Matroid bases with cardinality constraints on the intersection.

Given two matroids and on a common ground set with base sets and , some integer , and two cost functions , we consider the optimization problem to find a basis and a basis minimizing the cost subject to either a lower bound constraint , an upper bound constraint , or an equality constraint on the size of the intersection of the two bases and . The problem with lower bound constraint turns out to be a generalization of the Recoverable Robust Matroid problem under interval uncertainty representation for which the question for a strongly polynomial-time algorithm was left as an open question in Hradovich et al. (J Comb Optim 34(2):554-573, 2017).

Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis After SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination.

BACKGROUND Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a disorder of the central nervous system which has been associated with preceding infection as well as vaccinations. We present a case of a 61-year-old woman with ADEM after receiving her initial vaccination for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This case highlights management of this acute condition.

Application of digital image analysis on histological images of a murine embryoid body model for monitoring endothelial differentiation.

The in vitro 3D model established from murine pluripotential stem cells (i.e., embryoid bodies (EBs)) is a dynamic model for endothelial differentiation.

The density of infiltrating T cells and macrophages in the parental tumour correlates with growth rate of tumoroids established from colorectal adenocarcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between the density of infiltrating T cells and macrophages in the parental colorectal cancer (CRC) and the growth rate of tumoroids (i.e. a patient-derived in vitro 3D model).

KRAS mutations in the parental tumour accelerate in vitro growth of tumoroids established from colorectal adenocarcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to characterize a patient-derived in vitro 3D model (ie tumoroid) established from colorectal adenocarcinoma. This study investigated the growth rate of tumoroids and whether the Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) mutations in the parental tumour accelerate this rate. The tumoroids were established from surgical resections of primary and metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma from 26 patients.

Long-term consequences of non-intentional flows of substances: modelling non-intentional flows of lead in the Dutch economic system and evaluating their environmental consequences.

Substances may enter the economy and the environment through both intentional and non-intentional flows. These non-intentional flows, including the occurrence of substances as pollutants in mixed primary resources (metal ores, phosphate ores and fossil fuels) and their presence in re-used waste streams from intentional use may have environmental and economic consequences in terms of pollution and resource availability. On the one hand, these non-intentional flows may cause pollution problems.

Characterization of breast precancerous lesions and myoepithelial hyperplasia in sclerosing adenosis with apocrine metaplasia.

The identification as well as the molecular characterization of breast precancerous lesions in terms of increased risk of progression and/or recurrence is becoming a critical issue today as improved non-surgical procedures are detecting cancer at an earlier stage. The strategy we have been pursuing to identify early apocrine breast lesions is based on the postulate that invasive apocrine carcinomas evolve from epithelial cells in terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) in a stepwise manner that involves apocrine metaplasia of normal breast epithelia, hyperplasia, atypia, and apocrine carcinoma in situ. First, we identify specific protein biomarkers for benign apocrine metaplasia and thereafter we search for biomarkers that are highly overexpressed by pure invasive apocrine carcinomas.

Directed selection of MIP-1 alpha neutralizing CCR5 antibodies from a phage display human antibody library.

The seven trans-membrane chemokine receptor CCR-5 is a coreceptor for macrophage tropic HIV-1 strains. CCR-5 responds to a number of chemokines, including macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1 alpha. We describe the use of MIP-1 alpha in a biotin tyramine-mediated proximity selection to guide the selection of CCR-5-specific phage antibodies from a large phage display human library.

Regulation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA repair gene RAD16.

The RAD16 gene product has been shown to be essential for the repair of the silenced mating type loci [Bang et al. (1992) Nucleic Acids Res. 20, 3925-3931].

The platelet angiotensin II receptor in type I diabetes: studies in patients with and without nephropathy.

Experimental studies demonstrate impaired regulation of the mesangial angiotensin II (AII) receptor in diabetes. This could contribute to the disturbance of glomerular blood flow and the development of diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study was to determine whether a similar receptor abnormality occurs in patients with type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and if so whether this is more prevalent in patients with micro- or macro-albuminuria.

