Haplotype frequencies of HLA* DQA1-0103-DQB1* 0601 in oral cancer

Haplotype frequencies of HLA* DQA1-0103-DQB1* 0601 in oral cancer patients were significantly ATM/ATR targets lower than those of the control group (odds ratio: 0.18, 95% confidence interval: 0.054-0.583, p(c) = 0.02). Our data suggest that HLA DQA1* 0103-DQB1* 0601 haplotype may be protective with regard to the development of oral cancer. Copyright (C) 2011, Elsevier

Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved.”
“Crystal-storing histiocytosis (CSH) is a rare consequence of abnormal accumulation of immunoglobulins which may arise in a number of different clinical scenarios. In this report, we describe the case of a male patient who presented with an apparently innocuous lesion on the dorsum of tongue which showed the typical features of CSH. Subsequent investigations revealed an associated plasmacytoma, and the patient developed further systemic lesions. The rarity of such lesions find more presents diagnostic difficulties, yet accurate diagnosis underpins the timely implementation of appropriate therapy. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2011;111:494-496)”
“To evaluate changes in anorectal symptoms before and after pelvic organ prolapse

(POP) surgery, using laparoscopic sacrocolpoperineopexy.

Preoperative and postoperative anorectal symptoms, colorectal-anal distress inventory (CRADI) and colorectal-anal impact questionnaire (CRAIQ) scores were prospectively compared from 90 consecutive women undergoing laparoscopic sacrocolpoperineopexy.

After a median follow-up of 30.7 months, laparoscopic surgery significantly worsened CRADI (p = 0.02) with no effect on CRAIQ (p = 0.37) scores. Post-operative and de novo straining (27%) and the need for digital assistance (17%) were the most frequent anorectal symptoms. No correlation was found between laparoscopic surgery and anorectal symptoms after multivariate analysis (OR = 2.45[95% confidence interval 0.99-6.05], p = 0.05).

Anorectal symptoms are not improved after POP surgery by laparoscopic sacrocolpoperineopexy.”
“In the present study, the antimicrobial susceptibilities of 97 Escherichia

coli isolates from birds, and 100 clinical selleck isolates from blood cultures, were determined by disk diffusion. The wild-type distributions were defined by the normalized resistance interpretation method. It is shown that the avian and clinical inhibition zone diameter distributions of wild-type E. coli are indistinguishable.”
“Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neuropsychiatric disorder. Previous studies have reported that children with ADHD exhibit deficits of adaptive function and insufficient motor ability. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between adaptive function and motor ability in children with ADHD compared with a group of normal children. The study group included 25 children with ADHD (19 boys and 6 girls), aged from 4.6 years to 8.

05) Conversely, MPH

05). Conversely, MPH XMU-MP-1 and DMA at very low concentrations (<= 0.25% v/v) induced cell toxicity. However, up to 2.0% v/v MPH and (DMA) had no effect on TEER and SF permeation. No obvious change in actin staining was observed for DMSO (15%), Cremophor (R) EL (15%), and MPA (1%). However, the actin architecture for cells treated with DMA (1%) and PEG 400 (15%) appeared significantly different from control. Based on this study Cremophor (<= 10%), PEG 400 (<= 5%), and DMSO (<= 5%), and low concentrations of DMA and MPA (<= 0.25%) were suitable for

in vitro studies with Calu-3 cells.”
“For decades the vitamin D biological system has been considered almost exclusively as the master integrator of calcium-phosphate homeostasis and bone metabolism. More recently, the discovery that many human tissues and cells, which do not directly participate in mineral ion homeostasis, express the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and are able to convert the circulating

pro-hormone 25-hydroxyvitamin D in its active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, has provided new insights into the biological function of this peculiar endocrine system. Several reports have highlighted a variety of human diseases possibly related to vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (respectively selleck products defined as 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels lower than 30 or lower than 20 ng/ml). In particular, experimental and observational studies, including those published in this journal issue, support the concept that vitamin D deficiency is involved in the pathogenesis of congestive heart failure, a disabling condition affecting over 15 million of patients worldwide. Considering that circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D represent the accepted clinical indicator of individual vitamin D status, the measurement of this pro-hormone can be regarded Nirogacestat as an appropriate and cost-effective screening tool in patients with chronic heart failure. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.”
“Topical

