Income and education affect prognosis and treatment in symptomatic myeloma : A population-based study on 8672 multiple myeloma patients diagnosed 2008-2021 from the Swedish myeloma registry.

Despite advancements in multiple myeloma treatment, prognostic variability persists. We investigated the impact of income and education on treatment and survival in a country with publicly funded healthcare. We analysed data from the Swedish Myeloma Registry (2008-2021) linked to national registers.

Novel euthanasia technique for zebrafish using electric shock in standard group housing aquaria.

Zebrafish are widely used in research, accounting for approximately 50% of all laboratory fish across Europe. Due to their rapid reproduction and aging, effective and practical euthanasia methods are necessary for managing large stocks. This study investigated whether adult zebrafish can be euthanised by delivering an electrical current directly via the water in their housing aquaria.

Targeting murine metastatic cancers with cholera toxin A1-adjuvanted peptide vaccines.

The dissemination of tumor cells with ensuing metastasis is responsible for most cancer-related deaths. Cancer vaccines may, by inducing tumor-specific effector T cells, offer a strategy to eliminate metastasizing tumor cells. However, several obstacles remain in the development of effective cancer vaccines, including the identification of adjuvants that enhance the evolvement and efficacy of tumor-specific T cells.

Prediction of implant failure risk due to periprosthetic femoral fracture after primary elective total hip arthroplasty : a simplified and validated model based on 154,519 total hip arthroplasties from the Swedish Arthroplasty Register.

Aims: While cementless fixation offers potential advantages over cemented fixation, such as a shorter operating time, concerns linger over its higher cost and increased risk of periprosthetic fractures. If the risk of fracture can be forecasted, it would aid the shared decision-making process related to cementless stems. Our study aimed to develop and validate predictive models of periprosthetic femoral fracture (PPFF) necessitating revision and reoperation after elective total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Optimized hydrothermal carbonization of chicken manure and anaerobic digestion of its process water for better energy management.

Modern poultry production is faced with the challenge of properly managing its associated wastes, in particular chicken manure (CM). There is a need to improve the management of CM through conversion processes that allow the production of value-added products, particularly for energy purposes, such as hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and anaerobic digestion (AD). The objectives of this study were: i) to optimize the CM-HTC, using response surface methodology with simultaneous optimization of mass yield and higher heating value (HHV), and ii) to evaluate the biomethane potential of the process water generated from hydrochar production under the optimized condition.

Technologies for Interoperable Internet of Medical Things Platforms to Manage Medical Emergencies in Home and Prehospital Care: Scoping Review.

Background: The aging global population and the rising prevalence of chronic disease and multimorbidity have strained health care systems, driving the need for expanded health care resources. Transitioning to home-based care (HBC) may offer a sustainable solution, supported by technological innovations such as Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) platforms. However, the full potential of IoMT platforms to streamline health care delivery is often limited by interoperability challenges that hinder communication and pose risks to patient safety.

Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Allene-Allene Cross-Coupling.

Direct cross-coupling reactions between two similar unactivated partners are challenging but constitute a powerful strategy for the creation of new carbon-carbon bonds in organic synthesis. [4]Dendralenes are a class of acyclic branched conjugated oligoenes with great synthetic potential for the rapid generation of structural complexity, yet the chemistry of [4]dendralenes remains an unexplored field due to their limited accessibility. Herein, we report a highly selective palladium-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of two allenes with the presence of a directing olefin in one of the allenes, enabling the facile synthesis of a broad range of functionalized [4]dendralenes in a convergent modular manner.

Microfluidic vessel-on-chip platform for investigation of cellular defects in venous malformations and responses to various shear stress and flow conditions.

A novel microfluidic platform was designed to study the cellular architecture of endothelial cells (ECs) in an environment replicating the 3D organization and flow of blood vessels. In particular, the platform was constructed to investigate EC defects in slow-flow venous malformations (VMs) under varying shear stress and flow conditions. The platform featured a standard microtiter plate footprint containing 32 microfluidic units capable of replicating wall shear stress (WSS) in normal veins and enabling precise control of shear stress and flow directionality without the need for complex pumping systems.

Elevated Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Prognosis in Acute Myocarditis.

Background: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an easy-to-use inflammatory biomarker. Baseline NLR is independently associated with incident cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. However, whether this applies to acute myocarditis (AM) has not been evaluated.

Tumour-Associated Macrophages in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objective: Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) are crucial in the progression and treatment response of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). TAMs infiltrate OSCC, adopting an M2-like phenotype that promotes tumour growth, metastasis and immune suppression. The current narrative review explored the roles of TAMs in OSCC, focusing on their impact on the tumour microenvironment, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, immunosuppression and potential therapeutic targeting.

How Do Personality Dysfunction and Maladaptive Personality Traits Predict Time to Premature Discontinuation of Pharmacological Treatment of ADHD?

Objectives: Non-adherence to medication is common in the adult ADHD clinical group. The goal of this pre-registered study was to examine whether the DSM-5 Alternative Model of Personality Disorder (AMPD), generality personality dysfunction (LPFS-BF 2.0) or maladaptive personality traits (PID-5), can predict time to premature discontinuation of pharmacological treatment beyond other known factors.

Identify biological Alzheimer's disease using a novel nucleic acid-linked protein immunoassay.

