Premature birth and low birthweight are associated with a lower rate of reproduction in adulthood: a Swedish population-based registry study.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate if individuals born with sub-optimal birth characteristics have reduced probability of reproducing in adulthood.

Methods: Using population-based registries, the authors included 522 216 males and 494 692 females born between 1973 and 1983 and examined their reproductive status as of 2006. Outcome measure was the hazard ratio (HR) of reproducing.

Saccharomyces boulardii produces in rat small intestine a novel protein phosphatase that inhibits Escherichia coli endotoxin by dephosphorylation.

Using a polyclonal antibody raised against a highly conserved sequence of 38 amino acids containing the activation site (VTDSAAGAT) common to mammalian and yeast alkaline phosphatases (AP), we identified in decapsidated Saccharomyces boulardii a protein phosphatase detected by autoradiography as a single signal (63 kD). Using an affinity chromatography column, the protein phosphatase could be concentrated 39.1-fold and presented as a doublet of two subunits.