Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is a biomarker of fibrosis in lung and skin. In this exploratory study we investigated the biomarker potential of COMP in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). We included consecutive patients with CHC admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases, Lund University Hospital. COMP was analysed in serum using ELISA. The correlations between COMP and liver fibrosis,

Introduction: Fenestrated aortic stent-grafts are increasingly being used to treat patients with juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AM). Sizing of these stent-grafts is critical to ensure success and requires detailed expert assessment of aortic morphology. At present little is known about how sizing of these stent-grafts varies between observers and the necessary tolerances involved to ensure

Recent investigations of core-shell nanowires using synchrotron radiation techniques deduced the average structural parameters of heterostructure core-shell nanowires. Here, we report on first results and discuss the problems arising when measuring such complex nanostructures by using nanofocusing X-ray techniques. InAs/IAsP core-shell nanowires exhibit a certain bending, the origin of which is de

Using the findings of incident investigations to improve patient safety management is well-established and mandatory under Swedish law. This study seeks to identify the mechanisms behind successful implementation of the recommendations of incident investigations.

A combination method of frequency domain photon migration (FDPM) and gas in scattering media absorption spectroscopy (GASMAS) is used for assessment of the mean optical path length (MOPL) and the gas absorption in gas-filled porous media, respectively. Polystyrene (PS) foams, with extremely high physical porosity, are utilized as sample materials for proof-of-principle demonstration. The optical p

This work studies osteoinduction and bone conduction in polyvinyl alcohol-tetraethylorthosilicate-alginate-calcium oxide (PTAC) biocomposite cryogels along with the synergistic effect of electrical stimulation. In vitro osteoinduction of C2C12 myoblast towards osteogenic lineage is demonstrated through alkaline phosphatase assay, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscop

A qualified estimate for pretreatment of the macroalgae Chaetomorpha linum for ethanol production was given, based on the experience of pretreatment of land-based biomass. C linum was subjected to hydrothermal pretreatment (HIT), wet oxidation (WO), steam explosion (STEX), plasma-assisted pretreatment (PAP) and ball milling (BM), to determine effects of the pretreatment methods on the conversion o

Problem: Suspected, but objectively absent, rhinosinusitis constitutes a major cause of visits to the doctor, high health care costs, and the over-prescription of antibiotics, contributing to the serious problem of resistant bacteria. This situation is largely due to a lack of reliable and widely applicable diagnostic methods. Method: A novel method for the diagnosis of rhinosinusitis based on non

Stress corrosion cracking occurs due to the synergistic interaction between mechanical load and corrosion reactions. In this study, branching during anodic dissolution driven crack growth is studied using an adaptive FE procedure. The crack has an inherent blunt tip due to the dissolution, and the growth is treated as a moving boundary problem with a strain-assisted evolution law. Simulations are

Rapidly permineralized fossils can provide exceptional insights into the evolution of life over geological time. Here, we present an exquisitely preserved, calcified stem of a royal fern (Osmundaceae) from Early Jurassic lahar deposits of Sweden in which authigenic mineral precipitation from hydrothermal brines occurred so rapidly that it preserved cytoplasm, cytosol granules, nuclei, and even chr

Objective. Studies in mice suggest that plasma apoM is lowered in hyperinsulinaemic diabetes and that apoM stimulates formation of pre-beta-HDL. Pre-beta-HDL is an acceptor of cellular cholesterol and may be critical for reverse cholesterol transport. Herein, we examined whether patients with type 2 diabetes have reduced plasma apoM and whether apoM is associated with pre-beta-HDL formation and ce

Basaltic weathering from volcanic islands plays a critical role in the climate feedback loop. Geochemical and climate models require information on the rate of secondary mineral formation. We provide direct evidence for precipitation of amorphous Si in organic rich and acidic Histic Andosols compared to preferential allophane formation in organic poor and less acidic Haplic Andosols. Similar resul

Silica-filled poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) layers were successfully applied for the first time on top of ultrafiltration support membranes and applied in the pervaporative separation of ethanol/water mixtures. Reduction of the thickness of the separating PTMSP top layer and addition of hydrophobic silica particles resulted in a clear flux increase as compared to dense PTMSP membranes.

In the lower siliceous uplands of Central Europe, various types of nutrient-poor grasslands are widespread and grow intermingled. These species-rich grasslands, often dominated by taxa of the Festuca ovina aggregate, comprise various phytosociological classes. They are remnants of a historic rural landscape and are of conservation importance. Few studies on such grasslands are available and there

Increased life expectancy and improvement in clinical outcome following surgery has led to an increasing number of elderly patients with a history of prior aortic valve replacement (AVR). As a consequence, a considerable number of patients may require reintervention due to a dysfunctional bioprosthesis with structural valve deterioration (SVD). Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has be

The activity of heterotrophic soil microorganisms is usually limited by the availability and quality of carbon (C). Adding organic substances will thus trigger a microbial response. We studied the response in bacterial growth and respiration after the addition of low amounts of glucose. First we determined if additions of glucose, at concentrations which did not result in an exponential increase i