| 31. |
- Bergh, Cecilia, 1972-
(författare)
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Life-course influences on occurrence and outcome for stroke and coronary heart disease
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Although typical clinical onset does not occur until adulthood, cardiovascular disease (CVD) may have a long natural history with accumulation of risks beginning in early life and continuing through childhood and into adolescence and adulthood. Therefore, it is important to adopt a life-course approach to explore accumulation of risks, as well as identifying age-defined windows of susceptibility, from early life to disease onset. This thesis examines characteristics in adolescence and adulthood linked with subsequent risk of CVD. One area is concerned with physical and psychological characteristics in adolescence, which reflects inherited and acquired elements from childhood, and their association with occurrence and outcome of subsequent stroke and coronary heart disease many years later. The second area focuses on severe infections and subsequent delayed risk of CVD. Data from several Swedish registers were used to provide information on a general population-based cohort of men. Some 284 198 males, born in Sweden from 1952 to 1956 and included in the Swedish Military Conscription Register, form the basis of the study cohort for this thesis. Our results indicate that characteristics already present in adolescence may have an important role in determining long-term cardiovascular health. Stress resilience in adolescence was associated with an increased risk of stroke and CHD, working in part through other CVD factors, in particular physical fitness. Stress resilience, unhealthy BMI and elevated blood pressure in adolescence were also associated with aspects of stroke severity among survivors of a first stroke. We demonstrated an association for severe infections (hospital admission for sepsis and pneumonia) in adulthood with subsequent delayed risk of CVD, independent of risk factors from adolescence. Persistent systemic inflammatory activity which could follow infection, and that might persist long after infections resolve, represents a possible mechanism. Interventions to protect against CVD should begin by adolescence; and there may be a period of heightened susceptibility in the years following severe infection when additional monitoring and interventions for CVD may be of value.
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| 32. |
- Berglund, Carolina, 1980-
(författare)
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Molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus : epidemiological aspects of MRSA and the dissemination in the community and in hospitals
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Methicillin-resistenta Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) som bär på genen mecA, har förekommit och spridit sig över hela världen, främst i sjukhusmiljö, och orsakat utbrott av vårdrelaterade (så kallade nosokomiala) infektioner. Dessa infektioner kan inte behandlas med stafylokock-penicilliner och MRSA-bakterierna är ofta resistenta även mot flera andra grupper av antibiotika vilket medför att infektionerna ofta är påtagligt svårbehandlade. Under senare år har emellertid allt fler fall beskrivits av samhällsförvärvad MRSA infektion, det vill säga uppträdande av MRSA hos personer som tidigare ej har haft kontakt med sjukhusvård eller behandlats med antibiotika. Det har länge varit oklart om de samhällsförvärvade MRSA [community-acquired (CA-MRSA)] representerar spridning av bakterier från sjukhusmiljön ut till samhället eller om dessa MRSA är spontant uppträdande. Många av dessa stammar har dessutom visat sig bära på sjukdomsrelaterade gener som vanligen inte återfinns hos S. aureus, t.ex. Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL) som associeras med hudinfektioner och allvarlig lunginflammation med hög dödlighet hos unga och annars friska individer. Denna avhandling beskriver den molekylära epidemiologin hos MRSA med fokus på samhällsförvärvade MRSA som utgjorde mer än hälften av samtliga fall av MRSA i Örebro län och som dessutom ofta producerade PVL toxinet, vars funktion vidare analyserades i detalj. Undersökning av ursprung och släktskap hos samtliga MRSA som isolerats i Örebro län, samt karaktärisering av det genetiskt element som kallas staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) vilket innehåller genen mecA och ibland även andra resistensgener, visade att CA-MRSA inte är relaterade till de nosokomiala MRSA, och att dessa har uppstått oberoende av varandra. Flertalet MRSA visade sig dessutom bära på SCCmec, och resistensmekanismer, som tidigare inte beskrivits. Troligen har dessa MRSA uppstått genom ett genetiskt utbyte av SCCmec mellan methicillin-resistenta koagulas-negativa stafylokocker (MR-KNS), som utgör huvudparten av normalfloran på huden, och methicillin-känsliga S. aureus som därvid erhåller genen mecA och resistensmekanismer mot samtliga stafylokockantibiotika. I den här avhandlingen framläggs bevis för att ett sådant genetiskt utbyte har skett på Barnkliniken på Universitetssjukhuset i Örebro i slutet på 1990-talet, vilket resulterade i uppkomsten av en ny klon av MRSA som därefter orsakade ett allvarligt utbrott. Kartläggning av DNA-sekvensen hos flertalet unika SCCmec från svenska MRSA gav dessutom en bättre förståelse för hur resistens uppkommer och sprider sig, samt mekanismerna bakom detta. Dessa nya kunskaper kan bidra till en förbättrad diagnostik av MRSA. Detta är framför allt av stor betydelse eftersom nya effektiva kloner av MRSA verkar kunna uppstå ute i samhället med potential att orsaka svårbehandlade infektioner men även att sprida sig bland den friska befolkningen.
