| 1. |
- Ahlinder, Jon, et al.
(författare)
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Increased knowledge of Francisella genus diversity highlights the benefits of optimised DNA-based assays
- 2012
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Ingår i: BMC Microbiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2180. ; 12, s. 220-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Recent advances in sequencing technologies offer promising tools for generating large numbers of genomes, larger typing databases and improved mapping of environmental bacterial diversity. However, DNA-based methods for the detection of Francisella were developed with limited knowledge about genetic diversity. This, together with the high sequence identity between several Francisella species, means there is a high risk of false identification and detection of the highly virulent pathogen Francisella tularensis. Moreover, phylogenetic reconstructions using single or limited numbers of marker sequences often result in incorrect tree topologies and inferred evolutionary distances. The recent growth in publicly accessible whole-genome sequences now allows evaluation of published genetic markers to determine optimal combinations of markers that minimise both time and laboratory costs. Results: In the present study, we evaluated 38 previously published DNA markers and the corresponding PCR primers against 42 genomes representing the currently known diversity of the genus Francisella. The results highlight that PCR assays for Francisella tularensis are often complicated by low specificity, resulting in a high probability of false positives. A method to select a set of one to seven markers for obtaining optimal phylogenetic resolution or diagnostic accuracy is presented. Conclusions: Current multiple-locus sequence-typing systems and detection assays of Francisella, could be improved by redesigning some of the primers and reselecting typing markers. The use of only a few optimally selected sequence-typing markers allows construction of phylogenetic topologies with almost the same accuracy as topologies based on whole-genome sequences.
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| 2. |
- Albin, Anna-Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Does growth hormone treatment influence pubertal development in short children?
- 2011
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Ingår i: Hormone Research in Paediatrics. - : S. Karger AG. - 1663-2826 .- 1663-2818. ; 76:4, s. 262-72
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIM: To study the influence of growth hormone (GH) treatment on the initiation and progression of puberty in short children. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, controlled study included 124 short children (33 girls) who received GH treatment (Genotropin(R); Pfizer Inc.) from a mean age of 11 years until near adult height [intent-to-treat (ITT) population]. Children were randomized into three groups: controls (n = 33), GH 33 mug/kg/day (n = 34) or GH 67 mug/kg/day (n = 57). Prepubertal children at study start constituted the per-protocol (PP) population (n = 101). Auxological measurements were made and puberty was staged every 3 months. Serum sex-steroid concentrations were assessed every 6 months. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the groups, of both PP and ITT populations, in time elapsed from start of treatment until either onset of puberty, age at start of puberty or age at final pubertal maturation in either sex. In the ITT population, pubertal duration was significantly longer in GH-treated girls, and maximum mean testicular volume was significantly greater in GH-treated boys than controls, but there were no differences in testosterone levels between the groups. CONCLUSION: GH treatment did not influence age at onset of puberty and did not accelerate pubertal development. In boys, GH treatment appeared to increase testicular volume.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Allvin, Kerstin, 1970, et al.
(författare)
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Altered umbilical sex steroids in preterm infants born small for gestational age.
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1476-7058 .- 1476-4954. ; 33:24, s. 4164-4170
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Boys born small for gestational age (SGA) are at increased risk of testicular dysgenesis syndrome, and girls born SGA face the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome later in life. Our aim was to study whether neonates born SGA have an altered profile of steroid hormones at birth.A total of 168 singletons (99 boys, 69 girls) born at 32.0-36.9 gestational weeks were recruited to a population-based, university hospital, single-center study. Of these, 31 infants (17 boys, 14 girls) were born SGA. The concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), androstenedione, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estrone, estradiol, cortisone, and cortisol were analyzed in umbilical cord serum with mass spectrometry.Girls born SGA had higher levels of androstenedione than girls born appropriate for gestational age (AGA) (4.0 versus 2.6nmol/L, p = 0.002). Boys born SGA had lower levels of estrone than boys born AGA (33822 versus 62471pmol/L, p = 0.038). Infants born SGA had lower levels of cortisone than infants born AGA, both in girls (340 versus 579nmol/L, p = 0.010) and in boys (308 versus 521nmol/L, p = 0.045). Furthermore, boys born SGA had a higher cortisol/cortisone ratio than boys born AGA (0.41 versus 0.25, p = 0.028). Gestational age correlated with DHEAS (boys r = 0.48, p = 0.000, girls r = 0.35, p = 0.013), and cortisol (boys r = 0.48, p = 0.000, girls r = 0.29, p = 0.039).In moderate-to-late preterm infants born SGA we observed a different steroid hormone profile in cord serum. Girls born SGA show increased levels of androstenedione and boys born SGA show decreased levels of estrone in cord serum, which could be related to placental aromatase deficiency in intrauterine growth restriction.
