| 1. |
- Björk, Ann Kristin, et al.
(författare)
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The reactivity of the back revisited. Are there differences in reactivity in different parts of the back?
- 2017
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Ingår i: Contact Dermatitis. - : Wiley. - 0105-1873. ; 76:1, s. 19-26
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: In the contact dermatitis literature, it is regularly stated that the patch test reactivity on various areas of the back differs; this might have a large impact on the reproducibility of patch testing. Objectives: To investigate the reproducibility of patch testing on the upper back with regard to the left as opposed to the right side and the medial as opposed to the lateral part of the upper back. The reproducibility over time and with regard to the reactivity pattern was also investigated. Methods: Thirty-one subjects with contact allergy to the metals gold (n=19) or nickel (n=12) were patch tested with serial dilutions, in triplicate applications, on different locations on the upper back. The Friedman test was used for statistical calculations. Results: No significant differences in the reactivity of the back were found. In all gold-allergic patients and 11 of 12 nickel-allergic patients, the allergy could be reproduced with regard to previous patch testing, but the degree of reactivity differed. Conclusions: When a high level of standardization of the patch test technique with the same test system was used, there were no differences in patch test reactions and sites of application on the upper back.
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| 2. |
- Björk, Christel, et al.
(författare)
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Androgen receptor CAG repeat length modifies the effect of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on receptor activity in human prostate cells.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Reproductive Toxicology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-1708 .- 0890-6238.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Increased incidence of prostate cancer has been reported in men exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). TCDD acts through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), which interacts with the androgen receptor (AR). The AR gene contains a polymorphic CAG repeat that influences its transcriptional activity. We investigated the influence of TCDD on prostate cancer cells (PC-3) and non-tumor prostate cells (PNT1A) on 5α-dihydrotestosterone-activated ARs containing CAG repeats within normal length range (16, 22, and 28). The AhR target gene CYP1A1 mRNA expression was induced by TCDD, but was not affected by the AR CAG length. TCDD had no effect on AR activity in PC-3 cells, whereas the shortest AR variant was induced by TCDD in PNT1A cells. In conclusion, the CAG length dependent effect of TCDD on AR activity in PNT1A, but not in PC-3 cells, indicates as a cell-specific effect of TCDD on AR activity.
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| 3. |
- Björk, Christel
(författare)
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Genetic, environmental and life-style effects on androgen receptor function
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Androgens regulate male reproductive function and their effects are mediated through the androgen receptor (AR). The AR gene contains a polymorphic CAG repeat, encoding a stretch of glutamines, affecting the transcriptional activity of the AR. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a downstream target and is commonly used in the screening of prostate cancer. The relationship between CAG number and male reproductive health has been suggested to be modulated by persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Humans are exposed mainly through food intake, but also from industrial processes and cigarette smoking. The dioxin-like POPs exert their effect through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), shown to interact with the AR. The aims were to study the role of the CAG polymorphism on; AR activity and expression in the absence or presence of POPs; PSA concentration in serum and tissue; and reproductive parameters and hormones in men. It was also elucidated whether the CAG number could modify the effect of cigarette smoking on reproductive characteristics in men. The transactivation assay included a reporter gene with a human androgen responsive promoter. Cells were transfected with vectors having CAG numbers of 16, 22 or 28, representative of the human range. To explore the association between CAG number and reproductive outcome, an unprejudiced spline regression model with CAG number as a continuous variable was used, as well as a stratified model and in case of linear pattern, CAG number was investigated in a linear regression model. We found that the CAG variant with the median length had the highest AR activity, shown both in cell lines and prostate tissue, and as highest PSA concentration in younger and older men. The unprejudiced statistical analysis gave a better picture of the relationship between CAG number and reproductive outcomes, demonstrating a CAG-dependent effect on hormone levels. The CAG repeat also had a cell line- and dose-dependent modulating effect of POPs on AR activity and was negatively associated with semen volume in smoking men. To conclude, the median AR CAG number had the highest activity in vivo and in vitro. This pattern consisted even in the presence of POPs, indicating a stronger resistance for the median CAG length to these compounds compared to less common variants. The CAG number was also associated with reproductive hormone regulation and might modify the susceptibility of current cigarette smoking on semen volume in young men.
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| 4. |
- Björk, Christel, et al.
(författare)
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Persistent organic pollutants have dose and CAG repeat length dependent effects on androgen receptor activity in vitro
- 2011
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Ingår i: Reproductive Toxicology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0890-6238 .- 1873-1708. ; 32, s. 293-297
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recently, the effect of exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPS) on sperm concentration was only seen in men with a short androgen receptor (AR) gene CAG repeat. In order to investigate whether these effects could be observed also in vitro, we tested the impact of 2,2’,4,4’,5,5’-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) and 1,1-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethene (4,4’-DDE) on 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone activated ARs containing 16,22 and 28 CAG repeats, respectively. Single exposure to 4,4’-DDE had the most pronounced effect on the AR activity containing 16 CAG repeats, whereas 28 CAG was the most sensitive variant when a mixture of the two compounds was added. Thus, our in vitro results have confirmed the in vivo data indicating a CAG repeat length dependent effect of endocrine disrupters on the AR activity.
