| 1. |
- Neiman, Maja, 1983-
(författare)
-
Bead based protein profiling in blood
- 2013
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis is about protein profiling in blood-derived samples using suspension bead ar- rays built with protein affinity reagents, and the evaluation of binding characteristics and potential disease relation of such profiles.A central aim of the presented work was to discover and verify disease associated protein profiles in blood-derived samples such as serum or plasma. This was based on immobiliz- ing antigens or antibodies on color-coded beads for a multiplexed analysis. This concept generally allow for a dual multiplexing because hundreds of samples can be screened for hundreds of proteins in a miniaturized and parallelized fashion. At first, protein antigens were used to study humoral immune responses in cattle suffering from a mycoplasma infec- tion (Paper I). Here, the most immunogenic of the applied antigens were identified based on reactivity profiles from the infected cattle, and were combined into an antigen cocktail to serve as a diagnostic assay in a standard ELISA set-up. Next, antibodies and their em- ployment in assays with directly labeled human samples was initiated. This procedure was applied in a study of kidney disorders where screening of plasma resulted in the discovery of a biomarker candidate, fibulin-1 (Paper II). In parallel to the disease related applica- tions, systematic evaluations of the protein profiles were conducted. Protein profiles from 2,300 antibodies were classified on the bases of binding properties in relation to sample heating and stringent washing (Paper III). With a particular focus on heat dependent de- tectability, a method was developed to visualize those proteins that were captured to the beads in an immunoassay by using Western blotting (Paper IV). In conclusion, this thesis presents examples of the possibilities of comparative plasma profiling enabled by protein bead arrays.
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
- Lindegaard, Tomas, et al.
(författare)
-
Internet-based psychodynamic therapy vs cognitive behavioural therapy for social anxiety disorder : A preference study
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Internet Interventions. - : Elsevier BV. - 2214-7829. ; 20
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Both Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) and Internet-delivered psychodynamic psychotherapy (IPDT) have shown promise in the treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, little is known about client preferences and what predicts treatment outcome. The objective of the present pilot study was to examine preference for ICBT versus IPDT in the treatment of SAD and whether participants' preference strength and therapeutic alliance predicted treatment response. Further, we also investigated the effect of the two treatments, including 6-months follow-up.Method: Thirty-six participants were instructed to choose between either IPDT or ICBT based on a brief description. Both treatments were 10 weeks long. Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale – Self Report was used as the primary outcome measure.Results: IPDT (N = 23; 63.9%) was preferred more often than ICBT (N = 13; 36.1%), but the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = .10). Preference strength did not predict the treatment effect but therapeutic alliance did. The observed within-group effects for the treatment period were d = 0.40 [−0.21, 0.99] for the IPDT group and d = 0.53 [−0.29, 1.31] for the ICBT group. An intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis revealed no significant difference between the two treatments on any outcome measure at either post-treatment or at six months follow-up.Conclusion: The present pilot study did not find a difference in preference for IPDT or ICBT in the treatment of SAD and both treatments resulted in small to moderate improvements in symptoms of SAD. Preference strength might not predict treatment effect, but this needs to be tested in larger studies.
