| 1. |
- Bergman, Lina, 1982, et al.
(författare)
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PROVE-Pre-Eclampsia Obstetric Adverse Events: Establishment of a Biobank and Database for Pre-Eclampsia
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cells. - : MDPI AG. - 2073-4409. ; 10:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The burden of disease lies mainly in low-middle income countries. The aim of this project is to establish a pre-eclampsia biobank in South Africa to facilitate research in the field of pre-eclampsia with a focus on phenotyping severe disease.The approach of our biobank is to collect biological specimens, detailed clinical data, tests, and biophysical examinations, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, MRI of the heart, transcranial Doppler, echocardiography, and cognitive function tests.Women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and normotensive controls are enrolled in the biobank at admission to Tygerberg University Hospital (Cape Town, South Africa). Biological samples and clinical data are collected at inclusion/delivery and during the hospital stay. Special investigations as per above are performed in a subset of women. After two months, women are followed up by telephonic interviews. This project aims to establish a biobank and database for severe organ complications of pre-eclampsia in a low-middle income country where the incidence of pre-eclampsia with organ complications is high. The study integrates different methods to investigate pre-eclampsia, focusing on improved understanding of pathophysiology, prediction of organ complications, and potentially future drug evaluation and discovery.
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| 2. |
- Gaulton, Kyle J, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic fine mapping and genomic annotation defines causal mechanisms at type 2 diabetes susceptibility loci.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 47:12, s. 1415-1415
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We performed fine mapping of 39 established type 2 diabetes (T2D) loci in 27,206 cases and 57,574 controls of European ancestry. We identified 49 distinct association signals at these loci, including five mapping in or near KCNQ1. 'Credible sets' of the variants most likely to drive each distinct signal mapped predominantly to noncoding sequence, implying that association with T2D is mediated through gene regulation. Credible set variants were enriched for overlap with FOXA2 chromatin immunoprecipitation binding sites in human islet and liver cells, including at MTNR1B, where fine mapping implicated rs10830963 as driving T2D association. We confirmed that the T2D risk allele for this SNP increases FOXA2-bound enhancer activity in islet- and liver-derived cells. We observed allele-specific differences in NEUROD1 binding in islet-derived cells, consistent with evidence that the T2D risk allele increases islet MTNR1B expression. Our study demonstrates how integration of genetic and genomic information can define molecular mechanisms through which variants underlying association signals exert their effects on disease.
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| 3. |
- Joubert, Lloyd H., et al.
(författare)
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Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in preeclampsia complicated by pulmonary edema shows myocardial edema with normal left ventricular systolic function
- 2022
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Ingår i: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. - : Elsevier. - 0002-9378 .- 1097-6868. ; 227:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia complicates approximately 5% of all pregnancies. When pulmonary edema occurs, it accounts for 50% of preeclampsia-related mortality. Currently, there is no consensus on the degree to which left ventricular systolic dysfunction contributes to the development of pulmonary edema. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to use cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to detect subtle changes in left ventricular systolic function and evidence of acute left ventricular dysfunction (through tissue characterization) in women with preeclampsia complicated by pulmonary edema compared with both preeclamptic and normotensive controls. STUDY DESIGN: Cases were postpartum women aged >= 18 years presenting with preeclampsia complicated by pulmonary edema. Of note, 2 control groups were recruited: women with preeclampsia without pulmonary edema and women with normotensive pregnancies. All women underwent echocardiography and 1.5T cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with native T1 and T2 mapping. Gadolinium contrast was administered to cases only. Because of small sample sizes, a nonparametric test (Kruskal-Wallis) with pairwise posthoc analysis using Bonferroni correction was used to compare the differences between the groups. Cardiac magnetic resonance images were interpreted by 2 independent reporters. The intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated to assess interobserver reliability. RESULTS: Here, 20 women with preeclampsia complicated by pulmonary edema, 13 women with preeclampsia (5 with severe features and 8 without severe features), and 6 normotensive controls were recruited. There was no difference in the baseline characteristics between groups apart from the expected differences in blood pressure. Left atrial sizes were similar across all groups. Women with preeclampsia complicated by pulmonary edema had increased left ventricular mass (P=.01) but had normal systolic function compared with the normotensive controls. Furthermore, they had elevated native T1 values (P=.025) and a trend toward elevated T2 values (P=.07) in the absence of late gadolinium enhancement consistent with myocardial edema. Moreover, myocardial edema was present in all women with eclampsia or hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count. Women with preeclampsia without severe features had similar findings to the normotensive controls. All cardiac magnetic resonance imaging measurements showed a very high level of interobserver correlation. CONCLUSION: This study focused on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in women with preeclampsia complicated by pulmonary edema, eclampsia, and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count. We have demonstrated normal systolic function with myocardial edema in women with preeclampsia with these severe features. These findings implicate an acute myocardial process as part of this clinical syndrome. The pathogenesis of myocardial edema and its relationship to pulmonary edema require further elucidation. With normal left atrial sizes, any hemodynamic component must be acute.
