| 1. |
- Andreassen, A. K., et al.
(författare)
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Everolimus Initiation and Early Calcineurin Inhibitor Withdrawal in Heart Transplant Recipients: A Randomized Trial
- 2014
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Ingår i: American Journal of Transplantation. - : Elsevier BV. - 1600-6135 .- 1600-6143. ; 14:8, s. 1828-1838
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In a randomized, open-label trial, everolimus was compared to cyclosporine in 115 de novo heart transplant recipients. Patients were assigned within 5 days posttransplant to low-exposure everolimus (3-6 ng/mL) with reduced-exposure cyclosporine (n 56), or standard-exposure cyclosporine (n = 59), with both mycophenolate mofetil and corticosteroids. In the everolimus group, cyclosporine was withdrawn after 7-11 weeks and everolimus exposure increased (6-10 ng/mL). The primary efficacy end point, measured GFR at 12 months posttransplant, was significantly higher with everolimus versus cyclosporine (mean +/- SD: 79.8 +/- 17.7 mL/min/1.73m 2 vs. 61.5 +/- 19.6 mL/min/1.73m 2; p<0.001). Coronary intravascular ultrasound showed that the mean increase in maximal intimal thickness was smaller (0.03 mm [95% CI 0.01, 0.05 mm] vs. 0.08 mm [95% CI 0.05, 0.12 mm], p = 0.03), and the incidence of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) was lower (50.0% vs. 64.6%, p = 0.003), with everolimus versus cyclosporine at month 12. Biopsy-proven acute rejection after weeks 7-11 was more frequent with everolimus (p = 0.03). Left ventricular function was not inferior with everolimus versus cyclosporine. Cytomegalovirus infection was less common with everolimus (5.4% vs. 30.5%, p<0.001); the incidence of bacterial infection was similar. In conclusion, everolimus-based immunosuppression with early elimination of cyclosporine markedly improved renal function after heart transplantation. Since postoperative safety was not jeopardized and development of CAV was attenuated, this strategy may benefit long-term outcome.
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| 2. |
- Andreassen, A. K., et al.
(författare)
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Everolimus Initiation With Early Calcineurin Inhibitor Withdrawal in De Novo Heart Transplant Recipients: Three-Year Results From the Randomized SCHEDULE Study
- 2016
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Ingår i: American Journal of Transplantation. - : WILEY-BLACKWELL. - 1600-6135 .- 1600-6143. ; 16:4, s. 1238-1247
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In a randomized, open-label trial, de novo heart transplant recipients were randomized to everolimus (3-6ng/mL) with reduced-exposure calcineurin inhibitor (CNI; cyclosporine) to weeks 7-11 after transplant, followed by increased everolimus exposure (target 6-10ng/mL) with cyclosporine withdrawal or standard-exposure cyclosporine. All patients received mycophenolate mofetil and corticosteroids. A total of 110 of 115 patients completed the 12-month study, and 102 attended a follow-up visit at month 36. Mean measured GFR (mGFR) at month 36 was 77.4mL/min (standard deviation [SD] 20.2mL/min) versus 59.2mL/min (SD 17.4mL/min) in the everolimus and CNI groups, respectively, a difference of 18.3mL/min (95% CI 11.1-25.6mL/min; p < 0.001) in the intention to treat population. Multivariate analysis showed treatment to be an independent determinant of mGFR at month 36. Coronary intravascular ultrasound at 36 months revealed significantly reduced progression of allograft vasculopathy in the everolimus group compared with the CNI group. Biopsy-proven acute rejection grade 2R occurred in 10.2% and 5.9% of everolimus- and CNI-treated patients, respectively, during months 12-36. Serious adverse events occurred in 37.3% and 19.6% of everolimus- and CNI-treated patients, respectively (p=0.078). These results suggest that early CNI withdrawal after heart transplantation supported by everolimus, mycophenolic acid and steroids with lymphocyte-depleting induction is safe at intermediate follow-up. This regimen, used selectively, may offer adequate immunosuppressive potency with a sustained renal advantage. A follow-up study of the SCHEDULE trial, which randomized de novo heart transplant recipients to everolimus with cyclosporine discontinuation or to standard-exposure cyclosporine, shows that measured glomerular filtration rate remains significantly higher in the everolimus group at three years posttransplant, with significantly reduced progression of allograft vasculopathy compared to cyclosporine therapy.
