| 1. |
- Tveitarås, Maria K, et al.
(författare)
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Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Knockout and Heterozygote Mice Are Protected from Hydronephrosis and Kidney Fibrosis after Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction
- 2015
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 10:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 (Mmp2) is a collagenase known to be important in the development of renal fibrosis. In unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) the obstructed kidney (OK) develops fibrosis, while the contralateral (CL) does not. In this study we investigated the effect of UUO on gene expression, fibrosis and pelvic remodeling in the kidneys of Mmp2 deficient mice (Mmp2-/-), heterozygous animals (Mmp2+/-) and wild-type mice (Mmp2+/+). Sham operated animals served as controls (Cntrl). UUO was prepared under isoflurane anaesthesia, and the animals were sacrificed after one week. UUO caused hydronephrosis, dilation of renal tubules, loss of parenchymal thickness, and fibrosis. Damage was most severe in Mmp2+/+ mice, while both Mmp2-/- and Mmp2+/- groups showed considerably milder hydronephrosis, no tubular necrosis, and less tubular dilation. Picrosirius red quantification of fibrous collagen showed 1.63±0.25% positivity in OK and 0.29±0.11% in CL (p<0.05) of Mmp2+/+, Mmp2-/- OK and Mmp2-/- CL exhibited only 0.49±0.09% and 0.23±0.04% (p<0.05) positivity, respectively. Mmp2+/- OK and Mmp2+/- CL showed 0.43±0.09% and 0.22±0.06% (p<0.05) positivity, respectively. Transcriptomic analysis showed that 26 genes (out of 48 examined) were differentially expressed by ANOVA (p<0.05). 25 genes were upregulated in Mmp2+/+ OK compared to Mmp2+/+ CL: Adamts1, -2, Col1a1, -2, -3a1, -4a1, -5a1, -5a2, Dcn, Fbln1, -5, Fmod, Fn1, Itga2, Loxl1, Mgp, Mmp2, -3, Nid1, Pdgfb, Spp1, Tgfb1, Timp2, Trf, Vim. In Mmp2-/- and Mmp2+/- 18 and 12 genes were expressed differentially between OK and CL, respectively. Only Mmp2 was differentially regulated when comparing Mmp2-/- OK and Mmp2+/- OK. Under stress, it appears that Mmp2+/- OK responds with less Mmp2 upregulation than Mmp2+/+ OK, suggesting that there is a threshold level of Mmp2 necessary for damage and fibrosis to occur. In conclusion, reduced Mmp2 expression during UUO protects mice against hydronephrosis and renal fibrosis.
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| 2. |
- Helle, Tina, et al.
(författare)
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Combining apps targeting professionals and senior citizens to improve housing accessibility and influence housing provision policies.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Studies in Health Technology and Informatics. - 0926-9630. - 9781614995654 ; 217, s. 300-305
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Two separate apps that address the increasingly important issue of accessible housing for senior citizens have been developed in different project settings. One of the apps was developed to facilitate the process for professional raters to assess housing accessibility in the context of individual housing adaptations. The other app was developed for senior citizens to raise their awareness of possible accessibility problems in their current dwelling and in other apartments within the available housing stock. Both apps were developed with a high degree of active user involvement in processes utilizing multiple state of the art methods. The results are two well accepted prototype apps perceived as user-friendly and appropriate for the intended user groups. By combining these two apps, our ambition is for the professional raters to benefit by gaining knowledge of their clients' perceived needs and desires, and for senior citizens to benefit by getting access to a database of professionally rated dwellings. The ultimate goal is the generation of sound knowledge reflecting the needs and desires of senior citizens and professional requirements regarding accessible housing as a means to inform and influence housing provision policies.
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| 3. |
- Langhorne, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Practice patterns and outcomes after stroke across countries at different economic levels (INTERSTROKE): an international observational study.
- 2018
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Ingår i: Lancet (London, England). - 1474-547X. ; 391:10134, s. 2019-2027
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stroke disproportionately affects people in low-income and middle-income countries. Although improvements in stroke care and outcomes have been reported in high-income countries, little is known about practice and outcomes in low and middle-income countries. We aimed to compare patterns of care available and their association with patient outcomes across countries at different economic levels.We studied the patterns and effect of practice variations (ie, treatments used and access to services) among participants in the INTERSTROKE study, an international observational study that enrolled 13 447 stroke patients from 142 clinical sites in 32 countries between Jan 11, 2007, and Aug 8, 2015. We supplemented patient data with a questionnaire about health-care and stroke service facilities at all participating hospitals. Using univariate and multivariate regression analyses to account for patient casemix and service clustering, we estimated the association between services available, treatments given, and patient outcomes (death or dependency) at 1 month.We obtained full information for 12 342 (92%) of 13 447 INTERSTROKE patients, from 108 hospitals in 28 countries; 2576 from 38 hospitals in ten high-income countries and 9766 from 70 hospitals in 18 low and middle-income countries. Patients in low-income and middle-income countries more often had severe strokes, intracerebral haemorrhage, poorer access to services, and used fewer investigations and treatments (p<0·0001) than those in high-income countries, although only differences in patient characteristics explained the poorer clinical outcomes in low and middle-income countries. However across all countries, irrespective of economic level, access to a stroke unit was associated with improved use of investigations and treatments, access to other rehabilitation services, and improved survival without severe dependency (odds ratio [OR] 1·29; 95% CI 1·14-1·44; all p<0·0001), which was independent of patient casemix characteristics and other measures of care. Use of acute antiplatelet treatment was associated with improved survival (1·39; 1·12-1·72) irrespective of other patient and service characteristics.Evidence-based treatments, diagnostics, and stroke units were less commonly available or used in low and middle-income countries. Access to stroke units and appropriate use of antiplatelet treatment were associated with improved recovery. Improved care and facilities in low-income and middle-income countries are essential to improve outcomes.Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland.
