What does it mean that an object has instrumental value? While some writers seem to think it means that the object bears a value, and that instrumental value accordingly is a kind of value, other writers seem to think that the object is not a value bearer but is only what is conducive to something of value. Contrary to what is the general view among philosophers of value, I argue that if instrumen

The capability of two-tone frequency-modulation spectroscopy (TTFMS) in deriving spectral line-shape information was investigated. Two oxygen A-band transitions at 760 nm were selected, and the Voigt profile and two different collisionally narrowed line profiles were employed in their analysis. By means of a least-squares fitting procedure, we obtained accurate information regarding transition str

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major risk factor for dyslipidemia, but this relationship is highly variable. Recently published data from 2 Danish cohorts suggest that genetic factors may underlie some of this variability.METHODS AND RESULTS: We tested whether established triglyceride-associated loci modify the relationship of body mass index (BMI) and triglyceride concentrations in 2 Swedish cohorts (t

The aim was to investigate clinical characteristics of increased brachial pulse pressure (PP) during long-term follow-up (23 years) as a marker of arterial stiffness in 9704 healthy subjects. The association of baseline variables with an increasing PP burden during the study period was analysed by univariate analysis. In addition, the association between different biological variables at baseline

Objective To estimate the cost-effectiveness of a new treatment (natalizumab) for multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with current standard therapy with disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) in Sweden. Methods A Markov model was constructed to illustrate disease progression based on functional disability (the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)). The effectiveness of natalizumab was based on a 2-year cl

Meso-tetra(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (mTHPC) (INN: Temoporfin) is a potent photodynamically active substance in clinical use today. Usually, the substance is given systemically and a known drawback with this administration route is a prolonged skin light sensitization. For the first time to our knowledge, a liposomal Temoporfin gel formulation for topical application was studied in connection with pho

Burova L, Pigarevsky P, Seliverstova V, Gupalova T, Schalén C, Totolian A. Experimental poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis elicited by IgG Fc-binding M family proteins and blocked by IgG Fc fragment. APMIS 2012; 120: 221-30. The pathogenesis of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN), a major nonsuppurative complication of group A streptococcal (GAS) throat or skin disease, remains un

BACKGROUND: Serum N-terminal-pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is regarded as a marker of vascular disease and has previously been shown to exhibit an increased frequency of pathological values in elderly patients with mental illness with vascular disease compared to patients without vascular disease. Vascular disease plays an important role in cognitive impairment in elderly patients with

OBJECTIVE: Whereas epidemiological studies show that levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) predict incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), there is limited evidence relating lipoprotein subfractions and composite measures of subfractions to risk for CVD in prospective cohort studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: We tested whether combinations

Lewy bodies, which are a pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease, contain insoluble polymers of alpha-synuclein (alphasyn). Among the different modifications that can promote the formation of toxic alphasyn species, C-terminal truncation is among the most abundant alterations in patients with Parkinson's disease. In vitro, C-terminal truncated alphasyn aggregates faster and sub-stoichiometric

Laparoscopic skills training and evaluation outside the operating room is important for all surgeons learning new skills. To study feasibility, a video box trainer tracking 4-dimensional (4D) metrics was evaluated as a laparoscopic training tool.

Objective: Following the Ross operation, pulmonary autografts tend to dilate over time. This study researches the fate of the pulmonary autograft - at 4.5 years following the modified Ross operation - with special reference to the impact of the modification on (a) pulmonary autograft dilatation, (b) the neo-aortic root geometry, (c) neo-aortic valve function and (d) the coronary artery reserve. Me

AIM: In order to improve the patients' comfort and well-being during and after a stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), the patients' perspective on the intensive care experience in terms of memories is essential. The aim of this study was to describe unpleasant and pleasant memories of the ICU stay in adult mechanically ventilated patients. METHOD: Mechanically ventilated adults admitted for more

On 15 March 2012, Felix Baumgartner jumped from 71 500 feet [1], a test jump as part of his attempt to beat the earlier record set by Joe Kittinger, who jumped from 102 800 feet in 1960, as part of the US space programme [2] The ascent to these elevations in a helium balloon, followed by free fall, with varying temperatures and speed of sound, and increasing air resistance and density, can lead te

Label-free LC-MS analysis allows determining the differential expression level of proteins in multiple samples, without the use of stable isotopes. This technique is based on the direct comparison of multiple runs, obtained by continuous detection in MS mode. Only differentially expressed peptides are selected for further fragmentation, thus avoiding the bias toward abundant peptides typical of da

Sulfonylureas (SUs) are commonly used as add-on to metformin in treatment of type 2 diabetes in patients who are insufficiently controlled by metformin alone. They have good efficacy and have been shown to prevent microvascular complications. However, treatment with SUs is also associated with a high frequency of hypoglycemia, increased body weight, and a high risk of secondary failure. During rec

BACKGROUND: Outcome for resuscitated cardiac arrest (CA) patients is poor. The 1-year survival rate with favourable neurological outcome (CPC 1-2) after out-of-hospital CA is reported to be 4%. Among resuscitated patients treated within an ICU, approximately 50% regain consciousness, whereas the other 50% remain comatose before they die. Induced hypothermia significantly improves the neurological