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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: More knowledge is needed about patterns of healthcare consumption at different times during old age, particularly with regard to the relationship between various agents in the healthcare and social services system. One aim was to investigate healthcare costs in the public medical healthcare system in men and women (65+) and, with regard to age, in the two years prior to the st
Sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) assessed by sperm chromatin structure assay is a valuable tool for prediction of fertility in vivo. Previous studies on DFI as predictor of in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome, based on relatively small materials, gave contradictory results. The present study examines, in a large cohort, the association between sperm DFI and the outcome of IVF/ICSI procedure. T
Apelin, a recently discovered peptide with wide tissue distribution, regulates feeding behavior, improves glucose utilization, and inhibits insulin secretion. We examined whether apelin is expressed in human islets, as well as in normal and type 2 diabetic (T2D) animal islets. Further, we studied islet apelin regulation and the effect of apelin on insulin secretion. Apelin expression and regulatio
Background: Dizziness is a very common complaint. The frequency of dizziness increases with age. It affects quality of life negatively for older persons in several ways. Objectives: This study intended to investigate which variables (physical activity, loneliness, health complaints, need of help for daily living and falls) differed between those with and without dizziness and also to investigate w
The transcription factor T-cell factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) confers type 2 diabetes risk mainly through impaired insulin secretion, perturbed incretin effect and reduced beta-cell survival. The aim of this study was to identify the molecular mechanism through which TCF7L2 influences beta-cell survival. TCF7L2 target genes in INS-1 cells were identified using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation. Validation
Background: Several countries are discussing new legislation on the ban of smoking in public places, and on the acceptable levels of traffic-related air pollutants. It is therefore useful to estimate the burden of disease associated with indoor and outdoor air pollution. Methods: We have estimated exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) and to air pollution in never smokers and ex-smokers in
OBJECTIVE:: Although recent studies have indicated that both orthostatic hypotension and orthostatic hypertension (OHTN) independently predict cardiovascular events, the underlying mechanisms are still debatable. METHODS:: A total of 700 nondiabetic adults (43% men, age 64 years) were examined by orthostatic blood pressure (BP) test, carotid artery ultrasonography, and biochemical tests including
Study Design. Descriptive register studyObjective. To describe preoperative levels of leg and back pain in patients operated for lumbar spinal stenosis and to obtain information on how three different pain constellations (back pain < leg leg pain, back pain > leg pain, back pain = leg pain) correlate to HRQoL and function in different morphological types of stenosis.Summary of Background Data. Deg
Background The optimal anticoagulant for patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been validated in current practice of radial approach and pretreatment with potent P2Y12 inhibitors. Several studies have indicated increased bleeding rate and, in some instances, even increased mortality by the routine use of heparin and glycoprotein IIb/III
BACKGROUND: There is no consensus whether angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) should be used for secondary prevention in all or in only high-risk patients after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI).OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate whether ACEI/ARB treatment after AMI is associated with better outcomes across different risk profiles, inc
The Lewis (Le) blood group antigens are a set of fucosylated glycan structures. They are present as N- and O-linked structures on glycoproteins and as glycolipid-based structures on cell surfaces. Depending on the exact structure, the Lewis group is divided into four subgroups; Lea, Leb, Lex and Ley. Lex and Lea can further be sialylated and/or sulfonated. Among these, Lex has been found to be imp
The control of inventories is a key issue for achieving efficient management of supply chains. This Licentiate Thesis is devoted to inventory control theory, a subdiscipline within the field of operations research and the management sciences. The objective of the research presented is: To develop mathematical models for efficient control of stochastic multi-echelon inventory distribution systems,
Managing material flows along a supply chain is a complex matter involving a great many interfaces both between activities and between actors. Integration of material flows may smooth the interfaces and thus also the potential errors and delays in the material flows. The potential to obtain such integration is facilitated by recent developments in identification technologies, particularly RFID tec
The sharing of computer programs, movies and music over the Internet marks an all time high in the persistent controversy between intellectual property owners and reproduction technologies as file sharing has gradually become a natural element in the everyday life of today’s younger generations. At present, the magnitude of the expanding gulf between traditional society’s intellectual property rig
Intracellular Ca2+ was determined with the fura-2 technique during electrically induced contractions in the rabbit rectococcygeus smooth muscle at 22 degreesC. The muscles were electrically activated to give short, reproducible contractions. Intracellular [Ca2+] increased during activation; the increase in [Ca2+] preceded force development by approximately 2 s. After cessation of stimulation Ca2+
Exposure to hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) has consistently been associated with an increased incidence of breast cancer, particularly of small tumours. Other tumour characteristics in relation to HRT have received less scientific attention. Our aim in this population-based prospective cohort study was to assess whether HRT is associated with an increased incidence of breast-cancer subgroups de
Background The activity of the human enzyme thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) varies greatly between individuals because of genetic polymorphism. TPMT is involved in the detoxification and activation of thiopurines such as 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, and azathioprine. These drugs are used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and inflammatory bowel disease. A total of 29 sequence
