| 51. |
- Bergh, Andreas, et al.
(författare)
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Liberalization without Retrenchment: Understanding the Consensus on Swedish Welfare State Reforms
- 2009
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Political Studies. - : Wiley. - 0080-6757 .- 1467-9477. ; 32:1, s. 71-93
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 1980, Sweden was a highly regulated economy with several state monopolies and low levels of economic freedom. Less than twenty years later, liberal reforms turned Sweden into one of the world's most open economies with a remarkable increase in economic freedom. While there is resilience when it comes to high levels of taxes and expenditure shares of GDP, there has been a profound restructuring of Sweden's economy in the 1980s and 1990s that previous studies have under-estimated. Furthermore, the degree of political consensus is striking, both regarding the welfare state expansions that characterized Sweden up to 1980, as well as the subsequent liberalizations. Since established theories have difficulties explaining institutional change, this article seeks to understand how the Swedish style of policy making produced this surprising political consensus on liberal reforms. It highlights the importance of three complementary factors: policy making in Sweden has always been influenced by, and intimately connected to, social science; government commissions have functioned as `early warning systems', pointing out future challenges and creating a common way to perceive problems; and, as a consequence, political consensus has evolved as a feature of Swedish style of policy making. The approach to policy making has been rationalistic, technocratic and pragmatic. The article concludes that the Swedish style of policy making not only explains the period of welfare state expansion - it is also applicable to the intense reform period of the 1980s and 1990s.
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| 52. |
- Berglund, Pontus, et al.
(författare)
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Cyclin E confers a prognostic value in premenopausal breast cancer patients with tumours exhibiting an infiltrative growth pattern
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Pathology. - : BMJ. - 0021-9746 .- 1472-4146. ; 61:2, s. 184-191
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims: To investigate the prognostic value of cyclin E in relation to tumour growth pattern by analysing stage II primary breast cancers from premenopausal women not subjected to any further adjuvant treatment. To analyse the value of cyclin E as a predictor of tamoxifen response, by comparing untreated and treated patients with oestrogen receptor positive tumours. Methods: Breast cancer samples, assembled in tissue microarrays, were immunohistochemically stained for cyclin E and evaluated regarding the presence of nuclear staining. The overall growth characteristics of each tumour were assessed using whole tissue sections. Results: Tumours displaying a pushing margin phenotype were strongly associated with high cyclin E levels, lymph node negative disease, a high histological grade and oestrogen receptor negativity, and exhibited a better prognosis compared to tumours with an infiltrative growth pattern. In the total cohort of non-treated patients (n = 187), cyclin E was not associated with recurrence free survival (RFS). However, when analysing the subgroup of tumours lacking a pushing growth pattern (n = 141), cyclin E was significantly associated with RFS, independent of histological grade and node status. There was no significant difference in tamoxifen response with regard to different cyclin E levels. Conclusion: The prognostic value of cyclin E in premenopausal breast cancer is limited to patients with breast carcinomas exhibiting an exclusively infiltrative growth pattern. This limitation could be explained by the presence of a small but distinct subgroup of cyclin E-high breast cancers with a pushing margin phenotype and a more favourable outcome.
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| 53. |
- Bergquist, Annika, et al.
(författare)
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Increased risk of primary sclerosing cholangitis and ulcerative colitis in first-degree relatives of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis
- 2008
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Ingår i: Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. - New York : Elsevier. - 1542-3565 .- 1542-7714. ; 6:8, s. 939-943
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background & Aims: The importance of genetic factors for the development of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is incompletely understood. This study assessed the risk of PSC and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among first-degree relatives of patients with PSC, compared with the first-degree relatives of a cohort without PSC. Methods: Subjects from the national Swedish cohort of PSC patients (n = 678) were matched for date of birth, sex, and region to up to 10 subjects without a diagnosis of PSC (n = 6347). Linkage through general population registers identified first-degree relatives of subjects in both the PSC and comparison cohorts (n = 34,092). Diagnoses among first-degree relatives were identified by using the Inpatient Register. Results: The risk of cholangitis was statistically significantly increased in offspring, siblings, and parents of the PSC patient cohort, compared with relatives of the comparison cohort, with the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals, 11.5 (1.6–84.4), 11.1 (3.3–37.8), and 2.3 (0.9–6.1), respectively. The hazard ratios for ulcerative colitis (UC) among first-degree relatives of all PSC patients was 3.3 (2.3–4.9) and for Crohn's disease 1.4 (0.8–2.5). The risk of UC for relatives of PSC patients without IBD was also increased, 7.4 (2.9–18.9). Conclusions: First-degree relatives of patients with PSC run an increased risk of PSC, indicating the importance of genetic factors in the etiology of PSC. First-degree relatives of PSC patients without IBD are also at an increased risk of UC, which might indicate shared genetic susceptibility factors for PSC and UC.
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| 54. |
- Berndes, Göran, 1966, et al.
