Purpose of review Recently, genome-wide genetic screening of common DNA sequence variants has proven a successful approach to identify novel genetic contributors to complex traits. This review summarizes recent genome-wide association studies for lipid phenotypes, and evaluates the next steps needed to obtain a full picture of genotype-phenotype correlation and apply these findings to inform clini

The ecological niches occupied by various species of Helicobacter are not yet known and the full spectrum of diseases associated with Helicobacter infections are not yet defined. Since these fastidious microaerofilic bacteria require special growth conditions new and improved molecular and serologic diagnostic methods have been developed to increase our understanding of their pathogenesis and viru

The aim of the work is to elucidate the influence of plasticity behaviour on the residual stress field in a ferritic reactor pressure vessel steel. To this end, we investigate two compressively pre-loaded compact tension (CT) specimens to generate a mechanical residual stress field. One specimen was subsequently pre-cracked by fatigue before both specimens were measured using high-energy synchrotr

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between smoking and the development of bladder cancer. The study population consisted of 429,906 persons participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), 633 of whom developed bladder cancer during the follow-up period. An increased risk of bladder cancer was found for both current- (incide

We report a 7-year-old girl with spina bifida carrying a complex chromosome abnormality resulting in duplication 16q 12.1 -q22.1. An abnormal karyotype was identified involving the long arm of chromosome 11. and fluorescent in, situ hybridization (FISH) to metaphase chromosomes revealed an insertion of part of chromosome 16 on chromosome 11. A detailed mapping of the chromosome abnormality using w

Abstract in German Die Röntgenuntersuchung des pharyngo-oesophagealen Segments bei Patienten mit Dysphagie beruht auf der Auswertung von Morphologie und Funktion. Dazu sind video- oder kinematographische Techniken notwendig. Das Zurückhalten von Kontrastmittel oberhalb des cricopharyngealen Muskels kann durch ein kleines Pseudo- oder ein echtes Divertikel verursacht werden. Beide Phänomene werden Radiology of the pharyngoesophageal segment in patients with dysphagia relies on evaluation of both morphology and function. Video- or cineradiographic techniques are necessary. Retention of contrast material above the cricopharyngeal muscle can be due to small pseudodiverticula or true diverticula. Both phenomena are due to dysfunction in the pharyngoesophageal segment. To develop into a true div

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have an increased risk of thrombosis. Platelet-induced extracellular phosphorylation of plasma proteins suggests that this is due to persistent activation of the platelets. We examined 30 SLE patients (15 with thrombotic disease), 18 non-SLE patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and 50 healthy controls by analysing beta-thromboglobulin, activated

A 34-year-old healthy gravida 2 para 1 presented after an uncomplicated pregnancy at term with a 2-day history of diminished fetal movements. Fetal anemia was suspected by fetal heart rate monitoring and Doppler estimation of the fetal peak blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery. We were also fortunate to register pathological ST waveform changes of the fetal ECG indicating fetal hypoxi

We have studied the quasielastic He-3(e,e(')p)H-2 reaction in perpendicular coplanar kinematics, with the energy and the momentum transferred by the electron fixed at 840 MeV and 1502 MeV/c, respectively. The He-3(e,e(')p)H-2 cross section was measured for missing momenta up to 1000 MeV/c, while the A(TL) asymmetry was extracted for missing momenta up to 660 MeV/c. For missing momenta up to 150 Me

To understand the evolution of the Milky Way Galaxy requires detailed knowledge of the star formation history of various populations. The vast amounts of photometric and astrometric data provided by the Gaia mission give unprecedented opportunities in this area. The relationships between the observed data and the ages of stars are however complex and highly non-linear and great care must be taken

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a chymotrypsin-like serine protease exclusively produced by the prostate epithelium, and abundant in seminal fluid. In serum, PSA is predominantly complexed to a liver-derived serine protease inhibitor, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT). A higher proportion of serum PSA is complexed to ACT in prostate cancer than in benign prostate hyperplasia. Since the molecular b

3T3-L1 fibroblasts were induced to differentiate to 3T3-L1 adipocytes by dexamethasone, isobutyl-methylxanthine, and insulin. To study how differentiation affects extracellular matrix production, the accumulation of proteoglycans was studied by labeling the 3T3-L1 cells with [35S]sulphate for 24 h. The labeled proteoglycans were isolated from the medium and cell layer extracts by anion-exchange ch

The aim of this work was to characterize the effect of experimental diabetes on neurotransmission in rat vagina. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: non-diabetic controls (NDM, n=38) and diabetics (DM, n=38). DM was produced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Eight weeks later the animals were killed, the distal part of the vagina was removed, and smooth muscle st

In a prospective study comprising 310 consecutive patients with carcinoma of the cervix, FIGO stages I-IV, the prognostic significance of clinical and flow cytometric variable was evaluated in a univariate and multivariate analysis. The parameters studied included stage according to FIGO, age, histopathologic grade according to Ackerman and MGS scores, DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction as well as treat

An investigation combining IR spectroscopy, potentiometric titrations, and adsorption experiments was carried out to study pyromellitate (1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylate) sorption at the goethite (alpha-FeOOH)/ water interface. The IR spectra show evidence of outer-sphere complexation throughout the pH range from 3 to 9. Below pH 6 additional IR spectroscopic features appear, which are tentatively

We analyse time series data of 17 bird species trapped at Ottenby Bird Observatory, Sweden, during spring migration 1972-1999. The species have similar demography but respond differently to variation in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) - a strong determinant of winter climate in the northern Hemisphere. Species wintering in northern Europe, compared to species having winter quarters in the Med

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the cost-effectiveness of varenicline with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation in four European countries (Belgium, France, Sweden and the UK). METHODS: Markov simulations, using the Benefits of Smoking Cessation on Outcomes (BENESCO) model, were performed. We simulated the incidence of four smoking-related morbidit

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy of men in Western countries. Patients with advanced prostate cancer suffer from incurable bone metastases. Recent data indicate that interactions between prostate cancer cells, osteoblasts, osteoclasts and the bone matrix are essential in the formation of bone metastases. FGF-8 is widely overexpressed in prostate cancer. Recently, FGF-8 has been found

Based on a large number of new boreholes in northern Denmark, and on the existing data, a revised event-stratigraphy is presented for southwestern Scandinavia. Five significant Late Saalian to Late Weichselian glacial events, each separated by periods of interglacial or interstadial marine or glaciolacustrine conditions, are identified in northern Denmark. The first glacial event is attributed to