The wastewater was fed to a lab-scale anaerobic upflow sludge blanket reactor (UASBR) operating at mesophilic conditions. The UASB reactor (11.5 L) was operated for 825 days at different hydraulic retention times ranging from 0.85 to 1.62 days and at organic loading rates ranging from 3.40 to 12.25 kg COD/m(3). day. Anaerobic treatability studies indicated that 300 L CH(4) can be produced per selleck kinase inhibitor kg COD removed. At the 445th day of the

study an extreme irreversible inhibition caused by N,N-dimethylaniline was experienced. This paper demonstrated that opium alkaloid industry wastewater can be efficiently treated by UASB type reactors with more than 80% COD removal efficiency at high organic loading rates.”
“Background: To evaluate the association of apolipoprotein B (apoB), apolipoprotein A (apoA), and apoB/apoA ratio with the body fat indicators in patients with stable angina pectoris (SA). Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty two participants aged 40-60 years old, with a mean age of 52.1 +/- 7.2 years and SA, were recruited for the present study. Body weight, height, and waist circumference (WC) were measured, and waist to height ratio Selleckchem NCT-501 (WHtR) was calculated. After 12 hours of fasting, a blood sample was obtained and serum levels of apoB and apoA were measured and the apoB/apoA ratio was calculated. These patients underwent an abdominal computerized tomography scan (CTS) to

selleck products assess visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT, SAT).

Linear regressions were computed to assess the relation of apoB, apoA, and their ratio with various measurements of adiposity (VAT, SAT, WC, and WHtR), with adjustment for age, sex, and BMI bigger than 25, WC bigger than 80 in women and WC bigger than 90 in men and WHtR bigger than 0.59. Results: From totally 123 patients with SA with a mean age of 52.1 +/- 7.2 years, 44.7% male and 55.3% women were entered. Significant positive associations were found between visceral fat area and the apoB/apoA ratio (P = 0.02, beta = 0.2), and significant negative correlations were observed between visceral fat area and apoA concentrations (P = 0.04, beta = -0.2). Conclusion: As abdominal fat accumulation is associated with other risk factors such as apolipoproteins in ischemic patients, then we most focus on control of these factors.”
“A high-efficiency CMOS power amplifier (PA) based on envelope tracking (ET) has been reported for a wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) and long term evolution (LTE) application. By adopting a high-speed CMOS envelope amplifier with current direction sensing, a 5% improvement in total power-added efficiency (PAE) and a 11 dB decrease in adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) are achieved with a W-CDMA signal. Moreover, the proposed PA achieves a PAE of 25.4% for a 10 MHz LTE signal at an output power (P-out) of 25.6 dBm and a gain of 24 dB.

The number of slices of histology sections ranged from 6 to 75 per node (average = 25.5; SD LY3039478 datasheet = 11.1), which provided a total of 7,943 slices. Lymph nodes were examined in their entire volume at every 50-mu m and 100-mu m intervals for nodes smaller and larger than 5 mm respectively. The total number of thin sections examined in each node and the number of thin sections where metastatic foci were present were counted. The number of thin sections with

metastatic foci and the total number of slices was determined for each node. In addition, the presence or absence of metastatic foci in the “central” slice was determined. Micrometastases were found in 12/311 (3.9%) of all lymph nodes. In the 12 lymph nodes with micrometastases, the rate of metastatic slices over all slices was 39.4% (range = 6.3 to 81.3%; SD = 25.8%) In the central AZD7762 chemical structure slice of each node,

micrometastases were present only in 6 of 12 lymph nodes (50%); accordingly, they were not present in the central slice for half the micrometastatic nodes. These 6 nodes represented 1.9% of the 311 nodes and 11.1% of the 54 metastatic nodes. This study suggests that a significant fraction of micrometastases can be missed by traditional singleslice sectioning; half of the micrometastases would have been overlooked in our data set of 311 nodes.”
“In this paper, two neural image fusion algorithms for color and gray level images are proposed. These algorithms are based on a linearly constrained least square (LCLS) method and a novel projection recurrent artificial neural network. The theoretical aspects of the model are based on KKT conditions and projection theorem, Compared with the existing fusion methods, the proposed algorithms do not require any analogs multiplier and their structures are simple for implementation. Selleck SB203580 Existence of the unique solution, stability and global convergence of the related projection recurrent artificial neural network

