INTRODUÇÃO: Avaliação da função diastólica de pacientes portadores de estenose ou insuficiência aórtica submetidos à troca valvar. OBJETIVOS: Avaliação da função diastólica através da análise do NTpró-BNP como método não invasivo para caracterização da insuficiência cardíaca diastólica, comparando com os dados ecocardiográficos através do Doppler Pulsado em Fluxo Mitral, Doppler Pulsado em Veias Pulmonares e Doppler Tecidual em portadores de IAO e EAO. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 63 pacientes, 32 pacientes com IAO (25 pacientes do sexo masculino e 7 do sexo feminino), 31 pacientes com EAO (11 pacientes do sexo masculino e 20 pacientes do sexo feminino). As variáveis foram comparadas na média entre os pacientes portador de IAO e EAO no pré e pós-operatório. RESULTADOS: A idade dos pacientes variou de 21 a 81 com média de 55 anos. Observa-se diferença quanto à média de idades entre as diferentes patologias (t-Student p< 0,0001). Os pacientes com IAO apresentam uma média de idade igual a 45,7±14,3 com variação entre 21 e 79 anos e os pacientes com EAO apresentam uma média de idade igual a 61,5±14,7 com variação entre 21 e 81 anos. Na IAO em relação à disfunção diastólica tivemos os seguintes dados com significância estatística do pré para o pós-operatório (6 meses): TRIV (p=0,0011), diferença entre Tempo de onda A mitral e onda A pulmonar (p=0,0097), Vol. Sistólico de AE (p=0,0019), Vol Sistólico de AE Indexado (0,0011), Vol. Diastólico de AE (p=0,0110), DDVE (p<0,0001), DSVE (p<0,0001), VSF (p<0,0001), VDF (p<0,0001), Massa Indexada de VE (p<0,0001) e Relação Volume/Massa do VE (p<0,0001). Na EAO em relação à disfunção diastólica tivemos os seguintes dados com significância estatística do pré para o pós-operatório (6 meses): E/E (p=0,0379), TRIV (p=0,0072), diferença entre o tempo de onda A mitral e tempo de onda A pulmonar (p=0,0176), Vol sistólico de AE(p=0,0242), Vol. Sistólico de AE indexado (p=0,0237), FEdeAE (p=0,0339), DDVE (p=0,0002), DSVE (p=0,0085), VDF (p=0,0194), Massa Indexada de VE (p<0,0001) e Relação Volume/Massa de VE(p<0,0001). O NTpró-BNP se correlacionou positivamente com os diversos graus de disfunção diastólica tanto no pré como pós-operatório CONCLUSÃO: Foram verificados no estudo da função diastólica variação com significância estatística tanto na IAO como na EAO na comparação do pré e o pós-operatório. Da mesma forma notamos variação do NT-proBNP com correlação com as variáveis ecocardiográficas que caracterizam a disfunção diastólica. / INTRODUCTION: Assessment of diastolic function in patients with aortic stenosis or aortic regurgitation waiting for aortic valve replacement. OBJECTIVE: Assesment of diastolic function with Doppler methods:Doppler signals from transvalvar mitral inflow, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and Doppler in pulmonary veins(DPV) correlating with serum brain peptide natriuretic (NTproNP) before and 6 months after aortic valve replacement (AVR). METHODS: We have analyzed 63 patients, 32 with AR (25 males and 7 females), 31 AS (11 males and 20 females).The indices were compared with AS and AR before and after AVR. RESULTS: The ages of patients ranged from 21 to 81 mean age was 55 years old.We have seen difference between mean age of AS and AR (t-Student-p<0.0001). Patients with AR have had mean age 45.67 plus/minus 14.28, range 21 to 79 years