Carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions are rarely considered in biologically relevant situations such as cell recognition and adhesion. One Ca(2+)-mediated homotypic interaction between two Lewis(x) determinants (Le(x)) has been proposed to drive cell adhesion in murine embryogenesis. Here, we confirm the existence of this specific interaction by reporting the first direct quantitative measurem...

Recently, we proposed sialyl 6-sulfo Lewis X as a major carbohydrate-capping group of the L-selectin ligands on high endothelial venules in human lymph nodes. In this study we succeeded in reconstituting functional L-selectin ligands on a cultured human endothelial cell line, ECV304, by transfecting the alpha1-->3fucosyltranseferase VII (Fuc-T VII) and newly cloned GlcNAcbeta:6-sulfotransferase...

A patient with "autoimmune diabetes" with reactive hypoglycemia due to anti-insulin antibodies is described. The pathophysiology of the impaired carbohydrate tolerance and reactive hypoglycemia is illustrated by measurements of C-peptide, and free and antibody-bound insulin. Detailed analysis of her antibodies did not provide any evidence in favor of exogenous insulin immunization. Nevertheless...

Each of more than 30 monoclonal antibodies that had been raised against Mycobacterium leprae and previously classified as reactive with carbohydrate was shown to be directed against lipoarabinomannan, a prominent, highly pervasive, myo-inositol-phosphate-containing, cross-reactive antigen within the leprosy bacillus. Some of the antibodies preferentially bound to the lipopolysaccharide of M. le...

The levels of carbohydrate antigens having epitopes consisting of type 1 chain (R----Gal beta 1----GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----R) in the sera of patients with various malignant and nonmalignant disorders have been investigated with the use of three monoclonal antibodies, N-19-9, FH-7, and FH-9. Serum levels of 2----3 sialylated Lea antigen and 2----6 sialylated Lea antigen, defined respecti...

C-reactive protein (CRP) as it occurs in serum and in all but a very few pathological fluids is associated with a phosphorus-containing substance or substances of lipid character.' It can be obtained from the fraction of serum precipitable by 0.5 to 0.75 saturation with ammonium sulfate, following dialysis against dilute calcium chloride. The complex obtained by this procedure is insoluble in d...

Background The importance of the social determinants of health (SDH) and barriers to the access and utilization of healthcare have been widely recognized but not previously studied in the context of universal healthcare coverage (UHC) in Brazil and other developing countries. Objective To evaluate a set of proposed indicators of SDH and barriers to the access and utilization of healthcare - pro...

Background Action on the social determinants of health (SDH) is relevant for reducing health inequalities. This is particularly the case for South Africa (SA) with its very high level of income inequality and inequalities in health and health outcomes. This paper provides evidence on the key SDH for reducing health inequalities in the country using a framework initially developed by the World H...

Bauhinia variegata L. is traditionally used in treating a variety of ailments in India. Phytochemical screening and in vitro free radical scavenging activity of aqueous and ethanolic bark extracts of Bauhinia variegata was assessed by studying its ability to scavenge DPPH, Nitric oxide, hydroxyl radical and reducing power. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of steroid, phenol/ tannin,...