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Background: Joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is usually evaluated by radiographs of both hands and feet, while the inflammatory status mostly is evaluated by DAS28 which, however, does not include the feet. Objectives: To investigate the distribution of erosions in hands and feet in early RA over 8 years and its potential clinical implications. Furthermore, the group of patients neve

Background. Oral contraceptive use has been previously associated with an increased risk of suicidal behavior in some, but not all, samples. The use of large, representative, longitudinally-assessed samples may clarify the nature of this potential association. Methods. We used Swedish national registries to identify women born between 1991 and 1995 (N = 216 702) and determine whether they retrieve

Purpose: The use of optical surface systems (OSSs) for patient setup verification in external radiation therapy is increasing. To manage potential deformations in a patient’s anatomy, a novel deformable image registration (DIR) tool has been applied in a commercial OSS. In this study we investigate the accuracy of the DIR as compared to rigid image registration (RR). Methods and Materials: The pos

Objectives: To carry out genetic and serological analyses of a Swiss blood donor and a Danish patient carrying an aberrant ABO phenotype with weak A expression. Background: ABO is the most clinically important blood group system but also one of the most complex. The system antigens are determined by carbohydrate structures generated by A and B glycosyltransferases encoded by the ABO gene. Genetic

The 3D printing industry has been recently affected by two events: the fact that open source (OS) business models are getting momentum, and the widespread diffusion of the Maker Movement. We argue that 3D printers can be conceptualised as innovations which embody both technological and symbolic aspects. If innovations of the first type are solely adopted for their technical utility, innovations wh

Background: Atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter (AF/AFL) burden increases with increasing duration of AF/AFL history. Hypothesis: Outcomes with dronedarone may also be impacted by duration of AF/AFL history. Methods: In this post hoc analysis of ATHENA, efficacy and safety of dronedarone vs placebo were assessed in groups categorized by time from first known AF/AFL episode to randomization (ie, dur

All the organisms have developed defensive against different (parasites, harsh environmental conditions or contaminants) to which they should face in their environments. To deal with these selective factors, birds have developed defensive mechanisms such as the uropygial gland, which produces a secretion acting as a physico-chemical defensive barrier against a high diversity of ectoparasites and p

The aim of this study was to investigate the appearance of a disturbed oropharyngeal microbiota during hospitalization and explore the patient characteristics that maybe associated with such a disturbance. Oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 134 patients at hospital admission and every 3–4 days thereafter. The samples were cultivated to determine the presence of a disturbed microbiota, which,

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An overview of housing assessment tools developed or adapted for research use in East and Southeast Asia is currently lacking. A scoping review was conducted to address this knowledge gap. PubMed, Web of Science and CINAHL were searched for relevant scientific literature, and 22 articles were selected. Besides study-specific checklists, two assessment tools validated for use in Asia and three vali

This work provides, for the first time, new information regarding the kinetics interaction between N2O and propyl alcohol isomers. To this end, the formation and consumption of atomic oxygen were measured behind the reflected shock waves using Atomic Resonance Absorption Spectroscopy (ARAS) technique for 1–10 ppm n- i-propanol + 10 ppm N2O + Ar mixtures, at 2–3 bar and over a wide temperature rang

Introduction: Lymph node metastases are a key prognostic factor in prostate cancer (PCa), but detecting lymph node lesions from PET/CT images is a subjective process resulting in inter-reader variability. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods can provide an objective image analysis. We aimed at developing and validating an AI-based tool for detection of lymph node lesions. Methods: A group of

This study experimentally investigates the radiation heat flux distribution received on the floor due to fire plume impinging upon an inclined ceiling, which has not been quantified previously. The radiation heat fluxes were measured on the floor for 160 experimental conditions, involving various fire source heat release rates, source-ceiling heights, angles of ceiling inclination and dimensions (

Background: To understand how the neuronal circuits in the brain process information there is a need for novelneuro-electronic interfaces that can interact chronically with brain tissue with minimal disturbance of thephysiological conditions in the tissue, in awake and freely moving animals. For this, there is a need for implantableneuro-electronic interfaces that are mechanically compliant with t

Background: Interatrial block (IAB) and abnormal P-wave terminal force in lead V1 (PTFV1) are electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities that have been shown to be associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) and death. However, their prognostic importance has not been proven in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) recipients. Objective: To assess if IAB and abnormal PTFV1 are associated wi

The sharing of indoor space can improve space and energy efficiency. The drivers and barriers to space-sharing initiatives are investigated from the perspectives of building users and building sector practitioners, based on interviews and a workshop. The role of energy performance metrics in promoting space efficiency is further analysed through a literature review. From the users’ perspective, sp

Housing preferences and housing decision-making in later life are critical aspects of aging in place, which is a public health priority in many Western countries. However, few studies have examined the economic, social, and health factors that guide older adults’ preferences and decisions about where to live, and even less so among older adults with low income or disabilities who may face greater