| 11. |
- Ferro, Ana, et al.
(author)
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Tobacco smoking and gastric cancer: : meta-analyses of published data versus pooled analyses of individual participant data (StoP Project).
- 2018
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In: European Journal of Cancer Prevention. - 0959-8278 .- 1473-5709. ; 27:3, s. 197-204
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Tobacco smoking is one of the main risk factors for gastric cancer, but the magnitude of the association estimated by conventional systematic reviews and meta-analyses might be inaccurate, due to heterogeneous reporting of data and publication bias. We aimed to quantify the combined impact of publication-related biases, and heterogeneity in data analysis or presentation, in the summary estimates obtained from conventional meta-analyses. We compared results from individual participant data pooled-analyses, including the studies in the Stomach Cancer Pooling (StoP) Project, with conventional meta-analyses carried out using only data available in previously published reports from the same studies. From the 23 studies in the StoP Project, 20 had published reports with information on smoking and gastric cancer, but only six had specific data for gastric cardia cancer and seven had data on the daily number of cigarettes smoked. Compared to the results obtained with the StoP database, conventional meta-analyses overvalued the relation between ever smoking (summary odds ratios ranging from 7% higher for all studies to 22% higher for the risk of gastric cardia cancer) and yielded less precise summary estimates (SE ≤2.4 times higher). Additionally, funnel plot asymmetry and corresponding hypotheses tests were suggestive of publication bias. Conventional meta-analyses and individual participant data pooled-analyses reached similar conclusions on the direction of the association between smoking and gastric cancer. However, published data tended to overestimate the magnitude of the effects, possibly due to publication biases and limited the analyses by different levels of exposure or cancer subtypes.
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| 12. |
- Fortner, Renee T., et al.
(author)
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Ovarian Cancer Risk Factor Associations by Primary Anatomic Site : The Ovarian Cancer Cohort Consortium
- 2020
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In: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. - : American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). - 1055-9965 .- 1538-7755. ; 29:10, s. 2010-2018
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers have shared developmental pathways. Few studies have prospectively examined heterogeneity in risk factor associations across these three anatomic sites.Methods: We identified 3,738 ovarian, 337 peritoneal, and 176 fallopian tube incident cancer cases in 891,731 women from 15 prospective cohorts in the Ovarian Cancer Cohort Consortium. Associations between 18 putative risk factors and risk of ovarian, peritoneal, and fallopian tube cancer, overall and for serous and high-grade serous tumors, were evaluated using competing risks Cox proportional hazards regression. Heterogeneity was assessed by likelihood ratio tests.Results: Most associations did not vary by tumor site (P-het = 0.05). Associations between first pregnancy (P-het = 0.04), tubal ligation (P-het = 0.01), and early-adult (age 18-21 years) body mass index (BMI; P-het = 0.02) and risk differed between ovarian and peritoneal cancers. The association between early-adult BMI and risk further differed between peritoneal and fallopian tube cancer (P-het = 0.03). First pregnancy and tubal ligation were inversely associated with ovarian, but not peritoneal, cancer. Higher early-adult BMI was associated with higher risk of peritoneal, but not ovarian or fallopian tube, cancer. Patterns were generally similar when restricted to serous and high-grade serous cases.Conclusions: Ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers appear to have both shared and distinct etiologic pathways, although most risk factors appear to have similar associations by anatomic site.Impact: Further studies on the mechanisms underlying the differences in risk profiles may provide insights regarding the developmental origins of tumors arising in the peritoneal cavity and inform prevention efforts.
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| 13. |
- Holmvall, Patric, 1988, et al.
