ABSTRACT Aims: To compare two versions of a questionnaire translated using forward-backward (FB) translation and dual-panel (DP) methodologies regarding preference of wording and psychometric properties. Methods: The Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life instrument was adapted into Swedish by two independent groups using FB and DP methodologies, respectively. Seven out of thirty resulting items wer

NLRs are recently discovered PRRs detecting substructures of peptidoglycans and triggering innate immunity. NLRs are expressed in several cell types, but the presence in human B lymphocytes is still unknown. This study aimed to investigate expression and function of NLRs in human B lymphocytes. B cells were isolated and analyzed for mRNA and protein expression. The functional responsiveness of NOD

Jordan has seen a large increase in population during the past five decades as a result of population growth and forced migrations, and also, accompanied with this increase, a cultural and economical development that has improved the standard of living and changing consumer habits in the community, resulting in a clear increase in the volume of waste. These changes urges the need for finding prope

PURPOSE: Asthma includes immunological components that may share mechanisms with autoimmune diseases. We analyzed the subsequent occurrence of any of 22 autoimmune and related conditions in hospitalized asthma patients. METHODS: A nationwide study was conducted in Sweden on subsequent diseases of asthma patients on the basis of the Hospital Discharge Register. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs)

AIM: Stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) with BAY 41-8543 was hypothesized to attenuate acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction alone and combined with dual endothelin (ET)-receptor antagonist tezosentan. METHODS: Measurements were taken in 18 anaesthetized pigs with a mean ± SEM weight of 31.1 ± 0.4 kg, in normoxia (FiO(2) ~0.21) and hypoxia (FiO(2) ~0.10) without (control protocol

The subventricular zone (SVZ) lining the lateral walls of the lateral ventricles is one of the major neurogenic areas in the postnatal brain. Precursor cells in the SVZ migrate via the rostral migratory stream to the olfactory bulb where they differentiate into neurons. Cell replacement strategies utilizing the recruitment of these endogenous progenitors and their progeny to different areas of the

OBJECTIVE: The pathogenesis of hypertension in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is unclear, and the prevailing opinion is that parathyroidectomy does not affect the blood pressure (BP). Most previous studies have been based on BP measurements at rest in a clinical setting. The aim of this study was to get additional information by 24-hour ambulatory measurements. DESIGN AND PATIENT

Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are specialized proteins that can recognize ubiquitinated proteins, and after direct interaction, deconjugate monomeric or polymeric ubiquitin chains, thus changing the fate of the substrates. This process is instrumental in mediating or changing downstream signaling pathways. Beside mutations and alterations in their expression levels, the activity and stability of

The right to withdraw one's consent after having agreed to participate in research is a fundamental principle in contemporary research ethics. However, it has been questioned whether this right should apply to research conducted on donated biological samples, including stem cells and tissues from which stem cells can be derived. In this article we present some of the concerns that have been expres

The optimal FiO2 for newborn resuscitation is still not settled. We hypothesized that short-lasting oxygen ventilation after intrauterine asphyxia would not cause arterial or cerebral hyperoxia, and therefore be innocuous. The umbilical cord of fetal sheep was clamped and 10 min later, after delivery, ventilation with air (n=7) or with 100% oxygen for 3 (n=6) or 30 min (n=5), followed by air, was

Osteoarthritis (OA) involves all the structures of the joint. How the disease is initiated and what factors trigger the disease process remain unclear, although the mechanical environment seems to have a role. Our understanding of the biology of the disease has been hampered by the lack of access to tissue samples from patients with early stage disease, because clinically recognizable symptoms app

The aim was to psychometrically evaluate the activities of daily living (ADL)-staircase in various age groups. This age stratified, cross-sectional study comprised 826 individuals aged 18-102 years. The factor structure was assessed by means of hierarchical cluster analyses, plots and analyses of nonclassifiable responses. Reliability was assessed in terms of internal consistency. In general, the

We examined the importance of injury for the epidermal innate immune response in human skin wounds. We found that injury, independent of infiltrating inflammatory cells, generated prominent chemotactic activity toward neutrophils in injured skin because of IL-8 production. Furthermore, injury was a major inducer of the expression of antimicrobial (poly)peptides (AMPs) in skin wounds. In human skin

A new 13 items rating scale assessing self-reported impairments in persons with late effects of polio (SIPP) has been developed. SIPP has been Rasch analyzed and shown good construct validity and internal consistency. To establish its clinical utility, further evaluation of its psychometric properties is needed.

An NDVI dataset covering Fennoscandia and the Kola peninsula was created for vegetation and climate studies, using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer 16-day maximum value composite data from 2000 to 2005. To create the dataset, ( 1) the influence of the polar night and snow on the NDVI values was removed by replacing NDVI values in winter with a pixel- specific NDVI value representing t

OBJECTIVE: to investigate how women who attended group antenatal care experienced the information they received, compared with women who attended traditional antenatal care, and their satisfaction with the form of care. The aim was also to determine the effect of group antenatal care on women's social networks compared with traditional antenatal care. DESIGN AND SETTING: a pilot study with an inte