| 1. |
- Hesselstrand, Roger, et al.
(författare)
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An open-label study to evaluate biomarkers and safety in systemic sclerosis patients treated with paquinimod
- 2021
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research and Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6354 .- 1478-6362. ; 23:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To evaluate the changes in disease-related biomarkers and safety of paquinimod, an oral immunomodulatory compound, in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods: In this open-label, single-arm, multicenter study, SSc patients with a rapidly progressive disease received paquinimod for 8 weeks. Blood and skin biopsies were collected at baseline, during treatment, and at follow-up for the analyses of type I interferon (IFN) activity, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), and the number of myofibroblasts. The safety of paquinimod was evaluated throughout the study. Results: Nine SSc patients were enrolled and completed the study treatment with paquinimod at 3 mg/day for 8 weeks. After the treatment, a reduction of type I IFN activity in the plasma from one patient with elevated baseline IFN activity was recorded. A trend towards reduced IFN activity in the skin after treatment was also observed in patients. The serum level of CCL2 was reduced in 7 of 9 patients after paquinimod treatment. There was a median reduction of 10% of the number of myofibroblasts in skin biopsies at week 8 compared to baseline. No change in modified Rodnan skin score and quality of life was detected in the study. Reported adverse events (AEs) were mild to moderate and expected with the most common being arthralgia (n = 3) and headache (n = 3), and C-reactive protein (CRP) increase. Conclusions: Analysis of biomarkers before and after treatment suggest reduced type I IFN activity and reduced number of myofibroblasts in lesional skin. Paquinimod was overall well tolerated with mild to moderate and expected AEs. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01487551. Registered on 7 September 2011.
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| 2. |
- Locke, Adam E, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic studies of body mass index yield new insights for obesity biology.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 518:7538, s. 197-401
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Obesity is heritable and predisposes to many diseases. To understand the genetic basis of obesity better, here we conduct a genome-wide association study and Metabochip meta-analysis of body mass index (BMI), a measure commonly used to define obesity and assess adiposity, in up to 339,224 individuals. This analysis identifies 97 BMI-associated loci (P < 5 × 10(-8)), 56 of which are novel. Five loci demonstrate clear evidence of several independent association signals, and many loci have significant effects on other metabolic phenotypes. The 97 loci account for ∼2.7% of BMI variation, and genome-wide estimates suggest that common variation accounts for >20% of BMI variation. Pathway analyses provide strong support for a role of the central nervous system in obesity susceptibility and implicate new genes and pathways, including those related to synaptic function, glutamate signalling, insulin secretion/action, energy metabolism, lipid biology and adipogenesis.
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| 3. |
- Stenström, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Paquinimod reduces skin fibrosis in tight skin 1 mice, an experimental model of systemic sclerosis
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Dermatological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0923-1811. ; 83:1, s. 52-59
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by vascular and immune dysfunction. A hallmark of SSc is the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix in the skin and in internal organs. There is a high and unmet medical need for novel therapies in this disease. The pathogenesis of SSc is complex and still poorly understood, but the innate immune system has emerged as an important factor in the disease. SSc patients show increased numbers of macrophages/monocytes in the blood and in the skin compared to healthy individuals and these cells are important sources of profibrotic cytokines and chemokines. Paquinimod belongs to a class of orally active quinoline-3-carboxamide (quinoline) derivatives with immunomodulatory properties and has shown effects in several models of autoimmune/inflammatory disorders. Paquinimod is currently in clinical development for treatment of SSc. The immunomodulatory effects of paquinimod is by targeting the myeloid cell compartment via the S100A9 protein. Objective: In this study we investigate whether targeting of myeloid cells by paquinimod can effect disease development in an experimental model of SSc, the tight skin 1 (Tsk-1) mouse model. Methods: Seven weeks old female B6.Cg-Fbn1Tsk/J (Tsk-1) mice were treated with vehicle or paquinimod at the dose of 5 or 25 mg/kg/day in the drinking water for 8 weeks. The effect of paquinimod on the level of skin fibrosis and on different subpopulations within the myeloid cell compartment in skin biopsies were evaluated by using histology, immunohistochemisty, a hydroxyproline assay and real-time PCR. Furthermore, the level of IgG in serum from treated animals was also analysed. The statistical analyses were performed using Mann-Whitney nonparametric two tailed rank test. Results: The results show that treatment with paquinimod reduces skin fibrosis measured as reduction of skin thickness and decreased number of myofibroblasts and total hydroxyproline content. The effect on fibrosis was associated with a polarization of macrophages in the skin from a pro-fibrotic M2 to a M1 phenotype. Paquinimod treatment also resulted in a reduced TGFβ-response in the skin and an abrogation of the increased auto-antibody production in this SSc model. Conclusions: Paquinimod reduces skin fibrosis in an experimental model of SSc, and this effect correlates with local and systemic effects on the immune system.
