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The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of pregnancy on deterioration of retinopathy in patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Sixty-five pregnant Type 1 diabetic women attending the University Hospital in Lund were studied retrospectively. The degree of retinopathy, and levels of HbA1c and blood pressure 12 months before, during, and 6 months after pregnancy were compared of th
Bone strength is determined by bone mineral density (BMD) and bone structure. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measures BMD. Whether quantitative ultrasound (qUS) measures a property of bone distinct from BMD is uncertain. To evaluate this, DXA and qUS were measured in 58 fracture patients and 428 controls. To study the independent effects of age and gender on qUS measurements and control fo
The present results demonstrate that chronic nicotine treatment can in part protect against mechanically-induced and neurotoxin-induced degeneration of nigrostriatal DA neurons. These results indicate that in sufficient doses chronic treatment with nicotine may be considered in the pharmacological treatment of Parkinson's disease. It remains to be demonstrated whether these protective actions can
Background: In addition to their possible direct biological effects, plasma carotenoids can be used as biochemical markers of fruit and vegetable consumption for identifying diet-disease associations in epidemiological studies. Few studies have compared levels of these carotenoids between countries in Europe. Objective: Our aim was to assess the variability of plasma carotenoid levels within the c
Type 1 diabetes in Sardinia is very common in children, and we hypothesized that Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adult (LADA) might constitute a significant proportion of diabetes in adult Sardinian subjects. Since Type 2 diabetes is a familial disorder, we tested this hypothesis by investigating the prevalence of GAD65 and IA-2 autoantibodies (Ab) in Type 2 diabetes multiplex families of Sardinian
The antilipolytic effect of insulin on human abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle during local inhibition of cAMP-phosphodiesterases (PDEs) was investigated in vivo, by combining microdialysis with a euglycaemic, hyperinsulinaemic clamp. During hyperinsulinaemia, the glycerol concentration decreased by 40% in fat and by 33% in muscle. Addition of the selective PDE3-inhibitor a
The physico-chemical aspects of three native Andean starches from Arracacha xanthorriza, Canna edulis and Oxalis tuberosa were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy-investigations showed that granules of A. xanthorriza were the smallest with irregular shape and sizes between 7 and 23 pm, whereas granules of O. tuberosa and C. edulis were both ovally shaped with granular sizes between 20 and 5
Background: To examine whether neighbourhood non-employment is associated with daily smoking after adjustment for individual characteristics, such as employment status. Methods: Cross-sectional study of a simple, random sample of 31,164 women and men aged 25-64, representative of the entire population in Sweden. Data were collected from the years 1993-2000. The individual variables included age, s
SummaryThe expansion of the European Union during the last 2 yr has resulted in the need for a revision of existing guidelines to further harmonize education and training in the specialty of anaesthesiology throughout the European Union. Although each individual country is responsible for its own training and certification, these guidelines are intended to reflect minimum criteria for specialist t
The Streptococcus pyogenes cysteine protease SpeB (streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B) is important for the invasive potential of the bacteria, but its production is down-regulated following systemic infection. This prompted us to investigate if SpeB potentiated the host immune response after systemic spreading. Addition of Spa to human plasma increased plasma-mediated bacterial killing and prolon
PURPOSE: This Swedish multicenter trial was performed on patients with known or suspected lesions of the CNS for which an MR examination using a contrast medium was indicated. A total of 8 MR centers participated in the study to establish the safety and efficacy of Omniscan (gadodiamide injection) in clinical routine using a standard dose of 0.1 mmol Gd/kg b.w. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven hundred
The first lifetime measurements have been performed for six levels of doubly ionized thorium, an important cosmochronometer in astrophysics for estimating the age of the Galaxy. The levels, belonging to the 5f(2), 5f7p, 7s7p, and 6d7p configurations of Th III, have been measured by the time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence method and compared with relativistic Hartree-Fock calculations includin
Objective: To evaluate meat intake patterns in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohorts. Design and setting: 24-Hour dietary recalls were assessed within the framework of a prospective cohort study in 27 centres across 10 European countries by means of standardised computer-assisted interviews. Subjects: In total, 22 924 women and 13 031 men aged 35-74 years.
Rare-earth-doped crystals can be attractive materials for quantum information processing, because of the long coherence times that can be expected, in particular, from non-Kramers ions. In this paper, Ho3+-doped yttrium and lutetium vanadate single crystals have been investigated using linear and coherent optical spectroscopy. For Ho3+:YVO4, the crystal-field levels of the I-5(8), F-5, F-5(4) and
Deficiency of the anticoagulant vitamin K-dependent protein S (PS) is associated with increased risk of venous thrombosis. In human plasma, PS circulates in two forms: as free protein (free PS) and PS bound to C4b-binding protein (C4BP), a regulator of the complement system. Assays for free PS have higher sensitivity and specificity for protein S deficiency than assays for total protein S. We have
OBJECTIVE: To determine the ability of montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, to allow tapering of inhaled corticosteroids in clinically stable asthmatic patients. DESIGN: Double blind, randomised, placebo controlled, parallel group study. After a single blind placebo run in period, during which (at most) two inhaled corticosteroids dose decreases occurred, qualifying, clinically stable p
Radiative lifetimes of 30 excited states of Er 11, ranging in energy from 25 592 to 36 148 cm(-1), have been measured by means of a time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique. Free, singly ionized erbium ions were produced in a laser-induced plasma. A tunable laser, with 1 ns duration pulse, was employed to selectively excite the Er+ ions. The lifetime values were evaluated from the
We report the observation of neutrons rf:leased from d(d,n) He-3 fusion reactions in the focus of 200 mJ, 160 fs Ti:sapphire laser pulses on a deuterated polyethylene target. Optimizing the fast electron and ion generation by applying a well-defined prepulse led to an average rate of 140 neutrons per shot. Furthermore, the production of a substantial number of MeV gamma rays could be observed. The
Eosinophils are considered essential in the pathogenesis of allergy. Reduced eosinophil apoptosis is considered to be a key element in the formation of eosinophilia in allergic conditions. Antihistamines are widely used in the treatment of allergic disorders, but their effects on eosinophil apoptosis are poorly understood. The histamine HI-receptor antagonist, ketotifen, is available orally and as