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| 4. |
- Tibaek, Sigrid, et al.
(författare)
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Can pelvic floor muscle training improve quality of life in men with mild to moderate post-stroke and lower urinary tract symptoms?
- 2017
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Ingår i: European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. - : Edizioni Minerva Medica. - 1973-9087 .- 1973-9095. ; 53:3, s. 416-425
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) have a significant impact on quality of life (QoL) in post-stroke patients. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on QoL parameters in men with post-stroke LUTS. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled and single-blinded trial. SETTING: Outpatients, University Hospital. POPULATION: Thirty-one men, median age 68 (interquartile range 60-74) years, with post-stroke LUTS were included. Thirty participants completed the study. METHODS: The participants randomized to the treatment group were treated in a systematic, controlled and intensive PFMT program over 3 months (12 weekly sessions). The participants randomized to the control group did not receive specific LUTS treatment. The effect was measured on the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Nocturia Quality-of-Life (N-QoL) Questionnaire. RESULTS: The results on SF-36 indicated significant improvement within pre- and post-test in the domains emotional role (median 77 to 100, P=0.03) and vitality (median 65 to 70, P=0.03) in the treatment group, but not the control group. There were no statistically significant differences between groups at pre-test, post-test or 6-month follow-up. The results on N-QoL indicated statistically significant differences between pre- and post-test in the bother/concern domain in both groups and in sleep/energy for the control group, but not the treatment group. There were no statistically significant differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS: PFMT may improve the emotional health and vitality domains of QoL in men with mild to moderate post-stroke and LUTS; however the improvements in the treatment group were not significantly better than for the control group. PFMT did not improve nocturia-related QoL. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: This study is the first to evaluate the effect of PFMT on QoL parameters in men with mild to moderate post-stroke and LUTS. The results indicate some short-term effect on SF-36 but none on N-QoL. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and with less restrictive inclusion and exclusion criteria are requested.
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| 5. |
- Tibaek, Sigrid, et al.
(författare)
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Is Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Effective for Men With Poststroke Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms? A Single-Blinded Randomized, Controlled Trial.
- 2015
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Ingår i: American Journal of Men's Health. - : SAGE Publications. - 1557-9883 .- 1557-9891. ; , s. 1460-1471
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of pelvic floor muscle training in men with poststroke lower urinary tract symptoms. Thirty-one poststroke men, median age 68 years, were included in this single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Thirty participants, 15 in each group, completed the study. The intervention consisted of 3 months (12 weekly sessions) of pelvic floor muscle training in groups and home exercises. The effect was evaluated by the DAN-PSS-1 (Danish Prostate Symptom Score) questionnaire, a voiding diary, and digital anal palpation of the pelvic floor muscle. The DAN-PSS-1, symptom score indicated a statistical significant improvement (p < .01) in the treatment group from pretest to posttest, but not in the control group. The DAN-PSS-1, total score improved statistically significantly in both groups from pretest to posttest (treatment group: p < .01; control group: p = .03). The median voiding frequency per 24 hours decreased from 11 at pretest to 7 (36%; p = .04) at posttest and to 8 (27%; p = .02) at follow-up in treatment group, although not statistical significantly more than the control group. The treatment group but not the control group improved statistically significantly in pelvic floor muscle function (p < .01) and strength (p < .01) from pretest to posttest and from pretest to follow-up (p = .03; p < .01). Compared with the control group the pretest to posttest was significantly better in the treatment group (p = .03). The results indicate that pelvic floor muscle training has an effect for lower urinary tract symptoms, although statistical significance was only seen for pelvic floor muscle.
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| 6. |
- Tibaek, Sigrid, et al.
(författare)
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Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, Erectile Dysfunction, and Quality of Life in Poststroke Men : A Controlled Cross-Sectional Study
- 2017
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Ingår i: American Journal of Men's Health. - : SAGE Publications. - 1557-9883 .- 1557-9891. ; 11:3, s. 748-756
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the current study was to compare lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), erectile dysfunction (ED), and quality of life (QoL) in poststroke and healthy men. Thirty poststroke men with stroke-related LUTS, and as controls, 96 healthy men participated in this controlled, cross-sectional study. Participants filled in the Danish Prostate Symptom Score (DAN-PSS-1) Questionnaire, the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), the 36-Item Short Form (SF-36), the Nocturia Quality-of-Life (N-QoL) Questionnaire. In the age group ≤55 years, comparing poststroke men with healthy controls both with LUTS, the results indicated DAN-PSS-1, total score median 13 (4-17) versus 3 (2-6), p =.05; IIEF-5 25 (14-25) versus 24 (23-25), p =.06; SF-12, total score 499 (360-679) versus 695 (644-734), p =.02; and N-QoL 98 (70-100) versus 96 (90-100), p =.65. In the age group >55 years, comparing poststroke men with healthy controls both with LUTS, the results indicated DAN-PSS-1, total score 13 (8-24) versus 5 (2-7), p <.01; IIEF-5 13 (5-20) versus 25 (24-25), p <.01; SF-36, total score 585 (456-718) versus 742 (687-772), p <.01; and N-QoL, total score 81 (66-95) versus 98 (80-100), p <.01. The results demonstrated that in age group above, but not below 55 years, poststroke men with LUTS had significantly higher frequency of severe and bothersome LUTS and ED than the healthy controls with LUTS, while QoL and N-QoL were significantly lower in comparison. It is recommended to identify and assess older poststroke men for LUTS, ED, and QoL.
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