| 1. |
- Al-Sharify, Dania, et al.
(författare)
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Increased proteolytic cleavage of osteoglycin is associated with a stable plaque phenotype and lower risk of cardiovascular events
- 2022
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Ingår i: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 0021-9150. ; 355, s. 8-14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and aims: Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is one of the key components in the formation of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques and cardiovascular events. We recently showed that the full-length ECM-proteoglycan osteoglycin was associated with plaque vulnerability and future cardiovascular events. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the association of cleaved osteoglycin with plaque phenotype. Methods: Two-hundred human carotid plaques were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Cleaved osteoglycin and active caspase-3 were assessed by ELISA. ECM components (collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans) were assessed by colorimetric assays in plaque tissue homogenates. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were assessed using Milliplex. MMP-cleavage of osteoglycin and its effect on apoptosis were studied in vitro. Cardiovascular events were recorded during follow-up using national registries. Results: Plaque levels of cleaved osteoglycin were significantly higher in asymptomatic plaques and correlated to α-actin plaque area, collagen, elastin and inversely to lipids, active. caspase-3 and a histological vulnerability index. Cleaved osteoglycin correlated to several MMPs, especially MMP-12, which was also shown to cleave osteoglycin in vitro. In vitro cleavage of osteoglycin was also associated with less smooth muscle cell apoptosis. Patients with high plaque levels of cleaved osteoglycin had a significantly lower risk to suffer from future cardiovascular events. Conclusions: The current study shows that cleaved osteoglycin is associated with a stable plaque phenotype and lower risk for future cardiovascular events. Potentially due to reduced cell apoptosis and ability to retain LDL. These results indicate that targeting the cleavage of osteoglycin may be a potential therapeutic strategy to stabilize plaques.
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| 2. |
- Castro, Laia, et al.
(författare)
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Navigating High-Choice European Political Information Environments: A Comparative Analysis of News User Profiles and Political Knowledge
- 2022
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Ingår i: The International Journal of Press/Politics. - : SAGE Publications. - 1940-1612 .- 1940-1620. ; 27:4, s. 827-859
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The transition from low- to high-choice media environments has had far-reaching implications for citizens’ media use and its relationship with political knowledge. However, there is still a lack of comparative research on how citizens combine the usage of different media and how that is related to political knowledge. To fill this void, we use a unique cross-national survey about the online and offline media use habits of more than 28,000 individuals in 17 European countries. Our aim is to (i) pro- file different types of news consumers and (ii) understand how each user profile is linked to political knowledge acquisition. Our results show that five user profiles – news minimalists, social media news users, traditionalists, online news seekers, and hyper news consumers – can be identified, although the prevalence of these profiles varies across countries. Findings further show that both traditional and online-based news diets are correlated with higher political knowledge. However, online-based news use is more widespread in Southern Europe, where it is associated with lower levels of political knowledge than in Northern Europe. By focusing on news audiences, this study provides a comprehensive and fine-grained analysis of how contemporary European political information environments perform and contribute to an informed citizenry.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- de Vreese, Claes, et al.
(författare)
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Conclusion: Assessing News Performance
- 2017
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Ingår i: Comparing Political Journalism - (eds.) Claes de Vreese, Frank Esser & David Nicolas Hopmann. - New York : Routledge. - 9781138655867 ; , s. 168-183
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Don-Doncow, Nicholas, et al.
(författare)
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Simvastatin therapy attenuates memory deficits that associate with brain monocyte infiltration in chronic hypercholesterolemia
- 2021
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Ingår i: npj Aging and Mechanisms of Disease. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2056-3973. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Evidence associates cardiovascular risk factors with unfavorable systemic and neuro-inflammation and cognitive decline in the elderly. Cardiovascular therapeutics (e.g., statins and anti-hypertensives) possess immune-modulatory functions in parallel to their cholesterol- or blood pressure (BP)-lowering properties. How their ability to modify immune responses affects cognitive function is unknown. Here, we examined the effect of chronic hypercholesterolemia on inflammation and memory function in Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout mice and normocholesterolemic wild-type mice. Chronic hypercholesterolemia that was accompanied by moderate blood pressure elevations associated with apparent immune system activation characterized by increases in circulating pro-inflammatory Ly6Chi monocytes in ApoE-/- mice. The persistent low-grade immune activation that is associated with chronic hypercholesterolemia facilitates the infiltration of pro-inflammatory Ly6Chi monocytes into the brain of aged ApoE-/- but not wild-type mice, and links to memory dysfunction. Therapeutic cholesterol-lowering through simvastatin reduced systemic and neuro-inflammation, and the occurrence of memory deficits in aged ApoE-/- mice with chronic hypercholesterolemia. BP-lowering therapy alone (i.e., hydralazine) attenuated some neuro-inflammatory signatures but not the occurrence of memory deficits. Our study suggests a link between chronic hypercholesterolemia, myeloid cell activation and neuro-inflammation with memory impairment and encourages cholesterol-lowering therapy as safe strategy to control hypercholesterolemia-associated memory decline during ageing.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Durr, Hermann A., et al.
