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| 2. |
- Alves Dias, Joana, et al.
(författare)
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Low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress and risk of invasive post-menopausal breast cancer - A nested case-control study from the Malmö diet and cancer cohort
- 2016
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 11:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Although cancer promotes inflammation, the role of inflammation in tumor-genesis is less well established. The aim was to examine if low-grade inflammation is related to post-menopausal breast cancer risk, and if obesity modifies this association. Methods; In the Malmo Diet and Cancer cohort, a nested case-control study was defined among 8,513 women free of cancer and aged 55.73 years at baseline (1991.96); 459 were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during follow-up (until December 31st, 2010). In laboratory analyses of blood from 446 cases, and 885 controls (matched on age and date of blood sampling) we examined systemic inflammation markers: oxidized (ox)-LDL, interleukin (IL)- 1β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, white blood cells, lymphocytes and neutrophils. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for breast cancer risk was calculated using multivariable conditional logistic regression. Results: Inverse associations with breast cancer were seen in fully-adjusted models, for 2nd and 3rd tertiles of ox-LDL, OR (95% CI): 0.65 (0.47.0.90), 0.63 (0.45.0.89) respectively, p-trend = 0.01; and for the 3rd tertile of TNF-α, 0.65 (0.43.0.99), p-trend = 0.04. In contrast, those in the highest IL-1β category had higher risk, 1.71 (1.05.2.79), p-trend = 0.01. Obesity did not modify associations between inflammation biomarkers and breast cancer. Conclusion; Our study does not suggest that low-grade inflammation increase the risk of post-menopausal breast cancer.
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| 3. |
- Alves Dias, Joana, et al.
(författare)
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Plasma variation and reproducibility of oxidized LDL-cholesterol and low-grade inflammation biomarkers among participants of the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort
- 2016
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Ingår i: Biomarkers. - 1354-750X. ; 21:6, s. 562-571
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context: Large epidemiological studies often collect non-fasting samples, although the reliability of biomarkers may be uncertain. Objective: To explore the reliability and reproducibility of a single measurement of selected biomarkers in a sub-sample of the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort. Methods: We estimated single- and average-measures intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for oxidized (ox)-LDL, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α. Results: Single-measures ICC in non-fasting samples of ox-LDL, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were the following: 0.85, 0.71, 0.61, 0.78 and 0.66 for men, and 0.67, 0.81, 0.87, 0.69 and 0.81 for women. Biomarkers at non-fasting and fasting samples were highly correlated (all r > 0.80). Conclusions: The observed ICC suggest that most of the examined biomarkers (non-fasting blood) would allow meaningful analysis in epidemiological studies.
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- Appelgren Engström, Heléne, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
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Associations between heteronormative information, parental support and stress among same-sex mothers in Sweden-A web survey
- 2021
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Ingår i: Nursing Open. - : WILEY. - 2054-1058.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim was to investigate same-sex mothers' self-assessed experiences of forming a family, and the association between heteronormative information, parental support and parenting stress. Design: A quantitative, cross-sectional study. Methods: In a web survey conducted in Sweden in 2019, same-sex mothers (N = 146) with a child aged 1-3 years answered questions about their experiences of forming a family through assisted reproduction and questions about parenting stress. Descriptive statistics describes the process of forming a family. Pearson's correlation analyses and independent sample t tests were used to test hypotheses about heteronormative information, parental support and parenting stress. Results: Same-sex mothers experienced going through assisted reproduction treatment as stressful, and parental groups as not being supportive. Heteronormative information correlated with both lower perceived parental support and higher perceived parenting stress. Non-birth mothers experienced less acknowledgement and support than birthmothers.
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| 5. |
- Appelgren Engström, Heléne, 1968-
(författare)
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Family formation in two-mother families : Experiences of parental support in antenatal and child health care in Sweden
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim with the thesis was to examine same-sex mothers experiences of forming a family, pregnancy, parenthood and parental support from professionals in antenatal and child health care. An additional purpose was to explore professionals' experiences of meeting and supporting families with two mothers.The results are based on four articles (three studies). The project started with exploratory semi-structured interviews (n = 20) with mothers in same-sex relationships who had children with the help of assisted reproduction at a Swedish clinic. Thereafter, a web survey was designed based on the results from the first sub-study. The survey, as well as a survey on perceived parenting stress (SPSQ), was answered by 146 mothers in same-sex relationships. Finally, focus groups were held with professionals (n = 13) in antenatal and child health care with experience of meeting and supporting families with two mothers.The results showed that the mothers in same-sex relationships experienced the process of forming a family as a stressful journey in a heteronormative world, and that they lacked psychological / emotional support (Articles I, III). The results also showed that the mothers strived for equal parenthood and that they lacked professional support (Articles II, III).Furthermore, the results showed that the non-birth mother experienced a lower degree of acknowledgement from antenatal and child health care than the mother who gave birth, and a lower degree of support from antenatal care but no difference in the experience of support from child health care. The mothers also experienced a low degree of parenting stress (Article III).Professionals strived for an open approach in meeting new parents. They met well-prepared mothers who planned for equal parenting. Professionals expressed that they either gave equal support to all parents, or that they provided tailored support to same-sex mothers (Article IV).The thesis contributes with an in-depth understanding and increased knowledge about mothers in same-sex relationships' experience of family formation as well as their experience of treatment and support from professionals in antenatal and child health care. Furthermore, it also shows professionals' experiences of meeting and supporting families with two mothers.
