AIM: To investigate the mechanism of interleukin (IL)-6 secretion through blocking the IL-17A/IL-17A receptor (IL-17RA) signaling pathway with a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro. METHODS: HSCs were derived from the livers of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. IL-6 expression was evaluated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme linked immun

The short-range structures of hydrated and dry samples of the proton-conducting, cubic-structured, acceptor-doped perovskites BaM0.10Zr0.90O2.95 (M=Y, In, Sc and Ga), and, for comparison, BaZrO3, have been investigated using infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The results show that the acceptor-doping leads to local structural distortions of the average cubic structure, most likely related to tilts o

Numerous Neoproterozoic mafic dykes, referred to as the Dashigou swarm, are identified in the central and southeastern parts of the North China craton (NCC). They are 305-010 degrees trending dykes, with widths of similar to 10-100 m and exposed lengths of several to >10 km. Precise U-Pb isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry (ID-TIMS) measurements on baddeleyite grains separated fr

Non-drinkers among youth in Sweden have increased markedly during the last 15 years. The aim of this study is to investigate the temporal association between region of origin among Swedish youth and rates of non-drinking.

Infantile colic is common, but no safe and effective conventional treatment exists. The use of acupuncture has increased despite weak evidence. This practitioner survey explores and discusses how infantile colic is regarded and treated in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The study is based on personal communication with 24 acupuncturists from nine countries. These acupuncturists specialize in p

The signaling mechanisms regulating neutrophil recruitment, systemic inflammation and T-cell dysfunction in polymicrobial sepsis are not clear. This study explored the potential involvement of the calcium/calcineurin-dependent transcription factor, nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) in abdominal sepsis. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) triggered NFAT-dependent transcriptional activity in

1. The sense of smell is crucial for fitness of most animals, enabling them to find mates, food and egg laying sites and to stay away from danger. Hence, odour molecules are detected by sensitive and specific olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs). In insects, the OSNs are stereotypically grouped into olfactory sensilla located mainly on the antennae. The functional significance of this co-localization

The RITUXVAS trial reported similar remission induction rates and safety between rituximab and cyclophosphamide based regimens for antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis at 12 months; however, immunosuppression maintenance requirements and longer-term outcomes after rituximab in ANCA-associated renal vasculitis are unknown.

To investigate cross-cultural validity of a simple self-report instrument of physical activity intended to be used in Swedish health care. Methods: A validation study performed in 599 Iraqis (58% men) and 553 Swedes (53% men) aged 30-75 years living in the city of Malmö, Sweden. The self-report instrument by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare was compared to corresponding measures as

Lynch syndrome (LS) is an autosomal dominant syndrome that predisposes individuals to development of cancers early in life. These cancers are mainly the following: colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, small intestine, stomach and urinary tract cancers. LS is caused by germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes (MMR), mostly MLH1 and MSH2, which are responsible for more than 85% of known germline

To compare physical activity measures and their associations with insulin sensitivity, β-cell function and body mass index (BMI) between Iraqi immigrants and native Swedes.

Background: Some patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) cannot be treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and will therefore not receive effective thromboprophylaxis. The primary objective of the present Phase II trial (NCT00623779) was to assess the feasibility of conducting a study with a novel oral anticoagulant, the direct thrombin inhibitor AZD0837, in patients with AF unable or unwilling t

OBJECTIVE: The presence of concomitant Alzheimer pathology has been linked to earlier death in cases with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Recently, elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau protein levels have been reported to be associated with shorter survival in clinically diagnosed DLB. Correlations between CSF biomarkers and neuropathological findings in DLB are missing. The aim of this study

Energy-rich methane can be harnessed from seaweed deposits by anaerobic digestion. However, the high heavy metal content in the seaweed and its digestates limits their use as fertilisers. Heavy metal contaminants from solid seaweed can be removed by, mobilisation into a liquid phase and subsequent metal ions adsorption. In this laboratory-scale study, pretreatment strategies for enhancing seaweed

The purpose of this study is to investigate if the prescription of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) was associated with a sudden risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) while controlling for time-invariant confounding by using a case-crossover design. An association might indicate that physicians take prodromal symptoms of myocardial ischaemia for dyspepsia.

Background/Aims: Obesity is a pervasive and highly prevalent disease that poses substantial health risks to those it affects. The rapid emergence of obesity as a global epidemic and the patterns and distributions of the condition within and between populations suggest that interactions between inherited biological factors (e.g. genes) and relevant environmental factors (e.g. diet and physical acti

Increased blood pressure and high dietary salt are leading risks for death and disability globally. Reducing the burden of both health risks are United Nations' targets for reducing noncommunicable disease. Nongovernmental organizations and individuals can assist by ensuring widespread dissemination of the best available facts and recommended interventions for both health risks. Simple but impactf

Ependymal cells in the lateral ventricular wall are considered to be post-mitotic but can give rise to neuroblasts and astrocytes after stroke in adult mice due to insult-induced suppression of Notch signaling. The transcription factor FoxJ1, which has been used to characterize mouse ependymal cells, is also expressed by a subset of astrocytes. Cells expressing FoxJ1, which drives the expression o