We report on generation of dopamine neurons from long-term cultures of human fetal mesencephalic precursor cells. These CNS precursor cells were successfully expanded in vitro using the mitogens epidermal growth factor (EGF) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2). Incubation of these cultures in 3% atmospheric oxygen resulted in higher cellular yields than room air. Following incubation in differe

Inhibition or ablation of the hyperactive subthalamic nucleus (STN) in Parkinson's disease (PD) does not only reverse motor deficits, silencing the glutamatergic output of the subthalamic nucleus, but has also been implicated to have neuroprotective effects on nigral neurons in animal models of Parkinson's disease. Ablation of the subthalamic nucleus has been shown to increase the number of tyrosi

Background: T1D and AITD are autoimmune disorders commonly occurring in the same family and even in the same individual. The genetic contribution to these disorders is complex making uncovering of susceptibility genes very challenging. The general aim of this study was to identify loci and genes contributing to T1D/AITD susceptibility. Our strategy was to perform linkage and association studies in

This paper investigates whether the exports of different products by the same firm are systematically interconnected. Using Swedish firm-registry data from 1997-2011, I first document that the distribution of firm export sales is skewed towards their best performing products (‘superstars’). I then use a novel instrumental variable approach to identify if the ‘superstar’ products induce more trade This paper investigates whether the exports of different products by the same firm are systematically interconnected. Using Swedish firm-registry data from 1997-2011, I first document that the distribution of firm export sales is skewed towards their best performing products (‘superstars’). I then use a novel instrumental variable approach to identify if the ‘superstar’ products induce more trade

Monte Carlo simulation is a useful technique to propagate uncertainty through a quantitative model, but that is all. When the quantitative modelling is used to support decision-making, a Monte Carlo simulation must be complemented by a conceptual framework that assigns a meaningful interpretation of uncertainty in output. Depending on how the assessor or decision maker choose to perceive risk, the

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate predictive factors for outcome after lumbar disc herniation surgery in young patients. METHODS: In the national Swedish spine register, the authors identified 180 patients age 20 years or younger, in whom preoperative and 1-year postoperative data were available. The cohort was treated with primary open surgery due to lumbar disc herniation between

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic (NT-proBNP) is expressed in the heart and brain, and serum levels are elevated in acute heart and brain diseases. We aimed to assess the possible association between serum levels and neurological outcome and death in comatose patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Of the 939 comatose OHCA patients enrolled and randomized in the Targeted

This paper discusses some of the main issues of efficient analysis of electrically very large endfire arrays, and further proposes approaches for developing flexible simulation tools for this particular purpose. Some initial results supporting the endfire array design issue are presented, as well as some preliminary examples of implemented compression- and acceleration methods.

Physical bounds for antennas above ground planes are calculated by optimizing the antenna current. The bounds are compared with antennas modeled as fragmented patches and optimized using genetic algorithms. Monopole structures over ground planes are modeled with image theory and optimized. The monopole over ground plane structure simplifies experimental verification of the bounds.

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a potent regulator of cell growth and differentiation. TGF-β1 has been shown to be a key player in tissue remodeling processes in a number of disease states by inducing expression of extracellular matrix proteins. In this study a quantitative proteomic analysis was undertaken to investigate if TGF-β1 contributes to tissue remodeling by mediatin

The structural heterogeneity of tumor tissue can be probed by diffusion MRI (dMRI) in terms of the variance of apparent diffusivities within a voxel. However, the link between the diffusional variance and the tissue heterogeneity is not well-established. To investigate this link we test the hypothesis that diffusional variance, caused by microscopic anisotropy and isotropic heterogeneity, is assoc

There are only a few studies on the innervation of the human parathyroid glands and the content of neurotransmitters. We therefore studied the occurrence and distribution of peptide-containing and adrenergic nerve fibres and the coexistence pattern of neuromessengers by immunocytochemistry in normal (unaffected) and adenomatous parathyroid glands from patients undergoing surgery for parathyroid ad

To study possible influences of a mild increase in serum-ionized calcium concentration that is seen during daily life on circulating parathyroid hormone (PTH) immunoheterogeneity, we used sequence-specific PTH assays to determine serum intact PTH, C-terminal PTH and N-terminal PTH following oral calcium (1.5 g) in healthy subjects (n = 7). This was also performed in patients with primary hyperpara

The ability of calcium to suppress the secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) is impaired in primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). Whether the nonadenomatous glands in pHPT also exhibit altered calcium/PTH homeostasis is not known, but this may be the case since in the immediate postoperative period after surgery for pHPT, hypocalcemia often evolves in spite of a rapid normalization of serum levels

To improve the sensitivity of thallium-technetium subtraction scintigraphy for preoperative localization procedure of enlarged parathyroid glands in primary hyperparathyroidism, we administered calcitonin intramuscularly 4 hours before the scintigraphy in 14 consecutive patients. Injection of calcitonin reduced plasma levels of ionized calcium from 1.47 +/- 0.10 mmol/l to 1.41 +/- 0.09 mmol/l (p l

Located in the southeastern parts of the Baoulé Mossi domain of the West African Craton, the Birimian terrane in Ghana is known to consist of predominantly juvenile crust emplaced during the Eburnean orogeny. Here we present novel coupled zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope data from nine Birimian granitoids intruding different domains from northwestern, western and southeastern Ghana. Sub-chondritic e(