model are proved. Seven steps algorithms are described in detail, for implementation. Corresponding block diagram of the entire process verifies the simplicity of these algorithms. The proposed neural network is stable in the sense of Lyapunov and converges to the optimal vector solution in a few iterations. The implementation of these algorithms for both color and gray level images shows that the quality of noisy images can be enhanced efficiently. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: Mosaic PTEN mutations are not well described in Cowden syndrome. We report a 40-year-old woman with a clinical diagnosis of Cowden syndrome including Lhermitte-Duclos disease, who had a mosaic PTEN mutation detected by next-generation deep sequencing. Methods: Complete PTEN gene sequencing by the Sanger method and deletion/duplication analysis performed on DNA extracted from blood leukocytes at a commercial clinical laboratory did not identify a mutation.

2 and DOCK6.2. This indicates that PythDock could be a useful tool to study ligand-receptor interactions and could also be beneficial in structure based drug design.”
“Successful growth and development of the posthatching blastocyst and pregnancy establishment are a result of the interaction between a competent embryo and a receptive

buy TPCA-1 uterine environment. We examined the global transcriptome profiles of the Day 16 bovine conceptus and pregnant endometrium tissues using RNA-Seq to identify genes that contribute to the dialogue during the period of pregnancy recognition. Using stringent filtering criterion, a total of 16 018 and 16 262 transcripts of conceptus and pregnant endometrium origin, respectively, were identified with distinct tissue-specific expression profiles. Of these, 2261 and 2505 transcripts were conceptus and endometrium specific. Using Cytoscape software, a total of 133 conceptus ligands that interact with corresponding receptors on the endometrium and 121 endometrium ligands that interact with corresponding receptors on the conceptus were identified. While 87 ligands were commonly detected, 46 were conceptus specific and 34 endometrium specific. This study is one of

the first to provide a comprehensive list of potentially secreted molecules in the WH-4-023 in vivo conceptus that interact with receptors on the endometrium and vice versa during the critical window of maternal recognition of pregnancy. The identified tissue-specific genes may serve as candidates to study pregnancy recognition and they or downstream products may represent buy PD98059 potential early markers of pregnancy.”
“It is posed that protein intake is tightly regulated by the human body. The role of sensory qualities in the satiating effects of protein, however, requires further clarification. Our objective was to determine the effect of within-meal protein content and taste on subsequent food choice and satiety. We used a cross-over design whereby sixty healthy, unrestrained subjects (twenty-three males and thirty-seven females) with a mean age of 20.8 (SD 2.1) years and a mean BMI of 21.5 (SD 1.6) kg/m(2) were offered one

of four isoenergetic preloads (rice meal) for lunch: two low in protein (about 7% energy derived from protein) and two high in Protein (about 25% energy from protein). Both had a sweet and savoury version. At 30 min after preload consumption, subjects were offered an ad libitum buffet, consisting of food products differing in protein content (low/high) and taste (sweet/savoury). In addition, the computerised Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire (LFPQ) was run to assess several components of food reward, The results showed no effect of protein content: of the preloads on subsequent food choice. There was an effect of taste; after eating the savoury preloads, choice and intake of sweet products were higher than of savoury products. No such preference was seen after the sweet preloads.

“
“Resistance to beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitors in enterobacteria is a growing problem that has not been intensively studied in Argentina. In the present work, 54/843 enterobacteria collected in a teaching hospital of Buenos Aires city were ampicillin-sulbactam-resistant isolates remaining susceptible to second- and third-generation cephalosporins. The enzymatic mechanisms present in the isolates, which were also amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AMC)-resistant (18/54) were herein analyzed. Sequencing revealed two different variants of bla(TEM-1), being bla(TEM-1B)

the most frequently detected allelle (10 Escherichia colt, 3 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 2 Proteus mirabilis and 1 Raoultella terrigena) followed

