| 41. |
- Norén, Erika, et al.
(author)
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Concentrations and temporal trends in pesticide biomarkers in urine of Swedish adolescents, 2000–2017
- 2020
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In: Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1559-0631 .- 1559-064X. ; 30:4, s. 756-767
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Agricultural pesticides are extensively used for weed- and pest control, resulting in residues of these compounds in food. The general population is mainly exposed through dietary intake. Exposure to certain pesticides has been associated with adverse human health outcomes. Our aim was to assess urinary concentrations and temporal trends in the biomarkers of commonly used pesticides. Samples were collected from adolescents (n = 1060) in Scania, Sweden, from 2000 to 2017. Concentrations of 14 pesticide biomarkers were analyzed in urine using LC–MS/MS. Temporal trends in biomarker concentrations (ln-transformed) were evaluated using linear regression. Biomarkers of pyrethroids (3-PBA and DCCA), chlorpyrifos (TCPy), chlormequat (CCC), thiabendazole (OH-TBZ), and mancozeb (ETU) were detected in >90% of the population all sampling years. The biomarkers CCC and TCPy had the highest median concentrations (>0.8 µg/L), whereas the biomarkers of cyfluthrin (4F-3-PBA) and two pyrethroids (CFCA) had the lowest median concentrations (<0.02 µg/L). Increasing temporal trends were found for the biomarkers 3-PBA (3.7%/year), TCPy (1.7%/year) and biomarkers of pyrimethanil (11.9%/year) and tebuconazole (12.2%/year). Decreasing trends were found for CCC (–5.5%/year), OH-TBZ (−5.5%/year), and ETU (−3.9%/year). Our results suggest that Swedish adolescents are commonly exposed to pesticides in low concentrations (median concentrations <3.88 µg/L).
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| 42. |
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| 43. |
- Schoultz, Ida, 1979-, et al.
(author)
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The Intestinal Barrier and Current Techniques for the Assessment of Gut Permeability
- 2020
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In: Cells. - : MDPI. - 2073-4409. ; 9:8
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The intestinal barrier is essential in human health and constitutes the interface between the outside and the internal milieu of the body. A functional intestinal barrier allows absorption of nutrients and fluids but simultaneously prevents harmful substances like toxins and bacteria from crossing the intestinal epithelium and reaching the body. An altered intestinal permeability, a sign of a perturbed barrier function, has during the last decade been associated with several chronic conditions, including diseases originating in the gastrointestinal tract but also diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson disease. This has led to an intensified interest from researchers with diverse backgrounds to perform functional studies of the intestinal barrier in different conditions. Intestinal permeability is defined as the passage of a solute through a simple membrane and can be measured by recording the passage of permeability markers over the epithelium via the paracellular or the transcellular route. The methodological tools to investigate the gut barrier function are rapidly expanding and new methodological approaches are being developed. Here we outline and discuss, in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo techniques and how these methods can be utilized for thorough investigation of the intestinal barrier.
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| 44. |
- Stienen, Martin N, et al.
(author)
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Procedures performed during neurosurgery residency in Europe.
- 2020
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In: Acta Neurochirurgica. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0001-6268 .- 0942-0940. ; 162:10, s. 2303-2311
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: In a previous article ( https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-019-03888-3 ), preliminary results of a survey, aiming to shed light on the number of surgical procedures performed and assisted during neurosurgery residency in Europe were reported. We here present the final results and extend the analyses.METHODS: Board-certified neurosurgeons of European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) member countries were asked to review their residency case logs and participate in a 31-question electronic survey (SurveyMonkey Inc., San Mateo, CA). The responses received between April 25, 2018, and April 25, 2020, were considered. We excluded responses that were incomplete, from non-EANS member countries, or from respondents that have not yet completed their residency.RESULTS: Of 430 responses, 168 were considered for analysis after checking in- and exclusion criteria. Survey responders had a mean age of 42.7 ± 8.8 years, and 88.8% were male. Responses mainly came from surgeons employed at university/teaching hospitals (85.1%) in Germany (22.0%), France (12.5%), the United Kingdom (UK; 8.3%), Switzerland (7.7%), and Greece (7.1%). Most responders graduated in the years between 2011 and 2019 (57.7%). Thirty-eight responders (22.6%) graduated before and 130 responders (77.4%) after the European WTD 2003/88/EC came into effect. The mean number of surgical procedures performed independently, supervised or assisted throughout residency was 540 (95% CI 424-657), 482 (95% CI 398-568), and 579 (95% CI 441-717), respectively. Detailed numbers for cranial, spinal, adult, and pediatric subgroups are presented in the article. There was an annual decrease of about 33 cases in total caseload between 1976 and 2019 (coeff. - 33, 95% CI - 62 to - 4, p = 0.025). Variables associated with lesser total caseload during residency were training abroad (1210 vs. 1747, p = 0.083) and female sex by trend (947 vs. 1671, p = 0.111), whereas case numbers were comparable across the EANS countries (p = 0.443).CONCLUSION: The final results of this survey largely confirm the previously reported numbers. They provide an opportunity for current trainees to compare their own case logs with. Again, we confirm a significant decline in surgical exposure during training between 1976 and 2019. In addition, the current analysis reveals that female sex and training abroad may be variables associated with lesser case numbers during residency.
