The biologically active form of vitamin D, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3), has been reported to positively regulate the human cathelicidin anti-microbial peptide (CAMP) gene coding for LL-37, but the mechanisms are not completely understood. We have determined the expression of CAMP, vitamin D receptor (VDR), and the retinoid X receptor (RXR) isoforms in human skin and gingival tissue biopsies

We investigate the responsiveness of academic patenting to research and development (R&D) at the subject level at Swedish universities in panel data regressions. The general responsiveness to R&D is found to be higher than corresponding estimates in US studies, especially when we adopt instrumental variable techniques that address endogeneity in the R&D-to-patent relationship studied.

Background and purpose — Patients having a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) after a previous high tibial osteotomy (HTO) constitute a minor group among those undergoing primary TKA for knee osteoarthritis (OA). There have been few reports on whether such patients differ pre- and postoperatively from those who undergo TKA as the first measure. We evaluated patient characteristics, knee-related pain, f

While imaging optically dense media such as atomizing sprays, the multiple light scattering induces image artifacts and blurring effects which limit visibility.Therefore, extracting quantitative spray information such as droplet size and concentration from qualitative images becomes very challenging. However, multiple scattering effects can be efficiently addressed by means of the SLIPI (Structure

In this work we implement features for IEEE 802.11ac in the NS-3 simulator, in particular wider channels and bit-error calculations for higher modulation coding schemes. We also implement four wireless LAN deployment scenarios from the 802.11ax working group scenario document, and evaluate their performance under different operating conditions. Our simulation results demonstrate that many nodes in

Implementation of amyloid biomarkers in clinical practice would be accelerated if such biomarkers could be measured in blood. We analyzed plasma levels of Aβ42 and Aβ40 in a cohort of 719 individuals (the Swedish BioFINDER study), including patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia and cognitively healthy elderly, using a u

Bone marrow (BM) contains a rare population of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), which have been characterized as nonhematopoietic skeletal progenitor cells with central importance for the hematopoietic microenvironment. Classically, MSCs are isolated by plastic adherence and subsequent culture. However, as cultured stromal cells differ from their in vivo progenitors, it is important to identify t

Background Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become an established therapeutic option for patients with symptomatic, severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) who are ineligible or at high risk for conventional valvular surgery. In Northwestern Europe, the TAVR technology is also increasingly used to treat patients with an intermediate risk profile. Methods and results The study was design

A multi-wavelength lidar system was used to detect free-flying birds passing over Athens, Greece. The location is strategically located in one of the important migratory corridors for birds migrating between Europe and Africa. Multiwavelength aerosol lidars are operated regularly across Europe in the frame of EARLINET. Here, the feasibility of using this existing infrastructure for assessing fluxe

The risk of solid and hematological malignancy in patients with Turner syndrome, characterized by X chromosome monosomy in women, and Klinefelter syndrome, characterized with two and more X chromosomes in men, is not well established, but such evidence may have etiological implications on cancer development. We identified a total of 1,409 women with Turner syndrome and 1,085 men with Klinefelter s

Background: We have previously shown promising results 2 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, within the Adolescence Morbid Obesity Surgery study (AMOS). The aim of the current study was to describe the 2-year outcome in cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and functional capacity in the Stockholm subset of the AMOS study. Methods: Forty-one adolescents (10 male, 31 female, age 14

Background Although there is evidence of an association between antibiotic consumption and resistant bacteria on a population level, the relationship on an individual level has been less well studied, particularly in terms of nasopharyngeal colonization. We have therefore analysed this association, using data from a closely followed cohort of children taking part in a vaccination trial. Methods 10

Summary: This study examines the impact of smoking and smoking cessation on fracture risk in 75-year-old women followed for 10 years. Smoking increased fracture risk, especially for vertebral fractures. Smoking cessation decreased the risk for vertebral fractures but not for other fracture types. Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine effects of smoking and smoking cessation on fra

Background: Epileptic seizures are associated with an immune response in the brain. However, it is not known whether it can extend to remote areas of the brain, such as the eyes. Hence, we investigated whether epileptic seizures induce inflammation in the retina. Methods: Adult rats underwent electrically induced temporal status epilepticus, and the eyes were studied 6 h, 1, and 7 weeks later with

Stem cell therapies for neurological disorders are rapidly moving towards use in clinical trials. Before initiation of clinical trials, extensive pre-clinical validation in appropriate animal models is essential. However, grafts of human cells into the rodent brain are rejected within weeks after transplantation and the standard methods of immune-suppression for the purpose of studying human xenog

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is an important regulator of vascular integrity and immune cell migration, carried in plasma by high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated apolipoprotein M (apoM) and by albumin. In sepsis, the protein and lipid composition of HDL changes dramatically. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in S1P and its carrier protein apoM during sepsis. For this purpose, pla

Iron-carbene complexes show considerable promise as earth-abundant light-harvesters, and adsorption onto nanostructured TiO2 is a crucial step for developing solar energy applications. Intrinsic electron injection capabilities of such promising FeII N-heterocyclic complexes (Fe-NHC) to TiO2 are calculated here, and found to correlate well with recent experimental findings of highly efficient inter

The formation of lumps during industrial recombination of powder is a common problem in many industries. An important step in the recombination process is the wetting of the dry material. Only with an efficient wetting the individual powder particles will disperse and a complete dissolution will occur. In difference, a slow or incomplete wetting will not supply liquid to all portions of the powder

Objective: The aim of this study was to translate and validate the Swedish version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale – Vanderbilt Cystectomy Index (FACT-VCI). Materials and methods: For adaptation into Swedish, a multiprofessional team was used for translation including cultural adjustment, followed by back-translation. Test and retest in 10 individuals was followed by assessing