| 1. |
- Asberg, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Novel biochemical markers of psychosocial stress in women.
- 2009
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Ingår i: PloS one. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 4:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Prolonged psychosocial stress is a condition assessed through self-reports. Here we aimed to identify biochemical markers for screening and early intervention in women. METHODS: Plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL) 1-alpha, IL1-beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon-gamma (INF-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total tri-iodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4), prolactin, and testosterone were measured in: 195 women on long-term sick-leave for a stress-related affective disorder, 45 women at risk for professional burnout, and 84 healthy women. RESULTS: We found significantly increased levels of MCP-1, VEGF and EGF in women exposed to prolonged psychosocial stress. Statistical analysis indicates that they independently associate with a significant risk for being classified as ill. CONCLUSIONS: MCP-1, EGF, and VEGF are potential markers for screening and early intervention in women under prolonged psychosocial stress.
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| 2. |
- Elmlund, Hans, et al.
(författare)
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Cryo-EM Reveals Promoter DNA Binding and Conformational Flexibility of the General Transcription Factor TFIID
- 2009
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Ingår i: Structure. - : Elsevier BV. - 0969-2126 .- 1878-4186. ; 17:11, s. 1442-1452
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The general transcription factor IID (TFIID) is required for initiation of RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription at many eukaryotic promoters. TFIID comprises the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and several conserved TBP-associated factors (TAFs). Recognition of the core promoter by TFIID assists assembly of the preinitiation complex. Using cryo-electron microscopy in combination with methods for ab initio single-particle reconstruction and heterogeneity analysis, we have produced density maps of two conformational states of Schizosaccharomyces pombe TFIID, containing and lacking TBP. We report that TBP-binding is coupled to a massive histone-fold domain rearrangement. Moreover, docking of the TBP-TAF1(N-terminus) atomic structure to the THID map and reconstruction of a TAF-promoter DNA complex helps to account for TAF-dependent regulation of promoter-TBP and promoter-TAF interactions.
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| 3. |
- Johansson, Björn, et al.
(författare)
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Visual and optical performance of the Akreos Adapt Advanced Optics and Tecnis Z9000 intraocular lenses. Swedish multicenter study
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of cataract and refractive surgery. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0886-3350 .- 1873-4502. ; 33:9, s. 1565-1572
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: To compare the subjective visual and objective optical performance of 2 aspherical intraocular lenses (lOLs), the Akreos Adapt Advanced Optics (AO) (Bausch & Lomb, Inc.) and the Tecnis Z9000 (Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.). SETTING: Four university hospitals in Sweden. METHODS: This study comprised 80 patients, 20 each from 4 university hospital centers in Sweden. All patients had bilateral clear corneal phacoemulsification with implantation of an Akreos Adapt AO IOL in 1 eye and Tecnis Z9000 IOL in the other eye according to a randomization protocol. Preoperatively, 90% contrast Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity was measured and the mesopic pupil sizes were determined. Ten to 12 weeks postoperatively, 12.5% and 90% contrast ETDRS visual acuities and photopic and mesopic Functional Acuity Contrast Test chart contrast sensitivities were determined. Wavefront analysis was performed with the Zywave II aberrometer (Bausch & Lomb, Inc.), and a questionnaire on the subjective quality of vision was completed by each patient. RESULTS: The Akreos AO IOL and Tecnis Z9000 IOL produced similar high- and low-contrast visual acuities as well as photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivities. The Tecnis Z9000 IOL resulted in lower spherical aberrations of the eye (mean 0.05 ± 0.13 μm versus 0.35 ± 0.13 μm root mean square, 6.0 mm pupil) (P<.001); however, the Akreos AO IOL provided a larger depth of field (mean 1.22 diopter [D] ± 0.48 [SD] versus 0.86 ± 0.50 D, 6.0 mm pupil) (P<.001). Patient satisfaction was generally high, although 68.8% of the patients reported some type of visual disturbance postoperatively. Twenty-eight percent of patients reported better subjective visual quality in the Akreos AO eye and 14%, in the Tecnis Z9000 eye (P<.0001). Accordingly, 33% perceived more visual disturbances in the Tecnis Z9000 eye and 11%, in the Akreos AO eye (P<.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Maximum reduction of spherical aberration did not maximize subjective visual quality. The higher perceived quality of vision with the Akreos AO IOL could be because of differences in depth of field, lOL material, or IOL design.