application of the drugs at the pathological sites offers potential advantages of delivering the drug directly to the site of action. The main aim of this work was to formulate and evaluate Miconazole nitrate (MN) loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) for topical application. MN-loaded SLN were prepared by modified solvent injection method and characterized for shape, surface morphology, particle size, and drug entrapment. These solid lipid nanoparticles were spherical in shape with smooth surface and possessed mean average size of 206.39 +/- 9.37 nm. In vitro drug release of MN-loaded SLN-bearing hydrogel was compared with MN suspension and MN hydrogel; MN-loaded SLN-bearing hydrogel depicted a sustained drug release over a 24-h period. Tape stripping experiments demonstrated 10-fold greater retention with MN-loaded SLN-bearing hydrogel as compared to MN suspension and MN hydrogel. The in vivo studies were performed by infecting the rats with candida species.

(c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved “
“OBJECTIVE:

(c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“OBJECTIVE:

Caspase inhibitor Hip fractures have been associated with increased mortality in the elderly. Several risk factors such as the time between the insult and the surgical repair have been associated with hip fracture mortality. Nevertheless, the risk of delayed surgical repair remains controversial. Few studies have examined this issue in Brazil. The aim of this study was to study the risk factors for death one year after hip fracture and in-hospital stay at a tertiary hospital in South Brazil.

METHODS: A prospective cohort study was carried out from April 2005 to April 2011 at a tertiary university hospital at Santa Maria, Brazil. Subjects admitted

selleck for hip fracture who were 65 years of age or older were followed for one year. Information about fracture type, age, gender, clinical comorbidities, time to surgery, discharge, and American Society of Anesthesiologists score were recorded. Death was evaluated during the hospital stay and at one year.

RESULTS: Four hundred and eighteen subjects were included in the final analysis. Of these, 4.3% died in-hospital and 15.3% were dead at one year. Time to surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, Ischemic Heart Disease, and in-hospital stay were associated with death at one year in the univariate analysis. The American Society of Anesthesiologists score and time to surgery were one-year mortality predictors in the final regression model. In-hospital death was associated with American Society of Anesthesiologists score and age.

CONCLUSION: Time to surgery is worryingly high at the South Brazil tertiary public health center studied here. Surgical delay is a risk factor that has the potential to be modified to improve mortality.”
“In the past three years, we have seen intense interest grow in graphene (G) and graphene oxide (GO) as new

sorbents in analytical chemistry. This article focuses on the adsorptive properties of G and GO and their compound inhibitor application in preconcentrating organic compounds and trace-metal ions, including trace analysis of water, food, biological and environmental samples using chromatography and spectroscopy techniques. Some methods of modification or chemical functionalization of G and GO are also discussed. The article shows that G, GO and their derivatives or composites can be very attractive as sorbents due to their adsorption capacities being much higher than those of any of the currently reported sorbents. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“OBJECTIVE: Fibrin glues have not been consistently successful in preventing the dehiscence of high-risk colonic anastomoses. Fibrinogen and thrombin concentrations in glues determine their ability to function as sealants, healers, and/or adhesives.

In conclusion, our results clearly demonstrated that the breed ha

In conclusion, our results clearly demonstrated that the breed had a potential impact on the meat quality, sensory, and volatile components.”
“Background: The world is facing an increased threat from new and emerging diseases, and there see more is concern that climate change will expand areas suitable for transmission of vector borne diseases. The likelihood of vivax malaria returning to the UK was explored using two markedly different modelling approaches. First, a simple temperature-dependent, process-based model of malaria growth transmitted by Anopheles atroparvus, the historical vector of malaria in the UK. Second,

a statistical model using logistic-regression was used to predict historical malaria incidence between 1917 and 1918 in the UK, based on environmental and demographic data. Using findings from these models and saltmarsh distributions,

future risk maps for malaria in the UK were produced based on UKCIP02 climate change scenarios.