(author)
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SuperConga: An open-source framework for mesoscopic superconductivity
- 2023
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In: Applied Physics Reviews. - : AIP Publishing. - 1931-9401. ; 10:1
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present SuperConga, an open-source framework for simulating equilibrium properties of unconventional and ballistic singlet superconductors, confined to two-dimensional (2D) mesoscopic grains in a perpendicular external magnetic field, at arbitrary low temperatures. It aims at being both fast and easy to use, enabling research without access to a computer cluster, and visualization in real-time with OpenGL. The core is written in C++ and CUDA, exploiting the embarrassingly parallel nature of the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity by utilizing the parallel computational power of modern graphics processing units. The framework self-consistently computes both the superconducting order-parameter and the induced vector potential and finds the current density, free energy, induced flux density, local density of states (LDOS), and the magnetic moment. A user-friendly Python frontend is provided, enabling simulation parameters to be defined via intuitive configuration files, or via the command-line interface, without requiring a deep understanding of implementation details. For example, complicated geometries can be created with relative ease. The framework ships with simple tools for analyzing and visualizing the results, including an interactive plotter for spectroscopy. An overview of the theory is presented, as well as examples showcasing the framework's capabilities and ease of use. The framework is free to download from https://gitlab.com/superconga/superconga, which also links to the extensive user manual, containing even more examples, tutorials, and guides. To demonstrate and benchmark SuperConga, we study the magnetostatics, thermodynamics, and spectroscopy of various phenomena. In particular, we study flux quantization in solenoids, vortex physics, surface Andreev bound-states, and a "phase crystal."We compare our numeric results with analytics and present experimental observables, e.g., the magnetic moment and LDOS, measurable with, for example, scanning probes, STM, and magnetometry.
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
- Håkansson, Michael, 1967-
(author)
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Politisk tendens, politiskt ögonblick och kreativitet : Studier av miljö- och hållbarhetsundervisning
- 2016
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This thesis takes its point of departure in the political dimension in Environmental and Sustainability Education (ESE). In the research field different views exist – containing both similarities and differences – regarding what is meant by ‘the political’ in the context of educational practice. What do different authors, policymakers, practitioners etc. mean when they refer to ´the political´ within the context of ESE? The ambiguity that characterises the discussions on the political dimension of (environmental and sustainability) education can impede and blur both research and professional reflection. This can create confusion, particularly amongst teachers, and a clarification of ‘the political’ through an investigation of how it appears in educational practice is vital.The thesis contributes with an educational typology and an analytical model of political moments to identify how the political dimension may emerge in different ways in educational practices. As part of these models the thesis also contributes with two theoretical-analytical concepts – educative moment and creativity – to be used to further discuss how education can use the political to explore new values and new behaviours regarding environmental and sustainable concerns.The theoretical frames of the thesis are poststructural and pragmatic theories, foremost by Chantal Mouffe and John Dewey. The thesis is especially built on a pragmatist and anti-essentialist approach, which argues that we socially construct the meaning of right and wrong, and of what works better in our lives in problematic situations. The thesis has four purposes and the results are presented in four studies. The first purpose examines how Environmental Sustainability Education (ESE) research literature conceptualize the political dimension, and how these findings impact the political dimension as educational content in teaching and learning activities in ESE practice. The second purpose examines different situations in which the political can be handled and experienced in environmental and sustainability education practice. This purpose is dealt with in the second study and the result is a didactical typology called the political tendency. The third purpose is to examine the political and politics in teaching and learning activities, both cognitive and emotional, about antagonism, conflicts, inclusion and exclusion. This purpose is dealt with in the third study and the results are illustrated by empirical examples. The fourth purpose examines the idea of creativity in relation to the political dimension, i. e. where new values can emerge or evolve. These purpose is dealt with in study 2, 3 and 4 and the results are presented as two theoretical-analytical concepts: educative moments and creativity concerning the political dimension in ESE.My ambition is that this thesis will contribute to the discussion about how teaching and learning activities that include a political dimension in ESE can use the presented models to identify educational content of the political dimension, and to further understand how individuals create their relation to their social and physical surroundings. Another ambition is to contribute to philosophical and methodological discussions about the relation between the political dimension, meaning making and embodiment within environmental and sustainability education.
