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The morphological features and chemical compounds found in the first European collection of Calicium victorianum are compared with type material from Australia of C. piperatum F. Wilson. The phylogenetic relationships of the species are discussed by comparing its nuclear rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 with that of other species of Calicium.

OBJECTIVE—In clinical islet transplantation, the instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) is a major factor contributing to the poor initial engraftment of the islets. This reaction is triggered by tissue factor and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, expressed by the transplanted pancreatic islets when the islets come in contact with blood in the portal vein. All currently identified systemic inhibitors of the IBMIR are associated with a significantly increased risk of bleeding or other side effects. To avoid systemic treatment, the aim of the present study was to render the islet graft blood biocompatible by applying a continuous heparin coating to the islet surface. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A biotin/avidin technique was used to conjugate preformed heparin complexes to the surface of pancreatic islets. This endothelial-like coating was achieved by conjugating barely 40 IU heparin per full-size clinical islet transplant. RESULTS—Both in an in vitro loop model and in an allogeneic porcine model of clinical islet transplantation, this heparin coating provided protection against the IBMIR. Culturing heparinized islets for 24 h did not affect insulin release after glucose challenge, and heparin-coated islets cured diabetic mice in a manner similar to untreated islets. CONCLUSIONS—This novel pretreatment procedure prevents intraportal thrombosis and efficiently inhibits the IBMIR without increasing the bleeding risk and, unlike other pretreatment procedures (e.g., gene therapy), without inducing acute or chronic toxicity in the islets.

Background. Many nations are able to prosecute transplant-related crimes committed in their territory, but transplant recipients, organ sellers and brokers, and transplant professionals may escape prosecution by engaging in these practices in foreign locations where they judge the risk of criminal investigation and prosecution to be remote. Methods.The Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group convened an international working group to evaluate the possible role of extraterritorial jurisdiction in strengtheningtheenforcementof existinglawsgoverningtransplant-relatedcrimesacrossnationalboundaries.Potentialpracticalandethical concerns about the use of extraterritorial jurisdiction were examined, and possible responses were explored. Results. Extraterritorialjurisdictionisa legitimate tooltocombattransplant-relatedcrimes. Further,developmentofaglobalregistryoftransnationaltransplantactivitiesinconjunctionwitha standardizedinternationalreferralsystemforlegitimate travelfortransplantationis proposed as a mechanism to support enforcement of national and international legal tools. Conclusions. States are encouraged to include provisions on extraterritorial jurisdiction in their laws on transplant-related crimes and to collaborate with professionals and international authorities in the development of a global registry of transnational transplant activities. These actions would assist in the identification and evaluation of illicit activities and provide information that would help in developing strategies to deter and prevent them. (Transplantation 2015;00: 00–00)

The class Eurotiomycetes (Ascomycota, Pezizomycotina) is a monophyletic group comprising two major clades of very different ascomycetous fungi: (i) the subclass Eurotiomycetidae, a clade that contains most of the fungi previously recognized as Plectomycetes because of their mostly enclosed ascomata and prototunicate asci; and (ii) the subclass Chaetothyriomycetidae, a group of fungi that produce ascomata with an opening reminiscent of those produced by Dothideomycetes or Sordariomycetes. In this paper we use phylogenetic analyses based on data available from the Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life project (AFTOL), in addition to sequences in GenBank, to outline this important group of fungi. The Eurotiomycetidae include producers of toxic and useful secondary metabolites, fermentation agents used to make food products and enzymes, xerophiles and psychrophiles, and the important genetics model Aspergillus nidulans. The Chaetothyriomycetidae include the common black yeast fungi, some of which are pathogens of humans and animals, as well as some primarily lichenized groups newly found to be phylogenetically associated with this group. The recently proposed order Mycocaliciales shows a sister relationship with Eurotiomycetes. The great majority of human pathogenic Pezizomycotina are Eurotiomycetes, particularly in Eurotiales, Onygenales and Chaetothyriales. Due to their broad importance in basic research, industry and public health, several genome projects have focused on species in Onygenales and Eurotiales.

