BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex disorder that is affected by multiple genetic and environmental factors. Extensive efforts have been made to identify the disease-affecting genes to better understand the disease pathogenesis, find new targets for clinical therapy, and allow prediction of disease. CONTENT: Our knowledge about the genes involved in disease pathogenesis has increased su

The purpose of the present study was to test the psychometric properties and dimensionality of the Quality in Psychiatric Care - Outpatient (QPC-OP) instrument, in order to determine whether the model of QPC that is applicable to the inpatient clinic is also applicable to the outpatient clinic, and to briefly describe the patients' perceptions of quality of psychiatric outpatient care. A sample of

The evidence for central stimulant (CS) treatment in ADHD is strong in some respects but not with respect to unselected clinical material and long-term effects over the life course cycle. The objective of this study was to explore differences in vocational, psychiatric, and social impairment, including crime and substance abuse, among adults with ADHD, treated or not, with CS drugs before age 18.

Background: Knowledge of the radiographic catheter tip position after central venous cannulation is normally not required for short-term catheter use. Detection of a possible iatrogenic pneumothorax may nevertheless justify routine post-procedure chest X-ray. Our aim was to design a clinical decision rule to select patients for radiographic evaluation after central venous cannulation. Methods: A t

Objective: To examine the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on experimental liver tumours in rats. Design: An experimental liver tumour model was used. Each of a group of Fats had two tumours simultaneously inoculated into its liver. The tumour located in the left hepatic robe was used for PDT, and the other one, in the median lobe, as a control. The haem precursor delta-amino laevulinic acid (

An 'early streamer emission' (ESE) terminal, for lightning protection, stimulates a burst of streamers from its tip before producing streamers induced by the field of a downward leader, approaching from a thundercloud. It has been claimed to enhance the probability of attachment of a lightning channel to a protection system. Experiments are described in which the performance of a simulated 'early

Most research on global governance has focused either on theoretical accounts of the overall phenomenon or on empirical studies of distinct institutions that serve to solve particular governance challenges. In this article we analyze instead “governance architectures,” defined as the overarching system of public and private institutions, principles, norms, regulations, decision-making procedures a

Complete deficiency of complement inhibitor factor I (FI) results in secondary complement deficiency due to uncontrolled spontaneous alternative pathway activation leading to susceptibility to infections. Current genetic examination of two patients with near complete FI deficiency and three patients with no detectable serum FI and also close family members revealed homozygous or compound heterozyg

The var-gene encoding Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) is known to play a major role in the pathogenicity of the P. falciparum parasite. The protein enables the parasite to adhere to the endothelial linings of small blood vessels (cytoadherence) as well as to non-infected erythrocytes (rosetting), thus preventing clearance from the bloodstream. The development and spre

Background Few families with autosomal dominant forms of chronic idiopathic pseudo-obstruction (CIP) have been identified and reported. Methods We compared two families by clinical, laboratory, histopathologic, and genealogical investigations. Ten patients (pts) (five women) from two families, A and B, both with a family history suggesting autosomal dominant CIP, were investigated. Key Results All

Incoming Photosynthetic Active Radiation (PAR) is an essential variable for modelling aboveground primary production of ecosystems through the light-use efficiency approach. A method is presented where daily classifications of cloud cover (CLAVR) from the NOAA AVHRR satellite sensor is used to estimate surface incident short wave (SW) flux from which PAR can be assessed. The study area is the Inne

There are at least 120 completely characterized human papillomavirus (HPV) types and putative new types are continuously found. Both squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCC) and other skin lesions commonly contain multiple cutaneous HPV types. The objective of this study was to achieve an improved resolution of the diversity of HPV types in lesions such as SCCs, actinic keratoses (AKs) and kerato

The importance of tyrosine residues in ligand-mediated endocytosis of the platelet-derived growth factor beta-receptor was analyzed using a series of tyrosine residue-mutated beta-receptors, which together cover all of the tyrosine residues in the juxtamembrane segment, the kinase insert, and the carboxyl-terminal tail; also certain of the tyrosine residues within the first and second parts of the

Multicentre patch test studies (MPTSs) can contribute useful information for diagnostic and preventive measures. The aim of the present paper is to propose how to perform high-quality MPTSs. To this end, factors of significance for the patch test result are discussed with regard to the standardization and calibration of high-quality MPTSs. The 16 factors discussed are scored 0, 1, 2, or 3, dependi

Surgery in infants and young children with haemophilia, when preceded by accurate diagnosis and accompanied by safe and effective factor prophylaxis, is not associated with a significant risk of haemorrhage. Haemophilic newborns undergoing circumcision or major surgery prior to diagnosis and in the absence of appropriate haemostatic prophylaxis remain as a concern. Inhibitor development has replac

The mucosal immune system identifies and fights invading pathogens, while allowing non-pathogenic organisms to persist. Mechanisms of pathogen/non-pathogen discrimination are poorly understood, as is the contribution of human genetic variation in disease susceptibility. We describe here a new, IRF3-dependent signaling pathway that is critical for distinguishing pathogens from normal flora at the m