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| 2. |
- Jenvey, Stewart, et al.
(författare)
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International collaboration in teaching and research - Monash University Australia and Luleå University of Technology Sweden
- 2003
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper a collaboration program between universities from opposite sides of the world is described. This program came about after a meeting of academics from Luleå University of Technology in Sweden and Monash University in Australia at an international education conference just like this one. Then from a simple start involving academic staff visits to learn about each other’s engineering courses, research programs and facilities, a collaboration has developed which now involves research and teaching in many diverse fields of study, not just engineering. The collaboration includes inter-university research programs, regular research and teaching staff exchanges, undergraduate and post graduate student exchange programs and some novel features such as the conducting of under graduate lectures via the internet, live and simultaneously to student audiences in Sweden and Australia. The paper describes the how the collaboration came about, what is involved in the collaboration, the use of the internet for conducting inter-continental classes and the technology used to do this, the benefits of the collaboration program to the universities involved and the future hopes for the collaboration.
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| 3. |
- Løvvik, Tone S., et al.
(författare)
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Use of metformin to treat pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PregMet2) : a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- 2019
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Ingår i: The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology. - : Elsevier. - 2213-8587 .- 2213-8595. ; 7:4, s. 256-266
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased risk of pregnancy complications. Epi-analysis of two previous randomised controlled trials that compared metformin with placebo during pregnancy in women with PCOS showed a significant reduction in late miscarriages and preterm births in the metformin group. The aim of this third randomised trial (PregMet2) was to test the hypothesis that metformin prevents late miscarriage and preterm birth in women with PCOS.Methods: PregMet2 was a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicentre trial done at 14 hospitals in Norway, Sweden, and Iceland. Singleton pregnant women with PCOS aged 18-45 years were eligible for inclusion. After receiving information about the study at their first antenatal visit or from the internet, women signed up individually to participate in the study. Participants were randomly assigned (1: 1) to receive metformin or placebo by computer-generated random numbers. Randomisation was in blocks of ten for each country and centre; the first block had a random size between one and ten to assure masking. Participants were assigned to receive oral metformin 500 mg twice daily or placebo during the first week of treatment, which increased to 1000 mg twice daily or placebo from week 2 until delivery. Placebo tablets and metformin tablets were identical and participants and study personnel were masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was the composite incidence of late miscarriage (between week 13 and week 22 and 6 days) and preterm birth (between week 23 and week 36 and 6 days), analysed in the intention-to-treat population. Secondary endpoints included the incidence of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and admission of the neonate to the neonatal intensive care unit. We also did a post-hoc individual participant data analysis of pregnancy outcomes, pooling data from the two previous trials with the present study. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials. gov, number NCT01587378, and EudraCT, number 2011-002203-15.Findings: The study took place between Oct 19, 2012, and Sept 1, 2017. We randomly assigned 487 women to metformin (n=244) or placebo (n=243). In the intention-to-treat analysis, our composite primary outcome of late miscarriage and preterm birth occurred in 12 (5%) of 238 women in the metformin group and 23 (10%) of 240 women in the placebo group (odds ratio [OR] 0.50, 95% CI 0.22- 1.08; p = 0.08). We found no significant differences for our secondary endpoints, including incidence of gestational diabetes (60 [25%] of 238 women in the metformin group vs 57 [24%] of 240 women in the placebo group; OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.69-1.66; p=0.75). We noted no substantial between-group differences in serious adverse events in either mothers or offspring, and no serious adverse events were considered drug-related by principal investigators. In the post-hoc pooled analysis of individual participant data from the present trial and two previous trials, 18 (5%) of 397 women had late miscarriage or preterm delivery in the metformin group ]compared with 40 (10%) of 399 women in the placebo group (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.23-0.79; p=0.004).Interpretation: In pregnant women with PCOS, metformin treatment from the late first trimester until delivery might reduce the risk of late miscarriage and preterm birth, but does not prevent gestational diabetes.