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| 3. |
- Gustafsson, Finn, et al.
(författare)
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Everolimus Initiation With Early Calcineurin Inhibitor Withdrawal in De Novo Heart Transplant Recipients : Long-term Follow-up From the Randomized SCHEDULE Study
- 2020
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Ingår i: Transplantation. - : LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. - 1534-6080 .- 0041-1337. ; 104:1, s. 154-164
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-free immunosuppressive regimen has been demonstrated to improve renal function early after heart transplantation, but long-term outcome of such a strategy has not been well described. METHODS: In the randomized SCHEDULE trial, de novo heart transplant recipients received (1) everolimus with reduced-exposure CNI (cyclosporine) followed by CNI withdrawal at week 7-11 posttransplant or (2) standard-exposure cyclosporine, both with mycophenolate mofetil and corticosteroids; 95/115 randomized patients were followed up at 5-7 years posttransplant. RESULTS: Mean measured glomerular filtration rate was 74.7 mL/min and 62.4 mL/min with everolimus and CNI, respectively. The mean difference was in favor of everolimus by 11.8 mL/min in the intent-to-treat population (P = 0.004) and 17.2 mL/min in the per protocol population (n = 75; P < 0.001). From transplantation to last follow-up, the incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) was 77% (37/48) and 66% (31/47) (P = 0.23) with treated BPAR in 50% and 23% (P < 0.01) in the everolimus and CNI groups, respectively; no episode led to hemodynamic compromise. Coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV) assessed by coronary intravascular ultrasound was present in 53% (19/36) and 74% (26/35) of everolimus- and CNI-treated patients, respectively (P = 0.037). Graft dimensions and function were similar between the groups. Late adverse events were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that de novo heart transplant patients randomized to everolimus and low-dose CNI followed by CNI-free therapy maintain significantly better long-term renal function as well as significantly reduced CAV than patients randomized to standard CNI treatment. Increased BPAR in the everolimus group during year 1 did not impair long-term graft function.
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| 4. |
- Relbo Authen, Anne, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of everolimus vs calcineurin inhibitors on quality of life in heart transplant recipients during a 3-year follow-up : Results of a randomized controlled trial (SCHEDULE)
- 2017
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Ingår i: Clinical Transplantation. - : Wiley. - 0902-0063 .- 1399-0012. ; 31:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Scandinavian heart transplant everolimus de novo study with early calcineurin inhibitors avoidance (SCHEDULE) trial was a 12 month, randomized, open-label, parallel-group trial that compared everolimus (EVR; n=56) to conventional CsA (n=59) immunosuppression. Previously, we reported that EVR outperformed CsA in improving renal function and coronary artery vasculopathy, despite a higher rejection rate with EVR. This study aimed to compare the effects of these treatments on quality of life (QoL). Within five post-operative days, patients (mean age 50±13 years, 27% women) were randomized to EVR or a standard CsA dosage (CsA group). This study assessed quality of life (QoL), based on the Short Form-36, EuroQol-5D, and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Assessments were performed pre-HTx and 12 and 36 months post-HTx. At 12 and 36 months, the groups showed similar improvements in Short Form-36 measures (at pre-HTx, 12 and 36 months the values were as follows: Physical component summary: EVR: 31.5±110.9, 49.1±9.7, and 47.9±10.6; P<.01; CsA: 32.5±8.2, 48.4±8.5, and 46.5±11.5; P<.01; mental component summary: EVR: 46.0±12.0, 51.7±11.9, and 52.1±13.0; P<.01; CsA: 38.2±12.5, 53.4±7.1, and 54.3±13.0; P<.01); similar decrease in mean BDI (EVR: 10.9±10.2, 5.4±4.7, and 8.1±9.0; P<.01; CsA: 11.8±7.1, 6.3±5.4, and 6.2±6.5; P<.01); and similar Euro Qol-improvements. Thus, in this small-sized study, EVR-based and conventional CsA immunosuppressive strategies produced similar QoL improvements.
