| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Andersson, M. G., et al.
(author)
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Separated by a common language : Awareness of term usage differences between languages and disciplines in biopreparedness
- 2013
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In: Biosecurity and bioterrorism. - : Mary Ann Liebert Inc. - 1538-7135 .- 1557-850X. ; 11:SUPPL. 1, s. S276-S285
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Preparedness for bioterrorism is based on communication between people in organizations who are educated and trained in several disciplines, including law enforcement, health, and science. Various backgrounds, cultures, and vocabularies generate difficulties in understanding and interpretating terms and concepts, which may impair communication. This is especially true in emergency situations, in which the need for clarity and consistency is vital. The EU project AniBioThreat initiated methods and made a rough estimate of the terms and concepts that are crucial for an incident, and a pilot database with key terms and definitions has been constructed. Analysis of collected terms and sources has shown that many of the participating organizations use various international standards in their area of expertise. The same term often represents different concepts in the standards from different sectors, or, alternatively, different terms were used to represent the same or similar concepts. The use of conflicting terminology can be problematic for decision makers and communicators in planning and prevention or when handling an incident. Since the CBRN area has roots in multiple disciplines, each with its own evolving terminology, it may not be realistic to achieve unequivocal communication through a standardized vocabulary and joint definitions for words from common language. We suggest that a communication strategy should include awareness of alternative definitions and ontologies and the ability to talk and write without relying on the implicit knowledge underlying specialized jargon. Consequently, cross-disciplinary communication skills should be part of training of personnel in the CBRN field. In addition, a searchable repository of terms and definitions from relevant organizations and authorities would be a valuable addition to existing glossaries for improving awareness concerning bioterrorism prevention planning. © 2013, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
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| 3. |
- Hornborg, Sara, et al.
(author)
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New policies may call for new approaches: the case of the Swedish Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) fisheries in the Kattegat and Skagerrak
- 2017
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In: ICES Journal of Marine Science. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1054-3139 .- 1095-9289. ; 74:1, s. 134-145
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The European Common Fisheries Policy has in its 2013 reform increased in complexity, such as a call for coherence with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and a landing obligation, posing new requirements and challenges to managers, scientists and the fishing industry. Therefore, re-evaluations of current practice are important as a basis for management actions. The Swedish fishery for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in the Kattegat–Skagerrak area provides an interesting case study of relevance to emerging policies. Sprung from an unbalance in available fish- and Nephrops quotas and an ambition to protect coastal areas, the current fishery has been directed towards three separate fisheries (mixed trawling, directed trawling using a sorting grid and creeling). Studying direct and indirect effects from alternative Swedish quota allocations among gear types is therefore interesting. Accordingly, a screening study was conducted, taking into consideration area-gear interactions in catch rates, to compare the three different fisheries regarding quantified pressures on the target species, the by-catch species, and on the seafloor, as well as to qualitatively discuss social and economic dimensions. In the next step, alternative quota allocations were studied. In Swedish fisheries, we show that creeling offers a substantial reduction of fishing mortality of both undersized Nephrops and fish and a reduced seafloor pressure per landed kilo of Nephrops. Given that the fishing areas in many cases may be interchangeable between gears, allocating a larger quota share to creels in the Swedish fishery would therefore contribute to the integration of fisheries- and environmental management as called for in the new policies.
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| 4. |
- Krause-Jensen, D, et al.