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| 4. |
- Scott, Robert A., et al.
(författare)
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An Expanded Genome-Wide Association Study of Type 2 Diabetes in Europeans
- 2017
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Ingår i: Diabetes. - : American Diabetes Association. - 0012-1797 .- 1939-327X. ; 66:11, s. 2888-2902
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To characterize type 2 diabetes (T2D)-associated variation across the allele frequency spectrum, we conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association data from 26,676 T2D case and 132,532 control subjects of European ancestry after imputation using the 1000 Genomes multiethnic reference panel. Promising association signals were followed up in additional data sets (of 14,545 or 7,397 T2D case and 38,994 or 71,604 control subjects). We identified 13 novel T2D-associated loci (P < 5 x 10(-8)), including variants near the GLP2R, GIP, and HLA-DQA1 genes. Our analysis brought the total number of independent T2D associations to 128 distinct signals at 113 loci. Despite substantially increased sample size and more complete coverage of low-frequency variation, all novel associations were driven by common single nucleotide variants. Credible sets of potentially causal variants were generally larger than those based on imputation with earlier reference panels, consistent with resolution of causal signals to common risk haplotypes. Stratification of T2D-associated loci based on T2D-related quantitative trait associations revealed tissue-specific enrichment of regulatory annotations in pancreatic islet enhancers for loci influencing insulin secretion and in adipocytes, monocytes, and hepatocytes for insulin action-associated loci. These findings highlight the predominant role played by common variants of modest effect and the diversity of biological mechanisms influencing T2D pathophysiology.
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| 5. |
- Shungin, Dmitry, et al.
(författare)
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New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 518:7538, s. 187-378
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms.
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| 6. |
- Van Heerden, P., et al.
(författare)
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Blood pressure as a risk factor for eclampsia and pulmonary oedema in pre-eclampsia
- 2021
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Ingår i: Pregnancy Hypertension-an International Journal of Womens Cardiovascular Health. - : Elsevier BV. - 2210-7789 .- 2210-7797. ; 26, s. 2-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: We evaluated whether blood pressure and change in blood pressure measurements during pregnancy were associated with eclampsia or pulmonary oedema among women with pre-eclampsia. Study design: Observational study of women with eclampsia, pre-eclampsia complicated by pulmonary oedema and pre-eclampsia without end-organ complications (pre-eclampsia controls) at a large referral center in Cape Town, South Africa. Main outcome measures: Blood pressure measurements at presentation for antenatal care were compared to measurements after a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia. Mean blood pressures and changes in blood pressures were also calculated and compared between groups at different time points. A sub analysis including women who presented for antenatal care before 20 weeks of gestation was performed. Results: When diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, women with pulmonary oedema had increased systolic blood pressures and women with eclampsia had increased diastolic blood pressures compared to pre-eclampsia controls. There were no differences in blood pressure measurements in early pregnancy between women who later developed eclampsia or pulmonary oedema compared to pre-eclampsia controls. Conclusion: Blood pressure measurements in early pregnancy do not seem useful as a risk factor for the development of eclampsia or pulmonary oedema among women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. Increased systolic or diastolic pressure at diagnosis of pre-eclampsia may be useful as a risk factor for the development of pulmonary oedema or eclampsia. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.