Results: The process-based model of climate suitability showed good correspondence with historical records of malaria cases. An analysis of the statistical models showed that mean temperature of the warmest month of the year was the major factor explaining the distribution of malaria, further supporting the use of the temperature-driven processed-based model. The risk maps indicate that large areas of central and southern England selleck compound could support malaria transmission today and could increase in extent in the future. Confidence in these predictions is increased by the concordance between the processed-based and statistical models.

Conclusion: Although the future climate in the UK is favourable for the transmission of vivax malaria, the future risk of locally transmitted malaria is considered low because of low vector biting rates and the low probability of vectors feeding on

a malaria-infected Semaxanib order person.”
“In this article, we describe a novel bottom-up technique for the preparation of transparent conductive films of polyaniline (PANI). A UV-curable photoresist was formulated containing an acrylate-endcapped urethane oligomer [UA(PPG400)], acrylic acid, a photoinitiator, and a reactive diluent (tripropylene glycol diacrylate), and the lithography techniques were used to pattern the structure with line widths/spaces of 100 mu m/100 mu m, 10 mu m/10 mu m, and 5 mu m/5 mu m on a polyethylene terephthalate substrate. The carboxylic acid units on the surface of the patterned photoresist interacted with the aniline monomer units to form anilinium complexes; using ammonium persulfate as a chemical oxidant, we then synthesized a layer of conductive PANT on the surface of the patterned resist through in situ polymerization. The optimal conductivity of the PANI conductive film was ca. 10 S/cm.

Setting: University hearing research laboratories

and aud

Setting: University hearing research laboratories

and audiology clinics.

Patients: Fifty-five adults with hearing loss in at least 1 ear ranging from mild to severe.

Intervention: Automated measurement of pure tone air conduction thresholds using the following: a software-controlled adaptive method, and a user-controlled method of adjustment, both implemented on a calibrated iPad and using standard audiometry earphones.

Main Outcome Measure: Test-retest reliability of both methods, comparison of thresholds measured with automated techniques to thresholds measured using manual audiometry.

Results: For both iPad methods, this website test-retest differences were smaller than those reported in other studies for manual audiometry. Average automated versus manual threshold

differences were within the range of expected variance of manual audiometry. Subjects preferred the adjustment method.

Conclusion: Both iPad self-test methods yield accurate and reliable pure tone air conduction thresholds.”
“Although relative survival for breast cancer has improved in recent years, patients who present with metastatic disease have a less than 30% 5-year survival. Thus, improvements in treatment for these patients have the potential to have a significant impact on outcomes. Historically, removal of the primary breast tumor has been offered to these patients only for palliation. However, there have been recent reports that removal of the primary tumor may improve survival. Here, Selisistat we review the theories and data at the center of the debate, the landmark studies that historically guided treatment, the retrospective data that revisited the role of removal of the primary tumor, as well as the latest advances in basic science and the accruing clinical studies to provide for future directions in this field. Although the definitive role of removal of the primary tumor in metastatic breast cancer is not settled, it is critical to understand the complexities of this debate in order to make further gains in breast cancer survivorship.”
“Objective: To review and discuss the risks and impact of hypoglycemia and provide guidance for the prevention of hypoglycemia in type

2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods: We review and discuss the risks and impact of hypoglycemia, providing specific guidance regarding the prevention of hypoglycemia and judicial selection of glucose-lowering agents www.selleckchem.com/products/ly2606368.html in individuals with T2DM.

Results: Hypoglycemia in T2DM is underrecognized and underreported. Emerging evidence from large clinical trials suggest that hypoglycemia may be an important risk factor for morbidity and mortality in T2DM. In addition, hypoglycemia is associated with reduced quality of life, greater healthcare utilization costs, and poor adherence to medical regiments.

Conclusion: These findings have led professional organizations to emphasize the prevention of hypoglycemia as an important consideration when initiating or intensifying treatment regimens.