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| 45. |
- Tabatabaei, Pedram, 1978-
(author)
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Stereotactic microdialysis for metabolic assessment and experimental treatment of malignant glioma
- 2020
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Glioblastoma multiforme, the most common primary brain tumor, has a dire prognosis despite multimodal treatments that include surgery and radio-chemotherapy. To improve the outcome of this destructive disease, we need to improve our understanding of its tumor biology. Furthermore, the development of new treatment strategies will improve with a better understanding of the interplay between malignant cells and their direct surrounding microenvironment.This thesis aims to increase the understanding of the processes within high-grade glioma and its microenvironment during normal conditions as well as during the distress associated with treatment. Specifically, we have investigated the metabolic response to radiotherapy (study I and II), the immunologic response to radiotherapy (study II), and the metabolic response pattern to loco-regional treatment with cisplatin (study III and IV). Using microdialysis, we collected samples from the extracellular space in both normal brain and tumor tissue during radiotherapy (study I and II) and loco-regional cisplatin treatment (study III and IV). Theses samples were analyzed for glucose metabolites, glycerol, and glutamate (study I, II, and III) and for cytokines (study II). In addition, we analyzed the global metabolism with mass spectrometry to identify and assess the response pattern of malignant glioma cells to loco-regional cisplatin treatment (study IV).In study I and II, we found that malignant glioma cells used glucose at a higher rate than normal cells and preferred glycolysis for glucose metabolism. The given radiation dose (2 Gray (Gy) daily for five days) did not significantly affect glucose metabolism, glycerol levels, or glutamate levels in tumor tissue or the microenvironment. However, in study II, we observed an induced inflammatory effect due to the given radiation dose as several of the cytokines investigated showed significantly increased levels during radiotherapy. In study IV, we observed a complex and strong metabolic response to the loco-regional cisplatin therapy. At baseline, we found a metabolic pattern corresponding well with highly proliferating tumor tissue–i.e., high levels of amino acids, their metabolites, and other metabolic end products and low levels of sugar derivatives, antioxidants, and nucleotides. During the loco-regional therapy, we observed a clearly localized cytotoxic effect within the tumor and a metabolic response pattern corresponding with cisplatin’s complex mechanism of action, affecting several metabolic pathways within the malignant cell. Glutamate and glycerol also increased in tumor tissue following loco-regional treatment, a finding that further supported the observation of local toxicity.In study III, we investigated microdialysis as a method to assess the microenvironment in high-grade glioma and as a method for drug delivery (retrograde microdialysis). All studies demonstrated the usefulness of microdialysis as a tool for in vivo real-time assessment of molecular events in malignant glioma tissue. Although the method is invasive, no complications related to the surgical procedure or assessment were noted. In study III, we also demonstrated that retrograde microdialysis is a feasible method for locally delivering clinically significant doses of drugs such as cisplatin to tumor tissue in the brain. However, in addition to having a cytotoxic effect on tumor cells, cisplatin may induce clinically significant edema.
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| 46. |
- Åkerblom, Sophia, et al.
(author)
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A network analysis of chronic pain rehabilitation program registry data: Structure, change, and responder analyses
- 2020
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Efforts to identify specific variables most related to outcomes in interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation are challenged by the complexity of chronic pain. Methods to manage this complexity are needed. In this study we apply network analysis to a large sample of people seeking interdisciplinary pain treatment. The purpose of the study was to determine the network structure entailed in the set of variables, examine change, and look at potential predictors of outcome, from a network perspective. Methods: Participants in this research (N = 2,421, age M = 43.8 years, % women = 82.2%) were all those consecutive cases providing pre- and post treatment data in the Swedish Quality Registry for Pain Rehabilitation (SQRP). Variables analyzed include pain intensity, pain interference, extent of pain, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and psychological variables from cognitive behavioral models of chronic pain. Network estimation, plotting, accuracy, and changes were call calculated in R. Results: We found Acceptance, Pain Interference, and Depression to be key, “central,” variables in the network of self-reported clinical variables. Interestingly, there were few changes in the network structure following treatment, particularly with respect to which variables appeared most central. On the other hand, Catastrophizing, Depression, Anxiety, and Pain Interference each became less central. The variables where changes were most strongly related to changes in the remainder of the network as a whole were Life Control, Acceptance, and Anxiety. Finally, no network differences were found between treatment responders and non-responders. Conclusions: Further application of a network approach to pain rehabilitation data is recommended. Future studies may improve upon the current results by selecting variables for analysis in a theoretically guided fashion and approaching the data ideographically, to detect unique individual differences in potential treatment processes.
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