| 1. |
- Enocsson, Helena, et al.
(författare)
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Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels predict damage accrual in patients with recent-onset systemic lupus erythematosus
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Autoimmunity. - : Elsevier BV. - 0896-8411 .- 1095-9157. ; 106
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has potential as a prognosis and severity biomarker in several inflammatory and infectious diseases. In a previous cross-sectional study, suPAR levels were shown to reflect damage accrual in cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Herein, we evaluated suPAR as a predictor of future organ damage in recent-onset SLE. Methods: Included were 344 patients from the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) Inception Cohort who met the 1997 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria with 5-years of follow-up data available. Baseline sera from patients and age- and sex-matched controls were assayed for suPAR. Organ damage was assessed annually using the SLICC/ACR damage index (SDI). Results: The levels of suPAR were higher in patients who accrued damage, particularly those with SDI≥2 at 5 years (N = 32, 46.8% increase, p = 0.004), as compared to patients without damage. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant impact of suPAR on SDI outcome (SDI≥2; OR = 1.14; 95% CI 1.03–1.26), also after adjustment for confounding factors. In an optimized logistic regression to predict damage, suPAR persisted as a predictor, together with baseline disease activity (SLEDAI-2K), age, and non-Caucasian ethnicity (model AUC = 0.77). Dissecting SDI into organ systems revealed higher suPAR levels in patients who developed musculoskeletal damage (SDI≥1; p = 0.007). Conclusion: Prognostic biomarkers identify patients who are at risk of acquiring early damage and therefore need careful observation and targeted treatment strategies. Overall, suPAR constitutes an interesting biomarker for patient stratification and for identifying SLE patients who are at risk of acquiring organ damage during the first 5 years of disease.
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| 2. |
- Rahman, Anisur, et al.
(författare)
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Healing time, long-term result and effects of stem cell treatment in acute tympanic membrane perforation
- 2007
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Ingår i: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0165-5876 .- 1872-8464. ; 71:7, s. 1129-1137
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective The incidence of otitis media in children between the age of 2 and 6 years is well documented. Repeated attacks may cause acute and chronic perforations. The surgical treatment for repairing chronic perforation is quite uncomfortable for the patients of this age group because of the invasiveness of this treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term influence of embryonic stem cells on acute perforations and the effect of gelatin as a vehicle for applied stem cells. The possibility of teratogenic effects of the stem cells was also observed. Methods Bilateral laser myringotomy was performed in 17 adult Sprague–Dawley rats, divided into two groups. Gelatin, a substance suitable as vehicle for bioactive material was used bilaterally around the perforation in group A, to serve as a scaffold for repairing tissue. The stem cells were used in the right tympanic membrane perforation leaving the left tympanic membrane as a control. The animals in group B received the same treatment except for the use of gelatin and in addition received an immuno-suppressive agent. After half a year of observation the mechanical stiffness of the tympanic membrane was measured by moiré interferometry for group B and the morphological study was performed by light microscopy for both groups A and B and electron microscopy for group A. Results Stem cell treated ears did not show any enhanced healing of the perforation although a marked thickening of the lamina propria was observed compared with control group. After half a year the strength and the stiffness of the tympanic membrane was almost the same for both treated and untreated ears. No evidence of teratoma was found after half a year. Conclusion This study suggests that the stem cells stimulate the proliferation of connective tissue and fibers in the lamina propria, possibly mediated by secreted substances, although the stiffness properties do not seem to be altered. The use of gelatin does not seem to enhance the healing process of the tympanic membrane perforation.
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| 3. |
- Rahman, Anisur, et al.