(författare)
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A Closer Look Into Magnetism : Opportunities With Synchrotron Radiation
- 2009
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Ingår i: IEEE transactions on magnetics. - 0018-9464 .- 1941-0069. ; 45:1, s. 15-57
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The unique properties of synchrotron radiation, such as broad energy spectrum, variable light polarization, and flexible time structure, have made it an enormously powerful tool in the study of magnetic phenomena and materials. The refinement of experimental techniques has led to many new research opportunities, keeping up with the challenges put up by modern magnetism research. In this contribution, we review some of the recent developments in the application of synchrotron radiation and particularly soft X-rays to current problems in magnetism, and we discuss future perspectives.
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| 10. |
- Edsfeldt, Andreas, et al.
(författare)
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Transforming growth factor-β2 is associated with atherosclerotic plaque stability and lower risk for cardiovascular events
- 2023
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Ingår i: Cardiovascular Research. - : Oxford University Press. - 0008-6363 .- 1755-3245. ; 119:11, s. 2061-2073
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) exists in three isoforms TGF-β1, -β2, and -β3. TGF-β1 has been suggested to be important for maintaining plaque stability, yet the role of TGF-β2 and -β3 in atherosclerosis remains to be investigated. This study explores the association of the three isoforms of TGF-β with plaque stability in the human atherosclerotic disease. Methods and results: TGF-β1, -β2, and -β3 proteins were quantified in 223 human carotid plaques by immunoassays. Indications for the endarterectomy were: symptomatic carotid plaque with stenosis >70% or without symptoms and >80% stenosis. Plaque mRNA levels were assessed by RNA sequencing. Plaque components and extracellular matrix were measured histologically and biochemically. Matrix metalloproteinases and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) was measured with immunoassays. The effect of TGF-β2 on inflammation and protease activity was investigated in vitro using THP-1 and RAW264.7 macrophages. Patients were followed longitudinally for cardiovascular (CV) events. TGF-β2 was the most abundant isoform and was increased at both protein and mRNA levels in asymptomatic plaques. TGF-β2 was the main determinant separating asymptomatic plaques in an Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures Discriminant Analysis. TGF-β2 correlated positively to features of plaque stability and inversely to markers of plaque vulnerability. TGF-β2 was the only isoform inversely correlated to the matrix-degrading matrix metalloproteinase-9 and inflammation in the plaque tissue. In vitro, TGF-β2 pre-treatment reduced MCP-1 gene and protein levels as well as matrix metalloproteinase-9 gene levels and activity. Patients with plaques with high TGF-β2 levels had a lower risk to suffer from future CV events. Conclusions: TGF-β2 is the most abundant TGF-β isoform in human plaques and may maintain plaque stability by decreasing inflammation and matrix degradation.
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| 11. |
- Esser, Frank, et al.
(författare)
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The Explanatory Logic: Factors That Shape Political News
- 2017
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Ingår i: Comparing Political Journalism - (eds.) Claes de Vreese, Frank Esser & David Nicolas Hopmann. - New York : Routledge. - 9781138655867 ; , s. 22-32
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)
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| 12. |
- Flatten, Tim, et al.
(författare)
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Direct measurement of anisotropic conductivity in a nanolaminated (Mn0.5Cr0.5)(2)GaC thin film
- 2019
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Ingår i: Applied Physics Letters. - : AMER INST PHYSICS. - 0003-6951 .- 1077-3118. ; 115:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The direct and parameter-free measurement of anisotropic electrical resistivity of a magnetic M(n+1)AX(n) (MAX) phase film is presented. A multitip scanning tunneling microscope is used to carry out 4-probe transport measurements with variable probe spacing s. The observation of the crossover from the 3D regime for small s to the 2D regime for large s enables the determination of both in-plane and perpendicular-to-plane resistivities rho(ab) and rho(c). A (Cr0.5Mn0.5)(2)GaC MAX phase film shows a large anisotropy ratio rho(c)/rho(ab) = 525 +/- 49. This is a consequence of the complex bonding scheme of MAX phases with covalent M-X and metallic M-M bonds in the MX planes and predominately covalent, but weaker bonds between the MX and A planes. Published under license by AIP Publishing.
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| 13. |
- Gehle, Luisa, et al.