(author)
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Nordic Blue Carbon Ecosystems: Status and Outlook
- 2022
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In: Frontiers in Marine Science. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-7745. ; 9
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Vegetated coastal and marine habitats in the Nordic region include salt marshes, eelgrass meadows and, in particular, brown macroalgae (kelp forests and rockweed beds). Such habitats contribute to storage of organic carbon (Blue Carbon – BC) and support coastal protection, biodiversity and water quality. Protection and restoration of these habitats therefore have the potential to deliver climate change mitigation and co-benefits. Here we present the existing knowledge on Nordic BC habitats in terms of habitat area, C-stocks and sequestration rates, co-benefits, policies and management status to inspire a coherent Nordic BC roadmap. The area extent of BC habitats in the region is incompletely assessed, but available information sums up to 1,440 km2 salt marshes, 1,861 (potentially 2,735) km2 seagrass meadows, and 16,532 km2 (potentially 130,735 km2, including coarse Greenland estimates) brown macroalgae, yielding a total of 19,833 (potentially 134,910) km2. Saltmarshes and seagrass meadows have experienced major declines over the past century, while macroalgal trends are more diverse. Based on limited salt marsh data, sediment C-stocks average 3,311 g Corg m-2 (top 40-100 cm) and sequestration rates average 142 g Corg m-2 yr-1. Eelgrass C-stocks average 2,414 g Corg m-2 (top 25 cm) and initial data for sequestration rates range 5-33 g Corg m-2, quantified for one Greenland site and one short term restoration. For Nordic brown macroalgae, peer-reviewed estimates of sediment C-stock and sequestration are lacking. Overall, the review reveals substantial Nordic BC-stocks, but highlights that evidence is still insufficient to provide a robust estimate of all Nordic BC-stocks and sequestration rates. Needed are better quantification of habitat area, C-stocks and fluxes, particularly for macroalgae, as well as identification of target areas for BC management. The review also points to directives and regulations protecting Nordic marine vegetation, and local restoration initiatives with potential to increase C-sequestration but underlines that increased coordination at national and Nordic scales and across sectors is needed. We propose a Nordic BC roadmap for science and management to maximize the potential of BC habitats to mitigate climate change and support coastal protection, biodiversity and additional ecosystem functions.
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| 5. |
- Lundwall, Åke, et al.
(author)
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Chemical characterization of the predominant proteins secreted by mouse seminal vesicles
- 1997
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In: Eur J Biochem. ; 249:1, s. 39-44
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mouse seminal vesicles secrete four major protein components with estimated molecular masses of 95, 38, 17, and 16 kDa. Amino acid sequencing revealed that the 95-kDa component represents a protein with an unknown structure, while the 38-kDa component was identified as semenoclotin, the 17-kDa component as seminal-vesicle-secreted protein IV, and the 16-kDa component as seminal-vesicle-secreted protein V. Semenoclotin and the 95-kDa component were readily cross-linked by transglutaminase, suggesting that the two proteins are involved in the formation of the mouse copulatory plug. Treatment of mouse seminal vesicle fluid with human prostate-specific antigen rapidly degraded semenoclotin, indicating a structural resemblance of this protein to human semenogelins, despite the vast difference in primary structure. As previously reported for other seminal-vesicle-secreted proteins, the semenoclotin transcripts are shown to be under androgen control.
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| 6. |
- Lützenkirchena, J., et al.
(author)
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Protonation of different goethite surfaces—Unified models for NaNO3 and NaCl media
- 2008
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In: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. - : Elsevier. - 0021-9797 .- 1095-7103. ; 317:1, s. 155-165
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Acid–base titration data for two goethites samples in sodium nitrate and sodium chloride media are discussed. The data are modeled based on various surface complexation models in the framework of the multi site complexation (MUSIC) model. Various assumptions with respect to the goethite morphology are considered in determining the site density of the surface functional groups. The results from the various model applications are not statistically significant in terms of goodness of fit. More importantly, various published assumptions with respect to the goethite morphology (i.e., the contributions of different crystal planes and their repercussions on the “overall” site densities of the various surface functional groups) do not significantly affect the final model parameters within simple 1-pK approximations. The simultaneous fit of the chloride and nitrate data results in electrolyte binding constants, which are applicable over a wide range of electrolyte concentrations including mixtures of chloride and nitrate. Model parameters for the goethite sample with 90 m2/g specific surface area are in excellent agreement with parameters that were independently obtained by another group on different goethite titration data sets.
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| 7. |
- Väisänen, V., et al.
