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| 2. |
- Ekelund, Mats, et al.
(författare)
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A Higher Score on the Dermatology Life Quality Index, Being on Systemic Treatment and Having a Diagnosis of Psoriatic Arthritis is Associated with Increased Costs in Patients with Plaque Psoriasis
- 2013
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Ingår i: Acta Dermato-Venereologica. - : Acta Dermato-Venereologica. - 0001-5555 .- 1651-2057. ; 93:6, s. 684-688
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between measures of disease severity and costs from a socie-tal perspective in patients with plaque psoriasis. Dermatologists in Sweden recruited 443 consecutive patients who had had no biological treatment during the past 12 months. Following a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) assessment, subjects completed self-assessments on health status/quality of life and a healthcare resource utilization/work status questionnaire. The costs of healthcare resources and sick-leave due to plaque psoriasis were estimated and related to the subject's health status. A patient's Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and being on systemic therapy, or having diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis, appeared to be more strongly associated with direct and indirect costs than did their PASI. The cost of biological therapy should be considered from the perspective of the already high costs of patients with high DLQI undergoing traditional systemic treatment.
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| 3. |
- Gylle, A. Maria, 1965-, et al.
(författare)
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Fluorescence emission spectra of marine and brackish-water ecotypes of Fucus vesiculosus and Fucus radicans (Phaeophyceae) reveal differences in light-harvesting apparatus : emission spectra in Fucus
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Phycology. - : Wiley. - 0022-3646 .- 1529-8817. ; 47:1, s. 98-105
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Bothnian Sea in the northerly part of the Baltic Sea is a geologically recent brackish-water environment, and rapid speciation is occurring in the algal community of the Bothnian Sea. We measured low-temperature fluorescence emission spectra from the Bothnian Sea and the Norwegian Sea ecotypes of Fucus vesiculosus L., a marine macroalga widespread in the Bothnian Sea. Powdered, frozen thallus was used to obtain undistorted emission spectra. The spectra were compared with spectra measured from the newly identified species Fucus radicans L.Bergström et L. Kautsky, which is a close relative of F. vesiculosusand endemic to the Bothnian Sea. The spectrum of variable fluorescence was used to identify fluorescence peaks originating in PSI and PSII in this chl c–containing alga. The spectra revealed much higher PSII emission, compared to PSI emission, in the Bothnian Sea ecotype of F. vesiculosus than in F. radicans or in the Norwegian Sea ecotype of F. vesiculosus. The results suggest that more lightharvesting chl a ⁄ c proteins serve PSII in the Bothnian Sea ecotype of F. vesiculosusthan in the two other algal strains. Treatment of the Bothnian Sea ecotype of F. vesiculosusin high salinity (10, 20, and 35 practical salinity units) for 1 week did not lead to spectral changes, indicating that the measured features of the Bothnian Sea F. vesiculosus are stable and not simply a direct result of exposure to low salinity.
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| 4. |
- Petersen-Mahrt, Silja, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of UV-B radiation and nitrogen starvation on enzyme activities in isolated plasma membranes of Euglena gracilis
- 1995
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Ingår i: Physiologia Plantarum. - 0031-9317 .- 1399-3054. ; 95, s. 515-522
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Circadian rhythms are characteristic of many physiological and biochemical processes in the freshwater flagellate Euglena gracilis. Earlier, we found that the rhythms of photosynthesis, phototaxis and cell shape followed the same pattern in control organisms, but were differently affected by stress such as UV-B irradiation and nitrogen deficiency. Here we extend our studies to use isolated plasma membranes to characterize the rhythms of some plasma membrane-bound enzymes. Also, we wanted to see whether stress-induced changes of these rhythms could be detected at the subcellular level and possibly be coupled to the changes seen in photosynthesis, phototaxis and cell shape. The isolation of plasma membranes using aqueous polymer two-phase partitioning was successful, as judged by the large enrichment of the plasma membrane-marker 5'-nucleotidase, and the difference in the polypeptide pattern compared with the microsomal fraction from which it was prepared. Two other enzymes were analyzed, K+,Mg2+-ATPase, and adenylyl cyclase. The specific activities of all three enzymes were decreased by UV-B radiation by ca 30-50%, compared with the control cultures. On the other hand, nitrogen deficiency not only reduced the activity of the K+,Mg2+-ATPase but also increased the activities of the 5'-nucleotidase and adenylyl cyclase. The different treatments also resulted in differences in polypeptide pattern, e.g., a polypeptide around 30 kDa seemed to be specific to plasma membranes of nitrogen-deficient cultures and one at 39 kDa for the UV-B radiated ones. All three enzymes showed diurnal rhythms that were affected by UV-B radiation. The peak in the rhythm of the ATPase was shifted by UV-B radiation, the rhythm of the 5'-nucleotidase nearly eliminated. The first peak of adenylyl cyclase activity was delayed, so that it looked more like a broad peak between 2 and 11 h after the onset of light. The rhythm of ATPase activity could be correlated with that of photosynthesis in both control and UV-B irradiated cultures. Also, the rhythms of adenylyl cyclase activity and cell shape changes showed some similarities.
