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The reduced form of vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is well known for its function as an antioxidant and as a protective agent against scurvy. However, many recent studies indicate other functions for vitamin C in mammalian cells. Novel findings provide possible explanations for observed beneficial effects of a high intake of vitamin C on cell growth, gene transcription, host resistance to infection, up

Bird migration has been assumed, mostly implicitly, to represent a distinct class of animal behavior, with deep and strong homologies in the various phenotypic expressions of migratory behavior between different taxa. Here the evidence for the existence of what could be called a "migratory syndrome," a tightly integrated, old group of adaptive traits that enables birds to commit themselves to high

Mutations in the CETP gene resulting in defective CETP activity have been shown to cause remarkable elevations of plasma HDL-C levels, with the accumulation in plasma of large, buoyant HDL particles enriched in apolipoprotein E. Genetic CETP deficiency thus represents a unique tool to evaluate how structural alterations of HDL impact on HDL atheroprotective functions. Aim of the present study was

Women are stereotypically perceived as worse negotiators than men, which may make them ask for less salary than men when under stereotype threat (Kray et al., 2001). However, the mechanisms of stereotype threat are not yet properly understood. The current study investigated whether stereotype threat effects in salary negotiations can be explained by motivational factors. A total of 116 business st

Cell-based therapies are emerging as new promising treatments in stroke. However, their functional mechanism and therapeutic potential during early infarct maturation has so far received little attention. Here, we asked if cell-based delivery of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), a known neuroprotectant in stroke, can promote neuroprotection, by modulating the detrimental inflammatory

Large seeds are assumed to have higher probability of successful recruitment than small seeds. This is because larger seeds give rise to larger seedlings and larger seedlings better withstand environmental hazards like deep shade and drought. Biotic and abiotic limitations to seedling growth and survival, and conversely availability of safe sites for recruitment, vary along environmental gradients

Strong and independent associations between plasma concentration of cystatin C and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) suggests causal involvement of cystatin C.

Background. The leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains (LRIG) family of transmembrane proteins are involved in the regulation of cellular signal transduction. LRIG1 is an endogenous inhibitor of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and an emerging tumor suppressor. In the lung epithelium, the expression of LRIG1 is downregulated by tobacco smoking, and further downregulated in lung squam

The suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) are well-known negative regulators of cytokine receptor signaling. SOCS6 is one of eight members of the SOCS family of proteins. Similar to other SOCS proteins, SOCS6 consists of an uncharacterized extended N-terminal region followed by an SH2 domain and a SOCS box. Unlike other SOCS proteins, SOCS6 is mainly involved in negative regulation of receptor

in search for a strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) with low allergen content, we determined the proteomic variation within and between different varieties. Proteomics data were generated by DIGE and proteins identified with MALDI-MS/MS. The amount of the strawberry allergen Fra a 1 varied between different strawberry varieties (CV = 39%). The variation was at the same level, or even slightly larger, d

Purpose: We tested the hypothesis that low vitamin D is associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. We also studied whether body composition, sex hormones, serum sex hormone-binding globulin, albumin corrected serum calcium, adiponectin and lipid status are associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Materials and Methods: We investigated 184 representative, randomly selected men 72 to 76 year

The Anselmian claim that God is that than which a greater cannot be thought in virtue of being ‘whatever it is better to be than not to be’ may be accused of incoherence or even unintelligibility. By proposing a non-relative but apparently meaningful analysis thereof, I attempt to defend it against such criticism. In particular, I argue that ‘whatever it is better to be than not to be’ can be plau

Synthetic peptides composed of multiples of the consensus heparin-binding Cardin and Weintraub sequences AKKARA and ARKKAAKA are antimicrobial. Replacement of lysine and arginine by histidine in these peptides completely abrogates their antimicrobial and heparin-binding activities at neutral pH. However, the antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) an

Most migrating birds need to stopover in between flights in order to refuel. Lately, additional purposes of stopover have been suggested, including physiological recovery from metabolically demanding migratory flight. One apparently unavoidable, but harmful physiological effect of migratory flight is increased oxidative damage to lipids and proteins. We here, for the first time, tested whether mig

Background: Adults with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) have reduced aerobic capacity and impaired muscle function. We therefore hypothesized that patients have a lower skeletal muscle mass and higher fat mass than controls. Methods: Body composition was examined with full body Dual-Energy x-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) in 73 patients with complex CHD (mean age 35.8 ± 14.3, women n = 22) and 73

One of the reasons to subsidise public transport is to improve the mobility of low-income groups by providing affordable public transport; however, the literature describes a situation whereby those with a low income are unable to afford the cheapest tickets per trip, i.e. travelcards, as they usually require a considerable up-front cost. In this study, we use a large dataset from the Swedish Nati