Pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) is not a marker of the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque.

Objective: To investigate if pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) was present in the vulnerable plaque, and if not, to find alternative hypothesis for the release of PAPP-A.

Design And Methods: Vulnerable plaques and control tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry. Volunteers and patients with non-atherosclerotic disease were examined for release of PAPP-A during ischemia and medical treatment.

Success and spontaneous pregnancy rates following systemic methotrexate versus laparoscopic surgery for tubal pregnancies: a randomized trial.

Objective: To determine which treatment should be offered to women with a non-ruptured tubal pregnancy: a single dose of methotrexate (MTX) or laparoscopic surgery.

Design: Prospective, randomized, open multicenter study.

Setting: Seven Danish departments of obstetrics and gynecology.

Multimeric and trimeric subunit SP-D are interconvertible structures with distinct ligand interaction.

Surfactant protein-D (SP-D) is a calcium dependent lectin in the innate immune system that facilitates clearance of microbes. The protein is associated with mucosal surfaces, and also found in bronchoalveolar lavage, serum and amniotic fluid. Human SP-D includes trimeric subunits and multimeric assemblies of trimeric subunits, which are stabilized by N-terminal interchain disulfide crosslinks.

Expression and tissue localization of collectin placenta 1 (CL-P1, SRCL) in human tissues.

Collectin placenta-1 (CL-P1), also known as scavenger receptor with C-type lectin (SRCL), is a type II membrane glycoprotein that shares structural features with both collectins and type A scavenger receptors. CL-P1 was originally cloned from the placenta and found to be associated with endothelial cells. It binds via its lectin domain to desialyated Lewis X containing glycoproteins and it is able to facilitate internalization of bound ligands.

Activin B mediated induction of Pdx1 in human embryonic stem cell derived embryoid bodies.

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have the potential to provide alternative sources for pancreatic islet grafts. In the present study we have investigated the influence of Activin A and Activin B on the expression of the pancreas marker gene Pdx1 in hESCs differentiated as embryoid bodies (EBs). We report here that Activin B in a dose depend manner markedly up-regulates Pdx1 expression as compared to Activin A and untreated cultures.