1. |
- Egervärn, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
Unexpected common occurrence of transferable extended spectrum cephalosporinase-producing Escherichia coli in Swedish surface waters used for drinking water supply
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 587-588, s. 466-472
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The presence of Enterobacteriaceae producing extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) or transferable AmpC beta-lactamases (pAmpC) is increasingly being reported in humans, food-producing animals and food world-wide. However, the occurrence and impact of these so-called extended spectrum cephalosporinase (ESC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae in aquatic environments are poorly documented. This study investigated the occurrence, concentrations and characteristics of ESC-producing E. coli (ESC-Ec) in samples of surface water collected at five Swedish water treatment plants that normally have relatively high prevalence and concentration of E. coli in surface water. ESC-Ec was found in 27 of 98 surface water samples analysed. All but two positive samples were collected at two of the water treatment plants studied. The ESC-Ec concentration, 1-3cfu/100mL, represented approximately 4% of the total amount of E. coli in the respective surface water sample. In total, 74% of the isolates were multi-resistant, but no isolate was resistant to carbapenems. Six types of ESBL/pAmpC genes were found in the 27 E. coli isolates obtained from the positive samples, of which four (blaCTX-M-15, blaCMY-2, blaCTX-M-1 and blaCTX-M-14) were found during the whole sampling period, in samples taken at more than one water treatment plant. In addition, the genes were situated on various types of plasmids and most E. coli isolates were not closely related with regard to MLST types. The combinations of ESBL/pAmpC genes, plasmids and E. coli isolates were generally similar to those found previously in healthy and sick individuals in Sweden. In conclusion, the occurrence of ESC-Ec in Swedish surface water shows that resistant bacteria of clinical concern are present in aquatic environments even in a low-prevalence country such as Sweden.
|
|
2. |
- Eriksdotter-Jönhagen, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
Encapsulated cell biodelivery of nerve growth factor to the Basal forebrain in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders. - : S. Karger AG. - 1421-9824 .- 1420-8008. ; 33:1, s. 18-28
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Degeneration of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain correlates with cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Targeted delivery of exogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) has emerged as a potential AD therapy due to its regenerative effects on the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in AD animal models. Here we report the results of a first-in-man study of encapsulated cell (EC) biodelivery of NGF to the basal forebrain of AD patients with the primary objective to explore safety and tolerability.
|
|
3. |
- Ferreira, Daniel, et al.
(författare)
-
Brain changes in Alzheimer's disease patients with implanted encapsulated cells releasing nerve growth factor
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 43, s. 1059-1072
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- © 2015-IOS Press and the authors. New therapies with disease-modifying effects are urgently needed for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). Nerve growth factor (NGF) protein has demonstrated regenerative and neuroprotective effects on basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in animal studies. In addition, AD patients treated with NGF have previously shown improved cognition, EEG activity, nicotinic binding, and glucose metabolism. However, no study to date has analyzed brain atrophy in patients treated with NGF producing cells. In this study we present MRI results of the first clinical trial in patients with AD using encapsulated NGF biodelivery to the basal forebrain. Six AD patients received the treatment during twelve months. Patients were grouped as responders and non-responders according to their twelve-months change in MMSE. Normative values were created from 131 AD patients from ADNI, selecting 36 age-and MMSE-matched patients for interpreting the longitudinal changes in MMSE and brain atrophy. Results at baseline indicated that responders showed better clinical status and less pathological levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ1-42. However, they showed more brain atrophy, and neuronal degeneration as evidenced by higher CSF levels of T-tau and neurofilaments. At follow-up, responders showed less brain shrinkage and better progression in the clinical variables and CSF biomarkers. Noteworthy, two responders showed less brain shrinkage than the normative ADNI group. These results together with previous evidence supports the idea that encapsulated biodelivery of NGF might have the potential to become a new treatment strategy for AD with both symptomatic and disease-modifying effects.
|
|
4. |
- Howner, Katarina, et al.
