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The purpose of this thesis was to examine the role of growth factors and the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) system in human endometrial angiogenesis. Growth factors as well as progesterone increased expression of the main inhibitor of uPA (PAI-1) in primary cultures of endometrial stromal cells. EGF, TGF-beta1 and bFGF increased gene transcription whereas progesterone increased mRNA stabili

The bacterial surface can be thought of as the interface where pathogenic bacteria encounter the human host. Interactions between bacterial surface proteins and human proteins are important determinants of the eventual outcome of infection. A bacterial protein, Protein F1, that binds the human plasma and connective tissue protein fibronectin, was found to reduce the virulence of Streptococcus pyog

Intracellular Ca²⁺ is a key regulator of vascular contractility, and thereby of blood perfusion and pressure. Ca²⁺ signals are essential also for cell migration, proliferation and regulation of numerous enzymes. Besides producing vascular contraction smooth muscle cells may also modulate to a synthetic phenotype and proliferate as an initial stage in the atherosclerotic proce

Sphingomyelin (SM) is present both in eucaryotic cells and the diet. Sphingomyelinase (SMase) hydrolyses SM and generates ceramide that has been implicated in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Previously a SMase with alkaline pH optimum was identified in the intestinal tract. The thesis studied the distribution pattern, the species difference and the clinical implicatio

Group A streptococcus (GAS) is one of the most common of bacterial pathogens infecting humans, frequently causing throat and skin infection. Some GAS strains have surface-expressed virulence factors called M proteins that bind human plasminogen with high affinity. Plasminogen is a central component of the human fibrinolytic system, and is bound by an M protein termed PAM through defined binding mo

This thesis is concerned with the swelling behavior of polyelectrolyte gels. The thesis can be divided into two parts. Part one deals with the modeling and computer simulation of the gel swelling. The second part contains experimental results from the binding of oppositely charged surfactant to a polyacrylate network and a theoretical model for the swelling in the presence of a "skin" around the g

The main objective of this thesis was to investigate the fate of photoreceptor cells when using different strategies for retinal cell transplantation. Comparing transplantation of fragments of embryonic retina with cell suspensions of the same tissue we found that transplantation of fragments of embryonic retina result in mature transplants with a higher degree of cellular organization than transp

The parasympathetic nerves are important for the regulation of insulin secretion, in particular after meal intake. Apart from acetylcholine, several neuropeptides can be found in the parasympathetic nerves innervating the islets of Langerhans, including gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP). Exogenous administration of either GRP or PACAP ha

The Gram-negative genus of Helicobacter consists of many bacterial species that colonize a wide range of animal hosts. The genus can be divided into gastric species that colonize the stomach, and enteric species that preferentially colonize the colon and biliary tree of various animal hosts. Helicobacter pylori cause gastritis, gastro-duodenal ulcer disease and gastric adenocarcinoma and lymphoma

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease in which environmental factors interact with genetic factors in the development of the disease process and evolution of clinical manifestations. In this thesis both exogenous factors and host factors were investigated, as well as important immunopathological aspects including involvement of immune complex (IC), the complement syste

Purpose: To compare the visualization of small ischemic brain lesions using diffusion using diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI and conventional imaging, with special regard to diagnostic efficiency. Imaging features of lesions of different ages, diagnostic limitations and technical principles were also investigated. Methods: All studies were performed with the same 1.5 T MR scanner. In the first study t

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are believed to be remains of germ-line infections that have become fixed in the population. They are involved in pathophysiological conditions, in mechanisms leading to infection protection, and directly in the physiology of the organism by participating in the regulation of cellular gene expression. It has been estimated that human ERVs (HERVs) make up about 0.6% o

The incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is increasing. The risk of rupture is related to diameter. However, rupture may occur also in small AAA. To evaluate the size of an aneurysm when related to the predicted normal aortic diameter might be a better predictor of risk. AAA:s, range 40-55 mm were studied in relation to gender. No difference in AAA diameter was found. However, body surfac

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic potentials of four different biochemical markers, serum cobalamin, blood folate, plasma homocysteine and serum methylmalonic acid for diagnosis of cobalamin/folate deficiency in a psychogeriatric population. The second aim was to investigate the relationship between these markers and various clinical and functional parameters of the nervous syst

In stabilising extracapsular hip fractures, the Medoff sliding plate (MSP) differs from other screw-plates by its compression capacity along the femoral shaft (uniaxial dynamization). Additional compression along the neck of femur can be achieved by primary release of the lag screw (biaxial dynamization). 244 consecutive inter- and subtrochanteric fractures in 243 elderly patients were fixed with

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary malignant brain tumor in adults. Despite standard treatment including surgery, radiotherapy and temozolomide (TMZ)-based chemotherapy, the prognosis for GBM patients is dismal, and there is a need for novel treatments. One possible therapeutic treatment modality presented here is immunotherapy, either alone or combined with in

There is a pressing need for compatible Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs), in high quantities and of good clinical quality, to ensure optimal treatment for patients with various blood malignancies. Pluripotent Stem Cells (PSCs) have the potential to be a source for generating HSCs. The indefinite expansion capacity of PSCs, combined with the possibility of creating these cells from patient-specific

Cancer is a genetic disease that arises when a cell acquires unlimited growth potential through a series of mutational events, which target genes essential for normal cell control and maintenance. Breast cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies in women worldwide, and it is characterized by heterogeneous tumor biology, histological subtypes, variable prognosis and variable responsiveness to

The Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ structures of calbindin D_9k have been determined and they reveal a conformational change compared to the structures of apo and (Ca²⁺)2-calbindin D_9k. These findings are unique, since normally calcium and not magnesium is known to induce conformational changes of EF-hand proteins. It has also been shown that calbindin D_9k

The aim of this thesis was to study the transfer of solutes across the alveolo-capillary barrier in experimental models of alveolar surfactant dysfunction and lung injury as well as in smokers. Experimental studies were performed in anaesthetized, and mechanically ventilated animals. Surfactant dysfunction was induced by administration of a synthetic detergent in aerosol form. Lung injury was indu