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| 16. |
- Håkansson, Niclas
(author)
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Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields and chronic diseases
- 2003
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This thesis consider two exposures from the electromagnetic spectrum extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF MF) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. ELF MF are the lowest and UV radiation ranges among the highest frequencies of non-ionizing radiation. The exposure prevalence of these fields is high in the general population. Most people are exposed daily to either or both types and potential health effects are of great concern. The aim of the thesis was to study occupational exposure to ELF MF and UV radiation in relation to cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular diseases. A cohort with an increased prevalence of individuals highly exposed to ELF MF was created in order to be able to study exposure-response relations. In all, four cohort studies and one case-control study were performed. Exposure-response relationships were found for occupational ELF MF exposure and certain cancer diseases: malignant brain tumors among women, tumors of the pituitary gland among men. Welders were at an increased risk of tumors of the endocrine glands. The outcome might indicate an interaction with the hormonal system. A potential effect of occupational ELF MF exposure in cancer development cannot be rejected. In the study of neurodegenerative diseases, the risk of both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer s disease increased with increasing exposure to ELF MF. The results confirm previous findings of an association, and further epidemiological studies are needed, preferably based on morbidity data and taking into account potential confounding from e.g. electric shocks. For acute myocardial infarction (AMI), a low level increase in relative risk was found as well as an exposure-response relation. Joint occurrence of ELF MF exposure and a genetic susceptibility for AMI showed a synergistic effect on AMI mortality. Effect modification from e.g. genetic predisposition to the disease deserves to be further explored in studies of ELF MF and AMI. Swedish construction workers exposed to sunlight from outdoor work were at an increased risk of myeloid leukemia, lymphocytic leukemia or non-Hodgkin s lymphoma and stomach cancer. These findings are possibly due to an effect of UV radiation on the immune system. Sunlight exposure was also associated with an increased risk of malignant melanoma of the eye. Extensive research has been carried out in relation to ELF MF. There is yet no evidence of any biological mechanisms that could explain how ELF MF might contribute to cause chronic diseases. Therefore, additional efforts to explore potential pathways are warranted. Also, the question of effect modification from individual sensitivity such as genetic predisposition and interactions with other environmental factors deserves to be further explored.
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| 17. |
- Jung, Audrey Y, et al.
(author)
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Distinct reproductive risk profiles for intrinsic-like breast cancer subtypes : pooled analysis of population-based studies
- 2022
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In: Journal of the National Cancer Institute. - : Oxford University Press. - 0027-8874 .- 1460-2105. ; 114:12, s. 1706-1719
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Reproductive factors have been shown to be differentially associated with risk of estrogen receptor (ER) positive and ER-negative breast cancer. However, their associations with intrinsic-like subtypes are less clear.METHODS: Analyses included up to 23,353 cases, and 71,072 controls pooled from 31 population-based case-control or cohort studies in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium across 16 countries on 4 continents. Polytomous logistic regression was used to estimate the association between reproductive factors and risk of breast cancer by intrinsic-like subtypes (luminal A-like, luminal B-like, luminal B-HER2-like, HER2-enriched-like, and triple-negative) and by invasiveness. All statistical tests were 2-sided.RESULTS: Compared to nulliparous women, parous women had a lower risk of luminal A-like, luminal B-like, luminal B-HER2-like and HER2-enriched-like disease. This association was apparent only after approximately 10 years since last birth and became stronger with increasing time (odds ratio [OR] = 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.49 to 0.71; and OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.28 to 0.46; for multiparous women with luminal A-like tumors 20-<25 years after last birth and 45-<50 years after last birth, respectively). In contrast, parous women had a higher risk of triple-negative breast cancer right after their last birth (for multiparous women: OR = 3.12, 95%CI = 2.02 to 4.83) that was attenuated with time but persisted for decades (OR = 1.03, 95%CI = 0.79 to 1.34, for multiparous women 25 to < 30 years after last birth). Older age at first birth (P-heterogeneity<.001 for triple-negative compared to luminal-A like) and breastfeeding (P-heterogeneity<.001 for triple-negative compared to luminal-A like) were associated with lower risk of triple-negative but not with other disease subtypes. Younger age at menarche was associated with higher risk of all subtypes; older age at menopause was associated with higher risk of luminal A-like but not triple-negative breast cancer. Associations for in situ tumors were similar to luminal A-like.CONCLUSION: This large and comprehensive study demonstrates a distinct reproductive risk factor profile for triple-negative breast cancer compared to other subtypes, with implications for the understanding of disease etiology and risk prediction.
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| 18. |
- Kaluza, Joanna, et al.