by bla(TEm-1a) PR-171 solubility dmso (1 K. pneumoniae). Amoxicillin-clavulanate resistance seems to be mainly associated with TEM-1 overproduction (mostly in E. colt) or co-expressed with OXA-2-like and/or SHY beta-lactamases (K. pneumoniae and P mirabilis). A new bla(TEM) variant (TEM-163) was described in an E. coli strain having an AMC MIC value of 16/8 mu g/ml. TEM-163 contains Arg(275)Gln and His(289)Leu amino acid substitutions. On the basis of the high specific activity and low IC50 for clavulanic acid observed, the resistance pattern seems to be due to overproduction of the new variant selleck chemicals of broad spectrum beta-lactamase

rather than to an inhibitor-resistant TEM (IRT)-like behavior. (C) 2014 Asociacion Argentina de Microbiologia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.”
“Spontaneous and/or treatment-evoked re-modeling of the CNS following spinal Cl-amidine cord injury is a prerequisite for functional recovery. While there has been considerable interest in the role of endogenous neurotrophins in spontaneous plasticity of several populations of spinal axons, the same cannot be said for morphological changes to dendrites. Here, we examined the responses of dendrites in the mouse lateral spinal nucleus (LSN, a site of sensory integration in the dorsolateral white matter) to exogenous and endogenous neurotrophins. We performed a septuple dorsal rhizotomy, which permanently eliminates sensory input to the spinal cord, and stimulates sprouting of spinal axons. While dendrites showed no change in density following injury alone, they sprouted vigorously (a two-fold increase in density) upon addition of exogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). On the other hand, endogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) severely restricted dendritic sprouting, as TrkA-Fc treatment also roughly doubled the density of dendritic processes in the LSN. Spontaneous, BDNF- and TrkA-Fc mediated sprouting was unaffected by the absence of p75(NTR).

microti infection by blood smear and real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis.\n\nRESULTS:\n\nNone of the blood smears from animals injected with samples from PRT-treated plasma or PLT units were positive by microscopy, while all the non-PRT-treated plasma and PLT units were demonstrably parasitemic. Parasite load reduction

in hamsters ranged between 4 and 5 log in all PRT-treated units compared to untreated controls.\n\nCONCLUSION:\n\nThe data indicate that the use of RB and UV light efficiently reduces the presence of viable B. microti in apheresis plasma and PLT products, thereby reducing the risk of transfusion-transmitted Babesia potentially associated with these products. Based on this observed “proof of principle,” future studies will determine the efficacy of the Mirasol PRT in whole blood.”
“Mannans are hemicellulosic polysaccharides that are considered to have both structural and storage functions in PD0325901 the plant cell wall. However, it is not Fosbretabulin mouse yet known how mannans function in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seed mucilage. In this study, CELLULOSE SYNTHASE-LIKE A2

(CSLA2; At5g22740) expression was observed in several seed tissues, including the epidermal cells of developing seed coats. Disruption of CSLA2 resulted in thinner adherent mucilage halos, although the total amount of the adherent mucilage did not change compared with the wild type. This suggested that the adherent mucilage in the mutant was more compact compared with that of the wild type. In accordance with the role of CSLA2 in glucomannan synthesis, csla2-1 mucilage contained 30% less mannosyl and glucosyl content than did the wild type. No appreciable changes in the composition, structure, or macromolecular properties were observed for nonmannan polysaccharides in mutant mucilage. Biochemical analysis revealed that cellulose crystallinity was substantially

reduced in csla2-1 mucilage; this was supported by the removal of most mucilage cellulose through treatment of csla2-1 seeds with endo-beta-glucanase. Mutation in CSLA2 also resulted in altered spatial distribution of cellulose and an absence of birefringent cellulose microfibrils within the adherent mucilage. As with the observed changes in crystalline cellulose, the spatial distribution of pectin was PD0332991 clinical trial also modified in csla2-1 mucilage. Taken together, our results demonstrate that glucomannans synthesized by CSLA2 are involved in modulating the structure of adherent mucilage, potentially through altering cellulose organization and crystallization.”
“BiFeO3 (BFO), BiFe1-xTixO3, and BiFe0.9Ti0.05Co0.05O3 thin films were deposited on Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrates by chemical solution deposition. BFO film has distorted rhombohedral R-3c structure and in BiFe1-xTixO3 (104)/(110) reflections broadened suggesting limited grain growth with Ti substitution. The surface roughness (rms) decreased in the case of Ti substituted BFO. Up to 5% Ti in the lattice reduces the leakage current substantially.

