| 1. |
- Annerbrink, Kristina, 1974, et al.
(author)
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Associations between the angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism and monoamine metabolite concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid
- 2010
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In: Psychiatry Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-7123 .- 0165-1781. ; 179:2, s. 231-234
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Angiotensin II has been suggested to influence central dopamine and serotonin turnover. Since the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) plays a key role in angiotensin regulation by converting inactive angiotensin 1 to active angiotensin II, we hypothesised that the functional insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the ACE gene, which has previously been suggested to be associated with, depression and panic disorder, may influence monoamine activity. A well-established technique for assessing brain monoamine turnover in humans is to measure concentrations of monoamine metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We thus investigated possible associations between the ACE I/D polymorphism and CSF monoamine metabolite concentrations in a population of healthy male subjects. After having found such an association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and CSF levels of the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid and the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in this sample, I carriers displaying lower levels, we tried to replicate this observation in a population of violent male offenders from which also both CSF and DNA were available. Also in this sample, the same associations were found. Our results suggest that the ACE I/D polymorphism may play a role in the modulation of serotonergic and dopaminergic turnover in men. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Asadzadeh, Mohammad, 1952, et al.
(author)
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Galerkin methods for primary ion transport in inhomogeneous media
- 2010
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In: Kinetic and Related Models. - : American Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS). - 1937-5093 .- 1937-5077. ; 3:3, s. 373-394
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper concerns the energy deposition of high-energy (e.g., approximate to 50 - 500 MeV) proton and carbon ions and high-energy electrons (of approximate to 50 MeV), in inhomogeneous media. Our goal is to develop a flexible model incorporated with the analytic theory for ions based on bipartition and Fokker-Planck developments. Both procedures are leading to convection dominated convection diffusion equations. We study convergence for semi-discrete and fully discrete approximations of a such obtained equation, for abroad beam model, using the standard Galerkin and streamline diffusion finite element methods. The analytic broad beam model of the light ion absorbed dose were compared with the results of the modified Monte Carlo (MC) code SHIELD-HIT+ and those of Galerkin streamline diffusion approach.
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| 3. |
- Asadzadeh, Mohammad, 1952, et al.
(author)
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Ion transport in inhomogeneous media based on the bipartition model for primary ions
- 2010
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In: Computers & Mathematics with Applications. - : Elsevier BV. - 0898-1221. ; 60:8, s. 2445-2459
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The present paper is focused on the mathematical modeling of the charged particle transport in nonuniform media. We study the energy deposition of high energy protons and electrons in an energy range of approximate to 50-500 MeV. This work is an extension of the bipartition model; for high energy electrons studied by Luo and Brahme in [Z. Luo, A. Brahme, High energy electron transport, Phys. Rev. B 46 (1992) 739-752] [42]; and for light ions studied by Luo and Wang in [Z. Luo, S. Wang, Bipartition model of ion transport: an outline of new range theory for light ions, Phys. Rev. B 36 (1987) 1885-1893]; to the field of high energy ions in inhomogeneous media with the retained energy-loss straggling term. In the bipartition model, the transport equation is split into a coupled system of convection diffusion equations controlled by a partition condition. A similar split is obtained in an asymptotic expansion approach applied to the linear transport equation yielding pencil beam and broad beam models, which are again convection diffusion type equations. We shall focus on the bipartition model applied for solving three types of problems: (i) normally incident ion transport in a slab; (ii) obliquely incident ion transport in a semi-infinite medium; (iii) energy deposition of ions in a multilayer medium. The broad beam model of the proton absorbed dose was illustrated with the results of a modified Monte Carlo code: SHIELD - HIT+.
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| 4. |
- Carén, Helena, 1979, et al.
(author)
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High-risk neuroblastoma tumors with 11q-deletion display a poor prognostic, chromosome instability phenotype with later onset.
