| 1941. |
- Malan, Leoné, et al.
(författare)
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A stress syndrome prototype reflects type 3 diabetes and ischemic stroke risk : The SABPA study
- 2021
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Ingår i: Biology. - : MDPI AG. - 2079-7737. ; 10:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Type 3 diabetes (T3D) accurately reflects that dementia, e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, represents insulin resistance and neurodegeneration in the brain. Similar retinal microvascular changes were observed in Alzheimer’s and chronic stressed individuals. Hence, we aimed to show that chronic stress relates to T3D dementia signs and retinopathy, ultimately comprising a Stress syndrome prototype reflecting risk for T3D and stroke. A chronic stress and stroke risk phenotype (Stressed) score, independent of age, race or gender, was applied to stratify participants (N = 264; aged 44 - 9 years) into high stress risk (Stressed, N = 159) and low stress risk (non-Stressed, N = 105) groups. We determined insulin resistance using the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR), which is interchangeable with T3D, and dementia risk markers (cognitive executive functioning (cognitiveexe-func); telomere length; waist circumference (WC), neuronal glia injury; neuron-specific enolase/NSE, S100B). Retinopathy was determined in the mydriatic eye. The Stressed group had greater incidence of HOMA-IR in the upper quartile (≥5), larger WC, poorer cognitiveexe-func control, shorter telomeres, consistently raised neuronal glia injury, fewer retinal arteries, narrower arteries, wider veins and a larger optic cup/disc ratio (C/D) compared to the non-Stressed group. Furthermore, of the stroke risk markers, arterial narrowing was related to glaucoma risk with a greater C/D, whilst retinal vein widening was related to HOMA-IR, poor cognitiveexe-func control and neuronal glia injury (Adjusted R2 0.30; p ≤ 0.05). These associations were not evident in the non-Stressed group. Logistic regression associations between the Stressed phenotype and four dementia risk markers (cognitiveexe-func, telomere length, NSE and WC) comprised a Stress syndrome prototype (area under the curve 0.80; sensitivity/specificity 85%/58%; p ≤ 0.001). The Stress syndrome prototype reflected risk for HOMA-IR (odds ratio (OR) 7.72) and retinal glia ischemia (OR 1.27) and vein widening (OR 1.03). The Stressed phenotype was associated with neuronal glia injury and retinal ischemia, potentiating glaucoma risk. The detrimental effect of chronic stress exemplified a Stress syndrome prototype reflecting risk for type 3 diabetes, neurodegeneration and ischemic stroke.
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| 1942. |
- Malan, Leoné, et al.
(författare)
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The chronic stress risk phenotype mirrored in the human retina as a neurodegenerative condition
- 2023
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Ingår i: Stress. - 1607-8888. ; 26:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The brain is the key organ that orchestrates the stress response which translates to the retina. The retina is an extension of the brain and retinal symptoms in subjects with neurodegenerative diseases substantiated the eye as a window to the brain. The retina is used in this study to determine whether chronic stress reflects neurodegenerative signs indicative of neurodegenerative conditions. A 3-year prospective cohort (n = 333; aged 46 ± 9 years) was stratified into stress-phenotype cases (n = 212) and controls (n = 121) by applying the Malan stress-phenotype index. Neurodegenerative risk markers included ischemia (astrocytic S100 calcium-binding protein B/S100B); 24h blood pressure, proteomics; inflammation (tumor-necrosis-factor-α/TNF-α); neuronal damage (neuron-specific-enolase); anti-apoptosis of retinal-ganglion-cells (beta-nerve-growth-factor), astrocytic activity (glial-fibrillary-acidic-protein); hematocrit (viscosity) and retinal follow-up data [vessels; stress-optic-neuropathy]. Stress-optic-neuropathy risk was calculated from two indices: a newly derived diastolic-ocular-perfusion-pressure cut-point ≥68 mmHg relating to the stress-phenotype; combined with an established cup-to-disc ratio cut-point ≥0.3. Higher stress-optic-neuropathy (39% vs. 17%) and hypertension (73% vs. 16%) prevalence was observed in the stress-phenotype cases vs. controls. Elevated diastolic-ocular-perfusion-pressure, indicating hypoperfusion, was related to arterial narrowing and trend for ischemia increases in the stress-phenotype. Ischemia in the stress-phenotype at baseline, follow-up and 3-yr changes was related to consistent inflammation (TNF-α and cytokine-interleukin-17-receptor-A), neuron-specific-enolase increases, consistent apoptosis (chitinase 3-like-1, low beta-nerve-growth-factor), glial-fibrillary-acidic-protein decreases, elevated viscosity, vein widening as risk marker of endothelial dysfunction in the blood-retinal-barrier, lower vein count, and elevated stress-optic-neuropathy. The stress-phenotype and related neurodegenerative signs of ongoing brain ischemia, apoptosis and endothelial dysfunction compromised blood-retinal-barrier permeability and optic nerve integrity. In fact, the stress-phenotype could identify persons at high risk of neurodegeneration to indicate a neurodegenerative condition.
