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Only some individuals with obesity develop liver fibrosis due to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD-fibrosis). We determined whether detailed assessment of lifestyle factors in addition to physical, biochemical and genetic factors helps in identification of these patients. A total of 100 patients with obesity (mean BMI 40.0 ± 0.6 kg/m2 ) referred for bariatric surgery at the Helsinki Univers
Objectives: PMR is an inflammatory disease with prominent morning stiffness and muscular tenderness, usually diagnosed in primary health care (PHC). The objectives were to examine the validity of PMR diagnoses in PHC and to validate the use of classification criteria for PMR.Methods: Medical records for patients with a registered PMR diagnosis at two PHC facilities were reviewed. Patients were cla
The paper aims to quantify the daily bicycle traffic volume based on the data from bicycle automatic counters and bikeshare system (BSS) trip data taking into account the impact of weather conditions. Changes in bicycle traffic were assessed based on coefficient of variation of bicycle volume and number of BSS trips. The research was conducted in the city of Cracow (Poland) for 2 years. The volume
Methane and hydrogen-enriched (25 vol% and 50 vol% H2-enriched CH4) methane/air premixed flames were investigated in a gas turbine model combustor under atmospheric conditions. The flame operability ranges were mapped at different Reynold numbers (Re), showing the dependence on Re and H2 concentrations. The effects of equivalence ratio (Φ), Re, and H2 enrichment on flame structure were examined em
Introduction: We aimed to establish a standardized, routine-use pre-analytical protocol for measuring Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Methods: The effect of pre-analytical factors (sample collection/handling/storage/transportation) on biomarker levels was assessed using freshly collected CSF. Tube type/sterilization was assessed using previously frozen samples. A
Perioperative chemotherapy enhances the survival rates for patients with esophageal and gastric (EG) adenocarcinoma, but not all patients benefit from this additional treatment. Chemotherapeutic agents have been demonstrated to alter the immune cell (IC) composition in the tumor microenvironment. Hence, there is a rationale to investigate the influence of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on differen
Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the oxygen consumption of explanted aerobically-perfused cardioplegic porcine hearts at different temperatures. Material/Methods: Explanted hearts from 30 pigs weighing 50 kg were randomized into 5 groups. The hearts received continuous antegrade perfusion within a temperature-controlled sealed system. The perfusate consisted of an albumincontai
Sweet proteins are an unexploited resource in the search for non-carbohydrate sweeteners mainly due to their low stability towards heating. Variants of the sweet protein monellin, with increased stability, were derived by an in vivo screening method based on the thermodynamic linkage between fragment complementation and protein stability. This approach depends on the correlation between mutational
BACKGROUND: Beans are rich and inexpensive sources of proteins and carbohydrates around the world, but particularly in developing countries. However, many legume varieties are still underutilized. In this study, physical characteristics of the seeds of three Phaseolus lunatus cultivars were characterized. Also, the chemical composition and starch digestibility in the cooked beans were assessed. RE
Tropical roots and tubers (TRT) are important staple foods in the tropics. TRT are produced by small farmers and have received only limited attention. The objective of this paper was to evaluate nutritionally important carbohydrate fractions and proximal composition of cooked cassava (Manihot esculenta), cocoyam - or tannia- (Xantosoma sp) and yam (Dioscorea alata) grown in Costa Rica. Twenty boil
Objective: Inflammation is associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicidal behavior. According to the ‘leaky gut hypothesis’, increased intestinal permeability may contribute to this relationship via bacterial translocation across enterocytes. We measured plasma levels of gut permeability markers, in patients with a recent suicide attempt (rSA), MDD subjects with no history of a suici
Lingonberries (LB) have been shown to have beneficial metabolic effects, which is associated with an altered gut microbiota. This study investigated whether the LB-induced improvements were associated with altered gut- and neuroinflammatory markers, as well as cognitive performance in ApoE−/− mice fed high-fat (HF) diets. Whole LB, as well as two separated fractions of LB were investigated. Eight-
Zambia introduced a sector-wide approach (SWAp) in the health sector in 1993. The goal was to improve efficiency in the use of domestic funds and externally sourced development assistance by integrating these into a joint sectoral framework. Over a decade into its existence, however, the SWAp remains largely unevaluated. This study explores whether the envisaged improvements have been achieved by
BACKGROUND: Screening patients with columnar metaplasia of the oesophagus for adenocarcinoma is controversial owing to the low cancer incidence and diverging opinions as to whether screening improves the prognosis of these patients. Our aim was to evaluate a screening program for adenocarcinoma in patients with columnar metaplasia in the oesophagus, with focus on cancer incidence and costs.METHODS
Background: Sex hormones in serum have been hypothesized to influence the risk of prostate cancer. We performed a collaborative analysis of the existing worldwide epidemiologic data to examine these associations in a uniform manner and to provide more precise estimates of risks. Methods: Data on serum concentrations of sex hormones from 18 prospective studies that included 3886 men with incident p
A biological bank has been developed to extend the biochemical and molecular research base for a prospective study on diet and cancer in the city of Malmo, Sweden. The study entered individuals 45-69 years of age, of which 30,382 individuals (45%) participated. Each individual entering the bank has stored samples of viable mononuclear leukocytes (MNLs; -140°C) and granulocytes (GRANs; -80°C) or bu
Background: Studies of survival comparing radical cystectomy (RC) and radiotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer have provided inconsistent results and have methodological limitations. The aim of the study was to investigate risk of death after radiotherapy as compared to RC. Methods: We selected patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma without distant metastases, treated with radio
Background: Nail polish is known to contain potentially hazardous chemicals that have been linked to adverse health effects after overexposure. Formaldehyde is used as an antimicrobial, preservative, and nail hardener in select nail products, yet it is a recognized carcinogen and potent allergen in allergic contact dermatitis. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether formaldehyd
Laminar burning velocities of ethanol-water-air mixtures have been determined using the heat flux method. Aqueous ethanol contained 0–40% of water by mole fraction. Laminar premixed flat flames were stabilized on a perforated burner under adiabatic conditions for the equivalence ratio range from 0.7 to 1.4. Burning velocity measurements were performed for the initial gas temperature of 358 K and a