old and patients with AS have had mean age 61.50 plus/minus 14.72, range 21 to 81 years old. The patients who had AR the indices showed differences: Isovolumetric Relaxation Time IRT(p=0.0011), Diference between the pulmonary A wave duration and mitral A duration (p=0.0097), Left Atrial Systolic Volume (p=0.0019), Left Atrial Systolic Volume Index(p=0.0011), Left Atrial Diastolic Volume (p=0.0110), Left Ventricular Diastolic Diameter (p<0.0001), Left Ventricular Systolic Diameter (p<0.0001), End Systolic Volume (p<0.0001), End Diastolic Volume (p<0.0001), Left Ventricular Mass Index (p<0.0001) and Left Ventricular Volume and Left Ventricular Mass Index ratio (p<0.0001). Analyzing patients with AS the indices who showed differences: (The ratio of mitral velocity to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus) E/E (p=0.0379)(Isovolumetric Relaxation Time)(p=0.0072) IRT, Diference between the pulmonary A wave duration and mitral A duration (p=0.0176), Left Atrial Sistolic Volume (p=0.0242), Left Atrial Systolic Volume Index (p=0.0237), Left Atrial Ejection Fraction (p=0.0339) Left Ventricular Diastolic Diameter (p=0.0002), Left Ventricular Systolic Diameter (p=0.0085), End Diastolic Volume (LVEDV) (p=0.0194), Left ventricular Mass Index(p<0.0001), Left Ventricular Volume and Mass Index Ratio (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: As we studied diastolic function we have verified significant statistic variation in aortic regurgitation and aortic stenosis comparing before and after aortic valve replacement. Likewise we have seen there is correlation between NTproBNP and echocardiographic variables that show diastolic dysfunction.

L'innervation parasympathique du cœur est responsable de la régulation à court terme de la pression artérielle (PA), par le biais du contrôle battement par battement de la fréquence cardiaque. Une diminution de l'activité vagale est considérée comme indice de mauvais pronostic. La projection vagale du noyau ambigu sur le cœur constitue un chemin commun pour le baroréflexe cardiaque et le chemoreflexe de von Bezold Jarisch (BJ). Des mises au point récentes des techniques d'enregistrement extracellulaire des motoneurones cardiaques vagaux (CVM) chez le rat ont rendu un peu plus aisé l'exploration de ces deux réflexes. Ceci permet une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes et de sites d'action. 1) Un agoniste α-2 adrénergique, la clonidine, hypotenseur central, agit sur la régulation à court-terme de la PA. Le présent travail a montré une augmentation de l'activité unitaire des CVMs, et de la pente du baroréflexe cardiaque au niveau central (relation PA-CVM) quand la clonidine est administrée systémiquement, en dose croissante (10-100µg/kg i.v.). Une analyse approfondie de l'activité des neurones a révélé un nouveau mécanisme d'action de la clonidine via des décharges rapides (« doublet »). 2) Une peptide natriuretique de type B (BNP), utilisée dans le traitement de l'insuffisance cardiaque, a augmenté significativement la bradycardie et l'activité des CVMs lors de l'activation du réflexe BJ. La bradycardie, proportionnelle à l'activation vagale, fait conclure par logique soustractive que le site d'action du BNP est sur le bras afférent du réflexe. Une activation parasympathique centrale représenterait une solution dans le traitement des problèmes cardiovasculaires.

