The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate quality of life in people aged 75 and older with cancer in relation to age, gender, presence and type of complaints, comorbidity, living conditions, perceived economic situation, sense of coherence, receiving help for daily living and social resources. The aim was also to investigate older people’s experiences and the meaning of living with cancer

The subject of this thesis is the clinical use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in patients with stroke or atrial fibrillation. Subjects were examined with echocardiography and sonography of the carotid artery. A control group of randomly selected volunteers without cerebrovascular disease was compared to patients with ischemic stroke. Cardiac pathology was classified as minor potential e

All elbow fractures between 1969 – 1979 (n=2965) registered at the radiographic archives at the Malmö University Hospital, where all radiographs are saved since a century, were evaluated. Fractures of the radial head and neck were classified according to the by Broberg and Morrey modified Mason classification. A Mason type I fracture is a less than 2 mm displaced fracture of the radial head or nec

This study explores the interaction between living biological cells and semiconductor nanowires. Biological cells are highly complex and dynamic entities, every one of them with individual characteristics and a high degree of internal and external communication. They respond to and affect their external environment with a huge web of fine-tuned control systems. Traditional biochemical tools for

Interleukin (IL)-1beta is one of the most pleiotropic and potent cytokines, produced predominantly by activated monocytes and macrophages. IL-1 plays an important role in normal immunoregulatory processes but also in pathophysiological inflammatory responses. In the present study, we developed a model for active IL-1beta secretion. A retroviral vector containing a cDNA construct encoding the matur

Results from experimental studies, as well as clinical studies, are used to elucidate the effects of ambient pressure changes on cochlear hydrodynamics and function. The perilymph pressure changes and the pressure release effects of the cochlear aqueduct (CA) and Eustachian tube (ET) in cats exposed to hypobaric pressure are elucidated. The focus is on the emergence of the pressure gradients betwe

The overall aim of this thesis was to compare the effects of laparoscopic versus open antireflux surgery in a randomized clinical trial focusing the patients' subjective and objective outcome postoperatively, from a short-term and a long-term perspective. A further aim was to describe GORD patients' experiences of illness and surgical treatment and if possible to find striking characteristics rela

Neuroblastoma is a childhood tumor derived from primordial neural crest cells. The tumor cells exhibit a phenotype similar to that of developing neuroblasts, which indicates that the tumor arises due to perturbed differentiation of the sympathetic nervous system. It is well established that transcription factors control the steps leading to neuronal differentiation, and a number of basic helix-loo

The aim of this thesis was to investigate how ultrasound can be used in the diagnostic work-up of women with post-menopausal bleeding (PMB) to optimise and individualise their management. The thesis is based on six studies comprising post-menopausal women with (Study I-VI) and without (Study VI) abnormal bleeding. The clinical value of conventional ultrasound, with or without saline infusion (hyd

Smooth muscle is characterised by high tension economy, low shortening velocity and regulation mainly by myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation. The aim of this study was to investigate regulation of force and maximal shortening velocity (Vmax) in smooth muscle. In intact muscle, activated with depolarisation, inhibition of force and rise in intracellular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) by 2,3-butanedione mono

Drugs targeting nucleic acids were studied in DNA and RNA model systems. The effects were investigated with respect to structural and thermodynamic influence, kinetics, and biological function. The drugs employed in this thesis were anticancer active platinum(II) complexes, polyamine derivatives, and siRNA. Structural changes were determined by use of chemical probing and circular dichroism (CD),

AIM: To study infantile colic in terms of occurrence, risk factors in pregnancy, distress patterns, caregiving practices, and outcome. STUDY DESIGNS: Paper I: Population study, 376 mothers and newborn infants, diaries or telephone interviews. Paper II: 116 colic and 119 control cases, telephone interviews, and diaries. Papers III-IV: Population study, 1099 mother-infant dyads, pregnancy inquiries

Sandy, calcareous grasslands are species rich temperate semi-natural grasslands. The species composition in 136 plots was analysed in relation to soil chemistry parameters; extractable P and N, soil pH and lime content. We found that that acidification and decalcification decrease species diversity and the number of red-listed species in these sandy grasslands. The microbial community was investig

This thesis is based on research concerning epidemiological, clinical, and psychological aspects of familial and hereditary prostate cancer. Epidemiology: Male first-degree relatives of prostate cancer patients had a three-fold increased prostate cancer risk. The risk was higher for relatives of younger patients than for relatives of older patients, most likely due to the effect of the higher pre

The aim of this thesis was to evaluate long-term changes in bone mass and skeletal structure in the forearm in the peri- and postmenopausal period. 156 premenopausal women, at baseline aged 48 years, not taking medications and without disease processes known to interfere with bone metabolism, were followed through menopause by measurements of bone mass and skeletal structure at the cortical site o

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP; also named ”amylin”) is a member of the calcitonin superfamily of peptides, displaying the closest structural relationship to the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). It is expressed in islet beta-cells and forms islet amyloid in type 2 diabetic patients. IAPP may restrain release and peripheral actions of insulin. Thus, IAPP has been implicated in

Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) comprises about 10% of patients initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but who are positive for pancreatic islet antibodies, especially to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADabs). The present studies focused on clinical, genetic and metabolic characterisation of patients with LADA. In LADA, the frequency of the type 1 diabetes susceptibility genotype HLA-

Human glandular kallikrein 2 (hK2) is a predominantly prostate produced protein with many similarities to prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Just like for PSA elevated levels of hK2 can be found in men with protate cancer. We created an assay where hK2 in serum could reliably and with negligible cross-reactivity with PSA, be measured down to 0.030 ng/mL. The assay measured free hK2 and hK2 complexe

Helicobacter pylori may cause gastritis, gastric/duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer. During infection, most H. pylori are found in the gastric mucus layer, but some are attached to, or have penetrated, epithelial cells. The aim of this study is to characterize the binding of H. pylori to gastric mucins and to investigate host changes that occur after inoculation. Results: H. pylori binds to mucins

Bone and soft tissue tumors (BSTT) constitute a heterogeneous group of neoplasms of mesenchymal and neuroectodermal origin. Although many BSTT are rare, it has become clear that BSTT are characterized by recurrent acquired chromosomal aberrations, and the general aim of this thesis have been to apply molecular genetic and molecular cytogenetic techniques to further characterize recurrent breakpoin