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| 33. |
- Björk, Tabita
(författare)
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Measuring eating disorder outcome : definitions, dropout and patients' perspectives
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Despite a plethora of research, there are serious limitations in our knowledge of outcome in eating disorders. Almost all studies have been compromised by the problem of treatment dropout or non-participation in follow-ups. There exists a lack of consensus in definitions of outcome and choice of outcome measures, and there is a dearth of studies focusing on how patients subjectively perceive recovery. The overall aim of this thesis was to address problems in measuring outcome after treatment for eating disorders, with an emphasis on methodological issues. Specific areas of investigation included non-participation in long-term follow-ups, the role of self-image in treatment dropout, outcome among patients who drop out, patients’ subjective perspectives of recovery, and the impact of different methods of measuring outcome. Method: Four quantitative studies (I, II, III and V) were conducted within the framework of a large Swedish multi-centre study of eating disorders, which adopted a prospective, longitudinal and naturalistic design. Study IV was a qualitative investigation encompassing interviews with former ex-patients who were considered recovered. Results: Study I suggested that the reasons for non-participation in research were mainly patient related (69%). Those declining further participation in follow-ups were reported significantly lower levels of obsession-compulsion and anxiety, while those not traceable reported significantly higher levels of hostility at admission. Study II suggested that patients who dropped out from treatment initially presented with less negative self-image and fewer psychological problems compared to those who remained in treatment. Low levels of self-blame discriminated dropouts from completers and remainers, and significantly predicted treatment dropout. Study III found no significant differences between dropouts and completers at follow-up, with the exception that dropouts were more dissatisfied with treatment. However, patterns of treatment response revealed that those who completed treatment made significantly greater changes in terms of reduced eating disorder symptoms, fewer psychological problems and a more positive self-image compared to dropouts. Study IV found that patients who had recovered from an eating disorder tended to describe other dimensions of outcome than those usually reported in follow-ups. Patients tended to view recovery in terms of being able to relate in a relaxed and accepting manner to food, their bodies, themselves as individuals, and their social environment. Some perceived recovery in terms of coping better with emotions, while others experienced themselves as healthier than people generally regarding food and weight. Study V applied some of the most frequently used outcome measures for eating disorders and found marked variations in the number of patients who could be considered in remission. Overall remission rates varied from 24.3% to 77.8%, depending on the outcome measure used. Discussion: The results suggest that non-participation and dropout are not unitary phenomena. There is also a need for greater consensus on how eating disorder outcome should be measured. This is necessary in order to make comparisons between different outcome studies meaningful, and to elucidate the overall picture of eating disorders outcome.
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| 34. |
- Björkenheim, Anna, 1980-
(författare)
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Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation : effects on rhythm, symptoms and health-related quality of life
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: AF ablation is an increasingly used treatment in patients with AF to improve patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Atrioventricular junction ablation (AVJA) is a palliative treatment option in therapy refractory AF that improves PROs but renders the patient pacemaker dependent.Aims: To evaluate rhythm control and PROs before and up to two years after AF ablation. To analyze the long-term incidence of and predictors of hospitalization for HF and all-cause mortality in patients who underwent AVJA and right ventricular pacing.Methods and Results: Fifty-four patients underwent AF ablation and both continuous rhythm monitoring via an implantable loop recorder (ILR) and intermittent rhythm monitoring three, six, 12 and 24 months after ablation. 76 % of patients had at least one AF recurrence, of whom 24 % were only detected by ILR. One third of symptom recordings did not show AF. The AF-specific AF6 scores, physician-assessed EHRA symptom class and both SF-36 summary scores all improved significantly from before to two years after ablation. There was a weak correlation between the change in AF6 scores and EHRA class from before to six and 12 months but not to 24 months after ablation. Responders to ablation (AF burden < 0.5 %), reached age- and sex-matched norms in all SF-36 domains, but non-responders only in social functioning and MCS. All AF6 scores showed at least moderate improvement in both responders and non-responders. Higher AF burden was independently associated with poorer PCS and AF6 scores. In 162 patients who underwent AVJA, hospitalization for HF occurred in 20 % of patients (two-year cumula-tive incidence 9.1 %) and 22 % died (two-year cumulative incidence 5.2 %) during a median follow-up of five years. QRS ≥ 120 ms and left atrial diame-ter were independent predictors of hospitalization for HF, and hypertension and previous HF of death.Conclusions: Continuous rhythm monitoring was superior to intermittent monitoring. The AF-specific AF6 was more sensitive to changes related to AF burden after AF ablation than both EHRA class and the SF-36. The long-term hospitalization rate for HF and all-cause mortality was low after AVJA.