Bakgrunden till examensarbetet är att aktiviteter kopplat till den globala ekonomin samt tillväxt av denna har skapat en situation som i dagsläget inte uppfyller den ekologiska dimensionen av hållbarhet. Lösningar för att minska den miljöpåverkan som sker idag samtidigt som ekonomisk tillväxt sker har kritiserats och istället föreslås ekonomier med låg eller ingen tillväxt. Med bakgrund till detta har forskningsprojektet Bortom BNP-tillväxt startat och examensarbetet genomförs hos ekonomiska modeller som är ett av projektets arbetspaket.Syftet med examensarbetet är dels att utreda hur en eventuell hållbarhetsproblematik med en fortsatt BNP-tillväxt ser ut för att avgöra om en konflikt mellan ekonomisk och ekologisk hållbarhet existerar. Syftet går också ut på att simulera en neoklassisk jämviktsmodell för att studera hur en sådan reagerar för olika tillväxtscenarier (tillväxt, nolltillväxt och negativ tillväxt). För att avgöra detta studeras parametrarna BNP, konsumtion, investeringar, mängd kapital och mängd arbetade timmar. Tanken är att kartläggningen av en eventuell konflikt mellan ekologisk och ekonomisk hållbarhet i kombination med analysen av jämviktsmodellen ska kunna användas för att avgöra hur ekonomiska modeller som tar hänsyn till både den ekologiska och den ekonomiska dimensionen av hållbarhet ska kunna utformas.Huruvida en konflikt mellan den ekonomiska och ekologiska dimensionen av hållbarhet existerar utreds med hjälp av en litteraturstudie. Vidare ställs den neoklassiska jämviktsmodellen inte upp från grunden, istället används en redan färdig jämviktsmodell för den finska ekonomin som sedan utvecklas efter förutsättningar i svenska data. Modellen simuleras mellan 1990-2035 för scenarierna tillväxt, nolltillväxt och negativ tillväxt. Dessutom görs en simulering av nolltillväxt där arbetstiden successivt minskar.Litteraturstudien visar att en potentiell konflikt mellan den ekologiska och den ekonomiska dimensionen av hållbarhet existerar. Simuleringarna för den neoklassiska jämviktsmodellen ger tillförlitliga resultat för parametrarna BNP, konsumtion och mängd arbetade timmar. Modellens stora svaghet är dock investeringar som avviker i jämförelse med data, något som antagligen också är skälet till att mindre avvikelser uppkommer för mängden kapital.Jämviktsmodellen och litteraturstudien diskuteras sedan och slutsatsen dras att den största svagheten hos den neoklassiska jämviktsmodellen är att den inte tar hänsyn till naturresurser (inklusive energi) som produktionsfaktor samt hur föroreningar påverkar dessa. Ett förslag som i sin tur tas fram utifrån slutsatserna är att uppdatera ekonomiska modeller (exempelvis jämviktsmodellen) för att inkludera naturresurser som produktionsfaktor så att modellerna även tar hänsyn till den ekologiska dimensionen av hållbarhet. Resultatet av en sådan modell skulle sedan kunna användas för att kommunicera en optimal nivå på BNP och skapa konsensus mellan nationalekonomer, miljövetare och politiska beslutsfattare om hur en potentiell konflikt mellan ekonomisk och ekologisk hållbarhet kan hanteras. / The background to this master thesis is that the activities linked to the global economy and its growth has created a situation that currently does not uphold the ecological dimension of sustainability. Solutions to reduce the environmental impact of today while economic growth occurs has been criticized and instead economies with low or no growth have been proposed. With this in mind, the research project Beyond GDP growth have started. The master thesis is carried out for economic models which is one of the work packages within the project.The aim of the master thesis is partly to investigate the issue of sustainability with continued GDP growth to determine whether a possible conflict between economic and ecological sustainability exists. The objective is also to simulate a neoclassical equilibrium model for the Swedish economy to study its responses for different growth scenarios (growth, zero growth and negative growth). The parameters GDP, consumption, investment, amount of capital and amount of hours worked are studied. The idea is that the identification of a possible conflict between ecological and economic sustainability, combined with the analysis of the equilibrium model can be used to determine how economic models that take into account both the ecological and the economic dimension of sustainability could be designed.Whether a conflict between the economical and the ecological dimensions of sustainability exists is investigated with the help of a literature review. Furthermore, the neoclassical equilibrium model is not developed from scratch. Instead an already finished equilibrium model of the Finnish economy is used, which is then developed after prerequisites in the Swedish data. The model is then simulated in the time period 1990-2035 with scenarios for growth, zero growth and negative growth. Furthermore, a scenario of zero growth in which working hours are gradually decreases is simulated.The literature review indicates that a potential conflict between the ecological and the economical dimension of sustainability exist. The simulations of the neoclassical equilibrium model provides reliable results for the parameters GDP, consumption and amount of hours worked. The model's major weakness, however, is investments that differs in comparison with the data, which is probably the reason that minor deviations also occurs for amount of capital.The equilibrium model and the literature review are then discussed and the conclusion is made that the biggest weakness of the neoclassical equilibrium model is that it does not take into account natural resources (including energy) as a production function nor how pollutants affect them. A proposal which in turn is drawn up based on the conclusions is to update economic models (e.g. the equilibrium model) to include natural resources as a production factor so that the models also take into account the ecological dimension of sustainability. The result of such a model could then be used to communicate an optimal level of GDP and create consensus among economists, environmental scientists and policy makers about how a potential conflict between economic and ecological sustainability can be managed.

