The solution behaviour of b-glucans in a gastrointestinal model was investigated in order to explore the mechanisms explaining the physiological effects of the soluble fibre. Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation was used to determine the molar mass distribution, and in-line calcofluor labelling allowed specific detection of b-glucans in complex samples. When dispersed in water, weight-averag

Background: A blunted growth hormone and prolactin response to pharmacological stress test have previously been found in depressed patients, as well as an increased cortisol response to psychosocial stress. This study investigated these hormones in response to acute exercise using an incremental bicycle test. Method: A cross-sectional comparison of cortisol, growth hormone, and prolactin in depres

Moderate alcohol consumption has been suggested to protect against venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, it is not known how alcohol abuse and its associated somatic complications affect the risk of VTE. The present study determined the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities in patients with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in Sweden. All inpatients wi

In 2012 and 2014 the γ-ray tracking spectrometer AGATA was operated at the SIS/FRS facility at GSI in Darmstadt, Germany. The performance of the array is discussed, outlining some important aspects of the offline data processing and analysis. Relying on the data obtained from measurements with standard γ-ray sources, a first estimate of the photopeak efficiency and peak-to-total (P/T) is presented

Insulin is released from pancreatic beta-cells as a result of Ca(2+)-evoked exocytosis of dense-core granules. Secretion is biphasic, which has been suggested to correspond to the release of different granule pools. Here we review and carefully reanalyze previously published patch-clamp data on depolarization-evoked Ca(2+)-currents and corresponding capacitance measurements. Using a statistical mi

Undergraduate medical education in Sweden has moved from nationally regulated, subject-based courses to programmes integrated either around organ systems or physiological and patho-physiological processes, or organised around basic medical science in conjunction with clinical specialities, with individual profiles at the seven medical schools. The national regulations are restricted to overall aca

A range of monomeric tetra-coordinate copper (II) and zinc (II) complexes based on N,O-bidentate salicylaldimine Schiff base ligands has been synthesized and characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. These complexes were then evaluated as initiators in ring-opening polymerization of lactides at both 70 degrees C and 110 degrees C. The effect of structural changes in the complexes on th

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a Parkinson's Disease (PD)-like alpha-synucleinopathy clinically characterized by dysautonomia, parkinsonism, cerebellar ataxia, and pyramidal signs in any combination. We aimed to determine whether the clinical presentation of MSA as well as diagnostic and therapeutic strategies differ across Europe and Israel. In 19 European MSA Study Group centres all consecutiv

Clubhouses are supposed to follow the International Clubhouse Standards, but they also need to make adaptations according to national and local contexts. This article compares the implementation of peer support elements in the clubhouse model in two different social contexts: the Swedish and the Japanese welfare systems. Participatory observations and interviews with members and staff at a Swedish

Many biting midges of the genus CulicoidesLatreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are competent vectors of a diverse number of pathogens. The identification of their feeding behaviour and of vector-host associations is essential for understanding their transmission capacity. By applying two different nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, of which one targeted the avian cyt b gene and t

How hard are geometric vision problems with outliers? We show that for most fitting problems, a solution that minimizes the num- ber of outliers can be found with an algorithm that has polynomial time- complexity in the number of points (independent of the rate of outliers). Further, and perhaps more interestingly, other cost functions such as the truncated L2 -norm can also be handled within the

Attenuation-based tomosynthesis has proven to successfully resolve the glandular tissue overlap present in mammography. However, the ability of tomosynthesis to differentiate tumorous and glandular tissue remains limited, due to the small differences in X-ray attenuation in breast tissue. One possibility to overcome this limitation and to further increase the diagnostic value of tomosynthesis exam

Proteoglycans (PGs) are important macromolecules in mammalian cells, consisting of a core protein substituted with carbohydrate chains, known as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Simple xylosides carrying hydrophobic aglycons can enter cells and act as primers for GAG chain synthesis, independent of the core protein. Previously it has been shown that aromatic aglycons can be separated from the sugar resi

Cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR), an enzyme central to the lignin biosynthetic pathway, represents a promising biotechnological target to reduce lignin levels and to improve the commercial viability of lignocellulosic biomass. However, silencing of the CCR gene results in considerable flux changes of the general and monolignol-specific lignin pathways, ultimately leading to the accumulation of variou

We studied the sorption (batch equilibrium experiments) and desorption (consecutively harsher supercritical fluid extractions) of lindane to different types of sediment and food particles, as well as larval uptake in standardized peat-based artificial sediment toxicity tests with the midge Chironomus riparius. Lindane sorption to organic particles was fast and efficient, reaching 98 +/- 0.1 and 97

In many countries, regional income inequality has followed an inverted U-shaped curve, growing during industrialisation and market integration and declining thereafter. By contrast, Sweden’s regional inequality dropped from 1860 to 1980 and did not show this U-shaped pattern. Accordingly, today’s regional income inequality in Sweden is lower than in other European countries. We note that the prime

Intravenous thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator is the only proven acute therapy for ischemic stroke. This therapy has not been translated into clinical practice in the developing world primarily due to economic constraints. Streptokinase, a lower cost alternative thrombolytic agent, is widely available in developing countries where it is utilized to treat patients with acute coronary s

Lung transplantation (LTx) is a therapeutic option for patients with life-threatening chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that is refractory to conventional therapies. The survival benefit of LTx for COPD is difficult to assess. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Swedish series of LTx performed to treat COPD and to identify differences in outcome between COPD related to severe alph

Eosinophils natively inhabit the small intestine, but a functional role for them there has remained elusive. Here, we show that eosinophil-deficient mice were protected from induction of Th2-mediated peanut food allergy and anaphylaxis, and Th2 priming was restored by reconstitution with il4(+/+) or il4(-/-) eosinophils. Eosinophils controlled CD103(+) dendritic cell (DC) activation and migration

Vibrationally resolved valence-shell photoionization spectra of H(2), N(2) and CO have been measured in the photon energy range 20-300 eV using third-generation synchrotron radiation. Young's double-slit interferences lead to oscillations in the corresponding vibrational ratios, showing that the molecules behave as two-center electron-wave emitters and that the associated interferences leave their