Blood-based biomarkers have been revolutionizing the detection, diagnosis and screening of Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, phosphorylated-tau variants (p-tau, p-tau and p-tau) are promising biomarkers for identifying Alzheimer's disease pathology. Antibody-based assays such as single molecule arrays immunoassays are powerful tools to investigate pathological changes indicated by blood-based biomarkers and have been studied extensively in the Alzheimer's disease research field.

Amyloid-β and tau deposition in traumatic brain injury: a study of Vietnam War veterans.

Traumatic brain injury is widely viewed as a risk factor for dementia, but the biological mechanisms underlying this association are still unclear. In previous studies, traumatic brain injury has been associated with the hallmark pathologies of Alzheimer's disease, i.e.

It's Like Doing Simultaneous Mind Puzzles: Exploring How Care is Understood and Experienced by Nursing Assistants Working in Sweden with Older Persons.

Background: The care of older persons is facing several challenges, especially as care tasks are becoming increasingly rationalized with less opportunity for relational engagement between nurse assistants and older persons. Evidence suggests this engagement is needed to promote well-being and satisfaction among the older persons with whom they work. The aim of this study was to explore how care, in the context of worker perspectives, is understood and experienced in home or residential care facilities.

No difference in ACL revision rates between hamstring and patellar tendon autograft in patients with ACL-R and a concurrent meniscal injury irrespective of meniscal treatment.

Purpose: The aims of this study were to compare (1) the rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) revision and (2) subjective knee function using the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) between isolated ACL reconstruction (ACL-R) and ACL-R and concurrent meniscal injury, based on graft selection and meniscal treatment.

Methods: Data from the Swedish National Knee Ligament Registry were extracted in November 2022 for patients who underwent primary ACL-R. Patients were divided into two main groups based on graft choice: hamstring tendon (HT) or patellar tendon (PT) autograft, with four meniscal sub-groups: no injury, resection, repair or left in situ.

DECORIN, a triceps-derived myokine, protects sorted β-cells and human islets against chronic inflammation associated with type 2 diabetes.

Aim: Pancreatic β-cells are susceptible to inflammation, leading to decreased insulin production/secretion and cell death. Previously, we have identified a novel triceps-derived myokine, DECORIN, which plays a pivotal role in skeletal muscle-to-pancreas interorgan communication. However, whether DECORIN can directly impact β-cell function and susceptibility to inflammation remains unexplored.

Deoxygenative photochemical alkylation of secondary amides enables a streamlined synthesis of substituted amines.

Secondary amines are vital functional groups in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and natural products, necessitating efficient synthetic methods. Traditional approaches, including N-monoalkylation and reductive amination, suffer from limitations such as poor chemoselectivity and complexity. Herein, we present a streamlined deoxygenative photochemical alkylation of secondary amides, enabling the efficient synthesis of α-branched secondary amines.

Genomics yields biological and phenotypic insights into bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease. Despite high heritability (60-80%), the majority of the underlying genetic determinants remain unknown. We analysed data from participants of European, East Asian, African American and Latino ancestries (n = 158,036 cases with bipolar disorder, 2.

Emotion regulation-based internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for premenstrual dysphoric disorder: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial in Sweden.

Introduction: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a cyclic mood disorder affecting around 2%-5% of women of reproductive age. Pharmacological interventions exist, but many patients with PMDD experience residual symptoms, discontinue medications or refrain from them due to side effects. Thus, non-pharmacological treatments are needed as an alternative or additive treatment strategy.

High-consistency modification of cellulose fibers: Resource-efficient introduction of cationic charges, and their effect on fiber and nanofibril properties.

Quaternized cellulose fibers and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are attractive candidates for the development of new renewable and biodegradable materials. However, the etherification reaction, through which functionalization is commonly achieved, provides low efficiencies, limiting industrial interest in the modification. This work primarily aims to increase the efficiency for the quaternization of cellulosic fibers while keeping the fiber-structure intact.

High voltage selective fragmentation on Swedish mineral fraction of incineration bottom ash (MIBA) - An exploratory study on metal and material recovery.

Waste-to-Energy (WtE) generates circa 1 Mt/y of Mineral fraction of Incineration Bottom Ash (MIBA) in Sweden, often used as construction material for landfills. Upcoming European Commission directives will limit landfilling and the demand for MIBA for landfill construction is predicted to decrease. Therefore, alternative utilisations of MIBA are required.

Amyloid-associated hyperconnectivity drives tau spread across connected brain regions in Alzheimer's disease.

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyloid-β (Aβ) triggers the aggregation and spreading of tau pathology, which drives neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. However, the pathophysiological link between Aβ and tau remains unclear, which hinders therapeutic efforts to attenuate Aβ-related tau accumulation. Aβ has been found to trigger neuronal hyperactivity and hyperconnectivity, and preclinical research has shown that tau spreads across connected neurons in an activity-dependent manner.

High prevalence of undocumented SARS-CoV-2 infections revealed by analysis of nucleocapsid-specific IgG responses in diagnosed and undiagnosed individuals.

Acute SARS-CoV-2 infections are not always diagnosed; hence an unknown proportion of all infections are not documented. SARS-CoV-2 can induce spike and nucleocapsid protein specific IgG antibodies, which can be detected in seroprevalence studies to identify a previous infection. However, with the introduction of vaccines containing the spike protein it is no longer possible to use spike-IgG as a marker of infection.