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Pathogenic bacteria express a wide array of surface proteins that interact with the environment. Many of these proteins are believed to be important for the virulence. This thesis deals with the binding of immunoglobulins (Ig) and complement regulating proteins to certain bacterial surface proteins. Protein L from Peptostreptococcus magnus binds to Igk-light chains while protein A from Staphylococ
The purpose of the study was to develop an ultrasound (US) protocol for evaluating congenital clubfoot pathoanatomy before and during early treatment. By using 3 easily defined and reproducible US projections the talonavicular and the calcaneocuboid joints were assessed. Normal configurations of the relationships at these joints were obtained by investigating 54 healthy babies at the ages of 0, 4
People can become sensitive to the general structure of different parts of the environment, often without studying that general structure directly, but through being incidentally exposed to instances that conform to the structure. When such learning proceeds unintentionally and gives rise to knowledge that is difficult to verbalize it is often referred to as implicit learning. One of the most comm
Migration of leukocytes from the circulating blood into the extravascular tissue is a key component in inflammatory reactions. Leukocyte extravasation (rolling-activation-adhesion-transmigration) is strictly coordinated by adhesion molecules and chemokines expressed on cell surfaces and in tissues. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is pleiotrophic cytokine, which plays an important role in t
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
Ever since the term ‘gentrification’ was coined by Ruth Glass in 1964 this specific form of socio-economic change has attracted much attention within the social sciences, not least from geographers and sociologists. This has generated a rich discussion on the mechanisms behind the process and, to a lesser extent, a debate on positive and negative outcomes of gentrification. Critical voices have de
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
This paper argues that there is reason to be skeptical about the idea that the transition to a service economy will bring about dematerialization of production and consequent environmental improvement. This is because the shift to a service economy is an illusion in terms of real production, but is instead generated by the fall in the price of manufacturing goods relative to services, which is in
The aim of this research was to clinically and experimentally evaluate the use of vacuum-assisted closure in poststernotomy mediastinitis after cardiac surgery. Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) is a new wound-healing therapy based on the application of a local negative pressure to the wound. New techniques for treating poststernotomy mediastinitis are needed since conventional techniques have an unsa
Sediment sequences from five lakes on the Skagi peninsula, northern Iceland, were subjected to mineral magnetic analysis, carbon analysis, pollen analysis, plant macrofossil analysis, diatom analysis, radiocarbon dating and tephra analysis in order to make detailed reconstructions of vegetation, climate and sea level during the Late Weichselian and Early Holocene. The main purpose was to investiga
The aim of this thesis was to reconstruct the glaciodynamics, deglacial landforms, isostatic uplift and to date the deglaciation. Glaciodynamics and deglacial landforms were focused on to provide a process and depositional model for De Geer moraine and Niemisel moraine and to reveal their internal and spatial relationship, based on detailed sedimentological and structural investigations. The isost
Randomized studies of various support programs for spouses and children of alcoholics are few in the international literature. This thesis comprises two randomized controlled studies of intervention programs for two family groups: spouses living with an alcoholics partner (paper I and II) and university students who have grown up with at least one parents with alcohol problems (paper III and IV).
The worldwide prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes is increasing rapidly. Both disorders depend on genetic and environmental factors. The studies included in this thesis investigated the possible association of the FOXC2 and CAPN10 genes with obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and related phenotypes. FOXC2 encodes a forkhead transcription factor, which was identified as a key regul