(author)
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Characterization and processing of prostate specific antigen (hK3) and human glandular kallikrein (hK2) secreted by LNCaP cells
- 1999
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In: Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1365-7852 .- 1476-5608. ; 2, s. 91-97
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Prostate specific antigen (PSA, hK3) in serum is predominantly complexed to α-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT), but a minor fraction remains in a free form despite the very large excess of serine protease inhibitors and α-2- macroglobulin. The fraction of free to total PSA is significantly lower in prostate cancer (CAP) compared to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) which provides improved discrimination of these conditions. The molecular nature of free PSA in the circulation and the reason for its varying concentration in malignant and benign conditions is currently not known. The objective of the present investigation was to study the secretion of PSA and human glandular kallikrein 2 (hK2) by the LNCaP prostate cancer cell line, and to purify and characterize both proteins. LNCaP PSA was thoroughly characterized by immunological characterization, SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing, gel filtration, aminoterminal sequencing, reverse-phase chromatography, mass spectrometry and enzymatic activity measurements. LNCAP cells produced approximately equal amounts of zymogen (proPSA) and the one-chain mature form of PSA, whereas there was no evidence for the secretion of any internally cleaved forms. LNCaP cells secreted hK2 into the growth medium at about 3-5% of the amount of PSA. One-chain, mature PSA and hK2 obtained when LNCaP cells were grown in the presence of fetal bovine serum, had no enzymatic activity, but were active when the cells were grown in the absence of serum. Using enzymatically active recombinant hK2, it was possible to activate proPSA secreted by LNCaP cells. ProPSA formed two bands with high isoelectric points (8.2 and 8.4), which disappeared when proPSA was converted to mature PSA with hK2. Cancerous cells produce the zymogen forms of PSA, which by their isoelectric pI points seem to be found in serum of prostate cancer patients, but not BPH patients. Mature, one-chain PSA is inactive in the presence of serum. These findings may be highly relevant for the understanding of the generation of free and complexed PSA in the circulation.
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| 8. |
- Wang, C., et al.
(author)
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Injecting different types of biomass products to the blast furnace and their impacts on the CO2 emission reduction
- 2015
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In: AISTech - Iron and Steel Technology Conference Proceedings. - : Association for Iron and Steel Technology, AISTECH. - 9781935117476 ; , s. 1525-1535
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recent years more research has been focusing on utilizing biomass in the blast furnaces (BFs). One driving force is linked to the climate change mitigation, i.e. to reduce CO2 emission from fossil reducing agents or fuels, by using biomass. The amounts of biomass that could be utilized in BF is limited by different parameters, such as metallurgical properties of reducing agents, fuel properties such as volatile content, fixed carbon and oxygen content, ash chemistry (S, Na2O, K2O, etc.). In this paper, different types of biomass products in the form of solid, liquid and gas are investigated as injectants to the blast furnace. The modelling work has been done for a BF from a Nordic country. The possible amounts of injected biomass products are presented. With the replacement ratios of pulverized coal (PC), the potential CO2emission reduction when injecting different biomass products is quantified. In addition, the strategy of using biomass at the studied iron-making plant is discussed. AISTech 2015 Proceedings
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
- Bylund, Göran O, et al.
(author)
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Alterations in the β flap and β' dock domains of the RNA polymerase abolish NusA-mediated feedback regulation of the metY-nusA-infB operon
- 2011
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In: Journal of Bacteriology. - 0021-9193 .- 1098-5530. ; 193:16, s. 4113-4122
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The RimM protein in Escherichia coli is important for the in vivo maturation of 30S ribosomal subunits and a ΔrimM mutant grows poorly due to assembly and translational defects. These deficiencies are suppressed partially by mutations that increase the synthesis of another assembly protein, RbfA, encoded by the metY-nusA-infB operon. Among these suppressors are mutations in nusA that impair the NusA-mediated negative-feedback regulation at internal intrinsic transcriptional terminators of the metY-nusA-infB operon. We describe here the isolation of two new mutations, one in rpoB and one in rpoC (encoding the β and β' subunits of the RNA polymerase, respectively), that increase the synthesis of RbfA by preventing NusA from stimulating termination at the internal intrinsic transcriptional terminators of the metY-nusA-infB operon. The rpoB2063 mutation changed the isoleucine in position 905 of the β flap-tip helix to a serine, while the rpoC2064 mutation duplicated positions 415 to 416 (valine-isoleucine) at the base of the β' dock domain. These findings support previously published in vitro results, which have suggested that the β flap-tip helix and β' dock domain at either side of the RNA exit tunnel mediate the binding to NusA during transcriptional pausing and termination.
