Lung,T.L.; Saurwein-Teissl,M.; Parson,W.; Schonitzer,D.; Grubeck-Loebenstein,B.; Dendritic cells (DC) are powerful antigen presenting cells, which have the unique capacity to stimulate naive T cells. In spite of the well-known decline of T cell function in old age, little information is available on whether DC are also affected by the aging process. This is mainly due to problems with the isolation and purification of DC. Rapid progress in the characterization of DC has been made in recent years, as simple methods to generate large numbers of DC from precursors have been developed. [Read More]

Zadra,I.; Abt,B.; Parson,W.; Haas,H.; A highly inducible fungal promoter derived from the Penicillium chrysogenum endoxylanase (xylP) gene is described. Northern analysis and the use of a beta-glucuronidase (uidA) reporter gene strategy showed that xylP expression is transcriptionally regulated. Xylan and xylose are efficient inducers, whereas glucose strongly represses the promoter activity. Comparison of the same expression construct as a single copy at the niaD locus in P. chrysogenum and at the argB locus in Aspergillus nidulans demonstrated that the xylP promoter is regulated similarly in these two species but that the level of expression is about 80 times higher in the Aspergillus species. [Read More]

Bradbury,P.; Mann,C.J.; Kochl,S.; Anderson,T.A.; Chester,S.A.; Hancock,J.M.; Ritchie,P.J.; Amey,J.; Harrison,G.B.; Levitt,D.G.; Banaszak,L.J.; Scott,J.; Shoulders,C.C.; The assembly of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins requires the formation in the endoplasmic reticulum of a complex between apolipoprotein B (apoB), a microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP), and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). In the MTP complex, the amino-terminal region of MTP (residues 22-303) interacts with the amino-terminal region of apoB (residues 1-264). Here, we report the identification and characterization of a site on apoB between residues 512 and 721, which interacts with residues 517-603 of MTP. [Read More]

Rabl,W.; Katzgraber,F.; Kneubuehl,B.P.; Tandem loading of a cartridge of the same caliber is possible only if the diameter of the barrel is sufficiently wide. This requirement is met by the .22 long shot Anschutz miniature clay pigeon gun. Ballistic experiments with tandem-loaded cartridges of the same caliber as those loaded in the normal way showed the bullet of the regularly loaded cartridge to impact the muzzle-loaded cartridge. On firing a shot, the bullet of the posterior cartridge penetrates the anterior one, expanding the case of the first cartridge to the diameter of the barrel and disintegrating the bullet. [Read More]

Baubin,M.; Rabl,W.; Pfeiffer,K.P.; Benzer,A.; Gilly,H.; In a prospective study of 38 cadavers of patients older than 18 without previous chest injury or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), active compression-decompression (ACD) resuscitation manoeuvres were performed to determine possible factors influencing sternal and/or rib fractures. ACD was performed for 60 s, with compression and decompression forces being continuously recorded. A stepwise logistic regression analysis was applied. Factors analyzed were age, gender, use of a compression cushion beneath the piston of the ACD device (Ambu CardioPump), and maximal compression and decompression forces. [Read More]