The calcium ion concentration in cells was measured by a phase-modulation fluorescence lifetime method with compensation for proteins. A high-accuracy measurement of the calcium ion concentration is best realized by fluorescence lifetime measurements, because the fluorescence lifetime is independent of the fluorescence intensity. The fluorescence intensity is easily varied by the scattering o...

The endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization of cells has a crucial role in regulating vascular tone, especially in microvessels. Nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI2), in addition to endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF), have been reported to hyperpolarize vascular smooth muscle in several organs. Studies have reported the hyperpolarizing effects of these factors are increased ...

In fluorescence microscopy, the fluorescence emission can be characterised not only by intensity and position, but also by lifetime, polarization and wavelength. Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) can report on photophysical events that are difficult or impossible to observe by fluorescence intensity imaging, and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy imaging (TR-FAIM) can measure the rotation...

We have investigated the energy landscape of the bacterial photosynthetic peripheral light-harvesting complex LH2 of purple bacterium Rhodopseudomonas acidophila by monitoring sequences of fluorescence spectra of single LH2 assemblies, at room temperature, with different excitation intensities as well as at elevated temperatures, utilizing a confocal microscope. The fluorescence peak wavelength...

Fluorescence intensity and its ratio mapping combined with time-dependent optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to understand morphology evolution of local aggregates and neighboring regions for organic solar cells. Three solvents with different boiling points including chlorobenzene (CB), 1,3-dichlorobenzene (1,3-DCB) and 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB) were used to engi...

BACKGROUND There is little information available about the development of T-cell immunity in healthy and atopic children. We have studied prospectively the mean fluorescence intensity of the T-cell receptor complex-associated CD3, CD4 and CD8 in relation to atopic family history (AFH) and the development of atopic disease. METHODS Children with a defined AFH (n = 172) were followed from birth...

AIM To evaluate the long-term stability of the fluorescence signals of new fluorescence-based semen analysis assays for clinical application. METHODS Semen samples from 87 unselected infertile patients were used to perform the following assays: (i) detection of active caspase-3 (n=17); (ii) integrity of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) (n=17); (iii) externalization of phosphatidylse...

BACKGROUND Anti-HLA antibodies and especially donor-specific antibodies (DSA) play a significant role in graft survival after solid organ transplantation. Their impact on long-term survival in adult liver transplantation (LT) is controversial, but they may be a risk factor. The effects of DSA after pediatric LT are still unclear. METHODS We performed a retrospective evaluation of DSA in sera ...

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Biolex-MB40 on the phagocytic activity and oxidative metabolism of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes in lambs. The experimental material comprised 32 lambs aged 30 +/- 3 days, divided into two equal groups: control and experimental. Experimental group animals were fed a diet supplemented with the Biolex-MB40 (Saccharomyces cer...