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BACKGROUND: Epicardial mapping is a powerful tool that has enabled us to gain insight into the electrical phenomena perpetuating atrial fibrillation and has guided the design of surgical and catheter-based therapeutic strategies. However, epicardial data are acquired during abnormal physiological conditions; the patients are anaesthetized, their chests opened, dislocating the heart and exposing it
Aims To investigate cognitive abilities and adaptive skills in children and adolescents with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and correlate the findings to the cytosine-thymine-guanine (CTG) repeat expansion size. Method Cognitive level was assessed in 55 children and adolescents with DM1 (31 males, 24 females; mean age 12y 1mo, SD 5y 1mo; range 2y 7mo-21y 5mo) divided into the following categories
Basic neurotransplantation research evoked clinical trials of restorative brain surgery. Parkinson's disease was the first and primary test bed for this putative new therapeutic method. Various centers performed the grafting surgery and the behavioral evaluations in different ways, and observed a varying degree of symptomatic relief. This led to a plea for double blind placebo-controlled clinical
TNF-α is present in atherosclerotic lesions, activates endothelial adhesion molecule expression, stimulates the release of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases and promotes smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. Taken together these observations suggest that TNF-α may be functionally involved in early atherosclerosis development. To further evaluate this hypothesis we c
As the integrity of graft endothelium seems to be essential to successful long-term patency in coronary operations, its preservation demands the utmost care. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of currently used solutions on endothelium-dependent relaxation after short-term storage of vessels at room temperature or at 4 degrees C. The infrarenal rat aorta was selected for s
The surfactant tetra(ethylene oxide) n-dodecyl amide (TEDAd) was compared with the poly(ethylene oxide) n-alkyl ethers C12E5, C10E5, and C12E4. The adsorption to hydrophobic liquid-vapor and solid-liquid interfaces, as well as the wetting behavior on a hydrophobic surface, was investigated. The amide group is more hydrophilic than the ethylene oxide group, raising the cloud point and critical mice
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAPS) spectroscopic measurements were performed on Pb(II)ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA) adsorbed on goethite as a function of pH (4-6), Pb(II)EDTA concentration (0.11-72 mu M), and ionic strength (16 mu M-0.5 M). FTIR measurements show no evidence for carboxylate-Fe(III) bonding or protonation of EDTA at Pb:EDTA =
Popular Abstract in Swedish Hur man värderar resultat av kirurgisk behandling av ländryggens degenerativa åkommor är ett stort, komplext och delvis kontroversiellt ämne. Denna avhandling studerar resultatvärdering med olika metoder och instrument, huvudsakligen baserat på resultat från det nationella svenska ländryggskirurgiregistret. Arbete I. Inventering av befintliga instrument i litteraturen No consensus regarding outcomes assessment in spine patients exists. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) questionnaires are increasingly used. The objective of this thesis was the evaluation of HRQoL measures before and after lumbar spine surgery, and their relation to other evaluation parameters as well as relevance of differences. The patients included were operated on for lumbar spine disor
A piezoelectric sprayer was recently developed for precision release of odor stimuli in olfactory research. The device replaces conventional dispensers used to release semiochemicals in studies of moth flight toward odor sources. However, the device generates high-frequency sounds in the range that some moths can hear. Ultrasound from the standard set-up sprayer had a considerable impact on flight
The major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) of the ring-necked pheasant contains two polymorphic Mhc class II B genes. We show here, by screening of a cDNA library and RT-PCR from RNA, that both of these loci, Phco-DAB1 and Phco-DAB2, normally are transcribed in the spleen. They differ mainly in the 3' untranslated (UT) region, with the transcript lengths, not including the poly(A) tails, being 1,1
BACKGROUND: Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) up-regulates inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in blood vessels during septic shock. This promotes the production of nitric oxide (NO), leading to dilation of the vessels. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of the LPS-binding endogenous antibiotic bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) on the action of LPS on the blo
Neuroblastoma, the most common extracranial tumor of childhood, is derived from neural crest progenitor cells that fail to differentiate along their predefined route to sympathetic neurons or sympatho-adrenergic adrenal cells. Although expression of the high-affinity neurotrophin receptors, TrkA and TrkB, is of major importance in neuroblastoma, the significance of the expression of the low-affini
We report on the development of planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) for CH imaging with improved detection sensitivity for single-shot investigations of turbulent, lean, premixed flames. A ringcavity, pulsed Alexandrite laser was frequency-doubled to excite the lines in the R-branch band-head of the B-X (0,0) band and broadband fluorescence from the B-X (0,1), A-X (1,1) and (0,0) bands, overl
Persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) have been suggested to have negative effects on a number of hormonal systems. Several studies performed retrospectively have reported a possible association between POP exposure and fertility, measured as time to pregnancy (TTP). However, these studies lack biomarkers of exposure at the time when the women tried to conceive. It has previously been found
The power expenditure of flapping flight in birds is characterised by a U-shaped function of speed through the air. From this relationship and the assumption of limited power available from flight muscles, it is possible to predict changes in the birds' airspeed in relation to external factors such as wind. These predictions are derived from flight mechanical theory and optimality criteria concern
The Protogine Zone is a major tectonic zone situated at the eastern boundary of the Sveconorwegian orogenic belt in southern Sweden. This structure hosts Mesoproterozoic dolerite dykes and plutonic rocks including ultramafic cumulate, syenite, monzonorite and granite. Pb-Pb zircon evaporation ages are reported for seven samples of rocks along the Protogine Zone, including the Vaggeryd syenite plut
Migratory birds use celestial and geomagnetic directional information to orient on their way between breeding and wintering areas. Cue-conflict experiments involving these two orientation cue systems have shown that directional information can be transferred from one system to the other by calibration. We designed experiments with four species of North American songbirds to: (1) examine whether th
Rationale Vitamin D has been shown to be involved in the host immune response toward Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Objectives: To test whether vitamin D supplementation of patients with tuberculosis (TB) improved clinical outcome and reduced mortality. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, place-bocontrolled trial in TB clinics at a demographic surveillance site in Guinea-Bissau. We incl
The Hyttsjo granites occur in the extensively mineralised Langban-Nordmark area in the westernmost part of the Bergslagen ore province. They have been classified as late Svecokarelian granites due to their homogeneous and generally isotropic appearance in addition to a WR Rb/Sr age. Moreover, they have been considered as possible candidates for supplying essential metals to epigenetic mineralisati
