The CXC-chemokines interleukin-8 (IL-8), neutrophil-activating peptide-2 (NAP-2), and melanoma growth-stimulatory activity (MGSA) are chemoattractants with high selectivity for neutrophils. Although IL-8 has been shown to act as an extremely potent mediator, reports on NAP-2 and MGSA are still contradictory. Here we show for the first time that NAP-2 and MGSA induce two distinct optima of neutr...

The study examined how nap length, nap timing and sleep quality affect early morning performance (6:00 to 8:00). Twelve students participated in a simulated nightshift schedule (22:00 to 8:00) where the length and timing of nocturnal naps were manipulated (0:00-1:00, 0:00-2:00, 4:00-5:00 and 4:00-6:00). A performance test battery was administered consisting of a psychomotor vigilance test, a lo...

NAP is an eight-amino acid neuroprotective peptide NAPVSIPQ; it is the smallest active element derived from the recently cloned activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP). NAP readily enters the brain from the blood. It will be important to learn whether NAP, in addition to its neuroprotective activity, also might influence immune-mediated inflammation. Here, we report that: (a) macropha...

Commentary Inward sodium current through specific membrane proteins (channels) constitutes the currency of neuronal firing. The transient voltage-dependent sodium current, I Na , with its all-or-none threshold behavior and rapid activation and inactivation, is responsible for the upstroke of the action potential. A smaller but longer lasting sodium current, carried through the same channels, co...

This paper addresses the task of nuisance reduction in twowire speaker recognition applications. Besides channel mismatch, two-wire conversations are contaminated by extraneous speakers which represent an additional source of noise in the supervector domain. It is shown that two-wire nuisance manifests itself as undesirable directions in the interspeaker subspace. For this purpose, we derive tw...

The combination of different laxatives at reduced volumes may benefit patients by enhancing efficacy for bowel cleansing and increasing tolerability. However, evidence regarding combined preparations is scarce. This study evaluated whether the combined preparations are associated with enhanced efficacy and tolerability. This randomized phase II study had a single-blind, parallel-arm design. Bet...

This study aimed to determine if actigraphy could differentiate sleep and wake during a daytime nap and no-nap rest period. Fifty-seven subjects participated in the study; 30 subjects were in the nap group and the remaining 27 in the no-nap comparison group. All subjects wore actigraphs while simultaneously undergoing polysomnography (PSG). Three actigraphic sensitivity levels (high, medium, lo...

Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein (HP-NAP) is a major virulence factor involved in H. pylori infection. HP-NAP can mediate antitumor effects by recruiting neutrophils and inducing Th1-type differentiation in the tumor microenvironment. It therefore holds strong potential as a therapeutic gene. Here, we armed a replication-selective, infection-enhanced adenovirus with secretory H...

External N-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)-2-aminoethylsulfonate (NAP-taurine) inhibits human red cell chloride exchange by binding to a site that is distinct from the chloride transport site. Increases in the intracellular chloride concentration (at constant external chloride) cause an increase in the inhibitory potency of external NAP-taurine. This effect is not due to the changes in pH or membrane p...

BACKGROUND Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing polyethylene glycol (PEG) with sodium phosphate (NaP) are inconsistent. AIM To compare the efficacy of and tolerance to PEG vs. NaP for bowel preparation. METHODS We used MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify English-language RCTs published between 1990 and 2008 comparing 4-L PEG with two 45 mL doses of NaP in adults undergoing elective colo...