- 2010
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In: PNAS. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 1091-6490 .- 0027-8424. ; 107:9, s. 4323-4328
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Analysis of chromosomal aberrations is used to determine the prognosis of neuroblastomas (NBs) and to aid treatment decisions. MYCN amplification (MNA) alone is an incomplete poor prognostic factor, and chromosome 11q status has recently been included in risk classification. We analyzed 165 NB tumors using high-density SNP microarrays and specifically compared the high-risk groups defined by MNA (n = 37) and 11q-deletion (n = 21). Median patient age at diagnosis was 21 months for MNA tumors and 42 months for 11q-deletion tumors, and median survival time after diagnosis was 16 months for MNA and 40 months for 11q deletion. Overall survival (at 8 years) was approximately 35% in both groups. MNA and 11q deletion were almost mutually exclusive; only one case harbored both aberrations. The numbers of segmental aberrations differed significantly; the MNA group had a median of four aberrations, whereas the 11q-deletion group had 12. The high frequency of chromosomal breaks in the 11q-deletion group is suggestive of a chromosomal instability phenotype gene located in 11q; one such gene, H2AFX, is located in 11q23.3 (within the 11q-deletion region). Furthermore, in the groups with segmental aberrations without MNA or 11q deletion, the tumors with 17q gain have worse prognosis than those with segmental aberrations without 17q gain, which have a favorable outcome. This study has implications for therapy in different risk groups and stresses that genome-wide microarray analyses should be included in clinical management to fully evaluate risk, aid diagnosis, and guide treatment.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Edén, Arvid, 1975, et al.
(author)
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Differential effects of efavirenz, lopinavir/r, and atazanavir/r on the initial viral decay rate in treatment naïve HIV-1-infected patients.
- 2010
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In: AIDS research and human retroviruses. - : Mary Ann Liebert Inc. - 1931-8405 .- 0889-2229. ; 26:5, s. 533-40
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Initial viral decay rate may be useful when comparing the relative potency of antiretroviral regimens. Two hundred twenty-seven ART-naïve patients were randomized to receive efavirenz (EFV) (n = 74), lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) (n = 77), or atazanavir/ritonavir (ATV/r) (n = 79) in combination with two NRTIs. The most frequently used NRTI combinations in the EFV and ATV/r groups were the nonthymidine analogues tenofovir and emtricitabine or lamivudine (70% and 68%, respectively) and, in the LPV/r group, lamivudine and the thymidine analogue zidovudine (89%). HIV-1 RNA was monitored during the first 28 days after treatment initiation. Phase 1 and 2 decay rate was estimated in a subset of 157 patients by RNA decrease from days 0 to 7, and days 14 to 28. One-way ANOVA and subsequent Tukey's post hoc tests were used for groupwise comparisons. Mean (95% CI) HIV-1 RNA reductions from days 0 to 28 were 2.59 (2.45-2.73), 2.42 (2.27-2.57), and 2.13 (2.01-2.25) log(10) copies/ml for the EFV-, LPV/r-, and ATV/r-based treatment groups, respectively, with a significantly larger decrease in the EFV-based group at all time points compared with ATV/r (p < 0.0001), and with LPV/r at days 7-21 (p < 0.0001-0.03). LPV/r gave a greater RNA decrease compared with ATV/r from day 14 (p = 0.02). Phase 1 decay rate was significantly higher in the EFV group compared with LPV/r (p = 0.003) or ATV/r (p < 0.0001). No difference was found in phase 2 decrease. EFV-based treatment gave a more rapid decline in HIV-1 RNA than did either of the boosted protease inhibitor-based regimens. The observed differences may reflect different inherent regimen potencies.
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| 7. |
- Flisberg, Anders, 1958, et al.
(author)
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Does indomethacin for closure of patent ductus arteriosus affect cerebral function?
- 2010
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In: Acta Paediatrica. - : Wiley. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 99:10, s. 1493-1497
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To study whether indomethacin used in conventional dose for closure of patent ductus arteriosus affects cerebral function measured by Electroencephalograms (EEG) evaluated by quantitative measures. Study design: Seven premature neonates with haemodynamically significant persistent ductus arteriosus were recruited. EEG were recorded before, during and after an intravenous infusion of 0.2 mg/kg indomethacin over 10 min. The EEG was analysed by two methods with different degrees of complexity for the amount of low-activity periods (LAP, "suppressions") as an indicator of affection of cerebral function. Results: Neither of the two methods identified any change in the amount of LAPs in the EEG as compared to before the indomethacin infusion. Conclusion: Indomethacin in conventional dose for closure of patent ductus arteriosus does not affect cerebral function as evaluated by quantitative EEG.
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| 8. |
- Hedelin, M., et al.