|
|
| 4. |
- Magnusson, Anders, 1957-
(författare)
-
Evaluation of surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion and orthodontic treatment : Effects on dental, skeletal and nasal structures and rhinological findings
- 2013
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Surgically Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion (SARME) is frequently used to treat skeletal maxillary transverse deficiency (MTD) in skeletally mature and non-growing individuals. Despite previous research in the field, questions remain with respect to the long-term stability of SARME and its effects on hard and soft tissue.The overall aim of the present doctoral work was to achieve a greater understanding of SARME, using modern image technology and a multidisciplinary approach, with special reference to effects on the hard and soft tissues and respiration. A more specific aim was to evaluate the long-term stability in a retrospective sample of patients treated with SARME and orthodontic treatment and to compare the results with a matched, untreated control group. The studies in this doctoral project are thus based on two different samples and study designs.The first sample, Study I (Paper I), is a retrospective, consecutive, long-term follow-up material of study models from 31 patients (17 males and 14 females) treated with SARME and orthodontic treatment between 1991 and 2000. The mean pre-treatment age was 25.9 years (SD 9.6) with a mean follow-up time of 6.4 years (SD 3.3). Direct measurements on study models were made with a digital sliding caliper at reference points on molars and canines. To evaluate treatment outcome and long-term stability, the results were compared with study models from an untreated control group, matched for age, gender and follow-up time.The second sample, Study II (Papers II-IV), is a prospective consecutive, longitudinal material of 40 patients scheduled to undergo SARME and orthodontic treatment between 2006 and 2009.In Paper II, one patient was excluded because of a planned adenoidectomy. The final sample comprised 39 patients (16 males and 23 females). The mean age at treatment start was 19.9 years (range 15.9 – 43.9). Acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry and a questionnaire were used to assess the degree of nasal obstruction at three time-points; pre-treatment, three months after expansion and after completed treatment (mean 18 months).In Papers III–IV, three patients declined to participate and two had to be excluded because their CT-records were incomplete. The final sample comprised 35 patients (14 males and 21 females). The mean age at treatment start was 19.7 years (range 16.1 – 43.9). Helical CT-images were taken pre-treatment and eighteen months’ post-expansion. 3D models were registered and superimposed at the anterior cranial base. The automated voxel-based image registration method allows precise, accurate measurements in all areas of the maxilla. In Papers II–IV, the treatment groups constituted their own control groups.The main findings in the retrospective, long-term follow-up study were that SARME and orthodontic treatment normalized the transverse discrepancy and was stable for a mean of 6 years post-treatment. Pterygoid detachment did not entirely eliminate the side effect of buccal tipping of the posterior molars. Relapse is time-related and is most pronounced during the first 3 years after treatment. Thus the retention period should be extended and should be considered for this period. The main rhinological findings in the prospective longitudinal study were that SARME had a shortterm, favourable effect on nasal respiration, but the effect did not persist in the long-term. However, subjects with pre-treatment nasal obstruction reported a lasting sensation of improved nasal function.SARME and orthodontic treatment had a significant but non-uniform skeletal treatment effect, with significantly greater expansion posteriorly than anteriorly. The expansion was parallel anteriorly but not posteriorly. The lateral tipping of the posterior segment was significant, despite careful surgical separation. No correlation was found between tipping and the patient's age. Furthermore, SARME and orthodontic treatment significantly affected all dimensions of the external features of the nose. The most obvious changes were at the most lateral alar-bases. The difference in lateral displacement profoundly influenced the perception of a more rounded nose. There were no predictive correlations between the changes. Patients with narrow and constrained nostrils can benefit from these changes with respect to the subjective experience of nasal obstruction. It is questionable whether an alar-cinch suture will prevent widening at the alar-base.The 3D superimposition applied in Study II is a reliable method, circumventing projection and measurement errors. In conclusion, SARME and orthodontic treatment normalize the transverse deficiency, with long-term stability. SARME has a favourable effect on the subjective perception of nasal respiration. SARME significantly affects dental, skeletal and nasal structures.
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
- Nilsson, Jenny A. U., 1978-
(författare)
-
On methods for estimating oceanic flow
- 2008
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of this thesis was to estimate and possibly quantify ocean flow by utilizing conventional and novel observational methods as well as model results. Motionally induced voltages, from a cable-based observational system in the Baltic Sea, were analysed to determine their utility for ocean monitoring. The data set was examined as regards the influence of single- and multi-layer flow. Correlation analyses undertaken in the first study showed that the geoelectric installation is capable of providing good estimates of the net flow across the Visby-Västervik transect. The second study focused on possible effects of multi-layer flow on the signal. Comparisons were made with tidal-gauge geostrophic flow estimates, and a good agreement was found, except for a few brief winter periods characterized by significant discrepancies. The velocity fields from a three-dimensional model showed that these events coincided with strong surface and bottom currents, and hence the attenuated voltage signal was suggested as being caused by the non-uniform velocity distribution.The third study dealt with the deep-water flow through the Understen-Märket trench. Observational data indicated that this flow could be described by applying hydraulic theory. Since the passage is narrow compared to the internal Rossby radius of deformation, rotational effects could be neglected to lowest order. The theoretical predictions proved to agree well with the observational results.The final study examined the effects of the heat flux and the wind forcing on the circulation in Bahía de Concepción, Chile, where three field surveys were undertaken during the extended austral summer 2002. Hydrographic and current measurements were compared to local tidal-gauge records. Rough estimates of the barotropic and the baroclinic flow across the transect indicated an unusual vortex circulation during periods of weak wind forcing and strong surface heating; results which were corroborated by numerical simulations.
