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- Haghighi, Mona, et al.
(författare)
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A Comparison of Rule-based Analysis with Regression Methods in Understanding the Risk Factors for Study Withdrawal in a Pediatric Study
- 2016
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Regression models are extensively used in many epidemiological studies to understand the linkage between specific outcomes of interest and their risk factors. However, regression models in general examine the average effects of the risk factors and ignore subgroups with different risk profiles. As a result, interventions are often geared towards the average member of the population, without consideration of the special health needs of different subgroups within the population. This paper demonstrates the value of using rule-based analysis methods that can identify subgroups with heterogeneous risk profiles in a population without imposing assumptions on the subgroups or method. The rules define the risk pattern of subsets of individuals by not only considering the interactions between the risk factors but also their ranges. We compared the rule-based analysis results with the results from a logistic regression model in The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) study. Both methods detected a similar suite of risk factors, but the rule-based analysis was superior at detecting multiple interactions between the risk factors that characterize the subgroups. A further investigation of the particular characteristics of each subgroup may detect the special health needs of the subgroup and lead to tailored interventions.
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| 6. |
- Claesson, Carina, 1970-, et al.
(författare)
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Susceptibility of staphylococci and enterococci to antimicrobial agents at different ward levels in four north European countries
- 2007
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0036-5548 .- 1651-1980. ; 39:11-12, s. 1002-1012
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A multicentre susceptibility study was performed on staphylococci and enterococci isolated from patients at 3 different ward levels: primary care centres (PCCs), general hospital wards (GHWs) and intensive care units (ICUs), in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. There was a markedly higher incidence of resistance among CoNS in ICUs compared to GHWs and PCCs. Resistance rates were low among S. aureus isolates and no differences were found between the ward levels. Oxacillin resistance was found among 1.6% of S. aureus and 47% of CoNS isolates. 14% of CoNS and 0.9% of S. aureus isolates were glycopeptide intermediate. The prevalence of E. faecium isolates in this study differed significantly between the ward levels with the lowest prevalence found at PCCs. High level gentamicin resistant (HLGR) enterococci occurred in 11-25% of E. faecium and 6-20% of E. faecalis isolates. The HLGR rate was significantly higher among E. faecalis from hospitalized patients (GHWs and ICUs) compared to patients at PCCs. For enterococcal isolates, no other significant differences in antimicrobial resistance were found between the ward levels. All enterococci were teicoplanin susceptible, but decreased susceptibility to vancomycin was found among 2.0% and 0.6% of the E. faecium and E. faecalis isolates, respectively.
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| 7. |
- Johansson, Ida, et al.
(författare)
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High-resolution genomic profiling of male breast cancer reveals differences hidden behind the similarities with female breast cancer
- 2011
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Ingår i: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1573-7217 .- 0167-6806. ; 129:3, s. 747-760
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Male breast cancer (MBC) is extremely rare and poorly characterized on the molecular level. Using high-resolution genomic data, we aimed to characterize MBC by genomic imbalances and to compare it with female breast cancer (FBC), and further to investigate whether the genomic profiles hold any prognostic information. Fifty-six fresh frozen MBC tumors were analyzed using high-resolution tiling BAC arrays. Significant regions in common between cases were assessed using Genomic Identification of Significant Targets in Cancer (GISTIC) analysis. A publicly available genomic data set of 359 FBC tumors was used for reference purposes. The data revealed a broad pattern of aberrations, confirming that MBC is a heterogeneous tumor type. Genomic gains were more common in MBC than in FBC and often involved whole chromosome arms, while losses of genomic material were less frequent. The most common aberrations were similar between the genders, but high-level amplifications were more common in FBC. We identified two genomic subgroups among MBCs; male-complex and male-simple. The male-complex subgroup displayed striking similarities with the previously reported luminal-complex FBC subgroup, while the male-simple subgroup seems to represent a new subgroup of breast cancer occurring only in men. There are many similarities between FBC and MBC with respect to genomic imbalances, but there are also distinct differences as revealed by high-resolution genomic profiling. MBC can be divided into two comprehensive genomic subgroups, which may be of prognostic value. The male-simple subgroup appears notably different from any genomic subgroup so far defined in FBC.
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| 8. |
- Kanatsuna, N, et al.