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| 1943. |
- Malm Renöfält, Birgitta, 1966-
(författare)
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Vegetation patterns and processes in riparian landscapes
- 2004
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The objective of this study was to increase understanding of the processes structuring and controlling the species richness of riparian plant communities. In particular, I examined the unimodal relationship, found in many rivers, between plant species richness and location along the river corridor. The most important finding was that this pattern is dynamic and varies with time, most likely in response to large-scale flood disturbances. I also found that the sensitivity to flood disturbance varied with the environmental setting of the riparian reaches. Turbulent sections of the river retained high species richness, whereas tranquil reaches had significantly lower species richness in years following high and prolonged flooding, compared to a period without extreme flood events. Riparian soils along turbulent reaches are more resistant to oxygen depletion during floods, a factor which is likely to contribute to the maintenance of species richness. The finding that the species richness pattern varied with time led me to ask which factors control plant diversity along riparian zones. I addressed this question by formulating three contrasting, although not mutually exclusive, hypotheses: (1) longitudinal patterns in riparian plant species richness are governed by local, river-related processes independent of the regional species richness, (2) riparian plant species richness is controlled by dispersal along the river, i.e., longitudinal control, and (3) the variation in riparian plant species richness mirrors variation in regional richness, i.e., lateral control. I found indications of all three types of control, although local factors seemed to fit most of the criteria. Riparian species richness was not significantly correlated to species richness in the surrounding upland valley. It was however significantly negatively correlated to soil pH, a local habitat factor of the reach. The fact that the species richness pattern varied in time, corresponding to the presence or absence of extreme flood events suggest that it is influenced by local disturbance regimes. The potential for control by longitudinal dispersal was found to be highest in the middle reaches of a river. Here, the similarity between upland and riparian vegetation was lowest, and invasibility (germination ability) was highest. Earlier work has shown that regulated rivers have an inverted species richness pattern compared to free-flowing rivers, with lowest species richness in the middle reaches. One potential mechanism behind this could be varying susceptibility to disturbance along the river. I tested this by experimentally disturbing the vegetation, applying the same level of disturbance along an entire free-flowing river. However, the response to experimental disturbance did not vary with location, likely because of a major flood disturbance preceding the experiment.
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| 1944. |
- Malmstroem, Nina, et al.
(författare)
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Living with a parent with ALS-adolescents' need for professional support from the adolescents' and the parents' perspectives
- 2023
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Ingår i: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration. - : Taylor & Francis. - 2167-8421 .- 2167-9223. ; 24:7-8, s. 727-735
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AimThe aim of the study was to qualitatively investigate the adolescents' need for professional support when a parent has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - from the adolescents' and the parents' perspectives.MethodsA total of 37 individual semi-structured single interviews with 18 families were conducted, including 11 adolescents aged 8-25 and 26 parents, 13 with ALS and 13 co-parents. Data was analysed using qualitative content analysis.ResultsBoth adolescents and parents described the adolescents as needing professional support but found it difficult to articulate this need. However, the results indicate that the adolescents needed help in bringing manageability into their lives due to the uncertainty of living with the illness in the family. It was therefore essential to ensure that the adolescents were not forgotten in the disease context and that their needs for being involved as well as for obtaining information and understanding, was addressed. The importance of offering the adolescents support early was emphasized, but also of actively helping the families to master challenges in their everyday life. Support adapted to each family's unique situation and preferences was desired, as the adolescents' need for support seemed to be individual, disease-dependent and varied during different phases.ConclusionGiven the adolescents' need for information and understanding, healthcare professionals must actively work to reach the adolescents as early as possible. It is crucial to ensure that the adolescents are given the opportunity to be involved based on their own conditions, as well as to support the families to strengthen their communication.
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| 1945. |
- Malmström, Nina, et al.
