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Chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2)-signaling can mediate accumulation of microglia at sites affected by neuroinflammation. CCR2 and its main ligand CCL2 (MCP-1) might also be involved in the altered metabolism of beta-amyloid (Aβ) underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD). We therefore measured the levels of CCL2 and three other CCR2 ligands, i.e. CCL11 (eotaxin), CCL13 (MCP-4) and CCL26 (eotaxin-3
Melanocortin receptor accessory proteins (MRAPs) modulate signaling of melanocortin receptors in vitro. To investigate the physiological role of brain-expressed melanocortin 2 receptor accessory protein 2 (MRAP2), we characterized mice with whole-body and brain-specific targeted deletion of Mrap2, both of which develop severe obesity at a young age. Mrap2 interacts directly with melanocortin 4 rec
The interferon inducible protein TRIM22 has been identified as a p53 target gene, with possible involvement in proliferation and differentiation of leukaemia cells. Here, the expression levels of TRIM22 during haematopoietic differentiation are characterised. Expression of TRIM22 correlates inversely to differentiation, as TRIM22 is highly expressed in CD34(+) human bone marrow progenitor cells, b
Background— The extent to which differences in cardiovascular risk between smokers with similar daily tobacco consumption may be related to plasma levels of inflammation-sensitive proteins (ISP) and whether these proteins are associated with levels of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb%) have not been clarified. Methods and Results— In a population-based cohort of 1489 never smokers, 1685 former smokers, an
Certain strains of group A streptococci are known to bind IgA and/or IgG via a cell surface receptor, which may act as a virulence factor. The distribution of such receptors among routine clinical isolates was studied, using a total of 225 strains and an assay based on the binding of radiolabelled immunoglobulins. Among 194 throat strains isolated during three different time periods in two differe
Aim To study which eye-screening protocol prevails in Swedish maternity/neonatal wards, evaluate efficacy in a prospective study and compare results with earlier Swedish retrospective results. Methods Surveys were sent in 2006 to maternity/neonatal and women's health departments regarding screening policy. Response frequency was 96% (122/127). Data were derived from the Paediatric Cataract Registe
The importance of wound classification and site of ulceration was evaluated in 314 consecutive diabetic patients with foot ulcers. The ulcers were classified as superficial (through the full thickness of the dermis; n = 150), deep (n = 50), osteomyelitis and/or abscess (n = 46), minor gangrene (n = 39) or major gangrene (n = 29). Wound healing was defined as intact skin for at least 6 months. In p
Weight changes are common in aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and postmortem findings suggest a relation between lower body mass index (BMI) and increased AD brain pathology. In the current multicenter study, we tested whether lower BMI is associated with higher core AD brain pathology as assessed by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-based biological markers of AD in 751 living subjects: 308 patients wi
To resist infections, robust defense mechanisms of the airways are essential. Retinoic acid promotes differentiation and maintains the phenotypic characteristics of bronchial epithelium. In addition, it induces the expression of the antibacterial growth factor midkine (MK). In the present study, we explored the expression and antibacterial activity of MK in an airway context. MK was detected in br
alpha 1-Microglobulin, a plasma protein with immunoregulatory properties, and bikunin, the light chain of the proteinase inhibitors inter-alpha-inhibitor and pre-alpha-inhibitor, are translated as a precursor protein from the same mRNA. The cosynthesis of alpha 1-microglobulin and bikunin is unique compared to other proproteins such as procomplement components and prohormones, since alpha 1-microg
H-kininogen (high-molecular-mass kininogen, HK) is the precursor of the vasoactive peptide hormone bradykinin (BK). Previous work has demonstrated that HK binds to Streptococcus pyogenes through M-proteins, fibrous surface proteins and important virulence factors of these bacteria. Here we find that M-protein-expressing bacteria absorb HK from human plasma. The HK bound to the bacteria was found t
Biochemical markers for osteoarthritis (OA) may serve different purposes. Since markers reflect ongoing dynamic metabolic processes in the joint tissues (cartilage, synovium, bone, etc.), they are most likely to be useful to predict prognosis and response to treatment, to monitor response to treatment, and for disease staging. Markers are currently being used at the research level for these purpos
Some argue that the Stoics founded linguistics in the modern sense. The central notions of their understanding of language are found and preserved in the works of others, such as Diogenes Laertius, Sextus Empiricus and the work of the commentator Stephanos.This paper looks into the Stoic understanding of language and how the Greek verbal system fits into it. The Greek verbal system is put into the
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder represented by the accumulation of intracellular tau protein and extracellular deposits of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the brain. The gene sortilin 1 (SORT1) has previously been associated with cardiovascular disease in gene association studies. It has also been proposed to be involved in AD pathogenesis through facilitating Aβ clearance by binding ap
SpoVD and PBP4b are structurally very similar high-molecular-weight, class B penicillin-binding proteins produced early during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. SpoVD is known to be essential for endospore cortex synthesis and thereby the production of heat-resistant spores. The role of PBP4b is still enigmatic. Both proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm of the mother cell. PBP4b remains in th
Objectives and methods: We conducted a population-based study including 19 303 individuals diagnosed with MGUS in Sweden from 1985 to 2013, with the aim to determine whether a prior history of autoimmune disease, a well-described risk factor for MGUS is a risk factor for progression of MGUS to multiple myeloma (MM) or lymphoproliferative diseases (LPs). Using the nationwide Swedish Patient registr
BACKGROUND: Blood loss and adult blood transfusions are common during the neonatal period in preterm infants. The objective of the study was to clarify if degree of loss of fetal haemoglobin (HbF) was associated with later retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).METHODS: Retrospective observational cohort study. In total, 452 infants born <30 gestational weeks at a tertiary level neonatal intensive care
Fibroblasts synthesize a variety of proteoglycans among which is a family of structurally related small proteoglycans, i.e. PG-S1 (biglycan) and PG-S2 (decorin). Fibromodulin, which is present in some tissues as a keratan sulfate proteoglycan, also belongs to this family. We have used primary fibroblasts from fetal skin and bovine sclera in culture to study the metabolism of proteoglycans. In part
