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"Empirical evidence shows that Internet banks worldwide have underperformed newly chartered traditional banks mainly because of their higher overhead costs. European banks have not been an exception in this regard. This paper analyses, for the first time in Europe, whether this is a temporary phenomenon and whether Internet banks may generate scale economies in excess of those available to traditional banks. Also do they (and their customers) accumulate experience with this new business model, allowing them to perform as well or even better than their peers, the traditional banks? To this end, we have generally followed the same analytical framework and methodology used by""DeYoung (2001, 2002, 2005)""for Internet banks in the USA although the limitations in the availability of data, as well as the existence of different regulatory frameworks and market conditions, particularly in the retail segment, in the 15 European Union countries have required some modifications to the methodology. The empirical analysis confirms that, as is the case for US banks, European Internet banks show technologically based scale economies, while no conclusive evidence exists of technology based learning economies. As Internet banks get larger, the profitability gap with traditional banks shrinks. To the extent that Internet banks are profitable, European authorities may encourage a larger number of consumers to use this delivery channel, by tackling consumers security concerns. This would allow Internet banks to capture more of the potential scale efficiencies implied in our estimations." Copyright 2007 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

We examined the expression of interstitial collagenase and its enzymatic activity in lung damage induced by tobacco smoke. Guinea pigs were exposed to the smoke of 20 cigarettes per day from 1-8 wk. Age-matched guinea pigs were used as controls. At 6 and 8 wk of smoke exposure, lungs exhibited interstitial and peribronchiolar inflammation and moderate emphysematous changes. In situ hybridization of injured lungs revealed patchy expression of collagenase mRNA mainly in macrophages but also in alveolar epithelial and interstitial cells. Immunoreactive protein was detected in alveolar macrophages and in the alveolar walls and interstitium. Collagenolytic activity increased beginning in the 4th wk of exposure (0.7 +/- 0.43 micrograms collagen degraded/mg collagen incubated relative to 0.23 +/- 0.14 in controls; P < 0.05). At 6 and 8 wk, values were 0.85 +/- 0.34 and 0.98 +/- 0.33 compared with 0.25 +/- 0.11 and 0.26 +/- 13 in controls (P < 0.005 and 0.001). Collagen concentration decreased from 50.7 +/- 8.5 mg/g dry wt in control lungs to 40.2 +/- 5.0 and 42.9 +/- 6.0 at 6 and 8 wk of exposure, respectively (P < 0.05). These results strongly suggest that increased interstitial collagen degradation plays a role in the development of lung emphysema.

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These observations show that the human Fallopian tube expresses PAFr and PAF-AH at a location compatible with the proposed paracrine role of early embryo-derived PAF.

Purpose: To examine the in vitro effects of subretinal fluid (SRF) from patients with retinal detachment on extracellular matrix turnover. Methods: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity was explored by radiolabeled substrate degradation and zymography. Human lung fibroblasts were used to analyze SRF effects on collagen synthesis and cell proliferation. Transforming growth factor-β₂ (TGF-β₂) concentration was determined in SRF samples by a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Results: MMP-2 and MMP-9 gelatinolytic activity was observed in all SRF samples. Collagenase activity was not detected in SRF from patients with holes and recurrent retinal detachment. All SRF samples stimulated fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis but SRF samples from recurrent retinal detachment patients with previous retinal tears had the largest effect with the largest TGF-β₂ concentration. Conclusions: The gelatinolytic activity found in all SRF samples might be associated with the retinal detachment process. Low collagenase activity with an increase in collagen synthesis could indicate a risk factor to the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Interaction of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with the oviductal epithelium in vitro was examined in 2 cm length segments obtained after surgical sterilization from users of copper T intrauterine device (IUD) or Norplant and control women. Segments perfused with N.gonorrhoeae suspensions were incubated from 30 min up to 4 h, fixed, frozen and cut in 6--10 microm sections. Bacteria were detected immunohistochemically with rabbit anti-gonococcal serum followed by light and confocal microscopy. Adhesion and internalization of gonococci by epithelial cells were observed at all incubation times, and both were higher in explants from users of copper T IUD or Norplant implants than controls. The epithelium of controls expressed CD66 and syndecan-1; but CD46 was found in only one out of six cases. The epithelium of copper T IUD users expressed CD66 but not syndecan-1 or CD46. Users of Norplant exhibited expression of CD46, CD66 and syndecan-1. Label was always found along the luminal border of the epithelium. There were more intraepithelial lymphocytes in users of contraceptive methods than in controls. Results indicate that (i) N.gonorrhoeae invade the oviductal epithelium from the first minutes of exposure, (ii) the epithelium is constitutively endowed with two known receptors for the gonococcus, CD66 and syndecan-1, (iii) copper T IUD and Norplant users exhibit higher rates of attachment and internalization of the gonococcus into the oviductal epithelium associated with changes in expression of gonococcal receptors.