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| 4. |
- Molin, Lena, 1957-
(författare)
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Nyttiga bakterier och sjuka djur : En technoscience-resa från nätverksbildning till riskkonstruktion
- 2005
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of the dissertation is to examine the mechanisms at work when networks are formed and risk constructions made as bodies encounter frontline technology within the food sector. The concept of technoscience TS, is the link uniting the escalating technology of risk society, rebellious nature and the insidious threats of substances absorbed straight into the metabolism of our bodies through the food that we eat. The TS viewpoint is complemented by a short overview of Beck’s theory about the risk society, in order to explain how research creates risks rather than removing them. The four case studies are all concrete manifestations of technoscience. They are: 1) a study of the alliance between a research company and a bacteria culture, 2) the section about the Gaio controversy and the creation of scientific facts, 3) the case of the scientist and high-ranking official who was sued for defamation of the Danish pig, 4) and finally the scandal of the meat-eating cows. We can observe, aided by Bruno Latour, how particularly in the first two stories, the importance of networks becomes apparent. How network analysis can be a tool for understanding the high-tech development of the food industry in the late 20th century as stories of how scientific claims – or “truths” – are reconstituted and transformed. We are also able to observe how truth is dependent on our own viewpoint, in Donna Haraway’s word it is “situated” or context dependent. The case studies are also examples of the links between body, technology and risk. Because they deal with the food product trade, the link to the body becomes obvious as dangerous food products are absorbed into the body through the food and is spread through the metabolism. The thing that sets risk construction in the use of high-tech production methods in the food trade apart from other areas is the meeting or confrontation between the man-made advanced technology and the limits determined by “nature” through the body. The linking of technology and the human body becomes particularly exciting as we notice that no matter how advanced the technology that has been used to produce a food product, it is still there to be eaten and absorbed by the metabolism of our bodies. In this area of uncertainty the dividing line between the possible and the impossible is fuzzy and changing.
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| 5. |
- Polistena, Andrea, et al.
(författare)
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Matrilysin Expression Related to Radiation and Microflora Changes in Murine Bowel.
- 2011
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Ingår i: The Journal of surgical research. - : Elsevier BV. - 1095-8673 .- 0022-4804. ; 167, s. 137-143
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Matrilysin (MMP-7) elevation after radiotherapy is shown in humans. Matrilysin regulates certain cytokines and the production of bactericidal proteins when the mucosa is exposed to bacterial antigens. We investigate the effect of irradiation on matrilysin and microflora in murine bowel, after modulation with antibiotics. METHODS: Animals were divided into two different groups a radiation group (72 animals) and sham radiation group (36 animals). Animals were divided into smaller groups of six according to radiation dose (19 or 38 Gy or sham). Seven days before radiotherapy ampicillin 500 mg/kg/d was administered intramuscularly, in the antibiotic groups. An exteriorized segment of ileum was subjected to single high dose radiation (19 or 38 Gy). Samples were collected 2, 24, and 48 h and analyzed for microflora, MIP-2, TGF-β, and MMP-7. RESULTS: The combination of antibiotics and irradiation leads to an early significant reduction of bacteria, down-regulates MIP-2, up-regulates TGF-β and elevation of MMP-7 to levels achieved by antibiotics or irradiation alone. Lactobacilli were reduced to non-existent levels after antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment with Ampicillin before irradiation and laparotomy in a murine model leads to Matrilysin over-expression as achieved by radiotherapy alone. Microfloral regulation does not affect MMP-7 stimulation after surgical or radiological trauma. Radiotherapy overrides the effect of antibiotics leading to an up-regulation of MMP-7, TGF-β and MIP-2 expression between 24 h and 48 h.
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| 6. |
- Thorlacius, Elin M., 1973, et al.
(författare)
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High-sensitive troponinT, interleukin-8, and interleukin-6 link with post-surgery risk in infant heart surgery
- 2024
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Ingår i: ACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA. - 0001-5172 .- 1399-6576. ; 68:6, s. 745-752
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: This study focuses on biomarkers in infants after open heart surgery, and examines the association of high-sensitive troponin T (hs-cTnT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) with postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI), ventilatory support time and need of vasoactive drugs. Methods: Secondary exploratory study from a double-blinded clinical randomized trial (Mile-1) on 70 infants undergoing open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In this sub-study, the entire study population was examined without considering the study drugs. The biomarkers' peak concentration (highest concentration at 2 or 6 h post-CPB) were used for statistical analyses. Results: Peak IL-8, hs-cTnT, and IL-6 occurred at 2 h post-CPB for 96%, 79%, and 63% of the patients, respectively. The odds ratio of developing AKI2-3 for IL-6 > 293 pg/mL was 23.4 (95% CI 5.3;104.0), for IL-8 > 100 pg/mL it was 11.5 (3.0;44.2), and for hs-cTnT >5597 pg/mL it was 6.1 (1.5; 24.5). In more than two third of the patients with the highest peak concentrations of IL-8, IL-6, and hs-cTnT, there was a need for ventilatory support for >24 h and use of vasoactive drugs at 24 h post-CPB, while in less than one third of the patients with the lowest peak concentrations of IL-8 and hs-cTnT such requirements were observed. Conclusions: The peak biomarker concentrations and CPB-time strongly predicted AKI2-3, with IL-6 and IL-8 emerging as strongest predictors. Furthermore, our findings suggest that measuring hs-cTnT and IL-8 just 2 h post-CPB-weaning may assist in identifying infants suitable for early extubation and highlight those at risk of prolonged ventilation.