The value of complement measurements in the assessment of lupus activity.

The complement system was studied prospectively in 29 patients, predominantly renal (25), with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to examine the value of complement assays in the distinction between active and inactive disease. Disease activity was evaluated primarily by clinical, biochemical and histological parameters which were obtained at the time of assessment. Fourteen patients had active disease, as assessed by clinical and laboratory criteria.

The inhibitory effect of rosmarinic acid on complement involves the C5 convertase.

Rosmarinic acid (RA), a naturally occurring extract from Melissa officinalis, inhibits several complement-dependent inflammatory processes and may have potential as a therapeutic agent for the control of complement activation in disease. Rosmarinic acid has been reported to have effects on both the classical pathway C3-convertase and on the cobra venom factor-induced, alternative pathway convertase. In order to define the mechanism of inhibition, the effect of RA on classical and alternative pathway lysis, C1q binding, the classical pathway convertase, the alternative pathway convertase, membrane attack pathway lysis and the generation of fragments of C3 and C5 during activation, was tested in vitro.

Angiotensin II receptor regulation in anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis.

The expression of the glomerular receptor for angiotensin II (Ang II-R) was examined longitudinally following the induction of anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis in the rat. The specific aim of the project was to determine whether immunologically-induced glomerular injury led to significant abnormalities of the relationship between glomerular Ang II-R and its circulating ligand, Ang II. Scatchard analysis was used to measure Ang II-R on purified glomeruli at selected time intervals over two months following a single dose of sheep anti-rat GBM antibody.

Differences in the metabolism of C4 isotypes in patients with complement activation.

The metabolism of the C4 allotypes C4A3,B1 and C4A3,BO was studied in five healthy control subjects and six patients with active immunological disease (five with systemic lupus erythematosus and one with rheumatoid arthritis). The specific aim was to identify any differences in the metabolism of C4A and C4B gene products that may be linked to their documented functional differences in vitro. The fractional catabolic rate of C4A3,B1 in patients was significantly greater than that of C4A3,BO (3.

Does non-enzymatic glycosylation affect complement function in diabetes?

We examined the role of non-enzymatic glycosylation in abnormalities of the complement system commonly found in Type 1 diabetes. Fourteen patients were found to have significantly increased levels of glycosylated C3 (p less than 0.001) and C4 (p less than 0.

The metabolism of C3 and C4 in patients with immune complexes and normal complement levels.

The metabolism of the complement proteins, C3 and C4 was examined in two groups of patients with a high incidence of detectable immune complexes but normal levels of complement components. The specific aim was to ascertain whether significant ongoing complement activation occurred in these patients. Eleven patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 11 with infection and 11 control subjects were studied.

Hypercatabolism of C3 and C4 in active and inactive systemic lupus erythematosus.

The metabolism of the complement proteins C3 and C4 was studied in patients with active and inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using highly purified, functionally active preparations. Nine patients with active and eight with inactive SLE were examined and 11 control subjects. There was a significant difference in the level of double stranded DNA antibodies, immune complexes, and serum C4 between the patients with active and inactive disease.

Lymphocytotoxic antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: studies of their temperature dependence, binding characteristics, and specificity in vitro.

The lymphocytotoxicity of 33 lupus sera was tested against purified helper/inducer (OKT4) and cytotoxic/suppressor (OKT8) subsets of T lymphocytes at 15 degrees C and 37 degrees C in vitro. There was significantly less killing of both OKT4 and OKT8 cells at 37 degrees C (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.

The complement system in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes.

The complement proteins C1q, r, s, C2, C4, C3, factor B, C5, C6, and the inhibitors, C1 inhibitors, factors I and H were measured in 35 patients with recently diagnosed Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes, 76 patients with longer-duration disease (30 with complications) and 43 first-degree healthy relatives. We found that C1q, C4 and C3 were reduced significantly in all groups of patients (p less than 0.001 for each protein in recent onset and uncomplicated patients; p less than 0.