BACKGROUND Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is an accurate and precise biomarker for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in humans and cats. Serum creatinine (sCr) also correlates with GFR, but has limitations as a biomarker of renal function because nonrenal factors can influence its concentration. HYPOTHESIS Differences in lean body mass (LBM) influence sCr, but not serum SDMA conc...

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is staged on the basis of glomerular filtration rate; generally, the MDRD study estimate, eGFR, is used. Renal dysfunction (RD) in heart transplant (HT) patients is often evaluated solely in terms of serum creatinine (SCr). In a cross-sectional, 14-center study of 1062 stable adult HT patients aged 59.1±12.5 yr (82.3% men), RD was graded as absent-or-mild (AoM), mod...

We have undertaken a developmental genetic analysis of the homeotic gene Sex combs reduced (Scr) of Drosophila melanogaster by examining embryonic and adult phenotypes of mutations affecting Scr gene function. Molecular mapping of Scr breakpoint lesions has defined a segment of greater than 70 kb of DNA necessary for proper Scr gene function. This region is split by the fushi tarazu (ftz) gene,...

A variety of cardiac arrhythmias are initiated by a focal excitation that disrupts the regular beating of the heart. In some cases it is known that these excitations are due to calcium (Ca) release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) via propagating subcellular Ca waves. However, it is not understood what are the physiological factors that determine the timing of these excitations at both the ...

The Drosophila HOX transcription factor, Sex combs reduced (SCR), is required for determining labial and the first thoracic segmental identity. A Protein Phosphatase 2A holoenzyme assembled with the PP2A-B' regulatory subunit is proposed to specifically interact with, and dephosphorylate, the SCR homeodomain activating SCR protein activity. To test this hypothesis further, a null mutation was c...

BACKGROUND Serum creatinine (SCr) is the most commonly used parameter to estimate renal function impairement, but there are some shortcomings. Many factors including age, gender, drug, diet, muscle mass and metabolic rate can influence SCr, leading to an inaccurate estimation of kidney impairment. Studies have shown that cystatin C (CysC) is not affected by factors such as muscle mass, age, gen...

A study about the piezoresistive Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) cantilever for a chemical sensitive mass based sensor has been carried out to enhance sensor sensitivity. The sensitive region attracts the CO2 molecules there by introducing the stress concentration region (SCR). Three types of SCR geometry designs were first analysed using Intellisuite software to study the effect of str...

A study about the piezoresistive Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) cantilever for a chemical sensitive mass based sensor has been carried out to enhance sensor sensitivity. The sensitive region attracts the CO2 molecules there by introducing the stress concentration region (SCR). Three types of SCR geometry designs were first analysed using Intellisuite software to study the effect of str...

BACKGROUND Elevated serum creatinine (SCr) levels are a predictor of end-stage renal disease, but little is known about the prevalence of elevated SCr levels and their correlates in the community. METHODS In this cross-sectional, community-based sample, SCr levels were measured in 6233 adults (mean age, 54 years; 54% women) who composed the "broad sample" of this investigation. A subset, cons...

Context. The recently discovered star SCR 1845-6357 (hereafter SCR 1845) is the first late M/T dwarf binary discovered. SCR 1845 is a particular object due to its tight orbit (currently around 4 AU) and its proximity to the Sun (3.85 pc). Aims. We present spatially resolved VLT/NACO images and low resolution spectra of SCR 1845 in the J, H and K near-infrared bands. Since the T dwarf companion,...