Complete (1)H and (13)C NMR chemical shift assignments of mono-, di-, and trisaccharides as basis for NMR chemical shift predictions of polysaccharides using the computer program casper.

The computer program casper uses (1)H and (13)C NMR chemical shift data of mono- to trisaccharides for the prediction of chemical shifts of oligo- and polysaccharides. In order to improve the quality of these predictions the (1)H and (13)C, as well as (31)P when applicable, NMR chemical shifts of 30 mono-, di-, and trisaccharides were assigned. The reducing sugars gave two distinct sets of NMR resonances due to the α- and β-anomeric forms.

Glomerular filtration rate in patients with atrial fibrillation on warfarin treatment: a subgroup analysis from the AURICULA registry in Sweden.

Introduction: Numerous associations between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) have been reported and patients with CKD on anticoagulation therapy have an increased risk of bleeding. Currently, new anticoagulant agents are emerging in clinical practice, some of which are excreted by the kidneys. The proportion of AF patients on anticoagulant treatment with reduced renal function is, however, unknown.

Calcium phosphates compounds in conjunction with hydrogel as carrier for BMP-2: a study on ectopic bone formation in rats.

Current treatment of fractures often involves the use of bone graft or bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) to induce fracture healing, especially in patients with a compromised healing capacity. BMP has to be delivered in conjunction with a carrier. Unfortunately, there are drawbacks and limitations with current carriers, including their bovine origin which carries the risk of an immunological response.

Urine cultures from indwelling bladder catheters in nursing home patients: a point prevalence study in a Swedish county.

Objectives: To survey the bacterial flora and antibiotic resistance in urinary strains from patients with indwelling bladder catheters residing in nursing homes within a geographically defined region.

Material And Methods: Urine was sampled for culture from 163 catheter patients (126 men and 37 women) during a 2 week period in March 2010. Susceptibility testing of the isolated bacteria was compared with all urinary strains (n = 9994) from hospitals and primary healthcare in the same geographical area cultured during the first 6 months of 2010 (control group).

Early changes in bone mineral density measured by digital X-ray radiogrammetry predict up to 20 years radiological outcome in rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in the hand as evaluated by digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR) of the second to fourth metacarpal bones has been suggested to predict future joint damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study's objective was to investigate whether DXR-BMD loss early in the course of the disease predicts the development of joint damage in RA patients followed for up to 20 years.

Methods: A total of 183 patients (115 women and 68 men) with early RA (mean disease duration, 11 months) included from 1985 to 1989 were followed prospectively (the Lund early RA cohort).

Bone reservoir: Injectable hyaluronic acid hydrogel for minimal invasive bone augmentation.

A strategy has been designed to develop hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel for in vivo bone augmentation using minimal invasive technique. A mild synthetic procedure was developed to prepare aldehyde modified HA by incorporating an amino-glycerol side chain via amidation reaction and selective oxidation of the pendent group. This modification, upon mixing with hydrazide modified HA formed hydrazone-crosslinked hydrogel within 30s that was stable at physiological pH.

NMR analysis of conformationally dependent (n)J(C, H) and (n)J(C, C) in the trisaccharide α-L-Rhap-(1 → 2)[α-L-Rhap-(1 → 3)]-α-L-Rhap-OMe and a site-specifically labeled isotopologue thereof.

An array of NMR spectroscopy experiments have been carried out to obtain conformationally dependent (1)H,(13)C- and (13)C,(13)C-spin-spin coupling constants in the trisaccharide α-L-Rhap-(1 → 2)[α-L-Rhap-(1 → 3)]-α-L-Rhap-OMe. The trisaccharide was synthesized with (13)C site-specific labeling at C2' and C2″, i.e.

Major global radiation of corvoid birds originated in the proto-Papuan archipelago.

A central paradigm in island biogeography has been the unidirectional "downstream" colonization of islands from continents (source to sink) based on the idea that less-diverse island communities are easier to invade than biologically more-diverse continental communities. Recently, several cases of "upstream" colonization (from islands to continents) have been documented, challenging the traditional view. However, all these cases have involved individual island species that have colonized mainland regions.

