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The activation of the complement system is a key initiating step in the protective innate immune-inflammatory response against injury, although it may also cause harm if left unchecked. The structurally related soluble complement inhibitors C4b-binding protein (C4BP) and factor H (FH) exert a tight regulation of the classical/lectin and alternative pathways of complement activation, respectively,

Surface display couples genotype with a surface exposed phenotype and thereby allows screening of gene-encoded protein libraries for desired characteristics. Of the various display systems available, phage display is by far the most popular, mainly thanks to its ability to harbour large size libraries. Here, we describe the first use of a Gram-positive bacterial host for display of a library of hu

Background: Heroin dependence is associated with high mortality. Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) with methadone or buprenorphine has strong evidence for treatment of this relapsing condition. In our setting, OAT has been associated with strict and demanding intake procedures, often with requirements of social stability, but also high, approximately 80 percent 12-month retention rates. In a recent r

Low- and high-dose infections with the murine large intestinal nematode Trichuris muris are associated with induction of adaptive Th1 and Th2 responses, respectively, in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN). Classical dendritic cells (cDC) accumulate in the large intestinal mucosa and MLN upon T. muris infection, yet their role in driving adaptive responses to infection remains largely unknown. We perform

In this review, the authors reflect upon the role of coronary physiology in the modern management of coronary artery disease. They critically appraise the scientific background of the instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) and fractional flow reserve (FFR), from early experimental studies to validation studies against indexes of ischemia, to clinical trials assessing outcome. At this important junctu

Lubricin, a heavily O-glycosylated protein, is essential for boundary lubrication of articular cartilage. Strong surface adherence of lubricin is required given the extreme force it must withstand. Disulfide bound complexes of lubricin and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) have recently been identified in arthritic synovial fluid suggesting they may be lost from the cartilage surface in o

Background: Methyl mercury (MeHg) is a well-known neurotoxin and evidence suggests that also low level exposure may affect prenatal neurodevelopment. Uncertainty exists as to whether the maternal MeHg burden in Norway might affect child neurodevelopment. Objective: To evaluate the association between prenatal mercury exposure, maternal seafood consumption and child language and communication skill

Introduction: Resistance to antiretroviral drugs can complicate the management of HIV-1 infection and impair control of its spread. The aim of the current study was to investigate the prevalence and transmission of HIV-1 drug resistance among 106 antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve patients diagnosed in Iceland (1996–2012).Methods: HIV-1 polymerase sequences were analysed using the Calibrated Popul

The Sibuya distribution arises as the distribution of the waiting time for the first success in Bernoulli trials, where the probabilities of success are inversely proportional to the number of a trial. We study a generalization that can be viewed as the distribution of the excess random variable (Formula presented.) given (Formula presented.), where N has the Sibuya distribution and k is an intege

During the past few decades systemic corruption has come to be seen as a significant factor which hinders socio-economic development, posing a serious threat to the political, economic and social well-being of many developing and transition countries. Under conditions of systemic corruption, many institutions, rules and norms of behaviour have become adapted to a corrupt modus operandi. Public off

Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) are specialized helper T cells that are predominantly located in germinal centers and provide help to B cells. The development and differentiation of Tfh cells has been shown to be regulated by transcription factors, such as B-cell lymphoma 6 protein (Bcl-6), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Bl

In mice, B1 and marginal zone (MZ) B-cells play an important role in prevention of autoimmunity through production of regulatory cytokines and natural antibodies. There is limited knowledge about the human counterparts of these cells. We therefore investigated functions of MZ-like B-cells and the frequency of circulating MZ-like and B1-like B-cells in healthy controls (HC), as well as in patients

Sustainability reporting has become both a necessity and a potential competitive advantage for many contemporary corporations. However, unlike many industrial operators, real estate owners and investors have not yet seen the need tofollow or report their environmental performance on any large scale. This lack of pro-activeness is both peculiar and problematic considering that the built environment

Previously established immunogenic (tum-) clones of an ENU (ethyl-N-nitrosourea)-induced rat glioma, N32, were compared to the original tumor concerning their capacity to induce T lymphocyte responses after in vivo immunization and in vitro restimulation of responder spleen cells in mixed lymphocyte tumor culture (MLTC) assays. Quite unexpectedly, original N32 (tum+) in vivo primed spleen cells pr

The quinoline-3-carboxamides (Q compounds) are a family of small molecules with immunomodulatory functions that have shown efficacy in various murine models of inflammatory diseases. One such compound has demonstrated antitumor effects in murine models. Q compounds bind to S100A9, thereby preventing its ligation to TLR4 and RAGE. S100A9 is a small molecule which has shown to have a role in the est

Biodegradable patches made of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) were recently shown to limit postoperative pericardial adhesions when inserted into the pericardium in sheep. The present study was carried out to evaluate the presence of post-operative retrosternal adhesions after cardiac surgery in patients operated on with the PHB patch compared with those operated on without the insertion of such a patch