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| 5. |
- Rosner, Sabine, et al.
(författare)
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Hydraulic and mechanical dysfunction of Norway spruce sapwood due to extreme summer drought in Scandinavia
- 2018
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Ingår i: Forest Ecology and Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-1127 .- 1872-7042. ; 409, s. 527-540
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Projected climate change scenarios such as frequently occurring dry summer spells are an enormous threat to the health of boreal conifer forests. We identified visible features indicating wood with tracheids predisposed for hydraulic and mechanical dysfunction in Norway spruce, suggest why this is formed during severe summer drought and hypothesised on mechanism that would cause tracheid collapse and stem cracks. Trees from southern Sweden that showed signs of severe reaction to drought, i.e. stem cracks along the trunk, were compared to healthy, undamaged trees. Rings investigated included those formed in 2006, a year with an extremely dry summer season in the study region. In southern Norway, we investigated trees with and without drought-induced top dieback symptoms. We analysed anatomical features such as tracheid lumen diameter, thickness of cell wall and its various layers (S1, S2 and S3), applied Raman imaging in order to get information on the lignin distribution in the cell wall and the compound middle lamellae and performed hydraulic flow and shrinkage experiments. Although tracheids in annual rings with signs of collapse had higher tangential lumen diameters than those in “normal†annual rings, we conclude that collapse of tracheid walls depends mainly on wall thickness, which is genetically determined to a large extent. Spruce trees that produce earlywood with extremely thin cell walls can develop wall collapse and internal cracks under the impact of dry spells. We also present a new diagnostic tool for detecting individuals that are prone to cell wall collapse and stem cracks: Lucid bands, i.e. bands in the fresh sapwood with very thin cell walls and inhomogeneous lignin distribution in the S-layers and the compound middle lamellae that lost their hydraulic function due to periods of severe summer drought. The detection of genotypes with lucid bands could be useful for an early selection against individuals that are prone to stem cracks under the impact of severe summer drought, and also for early downgrading of logs prone to cracking during industrial kiln drying.
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| 6. |
- Rytter, Lars, et al.
(författare)
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Availability of Biomass for Energy Purposes in Nordic and Baltic Countries : Land Areas and Biomass Amounts
- 2015
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Ingår i: Baltic Forestry. - Kėdainiai : Lietuvos Misku Institutas. - 1392-1355 .- 2029-9230. ; 21:2, s. 375-390
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- This review compiles information on the current state of the forests and analyses the potential of forest fuels for energy purposes in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia and Latvia. In these countries the forest area is 61 mill. ha, corresponding to 52% of the land areas, which is high in a European perspective where 38% of the land area is forest (EU-27). Although some forest areas are protected, 75-92% of the area can still be used for wood production. Further, substantial agriculture land areas may also be available for production of biomass for energy. Coniferous species dominate the forests in Finland, Norway and Sweden, while a more even distribution of conifers and deciduous species is found in Denmark, Estonia and Latvia. The total growing stock is around 7,400 mill. m(3) and the annual increment is estimated to about 275 mill. m(3) yr(-1) Annual growth currently exceeds annual harvest, leading to the conclusion that some of the difference may be used for energy purposes in the near future. The current potential for forest fuel resources was estimated to 230-410 TWh yr(-1) (830-1,480 PJ yr(-1)) for the countries included and forest fuels will thus be of utmost importance for the future energy supply in the area. A changing climate with larger standing volumes may affect the future growth positively and increase the potential harvest levels. Estimates from Finland, Sweden and Norway show an average growth increase of over 30% by the end of the century and substantially higher for specific regions. Wood is extensively used for energy purposes and the forests hold a large potential for increasing the production of renewable energy. The potential may be further increased in the future with increased fertilization, extended breeding for enhanced biomass production, larger cultivation areas and changes of tree species and management systems.
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