Abstract A new mechanism for formation of 7-ketocholesterol was recently described involving cytochrome P-450 (CYP)7A1-catalyzed conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol into 7-ketocholesterol with cholesterol-7,8-epoxide as a side product. Some patients with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) and all patients with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLO) have markedly increased levels of 7-dehydrocholesterol ...

Background: The palliative role of chemoradiation in the treatment of patients with locally advanced, inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer stage III and negative prognostic factors remains unresolved.<p> <p>Methods: Patients not eligible for curative radiotherapy were randomised to receive either chemoradiation or chemotherapy alone. Four courses of intravenous carboplatin on day 1 and oral ...

Purpose: 3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency (MCCD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of leucine catabolism that has a highly variable clinical phenotype, ranging from acute metabolic acidosis to nonspecific symptoms such as developmental delay, failure to thrive, hemiparesis, muscular hypotonia, and multiple sclerosis. Implementation of newborn screening for MCCD has resulted in broadening ...

Negative pressure wound therapy is a commonly used treatment modality for surgi-cal wounds healing by secondary intention. In an open, split side study with12 patients, we compared low negative pressure wound therapy to conventionalfoam dressing the first postoperative week after carbon dioxide laser vaporization ofhidradenitis suppurativa lesions. The primary outcome was time to complete woundhealing, ...

Aims The aim of this study was to establish age-specific and sex-specific cut-off values for N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-troponin T) in healthy subjects and assess cardiac biomarkers as screening tools for subclinical heart failure (HF) in a general population.<p> <p>Methods and results Altogether, 1936 participants were randomly selected ...

In the Norwegian authorities' "Coordination Reform" , insufficient coordination is considered the main reason that people with chronic diseases lose out in health care. Thus, the purpose of the web-based ulcer record at the University Hospital of North Norway is to optimise treatment and care for ulcer patients by facilitating interaction. This paper reports from a formative study of experiences, ...

Objectives. The Sami people constitute an ethnic minority in northern Norway. The objectives of this study were to compare municipalities with a majority of Sami in the population and a control group with regard to socioeconomic factors and health outcome.<p> <p>Methods. Original data from Statistics Norway and Directorate of health on socioeconomic factors (education, unemployment, disability, ...

Objectives. Female citizens of Sami (the indigenous people of Norway) municipalities in northern Norway have a low risk of breast cancer. The objective of this study was to describe the attendance rate and outcome of the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) in the Sami-speaking municipalities and a control group.<p> <p>Study design. A retrospective registry-based study.<p> <p>Methods. ...

Introduction: Low copy number (CN) of the Fc gamma receptor 3B (FCGR3B) gene has been associated with systemic autoimmune disease. This receptor for IgG is present almost exclusively on neutrophils and plays a role in their interaction with immune complexes. At present the relationship between FCGR3B and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether ...

Background: Wound healing problems at the donor site in free abdominal flap breast reconstruction cause significant morbidity to patients. No studies have investigated what impact the use of the internal mammary artery in free abdominal flap breast reconstruction has on abdominal skin perfusion. We hypothesized that harvesting the internal mammary vessels (IMV) has a negative effect on abdominal ...