| 1. |
- Tamás, Éva, et al.
(författare)
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Exercise radionuclide ventriculography for predicting postoperative left ventricular function in chronic aortic regurgitation
- 2009
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Ingår i: JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging. - : Elsevier. - 1936-878X. ; 2:1, s. 48-55
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: Ejection fraction (EF) reaction upon exercise by radionuclide ventriculography and standard echocardiographic parameters was evaluated as predictors for post-operative left ventricular (LV) function in chronic aortic regurgitation (AR). Background: The optimal timing of surgery for chronic AR is when the left ventricle is still compensating for the volume and pressure overload without irreversible dysfunction. For asymptomatic patients when EF is normal and LV diameters are borderline, exercise testing is recommended by present guidelines. However, only a limited number of studies have been performed, and data are scarce on this subject. Methods: Radionuclide ventriculography with multiple gated acquisition at rest and during exercise was performed in 29 consecutive patients with severe chronic aortic regurgitation pre-operatively and 6 months post-operatively. Patient subgroups were formed based on pre-operative EF exercise response (ΔEF) and were categorized as decreasing (ΔEF <−5%), unaltered (−5% ≤ ΔEF ≤ 5%), and increasing (ΔEF > 5%). A 5% or higher increase was considered normal. The LV diameters and mass were measured by echocardiography. Results: Pre-operative LV diameters were markedly elevated before surgery and diminished significantly after surgery. Left ventricular diameters, LV mass, EF at rest (EFrest), and EF change from rest to exercise (ΔEF) were independent of New York Heart Association functional class. Pre-operative end-diastolic diameter proved to be a predictor for pre- and post-operative ΔEF (p = 0.003; p = 0.04) but not for the nature of the exercise response post-operatively. Patients with decreasing and unaltered EF pre-operatively presented a significantly higher but still abnormal ΔEF post-operatively. Those with increasing EF pre-operatively had a similar response and a normal ΔEF post-operatively. Pre-operative ΔEF was not only a predictor for post-operative ΔEF (p = 0.02) but also classified patients into post-operative subgroups (EF decreasing, p = 0.03; unaltered, p = 0.02; increasing, p = 0.0008). Conclusions: An abnormal EF response to exercise may also occur in patients who do not fulfill criteria for surgery based on LV dimensions or EF. A follow-up of exercise LV function and adjusting the timing of surgery according to the nature of exercise response could, therefore, be beneficial.
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| 2. |
- Ehrencrona, Carolina, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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Do beta-blockers reduce negative intrusive thoughts and anxiety in cancer survivors? – An emulated trial
- 2024
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Ingår i: BMC Cancer. - 1471-2407. ; 24:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: High rates of negative intrusivethoughts have been reported among cancer patients. Prevalent users of beta-blocker therapy have reported lower levels of cancer related intrusive thoughts than non-user. The aim of this study is to investigate if initiation of beta-blocker therapy reduces the prevalence and severity of intrusive thoughts (co-primary endpoints) and the prevalence of anxiety, depressed mood, and low quality of life (secondary endpoints) in cancer survivors. Methods: Data on patient-reported outcomes from three cohort studies of Swedish patients diagnosed with colon, prostate or rectal cancer were combined with data on beta-blocker prescriptions retrieved from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. Two randomized controlled trials were emulated. Trial 1 had follow-up 1year after diagnosis, trial 2 had follow-up 2years after diagnosis, baseline in both trials was 12months before follow-up. Those who initiated beta-blocker therapy between baseline and follow-up was assigned Active group, those who did not was assigned Control group. All endpoints were analysed using Bayesian ordered logistic regression. Results: Trial 1 consisted of Active group, n = 59, and Control group, n = 3936. Trial 2 consisted of Active group, n = 87, and Control group, n = 3132. The majority of participants were men, 83% in trial 1 and 94% in trial 2. The prevalence and severity of intrusive thoughts were lower in the Active group in trial 1, but no significant differences between groups were found in either trial. The prevalence of depressed mood, worse quality of life and periods of anxiety were higher in the Active group in both trials with significant differences for quality of life in trial 1 and anxiety in trial 2. Conclusions: The emulated trials demonstrated no evidence of a protective effect of beta-blocker therapy against intrusive thoughts. The Active group had reduced quality of life and elevated anxiety compared to the Control group. Trial registration: The three cohort studies were registered at isrctn.com/clinicaltrials.gov (ISRCTN06393679, NCT02530593 and NCT01477229).