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| 35. |
- Björkman Hjalmarsson, Louise, 1984-
(författare)
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Aspects of neonatal septicaemia : prevention and complications
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Study I was part of the Extremely Preterm Infants in Sweden Study (EXPRESS), a prospective national study including all infants born <27 weeks in Sweden in 2004-2007 that survived their first year of life (n=497). Neonatal sepsis was evaluated as a risk factor for neonatal morbidities. Definite sepsis was associated with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia and prolonged hospital stay, but not with a higher risk of retinopathy of prematurity or intraventricular haemorrhage.Study II was a non-randomized single-centre intervention study evaluating possible preventive effects on coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) sepsis when the scrub the hub method was used. During the intervention period, the incidence of CoNS sepsis decreased from 1.5% to 0% (CI: 0.53-2.58%, p=0.06).Study III was an in-vitro study evaluating leakage of isopropanol (IPA) and ethanol when alcohol caps and scrub the hub were used to disinfect hubs. Alcohol leakage was measured using gas chromatography. IPA was detected in all samples from cap circuits, and mean leakage increased over time. Ethanol levels were low, and scrub the hub therefore seems safe to use.Study IV was a survey study evaluating reported hygiene routines from Swedish neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) included in the EXPRESS study. Routines were compared between the EXPRESS period (2004- 2007) and 2013. Improvements were seen regarding basic hygiene routines, routines for work clothing, and follow-up of compliance. Antibiotic prophylaxis decreased while fungal prophylaxis increased, but the empiric treatment of suspected late-onset sepsis (LOS) showed heterogeneity.Study V investigated the association between incidence in LOS in the EXPRESS cohort and the hygiene routines previously evaluated in Study IV. Strict catheter routines, blood culture routines, and non-use of antibiotic prophylaxis were associated with decreased sepsis risk.
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| 36. |
- Björksved, Margitha, 1964-
(författare)
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Open vs closed exposure of palatally displaced canines : clinical, patient-related outcomes and health economics
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The maxillary permanent canine usually erupts in the mouth between the ages of 11 and 12 years. Sometimes the canines are displaced toward the palatal side of the dental arch and eruption is disturbed. Palatally displaced canines (PDCs) are a frequent dental anomaly, present in 2% of the young population. If untreated, there is risk of damage to the roots of the adjacent teeth and potential tooth loss. Thus, early interceptive treatment with extraction of the deciduous canine should be undertaken, with the aim to improve the PDC eruption path. If the eruption path does not improve within about a year, surgical exposure and orthodontic treatment is indicated.The two different main techniques of surgical exposure in PDCs are the open and the closed techniques. Retrospective studies of the exposure techniques have shown differences in outcomes, which high-lights the need for evidence-based research.The overall aim of this thesis was to compare outcomes of treatment duration, complications and side effects, patients’ perceptions and health economic aspects of the two surgical techniques, in PDCs. Moreover, a comparison of PDC position between the two radiographic methods commonly used in PDC cases; panoramic radiograph and CBCT, aimed to evaluate agreement between the actual measures. This thesis was based on a multicentre randomised controlled trial with two parallel groups, including 120 consecutive patients, aged 9 to 16 years, who were randomly allocated to open or closed surgical exposure. The following conclusions were drawn:The agreement of PDC mesiodistal position was fair (weighted kappa 0.36 (95%CI0.24–0.49) and the mean difference in angle to midline was almost 7˚ (95%CI 5.9˚–7.9˚) higher in panoramic radiographs compared with CBCT. Surgery time, treatment time, root resorption or periodontal measures showed no clinically significant differences between the exposure groups. The open group reported higher pain intensity up to one week post surgery. A higher proportion of bilateral open group cases experienced complications, and weremore frequently wakened at night post surgery. The closed group reported higher pain and discomfort during the orthodontic traction. All PDCs were successfully aligned in the dental arch. A cost-minimization analysis showed no differences in healthcare or societal costs.
