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BACKGROUND: The Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Xpert-Ultra) assay provides timely results with good sensitivity and acceptable specificity with stool specimens in children for bacteriological confirmation of tuberculosis (TB). This study aims to optimize the Simple One-Step (SOS) stool processing method for testing stool specimens using the Xpert-Ultra in children and adults in selected health facilities in
Women with a diagnosis of breast cancer are at increased risk of second primary cancers, and the identification of risk factors for the latter may have clinical implications. We have followed-up for 11 years 10,045 women with invasive breast cancer from a European cohort, and identified 492 second primary cancers, including 140 contralateral breast cancers. Expected and observed cases and Standard
Alkaline sphingomyelinase (alk-SMase) is a new member of the NPP (nucleotide pyrophophatase/phosphodiesterase) family that hydrolyses SM (sphingomyelin) to generate ceramide ill the intestinal tract. The enzyme may protect the intestinal mucosa front inflammation and tumorigenesis. PAF (platelet-activating factor) is a pro-inflammatory phospholipid involved in pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel di
Surface exposed cysteines were genetically engineered in the structure of recombinant horseradish peroxidase (rHRP). Recombinant forms of HRP with either a His-tag or a Strep-tag at the C-terminus were produced, which additionally had cysteines at positions 57, 189 or 309 (C-terminus) of the polypeptide chain. An E coli expression system was exploited. The effect of these mutations on the direct e
Popular Abstract in Swedish Proteiner har en nyckelroll i praktiskt taget alla biologiska processer. Proteiner har väldigt skilda funktioner, tex. transport och lagring av ämnen, som stödmaterial i vävnad, immunförsvar, samordning av ämnesomsättningen m.m. Ett protein består av mindre beståndsdelar, så kallade aminosyror. Proteiner kan vara olika stora, beroende på hur många aminosyror de innehållThis thesis describes studies of the structure and tissue distribution of alpha-1-microglobulin (a1-m), a member of the lipocalin protein superfamily with immunosuppressive properies. It was shown that a1-m appears in human plasma in five major forms. These were identified as monomeric a1-m and covalent complexes between a1-m and IgA, prothrombin, albumin and a1-m. In addition to blood, both monom
In the search for new pharmaceutically active compounds, it is recognized that Nature produces structurally different compounds in a great variety. By having the compounds or extracts tested in defined systems, new drugs or more often leads (a compound that has an interesting but moderate activity) can be found. When a lead is found, structurally similar compounds with modified functional groups a
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class IIB genes show considerable sequence similarity between loci. The MHC class II DQB and DRB genes are known to exhibit a high level of polymorphism, most likely maintained by parasite-mediated selection. Studies of the MHC in wild rodents have focused on DRB, whilst DQB has been given much less attention. Here, we characterised DQB genes in Swedish b
Scabies is an infectious skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei and has been classified as one of the six most prevalent epidermal parasitic skin diseases infecting populations living in poverty by the World Health Organisation. The role of the complement system, a pivotal component of human innate immunity, as an important defence against invading pathogens has been well documented and
Models based on generalized plant physiological theory represent a promising approach for describing vegetation responses to environmental drivers on large scales but must be tested for their ability to reproduce features of real vegetation. We tested the capability of a generalized vegetation model (LPJ-GUESS) to simulate vegetation structural and compositional dynamics under various disturbance
Large-scale studies are essential to assess the emission patterns and spatial distribution of organohalogenated pollutants (OHPs) in the environment. Bird eggs have several advantages compared to other environmental media which have previously been used to map the distribution of OHPs. In this study, large-scale geographical variation in the occurrence of OHPs, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (P
Genome-wide association scans in type 2 diabetes (T2D) have identified a risk variant, rs13266634 (Arg325Trp), in SLC30A8 on chromosome 8. SLC30A8 encodes a beta-cell specific zinc-ion transporter and rs13266634 has been shown to affect insulin secretion. Recently, autoantibodies for Slc30A8 with high predictive value were demonstrated in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1 D), making this gene a
Background: The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) guidelines advise against inappropriate weight match (IWM) for heart transplant, defined as donor weight <70% of recipient's weight. Few studies have explored in detail this size-matching recommendation, especially with regard to body mass index (BMI) and gender matching. We aimed to determine whether any difference c
The extent of the hypoxic area in the Baltic Sea has rapidly expanded over the past century. Two previous phases of widespread hypoxia, coinciding with the Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM; 8–4ka before present; BP) and the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA; 2–0.8ka BP), have been identified. Relatively little is known about bottom water redox conditions in the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea during the H
Insect distributions are shifting rapidly in response to climate change and are undergoing rapid evolutionary change. We investigate the molecular signatures underlying local adaptation in the range-expanding damselfly, Ischnura elegans. Using a landscape genomic approach combined with generalized dissimilarity modelling (GDM), we detect selection signatures on loci via allelic frequency change al
Background: Transient ischemic attacks (TIA) indicate an increased risk of stroke, one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. In order to prevent stroke, our knowledge of diagnosis, demographics, risk factors, investigations, and treatment of patients with TIA needs to be improved.Aims: The aims of this thesis were to validate data and diagnoses in the Riksstroke TIA module (Riks
Objectives: At a European Society of Neuroradiology (ESNR) Annual Meeting 2015 workshop, commonalities in practice, current controversies and technical hurdles in glioma MRI were discussed. We aimed to formulate guidance on MRI of glioma and determine its feasibility, by seeking information on glioma imaging practices from the European Neuroradiology community. Methods: Invitations to a structured
The Swedish alternative movement’s place-making activities in the seventies have been understood as an attempt to escape the political sphere. In this thesis, I investigate the ideas and practices of societal transformation seen in rural intentional communities and, to a lesser degree, urban sites. Challenging the idea that such intentional communities were solely concerned with the creation of ‘p
The thermostable β-glucosidase from Thermotoga neapolitana, TnBgl3B, is a monomeric three-domain representative from glycoside hydrolase family 3. By using chemical reactivation with exogenous nucleophiles in previous studies with TnBg13B, the catalytic nucleophile (D242) and corresponding acid/base residue (E458) were determined. Identifying these residues led to the attempt of converting TnBgl3B
