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The last proportion of heredity in breast cancer has proven to be somewhat elusive despite massive attempts to identify the associated factors. Approximately 50 percent of breast cancer caused by familial factors is currently explained. The five-year survival for breast cancer patients is excellent; however, breast cancer is considered a chronic disease, and given enough time, new tumors can devel
The purpose of this thesis was to increase the understanding of altered movement patterns in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in order to improve ACL rehabilitation, and to develop an observational instrument termed Test for Substitution Patterns (TSP) for standardized, quantifiable scoring of altered movement patterns in legs and trunk. In all, 142 participants, 93 with A
Multi-dimensional, laser-based measurements of quantities important for obtaining a better understanding of combustion processes, particularly of temperature and of species distributions, were performed using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). The main purpose of the temperature experiments was to investigate the potential of employing a two-line atomic fluorescence technique (TLAF), using indium a
Two key events in the oncogenic process of tumor cells are to acquire uncontrolled proliferation and invasive properties. This allows the tumor to grow and invade beyond the tissue from which the tumor cells originate. We here specifically studied p16 and ERK1/2 with special focus on and the relation to proliferation and invasion in non-melanoma skin cancer and in breast cancer. In a model system
This thesis includes two different parts: One focusing on how to induce human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to differentiate into insulin producing cells by following the normal pancreatic development pathway. These cells have then the potential to be an unlimited source for diabetes regenerative medicine. The second part of the thesis deals with how embryonic stem cells rid themselves of damaged p
Eosinophils, containing tissue toxic granule proteins, are regarded a culprit cell in asthma pathogenesis. Using animal and human experimental models of asthma effects on eosinophilic airway inflammation were investigated in vivo. The current research paradigm regarding spontaneous and steroid-induced clearance of airway tissue eosinophils exclusively involves death through apoptosis followed by p
In acute pancreatitis (AP), lung injury is an early occuring and important part of the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The mechanisms underlying the development of lung injury though still largely remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to study mechanisms of the systemic and secondary pulmonary inflammation and injury, with an emphasis on the involvement of immune cells, inflammato
Amyloidosis is a group of diseases characterized by a change in protein conformation resulting in aggregation and tissue deposition of amyloid fibrils. One variant of cystatin C, L68Q cystatin C, is highly amyloidogenic and persons carrying the corresponding gene suffer from massive cerebral amyloidosis leading to brain hemorrhage and death. Amyloidogenic proteins like cystatin C and prion protein
The aim of this thesis was to evaluate cervical physiological changes by three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound during pregnancy and to investigate the ability of 3D power Doppler to predict time to spontaneous and induced delivery in prolonged pregnancy. The thesis is based on five studies: reproducibility of cervical measurements by 3D power Doppler ultrasound (study I), reference data representativ
The incidence of overweight and obesity has reached alarming proportions. Today, overweight, obesity and the metabolic diseases cause more death than starvation. To counteract an increasing body weight gain, regulation of appetite and a controlled food intake is of greatest importance. Simply put, body weight is regulated by the amount of energy ingested, and the amount of energy expended. In toda
The thesis work, aimed at the development of laser-spectroscopic detection schemes, consists of three parts, concerned with the development and application of different techniques. The development of UV filtered Rayleigh scattering (FRS) for thermometry and fuel/air ratio measurements, using a frequency tripled, single-longitudinal-mode alexandrite laser at ~254 nm together with an isotopically en
Abstract The scaphoid is the most commonly fractured carpal bone. The diagnosis is difficult and untreated the long-term results are poor. Approximately 10% do not unite even if they are treated properly. The aim of this thesis was to study scaphoid fracture epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. During a four-year period (2004-03-01 to 2008-02-28) all patients attending the Emergency Department a
L-DOPA pharmacotherapy in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with adverse effects occurring after a few years of treatment. Among these, dyskinesia (abnormal involuntary movements) is particularly common and potentially disabling. The causes behind dyskinesia are not completely understood, but intense research has identified a number of neuronal alterations associated with L-DOPA-induced dyski
Sum rules and physical limitations within electromagnetic theory and antenna theory have received significant attention in the last few years. However, the derivations are often relying on application specific and sometimes unsupported assumptions, and therefore a mathematically rigorous and generally applicable approach seems timely. Such an approach is presented in this thesis, along with exampl
Cardiovascular diseases are characterized by changes in morphology and function of the blood vessels. Different signalling molecules are involved in these changes. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is one of the most potent signalling molecules found in man. Its actions are mediated by two receptors, the ETA and the ETB receptors. The ETA receptor is located on the smooth muscle cells and mediates potent contra
The aims of these studies were to evaluate retinoid measurements, more specifically the performance of all-trans and 13-cis retinoic acids methods in clinical experimental settings and to evaluate the informational value of these measurements in relation to S-Retinol. Biological and analytical variations for retinoids were evaluated for healthy subjects. The performance of the retinoic acid measur
The pro-inflammatory effect of leukotrienes is an important element in the pathogenesis of multiple disorders, including asthma and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). A serious concern for IBD patients is the increased risk of developing colorectal cancer and since there seems to be a general connection between inflammation and cancer we hypothesised that LTD4 induced signalling events could be in
The thesis concerns the development of a computerised test, termed the Stress Strategy Test (SST), intended for use in a personnel selection and placement context. A similar but less extended form of that test, termed the Stroop Strategy Test, developed first, was adjudged to be somewhat less effective as a selection instrument. Both of the tests, concerned with cognition, personality and ability
Fibrous connective tissue contains fibroblasts distributed in a complex network of extracellular matrix molecules, such as proteoglycans. The small proteoglycans biglycan and decorin are composed of a protein core substituted with two and one glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain, respectively. Proteoglycan metabolism is regulated differently during several processes including inflammation and wound heali
Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common illness diagnosed during early childhood. One of the major etiologic agents is Haemophilus influenzae. Apart from AOM, this organism can cause a broad range of infectious diseases such as meningitis, epiglottitis, arthritis, and pneumonia. Despite the importance of H.influenzae, the mechanisms by which this heterogenous group of bacteria mediates the inf
