| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
- Callbo, Paliz Nordlof, et al.
(författare)
-
Novel Associations Between Mid-Pregnancy Cardiovascular Biomarkers and Preeclampsia: An Explorative Nested Case-Control Study
- 2024
-
Ingår i: REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES. - 1933-7191 .- 1933-7205.
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Prediction of women at high risk of preeclampsia is important for prevention and increased surveillance of the disease. Current prediction models need improvement, particularly with regard to late-onset preeclampsia. Preeclampsia shares pathophysiological entities with cardiovascular disease; thus, cardiovascular biomarkers may contribute to improving prediction models. In this nested case-control study, we explored the predictive importance of mid-pregnancy cardiovascular biomarkers for subsequent preeclampsia. We included healthy women with singleton pregnancies who had donated blood in mid-pregnancy (similar to 18 weeks' gestation). Cases were women with subsequent preeclampsia (n = 296, 10% of whom had early-onset preeclampsia [< 34 weeks]). Controls were women who had healthy pregnancies (n = 333). We collected data on maternal, pregnancy, and infant characteristics from medical records. We used the Olink cardiovascular II panel immunoassay to measure 92 biomarkers in the mid-pregnancy plasma samples. The Boruta algorithm was used to determine the predictive importance of the investigated biomarkers and first-trimester pregnancy characteristics for the development of preeclampsia. The following biomarkers had confirmed associations with early-onset preeclampsia (in descending order of importance): placental growth factor (PlGF), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-12), lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor 1, carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 8, serine protease 27, pro-interleukin-16, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1. The biomarkers that were associated with late-onset preeclampsia were BNP, MMP-12, alpha-L-iduronidase (IDUA), PlGF, low-affinity immunoglobulin gamma Fc region receptor II-b, and T cell surface glycoprotein. Our results suggest that MMP-12 is a promising novel preeclampsia biomarker. Moreover, BNP and IDUA may be of value in enhancing prediction of late-onset preeclampsia.
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- Kornaropoulos, Evgenios N, et al.
(författare)
-
Sensitivity of Diffusion MRI to White Matter Pathology : Influence of Diffusion Protocol, Magnetic Field Strength, and Processing Pipeline in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Frontiers in Neurology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-2295. ; 13, s. 1-20
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There are many ways to acquire and process diffusion MRI (dMRI) data for group studies, but it is unknown which maximizes the sensitivity to white matter (WM) pathology. Inspired by this question, we analyzed data acquired for diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) at 3T (3T-DTI and 3T-DKI) and DTI at 7T in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthy controls (HC). Parameter estimates in 72 WM tracts were obtained using TractSeg. The impact on the sensitivity to WM pathology was evaluated for the diffusion protocol, the magnetic field strength, and the processing pipeline. Sensitivity was quantified in terms of Cohen's d for group comparison. Results showed that the choice of diffusion protocol had the largest impact on the effect size. The effect size in fractional anisotropy (FA) across all WM tracts was 0.26 higher when derived by DTI than by DKI and 0.20 higher in 3T compared with 7T. The difference due to the diffusion protocol was larger than the difference due to magnetic field strength for the majority of diffusion parameters. In contrast, the difference between including or excluding different processing steps was near negligible, except for the correction of distortions from eddy currents and motion which had a clearly positive impact. For example, effect sizes increased on average by 0.07 by including motion and eddy correction for FA derived from 3T-DTI. Effect sizes were slightly reduced by the incorporation of denoising and Gibbs-ringing removal (on average by 0.011 and 0.005, respectively). Smoothing prior to diffusion model fitting generally reduced effect sizes. In summary, 3T-DTI in combination with eddy current and motion correction yielded the highest sensitivity to WM pathology in patients with SLE. However, our results also indicated that the 3T-DKI and 7T-DTI protocols used here may be adjusted to increase effect sizes.
|
|
| 5. |
- Malmquist, Anna, et al.
(författare)
-
Minority stress adds an additional layer to fear of childbirth in lesbian and bisexual women, and transgender people
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Midwifery. - : ELSEVIER SCI LTD. - 0266-6138 .- 1532-3099. ; 79
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To explore and describe thoughts about and experiences of pregnancy, childbirth and reproductive healthcare in lesbian and bisexual women and transgender people (LBT) with an expressed fear of childbirth (FOC). Design: Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with self-identified LBTs with an expressed FOC. Participants: 17 self-identified LBTs participated. 15 had an expressed FOC, and two were non-afraid partners. Findings: Participants fears were similar to those previously described in research on FOC, e.g., fear of pain, injury, blood, death of the child or of the parent. However, minority stress, including fear and experiences of prejudicial treatment, in maternity care and at delivery wards add an additional layer to the fear of childbirth. Key conclusions: LBTs with FOC are a particularly vulnerable group of patients, whose needs must be addressed in healthcare. Implication for practice: The findings call attention to the need for LBT-competent treatment prior to, and throughout pregnancy and childbirth. In the most vulnerable patients, caregivers must work extensively to build trust, in order to explore and reduce FOC. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 6. |
- Nilsson, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
-
Synthesis and SAR of potent inhibitors of the Hepatitis C virus NS3/4A protease : Exploration of P2 quinazoline substituents
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters. - : Elsevier BV. - 0960-894X .- 1464-3405. ; 20:14, s. 4004-4011
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Novel NS3/4A protease inhibitors comprising quinazoline derivatives as P2 substituent were synthesized. High potency inhibitors displaying advantageous PK properties have been obtained through the optimization of quinazoline P2 substituents in three series exhibiting macrocyclic P2 cyclopentane dicarboxylic acid and P2 proline urea motifs. For the quinazoline moiety it was found that 8-methyl substitution in the P2 cyclopentane dicarboxylic acid series improved on the metabolic stability in human liver microsomes. By comparison, the proline urea series displayed advantageous Caco-2 permeability over the cyclopentane series. Pharmacokinetic properties in vivo were assessed in rat on selected compounds, where excellent exposure and liver-to-plasma ratios were demonstrated for a member of the 14-membered quinazoline substituted P2 proline urea series. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 7. |
- Nyblom, Anna Maria, 1975, et al.