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| 13. |
- Bylund, Göran O., et al.
(author)
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Characterization of mutations in the metY-nusA-infB operon that suppress the slow growth of a DeltarimM mutant
- 2001
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In: Journal of Bacteriology. - : American Society for Microbiology. - 0021-9193 .- 1098-5530. ; 183:20, s. 6095-6106
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The RimM protein in Escherichia coli is associated with free 30S ribosomal subunits but not with 70S ribosomes. A DeltarimM mutant shows a sevenfold-reduced growth rate and a reduced translational efficiency, probably as a result of aberrant assembly of the ribosomal 30S subunits. The slow growth and translational deficiency can be partially suppressed by increased synthesis of the ribosome binding factor RbfA. Here, we have identified 14 chromosomal suppressor mutations that increase the growth rate of a DeltarimM mutant by increasing the expression of rbfA. Nine of these mutations were in the nusA gene, which is located upstream from rbfA in the metY-nusA-infB operon; three mutations deleted the transcriptional terminator between infB and rbfA; one was an insertion of IS2 in infB, creating a new promoter for rbfA; and one was a duplication, placing a second copy of rbfA downstream from a promoter for the yhbM gene. Two of the nusA mutations were identical, while another mutation (nusA98) was identical to a previously isolated mutation, nusA11, shown to decrease termination of transcription. The different nusA mutations were found to increase the expression of rbfA by increasing the read-through of two internal transcriptional terminators located just downstream from the metY gene and that of the internal terminator preceding rbfA. Induced expression of the nusA(+) gene from a plasmid in a nusA(+) strain decreased the read-through of the two terminators just downstream from metY, demonstrating that one target for a previously proposed NusA-mediated feedback regulation of the metY-nusA-infB operon expression is these terminators. All of the nusA mutations produced temperature-sensitive phenotypes of rimM(+) strains. The nusA gene has previously been shown to be essential at 42 degrees C and below 32 degrees C. Here, we show that nusA is also essential at 37 degrees C.
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
- Dahlén, P, et al.
(author)
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Sensitive detection of genes by sandwich hybridization and time-resolved fluorometry
- 1987
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In: Molecular and Cellular Probes. - : Elsevier BV. - 0890-8508 .- 1096-1194. ; 1:2, s. 159-168
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Europium has been used as a non-radioactive marker in immunoassays as this metal can be detected with high sensitivity by time-resolved fluorometry. In this work streptavidin labeled with europium was used to detect biotinylated probes in a sandwich nucleic-acid hybridization assay with microtitration strips as the solid phase. pBR 322 plasmids were detected with a sensitivity of 4 × 105 molecules. As the sample is added in solution in sandwich hybridization, fast and simple sample pre-treatment can be used without encountering background problems. The method was applied to test bacterial samples of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains for the presence of the β-lactamase gene.
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| 16. |
- Dopson, Mark, et al.
(author)
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Metal resistance or tolerance? : Acidophiles confront high metal loads via both abiotic and biotic mechanisms
- 2014
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In: Frontiers in Microbiology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-302X. ; 5
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- All metals are toxic at high concentrations and consequently their intracellular concentrations must be regulated. Extremely acidophilic microorganisms have an optimum growth of pH <3 and proliferate in natural and anthropogenic low pH environments. Some acidophiles are involved in the catalysis of sulfide mineral dissolution, resulting in high concentrations of metals in solution. Acidophiles are often described as highly metal resistant via mechanisms such as multiple and/or more efficient active resistance systems than are present in neutrophiles. However, this is not the case for all acidophiles and we contend that their growth in high metal concentrations is partially due to an intrinsic tolerance as a consequence of the environment in which they live. In this perspective, we highlight metal tolerance via complexation of free metals by sulfate ions and passive tolerance to metal influx via an internal positive cytoplasmic transmembrane potential. These tolerance mechanisms have been largely ignored in past studies of acidophile growth in the presence of metals and should be taken into account.
