| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
- Henmyr, Viktor, et al.
(författare)
-
Characterization of genetic variation in TLR8 in relation to allergic rhinitis
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995.
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A previous investigation of all 10 TLR-genes for associations with allergic rhinitis (AR) detected a number of significant SNPs in the TLR8 locus. The associations indicated that an accumulation of rare variants could explain the signal. The present study therefore searches for rare variants in the TLR8 region and also investigates the reproducibility of previous SNP associations.METHODS: The TLR8 gene was re-sequenced in 288 AR patients from Malmö and the data was compared with publically available data. Seven previously AR-associated SNPs from TLR8 were analyzed for AR-associations in 422 AR patients and 859 controls from the BAMSE cohort. The associations detected in present and previous studies were compared.RESULTS: Sequencing detected 13 polymorphisms (3 promotor, 10 coding) among 288 AR patients. Four of the coding polymorphisms were rare (MAF <1%) and three of those were novel. Two coding polymorphisms were benign missense mutations and the rest were synonymous. Comparison with 1000Genomes and Exome Aggregation Consortium data revealed no accumulation of rare variants in the AR cases. The AR-association tests made using the BAMSE cohort yielded 5 P-values < 0.05. Tests of IgE-levels yielded 4 significant SNP associations to birch pollen. Comparing results between different populations revealed opposing risk alleles, different gender effects and response to different allergens in the different populations.CONCLUSIONS: Rare variants in TLR8 are not associated with AR. Comparison of present and previous association studies reveal contradictory results for common variants. Thus, no associations exist between genetic variation in TLR8 and AR. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 3. |
- Hernroth, Bodil, 1951-, et al.
(författare)
-
Impact of ocean acidification on antimicrobial activity in gills of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis)
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Fish and Shellfish Immunology. - : Elsevier. - 1050-4648 .- 1095-9947. ; 55, s. 452-459
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Here, we aimed to investigate potential effects of ocean acidification on antimicrobial peptide (AMP) activity in the gills of Mytilus edulis, as gills are directly facing seawater and the changing pH (predicted to be reduced from ∼8.1 to ∼7.7 by 2100). The AMP activity of gill and haemocyte extracts was compared at pH 6.0, 7.7 and 8.1, with a radial diffusion assay against Escherichia coli. The activity of the gill extracts was not affected by pH, while it was significantly reduced with increasing pH in the haemocyte extracts. Gill extracts were also tested against different species of Vibrio (V. parahaemolyticus, V. tubiashii, V. splendidus, V. alginolyticus) at pH 7.7 and 8.1. The metabolic activity of the bacteria decreased by ∼65–90%, depending on species of bacteria, but was, as in the radial diffusion assay, not affected by pH. The results indicated that AMPs from gills are efficient in a broad pH-range. However, when mussels were pre-exposed for pH 7.7 for four month the gill extracts presented significantly lower inhibit of bacterial growth. A full in-depth proteome investigation of gill extracts, using LC-Orbitrap MS/MS technique, showed that among previously described AMPs from haemocytes of Mytilus, myticin A was found up-regulated in response to lipopolysaccharide, 3 h post injection. Sporadic occurrence of other immune related peptides/proteins also pointed to a rapid response (0.5–3 h p.i.). Altogether, our results indicate that the gills of blue mussels constitute an important first line defence adapted to act at the pH of seawater. The antimicrobial activity of the gills is however modulated when mussels are under the pressure of ocean acidification, which may give future advantages for invading pathogens.
|
|
| 4. |
- Penell, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
-
Persistent organic pollutants are related to the change in circulating lipid levels during a 5 year follow-up
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Environmental Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0013-9351 .- 1096-0953. ; 134, s. 190-197
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- When reporting circulating levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), usually lipid-normalized values are given. However, animal experiments and some human data indicate that exposure to POPs may change lipid values. The aim of the present study is to investigate if POP levels can predict future changes in levels of circulating lipids. In the population-based Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study, lipids were measured at age 70 and at age 75 in 598 subjects without lipid-lowering medication. Twenty-three different POPs, including 16 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), five organochlorine pesticides, one dioxin (OCDD) and one flame retardant brominated compound (BDE47) were analyzed by high-resolution chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) at age 70. Strong relationships were seen among the baseline levels of the non-dioxin-like PCBs 194, 206 and 209 and the degree of increase in total serum cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol during the 5 year follow-up. These relationships were generally stronger when lipidnormalized levels were used compared to wet-weight based levels. On the contrary, for two of the pesticides, hexachlorobenzene and trans-nonachlordane, levels were inversely related to the change in LDL-cholesterol, with strongest associations found using wet-weight based levels. PCBs 194, 206 and 209 were inversely related to the change in HDL-cholesterol, in particular for wet-weight based levels. However, these relationships were only significant for wet-weight PCB 194 following adjustment for multiple testing. None of the POPs was related to the change in serum triglycerides. When investigating the association between the change in total serum cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol across different categories of change in BMI, we noted robust results especially in the group with stable BMI, suggesting that the observed relationships were not due to fluctuations in BMI over time. In conclusion, POPs are related to the change in lipids over time, especially LDL-cholesterol. This may explain why POP exposure previously has been linked to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
|
|
| 5. |
- Sjöberg Lind, Ylva, et al.