(författare)
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Doubly reactive INS-IGF2 autoantibodies in children with newly diagnosed autoimmune (type 1) diabetes
- 2015
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0300-9475 .- 1365-3083. ; 82:4, s. 361-369
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The splice variant INS-IGF2 entails the preproinsulin signal peptide, the insulin B-chain, eight amino acids of the C-peptide and 138 unique amino acids from an ORF in the IGF2 gene. The aim of this study was to determine whether levels of specific INS-IGF2 autoantibodies (INS-IGF2A) were related to age at diagnosis, islet autoantibodies, HLA-DQ or both, in patients and controls with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. Patients (n = 676), 0-18 years of age, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1996-2005 and controls (n = 363) were analysed for specific INS-IGF2A after displacement with both cold insulin and INS-IGF2 to correct for non-specific binding and identify double reactive sera. GADA, IA-2A, IAA, ICA, ZnT8RA, ZnT8WA, ZnT8QA and HLA-DQ genotypes were also determined. The median level of specific INS-IGF2A was higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.001). Irrespective of age at diagnosis, 19% (126/676) of the patients had INS-IGF2A when the cut-off was the 95th percentile of the controls (P < 0.001). The risk of INS-IGF2A was increased among HLA-DQ2/8 (OR = 1.509; 95th CI 1.011, 2.252; P = 0.045) but not in 2/2, 2/X, 8/8, 8/X or X/X (X is neither 2 nor 8) patients. The association with HLA-DQ2/8 suggests that this autoantigen may be presented on HLA-DQ trans-heterodimers, rather than cis-heterodimers. Autoantibodies reactive with both insulin and INS-IGF2A at diagnosis support the notion that INS-IGF2 autoimmunity contributes to type 1 diabetes.
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- Nilsson, Carina, et al.
(författare)
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Characterisation of two novel cyclodextrinases using on-line microdialysis sampling with high-performance anion exchange chromatography
- 2006
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Ingår i: Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1618-2642 .- 1618-2650. ; 385:8, s. 1421-1429
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this work, a real-time sampling/analytical method for on-line measurements of two newly discovered cyclomaltodextrinases (CDases) has been developed and evaluated. This novel methodology not only allows the final products to be investigated, but it also reveals enzyme-specific differences in the degradation pathways during the hydrolysis of different substrates, which is a great advantage in the important tasks of investigating the mechanisms of and classifying new hydrolases, and is an advantage that conventional techniques cannot offer. Two different enzymes, one CDase from Laceyella sacchari (LsCda13) and one from Anoxybacillus flavithermus (AfCda13), were investigated during the hydrolysis of alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrin, and the hydrolysis products were sampled via a microdialysis probe and injected on-line every 30 min into a high-performance anion exchange chromatography system equipped with a pulsed amperometric detector (HPAEC-PAD), where they were identified. The enzymes yielded the same end-products, maltose and glucose, in an approximate molar ratio of 2:1, but they exhibited distinctly different patterns of intermediate product formation before reaching the end-point. LsCda13 had a more random distribution of the intermediate products, whereas AfCda13 showed the distinct intermediate production of maltotriose, which in some cases accumulated.
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| 10. |
- Nilsson, Carina
(författare)
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Information and communication technology as a tool for support in home care : Experiences of middle-aged people with serious chronic illness and district nurses
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this doctoral thesis was to elucidate experienced needs of people with serious chronic illness living at home and the use of information and communication technology (ICT) as a tool for support from district nurses (DNs).The doctoral thesis included five Papers; a systematic literature review, which comprised both qualitative and quantitative studies, and four Papers with qualitative approach. The literature review (I) provides an overview of studies describing the use of ICT in home care, and included 130 studies. These studies were examined for a quality appraisal, and were then extracted and placed in a matrix of different areas. Paper II elucidates meanings of needs of middle-aged people living with serious chronic illness living at home. Twelve people with serious chronic illness living at home were interviewed. The interviews were analysed with a phenomenological hermeneutic interpretation. Paper IV describes DNs attitudes regarding the implementation of ICT in home care. Data were collected by using focus group discussions with 19 DNs, analysed with content analyses. An intervention study with a qualitative case study design was performed (III, V). Semi-structured interviews were performed, with two people with serious chronic illness living at home and their respective DN, for describing their experiences of using an ICT application for communicating with each other. Data were then analysed with thematic content analysis.Findings in the literature review (Paper I) show that the last ten years published studies of using ICT in care at home have rapidly increased. About a half of the studies included in the literature review were published between 2007 and 2009. The most of the studies were performed in North America and about one third in Europe. Many different terms for the technology were used; telehealth was the most common. Studies of supporting people with chronic illness were common. Heart and lung diseases were the most common diagnoses. Videophones or video conferencing was the most commonly used technology, with focus of communication between nurses and patients.Findings in Paper II show that needs of people with serious chronic illness living at home can be understood as maintaining control in everyday life provides meaningfulness in life. This means striving for independence through care and support in their surroundings. It seemed also important for participants to choose how their lives would be and be together with others who listened and understood them for who they are.Findings in Paper IV show the importance that DNs could influence the design and be a part of the introduction of ICT applications implementation in home care. DNs viewed that the use of ICT in home care could improve accessibility both for themselves and for the ill people at home. DNs thought they could gain better access to information about ill people living at home, and that it could save time, but also take time. They also discussed that the ICT application encroached the autonomy of the ill people and their relatives’ living at home. Furthermore, they discussed using ICT in home care was not suitable for everyone, and that people cannot be replaced by ICT.Findings in the intervention study (Paper III, V) describe that using the ICT application improved accessibility to care at home. It also saved time and eased DNs’ work. The messaging program provided a more direct communication between the ill people and the DNs, which facilitated the communication, and led to less limitations of everyday life for the ill people living at home, which seemed mediating a more trusting relationship.Keywords: information and communication technology, chronic illness, home, experiences, qualitative research.
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