Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a rich source of biomarkers providing diagnostic and prognostic information in diseases such as cancer. Large-scale investigations into the contents of EVs in clinical cohorts are warranted, but a major obstacle is the lack of a rapid, reproducible, efficient, and low-cost methodology to enrich EVs. Here, we demonstrate the applicability of an automated

BACKGROUND: We investigated differences in clinical presentation, microbiology, and short- and long-term results according to the affected valve in patients who underwent surgery for left-sided native valve infective endocarditis (IE).METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective study of 117 patients with isolated mitral valve IE (group M) and 140 patients with isolated aortic valve IE (group A

OBJECTIVES: Acute Type A aortic dissection remains a life-threatening disease, but there are indications that its surgical mortality is decreasing. The aim of this report was to study how surgical mortality has changed and what influences those changes.METHODS: Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection is a retrospective database comprising 1159 patients (mean age 61.6 ± 12.2 years, 68%

62 former patients, who had been treated at our department for tibial shaft fracture (n 38) or knee ligament injury (n 24) 15-38 years earlier, were re-evaluated for post-traumatic osteopenia. 62 age- and sex-matched subjects without fracture served as controls. By means of a Lunar DEXA apparatus we measured the bone mineral density (BMD) in the total body, the hips and special regions of interest

HER-2/neu protooncogene amplification and protein expression were analyzed with slot blot and Western blot techniques, respectively, in more than 300 invasive primary breast tumors of all stages. Amplification (2- greater than 30 copies) was found in 17% of these tumors and high expression was seen in 19%. There was a striking coincidence between gene amplification and high expression. Tumors asso

We studied the effect of physical training on the bone mineral content and soft tissue composition in 42 professional ballet dancers (17 men and 25 women). Twenty-eight of them were still actively performing and 14 had retired from professional dancing. Forty-two healthy age- and sex-matched volunteers served as controls. The bone mineral density (BMD) (g/cm2) in total body, spine, hip, arms, legs

Background: We have evaluated the frequency of lymphoproliferative disorders with more than one aberrant population of monotypic B-cells detected during routine hematopathological diagnostics. Materials and Methods: 2600 samples peripheral (blood, bone marrow, fine-needle aspirate, lymph node, and pleural fluid cell suspensions) were analyzed using a 10-color B-cell panel and a 10-color T-cell pan

This review focuses on the most recent literature concerning flow cytometry (FCM) application for diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Aberrant FCM results have been defined as abnormalities in at least three tested features comprising at least two bone marrow (BM) cell compartments. FCM results should be interpreted together with the BM smear cytology, the morphological assessment of BM b

PROBLEM: The embryo is protected from immunologic rejection by the mother, possibly accomplished by immunosuppressive molecules located in the placenta. We investigated the distribution and biochemical properties in placenta of the immunosuppressive plasma protein alpha 1-microglobulin.METHOD OF STUDY: Placental alpha 1-microglobulin was investigated by immunohistochemistry and, after extraction,

Cell surface proteins that bind to the Fc part of Ig are expressed by many strains of group A streptococci, an important human pathogen. Two such bacterial strains, AP4 and AP1, were shown to bind IgA and IgG, respectively, in a temperature-dependent manner. The binding of radiolabeled Ig to the bacterial cells was lower at 37 degrees C than at 22 and 4 degrees C. Similarly, protein Arp, the IgA-b

The secretion of alpha 1-microglobulin by primary cultures of rat hepatocytes was found to increase upon the addition of interleukin-6 or leukemia inhibitory factor, two mediators of acute phase response. This stimulatory effect was further enhanced by dexamethasone. alpha 1-Microglobulin is synthesized as a precursor also containing bikunin, and the precursor protein is cleaved shortly before sec

Human alpha 1-m microglobulin (alpha 1-m), a low molecular weight plasma protein, was found to exert mitogenic effects on mouse lymphocytes from lymph nodes and spleen. The stimulatory effects appeared to be strain-restricted: alpha 1-m induced a varying degree of proliferation of lymphocytes from three strains, whereas one strain responded poorly. Experiments with lymphocyte subpopulations showed

A growing number of states including Canada, Norway and Sweden have adopted gender and feminist-informed approaches to their foreign and security policies. The overarching aim of this article is to advance a theoretical framework that can enable a thoroughgoing study of these developments. Through a feminist lens, we theorise feminist foreign policy arguing that it is, to all intents and purposes,

The research framework of eco-evolutionary dynamics is increasing in popularity, as revealed by a steady stream of review articles and a recent and influential book, but primary empirical research is lagging behind. Moreover, the few empirical case studies demonstrating eco-evolutionary dynamics might not be entirely representative. Much current research on eco-evolutionary dynamics is focused on

These guidelines for the management of congenital ichthyoses have been developed by a multidisciplinary group of European experts following a systematic review of the current literature, an expert conference held in Toulouse in 2016 and a consensus on the discussions. They summarize evidence and expert-based recommendations and are intended to help clinicians with the management of these rare and