| 1. |
- Elfving, Kristina, et al.
(författare)
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Real-time PCR threshold cycle (Ct) cut-offs help to identify agents causing acute childhood diarrhea in Zanzibar.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of clinical microbiology. - 1098-660X. ; 52:3, s. 916-923
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Molecular assays might improve identification of causes of acute diarrheal disease, but may lead to more frequent detection of asymptomatic infections. In the present study real-time PCR targeting 14 pathogens was applied on rectal swabs from 330 children aged 2-59 months in Zanzibar, 165 with acute diarrhea and 165 asymptomatic controls. At least one pathogen was detected in 94% of patients and 84% of controls, with higher rates in patients for norovirus genogroup II (20% vs. 2.4%, p<0.0001), rotavirus (10% vs. 1.8%, p=0.003) and Cryptosporidium (30% vs. 11%, p<0.0001). Detection rates did not differ significantly for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)-estA (33% vs. 24%), ETEC-eltB (44% vs. 46%), Shigella (35% vs. 33%), and Campylobacter (35% vs. 33%), but for these agents Ct (threshold cycle) values were lower (pathogen loads were higher) in sick children than in controls. In multivariate analysis, Ct values for norovirus genogroup II, rotavirus, Cryptosporidium, ETEC-estA and Shigella were independently associated with diarrhea. We conclude that this real-time PCR allows convenient detection of essentially all diarrheagenic agents, and provides Ct values that may be critical for interpretation of results for pathogens with similar detection rates in patients and controls. The results indicate that assessment of pathogen load may improve identification of agents causing gastroenteritis in children.
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| 2. |
- Elfving, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Ectopic recurrence of a craniopharyngioma in a 15-year-old girl 9 years after surgery and conventional radiotherapy: case report.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Child's Nervous System. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1433-0350 .- 0256-7040. ; 27, s. 845-851
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This 15-year-old girl was operated due to an ectopic recurrence of a craniopharyngioma along the previous surgical route. She presented with a sellar craniopharyngioma at the age of 4 years and underwent a right subfrontal craniotomy. Two and a half years later she had a local recurrence in the sella that was resected along the same surgical route. Postoperative cranial radiotherapy was administered with 50 Gy divided into 28 fractions. Nine years later, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a local recurrence within the sella together with a supraorbital cystic mass. Both tumors were surgically removed. Microscopic examination revealed recurrence of an adamantinous craniopharyngioma at both localisations. Histopathological preparations showed a higher MIB-1 index at the simultaneous recurrences in the sella and in the frontal lobe and also an elevated focal p53 expression, compared to previous operations, suggesting a transformation to a more aggressive tumor. This is the first case report of ectopic recurrence in a child that had received conventional radiotherapy of 50 Gy to the sella. Careful intra-operative procedure is probably crucial for preventing ectopic recurrences. The future will reveal if the transsphenoidal surgical route will put an end to ectopic tumor recurrence in patients with a craniopharyngioma.
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| 3. |
- Fjalldal, Sigridur, et al.
(författare)
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Hypothalamic Involvement Predicts Cognitive Performance and Psychosocial Health in Long-term Survivors of Childhood Craniopharyngioma
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : Endocrine Society. - 0021-972X .- 1945-7197. ; 98:8, s. 3253-3262
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context: Hypothalamic damage caused by craniopharyngioma (CP) is associated with poor functional outcome. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanObjective: To assess cognitive function and quality of life in childhood-onset CP on hormonal replacement, including GH treatment. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanDesign: A cross-sectional study with a median follow-up time of 20 years (1-40). less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanSetting: Patients were recruited from the South Medical Region of Sweden. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanParticipants: The study included 42 patients (20 women) surgically treated for a childhood-onset CP between 1958 and 2000. Patients were aged andgt;= 17 years. Equally many controls, matched for age, sex, residence, and smoking habits, were included. Tumor growth into the third ventricle was found in 25 patients. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMain Outcome Measures: All subjects were examined with a battery of cognitive tests and the following questionnaires: Symptom Checklist-90, the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction, and the Social Network concept. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults: The CP patients had lower cognitive performance, reaching statistical significance in 12 of 20 test variables, including executive function and memory. Comparison of patients with tumor growth into the third ventricle to controls revealed a significant lower mean total score (P = .006). A significant negative correlation was recorded between mean z-score of cognitive performance and years since operation (r = -0.407; P = .014). No statistically significant group differences were observed across any of the 9 Symptom Checklist-90 subscales. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusions: Adults with childhood-onset CP, on hormone replacement, including GH treatment, have memory defects, disturbed attention, and impaired processing speed. Patients with hypothalamic involvement are more affected. Patients rated their quality of life as good as their matched controls.