Tetramelas phaeophysciae, a new obligately lichenicolous species occurring in Scandinavia, Iceland and Greenland, is described, and the closely related Buellia pulverulenta, together with B. triphragmioides, are transferred to Tetramelas. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on sequence data from nITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA, using Bayesian inference and parsimony analyses, support the segregation of the new species from B. pulverulenta as well as the segregation of Tetramelas and Diplotomma from Buellia s. str.

There are strong indications that only a small fraction of grafts successfully engraft in clinical islet transplantation. One explanation may be the instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) elicited by tissue factor, which is produced by the endocrine cells. In the present study, we show that islets intended for islet transplantation produce tissue factor in both the transmembrane and the alternatively spliced form and that the membrane-bound form is released as microparticles often associated with both insulin and glucagon granules. A low–molecular mass factor VIIa (FVIIa) inhibitor that indirectly blocks both forms of tissue factor was shown in vitro to be a promising drug to eliminate the IBMIR. Thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) and FVIIa-antithrombin complex (FVIIa-AT) were measured in nine patients who together received 20 infusions of isolated human islets. Both the TAT and FVIIa-AT complexes increased rapidly within 15–60 min after infusion. When the initial TAT and FVIIa-AT levels were plotted against the increase in C-peptide concentration after 7 days, patients with an initially strong IBMIR showed no significant increase in insulin synthesis after 7 days. In conclusion, tissue factor present in both the islets and the culture medium and elicits IBMIR, which affects the function of the transplanted islets.

Islet transplantation is currently being explored as a treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes. At present, the number of patients becoming insulin-independent is rapidly increasing world-wide applying the transplantation protocol originally described by the group in Edmonton. A hallmark in this procedure is repeated infusions of islets obtained from 2 to 4 donors until normoglycemia is achieved. In order to establish islet transplantation as a widely accepted treatment modality, and make tolerance induction regimes applicable, it is essential that the donor:recipient ratio is brought down to 1:1. A conceivable strategy to achieve this goal in clinical islet transplantation is discussed.

Background: The IgG antibody response in type I diabetic patients, transplanted with fetal pig islet-like cell-clusters, was investigated using purified immunoglobulin G (IgG) fractions from sera collected 7 to 9 yr after transplantation. From our earlier studies, we knew that the immunological specificities of xenoreactive IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies are different, and that IgG1 antibodies, in contrast to the IgG2 population, are mainly directed against non-Galα1,3Gal epitopes. In this study our goal was to establish whether xenoreactive IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies react with pig islet cells and, if so, to identify the target cell type, the biological function as well as the specificity of such antibodies for islet cell antigens. Sera from xenotransplanted patients were compared with those of patients with diabetes, selected for high titres of islet-cell specific autoantibodies. Methods: IgG antibody fractions from patient sera were purified on a protein G column. Surface expression of target antigens was studied using flow cytometry as well as immunofluorescence microscopy. The biological function of islet-cell reactive sera was tested using antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity with both xenogeneic adult pig islet cells and allogeneic human islet cells as targets. Antibody specificity was assessed using 2D Western blots with both fetal and adult pig islet as well as human islet cell antigenic preparations. Results: Some of the diabetic patients, who have been transplanted with xenogeneic fetal pig islet cells, continue to produce xenospecific IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies for 7 to 9 yr post-transplantation. A separate analysis of IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies showed that IgG1 antibodies react with pig islet β cells, whereas IgG2 antibodies mainly react with non-endocrine pig cells. Such antibodies are xenospecific, as they were found to mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of adult pig, but not human islet target cells. The reverse was true for antibodies from non-transplanted diabetic patients with high titres of autoantibodies against β cells. Fluorescence analysis as well as 2D gel Western blots revealed that the reactivity was variable between patient samples, indicating that target antigens for non-Galα1,3Gal-specific antibodies are heterogeneous. Conclusion: Thus, xenotransplantation of diabetic patients induces islet-β cell reactive xenospecific IgG1 antibodies, which are biologically active and can mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of pig islet cells.

