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Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines may elicit a hyporesponse under certain conditions. There is limited knowledge, however, on the type of specific antibody response in individuals with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). The aim of this study was to investigate the functional antibody response in patients with IPD caused by different serotypes. Pre-immune and convalescent sera from 40 patients

The UK tariff for quality of life associated with the health states in the EQ-5D is probably not consistent with the preferences of Swedish health economists. This is worrying in view of the widespread use of the tariff values and the fact that health economists likely are better able than ordinary citizens to report their preferences for health states in a valid and reliable manner. We suggest th

Background and purpose Polymorphisms in coagulation genes have been associated with early-onset ischemic stroke. Here we pursue an a priori hypothesis that genetic variation in the endothelial-based receptors of the thrombomodulin-protein C system (THBD and PROCR) may similarly be associated with early-onset ischemic stroke. We explored this hypothesis utilizing a multistage design of discovery an

During the last decades, several research groups have used bisphosphonates for local application to counteract secondary bone resorption after bone grafting, to improve implant fixation or to control bone resorption caused by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMps). We focused on zoledronate (a bisphosphonate) due to its greater antiresorptive potential over other bisphosphonates. Recently, it has beco

Objective. In cross-sectional studies, elevated osteopontin (OPN) levels have been proposed to reflect, and/or precede, progressive organ damage and disease severity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We aimed, in a cohort of patients with recent-onset SLE, to determine whether raised serum OPN levels precede damage and/or are associated with disease activity or certain disease phenotypes. Met

In longitudinal studies, changes in participants’ cognitive performances can partly be attributed to variations in the testing situation (testing specific factors), such as, different test administrators or different testing environments. Focusing on test administrator influence, testing specific factors were examined in a Swedish longitudinal study of ageing. Test scores from 6,686 examinations r

Aim: To describe the Swedish Neonatal Quality Register (SNQ) and to determine its completeness and agreement with other registers. Methods: SNQ collects data for infants admitted to neonatal units during the first four postnatal weeks. Completeness and registers’ agreement were determined cross-linking SNQ data with Swedish population registers (the Inpatient, Medical Birth and Cause of Death Regi

BACKGROUND: Empirical research suggests that household debt and payment difficulties are detrimental to mental health. Despite well-known measurement problems that may contaminate analyses using subjective self-reported health measures, our knowledge is very limited concerning the effect of payment difficulties on 'objective' measures of mental health. Moreover, few studies use longitudinal data t

Background and Objectives: Fetal RHD genotyping of cell-free fetal DNA from RhD-negative pregnant women can be used to guide targeted antenatal and postnatal anti-D prophylaxis for the prevention of RhD immunization. To assure the quality of clinical testing, we conducted an external quality assessment workshop with the participation of 28 laboratories. Materials and Methods: Aliquots of pooled ma

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lung cancer represent progressive lung diseases with a poor prognosis. IPF represents a risk factor for the development of lung cancer, and the incidence of lung cancer is increased in patients with IPF. Disease pathogenesis of IPF and lung cancer involves common genetic alterations, dysregulated pathways, and the emergence of hyperplastic and metaplastic ep

Double quantum dots (DQDs) hold great promise as building blocks for quantum technology as they allow for two electronic states to coherently couple. Defining QDs with materials rather than using electrostatic gating allows for QDs with a hard-wall confinement potential and more robust charge and spin states. An unresolved problem is how to individually address these QDs, which is necessary for co

Particle-assisted III-V semiconductor nanowire growth and applications thereof have been studied extensively. However, the stability of nanowires in contact with the particle and the particle chemical composition as a function of temperature remain largely unknown. In this work, we use in situ transmission electron microscopy to investigate the interface between a Au-Ga particle and the top facet

Introduction: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have persistent platelet activation and an increased risk of thrombotic events, which cannot be accounted for by traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Factor (F)XII has a potentially important role in thrombus formation and is triggered by activated platelets. We therefore asked whether the contact system is involved in inflammation

Dysregulation of lymphocyte function, accumulation of autoantibodies and defective clearance of circulating immune complexes and apoptotic cells are hallmarks of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Moreover, it is now evident that an intricate interplay between the adaptive and innate immune systems contributes to the pathogenesis of SLE, ultimately resulting in chronic inflammation and organ dama

Chemical, oxidational and diffusional interactions between the tool, chip and cutting environment are known tool wear mechanisms in machining. However, the interaction between tool, coating, workpiece, coolant and atmospheric oxygen can, under favorable conditions, lead to formation of reaction products that retard tool wear. A method with the ability to predict theses interactions, would therefor

Background: The Swedish healthcare is decentralised to 21 regions. Detailed information on all delivered care in the southernmost region, Skåne, is prospectively collected in the Skåne Healthcare Register (SHR). The data is updated daily and hence a good source for epidemiological studies. However, the diagnostic codes used to identify cancer patients in SHR have not yet been validated. Methods: W

Activity-related breathlessness is the most problematic symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), arising from complex interactions between periph- eral pathophysiology (both pulmonary and non-pulmonary) and central perceptual proces- sing. To capture information on the breathlessness experienced by people with COPD, many different instruments exist, which vary in applicability depe

The cardiac troponin T variations have often been used as an example of the application of clinical genotyping for prognostication and risk stratification measures for the management of patients with a family history of sudden cardiac death or familial cardiomyopathy. Given the disparity in patient outcomes and therapy options, we investigated the impact of variations on the intermolecular interac