Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) it?s a clinical condition that includes obesity, regional adiposity, insulin resistance (IR) and laminitis. A similar syndrome exists in human medi-cine, the metabolic syndrome (MS), were systemic hypertension also is a prominent fea-ture. The systemic hypertension seen in humans with MS is partly due to a vascular endo-thelial dysfunction with an enhanced endothelin-1 (ET-1) mediated vasoconstriction. There are indications that systemic hypertension might be a feature in EMS as well but if ET-1 is involved in the development of the systemic hypertension in horses is not known.

Blood-borne infectious diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) spread when the addicts share needles and injecting equipmentwithin contact networks. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in Winnipeg,Canada in December 2003 - September 2004. Through a special questionnaire, respondentswere asked to answer questions about themselves and about their contacts, about relationshipsand how they shared syringes and other injection supplies. Blood tests were used to identifywhether they carried any blood-borne infectious diseases. We selected some variables from theoriginal data set.

The purpose of this scientific essay is to evaluate if a continuous glucose monitoring system is something that can benefit Swedish animal health care. The study investigates if it is medically possible to use continuous glucose monitoring systems on dogs with an apparatus attached to their bodies. Furthermore, I try to establish whether this is possible in practice and how it could be done. The keywords used were diabetes mellitus, insulin, continuous glucose monitoring, blood glucose monitoring, dog, pet owner and animal nursing care. Furthermore, I wanted to find out if this system could be an alternative to currently established methods to measure the patient?s blood glucose level.

Blood-borne infectious diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) spread when the addicts share needles and injecting equipmentwithin contact networks. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in Winnipeg,Canada in December 2003 - September 2004. Through a special questionnaire, respondentswere asked to answer questions about themselves and about their contacts, about relationshipsand how they shared syringes and other injection supplies. Blood tests were used to identifywhether they carried any blood-borne infectious diseases. We selected some variables from theoriginal data set.

AbstractIntroductionOccurrence of bacteraemia and fungemia is a serious condition with high mortality and the incidence is increasing worldwide. The aim of this study was to survey the occurrence of bacteria and fungi in blood cultures from adult patients domiciled in the county of Gävleborg during one year and also to calculate the incidence and mortality in the same geographical area.MethodThis is a descriptive epidemiologic study, based on all episodes of blood cultures analyzed at the Microbiology laboratory, Gävle hospital during 2005. Patients from 20 years of age, domiciled in the county of Gävleborg at the date of drawing the blood culture, where included in the study. Criteria of exclusion were negative blood cultures and cultures which were classified as contaminants.ResultsAltogether there were 4 564 blood cultures analyzed, resulting in 524 (11 %) positive cultures for further study. There were 442 patients (48 % women) involved in 499 episodes with confirmed bacteraemia or fungemia.

Obese horses with insulin resistance are often also afflicted with laminitis. Horses with these symptoms are given the diagnosis equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). Signs of insulin resistance are excessive accumulation of adipose tissue on the neck, around the withers and on the dorsal area of the hindquarters. Insulin resistance means that the function of insulin is defective and does not stimulate glucose uptake by the cells in the body in the correct way. This will result in an increased insulin release.

This article starts with a review of the literature regarding the normal reproductive physiology of the mare, prolonged luteal phase and medical drugs used within reproduction of the horse, with emphasis on Ovuplant®. The purpose of this article was to measure the progesterone level in blood, of mares implanted with deslorelin acetate (Ovuplant®). The study was performed at the Department of Clinical Sciences, SLU, in Uppsala. There were seven mares included in the study. They were divided into two groups, one experimental group (four mares) and one control group (three mares).

Immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA) is an immune-mediated destruction of erythrocytes and is one of the most common haematological diseases diagnosed in dogs. The haemolysis is a type II immunoreaction and is initiated by IgG or IgM antibodies or complements. This retrospective study includes 63 dogs suffering from primary IMHA. The study was based on information from records from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences in Uppsala and from the Animal Hospital in Strömsholm. The aim of the study was to evaluate the progress of the disease, treatment and the prognostic factors in different breeds, gender and age. Following criteria were used for the dogs to be allowed in the study: the dogs were diagnosed with anaemia, the anaemia was regenerative and autoagglutination and/or spherocytes were seen in the blood. About 50 % of the dogs in the study were diagnosed with IMHA within 2-6 years of age. Wire-haired dachshund was remarkably one of the most common breeds in this study together with Cocker and Springer spaniel.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element that is involved in several physiological functions in mammals. Mostly, Se is bound to proteins, many of them with enzymatic functions. A group of seleno-depending enzymes, glutathione peroxidases (GSH-Px?s), are important as antioxidants and protects against free radicals. The activity of GSH-Px is strongly regulated by Se storage in the liver.

 Genotyping can be used to link genetic variation among individuals to certain diseases or conditions. Some known disorders and states that are dependent on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) are lactose intolerance, venous thrombosis, hereditary hemochromatosis and the difference in sensibility among people to metabolise drugs.In this project a new kit, TaqManÒ Sample-to-SNP KitÔ for extraction of DNA and preparation of the extract for genotyping with real-time PCR and allelic discrimination, was evaluated. QIAamp® DNA Blood Biorobot® MDx Kit was used as the reference method.The purpose of the comparison was to find a method that makes DNA extraction from blood samples cheaper and faster, but with the same reliability as the reference procedure.The results of the evaluation showed a complete agreement of the genotype results between the methods tested, which means that the new method was as reliable as the reference method. The costs of reagents and material would be reduced with 52% if the new method is adopted, that alone would result in a cost reduction of 144 000SEK a year with a sample volume of 650 samples/month. The time for DNA extraction would also be reduced with the new procedure. .

