Vanishing properties of cuspidal local systems.

Prehomogeneous vector spaces arising from semisimple groups are considered, and it is shown that certain local systems on the open orbit have the property that their middle extension is zero on the complement of the open orbit.

Canonical bases in tensor products.

I construct a canonical basis in the tensor product of a simple integrable highest weight module with a simple integrable lowest weight module of a quantized enveloping algebra. This basis is simultaneously compatible with many submodules of the tensor product. As an application, I obtain a construction of a canonical basis of (a modified form of) the quantized enveloping algebra.

Endocytosis of oxidized LDL and reversibility of migration inhibition in macrophage-derived foam cells in vitro. A mechanism for atherosclerosis regression?

The ability of macrophage-derived foam cells to migrate from atherosclerotic lesions represents one potential mechanism for the regression of atherosclerosis. It is, however, generally recognized that the transformation of macrophages into foam cells results in greatly reduced migrational ability. In the present study, we set out to investigate the factors affecting migratory capability in foam cell-like cells with the use of an in vitro assay.

Inhibition of ACAT activity after 7-oxo-PGI2 treatment in cholesterol-fed rabbits.

It has been supposed that prostacyclin (PGI2) and its analogues have important antiatherogenic effects. The aim of this work was to test the effect of PGI2 and 7-oxo-PGI2- (a stable analogue of PGI2) (6) treatment on the acyl CoA: cholesterol-acyltransferase (ACAT) activity in the aortic wall of rabbits. The rabbits had been previously fed with cholesterol and treated with PGI2 and 7-oxo-PGI2 intravenously.

[Plasma prostacyclin and thromboxane concentration in healthy children and in offspring of parents suffering from myocardial infarct].

6-keto-prostaglandin F1a and thromboxane B2 were determined by radioimmunoassay in 135 healthy children, as a control group, and in 125 offsprings of parents suffering from premature coronary artery disease. Plasma prostacyclin concentration had decreased in children with a positive family history of coronary artery disease. It was demonstrated a strong reduction of thromboxane level in boys from age 11 in endangered group while the thromboxane/prostacyclin ratio did not differ from the control.