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Objectives: To compare a laparoscopic (totally extraperitoneal patch (TEP)) and an open technique (Lichtenstein) for inguinal hernia repair regarding recurrence rate and possible risk factors for recurrence. Summary Background Data: Laparoscopic hernia repair has been introduced as an alternative to open repair. Short-term follow-tip suggests benefits for those patients operated with a laparoscopi

The effects of UV-B radiation on the gas exchange rates, chlorophyll fluorescence, pigmentation, soluble sugars, starch, soluble proteins and carboxylating enzyme activities of maize (Zea mays L.) were investigated at four levels of applied nitrogen (0, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha−1 of N) under Mediterranean field conditions. The experiment simulated a 20% stratospheric ozone depletion over Portugal. S

The maximum concentration of water-insoluble solids (WIS) in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) is restricted due to inhibition of the enzymes and the yeast, as well as mass transport problems caused by the viscosity of the pretreated material. However, the higher the concentration of WIS during SSF the less energy is needed in the subsequent distillation and evaporation steps. I

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains from anti-HBe positive patients often show specific mutations in the precore gene, the core promoter region, or both. The dynamics of seroconversion in relation to the appearance of these mutations has not been studied and compared between defined HBV genotypes. Samples from patients followed during seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe were amplified by polymerase

Background: Obesity has been proposed as a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Methods: Pooled data were analyzed from the National Cancer Institute Pancreatic Cancer Cohort Consortium (PanScan) to study the association, between prediagnostic anthropometric measures and risk of pancreatic cancer. PanScan applied a nested case-control study design and included 2170 cases and 2209 control subjects. O

Background Genetic engineering of the major birch pollen allergen (Bet v 1) has led to the generation of recombinant Bet v 1 derivatives with markedly reduced IgE-binding capacity, but with retained T cell activating ability. Objective To compare the mucosal reactivity to rBet v 1 derivatives with rBet v 1 wild-type as basis for new therapeutic strategies for birch pollen allergy based on mucosal

There is a lack of knowledge to which extent heredity or familial risk factors are involved in the development of chronic bronchitis/emphysema (CBE). Smoking is regarded as the most important risk factor, but only about 15% of smokers develop airway obstruction. We evaluated the importance of familial risk factors compared to smoking and ex-smoking using an epidemiological approach. In 1992, a pos

Objective: The collagen VI muscular dystrophies, Bethlem myopathy and Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy, form a continuum of clinical phenotypes. Glycine mutations in the triple helix have been identified in both Bethlem and Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy, but it is not known why they cause these different phenotypes. Methods: We studied eight new patients who presented with a spectrum

A method based on U-V-irradiation in organic solvent followed by transfer of the remaining pollutants into silicone oil for subsequent biodegradation in a biphasic system inoculated with a phenanthrene degrading Pseudomonas sp. was tested for the treatment of various mixtures of PAHs. Acetone was first selected as the most suitable solvent compared to methanol, acetonitrile and silicone oil for th

Lake and peat corings on three Azores islands in the central North Atlantic, resulted in the discovery of a 6000 year long lacustrine sequence in a small crater lake, Lake Caveiro, on the island of Pico. This island is dominated by Pico mountain (2351 m), Portugal's highest mountain, and the lake site is situated at 903 in asl. Two sediment profiles, one central and one littoral, were sampled. Due

Immotile-cilia syndrome is characterized by severe respiratory distress from early infancy, and also often by situs inversus. The first description of the disease was based on just four persons, but reasons were given to suggest that the disorder may not be exceedingly rare. The purpose of the present study was to estimate just how rare or how common it is and to evaluate its association with situ

The structural basis for the biological specificity of human cystatin C has been investigated. Cystatin C and other inhibitors belonging to family 2 of the cystatin superfamily interact reversibly with target peptidases, seemingly by independent affinity contributions from a wedge-shaped binding region built from two loop-forming inhibitor segments and a binding region corresponding to the N-termi

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although smoking is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and death, many smokers remain healthy after many years of smoking. Our objective was to assess whether this variation is related to rate of decline of respiratory function. DESIGN: This was a population-based cohort study, its subjects being men born in 1914 from Malmo, Sweden. METHODS:

Haemophilus influenzae is a Gram-negative human pathogen that resides in the upper respiratory tract. Encapsulated H. influenzae type b (Hib) and type f (Hif) are the most common serotypes associated with invasive disease. H. influenzae displays various strategies to circumvent the host innate immune response, including the bactericidal effect of the complement system. In this study, we identified

Scand J Caring Sci; 2012 Satisfaction with rehabilitation in relation to self-perceived quality of life and function among patients with stroke - a 12 month follow-up Background and Purpose: Stroke causes complex disability and function, and perceived quality of life has been shown to correlate with satisfaction with care as well as with life in general among stroke patients. The aim of this study

Study Design. A randomized controlled comparative trial with an 8-month follow-up period was conducted. Objective. To compare the effect of the McKenzie treatment method with that of intensive dynamic strengthening training in patients with subacute of chronic low back pain. Summary of Backround Data. Randomized studies indicate that the efficacy of the McKenzie method in the treatment of patients

Objectives: To evaluate the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to identify normal mammograms in a screening population. Methods: In this retrospective study, 9581 double-read mammography screening exams including 68 screen-detected cancers and 187 false positives, a subcohort of the prospective population-based Malmö Breast Tomosynthesis Screening Trial, were analysed with a deep learning–b

Objectives: Study the effect of introducing a template for radiological reporting of non-enhanced computed tomography (NECT) in the primary care diagnostic work up of cognitive impairment using visual rating scales (VRS). Methods: Radiology reports were assessed regarding compliance with a contextual report template and the reporting of the parameters medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA), white matt

Long-term right ventricular pacing is associated with left ventricular dysfunction and cardiomyopathy, particularly in pediatric patients and those with congenital heart disease (CHD). Research has shown that pacing-induced cardiomyopathy can be reversed with nonselective or selective His bundle pacing in adults, however, the information available about the use of this type of therapy in pediatric