Pathogen challenges and host immune defenses can have substantial impact on life history patterns of animals. Biotic and abiotic factors may affect immunity in wild animals, influencing e.g., population dynamics and sexual selection. The overall aim of this thesis was to assess costs and benefits of immune system activation on physiology, behavior and offspring phenotype. The conducted research ha

In this paper we develop a simple maximum likelihood estimator for probit models where the regressors have measurement error. We first assume precise information about the reliability ratios (or, equivalently, the proxy correlations) of the regressors. We then show how reasonable bounds for the parameter estimates can be obtained when only imprecise information is available. The analysis is also e

Reductions in ambient pressure liberates gas in various tissues and can result in decompression illness. In this thesis the patophysiological implications of a blood gas interface resulting from decompression was investigated with reference to the influence on biochemical mediators of inflammation. In a series of experiments, animals and human subjects have been exposed to hyperbaric trauma of dif

In the last decade, powerful communication and information technology in the form of the mobile phone has been put into the hands of more than 50% of the global population. In stark contrast, a lack of access to medical diagnostic technology with which to diagnose both communicable and non-communicable diseases will mean that many of these people will die of easily treatable conditions. Small, por

Galactolipids: digalactosyldiglyceride (DGalDG), monogalactosyldiglyceride (MGalDG) and sulfoquinovosyldiglyceride (SQDG) are the major lipid components in thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts i.e. the site of photosynthesis in plants. They are the most abundant membrane lipids in nature, and thus important sources of essential fatty acids for herbivores and omnivores. This thesis investigates the

Bone morphogenic proteins, BMPs, are a group endogenous proteins that are highly conserved through evolution. The amino acid sequences of about 15 different BMPs are now known and recombinant human BMPs are commercially available. Implantation of an individual BMP protein is sufficient to induce bone formation even at a subcutaneous site. Our initial studies discovered inhibition of bone formation

This thesis deals with the expression, localization and regulation of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans under normal and experimental conditions. NPY is widely distributed in the mammalian nervous system and belongs to a family of closely related petides also comprising peptide YY (PYY) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP). NPY exerts a variety of biological effects, such as s

This thesis presents a three-year prospective study on metabolic characteristics of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and the regulation of insulin sensitivity versus islet function in relation to changes in glucose tolerance. 108 non-diabetic women aged 57-58 years were randomly selected from a population of women born in 1935 with a high prevalence of IGT. At baseline and follow-up, glucose toler

Popular Abstract in English Psychotropic pharmaceuticals include various groups of chemicals that have been designed to affect neurochemistry in human consumers resulting in changes in cognition, mood, and/or behavior; many target specific receptors and subsequently alter neurotransmitter levels in the central nervous system. The use of pharmaceuticals by consumers results in the release of these Psychotropic pharmaceuticals have been shown to exert a variety of sublethal effects on non-target organisms, even at low concentrations found in the environment (ng/L to µg/L); hence, the aim of my research has been to determine the individual-level effects of psychotropic pharmaceuticals (the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors sertraline and fluoxetine, and the β-blocker propranolol) on beh

Vasopressin and oxytocin seem to have pivotal roles in the pathophysiology of primary dysmenorrhoea and preterm labour. Prostaglandins are also involved in the regulation of uterine activity with different receptors mediating both stimulation and relaxation. We explored different aspects of synthesis, release and receptor pharmacology of vasopressin and oxytocin. We also tested a vasopressin and o

The lack of safe, clean water is strongly linked to poverty, underdevelopment and poor health. Water is needed not only to sustain life, but to produce food and in industrial processes. Anthropogenic pollution and natural events can jeopardize access to safe water. Inorganic pollutants or toxic metal ions such as arsenic and cadmium are of special concern since these are persistent and accumulate

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease caused by the T cell-mediated destruction of the pancreatic insulin-producing beta cells. Currently there are no widely accepted and standardized assays available to analyse the function of autoreactive T cells involved in T1D. The development of such an assay would greatly aid efforts to understand the pathogenesis of T1D and is also urgently require

Pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance are the two hallmarks of type 2 diabetes. An early sign of beta-cell dysfunction is impaired nutrient-induced insulin release. Several insulin secretagogues act by increasing the formation of intracellular cAMP. Thus, accurate regulation of cAMP is of vital importance for the ability of the beta-cell to respond properly to these stimuli. The

Many bacteria express immunoglobulin(Ig)-binding proteins that interact with Ig in a non-immune manner. Several of these Ig-binding bacterial proteins have been well characterized and are widely used as reagents for analysis and purification of Ig's. Protein G found on group C and G streptococci has affinity for constant regions of IgG heavy chains, whereas protein L found on Peptostreptococcus ma

The Wnt-5a gene encodes a secreted protein that regulates several normal processes in embryonic and adult tissues by as yet unknown mechanisms. Expression of Wnt-5a protein does not cause cell transformation, but it instead counteracts the effects induced by transforming Wnts. Inasmuch as Wnt-5a can activate the Wnt/beta-catenin signalling pathway, we performed experiments to determine whether mol

The purpose was to describe ethical aspects on how do-not-resuscitate (DNR) deci-sions are made, established, and communicated between physicians, nurses, patients and relatives. A random sample of 220 physicians and nurses answered a questionnaire about their attitudes to and experiences of the making and communication of a DNR decision. The re-sponse rate was 73%. Twenty seriously ill patients,