| 1. |
- Björk, Yvonne, et al.
(författare)
-
Androgens in women after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation : Impact of chronic GvHD and glucocorticoid therapy
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Bone Marrow Transplantation. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0268-3369 .- 1476-5365. ; 52:3, s. 431-437
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Low androgen levels may contribute to sexual dysfunction in women after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). However, data on serum androgens in women after alloHCT are limited. The aim of this study was to assess androgen levels and their association with chronic GvHD (cGvHD) and glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. Included were 65 allografted women, 33 with cGvHD, and 23 of these were on GC therapy. Controls were 94 healthy, age-matched women. Supportive study groups were women after autologous HCT (autoHCT; n=20) and non-transplanted women on GC therapy (n=26). Compared with controls, free testosterone (free T) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels were lower in both the alloHCT group and GC groups; P<0.0001 and P<0.05, respectively. Androgens in the autoHCT group were similar or higher than controls. In the subgroup of alloHCT patients without cGvHD, free T was similar to controls (7.2 vs 8.6 pmol/L; P=0.42), whereas DHEAS levels was lower than controls (1.7 vs 2.5 μmol/L; P=0.008). Compared with controls, cGvHD without GC (n=10) was associated with lower free T and DHEAS; P=0.004 and P=0.0004, respectively). The lowest androgen levels were seen in women with both cGvHD and GC therapy. In conclusion, low serum androgens were associated with cGvHD and GC therapy, prompting for studies assessing a possible association between low androgens and sexual dysfunction and quality of life in allografted women.
|
|
| 2. |
- Gustavsson, Carolina, et al.
(författare)
-
Cerebrospinal fluid levels of insulin, leptin, and agouti-related protein in relation to BMI in pregnant women
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Obesity. - : Wiley. - 1930-7381. ; 24:6, s. 1299-1304
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ObjectiveDuring pregnancy, metabolic interactions must be adapted, though neuroendocrine mechanisms for increased food intake are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to characterize differences in insulin, leptin, and agouti-related protein (AgRP) levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in pregnant women with normal weight (NW) and pregnant women with overweight (OW) or obesity (OB). Placenta as a source for increased peripheral AgRP levels during pregnancy was also investigated. MethodsWomen were recruited at admission for elective cesarean section. Insulin, AgRP, and leptin were measured in serum and CSF from 30 NW, 25 OW, and 21 OB at term. Serum during pregnancy and placenta at term were collected for further AgRP analysis. ResultsImmunohistology showed placental production of AgRP and serum AgRP levels increased throughout pregnancy. CSF AgRP, leptin, and insulin levels were higher in OW and OB than NW. Serum leptin and insulin levels were higher and AgRP lower in OB than NW. ConclusionsHigh serum AgRP levels might protect from the suppressive effects of leptin during pregnancy. Pregnant women with OB and OW might further be protected from the suppressive effect of leptin by high CSF AgRP levels. Evidence was found, for the first time, of human placental AgRP production mirrored by levels in the circulation.
|
|
| 3. |
- Haghighi, Mona, et al.
(författare)
-
A Comparison of Rule-based Analysis with Regression Methods in Understanding the Risk Factors for Study Withdrawal in a Pediatric Study
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 6
-
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.
|
|
| 4. |
- Andersson, Anders, et al.
(författare)
-
Interleukin-16-producing NK cells and T-cells in the blood of tobacco smokers with and without COPD
- 2016
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1178-2005. ; 11, s. 2245-2258
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Long-term exposure to tobacco smoke causes local inflammation in the airways that involves not only innate immune cells, including NK cells, but also adaptive immune cells such as cytotoxic (CD8(+)) and helper (CD4(+)) T-cells. We have previously demonstrated that long-term tobacco smoking increases extracellular concentration of the CD4(+)-recruiting cytokine interleukin (IL)-16 locally in the airways. Here, we hypothesized that tobacco smoking alters IL-16 biology at the systemic level and that this effect involves oxygen free radicals (OFR). Methods: We quantified extracellular IL-16 protein (ELISA) and intracellular IL-16 in NK cells, T-cells, B-cells, and monocytes (flow cytometry) in blood samples from long-term tobacco smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in never-smokers. NK cells from healthy blood donors were stimulated with water-soluble tobacco smoke components (cigarette smoke extract) with or without an OFR scavenger (glutathione) in vitro and followed by quantification of IL-16 protein. Results: The extracellular concentrations of IL-16 protein in blood did not display any substantial differences between groups. Notably, intracellular IL-16 protein was detected in all types of blood leukocytes. All long-term smokers displayed a decrease in this IL-16 among NK cells, irrespective of COPD status. Further, both NK and CD4(+) T-cell concentrations displayed a negative correlation with pack-years. Moreover, cigarette smoke extract caused release of IL-16 protein from NK cells in vitro, and this was not affected by glutathione, in contrast to the decrease in intracellular IL-16, which was prevented by this drug. Conclusion: Long-term exposure to tobacco smoke does not markedly alter extracellular concentrations of IL-16 protein in blood. However, it does decrease the intracellular IL-16 concentrations in blood NK cells, the latter effect involving OFR. Thus, long-term tobacco smoking exerts an impact at the systemic level that involves NK cells; innate immune cells that are critical for host defense against viruses and tumors-conditions that are over-represented among smokers.
