| 1. |
- Ambarki, Khalid, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of Automatic Measurement of the Intracranial Volume Based on Quantitative MR Imaging
- 2012
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Ingår i: American Journal of Neuroradiology. - : American Society of Neuroradiology. - 0195-6108 .- 1936-959X. ; 33:10, s. 1951-1956
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Brain size is commonly described in relation to ICV, whereby accurate assessment of this quantity is fundamental. Recently, an optimized MR sequence (QRAPMASTER) was developed for simultaneous quantification of T1, T2, and proton density. ICV can be measured automatically within minutes from QRAPMASTER outputs and a dedicated software, SyMRI. Automatic estimations of ICV were evaluated against the manual segmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 19 healthy subjects, manual segmentation of ICV was performed by 2 neuroradiologists (Obs1, Obs2) by using QBrain software and conventional T2-weighted images. The automatic segmentation from the QRAPMASTER output was performed by using SyMRI. Manual corrections of the automatic segmentation were performed (corrected-automatic) by Obs1 and Obs2, who were blinded from each other. Finally, the repeatability of the automatic method was evaluated in 6 additional healthy subjects, each having 6 repeated QRAPMASTER scans. The time required to measure ICV was recorded. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between reference and automatic (and corrected-automatic) ICV (P greater than .25). The mean difference between the reference and automatic measurement was -4.84 +/- 19.57 mL (or 0.31 +/- 1.35%). Mean differences between the reference and the corrected-automatic measurements were -0.47 +/- 17.95 mL (-0.01 +/- 1.24%) and -1.26 +/- 17.68 mL (-0.06 +/- 1.22%) for Obs1 and Obs2, respectively. The repeatability errors of the automatic and the corrected-automatic method were less than1%. The automatic method required 1 minute 11 seconds (SD = 12 seconds) of processing. Adding manual corrections required another 1 minute 32 seconds (SD = 38 seconds). CONCLUSIONS: Automatic and corrected-automatic quantification of ICV showed good agreement with the reference method. SyMRI software provided a fast and reproducible measure of ICV.
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| 2. |
- Lindqvist, Markus, et al.
(författare)
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Abdominal aortic aneurysm and the association with serum levels of Homocysteine, vitamins B6, B12 and Folate.
- 2012
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Ingår i: American Journal of Cardiovascular Disease. - 2160-200X. ; 2:4, s. 318-22
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Previous investigations have shown hyperhomocysteinemi in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). In the present study we evaluated the circulating level of homocysteine (Hcy) in relation to renal function, vitamins B6, B12 and folate status in AAA patients with special regard to aneurysm size, and rupture. Hcy, Creatinine, B6, B12 and folate were measured in 119 patients with AAA and 36 controls without aneurysm matched by age, gender and smoking habit. As expected there was a weak correlation between Hcy and vitamins B6, B12 or folate. We found similar levels of Hcy, B6 and folic acid in patients with nonruptured AAA compared to the control group matched by age, gender and smoking habit. There was no correlation between maximum diameter of the nonruptured AAA (n=78) and Hcy, B6 or folate. However, the present study shows a significant inverse correlation between maximum diameter of the nonruptured AAA (n=78) and B12 (r = -0.304, p=0.007) with significant higher levels in small AAA compared to large AAA. In conclusion, Hcy does not seem to be a useful biomarker in AAA disease. The unexpected finding of B12 levels correlating to aneurysm diameter warrants urgent further investigation of B12 supplement to prevent progression of small AAA.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Wu, Jun John, et al.
(författare)
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Increased plasma levels of the soluble Mer tyrosine kinase receptor in systemic lupus erythematosus relate to disease activity and nephritis
- 2011
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research and Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362 .- 1478-6354. ; 13:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Mer and Tyro3 are receptor tyrosine kinases important for the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. Together with Axl, they constitute the TAM receptor family. These receptors can be shed from the cell membrane and their soluble extracellular regions can be found in plasma. The objective of this study was to elucidate whether the plasma levels of soluble Mer (sMer) and Tyro3 (sTyro3) were increased in systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or critical limb ischemia (CLI). Methods: ELISA kits were used to test plasma concentrations in controls and in patients with SLE, RA or CLI. Results: Increased levels of, in particular, sMer and, to some extent, sTyro3, were found in patients with SLE or RA, but not in patients with CLI. Patients with SLE demonstrated the highest sMer levels and there was a strong correlation to higher SLE disease activity score (SLEDAI). In contrast, in patients with RA, the sMer levels did not correlate with the disease activity score (DAS). In SLE, sMer levels were particularly high in those with lupus nephritis, patients who also had decreased C1q levels and increased titers of anti-DNA antibodies. After therapy, the plasma concentrations of sMer decreased in parallel to the decrease in SLEDAI score. Conclusions: The plasma concentrations of sMer and sTyro3 were significantly increased in patients with active SLE and RA, suggesting the TAM receptor shedding was affected by these autoimmune diseases. In particular, sMer was increased in SLE, the plasma levels of sMer reflecting disease activity.
