During the last few years much interest has been focused on the photoprotective role of zeaxanthin. In excessive light zeaxanthin is rapidly formed in the xanthophyll cycle from violaxanthin, via the intermediate antheraxanthin, a reaction reversed in the dark. The role of zeaxanthin and the xanthophyll cycle in photoprotection, is based on fluorescence quenching measurements, and in many studies

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of exercise on cardio-respiratory fitness and insulin sensitivity in sedentary, overweight Arabian and Swedish women with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Eighteen Arabian and 14 Swedish women participated in a supervised 6-month resistance training and aerobic program of moderate intensity. Insulin sensitivity and VO(2max) were measured at entr

MMPs are generally considered to regulate degradation and remodeling of the ECM. Convincing data also implicate a role for MMPs in inflammatory conditions, such as AP, although the mechanisms are not known. The aim of this study was to define the role of MMPs in regulating activation of trypsinogen and tissue damage in AP, which was induced by infusion of taurocholate into the pancreatic duct in m

It is well established that physical inactivity in adults is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Whether daily physical activity level is related to risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in children has been debated. Furthermore, objective data on the habitual daily physical activity in children have at large been scarce in the literature. The main reason for this is the fac

OBJECTIVES: To explore the possibility that a paleolithic-like diet can be used in the prevention of age-related degenerative Western disease. METHODS: Literature review of African Paleolithic foods in relation to recent evidence of healthy nutrition. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Available evidence lends weak support in favor and little against the notion that lean meat, fish, vegetables, tubers, and f

The aim of the study was to describe the patients' experiences of the information and support they received after being placed on the waiting list for a heart or lung transplant. The design was qualitative, and the critical incident technique was used. Incidents were collected via interviews with 21 patients. A total of 357 important events, both positive and negative, were identified and divided

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), a key enzyme in fatty acid mobilization from lipid stores, is expressed in the liver and decreased hepatic insulin sensitivity has been reported in our HSL null mouse model. Here, an integrated approach, comprising transcriptomics and proteomics together with targeted metabolite analysis, was used to investigate the liver phenotype of HSL null mice. Oligonucleotide

The combination of melphalan, prednisone and thalidomide (MPT) is considered standard therapy for newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma (NDMM) who are ineligible for stem-cell transplantation. Long term treatment with thalidomide is hampered by neurotoxicity. Melphalan, prednisone and lenalidomide, followed by lenalidomide maintenance therapy showed promising results, without severe neuro

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Our aim was to study whether glycaemic control differs between individuals with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and patients with type 2 diabetes, and whether it is influenced by time on insulin therapy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 372 patients with LADA (205 men and 167 women; median age 54 years, range 35-80 years) from Swedish cohorts from Skåne (

PURPOSE: Asthma includes immunological components that may share mechanisms with autoimmune diseases. We analyzed the subsequent occurrence of any of 22 autoimmune and related conditions in hospitalized asthma patients. METHODS: A nationwide study was conducted in Sweden on subsequent diseases of asthma patients on the basis of the Hospital Discharge Register. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs)

AIM: Stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) with BAY 41-8543 was hypothesized to attenuate acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction alone and combined with dual endothelin (ET)-receptor antagonist tezosentan. METHODS: Measurements were taken in 18 anaesthetized pigs with a mean ± SEM weight of 31.1 ± 0.4 kg, in normoxia (FiO(2) ~0.21) and hypoxia (FiO(2) ~0.10) without (control protocol

Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are specialized proteins that can recognize ubiquitinated proteins, and after direct interaction, deconjugate monomeric or polymeric ubiquitin chains, thus changing the fate of the substrates. This process is instrumental in mediating or changing downstream signaling pathways. Beside mutations and alterations in their expression levels, the activity and stability of

The right to withdraw one's consent after having agreed to participate in research is a fundamental principle in contemporary research ethics. However, it has been questioned whether this right should apply to research conducted on donated biological samples, including stem cells and tissues from which stem cells can be derived. In this article we present some of the concerns that have been expres

We examined the importance of injury for the epidermal innate immune response in human skin wounds. We found that injury, independent of infiltrating inflammatory cells, generated prominent chemotactic activity toward neutrophils in injured skin because of IL-8 production. Furthermore, injury was a major inducer of the expression of antimicrobial (poly)peptides (AMPs) in skin wounds. In human skin

A new 13 items rating scale assessing self-reported impairments in persons with late effects of polio (SIPP) has been developed. SIPP has been Rasch analyzed and shown good construct validity and internal consistency. To establish its clinical utility, further evaluation of its psychometric properties is needed.

An NDVI dataset covering Fennoscandia and the Kola peninsula was created for vegetation and climate studies, using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer 16-day maximum value composite data from 2000 to 2005. To create the dataset, ( 1) the influence of the polar night and snow on the NDVI values was removed by replacing NDVI values in winter with a pixel- specific NDVI value representing t