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
| 7. |
- Andersson, Elias, et al.
(författare)
-
Adaptation to climate change in forestry : a perspective on forest ownership and adaptation responses
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Forests. - : MDPI. - 1999-4907. ; 8:12
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Adaptation to climate change has often been discussed from the perspectives of social vulnerability and community vulnerability, recognising that characteristics at local level will influence the particular adaptations undertaken. However, the extent to which national-level systemic factors influence and shape measures defined as adaptations has seldom been recognised. Focusing on adaptation to climate change in forestry, this study uses the example of two countries in the northern hemisphere with different forest ownership structures, forestry industry and traditions: Sweden, with strong private, non-industrial ownership, dominant forest industry and long forestry traditions; and Scotland, with forest ownership dominated by large estates and investment forestry based on plantations of exotic conifer species. The study shows how adaptation to climate change is structurally embedded and conditioned, which has resulted in specific challenges and constraints for different groups of forest owners within these two different contexts. This produces a specific set of political spaces and policy tools by rendering climate change in relation to forestry manageable, negotiable and practical/logical in specific ways. It is recommended that the focus of future work on climate-related issues and development of adaptation measures and policy should not be primarily on climate-related factors, but on institutional analysis of structural factors and logics in target sectors, in order to critically explore concepts of agency and power within these processes.
|
|
| 8. |
- Andersson, Elias, et al.
(författare)
-
Technology use in Swedish reindeer husbandry through a social lens
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Polar Geography. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1088-937X .- 1939-0513. ; 40:1, s. 19-34
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rationalizing production more effectively, technological developments and innovations also have effects on, for example, skills, knowledge and social relations, that connect the specific technique to large processes and rationalities. In the conflict between user rights and ownership rights in northern Sweden, the introduction of new techniques within reindeer husbandry is studied on a local and embodied level. Through observations and interviews, the tension between empowerment and control in their implementation is further explored by utilizing a labor process theoretical framework. The results illustrate a shift in the definition of skills and knowledge, in relation to the use of GPS and GIS, that reshape, reorganize, restructure and embody the labor process of reindeer husbandry and spatial, temporal and ecological relations. Through its production of subjective conditions and dependence, the disciplinary logic of these techniques contributes to shape and enact governable spaces and subjects within the context. Operating as technologies of government, the techniques emphasize the responsibilities of the reindeer herding community and shape their participation, by reinforcing the demand for certain kind of subjectivities and accountability – governmental rationales that contribute to a technologicalization and depoliticizing of policy and conflict managing.
|
|
| 9. |
- Andersson, Kent, et al.
(författare)
-
Military utility : A proposed concept to support decision-making
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Technology in society. - : Elsevier. - 0160-791X .- 1879-3274. ; 43, s. 23-32
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A concept called Military Utility is proposed for the study of the use of technology in military operations. The proposed concept includes a three-level structure representing key features and their detailed components. On basic level the Military Utility of a technical system, to a military actor, in a specific context, is a compound measure of the military effectiveness, of the assessed technical system's suitability to the military capability system and of the affordability. The concept is derived through conceptual analysis and is based on related concepts used in social sciences, the military domain and Systems Engineering. It is argued that the concept has qualitative explanatory powers and can support military decision-making regarding technology in forecasts, defense planning, development, utilization and the lessons learned process. The suggested concept is expected to contribute to the development of the science of Military-Technology and to be found useful to actors related to defense.
|
|
| 10. |
- Andersson, Karin, 1972, et al.
(författare)
-
Survivin controls biogenesis of microRNA in smokers: A link to pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Biochimica et biophysica acta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3002. ; 1863:3, s. 663-673
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- MicroRNAs (miRs) represent a part of epigenetic control of autoimmunity gaining increasing attention in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since cigarette smoking plays important role in RA pathogenesis and reprograms transcriptional profile of miRNAs, we ask if the onco-protein survivin, a novel biomarker of RA, may provide a link between smoking and miRNA. Studying survivin expression in leukocytes of 144 female RA patients we observed that smoking patients had higher survivin transcription and a remarkable spreading of survivin isoforms. This was associated with restricted pattern and low production of miRs. Additionally, miRNA processing enzymes Dicer and DGRC8 were decreased in the patients with survivin isoform spreading. The direct contribution of survivin in miRs biogenesis was confirmed by a massive increase of miRs production following inhibition of survivin in leukocyte cultures. Dicer is shown to mediate these effects of survivin. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated binding of survivin to the Dicer promoter region. Dicer expression increased 5-folds following survivin inhibition. Taken together, this study presents experimental evidence of a novel cellular function of survivin, control of miRs biogenesis. Up-regulation of survivin in smokers suggests its role as effector of the adverse epigenetic control in RA.
|
|
