Plasma oxidized LDL: a predictor for acute myocardial infarction?

Objectives. Oxidized LDL has been attributed a key role in the development of atherosclerosis. Previous studies have demonstrated increased plasma levels of oxidized LDL in patients with established coronary artery disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate if plasma oxidized LDL also predicts risk for development of coronary heart disease (CHD). Design. We used a nested case-control design to study the association between plasma levels of oxidized LDL and risk for development of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and/or death by CHD. Subjects. Oxidized LDL was analysed by ELISA in cases (n = 26), controls (n = 26) and controls with LDL cholesterol >5.0 mmol L-1 (n = 26). Results. Oxidized LDL correlated with total plasma and LDL cholesterol in both cases (r = 0.72, P < 0.01, r = 0.69, P < 0.01, respectively) and controls (r = 0.71, P < 0.01, r = 0.77, P < 0.01, respectively). The oxidized LDL/plasma cholesterol ratio was higher amongst cases (13.5, range 10.7-19.8) than in controls (12.6, range 9.5-15.8, P < 0.05) and hypercholesterolaemic controls (12.2, range 8.0-16.0, P < 0.01). Conclusions. These findings identify high plasma oxidized LDL/total cholesterol ratio as a possible indicator of increased risk for AMI

The Measurement of Sexual Selection Using Bateman's Principles: An Experimental Test in the Sex-Role-Reversed Pipefish Syngnathus typhle.

Angus J. Bateman's classic study of sexual selection in Drosophila melanogaster has had a major influence on the development of sexual selection theory. In some ways, Bateman's study has served a catalytic role by stimulating debate on sex roles, sexual conflict and other topics in sexual selection. However, there is still considerable disagreement regarding whether or not "Bateman's principles" are helpful in the study of sexual selection. Here, we test the idea that Bateman's principles provide the basis for a useful method to quantify and compare mating systems. In this study, we focus on the sex-role-reversed pipefish Syngnathus typhle as a model system to study the measurement of sexual selection. We set up artificial breeding assemblages of pipefish in the laboratory and used microsatellite markers to resolve parentage. Three different sex-ratio treatments (female-biased, even and male-biased) were used to manipulate the expected intensity of sexual selection. Measures of the mating system based on Bateman's principles were calculated and compared to the expected changes in the intensity of sexual selection. We also compare the results of this study to the results of a similar study of Bateman's principles in the rough-skinned newt, a species with conventional sex roles. The results of this experiment show that measures of the mating system based on Bateman's principles do accurately capture the relative intensities of sexual selection in the different treatments and species. Thus, widespread use of Bateman's principles to quantify mating systems in nature would facilitate comparative studies of sexual selection and mating system evolution

Prognostic Value of Stromal Type IV Collagen Expression in Small Invasive Breast Cancers

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Localized breast cancer can be cured by surgery and adjuvant therapy, but mortality remains high for tumors that metastasize early. Type IV collagen is a basement membrane protein, and breach of this extracellular matrix structure is the first step of cancer invasion. Type IV collagen is found in the stroma of many cancers, but its role in tumor biology is unclear. Here, expression of type IV collagen in the stroma of small breast cancers was analyzed, correlated to clinically used prognostic biomarkers and patient survival. The findings were further validated in an independent gene expression data cohort. Tissue samples from 1,379 women with in situ and small invasive breast cancers (Peer reviewe

Acute Effects of a Fungal Volatile Compound

Objective: 3-Methylfuran (3-MF) is a common fungal volatile product with active biologic properties, and previous studies have indicated a contribution to airway disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the acute health effects of this compound in humans. Design: Acute effects were assessed via chamber exposure to (1 mg/m(3)) 3-MF. Participants and measurements: Twenty-nine volunteers provided symptom reports, ocular electromyograms, measurement of eye tear film break-up time, vital staining of the eye, nasal lavage, acoustic rhinometry, transfer tests, and dynamic spirometry. Results: No subjective ratings were significantly increased during exposure. Blinking frequency and the lavage biomarkers myeloperoxidase and lysozyme were significantly increased, and forced vital capacity was significantly decreased during exposure to 3-MF compared with air control. Conclusions and relevance to clinical practice: Acute effects in the eyes, nose, and airways were detected and might be the result of the biologically active properties of 3-MF. Thus, 3-MF may contribute to building-related illness

