In the human circulation, factor VII is present in relatively low plasma concentration (0.01 microM) and has been reported to have a short half-life (t(1/2); 6 h). In contrast, prothrombin is present in a relatively high plasma concentration (2 microM) and has a relatively long catabolic half-life (t(1/2) = approximately 2-3 days). This report examines the metabolic characteristics of purified ...

Purpose: To determine the frequency of CT procedures in a cohort of bone marrow transplant patients and estimate the effective dose from each CT procedure as well as rough estimates of lifetime attributable risk (LAR) of cancer (both incidence and mortality). Background: Pediatric patients who undergo bone marrow transplant benefit greatly from the diagnostic power of computed tomography, but d...

This study was designed to estimate radiation-induced secondary cancer risks from high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy and external radiotherapy for patients with cervical cancer based on measurements of doses absorbed by various organs. Organ doses from HDR brachytherapy and external radiotherapy were measured using glass rod dosimeters. Doses to out-of-field organs were measured at various loca...

These authors investigated the potential link between pilots’ exposure to non-ionizing radiation and the incidence of cancer. Mortality statistics were reviewed for 2,740 pilots using standardized mortality and incidence ratios (SMR) & (SIR). Rates were contrasted with a non-exposed referent population. The preferred relative risk model for radiation-induced nonchronic lymphoid leukemia (Beir V...

Lysosomal storage disorders constitute a large group of genetic diseases, many of which are characterized by mental retardation and other neurologic symptoms. The mechanisms of neural dysfunction remain poorly understood. Because neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are fundamentally important to normal brain development and function, we investigated NPC properties in a canine model of mucopolysaccha...

VI Glossary of Abbreviated Words VII Table of Figures VIII Chapter 1: Introduction I. Infectious Diseases 1 II. Classification of Bacteria 3 III. Biofilms 5 IV. Cholera 8 V. Antibiotics 11 VI. Heptosyltransferase and Biofilm Studies 14 VII. References 17 Chapter 2: E. coli Model System

We have assessed the suitability of retroviral vectors for gene therapy of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) in dogs expressing a mutated collagen type VII. Isolation and analysis of the 9 kb dog collagen type VII cDNA identified the causative genetic mutation G1906S and disclosed the interspecies conservation of collagen type VII. Highly efficient transfer of the wild-type coll...

OBJECTIVES To clarify the protective effects of Cichorium glandulosum (CG) extracts on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced rat hepatic fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS The dry roots of CG were smashed and percolated with 95% ethanol, and the residual was prepared into petroleum ether extract (CG-V), ethyl acetate extract (CG-VI) and n-butyl alcohol extract (CG-VII). Thirty-six Wistar rats were randoml...

........................................................................................................ III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................... V LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................. VII CHAPTER