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| 5. |
- Brendler-Lindqvist, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Duration of residence and psychotropic drug use in recently settled refugees in Sweden - a register-based study
- 2014
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Ingår i: International Journal for Equity in Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-9276. ; 13, s. 122-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Recently settled refugee populations have consistently been reported to have high rates of mental health problems, particularly Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate psychotropic drug use among young adult refugees according to duration of residence during the first 10 years in Sweden. Methods: Cross-sectional register study of a national cohort of 43 403 refugees and their families (23-35 years old) from Iraq, Iran, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Afghanistan and a comparison population of 1.1 million Swedish-born residents. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between duration of residence in Sweden and the dispensing of at least one psychotropic medication during 2009 in four categories (any drug, neuroleptics, antidepressants and anxiolytics/hypnotics), adjusting for age, gender and domicile. Results: Rates of dispensed psychotropic drugs among recently settled refugees were low, compared to the Swedish-born, with an increase with duration of residence. For refugee men and women from Iraq/Iran who had resided for 0-3 years the adjusted ORs compared to Swedish natives, were 0.83 (95% CI 0.77-0.90) and 0.48 (0.44-0.53) respectively; for men and women from the Horn of Africa the ORs were 0.50 (0.42-0.61) and 0.36 (0.30-0.41) respectively. After 7-10 years of residence, the ORs in these refugee groups approached the Swedish comparison population. Refugees from Afghanistan presented ORs similar to the Swedish-born, with no consistent trend by duration of residence. Women from the Horn of Africa and Iraq/Iran consumed less psychotropic drugs compared with men from these regions of origin, relative to the Swedish-born (p < 0.01). The ORs for dispensed neuroleptics were similar between the different refugee study groups, while the ORs for dispensed antidepressants differed fourfold between the group with the lowest (Horn of Africa) and the highest (Afghanistan). Conclusion: The rates of dispensed psychotropic drugs in the newly settled refugee populations in this study were low, with an increase with longer duration of residence. This pattern suggests barriers to access mental health care. Interventions that can lower these barriers are needed to enable newly settled refugees to access mental health care on equal terms with the native population.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Ekberg, Anders, 1967, et al.
(författare)
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Identifying the root causes of damage on the wheels of heavy haul locomotives and its mitigation
- 2014
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. - : SAGE Publications. - 0954-4097 .- 2041-3017. ; 228:6, s. 663-672
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The paper illustrates how damage patterns in the form of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) on wheels, can be employed to identify and improve underlying operational conditions. The focus is on RCF of locomotive wheels operating on the Iron Ore Line in northern Sweden and Norway. Seasonal changes and damage patterns are charted. Potential root causes for observed damage patterns are identified and investigated. Mitigating actions are proposed and the efficiency of implemented actions is quantified.
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| 9. |
- Ekberg, Anders, 1967, et al.
(författare)
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Identifying the root causes of damage on the wheels of heavy haul wheel damage phenomena
- 2013
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 10th International Heavy Haul Conference (IHHA 2013), February 4–6, New Dehli, India. ; , s. 520-526
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The paper illustrates how damage patterns, in particular in the form of rolling contact fatigue (RCF), can be employed to identify underlying operational conditions. In particular the focus is on RCF of wheel occurring at the Iron Ore line in north Sweden and Norway. The paper charts seasonal changes and damage patterns, and potential root causes are identified and investigated. Finally mitigating actions are proposed.
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| 10. |
- Engvall, Christer, et al.
(författare)
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Can myocardial strain differentiate hypertrophic from infiltrative etiology of a thickened septum?
- 2011
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Ingår i: Echocardiography. - : Wiley. - 0742-2822 .- 1540-8175. ; 28:4, s. 408-415
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Septal systolic strain measurements showed reduced longitudinal function but its localized nature failed to demonstrate radial disturbances in patients with pathologically thickened septum. No difference was found in systolic strain between patients according to the etiology of septal thickness. This limitation might be either technical or is explained by the maintained radial function in all patient groups.
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