| 1. |
- Dessau, Ram B, et al.
(författare)
-
Study of a Cohort of 1,886 Persons To Determine Changes in Antibody Reactivity to Borrelia burgdorferi 3 Months after a Tick Bite
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Clinical and Vaccine Immunology. - 1556-6811 .- 1556-679X. ; 22:7, s. 823-827
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Lyme borreliosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The most frequent clinical manifestation is a rash called erythema migrans. Changes in antibody reactivity to B. burgdorferi 3 months after a tick bite are measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). One assay is based on native purified flagellum antigen (IgG), and the other assay is based on a recombinant antigen called C6 (IgG or IgM). Paired samples were taken at the time of a tick bite and 3 months later from 1,886 persons in Sweden and the Åland Islands, Finland. The seroconversion or relative change is defined by dividing the measurement units from the second sample by those from the first sample. The threshold for the minimum level of significant change was defined at the 2.5% level to represent the random error level. The thresholds were a 2.7-fold rise for the flagellar IgG assay and a 1.8-fold rise for the C6 assay. Of 1,886 persons, 102/101 (5.4%) had a significant rise in antibody reactivity in the flagellar assay or the C6 assay. Among 40 cases with a diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis, the sensitivities corresponding to a rise in antibodies were 33% and 50% for the flagellar antigen and the C6 antigen, respectively. Graphical methods to display the antibody response and to choose thresholds for a rise in relative antibody reactivity are shown and discussed. In conclusion, 5.4% of people with tick bites showed a rise in Borrelia-specific antibodies above the 2.5% threshold in either ELISA but only 40 (2.1%) developed clinical Lyme borreliosis.
|
|
| 2. |
- Fryland, Linda, et al.
(författare)
-
Biomarkers in blood a few days after a bite by a Borrelia burgdorferi infected tick: : Asymptomatic Borrelia burgdorferi-infected subjects show higher Th1-associated response compared with subjects who later develop Lyme borreliosis
- 2012
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The clinical outcome following infection with Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) differs between individuals, ranging from asymptomatic infection to Lyme borreliosis (LB) with persistent symptoms post-treatment. Previous studies in mice and humans have generated the hypothesis that a successful outcome of B. burgdorferi s.l. infection is associated with an early strong pro-inflammatory T helper (Th)1-like immune response. The aim of this study was to assess the early course of events in B. burgdorferi s.l.-associated inflammation by screening for possible early immune biomarkers in peripheral blood from newly tick-bitten persons. The study subjects bitten by B. burgdorferi s.l.-infected ticks were divided into (1) those later developing clinical LB, (2) those who developed anti-B. burgdorferi s.l. antibodies but not clinical LB, (3) those who neither developed antibodies nor clinical LB. A fourth group consisted of bitten study subjects without development of antibodies or clinical LB. Two sets of samples, both comprising all four groups, were collected in order to repeat the analyses and confirm the data. Sera or plasma collected a few days after the tick bite were analysed for 18 biomarkers (IL-1β, IL-6, CXCL8/IL-8, IL-12p70, IL-17A, IL-27, TNF, CCL18, CCL20, CCL22, CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, calprotectin, MMP-3, MMP-8, MMP-9) by multiplex bead assay and ELISA. In the first set of samples, the neutrophil activation marker calprotectin was increased in subjects who developed clinical LB compared with subjects who developed antibodies against B. burgdorferi s.l. but did not develop LB. However, the finding could not be confirmed in the second set of samples, thus the study failed to identify an early prognostic marker for development of clinical LB. Interestingly, both sets of samples showed increases in two different Th1-associated markers, CXCL10 and IL-12p70, respectively, in subjects who following a bite by a B. burgdorferi s.l.-infected tick developed antibodies against B. burgdorferi s.l. but did not develop LB compared with subjects who developed clinical LB, thus supporting the hypothesis of an early strong Th1-response being important for optimal resolution of B. burgdorferi s.l. infection.
|
|
| 3. |
- Fryland, Linda, et al.