|
|
| 7. |
- Petersson, Ulla, 1947-
(författare)
-
Screening for Cardiovascular Risk and Diabetes in Primary Health Care : The Söderåkra Risk Factor Screening Study
- 2009
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been the predominant cause of morbidity and mortality for many decades in Sweden. Preventive work in primary health care through individual approach and community-based programmes has shown some success. Still, we need better risk assessment tools and health strategies to lessen the burden of CVD in our population.Methods: This thesis is based on four studies that explore the cardiovascular risk factor pattern and its development to CVD morbidity and mortality in the middle-aged (40-59 years) population in Söderåkra, southern Sweden, 1989-2006. At a single physician consultation in 1989-1990 the participants provided information about lifestyle in a self-administered questionnaire, underwent a physical examination and received medical advice after a laboratory investigation. The laboratory tests consisted mainly of blood glucose, serum lipids and thyroid function tests. Blood samples were also frozen for later analyses. A telephone interview on self-reported lifestyle changes was conducted ten years later. In 2006, primary health care medical records were studied for incident diabetes and also for impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Finally, national registers were studied for incident fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular disease until 2006. Cardiovascular risk assessments using three separate risk algorithms were applied on the population.Results: The participation rate was high with 90% attendance. The conclusion of this cross-sectional baseline analysis was that it is meaningful to check for a secondary cause of hyperlipidemia, hypothyroidism, in women with a cholesterol value above 7.0 mmol/L. After 10 years follow-up women reported significantly more lifestyle changes than men, odds ratio (OR) 1.56 (95% CI: 1.11- 2.18; p= 0.010). Men with a history of smoking or CVD at baseline and women with treated hypertension at baseline made successful lifestyle changes, OR 4.77 (95% CI: 2.18-10.5; p<0.001 and OR 1.84 (95% CI: 1.12-3.02; p= 0.016), respectively, than those without these characteristics. Until 2006, 38 participants had developed diabetes and four subjects IGT out of 664 participants, excluding 10 with diabetes at baseline. A low level of IGFBP-1 at baseline was associated with the development of type 2 diabetes/IGT, hazard ratio (HR) 3.54 (95% CI: 1.18-10.6, p=0.024). This was independent of abdominal obesity or inflammation (CRP). After excluding 16 participants with prevalent CVD at baseline, 71 first fatal or nonfatal CVD events in 689 men and women were registered. Several known risk factors and risk markers were applied on this population.Those that turned out to be significantly associated with development of incident CVD in univariate Cox´s regression proportional hazard analyses where used in three different risk assessment models: the consultation model, SCORE and the extensive model. A non-laboratory-based risk assessment model, including variables easily obtained during one consultation visit to a general practitioner (GP), predicted cardiovascular events as accurately, HR 2.72; (CI 95% 2.18-3.39, p<0.001), as the established SCORE algorithm, HR 2.73; (CI 95% 2.10-3.55, p<0.001), which requires laboratory testing. Furthermore, adding laboratory measurements covering lipids, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, did not confer any additional value to the prediction of CVD risk, HR 2.72; (CI 95% 2.19-3.37, p<0.001). The c-statistics for the consultation model (0.794; CI 95% 0.762-0.823) was not significantly different from SCORE (0.767; CI 95% 0.733-0.798, p=0.12) or the extended model (0.806; CI 95% 0.774-0.835, p=0.55).Conclusions: Our study showed that it is worth searching for hypothyroidism, in women with a cholesterol value above 7 mmol/L. The study identified female gender, previous CVD, hypertension and smoking as predictors of positive lifestyle change during follow-up. A low level of IGFBP-1 predicted future diabetes/IGT in this population as did increased waist and CRP. Finally, data on nonlaboratory risk factors obtained during one GP visit predicted future cardiovascular risk as accurately as SCORE or a laboratory-based risk algorithm.
