Heparan sulfate (HS), a substance common in the extracellular matrix on epithelial cells is present in the pancreas, lining the duct lumen. During pathological conditions, we propose that it can be shed from the ECM and bind to receptors on the cell surface, thus triggering an inflammatory response, which if excessive can cause acute pancreatitis (AP). Infusion of HS in the pancreatic duct in rats

Although large-scale prospective cohort studies have related hyperglycemia to increased risk of cancer overall, studies specifically on colorectal cancer have been generally small. We investigated the association between prediagnostic levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a marker for average glucose level in blood, and colorectal cancer risk in a case-control study nested within the European

Review essay of the book

Background: Over time, methods for the development of clinical decision support (CDS) systems have evolved from interpretable and easy-to-use scoring systems to very complex and non-interpretable mathematical models. In order to accomplish effective decision support, CDS systems should provide information on how the model arrives at a certain decision. To address the issue of incompatibility betwe

We present a framework based on object orientation with novel principles for how to store, analyze and integrate electrophysiological data. These principles are: (I) Using a Decorator pattern for storing analysis data in an object model, (II) using a Core Classes data structure for integration through mediation in a service bus architecture, and (III) choosing the single unit as the finest structu

We use three-flavour hard pion Chiral Perturbation Theory (HPChPT) in both the heavy meson and a relativistic formulation to calculate the chiral logarithms m(2) log (m(2)/mu(2)) contributing to the formfactors of the B-(s) -> pi, K, eta and D-(s) -> pi, K, eta transitions at momentum transfer q(2) away from the endpoint q(max)(2) = (m(B) - m(M))(2). We compare our results with CLEO D -> pi and D

Smoke from biomass combustion has been identified as a major environmental risk factor associated with adverse health effects globally. Deposition of the smoke particles in the lungs is a crucial factor for toxicological effects, but has not previously been studied experimentally. We investigated the size-dependent respiratory-tract deposition of aerosol particles from wood combustion in humans. T

Background: The recommendations and the updated EAU guidelines consider early detection of PCa with the purpose of reducing PCa-related mortality and the development of advanced or metastatic disease. Objective: This paper presents the recommendations of the European Association of Urology (EAU) for early detection of prostate cancer (PCa) in men without evidence of PCa-related symptoms. Evidence

Background: Family members of older persons (75+) with multi-morbidity are likely to benefit from utilising case management services performed by case managers. However, research has not yet explored their experiences of case managers. Objectives: The aim of the study was to deepen the understanding of the importance of case managers to family members of older persons (75+) with multi-morbidity. D

The complex genetics of cancer, which allows tumours to grow and spread while bypassing the control circuitry of the cell, involves dysregulation of the genome, transcriptome and proteome. The importance of protein-coding genes such as growth factors and hormone receptors is well established. Recently, non-coding RNAs have emerged as important players in tumour development with potential to be exp

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the prevalence of sexually offending behaviour among female and male adolescents in Sweden. One aim is to identify potential risk factors associated with sexually offending behaviour and a further aim to examine the outcome in early adulthood for a sample of sexually offending adolescent males. Three different samples were used for this thesis. A sample of

Morphogenesis during multicellular development is regulated by intercellular signaling molecules as well as by the mechanical properties of individual cells. In particular, normal patterns of organogenesis in plants require coordination between growth direction and growth magnitude. How this is achieved remains unclear. Here we show that in Arabidopsis thaliana, auxin patterning and cellular growt

Significant changes in the climatic system have been observed, which may be attributed to human-enhanced greenhouse effect. Even stronger changes are projected for the future, impacting in an increasing way on human activity sectors. The present contribution, prepared in the framework of the MICE (Modelling the Impact of Climate Extremes) Project of the European Union, reviews how climate change m

Trimeric soluble forms of HIV gp140 envelope glycoproteins represent one of the closest molecular structures compared to native spikes present on intact virus particles. Trimeric soluble gp140 have been generated by several groups and such molecules have been shown to induce antibodies with neutralizing activity against homologous and heterologous viruses. In the present study, we generated a reco

ObjectivesIn this follow-up study, we wanted to present the long-term outcome (5-21years) in terms of seizure freedom, seizure reduction, and the cognitive development in the first 47 children who underwent epilepsy surgery at the University Hospital in Lund from 1991 to 2007. Materials and methodsAll children who underwent epilepsy surgery in the southern region of Sweden were assessed for cognit

We study the zero sets of random analytic functions generated by a sum of the cardinal sine functions which form an orthonormal basis for the Paley-Wiener space. As a model case, we consider real-valued Gaussian coefficients. It is shown that the asymptotic probability that there is no zero in a bounded interval decays exponentially as a function of the length. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights re

Purpose: Recently, there has been an increasing interest in operating conventional linear accelerators without a flattening filter. The aim of this study was to determine beam quality variations as a function of off-axis ray angle for unflattened beams. In addition, a comparison was made with the off-axis energy variation in flattened beams. Methods: Two Elekta Precise linear accelerators were mod

A capture-mark-recapture study on the threatened saproxylic beetle Lucanus cervus was carried out in a chestnut (Castanea sativa) woodland located in northern Italy, using visual encounter surveys (VES) as well as aerial flight interception traps and pitfall traps (PT), both of which were baited with different odour lures. In total, 111 males and 25 females were captured, and VES was by far the mo