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Variations in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) have been ascribed to A/G nucleotide polymorphisms located at -158 bp (rs266882) and -4643 bp (rs925013), relative to the transcription start site within the promoter of the PSA gene. PSA is also an androgen receptor target (AR) gene and polymorphisms in AR gene are known to affect AR function. Our objective was to compare the impact of these A/G
As oncological treatment might impair the patients' fertility, male cancer patients are offered to cryopreserve semen prior to treatment. Impaired sperm DNA quality is associated with reduced fertility, and in case of assisted reproduction, sperm DNA integrity may have an impact on choice of method. Therefore, we have assessed sperm DNA integrity in cancer patients, comparing pre- and post-treatme
Limited data exist on surgical providers and their scope of practice in low-income countries (LICs). The aim of this study was to assess the distribution and productivity of all surgical providers in an LIC, and to evaluate correlations between the surgical workforce availability, productivity, rates, and volume of surgery at the district and hospital levels.
The results of numerical simulations of a positive streamer development in air in a weak and uniform electric field are presented. Streamer dynamics is considered in an electrode gap of 33 mm in length and the configuration was 'protrusion on a plate-plate'. This particular configuration was chosen in order to perform direct comparison between simulated results and experimental data. The electrost
Context:Obesity and insulin resistance are risk factors for cancer development. The IRS1 rs2943641 genetic variant has been widely associated with insulin resistance.Objective:The aim of the study was to examine whether the IRS1 rs2943641 associates with cancer incidence in obese individuals.Design, Setting and Patients:The IRS1 rs2943641 was genotyped in participants from the Swedish Obese Subjec
It is well-documented that male overweight and obesity causes endocrine disorders that might diminish the male reproductive capacity; however, reports have been conflicting regarding the influence of male body mass index (BMI) on semen quality and the outcome of assisted reproductive technology (ART). The aim of this study was to investigate whether increased male BMI affects sperm quality and the
Thermal degradation of poly[(R)−3-hydroxybutyric acid] (PHB) during melt mixing results in random chain scission that produces shorter polymer chains containing crotonic and carboxyl end groups. One way of preventing this serious reduction of molar mass is to add agents that react with at least two of the newly generated end groups. Different types of commercially available additives known to reac
Aim. This article is a report of a study of how healthcare professionals involved in surgery orientate themselves to their common task, and how this orientation can be affected by the social and organizational context. Background. Previous research indicates that surgical teams are not as cohesive as could be expected and that communication failures frequently occur. However, little is known abo
Streptococcus pyogenes is a major human bacterial pathogen responsible for severe and invasive disease associated with high mortality rates. The bacterium interacts with several human blood plasma proteins and clarifying these interactions and their biological consequences will help to explain the progression from mild to severe infections. In this study, we used a combination of mass spectrometry
COPHES/DEMOCOPHES has its origins in the European Environment and Health Action Plan of 2004 to "develop a coherent approach on human biomonitoring (HBM) in Europe". Within this twin-project it was targeted to collect specimens from 120 mother-child-pairs in each of the 17 participating European countries. These specimens were investigated for six biomarkers (mercury in hair; creatinine, cotinine,
Stanley Micklavzina, a US physics educator on sabbatical, teams up with a Swedish national research laboratory, a synchrotron radiation experimental group and a university science centre to develop and create educational and public outreach projects. Descriptions of the physics, science centre displays and public demonstrations covering the physics principles involved in using photons and neutrons
Previous research on violence during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina has resulted in a one-sided presentation of the phenomenon of “war violence.” Researchers have emphasized the importance of narratives in general but have not analyzed stories on war violence that were the product of interpersonal interaction and meaning-making activity. The aim of this article is to fill this knowledge gap by
Our objective was to examine the association between neighborhood linking social capital (a concept describing the amount of trust between individuals and societal institutions) and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the elderly.
This study uses US survey data and Swedish register data to estimate and compare the relationship between returns to schooling and ability. A significant and positive relationship is found for Sweden, but not for the USA. Based on the predictions of the optimal schooling model it is argues that measured differences in the relationship between returns to schooling and ability could depend upon on d