INTRODUÇÃO: Avaliação da função diastólica de pacientes portadores de estenose ou insuficiência aórtica submetidos à troca valvar. OBJETIVOS: Avaliação da função diastólica através da análise do NTpró-BNP como método não invasivo para caracterização da insuficiência cardíaca diastólica, comparando com os dados ecocardiográficos através do Doppler Pulsado em Fluxo Mitral, Doppler Pulsado em Veias Pulmonares e Doppler Tecidual em portadores de IAO e EAO. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 63 pacientes, 32 pacientes com IAO (25 pacientes do sexo masculino e 7 do sexo feminino), 31 pacientes com EAO (11 pacientes do sexo masculino e 20 pacientes do sexo feminino). As variáveis foram comparadas na média entre os pacientes portador de IAO e EAO no pré e pós-operatório. RESULTADOS: A idade dos pacientes variou de 21 a 81 com média de 55 anos. Observa-se diferença quanto à média de idades entre as diferentes patologias (t-Student p< 0,0001). Os pacientes com IAO apresentam uma média de idade igual a 45,7±14,3 com variação entre 21 e 79 anos e os pacientes com EAO apresentam uma média de idade igual a 61,5±14,7 com variação entre 21 e 81 anos. Na IAO em relação à disfunção diastólica tivemos os seguintes dados com significância estatística do pré para o pós-operatório (6 meses): TRIV (p=0,0011), diferença entre Tempo de onda A mitral e onda A pulmonar (p=0,0097), Vol. Sistólico de AE (p=0,0019), Vol Sistólico de AE Indexado (0,0011), Vol. Diastólico de AE (p=0,0110), DDVE (p<0,0001), DSVE (p<0,0001), VSF (p<0,0001), VDF (p<0,0001), Massa Indexada de VE (p<0,0001) e Relação Volume/Massa do VE (p<0,0001). Na EAO em relação à disfunção diastólica tivemos os seguintes dados com significância estatística do pré para o pós-operatório (6 meses): E/E (p=0,0379), TRIV (p=0,0072), diferença entre o tempo de onda A mitral e tempo de onda A pulmonar (p=0,0176), Vol sistólico de AE(p=0,0242), Vol. Sistólico de AE indexado (p=0,0237), FEdeAE (p=0,0339), DDVE (p=0,0002), DSVE (p=0,0085), VDF (p=0,0194), Massa Indexada de VE (p<0,0001) e Relação Volume/Massa de VE(p<0,0001). O NTpró-BNP se correlacionou positivamente com os diversos graus de disfunção diastólica tanto no pré como pós-operatório CONCLUSÃO: Foram verificados no estudo da função diastólica variação com significância estatística tanto na IAO como na EAO na comparação do pré e o pós-operatório. Da mesma forma notamos variação do NT-proBNP com correlação com as variáveis ecocardiográficas que caracterizam a disfunção diastólica. / INTRODUCTION: Assessment of diastolic function in patients with aortic stenosis or aortic regurgitation waiting for aortic valve replacement. OBJECTIVE: Assesment of diastolic function with Doppler methods:Doppler signals from transvalvar mitral inflow, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and Doppler in pulmonary veins(DPV) correlating with serum brain peptide natriuretic (NTproNP) before and 6 months after aortic valve replacement (AVR). METHODS: We have analyzed 63 patients, 32 with AR (25 males and 7 females), 31 AS (11 males and 20 females).The indices were compared with AS and AR before and after AVR. RESULTS: The ages of patients ranged from 21 to 81 mean age was 55 years old.We have seen difference between mean age of AS and AR (t-Student-p<0.0001). Patients with AR have had mean age 45.67 plus/minus 14.28, range 21 to 79 years old and patients with AS have had mean age 61.50 plus/minus 14.72, range 21 to 81 years old. The patients who had AR the indices showed differences: Isovolumetric Relaxation Time IRT(p=0.0011), Diference between the pulmonary A wave duration and mitral A duration (p=0.0097), Left Atrial Systolic Volume (p=0.0019), Left Atrial Systolic Volume Index(p=0.0011), Left Atrial Diastolic Volume (p=0.0110), Left Ventricular Diastolic Diameter (p<0.0001), Left Ventricular Systolic Diameter (p<0.0001), End Systolic Volume (p<0.0001), End Diastolic Volume (p<0.0001), Left Ventricular Mass Index (p<0.0001) and Left Ventricular Volume and Left Ventricular Mass Index ratio (p<0.0001). Analyzing patients with AS the indices who showed differences: (The ratio of mitral velocity to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus) E/E (p=0.0379)(Isovolumetric Relaxation Time)(p=0.0072) IRT, Diference between the pulmonary A wave duration and mitral A duration (p=0.0176), Left Atrial Sistolic Volume (p=0.0242), Left Atrial Systolic Volume Index (p=0.0237), Left Atrial Ejection Fraction (p=0.0339) Left Ventricular Diastolic Diameter (p=0.0002), Left Ventricular Systolic Diameter (p=0.0085), End Diastolic Volume (LVEDV) (p=0.0194), Left ventricular Mass Index(p<0.0001), Left Ventricular Volume and Mass Index Ratio (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: As we studied diastolic function we have verified significant statistic variation in aortic regurgitation and aortic stenosis comparing before and after aortic valve replacement. Likewise we have seen there is correlation between NTproBNP and echocardiographic variables that show diastolic dysfunction.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / infarction (MI) affects many parts of the western world and in South Africa alone it is estimated that MI is responsible for 1 in 6 deaths (17.3%). Traditional diagnostic methods for MI include an electrocardiograms and blood tests. The problem with these diagnostic methods are that they are time consuming, require large sample volumes, expensive equipment and complicated machinery. To achieve early detection of MI the discovery of specific, sensitive and reliable biomarkers are required. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been identified as a reliable biomarker for MI due to the fact that it has a defined cutoff of 100 pg/ml and it is not susceptible to patient‘s age which could make early detection of BNP complicated. Early detection methods for BNP has been based on immunoradiometric assays but problems associated with immunoradiometric assays are that there is a restricted availability of antigens and incubation of the labeled antibody could take up to two weeks which affects the patients waiting time on results. Electrochemical biosensors are emerging as early detection method for MI because they can be designed to be sensitive, specific to BNP at a low cost. This research study reported for the first the successful fabrication and implementation of highly sensitive mercaptosuccinic acid capped nickel selenide quantum dots (MSA-NiSe2 QDs) aptasensor for the detection of BNP. The poly-dispersed MSA-NiSe2 QDs were synthesized via an inexpensive, simple and reproducible aqueous microwave assisted irradiation method. The prepared MSA-NiSe2 QDs were characterized by Ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), High Resolution Transmission/Scanning Electron Microscopy (HR TEM/SEM) and Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXSpace). The electrochemical properties of the MSA-NiSe2 QDs were investigated by Cylic Voltammetry (CV) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). HR-TEM revealed the formation of small sized MSA-NiSe2 QDs about 4 nm in diameter which was complemented by SAXSpace. UV-Vis studies showed absorption peaks in the ultraviolet region (100-400 nm) confirming the small size of these QDs as well confirming the direct and indirect bandgap of the QDs. XRD confirmed that the QDs are crystalline and belong to the bulk cubic MSA-NiSe2 QDs phase. FTIR studies confirmed the successful capping of MSA on the QDs due to the disappearance of the thiol peak at 2652 cm-1. Electrochemical studies revealed that the MSA-NiSe2 QDs showed good electrochemical properties on screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) which allowed them to be used as a mediating platform between the aptamer and SPCE. The successful detection of BNP was achieved by an incubation process between the aptamer drop coated on the MSA-NiSe2 QDs/SPCE surface overnight. The response of the MSA-NiSe2 QDs based aptasensor towards different concentrations of BNP was studied by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). DPV showed a good linearly with correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.98. DPV also showed a high sensitivity (0.4513 μA/ pg/mL) towards detecting BNP with a detection limit of 11.93 pg/ml. The value of 11.93 pg/ml falls within the negative predictive value range of 10-100 pg/ml for early-stage diagnosis of BNP.