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| 4. |
- Abdeldaim, Aly, 1993, et al.
(författare)
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Large easy-axis anisotropy in the one-dimensional magnet BaMo(PO4)(2)
- 2019
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Ingår i: Physical Review B. - : AMER PHYSICAL SOC. - 2469-9969 .- 2469-9950. ; 100:21
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present an extensive experimental and theoretical study on the low-temperature magnetic properties of the monoclinic anhydrous alum compound BaMo(PO4)(2). The magnetic susceptibility reveals strong antiferromagnetic interactions theta(CW) = -167 K and long-range magnetic order at T-N = 22 K, in agreement with a recent report. Powder neutron diffraction furthermore shows that the order is collinear, with the moments near the ac plane. Neutron spectroscopy reveals a large excitation gap Delta = 15 meV in the low-temperature ordered phase, suggesting a much larger easy-axis spin anisotropy than anticipated. However, the large anisotropy justifies the relatively high ordered moment, Neel temperature, and collinear order observed experimentally and is furthermore reproduced in a first-principles calculations by using a new computational scheme. We therefore propose BaMo(PO4)(2) to host S = 1 antiferromagnetic chains with large easy-axis anisotropy, which has been theoretically predicted to realize novel excitation continua.
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| 7. |
- Andersson, Helen, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
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The masculinization of domestic cooking : a historical study of Swedish cookbooks for men
- 2022
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Ingår i: Norma. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1890-2138 .- 1890-2146. ; 17:4, s. 252-269
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study analyzes how men's domestic cooking is represented and masculinized in cookbooks, written by men for men and published in 1975, 1992, and 2010, respectively. Departing from the concept of domestic masculinities, it uses the methods of Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis. It asks: what kind of values and ideas connected to men, food, and the home are realized in texts and images? And how are these legitimized and naturalized? As the study's context is Sweden, a country known for its pursuit of gender equality, the study focuses on how men's domestic cooking has been represented in cookbooks published roughly 20 years apart. The analysis shows that, while the first two books are characterized by a 'real man' discourse and working-class masculinity, the 2010 book represents a masculinity in line with a 'new man image' closely linked to consumption and materiality. However, structurally, there are few differences. Values associated with traditional middle-class masculinities, traditional gender norms, and gendered division of domestic labor are reproduced. Men's cooking is recontextualized as a playful leisure activity. In all three books, cooking becomes another way for a man to appear successful - both in relation to other men and women, and in socioeconomic terms.
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| 8. |
- Antonsson, Helen, et al.
(författare)
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First-line managers’ experiences of alternative modes of funding in elderly care in Sweden
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Nursing Management. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0966-0429 .- 1365-2834. ; 20:6, s. 737-747
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: The aim of this study was to describe first-line managers’ experiences of alternative modes of funding elderly care in two communities in western Sweden. Background: A growing elderly population demands alternative modes of funding elderly care for better outcomes for patients and better efficiency as it is publicly funded through taxation. Methods: The study comprised a total of eight semi-structured interviews with first-line managers working within elderly care. The interviews were analysed using manifest qualitative content analysis. Respect for the individuals was a main concern in the study. Results: One category, quality improvement, and four subcategories freedom of choice, organisational structure, quality awareness and market forces effects were identified to describe first-line managers’ experiences of the operation of elderly care. Conclusions: Quality improvement was an important factor to deal with when elderly care was operated in different organisational perspectives, either private or public. The first-line manager is a key person for developing a learning organisation that encourages both staff, clients and their relatives to improve the organisation. Moreover, person-centred care strengthens the client’s role in the organisation, which is in line with the government’s goal for the quality improvement of elderly care. However, further research is needed on how quality improvement could be developed when different caregivers operate in the same market in order to improve care from the elderly perspective.Implications for nursing management: This study highlights alternative modes of funding elderly care. The economical perspectives should not dominate without taking care of quality improvement when the operation of elderly care is planned and implemented. Strategies such as a learning organisational structure built on person-centred care could create quality improvement in elderly care.
