Objective. Compare the initial stability at the fusion site of ankle arthrodesis fixed with two and three screws. Design. Finite element models of ankle arthrodesis were developed from computed tomography images. Two-screw constructs were augmented with a third screw in different orientations and Subjected to loads likely to affect the ankle postoperatively. Background More stable fixation seems t

Fish populations may be affected by predation and competition from various types of organisms, among which crayfish have been suggested as important actors. We here present results from stream surveys, suggesting that neither native noble, Astacus astacus, nor introduced signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, necessarily affect fish population densities in temperate stream communities. Compari

Understanding and predicting the distribution of organisms in heterogeneous environments lies at the heart of ecology, and the theory of density-dependent habitat selection (DDHS) provides ecologists with an inferential framework linking evolution and population dynamics. Current theory does not allow for temporal variation in habitat quality, a serious limitation when confronted with real ecologi

Multivariate analysis such as principal-components analysis (PCA) and partial-least-squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) have been applied to peptidomics data from clinical urine samples subjected to LC/MS analysis. We show that it is possible to use these methods to get information from a complex set of clinical data. The aim of the work is to use this information as a first step in the further

BACKGROUND: We studied the effect on skin papillomas of topical application of a complex of α-lactalbumin and oleic acid (often referred to as human α-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells [HAMLET]) to establish proof of the principle that α-lactalbumin-oleic acid kills transformed cells but not healthy, differentiated cells. METHODS: Forty patients with cutaneous papillomas that were resistant t

The reduced transition probabilities, B(E2; 0(gs)+ -->2(1)+), have been measured in the radioactive isotopes (108,106)Sn using subbarrier Coulomb excitation at the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN. Deexcitation gamma rays were detected by the highly segmented MINIBALL Ge-detector array. The results, B(E2;0(gs)+ -->2(1)+)=0.222(19)e2b2 for 108Sn and B(E2; 0(gs)+-->2(1)+)=0.195(39)e2b2 for 106Sn were det

The purpose of this study was to assess the value of the ventilation study in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism using a new automated method. Either perfusion scintigrams alone or two different combinations of ventilation/perfusion scintigrams were used as the only source of information regarding pulmonary embolism. A completely automated method based on computerised image processing and a

We discuss problems related to in silico studies of enzymes and show that accurate and converged free energy changes for complex chemical reactions can be computed if a method based on a thermodynamic cycle is employed. The method combines the sampling speed of molecular mechanics with the accuracy of a high-level quantum mechanics method. We use the method to compute the free energy barrier for a

The free energy of nonionic balanced microemulsions based on nonionic surfactants are analyzed using experimental data from (i) phase behavior, (ii) osmotic compressibility of the balanced microemulsion structure, which is obtained from small angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments, and (iii) data on interfacial tensions obtained by T. Sottmann and R. Strey [J. Chem. Phys. 106 8606 (1997)]. Th

BACKGROUND: Traditionally oocytes have been exposed to sperm overnight, for 16-20 h. This long period of co-incubation, however, has been shown to create problems with high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may affect embryo viability and cause hardening of the zona pellucida. Recently, a positive effect of reducing the co-incubation time to 90-120 min was reported. The objective of t

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the leptin and TNF systems in relation to testosterone in insulin resistant myotonic dystrophy (DM1) subjects. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Fasting morning samples and diurnal sampling during 24 h. Forty-two DM1 subjects (20 women and 22 men; age 41.5 (28.5-58.7)y, body mass index (BMI) 23.3 (18.6-29.2)kg/m(2); median and 10th and 90th percentile, respectively). Fifty healthy vol

Advances in human islet transplant techniques are hampered by the inability to assess the quality of isolated islets. A flow culture system was developed to perifuse isolated pancreatic islets or cultured beta-cell lines in order to continuously and noninvasively assess cell function and viability with high kinetic resolution. Continuous perifusion of large amounts of islet tissue as isolated from

Abstract is not available

OBJECTIVE: Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is a key enzyme in the mobilization of fatty acids from triglyceride stores in adipocytes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of the HSL gene promoter variant C-60G, a polymorphism which previously has been associated with reduced promoter activity in vitro, in obesity and type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: We genotyped two materials consisting

The effects of the Ca2+ sensitizer levosimendan and that of its stereoisomer dextrosimendan on the cardiac contractile apparatus were studied using skinned fibers obtained from guinea pig hearts. Levosimendan was found to be more effective than dextrosimendan in this model. The respective concentrations of levosimendan and dextrosimendan at EC50 were 0.3 and 3 muM. In order to explain the differen

BACKGROUND: The breaking strength of colonic anastomoses declines after operation to a minimum at days 3-4, with a subsequent risk of anastomotic dehiscence. The mechanism is thought to be collagen degradation by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). This study examined the pathogenic role of MMPs on the mechanical strength of colonic anastomoses by giving the synthetic broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor BB

Background: A quantitative description of bleeding symptoms in type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD) has never been reported. Objectives: The aim was to quantitatively evaluate the severity of bleeding symptoms in type 1 VWD and its correlation with clinical and laboratory features. Patients and methods: Bleeding symptoms were retrospectively recorded in a European cohort of VWD type 1 families, and

A subset of poorly differentiated carcinomas is characterized by the translocation t(15;19)(q13;p13), resulting in a BRD4/NUT fusion gene. Typically, this tumor affects children or young adults, with a predilection for midline head and neck or thoracic structures. The clinical course is invariably fatal, in spite of intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We here present the successful treatment