OBJECTIVES: To compare two patient populations with assumed cultural differences undergoing radical cystectomy and orthotopic bladder substitution to determine whether these translate into differences in the answers to self-report instruments. METHODS: The questionnaires Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bladder Cancer (FACT-BL), consisting of a general version (FACT-G) and a bladder cancer

The aims of this paper are to investigate both older people's views about ways In which to finance health-care costs and their willingness to pay for treatment themselves, along with variations in these views by age and gender. The data are from the Good Ageing in Sk (a) over circle ne (GAS) prospective longitudinal cohort study in Sweden, which involved medical examinations and a survey of living

In several cases, inorganic salts have been used to induce partly structured states in protein folding. But what is the nature of these states: Do they represent key stepping stones in the folding process, or are they circumstantial pitfalls in the energy landscape? Here we report that, in the case of the two-state protein S6, the salt-induced collapsed state is off the usual folding routes in the

Objectives: To assess the extent and pattern of irreversible organ damage in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), and Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) by a cross-sectional point prevalence study within a defined geographical area. Methods: The Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI) was recorded for 86 prevalent cases, classified as 46 patients

Effective treatment of haemophilic arthropathy requires a detailed evaluation of joint integrity. Methodological assessment of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scores are needed to assure reproducibility of measurements when comparing results of clinical trials conducted in different centres. We compared the reliability of two MRI scoring systems for assessment of haemophilic arthropathy: one prog

The recently cloned human chemoattractant receptor-like (CMKRL)1, which is expressed in vivo in CD4-positive immune cells, has structural homology with the two chemokine receptors C-C chemokine receptor (CCR)5 and C-X-C chemokine receptor (CXCR)4, which serve as the major coreceptors necessary for fusion of the HIV-1 envelope with target cells. In view of the structural similarity, CMKRL1 was test

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of early, nasogastric enteral nutrition (EN) with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in patients with predicted severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Summary Background Data: In SAP, the magnitude of the inflammatory response as well as increased intestinal permeability correlates with outcome. Enteral feeding has been suggested superior to parenteral feeding

Ethanol production was studied in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of steam-pretreated spruce at 42 degrees C, using a thermotolerant yeast. Three yeast strains of Kluyveromyces marxianus were compared in test fermentations. SSF experiments were performed with the best of these on 5% (w/w) of substrate, at a cellulase loading of 37 filter paper units/g of cellulose, and a beta-

Crosstalk between insulin and cAMP signalling pathways has a great impact on adipocyte metabolism. Whilst Protein kinase B (PKB) is a pivotal mediator of insulin action, in some cells regulation of PKB by cAMP has also been demonstrated. Here we provide evidence that, in a phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase dependent manner, beta 3-adrenergic stimulation (using CL316243) in adipocytes induces PKB phos

Background: von Willebrand disease (VWD) type 1 is a congenital bleeding disorder caused by genetic defects in the von Willebrand factor (VWF) gene and characterized by a reduction of structurally normal VWF. The diagnosis of type 1 VWD is difficult because of clinical and laboratory variability. Furthermore, inconsistency of linkage between type 1 VWD and the VWF locus has been reported. Objectiv

We present an investigation of orbital entanglement in mesoscopic conductors. Several schemes for generation of orbital entanglement are discussed, such as normal-superconducting, electron-hole and dynamic orbital entanglers. The generated, orbitally entangled state is investigated with the focus on the state emitted in an electronic analog of the optical Hanbury Brown Twiss experiment. The one an

Gospel research has drawn upon studies of folklore from time to time. An initial impetus from J. G. Herder was followed up by the work of the form critics. More recently, W. H. Kelber introduced to the debate a model based on modern folklore studies and linguistic theory known as 'oral culture' or 'orality'. He stressed the differences between oral ways of thinking, speaking, and transmitting trad

Background. Several studies have investigated associations between the -174GC single nucleotide polymorphism (rs1800795) of the IL6 gene and phenotypes related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) but presented inconsistent results. Aims. This joint analysis aimed to clarify whether IL6 -174GC was associated with glucose and circulating interleukin-6 concentrations as well as body mass index (BMI).

Extreme values of non-linear functions of multivariate Gaussian processes are of considerable interest in engineering sciences dealing with the safety of structures. One then seeks the survival probability P{(X1(t),⋯ ,Xn(t))∈ S, all t∈ [0,T]}, where X(t)=(X1(t),⋯ ,Xn(t)) is a stationary, multivariate Gaussian load process, and S is a safe region. In general, the asymptotic survival probability for

We deal with some halos generated by the divergent light from a nearby source. After discussing how the divergent light transforms some halo features, we give an outline of a method of handling the simulation of a divergent-light halo. The simulation method is then successfully tested on some well-documented halo observations. We also present a "simulation atlas" that shows halos produced by cryst

A neural interface could be used to control a limb prosthesis. Such an interface can be created by facilitating axonal regeneration through a sieve electrode and then register nerve signals intended to control the prosthesis. A key question is how to design the electrodes to ensure the best possible regeneration. Our previous studies have indicated that regeneration can be achieved using electrode