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The objective was to develop and validate methods for single photon emission computed tomography, SPECT, allowing quantitative physiological and diagnostic studies of lung and heart. A method for correction of variable attenuation in SPECT, based on transmission measurements before administration of an isotope to the subject, was developed and evaluated. A protocol based upon geometrically well de
The Helianthemum oelandicum complex shows considerable morphological variation across its geographic distribution in Europe and western Asia. By combining four primer pairs and four restriction enzymes I identified nine cpDNA haplotypes with distinct geographical distributions. Two haplotypes were most frequent over most of the range; one in western Europe and one in eastern Europe. Moreover, diff
Two specific areas of development in echocardiography are assessment of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and myocardial ischemia. This thesis describes echocardiographic methodology in these two areas. In the first study, two new echocardiographic methods, the early diastolic flow propagation velocity (Vp) and the early diastolic atrioventricular plane downward slope (EDS), were tested as
Time-of-flight (TOF) techniques for energy analysis have been common in electron spectroscopy for many decades. TOF-based electron spectrometers benefit from higher transmission and information rate compared to their main competitor: the hemispherical analyser; the drawback being their lower energy resolution. However, the advent of angle-resolved TOF spectrometers for electron energy analysis cha
Recombinant antibody microarrays have advanced into indispensable tools for large-scale, high-throughput multiplexed serum proteomics. This thesis, based upon five original papers, deals with the development of an in-house designed antibody microarray platform, and its applications for serum profiling of pancreatic disease. Pancreatic cancer is the 4th deadliest cancer, with a 5-year survival rat
The striatum is part of the telencephalon, the most anterior part of the vertebrate brain. From when it first can be identified, telencephalic morphology is highly complex and a wide range of mechanisms has been suggested to participate in its induction, patterning and neurogenesis. Sonic hedgehog (shh), a gene coding for a secreted protein has been suggested to be required for ventral telencephal
Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death and disability in the western world. Its clinical complications include acute myocardial infarction, sudden death and stroke. Thirty to 40 % of all ischemic strokes are caused by a carotid stenosis. The acute clinical event is triggered by an occluding thrombosis and even more frequently by embolization. Besides the degree of stenosis, the structure of
The triggering mechanism in myocardial infarction (MI) and unstable angina involves coronary thrombus formation following plaque rupture. Coagulation is initiated by tissue factor that activates factor VII (FVII), and is inhibited by protein C and its co-factor protein S. Resistance to activated protein C (APC resistance) is a common risk factor for venous thrombosis caused by a mutation in the ge
This thesis covers 12 years of experience in treating patients with congenital capillary malformations, so called port wine stains (PWS). The wide variation in treatment response to laser therapy has developed a profound need for the development of objective devises to measure treatment outcome, so that the maximum effectiveness of therapy can be achieved without unnecessary treatments. The purpos
Abstract The electrophysiological properties of insulin-secreting b-cells, glucagon-releasing a-cells and somatostation-producing d-cells in intact mouse pancreatic islets were investigated using the perforated patch whole-cell technique. It is demonstrated that it is possible to functionally identify the different cell types in situ. The ?-cells have a cell capacitance of 7.4 pF and differ from
The aim was to compare radiography of the tibiofemoral joint (TFJ) and the patellofemoral joint (PFJ), as well as bone scinigraphy with MR imaging in middle-aged individuals with chronic knee pain in the format of a prospective study of knee osteoarthritis. Individuals aged 35-54 years with chronic knee pain were identified. The prevalence of chronic knee pain was 15% (279/2000). Within this grou
Protein kinase C (PKC) is a serine/threonine kinase family with 10 identified isoforms. The contribution of PKC isoforms to cell growth and differentiation, with focus on neurite outgrowth, was investigated, using neuroblastoma and immortalised neural cells as model systems. In neuroblastoma cells one or several of the classical PKC isoforms are of importance for driving proliferation, protecting
ABSTRACT In humans, synthetic vascular grafts heal with a limited ingrowth of endothelium. This fact might be responsible for inferior performance of synthetic grafts compared with native artery.Endothelial cells can be autotransplanted (seeded) into the graft in an effort to improve graft function. The attachment of endothelial cells to different graft materials was investigated in vitro (I). In
The vascular wall is an active, elastic and integrated organ made up of cellular and extracellular matrix (ECM) components. It is not a static organ; the components dynamically change and reorganize in response to physiological and pathological stimuli. Vascular injury induces a complex healing process, analogous to generalised wound healing. Subsequent to the inflammatory response, proliferation
My thesis focuses on magnetic orientation in migratory birds, i.e. how they can perceive information from the Earth’s magnetic field and use it for orientation. To examine magnetoreception and the function of the light-dependent magnetic compass in birds, I performed behavioural orientation experiments with European robins, Erithacus rubecula, under different spectra and intensities of light. The
Glucocorticosteroids (GCS) are potent anti-inflammatory drugs, probably due to inhibitory effects on cytokine production. However, a small number of asthma patients seem GCS-resistant. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-2(IL-2) and IL-4, produced during allergic airway inflammation have been proposed to induce the resistance to GCS. IL-2 and IL-4 also induce GCS resistance in mononucl