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| 5. |
- Allvin, Kerstin, 1970, et al.
(författare)
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Elevated serum levels of estradiol, dihydrotestosterone, and inhibin B in adult males born small for gestational age
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0021-972X .- 1945-7197. ; 93:4, s. 1464-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- CONTEXT: Prenatal growth restriction may affect future fertility in both females and males. Studies have shown that growth-retarded male rats have different sexual behavior and disturbed steroidogenesis. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that adult human males born small for gestational age (SGA) have an altered sex hormone profile. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Twenty-five adult males born SGA with median birth weight -2.2 sd scores (SDS) and birth length -2.4 SDS were studied. Median age was 23.1 yr and final height -0.5 SDS. They were compared with 44 male controls with median age 20.5 yr and final height 0.4 SDS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome before the study started was 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) levels in SGA males. RESULTS: The SGA group showed significantly higher median levels of E(2), 17.9 pg/ml (P < 0.001), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 0.543 ng/ml (P < 0.05), compared with controls, 12.6 pg/ml and 0.423 ng/ml, respectively. Testosterone (T) levels did not differ between groups. E(2) to T ratio correlated negatively to birth weight (r = -0.40, P < 0.01) and birth length (r = -0.44, P < 0.001). DHT to T ratio correlated negatively to birth weight (r = -0.51, P < 0.001) and birth length (r = -0.38, P < 0.01). Males born SGA also had significantly higher median levels of inhibin B, 164 pg/ml (P < 0.05), compared with controls, 137 pg/ml. Inhibin B correlated negatively to birth length (r = -0.34, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: SGA males of normal stature have higher levels of E(2), DHT, and inhibin B than controls, indicating a disturbed steroid synthesis or metabolism. Aromatase activity, calculated as E(2) to T ratio, and 5alpha-reductase activity, calculated as DHT to T ratio, is negatively correlated to size at birth.
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| 6. |
- Allvin, Kerstin, 1970, et al.
(författare)
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Longitudinal Sex Steroid Data in Relation to Birth Weight in Preterm Boys
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0021-972X .- 1945-7197. ; 107:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context There is a lack of knowledge on longitudinal sex steroid patterns during infancy, especially for boys born preterm or with low birth weight (LBW). Objective To find out whether LBW boys have a disturbed sex steroid profile during infancy. Design and setting Population-based longitudinal study performed at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Participants Ninety-eight singleton boys (47 LBW) born at gestational age 32.0 to 36.9 weeks were included. Because of dropout, 83 of the boys were still in the study at 10 months' corrected age. Main outcome measures Serum androgen and estrogen concentrations were analyzed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and IGF-I was determined with radioimmunoassay in umbilical cord and at 0, 2, 5, and 10 months' corrected age. Results Serum levels of androstenedione, estrone, and estradiol declined gradually from birth to 10 months corrected age. In both LBW boys and their counterparts, a surge was seen at 2 months' corrected age (3 months' chronological age) for testosterone, median (range) 6.5 (2.0-18.9) nmol/L, and in dihydrotestosterone 1.2 (0.4-4.3) nmol/L. At birth, LBW boys had higher median testosterone (0.7 vs 0.4 nmol/L, P = 0.019), and at 0 months' corrected age, both had higher testosterone (5.7 vs 3.5 nmol/L, P = 0.003) and dihydrotestosterone (1.2 vs 0.9 nmol/L, P = 0.006) than their counterparts. At 10 months' corrected age, catch-up in weight SD score from birth correlated with testosterone (rho = 0.27, P = 0.044) and androstenedione (rho = 0.29, P = 0.027). Conclusions Moderately to late preterm LBW boys showed a disturbed sex hormone profile, with elevated concentrations of androgens in early infancy.
