Background: No study to date, as far as we know, has analyzed the potential effect of neighborhood-level deprivation on autoimmune disorders (ADs), when adjusted for individual-level characteristics. Methods: A total of 5.4 million individuals from 8363 neighborhoods, comprising the whole Swedish population (ages 25-74 years), were followed for the period 1 January 2000, until admission due to dia

Objectives: This longitudinal study explores whether the working situation (no change in working hours despite care, reduction of working hours due to care or not working) moderates mental and physical health of informal caregivers of older people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Italy. Methods: Data from a sample of 146 caregivers of older people with moderate AD involved in the UP-TECH trial acr

Semiconductor nanowires offer the opportunity to incorporate novel structures and functionality into electronic and optoelectronic devices. A clear understanding of the nanowire growth mechanism is essential for well-controlled growth of structures with desired properties, but the understanding is currently limited by a lack of empirical measurements of important parameters during growth, such as

Shiga toxin (Stx) is the main virulence factor of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), that cause gastrointestinal infection leading to hemolytic uremic syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate if Stx signals via ATP and if blockade of purinergic receptors could be protective. Stx induced ATP release from HeLa cells and in a mouse model. Toxin induced rapid calcium influx into HeLa

Soil mapping is an essential method for obtaining a spatial overview of soil resources that are increasingly threatened by environmental change and population pressure. Despite recent advances in digital soil-mapping techniques based on inference, such methods are still immature for large-scale soil mapping. During the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, soil scientists constructed a harmonised soil map of Eu

This paper critically examines sexual risk reduction interventions, more specifically how they are evaluated and the implications that this has for sexual health policy. The focus is on motivational interviewing (MI) interventions which aim to promote protective behaviors related to sexual risk on the part of young people. MI has become increasingly popular, largely due to it being a highly flexibThis paper critically examines sexual risk reduction interventions, more specifically how they are evaluated and the implications that this has for sexual health policy. The focus is on motivational interviewing (MI) interventions which aim to promote protective behaviors related to sexual risk on the part of young people. MI has become increasingly popular, largely due to it being a highly flexib

This paper analyses sexuality and relationship education (SRE) in a Swedish college programme aimed at young people with mobility impairments. Interviews and focus groups were conducted to explore students’ experiences of the structure, content and usefulness of SRE, and college personnel’s SRE practices. Results show that, although many of the issues covered are pertinent for all young people, beThis paper analyses sexuality and relationship education (SRE) in a Swedish college programme aimed at young people with mobility impairments. Interviews and focus groups were conducted to explore students’ experiences of the structure, content and usefulness of SRE, and college personnel’s SRE practices. Results show that, although many of the issues covered are pertinent for all young people, be

Importance: Aortic stiffness, as assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, is an independent predictor of future events in individuals with hypertension. Recent data suggest a predictive role of estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) calculated by previously published equations using age and blood pressure in future events in individuals with hypertension. Objective: To investigate whether eP

Objective: To study the associations between serum testosterone and risk factors for atherosclerosis in 119 men from general population. Methods: Systolic pressure, body mass index (BMI), testosterone, fasting glucose, glucose tolerance test, apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA-1), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), and ApoB/ApoA-1 ratio were assessed. Subjects classified into hypogonadal (testosterone ≤ 12 nmol/l), a

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the mortality rate and causes of death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) within a defined region in southern Sweden during the time period 1981-2014 and determine whether these have changed over time. METHODS: In 1981, a prospective observation study of patients with SLE was initiated in southern Sweden. All incident SLE patients within a defined geographi

Observations in vivo in patients, supported by guinea-pig in vivo data, take centre stage in this perspective. Its objective is to highlight dichotomies between asthma features observed in vivo and accepted views involving cell/molecular biology research paradigms. For example, increased bronchial epithelial permeability is now considered a major paradigm and trait of asthma, yet, absorption of in

BACKGROUND: Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is caused by the abnormal function of ion channels, which may also affect atrial electrophysiology and be associated with the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, large-scale studies of AF risk among patients with LQTS and its relation to LQTS manifestations are lacking. We aimed to assess the risk of AF and its relationship to the LQTS genotype and the lo

The degree of trophic specialization determines the ability of predators to cope with changing foraging conditions, but in predators that prey on hundreds of species it is challenging to assess, especially when prey identity varies among predator individuals and across space and time. Here, we test the hypothesis that a bat species foraging on flying insects like moths will show ample flexibility

Recent years have seen considerable advancements in Demand Controlled Ventilation (DCV) systems aimed to improved energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality in buildings. A significant aspect of DCV systems is their impact on the acoustic comfort in buildings. This study is part of the Urban Tranquility project with a focus on innovative DCV systems. The objective is to add more understand