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| 4. |
- Thordstein, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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Sex differences in electrocortical activity in human neonates
- 2006
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Ingår i: Neuroreport. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0959-4965 .- 1473-558X. ; 17:11, s. 1165-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cerebral cortical activity in healthy, full-term human neonates (10 boys and 10 girls) was evaluated using spectral estimation of electroencephalogram frequency content with new equipment and analysis technique allowing the assessment of the lowest frequencies (i.e. infraslow waves). The activity was analysed under quiet sleep and active wakefulness taking sex into consideration. During sleep, the mean amount of infraslow activity was 27% larger in boys, whereas during wakefulness the average amount of higher frequencies was 17% larger in girls. Both these differences indicate an earlier maturation of cortical function in girls than in boys.
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| 5. |
- Aspholm-Hurtig, Marina, et al.
(författare)
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Functional adaptation of BabA, the H. pylori ABO blood group antigen binding adhesin.
- 2004
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Ingår i: Science (New York, N.Y.). - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 1095-9203 .- 0036-8075. ; 305:5683, s. 519-22
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Adherence by Helicobacter pylori increases the risk of gastric disease. Here, we report that more than 95% of strains that bind fucosylated blood group antigen bind A, B, and O antigens (generalists), whereas 60% of adherent South American Amerindian strains bind blood group O antigens best (specialists). This specialization coincides with the unique predominance of blood group O in these Amerindians. Strains differed about 1500-fold in binding affinities, and diversifying selection was evident in babA sequences. We propose that cycles of selection for increased and decreased bacterial adherence contribute to babA diversity and that these cycles have led to gradual replacement of generalist binding by specialist binding in blood group O-dominant human populations.
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| 6. |
- Andersson, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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A proposed time-resolved X-ray scattering approach to track local and global conformational changes in membrane transport proteins
- 2008
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Ingår i: Structure. - : Elsevier BV. - 0969-2126 .- 1878-4186. ; 16:1, s. 21-28
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Time-resolved X-ray scattering has emerged as a powerful technique for studying the rapid structural dynamics of small molecules in solution. Membrane-protein-catalyzed transport processes frequently couple large-scale conformational changes of the transporter with local structural changes perturbing the uptake and release of the transported substrate. Using light-driven halide ion transport catalyzed by halorhodopsin as a model system, we combine molecular dynamics simulations with X-ray scattering calculations to demonstrate how small-molecule time-resolved X-ray scattering can be extended to the study of membrane transport processes. In particular, by introducing strongly scattering atoms to label specific positions within the protein and substrate, the technique of time-resolved wide-angle X-ray scattering can reveal both local and global conformational changes. This approach simultaneously enables the direct visualization of global rearrangements and substrate movement, crucial concepts that underpin the alternating access paradigm for membrane transport proteins.
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| 7. |
- Andersson, Pontus, 1971, et al.
(författare)
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Radiative lifetimes of metastable states of negative ions
- 2006
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Ingår i: Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics. - 1050-2947 .- 1094-1622 .- 2469-9926 .- 2469-9934. ; 73, s. 032705-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a technique for measuring the radiative lifetimes of metastable states of negative ions that involves the use of a heavy-ion storage ring. The method has been applied to investigate the radiative decay of the np(3) P-2(1/2) levels of Te-(n=5) and Se-(n=4) and the 3p(3) D-2 state of Si- for which the J=3/2 and 5/2 levels were unresolved. All of these states are metastable and decay primarily by emission of E2 and M1 radiation. Multi Configuration Dirac-Hartree-Fock calculations of rates for the transitions in Te- and Se- yielded lifetimes of 0.45 s and 4.7 s, respectively. The measured values agree well with these predicted values. In the case of the D-2 state of Si-, however, our measurement was only able to set a lower limit on the lifetime. The upper limit of the lifetime that can be measured with our apparatus is set by how long the ions can be stored in the ring, a limit determined by the rate of collisional detachment. Our lower limit of 1 min for the lifetime of the D-2 state is consistent with both the calculated lifetimes of 162 s for the D-2(3/2) level and 27.3 h for the D-2(5/2) level reported by O'Malley and Beck and 14.5 h and 12.5 h, respectively, from our Breit-Pauli calculations.
