BACKGROUND: The metabolic syndrome is a worldwide health issue, with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (liver steatosis) being one of its features, particularly closely related to insulin resistance. This study aims to investigate whether quantification of hepatic steatosis by abdominal ultrasonography, using hepatorenal index, is a feasible tool for the prediction of insulin resistance, and thus ...

<i>Background</i>: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an effective intervention for the management of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, available resources are often limited, and many patients bear with poor availability of programmes. Sustaining PR benefits and regular exercise over the long term is difficult without any exercise maintenance strategy. In contrast ...

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to describe the fracture pattern for hand fractures in the Arctic region of Norway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the hospital's radiological information system and picture archiving and communication system all traumatic hand fractures in the year of 2010 were registered. Fractures in the carpal, metacarpal, and phalangeal bones were included in the ...

<b>Backgr ound:</b> The feasibility of telemedicine in diagnosing and treating nonacute headaches, such as primary headaches (migraine and tension-type) and medication-overuse headaches has not been previously investigated. By eliminating the need of travel to specialists, telemedicine may of fer significant time and money ...

Alternatively spliced Tissue Factor (asTF) is a secreted form of Tissue Factor (TF), the trigger of blood coagulation whose expression levels are heightened in several forms of solid cancer, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). asTF binds to β1 integrins on PDAC cells, whereby it promotes tumor growth, metastatic spread, and monocyte recruitment to the stroma. In this study, we determined ...

The host is protected by pattern recognition systems, including complement and TLRs, which are closely cross-talking. If improperly activated, these systems might induce tissue damage and disease. Inhibition of single downstream proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF, IL-1β, and IL-6, have failed in clinical sepsis trials, which might not be unexpected, given the substantial amounts of mediators ...

Aims/hypothesis: Activation of inflammatory pathways is involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. On the basis of its role in vascular inflammation and in metabolic disorders, we hypothesised that the TNF superfamily (TNFSF) member 14 (LIGHT/TNFSF14) could be involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. <p>Methods: Plasma levels of LIGHT were measured in two cohorts of ...

Germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 cause hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Molecular screening of these two genes in patients with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer has revealed pathogenic variants as well as genetic variants of unknown significance (VUS). These VUS may cause a challenge in the genetic counseling process regarding clinical management of the patient and the family. ...

<b>Purpose:</b> The aim of this study was to assess the 6-months dysphagia-free survival, improvement in swallowing function, complication rate, and overall survival in patients with incurable esophageal cancer treated with palliative radiotherapy. <b>Methods:</b> We retrospectively reviewed data from 139 patients (median age 72 years) with advanced/recurrent incurable esophageal cancer, who were ...

A reliable assessment of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is of paramount importance in clinical practice as well as epidemiological and clinical research settings. It is recommended by Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines in specific populations (anorectic, cirrhotic, obese, renal and non-renal transplant patients) where estimation equations are unreliable. Measured GFR is the ...