Further, lupus neutrophils – and, in particular, an aberrant subs

Further, lupus neutrophils – and, in particular, an aberrant subset called low-density granulocytes – have an increased propensity to undergo NETosis. Both interferon alpha (IFN alpha) and immune complexes are potential triggers of enhanced NETosis in lupus patients.

Summary

NETs

are a potent stimulus for IFNa release by plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and, as such, may play an important role in propagation of the lupus phenotype. NETs can also directly damage tissues – including the endothelium – with implications for lupus nephritis and accelerated atherosclerosis. Whether aberrant NETosis is sufficient to trigger systemic lupus erythematosus, and whether inhibition of NETosis can ameliorate clinical manifestations of lupus,

are open questions, and will selleckchem be exciting topics of future research.”
“Previous studies have demonstrated the selleck products benefits of cell seeding in the construction of tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVG). However, seeding methods are diverse and no method is clearly superior in either promoting seeding efficiency or improving long-term graft function. As we head into an era during which a variety of different TEVG are under investigation in clinical trials around the world, it is important to consider the regulatory issues surrounding the translation of these technologies. In this review, we summarize important advances in the field of vascular tissue engineering, click here with particular attention on cell-seeding techniques for TEVG development and special emphasis placed on regulatory issues concerning the clinical translation of these various

methods.”
“Purpose of review

Last year was marked by important clinical and mechanistic studies that improved our understanding of B-cell immunotherapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjogren’s syndrome. Here, we will highlight the most relevant studies published in the last 18 months.

Recent findings

The highlight of the year was the approval of belimumab on the basis of two major trials. On the flip side, the disappointing results of rituximab in lupus nephritis provided a clinical and mechanistic counterpoint in SLE. Still, major limitations in the LUpus Nephritis Assessment with Rituximab (LUNAR) trial, positive subset analysis and new open studies and registries continue to provide hope for and major insights into the use of B-cell depletion. In Sjogren’s syndrome, the role of B-cell depletion has been further investigated, both for glandular and extraglandular manifestations of the disease with mixed results in a disease in which outcomes are notoriously hard to measure.

Therefore,

the material obtained showed properties that s

Therefore,

the material obtained showed properties that suggest its promising applications as wound dressings or as scaffolds for animal cell cultures. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012″
“Purpose: To quantify the excursion of interventricular septum (IVS) in patients after repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), a marker of interventricular interaction, and assess its association with left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, LV septal wall thickening, and LV fibrosis.

Materials and Methods: The HIPAA-compliant protocol received institutional board review approval. IVS excursion was measured at cardiovascular magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in 82 patients after repair of TOF and in 10 healthy volunteers. IVS excursion was correlated with LV ejection fraction, LV septal wall thickening, and LV delayed gadolinium enhancement. Independent predictors of reduced LV ejection fraction were

identified, including significant univariable PI3K inhibitor predictors with use of a multivariable logistic regression model.

Results: IVS excursion was greater in patients than in healthy volunteers (5.3 mm +/- 3.1 vs 1.2 mm +/- 0.4, P < .01). Patients (n = 68) with abnormal excursion of the IVS had reduced LV ejection fraction (57% +/- 7 vs 61% +/- 4, P < .01) and reduced LV septal wall thickening (24% +/- 10 vs 29% +/- 5, P = .01) compared with patients with normal IVS excursion. Maximal IVS excursion (odds ratio = 1.27 per millimeter, P = .03) and right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (odds ratio = Acalabrutinib inhibitor 0.92 per percentage, P = .031) were independent predictors of reduced LV ejection fraction (< 55%). Among the 44 patients with

delayed enhancement images, those with abnormal excursion of the IVS had higher LV delayed enhancement scores (median, 1.5 [interquartile range, 0-2] vs 0 [interquartile range, 0-0]; P < .01] than patients with normal IVS excursion. Notably, in all but one patient the delayed enhancement was located at the RV-LV hinge points.

Conclusion: Abnormal IVS excursion after repair of TOF is associated with reduced global and septal LV systolic function and LV fibrosis at the RV-LV hinge points, suggesting a mechanism of adverse interventricular interaction. (C) RSNA, 2011″
“To investigate gender difference in the effects of daytime sleep on item and source PXD101 memories, which are dissociable elements of declarative memory, and the effects of sleep on recollection and familiarity, which are two processes underlying recognition.

