INTRODUCTION: Transcription factor activator protein-1 regulates genes involved in inflammation and repair. The aim of this study was to determine whether transcription factor activator protein-1 activity in carotid plaques is related to symptoms, lipid accumulation, or extracellular matrix composition. METHODS: Twenty-eight atherosclerotic carotid plaques were removed by endarterectomy and divide

We demonstrate an improved technique to precisely localize inhomogeneities in turbid media by means of reconstructing diffuse photon-density wave interference from time-resolved transmittance measurements applying the Fourier transform. This interference can also be obtained in the reverse mode, that is using a single source and combining the signals detected at several locations. This increases t

Distance learning as a computer-aided concept allows students to take courses from anywhere at any time. In bioinformatics, computers are needed to collect, store, process, and analyze massive amounts of biological and biomedical data. We have applied the concept of distance learning in virtual bioinformatics to provide university course material over the Internet. Currently, we provide two fully

It has been previously shown that patients with severe haemophilia and not receiving any prophylactic treatment render a high risk of reduced bone mineral density. The purpose of this study was to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with haemophilia of different severity types and treatment. The study group consisted of 26 patients with severe haemophilia (aged 33.6 +/- 2.1) and 16 pat

PURPOSE: Glucose degradation products (GDPs) are precursors of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that cause cellular damage and inflammation. We examined the content of GDPs in commercially available glucose-containing infusion fluids and investigated whether GDPs are found in patients' blood. METHODS: The content of GDPs was examined in infusion fluids by high-performance liquid chromatograp

Emerging nonlinear optical spectroscopies enable deeper insight into the intricate world of interactions and dynamics of complex molecular systems. 2D electronic spectroscopy appears to be especially well suited for studying multichromophoric complexes such as light-harvesting complexes of photosynthetic organisms as it allows direct observation of couplings between the pigments and charts dynamic

OBJECTIVE:: Women using estrogen plus progestogen therapy sometimes report difficult to describe symptoms, eg, changes in libido, mood, and memory, that may be related to decreased androgens. To evaluate the prevalence of such symptoms and relate these symptoms to androgen levels in women using estrogen plus progestogen therapy, data from the Women's Health in the Lund Area Study were analyzed. DE

AIMS: Extracellular ATP modulates pulsatile release of insulin, glucagon and somatostatin by activating P2Y(1) receptors. The present study examines if adenosine via A(1) receptors (A(1)R) interferes with pulsatile islet hormone release. MAIN METHODS: Pancreas was perfused in mice expressing or lacking the A(1) receptor and the hormones measured with radioimmunoassay. Cytoplasmic Ca(2+) was record

Purpose: To investigate the epidemiology of aniridia in the populations of Sweden and Norway. Methods: A thorough search for aniridia patients has been performed in Sweden and Norway. All participants had a clinical ophthalmological examination documented through photography. Blood samples were taken for mutation analysis and pedigrees were established. Results: A total of 181 patients with anirid

The anaerobic bacterium Finegoldia magna is part of the human commensal microbiota, but is also an important opportunistic pathogen. This bacterium expresses a subtilisin-like serine-proteinase, SufA, which partially degrade the antibacterial chemokine MIG/CXCL9. Here, we show that MIG/CXCL9 is produced by human keratinocytes in response to inflammatory stimuli. In contrast to the virulent human p

The αE integrin chain CD103 identifies a subset of migratory dendritic cells (DCs) in the gut, lung, and skin. To gain further understanding of the function of CD103(+) DCs in regulating adaptive immunity in vivo, we coupled ovalbumin (OVA) to the CD103 antibody M290 (M290.OVA). Intraperitoneal injection of M290.OVA induced OVA-specific CD8(+) and CD4(+) T-cell proliferation in lymph nodes (LNs) o

Background: Stroke is one of the major causes of disability in the adult population and represents a heavy social and economic burden. Currently available therapeutic tools to support the recovery of impaired brain functions are quite limited. Animal studies have demonstrated that neuronal replacement and partial reconstruction of neural circuitry or modulation of the recovery process is possible

In this paper we introduce a new way of constructingA 2-codes, i.e., authentication codes that protect against deceptions from an opponent and additionally also protect against deceptions from the transmitter and the receiver. The construction uses codes for the rank metric, a well-known field in coding theory. The construction gives improved performance compared with previous work and it also giv

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to describe the view of age-related prioritisation in health care among physicians and healthcare politicians and to compare their views regarding gender and age. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Swedish physicians (n=390) and politicians (n=310), mean age 52 years, answered an electronic questionnaire concerning age-related priority setting in healthcare. The questio

OBJECTIVE: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been established as a biomarker for heart failure. The objective was to evaluate BNP measured on arrival in the intensive care unit (ICU) as a predictor for heart failure defined as need for inotropic support or IABP beyond 24 hours postoperatively after aortic valve replacement. DESIGN: A prospective, observational study. SETTING: A cardiothoracic s