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Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-based therapy is a novel treatment for type 2 diabetes. It is executed either by GLP-1 mimetics or by dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors. In type 2 diabetes, the two strategies reduce hemoglobin A(1c) by 0.6% to 1.1% from baseline levels of 7.7% to 8.5%. They are efficient both in monotherapy and in combination with metformin or thiazolidinediones. Both treatments a

We present a stopping condition to the duality based distributed optimization algorithm presented in [1] when used in a distributed model predictive control (DMPC) context. To enable distributed implementation, the optimization problem has neither terminal constraints nor terminal cost that has become standard in model predictive control (MPC). The developed stopping condition guarantees a prespec

Computational prediction methods are widely used for analysis of human genome sequence variants and their effects on gene/protein function, splice site aberration, pathogenicity, and disease risk. New methods are frequently developed. We believe that guidelines are essential for those writing articles about new prediction methods, as well as for those applying these tools in their research, so tha

Signal transduction in response to growth factors is a strictly controlled process with networks of feedback systems, highly selective interactions and finely tuned on-and-off switches. In the context of cancer, detailed signaling studies have resulted in the development of some of the most frequently used means of therapy, with several well established examples such as the small molecule inhibito

Disease predisposing germline mutations in cancer susceptibility genes may consist of large genomic rearrangements, including deletions or duplications that are challenging, to detect and characterize using standard PCR-based mutation screening methods. Such rearrangements range from single exons up to hundreds of kilobases of sequence in size. Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH)

Structure determination of superantigens and the complexes they form with immune receptors have over the years provided insight in their modes of action. This technique requires growing large and highly ordered crystals of the superantigen or receptor-superantigen complex, followed by exposure to X-ray radiation and data collection. Here, we describe methods for crystallizing superantigens and sup

BACKGROUND: The in vivo clinical significance of malignant stem cells remains unclear. METHODS: Patients who have the 5q deletion (del[5q]) myelodysplastic syndrome (interstitial deletions involving the long arm of chromosome 5) have complete clinical and cytogenetic remissions in response to lenalidomide treatment, but they often have relapse. To determine whether the persistence of rare but dist

OBJECTIVES: Methods to expand hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) ex vivo encompass an attractive approach that would substantially broaden the clinical applicability of HSCs derived from cord blood. Recently, members of the Angiopoietin-like (Angptl) family of growth factors were shown to expand both murine and human HSCs. Specifically, Angptl5 has been implicated in the expansion of human NOD-SCID-

BACKGROUND: Healthcare today is a complex system with increasing needs of specific knowledge of evaluation of research and implementation into clinical practice. A critical issue is that we all apply evidence-based practice (EBP) with standardised methods and continuing and systematic improvements. EBP includes both scientific and critical assessed experience-based knowledge. For the individual,

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate disclosure rates and disclosure patterns and to examine predictors of non-disclosure in a sample of male and female adolescents with self-reported experiences of sexual abuse. METHOD: A sample of 4,339 high school seniors (2,324 girls, 2,015 boys) was examined with a questionnaire concerning sexual experiences in this study with a focus on discl

We tested whether the "Lund" (LU) electrode-placement system compared to the Mason-Likar (M-L) electrode-placement system would produce waveforms more similar to those of standard electrocardiograms (ECGs) with regard to the QRS axis in the frontal plane and QRS changes of inferior myocardial infarction (MI). We also tested whether LU was more noise immune than standard, and whether the noise immu

Background/Aims: To evaluate the performance of estimation formulas for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) based on creatinine and cystatin C in elderly. Methods: This study includes 2,931 men and women comprising nine age cohorts (60-93 years) from a longitudinal population-based project in Sweden. The participants were divided into four age groups. GFR was estimated from four formulas: the Modific

Between 1999 and 2005, 10 264 patients who had undergone total hip replacement (THR) for subcapital fracture of the hip were compared with 76 520 in whom THR had been performed for other reasons. All the cases were identified through the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register. The THRs performed as primary treatment for fracture were also compared with those done after failure of internal fixation. Aft

BACKGROUND: Circulatory instability is a serious problem after brain death in organ donors. The hypotension is often counteracted with infusion of large amounts of crystalloid solutions, which may impair lung function leading to rejection of the lungs as donor organs. The aim was to show that the circulation can be normalized pharmacologically for 24 h in pigs after total removal of the brain and

The types of coumadin anticoagulants registered and available for use differ between countries. Most frequently used coumadin anticoagulants are warfarin and acenocoumarol. Under several specific conditions, transition from one coumarin to another is required. Because of different pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics, the transition from one type of coumarol to another type can be c

In a longitudinal study, the authors explore the course of general cognition in anorexia nervosa (AN) over time and compare general cognitive problems, executive function deficits, attentional problems and visuomotor dysfunctions across AN individuals and healthy controls. A community-based sample of adolescent onset AN cases (n = 40-47) was contrasted with an age-, sex- and school matched compari

Neural stem cells are defined as cells that either gives rise to or derives from the cells of the central nervous system and have the unique properties of stem cells, i.e. self-renewal and multipotentiality. One of the widely used methods of expanding neural stem cells under culture conditions is based on the capacity of these cells to divide continuously when cultured in serum-free medium supplem