(författare)
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Multifunctional biomass production systems - an overview with presentation of specific applications in India and Sweden
- 2008
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Ingår i: Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining. - : Wiley. - 1932-104X .- 1932-1031. ; 2:1, s. 16-25
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This perspective discusses multi-functional biomass production systems, which are located, designed, integrated and managed so as to provide specific environmental services, in addition to biomass supply. Besides discussing the general concept and outlining a range of different possible applications, we present in somewhat more detail specific applications of such systems for the cases of Sweden and India. The overall conclusion is that the environmental benefits from a large-scale establishment of multi-functional biomass production systems could be substantial. Given that suitable mechanisms to put a premium on the provided environmental services can be identified and implemented, additional revenues can be linked to biomass production systems and this could enhance the socioeconomic attractiveness and significantly improve the competitiveness of the produced biomass on the market. The provision of additional environmental services also contributes to local sustainable development, which is in many cases a prerequisite for local support for the production systems.
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| 55. |
- Bistoletti, P., et al.
(författare)
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Cost-effectiveness of primary cytology and HPV DNA cervical screening
- 2008
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cancer. - : Wiley. - 0020-7136 .- 1097-0215. ; 122:2, s. 372-376
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Because cost-effectiveness of different cervical cytology screening strategies with and without human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing is unclear, we used a Markov model to estimate life expectancy and health care cost per woman during the remaining lifetime for 4 screening strategies: (i) cervical cytology screening at age 32, 35, 38, 41, 44, 47, 50, 55 and 60, (ii) same strategy with addition of testing for HPV DNA persistence at age 32, (iii) screening with combined cytology and testing for HPV DNA persistence at age 32, 41 and 50, iv) no screening. Input data were derived from population-based screening registries, health-service costs and from a population-based HPV screening trial. Impact of parameter uncertainty was addressed using probabilistic multivariate sensitivity analysis. Cytology screening between 32 and 60 years of age in 3-5 year intervals increased life expectancy and life-time costs were reduced from 533 to 248 US Dollars per woman compared to no screening. Addition of HPV DNA testing, at age 32 increased costs from 248 to 284 US Dollars without benefit on life expectancy. Screening with both cytology and HPV DNA testing, at ages 32, 41 and 50 reduced costs from 248 to 210 US Dollars with slightly increased life expectancy. In conclusion, population-based, organized cervical cytology screening between ages 32 to 60 is highly cost-efficient for cervical cancer prevention. If screening intervals are increased to at least 9 years, combined cytology and HPV DNA screening appeared to be still more effective and less costly. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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| 56. |
- Bivalacqua, Trinity J., et al.
(författare)
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Dysregulation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase 1 (PKG-1) impairs erectile function in diabetic rats: influence of in vivo gene therapy of PKG1 alpha
- 2007
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Ingår i: BJU International. - 1464-4096 .- 1464-410X. ; 99:6, s. 1488-1494
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To investigate the expression of cGMP-dependent protein kinase 1 (PKG1)alpha and PKG1 beta in the corpus cavernosum, and to evaluate the effect of adenoviral gene transfer of PKG1 alpha to the erectile compartment on erectile function in a rat model of diabetes. Diabetic (DM; induced by streptozotocin) male Sprague Dawley rats were transfected with adenoviruses (AdCMV beta gal or AdCMVPKG1 alpha, in 10 rats each) 2 months after the induction of DM. Intracavernosal pressure (ICP) during stimulation of the cavernosal nerve (CN) was assessed, and compared with mean arterial pressure (MAP). Erectile tissue was harvested for Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry and total PKG activity. Ten age-matched rats without DM served as the control. Compared to controls, AdCMV beta gal-transfected DM rats had significantly lower peak ICP responses, ICP/MAP ratios, and filling rates during CN stimulation. In DM rats transfected with AdCMVPKG1 alpha, peak ICP, ICP/MAP ratios and filling rates were significantly better than in DM rats transfected with the reporter gene. As assessed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, expression of PKG1 alpha and PKG1 beta was lower in corporal tissue from DM AdCMV beta gal-transfected rats than in controls. PKG1 alpha expression was improved after AdCMVPKG1 alpha gene therapy. Total PKG activity was lower in DM rat corporal tissue than in controls, and PKG1 alpha gene transfer significantly improved DM corporal PKG activity to a value greater than in the control. PKG1 alpha and PKG1 beta activities are reduced in the erectile tissue of the diabetic rat, and gene transfer of PKG1 alpha to the penis restored PKG activity and erectile function in vivo in diabetic rats. Gene therapy procedures targeting PKG1 alpha might be an interesting future therapeutic approach to overcome diabetic erectile dysfunction resistant to oral pharmacotherapy.
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| 57. |
- Bjarnegård, Niclas, et al.
