| 51. |
- Hardy, Victoria, et al.
(författare)
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The added value of a mobile application of Community Case Management on referral, re-consultation and hospitalization rates of children aged under 5 years in two districts in Northern Malawi : study protocol for a pragmatic, stepped-wedge cluster-randomized controlled trial
- 2017
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Ingår i: Trials. - : BioMed Central. - 1745-6215. ; 18:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: There is evidence to suggest that frontline community health workers in Malawi are under-referring children to higher-level facilities. Integrating a digitized version of paper-based methods of Community Case Management (CCM) could strengthen delivery, increasing urgent referral rates and preventing unnecessary re-consultations and hospital admissions. This trial aims to evaluate the added value of the Supporting LIFE electronic Community Case Management Application (SL eCCM App) compared to paper-based CCM on urgent referral, re-consultation and hospitalization rates, in two districts in Northern Malawi.METHODS/DESIGN: This is a pragmatic, stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial assessing the added value of the SL eCCM App on urgent referral, re-consultation and hospitalization rates of children aged 2 months and older to up to 5 years, within 7 days of the index visit. One hundred and two health surveillance assistants (HSAs) were stratified into six clusters based on geographical location, and clusters randomized to the timing of crossover to the intervention using simple, computer-generated randomization. Training workshops were conducted prior to the control (paper-CCM) and intervention (paper-CCM + SL eCCM App) in assigned clusters. Neither participants nor study personnel were blinded to allocation. Outcome measures were determined by abstraction of clinical data from patient records 2 weeks after recruitment. A nested qualitative study explored perceptions of adherence to urgent referral recommendations and a cost evaluation determined the financial and time-related costs to caregivers of subsequent health care utilization. The trial was conducted between July 2016 and February 2017.DISCUSSION: This is the first large-scale trial evaluating the value of adding a mobile application of CCM to the assessment of children aged under 5 years. The trial will generate evidence on the potential use of mobile health for CCM in Malawi, and more widely in other low- and middle-income countries.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT02763345 . Registered on 3 May 2016.
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| 52. |
- Heslegrave, Amanda, et al.
(författare)
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Increased cerebrospinal fluid soluble TREM2 concentration in Alzheimer's disease.
- 2016
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Ingår i: Molecular neurodegeneration. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1750-1326. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The discovery that heterozygous missense mutations in the gene encoding triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) are risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), with only the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 gene allele conferring a higher risk, has led to increased interest in immune biology in the brain. TREM2 is expressed on microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain and has been linked to phagocytotic clearance of amyloid β (Aβ) plaques. Soluble TREM2 (sTREM2) has previously been measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by ELISA but in our hands commercial kits have proved unreliable, suggesting that other methods may be required. We developed a mass spectrometry method using selected reaction monitoring for the presence of a TREM2 peptide, which can be used to quantify levels of sTREM2 in CSF.
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| 53. |
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| 54. |
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| 55. |
- Ide, Nicole, et al.
(författare)
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People Welcomed This Innovation with Two Hands : A Qualitative Report of an mHealth Intervention for Community Case Management in Malawi.
- 2019
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Ingår i: Annals of Global Health. - : Ubiquity Press. - 2214-9996. ; 85:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Community Case Management (CCM) aims to improve health outcomes among children under five with malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia, but its effectiveness in Malawi is limited by inconsistent standards of delivery characteristic of paper-based interventions. This may lead to negative impacts on child health outcomes and inefficient use of health system resources. This study evaluated the acceptability and impact of the Supporting LIFE Community Case Management App (SL eCCM App) by Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) and caregivers in two districts of Northern Malawi.METHODS: Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with HSAs and caregivers as part of a nested study within a larger trial. We used deductive and inductive approaches during data analysis. Relevant constructs were identified from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and combined with emerging concepts from the data. The Framework Method was used to chart and explore data, leading to the development of themes.RESULTS: Seventeen HSAs and 28 caregivers were interviewed. Participants were generally enthusiastic about the SL eCCM App. Nearly all HSAs expressed a preference for the App over routine paper-based CCM. Most HSAs claimed the App was more reliable and less error prone, facilitated more accurate diagnoses and treatment recommendations, and enhanced professional confidence and respect in the community. Some HSAs believed additional features would improve usability of the App, others identified mobile network or electricity shortages as barriers. Not all caregivers understood the purpose of the App, but most welcomed it as a health and technological advancement.CONCLUSION: The SL eCCM App is acceptable to both HSAs and caregivers, and in most cases, preferred, as it was believed to foster improvements in CCM delivery. Our findings suggest that mobile health interventions for CCM, such as the SL eCCM App, may have potential to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of care to children under five.