(författare)
-
Exceptional overproduction of a functional human membrane protein
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Protein Expression and Purification. - : Elsevier BV. - 1046-5928 .- 1096-0279. ; 56:1, s. 110-120
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Eukaryotic-especially human-membrane protein overproduction remains a major challenge in biochemistry. Heterologously overproduced and purified proteins provide a starting point for further biochemical, biophysical and structural studies, and the lack of sufficient quantities of functional membrane proteins is frequently a bottleneck hindering this. Here, we report exceptionally high production levels of a correctly folded and crystallisable recombinant human integral membrane protein in its active form; human aquaporin 1 (hAQP1) has been heterologously produced in the membranes of the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. After solubilisation and a two step purification procedure, at least 90 mg hAQP1 per liter of culture is obtained. Water channel activity of this purified hAQP was verified by reconstitution into proteoliposomes and performing stopped-flow vesicle shrinkage measurements. Mass spectrometry confirmed the identity of hAQPI in crude membrane preparations, and also from purified protein reconstituted into proteoliposomes. Furthermore, crystallisation screens yielded diffraction quality crystals of untagged recombinant hAQP1. This study illustrates the power of the yeast P. pastoris as a host to produce exceptionally high yields of a functionally active, human integral membrane protein for subsequent functional and structural characterization. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 8. |
- Sohlberg, Sara, 1977-
(författare)
-
Placental Function : An Epidemiological and Magnetic Resonance Study
- 2015
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Placental function is central for normal pregnancy and in many of the major pregnancy disorders. We used magnetic resonance imaging techniques to investigate placental function in normal pregnancy, in early and late preeclampsia and in intrauterine growth restriction. We also investigated maternal body mass index and height, as risk factors for preeclampsia.A high body mass index and a short maternal stature increase the risk of preeclampsia, of all severities. The association seems especially strong between short stature and early preeclampsia, and a high body mass index and late preeclampsia. (Study I)Using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, we found that the placental perfusion fraction decreases with increasing gestational age in normal pregnancy. Also, the placental perfusion fraction is smaller in early preeclampsia, and larger in late preeclampsia, compared with normal pregnancies. That these differences are in opposite directions, suggests that there are differences in the underlying pathophysiology of early and late preeclampsia. (Study II)Using magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we found that the phosphodiester spectral intensity fraction and the phosphodiester/phosphomonoester spectral intensity ratio increases with increasing gestational age. Also, we found that the phosphodiester spectral intensity fraction and the phosphodiester/phosphomonoester spectral intensity ratio are higher in early preeclampsia, compared with early normal pregnancy. These findings indicate increased apoptosis with increasing gestational age in normal pregnancy, and increased apoptosis in early preeclampsia. (Study III)The placental perfusion fraction is smaller in intrauterine growth restriction than in normal pregnancy. Fetal growth, Doppler blood flow in maternal and fetal vessels, infant birth weight and plasma markers of placental function are all correlated to the placental perfusion fraction. The placental perfusion fraction examination seems therefore to offer a fast, direct estimate of the degree of placental dysfunction. (Study IV)In conclusion: Our findings in studies I-III all support the hypothesis of partly different pathophysiology between early and late preeclampsia, and suggest a strong link between early preeclampsia and placental dysfunction. Study IV shows that the placental perfusion fraction has potential to contribute to the clinical assessment of placental dysfunction.
|
|
| 9. |
- Wu, Jianmin, et al.
(författare)
-
MicroRNA-34 Family Enhances Wound Inflammation by Targeting LGR4
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Journal of Investigative Dermatology. - : Elsevier. - 0022-202X .- 1523-1747. ; 140:2, s. 465-476
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Venous ulcers are the most common type of human chronic nonhealing wounds and are stalled in a constant and excessive inflammatory state. The molecular mechanisms underlying the chronic wound inflammation remain elusive. Moreover, little is known about the role of regulatory RNAs, such as microRNAs, in the pathogenesis of venous ulcers. We found that both microRNA (miR)-34a and miR-34c were upregulated in the wound-edge epidermal keratinocytes of venous ulcers compared with normal wounds or the skin. In keratinocytes, miR-34a and miR-34c promoted inflammatory chemokine and cytokine production. In wounds of wild-type mice, miR-34a-mimic treatment enhanced inflammation and delayed healing. To further explore how miR-34 functions, LGR4 was identified as a direct target mediating the proinflammatory function of miR-34a and miR-34c. Interestingly, impaired wound closure with enhanced inflammation was also observed in Lgr4 knockout mice. Mechanistically, the miR-34-LGR4 axis regulated GSK-3β-induced p65 serine 468 phosphorylation, changing the activity of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Collectively, the miR-34-LGR4 axis was shown to regulate keratinocyte inflammatory response, the deregulation of which may play a pathological role in venous ulcers.
|
|