(författare)
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Increased aortic pulse wave velocity in middle-aged women with systemic lupus erythematosus
- 2006
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Ingår i: Lupus. - : SAGE Publications. - 0961-2033 .- 1477-0962. ; 15:10, s. 644-650
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a connective tissue disease where inflammatory activity affects several organ systems. An increased risk of cardiovascular disease has been identified in these patients, even after correction for traditional risk factors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate arterial stiffness and central hemodynamics in women with SLE in comparison to controls. Arterial tonometry was used to measure aortic (carotid-femoral) and arm (carotid-radial) pulse wave velocity (PWV), reflected pressure waves, and aortic augmentation index (AIx) in 27 women with SLE (52 to 68 years) and 27 controls. Aortic PWV was higher in women with SLE than controls, 9.8 m/s versus 8.2 m/s (P 0.01), after correction for mean arterial pressure and body mass index, 9.5 m/s versus 8.5 m/s (P 0.05). Other parameters were similar, arm PWV, 8.4 versus 8.5 m/s, AIx 34 versus 33% and calculated central aortic pulse pressure 48 versus 43 mmHg, in SLE and controls, respectively (NS). Aortic PWV was positively associated to C-reactive protein (CRP) and complement factor 3 (C3). Women with SLE have increased stiffness of their elastic central arteries. This may be one factor contributing to the increased cardiovascular risk seen in this cohort.
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| 58. |
- Bjornsson, Einar, et al.
(författare)
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Health-related quality of life in patients with different stages of liver disease induced by hepatitis C
- 2009
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Ingår i: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0036-5521 .- 1502-7708. ; 44:7, s. 878-887
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. Patients with hepatitis C have been shown to have impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to determine HRQoL in patients in different stages of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and to compare HRQoL in HCV cirrhosis with non-HCV-induced cirrhosis. Material and methods. Out of 489 consecutive patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 472 (96%) agreed to participate in the study: 158 patients with mild/moderate fibrosis with chronic hepatitis C (CHC group), 76 patients with HCV compensated cirrhosis (CC), 53 patients with HCV decompensated (DC) cirrhosis, 52 non-cirrhotic patients with sustained viral response (SVR), and a control group consisting of 32 patients with non-HCV CC and 101 with non-HCV DC who completed the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and EQ-5D questionnaire. Results. The CHC group had significantly lower SF-36 scores than healthy controls, with the exception of scores for the dimensions physical function and bodily pain. HCV patients with DC had lower scores in all SF-36 dimensions in comparison with those of the CHC group, as well as in physical and mental component summaries (Pandlt;0.001). In comparison with the CHC group, the HCV CC group had lower scores on the SF-36 general health dimension (p andlt;0.05) and lower SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) scores (p andlt;0.05). No major differences were seen in patients with HCV- and non-HCV-induced cirrhosis. Conclusions. Impairment in HRQoL in patients with HCV was associated with the severity of liver disease, patients with decompensated cirrhosis exhibiting the highest impairment in HRQoL. The etiology of liver disease does not seem to be important in determining HRQoL in cirrhosis.
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| 59. |
- Bjärehed, Jonas, et al.
(författare)
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Less Positive or More Negative? Future-Directed Thinking in Mild to Moderate Depression
- 2009
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Ingår i: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1651-2316 .- 1650-6073.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Depressed patients have been found to generate fewer anticipated positive future events, but most previous studies have included patients who have either been severely depressed or expressed suicidal thoughts and intents or both. The aim of this study was to compare positive and negative future-directed thinking in persons with mild to moderate depression who did not express suicidal thoughts or intents (n = 20) with a matched group of nondepressed persons (n = 20). The two groups completed the Future-Thinking Task (FTT), in which they were asked to generate positive and negative anticipated future events for three upcoming time periods (1 week, 1 year, and 5-10 years). In the present version of the FTT, both quantitative and qualitative aspects were included (i.e. subjective likelihood and emotional valence). Results showed that depressed persons reported lower scores regarding anticipated future positive events but they did not differ in terms of future negative events. The results are consistent with previous research and further strengthen the notion that reduced anticipation of future positive events is a defining characteristic of depression, even in the absence of suicidal ideation.
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| 60. |
- Björk, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Oligothiophene Assemblies Defined by DNA Interaction : From Single Chains to Disordered Clusters
- 2009
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Ingår i: SMALL. - : Wiley. - 1613-6810 .- 1613-6829. ; 5:1, s. 96-103
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The organization of conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) interacting with biomolecules sets conditions for the biodetection of biological processes and identity, through the use of optical emission from the CPE. Herein, a well-defined CPE and its binding to DNA is studied. By using dynamic light scattering and circular dichroism spectroscopy, it is shown that the CPE forms a multimolecule ensemble in aqueous solution that is more than doubled it? size when interacting with a small DNA chain, while single chains are evident in ethanol. The related changes in the fluorescence spectra upon polymer aggregation are assigned to oscillator strength redistribution between vibronic transitions in weakly coupled H-aggregates. An enhanced single-molecule spectroscopy technique that allows full control of excitation and emission light polarization is applied to combed and decorated;,DNA chains. It is found that the organization of combed CPE-lambda DNA complexes (when dry on the surface) allows considerable variation of CPE distances and direction relative to the DNA chain. By analysis of the polarization data. energy transfer between the polymer chains in individual complexes is confirmed and their sizes estimated.
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