An in-progress, open-label, multi-centre study (SAILOR) evaluating whether a steroid-free immunosuppressive protocol, based on ATG induction and a low tacrolimus dose, reduces the incidence of new onset diabetes after transplantation.

Background: Corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are included in renal transplantation immunosuppressive protocols around the world. Well-known side effects are associated with the use of these drugs, including new onset of diabetes after transplantation (NODAT). Long-term patient survival rates are lower among patients with NODAT.

Loss-of-function of the voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.5 (channelopathies) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Background & Aims: SCN5A encodes the α-subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.5. Many patients with cardiac arrhythmias caused by mutations in SCN5A also have symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Genetic variants in CDC42 and NXPH1 as susceptibility factors for constipation and diarrhoea predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

Objective: The complex genetic aetiology underlying irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) needs to be assessed in large-scale genetic studies. Two independent IBS cohorts were genotyped to assess whether genetic variability in immune, neuronal and barrier integrity genes is associated with IBS.

Design: 384 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covering 270 genes were genotyped in an exploratory cohort (935 IBS patients, 639 controls).

Hemodynamics in rat liver tumor model during retrograde-outflow isolated hepatic perfusion with aspiration from the portal vein: angiography and in vivo microscopy.

Background: Orthograde percutaneous isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) techniques using balloon occlusion catheters are relatively simple and facilitate repeated therapy, but they result in higher rates of leakage from the perfusion circuit into the systemic circulation. Therefore, a feasible protocol for percutaneous IHP with less leakage is required.

Purpose: To investigate hemodynamic changes in rat liver and tumor during retrograde-outflow isolated hepatic perfusion (R-IHP) with aspiration from the portal vein (PV).

Influence of pH on the build-up of poly-L-lysine/heparin multilayers.

The effect of pH on the build-up of polyelectrolyte multilayers, PEMs, composed by poly-L-lysine and heparin onto two different substrates, silica and gold, has been studied by means of ellipsometry and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation, QCM-D. Ellipsometry results indicate that the dry mass grows exponentially with the number of layers, and that this amount is larger as the pH values are raised. From QCM-D data the viscoelastic properties of the multilayered structure have been obtained.

Increased DNA methylation and decreased expression of PDX-1 in pancreatic islets from patients with type 2 diabetes.

Mutations in pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX-1) can cause a monogenic form of diabetes (maturity onset diabetes of the young 4) in humans, and silencing Pdx-1 in pancreatic β-cells of mice causes diabetes. However, it is not established whether epigenetic alterations of PDX-1 influence type 2 diabetes (T2D) in humans. Here we analyzed mRNA expression and DNA methylation of PDX-1 in human pancreatic islets from 55 nondiabetic donors and nine patients with T2D.

Thrombotic occlusion of all left coronary branches in a young woman with severe ulcerative colitis.

Background. The thrombosis risk is increased in active ulcerative colitis. The limited number of reported complications have predominantly been cerebrovascular but other vessel territories may also be affected.

Prospectively measured thyroid hormones and thyroid peroxidase antibodies in relation to breast cancer risk.

Thyroid hormones influence both normal breast cell differentiation and breast cancer cell proliferation and stimulate the angiogenesis of certain cancer forms. Several cross-sectional studies have measured thyroid hormones/autoantibodies in breast cancer ceases vs. controls, but it is difficult to determine the cause-effect direction in these studies.

Heritability and familiality of type 2 diabetes and related quantitative traits in the Botnia Study.

Aims/hypothesis: To study the heritability and familiality of type 2 diabetes and related quantitative traits in families from the Botnia Study in Finland.

Methods: Heritability estimates for type 2 diabetes adjusted for sex, age and BMI are provided for different age groups of type 2 diabetes and for 34 clinical and metabolic traits in 5,810 individuals from 942 families using a variance component model (SOLAR). In addition, family means of these traits and their distribution across families are calculated.

Integration and fusion of standard automated perimetry and optical coherence tomography data for improved automated glaucoma diagnostics.

Background: The performance of glaucoma diagnostic systems could be conceivably improved by the integration of functional and structural test measurements that provide relevant and complementary information for reaching a diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of data fusion methods and techniques for simple combination of Standard Automated Perimetry (SAP) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) data for the diagnosis of glaucoma using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs).

Methods: Humphrey 24-2 SITA standard SAP and StratusOCT tests were prospectively collected from a randomly selected population of 125 healthy persons and 135 patients with glaucomatous optic nerve heads and used as input for the ANNs.

Association of TNFSF15 polymorphism with irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastrointestinal disorder, affecting more than 10% of the general population worldwide. Although a genetic component is suspected, unambiguous susceptibility genes have so far not been identified. This study tested the hypothesis that genes contributing to epithelial barrier integrity, control of mucosal immune responses and interactions with bacteria in the gut are associated with IBS.

Expression of FK506 binding protein 65 (FKBP65) is decreased in epithelial ovarian cancer cells compared to benign tumor cells and to ovarian epithelium.

FK506 binding protein 65 (FKBP65) belongs to a group of proteins termed immunophilins that have a high binding affinity to immunosuppressant drugs as FK506 (tacrolimus) and rapamycin (sirolimus). Treatment of female premenopausal women with tacrolimus, which binds to FKBP65, has been reported to be followed by a strongly increased risk of ovarian cysts. We performed the present study to reveal how FKBP65 is expressed in the ovary and in ovarian tumors and to see if this expression might be related to ovarian tumor development, a relationship we have found in colorectal cancer.