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| 56. |
- Jiang, Yuanbing, et al.
(författare)
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A blood-based multi-pathway biomarker assay for early detection and staging of Alzheimer's disease across ethnic groups
- 2024
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Ingår i: Alzheimer's and Dementia. - 1552-5260 .- 1552-5279.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Existing blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) mainly focus on its pathological features. However, studies on blood-based biomarkers associated with other biological processes for a comprehensive evaluation of AD status are limited. METHODS: We developed a blood-based, multiplex biomarker assay for AD that measures the levels of 21 proteins involved in multiple biological pathways. We evaluated the assay's performance for classifying AD and indicating AD-related endophenotypes in three independent cohorts from Chinese or European-descent populations. RESULTS: The 21-protein assay accurately classified AD (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.9407 to 0.9867) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI; AUC = 0.8434 to 0.8945) while also indicating brain amyloid pathology. Moreover, the assay simultaneously evaluated the changes of five biological processes in individuals and revealed the ethnic-specific dysregulations of biological processes upon AD progression. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrated the utility of a blood-based, multi-pathway biomarker assay for early screening and staging of AD, providing insights for patient stratification and precision medicine. HIGHLIGHTS: The authors developed a blood-based biomarker assay for Alzheimer's disease. The 21-protein assay classifies AD/MCI and indicates brain amyloid pathology. The 21-protein assay can simultaneously assess activities of five biological processes. Ethnic-specific dysregulations of biological processes in AD were revealed.
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| 57. |
- Karlsson, Ida K., et al.
(författare)
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Measuring heritable contributions to Alzheimer's disease : polygenic risk score analysis with twins
- 2022
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Ingår i: Brain Communications. - : Oxford University Press. - 2632-1297. ; 4:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The heritability of Alzheimer's disease estimated from twin studies is greater than the heritability derived from genome-based studies, for reasons that remain unclear. We apply both approaches to the same twin sample, considering both Alzheimer's disease polygenic risk scores and heritability from twin models, to provide insight into the role of measured genetic variants and to quantify uncaptured genetic risk. A population-based heritability and polygenic association study of Alzheimer's disease was conducted between 1986 and 2016 and is the first study to incorporate polygenic risk scores into biometrical twin models of Alzheimer's disease. The sample included 1586 twins drawn from the Swedish Twin Registry which were nested within 1137 twin pairs (449 complete pairs and 688 incomplete pairs) with clinically based diagnoses and registry follow-up (M-age = 85.28, SD = 7.02; 44% male; 431 cases and 1155 controls). We report contributions of polygenic risk scores at P < 1 x 10(-5), considering a full polygenic risk score (PRS), PRS without the APOE region (PRS.no.APOE) and PRS.no.APOE plus directly measured APOE alleles. Biometric twin models estimated the contribution of environmental influences and measured (PRS) and unmeasured genes to Alzheimer's disease risk. The full PRS and PRS.no.APOE contributed 10.1 and 2.4% to Alzheimer's disease risk, respectively. When APOE e4 alleles were added to the model with the PRS.no.APOE, the total contribution was 11.4% to Alzheimer's disease risk, where APOE e4 explained 9.3% and PRS.no.APOE dropped from 2.4 to 2.1%. The total genetic contribution to Alzheimer's disease risk, measured and unmeasured, was 71% while environmental influences unique to each twin accounted for 29% of the risk. The APOE region accounts for much of the measurable genetic contribution to Alzheimer's disease, with a smaller contribution from other measured polygenic influences. Importantly, substantial background genetic influences remain to be understood. Karlsson et al. report that measured polygenic scores from genome-based studies, including an outsized role for APOE, explain only a fraction of the heritability indicated by twin models of Alzheimer's disease, leaving most genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease unexplained. Sensitive designs are needed to capture all the genetic influences.
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| 58. |
- Kumar, Atul, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic effects on longitudinal cognitive decline during the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease
- 2021
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 11:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cognitive decline in early-stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may depend on genetic variability. In the Swedish BioFINDER study, we used polygenic scores (PGS) (for AD, intelligence, and educational attainment) to predict longitudinal cognitive change (measured by mini-mental state examination (MMSE) [primary outcome] and other cognitive tests) over a mean of 4.2 years. We included 260 β-amyloid (Aβ) negative cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals, 121 Aβ-positive CU (preclinical AD), 50 Aβ-negative mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, and 127 Aβ-positive MCI patients (prodromal AD). Statistical significance was determined at Bonferroni corrected p value < 0.05. The PGS for intelligence (beta = 0.1, p = 2.9e−02) was protective against decline in MMSE in CU and MCI participants regardless of Aβ status. The polygenic risk score for AD (beta = − 0.12, p = 9.4e−03) was correlated with the rate of change in MMSE and was partially mediated by Aβ-pathology (mediation effect 20%). There was no effect of education PGS on cognitive measures. Genetic variants associated with intelligence mitigate cognitive decline independent of Aβ-pathology, while effects of genetic variants associated with AD are partly mediated by Aβ-pathology.
