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Microinvasion is the smallest morphologically identifiable stage of invasion. Its presence and distinction from in situ carcinoma may have therapeutic implications, and clinical staging also requires the recognition of this phenomenon. Microinvasion is established on the basis of several morphological criteria, which may be difficult and not perfectly reproducible among pathologists. The aim of th
This study describes how the serum protein histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) affects the complement system. We show that HRG binds strongly to several complement proteins: C1q, factor H and C4b-binding protein and that it is found complexed with these proteins in human sera and synovial fluids of rheumatoid arthritis patients. HRG also binds C8 and to a lesser extent mannose-binding lectin, C4 and
Obesity surgery is expanding, the quality of care is ever more important, and learning curve assessment should be established. A large registry cohort can show long-term effects on obesity and its comorbidities, complications, and long-term side effects of surgery, as well as changes in health-related quality of life (QoL). Sweden is ideally suited to the task of data collection and audit, with un
Despite the favorable prognosis of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a substantial subset of patients relapses. Since this occurs not only in the high risk but also in the standard/intermediate groups, the presently used risk stratification is suboptimal. The underlying mechanisms for treatment failure include presence of genetic changes causing insensitivity to the therapy administere
Empirical constraints on orbital gravitational solutions for the Solar System can be derived from the Earth's geological record of past climates. Lithologically based paleoclimate data from the thick, coal-bearing, fluvial-lacustrine sequences of the Junggar Basin of Northwestern China (paleolatitude similar to 60 degrees) show that climate variability of the warm and glacier-free high latitudes o
Prediction of radiographic progression (RP) in early rheumatoid arthritis (eRA) would be very useful for optimal choice among available therapies. We evaluated a multi-biomarker disease activity (MBDA) score, based on 12 serum biomarkers as a baseline predictor for 1-year RP in eRA.
The silicon vacancy in its neutral charge state (V-Si) has been unambiguously identified in 4H- and 6H-SiC. This was achieved by observation of ligand hyperfine interaction with the four carbon atoms in the nearest-neighbor shell and the twelve silicon atoms in the next-nearest-neighbor shell surrounding the vacancy. The complete hyperfine tensors have been determined for the V-Si(0) center residi
The objectives of the study were, in a working population, to standardize and evaluate a set of clinical tests on impairment level related to the low back with reference to intra- and inter-rater reliability. The study was undertaken in two steps. In step 1, 15 tests were examined for inter-rater reliability by three pairs of physiotherapists and for intra-rater reliability by one physiotherapist.
We analysed the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in 566 patients undergoing liver biopsy. While over 20% of the patients were anti-HCV positive according to ELISA, only 13.8% had HCV antibodies when tested with a four-antigen recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA 2). At the time of inclusion in the study, most patients were asymptomatic, irrespective of whether they were HCV-positive. H
Objective:. The aim of this study was to describe the variation of soy product intake in 10 European-countries by using a standardised reference dietary method. A subsidiary aim was to characterise the pattern of soy consumption among a sub-group of participants with a habitual health-conscious lifestyle (HHL), i.e. non-meat eaters who are fish eaters, vegetarians and vegans. Design: A 24-hour die
Objective: To determine if the correlation between magnitude of creatine kinase-myocardial band release after coronary artery bypass surgery and 6-month mortality is comparable to that of patients admitted with an acute coronary syndrome. Methods: The GUARDIAN trial tested the efficacy of cariporide, an Na+/H+ exchange inhibitor, on reduction of myocardial ischemia or death in high-risk patients.
Objectives To create reference values representative of normal findings on two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) examination of the cervix from 17 to 41 weeks' gestation and to determine the agreement between cervical measurements taken by 2D and 3D TVS. Methods Cross-sectional study covering 17 to 41 weeks in 419 nulliparous and 360 parous women who deliver
We studied the following in normo- and microalbuminuric hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients: 1) transcapillary escape rate of albumin (TERalb) and 2) expression of mRNA slit diaphragm and podocyte proteins in renal biopsies. Normoalbuminuric subjects had renal cancer, and kidney biopsy was performed during surgery. TERalb was evaluated by clearance of I-125- albumin. Real-time PCR of mRNA slit d
Antimicrobial peptides produced by epithelial cells and neutrophils represent essential elements of innate immunity, and include the defensin and cathelicidin family of antimicrobial polypeptides. The human cathelicidin cationic antimicrobial protein-18 is an antimicrobial peptide precursor predominantly expressed in neutrophils, and its active peptide LL-37 is released from the precursor through
Background - Although effective coverage of challenging coronary lesions has warranted the use of overlapping drug-eluting stents, the histopathological response to stent overlap is unknown. Methods and Results - The arterial reaction to overlapping Cypher or Taxus drug-eluting stents was examined in rabbits with bare metal stents, BxVelocity or Express, serving as controls. Single iliac artery ba
The purpose of this study is to analyze some aspects of the relationship between R&D and economic growth. In Chapter 2 we analyze how costly imitation may be incorporated into an R&D-driven endogenous growth model. In the model, optimizing firms allocate resources to innovation or imitation. Thus, the extent of technology diffusion through imitation is endogenously determined. Costs of im
Radiative lifetime measurements have been performed, with a time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique, for 12 levels of Os I and for 9 levels of Os II. For 9 levels of Os I and 4 levels of Os II, there were no previous experimental data available. From a comparison with new theoretical calculations, taking configuration interactions and core-polarization effects into account, it has been
The biodistribution of two recently developed tumour markers, trimethylated (CP(Me)(3)) and trimethoxylated (CP(OMe)(3)) carotenoporphyrin, was investigated by means of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) after i.v. injection into 38 tumour-bearing (MS-2 fibrosarcoma) female Balb/c mice. At 3, 24, 48 or 96 h after administration, the carotenoporphyrin fluorescence was measured in tumoral and peritumo
Type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes share pathophysiological characteristics, yet mechanistic links have remained elusive. T1D results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, whereas beta cell failure in T2D is delayed and progressive. Here we find a new genetic component of diabetes susceptibility in T1D non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, identifying immune-independent beta cell frag
Neisseria meningitidis is a causative agent of meningitis. Despite vaccination programs, it still causes a large number of deaths in young children. Early diagnosis followed by passive immunization with human monoclonal antibodies could be an approach to effective therapy. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal, healthy blood donors and from vaccinated individuals were immunized in vitro, using