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| 4. |
- Mörse, Helena, et al.
(författare)
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Acute onset of ovarian dysfunction in young females after start of cancer treatment.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Pediatric Blood & Cancer. - : Wiley. - 1545-5017 .- 1545-5009. ; 60:4, s. 676-681
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Female childhood cancer survivors are at risk of ovarian failure and premature ovarian insufficiency. We hereby present an interim analysis of a prospective observational study of ovarian function during cancer treatment of young females in relation to clinical factors. PROCEDURE: Thirty-four consecutive female cancer patients aged 0-18 year were included after informed consent. Serum/Plasma levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), inhibin B, FSH, LH, and oestradiol (E2) were measured at diagnosis and every 3-4 months during and after treatment. RESULTS: All patients had detectable AMH levels at diagnosis. Eleven patients had reached menarche (mean age 14½ years) and the remaining patients had a mean age of 6½ years. They all showed a rapid decline in AMH after 3 months of treatment, regardless of AMH at diagnosis, age, menarche, or treatment given. Those given radiotherapy below the diaphragm and/or stem cell transplantation (SCT) (n = 9) had no ovarian recovery during or 1½-year after treatment. However, recovery was observed in those given standard treatment for acute lymphatic leukemia (n = 7) already during maintenance chemotherapy. For the remaining patients, longer follow-up is required for analysis of ovarian recovery after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid ovarian dysfunction is observed in all females after initiation of cancer treatment as measured by AMH and inhibin B. Our data regarding those who require abdominal radiotherapy and/or SCT confirms the recommendations in the Nordic countries where these patients are eligible for cryopreservation of ovarian cortical tissue before start of cancer treatment. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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| 5. |
- Rignell-Hydbom, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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A nested case-control study of intrauterine exposure to persistent organochlorine pollutants in relation to risk of type 1 diabetes.
- 2010
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 5:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The incidence of type 1 diabetes in Europe is increasing at a rate of about 3% per year and there is also an increasing incidence throughout the world. Type 1 diabetes is a complex disease caused by multiple genetic and environmental factors. Persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) have been suggested as a triggering factor for developing childhood type 1 diabetes. The aim of this case-control study was to assess possible impacts of in utero exposure to POPs on type 1 diabetes. METHODOLOGY/ PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The study was performed as a case-control study within a biobank in Malmö, a city located in the Southern part of Sweden. The study included 150 cases (children who had their diagnosis mostly before 18 years of age) and 150 controls, matched for gender and day of birth. 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB-153) and the major DDT metabolite 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (p,p'-DDE) were used as a biomarkers for POP exposure. When comparing the quartile with the highest maternal serum concentrations of PCB-153 with the other quartiles, an odds ratio (OR) of 0.73 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42, 1.27) was obtained. Similar results was obtained for p,p'-DDE (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.29, 1.08). CONCLUSIONS: The hypothesis that in utero exposure to POPs will trigger the risk for developing type 1 diabetes was not supported by the results. The risk estimates did, although not statistically significant, go in the opposite direction. However, it is not reasonable to believe that exposure to POPs should protect against type 1 diabetes.
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| 6. |
- Rollof, Lena, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of self-assessment of pubertal maturation in boys and girls using drawings and orchidometer.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism. - 2191-0251. ; 25:1-2, s. 125-129
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Self-assessment of puberty has been reported to correlate well with staging by a physician. No previous study has evaluated the use of an orchidometer to assess testicular size in boys. STUDY DESIGN: This study included 44 girls and 56 boys, 10-16 years old, with assessed Tanner staging. The boys also used an orchidometer. The correlation with a professional's staging was analyzed using percentage agreement (PA). RESULTS: For girls, the PA for breast development was 52%, and for pubic hair, 64%. There was no case of the difference being greater than one stage. For boys, the PA for pubic hair was 75%. For testicular volume, the PA was 36%; in 95%, the difference was only one size. CONCLUSIONS: We found pubertal self-assessment, including the use of an orchidometer for boys, to be a useful method. However, if the purpose is to determine exact pubertal onset, the assessment should be made by a trained professional.
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