BACKGROUND: Smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The present study was undertaken to examine if cigarette smoking translates into reduced relaxant responses of the peripheral microcirculation. METHODS: The cutaneous forearm blood flow was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry. The vasodilator response to the iontophorectic administration of acetylcholine (ACh), acting via an en

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have observed decreased serum CRP levels in patients with established Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared to controls or other diagnostic groups of elderly patients with mental illness. METHODS: We have investigated the relation between CRP level and the severity of AD as assessed by cognitive function, brain imaging and survival time. RESULTS: Patients with AD showed ov

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction has been associated with impaired glucometabolic status. However, studies of older subjects are lacking. We examined associations between echocardiographic indices of LV diastolic function and LV mass index (LVMI) and glucometabolic status among middle-aged and elderly subjects free from heart disease, hypothesizing that the associations woul

Elementary geometrical shape (EGS) models are useful in radiostereometric analysis (RSA) on hip stems because tantalum markers attached to the stems can be omitted. In order to create an EGS model of a femoral stem, the center of the femoral head has to be identified. The contour of the femoral head is recommended to be used. However, the contour of the femoral head cannot be detected exclusively

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study is aimed at describing and investigating empowerment and its relationships with level of engagement in daily activities and community life, experienced stigma, psychopathology, and quality of life among people with mental illness entering supported employment. METHOD: The following scales were administered to 120 persons: Empowerment Scale, Profiles of Occupa

Clinical studies have suggested a link between the sensory trigeminal system and the parasympathetic ganglia. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a sensory neuropeptide which plays an important role in vasodilatation and pain transmission in craniocervical structures. The present study was designed to examine if CGRP and CGRP receptor components are present in the human sphenopalatine gangli

Microtubules are characteristic components of the membrane skeleton of Euglena gracilis, but whether microfilaments are present has been controversial. We here present evidence that an actin-like protein may indeed be associated with the plasma membrane (PM) of E. gracilis. Firstly, a 47 kDa, PM-associated, polypeptide was recognized by an anti-amoeba actin antibody. Secondly, this 47 kDa protein

Background: Asthma and allergic airway inflammation are associated with persistent structural alterations in the bronchi, i.e. airway remodeling. Previous studies have shown that during allergic airway inflammation, similar structural alterations may also be evoked in the pulmonary circulation. However, it remained unknown whether remodeling of the pulmonary circulation is as persistent as airway

Abstract in UndeterminedSoftware deployment, including both clean installs and updates, is a crucial activity for all software vendors. It starts with a customer's order of a new release and incorporates all steps taken until the customer is satisfied with the deployed product. Using interviews as the main data collection method, we conducted a case study of four companies to discover their softwa

We compared the ability of genetic (established type 2 diabetes, fasting glucose, 2 h glucose and obesity variants) and modifiable lifestyle (diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol and education) risk factors to predict incident type 2 diabetes and obesity in a population-based prospective cohort of 3,444 Swedish adults studied sequentially at baseline and 10 years later.

Surgical conditions exert a major health burden in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), yet surgery remains a low priority on national health agendas. Little is known about the national factors that influence whether surgery is prioritised in LMICs. We investigated factors that could facilitate or prevent surgery from being a health priority in three LMICs.

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence from observational studies and randomized trials in low-income countries that vaccinations have non-specific effects. Administration of live vaccines reduces overall child morbidity and mortality, presumably due to protection against non-targeted infections. In Denmark, the live vaccine against smallpox was phased out in the 1970s due to the eradication of sma

Drug-induced dyskinesias in dopamine-denervated animals are known to depend on both pre- and postsynaptic changes of the nigrostriatal circuitry. In lesion models used thus far, changes occur in both of these compartments and, therefore, it has not been possible to dissect the individual contribution of each compartment in the pathophysiology of dyskinesias. Here we silenced the nigrostriatal dopa

Context: Craniopharyngioma patients without GH therapy are at an increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and particularly concerning women. No previous study on long-term GH therapy in adults with childhood onset (CO) craniopharyngioma was identified. Objective: To investigate CVD risk in adults with CO craniopharyngioma, on complete hormone replacement, including long-term GH therapy, and to

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated exposure- and subject-related determinants of annoyance and performance during the chemical odor provocation of healthy persons with self-reported environmental annoyance. METHODS: Persons with self-reported annoyance attributed to (i) chemicals or smells (smell-annoyed, SA, N=29), (ii) electrical equipment (electrically annoyed, EA, N= 16), and (iii) both smell

Purpose/Aim: To explore changes in morphology and function in the rabbit retina after intravitreal high-dose injection of three commonly used VEGF inhibitors. Materials and methods: Forty-eight rabbits of mixed strain (6 months of age, body weight ≈ 3 kg) were randomized into four groups (n = 12). They were examined with full-field electroretinography (ERG) and with multifocal electroretinograph

OBJECTIVES: Prioritisation in healthcare is an issue of growing importance due to scarcity of resources. The aims of this study were firstly to describe decision makers' experience of prioritisation and their views concerning willingness to pay and how to finance healthcare costs. An additional aim was to compare the views of politicians and physicians. METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional stu

Purpose. Sensitivity to cold is a common consequence of hand injuries and other conditions, and this phenomenon has a profound effect on health-related quality of life and upper-extremity disability. The aim of the present study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Swedish version of the Cold Sensitivity Severity (CSS) scale and Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity (CISS) questionnaire