PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Diabetes is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this review is to discuss possible mechanisms through which diabetes can contribute to a more aggressive atherosclerotic disease process with a particular focus on the role of innate and adaptive immunity. RECENT FINDINGS: The observation that adaptive immune responses to oxidized LDL modula

Major intrinsic proteins (MIPs) facilitate the passive transport of small polar molecules across membranes. MIPs constitute a very old family of proteins and different forms have been found in all kinds of living organisms, including bacteria, fungi, animals, and plants. In the genomic sequence of Arabidopsis, we have identified 35 different MIP-encoding genes. Based on sequence similarity, these

The Variation Ontology (VariO) is used for describing and annotating types, effects, consequences and mechanisms of variations. To facilitate easy and consistent annotations, the online application VariOtator was developed. For variation type annotations VariOtator is fully automated, accepting variant descriptions in Human Genome Variation Society (HGVS) format, and generating VariO terms, either

Although the clinical manifestations of type 2 diabetic nephropathy and decline in kidney function are similar to those in type 1, the clinical course and the renal structural changes are more heterogeneous in type 2 diabetic patients. Previous studies have shown that an increased urine IgM excretion in patients with type 1 diabetic nephropathy was associated with poor outcome. In the present foll

The modified Graeb Scale (mGS) is a semi-quantitative method to assess the extension of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The mGS has been shown to prognosticate outcome after ICH in cohorts derived from convenience samples. We evaluated the external validity of mGS in supratentorial ICH-patients from an unselected cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To use self-reported disability (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire [RMDQ]) to assess the criterion validity of straight leg raising (SLR) test and flexion range of motion (ROM) (fingertip-to-floor test) before and after stratification by sex and presence/absence of radicular pain. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Outpatient physical therapy clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects wit

The true incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is largely unknown, because the few longitudinal studies performed have used diagnostic criteria no longer recommended by either the European Respiratory Society or the American Thoracic Society (ATS).We studied the incidence and significance of airflow limitation in a population-based geriatric sample using both an age-dependent predicte

What is believed to be the first fluorescence imaging of the facades of a historical building, which was accomplished with a scanning fluorescence lidar system, is reported. The mobile system was placed at a distance of similar to 60 m from the medieval Lund Cathedral (Sweden), and a 355-nm pulsed laser beam was swept over the stone facades row by row while spectrally resolved fluorescence signals

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare the extent and application of patients' diaries in Sweden. BACKGROUND: Since 1991, patient diaries have been used in intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up in Sweden. There is paucity of relevant data evaluating the effect of this tool and also on what premises patients are enrolled. Likewise, data are sparse on the diaries' design, content structure and t

The first results from a clinical study for Temoporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) of low-grade (T1c) primary prostate cancer using online dosimetry are presented. Dosimetric feedback in real time was applied, for the first time to our knowledge, in interstitial photodynamic therapy. The dosimetry software IDOSE provided dose plans, including optical fiber positions and light doses based o

BACKGROUND: It is not always feasible to use standard electrode placement for limb leads when recording the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Other electrode placements have been accepted during monitoring. Nonstandard electrode positions, however, fail to produce waveforms identical to those recorded from the distal limb positions that are standard for diagnostic interpretation. The purpose of the

Pleomorphic myxoid liposarcoma (PML) is an exceptionally rare and poorly studied subtype of liposarcoma, typically occurring in children and adolescents. The few previous genetic studies have shown that PML lacks the gene fusions and amplifications that characterize myxoid liposarcoma, atypical lipomatous tumor, and dedifferentiated liposarcoma. To learn more about its pathogenesis, we performed a

Secretion of mucins and exudation of plasma are distinct processes of importance to innate immunity and inflammatory disease. Yet, little is known about their relation in human airways. The objective of the present study was to use the human nasal airway to determine mucinous secretion and plasma exudation in response to common challenge agents and mediators. Ten healthy volunteers were subjected

Despite the increased risk of thrombosis in cancer patients compared with healthy individuals, mechanisms that regulate cancer-induced hypercoagulation are incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether cell-specific hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) 1α regulates cancer-associated hypercoagulation, using in vitro clotting assays and in vivo cancer models. In mouse lung and

An experimental investigation was performed for convective vaporization of R22 and R410A inside one smooth tube and five micro-fin tubes with the same outer diameter of 5 mm. Data are for mass fluxes ranging from 100 to 620 kg/m2 s at 279 K saturation temperature. The results suggest that the tube with fin height of 0.15 mm, apex angle of 25° and 38° starts has the best thermal performance for con

Pressure transduction to the wound bed in negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is crucial in stimulating the biological effects ultimately resulting in wound healing. In clinical practice, either foam or gauze is used as wound filler. Furthermore, two different drainage techniques are frequently employed. One involves the connection of a non-perforated drainage tube to the top of the dressing, w