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| 7. |
- Andersson, K., et al.
(författare)
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High-accuracy sampling of saproxylic diversity indicators at regional scales with pheromones : The case of Elater ferrugineus (Coleoptera, Elateridae)
- 2014
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Ingår i: Biological Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3207 .- 1873-2917. ; 171, s. 156-166
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The rare beetle Elater ferrugineus was sampled at 47 sites in the county of Östergötland, Sweden by means of pheromone-baited traps to assess its value as an indicator species for hollow oak stands rich in rare saproxylic beetle species. In addition, Osmoderma eremita was also sampled with pheromone baits. These data were then compared against species survey data collected at the same sites by pitfall and window traps. Both species co-occur with many Red Listed saproxylic beetles, with E. ferrugineus being a somewhat better indicator for the rarest species. The conservation value of a site (measured as Red List points or number of Red Listed species) increased with the number of specimens of E. ferrugineus and O. eremita caught. Accuracy of sampling by means of pheromone trapping turned out to be radically different for the two model species. E. ferrugineus traps put out during July obtained full accuracy after only 6. days, whereas O. eremita traps needed to be out from early July to mid-August in order to obtain full accuracy with one trap per site. By using E. ferrugineus, or preferably both species, as indicator species, accuracy would increase and costs decrease for saproxylic biodiversity sampling, monitoring and identification of hotspots. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
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| 8. |
- Andersson, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Low pre-death growth rates of oak (Quercus robur L.)-Is oak death a long-term process induced by dry years?
- 2011
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Ingår i: ANNALS OF FOREST SCIENCE. - : EDP Sciences. - 1286-4560 .- 1297-966X. ; 68:1, s. 159-168
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and purpose A complex interplay between biotic and abiotic factors is believed to be responsible for several oak declines in pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.). This study aims to clarify the temporal process of oak declines, as well as identifying individual tree and environmental variables that affects growth rate and that may increase the risk of mortality. The study was performed in southern Sweden at three sites. Findings Cross-dating revealed that most trees had died during the last decade and that the growth rates of the dead oaks were affected long before death. Averaged growth chronologies of dead and control trees reaching 150 years back in time illustrated an excellent match up until around 1992, when a severe drought occurred after which the dead trees started to express reduced growth. Precipitation the previous year during August-September and during March-June this current year was of significant importance for oak growth. Site-specific results that showed that dead trees: included fewer small-sized trees, grew on non-clay soils, were more likely to have shelf fungus and cavities and were exposed to less sunshine. Conclusion The results support the theories that oak mortality is a long process that may be induced decades before the actual death.
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| 9. |
- Angelstam, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Evidence-Based Knowledge Versus Negotiated Indicators for Assessment of Ecological Sustainability : The Swedish Forest Stewardship Council Standard as a Case Study
- 2013
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Ingår i: Ambio. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 42:2, s. 229-240
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Assessing ecological sustainability involves monitoring of indicators and comparison of their states with performance targets that are deemed sustainable. First, a normative model was developed centered on evidence-based knowledge about (a) forest composition, structure, and function at multiple scales, and (b) performance targets derived by quantifying the habitat amount in naturally dynamic forests, and as required for presence of populations of specialized focal species. Second, we compared the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification standards' ecological indicators from 1998 and 2010 in Sweden to the normative model using a Specific, Measurable, Accurate, Realistic, and Timebound (SMART) indicator approach. Indicator variables and targets for riparian and aquatic ecosystems were clearly under-represented compared to terrestrial ones. FSC's ecological indicators expanded over time from composition and structure towards function, and from finer to coarser spatial scales. However, SMART indicators were few. Moreover, they poorly reflected quantitative evidence-based knowledge, a consequence of the fact that forest certification mirrors the outcome of a complex social negotiation process.
