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Background: Fetal cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging may provide a valuable adjunct to fetal echocardiography in the evaluation of congenital cardiovascular pathologies. However, dynamic fetal CMR is difficult due to the lack of direct in-utero cardiac gating. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a newly developed Doppler ultrasound (DUS) device in humans for
This thesis is concerned with refugee status determination (RSD) in the context of ‘natural’ disasters and climate change. Considering evidence that the legal predicament of people who seek recognition of refugee status in this connection has been inconsistently addressed by judicial bodies in leading refugee law jurisdictions, and identifying theoretical as well as doctrinal impediments to a cleaThis thesis is concerned with refugee status determination (RSD) in the context of ‘natural’ disasters and climate change. Considering evidence that the legal predicament of people who seek recognition of refugee status in this connection has been inconsistently addressed by judicial bodies in leading refugee law jurisdictions, and identifying theoretical as well as doctrinal impediments to a clea
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether probiotic prophylaxes reduce the odds of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in adults and children. DESIGN: Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), adjusting for risk factors. METHODS: We searched 6 databases and 11 grey literature sources from inception to April 2016. We identified 32 RCTs (n=8,713); among them, 18
The aim of this project is to explore and understand the combustion phenomenon in engines operating on gaseous fuels, and develop technologies as an alternative to the present diesel engine technologies for heavy duty applications; which are facing severe challenges like stringent emissions norms, high technology costs and unsustainable fuel supply. The studies presented in this thesis focus on th
Background: There are several risk factors for the colonisation, infection and spreading of antibiotic resistant bacteria among elderly residents of nursing homes. An updated estimate of the native prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in uropathogens among Swedish nursing home residents is needed. Methods: Urine specimens were collected for culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing agains
Background: Ingestion of a meal increases the blood flow to the gastrointestinal organs and affects the heart rate (HR), blood pressure and cardiac output (CO), although the mechanisms are not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of endogenously released glucose, insulin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), ghrelin on CO, HR, stroke volume (SV), and blood pressure. Methods: Eleven
OBJECTIVE: This study assessed prognostic factors regarding long-term outcome for amputation and death among patients who underwent intra-arterial thrombolysis due to lower limb ischemia. METHODS: Consecutive patients with intra-arterial thrombolysis due to lower limb ischemia treated at the Department of Vascular Diseases, University Hospital of Malmö, between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 20
Objective: To explore whether clinical balance and gait tests can predict instability (falls and/or near falls) in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD).Background: Current PD-studies suggest that multiple balance tests should be used in order to predict falls. However, few studies have included near falls when investigating falls prospectively as recommended.Methods: The study included 74 people w
Background: The aim in the thesis is to study diagnostic issues, clinical features, therapy, and prognosis in selected demyelinative disorders of the nervous system: optic neuritis (ON), primary progressive MS (PPMS), and tumefactive MS (a very rare acute demyelinating disorder). Methods: From an initial cohort of 110 patients with ON collected 19 to 31 years ago, a new follow-up survey was con
BACKGROUND: Primary cervical screening with both human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing and cytological examination of cervical cells with a Pap test (cytology) has been evaluated in randomized clinical trials. Because the vast majority of women with positive cytology are also HPV DNA positive, screening strategies that use HPV DNA testing as the primary screening test may be more effective. METHO
In experimentally induced myocardial ischemia, mild hypothermia (33-35 degrees C) has a robust cardioprotective effect. Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is a profibrinolytic enzyme that is released from the vascular endothelial cells in response to ischemia and other injurious stimuli. t-PA has also been found to have proinflammatory properties that could contribute to reperfusion injury. We po
Background: While simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF) is considered to be a promising process for bioconversion of lignocellulosic materials to ethanol, there are still relatively little demo-plant data and operating experiences reported in the literature. In the current work, we designed a SSCF process and scaled up from lab to demo scale reaching 4% (w/v) ethanol using xylos
OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of lipid lowering drug, simvastatin, on apolipoprotein M expression in the hyperlipidemic mice and in hepatic cell line, HepG2 cells. METHODS: Swiss male mice were randomly divided into the high fat group and control group, and were intragastrically fed with 0.9% saline (control group) or lipid emulsion (high fat group) at the daily dosage of 15 ml/kg body weight
Fedorowski A, Hedblad B, Engstrom G, Gustav Smith J, Melander O (Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmo; and Skane University Hospital, Malmo, Sweden). Orthostatic hypotension and long-term incidence of atrial fibrillation: the Malmo Preventive Project. J Intern Med 2010; 268: 383-389. Objectives. Orthostatic hypotension (OH), a common manifestation of autonomic dysfunction, has b
The 20q13 region is frequently amplified/overexpressed in breast tumours. However, the nature of this amplification/overexpression is unknown. Here, we investigated genetic variation in five 20q13 amplicon genes (MYBL2, AURKA, ZNF217, STK4 and PTPN1) and its impact on breast cancer (BC) susceptibility and clinical outcome. As a novel finding, four polymorphisms in STK4 (rs6017452, rs7271519) and A
Immunoglobulins (Ig), particularly IgE, are believed to be crucially involved in the pathogenesis of asthma and, equally, in allergic models of the disease. To validate this paradigm we examined homozygous mutant C57BL/6 mice, which are B cell deficient, lacking all Ig. Mice were immunized intraperitoneally with 10 micrograms ovalbumin (OVA) plus alum, followed by daily (day 14-20) 30 min exposure
CYP17 encodes cytochrome p450c17 alpha, which mediates activities essential for the production of sex steroids. Common germ line variation in the CYP17 gene has been related to inconsistent results in breast and prostate cancer, with most studies focusing on the nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) T27C (rs743572). We comprehensively characterized variation in CYP17 by direct sequenc
CONTEXT: Tuberculosis (TB) is an increasing global problem, despite effective drug therapies. Access to TB therapy during conflict situations has not been studied. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of irregular TB treatment due to an armed conflict in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Ongoing retrospective cohort study conducted in the capital city of Bissau among 101 pat
The extent to which low-frequency (minor allele frequency (MAF) between 1-5%) and rare (MAF ≤ 1%) variants contribute to complex traits and disease in the general population is mainly unknown. Bone mineral density (BMD) is highly heritable, a major predictor of osteoporotic fractures, and has been previously associated with common genetic variants, as well as rare, population-specific, coding vari
IMPORTANCE Bipolar disorder is associated with premature mortality, but the specific causes and underlying pathways are unclear. OBJECTIVE To examine the physical health effects of bipolar disorder using outpatient and inpatient data for a national population. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS National cohort study of 6 587 036 Swedish adults, including 6618 with bipolar disorder. MAIN OUTCOMES AN
