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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Follow-up studies of children and young adults born very-to-moderately preterm show persistent and significant lung function deficits. The aim of the study was to determine lung function and airway mechanics in school-aged children born in 2004 to 2007 and extremely preterm (after 22-26 weeks of gestation).METHODS: In a population-based cohort of children born extremely
Introduction Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a subset of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) associated vasculitis with distinct pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical features and treatment responses. Rituximab is a licensed therapy for granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis but there is limited experience of rituximab in EGPA. Methods EGPA
OBJECTIVE: To discover common genetic variants associated with poststroke outcomes using a genome-wide association (GWA) study. METHODS: The study comprised 6,165 patients with ischemic stroke from 12 studies in Europe, the United States, and Australia included in the GISCOME (Genetics of Ischaemic Stroke Functional Outcome) network. The primary outcome was modified Rankin Scale score after 60 to
Background: In addition to the established association between general obesity and breast cancer risk, central obesity and circulating fasting insulin and glucose have been linked to the development of this common malignancy. Findings from previous studies, however, have been inconsistent, and the nature of the associations is unclear.Methods: We conducted Mendelian randomization analyses to evalu
Schwann cells myelinate selected axons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and contribute to fast saltatory conduction via the formation of compact myelin, in which water is excluded from between tightly adhered lipid bilayers. Peripheral neuropathies, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and Dejerine-Sottas syndrome (DSS), are incurable demyelinating conditions that result in pain, decrea
Background: Coffee consumption has been shown to be associated with various health outcomes in observational studies. However, evidence for its association with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is inconsistent and it is unclear whether these associations are causal.Methods: We used single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with (i) coffee and (ii) caffeine consumption to perform Mendelian randomiz
Sugar esters (SEs), value-added products derived from inexpensive renewable feedstocks (sugars and fatty acids), are biobased and biocompatible surfactants employed in foods, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals. They also possess antimicrobial and other biological activities. Their market size is projected to be $74.6 million by 2020. SEs are difficult to synthesize due to the poor miscibi
Background: The bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex (BEEC) is a congenital malformation of the bladder and urethra. The underlying causes of this malformation are still largely unknown; however, aside from environment, genetics is thought to play an essential role. The recurrent 22q11.2 microduplication is the most persistently detected genetic aberration found in BEEC cases. Methods: We performe
BACKGROUND: Oral contraceptives are known to reduce the incidence rate of endometrial cancer, but it is uncertain how long this effect lasts after use ceases, or whether it is modified by other factors.METHODS: Individual participant datasets were sought from principal investigators and provided centrally for 27 276 women with endometrial cancer (cases) and 115 743 without endometrial cancer (cont
Background and purpose. Sensorimotor stroke (SMS) is often included among the lacunar syndromes, although the underlying cause of this stroke-subtype is less well documented. To this end we analysed 32 patients presenting with a sensorimotor syndrome. Methods. The study protocol included vascular risk factors, echocardiography, Doppler sonography of carotid arteries, CT scan and MRI of the brain.
The ability of echocardiography to diagnose sources of embolism and the role of the examination in the prediction of thromboembolism are reviewed. In addition, the yield of transthoracic (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is analysed in patients with suspected embolism and guidelines are proposed for performing echocardiography in this setting. In general, echocardiography is reliab
BACKGROUND: Population-specificity of exploratory dietary patterns limits their generalizability in investigations with type 2 diabetes incidence. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to derive country-specific exploratory dietary patterns, investigate their association with type 2 diabetes incidence, and replicate diabetes-associated dietary patterns in other countries. METHODS: Dietary intake da
The typical approach for volumetric blood flow assessment consists of a velocity measurement performed in a single sample volume placed in the vessel centre, combined to an estimate of the average diameter. This simple approach produces large inaccuracies since it does not account for the complex flow configurations produced by complicated artery geometries and/or pulsatile conditions. Moreover, d
Background: BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers are at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Oral contraceptive preparations (OCPs) may reduce ovarian cancer risk, but its effect on breast cancer risk remains unclear. Methods: Combined data from three cohorts of 5705 BRCA1 and 3521 BRCA2 mutation carriers (IBCCS, BCFR and kConFab) were analyzed using age-dependent Cox regression models stratified
Flexible and powerful control over network flows is one of the core advantages of Software-Defined Networking (SDN). Flow rules stored in switch network flow tables contain information on packet processing and routing. Flow rules are stored in memory, in a set of data structure rules, and managed by a classifier in flow tables. Network flows are a valuable asset: they contain information about the
Background: Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) is the most promising ovarian cancer screening biomarker to date. Multiple studies reported CA125 levels vary by personal characteristics, which could inform personalized CA125 thresholds. However, this has not been well described in premenopausal women. Methods: We evaluated predictors of CA125 levels among 815 premenopausal women from the New England Case C