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| 6. |
- Appelgren Engström, Heléne, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
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Mothers in Same-Sex Relationships Describe the Process of Forming a Family as a Stressful Journey in a Heteronormative World : A Swedish Grounded Theory Study
- 2018
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Ingår i: Maternal and Child Health Journal. - : Springer. - 1092-7875 .- 1573-6628. ; 22:10, s. 1444-1450
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives The aim of this study was to gain insight into how women in same-sex relationships experience the process of forming a family through the use of assisted reproduction technique (ART), from planning the pregnancy to parenthood, and their experience of parental support from healthcare professionals. Methods The participants were 20 women in a same-sex relationship who had conceived through ART at a Swedish clinic. Semi-structured interviews including open questions about pregnancy, parenthood and support from healthcare professionals were conducted. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analysed according to grounded theory. Results The core category, A stressful journey through a heteronormative world, emerged from the analysis, as did three subcategories: A journey fraught with difficulties and decisions; The nuclear family as the norm; and A need for psychological support. Same-sex parents expressed a need for more information about how to access ART in Sweden. Both the healthcare organization and treatment were perceived as heteronormative. In particular, these women lacked psychological support during the demanding process of utilizing a sperm donor to conceive. Conclusions for Practice Professionals in antenatal care should undergo mandatory cultural competency training to ensure cultural sensitivity and the provision of updated information, tailored brochures and early parental support for families with same-sex parents. All parents need guidance and support from competent, caring personnel throughout the entire process of forming a family.
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| 7. |
- Appelgren Engström, Heléne, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
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Mothers in same‐sex relationships—Striving for equal parenthood: : A grounded theory study
- 2019
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Ingår i: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING. - : Wiley Online library. - 0962-1067 .- 1365-2702. ; 28:19-20, s. 3700-3709
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To get a deeper understanding of how mothers in same-sex relationships think and reason about their parenthood in terms of gender equality, and how they experience early parental support from child healthcare professionals. Background: There is an increasing amount of research on how women in same-sex relationships experience healthcare services when forming a family. Yet there is limited knowledge of what kind of early parental support these women may request. Design: Grounded theory. Follows guidelines for qualitative research (COREQ). Method: Twenty women ranging from 25 to 42 years of age participated in semi-structured interviews. Data collection and analysis took place in parallel, as recommended in grounded theory methodology. Results: The results are described by the core category Same-sex mothers request professional support to achieve equal parenthood, which includes five categories: (a) equality in everyday life, (b) diversity in mother and child attachment, (c) justification of the family structure, (d) ambivalent thoughts about their child's future and (e) a special need for networking and request for professional support. These findings provide a deeper understanding of how same-sex mothers experience their parenthood and the parental support that is offered. Conclusion: Child healthcare professionals need to be sensitive and recognise both mothers as equal parents and offer early parenting groups where two-mother families feel included and supported. Relevance to clinical practice: Healthcare professionals need to be aware of diverse family formations and meet each parent as a unique individual without heteronormative assumptions. Same-sex mothers must be treated as equal parents and acknowledged as mothers. Healthcare professionals should offer inclusive and supportive parental groups to same-sex families. They should also inform and support nonbirth mothers about the possibility to breastfeed.
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| 9. |
- Appelgren Engström, Heléne, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
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Professionals' experiences of supporting two-mother families in antenatal and child health care in Sweden
- 2022
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. - : WILEY. - 0283-9318 .- 1471-6712.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background In Sweden, antenatal and child health care are offered free of charge to all expectant and new parents. Professionals in antenatal and child health care play an important role in supporting parents. Previous research shows that same-sex mothers face heteronormative assumptions and insufficient support during their transition to parenthood. Objective To explore professionals' experiences of supporting two-mother families in antenatal and child health care. Method A qualitative method with focus group discussions was used. An interview guide was followed, and the discussions were held online. The data was analysed according to inductive content analysis. Settings and participants The participants were midwives (n = 8) and nurses (n = 5) in antenatal and child health care from different parts of Sweden. Participants were recruited through the coordinating midwives and child health care nurses in the different regions. Findings One main category was identified: Striving to be open-minded in supporting same-sex mothers. Health care professionals described meeting well-prepared mothers, with an equal commitment between each other, and mothers on guard against heteronormative views. Professionals provided support through empowerment by creating a safe environment and aiming at providing equal support to all parents or tailored support to same-sex mothers. Mothers described handling challenges, as a balancing act to acknowledge both mothers. Struggling with documents and communication and a lack of information were other challenges to be handled. Professionals reflected on their own professional competence and expressed that knowledge acquired through education, experience and personal interest all contributed to their competence. Conclusions Forms and documentation need to be updated to be gender neutral to be including to a variety of family constelleations. Health care professionals need time to reflect on norms and challenges to better support both mothers in a two-mother family.
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| 10. |
- Bergström, Gunnel, et al.
(författare)
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Proteolytic modification of pig and rat liver pyruvate kinase including the phosphorylatable site
- 1978
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. - 0006-3002 .- 1878-2434. ; 532:2, s. 259-267
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The phosphorylated or phosphate-accepting site of pyruvate kinase from pig and rat liver was removed without inactivation by incubation with subtilisin. At different time intervals the subtilisin was inactivated with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and the amount of remaining phosphorylatable or phosphorylated sites of pyruvate kinase estimated by incubation with an excess of [32P]-ATP and protein kinase. It was found that to get the same rate of modification the subtilisin concentration required to modify unphosphorylated pyruvate kinase was approximately ten times higher than that used for removal of the phosphorylated site of phosphorylated site of phosphorylated enzyme. It was shown that the proteolytically-modified pyruvate kinase had an increased apparent Km for phosphoenolpyruvate without a change in V, when compared to unmodified unphosphorylated and phosphorylated pyruvate kinase. The removal of the phosphorylated site was not associated with loss of the allosteric sites for ATP and Fru-1,6-P2. The possibility that phosphorylation of the pyruvate kinase increases its degradation rate in vivo is briefly discussed.
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