We estimate the effects of the landlocked dummy on inclusive improvements in living standards using the recently developed Inclusive Development Index (IDI). Utilizing cross-country regression models from recent literature, contributions of income, institutional quality, trade and relevant controls are used to examine the effects of the landlocked trap on inclusive development. Our findings indicate that institutions and geographical conditions have statistically significant effects on the IDI score, while we find no such effects from sea port access or trade. We relate these findings to recent literature and its relevance to poverty reduction in LLDCs. / Vi uppskattar effekterna av inlandstatsdummyn på inkluderande förbättringar avlevnadsstandarder genom det nyligen utvecklade inkluderande utvecklingsindexet IDI, Inclusive Development Index. Med hjälp av tvärsnittsregressionsmodeller från aktuell litteratur, använder vi oss av inkomst, institutionell kvalitet, handel och relevanta kontroller för att undersöka inlandsstatsfällans effekter på inkluderande utveckling. Våra resultat antyder att institutioner och geografiska förhållanden har statistiskt signifikanta effekter på ens IDI betyg, medan vi inte kan påvisa någon sådan effekt för varken hamnsstadsåtkomst eller handel. Vi knyter an dessa resultat till aktuell litteratur och dess relevans till fattigdomsbekämpning i kustlösa utvecklingsländer.

Bakgrund: Den ökade populariteten av ESG som investeringsgrund har gett upphov till en intressant diskussion kring huruvida ESG-betyg har en effekt på avkastning eller inte. En del forskning tar ståndpunkten att en hållbar profil med fokus på ESG påverkar avkastning positivt. De som associerar sig med denna ståndpunkt belyser att investerare kan influera arbete mot en hållbar framtid utan att det ska ge en negativ effekt i önskade avkastningskrav. Däremot finns en motpol i en del av forskningen som hävdar att ESG berör avkastning negativt. Därtill hävdar vissa studier att det finns en diskrepans mellan sektorer på marknaden gällande eventualiteten av ESG:s effekt på riskfyllda tillgångar. Därav är ämnet av intresse med anledning av den motstridiga forskningen angående effekten ESG-betyget har på avkastning.  Syfte: Uppsatsens syfte är att historiskt analysera ESG-betygets eventuella effekt på avkastningen för bolag noterade på OMX Stockholm Large Cap, för att utreda om ESG-betyg kan vara en drivande faktor. Studien har som delsyfte att undersöka om det råder några skillnader i hur ESG-betyget påverkar avkastning i olika sektorer. Metod: Studien har antagit en deduktiv ansats med en kvantitativ metod för att uppfylla syftet. Med grund i dessa metodval analyseras urvalet genom teoretiskt grundade variabler. Studien använder balanserad paneldata som karaktäriseras som kort panel. Resultat: Observerade resultat av rapporten understryker att ESG-betyg återger en försumbar effekt på avkastningen i samtliga regressioner. Koefficienterna för ESG-betygen är dock statistiskt icke-signifikanta. Således kan inte författarna fastställa ESG-betygets inverkan på avkastning för bolagen i urvalet. Däremot finns det tidigare forskning på området som finner liknande resultat som denna studie. / Background: The rising popularity of ESG investing has provided for an interesting deliberation whether the ratio influences stock returns or not. There are those who assert that emphasizing upon ESG yields higher stock returns for investors. Hence, reiterating that investors can contribute to a sustainable future without interfering with desired capital gains. However, there is research that indicates that the incorporation of ESG impedes potential stock returns. Furthermore, previous studies have indicated that there is a potential disparity between sectors of the market, meaning that ESG might have a varied effect. The topic is henceforth of interest due to the contradicting results regarding the effects of ESG on stock returns.  Aim: This study aims to analyze and clarify whether ESG-score is a determining factor in the return of stocks listed on OMX Stockholm Large Cap during the time period 2011-2019. The report will also investigate if there is a difference in its possible impact acrossvarious industries.  