[Not Available].

Background: The main purpose of national medical quality registries is to contribute to better patient treatment. The registries are also used in research and as management tools. The aim of the study was to investigate data quality in the Norwegian Myocardial Infarction Registry by comparing the proportion of correctly registered variables with a reference standard.

Expression and purification of human neutrophil proteinase 3 from insect cells and characterization of ligand binding.

Neutrophil proteinase 3 (PR3) is an important drug target for inflammatory lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis. Drug discovery efforts targeting PR3 require active enzyme for in vitro characterization, such as inhibitor screening, enzymatic assays, and structural studies. Recombinant expression of active PR3 overcomes the need for enzyme supplies from human blood and in addition allows studies on the influence of mutations on enzyme activity and ligand binding.

Long-Term Resistance Trained Human Muscles Have More Fibers, More Myofibrils, and Tighter Myofilament Packing Than Untrained.

Introduction: Increases in skeletal muscle size occur in response to prolonged exposure to resistance training that is typically ascribed to increased muscle fiber size. Whether muscle fiber number also changes remains controversial, and a paucity of data exists about myofibrillar structure. This cross-sectional study compared muscle fiber and myofibril characteristics in long-term resistance-trained (LRT) versus untrained (UNT) individuals.

Phospholipid Membrane Interactions of Model Ac-WL-X-LL-OH Peptides Investigated by Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.

The role of aromatic amino acids in peripheral protein membrane binding has been reported to involve cation-π interactions with choline lipids. In this study, we have investigated the interactions of the model pentapeptide Ac-WL-X-LL-OH (where X = L, Y, F, or W) with the phospholipid membrane using solid-state NMR. The effect of guest residue X on the peptide-lipid interactome was complementary to the seminal report on the interfacial hydrophobicity scale by Wimley and White.

Sex differences in muscle morphology between male and female sprinters.

There is a marked difference between males and females in sprint running performance, yet a comprehensive investigation of sex differences in the muscle morphology of sprinters, which could explain the performance differences, remains to be completed. This study compared muscle volumes of 23 individual leg muscles and 5 functional muscle groups, assessed with 3 T magnetic resonance imaging, between male ( = 31) and female ( = 22) sprinters, as well as subgroups of elite males (EM, = 5), elite females (EF, = 5), and performance-matched (to elite females) males (PMM, = 6). Differences in muscle volume distribution between EM, EF, and unathletic male (UM) controls were also assessed.

Paternal age and first trimester placental size and growth: The Rotterdam Periconceptional Cohort.

Introduction: Despite a noticeable trend of delayed fatherhood, less is known about the impact of paternal age on the paternally programmed placenta. We hypothesize that paternal aging affects seminal quality and as such induces ageing-related epigenetic alterations that influence placental growth. Our main aim is to investigate associations between paternal age and first trimester (vascular) placental growth trajectories.

Investigating Polypharmacology through Targeting Known Human Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitors to Proteinase 3.

Using a combination of multisite λ-dynamics (MSλD) together with IC assays, we evaluated the polypharmacological potential of a scaffold currently in clinical trials for inhibition of human neutrophil elastase (HNE), targeting cardiopulmonary disease, for efficacious inhibition of Proteinase 3 (PR3), a related neutrophil serine proteinase. The affinities we observe suggest that the dihydropyrimidinone scaffold can serve as a suitable starting point for the establishment of polypharmacologically targeting both enzymes and enhancing the potential for treatments addressing diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Optimized bisubstrate inhibitors for the actin N-terminal acetyltransferase NAA80.

Acetylation of protein N-termini is one of the most common protein modifications in the eukaryotic cell and is catalyzed by the N-terminal acetyltransferase family of enzymes. The N-terminal acetyltransferase NAA80 is expressed in the animal kingdom and was recently found to specifically N-terminally acetylate actin, which is the main component of the microfilament system. This unique animal cell actin processing is essential for the maintenance of cell integrity and motility.

The effect of wheat genotype on the microbiome is more evident in roots and varies through time.

Crop breeding has traditionally ignored the plant-associated microbial communities. Considering the interactions between plant genotype and associated microbiota is of value since different genotypes of the same crop often harbor distinct microbial communities which can influence the plant phenotype. However, recent studies have reported contrasting results, which led us to hypothesize that the effect of genotype is constrained by growth stages, sampling year and plant compartment.

The Muscle Morphology of Elite Female Sprint Running.

Introduction: A paucity of research exists examining the importance of muscle morphological and functional characteristics for elite female sprint performance.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare lower body muscle volumes and vertical jumping power between elite and subelite female sprinters and assess the relationships of these characteristics with sprint race and acceleration performance.

Methods: Five elite (100 m seasons best [SBE 100 ], 11.

Identification of a Phage Display-Derived Peptide Interacting with the N-Terminal Region of Factor VII Activating Protease (FSAP) Enables Characterization of Zymogen Activation.

Factor VII Activating protease (FSAP) has a protective effect in diverse disease conditions as inferred from studies in FSAP mice and humans deficient in FSAP activity due to single-nucleotide polymorphism. The zymogen form of FSAP in plasma is activated by extracellular histones that are released during tissue injury or inflammation or by positively charged surfaces. However, it is not clear whether this activation mechanism is specific and amenable to manipulation.

Supply Chain Perspectives on Breeding for Legume-Cereal Intercrops.

Compared to sole crops, intercropping-especially of legumes and cereals-has great potential to improve crop yield and resource use efficiency, and can provide many other ecosystem services. However, the beneficial effects of intercrops are often greatly dependent on the end use as well as the specific species and genotypes being co-cultivated. In addition, intercropping imposes added complexity at different levels of the supply chain.

Comparison of Five Near-Infrared Fluorescent Folate Conjugates in an Ovarian Cancer Model.

