OBJECTIVE: To explore the hypothesis of an association between current wheeze and other health problems in adolescence and to investigate any sex differences. METHODS: N=8817 adolescents aged 13-19 years completed a self-administered questionnaire including questions on health and lifestyle in Norway (1995-1997). RESULTS: All subjective health problems were significantly more prevalent in current

Lead (Pb) is one of the most important models for biomonitoring of exposure, with the blood Pb concentration as a predominant choice in practice and in epidemiology. In this article the alternatives for biomarkers to blood are reviewed. This overview focuses on a number of different qualities that are of importance in the evaluation of a biomarker's usefulness and performance. The qualities scruti

Hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection is more common than hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and is frequently found in healthy individuals. Although parenteral spread of HGV is well recognized, other routes of transmission probably occur as well. In a prospective study of mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis viruses, 69 pregnant women with antibodies to HCV and their 81 newborn children were inc

The adsorption and formation of DNA and cationic surfactant complexes at the silica-aqueous interface have been studied by ellipsometry. The interaction between the DNA-surfactant complexes at the mica-aqueous interface has been determined by the interferometric surface force apparatus. Adsorption was as expected not observed on negatively charged hydrophilic surfaces for DNA and when DNA-cationic

The relaxivity behaviour and the structural characterization of new supramolecular aggregates (bilayer structures and micelles) obtained by combining two different amphiphilic monomers are reported. One monomer, (C18)2DTPAGlu-Gd, contains a very stable gadolinium complex, and the other, DSPE-PEG2000-CCK8, contains the bioactive CCK8 peptide. Samples that contained only DSPE-PEG2000-CCK8, or up to

A negative calcium balance has previously been described in human hypertension with low levels of plasma ionized calcium (Ca2+) and an increased urinary excretion of calcium. The cause of this disturbance in mineral metabolism is not known, nor is it known if this derangement could be abolished if blood pressure is reduced by antihypertensive treatment. In the present investigation, the effects of

One challenge that has to be addressed by the fast and frugal heuristics program is how people manage to select, from the abundance of cues that exist in the environment, those to rely on when making decisions. We hypothesize that causal knowledge helps people target particular cues and estimate their validities. This hypothesis was tested in three experiments. Results show that when causal inform

Accurate precordial electrode placement can be difficult in emergency situations leading either to loss of time or diminished accuracy. A possible solution is the quasi-orthogonal EASI lead system, with only five electrodes and easily defined landmarks to provide a derived 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that precordial waveforms in EASI-derive

Ion implantation modifies the surface properties of different materials. We have compared the biological properties of titanium implanted with nitrogen with those of pure titanium. Implants were inserted in the abdominal wall of rats. The implants with surrounding tissue were excised after 1 and 6 weeks, and embedded in epoxy resin. The bulk metal was removed electrochemically and the tissue cut f

The antilipolytic effect of insulin on human abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle during local inhibition of cAMP-phosphodiesterases (PDEs) was investigated in vivo, by combining microdialysis with a euglycaemic, hyperinsulinaemic clamp. During hyperinsulinaemia, the glycerol concentration decreased by 40% in fat and by 33% in muscle. Addition of the selective PDE3-inhibitor a

Polysulfone has been sulfophenylated by lithiation and anionic reaction with 2-sulfobenzoic acid cyclic anhydride. This provides a new convenient method to modify polysulfones by attaching pendant sulfonated phenyl groups via ketone links. Membranes of the sulfophenylated polysulfones show promise for use in proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells. For example, a membrane with 0.9 sulfophenyl units pe

The authors propose that the enzyme hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), which is the rate-limiting enzyme for hydrolysis of triacylglycerol in adipocytes, also regulates the intramyocellular triacylglycerol mobilization and is controlled by mechanisms similar to those regulating glycogen phosphorylase. From an exercise perspective, it is fascinating that the primary enzymatic setting allows simultaneo

A V2O5 catalyst was used in the ammoxidation of 3-picoline to nicotinonitrile. It was observed that the selectivity for the formation of CO2 as a function of temperature passed through a minimum. This is explained to be due to the existence of weakly bonded electrophilic oxygen species at low temperatures, and an increasing degradation involving O2− at high temperatures. A comparison of two differ

Prophylactic mastectomy is an effective risk-reducing option in women with hereditary increased risk of breast cancer. It may be combined with immediate reconstruction, with the intention of improving aesthetic outcome and health-related quality of life. Sixty-one women underwent prophylactic mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction in Malmö, Sweden, between 1995 and 2003. Forty women under

Background/Aims: Severe acute pancreatitis ( SAP) is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. The aim was to evaluate treatment, risk factors and outcome in SAP in a centre with a restrictive attitude to surgery. Methods: All cases of acute pancreatitis admitted 1994 - 2003 were analysed retrospectively. SAP was defined as organ failure and/or hospital stay > 7 days together with one or mor

In this article the organization and functional details of the extracellular matrix, with particular focus on cartilage, are described. All tissues contain a set of molecules that are arranged to contribute structural elements. Examples are fibril-forming collagens forming major fibrillar networks in most tissues. The assembly process is regulated by a number of proteins (thrombospondins, LRR-prot

OBJECTIVE: To study whether restriction of head-neck movements improves postural performance in patients with compensated unilateral total vestibular loss. DESIGN: Randomized controlled experimental study. SETTING: Laboratory for clinical and experimental vestibular testing at a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Fifteen consecutive patients (seven men, eight women, mean age 53 years) at routine

The objective of this research was to examine the effects of chemical compounds with possible P2 receptor modulating effects and to characterize the potentiating effects of 2,2'-nitrophenylisatogen (NPI) on P2X(1) receptors in vitro and in vivo. Chemical compounds were tested in an in vitro pharmacological assay using vascular segments from the rat mesenteric artery stimulated by P2 receptor-speci