(author)
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Dietary intake of fish, omega-3, omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin D and the prevalence of psychotic-like symptoms in a cohort of 33 000 women from the general population
- 2010
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In: BMC Psychiatry. - 1471-244X. ; 10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Low intake of fish, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and vitamin D deficiency has been suggested to play a role in the development of schizophrenia. Our aim was to evaluate the association between the intake of different fish species, PUFA and vitamin D and the prevalence of psychotic-like symptoms in a population-based study among Swedish women. Methods: Dietary intake was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire among 33 623 women aged 30-49 years at enrolment (1991/92). Information on psychotic- like symptoms was derived from a follow-up questionnaire in the years 2002/03. Participants were classified into three predefined levels: low, middle and high frequency of symptoms. The association between diet and psychotic- like symptoms was summarized in terms of relative risks (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals and was evaluated by energy-adjusted multinomial logistic regression. Results: 18 411 women were classified as having a low level of psychotic- like symptoms, 14 395 as middle and 817 as having a high level. The risk of high level symptoms was 53% (95% CI, 30-69%) lower among women who ate fish 3-4 times per week compared to women who never ate fish. The risk was also lower for women with a high intake of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA compared to women with a lower intake of these fatty acids. The effect was most pronounced for omega-6 PUFAs. The RR comparing the highest to the lowest quartile of omega-6 PUFAs intake was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.64-0.97). The associations were J-shaped with the strongest reduced risk for an intermediate intake of fish or PUFA. For fatty fish (herring/mackerel, salmon-type fish), the strongest inverse association was found for an intermediate intake (RR: 0.81, 95% CI, 0.66-0.98), whereas a high intake of fatty fish was associated with an increased risk of psychotic- like symptoms (RR: 1.90, 95% CI, 1.34-2.70). Women in the highest compared with the lowest quartile of vitamin D consumption experienced a 37% (95% CI, 22-50%) lower risk of psychotic- like symptoms. Conclusion: Our findings raise a possibility that adult women with a high intake of fish, omega-3 or omega-6 PUFA and vitamin D have a lower rate of psychotic- like symptoms.
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| 9. |
- Henriksson, J., et al.
(author)
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A Model of Sympatric Speciation Through Reinforcement
- 2010
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In: Kinetic and Related Models. - : American Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS). - 1937-5093 .- 1937-5077. ; 3:1, s. 143-163
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Sympatric speciation, i.e. the evolutionary split of one species into two in the same environment, has been a highly troublesome concept. It has been a questioned if it is actually possible. Even though there have been a number of reported results both in the wild and from controlled experiments in laboratories, those findings are both hard to get and hard to analyze, or even repeat. In the current study we propose a mathematical model which addresses the question of sympatric speciation and the evolution of reinforcement. Our aim has been to capture some of the essential features such as: phenotype, resources, competition, heritage, mutation, and reinforcement, in as simple a way as possible. Still, the resulting model is not too easy to grasp with purely analytical tools, so we have also complemented those studies with stochastic simulations. We present a few results that both illustrates the usefulness of such a model, but also rises new biological questions about sympatric speciation and reinforcement in particular.
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| 10. |
- Jafari, Gholamali, et al.
(author)
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Genetics of extracellular matrix remodeling during organ growth using the Caenorhabditis elegans pharynx model.
- 2010
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In: Genetics. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1943-2631. ; 186:3, s. 969-82
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The organs of animal embryos are typically covered with an extracellular matrix (ECM) that must be carefully remodeled as these organs enlarge during post-embryonic growth; otherwise, their shape and functions may be compromised. We previously described the twisting of the Caenorhabditis elegans pharynx (here called the Twp phenotype) as a quantitative mutant phenotype that worsens as that organ enlarges during growth. Mutations previously known to cause pharyngeal twist affect membrane proteins with large extracellular domains (DIG-1 and SAX-7), as well as a C. elegans septin (UNC-61). Here we show that two novel alleles of the C. elegans papilin gene, mig-6(et4) and mig-6(sa580), can also cause the Twp phenotype. We also show that overexpression of the ADAMTS protease gene mig-17 can suppress the pharyngeal twist in mig-6 mutants and identify several alleles of other ECM-related genes that can cause or influence the Twp phenotype, including alleles of fibulin (fbl-1), perlecan (unc-52), collagens (cle-1, dpy-7), laminins (lam-1, lam-3), one ADAM protease (sup-17), and one ADAMTS protease (adt-1). The Twp phenotype in C. elegans is easily monitored using light microscopy, is quantitative via measurements of the torsion angle, and reveals that ECM components, metalloproteinases, and ECM attachment molecules are important for this organ to retain its correct shape during post-embryonic growth. The Twp phenotype is therefore a promising experimental system to study ECM remodeling and diseases.
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