BACKGROUND: The CHADS(2) score (C, congestive heart failure [CHF]; H, hypertension [HT]; A, age ≥75 y; D, diabetes mellitus; S(2) , prior stroke or transient ischemic attack) is used to assess the risk of ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, its role in patients without documented AF is not well explored. HYPOTHESIS: The goal of the current study was to explore if th

Continuous administration of levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (carbidopa-levodopa enteral suspension) through a percutaneous endoscopic gastrojejunostomy is a treatment option for advanced Parkinson disease (PD) patients with motor fluctuations resistant to standard oral medications. Safety data from 4 prospective studies were integrated to assess the safety of this therapy.

Abstract Through the use of chimeric CXCR4/CCR5 receptors we have previously shown that CCR5-tropic (R5) HIV-1 isolates acquire a more flexible receptor use over time, and that this links to a reduced viral susceptibility to inhibition by the CCR5 ligand RANTES. These findings may have relevance with regards to the efficacy of antiretroviral compounds that target CCR5/virus interactions. Compartme

Gene therapy of solid cancers has been severely restricted by the limited distribution of vectors within tumors. However, cellular vectors have emerged as an effective migratory system for gene delivery to invasive cancers. Implanted and injected multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown tropism for several types of primary tumors and metastases. This capacity of MSCs forms the basis

OBJECTIVE: To examine the number of trials needed to achieve performance stability of the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test using a standardized walking aid in patients with hip fracture who are allowed full weight bearing (FWB). DESIGN: Prospective methodologic study. SETTING: An acute 14-bed orthopedic hip fracture unit. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=122; 89 women, 33 men) with hip fracture wit

Study Type - Diagnostic (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? It is well known that CIS is a major risk factor for muscle-invasive bladder cancer and that this entity can be difficult to diagnose. Taking cold-cup mapping biopsies from different areas of the bladder (BMAP) is commonly used in patients at risk of harbouring CIS. The diagnostic ac

Endovascular repair has become the primary treatment option for abdominal aortic aneurysms over the past decade. The favorable results as well as technical evolution have led endovascular repair to include fenestrated and branched technology for complex juxtarenal, suprarenal, and thoracoabdominal aneurysms. These grafts are, however, extensively customized and patient tailored at present precludi

In this letter, a magnetic dipole (M-dipole) and an electric dipole (E-dipole) are designed to form a collocated polarization-diversity-based dual-antenna system. The M-dipole is a modified shielded loop with multiple feed, and the E-dipole is a traditional λ/2 dipole. Measured results show that both radiators have ideal impedance matching and port isolation and identical omnidirectional pattern w

persson e.k., fridlund b., kvist l.j. & dykes a.-k. (2010) Mothers' sense of security in the first postnatal week: interview study. Journal of Advanced Nursing. ABSTRACT: Aim. This paper is a report of a study of factors which influence mothers' sense of security during the first postnatal week. Background. Mothers' sense of security the first postnatal week is not thoroughly elucidated in the

Previous family and twin studies have indicated that Graves' disease has a heritable component. Family studies have also shown that some autoimmune disease cluster in families and genetic studies have been able to show shared susceptibility genes. In the present nation-wide study we describe familial risk for Graves' disease among parents and offspring, singleton siblings, twins and spouses with r

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are essential for encoding the transcribed genetic information from DNA into proteins. Variations in the human tRNAs are involved in diverse clinical phenotypes. Interestingly, all pathogenic variations in tRNAs are located in mitochondrial tRNAs (mt-tRNAs). Therefore, it is crucial to identify pathogenic variations in mt-tRNAs for disease diagnosis and proper treatment. We c

Elevated cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of tau discriminate Alzheimer's disease from other neurodegenerative conditions. The reasons for this are unclear. While commercial assay kits are widely used to determine total-tau concentrations, little is known about their ability to detect different aggregation states of tau. We demonstrate that the leading commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assa

In families screened for mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes and found to have a segregating mutation the breast cancer risk for women shown not to carry the family-specific mutation might be at above "average" risk. We assessed the risk of breast cancer in a clinic based cohort of 725 female proven noncarriers in 239 BRCA1 and BRCA2 families compared with birth-matched controls from the Danish

A complex earth system model (atmosphere and ocean general circulation models, ocean biogeochemistry and terrestrial biosphere) was used to perform transient simulations of two interglacial sections (Eemian, 128-113 ky B. P., and Holocene, 9 ky B.P.-present). The changes in terrestrial carbon storage during these interglacials were studied with respect to changes in the earth's orbit. The effects

It is widely believed that DC, but not macrophages, prime naïve T cells in vivo. Here, we investigated the ability of CD68-expressing cells (commonly defined as macrophages) in priming autoreactive T cells and initiating collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in the mouse. For this purpose, a transgenic mouse was developed (MBQ mouse) where macrophages exclusively expressed the MHC class II H2-A(q) (A(q

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate general and functional aspects of sexuality in male patients with a confirmed diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and compare the results with normative data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated 308 male patients (age 30-69) admitted to a sleep laboratory and receiving a diagnosis of OSA, using questions drawn from two self-administered questi