Methodology: The study has utilized a deductive and quantitative approach to effectuate the aim of the report. Furthermore, the report has used a balanced panel data with a short panel. Results: The results of the report emphasize that the ESG-score has a negligible effect on stock returns across all industries. However, the coefficients for the ESG-score are statistically insignificant, which means that no conclusion can be established regarding its effect on the selection of stocks listed on OMX Stockholm Large Cap. Nonetheless, there is previous research that supports the findings of the report.

A major objective of policy makers is to achive targeted economic growth. Given the role of financial institutions and banks in today´s economy several researchers studied the relationship between economic growth and profitability of banks. This tackles an important policy question, in order to understand the financial markets to prevent a crisis it is relevant for policy makers to understand the contribution of banks´profits in the economic growth. Can proftibale banks contribute to higher economic growth? This thesis aims to test the relationship between the profitability of banks and economic growth for countries within the European Union. To test this relationship this study uses panel data over 25 countries in the EU during the time interval 2010-2020. The used method is an econometric analysis where two regressions will be executed, an Ordinary Least Square regression and a regression that applies the use of a Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator. The results that the study demostreates are consistent with earlier literature, it presents evidence of a positive and statistically significant relationship between the profitability of banks (ROA) and economic growth. However, the results shows an uncertainty of the lagged value of the profitability of banks as insignificant results were obtained in both regressions.

No description available.

Background: The prognostic significance of chest pain is well established in patients with coronary artery disease, but still ill defined in primary prevention. Therefore, the aim of our analysis was to assess the prognostic value of different forms of chest pain in a large cohort of primary care subjects under the conditions of contemporary modalities of care in primary prevention, including measurement of serum levels of the biomarker NT-pro-BNP. Design: We carried out a post-hoc analysis of the prospective DETECT cohort study. Methods: In a total of 5570 unselected subjects, free of coronary artery disease, within the 55,518 participants of the cross-sectional DETECT study, we assessed chest pain history by a comprehensive questionnaire and measured serum NT-pro-BNP levels. Three types of chest pain, which were any chest pain, exertional chest pain and classical angina, were defined. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs = cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization procedures) were assessed during a 5-year follow-up period. Results: During follow-up, 109 subjects experienced a MACE. All types of reported chest pain were associated with an approximately three-fold increased risk for the occurrence of incident MACEs, even after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors. Any form of reported chest pain had a similar predictive value for MACEs as a one-time measurement of NT-pro-BNP. However, adding a single measurement of NT-pro-BNP and the information on chest pain resulted in reclassification of approximately 40% of subjects, when compared with risk prediction based on established cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusions: In primary prevention, self-reported chest pain and a single measurement of NT-pro-BNP substantially improve cardiovascular risk prediction and allow for risk reclassification of approximately 40% of the subjects compared with assessing classical cardiovascular risk factors alone.