Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition, which is associated with an increased risk of comorbidity from other diseases. RA disease severity is a major predictor of development of cardiovascular disease, serious infections and malignant lymphoma. This reflects the role of chronic inflammation in the underlying pathology. Recent surveys indicate that although clinical outcomes

PURPOSE: To describe a concept for prevention of secondary conditions in individuals with chronic neuromuscular disabilities by using two Swedish developed follow-up-programmes for cerebral palsy (CP; CPUP) and myelomeningocele (MMC; MMCUP) respectively as examples.METHOD: This paper describes and outlines the rationale, development and implementation of CPUP and MMCUP.RESULTS: Both programmes are

The limited thermal stability of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) hinders their wide applicability, and methods to improve the processability of these biopolyesters are needed for efficient processing, e.g. by melt extrusion. In the present study we have shown by isothermal gravimetry, dynamic rheology and molecular weight analysis that the thermal stability of the PHAs at the processing temperature c

Background The outcome of axillary ultrasound (AUS) with fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the diagnostic work-up of primary breast cancer has an impact on therapy decisions. We hypothesize that the accuracy of AUS is modified by nodal metastatic burden and clinico-pathological characteristics. Material and methods The performance of AUS and AUS-guided FNAB for predicting nodal metastases wa

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety of intra-articular sprifermin (primary), and to evaluate systemic exposure, biomarkers, histology, and other cartilage parameters in patients with advanced osteoarthritis (OA).METHODS: This was a first-in-human, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of single and multiple ascending doses of sprifermin from 3-300 μg in knee OA patients scheduled for t

The system dynamics technique has been demonstrated to be a proper method by which to model and simulate the development of spatial data infrastructures (SDI). An SDI is a collaborative effort to manage and share spatial data at different political and administrative levels. It is comprised of various dynamically interacting quantitative and qualitative (linguistic) variables. To incorporate lingu

BACKGROUND: Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) has been suggested as a marker for ovarian function. Cadmium and lead have been suggested to reduce female fecundity. In this study we aimed to investigate whether environmental exposure to cadmium and lead was associated with alterations in serum-AMH.MATERIALS AND METHOD: The associations between serum-AMH and whole blood cadmium or lead were investigated

OBJECTIVE: This nationwide study aimed to determine whether venous thromboembolism (VTE) shares familial susceptibility with aortic aneurysm (AA), peripheral artery disease (PAD) and arterial thrombosis and embolisation (ATE) in locations other than the heart and brain.METHODS: Nationwide Swedish family study. Data from the Swedish Multi-Generation Register for subjects aged 0-78 years old, coveri

BACKGROUND: Increased knee abduction angle during activity is suggested to be a risk factor for sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury or developing patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Knowledge of the modifiable mechanisms that are associated with increased knee abduction will aid in the appropriate design of preventive and rehabilitative strategies for these injuries.OBJECTIVE: O

BACKGROUND: The critical role of the immune system in controlling cancer progression has become evident and immune modulatory therapy is now approved for clinical use. However, while the majority of studies on the inflammatory tumour microenvironment have focused on the cellular immune response, in particular the prognostic and predictive role of various T cell infiltrates, the role of the humoral

OBJECTIVES: In Sweden, two centres perform lung transplantation for a population of about 9 million and the entire population is covered for lung transplantation by government health insurance. Lund University Hospital is one of these centres. This retrospective report reviews the 25-year experience of the Skåne University Hospital Lung Transplant Program with particular emphasis on short-term out

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a leading cause of mortality, and associated with increased healthcare utilization and healthcare expenditure. In several countries, morbidity-based systems have changed the way resources are allocated in general practice. In primary care, fee-for-services tariffs are often based on political negotiation rather than costing systems. The potentia

This article accounts for recent developments in corporate social responsibility, international trade and investment law, international human rights law, development aid, and the laws of home states reaching extraterritorially in order to advance a regulatory perspective on commerce and human rights. While these developments are remarkable, the analysis documents the prevalence of softer strategie

Steam explosion pretreatments was used to improve the anaerobic biodegradability of Miscanthus lutarioriparius (M. lutarioriparius). The pretreatments were carried out under five different conditions: L1 (0.5 MPa 153°C 5 min), L2 (1.0 MPa 180°C 5 min), L3 (1.5 MPa 198°C 3 min), L4 (1.5 MPa 198°C 5 min) and L5 (1.5 MPa 198°C 10 min). The biochemical methane potential (BMP) of raw M. lutarioriparius

This paper addresses the challenge of how to understand and handle divergent views on the need for leadership interventions between managers and subordinates. Recent popular discourses of leadership, such as the authentic leadership perspective, privileges the potential leader himself or herself as the origin of leadership. This perspective thereby neglects the view of the followers and the essent