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
- Ilgunas, Aurelia, et al.
(author)
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The longitudinal relationship between jaw catching/locking and pain
- 2023
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In: Journal of Dental Research. - : Sage Publications. - 0022-0345 .- 1544-0591. ; 102:4, s. 383-390
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Orofacial pain and joint-related dysfunction can negatively affect daily jaw function. A common cause for limitations in jaw movements is joint-related dysfunction such as various forms of catching and locking. However, knowledge is limited regarding the development and natural course of joint-related jaw dysfunction and its relationship to the onset and course of orofacial pain. Therefore, the aim was to evaluate the incidence, prevalence, and gender differences in jaw catching/locking over time and in relation to orofacial pain in the general population. Data from 3 validated screening questions on orofacial pain and jaw catching/locking were collected from all routine dental checkups in the Public Dental Health Services in Västerbotten, Sweden, from 2010 to 2017. Logistic generalized estimating equation was used to account for repeated observations and Poisson regression for incidence analysis. In total, 180,308 individuals (aged 5–104 y) were screened in 525,707 dental checkups. In 2010, based on 37,647 individuals, the prevalence of self-reported catching/locking was higher in women than in men (3.2% vs. 1.5%; odds ratio, 2.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.83–2.43), and this relationship and magnitude remained similar throughout the study period. The annual incidence rate was 1.1% in women and 0.5% in men. Women were at a higher risk than men for reporting both first onset (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 2.29; 95% CI, 2.11–2.49) and persistent (IRR, 2.31; 95% CI, 2.04–2.63) catching/locking. For the onset subcohort (n = 135,801), an independent onset of orofacial pain or jaw catching/locking exclusively was reported by 84.1%, whereas a concurrent onset was reported by 13.4%. Our findings of higher incidence, prevalence, and persistence in women than in men indicate that the gender differences seen for orofacial pain are evident also for jaw catching/locking. The findings also suggest independent onset of self-reported catching/locking and orofacial pain, which reinforces the pathophysiological differences between these conditions.
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| 19. |
- Köhler, S, et al.
(author)
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Evaluation of different approaches to quantify strong organic acidity and acid-base buffering of organic-rich surface waters in Sweden
- 2002
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In: Water Research, Volume. ; 36:18, s. 4487-96
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The role of organic acids in buffering pH in surface waters has been studied using a small brownwater stream (26mgL-1 TOC) draining a forested catchment in Northern Sweden. Under the conditions of elevated pressure of CO2 stream field pH was changed between 3.5 and 6.1 during the acidification and alkalinization experiment. Acid-base characteristics of the natural organic matter were also determined using a high precision potentiometric method for a concentrated sample from the same stream. We compared the predictions from the Windermere Humic Aqueous Model (WHAM Model V), a model derived from the potentiometric titration (diprotic/monoprotic acid model) and a previously derived triprotic acid model which only uses alkalinity and TOC as input variables. The predicted buffering characteristics of all three models are very similar in the pH range 4.5-7 which suggests that during routine analysis alkalinity and TOC are sufficient to give a good estimate of organic acid anion charge contribution in a large range of surface waters. A slightly adjusted version of WHAM V successfully describes the organic charge contribution in a large number of sampled surface water lakes, which were previously used to calibrate the triprotic model.
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| 20. |
- Lövgren, Ingemar, 1972, et al.