(author)
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Adherence to the WCRF/AICR 2018 recommendations for cancer prevention and risk of cancer : prospective cohort studies of men and women
- 2020
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In: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 122:10, s. 1562-1570
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundIn 2018, the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) issued revised recommendations for cancer prevention. We examined the relation between adherence to these recommendations and risk of total cancer in two population-based Swedish prospective cohorts (29,451 men and 25,349 women).MethodsStandardized-WCRF/AICR 2018 and simplified-WCRF/AICR 2018 adherence scores were constructed based on the WCRF/AICR recommendations for body weight, physical activity, diet, alcohol consumption and dietary supplement use. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire.ResultsDuring the 15.4 years of follow-up, 12,693 incident cancers were ascertained. The multivariable HR between extreme categories of the Standardized-WCRF/AICR 2018 score (4.1–7 vs. 0–2) was 0.88 (95% CI = 0.82–0.95) and for the Simplified score (5–8 vs. 0–2) was 0.85 (95% CI = 0.80–0.90); each 1-score increment in recommendation adherence was associated with 3% (95% CI = 1–5%) and 4% (95% CI = 2–5%) decreased risk, respectively. Based on the Simplified scoring, most participants (>90%) did not meet WCRF/AICR 2018 recommendations regarding consumption of plant foods, limited consumption of red/processed meat and ‘fast food’/processed food, and <50% of participants met the weight and physical activity recommendations.ConclusionsAdherence to the 2018WCRF/AICR recommendations substantially reduced the risk of total cancer. Given that many people do not meet the recommendations, there is a great potential for cancer prevention.
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| 19. |
- Kapoor, Pooja Middha, et al.
(author)
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Combined associations of a polygenic risk score and classical risk factors with breast cancer risk
- 2021
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In: Journal of the National Cancer Institute. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0027-8874 .- 1460-2105. ; 113:3, s. 329-337
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We evaluated the joint associations between a new 313-variant PRS (PRS313) and questionnaire-based breast cancer risk factors for women of European ancestry, using 72 284 cases and 80 354 controls from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium. Interactions were evaluated using standard logistic regression and a newly developed case-only method for breast cancer risk overall and by estrogen receptor status. After accounting for multiple testing, we did not find evidence that per-standard deviation PRS313 odds ratio differed across strata defined by individual risk factors. Goodness-of-fit tests did not reject the assumption of a multiplicative model between PRS313 and each risk factor. Variation in projected absolute lifetime risk of breast cancer associated with classical risk factors was greater for women with higher genetic risk (PRS313 and family history) and, on average, 17.5% higher in the highest vs lowest deciles of genetic risk. These findings have implications for risk prevention for women at increased risk of breast cancer.
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| 20. |
- Kasperzyk, Julie L., et al.
(author)
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One-carbon metabolism-related nutrients and prostate cancer survival
- 2009
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In: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9165 .- 1938-3207. ; 90:3, s. 561-569
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Folate and other one-carbon metabolism nutrients may influence prostate cancer pathogenesis. Prior studies of these nutrients in relation to prostate cancer incidence have been inconclusive, and none have explored prostate cancer survival. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess whether dietary intakes of folate, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, and methionine measured around the time of prostate cancer diagnosis are associated with prostate cancer survival. DESIGN: This population-based prospective study comprised 525 men from Orebro, Sweden, who received a diagnosis of incident prostate cancer between 1989 and 1994 and completed a self-administered food-frequency questionnaire. Record linkages to the Swedish Death Registry enabled all cases to be followed for up to 20 y after diagnosis, and the cause of death was assigned via medical record review. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs. During a median of 6.4 y of follow-up, 218 men (42%) died of prostate cancer and 257 (49%) of other causes. RESULTS: A comparison of the highest with the lowest quartile showed that vitamin B-6 intake was inversely associated with prostate cancer-specific death (HR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.46, 1.10; P for trend = 0.08), especially in men with a diagnosis of localized-stage disease (HR; 0.05; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.26; P for trend = 0.0003). However, vitamin B-6 intake was not associated with improved prostate cancer survival among advanced-stage cases (HR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.64, 1.72; P for trend = 0.87). Folate, riboflavin, vitamin B-12, and methionine intakes were not associated with prostate cancer survival. CONCLUSION: A high vitamin B-6 intake may improve prostate cancer survival among men with a diagnosis of localized-stage disease.
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