Studies on iterative reconstruction techniques on computed tomographic (CT) scanners show reduced noise and changed image texture. The purpose of this study was to address the possibility of dose reduction and improved conspicuity of lesions in a liver phantom for different iterative reconstruction algorithms. An anthropomorphic upper abdomen phantom, specially designed for receiver operating char

Stem cell factor (SCF) binds the receptor tyrosine kinase c-Kit and is critical for normal hematopoiesis. Substitution of valine for aspartic acid 816 (D816V) constitutively actives human c-Kit, and this mutation is found in patients with mastocytosis, leukemia, and germ cell tumors. Immortalized murine progenitor cells (MIHCs) transduced with wild-type c-Kit proliferate in response to SCF, wherea

A procedure to obtain future local precipitation characteristics focused on extreme conditions has been developed based on a weather generator. The method involves six major steps: (1) the weather generator was calibrated using observed daily precipitation at 220 Swedish stations during 1961–2004; (2) present and future daily precipitation characteristics for the Swedish stations from two global c

The psychometric properties of the three-item Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale (MISS) were evaluated using the classical test theory. Different cut-offs for identifying insomnia were suggested in two age groups (≥6 and ≥7 among adult and elderly people, respectively). The aim of the present study was to test the measurement properties of the MISS using the Rasch measurement model, with special empha

The objective of this study was to compare early and 1 year outcome of needle fasciotomy and collagenase injection for Dupuytren's disease. Inclusion criteria were primary Dupuytren's contracture excluding the thumb with a palpable cord and a total extension deficit, i.e. a fixed flexion from 30° to 135° with less than 60° in the proximal interphalangeal joint. The most affected ray was randomized

CAPS1 and CAPS2 regulate dense-core vesicle release of transmitters and hormones in neuroendocrine cells, but their precise roles in the secretory process remain enigmatic. Here we show that CAPS2(-/-) and CAPS1(+/-);CAPS2(-/-) mice, despite having increased insulin sensitivity, are glucose intolerant and that this effect is attributable to a marked reduction of glucose-induced insulin secretion.

This brief presents an efficient and configurable multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) signal detector design solution and its high-speed IC implementation. This detector can support 2 $times$ 2/3 $times$ 3/4 $times$ 4 MIMO and quadratic phase-shift keying/16-state quadratic amplitude modulation (QAM)/64-state QAM modulation configurations. The detection algorithm employs an early-pruned techniqu

Proteoglycans (PG) are polyanionic proteins consisting of a core protein substituted with carbohydrate chains, that is, glycosaminoglycans (GAG). The biosynthesis of GAG can be manipulated by simple xylosides carrying hydrophobic aglycons, which can enter the cell and initiate the biosynthesis. While the importance of the aglycon is well investigated, there is far less information on the effect of

OBJECTIVES: The platelet ADP P2Y(12) receptor which is a target for the antithrombotic drug clopidogrel is also distributed on vascular smooth muscle cells and stimulate contraction. This study investigates whether AZD6140, in contrast to clopidogrel, can inhibit ADP-mediated arterial contractions. METHODS: Mice were treated with clopidogrel, 50 mg/kg, 24 and 2 h before experiment. Thoracic aorta

Aim: Inhalation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produces both systemic and pulmonary inflammatory responses. The aim of this study was to further characterize the response to LPS in order to develop a human model suitable for early testing of drug candidates developed for the treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Materials: Blood and induced sputum were obtained 4, 24 and 48 h fo

We oppose the opinion that the intra-arterial administration of iodine-based contrast media (CM) appears to pose a greater risk of contrast medium-induced nephropathy (CIN) than intravenous administration since 1) in intra-arterial coronary procedures and most other intra-arterial angiographic examinations, CM injections are also intravenous relative to the kidneys, 2) there is a lack of comparati

BACKGROUND: To evaluate resource utilization and direct economic costs of care for patients treated with negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT), using the Vacuum-Assisted Closure (V.A.C.) system, compared to standard moist wound therapy (MWT). METHODS: A total of 162 diabetic patients with post-amputation wounds (up to the trans-metatarsal level) entered a 16-week, randomized clinical trial. Patie

AIMS:: Tissue-specific circulating microRNAs are released into the blood after organ injury. In an ischemic porcine cardiogenic shock model we investigated the release pattern of cardiacspecific miR-208b and liver-specific miR-122 and assessed the effect of therapeutic hypothermia on their respective plasma levels. METHODS AND RESULTS:: Pigs were anesthetized and cardiogenic shock was induced by i

Background: Central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO(2) ) is suggested to reflect the adequacy of oxygen delivery, and the main objective of the present study was to determine whether ScvO(2) is associated with outcome in haemodynamically stabilized trauma patients. Methods: Haemodynamically unstable trauma patients receiving a central venous line within 1 h of admission were eligible for inclusion

It is generally thought that a single ejaculate is a bad predictor of semen quality of a subject, because of significant intra-individual variation. Therefore, we investigated the degree to which the results of a first semen analysis differ from that of a second analysis among men from a general population in Norway. In addition, we analysed how the two different semen results mirrored the overall

Experimental, epidemiological and clinical studies suggest that calcium and/or its regulating hormones affect breast cancer risk. There has been no prospective cohort study investigating serum calcium levels and breast cancer aggressiveness, as determined by tumour histology and stage. Dichotomized prediagnostic serum calcium levels were investigated in relation to breast cancer aggressiveness as