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Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to generate further knowledge about prosthetic and orthotic services in developing countries. In particular, the thesis focused on patient mobility and satisfaction with prosthetic and orthotic devices, satisfaction with service delivery, and the views of staff regarding clinical practice and education. Methods: Questionnaires, including QUEST 2.0, were use

Polyelectrolytes and oppositely charged surfactants interact through attractive electrostatic forces, which in many cases lead to phase separation already at low total concentrations. During the past 10-15 years investigations of these systems have been simplified through the use of complex salts that consist of surfactants with polymeric counterions in a 1:1 charge stoichiometry (no excess simple

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

The origin and evolution of the thin and thick disks in the Galaxy have been studied by means of detailed stellar abundances. High-resolution spectra of 102 F and G dwarf stars have been obtained with the spectrographs on the ESO 3.6-m and ESO 1.5-m telescopes on La Silla (Chile), the Very Large Telescope (VLT) on Paranal (Chile), and the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) on La Palma (Canary Islands,

The general aim of this thesis was to explore aspects of meaning connected with the performance of everyday occupations. Further, the aim was to investigate relationships between occupation, meaning, and health-related variables among adult and elderly subjects with and without chronic pain. Another aim was to develop appropriate methodology and theory for this research area. Due to the explorativ

The aim the thesis work was to study the human cystatins C, E/M, F, G, H and I both in vivo and in vitro. A mouse devoid of cystatin C was used for the cystatin C studies. The levels of cystatins C, E/M and F were measured in pleural effusion samples of patients with various lung disorders. Cystatin F protein and RNA levels were measured in the human haematopoietic cell line U937 as well as in cel

A central assumption of theories of the ecology and evolution of immunological defence is that defence has not only benefits (in the form of resistance against parasites), but also costs. The aim of my studies was to investigate the nature and magnitude of costs of the vertebrate immune system, and to examine some of the consequences of these costs. First, I investigated the energetic cost of the

The investigations focus on the neuropeptidepituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide and its effects on airway regulation, with emphasis on smooth muscle relaxation and neutrophil activation and migration. In the nasal mucosa, PACAP-containing nerve fibers were localized invascular smooth muscle and close to seromucous glands. In the lung, PACAP-containing nerve fibers were found close to se

All patients admitted during a four-year period to a comprehensive, cognitive therapy based inpatient rehabilitation program for long-term mentally ill were invited to participate in the present study. A total of 28 patients were included. The patients were at admission and discharge assessed with regard to quality of life, symptoms, global functioning and target complaints. Every five weeks throu

To optimise fitness is a continuous process which assists species survival in changing environments. Choosing an optimal diet is an essential part of the optimisation process and a key element of optimal foraging theory. The relationship between food choice and fitness optimisation has been tested on three ground beetles and several collembolan species by using food items naturally occurring in th

Urinary incontinence classification is based on symptomatology, presuming that each symptom originates in a separate pathophysiology and demands its unique therapy. Women often present a mixture of symptoms inconsistent with urodynamic diagnosis, especially regarding urgency. Treatment of stress incontinence often relieves urge symptoms indicating a common pathophysiology. Our aims were to investi

The goal of biomarker discovery is to identify disease defining molecules, which could be used to improve early detection and/or to predict survival and response to treatment. This thesis is about the transcription factor SOX11, a protein discovered in the context of mantle cell lymphoma in 2008, which shows great potential to be used as a clinical relevant biomarker. The aim of this thesis is to

Boken innehåller en grekisk text (baserad på cod. Athos Protaton 86) utgiven av Britt Dahlman och en svensk översättning av den systematiska samlingen av Apophthegmata Patrum (Ökenfädernas tänkespråk), bok 6. Översättningen har gjorts gemensamt av deltagarna i översättningsseminariet vid Johannesakademin.

A risk for premature atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular mortality has been reported in adult patients suffering from growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and receiving conventional hormone substitution without growth hormone (GH) replacement. GHD patients are resistant to insulin, which is a potential risk factor for cardiovascular mortality. Insulin resistance can develop from an unfavourabl

This thesis focuses on one of the most common types of hereditary cancer, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). This syndrome is characterized by an autosomal dominant inheritance, an increased risk for several types of cancer (especially cancer of the colorectum, small bowel, endometrium, ovary and urinary tract), early age at diagnosis, and frequent development of multiple primary m

Histamine is involved in a variety of physiological processes like gastric acid secretion, inflammation and neurotransmission. The production of histamine is catalysed by the enzyme histidine decarboxylase (HDC), which is a strongly regulated enzyme. Mammalian HDC mRNA encodes a protein with a molecular mass of 74 kDa, which is greater than that reported for the subunit of purified mammalian HDC,

Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication to diabetes mellitus and is still a major cause of impaired vision in the Western world. The aim of the present study was to identify medical risk factors influencing the development and progression of retinopathy in type 1 diabetic patients, and to investigate the effects of laser treatment on visual acuity and glare. Although the development of sigh