Right ventricular heart rupture is a devastating complication associated with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in cardiac surgery. The use of a rigid barrier disc (HeartShield™) has been suggested to offer protection against this lethal complication by preventing the heart from being drawn up by the negative pressure and damaged by the sharp sternum bone edges. Seven patients treated with co

The scientific objectives of the Cain mission cover areas of galactic structure and evolution, stellar astrophysics, exoplanets, solar system physics, and fundamental physics. Astrometrically, its main contribution will be the determination of millions of absolute stellar parallaxes and the establishment of a very accurate, dense and faint non-rotating optical reference frame. With a planned launc

Purpose: Lung cancer is the worldwide leading cause of death from cancer. DNA methylation in gene promoter regions is a major mechanism of gene expression regulation that may promote tumorigenesis. However, whether clinically relevant subgroups based on DNA methylation patterns exist in lung cancer remains unclear. Experimental Design: Whole-genome DNA methylation analysis using 450K Illumina Bead

The aim of this investigation is to measure the interface fracture toughness of a woven composite. For this purpose, double cantilever beam (DCB) specimens are tested to measure the load as the delamination grows. The specimen is composed of 15 layers of a carbon-epoxy, balanced weave with alternate layers containing fibers in the directions and the directions. A thin piece of Teflon is placed bet

The term ‘storytelling’ has a long history of prominence in descriptive and prescriptive talk about jazz improvisation. The main aim of this article is to point out that the ways in which jazz musicians themselves employ the ‘storytelling’ metaphor with reference to jazz improvisation display several important perspectives on perennial and fundamental prob- lems in the field of musical narrativity

ApoA-I, the main protein component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), is suggested to be involved in metabolic homeostasis. We examined the effects of Milano, a naturally occurring ApoA-I variant, about which little mechanistic information is available. Remarkably, high fat-fed mice treated with Milano displayed a rapid weight loss greater than ApoA-I WT treated mice, and a significantly reduced a

The additional effect of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction on muscle strength and physical performance after a structured exercise programme is not well understood.

Recent experiments uncovered a mutational pathway between two proteins, along which a single mutation causes a switch in fold. Searching for such paths between real proteins remains, despite this achievement, a true challenge. Here, we analyze fold switching in the minimalistic hydrophobic/polar model on a square lattice. For this analysis, we generate a comprehensive sequence-structure database f

In the present study, an extended two-pore theory is presented where the porous pathways are continuously distributed according to small-and large-pore mean radii and SDs. Experimental glomerular sieving data for Ficoll were analyzed using the model. In addition, several theoretical findings are presented along with analytic solutions to many of the equations used in distributed pore modeling. The

Alternative splicing (AS) is a fundamental mechanism for the regulation of gene expression. It affects more than 90% of human genes but its role in the regulation of pancreatic beta cells, the producers of insulin, remains unknown. Our recently published data indicated that the 'neuron-specific' Nova1 splicing factor is expressed in pancreatic beta cells. We have presently coupled specific knockdo

We have applied three different imaging diagnostics: particle imaging velocimetry, high-speed shadowgraphy, and ballistic imaging, to observe the breakup of a liquid jet in a crossflow of air under a variety of conditions. The experimental system was designed to provide well-controlled conditions with minimal amounts of turbulence in the liquid jet and the gaseous crossflow. A variety of Weber num

To examine the role of gender, age at immigration and length of stay on incidence trends of common cancers, we studied risk of colorectal, lung, breast and prostate cancers in immigrants to Sweden from 1958 to 2008. The nationwide Swedish Family-Cancer Database was used to calculate standardized incidence ratios for common cancers among immigrants compared to Swedes. Immigrants were classified int

Spectra and measured wavelengths of intrashell n = 3 transitions in highly charged tungsten ions with partially filled 3p and 3d valence shells, Al-like W61+ through Fe-like W48+, are presented. The ions were created and excited at the electron-beam ion-trap facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and measured with a high-resolution grazing-incidence spectrometer. The spectral lines

High achievement in school has been associated with increased risk of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), but causality of these relationships is unclear. We sought to examine the association between school achievement and AN or BN in a national cohort and to determine the possible contribution of familial confounding using a co-relative design.

Background: The CC-chemokine receptor-3 (CCR3) has emerged as a target molecule for pharmacological intervention in allergic inflammation. Objective: To examine whether a dual CCR3 and H-1-receptor antagonist (AZD3778) affects allergic inflammation and symptoms in allergic rhinitis. Methods: Patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis were subjected to three seven days' allergen challenge series. Tre

BACKGROUND: Concern regarding recurrence of pre-transplant (Tx) malignancy has disqualified patients from Tx. Because this has been poorly studied in lung and heart Tx recipients our aim was to investigate the influence of pre-Tx malignancy on post-Tx recurrence and long-term survival, focusing on pre-operative cancer-free intervals. METHODS: From our lung and heart Tx programs (1983 to 2011) we r

Hemoglobin (Hb) is one of the most studied proteins. However, oxidative toxicity associated with free Hb in circulation and its contribution to inflammation and complications of transfusion have only recently become active areas of research. New insights into the protective mechanisms of haptoglobin (Hp), a plasma protein, and a timely resolution of the crystal structure of the Hb-Hp complex made