Background: Prospective studies have indicated that elevated blood glucose levels may be linked with increased cancer risk, but the strength of the association is unclear. We examined the association between blood glucose and cancer risk in a prospective study of six European cohorts. Methods and Findings: The Metabolic syndrome and Cancer project (Me-Can) includes cohorts from Norway, Austria, an

The interaction of covalently cross-linked double-stranded (ds) DNA gels and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) is investigated. The volume transition of the gels that follows the absorption of the oppositely charged surfactant from aqueous solution is studied. As do other polyelectrolyte networks, DNA networks form complexes with oppositely charged surfactant micelles at surfactant concentrati

The mid-Holocene Littorina transgression in southern Scandinavia is well documented. Multiple-stratigraphic sequences in ancient Littorina lagoons in the coastal area of Blekinge, SE Sweden reveal a maximum relative sea level of 7-8 m above present sea level between 8000-6000 cal. BP. Evidence for at least two transgression waves is found within this period. In this study these are documented in o

A Yersinia PCR-Compatible Enrichment (YPCE) medium was developed, which removes the necessity for sample pretreatment before PCR-based detection of Yersinia enterocolitica. The medium was designed through a sequence of independent screening and factorial design experiments to study the PCR inhibition and growth characteristics of medium components. The compatibility of the YPCE medium was evaluate

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic materials that mimic the behavior of natural antibodies while exhibiting far greater stability than their natural counterparts. Although potentially very useful as recognition elements in chemical sensors, a major obstacle to their widespread application has been the difficulty in preparing MIPs in the thin-film format that is necessary for coupl

The level of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) has previously been demonstrated to predict the survival of early stage colorectal cancer patients. The present study was undertaken to further validate plasma TIMP-1 as a prognostic marker in rectal cancer. Preoperative plasma from 352 rectal cancer patients were analysed using an immunoassay for TIMP-1. The TIMP-1 immunoassay dem

BACKGROUND: Improving human nuclear transfer (NT) efficiencies is paramount for the development of patient-specific stem cell lines, although the opportunities remain limited owing to difficulties in obtaining fresh mature oocytes. METHODS: Therefore, the developmental competence of aged, failed-to-fertilize human oocytes as an alternate cytoplasmic source for NT was assessed and compared with use

This is a popular summary of the authors' thesis entitled "Geographic distribution of intra-specific variation in widespread boreonemoral Eurasian woodland herbs" and "Geographic differentiation and population history in Silene dioica and S. hifacensis: variation in chloroplast DNA and allozymes", respectively, defended in September 2002 and October 2001 at the Department of Systematic Botany, Lun

Particle size distribution (size-range 3-900 nm) and PM10 was measured simultaneously at an urban background station in Copenhagen, a near-city background and a rural location during a period in September-November 2002. The study investigates the contribution from urban versus regional sources of particle number and mass concentration. The total particle number (ToN) and NOx are well correlated at

Scatter and septal penetration deteriorate contrast and quantitative accuracy in single photon emission computed tomography ( SPECT). In this study four different correction techniques for scatter and septal penetration are evaluated for I-123 brain SPECT. One of the methods is a form of model-based compensation which uses the effective source scatter estimation ( ESSE) for modelling scatter, and

Microbial community dynamics associated with manure hot spots were studied by using a model system consisting of a gel-stabilized mixture of soil and manure, placed between layers of soil, during a 3-week incubation period. The microbial biomass, measured as the total amount of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), had doubled within a 2-mm distance from the soil-manure interface after 3 days. Principa

Using scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory, we have studied the initial oxidation of Rh(111) surfaces with two types of straight steps, having {100} and {111} microfacets. The one-dimensional (1D) oxide initially formed at the steps acts as a barrier impeding formation of the 2D oxide on the (111) terrace behind it. We demonstrate that the details of the structure of the 1D

An overview is presented of the principles of estimation of fluid forces exerted upon solid bodies, based upon whole-field velocity measurements such as provided by PIV. The focus will be on the range of length and velocity scales characterised by the flight of large insects, birds, bats and small unmanned air vehicles, so that while viscous terms in the Navier-Stokes equations can many times be i

Due to the international nature of many clinical studies and trials it is often necessary to produce several language versions of specific measures. While it is generally acknowledged that it is necessary to produce versions that are conceptually equivalent, the best method of achieving this is more controversial. It is commonly stated that there is a gold-standard method, which involves forward a

Across large spatial scales, species richness in many taxa is mainly determined by climatic variables. However, some of the mechanisms behind large-scale patterns of species richness and abundance are expected to act on the community level, and on a smaller scale than the resolution of the data commonly used for deriving these patterns. We studied the distribution of sheetweb spiders (Araneae: Lin

The responsiveness of the external mycelium of Glomus intraradices and Scutellospora calospora was tested in a multiple-choice experimental system in which mycelium encountered patches amended with nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P), either alone or in combination with a host plant. We hypothesised that only AMF mycelium with sufficient supply of photo-synthate from an actively growing host would resp

PURPOSE: The purpose was to quantify changes of epileptiform activity during ketogenic diet (KD) treatment in children with therapy resistant epilepsy, and evaluate how these changes are related to activity stage and to clinical effects on seizure frequency, seizure severity, attentional behaviour, quality of life (QOL), and beta-hydroxybutyrate (betaOHb). METHODS: Eighteen children were investiga

The Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) are key players in the activation of the innate immune defence during microbial infections. Using different murine infection models, we show that MyD88-dependent signalling is crucial for the activation of the innate immune defence against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Our data demonstrate that both local and systemic inf

The near-edge fine structure of the Fe2p and Si2p X-ray absorption spectra (NEXAFS) of iron-oxygen nanolayers on the surface of single-crystal silicon (100) was studied for the first time. The structure of the quasi-2D iron-oxygen nanosystems synthesized by molecular layering was considered on this basis.