(författare)
-
Low risk of developing Borrelia burgdorferi infection in the south-east of Sweden after being bitten by a Borrelia burgdorferi-infected tick
- 2011
-
Ingår i: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. - : Elsevier Science B. V., Amsterdam. - 1201-9712. ; 15:3, s. E174-E181
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: The risk of developing Lyme borreliosis (LB) from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bb)-infected ticks in Sweden is largely unknown. In the current study, we investigated the prevalence of Bb in ticks that had bitten humans and the risk of developing LB from Bb-infected ticks. Methods: Health questionnaires, blood samples, and ticks were collected from 394 tick-bitten study subjects in the County of Ostergotland, Sweden, at the time of the tick bite. Questionnaires and blood samples were also collected 3 months later. Ticks were screened for Bb DNA with PCR, while sera were analyzed for antibodies against Bb using two ELISA assays. Seroconversion, i.e., an at least two-fold increase in anti-Bb antibodies after 3 months, was confirmed using a Strip-Immunoassay. Results: Seventy-five of 397 ticks collected from the study subjects were determined to be Bb-positive. Sixty-four of the tick-bitten subjects had been bitten by Bb-infected ticks. Four of them showed seroconversion and were therefore considered to have an active Bb infection. None of these four subjects had sought health care due to symptoms, but one reported symptoms. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the risk of developing LB after being bitten by a Bb-infected tick is low, and asymptomatic Bb infections appear to be more frequent than symptomatic infections.
|
|
| 4. |
- Gisselsson-Solén, Marie, et al.
(författare)
-
The Binax NOW test as a tool for diagnosis of severe acute otitis media and associated complications
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Microbiology. - 0095-1137 .- 1098-660X. ; 45:9, s. 3003-3007
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The diagnosis of acute otitis media (AOM) is often difficult, depending heavily on the experience and skills of the examiner. However, it is important to identify episodes of AOM that involve the risk of complications and to treat these episodes appropriately. The present study was performed in order to evaluate the use of a rapid antigen assay for Streptococcus pneumoniae, the Binax NOW test, as a diagnostic tool in patients with severe AOM and associated complications. The study included 70 patients with 74 episodes of AOM, 18 of them with complications. Cultures, Binax NOW tests, and a PCR assay were performed on nasopharyngeal secretions, middle ear fluid, and in some cases mastoid bone, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine. According to culture and PCR of the middle ear fluid, 30 (41%) of the episodes were caused by S. pneumoniae. The Binax NOW test was positive in 24 of these episodes (80%). It identified pneumococcal AOM independent of antibiotic treatment, and it was easily adapted to bone tissue. The test yielded sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for middle ear specimens of 85%, 100%, 100%, and 89%, respectively. The corresponding positive and negative values for predicting the bacterial etiology with nasopharyngeal secretions were 51% and 75%. This study showed that the Binax NOW test is a useful diagnostic tool for patients with severe AOM with or without complications.
|
|
| 5. |
- Henningsson, Anna, et al.
(författare)
-
Low risk of seroconversion or clinical disease in humans after a bite by an Anaplasma phagocytophilum-infected tick
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases. - : Elsevier. - 1877-959X .- 1877-9603. ; 6:6, s. 787-792
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The risk of contracting human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) after a tick bite is mainly unknown. In this study we investigated the clinical and serological response in 30 humans bitten by ticks positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Group A), 30 humans bitten by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.)-positive ticks (Group B), and 30 humans bitten by ticks negative for both A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi s.l. (Group C). Ticks, blood samples and questionnaires were collected from tick-bitten humans at 34 primary healthcare centres in Sweden and in the Åland Islands, Finland, at the time of the tick bite and after three months. A total of 2553 ticks detached from humans in 2007-2009 were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction, and 31 (1.2%) were positive for A. phagocytophilum, 556 (21.8%) were positive for B. burgdorferi s.l., and eight (0.3%) were co-infected by A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi s.l. The overall prevalence of Anaplasma IgG antibodies in the included participants (n=90) was 17%, and there was no significant difference between the groups A-C. Only one of the participants (in Group C) showed a four-fold increase of IgG antibodies against A. phagocytophilum at the three-month follow-up, but reported no symptoms. The frequency of reported symptoms did not differ between groups A-C, and was unrelated to the findings of A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi s.l. in the detached ticks. We conclude that the risk for HGA or asymptomatic seroconversion after a tick bite in Sweden or in the Åland Islands is low, even if the tick is infected by A. phagocytophilum.
|
|
| 6. |
- Hultman, Karin, 1980, et al.
(författare)
-
Expression of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 and Protease Nexin-1 in Human Astrocytes: Response to Injury-Related Factors.