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| 7. |
- Thorlacius, Elin M., 1973, et al.
(författare)
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Levosimendan Versus Milrinone and Release of Myocardial Biomarkers after Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: Post Hoc Analysis of Clinical Trial Data
- 2021
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Ingår i: Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. - 1529-7535.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: We compared the effect of two inodilators, levosimendan and milrinone, on the plasma levels of myocardial injury biomarkers, that is, high-sensitivity troponin T and heart-type fatty acid binding protein, and on N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide as a biomarker of ventricular function. We hypothesized that levosimendan could attenuate the degree of myocardial injury when compared with milrinone. DESIGN: A post hoc, nonprespecified exploratory secondary analysis of the Milrinone versus Levosimendan-1 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02232399). SETTING: Two pediatric tertiary university hospitals. PATIENTS: Infants 1-12 months old, diagnosed with ventricular septal defect, complete atrioventricular septal defect, or Tetralogy of Fallot undergoing corrective surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. INTERVENTIONS: Seventy patients received a loading dose of either levosimendan or milrinone at the start of cardiopulmonary bypass followed by an infusion of the respective drug, which continued for 26 hours. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Plasma levels of the three cardiac biomarkers were measured prior to the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass and 2, 6, and 24 hours after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. In both groups, the levels of high-sensitivity troponin T and heart-type fatty acid binding protein were highest at 2 hours post cardiopulmonary bypass, whereas the highest level of N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide occurred at 24 hours post cardiopulmonary bypass. There was no significant difference in the biomarkers' plasma levels between the study groups over time. Neither was there a significant difference in the postoperative peak plasma levels of the cardiac biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: In this post hoc analysis of the MiLe-1 trial, there was no demonstrable difference in the postoperative cardiac biomarker profile of myocardial injury and ventricular function when comparing infants managed in the perioperative period with levosimendan versus milrinone. © 2021 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.
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| 9. |
- Weighton, David, et al.
(författare)
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The development of Masters programs in space science and technology in northern Sweden
- 2008
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 59th International Astronautical Congress.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This paper traces the development of Masters Programs in Space Technology and in Space Science at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics in Northern Sweden during the last 10 years. The initial program was developed in 1998 for Umeå University as a fourth year on their undergraduate program in Space Technology. This was extended in 2000 to also provide the fourth year of a four and a half year program for Luleå University. In 2004 a consortium of 6 European Universities was formed to develop an Erasmus Mundus Masters program. The first intake of these students was in 2005. A number of the choices made and problems faced during this development are examined in the areas of choice of theme or themes for the programs, the development of teaching material and practical work including the use of projects on balloon flights, staffing, master level projects and recruitment of students. The hurdles and problems met in setting up and running the Erasmus Mundus Masters program involving universities from Sweden, Germany, France, Finland, the Czech Republic and the UK are also examined. The paper is also intended to stimulate discussion on what themes and course content are of interest to the space community and how the space community can contribute to the development and teaching of such programs.
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| 10. |
- Wiberg, Kent, et al.
(författare)
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Simultaneous determination of albumin and immunoglobulin G with fluorescence spectroscopy and multivariate calibration
- 2004
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Ingår i: Talanta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0039-9140 .- 1873-3573. ; 62:3, s. 567-574
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A method is proposed for the simultaneous determination of albumin and immunoglobulin G (IgG1) with fluorescence spectroscopy and multivariate calibration with partial least squares regression (PLS). The influence of some instrumental parameters were investigated with two experimental designs comprising 19 and 11 experiments, respectively. The investigated parameters were excitation and emission slit, detection voltage and scan rate. When a suitable instrumental setting had been found, a minor calibration and test set were analysed and evaluated. Thereafter, a larger calibration of albumin and IgG1 was made out of 26 samples (0–42 μg ml−1 albumin and 0–12.7 μg ml−1 IgG1). This calibration was validated with a test set consisting of 14 samples in the same concentration range. The precision of the method was estimated by analysing two test set samples for six times each. The scan modes tested were emission scan and synchronous scan Δ60 nm. The results showed that the method could be used for determination of albumin and IgG1 (albumin, root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) <2, relative standard error of prediction (RSEP) <6% and IgG1, RMSEP <1, RSEP <8%) in spite of the overlapping fluorescence of the two compounds. The estimated precision was relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) <1.7%. The method was finally applied for the analysis of some sample fractions from an albumin standard used in affinity chromatography.
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