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| 3. |
- Nyqvist, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
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Differences in health related quality of life in the randomised ARTSCAN study; accelerated vs. conventional radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. A five year follow up
- 2016
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Ingår i: Radiotherapy and Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-8140 .- 1879-0887. ; 118:2, s. 335-341
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and purpose: Health related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed in the randomised, prospective ARTSCAN study comparing conventional radiotherapy (CF) with accelerated radiotherapy (AF) for head and neck cancer. Material and methods: 750 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (of any grade and stage) in the oral cavity, oro-, or hypopharynx or larynx (except T1-2, NO glottic carcinoma) without distant metastases were randomised to either conventional fractionation (2 Gy/day, 5 days/week in 49 days, total dose 68 Gy) or accelerated fractionation (1.1 + 2.0 Gy/day, 5 days/week in 35 days, total dose 68 Gy). HRQoL was assessed with EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-H&N35 and HADS at baseline, at end of radiotherapy (eRT) and at 3 and 6 months and 1, 2 and 5 years after start of treatment. Results: The AF group reported HRQoL was significantly lower at eRT and at 3 months for most symptoms, scales and functions. Few significant differences were noted between the groups at 6 months and 5 years. Scores related to functional oral intake never reached baseline. Conclusion: In comparison to CF, AF has a stronger adverse effect on HRQoL in the acute phase.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Albers, Eva, 1966, et al.
(författare)
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Selective suppression of bacterial contaminants by process conditions during lignocellulose based yeast fermentations
- 2011
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Ingår i: Biotechnology for Biofuels. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1754-6834 .- 1754-6834. ; 4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundContamination of bacteria in large-scale yeast fermentations is a serious problem and a threat to the development of successful biofuel production plants. Huge research efforts have been spent in order to solve this problem, but additional ways must still be found to keep bacterial contaminants from thriving in these environments. The aim of this project was to develop process conditions that would inhibit bacterial growth while giving yeast a competitive advantage.ResultsLactic acid bacteria are usually considered to be the most common contaminants in industrial yeast fermentations. Our observations support this view but also suggest that acetic acid bacteria, although not so numerous, could be a much more problematic obstacle to overcome. Acetic acid bacteria showed a capacity to drastically reduce the viability of yeast. In addition, they consumed the previously formed ethanol. Lactic acid bacteria did not show this detrimental effect on yeast viability. It was possible to combat both types of bacteria by a combined addition of NaCl and ethanol to the wood hydrolysate medium used. As a result of NaCl + ethanol additions the amount of viable bacteria decreased and yeast viability was enhanced concomitantly with an increase in ethanol concentration. The successful result obtained via addition of NaCl and ethanol was also confirmed in a real industrial ethanol production plant with its natural inherent yeast/bacterial community.ConclusionsIt is possible to reduce the number of bacteria and offer a selective advantage to yeast by a combined addition of NaCl and ethanol when cultivated in lignocellulosic medium such as wood hydrolysate. However, for optimal results, the concentrations of NaCl + ethanol must be adjusted to suit the challenges offered by each hydrolysate.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Benzein, Eva, et al.
