Background: There is little reliable information on human exposure to the metals platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh), despite their use in enormous quantities in catalytic converters for automobile exhaust systems. Objectives: To evaluate blood concentrations of Pt (B-Pt), Pd (B-Pd) and Rh (B-Rh) in women from six European and three non-European countries, and to identify potentially in

Background: Terminal "QRS distortion" on the electrocardiogram (ECG) (based on Sclarovsky-Birnbaum's Grades of Ischemia Score) is a sign of severe ischemia, associated with adverse cardiovascular outcome in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In addition, ECG indices of the acuteness of ischemia (based on Anderson-Wilkins Acuteness Score) indicate myocardial salvage potential. We a

Background: In traditional literature, it appears that "anteroseptal" MIs with Q waves in V1-V3 involve basal anteroseptal segments although studies have questioned this belief. Methods: We studied patients with first acute anterior Q-wave (>. 30. ms) MI. All underwent late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: Those with Q waves in V1-V2 (n = 7) evidenced

OBJECTIVES: To report long-term survival and predictors of mortality in patients included in a large, contemporary, multicentre, multinational database: Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD), which consists of 8 centres in 4 Nordic countries. METHODS: Currently, NORCAAD includes 1159 patients operated between 2005 and 2014. In 30-day survivors (n = 955, 82%), the Kaplan-Me

Introduction: We aimed to test the reproducibility of head–perineum distance (HPD) measurements using two different ultrasound devices and five examiners, to compare ultrasound measurements and clinical assessments and to study if ultrasound examinations were acceptable for women in labor. Material and methods: A reproducibility study was performed at Lund University Hospital, Sweden and Landspita

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. A characteristic feature of RA is the presence of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA). Since ACPAs are highly specific for RA and are often present before the onset of RA symptoms, they have become valuable diagnostic and prognostic. As a result, several assays for detection of ACPAs exist, which vary in sensitivity a

Aim: To evaluate three types of ventilation systems for operating rooms with respect to air cleanliness [in colony-forming units (cfu/m3)], energy consumption and comfort of working environment (noise and draught) as reported by surgical team members. Methods: Two commonly used ventilation systems, vertical laminar airflow (LAF) and turbulent mixed airflow (TMA), were compared with a newly develop

The slippery slope argument is often used in (bio)ethical debates. It is an intriguing argument: it confronts us with fears, gut feelings, and fundamental values; it invites us to think about the future, and it forces us not only to look at a technology or policy in isolation but at the whole picture. Rhetorically it is attractive with its often vivid images and sweeping statements, sometimes deri

Child maltreatment can lead to acute and long-term consequences, and it is important that at-risk children are identified early. Child healthcare (CHC) nurses in Sweden are in a position to identify child maltreatment, as they follow children and their parents from the child’s birth to school age. Therefore, the aim was to describe CHC nurses’ experiences when encountering families in which child

The aim of this study was to investigate potential dose reductions to the heart, left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), and ipsilateral lung for left-sided breast cancer using visually guided deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) with the optical surface scanning system Catalyst™, and how these potential dosimetric benefits are affected by intrafractional motion in between breath holds. For

Aim: to explore the natural course of blood pressure development and its relation to mortality in a nursing home cohort. Methods: a cohort of 406 nursing home residents in south east Sweden was followed prospectively for 30 months. Participants were divided into four groups based on systolic blood pressure (SBP) at baseline. Data were analysed using a Cox regression model with all-cause mortality

This chapter presents and analyses children’s narratives about being summoned to, arriving at and visiting a Barnahus. The children felt welcomed as guests, but hard work awaited them in the police investigative interview in front of frightening cameras and with strangers watching in an adjacent room. The children found that they needed more information about what was going on and why. From the ch

BACKGROUND: micro RNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of many biological pathways. A plethora of steps are required to form, from a precursor, the mature miRNA that eventually acts on its target RNA to repress its expression or to inhibit translation. Recently, Drosophila nibbler (nbr) has been shown to be an important player in the maturation process of miRNA and piRNA. Nbr is an exoribonuclea

The aim of this paper is to call on WPS activists, as well as feminists in the Horn, to reach higher than NAPs by challenging the discourse that women are solely victims of conflict, and emphasise women’s agency in peace and state-building. Moreover, all actors should pay due consideration to gender-just peace and transitional justice. By doing so, a critical feminist engagement with UNSCR 1325 an

Do parents leave a smaller carbon footprint? While becoming a parent is transformational as one focuses more on the future, the time constraints are more binding right now. Using a unique data set that allows us to compare CO2 emissions from Swedish two-adult households with and without children, we find becoming a Swedish parent causes a person to leave a larger carbon footprint—due to changes in