In

piglets, a diet rich in Sia increases Small molecule library clinical trial the level of brain Sia and the expression of two learning-related genes and enhances learning and memory. The purpose of this review is to summarize the evidence showing the importance of dietary Sia as an essential nutrient for brain development and cognition.”
“Basal cell carcinomas commonly involve the medial canthal region and reconstruction of medial canthal defects is a challenging problem in reconstructive surgery. A new axial pattern flap raised from radix nasi region has been succesfully used for the medial canthal defects in eight patients in figure-of-eight manner. One of the ellipses of the figure of eight is the defect, the other is the radix nasi flap. The radix nasi flap with a dimension up to 25 mm is transposed

to the defect based either on ipsilateral anastomosis of the dorsal nasal artery with angular artery (AA) or with the connection of its source artery (i.e. ophthalmic artery) if the AA is damaged. All flaps survived and no tumour recurrence was observed. The donor sites were closed primarily and hidden at the radix nasi crease in all cases. The radix nasi flap in figure-of-eight fashion is good alternative for defects of the medial canthal area in terms of attaining a suitable colour and texture and minimal surgical scars. (C) European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery”
“A 37 years old woman admitted to neurosurgery clinic, with progressive nerve root compression symptoms for three months. She had no benefit from some medications and physical therapy courses which were performed due to PRIMA-1MET ic50 diagnosis of protruded lumbar disc selleck chemical herniation. At the initial evaluation, she had

difficulty on standing up and walking. A cyst 2×3 cm in size was removed from L5-S1 level with surgical operation. Brucella was isolated from the pus culture of the cyst content. The patient was completely recovered with postoperative doxycycline and co-trimoxazole therapy. Review of the published reports have suggested that spinal epidural abscess of brucella has predominantly seen in lumbar region and particularly among the patients over 30 years old. Although alone antimicrobial treatment has been increasingly recommended by some authors, surgical operation plus postoperative antibiotic treatment seems to be very effective for short term recovery. Brucella seroagglutination tests may be very helpful in differential diagnosis.”
“Suspension laryngoscopy has been employed for laryngeal diseases such as treatment for a polyp, cystoma, or granuloma. After securing a straight path with a laryngoscope, the surgeon inserts rigid instruments and examines the target lesion by using a microscope. However, many patients suffer from secondary complications due to the use of a rigid laryngoscope. In addition, about 11-12 % of patients cannot be operated on using laryngoscope because of anatomical restrictions.

Those evidences at low temperature clearly suggest that the solid solid phase transition is influenced by the mobility of chain folding, tie chains and cilia in the amorphous between the stacks of lamellar crystals. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Background: A patient controller (PC) is an optional

device for patients with deep brain stimulation (DBS) to have limited control of their LOXO-101 Protein Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor stimulator system. Objectives: We investigated the impact of a PC on DBS safety, most notably the handling/prevention of unexpected DBS failure in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: PD patients with subthalamic DBS were educated in the use of a PC. After a first impulse generator (IPG) replacement, data on the use of the PC were obtained from the patients’

records and by a patient questionnaire. Results: A total of 27 patients with IPG replacements after 4.4 +/- 0.8 years (118.8 patient-years) were included. Thirteen patients transiently used the PC to optimize stimulation amplitudes. Eighteen patients reported events when they used the PC to ensure DBS being on. No accidental switch off by environmental electromagnetism was confirmed. In contrast, 4 patients accidentally turned the IPG off with the PC. Sixteen patients regularly checked the IPG battery but only 1 patient noted a low battery status before quarterly control visits. Of the 27 patients, 26 had anticipated see more and only 1 an unanticipated IPG replacement. Conclusions: A PC is not needed for patient safety. However, in some patients, a PC is helpful to optimize stimulation amplitudes and to increase the patients’ own perception of safety. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Pakistan has introduced GDC-0994 solubility dmso several alien exotic fish species e. g. grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead carp, (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), silver carp, (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), common