Nicotinamide inhibits tissue factor expression in isolated human pancreatic islets : Implications for clinical islet transplantation

0.01 vs. controls). In untreated control rats, xenoreactive antibody (IgM, IgG) levels decreased immediately after PE, but their levels rapidly returned to normal. In rats treated with DSG or DSG + Lip-Cl2MDP, the IgM levels remained low during the observation period. Immunohistochemistry showed that macrophage infiltration into the graft was suppressed in Lip-Cl2MDP-treated groups at the time of rejection. Our results demonstrate that sustained suppression of antibody levels can be achieved by PE in combination with DSG and xenograft survival is further prolonged in macrophage-depleted C6- rats. These findings suggest that strategies targeting antibody and macrophages may be useful in prolonging xenograft survival.

In this article we compare outcomes of an open-inquiry and an expository version of a chemistry laboratory experiment at university level for 190 students. The aim of the study was to investigate if these two versions would result in different outcomes depending on the students' attitudes towards learning. We used a questionnaire to find out their attitude position prior to the laboratory experiment. The outcome in the different versions of the experiment was evaluated by interviews, questions asked during the experiment and students self-evaluations. The main findings were that the open-inquiry version shows the most positive outcomes regarding learning outcome, preparation time, time spent in the laboratory and student perception of the experiment. The students with low attitude position needed more support to meet the challenge of an open-inquiry experiment, the support being a clearer explanation of the aims, and feedback from the instructor during the experiment.

This study assessed the impact of computer animations illustrating the chemical reactions that occurinside a battery on students enrolled in a college introductory chemistry course. Students received twolectures on electrochemistry dealing with the chemical principles of how batteries generate electricityutilizing either animations or still diagrams. Students also completed a chemical knowledge test, aFlashlight pre-test and two chemistry content exams before receiving the lectures. A spatial abilitytest was given after the lectures and the students were classified as high or low spatial ability accordingto their spatial ability scores. The chemical knowledge and Flashlight pre-test and two previous contentexams were used as covariates; the spatial ahility test Lvas used to assess any interaction of spatial abilityand treatment. The dependent measures were two parts (knowvledge and transfer) of a post-test onelectrochemical concepts (labelled Postl and Post2). On Postl, instructor-guided animations led to...

Syftet med studien är att utveckla en socialpsykologisk förståelse för vad det innebär för individer att som uppvuxna i frikyrklig miljö i Sverige höra till en minoritet och vad ett avståndstagande från denna minoritet innebär i termer av identitetsprocesser. Studien genomfördes med kvalitativ metod och tio semistrukturerade intervjuer med avhoppare från ett frikyrkligt samfund. För att undersöka fenomenet har vi valt att använda analysmetoden Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, vilken har väglett och präglat metodologiska överväganden och analys. Den teoretiska referensramen vilar på en socialkonstruktionistisk grund med teorier om socialisation, identitet och avvikande. Informanterna beskriver en relativt sluten uppväxtmiljö med en religiös världsåskådning och tydliga gränsdragningar mellan rätt och fel. I tonåren kom de i större utsträckning i kontakt med den sekulariserade omgivningen utanför och började ifrågasätta församlingens regler och värderingar. Därefter följde år av motstridiga tankar som sedan ledde fram till ett avhopp från frikyrkan. Av analysen kan vi dra slutsatsen att individer som växer upp i en frikyrklig miljö genomgår en socialisation som till viss del avviker från vad som betraktas som normen i samhället. De individer som väljer att lämna frikyrkan går genom förändringar i termer av identifieringsprocesser.