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| 5. |
- Petersen-Mahrt, Silja, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of UV-B radiation and nitrogen starvation on daily rhythms of phototaxis and cell shape in Euglena gracilis
- 1994
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Ingår i: Physiologia Plantarum. - : Wiley. - 0031-9317 .- 1399-3054. ; 92:3, s. 501-505
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The flagellate Euglena gracilis Klebs strain Z shows phototaxis and changes cell shape between oblong and round. Both cell events show daily rhythmicity. Phototaxis was highest about 2 h after light onset with a second peak of activity 9 h later. At the same times, the cells were in their most oblong shape. During the night phase the cells were phototactically inactive and round. These rhythms were altered by environmental stress, e.g. UV-B radiation (280–320 nm) and nitrogen deficiency. Artificial UV-B radiation of 0.5 W m−2 caused a loss in phototaxis hut the peak of activity occurred at the same time as for control cells. The transition from round to oblong cell shape was slower after UV-B radiation, but the difference between the roundest and the most oblong cell shape was unchanged. Nitrogen deficiency caused a total loss of phototaxis and the cells remained round all the time. The cells lost all their chlorophyll and were, therefore, photosynthetically inactive.
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| 6. |
- Picelli, Simone, et al.
(författare)
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Common variants in human CRC genes as low-risk alleles
- 2010
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Ingår i: European Journal of Cancer. - : Elsevier BV. - 0959-8049 .- 1879-0852. ; 46:6, s. 1041-1048
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The genetic susceptibility to colorectal cancer (CRC) has been estimated to be around 35% and yet high-penetrance germline mutations found so far explain less than 5% of all cases. Much of the remaining variations could be due to the co-inheritance of multiple low penetrant variants. The identification of all the susceptibility alleles could have public health relevance in the near future. To test the hypothesis that what are considered polymorphisms in human CRC genes could constitute low-risk alleles, we selected eight common SNPs for a pilot association study in 1785 cases and 1722 controls. One SNP, rs3219489:G>C (MUTYH Q324H) seemed to confer an increased risk of rectal cancer in homozygous status (OR = 1.52; CI = 1.06-2.17). When the analysis was restricted to our 'super-controls', healthy individuals with no family history for cancer, also rs1799977:A>G (MLH1 I219V) was associated with an increased risk in both colon and rectum patients with an odds ratio of 1.28 (CI = 1.02-1.60) and 1.34 (CI = 1.05-1.72), respectively (under the dominant model); while 2 SNPs, rs1800932:A>G (MSH6 P92P) and rs459552:T>A (APC D1822V) seemed to confer a protective effect. The latter, in particular showed an odds ratio of 0.76 (CI = 0.60-0.97) among colon patients and 0.73 (CI = 0.56-0.95) among rectal patients. In conclusion, our study suggests that common variants in human CRC genes could constitute low-risk alleles. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 7. |
- Steingrimsson, Steinn, et al.