(författare)
-
Circulating levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are associated with left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction in the elderly
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Environmental Research. - : Elsevier. - 0013-9351 .- 1096-0953. ; 123, s. 39-45
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:Major risk factors for congestive heart failure (CHF) are myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, smoking, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and obesity. However, since these risk factors only explain part of the risk of CHF, we investigated whether persistent organic pollutants (POPs) might also play a role.METHODS:In the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study, left ventricular ejection fraction, (EF), E/A-ratio and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), were determined by echocardiography and serum samples of 21 POPs were analyzed in serum measured by high-resolution chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) in 998 subjects all aged 70 years.RESULTS:In this cross-sectional analysis, high levels of several of the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB congeners 99, 118, 105, 138, 153, and 180) and octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) were significantly related to a decreased EF. Some POPs were also related to a decreased E/A-ratio (PCBs 206 and 209). All the results were adjusted for gender, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, LVH and BMI, and subjects with myocardial infarction or atrial fibrillation were excluded from the analysis.CONCLUSIONS:Circulating levels of POPs were related to impairments in both left ventricular systolic and diastolic function independently of major congestive heart failure risk factors, suggesting a possible role of POPs in heart failure.
|
|
| 6. |
- Sjöberg Lind, Ylva, et al.
(författare)
-
Persistent organic pollutants and abnormal geometry of the left ventricle in the elderly
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Journal of Hypertension. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0263-6352 .- 1473-5598. ; 31:8, s. 1547-1553
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background:Established risk factors for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) are hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. However, as these risk factors explain only part of the variation in left ventricular mass, we investigated whether persistent organic pollutants (POPs) might also play a role in LVH, because exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl 126 induced cardiac growth in rats.Methods:In the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), relative wall thickness (RWT), and geometric groups of LVH, were determined by echocardiography and 21 POPs were measured by high-resolution chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) in 1016 individuals aged 70 years. All individuals with a history of myocardial infarction were excluded from analysis (n=72).Results:Several of the POPs were related to abnormal left ventricular geometry before adjustment for established risk factors, but lost in significance following adjustment. However, the pesticide hexachlorobenzene (HCB) levels were significantly related to RWT, and concentric left ventricular remodeling, also following adjustment for sex, blood pressure, antihypertensive treatment, diabetes, and BMI (Pandlt;0.0001).Conclusion:In this cross-sectional study, circulating levels of HCB were related to increased wall thickness of the left ventricle and concentric left ventricular remodeling, independently of LVH risk factors, suggesting a role of this environmental contaminant in abnormal growth of the left ventricle.
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
- Al-Abany, M., et al.
(författare)
-
Toward a definition of a threshold for harmless doses to the anal-sphincter region and the rectum
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. - 0360-3016. ; 61:4, s. 1035-44
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: To investigate dysfunction caused by unwanted radiation to the anal-sphincter region and the rectum. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A questionnaire assessing bowel symptoms, sexual function, and urinary symptoms was sent to 72 patients with clinically localized prostatic adenocarcinoma treated by external beam radiation therapy at the Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Hospital, in Stockholm, Sweden, 2-4 years after treatment. The mean percentage dose-volume histograms for patients with and without the specific symptom were calculated. RESULTS: Of the 65 patients providing information, 9 reported fecal leakage, 10 blood and mucus in stools, 10 defecation urgency, and 7 diarrhea or loose stools. None of the 19 and 13 patients who received, respectively, a dose of > or =35 Gy to < or =60% or > or =40 Gy to < or =40% of the anal-sphincter region volume reported fecal leakage (p < 0.05). In dose-volume histograms, a statistically significant correlation was found between radiation to the anal-sphincter region and the risk of fecal leakage in the interval 45-55 Gy. There was also a statistically significant correlation between radiation to the rectum and the risk of defecation urgency and diarrhea or loose stools in the interval 25-42 Gy. No relationship was found between anatomic rectal wall volume and the investigated late effects. CONCLUSIONS: Although the limited data in this study prevent the definition of a conclusive threshold regarding volume and dose to the anal-sphincter region and untoward morbidity, it seems that careful monitoring of unnecessary irradiation to this area should be done because it can potentially help reduce the risk of adverse effects, such as fecal leakage. Future studies should pay more attention to the anal-sphincter region and help to more rigorously define its radiotherapeutic tolerance.
|
|
| 10. |
|
|
