X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a hereditary immunodeficiency caused by mutations in the gene encoding Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK). XLA patients have a decreased number of mature B cells and a lack of all immunoglobulin isotypes, resulting in susceptibility to severe bacterial infections. XLA-causing mutations are collected in a mutation database (BTKbase), which is available at http://bioin

In countries with a good standard of health care, intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) during the neonatal period affects 3.5-4.0% of all haemophilia boys, which is considerably (40-80 times) higher than expected in the normal population. ICHs are also frequent after the neonatal period, affecting 3-10% of the haemophilia population who are mainly treated on demand. The risk is higher in inhibitor patie

We have experimentally determined the harmonic-generation cutoff as a function of the laser intensity in neon using an intense, short-pulse Ti:sapphire laser. The experimental cutoff is lower than that obtained in single-atom calculations. Using a simple quantum-mechanical approach to harmonic generation valid at high intensity, we show that the difference is due to the effect of propagation.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is widely expressed throughout the CNS and exerts a number of important physiological functions as well as playing a role in pathological conditions such as obesity, anxiety, epilepsy, chronic pain and neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we highlight some of the recent advances in our understanding of NPY biology and how this may help explain not only its role in heal

Weaponry and color badges are commonly theorized to function as visual signals of aggressiveness or fighting ability. However, few studies have supported a signaling function of weaponry, and the role of color in invertebrate competitive interactions remains virtually unexplored. Jumping spiders (Salticidae) make excellent invertebrate models for studying weaponry and color because males of many s

Ample evidence shows that, in many developed countries, immigrants have similar or better perinatal health outcomes than natives despite facing socioeconomic disadvantages in the host country ("healthy migrant paradox" -HMP). This scoping review aims to: (1) summarize the literature on perinatal health among immigrants and natives in Spain and (2) examine whether there is evidence of the HMP in a

The reproductive tract is continuously challenged by potential pathogens present in the environment. Therefore, robust host defense mechanisms are essential both for the health of the individual and for fertilization. Antibiotic innate immunity peptides possess broad antimicrobial activity. Recently, we found that the CXC chemokine, granulocyte chemotactic protein (GCP)-2/CXCL6, possesses antibact

BACKGROUND: To evaluate factors associated with incidence and 3-year all-cause mortality in patients with aortic aneurysm (AA). The design is sex and age-stratified (60-79 and 80-90 years) prospective cohort. By using the population register, we constituted a cohort of all men and women born between 1900 and 1930 and living in Scania by 1991, and followed them for 13 years. Identification of AA wa

Bilinguals often face the challenge of negotiating a range of insider/outsider subject positions when interacting in transnational and intercultural settings. This article takes up the concept of symbolic competence, the awareness of socially situated symbolic resources and the ability to use them to shape interactional contexts, to examine how the author, a Swedish–English bilingual, manages this

Computed tomography (CT) for evaluation of occult and suspect hip fractures has been proposed as a good second-line investigation. The diagnostic precision compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is unclear.

A diminished capacity to maintain tissue homeostasis is a central physiological characteristic of ageing. As stem cells regulate tissue homeostasis, depletion of stem cell reserves and/or diminished stem cell function have been postulated to contribute to ageing. It has further been suggested that accumulated DNA damage could be a principal mechanism underlying age-dependent stem cell decline. We

Melatonin has multiple receptor-dependent and receptor-independent functions. At the cell membrane, melatonin interacts with its receptors MT1 and MT2, which are expressed in numerous tissues. Genome-wide association studies have recently shown that the MTNR1B/MT2 receptor may be involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In line with these findings, expression of melatonin receptor

Remodeling of a bone graft can be influenced both by anabolic substances, such as a bone morphogenic protein (BMP) and by anticatabolic substances, such as the bisphosphonates. BMPs are potent bone anabolic substances, but also boost catabolism and cause resorption. Bisphosphonates inhibit osteoclast function and can be used to postpone resorption. In the present study a combination of both drugs

The ideological (re)construction of the position of Swedish in Finland is examined as it took shape during a major year-long debate about the role of Swedish in Finnish education. Data were collected through archival research of the leading national newspapers in the two official languages of Finland: Helsingin Sanomat (Finnish) and Hufvudstadsbladet (Swedish). Circulating and intersecting discour

In-situ x-ray tomography has been used to follow deformation processes in 3D during two triaxial compression tests, one on a specimen of bio-cemented Ottawa 50-70 sand and the other on a specimen of the non-cemented sand. The global stress-strain responses show that the bio-cementation process increases the shear strength (peak deviator stress is approximately doubled), and causes the material to

A dramatic increase in prevalence of pediatric obesity has occurred in most countries over the past few decades. This is of particular significance given the fact that overweight children and adolescents are at increased risk for multiple medical co-morbidities, as well as psychosocial and behavioral difficulties. While considerable attention has recently been paid to identifying obesity and the i

BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and quantitative EEG show particular patterns of change in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and reflect neuropathologic processes and cerebral function, respectively. The changes precede cognitive decline and should be visible already in preclinical stages. We therefore aimed to investigate their relationship in cognitively healthy individuals. METHOD: Thir