The Swedish sleep apnea registry (SESAR) cohort - "Real world data" on a national level.

Introduction: The Swedish Sleep Apnea Registry (SESAR) collects clinical data from individual obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients since 2010. SESAR has recently been integrated with additional national healthcare data. The current analysis presents the SESAR structure and representative clinical data of a national sleep apnea cohort.

Investigating the complex story of one ditch-A multidisciplinary study of ditch infill provides insight into the spatial organisation within the oppidum of Bibracte (Burgundy, France).

Seemingly empty spaces in various archaeological settings have left many unanswered questions. This paper focuses on the appearance, maintenance and possible function of a large empty area situated at the summit plateau of the Iron Age oppidum Bibracte in France. Multidisciplinary research of the infill of the ditch that delimited this area in the 1st century BC has provided evidence on the primary function and the formation processes of the structure itself, and for the reconstruction of the appearance, maintenance and function of the area it enclosed.

[Screening for lung cancer].

The authors give an overview about the novel results and shifting paradigm of lung cancer screening. They also summarize the results of previous and most recent clinical trials, which re-directed the international interest on lung cancer screening.

Enhancement of lung tumorigenesis in a Gprc5a Knockout mouse by chronic extrinsic airway inflammation.

Background: Although cigarette smoking is the principal cause of lung carcinogenesis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an inflammatory disease of the lung, has been identified as an independent risk factor for lung cancer. Bacterial colonization, particularly with non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), has been implicated as a cause of airway inflammation in COPD besides cigarette smoke. Accordingly, we hypothesized that lung cancer promotion may occur in a chronic inflammatory environment in the absence of concurrent carcinogen exposure.

Specific expression of PAD4 and citrullinated proteins in lung cancer is not associated with anti-CCP antibody production.

Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs), produced against citrullinated proteins, are diagnostic and prognostic markers of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The underlying mechanism that explains the connection of smoking, citrullination [catalyzed by peptidyl arginine deiminases (PADs)] and ACPAs is still unclarified in RA. Thus, we searched for a non-arthritic model in which an increased cell death allows the formation of autoantibodies.

Dendritic cells in chronic mycobacterial granulomas restrict local anti-bacterial T cell response in a murine model.

Background: Mycobacterium-induced granulomas are the interface between bacteria and host immune response. During acute infection dendritic cells (DCs) are critical for mycobacterial dissemination and activation of protective T cells. However, their role during chronic infection in the granuloma is poorly understood.

AT1 receptor agonistic antibodies from preeclamptic patients stimulate NADPH oxidase.

Background: We recently identified agonistic autoantibodies directed against the angiotensin AT1 receptor (AT1-AA) in the plasma of preeclamptic women. To elucidate their role further, we studied the effects of AT1-AA on reactive oxygen species (ROS), NADPH oxidase expression, and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation.

Methods And Results: We investigated human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and trophoblasts, as well as placentas.

A gene expression analysis in rat kidney following high and low salt intake.

Background: The effects of salt intake on renal regulation have been investigated for decades. To find new pathways and to demonstrate the utility of oligonucleotide expression arrays, we studied whole kidneys.

Methods: Eight Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups.

Angiotensin II induced inflammation in the kidney and in the heart of double transgenic rats.

Background: We are investigating a double transgenic rat (dTGR) model, in which rats transgenic for the human angiotensinogen and renin genes are crossed. These rats develop moderately severe hypertension but die of end-organ cardiac and renal damage by week 7. The heart shows necrosis and fibrosis, whereas the kidneys resemble the hemolytic-uremic syndrome vasculopathy.