The release of prostacyclin by endothelial cells (EC) in culture was studied after exposure to two toxic stimuli (UV light or dimethylsulfoxide-soluble smoke particles (DSP)) or to medium conditioned by smooth muscle cells (SMC), basically or after injury to the SMC. An activity stimulating the release of prostacyclin was found together with growth inhibiting activity from arterial SMC, but dissoc

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of cigarette smoke have been suggested to be involved in atherogenesis. After being converted to epoxides by monooxidases in the arterial wall the hydrocarbons may exert toxic or mutagenic effects on the smooth muscle cells (SMC). In a previous study we found that dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA), an inducer of arylhydrocarbonhydroxylase (AHH), increased SMC prolifera

A total of 1280 80-year-old men were invited to a medical examination to study common risk indicators for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the elderly. From the pool of 811 responders (63.3%), all 122 individuals who fulfilled our inclusion criteria were assigned to one of four groups: (1) no CVD, non-smokers; (2) no CVD, smokers; (3) CVD, smokers; (4) CVD, non-smokers. A telephone interview with 7

A total of 1280 80-year-old men in the community of Malmö were questioned about smoking habits and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). After a careful medical and duplex ultrasound examination, four groups were selected for further studies: (1) no CVD, non-smokers: (2) no CVD, smokers: (3) CVD, smokers: (4) CVD, non-smokers. In total 122 individuals participated. The average tobacco co

Glutathione transferase activity towards trans-stilbene oxide (GT-tSBO), an enzyme involved in the detoxification of many substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, was studied in 77 consecutive patients operated with coronary bypass, 73 patients with intermittent claudication, 78 healthy smokers and in 38 healthy non-smokers. The mean ages of these groups were similar. Lack of GT-tSBO w

PURPOSE: To implement an aggregation method in Matlab for generating ActiGraph counts from raw acceleration recorded with an alternative accelerometer device and to investigate the validity of the method. METHODS: The aggregation method including the frequency band-pass filter was implemented and optimized based on standardized sinusoidal acceleration signals generated in Matlab and processed in t

Previous reports have suggested a role for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Therefore, the effects of benzpyren (BP) and dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) on the arterial smooth muscle cell (SMC) in culture were studied. DMBA increased the proliferation of bovine and rabbit SMC but not of human embryonal fibroblasts or human SMC. BP did not significantly influen

Aims/hypothesis: The aims of this study were to evaluate systematically the predictive power of comprehensive metabolomics profiles in predicting the future risk of type 2 diabetes, and to identify a panel of the most predictive metabolic markers. Methods: We applied an unbiased systems medicine approach to mine metabolite combinations that provide added value in predicting the future incidence of

BACKGROUND Sentinel-lymph-node biopsy is associated with increased melanoma-specific survival (i.e., survival until death from melanoma) among patients with node-positive intermediatethickness melanomas (1.2 to 3.5 mm). The value of completion lymph-node dissection for patients with sentinel-node metastases is not clear. METHODS In an international trial, we randomly assigned patients with sentine

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone orchestrate the reproduction cycle and regulate the sex steroid secretion from the gonads. In mammals, GnRH1 is secreted as a hormone from the hypothalamus, whereas both GnRH1 and GnRH2 are present as neurotransmitters/peptides in various tissues, where the peptides exert many different effects. mRNA codin

Background: The aim was to explore the experiences and views of people attending day centers for people with psychiatric disabilities concerning the occurrence and nature of gendering of the occupations performed there. Methods: Twenty-five day center attendees were interviewed regarding occupational choices at the day centers, whether they would describe day center occupations as gendered, and if

Background: Relapse of disease is frequent in anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). It is unclear whether persistent ANCA when starting maintenance therapy increases the risk of relapse. We examined the association between ANCA status and relapse in two randomised controlled trials. Methods: ANCA-positive patients in two trials, CYCLOPS and IMPROVE, were switched f

Background: The pathophysiology of neurodegeneration is complex. Its diagnosis requires an early identification of sequential changes in several hallmarks in the brains of affected subjects. The presence of brain pathology can be visualized in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by protein profiling. It is clear that the field of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) will benefit from an integration of algorithms in

Aims: People who have schizophrenia die earlier from somatic diseases than do people in the general population, but information about cardiovascular deaths in people who have schizophrenia is limited. We analysed mortality in all age groups of people with schizophrenia by specific cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), focusing on five CVD diagnoses: coronary heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, c

Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause for myocardal infarction, stroke and peripheral arterial disease, collectively referred to as cardiovascular diseases. These represent the major cause of death globally. Phenotypic modulationof vascular smooth muscle cells form a contractile to a synthetic state and subsequent migration into the intima, isone of the prime events that marks the genesis of ath

Background: Smooth muscle cells are important for atheroscleroticplaque stability. Their proper ability to communicatewith the extracellular matrix is crucial for maintainingthe correct tissue integrity. In this study, we have investigatedthe role of β-sarcoglycan within the matrix-binding dystrophin-glycoproteincomplex in the development of atherosclerosis.Results: Atherosclerotic plaque developm