Preterm birth is the major cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity in the developed world. Where there are no contraindications to their use, tocolytics can improve neonatal survival rates by approximately 3% per day between 23 and 27 weeks gestation with a concomitant reduction in morbidity. The ultimate aim of tocolytic therapy is to prolong pregnancy until growth and maturation is complete,

We screened six populations of the clonal forest floor moss Plagiomnium affine from forests of different ages for genetic variation at 23 allozyme loci. Samples consisting of two adjacent, unconnected shoots were taken at regular intervals along one transect from each population. Transect lengths varied from 22 to 52 m, depending on the size of the local populations. From a sample of 602 shoots, w

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the intensity of telomerase activity measured on the cellular level in effusions correllates to survival time in cases of metastatic spread to the serous cavities. Study Design Telomere repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) in situ was applied to 46 effusions containing metastatic cancer cells. Results Weak telomerase activity in tumor cel

To examine and compare the diagnostic accuracy of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness measurements using different Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanning protocols. Stratus OCT data for 90 healthy subjects and 62 glaucoma patients with mild or moderate visual field loss were prospectively collected and analysed using four RNFL thickness protocols that differed in terms of image

The skeletal development of 51 recent beavers (Castor fiber L.) from Sweden has been studied, with the purpose to put forward a method for ageing individuals from this species. The study of the epiphyseal fusion in 45 epiphyses allowed for the establishment of a calendar. The results indicate that the skeletal maturation of the beaver occurs as late as 12 years. It is suggested that such prolonged

Abstract is not available

BACKGROUND: Macrophage foam cell formation is a prominent feature of human atherosclerotic plaques, usually considered to be correlated to uptake of and inflammatory response to oxidized low density lipoproteins (OxLDL). However, there are alternative pathways for formation of macrophage foam cells and the effect of such lipid loading on macrophage function remains to be fully characterized. In th

Abstract is not available

Objective: To evaluate the cumulative risk of having a prostate cancer diagnosis in a repeated screening situation in relation to the free-to-total prostate specific antigen ratio (F/T-PSA). Patients and Methods: The present study includes 1385 men (aged 50-70 years) who underwent prostate biopsy for the first time in the screening program that started in 1995. In case of a benign finding, the men

A 4 pi silicon bail for detection and identification of light charged particles in large multidetector gamma-arrays as EUROBALL is presented. The design is based on a N = 42 ball with 12 pentagons and 30 hexagons as used in the GASP array. The absorptive material for gamma-rays is minimized to the detector thickness of 300 or 500 mu m and a 0.63 mm ceramic backing. The geometrical coverage is desi

OBJECTIVE: to analyse the impact of stent-graft (SG) design and operator skill on the outcome of endovascular AAA repair. DESIGN: prospective non-randomised open. MATERIAL: a total of 158 patients (mean age 71) underwent SG repair. Patients were treated with five different types of SG: first (n =58) and second ( n =17) generation Ivancev-Malmo monoiliac SG (IM I and IM II respectively) combined wi

Abstract. AIMS: Can a cut-off blood pressure level for major complications be identified? METHODS: A 10 years observation study in 385 type 2 diabetic patients. RESULTS: 158 patients were affected with myocardial infarction, stroke, renal failure or death, which occurred in 68, 55, 19 and 109 patients, respectively. No patient with a blood pressure below 140 mmHg and/or a diastolic blood pressure