BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis is associated with higher mortality in elderly patients, but the role of surgery in this group has not been fully evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess outcomes of left-sided infective endocarditis in elderly patients and to determine the influence of surgery on mortality in the elderly. METHODS AND RESULTS: A nationwide retrospective study was performed

Tau neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) pathology in the medial temporal lobe (MTL) is closely linked to neurodegeneration, and is the early pathological change associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). To elucidate patterns of structural change in the MTL specifically associated with tau pathology, we compared high-resolution ex vivo MRI scans of human postmortem MTL specimens with histology-based patho

A well-known property of sexual selection combined with a cross-sex genetic correlation (rmf) is that it can facilitate a peak shift on the adaptive landscape. How do these diversifying effects of sexual selection + rmf balance with the constraints imposed by such sexual antagonism, to affect the macroevolution of sexual dimorphism? Here, I extend existing quantitative genetic models of evolution

Recent clinical trials of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy for various inflammatory conditions have highlighted the significant benefit to patients who respond to MSC administration. Thus, there is strong interest in investigating MSC therapy in acute inflammatory lung conditions, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Unfortunately, not all patients respond, and evidence now su

We suggest the hybrid model for the description of the dipole spreading widths, in which the strength function is built on the one-phonon strength distribution folded with the energy-dependent Lorentzian. Its energy dependence is brought about by (i) the energy-dependent smearing parameter and (ii) the energy-dependent shift of the one-phonon states. These variables are estimated by means of the t

While there is almost unanimous consent among scientists that climate change is real and has detrimental consequences, there is a sizable number of people who are skeptical towards these propositions and who are not worried by climate change. In an attempt to understand the basis of climate skepticism, we look at the role of intolerance, a culturally transmitted attitude to the effect that people

Detailed reaction kinetics of acrolein + H and related chemistry and its influence on the ignition delay time prediction of acrolein has been studied theoretically in this work. The geometry optimization and vibrational frequency calculations for every stationary point were performed at the BH&HLYP/6–311++G(d,p) level of theory, with one-dimensional hindered rotation treatments applied for low

Background: Stroke is a common cause of mortality and disability worldwide and continuously updated, thorough information of itsoccurrence and outcome is needed. In recent years, multiple advances have been made in stroke prevention and treatment that mayhave changed the epidemiology and outcome of stroke.Aims: To investigate updated population-based stroke epidemiology as well as long-term surviv

Stingless bees are important pollinators in the tropics. The tremendous variation in body size makes them an excellent group to study how miniaturization affects vision and visual behaviours. Using direct measurements and micro-CT, we reconstructed the eye structure, estimated anatomical spatial resolution and optical sensitivity of the stingless bee Tetragonula iridipennis. T. iridipennis is simi

Purpose of Review: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common forms of arthritis in the general population, accounting for more pain and functional disability than any other musculoskeletal disease. There are currently no approved disease modifying drugs for OA. In the absence of effective pharmacotherapy, many patients with OA turn to nutritional supplements and nutraceuticals, including collagen der

The potential risks of climate change on the built environment involve large uncertain-ties. This poses an intricate problem to designers and challenges a long-standing tradition of built infrastructure design. More specifically, designers are faced with this challenging question: how to rationally account for climate change risks when designing a new asset? A framework that holistically addresses

Extracellular vesicles are released during infectious, inflammatory and prothrombotic conditions. These are membrane-derived vesicles shed by cells during activation, senescence and/or apoptosis. Extracellular vesicles contain and transfer components of the parent cell from which they are shed. During gastrointestinal infection with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) extracellular vesicles

Precarious employment (PE) has been linked to adverse health effects, possibly mediated through psychosocial hazards. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to explore if higher levels of PE are associated with psychosocial hazards (experiences of violence, sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination, high demands, and low control) and to explore gender differences in these patterns. The study i

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Urinary diversion (UD) with or without cystectomy is a procedure with high short term complication rates. In this review, we summarize the most relevant findings of the last 2 years. RECENT FINDINGS: The use of a prophylactic mesh decreases the risk of parastomal hernia after ileal conduit (IC) surgery without adding mesh-related complications according to a recent randomized mu

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the association between diet and lifestyle factors, beyond traditional risk factors, and the risk of incident ACVD. The Malmö Diet and Cancer study included 30,446 middle-aged individuals. Baseline examinations including a dietary assessment, questionnaire and interviews, were per

Amiodarone is a potent antiarrhythmic drug and displays substantial liver toxicity in hu-mans. It has previously been demonstrated that amiodarone and its metabolite (desethylamioda-rone, DEA) can inhibit mitochondrial function, particularly complexes I (CI) and II (CII) of the elec-tron transport system in various animal tissues and cell types. The present study, performed in human peripheral blo

Aggregated α-synuclein (α-syn) is the main constituent of Lewy bodies, which are a pathological hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Environmental factors are thought to be potential triggers capable of initiating the aggregation of the otherwise monomeric α-syn. Braak’s seminal work redirected attention to the intestine and recent reports of dysbiosis have highlighted the potential causative rol

The Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) genotype is the most influential risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease. It appears to be associated with retarded endosome-to-autophagosome trafficking. The amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the heparan sulfate (HS)-containing proteoglycan glypican-1 (Gpc-1) are both processed in endosomes, and mutually regulated by the APP degradation products and the releas

Background: Unhealthy diets, the rise of non-communicable diseases, and the declining health of the planet are highly intertwined, where food production and consumption are major drivers of increases in greenhouse gas emissions, substantial land use, and adverse health such as cancer and mortality. To assess the potential co-benefits from shifting to more sustainable diets, we aimed to investigate

Objectives: An observed variation in the risk of celiac disease, according to the season of birth, suggests that vitamin D may affect the development of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate if vitamin D concentration is associated with the risk of celiac disease autoimmunity (CDA) in genetically at-risk children. Study Design: Children prospectively followed in the multinational T