Pulmonary retransplantation in the Nordic countries.

Background: The increasing demand for pulmonary retransplantation (re-LTx) raises ethical issues on the correct allocation of the scarce donor pool. Thus, we performed a thorough review of the current results for re-LTx in the Nordic countries.

Methods: Seventy-five patients with a median age of 50 years (range, 22 to 64 years) underwent re-LTx from 1992 until June 2013, of which 53 had single re-LTx, 21 had double re-LTx, and 1 patient underwent a heart-lung retransplantation.

Decreasing health disparities for people with disabilities through improved communication strategies and awareness.

Factors influencing access to health care among people with disabilities (PWD) include: attitudes of health care providers and the public, physical barriers, miscommunication, income level, ethnic/minority status, insurance coverage, and lack of information tailored to PWD. Reducing health care disparities in a population with complex needs requires implementation at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. This review article discusses common barriers to health care access from the patient and provider perspective, particularly focusing on communication barriers and how to address and ameliorate them.

T cell subsets in human airways prior to and following endobronchial administration of endotoxin.

Background And Objectives: Bronchial instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) provides a reversible model of lung inflammation that may resemble early stages of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We investigated the distributions of T-cell subsets in the human airways and sought to determine whether pro- and anti-inflammatory T cells are involved in the local immune response to lung inflammation.

Methods: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in 15 healthy volunteers, after which Escherichia coli LPS (4 ng/kg) was administered.

NKT cell activation by local α-galactosylceramide administration decreases susceptibility to HSV-2 infection.

NKT cells are a subgroup of T cells, which express a restricted TCR repertoire and are critical for the innate immune responses to viral infections. Activation of NKT cells depends on the major histocompatibility complex-related molecule CD1d, which presents bioactive lipids to NKT cells. The marine sponge derived lipid αGalCer has recently been demonstrated as a specific agonist for activation of human and murine NKT cells.

Sexual abuse of older nursing home residents: a literature review.

Despite an increasing literature related to elder abuse, sexual abuse of older persons in general and of vulnerable adults living in nursing homes in particular is still sparsely described. The purpose of this study was to assess the state of knowledge on the subject of sexual abuse against older nursing home residents through a literature review. Systematic searches in reference databases including Cinahl, Medline, OVID Nursing Database, ISI Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and SveMed + were conducted.

Detection of transgenes in local maize varieties of small-scale farmers in eastern cape, South Africa.

Small-scale subsistence farmers in South Africa have been introduced to genetically modified (GM) crops for more than a decade. Little is known about i) the extent of transgene introgression into locally recycled seed, ii) what short and long-term ecological and socioeconomic impacts such mixing of seeds might have, iii) how the farmers perceive GM crops, and iv) to what degree approval conditions are followed and controlled. This study conducted in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, aims primarily at addressing the first of these issues.

The number of FoxP3+ cells in transbronchial lung allograft biopsies does not predict bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome within the first five years after transplantation.

Background: An important limitation to the success of lung transplantation is the development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). It has been hypothesized that regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) are related to the risk of BOS. We aim to evaluate whether the number of forkhead box P3 (FoxP3+) cells/mm(2) in lung allograft biopsies is a predictor of long-term outcome.

Colonization in the photic zone and subsequent changes during sinking determine bacterial community composition in marine snow.

Due to sampling difficulties, little is known about microbial communities associated with sinking marine snow in the twilight zone. A drifting sediment trap was equipped with a viscous cryogel and deployed to collect intact marine snow from depths of 100 and 400 m off Cape Blanc (Mauritania). Marine snow aggregates were fixed and washed in situ to prevent changes in microbial community composition and to enable subsequent analysis using catalyzed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH).

Effect of telemedicine follow-up care of leg and foot ulcers: a systematic review.

Background: Leg ulcers and diabetes-related foot ulcers are frequent and costly complications of their underlying diseases and thus represent a critical issue for public health. Since the population is aging, the prevalence of these conditions will probably increase considerably and require more resources. Treatment of leg and foot ulcers often demands frequent contact with the health care system, may pose great burden on the patient, and involves follow-up in both primary and specialist care.

[Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction is a treatment offered to patients with severe heterogenous emphysema].

Introduction of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction as a treatment for severe emphysema has been defined as an area of development by The Danish Health and Medicines Authority. We here present the rationale for treatment, in- and exclusion criteria, and ultimately the organization for assessment, treatment and follow-up in Denmark. The treatment aim is to lower dyspnoea.