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| 37. |
- Bohr Mordhorst, Louise, 1958-
(författare)
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Predictive and prognostic factors in cervical carcinomas treated with (chemo-) radiotherapy
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- A series of 131 women with cervical carcinoma FIGO stage I-IV were treated with external radiotherapy and intracavitary brachytherapy. In 47 patients (36%) concomitant chemotherapy was given. One hundred and twenty-one tumors (92%) achieved complete remission. Addition of chemotherapy increased primary cure rate to 98%. Tumor stage, tumor size, and histology were significant predictive factors for primary cure. Treatment related factors were: brachytherapy dose and interruption of irradiation.Thirty-nine recurrences (30%) were recorded. Tumor stage, histology, and concomitant chemotherapy were significant predictive factors.The 5-year cancer-specific survival rate of the complete series was 65%. Tumor size was a strong prognostic factor in multivariate analysis.Serum samples from 44 patients were analyzed. Ten candidate biomarker proteins with regard to tumor recurrences were identified.Five Hedgehog proteins were analyzed with immunohistochemistry. Residual tumor, local and distant recurrences and survival rate were associated with PTCH, SMO and GLI2. In the Wnt-β-catenin study intense staining of the membranes and nuclear staining > 5% were of significant predictive and prognostic value. Intense nuclear APC staining was associated with recurrences and cancer-specific survival rate.Conclusion: Histology, tumor size and brachytherapy dose were important clinical predictive and prognostic factors. Multiprotein analysis identified ten biomarker proteins associated with tumor recurrences. Three proteins (PTCH, SMO, and GLI2) in the Hedgehog pathway were of predictive and prognostic value. In the Wnt-β-catenin pathway intensity of β-catenin membrane staining and accumulation in the nuclei as well as nuclear APC-expression were of predictive and prognostic value.
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| 38. |
- Bozorg, Soran Rabin, 1993-
(författare)
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Various Aspects of Gastrointestinal Disease : Examining Validity and Health Economic Outcomes
- 2022
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction: Recent years have seen significant research advances within the gastroenterological field. Some of these consist of the recognition of serrated polyps as a precursor to colorectal cancer, and the realization of the health economic burden associated with gastrointestinal diseases.Aim: In this thesis, we aim to validate the specificity of serrated polyps in the ESPRESSO cohort (Paper I). We also aim to estimate work loss in patients with celiac disease, including the temporal relationship of work loss before and after diagnosis (Paper II).Method: By using the ESPRESSO cohort, we collected data on patients with serrated polyps and patients with celiac disease. In Paper I, the specificity of serrated polyps in the ESPRESSO cohort were validated by a structured retrospective review of patient chart. In Paper II, we estimated work loss in patients with celiac disease as compared withgeneral-population comparators matched on age, sex, county of residence and year of diagnosis.Result: The presence of a serrated polyp was confirmed in 101 out of 106 individuals identified through the ESPRESSO cohort, yielding a positive predictive value of 95% (95% confidence interval: 89-98%). Patients with celiac disase had 42.5 lost work days as compared to 28.6 days in comparators (mean difference, 14.7; 95% confidence interval, 13.2-16.2), corresponding to a relative increase of 49%. Excess work loss in patients with celiac disease was observed even 5 years before diagnosis and remained eleveated during the years after diagnosis this loss. Notebly, the excess work loss was concentrated to a small proportion while most celiac patients did not have any work loss before or after diagnosis. Conclusion: The ESPRESSO cohort has a high specificity for serrated polyps. Patients with celiac disease miss more work days than the general population even before diagnosis, and this loss persists after diagnosis.
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| 39. |
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| 40. |
- Brocki, Barbara C, 1957-
(författare)
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Physiotherapy interventions and outcomes following lung cancer surgery
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the effect of exercise training and inspiratory muscle training and to describe pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, physical performance and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following lung cancer surgery.Study I was a randomised controlled trial including 78 patients radically operated for lung cancer. The intervention group received 10 sessions of supervised exercise training in addition to home-based exercise; the control group was instructed on home-exercise alone. Supervised compared to non-supervised exercise training did not result in differences between groups in HRQoL, except for the SF-36 bodily pain domain four months after the surgery. No effects of supervised training were found for any outcome after one year.Study II was descriptive and was based on the study I sample. We evaluated the course of recovery of HRQoL and physical performance up to one year following surgery. All patients improved HRQoL and physical performance one year after the surgery, reaching values comparable to a reference healthy population. The walked distance was positively associated with the SF-36 domain for physical functioning.Study III was descriptive, included 81 patients and evaluated the influence of surgery on respiratory muscle strength, lung function and physical performance two weeks and six months after surgery. We found that respiratory muscle strength was not affected after the second postoperative week and that muscle-sparring thoracotomy did not deteriorate respiratory muscle strength, compared to video-assisted thoracic surgery. Compared to preoperative values, physical performance was recovered, whereas lung function remained reduced six months postoperatively.Study IV was a randomised controlled trial including 68 patients at high risk of developing postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC). This study evaluated the effects of two weeks of postoperative inspiratory muscle training in addition to breathing exercises and early mobilisation on respiratory muscle strength and the incidence of PPC. Additional inspiratory muscle training did not increase respiratory muscle strength, but improved postoperative oxygenation. Respiratory muscle strength was recovered in both groups two weeks postoperatively.
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