We develop fixed-point algorithms for the approximation of structured matrices with rank penalties. In particular we use these fixed-point algorithms for making approximations by sums of exponentials, i.e., frequency estimation. For the basic formulation of the fixed-point algorithm we show that it converges to the solution of a related minimization problem, namely the one obtained by replacing th

In a prospective study, resection of the thyroid gland by means of a linear stapling device was compared with the conventional resection technique in 12 consecutive patients with thyreotoxicosis. The median time for resection of the stapled lobe was shorter than for the conventionally resected right lobe, although the difference was not statistically significant. The median preoperative bleeding d

Since osteocalcin has been suggested to play a role in calcium homeostasis, we investigated its serum levels in 6 healthy subjects during a rapid calcium infusion. Serum levels of intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-(OH) D3] and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2 D3] were also determined. The calcium infusion increased plasma-ionized calcium levels from 1.25 +/- 0.04 to 1.54

Plasma levels of parathyroid hormone were determined pre-operatively in 27 consecutive patients with clinical and biochemical signs of primary hyperparathyroidism, by the use of one assay recognizing the intact PTH molecule and one assay recognizing the mid-portion of PTH. Plasma levels of mid-molecule PTH were normal in 5 of the patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. In 4 of these patients, p

For preoperative localization of enlarged parathyroid glands, several imaging techniques have been used. In this study we demonstrate the feasibility of using ultrasonography with fine needle aspiration for parathyroid hormone assay as a preoperative localization procedure in 21 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. A single adenoma was found in 18 patients while 3 patients had multiglandular

We examined the use of an intact parathyroid hormone two-site immunoradiometric assay compared with a mid region parathyroid hormone radioimmunoassay in ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid-infusion test in 15 patients with hyperparathyroidism. During the test, plasma intact parathyroid hormone levels increased by 240 +/- 43%, whereas the plasma levels of mid molecule parathyroid hormone increased by

Plasma levels of intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) were measured intraoperatively before and after removal of one enlarged gland in 20 hyperparathyroid patients. In 13 patients with a single parathyroid adenoma, plasma levels of intact PTH-(1-84) had declined at 15 min after removal of the adenoma by 86.5 +/- 4.4% of baseline in the antecubital vein and by 85.6 +/- 4.2% in the ipsilateral internal

We evaluated robotically assisted laparoscopic adrenalectomy (RLA) in a prospective study of 100 consecutive patients (60 women and 40 men) undergoing unilateral adrenalectomy at the University Hospital. The median age was 59 (24-82) years and BMI 27.6 (17.1-40.9) kg/m(2). Preoperative diagnoses were Conn's syndrome 30%, pheochromocytoma 23%, Cushing syndrome 27% and non-functional tumor 20%. The

Inom beredskapen mot radiologiska och nukleära olyckor och katastrofer spelar strålningsmätningar en avgörande roll för att ta reda på vad som har hänt och hur farligt det är för människa, djur och natur och på vilket sätt det påverkar miljö och samhällsfunktioner. I Sverige och många andra länder i världen har allmänheten en rättighet att få reda på vad som hänt och vad de utsätts för i ett eventThis thesis describes investigations made on mobile and stationary gammaspectrometry made both under laboratory conditions and in situ. The objective hasbeen to identify and quantify radionuclides in the form of point sources,contamination and widespread deposition in situations where the measurementgeometry is not known beforehand. Both scintillators and semiconductor detectors ofsimilar size wer

The use of antibodies as capture molecules in assays is a common practice. By either printing monoclonal single chain fragment variables (scFvs) on a solid support – recombinant antibody microarray – or attaching them to magnetic beads – Global Proteome Survey (GPS) – we can specifically capture and measure target proteins of interest. Using the recombinant antibody microarray, we targetpredominanThe use of antibodies as capture molecules in assays is a common practice. By either printing monoclonal single chain fragment variables (scFvs) on a solid support – recombinant antibody microarray – or attaching them to magnetic beads – Global Proteome Survey (GPS) – we can specifically capture and measure target proteins of interest. Using the recombinant antibody microarray, we target predomina

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP) has been introduced for the treatment of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). Thus far, only one randomized trial has compared video-assisted MIP with conventional bilateral cervical exploration (BCE). The value of open MIP is therefore not known.METHODS: Fifty patients with a solitary parathyroid adenoma localized before surgery

Germline mutations of the MEN1 gene have been identified as the causative genetic defect of multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN-I), an autosomal dominantly inherited condition. To establish the basis for predictive family screening we evaluated the spectrum of MEN1 gene mutations in MEN-I patients treated at our institution. Relatives at risk were subjected to predictive genetic screening aft

Pancreastatin, a C-terminally amidated peptide derived from chromogranin A, is known to inhibit insulin secretion, pancreatic enzyme release, and gastric acid secretion. It also inhibits parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion in animals. The physiologic and clinical relevance of pancreastatin in humans, however, is not known. Because pancreastatin has been found in parathyroid adenomas, we investigat