More than 100 point mutations of the superoxide scavenger Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC ) have been associated with the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, these mutations are scattered throughout the protein and provide no clear functional or structural clues to the underlying disease mechanism. Therefore, we undertook to look for folding-related defects by comparing the unfolding behavior of five ALS-associated mutants with distinct structural characteristics: A4V at the interface between the N and C termini, C6F in the hydrophobic core, D90A at the protein surface, and G93A and G93C, which decrease backbone flexibility. With the exception of the disruptive replacements A4V and C6F, the mutations only marginally affect the stability of the native protein, yet all mutants share a pronounced destabilization of the metal-free apo state: the higher the stability loss, the lower the mean survival time for ALS patients carrying the mutation. Thus organism-level pathology may be directly related to the properties of the immature state of a protein rather than to those of the native species.

Intraportal transplantation of pancreatic islets offers improved glycaemic control and insulin independence in type 1 diabetes mellitus, but intraportal thrombosis remains a possible complication. The thrombotic reaction may explain why graft loss occurs and islets from more than one donor are needed, since contact between human islets and ABO-compatible blood in vitro triggers a thrombotic reaction that damages the islets. We investigated the possible mechanism and treatment of such thrombotic reactions.Coagulation activation and islet damage were monitored in four patients undergoing clinical islet transplantation according to a modified Edmonton protocol. Expression of tissue factor (TF) in the islet preparations was investigated by immunohistochemistry, immunoprecipitation, electron microscopy, and RT-PCR. To assess TF activity in purified islets, human islets were mixed with non-anticoagulated ABO-compatible blood in tubing loops coated with heparin.Coagulation activation and subsequent release of insulin were found consistently after clinical islet transplantation, even in the absence of signs of intraportal thrombosis. The endocrine, but not the exocrine, cells of the pancreas were found to synthesise and secrete active TF. The clotting reaction triggered by pancreatic islets in vitro could be abrogated by blocking the active site of TF with specific antibodies or site-inactivated factor VIIa, a candidate drug for inhibition of TF activity in vivo.Blockade of TF represents a new therapeutic approach that might increase the success of islet transplantation in patients with type 1 diabetes, in terms of both the risk of intraportal thrombosis and the need for islets from more than one donor.

Chaenotheca nitidula is described as a new species from northeastern North America. It is characterized by long, shining stalks; rather small, spheric, non-pruinose capitul; immersed thallus; and its association with Stichococcus as photobiont. In a phylogenetic analysis based on rDNA ITS1–5.8S-ITS2 sequences, C. nitidula was most closely related to Chaenotheca gracilenta and C. gracillima. It occurs on wood of conifers in old woodlands and has so far been recorded from Maine and New Brunswick.

The lichens Usnea florida and U. subfloridana have since long been recognised as distinct species. They show many similarities in morphology, but have different reproductive strategies. Usnea flori ...

An essential property of human extracellular superoxide dismutase (hEC-SOD) is its affinity for heparin and heparan sulfate proteoglycans located on cell surfaces and in the connective tissue matrix. The C-terminal domain of hEC-SOD plays the major role in this interaction. This domain has an unusually high content of charged amino acids: six arginine, three lysine, and five glutamic acid residues. In this study, we used alanine scanning mutagenesis of charged amino acids in the C-terminal domain to elucidate the requirements for the heparin/heparan sulfate interaction. As a tool in this study, we used a fusion protein comprising the C-terminal domain of hEC-SOD fused to human carbonic anhydrase II (HCAII). The interaction studies were performed using the surface plasmon resonance technique and heparin-Sepharose chromatography. Replacement of the glutamic acid residues by alanine resulted, in all cases, in tighter binding. All alanine substitutions of basic amino acid residues, except one (R205A), reduced heparin affinity. The arginine and lysine residues in the cluster of basic amino acid residues (residues 210-215), the RK-cluster, are of critical importance for the binding to heparin, and arginine residues promote stronger interactions than lysine residues.