Systematics and biogeography of Indo-Pacific ground-doves.

Ground-doves represent an insular bird radiation distributed across the Indo-Pacific. The radiation comprises sixteen extant species, two species believed to be extinct and six species known to be extinct. In the present study, we present a molecular phylogeny for all sixteen extant species, based on two mitochondrial markers.

Increasing melanism along a latitudinal gradient in a widespread amphibian: local adaptation, ontogenic or environmental plasticity?

Background: The thermal benefits of melanism in ectothermic animals are widely recognized, but relatively little is known about population differentiation in the degree of melanism along thermal gradients, and the relative contributions of genetic vs. environmental components into the level of melanism expressed. We investigated variation in the degree of melanism in the common frog (Rana temporaria; an active heliotherm thermoregulator) by comparing the degree of melanism (i) among twelve populations spanning over 1500 km long latitudinal gradient across the Scandinavian Peninsula and (ii) between two populations from latitudinal extremes subjected to larval temperature treatments in a common garden experiment.

Pathogen specific, IRF3-dependent signaling and innate resistance to human kidney infection.

The mucosal immune system identifies and fights invading pathogens, while allowing non-pathogenic organisms to persist. Mechanisms of pathogen/non-pathogen discrimination are poorly understood, as is the contribution of human genetic variation in disease susceptibility. We describe here a new, IRF3-dependent signaling pathway that is critical for distinguishing pathogens from normal flora at the mucosal barrier.

Effects of preoxygenation on desaturation time during hemorrhagic shock in pigs.

Background: Patients in hemorrhagic shock often require emergent airway management. Clinical experience suggests that oxygen desaturation occurs rapidly in these patients; however, data are scant. The hypothesis of this study was that increasing levels of hemorrhagic shock, varying levels of fraction of inspired oxygen (Fio2) for preoxygenation, and fluid resuscitation significantly affect the duration until critical desaturation occurs.

The phosphate regulating hormone fibroblast growth factor-23.

Over the last decade, the regulation of phosphate (Pi) homeostasis has been under intense investigation. By utilizing modern biochemical and genetic tools, the pathophysiological mechanisms behind several known hereditary and acquired hypo- and hyperphosphatemic diseases have been clarified. The results of these efforts have opened new insights into the causes of Pi dysregulation and hereby also the physiological mechanisms determining Pi homeostasis.

Urine bladder catheters in nursing home patients: a one-day point prevalence study in a Swedish county.

Objective: The aim of this study was to register the use of long-term indwelling catheters in nursing homes in a defined geographical region, and present the indications for and duration of catheterization, catheter material and size, the time between the regular catheter changes and the number of patients with regular catheter rinses.

Material And Methods: On 16 February 2009, the 78 nursing homes in a county in western Sweden with 260 000 inhabitants reported the required information to the study centre.

Results: Of the 2625 nursing home patients (1781 women and 844 men), 50 (3%) of the women (mean age 88 years) and 135 (16%) of the men (mean age 85 years) had indwelling catheters.

Toll-like receptor 4 promoter polymorphisms: common TLR4 variants may protect against severe urinary tract infection.

Background: Polymorphisms affecting Toll-like receptor (TLR) structure appear to be rare, as would be expected due to their essential coordinator role in innate immunity. Here, we assess variation in TLR4 expression, rather than structure, as a mechanism to diversify innate immune responses.

Methodology/principal Findings: We sequenced the TLR4 promoter (4,3 kb) in Swedish blood donors.

Tolerance to proton irradiation in the eutardigrade Richtersius coronifer--a nuclear microprobe study.

Purpose: The tardigrade Richtersius coronifer has previously been shown to tolerate very high doses of low linear energy transfer (low-LET) radiation (gamma rays). The purpose of this study was to extend our knowledge on radiation tolerance in this species by investigating the dose-response to high-LET radiation in terms of protons.

Materials And Methods: Dehydrated tardigrades of the species R.