(författare)
-
Brain processing of fearful facial expression in mentally disordered offenders
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science. - Irvine, CA : Scientific Research Publishing. - 2160-5866 .- 2160-5874. ; 1:3, s. 115-123
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Emotional facial expressions are important cues for interaction between people. The aim of the present study was to investigate brain function when processing fearful facial expressions in offenders with two psychiatric disorders which include impaired emotional facial perception; autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and psychopathy (PSY). Fourteen offenders undergoing forensic psychiatric assessment (7 with ASD, and 7 psychopathic offenders) and 12 healthy controls (HC) viewed fearful and neutral faces while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Brain activity (fearful versus neutral faces) was compared both between HC and offenders and between the two offender groups (PSY and ASD). Functional co-activation was also investigated. The offenders had increased activity bilaterally in amygdala and medial cingulate cortex as well as the left hippocampus during processing fearful facial expressions compared to HC. The two subgroups of offenders differed in five regions compared with each other. Results from functional co-activation analysis suggested a strong correlation between the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in the left hemisphere only in the PSY group. These findings suggest enhanced neural processing of fearful faces in the amygdala as well as in other facial processing brain areas in offenders compared to HC. Moreover, the co-activation between amygdala and ACC in the PSY but not the ASD group suggested qualitative differences in amygdala activity in the two groups. Since the sample size is small the study should be regarded as a pilot study.
|
|
5. |
- Karami, Azadeh, et al.
(författare)
-
Changes in CSF cholinergic biomarkers in response to cell therapy with NGF in patients with Alzheimer's disease
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Alzheimer's & Dementia. - : Wiley. - 1552-5260 .- 1552-5279. ; 11:11, s. 1316-1328
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The extensive loss of central cholinergic functions in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain is linked to impaired nerve growth factor (NGF) signaling. The cardinal cholinergic biomarker is the acetylcholine synthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), which has recently been found in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The purpose of this study was to see if EC-NGF therapy will alter CSF levels of cholinergic biomarkers, ChAT, and acetylcholinesterase. Method: Encapsulated cell implants releasing NGF (EC-NGF) were surgically implanted bilaterally in the basal forebrain of six AD patients for 12 months and cholinergic markers in CSF were analyzed. Results: Activities of both enzymes were altered after 12 months. In particular, the activity of soluble ChAT showed high correlation with cognition, CSF tau and amyloid-beta, in vivo cerebral glucose utilization and nicotinic binding sites, and morphometric and volumetric magnetic resonance imaging measures. Discussion: A clear pattern of association is demonstrated showing a proof-of-principle effect on CSF cholinergic markers, suggestive of a beneficial EC-NGF implant therapy.
|
|
6. |
- Lauvrud, Anne Therese, et al.
(författare)
-
Water jet-assisted lipoaspiration and Sepax cell separation system for the isolation of adipose stem cells with high adipogenic potential
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery. - : Elsevier. - 1748-6815 .- 1878-0539. ; 74:10, s. 2759-2767
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Water jet-assisted liposuction has gained popularity due to favourable fat grafting outcomes. In this study, we compared stem cells obtained from fat isolated with manual or the water jet-assisted procedure.Methods: Liposuction of abdominal fat was performed using the two methods on each donor (n = 10). Aspirate samples were collagenase digested and the isolated cells seeded in vitro prior to proliferation, adipogenic differentiation and angiogenic activity analyses.Results: Cells from either procedure proliferated at similar rates and exhibited a similar colony-forming ability. The cells expressed stem cell markers CD73, CD90 and CD105. In the water jet cell preparations, there were higher numbers of cells expressing CD146. Robust adipogenic differentiation was observed in cultures expanded from both manual and water jet lipoaspirates. Gene analysis showed higher expression of the adipocyte markers aP2 and GLUT4 in the adipocyte-differentiated water jet cell preparations, and ELISA indicated increased secretion of adiponectin from these cells. Both cell groups expressed vasculogenic factors and the water jet cells promoted the highest levels of in vitro angiogenesis. Given these positive results, we further characterised the water jet cells when prepared using an automated closed cell processing unit, the Sepax-2 system (Cytiva). The growth and stem cell properties of the Sepax-processed cells were similar to the standard centrifugation protocol, but there was evidence for greater adipogenic differentiation in the Sepax-processed cells.Conclusions: Water jet lipoaspirates yield cells with high adipogenic potential and angiogenic activity, which may be beneficial for use in cell-assisted lipotransfers.
|
|
7. |
- McGrath, Aleksandra M., et al.