Chaenotheca phaeocephala and C. subroscida have been characterized by differences in their morphology and ecology. They are, however, morphologically plastic and sometimes seem to intergrade. It has been suspected that the differences in morphology between these two taxa could possibly be phenotypic and caused by their occurrence in different habitats and/or by the association with different photobionts. To test if there is a genetic difference between the species ITS1–5.8S-ITS2 rDNA sequences of six specimens of the mycobiont of C. phaeocephala and five of C. subroscida were compared. Further the ITS1–5.8S-ITS2 rDNA sequences of the photobiont of one specimens of C. phaeocephala and six of C. subroscida were compared to each other and to other species of Trebouxia. The mycobiont sequences of both C. phaeocephala and C. subroscida were monophyletic, substantially different and the groups had strong supports. They also proved to be associated with different Trebouxia species, C. phaeocephala with T. arboricola and Chaenotheca subroscida with T. jamesii. The morphologically based concepts of C. phaeocephala and C. subroscida thus not merely represent phenotypic variation but also are associated with considerable genetic differences in the extremes of the ITS1–5.8S-ITS2 rDNA region.

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD xenotransplantation researchers are confronted not only with medical and technological difficulties but also with cultural and ethical ambiguities. Within the research program “Treatment of Diabetes by Transplantation of Porcine Islets” at Karolinska Institute/Huddinge University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, an interview study has been performed concerning the cultural and ethical issues related to xenotransplantation research and development. The purpose of the study is to evaluate, from cultural and ethical viewpoints, the way in which the xenotransplantation approach is perceived among individuals who either professionally or by personal plight are engaged in the scientific development of treating diabetes by transplantation of porcine islets.

Reaction cross sections for 3 He-particles have been measured for 9 Be, 12 C, 16 O, 28 Si, 40 Ca, 58,60 Ni, 112,116,118,120,124 Sn, and 208 Pb at 96, 138 and 167 MeV. The results are compared with predictions from optical model calculations using phenomenological and global optical potentials. The behaviour of the wavefunctions and of the contributions to the reaction cross sections from different regions in the nucleus is investigated. Comparisons are also made with results for α -particles obtained in the same energy region.

Cybebe was described as a monotypic genus in the Coniocybaceae distinguished from Chaenotheca by its unusual ascus ontogeny and its unpigmented spore wall. In a molecular phylogeny based on maximum parsimony analyses of their ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDXA sequences, specimens of Cybebe gracilenta formed a strongly supported group with Chaenotheca gracillima. Thisgroup in turn is also well supported as a part of Chaenotheca indicating that the features characteristic of Cybebe are indeed autapomorphic and that Cybebe gracilenta should be included in Chaenotheca.

Suppression of T cells results in long-term survival of mouse heart xenograft in C6-deficient rats.

We have monitored the humoral immune responses of 10 type I diabetic patients, xenotransplanted with fetal porcine islet-like cell clusters for up to 8 years after xenotransplantation. We investigated the immunoglobulin subclass distribution as well as specificity differences of xenoreactive antibodies. Hemagglutintion tests, using pig erythrocytes, showed that some patients maintained higher titers of xenoreactive IgM antibodies during the entire follow up period, compared with pretransplant levels. In microcytotoxicity tests all but one patient tested showed higher than pretransplant levels of cytotoxic antibodies against pig peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) 6-8 years after transplantation. Levels of Gal alpha 1,3Gal specific antibodies, were also high. Antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity against a Gal alpha 1,3Gal expressing human B cell line was detected in four patients while ADCC reactivity against adult pig islet cells was detected in only two patients, 6-8 years after transplantation. Immune sera collected 30 days and 1 year after transplantation showed positive staining of adult pig islet cells in fluoromicroscopy whereas sera from later time points did not. Western blot experiments showed that some patients had IgG1 antibodies reactive against epitopes on pig cells other than Gal alpha 1,3Gal, while xenoreactive IgM and IgG2 antibodies mainly reacted with Gal alpha 1,3Gal-containing epitopes as shown by absorption experiments. These results show that patients continue to produce higher than pretransplant levels of IgM and IgG2 xenospecific antibodies against Gal alpha 1,3Gal for extended time periods following xenotransplantation. Some patients also produce xenoreactive IgG1 antibodies directed against non-Gal alpha 1,3Gal epitopes.

