Cell-Populated Collagen Lattice Models.

Investigation of cell function is often hampered by the complexity of the tissue context. This problem is circumvented by isolating cells from tissues and analyzing their behavior in culture. Most cell types are cultured as monolayers on planar, rigid Petri dishes, an environment that does not reflect the spatial, three-dimensional cellular environment in vivo.

Investigation of the reaction of 1,3-dimethylurea with formaldehyde by quantitative on-line NMR spectroscopy: a model for the urea-formaldehyde system.

Quantitative on-line NMR spectroscopy is applied to study equilibria and reaction kinetics of the reaction of formaldehyde with 1,3-dimethylurea. This reaction system serves as a model system for the much more complex but industrially relevant urea-formaldehyde system. The aim is to study individual reactions and intermediates.

Quantitative and qualitative 1H, 13C, and 15N NMR spectroscopic investigation of the urea-formaldehyde resin synthesis.

Urea-formaldehyde resins are bulk products of the chemical industry. Their synthesis involves a complex reaction network. The present work contributes to its elucidation by presenting results from detailed NMR spectroscopic studies with different methods.

Signalling and regulation of collagen I synthesis by ET-1 and TGF-beta1.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) plays an important role in tissue remodelling and fibrogenesis by inducing synthesis of collagen I via protein kinase C (PKC). ET-1 signals are transduced by two receptor subtypes, the ETA- and ETB-receptors which activate different Galpha proteins. Here, we investigated the expression of both ET-receptor subtypes in human primary dermal fibroblasts and demonstrated that the ETA-receptor is the major ET-receptor subtype expressed.

Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the vulva.

A 10-year-old Hispanic female presented with a 3-month history of a vulvar mass. The histologic diagnosis was a peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET). To our knowledge, this is the second reported case of vulvar peripheral PNET and the first such case reported in the English language.

Pseudallescheria boydii infection in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Pulmonary and renal infection developed in a 44-year-old Hispanic man due to the fungus Pseudallescheria boydii. Pseudallescheria boydii has been associated with cutaneous infection known as mycetoma but occurs very infrequently in extracutaneous sites. To our knowledge, this is the second reported case of P boydii in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and the first case with pulmonary and/or renal involvement.

A diagnostic test for the dog heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis.

Studies with a HI test for the detection of circulating antibody to the dog heartworm (D. immitis) are described. Natural as well as experimentally infected animals demonstrated the capability of detecting infestations before circulating microfilaria would be found and as early as 23 days after experimental infection with larvae.

Hemagglutination inhibition assay for gentamicin.

A rapid and simple hemagglutination inhibition test for measuring gentamicin concentrations in serum has been developed. Correlation coefficients for this assay with the radioimmunoassay and microbiological assay were r = 710 and r = 0.864, respectively.