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| 5. |
- Itkonen, Suvi T., et al.
(författare)
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Vitamin D status and current policies to achieve adequate vitamin D intake in the Nordic countries
- 2021
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : Sage Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 49:6, s. 616-627
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims: Nordic countries share fairly similar food culture and geographical location as well as common nutrition recommendations. The aim of this paper was to review the latest data on vitamin D status and intake and to describe the national supplementation and food fortification policies to achieve adequate vitamin D intake in the Nordic countries. Methods: The data are based on results derived from a literature search presented in a workshop held in Helsinki in November 2018 and completed by recent studies. Results: Vitamin D policies and the implementation of the recommendations differ among the Nordic countries. Vitamin D fortification policies can be mandatory or voluntary and widespread, moderate or non-existent. Vitamin D supplementation recommendations differ, ranging from all age groups being advised to take supplements to only infants. In the general adult population of the Nordic countries, vitamin D status and intake are better than in the risk groups that are not consuming vitamin D supplements or foods containing vitamin D. Non-Western immigrant populations in all Nordic countries share the problem of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency. Conclusions: Despite the common nutrition recommendations, there are differences between the Nordic countries in the implementation of the recommendations and policies to achieve adequate vitamin D intake and status. There is a need for wider Nordic collaboration studies as well as strategies to improve vitamin D status, especially in risk groups.
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| 6. |
- Martinsson, Matilda, et al.
(författare)
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Intrauterine exposure to perfluorinated compounds and overweight at age 4 : A case-control study
- 2020
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 15:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims The aims were to investigate the association between maternal serum levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) in early pregnancy and overweight in the child at 4 years and to assess potential heterogeneity in exposure effect between strata with different levels of other risk factors for overweight. Methods We used a case-control design and included 354 cases (ISO-BMI ≥ 18 kg/m2) and 2 controls per case (ISO-BMI ≤17 kg/m2) from child health care centers in Malmö, Sweden. Controls were selected stratified on risk scores for overweight in a propensity score framework. Maternal serum levels were analyzed in biobanked samples collected by routine around gestational week 14. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios between quartiles of maternal serum levels and child overweight at age 4. Results There were no consistent monotonic exposure-response relationships. We found some significant odds ratios in specific quartiles but these were regarded as spurious findings. The absence of an effect was consistent over risk strata. Conclusions We did not find evidence of an association between maternal serum levels of PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS and PFNA in early pregnancy and child overweight at age 4. The level of other risk factors for overweight did not affect children’s susceptibility to prenatal PFAS exposure.
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| 7. |
- Nenonen, Hannah, et al.
(författare)
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CAG repeat number is not inversely associated with androgen receptor activity in vitro.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Molecular Human Reproduction. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1460-2407 .- 1360-9947. ; 16, s. 153-157
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A negative linear association between androgen receptor (AR) function and the CAG repeat numbers is generally assumed. However, in vivo data concerning the association between CAG number and androgenic effects have been conflicting. Since former in vitro studies mostly have been based on extreme CAG lengths and reporter-systems containing viral promoters, the objective of this study was to investigate ARs with CAG lengths within normal range (16, 22 and 28) in a reporter-assay with the human prostate specific antigen promoter as target. We also wished to elucidate whether the interpretation of the results was depending on the methods used for adjustment of transfection efficiency and protein content. With ss-galactosidase as transfection control, 22CAG had the highest activity (set to 100%) compared to 16CAG (mean 78% [range 41- 132], p=0.005) and 28CAG (68% [26-162], p=0.006), whereas renilla-luciferase resulted in 16CAG behaving similar to 22CAG (104% [56- 165], p=0.7) and 28CAG having lower activity (59% [33-101], p=0.004). In these experiments, also the empty vector displayed considerable background activity. When adjusting for AR protein, the 22CAG genotype had the highest activity; 16CAG and 28CAG displaying 20% (10-47, p<0.0001) and 12% (5-21, p<0.0001) thereof. Similar results were obtained with adjustment for total protein Thus, by normalising for AR-content, contrary to various control vectors, the highest AR activity was confined to the 22CAG and not 16 CAG, which may at least partly explain the discrepancy in data aiming to link physiological conditions to CAG repeat length.
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| 8. |
- Ritschl, Valentin, et al.