Chaenotheca Th. Fr. is associated with four different genera of photobionts, Dictyochloropsis, Stichococcus, Trebouxia, and Trentepohlia. The species of Chaenotheca consistently harbor only one ...

Gene therapy of Alport syndrome (hereditary nephritis) aims at the transfer of a corrected type IV collagen alpha chain gene into renal glomerular cells responsible for production of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). A GBM network composed of type IV collagen molecules is abnormal in Alport syndrome which leads progressively to kidney failure. The most common X-linked form of the disease is caused by mutations in the gene for the alpha5(IV) chain, the alpha5 chain of type IV collagen. Full-length human alpha5(IV) cDNA was expressed in HT1080 cells with an adenovirus vector, and the recombinant alpha5(IV) chain was shown to assemble into heterotrimers consisting of alpha3(IV) and alpha4(IV) chains, utilizing a FLAG epitope in the recombinant alpha5(IV) chain. The results indicate that correction of the molecular defect in Alport syndrome is possible. Previously, we had developed an organ perfusion method for effective in vivo gene transfer into glomerular cells. In vivo perfusion of pig kidneys with the recombinant adenovirus resulted in expression of the alpha5(IV) chain in kidney glomeruli as shown by in situ hybridization and its deposition into the GBM was shown by immunohistochemistry. The results strongly suggest future possibilities for gene therapy of Alport syndrome.

The aim of the present paper is to investigate if Mycocalicium subtile as presently circumscribed is a morphologically highly variable species, or in fact represents two or more cryptic species, and further to investigate the status of M. minutellum. The morphological variation of 19 specimens of Mycocalicium subtile from five continents was investigated and the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of their rDNA sequenced. Sequences from closely related taxa, 4 specimens of M. albonigrum, 2 of Mycocalicium sp., and Chaenothecopsis nana were also included. For comparison the corresponding sequence of M. victoriae and C. pusilla were also determined. We used the sequence of Monascus purpureus as the outgroup for the analysis. The sequences were used for phylogenetic inference using parsimony and distance methods. All the specimens assigned to M. subtile with the exception of two, form a well-supported monophyletic group. Those two specimens represent a morphologically cryptic, but genetically distinctive taxon. The infraspecific clades of M. subtile in the molecular phylogeny did not correspond to geographical origin. Only a weak correlation with geographical origin was found in the morphological analysis. The molecular analysis supports the suggestion that Mycocalicium minutellum is a taxonomic synonym of M. subtile.

Double-differential cross sections of the 10,11 B(n, p) 10,11 Be reactions have been measured at 96 MeV in the angular range 0°–30° for excitation energies up to 35 MeV. The spectra have been decomposed into different multipolarities using sample angular distributions calculated within the distorted-wave Born approximation. From the identified Gamow–Teller strength, S β + values were obtained for 10 B and 11 B. At higher excitation energies, the spectra are dominated by L =1 strength in broad distributions with maxima around 22 and 12 MeV in 10 B and 11 B, respectively.

