Streptococcus pyogenes is an important human pathogen frequently colonizing the throat and skin of humans. To facilitate colonization and spread and to avoid the host immune defence, streptococci are endowed with a variety of virulence factors, two of which are investigated in this thesis namely streptolysin O (SLO) and M protein. SLO is a secreted cytolysin that forms pores in eukaryotic membran

A family of lipid-linked heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans, later named glypicans, were identified some 15 years ago. The discoveries that mutations in genes involved in glypican assembly cause developmental defects have brought them into focus. Glypicans have a characteristic pattern of 14 conserved cysteine residues. There are also two–three attachment sites for HS side-chains near the membrane

The objective of this work was to quantify comparisons between several computational results and measurements performed during a pool fire scenario in a well-confined compartment. This collaborative work was initiated under the framework of the OECD fire research program and involves the most frequently used fire models in the fire community, including field and zone models. The experimental scena

A Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase has been identified in the genome sequence of Dietzia sp. D5. Sequence similarity search revealed that the enzyme belongs to a group of BVMOs that are closely related to ethionamide monooxygenase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (EthA). The BVMO was expressed in E. coli BL21-CodonPlus(DE3)-RP and the best expression was achieved when the E. coli cells were cultivated

Salt-induced elevation of the endogenous digitalis like sodium pump ligand marinobufagenin (MBG) in the Dahl salt-sensitive rats resulted in elevated blood pressure (BP). Here, we tested, in humans, whether MBG levels are related to ambulatory 24-h BP (ABP), controlled long-term increase of salt-intake induces changes in MBG and any salt-induced change in MBG is related to salt sensitivity.

The c. 4 km long artificial island Peberholm was constructed in 1995–1999 as a land-bridge between the tunnel and the bridge that was then built for the highway and railway across the strait of Öresund between Copenhagen (Denmark) and Malmö (Sweden). The island was mainly constructed from calcareous clay mixed with sand dug up from the bottom of the strait, but some stone and sand filling was tran

We investigated the distribution, storage and landscape partitioning of soil amorphous silica (ASi) in a central Canadian region dominated by tundra and peatlands to provide a first estimate of the amount of ASi stored in Arctic permafrost ecosystems. We hypothesize that, similar to soil organic matter, Arctic soils store large amounts of ASi which may be affected by projected climate changes and

STUDY DESIGN.: The previous Scoliosis Research Society brace study (JBJS-A, 1995) included patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with moderate curve sizes (25 degrees -35 degrees ). The Swedish patients in this study were examined in a long-term follow-up. OBJECTIVE.: The aim was to analyze and compare quality of life in adulthood between AIS patients who were only observed or treate

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the gut mucosa is a reservoir for enterovirus persistence in patients with type 1 diabetes. Small intestine biopsy samples from 25 individuals at different stages of type 1 diabetes, 21 control individuals and 27 individuals with coeliac disease were analysed for the presence of enterovirus RNA by using both radioactive in-situ hybridisation and

Over 20?000 MR systems are currently installed worldwide and, although the majority operate at magnetic fields of 1.5?T and below (i.e. about 70%), experience with 3-T (in high-field clinical diagnostic imaging and research) and 7-T (research only) human MR scanners points to a future in functional and metabolic MR diagnostics. Complementary to previous studies, this review attempts to provide an

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of pre- and perinatal factors on the risk of developing attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Method We investigated the medical history of 237 children (206 male; 31 female) from Malmö, Sweden born between 1986 and 1996 and in whom a diagnosis of ADHD (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IIIR or IV) was subsequently

BackgroundExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving resource-intensive technology for patients with respiratory and/or circulatory failure. We aimed to evaluate outcome data from three Nordic paediatric centres comparing with data from the International Registry of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) and selected high-volume single-centre studies. MethodsOne-hundr

The purpose of this study was to present a novel optical diagnostic tool that corrects for undesired contribution of multiply scattered light, thus opening up for e.g. quantitative optical CT measurements of opaque samples. The approach is based on a technique called Structured Illumination (SI), which is commonly employed within microscopic imaging to enhance the depth-resolution. The concept of

PURPOSE: To investigate both the mean daily physical activity and the hour by hour physical activity pattern across the day using accelerometry, and how they are associated with neighborhood walkability and individual income. METHODS: Moderate physical activity (MPA) was assessed by accelerometry in 2,252 adults in the City of Stockholm, Sweden. Neighborhood walkability (residential density, stree

The timing of biological events (phenology) is an important aspect of both a species' life cycle and how it interacts with other species and its environment. Patterns of phenological change have been given much scientific attention, particularly recently in relation to climate change. For pairs of interacting species, if their rates of phenological change differ, then this may lead to asynchrony b

To develop concise, up-to-date, patient-focused, evidence-based, expert consensus guidelines for the management of knee osteoarthritis (OA), intended to inform patients, physicians, and allied healthcare professionals worldwide.

The evolution of natural organisms is ultimately driven by the invasion and possible fixation of mutant alleles. The invasion process is highly stochastic, however, and the probability of success is generally low, even for advantageous alleles. Additionally, all organisms live in a stochastic environment, which may have a large influence on what alleles are favorable, but also contributes to the u