(author)
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The WST method, a fracture mechanics test method for FRC
- 2008
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In: Materials and Structures/Materiaux et Constructions. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1359-5997. ; 41:1, s. 197-211
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The applicability of the wedge-splitting test method (WST), for determining fracture properties of fibre-reinforced concrete, is discussed. Experimental results, using the WST method, are compared with results from uniaxial tension tests (UTT) and three-point bending tests (3PBT) for five different FRC compositions. Furthermore, for the WST method, two different specimen sizes have been investigated. Results from this investigation demonstrate the applicability of the WST method and show that the scatter of the test results is lower than for the 3PBT. Through inverse analysis, stress-crack opening (sigma-w) relationships have been determined for each mix and test method. For the two WST specimen sizes, there is no apparent difference either in the number of fibres (per cm(2)) crossing the fracture plane or in the fracture properties. The major factor contributing to the scatter in the test results is believed to be related to the variation in the number of fibres across the fracture plane. Furthermore, the inverse analyses indicate no systematic differences in the determined parameters between two WST specimens or between the WST and the 3PBT.
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| 21. |
- Lövgren, J. Mattias, et al.
(author)
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Hybrid Protein between Ribosomal Protein S16 and RimM of Escherichia coli Retains the Ribosome Maturation Function of Both Proteins
- 2001
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In: Journal of Bacteriology. - : American Society for Microbiology. - 0021-9193 .- 1098-5530. ; 183:18, s. 5352-5357
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The RimM protein in Escherichia coli is associated with free 30S ribosomal subunits but not with 70S ribosomes and is important for efficient maturation of the 30S subunits. A mutant lacking RimM shows a sevenfold-reduced growth rate and a reduced translational efficiency. Here we show that a double alanine-for-tyrosine substitution in RimM prevents it from associating with the 30S subunits and reduces the growth rate of E. coli approximately threefold. Several faster-growing derivatives of the rimM amino acid substitution mutant were found that contain suppressor mutations which increased the amount of the RimM protein by two different mechanisms. Most of the suppressor mutations destabilized a secondary structure in the rimM mRNA, which previously was shown to decrease the synthesis of RimM by preventing the access of the ribosomes to the translation initiation region on the rimM mRNA. Three other independently isolated suppressor mutations created a fusion between rpsP, encoding the ribosomal protein S16, and rimM on the chromosome as a result of mutations in the rpsP stop codon preceding rimM. A severalfold-higher amount of the produced hybrid S16-RimM protein in the suppressor strains than of the native-sized RimM in the original substitution mutant seems to explain the suppression. The S16-RimM protein but not any native-size ribosomal protein S16 was found both in free 30S ribosomal subunits and in translationally active 70S ribosomes of the suppressor strains. This suggests that the hybrid protein can substitute for S16, which is an essential protein probably because of its role in ribosome assembly. Thus, the S16-RimM hybrid protein seems capable of carrying out the important functions that native S16 and RimM have in ribosome biogenesis.
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| 22. |
- Lövgren, J. Mattias, et al.
(author)
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The rlmB Gene Is Essential for Formation of Gm2251 in 23S rRNA but Not for Ribosome Maturation in Escherichia coli
- 2001
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In: Journal of Bacteriology. - : American Society for Microbiology. - 0021-9193 .- 1098-5530. ; 183:23, s. 6957-6960
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the rRNA Gm2270 methyltransferase, Pet56p, has an essential role in the maturation of the mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit that is independent of its methyltransferase activity. Here we show that the proposed Escherichia coli ortholog, RlmB (formerly YjfH), indeed is essential for the formation of Gm in position 2251 of 23S rRNA. However, a DeltarlmB mutant did not show any ribosome assembly defects and was not outgrown by a wild-type strain even after 120 cell mass doublings. Thus, RlmB has no important role in ribosome assembly or function in E. coli.
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| 23. |
- Lövgren, Malin, et al.
