Background: 2,5-hexanedione (2,5-HD) is the main neurotoxic metabolite of methyl-n-butyl ketone (MBK) and n-hexane, and known to cause polyneuropathy. The aim of our study was to compare the urinary levels of 2,5-HD between cases with cryptogenic polyneuropathy and the general Swedish population, and to elucidate the role of certain external factors. Methods: Morning urine samples were collected f

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test used in the clinic today has been subjected to suspicions regarding specificity and sensitivity, since cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostatitis are hard to distinguish from those with prostate cancer. This thesis is based upon five original papers describing efforts to develop antibody microarrays enabling improved diagnostic prostate cancer ana

Changes in the seasonal timing of life history events are documented effects of climate change. We used a general model to study how dispersal and competitive interactions affect eco-evolutionary responses to changes in the temporal distribution of resources over the season. Specifically, we modeled adaptation of the timing of reproduction and population dynamic responses in two competing populati

We present extended spectroscopic analysis of pharmaceutical tablets in the close near infrared spectral range performed using broadband photon time-of-flight (PTOF) absorption and scattering spectra measurements. We show that the absorption spectra can be used to perform evaluation of the chemical composition of pharmaceutical tablets without need for chemo-metric calibration. The spectroscopic a

All notified MRSA cases in SkAyenne County have been followed since 2000. We have investigated the MRSA epidemiology over time, method of acquisition, whether some spa types are more prone to spread, and/or cause more infections, and the connection between spa type and country of acquisition/origin. All cases between 2000 and 2010 were included. Infection or colonization and the presence of PVL ge

Model predictive control (MPC) is applied to a physical pendulum system consisting of a pendulum and a cart. The objective of the MPC controller is to steer the system towards precomputed, time-optimal feedforward trajectories that move the system from one stationary point to another. The sample time of the controller sets hard limitations on the execution time of the optimization algorithm in the

The ability to obtain ideal conditions for well-defined chemical microenvironments and controlled temporal chemical and/or thermal variations holds promise of high-resolution cell response studies, cell-cell interactions or e.g. proliferation conditions for stem cells. It is a major motivation for the rapid increase of lab-on-a-chip based cell biology research. In view of this, new chip-integrated

We reviewed all peer-reviewed papers analysing the cost-effectiveness of vertebroplasty and balloon kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. In general, the procedures appear to be cost effective but are very dependent upon model input details. Better data, rather than new models, are needed to answer outstanding questions. Vertebral augmentation procedures (VAPs), including v

INTRODUCTION: A higher prevalence of individuals affected by Parkinsonism was found in Valcamonica, Italy. This may be related to ferro-alloy smelters in the area, releasing manganese (Mn) in the air, soil and water for about a century. There exists individual susceptibility for Mn neurotoxicity. AIM: To analyse how polymorphism in genes regulating Mn metabolism and toxicity can modify neurophysio

Colorectal cancer (CRC), one of the most frequent neoplasias worldwide, has both genetic and environmental causes. As yet, however, gene-environment (G x E) interactions in CRC have been studied mostly for a small number of candidate genes only. Therefore, we investigated the possible interaction, in CRC etiology, between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the one hand, and overweight, smok

New strategies are needed for breast cancer treatment and one initial step is to test new chemotherapeutic drugs in breast cancer cell lines, to choose candidates for further studies towards clinical use.

The ATLAS detector is used to search for high-mass states, such as heavy charged gauge bosons (W'. W*), decaying to a charged lepton (electron or muon) and a neutrino. Results are presented based on the analysis of pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 pb(-1). No excess beyond standard model expectations is observed. A W' with sequential

The standard view of neural signaling is that a neuron can influence its target cell by exciting or inhibiting it. Learning is thought to involve strengthening or weakening synaptic connections. For most behaviors, the brain must learn to produce precisely timed activity patterns. Learned response timing is indispensable for a wide range of tasks and requires learning of interstimulus intervals (I

Popular Abstract in Swedish Den arbetsrehabilitering som traditionellt erbjuds personer med psykisk funktionsnedsättning kan beskrivas som en trappa där varje steg består av olika åtgärder för att öka personernas arbetsförmåga. Målet är att personerna successivt skall bli friskare, öka sin funktionsnivå och utveckla fler färdigheter innan de kan ta steget ut till ett konkurrensutsatt arbete. För pIn the light of the limited research on the subject of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) in a Swedish context, this thesis has contributed with knowledge of the effectiveness and experiences of IPS among persons with severe mental illness (SMI) living in Sweden. The thesis has also provided information about the work motivation among those persons with SMI who seek vocational support by IPS.

Aims: We sought to develop descriptions of health states associated with daytime and nocturnal hypoglycemia in a structured fashion from the patient's perspective under different combinations of severity and frequency of hypoglycemic events. Methods: An expert meeting followed by two patient focus groups was used to develop comprehensive descriptions of acute consequences of severe and non-severe,