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Purpose: Co-morbidities are common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to explore the prevalence of several comorbid conditions in severe COPD, and to investigate and compare their associations with long-term mortality. Methods: In May 2011 to March 2012, 241 patients with COPD stage 3 or 4 were
Background: The intermediate- and long-term effects of regular low-dose sustained-release (SR) morphine on the testosterone levels of people with persistent breathlessness are unknown. Methods: Exploratory analysis of a randomized controlled trial of the effects of regular SR morphine (0/8/16/24 mg every 24 hours) for persistent breathlessness associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Objective This study aimed to investigate whether workplace factors and occupations are associated with SARSCoV-2 infection or severe COVID-19 in the later waves of the pandemic. Methods We studied 552 562 cases with a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 in the Swedish registry of communicable diseases, and 5985 cases with severe COVID-19 based on hospital admissions from October 2020 to December 2021. F
Background: To investigate whether baseline serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), patient characteristics, traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and disease activity over time predict CVD, in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: This study included patients with early RA (< 12 months disease duration) (n = 233) recruited 1995–2005. Potential predictors of CVD and c
The complement system plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), but most studies have focused on the classical pathway. Ficolin-3 is the main initiator of the lectin pathway of complement in humans, but its role in systemic autoimmune disease has not been conclusively determined. Here, we combined biochemical and genetic approaches to assess the contribution o
Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been associated with reduced antibody response to childhood vaccinations. Previous studies have mostly focused on antibodies against diphtheria or tetanus, while fewer studies have assessed antibodies toward attenuated viruses, such as measles, mumps or rubella (MMR). Therefore, we set out to determine associations between prenatal and ear
Infant massage is performed in various international contexts. There is a need for an updated literature review on this topic. The purpose of the current review was to investigate the effects of infant massage. A systematic literature review was conducted to investigate the effects of infant massage on the following outcomes: pain relief, jaundice, and weight gain. The inclusion criteria were infa
Room temperature oxygen hydrogenation below graphene flakes supported by Ir(111) is investigated through a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and density functional theory calculations using an evolutionary search algorithm. We demonstrate how the graphene cover and its doping level can be used to trap and characterize dense mixed O-OH-H2O phases that o
Heterostructure engineering in III-V vertical nanowire (VNW) MOSFETs enables tuning of transconductance and breakdown voltage. In this work, an InxGa 1−x As channel with a Ga-composition grading ( x= 1–0.4) in the channel and drain region, combined with field plate engineering, enables breakdown voltage above 2.5 V, while maintaining transconductance of about 1 mS/ μm , in VNW MOSFETs. The field p
In men from the general population, BMI has been associated with a lower sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI). We wondered whether this could be due to estradiol, which is associated with BMI and reported important for sperm function. Our objective was to investigate the association between estradiol and DFI. In 2008–2010, we recruited 284 young men from the general population to deliver samples of
Background Joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains a significant problem. Identification of biomarkers associated with joint destruction can improve our understanding of underlying disease processes and future management.Objectives To evaluate inflammatory proteins as potential predictors of radiographic progression of joint damage.Methods Consecutive early RA patients (symptom duration
Background: Joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) includes erosions and joint space narrowing (JSN). Predictors of these processes, and the underlying mechanisms, require further study1.Objectives: To investigate the relation between patient characteristics at RA diagnosis and progression of erosions and JSN, over 5 years. Methods: Consecutive early RA patients (symptom duration Results: 233 e
Objective: To determine the independent impact of different definitions of remission and low disease activity (LDA) on damage accrual. Methods: Patients with ≥2 annual assessments from a longitudinal multinational inception lupus cohort were studied. Five mutually exclusive disease activity states were defined: remission off-treatment: clinical Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (
An ambient pressure cell is described for conducting synchrotron-based x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements during atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes. The instrument is capable of true in situ and operando experiments in which it is possible to directly obtain elemental and chemical information from the sample surface using XPS as the deposition process is ongoing. The setup is
BACKGROUND: Prior to COVID-19, >90% of caregivers of people with brain health challenges (dementia, mental ill health, intellectual disability) experienced high levels of distress, burden, loneliness and social isolation. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased these impacts, particularly since these caregivers are often older and physically vulnerable themselves. The aim of this cross-s
Adolescence can be a stressful period in life. The period contains challenges associated with the transition from childhood to adulthood (body changes, changes in interpersonal relationships, and identity changes). The aim was to investigate experiences of stress among adolescents in addition to stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Focus group interviews (n = 8) were conducted with girls (n =
Bile acids (BAs) play different roles in cancer development. Some are carcinogenic and BA signaling is also involved in various metabolic, inflammatory and immune-related processes. The liver is the primary site of BA synthesis. Liver dysfunction and microbiome compositional changes, such as during hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development, may modulate BA metabolism increasing concentration of c
Background: In early stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dyspnea has been reported as the main symptom; but at the end of life, patients dying from COPD have a heavy symptom burden. Still, specialist palliative care is seldom offered to patients with COPD; they more often receive end of life care in hospitals. Furthermore, symptoms, symptom relief and care activities in the last we