(författare)
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Educational readiness among health professionals in rheumatology: low awareness of EULAR offerings and unfamiliarity with the course content as major barriers-results of a EULAR-funded European survey
- 2023
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Ingår i: RMD Open. - : BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2056-5933. ; 9:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundOngoing education of health professionals in rheumatology (HPR) is critical for high-quality care. An essential factor is education readiness and a high quality of educational offerings. We explored which factors contributed to education readiness and investigated currently offered postgraduate education, including the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) offerings.Methods and participantsWe developed an online questionnaire, translated it into 24 languages and distributed it in 30 European countries. We used natural language processing and the Latent Dirichlet Allocation to analyse the qualitative experiences of the participants as well as descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression to determine factors influencing postgraduate educational readiness. Reporting followed the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys guideline.ResultsThe questionnaire was accessed 3589 times, and 667 complete responses from 34 European countries were recorded. The highest educational needs were professional development, prevention and lifestyle intervention. Older age, more working experience in rheumatology and higher education levels were positively associated with higher postgraduate educational readiness. While more than half of the HPR were familiar with EULAR as an association and the respondents reported an increased interest in the content of the educational offerings, the courses and the annual congress were poorly attended due to a lack of awareness, comparatively high costs and language barriers.ConclusionsTo promote the uptake of EULAR educational offerings, attention is needed to increase awareness among national organisations, offer accessible participation costs, and address language barriers.
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| 9. |
- Steinbach, Nancy, et al.
(författare)
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Miljöpåverkan från svensk konsumtion - nya indikatorer för uppföljning. Slutrapport för forskningsprojektet PRINCE
- 2018
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- NATURVÅRDSVERKET RAPPORT 6842 Miljöpåverkan från svensk konsumtion - nya indikatorer för uppföljning Sammanfattning Projektet Policy Relevant Indicators for Consumption and Environment (PRINCE) har haft som syfte att analysera potentiell miljöpåverkan kopplad till svensk konsumtion, både i Sverige och utomlands, och att kvantifiera denna med indikatorer. För att kunna producera de föreslagna indikatorerna har projektet utvecklat en ny matematisk metod för att kombinera svenska miljöekonomiska data med en multiregional input-outputmodell, som är relativt lättarbetad och bevarar en flexibilitet som möjliggör ett byte till andra multiregionala modeller om så önskas. Baserat på detta har projektet konstruerat en ny indikatormodell, kallad PRINCE-modellen, och uppskattat en lång rad utsläpp och resursanvändning kopplat till svensk konsumtion med den. Detta inkluderar förutom växthusgasutsläpp och luftföroreningar, en rad naturresurser och utsläpp som tidigare inte har studerats lika mycket, såsom markanvändning, vattenanvändning, användning och utsläpp av kemikalier och växthusgasutsläpp från avskogning. För vissa variabler har projektet tagit fram indikatorer för ett visst år, och för vissa andra har vi producerat tidsserier för åren 2008-2014. För växthusgaser, utsläpp av kväveoxider, svaveldioxid och partiklar har utsläppen från svensk konsumtion minskat under denna tid. Även arealen mark som tagits i anspråk kopplat till den svenska konsumtionen har minskat något under denna tid, medan totala materialflöden ökat. Under denna tidsperiod har förädlingsvärdet, som är ett mått på ekonomisk aktivitet, ökat vilket visar på en absolut frikoppling mellan ekonomisk utveckling och utsläpp av växthusgaser (med reservation för att inga höghöjdseffekter av utsläpp från flyg har ingått i denna studie). Utsläppsminskningen är dock betydligt mindre än den som krävs för att vara i linje med globala överenskommelser om klimatet så frikopplingen har inte varit tillräckligt stor. Det svenska generationsmålet anger bland annat att de svenska miljöproblemen ska lösas utan att orsaka ökade miljö- och hälsoproblem utanför Sverige. För de indikatorer där en tidsserie producerats (växthusgaser, utsläpp av kväveoxider, svaveldioxid och partiklar) har andelen av utsläppen som sker i Sverige respektive utomlands kopplat till den svenska konsumtionen varit relativt oförändrad under den studerade tidsperioden. Då de totala utsläppen minskat så har även utsläppen som skett utomlands under perioden minskat något. Projektet har med indikatorernas hjälp studerat vilka geografiska områden där miljöpåverkan från svensk konsumtion är störst och vilka produktkategorier som ger stort utslag i uppföljningen. Resultaten är något olika för olika typer av miljöpåverkan men produkter från byggsektorn, livsmedel och jordbruksprodukter, samt hushållens direkta utsläpp bland annat från fossila bränslen är kategorier med stor