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BACKGROUND & AIMS: Corticosteroids alone or in conjunction with azathioprine (AZA) is the standard treatment in autoimmune hepatitis (AiH). Individual variations in thiopurine (TP) metabolism may affect both drug efficacy and toxicity. Our aim was to investigate the utility of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) as well as thioguanine nucleotide (TGN) and methylthioinosine monophosphate (meTIM

The role of the gaseous messengers NO and CO for β-cell function and survival is controversial. We examined this issue in the hyperglycemic-hyperinsulinemic ob/ob mouse, an animal model of type 2 obese diabetes, by studying islets from obese vs lean mice regarding glucose-stimulated insulin release in relation to islet NO and CO production and the influence of modulating peptide hormones. Glucose-

Islet hormone secretion is regulated by a variety of factors, and many of these signal through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). A novel islet GPCR is GPR54, which couples to the Gq isoform of G proteins, which in turn signal through the phospholipase C pathway. Ligands for GPR54 are kisspeptins, which are peptides encoded in the KISS1 gene and also expressed in islet beta-cells. The KISS1 gene

BACKGROUND: Renal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of pediatric cancer patients at diagnosis has previously been investigated in a limited number of studies. PROCEDURE: GFR, measured by iohexol clearance, was prospectively investigated in 55 children over the age of 1 year with malignancies, (group A). Elevated GFR (>175 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) at diagnosis was found. To investigate if this finding was

OBJECTIVE: To study muscle strength and functional performance in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury with or without surgical reconstruction 2 to 5 years after injury. Good muscle function is important in preventing early-onset osteoarthritis (OA), but the role of reconstructive surgery in restoring muscle function is unclear. METHODS: Of 121 patients with ACL injury included in

OBJECTIVE: To compare ambulatory blood pressure recorded during a work day with a leisure day regarding masked hypertension. DESIGN: A randomized crossover study in middle-aged normotensives. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-seven untreated middle-aged normotensives (17 women), who had repeated office blood pressure less than 140/90 mmHg. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Individual difference of masked hypertension betw

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related disease afflicting 3-7% of pregnancies worldwide and leads to maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. The disease is of placental origin and is commonly described as a disease of two stages. A variety of preeclampsia animal models have been proposed, but all of them have limitations in fully recapitulating the human disease. Based on the research question a

The overall aim of this study was to survey and analyze the selection process for patients awaiting a kidney in the Nordic countries collaborating within Scandiatransplant.

Annual and seasonal variations in surface air temperature (SAT) during the period 1961–2011 were analysed using daily mean temperature data sets from regular grid points (10?×?10?km2) throughout Finland. The Mann–Kendall nonparametric test was used to detect significant historical trends in SAT and Spearman's correlation coefficient (?) to test the relationships between SAT patterns and various at

Abstract is not available

Targeting mechanisms of neutrophil elastase (NE) and other luminal proteins stored in myeloperoxidase (MPO)-positive secretory lysosomes/primary granules of neutrophils are unknown. These granules contain an integral membrane protein, CD63 with an adaptor protein-3-dependent granule delivery system. Therefore, we hypothesized that CD63 cooperates in granule delivery of the precursor of NE (proNE).

Fuel cells are promising due to advantages with higher energy conversion efficiency and lower emissions of SOX, NOX and CO2 than conventional power systems. Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a high temperature fuel cell, which operates at 600-1000 ºC. The high operating temperature and the anode material allow SOFCs to operate with different types of fuels from both fossil and renewable sources due

Flint was the most widely employed raw material for artifact manufacture in Denmark and Sweden during the Stone Age, and it continued to be used during subsequent periods. Prehistoric flint mining and lithic manufacturing studies in these countries have attracted considerable attention, but there have been no recent attempts to chemically characterize the geologic source materials. This paper buil

Sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) is a rare congenital tumor associated with high rates of perinatal mortality and morbidity. This study evaluated the incidence, prenatal detection rate, and early predictors of a complicated outcome following diagnosis of SCT.