carp (Cyprinus carpio), gold fish (Carassius auratus), and three species of tilapia (Oreochromis aureus, Oreochromis mossambicus, Oreochromis niloticus) in warm waters along with two trout species: the rainbow trout (Onchorynchus mykiss) and the brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) in colder regions for specific purposes like sport fishing, yield enhancement and biological control of aquatic weeds and mosquitoes. The exotic species are becoming invasive in the freshwater biomes of the Punjab and other provinces of Pakistan by reason of their potent reproductive potential and feeding competitions with the native freshwater fish fauna. Resultantly the native fish species viz; Channa marulius, Wallago attu, Rita rita, Sperata sarwari, Gibelion catla, Cirrhinus mrigala and Labeo rohita, which are of economic value are under threat.”
“A trypsin-like molting-related serine protease cDNA (CfMRSP) was cloned from the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana.

However, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) measured by spirometry, the standard measurement of airflow limitation, has only a weak relationship with these outcomes in COPD. Recently, in addition to spirometry, impulse oscillometry (IOS) measuring lung resistance (R) and reactance (X) is increasingly being used to assess pulmonary functional impairment.\n\nMethods: We aimed to identify

relationships between IOS measurements and patient-reported outcomes in 65 outpatients with stable COPD. We performed pulmonary function testing, IOS, high-resolution computed tomography (CT), and assessment of health status using the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), dyspnea using the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale and psychological status using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression IPI-145 ic106 Scale (HADS). We then investigated the relationships between these parameters. For the IOS measurements, we used lung resistance at 5 and 20 Hz (R5 and R20, respectively) and reactance at 5 Hz (X5). Because R5 and R20 are regarded as reflecting total and proximal airway resistance, respectively, the fall Quizartinib in resistance from R5 to R20 (R5-R20) was used as a surrogate for the resistance of peripheral airways. X5 was also considered to represent peripheral airway abnormalities.\n\nResults: R5-R20 and X5 were significantly

correlated with the SGRQ and the MRC. These correlation coefficients were greater than when using other objective measurements of pulmonary function, R20 on the IOS and CT instead of R5-R20 and X5. Multiple regression analyses showed that R5-R20 or X5 most significantly accounted for the SGRQ and MRC scores.\n\nConclusions: IOS measurements, especially indices of peripheral airway function, are significantly correlated with health status and dyspnea in patients with COPD. Therefore, in addition to its simplicity and non-invasiveness, IOS may be a useful clinical tool not only for detecting pulmonary functional impairment, but also to some extent at least estimating the patient’s quality

of daily life and well-being.”
“Objective: To determine the effect of a commercially available disinfectant solution (Perform ID) on the dimensional stability of two different commercially available alginate impression materials.\n\nMethods: Linear changes in standardized impression samples (1.5 mm & 3.0 mm thickness) made in selleck inhibitor two commercial alginates were recorded at 5 minute intervals, over a period of an hour after immersion in a disinfectant. The alginate impression samples were prepared placing the alginate mixes into a wax mould. After the material had set, each of the samples was removed from the mould. It was then placed in a Polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE) trough before measuring the dimensional changes using a Chesterman travelling microscope.\n\nResults: 3mm Blue Print Cremix showed greater shrinkage than 3mm Hydrogum. While, 1.5mm Hydrogum appeared to have uniformly greater shrinkage as compared to 1.5mm Blue Print Cremix.

\n\nWhen human HDL was incubated in the presence of HOCl/OCl-, a concentration QNZ ic50 dependent loss of activity was apparent.\n\nOf interest, 5 caffeoylquinic acid at 5 mu mol/L affords more than 60% protection of the activity reaching 100% at 25 mu mol/L.\n\nThis compound and the plant sources that are rich in them may be protectors of paraoxonase 1 activity. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“In the Netherlands, two

performance indicators for the treatment of hip fracture patients have been recently implemented. Both indicators state that surgery within 24 h after admission improves the outcome with regard to 1-year mortality and the amount of re-operations within 1 year. To determine the value of these performance indicators, we conducted a retrospective

