The focus of cancer research is on cancer-specific mutations, with most clinical trials involving targeted drugs. Huge numbers of DNA lesions and tumor resistance events, in each of the >10(13) cells of a human individual, form a striking contrast to the low, and also very narrow, cancer incidence window (10(-1)-10(0)). A detailed consideration of these quantitative observations seems to question

Objective: Several genetic loci have been suggested to be associated with bipolar disorder but results have been inconsistent. Studying associations between bipolar symptoms and candidate genes may better expose this relationship. Here we investigate the association between bipolar key symptoms and the P2RX7 gene. Methods: Key symptoms of mania were rated in two sets of medicated bipolar disorder

Recent work has shown that coagulation and innate immunity are tightly interwoven host responses that help eradicate an invading pathogen. Some bacterial species including Staphylococcus aureus secrete pro-coagulant factors that in turn can modulate these immune reactions. Such mechanisms may not only protect the microorganism from a lethal attack, but also promote bacterial proliferation and the

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is reviewed using the treatment of skin tumors as an example of superficial lesions and prostate cancer as an example of deep-lying lesions requiring interstitial intervention. These two applications are among the most commonly studied in oncological PDT, and illustrate well the different challenges facing the two modalities of PDT-superficial and interstitial. They thus

From a longitudinal prospective study, 160 women with spontaneous menopause and without steroid medication were followed during the transition from pre- to postmenopause. After 12 years 152 women were still participating in the study. Blood samples were drawn every 6 months until 1 year after the menopause and every 12 months thereafter. Measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) on the forearm we

Clin Microbiol InfectAbstract Propionibacterium acnes is a common and probably underestimated cause of delayed joint prosthesis infection. Bacterial biofilm formation is central in the pathogenesis of infections related to foreign material, and P. acnes has been shown to form biofilm both in vitro and in vivo. Here, biofilm formation by 93 P. acnes isolates, either from invasive infections (n = 45

This article considers the social organization of responses among human service staff to changes in public policy, using a study of a Swedish treatment center for juveniles as an illustration. The stance towards a new treatment ideology, “family-work,” was not one of either accepting or rejecting the new policy; the staff conveyed both embracing and distancing. Policy innovations, it is argued, cr

BACKGROUND: The standardized test used for evaluating the effect of warfarin is the prothrombin time (PT) which is measured and expressed in international normalized ratio (INR). Regular control of treatment intensity is required since inappropriate dosage increases the risk for complications. Portable point-of-care analytical instruments for measurement of capillary whole blood PT have been avail

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Change in bone mineral density (BMD) in the hand, as evaluated by digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR) of the II-IV metacarpal bones, has been suggested to predict future joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study's objective was to investigate if DXR-BMD loss early in the disease predicts development of joint damage in RA patients followed for up to 20 years. METH

The transcription factor T-cell factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) confers type 2 diabetes risk mainly through impaired insulin secretion, perturbed incretin effect and reduced beta-cell survival. The aim of this study was to identify the molecular mechanism through which TCF7L2 influences beta-cell survival. TCF7L2 target genes in INS-1 cells were identified using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation. Validation

Inhibitory CD33-related Siglec receptors regulate immune cell activation upon engaging ubiquitous sialic acids (Sias) on host cell surface glycans. Through molecular mimicry, Sia-expressing pathogen group B Streptococcus binds inhibitory human Siglec-9 (hSiglec-9) to blunt neutrophil activation and promote bacterial survival. We unexpectedly discovered that hSiglec-9 also specifically binds high m

The role of chemotherapy (CHX) in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) has been expanding. Although combination chemotherapy regimens regularly produce significantly high response rates, meta-analyses show little benefit regarding final outcome. One way to improve induction CHX is to improve drug combinations and schedules for CHX. Cisplatin (CDDP) is one of the most active drugs i

ObjectivesTo assess the in vitro antibiotic susceptibility of Enterococcus faecalis in biofilms.MethodsE. faecalis isolates were from infections of prosthetic hip and knee joints. Minimal biofilm eradication concentrations (MBECs) for ampicillin, vancomycin, linezolid, ciprofloxacin and rifampicin, alone and in combinations, were determined. E. faecalis biofilms in microtitre plate wells or on bea

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is diagnosed with imaging techniques such as ventilation/perfusion (V/P) lung scintigraphy or multidetector computed tomography of the pulmonary arteries (MDCT). Lung scintigraphy can be performed with planar (V/P PLANAR) and tomographic (V/P SPECT) techniques. V/P SPECT has higher sensitivity and specificity than V/P PLANAR. As nephrotoxic contrast media are no

Water exchange through the cell membranes is an important feature of cells and tissues. The rate of exchange is determined by factors such as membrane lipid composition and organization, as well as the type and activity of aquaporins. A method for noninvasively estimating the rate of water exchange would be useful for characterizing pathological conditions, e.g., tumors, multiple sclerosis, and is

BACKGROUND: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) contracts the wound and alters the microvascular blood flow in the wound edge, which may be crucial in promoting wound healing. The aim of the present study was to examine these biological effects in the wound edge using different types of wound fillers. METHODS: Wounds were created on the backs of pigs and filled with green foam, black foam or g

Neurons in the hippocampus exhibit subpopulations of dendritic spines that contain endoplasmic reticulum (ER). ER in spines is important for synaptic activity and its associated Ca(2+) signaling. The dynamic distribution of ER to spines is regulated by diacylglycerol and partly mediated by protein kinase C, metalloproteinases and γ-secretase. In this study, we explored whether pharmacological acti

This paper presents a theoretical model of stability and coordination of posture and locomotion, together with algorithms for continuous-time quadratic optimization of motion control. Explicit solutions to the Hamilton-Jacobi equation for optimal control of rigid-body motion are obtained by solving an algebraic matrix equation. The stability is investigated with Lyapunov function theory and it is