This paper analyses the character judge Holden in Cormac McCarthys novel Blood Meridian through an ethical perspective. The author uses several methods to analyze the character ethically, such as the western-genre, McCarthys authorship, evil as an ethical term and Friedrich Nietzsche's theory the Übermensch. The author then uses a selective group of scenes and chapters from the novel to highlighting the distinctive ethical characteristic of judge Holden. The author finds judge Holden to be the very principle of violence and blood shedding, defending and distributing these principles in his words and his actions throughout the novel. Triumphantly proclaiming his victory, judge Holden embodies the principle that whoever has the power to perform any action has then the moral right to do so.

Sahlgrenska Academyat University of GothenburgDepartment of Internal Medicine and Clinical NutritionAbstractTitle: Trans fatty acids from ruminants - and its effect on blood lipidprofile in healthy men and womenAuthor: Sophie Berg and Sara KarlssonSupervisor: Henriette PhilipsonExaminer: Anna WinkvistProgramme: Dietician study programme, 180/240 ECTSType of paper: Examination paper, 15 hpDate: May 23, 2012BackgroundCardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in Sweden. It is well known that thereis a link between high consumption of industrial trans fatty acids and cardiovascular disease, buthow natural trans fatty acids affect us remains uncertain.ObjectiveThe purpose of this article is to, based on the currently available scientific evidence, concludewhether an intake of trans fatty acids from ruminants generates an effect on the bloodlipid profile of healthy men and women.Search strategyRCT articles were obtained through searches in databases such as PubMed, The CochraneLibrary, and Scopus. Keywords used were "ruminants" AND "Cholesterol" AND "Trans FattyAcids" and "ruminants" AND "Blood Lipids" AND "Trans Fatty Acids".Selection criteriaInclusion criteria were RCT studies conducted on healthy people who did not receive medicationfor hyperlipidemia. Moreover, the results were to be based on fasting blood samples, where atleast ten hours of fasting preceded the analysis of the blood lipids.Data collection and analysisThe search generated eight studies. These were graded according to SBU:s Granskningsmall förrandomiserad kontrollerad prövning, after which four studies were selected.

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), as a consequence of atherosclerosis in the arteria of the limbs, affects one of ten Swedes older than 65. PAD can develop slowly and silently, and involves an increased risk for cardiac infarction and stroke. Measurement of the patient´s ankle blood pressure and calculation of the ankle-brachial index is an evidence-based method to discover PAD. Objective: To investigate how district nurses and general practitioners perceive this method of examination and experience possible obstacles to why it is not more commonly applied at primary health care centres. Method: Data collected by semi-structured interviews have been processed by qualitative content analysis with a manifest onset.

Sahlgrenska Academyat University of GothenburgDepartment of Internal Medicine and Clinical NutritionAbstractTitle: Whole fat versus low-fat dairy products for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. A systematic review.Author: Josefine Lindqvist, Robin Järnmark, Mathilde OhlinSupervisor: Mette AxelsenExaminer: Anna WinkvistProgramme: Dietician study programme, 180/240 ECTSType of paper: Examination paper, 15 hpDate: 2014-04-09BackgroundResearch indicates that dairy products seems to have a protective impact on the incidence of cardiovascular disease regardless fat content. Paradoxically the Nordic nutrition recommendations recommend an exchange of full fat dairy product to low-fat dairy products.ObjectiveThe aim of this review is to investigate whether the variation in fat content of dairy products have any bearing on the onset of cardiovascular disease. With regard to common risk markers for cardiovascular disease the outcome measures hypertension, hyperlipidemia and weight gain is examined.Search strategyThe searches were made in the databases Medline (23/1-14) and Scopus (6/2-14).Selection criteriaRestrictions: Human Studies, Adults, Randomized Controlled Trials, English.Data collection and analysisTwo RCTs were included. Validation of the separate studies was performed with SBU's review template for individual studies and GRADE was used for summarizing the evidence of outcome measuresMain resultsThe two included studies examined the outcome measures blood pressure, weight and blood lipids.

Sahlgrenska Academy at University of GothenburgDepartment of Internal Medicine and Clinical NutritionAbstractTitle: Changes in blood pressure by replacing regular coffee with decaffeinated coffee,in healthy, normotensive subjectsAuthor: Linnéa Adolfsson and Hillevi Pilgren SautterSupervisor: Lena HulthénExaminer: Anna WinkvistProgramme: Dietician study programme, 180/240 ECTSType of paper: Examination paper, 15 ECTSDate: April 12, 2012Background Hypertension is a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, which is themost common cause of premature death. Contributing factors to hypertension are genetics,lifestyle and nutrition. Earlier studies have shown that coffee may increase blood pressure.Objective To investigate the scientific basis whether replacing regular coffee with decaffeinatedcoffee would affect blood pressure in healthy, normotensive subjects.Search strategy Searches have been done in databases; PubMed and Scopus in February 2012.Keywords used were: ?coffee blood pressure?, ?coffee cardiovascular disease?, ? kaffeblodtryck?, ?kaffe hjärtkärlsjukdom?, ?coffee and decaffeinated coffee?, ?decaffeinated coffeeand blood pressure?, ?decaffeinated coffee and cardiovascular disease? and ?exchangedecaffeinated coffee?.Selection criteria Studies with healthy, normotesive subjects, >15 years old, BMI < 30, morethan one week of intervention, randomized controlled trails and human trials were included.Only trials using caffeine from coffee versus decaffeinated coffee and studies in English andSwedish were accepted. Exclusion criteria were other interventions such as weight loss, changesin diet, medications or stress tests.Data collection and analysis Studies were selected after inclusion and exclusion criteria.