(författare)
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Stem cells and enhanced healing of chronic tympanic membrane perforation
- 2008
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Ingår i: Acta Oto-Laryngologica. - : Informa Healthcare. - 0001-6489 .- 1651-2251. ; 128:4, s. 352-359
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- CONCLUSIONS:Important information about the basic reparative process of tympanic membrane (TM) healing is shown, which can be incorporated for further clinical understanding. This provides a basis for the exploration of stem cell treatment for TM perforations and holds promise for future improvements.OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to analyse the healing of TM perforation by using stem cells and the stiffness of the membrane was tested in an acute and long-term study.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Sprague-Dawley rats were used in a model of TM perforation. The perforation was performed with a laser system. Stem cells were applied and the healing time and morphological analysis were performed with light and transmission electron microscope. Stiffness was examined by moiré interferometry.RESULTS:The stiffness of the perforated and healed TM was restored after just 2 weeks. In the chronic perforation model, mesenchymal stem cells enhanced the healing.
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| 4. |
- Svefors, Pernilla, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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Relative importance of prenatal and postnatal determinants of stunting : data mining approaches to the MINIMat cohort, Bangladesh
- 2019
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 9:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: WHO has set a goal to reduce the prevalence of stunted child growth by 40% by the year 2025. To reach this goal, it is imperative to establish the relative importance of risk factors for stunting to deliver appropriate interventions. Currently, most interventions take place in late infancy and early childhood. This study aimed to identify the most critical prenatal and postnatal determinants of linear growth 0-24 months and the risk factors for stunting at 2 years, and to identify subgroups with different growth trajectories and levels of stunting at 2 years.METHODS: Conditional inference tree-based methods were applied to the extensive Maternal and Infant Nutrition Interventions in Matlab trial database with 309 variables of 2723 children, their parents and living conditions, including socioeconomic, nutritional and other biological characteristics of the parents; maternal exposure to violence; household food security; breast and complementary feeding; and measurements of morbidity of the mothers during pregnancy and repeatedly of their children up to 24 months of age. Child anthropometry was measured monthly from birth to 12 months, thereafter quarterly to 24 months.RESULTS: Birth length and weight were the most critical factors for linear growth 0-24 months and stunting at 2 years, followed by maternal anthropometry and parental education. Conditions after birth, such as feeding practices and morbidity, were less strongly associated with linear growth trajectories and stunting at 2 years.CONCLUSION: The results of this study emphasise the benefit of interventions before conception and during pregnancy to reach a substantial reduction in stunting.
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| 5. |
- Wirestam, Lina, 1986-, et al.
(författare)
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Osteopontin and disease activity in patients with recent-onset systemic Lupus Erythematosus : Results from the SLICC Inception Cohort
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Rheumatology. - : The Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; 46:5, s. 492-500
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. In cross-sectional studies, elevated osteopontin (OPN) levels have been proposed to reflect, and/or precede, progressive organ damage and disease severity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We aimed, in a cohort of patients with recent-onset SLE, to determine whether raised serum OPN levels precede damage and/or are associated with disease activity or certain disease phenotypes. Methods. We included 344 patients from the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) Inception Cohort who had 5 years of followup data available. All patients fulfilled the 1997 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Baseline sera from patients and from age- and sex-matched population-based controls were analyzed for OPN using ELISA. Disease activity and damage were assessed at each annual followup visit using the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and the SLICC/ACR damage index (SDI), respectively. Results. Compared to controls, baseline OPN was raised 4-fold in SLE cases (p < 0.0001). After relevant adjustments in a binary logistic regression model, OPN levels failed to significantly predict global damage accrual defined as SDI ≥ 1 at 5 years. However, baseline OPN correlated with SLEDAI-2K at enrollment into the cohort (r = 0.27, p < 0.0001), and patients with high disease activity (SLEDAI-2K ≥ 5) had raised serum OPN (p < 0.0001). In addition, higher OPN levels were found in patients with persistent disease activity (p = 0.0006), in cases with renal involvement (p < 0.0001) and impaired estimated glomerular filtration rate (p = 0.01). Conclusion. The performance of OPN to predict development of organ damage was not impressive. However, OPN associated significantly with lupus nephritis and with raised disease activity at enrollment, as well as over time.
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