|
|
| 8. |
- Sundqvist, Pernilla, 1979-
(författare)
-
Teknik i förskolan är inte något nytt, men idag är vi mera medvetna om vad vi kallar teknik : Personalens beskrivningar av teknik som innehållsområde i förskolan
- 2016
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This study investigates what preschool staff include in the technology subject in preschool education, what content they view as relevant and how the teaching of this content can be organized. This is motivated by the fact that technology as subject have not been clearly defined, leaving the teachers insecure and unconfident about what to teach and how to teach it. In addition, preschool do not have a tradition of addressing teaching and learning the way they are now obliged to do according to the curriculum and many studies have shown subject teaching to be a challenge in preschool. Thus, the preschool staff’s challenge is twofold regarding the teaching of technology.The aim is addressed by a mixed methods design, starting with questionnaires and followed by interviews with preschool staff (daycare attendants and preschool teachers). The questionnaire was completed by 102 preschool staff members and interviews were held with seven of these participants.A key results is that technology in preschool involves building and creating. Emphasized is that children should be offered much and varied materials and that it should be available in the environment and inspire creative activities. Another key result is that every-day use of artifacts is viewed as part of technology education. Children should learn to handle artifacts by using them, e.g. pulling up the zipper to close the jacket or cut with scissors. These are activities preschool have always engaged children in, which the staff now name technology. However, there are variations in the result and there are preschool staff members who express a more conscious teaching where children are able to learn about things like the purpose of technology, what parts an object consist of and how these parts are connected, and about technological systems, e.g. how the water get from the lake to the tap and how it is purified on the way. But there are also examples where technology activities are used as a means for working towards the striving goals of other areas, such as math, science and social behavior.Implications are that preschool staff need to develop their teaching in order to work in accordance with the curriculum. A relevant first step is to strengthen their content competence in technology, but also, they need tools for how to teach subject matter like technology in a practice characterized by children’s own choice and influence.
|
|
| 9. |
- Kanai, M, et al.
(författare)
-
- 2023
-
swepub:Mat__t
|
|
| 10. |
- Bergström, Sofia
(författare)
-
Multiplexed antibody-based protein profiling in the pursuit of CSF biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases
- 2021
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- There is a desire for a transition from generic treatments designed for the average patient, towards more individual-based precision medicine. An increased knowledge about disease pathophysiology on a molecular level would be beneficial for this transition. The study of proteins can contribute with valuable insights into etiology and pathogenesis of different diseases and thereby aid the clinical assessment of patients and guide future treatments.Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and frontotemporal dementia, are characterized by a progressive loss of function, and eventually death of neurons. Neurons allow the brain to communicate with the rest of the body, and a deteriorated function of neurons can result in problems with mobility or mental functions. Neurodegenerative diseases progress slowly over many years, with a long silent asymptomatic phase before symptom onset. It is hard to rebuild what is already lost, but disease-modifying treatments might be able to slow down or halt the deterioration of the brain. Therefore, there is a major research focus on investigating the early stages of disease pathogenesis in order to elucidate this critical phase in disease progression.The four papers included in this thesis focus on identifying altered protein profiles in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with neurodegenerative diseases. For this purpose, multiplexed antibody-based suspension bead arrays have been used. This method allows for hundreds of proteins to be analyzed in hundreds of samples in the same assay. Paper I focuses on Alzheimer’s disease and investigates the profiles of 200 proteins when comparing patients with controls. Six proteins were identified at altered levels and were further investigated in relation to the progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease. Paper II explores 100 protein profiles in relation to the core Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in asymptomatic 70-year-olds to elucidate patterns preceding potential disease onset. Paper III investigates the transition to cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease and explores potential associations between protein profiles and cognitive assessment tests. Finally, Paper IV explores panels of proteins in the context of frontotemporal dementia. Panels of proteins, instead of single biomarkers, have an increased potential to capture the range of biological processes within these types of complex and multifactorial diseases.Neurodegenerative diseases are often heterogeneous which puts high demands on the study design including an appropriate selection of study population. However, significant similarities are also present which makes it advantageous to have a broad perspective and work with several neurodegenerative disorders. This thesis presents the results from multiplexed antibody-based protein profiling as a contribution to a better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.
|
|