Purpose: Fluorescence imaging (FLI) using targeted near-infrared (NIR) conjugates aids the detection of tumour lesions pre- and intraoperatively. The optimisation of tumour visualisation and contrast is essential and can be achieved through high tumour-specificity and low background signal. However, the choice of fluorophore is recognised to alter biodistribution and clearance of conjugates and is therefore a determining factor in the specificity of target binding.

An Experimental Toolbox for Structure-Based Hit Discovery for P. aeruginosa FabF, a Promising Target for Antibiotics.

FabF (3-oxoacyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] synthase 2), which catalyses the rate limiting condensation reaction in the fatty acid synthesis II pathway, is an attractive target for new antibiotics. Here, we focus on FabF from P. aeruginosa (PaFabF) as antibiotics against this pathogen are urgently needed.

Unequivocal structure confirmation of a breitfussin analog by anisotropic NMR measurements.

Structural features of proton-deficient heteroaromatic natural products, such as the breitfussins, can severely complicate their characterization by NMR spectroscopy. For the breitfussins in particular, the constitution of the five-membered oxazole central ring cannot be unequivocally established conventional NMR methods when the 4'-position is halogenated. The level of difficulty is exacerbated by 4'-iodination, as the accuracy with which theoretical NMR parameters are determined relies extensively on computational treatment of the relativistic effects of the iodine atom.

Repurposing F-FMISO as a PET tracer for translational imaging of nitroreductase-based gene directed enzyme prodrug therapy.

Nitroreductases (NTR) are a family of bacterial enzymes used in gene directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) that selectively activate prodrugs containing aromatic nitro groups to exert cytotoxic effects following gene transduction in tumours. The clinical development of NTR-based GDEPT has, in part, been hampered by the lack of translational imaging modalities to assess gene transduction and drug cytotoxicity, non-invasively. This study presents translational preclinical PET imaging to validate and report NTR activity using the clinically approved radiotracer, F-FMISO, as substrate for the NTR enzyme.

Advances in Breeding for Mixed Cropping - Incomplete Factorials and the Producer/Associate Concept.

Mixed cropping has been suggested as a resource-efficient approach to meet high produce demands while maintaining biodiversity and minimizing environmental impact. Current breeding programs do not select for enhanced general mixing ability (GMA) and neglect biological interactions within species mixtures. Clear concepts and efficient experimental designs, adapted to breeding for mixed cropping and encoded into appropriate statistical models, are lacking.

Total Synthesis of Phorbazole B.

Phorbazoles are polychlorinated heterocyclic secondary metabolites isolated from a marine sponge and several of these natural products have shown inhibitory activity against cancer cells. In this work, a synthesis of the trichlorinated phorbazole B using late stage electrophilic chlorination was developed. The synthesis relied on the use of an oxazole precursor, which was protected with an iodine in the reactive 4-position, followed by complete chlorination of all pyrrole positions.

Cardiac arrest as a reportable condition: a cohort study of the first 6 years of the Norwegian out-of-hospital cardiac arrest registry.

Objectives: The Norwegian Cardiac Arrest Registry (NorCAR) was established in 2013 when cardiac arrest became a mandatory reportable condition. The aim of this cohort study is to describe how the world's first mandatory, population-based cardiac arrest registry evolved during its first 6 years.

Setting: Norway has a total population of 5.

From Palliative Care Developed During Simulation, to Performance in Clinical Practice-Descriptions From Nursing Students.

It is an international consensus that health care workers should be well trained to promote care for seriously ill and dying patients. Nursing students have reported that they feel inadequately prepared for palliative care. Simulation exercises have been described as increasing knowledge, skills, and competence, and participants have reported that they are more confident and prepared for palliative care with this learning approach than without.

Structural determinants and cellular environment define processed actin as the sole substrate of the N-terminal acetyltransferase NAA80.

N-terminal (Nt) acetylation is a major protein modification catalyzed by N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs). Methionine acidic N termini, including actin, are cotranslationally Nt acetylated by NatB in all eukaryotes, but animal actins containing acidic N termini, are additionally posttranslationally Nt acetylated by NAA80. Actin Nt acetylation was found to regulate cytoskeletal dynamics and motility, thus making NAA80 a potential target for cell migration regulation.

Treatment of acute myocardial infarction in the sub-arctic region of Norway. Do we offer an equal quality of care?

Patients, relatives, healthcare workers and administrators are concerned about the quality of care offered. We aimed to explore the treatment of acute myocatrdial infarction (AMI) in Northern Norway, compare it with the national figures, and document whether there is an equal quality of care or not. The retrospective study included data on patients' treatment for AMI.

Oncolytic peptide LTX-315 induces an immune-mediated abscopal effect in a rat sarcoma model.

LTX 315 is an oncolytic peptide with potent immunological properties. In the present study, we demonstrate that intratumoral treatment with LTX-315 resulted in a complete regression and systemic immune response in a rat fibrosarcoma model. The treatment was T-cell dependent, and also resulted in an abscopal effect as demonstrated by the regression of distal non-treated lesions.

LTX-315: a first-in-class oncolytic peptide that reprograms the tumor microenvironment.

The oncolytic peptide LTX-315, which has been de novo designed based on structure-activity relationship studies of host defense peptides, has the ability to kill human cancer cells and induce specific anticancer immune response when injected locally into tumors established in immunocompetent mice. The oncolytic effect of LTX-315 involves perturbation of plasma membrane and the mitochondria with subsequent release of danger-associated molecular pattern molecules, which highlights the ability of LTX-315 to induce complete regression and protective immune responses. Treatment with LTX-315 reprograms the tumor microenvironment by decreasing the local abundance of immunosuppressive cells and by increasing the frequency of effector T cells.