Background: In addition to the established association between general obesity and breast cancer risk, central obesity and circulating fasting insulin and glucose have been linked to the development of this common malignancy. Findings from previous studies, however, have been inconsistent, and the nature of the associations is unclear.Methods: We conducted Mendelian randomization analyses to evalu

Schwann cells myelinate selected axons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and contribute to fast saltatory conduction via the formation of compact myelin, in which water is excluded from between tightly adhered lipid bilayers. Peripheral neuropathies, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and Dejerine-Sottas syndrome (DSS), are incurable demyelinating conditions that result in pain, decrea

Background: Coffee consumption has been shown to be associated with various health outcomes in observational studies. However, evidence for its association with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is inconsistent and it is unclear whether these associations are causal.Methods: We used single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with (i) coffee and (ii) caffeine consumption to perform Mendelian randomiz

Sugar esters (SEs), value-added products derived from inexpensive renewable feedstocks (sugars and fatty acids), are biobased and biocompatible surfactants employed in foods, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals. They also possess antimicrobial and other biological activities. Their market size is projected to be $74.6 million by 2020. SEs are difficult to synthesize due to the poor miscibi

Background: The bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex (BEEC) is a congenital malformation of the bladder and urethra. The underlying causes of this malformation are still largely unknown; however, aside from environment, genetics is thought to play an essential role. The recurrent 22q11.2 microduplication is the most persistently detected genetic aberration found in BEEC cases. Methods: We performe

BACKGROUND: Oral contraceptives are known to reduce the incidence rate of endometrial cancer, but it is uncertain how long this effect lasts after use ceases, or whether it is modified by other factors.METHODS: Individual participant datasets were sought from principal investigators and provided centrally for 27 276 women with endometrial cancer (cases) and 115 743 without endometrial cancer (cont

Background and purpose. Sensorimotor stroke (SMS) is often included among the lacunar syndromes, although the underlying cause of this stroke-subtype is less well documented. To this end we analysed 32 patients presenting with a sensorimotor syndrome. Methods. The study protocol included vascular risk factors, echocardiography, Doppler sonography of carotid arteries, CT scan and MRI of the brain.

The ability of echocardiography to diagnose sources of embolism and the role of the examination in the prediction of thromboembolism are reviewed. In addition, the yield of transthoracic (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is analysed in patients with suspected embolism and guidelines are proposed for performing echocardiography in this setting. In general, echocardiography is reliab

BACKGROUND: Population-specificity of exploratory dietary patterns limits their generalizability in investigations with type 2 diabetes incidence. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to derive country-specific exploratory dietary patterns, investigate their association with type 2 diabetes incidence, and replicate diabetes-associated dietary patterns in other countries. METHODS: Dietary intake da

The typical approach for volumetric blood flow assessment consists of a velocity measurement performed in a single sample volume placed in the vessel centre, combined to an estimate of the average diameter. This simple approach produces large inaccuracies since it does not account for the complex flow configurations produced by complicated artery geometries and/or pulsatile conditions. Moreover, d

Background: BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers are at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Oral contraceptive preparations (OCPs) may reduce ovarian cancer risk, but its effect on breast cancer risk remains unclear. Methods: Combined data from three cohorts of 5705 BRCA1 and 3521 BRCA2 mutation carriers (IBCCS, BCFR and kConFab) were analyzed using age-dependent Cox regression models stratified

Flexible and powerful control over network flows is one of the core advantages of Software-Defined Networking (SDN). Flow rules stored in switch network flow tables contain information on packet processing and routing. Flow rules are stored in memory, in a set of data structure rules, and managed by a classifier in flow tables. Network flows are a valuable asset: they contain information about the

Background: Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) is the most promising ovarian cancer screening biomarker to date. Multiple studies reported CA125 levels vary by personal characteristics, which could inform personalized CA125 thresholds. However, this has not been well described in premenopausal women. Methods: We evaluated predictors of CA125 levels among 815 premenopausal women from the New England Case C

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to elucidate the association between smoking and estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) levels in young healthy women from highrisk families. Cigarette smoke contains multiple carcinogens and is considered a risk factor for breast cancer. However, tobacco also contains aromatase inhibiting substances, but the impact on hormonal levels in young women at the a

Aim: To investigate the ecological relationship between breeding and wintering in specialist and generalist long-distance migratory species, and the links between densities and range sizes. Location: Denmark, Senegal and Ghana. Methods: We use radio tracking to study spatial behavior and habitat use in three morphologically and ecologically similar and closely related Phylloscopus species on their

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate potential associations between body composition and current smoking in young healthy women from high-risk families. Cigarette smoke contains >7000 chemicals of which 69 are established carcinogens and smoke also acts as an aromatase inhibitor. Smoking is now recognized as a carcinogen for the breast and influences both risk and prognosis.