The tyrosine kinase Pyk2 plays a unique role in intracellular signal transduction by linking Ca(2+) influx to tyrosine phosphorylation, but the molecular mechanism of Pyk2 activation is unknown. We report that Pyk2 oligomerization by antibodies in vitro or overexpression of PSD-95 in PC6-3 cells induces trans-autophosphorylation of Tyr402, the first step in Pyk2 activation. In neurons, Ca(2+) i...

The “Petlyuk” or “dividing-wall” or “fully thermally coupled” distillation column is an interesting alternative to the conventional cascaded binary columns for separation of multi-component mixtures. However, the industrial use has been limited, and difficulties in operation have been reported as one reason. With three product compositions controlled, the system has two degrees of freedom left ...

Methods From 2008–2009, patients at a private infertility clinic in Kirkland, WA could elect onsite adjuvant acupuncture on the day of ET. Of 464 patients who received ET, 188 elected acupuncture (Acu) and 276 did not (No Acu). The Acu group received two standardized acupuncture treatments. Prior to ET, the following points were needled: GV20, PC6, ST29, SP8, LV3 and R6 with Shenmen and Brain o...

There are only few scientific publications dealing with the basic investigation of the effects of only one or two acupoints or comparing one single point with another single point, using different stimulation methods in the same persons. The aim of this needle-controlled, randomized crossover study was to investigate the neurovegetative parameters heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV...

BACKGROUND Postoperative sore throat occurs frequently in surgical patients as a result of tracheal intubation. Despite advances in medical and anaesthetic care, the incidence of postoperative sore throat remains high. Our study aimed to assess the efficacy of acupuncture in the prevention of postoperative sore throat following general anaesthesia. METHODS A non-randomised clinical study (NRS...

Dear editor Postoperative shivering still occurs as a complication of general anaesthesia. 2 Shivering depends on age, sex, duration of anaesthesia and type of anaesthetic agent(s). Primarily due to anaesthetic agents such as isoflurane, this type of shivering presents as spontaneous muscular activity in patients with normal body temperature after general anaesthesia for specific operations. 5 ...