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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
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
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
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
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
Protein S is a modular protein and a cofactor in the protein C anticoagulant system. It consists of a Gla-module, a thrombin-sensitive loop, four EGF-modules and a SHBG-like module. Protein S has previously been shown to contain four binding sites with high affinities for Ca2+ (Ka>9x105 M-1 at physiological ionic strength) and at least one of the sites h
Many deaths in intensive care units are preceded by decisions to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment. Under what conditions are forgoing life-sustaining treatment considered appropiate, when is it optitional and when is it wrong? Relevant guidelines are essential to help medical decisionmakers, but they cannot be established only from medical knowledge. They also must be related to basi
The small intestine contains a large number of T lymphocytes within the single-layered epithelium that separates the gut lumen from the lamina propria. These intraepithelial T lymphocytes have potent cytolytic and immunoregulatory capacities, thought to be important for fighting infections, neoplastic growth, and sustaining epithelial integrity. This thesis is based on three original articles wit
This thesis investigated emotional communication in experimentally created face-to-face interaction situations. The hypotheses were based on the conception of a process which leads to emotional empathy, assuming that automatic mimicking tendencies are involved in an automatic part of the process. Subjects were categorised as high- or low-empathic according to results on the Questionnaire Measure O
A smoking cessation program targeting pregnant women and their partners was monitored during 17 years and subjected to several substudies. All women in Blekinge, who gave birth in the months of September during the period 1984 to 2000, were asked to fill out a questionnaire, anonymously, about their smoking habits before and during pregnancy. During these years a long-term educational programme co
Studies were performed to investigate the influence of the vasoconstrictors angiotensin II (AII) and norepinephrine (NE) on calcium metabolism in smooth muscle cells of afferent arterioles. Fura-2 and image analysis techniques were used to evaluate calcium responses in the proximal and distal parts of afferent arterioles with attached glomeruli. AII and NE increase intracellular calcium concentrat
This 18-month follow-up study investigated needs for care and support, quality of life and social network in individuals with schizophrenia or a schizoaffective disorder living in the community and in contact with psychiatric services. The validity of Antonovsky's sense of coherence (SOC) measure was also examined. At baseline 120 patients were interviewed and 94 of these participated in the follo
The traditional restrictive attitude towards claim for compensation about non-pecuniary harms in both cause law and legislation become weaker even if the theoretically and practically reason behind the old exception-construction remain. This reason can best be explained by the thesis about incommensurability when it comes to compensate for some losses that money cannot compensate. To explain why t
The aim of this thesis was to improve background knowledge for making a reliable medical evaluation at the first visit of a woman in her 13th gestational week, to the antenatal clinic. We have focused on the prediction and the risk estimation of preeclampsia, intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR), and thrombosis. The thesis was based on five studies, in which we have evaluated biochemical analy
Cerebral ischemia is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the western world. Even though much effort has been put into research and development of effective drugs against ischemic damage there is to date no effective pharmacological brain protective treatment. In order to study particular molecular mechanisms, isolated cellular events and the contribution of individual factors in ischemic d
Popular Abstract in English What is common between the science of physics and global politics? They both define power in terms of energy. Indeed, the uneven distribution of petroleum reserves has been one of the main reasons of social, political and economic problems worldwide. Even more worrying is the rapid increase in the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is mainly caused by ouCaldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus is an extremely thermophilic, strictly anaerobic, Gram-positive and cellulolytic microorganism with a natural ability to produce hydrogen (H2) at nearly theoretical maximum yield, i.e. 4 mol/ mol of glucose. Due to its CO2-free combustion and high energy density, among other desirable properties, H2is touted as a fuel of the future. Biological H2 production b
This study deals with research on the visual organ as pursued in experimental physiology during the latter half of the nineteenth-century. In the 1850's och 60's experimental physiology developed as a new, scientific discipline within the curriculum of western medicine. By opposing the natural philosophical and vitalistic viewpoint of romantic medicine and by proclaiming measuring devices, animal