Troponin I and Creatine Kinase MB do not provide comparable information after PCI.

Objectives: To compare cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) after PCI in cases with normal baseline levels of both biomarkers.

Design: cTnI and CK-MB after PCI were stratified as multiples of the 99(th) percent upper reference limit (99%URL) and compared to each other in 489 patients. Post-PCI levels > three times 99%URL were classified as procedure-related infarctions.

Insulin promoter DNA methylation correlates negatively with insulin gene expression and positively with HbA(1c) levels in human pancreatic islets.

Aims/hypothesis: Although recent studies propose that epigenetic factors influence insulin expression, the regulation of the insulin gene in type 2 diabetic islets is still not fully understood. Here, we examined DNA methylation of the insulin gene promoter in pancreatic islets from patients with type 2 diabetes and non-diabetic human donors and related it to insulin expression, HbA(1c) levels, BMI and age.

Methods: DNA methylation was analysed in 25 CpG sites of the insulin promoter and insulin mRNA expression was analysed using quantitative RT-PCR in pancreatic islets from nine donors with type 2 diabetes and 48 non-diabetic donors.

The 18-week fetal examination and detection of anomalies.

From its beginning in the fifties the use of ultrasound in gynaecology and obstetrics has expanded extensively. Ultrasound technology has taken us from a time when the mother was our prime focus to the present where it is the unborn baby. Ultrasound assessments may have significant consequences for pregnancy care by optimizing the time, the mode and the location of the delivery as well as preparing the postnatal staff for a prenatally defined fetal problem.

Machine learning classifiers for glaucoma diagnosis based on classification of retinal nerve fibre layer thickness parameters measured by Stratus OCT.

Purpose: To compare the performance of two machine learning classifiers (MLCs), artificial neural networks (ANNs) and support vector machines (SVMs), with input based on retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLT) measurements by optical coherence tomography (OCT), on the diagnosis of glaucoma, and to assess the effects of different input parameters.

Methods: We analysed Stratus OCT data from 90 healthy persons and 62 glaucoma patients. Performance of MLCs was compared using conventional OCT RNFLT parameters plus novel parameters such as minimum RNFLT values, 10th and 90th percentiles of measured RNFLT, and transformations of A-scan measurements.

Genetic basis of beta-cell dysfunction in man.

Although the genetic causes of monogenic disorders have been successfully identified in the past, the success in dissecting the genetics of complex polygenic diseases has until now been limited. With the introduction of whole genome wide association studies (WGAS) in 2007, the picture has been dramatically changed. Today we know of about 20 genetic variants increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Patients' perception of music versus ordinary sound in a postanaesthesia care unit: a randomised crossover trial.

We performed an experimental single-blind crossover design study in a postanaesthesia care unit (PACU): (i) to test the hypothesis that patients will experience a higher degree of wellbeing if they listen to music compared to ordinary PACU sounds during their early postoperative care, (ii) to determine if there is a difference over time, and (iii) to evaluate the importance of the acoustic environment and whether patients prefer listening to music during their stay. Two groups received a three-phase intervention: one group (n=23) experienced music-ordinary sound-music and the second group (n=21) experienced ordinary sound-music-ordinary sound. Each period lasted 30 min, and after each period the patients assessed their experience of the sound.

MRI findings in spinal MRI of 306 children with scoliosis.

The aim of this study was to analyze the MRI findings and assess the prevalence of different associated structural abnormalities in children with scoliosis and to determine if the age of onset is a possible indicator of intraspinal pathology. This is a retrospective analysis of 663 consecutive MR examinations (319 patients). Thirteen patients with known intraspinal tumors were excluded and a total of 306 patients aged 2-18 years with scoliosis were subjected for analysis.

Common variant in MTNR1B associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes and impaired early insulin secretion.

Genome-wide association studies have shown that variation in MTNR1B (melatonin receptor 1B) is associated with insulin and glucose concentrations. Here we show that the risk genotype of this SNP predicts future type 2 diabetes (T2D) in two large prospective studies. Specifically, the risk genotype was associated with impairment of early insulin response to both oral and intravenous glucose and with faster deterioration of insulin secretion over time.

An association between Type 2 diabetes and alpha-antitrypsin deficiency.

Aims: Alpha(1)-Antitrypsin (AAT) is a serine protease inhibitor which recently has been shown to prevent Type 1 diabetes development, to prolong islet allograft survival and to inhibit pancreatic B-cell apoptosis in vivo. It has also been reported that Type 1 diabetic patients have significantly lower plasma concentrations of AAT, suggesting the potential role of AAT in the pathogenesis of Type 1 diabetes. We have investigated whether plasma AAT levels are altered in Type 2 diabetes.

Genetic dissection of type 2 diabetes.

Compared to the successful probing of genetic causes of monogenic disorders, dissecting the genetics of complex polygenic diseases has until recently been a fairly slow and cumbersome process. With the introduction of whole genome wide association studies (WGAS) the situation dramatically changed in 2007. The results from several recent WGAS on type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity have identified at least eighteen genes consistently associated with T2D.