Filetype
Inflammatory bowel disease is thought to result from the inappropriate and ongoing activation of the mucosal immune system driven by the presence of normal luminal flora. In this process monocytes/macrophages contribute to and maintain chronic inflammation by being both regulatory and effector cells. This study aimed at exploring the effects and regulation of chronic inflammation in inflammatory
The terminal differentiation of leukemic cells is closely connected to their death. The concept of differentiation therapy originates from the idea that forced maturation of leukemic cells could induce cell death without the side-effects that are provoked by ordinary chemotherapy. The tumour suppressor protein p53 is a transcription factor, and can induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of maligna
During total parenteral nutrition (TPN) adequate nutrition is provided intravenously and the enteral route is bypassed. The integrity of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, however, is dependent on the passage of food through it. This thesis deals with the effects of TPN on the pancreas and the parotid glands. TPN induced hypotrophy of the exocrine pancreas and the parotid glands. The amylase concent
The control of cultivation conditions and its influence on growth and production have been investigated. The use of fed-batch processes have been demonstrated for several cultivation systems and so has the use of different control signals in these systems. Fed-batch cultivation of Pseudomonas cepacia with on-line measurement and control of the growth rate limiting (toxic) substrate, sodium-salicy
In vertebrates, studies of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) have been of particular interest due to its direct involvement in the toxic effects exerted by several environmental pollutants, such as PCB and dioxin. After binding to the toxic molecule, this receptor initiates transcription of several genes that are part of the biotransformation battery but most notably the cytochrome P450 (CYP) ge
High repetition rate laser diagnostics has proven to be a useful tool for studying combustion phenomena. Laser techniques are, in general, relatively non-intrusive and have the potential to measure specific species at very low concentrations and with extremely high temporal resolution. However, most laser systems in this field of research are limited to repetition rates below 100 Hz, and are thus
This thesis explores several novel material systems and innovative device concepts enabled by nanowire technology. State-of-the-art fabrication techniques such as electron beam lithography and atomic layer deposition are utilized to achieve high control and quality in the device fabrication. The devices in this thesis are based on two main types of design geometries, lateral and vertical, each of
The work presented in the thesis covers the use of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and photofragmentation laser-induced fluorescence (PFLIF) with short laser pulses to determine species concentrations in different combustion environments. To attain quantitative species concentrations using LIF investigations of the influence of collisional quenching on the fluorescence signal strength is of vital
Continues positive airway pressure (CPAP) is recommended for treatment of sleep apnoea (SA) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) but is not easily tolerated resulting in poor patient compliance. Mandibular advancement device (MAD) is designed to inhibit pharyngeal airway (PAW) obstruction and may be a valuable alternative. It has been proposed that MAD exerts its effect by increasing PA
The t(6;9) translocation is found in a subset of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is associated with a poor prognosis. The translocation results in the formation of the DEK-NUP214 fusion protein containing almost the entire nuclear protein DEK and two thirds of the nucleoporin NUP214. The molecular mechanisms behind the leukemic conversion of cells expressing the fusion protein DEK-N
Defective insulin secretion is a central feature in diabetes mellitus and results from reduced pancreatic beta-cell mass as well as aberrant beta-cell function. The pathophysiology of diabetes is incompletely known, but a strong hereditary component is suggested. This thesis investigates the genetic and cellular basis for impaired insulin release by employing a number of cell-physiological and bio
This PhD thesis consists of four separate papers. What these papers have in common is that Bayesian Econometrics, in combination with Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods, is applied to study various problems in financial economics. The first two papers are further related in that they both deal with portfolio selection and estimation risk, as are the last two papers in that they both deal with
Current combustion engines provide excellent performance for vehicle propulsion and power generation. However, recent demands from society ask for higher efficiencies and lower emissions. These requirements are hard to meet with current technology and call for new solutions. Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition, HCCI, offers a potential to combine high efficiency with very low emissions. It op
Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is synthesized and secreted by endothelial cells into the plasma as a series of multimers. VWF induces the formation of platelet plugs at sites of vascular injury and high shear stress. Biological activity is dependent on multimeric size, which is regulated in plasma by the VWF-cleaving protease ADAMTS13. Severe ADAMTS13 deficiency is associated with thrombotic thromboc
Dizziness is a common problem and it often co-exists with anxiety. Level of anxiety is the best predictor of handicap for dizzy patients. There is diagnostic controversy and few treatment programs for such patients. These patients can be labeled as panic disorder with agoraphobia or by the concept of Phobic Postural Vertigo which is characterized by dizziness or imbalance in standing or walking de
Repair of obstetric perineal tears is one of the most frequent procedures in surgical practice. Despite repair such tears may result in anal and urinary incontinence and prolapses of the pelvic floor, problems in need of surgical repair later in life. Descriptions of the structures injured during vaginal delivery and their topographic relations in the perineum are missing in most textbooks. Trans
The present thesis explores alterations in brain morphology in the neurodegenerative disorder of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). With the aim to improve the clinical diagnostics of FTD, we explored the diagnostic potential of measuring morphological alterations in the white matter by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)- MRI, compared with the more commonly used assessment of grey matter thickness and vo
This thesis focuses on a small population of non-conventional T lymphocytes, called natural killer T (NKT) cells. NKT cells have many unique features; such as recognition of glycolipids presented by CD1d, expression of NK receptors and rapid production of large amounts of cytokines, such as IL-4 and IFN-gamma,?upon activation. This early and robust cytokine burst is believed to give NKT cells the
The cells of the innate immune system are essential for the host's first line defence against infection. Among these cells the neutrophil granulocyte has a central role by the production of antibiotic proteins and peptides. These are targeted for storage in secretory lysosomes and other neutrophil granules for subsequent release by regulated secretion in an inflammatory process. However, the granu
Evaluation of myocardial perfusion and function is important in management of patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease. This thesis focuses on the use of common diagnostic methods, myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (MPS) and electrocardiography (ECG), to enhance and validate the diagnostic information. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used
