Objective: To explore risk perceptions, sexual practices and healthcare needs among men who have sex with men in the provincial city of Tanga in northern Tanzania. Previous research suggests that HIV/STIs are increasing problems for this population. Yet, few studies have been conducted outside the urban area of Dar es Salaam, which has limited our knowledge about the HIV/STI risk factors and healt

The formation of filaments from naturally occurring protein molecules is a process at the core of a range of functional and aberrant biological phenomena, such as the assembly of the cytoskeleton or the appearance of aggregates in Alzheimer's disease. The macroscopic behaviour associated with such processes is remarkably diverse, ranging from simple nucleated growth to highly cooperative processes

The main structural component of connective tissues is fibrillar, cross-linked collagen whose fibrillogenesis can be modulated by Small Leucine-Rich Proteins/Proteoglycans (SLRPs). Not all SLRPs’ effects on collagen and extracellular matrix in vivo have been elucidated; one of the less investigated SLRPs is asporin. Here we describe the successful generation of an Aspn-/- mouse model and the inves

Introduction: Lymphoedema may cause complex problems that can strongly influence patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The main purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of lymphoedema on HRQoL in patients with varying forms of lymphoedema. Methods: The Lymphoedema Quality of Life Inventory (LyQLI), measuring three domains, physical, psychosocial and practical, and the Short

Human 6-sulfo LacNac-positive (slan+) cells have been subject to a paradigm debate. They have previously been classified as a distinct dendritic cell (DC) subset. However, evidence has emerged that they may be more related to monocytes than to DCs. To gain deeper insight into the functional specialization of slan+ cells, we have compared them with both conventional myeloid DC subsets (CD1c+ and CDHuman 6-sulfo LacNac-positive (slan+) cells have been subject to a paradigm debate. They have previously been classified as a distinct dendritic cell (DC) subset. However, evidence has emerged that they may be more related to monocytes than to DCs. To gain deeper insight into the functional specialization of slan+ cells, we have compared them with both conventional myeloid DC subsets (CD1c+ and CD

β-cell autoantibodies against insulin (IAA), GAD65 (GADA) and IA-2 (IA-2A) precede onset of childhood type 1 diabetes (T1D). Incidence of the first appearing β-cell autoantibodies peaks at a young age and is patterned by T1D-associated genes, suggesting an early environmental influence. Here, we tested if gestational infections and interactions with child's human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and non-HL

Introduction: The myocardium at risk (MaR) represents the quantitative ischemic area destined to myocardial infarction (MI) if no reperfusion therapy is initiated. Different ECG scores for MaR have been developed, but there is no consensus as to which should be preferred. Objective: Comparisons of ECG scores and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) for determining MaR. Methods: MaR was determined by 3

Background: Surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is often complicated by excessive bleeding. Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) effectively treats refractory bleeding associated with ATAAD surgery; however, adverse effects of rFVIIa in these patients have not been fully assessed. Here we evaluated rFVIIa treatment in ATAAD surgery using the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dis

Prenatal first trimester fetal diagnosis in sweden today and in the future. The combined first trimester test for detection of trisomy 21 has been available in Sweden the last 10 years but the uptake among pregnant women is still less than 50% and varies largely between different regions. The non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) has been introduced and is currently recommended to be used as a seconda

Hip fracture is the commonest reason for older people to need emergency anaesthesia and surgery, and leads to prolonged dependence for many of those who survive. People with this injury are usually identified very early in their hospital care, so hip fracture is an ideal marker condition with which to audit the care offered to older people by health services around the world.We have reviewed the r

Purpose: To validate the dosimetric accuracy and clinical robustness of a commercially available software for magnetic resonance (MR) to synthetic computed tomography (sCT) conversion, in an MR imaging-only workflow for 170 prostate cancer patients. Methods and Materials: The 4 participating centers had MriPlanner (Spectronic Medical), an atlas-based sCT generation software, installed as a cloud-b

Background: Whether surgeons perform better utilising a robot-assisted laparoscopic technique compared with an open approach during prostate cancer surgery is debatable. Objective: To report erectile function and early oncologic outcomes for both surgical modalities, stratified by prostate cancer risk grouping. Design, setting, and participants: In a prospective nonrandomised trial, we recruited 2

Goal understanding and communication of requirements are vital for ensuring that large and complex project organizations collaborate efficiently. We have used a design science approach to explore and address the problem of communication for large IT projects. We designed a method for avoiding communication gaps by eliciting information regarding stakeholders and information flows. The MAPS (Mappin

Purpose: To explore patients' obtaining and use of spectacles after routine cataract surgery. Methods: The study included 1329 patients who underwent bilateral surgery with the second eye operated during March 2013 at 38 different clinics in Sweden. Five months after the second-eye surgery, patients completed a five-item questionnaire about their spectacle use preoperatively and postoperatively. T

This study investigates functional status on Day 21 after dysvascular major lower limb amputation compared with one month pre-amputation and evaluates factors potentially influencing outcome. Methods: A prospective cohort study design was used. Data were collected via in-person interviews using structured instruments and covered functional level (Barthel index 100) one month pre-amputation and on

Empirical software engineering research aims to generate prescriptive knowledge that can help software engineers improve their work and overcome their challenges, but deriving these insights from real-world problems can be challenging. In this paper, we promote design science as an effective way to produce and communicate prescriptive knowledge. We propose using a visual abstract template to commu

Objectives: To assess the presence of depressive symptoms among older adults with long-Term spinal cord injury and investigate the association with sociodemographic and injury characteristics; and to determine how potentially modifiable factors, i.e. secondary health conditions, sense of coherence, coping strategies and leisure-Time physical activity, are associated with depressive symptoms. Desig