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Journal of Neuroscience Research. - 1097-4547. ; 88:11, s. 2441-2449
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Astrocytes play a diverse role in central nervous system (CNS) injury. Production of the serine protease inhibitors (serpins) plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and protease nexin-1 (PN-1) by astrocytes may counterbalance excessive serine protease activity associated with CNS pathologies such as ischemic stroke. Knowledge regarding the regulation of these genes in the brain is limited, so the objective of the present study was to characterize the effects of injury-related factors on serpin expression in human astrocytes. Native human astrocytes were exposed to hypoxia or cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-10, transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), and TGF-beta for 0-20 hr. Serpin mRNA expression and protein secretion were determined by real-time RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Localization of PAI-1 and PN-1 in human brain tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry. Hypoxia and all assayed cytokines induced a significant increase in PAI-1 expression, whereas prolonged treatment with IL-1beta or TNF-alpha resulted in a significant down-regulation. The most pronounced induction of both PAI-1 and PN-1 was observed following early treatment with TGF-alpha. In contrast to PAI-1, the PN-1 gene did not respond to hypoxia. Positive immunoreactivity for PAI-1 in human brain tissue was demonstrated in reactive astrocytes within gliotic areas of temporal cortex. We show here that human astrocytes express PAI-1 and PN-1 and demonstrate that this astrocytic expression is regulated in a dynamic manner by injury-related factors.
|
|
| 7. |
- Hultman, Karin, 1980, et al.
(författare)
-
Retinoids and activation of PKC induce tissue-type plasminogen activator expression and storage in human astrocytes.
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH. - : Elsevier BV. - 1538-7836. ; 6:10, s. 1796-803
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Emerging data demonstrate important roles for tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) in the central nervous system (CNS). In contrast to endothelial cells, little is known about the regulation of t-PA gene expression and secretion in astrocytes. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present study were to investigate whether t-PA gene expression is regulated by retinoids and the protein kinase C (PKC) activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in human astrocytes, and to study whether t-PA is stored and subject to regulated release from these cells, as with endothelial cells. METHODS: Native human astrocytes were treated with RA and/or PMA. mRNA was quantified by real-time RT-PCR and protein secretion determined by ELISA. Intracellular t-PA immunoreactivity in astrocytes was examined by immunocyto- and histochemistry. RESULTS: RA and/or PMA induced a time-dependent increase in t-PA mRNA and protein levels in astrocytes, reaching 10-fold after combined treatment. This was associated with increased amounts of t-PA storage in intracellular granular structures. Both forskolin and histamine induced regulated release of t-PA. The presence of t-PA in reactive astrocytes was confirmed in human brain tissue. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that RA and PKC activation induce a strong up-regulation of t-PA expression in astrocytes, and increased intracellular storage pools. Moreover, a regulated release of t-PA can be induced from these cells. This raises the possibility that astrocytes contribute to the regulation of extracellular t-PA levels in the CNS.
|
|
| 8. |
- Johnson, Christina, et al.
(författare)
-
Improvement of communication and interpersonal competence in telenursing - development of a self-assessment tool
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Nursing. - : Wiley: 12 months. - 0962-1067 .- 1365-2702. ; 24:11-12, s. 1489-1501
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims and objectivesThe aim of this study was to develop a self-assessment tool aiming to raise telenurses awareness of their communication and interpersonal competence, and highlight areas in need of improvement. BackgroundSeveral studies have revealed the need for development of communication competence in telenursing. Structured analyses of conversations with patients/callers, is one way to increase telenurses awareness of their unique communication and interpersonal competence. DesignInstrument development, Validation assessment using the method Content Validity Index. MethodThe process to determine content validity was done in two stages; the development stage and the assessment stage. The development stage started with a literature search. The assessment stage was separated into two phases, assessment by an expert group and assessment and test by telenurses. The telenurses also participated in consensus discussions. ResultsA telenursing self-assessment tool with 58 items was developed. The items were sorted into five sections according to the nursing process. ConclusionThis study describes the thorough development process of the telenursing self-assessment tool to be used by telenurses in order to become aware of their unique communication and interpersonal competence when analysing their own conversations with patients/callers. As a formative tool it is meant to provide self-direction, feedback and coaching, and create learning opportunities. Relevance to clinical practiceThe self-assessment tool helps the telenurse to follow the nursing process, to be patient-centred, and it is meant to provide self-direction, feedback, and coaching, as well as create learning opportunities. The tool can contribute to the development of communication and interpersonal competence in telephone advice nursing. Further development of the tool may provide an objective scoring instrument for evaluating communication training and education in the field.