miljöpåverkan. Miljöpåverkan kopplat till svensk konsumtion sker i många olika länder. Förutom i Sverige sker utsläppen bland annat i stora länder som Kina, Ryssland, Tyskland och USA men också i många andra länder som Sverige importerar ifrån. Projektet har också tagit fram en grupp med indikatorer som kan mäta kemikalieanvändningen och utsläpp på en övergripande nivå. De täcker både användning av farliga kemiska produkter och utsläpp av vissa farliga ämnen. Resultaten pekar bland annat på att både användning och utsläpp av farliga kemikalier i stor utsträckning sker utomlands. Till exempel sker endast 22% av användningen av farliga kemikalier och 20% av utsläppen av farliga ämnen, som ingår i indikatorn, för svensk konsumtions räkning inom Sveriges gränser. Kemikalieindikatorerna kräver ett visst fortsatt utvecklingsarbete, exempelvis med framtagande av tidsserier. Vidare har projektet tagit fram nya förslag på hur man kan följa upp miljöpåverkan av fiskkonsumtion beroende på typ av fisk som konsumeras och vilken fångstmetod som använts. Även fiskindikatorerna kräver fortsatt arbete innan de kan läggas till ordinarie uppföljningsprogram. Projektet har också undersökt metoder för att fördjupa analysen av miljöpåverkan av vattenanvändning i produktionen genom att urskilja vilka områden som har särskilda problem med vattenbrist. Detta är inte möjligt att göra med någon större precision i dagsläget. Två olika metoder provades inom projektet, en som använde vattenåtgång för jordbruksprodukter och en som använde data om vattenbrist per land. Slutligen har specialstudier även gjorts av viktiga produktgrupper som mat och dryck, IKT-sektorn (informations- och kommunikationsteknik), fossilbränsleanvändningen i sjöfarten med två olika metoder, samt socioekonomisk påverkan av svensk konsumtion i Kina. Baserat på resultaten har projektet genererat ett antal rekommendationer för hur arbetet med konsumtionsbaserade indikatorer kan drivas vidare: • SCB ändrar den tidigare beräkningsmetoden för att beräkna utsläpp från konsumtion och använder de multiregionala data som finns tillgängliga i EXIOBASE för att beräkna miljöpåverkan från import. • För utsläpp av växthusgaser samt för utsläpp till luft av kväveoxider, svaveldioxid och partiklar: generationsmålet följs upp med den utvecklade PRINCE-modellen som kombinerar svensk miljöekonomisk data med multiplikatorer som beräknas med en multiregional input-outputmodell. • Det internationella arbetet med förbättrad tillgång till harmoniserad miljöstatistik stöttas. • Arbetet med vidareutveckling av indikatorer för användning av naturresurser (som markanvändning och dess koppling till avskogning och biologisk mångfald, vattenanvändning, materialflöden och energi) fortsätter bland annat avseende kopplingen mellan dessa flöden och miljöpåverkan, de svenska miljömålen och de globala hållbarhetsmålen. • Forsknings- och utvecklingsarbetet med kemikalieindikatorerna fortsätter och tidsserier tas fram för att så småningom kunna ta in dem i analysen av generationsmålet. • Metoderna som föreslagits för att bedöma miljöpåverkan från fiskkonsumtion vidareutvecklas. • Metoderna som föreslagits för att beräkna utsläpp från internationella transporter vidareutvecklas.
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| 10. |
- Sterner, Therese, et al.
(författare)
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The Southern Sweden Adolescent Allergy-Cohort : Prevalence of allergic diseases and cross-sectional associations with individual and social factors
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Asthma. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0277-0903 .- 1532-4303. ; 56:3, s. 227-235
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: Asthma and allergic diseases are the most frequent chronic diseases in childhood worldwide, and considered a burden for the affected children and their families. The diseases impose an economic burden on society if not diagnosed and treated properly and management of and these diseases are challenging for healthcare professionals. The aim of the present investigation was to assess the prevalence of allergic diseases in an unselected cohort of adolescents in southern Sweden. Additionally, associations with sociodemographic factors were investigated, as well as impact on daily life. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on a cohort of n = 1 530 school children, aged 13 to 14, from 13 municipalities in southern Sweden. Data were collected through web-based questionnaires. Results: Of all children 32% reported at least one allergic disease. 67% reported one allergic disease and 33% reported more than one. No allergy-related disease were reported by 68%. Current asthma was reported by 9.8% and current rhino-conjunctivitis was reported by 13%. The prevalence of food hypersensitivity was 12% and the prevalence of eczema was 11%. One to three wheezing attacks were reported from 55% and 40% reported more than four attacks of wheezing in the preceding year. The self-reported allergic diseases were diagnosed by a doctor in; 36% (food hypersensitivity) to 69% (rhinoconjunctivitis) of the cases. Conclusions: A high number of affected children were identified. Some children being undiagnosed and some not receiving satisfactory treatment. These results suggest that additional studies to evaluate treatment procedures in order to improve healthcare for allergic children are warranted.
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