Participants saw a series of pictures with either blue or red background, and were then given a pretest for item and source memories. Then males and females respectively were randomly assigned either to a wake or a sleep condition. In the wake condition, participants remained awake until the posttest; in the sleep condition, participants slept for 1 h until awakened and asked to remain awake until the posttest.

(Ericaceae)

(Ericaceae) Selleckchem Selonsertib as a plant model. We investigated the effect of Al-stress on the physiological performance, oxidative metabolism and expression of genes that encode antioxidant enzymes in two V. corymbosum cultivars maintained hydroponically with AlCl(3) (0 and 100 mu M). Microscopic analyses of AI-treated root tips suggested a higher degree of Al-induced morphological injury in Bluegold (sensitive genotype) compared to

Brigitta (resistant genotype). Furthermore, the results indicated that Brigitta had a greater ability to control oxidative stress under Al-toxicity, as reflected by enhancement of several antioxidative and physiological properties (radical scavenging activity: RSA, superoxide dismutase: SOD and catalase: CAT; maximum quantum yield: Fv/Fm, effective quantum yield: 04)511, electron transport rate: ETR and non-photochemical quenching: NPQ). Finally, we analyzed the expression of genes homologous to GST and ALDH, which were identified in a global expression analysis. In the resistant genotype, the expression of these genes in response to Al-stress was greater in leaves than in roots. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“Fe(100-x)Ga(x) (x = 10-25) melt-spun ribbons, with a width of 8 mm and a thickness of 0.1 mm, were successfully produced regardless of the Ga content of the Fe-Ga alloys. The saturation magnetization of the Fe-Ga melt-spun ribbons decreased and their permeability

increased with increasing Ga content. A magnetostriction of 320 ppm was achieved in the Fe(87.5)Ga(12.5) melt-spun ribbon. Annealing of the melt-spun ribbons resulted in further increases PD0325901 in magnetostriction value. A large magnetostriction value of 500 ppm was achieved in the annealed Fe(80)Ga(20) melt-spun ribbon with the A(2) (bcc alpha-Fe) structure. (C) 2011

American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3554262]“
“PURPOSE: To examine the postoperative positional stability of a new angle-supported, hydrophobic acrylic phakic intraocular lens (pIOL).

SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Akt inhibitors in clinical trials Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

METHODS: In this prospective nonrandomized clinical trial, eyes with moderate to high myopia had implantation of an angle-supported pIOL (AcrySof Cachet). Scheimpflug imaging was performed preoperatively and postoperatively at 1, 3, 6 to 12, and 24 to 36 months. The main outcome measures were the distance between the corneal endothelium and the IOL and between the IOL and the crystalline lens. The overall significance threshold was P = .05.

RESULTS: Twenty-one of the 26 eyes (26 patients) evaluated were included in the statistical analysis. Analysis of variance showed no statistically significant differences in absolute endothelium IOL or IOL crystalline lens measurements at any postoperative visit. The mean endothelium IOL distance was 2.05 mm +/- 0.25 (SD) at 1 month and 2.15 +/- 0.

The system covered stocks of the four different dosage packs of a

The system covered stocks of the four different dosage packs of artemether-lumefantrine ( AL) and quinine injectable.

Results: Stock count data was provided in 95% check details of cases, on average. A high response rate (>= 93%) was maintained throughout the pilot. The error rate for composition of SMS responses averaged 7.5% throughout the study; almost all errors were corrected and messages re-sent. Data accuracy, based on surveillance visits to health facilities, was 94%. District stock reports were accessed on average once a day. The proportion of health facilities with no stock of one or more anti-malarial medicine ( i.e. any of the

four dosages of AL or quinine injectable) fell from 78% at week 1 to 26% at week 21. In Lindi Rural district, stock-outs were eliminated by week 8 with virtually no stock-outs thereafter. During the Selleck eFT-508 study, AL stocks increased by 64% and quinine stock increased 36% across the three districts.

