OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a long-term treatment with beta-blockers influences the inflammatory activity in carotid artery disease by reducing the carotid plaque levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), its enzymatic products lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPCs), and of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and thirty-fo

Amylase testing has been used as a presumptive test for crime scene saliva for over three decades, mainly to locate saliva stains on surfaces. We have developed a saliva screening application for crime scene trace swabs, utilising an amylase sensitive paper (Phadebas((R)) Forensic Press test). Positive results were obtained for all tested dried saliva stains (0.5-32muL) with high or intermediate a

Hofmeister MV, Damkier HH, Christensen BM, Olde B, Leeb-Lundberg LM, Fenton RA, Praetorius HA, Praetorius J. 17 beta-Estradiol induces nongenomic effects in renal intercalated cells through G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 302: F358-F368, 2012. First published October 12, 2011; doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00343.2011.-Steroid hormones such as 17 beta-estradiol (E2) are kn

This article discusses in kind food transfers and whether such transfers should be interpreted as a sign of the failure of grain markets to meet the food demands of the poor. The paper elucidates on aspects of both consumption and in kind transfers of maize against a backdrop of poorly functioning markets. The paper adds to the theoretical understanding of household based linkages and provides a d

Background: Evidence from twin and molecular genetic studies is accumulating that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) shares substantial etiological factors with other disorders. This is mirrored in clinical practice where ASD without coexisting disorders is rare. The present study aims to examine the range of coexisting disorders in ASD in a genetically informative cohort. Methods: Parents of all Swed

We appreciate Ventres' observations and share his goal to reduce CKD incidence "by occupational, environmental, and health-related reforms that make this work [agricultural labor] more humane." In our summary of the workshop on the Mesoamerican nephropathy (MeN) in San José, Costa Rica, November 2012, we also noted the need for a broad understanding of the epidemic and we call readers' attention t

Two-stage soil column experiments involving capillary rise and evaporation were conducted to improve understanding of salt and water movement from groundwater to soil surface. In total, 64 soil columns were placed in a tank partly filled with water in order to mimic the groundwater table in soil. Each soil column was analysed by dividing it into 27 segments to analyse pore water and ion distributi

To investigate the occurrence, clinical signs and outcome of acute mastoiditis in infants under the age of 6 months in Sweden between the years 1993-2007.

This article is a qualitative analysis of mass-mediated projections of relationships between public relations practitioners in the shape of activist groups and organizations, and subaltern stakeholders for whom they act as public representatives. Drawing my empirical examples from Japan and Taiwan and analysing the public relations implications of two politically sensitive and controversial cases,

The base (BOP) and the top (TOP) of the world income pyramid represent the poor people and the people from developed countries, respectively. The design of products for the BOP is an important ingredient of the poverty reduction approach that combines business development with poverty alleviation. However, the current understanding of the design for the BOP is limited. This study, using a protocol

Boreal forests play a key role in the global carbon cycle and are facing rapid shifts in nitrogen availability with poorly understood consequences for ecosystem function and global climate change. We quantified the effects of increasing nitrogen availability on carbon fluxes from a relatively understudied component of these forests - the forest floor - at three intervals over the summer growing pe

Summary Background: The vitamin K-dependent Gas6 protein (product of growth arrest specific gene 6) binds to, and activates the TAM receptor tyrosine kinases Tyro3, Axl, and Mer. Gas6 and the TAM receptors have been suggested to be important for primary platelet functions, but Gas6 cannot be found in human platelets. However, Gas6 is present in human plasma at a concentration of around 0.2 nM, whi

Efficient light-emitting diodes and photovoltaic energy-harvesting devices are expected to play an important role in the continued efforts towards sustainable global power consumption. Semiconductor nanowires are promising candidates as the active components of both light-emitting diodes and photovoltaic cells, primarily due to the added freedom in device design offered by the nanowire geometry. H

Background and objectives: Platelet-derived CD40L is known to regulate neutrophil recruitment and lung damage in sepsis. However, the mechanism regulating shedding of CD40L from activated platelets is not known. We hypothesized that matrix metalloproteinase-9 might cleave surface expressed CD40L and regulate pulmonary accumulation of neutrophils in sepsis. Methods: Abdominal sepsis was induced by

This acoustofluidics tutorial focuses on continuous flow-based half wavelength resonator systems operated in the transversal mode, where the direction of the primary acoustic force acts in plane with the microchip. The transversal actuation mode facilitates integration with up- and downstream microchannel networks as well as visual control of the acoustic focusing experiment. Applications of parti

This paper presents direct numerical simulation studies of lean CH4/air and H-2/air flames at high Karlovitz numbers utilizing detailed chemical kinetic mechanisms. Identical Karlovitz numbers are applied to the two flames; however, as the interaction of high turbulence intensity small scale structures with the reaction zones is considered, a significant difference in the effect of the turbulence