Filetype
Chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF), with a prevalence progressively increasing with age, is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias in man and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have shown that, in animals as well as in man, experimental atrial fibrillation is based on different types and dimensions of intra-atrial electrical re-entry. However, there is a lack of
The main objective of this thesis is to study the response and development of permanent deformation in unbound granular materials, theoretically and experimentally. A testing box technique is used here to more closely simulate the behaviour of unbound aggregates subjected to external vertical loading. A small box device (800×800×800 mm) is employed to test both the response and permanent deforma
This thesis deals with the combination of electrochromatography and molecular imprinting technology. Electrochromatography is characterised by high separation efficiency, simple instrumentation, and minute consumption of sample. As a novel approach to obtain unique selectivity in capillary electrochromatographic systems molecularly imprinted matrices were used. Molecular imprinting technology repr
Concentrations of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and human kallikrein 2 (hK2) were investigated in blood samples that had been obtained from men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) decades later. The studies were based on a cohort comprising 22,444 men who, in 1974?1986, were early middle aged and represented a non-PCa-screened population. The results clearly demonstrate a very strong c
In adult soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of the extremities and trunk wall, improved prognostic factors are needed to identify patients at high-risk for metastasis. Various factors are included in the many prognostic systems currently in use and the prognostic value of immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of biological markers is unclear. The tissue-preserving, high throughput tissue microarray (TMA) te
The Driving to Learn project explored possible achievements of training people with cognitive disabilities in a joystick-operated powered wheelchair utilizing the grounded theory approach. Theoretical sampling led the concomitant collection and analysis of data. During a period of 12 years, 45 participants with profound cognitive disabilities, aged 12 months to 52 years, were engaged in the projec
The aim of this thesis was to evaluate risk factors for bone fragility and fractures in postmenopausal women in a long-term perspective. The study period spanned from the age of 48 to age 82 and is thus unique in its length. The studied sample was homogeneous and consisted of 390 north European women from a population-based cohort. At the start of the study, general health and lifestyle parameters
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease where improperly cleared apoptotic cells and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) induce an autoimmune response. Complement is crucial to prevent SLE by tailoring immune responses and opsonizing dead cells but may also induce inflammation and tissue damage once the disease is initiated. Complement C1q binds to apoptotic cells and ensures
The North Atlantic region has experienced significant climate fluctuations during the Holocene. It has been shown that these fluctuations affected the terrestrial environment in Iceland, including its glaciers and ice caps. However, the full Holocene development of Icelandic glaciers, including the large Vatnajökull ice cap and its outlet glaciers, is not fully known. In this thesis, a sediment se
Radiotherapy (RT) after mastectomy has been part of the treatment for early breast cancer since the 1940s. The treatment reduces the risk of loco-regional recurrences, but implies risk of late side effects that can begin decades after RT. Aims of the thesis were: - To analyse the long term effects of postmastectomy radiotherapy and systemic treatment for 1100 stage II breast cancer patients in t
1. During incubation of platelets with 3H-arachidonic acid (20:4, n-6) and 14C-cholesterol doubly labelled and colloidal gold labelled chylomicrons (CMs) and chylomicron remnants (CMRs) CMs were taken up more efficiently than CMRs. Addition of unlabelled CMs, VLDLs, LDLs and HDLs decreased the uptake of labelled CMs. Electron microscopic studies demonstrated an accumulation of CM-Au's both in the
The Baltic Sea is one of the world’s largest brackish water environments and is today suffering from, for example, eutrophication, spreading hypoxia, accumulations of contaminants and invasive organisms. These problems exist due to a combination of natural features that makes the Baltic Sea a sensitive ecosystem (such as long water residence time, limited water exchange, large catchment area), and
Patients waiting for cardiac surgery often consider the period from the decision for surgery to the time for the operation as long, heavy and dreary. Therefore, it is important that patients are supplied with structured oral and written information regarding their disease and its treatment, so that they are able to understand and discuss the forthcoming operation, the risk of complications and the
GBV-C/HGV is a blood-borne virus related to the hepatitis C virus. We studied GBV-C/HGV infection in different populations, its transmission, and its association with liver disease. GBV-C/HGV viraemia was detected by PCR in 19/576 blood donors. Donors with normal and elevated ALT levels had similar rates of viraemia (1.6% vs. 4.1%; p = 0.20). Signs of resolved GBV-C/HGV infection (anti-E2 antibodi
The homologous blood coagulation factors V (FV) and factor VIII (FVIII) are important at sites of vascular injury for the amplification of the clotting cascade. Activated FV (FVa) serves as a cofactor to the enzyme activated factor X (FXa) in the activation of prothrombin. This complex is called the prothrombinase complex. FVIII functions as a cofactor to the enzyme activated factor IX (FIXa) in t
The thesis deals with models for molybdopterin-dependent enzymes. Several model systems containing molybdenum or tungsten have been prepared and characterised, and their reactivity with oxygen atom acceptors and donors have been investigated. Oxygen atom transfer reactions involving oxomolybdenum bis-dithiolene complexes have been modelled using density functional calculations. The first molybden
