Membrane-bound integrin receptors are linked to intracellular signaling pathways through focal adhesion kinase (FAK). FAK tends to colocalize with integrin receptors at focal adhesions through its C-terminal focal adhesion targeting (FAT) domain. Through recruitment and binding of intracellular proteins, FAs transduce signals between the intracellular and extracellular regions that regulate a v...

Introduction: Variable resolution x-ray (VRX) CT is a new type of CT that can image objects at various spatial resolutions. In a VRX CT scanner, the spatial resolution increases at the cost of reduction in the field of view (FOV). An important factor that limits the spatial resolution of the VRX CT is the effect of focal spot size. Also, the optimum magnification is different at each incident a...

Focal left atrial tachycardias (AT) originating from the mitral annulus-aorta (MA-Ao) junction are rare and their mechanisms are unclear. We report a 35-year-old male with successful ablation of an exercise-induced focal AT due to triggered activity originating from the MA-Ao junction. The AT occurred spontaneously during treadmill exercise testing and was easily induced by an atrial extrastimu...

The bladder urothelium functions as a urine-blood barrier and consists of basal, intermediate, and superficial cell populations. Reconstructive procedures such as augmentation cystoplasty and focal mucosal resection involve localized surgical damage to the bladder wall whereby focal segments of the urothelium and underlying submucosa are respectively removed or replaced and regeneration ensues....

The histologic effects of a contact ultrasound applicator were compared with those of the immersion applicator that is currently used clinically for the treatment of glaucoma. The applicator coupling cone uses a distensible rubber membrane that can be inflated to control stand-off distance relative to the surface of the eye. This feature allows the focal point of the therapeutic beam to be plac...

We have investigated the mechanisms by which fibroblasts release their adhesions to the extracellular matrix substrata using a permeabilized cell system in which the adhesions remain relatively stable. A large number of different molecules were assayed for their effect on focal adhesion stability using immunofluorescence with antibodies against different focal adhesion constituents. ATP uniquel...

Although previous studies of the adhesion properties of single living cells have been conducted a full understanding has still not been attained. In this article a MEMS sensor has been employed to study, quantitatively and qualitatively, the adhesion properties of a single living bovine endothelial cell. The strength of a single focal adhesion site to an extracellular matrix coated substrate is...

Abreu–Matsushima mechanisms can be applied to a broad class of games to induce any desired outcome as the unique rationalizable outcome. We conduct experiments investigating the performance of such mechanisms in two simple coordination games. In these games one pure-strategy equilibrium is “focal”; we assess the efficacy of Abreu–Matsushima mechanisms for implementing the other pure-strategy eq...

Extramedullary haematopoiesis (EMH) is a reactive mechanism by which blood cells are produced outside of the bone marrow to supplement insufficient production or increased destruction of erythrocytes. EMH is uncommon in sickle cell anaemia (SCA). We report the first case of focal intra-hepatic EMH in SCA depicted on MRI occurring in a 32-year-old woman with homozygote SCA and in view of previou...

Recent developments of benzodiazepine receptor imaging (123I-Iomazenil SPECT and 11C-Flumazenil PET) in neuropsychiatric disorders were reviewed. In focal epilepsy, a number of previous studies have reported a decreased benzodiazepine receptor binding in epileptic foci and greater sensitivity compared to regional cerebral blood flow imaging, especially for diagnosis of medial temporal lobe epil...