The present study investigates the possibility to utilize Compton scatter data for registration of abdominal SPECT images. A method for registration to CT is presented, based on principal component analysis and cross-correlation of binary images representing the interior of the patient. Segmentation of scatter images is performed with two methods, thresholding and a deformable contour method. To a

We investigated whether renal function and microalbuminuria are independent predictors and whether any interaction exists between them, regarding future cardiovascular disease in hypertensive patients (n=10 881) followed for 4.5 years. The primary end points (PEs) were fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction and stroke and other cardiovascular deaths. Creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GF

The mechanical behaviour of soft biological tissues is governed by phenomena occurring on different scales of observation. From the computational modelling point of view, a vital aspect consists of the appropriate incorporation of micromechanical effects into macroscopic constitutive equations. In this work, particular emphasis is placed on the simulation of soft fibrous tissues with the orientati

We show that the ionic environment plays a critical role in determining the configurational properties of DNA confined in silica nanochannels. The extension of DNA in the nanochannels increases as the ionic strength is reduced, almost tripling over two decades in ionic strength for channels around 100x100 nm in dimension. Surprisingly, we find that the variation of the persistence length alone wit

The ability to regulate transgene expression will be crucial for development of gene therapy to the brain. The most commonly used systems are based on a transactivator in combination with a drug, e.g. the tetracycline-regulated system. Here we describe a different method of transgene regulation by the use of the human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter. We constructed a lentiviral vec

CD40 is a tumour necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family member of central importance for the adaptive immune system. To elucidate the functional role of the different extracellular domains of CD40, we have created a set of truncated CD40 molecules where domains, or parts of domains, have been removed. These CD40 proteins, which contain a peptide tag in the N-terminal end, have been expressed in a

Abstract in UndeterminedResults from free-air CO(2) enrichment (FACE) experiments in temperate climates indicate that the response of forest net primary productivity (NPP) to elevated CO(2) might be highly conserved across a broad range of productivities. In this study, we show that the LPJ-GUESS dynamic vegetation model reproduces the magnitude of the NPP enhancement at temperate forest FACE expe

From a copper target, laser-ablated plasma was investigated by spectral- and temporal-resolved emission spectroscopy. With the presence of a 0.8T steady magnetic field, the emission of the expanding plasma showed significant enhancements of the spectral lines for all neutral, singly, and doubly ionized species. The relative enhancements for different species have been studied with temporal-resolve

A single institution series of 81 consecutive, cytogenetically analyzed, diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBL), the majority of which treated with anthracycline-containing combination chemotherapy, were reviewed retrospectively to investigate whether the karyotypic pattern or certain abnormalities correlate with survival. Clonal chromosome changes were found in 79 of the 81 cases. The prognostic i

Mechanically strong and flexible membranes with very high local concentrations of immobilized proton-conducting phosphonic acid have been achieved by grafting poly(vinylphosphonic acid) side chains onto polysulfones. The graft copolymers were prepared by anionic polymerization of diethyl vinylphosphonate initiated from lithiated polysulfones, followed by quantitative cleavage of the ester function

It has been hypothesized that excessive activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), in particular the gelatinases MMP-9 and MMP-2, contributes to poor healing of chronic skin ulcers. We compared MMP-9 and MMP-2 in wound margin biopsies of standardized acute partial-thickness wounds in healthy volunteers (n = 6) and in venous leg ulcer patients (n = 12) with those of chronic wounds of different e

OBJECTIVE: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is known to exert a positive effect in preventing bone loss and a beneficial effect on the disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We evaluated the effects of HRT on bone mineral density (BMD) and on the course of established RA. METHODS: Eighty-eight postmenopausal women with RA were randomly allocated to receive HRT, vitamin D3, and calcium sup

Climate change has proven to affect various aspects of the migration of birds. In response to milder winters making the habitat more profitable and increasing the survival of residents, the migratory fraction of partially migratory populations has been predicted to decline. We studied the blue tit Parus caeruleus, a common partial migrant in southern Sweden. The numbers migrating at Falsterbo, a m

Animal eyes have long served as a classical example of independent origin followed by convergence of structures onto a few different solutions. During the past decade this view has been challenged by the discovery of shared developmental regulatory genes. The Pax6 gene in particular is almost universally employed for eye formation in bilaterian animals, despite widely different embryological origi

A missense mutation, FV-IIe359Thr (FV Liverpool), associated with thrombosis has recently been described. This mutation creates an additional potential N-linked glycosylation site (Asn-X-Ser/Thr) in factor V (FV) at Asn357 that could interfere with secretion and/or protein interactions. To investigate the molecular pathology of FV-IIe359Thr, the mutation was created by site-directed mutagenesis an

Objectives To assess the effect of montelukast versus salmeterol added to inhaled fluticasone propionate on asthma exacerbation in patients whose symptoms are inadequately controlled with fluticasone alone. Design and setting A 52 week, two period, double blind, multicentre trial during which patients whose symptoms remained uncontrolled by inhaled corticosteroids were randomised to add montelukas

AIMS: A method was developed and evaluated to simultaneously register intraabdominal pressure (IAP) and intravesical pressure (IVP) during cystometry in conscious rats. In addition, IAP and IVP were recorded in rats with experimental detrusor overactivity (DO). METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats (n = 24) were used. Six female rats were subjected to partial bladder outlet obstruction for 2 weeks. A cathe