(författare)
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Adolescents' challenging and grief-filled transitions when living with a parent with ALS: A qualitative interpretive study
- 2024
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Ingår i: SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE. - : Elsevier. - 0277-9536 .- 1873-5347. ; 354
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The study aimed to explore the meaning for adolescents of living with a parent with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: The design is qualitative. Interviews were conducted between December 2020 and April 2022 with 11 adolescents (8-25 y), living in households with a parent with ALS in Sweden. The analysis was phenomenologically hermeneutical. Results: The adolescents were in a difficult and exposed situation, especially if the parent had a severe disability and assistant care providers were in the home. Witnessing the gradual loss of the parent in an indefinite battle against time, while still needing them, elicited grief-filled and hard-to-manage emotions. Everyday life was turned upside down, resulting in greater responsibility for the adolescents, not only in helping with household chores and assisting the ill parent, but also in emotionally protecting both parents. It forced the adolescents to mature faster and put their own life on hold, triggering experiences of being limited. This, together with changing family roles yet being more attached to home, reinforced the imbalance in the adolescents' lives. The interpreted whole of the adolescents' narratives revealed that living with a parent with ALS meant a challenging and grieving transition during an already transition-filled adolescence, which left the adolescents struggling to keep a foothold on a life torn apart. Conclusion: The unbalanced life situation may hinder the adolescents' identity formation and emancipation, which are developmentally important for managing a healthy and independent adulthood. The results emphasize the importance of early targeted support to reach this vulnerable group in order to secure their health.
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| 1946. |
- Malovanyy, Andriy, et al.
(författare)
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Rening av PFAS-förorenat lakvatten i jonbytarfilter med uppströmsflöde : Försök på anläggningar Sivik och Löt
- 2023
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Rening av PFAS-förorenat lakvatten med jonbytarfilter testades i flera pilotstudier och visade bra resultat, särskilt vid krav på reduktion av PFAS med längre kolkedjor. Den största utmaningen i användning av jonbytarmassa för rening av lakvatten är att det antingen krävs en väldigt avancerad förbehandling eller att filtret behöver backspolas ofta för att undvika igensättning. Backspolning av filter blandar om jonbytarmassan, vilket gör att kolonnverkan förloras.Målsättning med projektet var att testa en utformning där lakvatten strömmar uppåt i en filterbädd med tillräckligt flöde för fluidisering av bädden. Rapporten beskriver försök som genomförts i en större pilotskala på Sivik avfallsanläggning samt försök i mindre pilotskala på Löt avfallsanläggning. På Sivik har ett standard DynaSand filter fyllts med jonbytarmassa och körts under 9 månader. På Löt har jämförande försök med nedströms jonbytarfilter och två seriekopplade uppströmsfilter genomförts.Försök på Sivik visade att det var avgörande att omsätta jonbytarmassa i filtret genom att driva mammutpumpen för att bibehålla bra rening. Det var dock utmanande att hitta en balans mellan omsättning av massan och risken för förlust av massan med spolvatten. Det upptäcktes även att flödet i försöken var för lågt för homogen suspendering av massan vilket troligen skapade kortslutningar av flöde genom filtret. Det ledde till varierande rening av PFAS med kortare kolkedjor. Trots utmaningarna var reduktion av PFOS i genomsnitt 94% som medel vid behandling av 14 300 bäddvolymer (BV) av vatten. Utgående PFOS-halter var ca 13 gånger lägre än respektive målsättningsvärde för anläggningen. Satsvisa labbförsök visade att jonbytarmassan hade mycket kapacitet kvar när försöken avslutades och reducerade PFOS och andra längre PFAS nästan lika bra som ny jonbytarmassa.I försök på Löt visade 2-stegs uppströmsfilter liknande rening som ett nedströmsfilter, vilket bekräftar att kapacitetsutnyttjande av jonbytarmassa kan vara liknande med de två processutformningarna.Förlust av massa noterades både med nedströmsjonbytare (i försök på Löt vid backspolning) och uppströmsjonbytare (i försök på Sivik). Orsaken till förlusten av jonbytarmassa härrör till att ett standard DynaSand filter nyttjats. Detta filter i standardutförande är avsett för media med en betydligt högre densitet än den jonbytarmassa som nyttjats i Sivik.I projektet testades några modifieringar och driftsinställningar som gynnade funktionen i DynaSand filtret. Ytterligare modifieringar och tänkbara förbättringar och åtgärder för minskad risk av förlust av jonbytarmassa med låg densitet samt vikten av polerande rening från eventuella mindre mängder jonbytarmassa som kan följa med utgående vatten diskuteras i rapporten.
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