicated in vascular tone regulation, and its inhibition during hypoxia produces pulmonary vasoconstriction. Recently, a protective association of the KCNA5 locus with systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was reported. Hence, the aim of this study was to replicate th
(PRELP)-P-hbd is a peptide corresponding to the N-terminal heparin binding domain of the matrix protein proline/arginine-rich end leucine-rich repeat protein (PRELP). (PRELP)-P-hbd inhibits osteoclastogenesis entering pre-fusion osteoclasts through a chondroitin sulfate- and annexin 2-dependent mechanism and reducing the nuclear factor-B transcription factor activity. In this work, we hypothesized
The original version and an evaluatively neutralized version (with items rephrased to reduce popularity) of a personality inventory were compared. The results revealed A) Similar criterion validity across three different sets of self-rated behaviors, B) Stronger relations to the rated social desirability of criteria for the original version, and C) Less correlation between factors for the neutrali
rs7629265 and AF Risk ObjectiveWe examined the association of rs7626962 (S1103Y) or rs7629265, a variant in high linkage disequilibrium with S1103Y (r(2) = 0.87 - 1), with sudden cardiac death (SCD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) among African Americans. BackgroundThe SCN5A missense variant S1103Y has been associated with SCD among African Americans in small case-control studies, but larger populati
We evaluate the Swedish inflation targeting regime adopted in 1993-1995 using a novel approach based on a unique data set on the characteristics of collective wage agreements between 1908 and 2008. We find that the inflation targeting regime of 1995-2008 stands out as an exceptionally stable policy regime as judged by the willingness of wage contract-makers to repeatedly commit to three-year non-i
Plasmodium falciparum invades erythrocytes through multiple ligand-receptor interactions, with redundancies in each pathway. One such alternate pathway is the trypsin-resistant pathway that enables P. falciparum to invade trypsin-treated erythrocytes. Previous studies have shown that this trypsin-resistant pathway is dependent on glycophorin B, as P. falciparum strains invade trypsin-digested glyc
There is uncertainty regarding whether and how the subchondral bone plate should be treated during acetabular preparation for cemented cup fixation in a total hip arthroplasty. We hypothesized that removing the bone plate would improve the cement-bone interface without jeopardizing the initial cup stability, and therefore, be advantageous to long-term cup survival. We randomized 50 patients with p
Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that interstitial laser thermotherapy (ILT) of an experimental liver tumour is superior to surgical excision, at least partly due to a laser-induced immunological effect. The aim of the present study was to investigate the time-response relationship of the ILT-induced immunisation and the cellular response of macrophages and lymphocytes. A dimethylhydr
We have investigated the inhibition of the recently identified family C13 cysteine peptidase, pig legumain, by human cystatin C. The cystatin was seen to inhibit enzyme activity by stoichiometric 1:1 binding in competition with substrate. The Ki value for the interaction was 0.20 nM, i.e. cystatin C had an affinity for legumain similar to that for the papain-like family C1 cysteine peptidase, cath
Objective and Background: Pulse wave amplitude (PWA) derived from the digital vascular bed has been used in sleep studies. The nocturnal attenuation of PWA has been shown to reflect sympathetic activation during sleep. We assessed the relationship between nocturnal PWA attenuation and office blood pressure (BP). Methods: Eighty-one subjects (46 men; age 60 7 years: body mass index [BMI] 28.2 +/- 4