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| 9. |
- Arora, Geeti P, et al.
(författare)
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Phenotypic and genotypic differences between Indian and Scandinavian women with gestational diabetes mellitus
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 1365-2796 .- 0954-6820. ; 286:2, s. 192-206
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a transient form of diabetes characterized by impaired insulin secretion and action during pregnancy. Population-based differences in prevalence exist which could be explained by phenotypic and genetic differences. The aim of this study was to examine these differences in pregnant women from Punjab, India and Scandinavia.METHODS: 85 GDM/T2D loci in European and/or Indian populations from previous studies were assessed for association with GDM based on Swedish GDM criteria in 4018 Punjabi Indian and 507 Swedish pregnant women. Selected loci were replicated in Scandinavian cohorts, Radiel (N=398, Finnish), STORK/STORK-G (N=780, Norwegian).RESULTS: Punjabi Indian women had higher GDM prevalence, lower insulin secretion and better insulin sensitivity than Swedish women. There were significant frequency differences of GDM/T2D risk alleles between both populations. rs7178572 at HMG20A, previously associated with GDM in South Indian and European women was replicated in North Indian women. The T2D risk SNP rs11605924 in the CRY2 gene was associated with increased GDM risk in Scandinavian but decreased risk in Punjabi Indian women. No other overlap was seen between GDM loci in both populations.CONCLUSIONS: GDM is more common in Indian than Swedish women, which partially can be attributed to differences in insulin secretion and action. There was marked heterogeneity in the GDM phenotypes between the populations which could only partially be explained by genetic differences. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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| 10. |
- Assenhöj, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Protein interaction, monocyte toxicity and immunogenic properties of cerium oxide crystals with 5% or 14% gadolinium, cobalt oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles–an interdisciplinary approach
- 2021
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Ingår i: Nanotoxicology. - : Taylor and Francis Ltd.. - 1743-5390 .- 1743-5404. ; 15:8, s. 1035-1038
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Metal oxide nanoparticles are widely used in both consumer products and medical applications, but the knowledge regarding exposure-related health effects is limited. However, it is challenging to investigate nanoparticle interaction processes with biological systems. The overall aim of this project was to improve the possibility to predict exposure-related health effects of metal oxide nanoparticles through interdisciplinary collaboration by combining workflows from the pharmaceutical industry, nanomaterial sciences, and occupational medicine. Specific aims were to investigate nanoparticle-protein interactions and possible adverse immune reactions. Four different metal oxide nanoparticles; CeOx nanocrystals with 5% or 14% Gd, Co3O4, and Fe2O3, were characterized by dynamic light scattering and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Nanoparticle-binding proteins were identified and screened for HLA-binding peptides in silico. Monocyte interaction with nanoparticle–protein complexes was assessed in vitro. Herein, for the first time, immunogenic properties of nanoparticle-binding proteins have been characterized. The present study indicates that especially Co3O4-protein complexes can induce both ‘danger signals’, verified by the production of inflammatory cytokines and simultaneously bind autologous proteins, which can be presented as immunogenic epitopes by MHC class II. The clinical relevance of these findings should be further evaluated to investigate the role of metal oxide nanoparticles in the development of autoimmune disease. The general workflow identified experimental difficulties, such as nanoparticle aggregate formation and a lack of protein-free buffers suitable for particle characterization, protein analyses, as well as for cell studies. This confirms the importance of future interdisciplinary collaborations. © 2021 The Author(s).
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