Intrauterine device increases the fibrinolytic activity of the rat endometrium at deciduation,a new aspect of its contraceptive effect

Summary The fibrinolytic activity of the endometrium of the two uterine horns in the rat was histochemically determined. One of the horns contained a plastic-IUD, the other served as control. The endometrium of the control horn was almost inactive in contrast with that of the IUD-horn in which fibrinolytic activity was apparent. The fibrinolytic activity induced by the IUD might be involved in the prevention of ova implantation.Supported by grants from WHO No. H 9/181/126 C and the Swedish Medical Research Council (No. B 76-17X-04523-02A).     

The materials genome and CALPHAD

The mapping of the human genome is an important basis for the development of new medicals and medical treatments.Consequently,it has attracted tremendous research funding over the last decade.On June2011,the Materials Genome Initiative was announced by the US President Obama as collaboration on modeling and advanced materials databases.Unfortunately,the materials genome was given a rather vague definition in the announcement.However,the materials genome should be defined in analogy with biological genomes and one may then conclude that:at any moment,the performance of a specific material depends on its chemical composition(inherent property stored in its genome)and its environment(external interactions–processing–conditions during usage).The materials genome should thus be defined as a set of information encoded in the language of thermodynamics obtained by careful assessment of experimental data and quantum mechanical calculations from which certain conclusions about the material can be drawn.The CALPHAD databases contain the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of a materials system.Such databases allow the prediction of materials structure as well as its response to processing and usage conditions,and are major parts of integrated computational materials engineering.     

Tranexamic acid and fibrinolytic activity of the vessel wall

Zusammenfassung Ratten wurden mit hohen Dosen des Fibrinolyseinhibitors Tranexamsäure gefüttert. Die fibrinolytische Aktivität der grossen Herzgefässe und der Coronargefässe wurde histochemisch untersucht und mit einer Kontrollgruppe verglichen, wobei sich ergab, dass der Gehalt der Gefässwände an Fibrinolyseaktivatoren durch die Tranexamsäure nicht beeinflusst wurde.

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This investigation was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council No. B75-17X-4523-01 and the Tore Nilson's Medical Research Fund.     

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) modulates trophic signaling through interaction with serine protease HTRA1

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a small conserved protein, is abundant in the immune- and central nervous system (CNS). MIF has several receptors and binding partners that can modulate its action on a cellular level. It is upregulated in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer although its function is far from clear. Here, we report the finding of a new binding partner to MIF, the serine protease HTRA1. This enzyme cleaves several growth factors, extracellular matrix molecules and is implicated in some of the same diseases as MIF. We show that the function of the binding between MIF and HTRA1 is to inhibit the proteolytic activity of HTRA1, modulating the availability of molecules that can change cell growth and differentiation. MIF is therefore the first endogenous inhibitor ever found for HTRA1. It was found that both molecules were present in astrocytes and that the functional binding has the ability to modulate astrocytic activities important in development and disease of the CNS.     

Predictive power and unbiasedness of implied forward charter rates

This paper examines the efficiency and predictive power of implied forward shipping charter rates. In particular, we examine whether implied forward 6‐month time‐charter rates, which are derived through the difference between time‐charters with different maturities based on the term structure model, are efficient and unbiased predictors of actual future time‐charter rates. Using a dataset for the period January 1989 to June 2003, results of different statistical tests, including the cointegration approach, suggest that implied forward rates are in fact unbiased predictors of future time‐charter rates in the dry bulk freight market. In addition, it is found that implied forward rates yield superior forecasts compared to alternative univariate and multivariate time series models. However, while the unbiasedness hypothesis is found to hold, on average, we find that chartering strategies based on simple trend‐following trading rules in this cyclical market are able to generate economic profits even out‐of‐sample. This highlights how standard tests for unbiasedness do not always capture cyclical predictable components in the market behaviour. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nephrin in human lymphoid tissues

When nephrin, the protein product of NPHS1, was cloned, it was proposed to be specific for the kidney glomerular podocytes. Recently, however, new reports have emerged verifying additional nephrin expression sites, particularly the insulin-producing β cells of the pancreas, as well as the central nervous system. In this study, we demonstrate nephrin expression in lymphoid tissues, specifically the tonsil, adenoid and lymph node. Nephrin mRNA expression levels were 4-fold higher in tonsils and adenoids than in thymus or B lymphocytes, and 20-fold higher than in T lymphocytes or monocytes, as shown by quantitative RT-PCR analysis. Anti-nephrin antibodies recognised a specific 165-kDa band in lysates of tonsil and adenoid. In immunofluorescence and immunohistochemichal stainings of adenoid and lymph node sections, nephrin-positive cells were detected in the germinal centres of the lymphoid follicles in a staining pattern typical for interdigitating cells. These results indicate a definite and additional presence of nephrin in lymphoid tissue. Received 17 October 2005; received after revision 22 November 2005; accepted 20 December 2005     

Some characteristics of urokinase released in organ culture of human kidney

Summary Plasminogen activator produced in organ culture of human kidney, i.e. in the histotypical arrangement of the tissue, was partially purified by affinity chromatography on para-aminobenzamidine coupled to Sepharose by a 6-carbon spacer, followed by gel chromatography on Sephadex G-100. The molecular weight of 2 active peaks were 27,000 and 52,000 daltons respectively. It was inhibited by DFP and by IgG antiurokinase.This study was supported by grant from the Swedish Medical Research Council (B77-17X-04523-03B).     

Identification and electroantennographic activity of sex-specific geranyl esters in an abdominal gland of femaleAgriotes obscurus (L.) andA. lineatus (L.) (Coleoptera,Elateridae)

Summary Both geranyl hexanoate and geranyl octanoate were identified by GC/MS as the major volatiles in a hitherto uncharacterized abdominal gland in females inAgriotes obscurus. Only geranyl octanoate was found inA. lineatus. In EAG tests performed onA. obscurus males, geranyl butanoate and geranyl hexanoate elicited the strongest antennal responses.Financial assistance was donated by The Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation and the Axel and Margaret Ax: son Johnson Foundation. We thank B Baur for statistical advice.     

Purification of plasminogen activator(s) from human seminal plasma

Summary Human seminal plasma contains an activator of plasminogen which was chromatographically purified. The molecular weight was determined to be 67,000.This study was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (No. B75-17X-4523-01).