Conclusions: The SMS for Life pilot provided visibility of anti-malarial stock levels to support more efficient stock management using simple and widely available SMS technology, via a public-private partnership model

that worked highly effectively. The SMS for Life system has the potential to alleviate restricted availability of anti-malarial drugs or other medicines in rural or under-resourced areas.”
“Cotton is under the constant threat of leaf curl virus, which is a major constraint

for successful production of cotton in the Pakistan. A total of 3338 cotton genotypes belonging to different research stations were screened, but none were found to be resistant against the Burewala strain of cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV). We explored the possibility of transferring virus-resistant genes from Gossypium arboreum (2n = 26) into G. hirsutum (2n = 52) through conventional breeding techniques. Hybridization was done manually between an artificial autotetraploid of G. arboreum and an allotetraploid G. hirsutum, under field GKT137831 purchase conditions. Boll shedding was controlled by application of exogenous hormones, 50 mg/L gibberellic acid and 100 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid. Percentage pollen viability in F-1 hybrids was 1.90% in 2(G. arboreum) x G. hirsutum and 2.38% in G. hirsutum x G. arboreum. Cytological studies of young buds taken from the F-1 hybrids confirmed that they all were sterile. Resistance against CLCuV in the F-1 hybrids was assessed through grafting, using the hybrid plant as the scion; the stock was a virus susceptible cotton plant, tested under field and greenhouse conditions. All F-1 cotton hybrids showed resistance against CLCuV, indicating that it is possible to transfer resistant genes from the autotetraploid of the diploid donor specie G. arboreum into allotetraploid G.

In gastroduodenal mucosal injury, the plasma ghrelin levels incre

In gastroduodenal mucosal injury, the plasma ghrelin levels increase in response to the demand for gastroduodenal cytoprotection. However, in the condition of Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric mucosal severe atrophy, the plasma ghrelin concentration shifted to lower levels. In diabetic gastroparesis, the regulation of ghrelin DZNeP inhibitor secretion is impaired with vagal nerve dysfunction. Selective ghrelin agonist is expected to represent a new class of prokinetic agent. In addition, the plasma ghrelin levels are also enhanced by systemic oxidative stress, and ghrelin exhibits antioxidant effects in many organs, such

as heart, pancreas, and lung. This suggests that ghrelin would be an important player as a sensor of systemic oxidative stress.”
“Cluster headache (CH) is considered the most painful form of primary headaches. It is characterized by severe unilateral pain, typically associated with autonomic manifestations

and may be divided into an episodic and a chronic check details form. The latter is often resistant to a multitude of medication and is, therefore, very hard to treat. In 2002, our group developed a technique for the endoscopic sphenopalatine ganglion block that was able to ameliorate the symptoms in 55% of drug-resistant chronic CH patients. This paper is intended as an update on the technique as well as a comparison in effectiveness to our prior approach.”
“Curing characteristics, tensile properties, fatigue life, swelling behavior, and morphology of waste tire dust (WTD)/carbon black (CB) hybrid filler filled natural selleck chemicals rubber (NR) compounds were studied. The WTD/CB hybrid filler filled NR compounds were compounded at 30 phr hybrid filler loading with increasing partial replacement of CB at 0, 10, 15, 20, and 30 phr. The curing characteristics

such as scorch time, t(2) and cure time, t(90) decreased and increased with increment of CB loading in hybrid filler (30 phr content), respectively. Whereas maximum torque (M(HR)) and minimum torque (M(L)) increased with increasing CB loading. The tensile properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break, and tensile modulus of WTD/CB hybrid filler filled NR compounds showed steady increment as CB loading increased. The fatigue test showed that fatigue life increased with increment of CB loading. Rubber-filler interaction, Q(f)/Q(g) indicated that the NR compounds with the highest CB loading exhibited the highest rubber-filler interactions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs of tensile and fatigue fractured surfaces and rubber-filler interaction study supported the observed result on tensile properties and fatigue life. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 1143-1150, 2011″
“Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the catabolism of heme, followed by production of biliverdin, free iron and carbon monoxide (CO).