analysis of 941 hip fracture patients.\n\nIn the period from January 2003 to December 2006, a total of 941 consecutive hip fracture patients were included in this study. We determined the amount of re-operations and the mortality at 1 year after surgery. From June 2005 to December 2006, we could determine whether patients were operated on within 24 h after admission. In this group of 379 patients, we determined if there were differences in the 1-year mortality and the number of re-operations at 1 year with regard to the time window in which these patients were operated on (< 24 h or > 24 h).\n\nOur overall mortality rate at 1 year ABT-263 inhibitor is 21% (202 patients) and the amount of re-operations within 1 year is 8% (77 procedures). In our subgroup analysis, we found no significant difference in mortality or re-operations if patients were operated on within 24 h or not (number needed to treat of 59 and -31, respectively).\n\nWe conclude that hip fracture surgery within 24 h does not provide significantly better results in terms of 1-year mortality and the amount of re-operations within 1 year.”
“Objective. Luminespib in vitro Infants with single ventricle physiology

have a high mortality and poor somatic growth during the interstage period. We retrospectively assessed the impact of pharmacotherapy in this population using a multicenter database. Design and Results. Records for 395 patients (63.5% boys) with single ventricle were obtained from the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative registry. Median of five medications were prescribed per patient at discharge after stage 1 palliation (interquartile range 3 to 6); the most common medications being aspirin (95.7%), diuretics (90.4%), angiotensin convertase enzyme inhibitors (37.7%), proton pump inhibitors (33.4%), H2 receptor blockers (30.6%), and digoxin (27.6%). Interstage mortality was 9.4%. Digoxin use was associated with lower risk of death (P =.03) on univariable analysis, however no single medication was an independent predictor on regression analysis.

6-30) higher for ACs (5.40 vs 0.38/1000 PD, P < 0.0001) or 8.8 fold (CI 7.1-11) higher for ADs (48.3 vs 5.5/1000

PD, P < 0.0001).\n\nConclusion: CLABSI rates, present a lower limit of NICU-acquired infections, whereas antibiotic-use measures, about 10-fold higher, may estimate an upper limit of that burden. Antibiotic-use metrics should be evaluated see more further for their ability to broaden NICU infection assessment and to guide prevention and antibiotic stewardship efforts. Journal of Perinatology (2011) 31, 514-518; doi:10.1038/jp.2011.39; published online 5 May 2011″
“The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Listeria spp. in fish obtained from Urmia fish markets. A number of 194 fish comprising Oncorhynchus mykiss (n=42), Sander lucioperca (n=38), Cyprinus carpio (n=30), Hypophthalmiachthys molitrix (n=48), Abramis brama (n=12), Astacus leptodactylus (n= 12) and Silurus glanis (n=12) were obtained from different fish markets of Urmia from June 2009 to February 2010. Listeria isolation was performed in two stages including enrichment in cold and selective plating. After colony LY3023414 purchase formation, in order to confirming the genus

of the Listeria, a fragment of Prs gene using Listeria genus specific primers was amplified from isolated bacteria using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results revealed that Listeria was isolated from 24 fish (12.37%). The highest prevalence of Listeria was observed in both A. brama and A. leptodactylus with 25%, while the lowest prevalence of Listeria was seen in S. lucioperca (9.7%). From the Amino acid transport inhibitor total of 24 Listeria isolates, five isolates (21%) were confirmed to be L. monocytogenes; seven isolates were L. ivonoi (29%) while L. Seeligeri was not isolated from any examined fish. The study showed that L. monocytogenes and other Listeria species are common contaminant of fish obtained from Urmia

fish markets, and this may pose serious public health implications.”
“Background: In Scandinavia, scattered populations and challenging geographical and climatic conditions necessitate highly advanced medical treatment by qualified pre-hospital services. Just like every other part of the health care system, the specialized pre-hospital EMS should aim to optimize its resource use, and critically review as well as continuously assess the quality of its practices. This study aims to provide a comprehensive profile of the pre-hospital, physician-manned EMS in the Scandinavian countries.\n\nMethods: The study was designed as a web-based cross-sectional survey. All specialized pre-hospital, physician-manned services in Scandinavia were invited, and data concerning organization, qualification and medical activity in 2007 were mapped.\n\nResults: Of the 41 invited services, 37 responded, which corresponds to a response rate of 90% (Finland 86%, Sweden 83%, Denmark 92%, Norway 94%). Organization and education are basically identical.