(författare)
-
Long-Term Effects of Fibrin Conduit with Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Immunosuppression after Peripheral Nerve Repair in a Xenogenic Model
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Cell Medicine. - : SAGE Publications. - 2155-1790. ; 10, s. 1-13
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Previously we showed that a fibrin glue conduit with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and cyclosporine A (CsA) enhanced early nerve regeneration. In this study long term effects of this conduit are investigated. Methods: In a rat model, the sciatic nerve was repaired with fibrin conduit containing fibrin matrix, fibrin conduit containing fibrin matrix with CsA treatment and fibrin conduit containing fibrin matrix with hMSCs and CsA treatment, and also with nerve graft as control. Results: At 12 weeks 34% of motoneurons of the control group regenerated axons through the fibrin conduit. CsA treatment alone or with hMSCs resulted in axon regeneration of 67% and 64% motoneurons respectively. The gastrocnemius muscle weight was reduced in the conduit with fibrin matrix. The treatment with CsA or CsA with hMSCs induced recovery of the muscle weight and size of fast type fibers towards the levels of the nerve graft group. Discussion: The transplantation of hMSCs for peripheral nerve injury should be optimized to demonstrate their beneficial effects. The CsA may have its own effect on nerve regeneration.
|
|
8. |
- Volchko, Yevheniya, 1979, et al.
(författare)
-
Assessing costs and benefits of improved soil quality management in remediation projects : A study of an urban site contaminated with PAH and metals
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 707
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Contaminants in the soil may threaten soil functions (SFs) and, in turn, hinder the delivery of ecosystem services (ES). A framework for ecological risk assessments (ERAs) within the APPLICERA - APPLICable site-specific Environmental Risk Assessment research project promotes assessments that consider other soil quality parameters than only contaminant concentrations. The developed framework is: (i) able to differentiate the effects of contamination on SFs from the effects of other soil qualities essential for soil biota; and (ii) provides a robust basis for improved soil quality management in remediation projects. This study evaluates the socio-economic consequences of remediation alternatives stemming from a Tier 1 ERA that focusses on total contaminant concentrations and soil quality standards and a detailed, site-specific Tier 3 Triad approach that is based on the APPLICERA framework. The present study demonstrates how Tier 1 and Tier 3 ERAs differ in terms of the socio-economic consequences of their remediation actions, as well as presents a novel method for the semi-quantitative assessment of on-site ES. Although the presented Tier 3 ERA is more expensive and time-consuming than the more traditional Tier 1 ERA approach, it has the potential to lower the costs of remediation actions, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, reduce other environmental impacts, and minimise socio-economic losses. Furthermore, the remediation actions stemming from the Tier 3 ERA were predicted to exert far less negative ES effects than the actions proposed based on the results of the Tier 1 ERA.
|
|
9. |
- Wiberg, Marie, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
-
Operationalizing balanced time perspective in a Swedish sample
- 2012
-
Ingår i: The International Journal of Educational and Psychological Assessment. - : Time Taylor Academic Journals. - 2094-0734. ; 12:1, s. 95-107
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Past research suggests that biases in temporal orientation may have systematic effects ongoal-directed behavior and that physical and mental well-being is associated with balanced time perspective (BTP, Zimbardo and Boyd, 1999). The aim of this study was to examine different operationalizations of the BTP, and to present an alternative proposal in which BTP is measured as a multidimensional, rather than a binary, construct. Two versions of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) were administered to a sample of 502 individuals. The proposed operationalization shows important advantages in terms of ecological validity of the multidimensional definition, sample independency and possibility to adjust for country differences. Our proposal may also have practical implications both for individuals and groups, e.g. in working teams, psychological counseling, psychotherapy and when recruiting personal forleading positions.
|
|
10. |
- Åström, Elisabeth, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
-
Insights into features of anxiety through multiple aspects of psychological time
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Journal of Integrative Psychology and Therapeutics. - : Herbert Publications Ltd. - 2054-4723. ; 2
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: It is well-recognized that emotions and emotional disorders may alter the experience of time. Yet relatively little is known about different aspects of psychological time in relation to anxiety. The purpose of the present study was to explore several aspects of temporal processing, including time perspective, prospective and retrospective time estimation, in persons with anxiety symptoms.Methods: A total of 110 individuals with varying degrees of anxiety participated in two studies. They were assigned to two groups (anxiety–control) based on their scores on anxiety measurements. Participants also completed an inventory of time perspective and several time estimation tasks which were analyzed on a group-level. Depressive symptoms were assessed and used as a covariate in the second study.Results: Anxiety was significantly associated with Past Negative and Future Negative time perspectives as measured by the Swedish Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (S-ZTPI), even when controlling for the effect of depressive symptoms. No other significant differences were found.Conclusion: Exploring time perspective in persons with anxious symptoms may provide important insights into features of anxiety. These findings may offer new ways of conceptualizing anxiety and provide suggestions for treatment strategies.
|
|