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| 59. |
- Kumar, Atul, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic influence during the early phases of Alzheimer's disease on longitudinal cognitive impairment
- 2021
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Ingår i: Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. - 1552-5279. ; 17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The rate of cognitive decline in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is variable, which may be partly due to genetic factors. We therefore investigated genetic predictors of longitudinal cognitive decline in AD. METHOD: In the Swedish BioFINDER study, we used polygenic scores (PGS) (of AD, intelligence and educational attainment), and genetic variants (in a genome-wide association study [GWAS]) to predict longitudinal change in cognition (measured by MMSE) over a mean of 4.2 years. We included 555 b-amyloid (Aβ) negative cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals, 206 Aβ-positive CU (preclinical AD), 110 Aβ-negative mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, and 146 Aβ-positive MCI patients (prodromal AD). Mixed-effect models were fitted with longitudinal MMSE data as dependent variable. Random slopes and intercepts were extracted and were rank-based inverse normal transformed (INT) to be used as dependent variables in linear regression models. RESULT: AD polygenic risk score (PRS) and intelligence PGS (but not education PGS) were associated with rate of cognitive decline (Figure 1). The AD PRS was only associated with decline in Ab-positive individuals, but the intelligence PGS was protective irrespective of Ab-status (Figure 2). The model containing only the APOE burden (ε4 and ε2 counts) was associated with cognitive decline with a nominal level of significance, whereas this was not found for the early-stage AD cohort (Figure 1 and 2). Our GWAS identified 8 genes (out of which 3 genes independent of Aβ-status) associated with rate of cognitive decline at a p-value ≤ 5e-05 (Table 1). CONCLUSION: An a priori defined genetic risk score for AD was only associated with rate of cognitive decline in early stage AD (Aβ+ CU and Aβ+ MCI) and not in an unselected population, while a polygenic score for intelligence was protective irrespective of Aβ status. Together with novel genetic associations for rate of cognitive decline in AD, this may provide new insights into the pathophysiology of AD and new therapeutic development targets.
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| 60. |
- Kumar, Atul, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic interaction study of Alzheimer's disease quantitative biomarkers : A polygenic risk score analysis and evaluation
- 2021
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Ingår i: Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. - 1552-5279. ; 17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Relationship between genetic factors and pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be studied with biomarker, using both polygenic risk scores (PRSs), as well as individual genetic variants in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). METHOD: In the Swedish BioFINDER study, we used a priori PRS for AD based on findings in recent GWAS, and AD related biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in cognitively unimpaired individuals (n = 751), Mild Cognitive Impairment (n = 212), and AD (n = 150) patients. AD related biomarkers were rank-based inverse normal transformed to be used as dependent variables in linear regression models adjusted for age, gender, education, APOE ε4, ε2 count and significant principal components. We also tested individual genetic variants in GWAS for each biomarker. Analyses were performed in the total sample, and after stratification on MMSE results. RESULT: The PRS was associated with higher CSF P-tau 181 (p ≤1.2e-05) and T-tau (p ≤ 8.14e-05) and lower CSF Aβ42/40 (p ≤ 0.006) and Aβ42 (p ≤ 0.04) (Figure 1, 2). Gene Enrichment of PRS 5 genes [containing 1850 genetic variants mapped to 1607 genes] for Tau biomarker showed 13 Gene Ontology (GO) Biological Process (BP) terms at p-value < e-03 ("Dendrite Morphogenesis": top hit; p-value ≤ 9.20e-06) and 16 KEGG pathway term enriched for genes of PRS 5 ("Phosphatidylinositol signaling system": top hit; p-value ≤ 5.5e-06) (Figure 3, 4). Gene enrichment of PRS 7 [containing 62 genetic variants mapped to 58 genes] for Aβ biomarker returned 12 GO terms ("Integrin-Mediated Signaling Pathway": top hit; p-value ≤1.20e-03) and 1 term enriched for KEGG pathway (Hematopoietic cell lineage). In our predefined list of genes interacting with MAPT (22 genes) and APP (69 genes) we found 3 genes from MAPT and APP set that were involved in PRS 5 and PRS 7 respectively. We also found 9 genes from APP set that was involved in PRS 5. CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of AD related biomarkers are associated with polygenic risk scores in AD. These findings further strengthens the link between genetic and biomarker disease predictors and indicate a potential role for these markers in disease prediction and patient stratification in AD.
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