The brachialis muscle (BR) represents an important elbow flexor and its activity has so far mainly been measured with intramuscular electromyography (EMG). The aim of this study was to examine whether the activity of the BR can be assessed with surface EMG without interference from the biceps brachii (BB). With eight subjects we measured surface EMG of the arm flexor synergists, BR, BB, and bra...

Recruitment of mural cells (MCs), namely pericytes and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), is essential to improve the maturation of newly formed vessels. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) has been suggested to promote the formation of larger and more muscularized vessels, but the underlying mechanisms of this process have not yet been elucidated. We first identified Shh as a target of platelet-derived growth facto...

Some human chronic dermal wounds treated with recombinant platelet-derived growth factor-BB (rPDGF-BB) show increased healing coupled with fibroblast activation and granulation tissue formation. To determine whether endogenous PDGF is associated with healing and nonhealing dermal ulcer phenotypes, we developed monoclonal antibodies capable of recognizing the three isoforms of PDGF, AA, AB, and ...

Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the agent of Lyme disease, is a zoonotic spirochetal bacterium that depends on arthropod (Ixodes ticks) and mammalian (rodent) hosts for its persistence in nature. The quest to identify borrelial genes responsible for Bb's parasitic dependence on these two diverse hosts has been hampered by limitations in the ability to genetically manipulate virulent strains of Bb. D...

BACKGROUND Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is a leading cause of blindness after failed retinal reattachment surgery. PVR is characterized by the proliferation, migration and contraction of retinal pigmented epithelial cells (RPE), and these cellular responses are influenced by the expression and function of integrin receptors. The effect of a cyclic integrin antagonist containing the ami...

N sweetclover (Melilotus alba Desr.) the allelic pair designated B/b was I originally thought to be concerned with coumarin biosynthesis. Extracts of BB plants were reported to contain substantial amounts of both free and bound coumarin, while extracts of bb plants contained only bound coumarin (GOPLEN. GREENSHIELDS and BAENZIGER 1957; HASKINS and GORZ 1957), more recently identified as coumari...