Filtyp
Seabirds act as vectors transporting marine nutrients to land by feeding on fish while nesting and roosting on islands. By depositing large amounts of nutrient-rich guano on their nesting islands they strongly affect island soils, vegetation and consumers. However, few studies have investigated how nesting seabirds affect soil communities. In this study, we investigated how cormorant nesting colon
Background: Severe (PiZZ) and moderate (PiSZ) alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency predispose to lung emphysema, especially in smokers. We hypothesized that multi-slice computed tomography (CT) might be superior to pulmonary function tests (PFT) to detect lung emphysema in AAT-deficient individuals at the age of 32 years. Methods: A subgroup of PiZZ and PiSZ individuals identified during the Swedi
The aims of this work were to evaluate objective and subjective signs of autonomic dysfunction (AD) in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) and to evaluate its clinical associations. In study I, 46 pSS patients and 56/80/238 autonomic nervous function test (ANT) controls participated. Objective signs of AD were evaluated using three different cardiovascular ANTs and exocrine function in
The aim of this thesis was to contribute to the understanding of aspects related to home, health and participation for community living people with disability and identify different groups with different needs for interventions. Study I used focus groups to explore aspects of importance for participation. Twenty-nine people with Parkinson’s Disease participated in nine focus groups. Studies II-III
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Phytoestrogens are estradiol-like natural compounds found in plants that have been associated with protective effects against chronic diseases, including some cancers, cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to estimate the dietary intake of phytoestrogens, identify their food sources and their association with lifestyle factors in the Europea
Background: Whey protein increases postprandial serum insulin levels. This has been associated with increased serum levels of leucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, threonine and the incretin hormone glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). We have examined the effects of these putative mediators of whey's action on insulin secretion from isolated mouse Langerhans islets. Methods: Mouse p
BACKGROUND: The brain neurotransmitter serotonin is known to affect various aspects of human behavior, including personality traits. Serotonin receptor type 3 is a ligand-gated channel encoded by 2 different subunit genes, HTR3A and HTR3B. A polymorphism (C178T) in the 5' region of the HTR3A gene has recently been identified and suggested to be of functional importance. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the
Aim. Several studies have shown a negative correlation between cancer and atopy-related diseases. There are also a few reports of a positive relationship. We wanted to further evaluate these relationships in a prospective study. Subjects and methods. The incidence of malignant diseases among adult patients with atopy-related diseases (asthma, rhinitis, urticaria, eczema etc; n=13811), who had been
Background: Psychosocial resources as well as lifestyle habits during pregnancy have been shown to effect the risk of having a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) child. Most previous studies are based on a single assessment of these exposures, which does not take into account the possibility of different effects during early add late stages of pregnancy. Methods: The impact of psychosocial and lifest
Background: The survival for patients with atrioventricular septal defect has improved markedly over the last decades and, during the same period, the survival of children with Down's syndrome has also increased. The aim of our study was to investigate long-term survival in patients having atrioventricular septal defect with common valvar orifice, but without associated significant congenital hear
Background: Prospective studies have indicated that elevated blood glucose levels may be linked with increased cancer risk, but the strength of the association is unclear. We examined the association between blood glucose and cancer risk in a prospective study of six European cohorts. Methods and Findings: The Metabolic syndrome and Cancer project (Me-Can) includes cohorts from Norway, Austria, an
Objective: The insulin responsive adiponutrin (PNPLA3 or ADPN) gene shows association with obesity and in vitro adipocyte lipolysis. This study aimed to replicate the association between PNPLA3 variants and obesity, and to investigate their effect on insulin resistance and beta-cell function. Methods: rs738409 (Met148Ile) and rs2072907 (C to G) were genotyped using TaqMan allelic discrimination as