DNA repair genes are selectively mutated in diffuse large B cell lymphomas

DNA repair mechanisms are fundamental for B cell development, which relies on the somatic diversification of the immunoglobulin genes by V(D)J recombination, somatic hypermutation, and class switch recombination. Their failure is postulated to promote genomic instability and malignant transformation in B cells. By performing targeted sequencing of 73 key DNA repair genes in 29 B cell lymphoma samples, somatic and germline mutations were identified in various DNA repair pathways, mainly in diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCLs). Mutations in mismatch repair genes (EXO1, MSH2, and MSH6) were associated with microsatellite instability, increased number of somatic insertions/deletions, and altered mutation signatures in tumors. Somatic mutations in nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) genes (DCLRE1C/ARTEMIS, PRKDC/DNA-PKcs, XRCC5/KU80, and XRCC6/KU70) were identified in four DLBCL tumors and cytogenetic analyses revealed that translocations involving the immunoglobulin-heavy chain locus occurred exclusively in NHEJ-mutated samples. The novel mutation targets, CHEK2 and PARP1, were further screened in expanded DLBCL cohorts, and somatic as well as novel and rare germline mutations were identified in 8 and 5% of analyzed tumors, respectively. By correlating defects in a subset of DNA damage response and repair genes with genomic instability events in tumors, we propose that these genes play a role in DLBCL lymphomagenesis

Incorporation of environmental aspects in transport purchasing

In spite of the fact that transport is the fastest growing sector relevant to the environment and that there is an awareness in society of the environmental problems caused by transportation, there are still few methods addressing the problem. In this article research with a case study approach is presented. The research has resulted in a framework model consisting of two tools and a work process. The first tool makes it possible to assess environmental performance, while the second tool provides a method for assessing environmental aspects of a specific transport relation. The model makes it possible to identify the resource efficiency and effectiveness in a transport system

Being a parent of children in hospital : Experience of involvement in nursing

Barnsjukvården idag är beroende av föräldrars medverkan i omvårdanden kring barnet och ungdomen. Syftet för denna litteraturstudie var att beskriva föräldrarnas upplevelse av vilka faktorer som har betydelse för delaktighet i omvårdnaden av det sjuka barnet på en pediatrisk avdelning. Studien genomfördes som en litteraturstudie där 11 artiklar analyserades. Resultatet av de granskande artiklarna gav följande tema; kommunikation och information, bemötande från sjuksköterska och team, föräldrarnas roll och miljön runt barn och föräldrar. Studien visar att föräldrar vill ha kontinuerlig, ärlig och fortlöpande information om barnets tillstånd, behandling, medicinering samt återhämtning. Betydelsen av öppen och tillitsfylld kommunikation framkom tydligt. Lyhördhet från sjuksköterskan om föräldrarnas behov och möjlighet att delta i beslutsprocessen för barnets omvårdnad är betydelsefullt. Tydliga roller och ansvarsfördelning mellan sjuksköterska och föräldrar anses viktigt. Miljöfaktorer som enkelrum, komfortabelt ljus och ljudmiljö, tillgång till utrymme för personliga tillhörigheter eller sittplats nära barnet ökar upplevelsen av delaktighet hos föräldrarna. Vidare forskning bör initieras kring hur barnet påverkas av föräldrarnas delaktighet i omvårdnaden samt öka förståelsen och motivera sjuksköterskan att involvera föräldrarna i barnets omvårdnad.Pediatric health care of today is dependent on parental involvement in the care around the child and youth. The purpose of this study was to describe parents' perception regarding the factors that are important for the parental participation surrounding the care of the sick child to a pediatric department. The study was conducted as a literature study in which 11 academic articles were reviewed. The following themes emerged from this study; communication and information, the nurse and team’s response and treatment, the role of the parents and the environment around the child and parents. The literature review shows that parents want honest continuous information about the child's condition, treatment, medication and recovery. The importance of an open and trust-filled communication emerged clearly. The nurse's sensitivity to the needs of parents' and the opportunity to participate in the decisionmaking process regarding the child's care is significant for the parents. Clear roles and responsibilities between the nurse and the parents are considered important. Environmental factors like single rooms, comfortable light and noise levels, access to space for personal belongings or a place close to their child increases the experience of participation among parents. Further research regarding how parental involvement in the child's care affects the child should be initiated in order to increase the understanding and motivate the nurse to involve the parents in the child's car

Preconception health and care (PHC)a strategy for improved maternal and child health

Maternal health status before pregnancy is a decisive factor for pregnancy outcomes and for risk for maternal and infant complications. Still, maternity care does not start until the pregnancy is established and in most low-income settings not until more than half of the pregnancy has passed, which often is too late to impact outcomes. In Western societies preconception care (PCC) is widely recognized as a way to optimize women's health through biomedical and behavioural changes prior to conception with the aim of improving pregnancy outcomes. But the content of PCC is inconsistent and limited to single interventions or preconception counselling to women with chronic illnesses. It has been suggested that PCC should be extended to preconception health and care (PHC), including interventions prior to pregnancy in order to optimize women's health in general, and thereby subsequent pregnancy outcomes, the well-being of the family, and the health of the future child. With this definition, almost every activity that can improve the health of girls and women can be included in the concept. In the World Health Report of 2005 a longitudinal approach to women's wellness and reproductive health was highlighted, and the World Health Organization has proposed a more comprehensive maternal and child health care, also including psychosocial issues and intimate partner violence. The present article gives an overview of the recent literature and discusses contents and delivery of PCC/PHC in Western as well as low-income countries. The article puts special emphasis on why violence against women is an issue for PHC