(author)
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Push or pull? : Relationships between lung cancer patients' perceptions of quality of care and use of complementary and alternative medicine
- 2011
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - : Elsevier BV. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 15:4, s. 311-317
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE: This study examines CAM-use among patients with LC in Sweden, associations between QoC and CAM-use among these patients, and reported aspects of LC-care perceived as particularly positive and negative by patients, as well as suggestions for improving QoC.METHODS: Survey data from 94 patient members of the Swedish LC patient organization about CAM-use and QoC as measured by the instrument "Quality from the patient's perspective" were analyzed.RESULTS: Fifty (53%) LC-patients used CAM, with 40 of the CAM-users reporting that CAM helped them. The most common CAMs used were dietary supplements and natural remedies, followed by prayer. Significantly more patients reported using prayer and meditation for cure than was the case for other types of CAM used. Less than half the CAM-users reported having spoken with staff from the biomedical health care system about their CAM-use. Patients provided numerous suggestions for improving LC-care in a variety of areas, aiming at a more effective and cohesive care trajectory. No differences in QoC were found between CAM-users and non-CAM-users, but differences in CAM-use i.e. type of CAM, reasons for using CAM, and CAM-provider consulted could be associated with different experiences of care.CONCLUSIONS: It is important to recognize that CAM-users are not a homogeneous group but might seek different types of CAMs and CAM-providers in different situations depending on experiences of care.
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| 24. |
- Melin-Johansson, Christina, 1956-, et al.
(author)
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End of life conversations from a life cycle perspective
- 2019
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Palliative care is provided over a long period of time in parallel with curative interventions but sooner or later a breakpoint occurs when curative treatment no longer has an effect. A new state enters and the patients need a palliative breakpoint conversation (PBC). This requires a medical assessment and should be documented in the patients record. PBC are often conducted as a response to patient´s unexpected deterioration or not at all. According to the Swedish Register of Palliative Care (SRPC) about 27 000 patients in hospitals (year 2014-2017) did not receive PBC and 50 % of all patients (N=500 000) PBC were not documented.Aim: To explore the proportion of patients in all clinical units in Sweden that did not receive PBC documented in the medical records.Methods: All clinical units N=6000 in the SRPC that collects data from hospitals, hospices, nursing homes and home care, with an end-of-life questionnaire about palliative care content focusing on the last week of life will be included. We will explore what units documented PBC (answered yes in the questionnaire) or not documented PBC (answered no in the questionnaire). Data analysis is under progress with statistical analysis, and preliminary results will be presented at the conference.Outcomes: Patients that do not receive PBC may suffer in a greater extent, in comparison with those who get PBC, from pain and other symptoms and have less frequent access to drugs for pain, anxiety and nausea. They die with parenteral nutritional treatment and with pressure ulcers. Patients don't die where they prefer and they die alone. Their relatives don't receive information and are not offered bereavement support.Discussion: Insufficient documentation about PBC may bring about unnecessary unclarity on how to care for the patient, this uncertainty can be perceived as confusing for both patient and family. A PBC late in the disease can also impair the patients ability to participate in decision-making.
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| 25. |
- Möllerström, Elin, et al.
(author)
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Up-regulation of cell cycle arrest protein BTG2 correlates with increased overall survival in breast cancer, as detected by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarray.
- 2010
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In: BMC cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2407. ; 10:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that the ADIPOR1, ADORA1, BTG2 and CD46 genes differ significantly between long-term survivors of breast cancer and deceased patients, both in levels of gene expression and DNA copy numbers. The aim of this study was to characterize the expression of the corresponding proteins in breast carcinoma and to determine their correlation with clinical outcome. METHODS: Protein expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry in an independent breast cancer cohort of 144 samples represented on tissue microarrays. Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the differences in protein expression between dead and alive patients. We used Cox-regression multivariate analysis to assess whether the new markers predict the survival status of the patients better than the currently used markers. RESULTS: BTG2 expression was demonstrated in a significantly lower proportion of samples from dead patients compared to alive patients, both in overall expression (P=0.026) and cell membrane specific expression (P=0.013), whereas neither ADIPOR1, ADORA1 nor CD46 showed differential expression in the two survival groups. Furthermore, a multivariate analysis showed that a model containing BTG2 expression in combination with HER2 and Ki67 expression along with patient age performed better than a model containing the currently used prognostic markers (tumour size, nodal status, HER2 expression, hormone receptor status, histological grade, and patient age). Interestingly, BTG2 has previously been described as a tumour suppressor gene involved in cell cycle arrest and p53 signalling. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that high-level BTG2 protein expression correlates with prolonged survival in patients with breast carcinoma.
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