(författare)
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Families' importance in nursing care : nurses' attitudes - an instrument development
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Family Nursing. - Thousand Oaks : Sage Publications. - 1074-8407 .- 1552-549X. ; 14:1, s. 97-117
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article describes the development and testing of a research instrument, Families' Importance in Nursing Care-Nurses' Attitudes (FINC-NA), designed to measure nurses' attitudes about the importance of involving families in nursing care. The instrument was inductively developed from a literature review and tested with a sample of Swedish nurses. An item-total correlation and a first principal component analysis were used to validate the final instrument, including a second principal component analysis to analyze dimensionality, and Cronbach's alpha was used to estimate internal consistency. The instrument consists of 26 items and reveals four factors: families as a resource in nursing care, family as a conversational partner, family as a burden, and family as its own resource. Cronbach's alpha was 0.88 for the total instrument and 0.69 to 0.80 for the subscales. The instrument requires further testing with other nurse populations.
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| 8. |
- Benzein, Eva, et al.
(författare)
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Nurses' attitudes about the importance of families in nursing care : a survey of Swedish nurses
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Family Nursing. - : SAGE Publications. - 1074-8407 .- 1552-549X. ; 14:2, s. 162-80
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of registered nurses (RNs) about the importance of involving families in nursing care. A sample of 634 randomly selected Swedish RNs completed the instrument, Families' Importance in Nursing Care-Nurses' Attitudes (FINC-NA), and reported holding supportive attitudes about families. High scores were found for the subscales: family as a resource in nursing care, family as a conversational partner, family as a burden, and family as its own resource. Variables that predicted a less supportive attitude about involving families in nursing care included being a newly graduated nurse, having no general approach to the care of families at the place of work, and being a male nurse.
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| 9. |
- Berg, Benita, 1976-
(författare)
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REFORMERS PÅVERKAN PÅ LÄRARES UNDERVISNING I GRUNDSKOLAN OCH FÖRSKOLAN : En läroplansteoretisk studie om undervisningsuppdraget och lärarrollen i förändring
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis is to use a curriculum theoretical perspective to contribute knowledge about the impact of recent reforms on teachers’/preschool teachers’ teaching, with a special focus on mathematics. The thesis takes its starting point in a licentiate thesis that was completed in 2014. The further doctoral studies are based on two articles. These articles answer specific research questions. Substudy 1 was a systematic literature review that focused on the role of the preschool teacher in teaching mathematics in preschool. Substudy 2 explored how preschool teachers interpret their teaching mission based on the curriculum’s directives and how they describe the meaning of the concept of preschool teaching. The data from Substudy 1 consisted of 68 research articles, and Substudy 2 was based on 50 preschool teachers’ reflection texts. The theoretical underpinnings of the thesis are two theoretical perspectives: curriculum theory and Bernstein’s theory of pedagogic practice. The results from the two substudies show the importance of preschool teachers having both subject knowledge and didactic competence to carry out teaching in spontaneous situations and planned activities. The results from Substudy 1 show two different roles that preschool teachers adopt when teaching mathematics in preschool education guided by social pedagogical or pre-primary curriculum traditions; these are the role of instructor and the role of an interactor. In the research studies, preschool teachers provide instruction with planned subject content or interact with the children’s play and other everyday situations to promote children’s mathematics learning. The results from Substudy 2 show an education that is guided by invisible pedagogy within the social pedagogical curriculum tradition. The preschool teachers describe teaching taking place spontaneously in play and other everyday situations based on children’s own interests and needs. The preschool teachers also have a purpose with the teaching, and they plan activities together with the children. These reveal teaching governed by visible pedagogy, which is characteristic of the pre-primary curriculum tradition. Furthermore, there are indications that a new curriculum tradition is emerging bearing some similarities to previous traditions, an approach that is both play-based and goal-oriented. Children’s participation and influence are central in the teaching, which means that the teaching conforms to the children’s interests, and that goals from the curriculum are woven into the everyday work. The preschool teacher consciously shapes the environment in the preschool and uses materials to promote children’s learning, and the teaching has more distinct subject content. Together with the licentiate study, the two substudies show that teachers and preschool teachers have difficulty transforming a new curriculum text into practically applicable form. The curricula leave room for interpretation, and the uncertainty that arises in the transformation arena shows that they need support to realize the curriculum’s new guidelines.
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