(författare)
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Electroencephalography-based neurofeedback as treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- 2020
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Ingår i: European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists. - : Royal College of Psychiatrists. - 1778-3585. ; 63:1
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND.: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is debilitating for patients and society. There are a number of treatment methods albeit not all patients respond to these and an interesting method using electroencephalography-based neurofeedback (EEG-NF) has become more prominent in recent years. This systematic review aimed to assess whether EEG-NF, compared with sham NF, other treatment, or no treatment, is effective for PTSD. Primary outcomes were self-harm, PTSD symptoms, level of functioning and health-related quality of life. METHODS.: Systematic literature searches for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted in six databases. Random effects meta-analysis was performed. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. RESULTS.: Four RCTs were included (123 participants). Suicidal thoughts were significantly reduced after EEG-NF compared with a waiting list in a small study. PTSD symptoms were assessed in all studies with different instruments. Results were consistently in favor of EEG-NF with large effect sizes (standardized mean difference -2.30 (95% confidence interval: -4.37 to -0.24). One study reported significantly improved level of executive functioning and one study a reduction in use of psychotropic medication. Complications were scarcely reported. Certainty of evidence was assessed as very low for the four assessed outcomes. CONCLUSIONS.: Based on four RCTs, with several study limitations and imprecision, it is uncertain whether EEG-NF reduces suicidal thoughts, PTSD symptoms, medication use, or improves function. Although all studies showed promising results, further studies are needed to increase the certainty of evidence.
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| 8. |
- Tumlin Ekelund, Susanne
(författare)
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The clinical use of genetic analyses in colorectal cancer
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common global disease, with a mortality rate of almost 50%. Prognosis is mainly based on the TNM classification. Surgical interventions have the potential of being curative in patients with stage I-III CRC. Adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy enhances the survival rate, especially in stage III cancer. Chemotherapy does, however, have significant side effects. Therefore, refinement of therapies based on improved prognostic ability on an individual level is essential. One way to achieve this could be to examine the tumours on a molecular level and not just histologically. Recent studies have shown that K-ras mutation is a negative predictor to anti-EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) therapy. MicroRNAs were discovered only 2 decades ago but are now the most promising biomarkers in many cancers. In this thesis, the first two papers focus on genetic changes in the tumour and in lymph nodes, in particular looking at the oncogene K-ras. The last two papers focus on microRNAs in tumours and in blood serum. In studies 2, 3 and 4, our findings on the correlation of some molecular changes to prognosis is described. Study I: 17 tumours from CRC patients were divided in to small cubes. DNA was extracted from each biopsy and the occurrence of K-ras mutations, methylation of p16 and MGMT, and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 5q, 17p and 18q were analysed. We found that the distribution of methylated p16 and MGMT and LOH at 5q, 17 p and 18q are heterogeneous and present in a large majority of CRC tumours, thereby of limited prognostic value. However, K-ras mutation appears more homogeneously spread, a finding of clinical relevance for the use of biopsies to predict anti-EGFR response. Study II: 99 stage II CRC patients with histologically normal lymph nodes were included. DNA was extracted from lymph nodes, tumours and normal mucosa and the K-ras status was analysed and correlated to prognosis. Of the tumours, 34/99 were identified as positive for K-ras mutations. Of these, 10 patients also expressed K-ras mutations in their lymph nodes. Of the 10 patients with positive lymph nodes, 7 (70%) relapsed and died from the disease within 60 months compared to 8/ 24 (33%) with K-ras negative lymph nodes. Study III: 50 CRC patients were studied. RNA was extracted from the tumours. 5 patients with short and 5 patients with long survival were selected for SYBR-green quantitative PCR-based array to screen for differently expressed microRNAs. From this screening, 6 candidate prognostic microRNAs were validated using TaqMan quantitative PCR in all 50 patients. We found that high expression of miR-185 and low expression of miR-133b correlated to poor survival (p=0.001 and p=0.028, respectively) and metastasis (p=0.007 and p=0.036, respectively) in CRC. Study IV: 16 CRC patients and one with a large adenoma in the colon were included. All patients underwent radical (R0) surgery. Blood serum was collected prior to and 30 days after surgery. 3 microRNAs were analysed with Taqman qPCR (miR-21, miR-133b and miR-185). The serum levels of mir-21 were not affected by radical tumour resection. There was a significant decrease in the level of miR-133b among the patients following surgery, and an overall reduction of miR-185. There was no correlation between intra-individual changes in serum levels pre- and postoperatively to disease outcome, or between baseline levels and the risk of recurrent disease.
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