Background. Islet allograft rejection in sensitized recipients is difficult to control by costimulation blockade using anti-CD154 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 immunoglobulin (CTLA4Ig). Because leukocyte function antigen (LFA) 1 is highly expressed on memory T cells, adding an LFA-1 blockade may inhibit memory T-cell activities. We examined the effects on islet allograft survival of triple costimulation blockade in presensitized recipient mice. Methods. C57BL/6 mice were sensitized by transplantation under the kidney capsule or intraperitoneal injection of Balb/c islets. Four weeks after transplantation, sensitization was confirmed by flow-cytometric detection of alloreactive antibodies. Diabetes was induced by a single intravenous injection of streptozotocin. Recipients were transplanted with 200 Balb/c islets under the right kidney capsule. Graft function was assessed by daily blood glucose and body weight records. Transplanted animals were divided into 3 treatment groups: group 1, control antibody; group 2, anti-CD154 and CTLA-4 Ig double therapy; group 3, anti-CD154, CTLA4Ig, and anti LFA-1 triple therapy. Injections were administered every second day from day -2 to day 8. Results. Naive mice rejected islet allografts between days 7 and 29 (mean 16 +/- 6 d; n = 5), sensitized mice in group 1 between days 0 and 14 (mean 7 +/- 5 d; n = 8), in group 2 between days 4 and 16 (mean 8 +/- 4 d; n = 7), and in group 3 between days 4 and 26 (mean 11 +/- 7 d; n = 10). Conclusion. Triple costimulation blockade with anti-CD154, CTLA4Ig, and anti LFA-1 was not sufficient to improve islet allograft survival in sensitized recipients. (Less)

A synopsis of 42 species is given. Thirteen of the species are tropical to warm temperate, seventeen of the species are antitropical and mainly occur in the mountainous areas. Calicium lutescens, C ...

Double differential cross sections of the Be-9(n,p)Li-9 reaction have been measured at 96 MeV in the angular range 0 degrees-27 degrees up to about 20 MeV excitation energy. In addition, the C-12(n,p)B-12 reaction has been measured in the same angular and

In 1990-1993, eight diabetic renal transplant patients had porcine fetal islets injected intraportally at Huddinge Hospital in Stockholm. Four of the patients had evidence of xenograft function reflected in the excretion of small amounts of porcine C-peptide. Two patients had the porcine fetal islets placed under the capsule of a simultaneously transplanted kidney. In one of these patients, a graft biopsy specimen taken 3 weeks after transplantation revealed morphologically intact epithelial cells staining positively for insulin and glucagon. The insulin production was in all instances insufficient to affect the patient's insulin requirements. All patients formed specific xenoantibodies (mostly anti-Gal); presumably, most of the xenoislets were destroyed by rejection. On follow-up studies carried out 6-8 years after xenotransplantation, most patients still had higher-than-pretransplant levels of xenoantibodies. There was no evidence of transmission of porcine endogeneous retroviruses to the patients. All patients expressed a positive attitude toward the use of animal tissue for treatment of disease, and none of the patients regretted participating in the trial. Cell transplantation is leading the way at present for clinical xenotransplantation. The finding that complement inhibition protects intraportally injected porcine islets from an injurious incompatibility reaction holds promise for future clinical application. A similar protective effect might be achievable with the use of islets from transgenic pigs expressing human complement receptors.

Lack of antibody production against Hanganutziu-Deicher (H-D) antigenswith N-glycolylneuraminic acid in patients with porcine exposure history[In Process Citation]

Reaction cross sections for α -particles have been measured for 9 Be, 12 C, 16 O, 28 Si, 40 Ca, 58,60 Ni, 112,116,120,124 Sn, and 208 Pb at 117.2, 163.9 and 192.4 MeV and for the lighter nuclei also at 69.6 MeV. The results are compared with predictions from optical model calculations using phenomenological, global and double-folded optical potentials. Comparisons are also made with predictions using the Glauber model approach suggested by Bertsch, Brown and Sagawa.

Pig islet xenograft rejection is markedly delayed in macrophage-depletedmice: a study in streptozotocin diabetic animals [In Process Citation]

Much physics is now taught by teachers qualified in other sciences. It is surely worthwhile for such teachers to have some preparation in physcis, and to this end a new Swedish institution is attracting students with its courses on interdisciplinary thematic topics and courses `about' science.