|
|
| 9. |
- Johnson, Christina, 1964-
(författare)
-
Telephone advice nursing : communication, patient satisfaction and tool development
- 2018
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Telenursing has rapidly expanded in many countries. In Sweden, a national telephone advisory nursing service reaches the entire nation and receives approximately 4,5 million calls per year. The six phase nursing process – assessment, nursing diagnosis, setting goals, planning, implementation and evaluation – can be used when managing a caller’s health problem. In telenursing, a person-centred approach makes for more satisfied and appreciative callers. The core component of interaction is the verbal communication between the telenurse and caller. Several studies have revealed the need for the development of communication competence in telenursing. Structured analyses of conversations between telenurses and callers is one way to increase telenurses’ awareness of their communication and interpersonal competence. This type of analysis requires a valid formative self-assessment tool. To evaluate communicative effectiveness, the patient perspective of the interpersonal aspects of interaction are described as a necessary component, and satisfaction surveys designed for a telenursing context are recommended. Therefore, a questionnaire is needed that evaluates the effects of telenurse communication training from the caller’s perspective.Aims: The overall aim of these two studies was to develop tools to enable improvements and evaluations in communication and interpersonal competence in telenursing from the perspective of both the telenurse and the caller.Study 1: To develop a self-assessment tool aiming to raise telenurses’ awareness of their communication and interpersonal competence and highlight areas in need of improvement.Study 2: To develop and assess content validity of a theoretically anchored questionnaire that explores caller satisfaction in TAN as a result of the interaction between the caller and the telenurse.Methods: Study 1: The development and the evaluation of content validity of the Telenursing Self-Assessment Tool (TSAT) started with a literature search and domain identification, which were used to generate the items. The assessment of the content validity was performed in two steps. First, an expert group completed two rounds of assessments using Content Validity Index (CVI). Second, telenurses tested the tool and assessed the content validity using CVI. Thereafter, the telenurses participated in consensus discussions. Refinements of the tool were done after every assessment.Study 2: The development and the evaluation of content validity of the Telenursing Interaction and Satisfaction Questionnaire (TISQ) started with a literature search and domain identification, which were used to generate the items. The assessment of the content validity was performed in two steps. First, cognitive interviews were performed with the callers, the target population. Next, experts evaluated the content validity using CVI. Refinements of the tool were done after every assessment. The Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior (IMCHB) provided theoretical guidance and support.Results:Study 1: The TSAT with 58 items was developed. The items were structured according to the nursing process and the tool was judged as having good content validity.Study 2: The TISQ consisting of 60 items based on the IMCHB was developed. The questionnaire was found to exhibit good content validity.Conclusions: This thesis describes the development and assessment of content validity of two theoretically anchored tools aimed to improve and evaluate communication and interpersonal competence in telenursing from the perspective of both the telenurse and the caller. The TSAT is meant to create learning opportunities, to provide self-direction, feedback, and coaching, and to guide the telenurse through the nursing process using a person-centred approach. The TISQ aims to explore the callers’ satisfaction and the callers’ perceptions of the interaction with the telenurse. With better knowledge about this, communication improvement and education in telenursing can be tailored to enhance caller satisfaction.
|
|
| 10. |
- Li, Lizhen, 1977, et al.
(författare)
-
Protective role of reactive astrocytes in brain ischemia.
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. - : SAGE Publications. - 0271-678X .- 1559-7016. ; 28:3, s. 468-81
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Reactive astrocytes are thought to protect the penumbra during brain ischemia, but direct evidence has been lacking due to the absence of suitable experimental models. Previously, we generated mice deficient in two intermediate filament (IF) proteins, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin, whose upregulation is the hallmark of reactive astrocytes. GFAP(-/-)Vim(-/-) mice exhibit attenuated posttraumatic reactive gliosis, improved integration of neural grafts, and posttraumatic regeneration. Seven days after middle cerebral artery (MCA) transection, infarct volume was 210 to 350% higher in GFAP(-/-)Vim(-/-) than in wild-type (WT) mice; GFAP(-/-), Vim(-/-) and WT mice had the same infarct volume. Endothelin B receptor (ET(B)R) immunoreactivity was strong on cultured astrocytes and reactive astrocytes around infarct in WT mice but undetectable in GFAP(-/-)Vim(-/-) astrocytes. In WT astrocytes, ET(B)R colocalized extensively with bundles of IFs. GFAP(-/-)Vim(-/-) astrocytes showed attenuated endothelin-3-induced blockage of gap junctions. Total and glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1)-mediated glutamate transport was lower in GFAP(-/-)Vim(-/-) than in WT mice. DNA array analysis and quantitative real-time PCR showed downregulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), an inhibitor of tissue plasminogen activator. Thus, reactive astrocytes have a protective role in brain ischemia, and the absence of astrocyte IFs is linked to changes in glutamate transport, ET(B)R-mediated control of gap junctions, and PAI-1 expression.
|
|