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| 7. |
- Andersson, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Hyperhomocysteinemia and changed plasma thiol redox status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- 2001
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Ingår i: Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. - 1434-6621. ; 39:3, s. 229-233
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Reduced and total homocysteine, cysteine, glutathione and cysteinylglycine in plasma were investigated in 19 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and in 29 healthy subjects. The purpose was to examine the influence of pro-oxidant activity caused by the lung disease on the metabolism of homocysteine and other plasma thiols. We observed a decreased concentration of reduced glutathione and a decreased ratio of reduced/total glutathione in the patients compared to the healthy individuals, which supports the hypothesis of an association between free radicals and pathogenesis in some lung diseases. We also observed an increased total plasma homocysteine. The influence of a possible extracellular pro-oxidant activity on the concentration of total plasma homocysteine is discussed.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Andrén, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Miscommunication influences how women act when fetal movements decrease : An interview study with Swedish Somali migrant women
- 2023
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Ingår i: Midwifery. - 0266-6138 .- 1532-3099. ; 126
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To explore how Swedish Somali migrant women perceive fetal movements, process information about fetal movements, and take actions if decreased fetal activity occurs.DESIGN: A qualitative study based on individual semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analysed using content analysis.SETTING: The study was conducted in Sweden.PARTICIPANTS: Swedish Somali migrant women (n=15) pregnant in their third trimester or recently given birth.FINDINGS: The analysis led to the main category: tailored information about fetal movements enhances the possibility to seek care if the movements decrease. The results are described in the generic categories: explanatory models determine action; and understand and interpret information.KEY CONCLUSIONS: Miscommunication on fetal movements can be a hurdle for Swedish Somali migrant women that may have impact on stillbirth prevention and the quality of care. Improved communication and information tailored to individual needs is essential to achieve equality for women and their newborns.IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The midwife can be used as a hub for reassuring that adequate information about fetal movements reaches each individual woman in antenatal care. Individualised information on fetal movements based on the women's own understanding is suggested to increase the possibility that the pregnant woman will seek care if the movements decrease. Somali women's verbal communication can be used to spread accurate information in the Somali community on the importance of seeking care if fetal movements decrease.
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| 10. |
- Andrén, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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One size does not fit all : Perspectives from Swedish midwives on fetal movement counselling
- 2024
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Ingår i: Women and Birth. - 1871-5192 .- 1878-1799. ; 37:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PROBLEM: Migration continues to play a role in determining health outcomes related to pregnancy and childbirth in Sweden.BACKGROUND: Migrant women have, compared to Swedish-born women, increased risks of adverse birth outcomes. Previous research suggests that migrant women seek care for decreased fetal movements less than Swedish-born women. Given these documented risks, understanding midwives' perspectives in this context is crucial to address maternal health inequities.AIM: To explore midwives' experiences conveying information about fetal movement to migrant women in antenatal healthcare settings.METHODS: Semi-structured, individual interviews with midwives (n=15) experienced in providing information about fetal movements to migrant women. The interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.FINDINGS: The midwives' efforts to compensate for the deficiencies within the antenatal healthcare organisation and to ensure that all women received access to information and care regarding fetal movements are described in four themes: (a) building a trusting relationship; (b) empowering women through guidance and support; (c) overcoming communication challenges; and d) navigating safety measures.DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that the standard antenatal care programme does not support midwives to provide holistic and individualised care that aligns with midwifery care philosophy.CONCLUSION: To reduce health inequities for migrant women, this study highlights the need for more flexible guidelines within the standard antenatal care programme. These guidelines should prioritise the individual woman's needs over institutional protocols, acknowledge the midwife-woman relationship as the core of midwifery practice and support midwives to build a partnership with women through continuity of care.
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