Is depression a risk factor for diabetic foot ulcers? 11-years follow-up of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT).

Aim: To prospectively examine whether depressive symptoms increase the risk of diabetes and a diabetic foot ulcer.

Methods: The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) is a community-based longitudinal study. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D subscale) assessed depressive symptoms.

Assessing the comparative effectiveness of Tai Chi versus physical therapy for knee osteoarthritis: design and rationale for a randomized trial.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) causes pain and long-term disability with annual healthcare costs exceeding $185 billion in the United States. Few medical remedies effectively influence the course of the disease. Finding effective treatments to maintain function and quality of life in patients with knee OA is one of the national priorities identified by the Institute of Medicine.

Personalized Risk Estimator for Rheumatoid Arthritis (PRE-RA) Family Study: rationale and design for a randomized controlled trial evaluating rheumatoid arthritis risk education to first-degree relatives.

We present the rationale, design features, and protocol of the Personalized Risk Estimator for Rheumatoid Arthritis (PRE-RA) Family Study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02046005). The PRE-RA Family Study is an NIH-funded prospective, randomized controlled trial designed to compare the willingness to change behaviors in first-degree relatives of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients without RA after exposure to RA risk educational programs.

Acoustically invisible feeding blue whales in Northern Icelandic waters.

Fixed passive acoustic monitoring can be used for long-term recording of vocalizing cetaceans. Both presence monitoring and animal density estimation requires the call rates and sound source levels of vocalizations produced by single animals. In this study, blue whale calls were recorded using acoustic bio-logging systems in Skjálfandi Bay off Húsavík, Northeast Iceland, in June 2012.

Recurrence of sarcoid granulomas in lung transplant recipients is common and does not affect overall survival.

Background: Sarcoidosis represents 2,5% of all indications for lung transplantation and criteria are generally assumed to be the same as for pulmonary fibrosis. Recurrence of granulomas in transplanted lungs has earlier been proved to derive from recipient immune cells, but its role in relation to lung function and overall survival after lung transplantation remains uncertain.

Objective: To identify recurrent granuloma in transbronchial biopsies in patients receiving lung transplant because of sarcoidosis, and relate the findings to overall survival and lung function.

Phenology and cover of plant growth forms predict herbivore habitat selection in a high latitude ecosystem.

The spatial and temporal distribution of forage quality is among the most central factors affecting herbivore habitat selection. Yet, for high latitude areas, forage quantity has been found to be more important than quality. Studies on large ungulate foraging patterns are faced with methodological challenges in both assessing animal movements at the scale of forage distribution, and in assessing forage quality with relevant metrics.

Prognosis of patients with alpha1-antitrypsine deficiency on long-term oxygen therapy.

Introduction: Data on patients with alpha1-antitrypsine deficiency (AATD) on long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) is sparse. The aim of this study was to present the incidence of patients with AATD on LTOT, and compare their characteristics, comorbidities and prognosis (lung transplantation, termination of LTOT, and survival) with COPD patients without AATD.

Methods: A National prospective study of all COPD patients who started LTOT for the first time in the period 01.

Psychometric properties of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Children (KOOS-Child) in children with knee disorders.

Background: The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) is a self-administered valid and reliable questionnaire for adults with joint injury or degenerative disease. Recent data indicate a lack of comprehensibility when this is used with children. Thus, a preliminary KOOS-Child was developed.

First Danish experience with ex vivo lung perfusion of donor lungs before transplantation.

Introduction: The number of lung transplantations is limited by a general lack of donor organs. Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) is a novel method to optimise and evaluate marginal donor lungs prior to transplantation. We describe our experiences with EVLP in Denmark during the first year after its introduction.

Time elapsed after transplantation influences the relationship between the number of regulatory T cells in lung allograft biopsies and subsequent acute rejection episodes.

Background: Regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) play an important role in acute rejection after lung transplantation. However, the importance of the time elapsed after transplantation on the Treg response requires further investigation. We aim to evaluate the change over time in the frequency of Tregs in lung allograft biopsies and to assess how Tregs relate to simultaneous and subsequent acute cellular rejection.

Transcompartmental inflammatory responses in humans: IV versus endobronchial administration of endotoxin*.

Objectives: Transcompartmental signaling during early inflammation may lead to propagation of disease to other organs. The time course and the mechanisms involved are still poorly understood. We aimed at comparing acute transcompartmental inflammatory responses in humans following lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary and systemic inflammation.