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| 8. |
- Vincent, Jonathan, et al.
(författare)
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Solvent dependent structural perturbations of chemical reaction intermediates visualized by time-resolved x-ray diffraction
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Chemical Physics. - : AIP Publishing. - 0021-9606 .- 1089-7690. ; 130:15, s. 154502-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ultrafast time-resolved wide angle x-ray scattering from chemical reactions in solution has recently emerged as a powerful technique for determining the structural dynamics of transient photochemical species. Here we examine the structural evolution of photoexcited CH2I2 in the nonpolar solvent cyclohexane and draw comparisons with a similar study in the polar solvent methanol. As with earlier spectroscopic studies, our data confirm a common initial reaction pathway in both solvents. After photoexcitation, CH2I2 dissociates to form CH2I center dot+I center dot. Iodine radicals remaining within the solvent cage recombine with a nascent CH2I center dot radical to form the transient isomer CH2I-I, whereas those which escape the solvent cage ultimately combine to form I-2 in cyclohexane. Moreover, the transient isomer has a lifetime approximately 30 times longer in the nonpolar solvent. Of greater chemical significance is the property of time-resolved wide angle x-ray diffraction to accurately determine the structure of the of CH2I-I reaction intermediate. Thus we observe that the transient iodine-iodine bond is 0.07 A +/- 0.04 A shorter in cyclohexane than in methanol. A longer iodine-iodine bond length for the intermediate arises in methanol due to favorable H-bond interaction with the polar solvent. These findings establish that time-resolved x-ray diffraction has sufficient sensitivity to enable solvent dependent structural perturbations of transient chemical species to be accurately resolved.
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| 9. |
- Morberg, Siv, et al.
(författare)
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The perceived perceptions of head school nurses in developing school nursing roles within schools
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Nursing Management. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0966-0429 .- 1365-2834. ; 17:7, s. 813-821
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: To gain a deeper understanding of how Swedish head school nurses perceive their leadership in developing school health care. Background: A well-functioning school health care is important for promoting the health of children and young people. Method: Constructivist-grounded theory was used to analyse 11 individual interviews with nine head school nurses. Results Head school nurses strive to find a balance between what they experience as vague formal goals and strong informal goals which leads to creating local goals in order to develop school health care. Conclusion: The head school nurse's job is experienced as a divided and pioneering job in which there is uncertainty about the leadership role. They provide individual support to school nurses, are the link between school nurses and decision makers and highlight the importance of school nurses' work to organizational leaders. Implications for nursing management This study shows that school health care needs to be founded on evidence-based methods. Therefore, a structured plan for education and training in school health care management, based on research and in cooperation with the academic world, would develop the head school nurses' profession, strengthen the position of school health care and advance the school nurses' work.
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| 10. |
- Andersson, A. F., et al.
(författare)
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Comparative analysis of human gut microbiota by barcoded pyrosequencing
- 2008
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 3:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Humans host complex microbial communities believed to contribute to health maintenance and, when in imbalance, to the development of diseases. Determining the microbial composition in patients and healthy controls may thus provide novel therapeutic targets. For this purpose, high-throughput, cost-effective methods for microbiota characterization are needed. We have employed 454-pyrosequencing of a hyper-variable region of the 16S rRNA gene in combination with sample-specific barcode sequences which enables parallel in-depth analysis of hundreds of samples with limited sample processing. In silico modeling demonstrated that the method correctly describes microbial communities down to phylotypes below the genus level. Here we applied the technique to analyze microbial communities in throat, stomach and fecal samples. Our results demonstrate the applicability of barcoded pyrosequencing as a high-throughput method for comparative microbial ecology.
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