Background: The aim of this thesis was to explore the association of the cortical architecture of the proximal femoral shaft with non-vertebral fractures. We tested the hypotheses that: (i) cortical parameters are associated with fracture risk independent of Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) or Garvan estimates, (ii) women with fractures that are unidentified by FRAX but identified by cortical ...

Today, the majority of testicular cancer patients are cured, and are expected to live 40 to 50 years after treatment. Some of these men experience late effects due to cisplatin treatment, of which second cancer and cardiovascular disease are among the most serious and potentially life threatening. Given the continuously increasing number of cancer survivors, in-depth investigations of treatment-induced ...

<p><i>Background/aims:</i> Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a rare life-threatening disease that does not easily lend itself to randomized controlled trials. Data regarding the effect of treatment advances in the recent decades is limited. Determinants of follow-up mortality are poorly understood. To include many patients and evaluate contemporary management of AAD, the International Registry ...

Steroid hormones and their receptors are vital for numerous physiological processes in the human body, but also related to the development of several malignancies. One such receptor strongly associated with prostate cancer, is the androgen receptor. Other steroid hormone receptors are also implicated in prostate cancer, their role, however, remains to be defined. Using immunohistochemistry and tissue ...

The present doctoral thesis examines screening and sex differences in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and how behavioral, developmental and temperamental features of males and females affect early identification of the disorder. The present doctoral thesis found marked sex differences across all three studies, and furthermore found evidence of difficulties at identifying all children with an ASD ...

Materials used in dentistry are largely polymer-resin based dental materials (PRMs). PRMs contain methacrylates and organic additives that may cause adverse effects in exposed patients and dental personnel. The purpose of this thesis was to study biological effects of one of the most commonly used methacrylate in PRMs, and to investigate how patients and dental health personnel may be exposed to ...

Background: Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia associated with increased mortality and morbidity. It increases the lifetime risk of stroke and heart failure and affects one’s quality of life and cognition. Objective: To investigate diastolic dysfunction as risk factor for AF and AF as a risk factor for stroke and cognitive decline. Methods: Participants from the Tromsø Study ...

BACKGROUND: Because of extended use of cerebral imaging, unruptured intracranial aneurysms are increasingly discovered as incidental findings. Management of unruptured aneurysms is controversial because patients and clinicians must weigh the risks of prophylactic endovascular or surgical treatment against the uncertain risk of rupture. We aimed to investigate the use of hemodynamic and morphological ...

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a collective term for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. VTE is the third most common cardiovascular disease, causing significant morbidity and mortality. The incidence of VTE has been stable or slightly increasing during the last decades, affecting 1-2 per 1000 individuals each year. Up to half of all VTE patients have no obvious cause of the disease. Thus, ...

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases rapidly with age, affecting more than one-third of people over 70 years old. The age-related glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline is an important risk factor for CKD and kidney failure. Identifying novel risk factors for early kidney disease, manifested as accelerated GFR decline or low-grade albuminuria, may suggest underlying pathologic ...