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| 10. |
- Askling, John, et al.
(författare)
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Ryggradslösa djur och planering av infrastruktur - dagfjärilar som landskapsekologiska verktyg och modellorganismer.
- 2006
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Föreliggande rapport är slutrapporten inom projektet ”Landskapsekologiska effekter av vägar och järnvägar på ryggradslösa djur” som pågått 2001-2003. En övervägande majoritet av alla studier av vägars/järnvägars effekter på djur har tidigare gjorts på större däggdjur och fåglar, men även groddjur och smådäggdjur fanns relativt väl representerade. För ryggradslösa djur fanns dock få studier och kunskapen var dålig om effekterna på denna grupp som är den absolut artrikaste. Projektet har fokuserat på dagfjärilar och odlingslandskap. En av de bäst kända grupperna av ryggradslösa djur är dagfjärilar. Odlingslandskapet som de framförallt finns i är också ett intressant landskap gällande infrastrukturproblematik. Det här projektet ligger under paraplyprojektet EKLIPS (ekologisk infrastrukturplanering med fjärranalys). Målet med EKLIPS är att utveckla och förbättra trafikverkens hantering av natur- och kulturvärden i de olika delarna av planeringsprocessen.Projektet bestod av två delar: 1) att undersöka arealkrav på landskapsnivå hos en grupp ryggradslösa djur (dagfjärilar) för att i förlängningen kunna identifiera värdefulla odlingslandskap. 2) att studera den eventuella barriäreffekt en väg kan ha på flygande ryggradslösa djur. Även här är det dagfjärilar som studerats.De huvudsakliga slutsatserna av den här studien av dagfjärilar som verktyg i infrastrukturplanering är att:Dagfjärilar kan användas för att identifiera biologiskt rika odlingslandskap. Totalt undersöktes 62 områden och 12 170 individer av 57 fjärilsarter identifierades.Landskapet ska studeras i relativt stor skala. Den skala som påverkar fjärilssamhällets sammansättning handlar om kilometrar snarare än hundratals meter. Mängden hagmarker och lövskogar inom 500 m och 2000 m kunde inte förklara fjärilsfaunans sammansättning, däremot mängden inom 5000 m.Det finns kritiska tröskelvärden för mängden av habitat i landskapet och infrastruktur har troligen sin största negativa påverkan kring dessa värden. Tröskelvärdet för att ett artrikt område (>20 arter dagfjärilar) med >50% sannolikhet ska kunna finnas i ett område var i denna studie 570 ha (7,3%) hagmarker/lövskog inom en radie av 5000 m.Tröskelvärdena för enskilda arter varierade mellan 130-950 ha, det vill säga 1,6-12.1% av landskapet ska bestå av passande habitat.Indikatorarter kan användas för att identifiera rika landskap. Våra studier pekar på att flera arter och två artgrupper kan vara användbara. De två artgrupperna är pärlemorfjärilar och bastardsvärmare. Totalt 13 arter eller artgrupper påträffades främst i rika landskap, t ex skogsnätfjäril, vitgräsfjäril, midsommarblåvinge, brunfläckig pärlemorfjäril och silverstreckad pärlemorfjäril.Vägar kan fungera som barriärer för vissa arter. För två av arterna hade vägen en signifikant barriäreffekt. För luktgräsfjäril minskade flödet med 74% och för slåttergräsfjäril med 43%.Potentiellt rika landskap ska gå att identifiera från flygbilder och satellitdata utan att göra omfattande fältinventeringar i framtiden baserat på våra resultat. Fortfarande är dock resultaten för osäkra (ej upprepade i andra landskap) för att appliceras i större skala.När vägplaneringsprocessen kommit fram till vägutredningen kan indikatorarterna användas för att identifiera för artrikedomen viktiga områden och för att precisera målsättningarna för vilken naturhänsyn som skall tas i arbetet. Indikatorarterna kan också användas i uppföljningsarbete för att uppskatta om projektmålen uppnåtts.
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