Recombinant human activated protein C attenuates endotoxin-induced lung injury in awake sheep.

Introduction: Acute lung injury often complicates severe sepsis. In gram-negative sepsis, bacterial endotoxin activates both coagulation and inflammation. Enhanced lung vascular pressures and permeability, increased extravascular lung water content and deteriorated gas exchange characterize ovine endotoxin-induced lung injury, a frequently used model of acute lung injury.

Significant contribution of liver nonparenchymal cells to metabolism of ammonia and lactate and cocultivation augments the functions of a bioartificial liver.

A bioartificial liver (BAL) will bridge patients with acute liver failure (ALF) to either spontaneous regeneration or liver transplantation. The nitrogen metabolism is important in ALF, and the metabolism of nonparenchymal liver cells (NPCs) is poorly understood. The scope of this study was to investigate whether cocultivation of hepatocytes with NPCs would augment the functions of a BAL (HN-BAL) compared with a BAL equipped with only hepatocytes (H-BAL).

Analysis of protein S-100B in serum: a methodological study.

Background: Dysfunction and damage of the human central nervous system can be detected with biochemical markers, and protein S-100B is the best-established such marker. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the protein is stable during long-term storage, to establish reference values for the new Elecsys S100 test and to compare this new method with the Liaison Sangtec 100 test.

Methods: We analysed blood samples from 118 blood donors and 196 patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage or head injury.

Changes in haemoglobin levels according to changes in body mass index and smoking habits, a 20-year follow-up of a male cohort: the Tromsø Study 1974-1995.

Haemoglobin level declines with increasing age in cross sectional studies. Little is known about the longitudinal changes of haemoglobin. Because both high or low haemoglobin levels increase mortality and morbidity we examined how changes in lifestyle factors like body mass index (BMI) and smoking habits influence cohort changes in haemoglobin level.

Purpura fulminans as a sequel to erythema nodosum in a child with homozygous Leiden mutation and acquired protein S deficiency.

Unlabelled: A 6-y-old boy presented with generalized, bruise-like swelling of both legs. Three weeks later, he developed purpura fulminans in one of the affected feet. Histology of the leg swelling was in accordance with erythema nodosum.

Haemoglobin and anaemia in a gender perspective: the Tromsø Study.

Objectives: To examine the gender-specific distribution of haemoglobin (Hb) and the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for anaemia compared with the 2.5 percentile for Hb.

Methods: A population-based study from Tromsø, Northern Norway.

Dietary supplementation with bean extract improves lipid profile in overweight and obese subjects.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of a dietary supplementation of bean extract on serum lipids, nutritional parameters, and fat excretion in feces.Sixty-two overweight and obese (body mass index > 25 kg/m(2)) volunteers were randomized to receive the dietary supplement (n = 31, supplement group) or the placebo (n = 31, placebo group). There were 41 women and 21 men, ages 22 to 66 years.