Knowledge about changes in exposure to toxic metals over time remains very sparse, in particular for children, the most vulnerable group. Here, we assessed whether a reduction in environmental pollution with cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) caused a change in exposure over time. In total, 1257 children (age 4-9) in two towns in Sweden were sampled once in 1986-2013. Blood concentrations of Cd (b-Cd;

Background: Ischemic postconditioning (PostC), brief repetitive cycles of ischemia and reperfusion during early reperfusion, is suggested to protect the myocardium in patients with stent thrombosis-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by improved endothelial dysfunction and alteration of cytokine release. These mechanisms are also of importance for the recruitment of endothelial progenitor cell

A prevailing hypothesis is that neurogenesis is reduced in depression and that the common mechanism for antidepressant treatments is to increase it in adult hippocampus. Reduced neurogenesis has been shown in healthy rats exposed to stress, but it has not yet been demonstrated in depressed patients. Emerging studies now indicate that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can, exert behavioral ef

The leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide is atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, most commonly caused by rupture of a high-risk plaque and subsequent thrombosis resulting in stroke, myocardial infarction or sudden death depending on the affected arterial territory. Accurate, non-invasive methods to identify such lesions known as vulnerable or high-risk plaques are currently sub-op

The article reflects on the mechanisms aimed to control the fulfillment of the EU sustainability criteria for biofuels, as they were promoted in Directive 2009/28/EC. The article contains the final results of the research initiated in the work Pavlovskaia, E. (2013) “Controlling the Fulfillment of the EU Sustainability Criteria for Transport Biofuels”, which was published in RELP 4/2013. The artic

PURPOSE: To evaluate the plasma level of different forms of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) as discriminators between malignant, borderline, and benign ovarian tumors and as prognostic markers in patients with ovarian cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The different suPAR forms were measured in preoperative plasma samples obtained from 335 patients with adnexal lesions using thr

OBJECTIVE: Relatives of patients undergoing cardiac surgery expect successful outcome but sometimes complications cause death. The aim was to interview relatives of patients who have died in connection with cardiac surgery and describe their experiences of information, reception and care. METHODS: Data were obtained from semi-structured interviews with 18 relatives of deceased patients and then an

BACKGROUND: The benefits of critical care follow-up services include increased understanding of the long-term consequences of intensive care and entail helping patients and their next of kin to come to terms with their problems and distress following critical illness and intensive care treatment. AIMS: To establish an intensive care after-care programme and to conduct a preliminary evaluation of t

Pancreatic cancer is strongly associated with the development of hyperglycemia, peripheral insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, especially when presented as new-onset diabetes mellitus. Peripheral insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia have been suggested to promote growth of pancreatic cancer cells, and therefore a relation between long-standing diabetes mellitus type 2 and pancreatic cance

AIMS: To study HLA-DQB1 genes and islet cell autoantibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GADA) and insulinoma antigen-2 (IA-2A) in relation to diabetes post partum in mothers with diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: During 2003-2004, women undergoing a 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) during pregnancy were invited to participate in the Mamma Study. Cut-off leve

Mirror therapy has been used as an alternative stimulus to feed the somatosensory cortex in an attempt to preserve hand cortical representation with better functional results.

Tyr-762 is an autophosphorylation site in the human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) alpha-receptor. In order to investigate whether phosphorylated Tyr-762 serves as a docking site for downstream signal transduction molecules, affinity purification using an immobilized synthetic peptide containing phosphorylated Tyr-762 and its surrounding amino acid residues was performed. Proteins in HeLa c

International guidelines recommend PET-CT should replace CT in Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL). The aims of this study were to i) compare PET-CT with CT for staging and ii) measure agreement between expert and local readers, using a five-point scale (Deauville criteria), to adapt treatment in a clinical trial 'Response Adapted Therapy in Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma' (RATHL) www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials, refe

We compared porous silicon (pSi) with smooth Si as chip-implant surfaces in a nerve regeneration setting. Silicon chips can be used for recording neural activity and are potential nerve interface devices. A silicon chip with one smooth and one porous side inserted into a tube was used to bridge a 5 mm defect in rat sciatic nerve. Six or 12 weeks later, new nerve structures surrounded by a perineur

OBJECTIVE: to explore beliefs about health and illness three months postpartum in women born in Sweden and the Middle East, and to study whether they perceive gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) as a prediabetic condition. DESIGN: an explorative study using semi-structured interviews 3 months postpartum. SETTING: in-hospital diabetes specialist clinic in Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: interviews three mont