Purpose: To assess performance of a biomarker-based score that predicts the five-year risk of diabetes (Diabetes Risk Score, DRS) in an independent cohort that included 15-year follow-up. Method: DRS was developed on the Inter99 cohort, and validated on the Botnia cohort. Performance was benchmarked against other risk-assessment tools comparing calibration, time to event analysis, and net reclassi

In the article, the issue of environmental sustainability criteria in the coffee sector is researched. Such important aspects in this topic are highlighted and discussed as reasons for the emergence of sustainability criteria for coffee and factors that make the production of coffee sustainable. Two widely used sustainability standards for coffee, the Fair Trade Coffee sustainability standard and

The efficacy of concentrates of fibrinogen and factor XIII in hypothermia and haemodilution has not yet been completely investigated. Clauss fibrinogen measurement may overestimate fibrinogen concentrations during in vitro haemodilution with hydroxyethyl starch (HES).

Objective . To assess self-reported activity limitations in a clinical sample of stroke patients and to identify their association with prevalence, severity and impact on daily life of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Material and methods . A cross-sectional, clinical survey was initiated whereby stroke patients were invited to complete four activity limitations measurements: Barthel Index, mo

Compelling evidence suggests that accumulation and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) contribute to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we describe a novel Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) transgenic model, in which we have expressed wild-type human α-syn fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP), under control of the mouse α-syn promoter. We observed a widespread and high

OBJECTIVE: Leukocytes mediate hepatocellular injury in obstructive cholestasis. The aim of the present study was to define the role of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) in cholestasis-induced leukocyte recruitment and liver damage. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were pre-treated with an anti-PSGL-1 antibody or a control antibody prior to bile duct ligation (BDL) for 12 h. Hepatic recruitment of leu

Endocannabinoids have been implicated in the regulation of consumption of palatable food, sugar in particular. In this study, we investigated how palatable solutions would affect the hypothalamic mRNA expression of enzymes involved in the synthesis and degradation of the two main endocannabinoids, anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol. Rats were offered sugar solutions to drink for one week, duri

Ultrasound is a reliable tool to diagnose patent ductus arteriosus in premature infants but no reliable noninvasive method exists to quantify ductal flow. The aim of this study was to quantify the size of the shunt via persistent ductus arteriosus from pixel counts in color Doppler flow images. A cotton band was placed around the ductus arteriosus of newborn lambs to adjust the magnitude of flow.

During forebrain development, Mash1 directs gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neuron differentiation ventrally in the ganglionic eminences. Repression of Mash1 in the cortex is necessary to prevent the formation of GABAergic interneurons. Negative regulation of Mash1 has been attributed to members of the Neurogenin family; the genetic ablation of Neurogenin2 (Ngn2) leads to the derepression of M

Transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) has been implicated as a mediator of itch in allergic rhinitis. To address this possibility, we synthesized a TRPV1 blocker (SB-705498) for nasal administration in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. The pharmacological activity of SB-705498 was confirmed on human TRPV1-expressing HEK293 cells, using fluorometric calcium imaging, and in patien

OBJECTIVE: To assess self-reported walking ability in individuals with chronic stroke and to determine the relationship with gait performance tests. DESIGN: Descriptive analysis of a convenience sample. SETTING: A university hospital rehabilitation medicine clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty ambulatory community-dwelling poststroke individuals (mean age, 64 years [range, 44-74 years] and mean t

We report experimental measurements of high-order harmonic spectra generated in Ar using a carrier-envelope-offset (CEO) stabilized 12 fs, 800 nm laser field and a fraction (less than 10%) of its second harmonic. Additional spectral peaks are observed between the harmonic peaks, which are due to interferences between multiple pulses in the train. The position of these peaks varies with the CEO and

This paper describes an attempt to apply linear optimal control theory to computer control of an industrial process. The applicability of the theory is discussed. Particular attention is given to the problem of obtaining a mathematical model of process dynamics and disturbances. Results of actual measurements as well as results from on-line control experience are presented.

With high-dose administration of (90)Y labeled antibodies, it is possible to image (90)Y without an admixture of (111)In. We have earlier shown that it is possible to perform quantitative (90)Y bremsstrahlung SPECT for dosimetry purposes with reasonable accuracy. However, whole-body (WB) activity quantification with the conjugate view method is not as time consuming as SPECT and has been the metho

Purpose: To report the results from a nationwide survey on glaucoma management in Sweden, performed as a part of an Open Angle Glaucoma project conducted by the Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment 2004-2008. Methods: In 2005, a survey was distributed to all providers of glaucoma care in Sweden: public eye departments, public outpatient departments and private practices. The questionnai

BACKGROUND:: Platelet-endothelial cell interactions play a key role in hemostasis and pathological coagulation and are dependent on different surface molecules that are expressed upon activation (eg, mediated by lipopolysaccharide [LPS]). Recently, we have shown that Rho kinase plays a central role in LPS-mediated leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions. We investigated the role of Rho-kinase in i