In a search for inhibitors of the inducible tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) promoter activity and synthesis, a new chlorinated cyclopentenone was isolated from fermentations of the ascomycete Mollisia melaleuca. The structure was determined by a combination of spectroscopic techniques. The compound blocked the inducible human TNF-alpha promoter activity and synthesis with IC50-values of 2.

Background: COMP (Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein) is a matrix protein, which is currently studied as a potential serum marker for cartilage processes in osteoarthritis (OA). The influence of physical exercise on serum COMP is not fully elucidated. The objective of the present study was to monitor serum levels of COMP during a randomised controlled trial of physical exercise vs. standardised r

It has been suggested that bone mineral density (BMD) measurements should be made at multiple sites, and that the lowest T-score should be taken for the purpose of diagnosing osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to examine the use of BMD measurements at the femoral neck and lumbar spine alone and in combination for fracture prediction. We studied 19,071 individuals (68% women) from six prospect

An excess mortality is well described after vertebral fracture. Deaths are in part related to co-morbidity, but could also be due to the fracture event itself, either directly or indirectly. The aim of this study was to examine the quantum and pattern of mortality following vertebral fracture. We identified 16,051 men and women aged 50 years or more with a vertebral fracture that required hospital

The achievement of a sustainable society is ultimately an educational enterprise. E-learning has a role to play in this endeavour, as it permits global access to environmental education, independent of time and place,once the courses are available on the Internet. Besides reaching new target groups not able to attend higher education on campus, e-learning may potentially be a more resource efficie

A positive and innovative organizational climate is of great importance in order to manage and adapt to change. Such a climate seldom evolves in organizations closely governed by rules and regulations. Because of ongoing organizational and technical changes within the Swedish Air Navigation Services Provider, a study concerning the organizational climate for changes and innovations was conducted t

Two novel human papillomaviruses (HPVs), HPV93 and HPV96, with genomes of 7450 and 7438 bp, respectively, are described. The Ll open reading frame of HPV93 showed highest identity to HPV24 (79%) and that of HPV96 had highest identity to HPV92 (71 %). Real-time PCR for HPV92, 93 and 96 on stripped biopsies from tumours and healthy skin from 269 immunocompetent patients found HPV DNA in 2.6 % of tum

Experimental studies have revealed that both downstream and upstream pointing V-shaped ribs result in more heat transfer enhancement than transverse straight ribs in ducts. However, based on the available experimental results, contradiction exists whether the upstream or the downstream pointing V-shaped ribs orientation is superior for better enhancement in heat transfer. Further investigations ar

Objective. To compare leisure activities and associated factors in a group with recent onset RA and matched community-derived controls, to examine whether leisure activities are altered during the early years of disease and to seek predictors. Methods. One hundred and forty-seven consecutive persons with early RA were followed for 0.9-5.9 yr. One hundred and forty-four RA patients were compared cr

The objectives of this thesis are to study time-dependent fracture behaviour in concrete. The thesis consists of an experimental study, constitutive modelling and numerical analysis.

An open, crossover and randomized study was carried out to compare the safety and efficacy of salbutamol inhaled using the dry-powder inhaler Turbuhaler, and using a pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI). Twelve patients with moderate to severe asthma, aged 47-68 years, were included in the study. On two separate days, patients received a total dose of 1600 micrograms of salbutamol administered

Objective: The prognostic influence of neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation in prostate cancer patients is not yet properly established. In a series of primary hormone-naive prostate cancers from a patient population that underwent radical prostatectomy, we wanted to determine the relationship between NE phenotype expression and Gleason sum, disease stage, and serum PSA concentration. Methods: Ch

Infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and up-regulation of telomerase in esophageal adenocarcinoma. We immortalized normal esophageal epithelial cells by over-expression of the HPV16 E6/E7 and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) genes. HPV16 E6/E7-induced immortalization was accompanied by reduc