(författare)
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Misinformation Detection in the Context of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Evidence From Original Survey Data Collected in 19 Democracies
- 2024
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Ingår i: International Journal of Public Opinion Research. - 0954-2892 .- 1471-6909. ; 36:3, s. 1-12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It can be difficult for citizens to discern factually accurate information from mis- and disinformation. Particularly in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the omnipresence of counterfactual narratives, propaganda, and partisan content may increase the likelihood that citizensselect and accept mis -or disinformation. To assess citizens’ performance in discerning false statements from factually accurate information on the war, we utilized original survey data across 19 countries (N = 19,037) with soft quotas for age, education, and gender to approximate population characteristics. Our main findings indicate that people perform relatively well in discerning factually accurate information from false statements and that self-perceived media literacy and the need for cognition corresponds with better performance. Stronger pro-Russia views on the war correspond with a lower performance in misinformation detection, whereas anti-Russia attitudes are associated with better evaluations of the statements’ truthfulness. We find little cross-country variation in these patterns. As a key implication, we show that discernment between factually accurate information and mis- or disinformation is driven by both accuracy and partisan motivation and that these effects are similar across most different national contexts.
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| 14. |
- Gonçalves, Isabel, et al.
(författare)
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Osteomodulin Gene Expression Is Associated with Plaque Calcification, Stability, and Fewer Cardiovascular Events in the CPIP Cohort
- 2022
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Ingår i: Stroke. - 0039-2499 .- 1524-4628. ; 53:3, s. 79-84
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Stable atherosclerotic plaques are characterized by thick fibrous caps of smooth muscle cells, collagen, and macrocalcifications. Identifying factors of plaque stability is necessary to design drugs to prevent plaque rupture and symptoms. Osteomodulin, originally identified in bones, is expressed by bone synthesizing osteoblasts and involved in mineralization. In the present study, we analyzed osteomodulin expression in human carotid plaques, its link with plaque phenotype, calcification, and future cardiovascular events. Methods: Osteomodulin gene expression (OMD; n=82) was determined by RNA sequencing and osteomodulin protein levels by immunohistochemistry (n=45) in carotid plaques obtained by endarterectomy from patients with or without cerebrovascular symptoms from the CPIP (Carotid Plaque Imaging Project) cohort, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden. Plaque components were assessed by immunohistochemistry, RNA sequencing, and multiplex analysis. Patients were followed for cardiovascular events or cardiovascular death during a median of 57 or 70 months, respectively, using national registers. Results: OMD levels were increased in plaques from asymptomatic patients compared to symptomatics. High OMD levels were associated with fewer cardiovascular events during follow-up. OMD correlated positively with smooth muscle α-actin (ACTA2; r=0.73, P=10-13) and collagen (COL1A2; r=0.4, P=0.0002), but inversely with CD68 gene expression (r=-0.67, P=10-11), lipids (r=-0.37, P=0.001), intraplaque hemorrhage (r=-0.32, P=0.010), inflammatory cytokine, and matrix metalloproteinase plaque contents. OMD was positively associated with MSX2 (Msh Homeobox 2) (r=0.32, P=0.003), a marker of preosteoblast differentiation, BMP4 (bone morphogenetic protein) (r=0.50, P=0.000002) and BMP6 (r=0.47, P=0.000007), plaque calcification (r=0.35, P=0.016), and was strongly upregulated in osteogenically stimulated smooth muscle cells, which was further increased upon BMP stimulation. Osteomodulin protein was present in calcified regions. Osteomodulin protein levels were associated with plaque calcification (r=0.41, P=0.006) and increased in macrocalcified plaques. Conclusions: These data show that osteomodulin mRNA and protein levels are associated with plaque calcification in human atherosclerosis. Furthermore, osteomodulin mRNA, but not protein levels, is associated with plaque stability.
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| 15. |
- Hameleers, Michael, et al.
(författare)
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Mistakenly misinformed or intentionally deceived? Mis- and Disinformation perceptions on the Russian War in Ukraine among citizens in 19 countries
- 2023
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Ingår i: European Journal of Political Research. - 0304-4130.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In information environments characterized by institutional distrust, fragmentation and the widespread dissemination of conspiracies and disinformation, citizens perceive misinformation as a salient and threatening issue. Especially amidst disruptive events and crises, news users are likely to believe that information is inaccurate or deceptive. Using an original 19-country comparative survey study across diverse regions in the world (N = 19,037), we find that news users are likely to regard information on the Russian war in Ukraine as false. They are more likely to attribute false information to deliberative deception than to a lack of access to the war area or inaccurate expert knowledge. Russian sources are substantially more likely to be blamed for falsehoods than Ukrainian or Western sources – but these attribution biases depend on a country’s position on the war. Our findings reveal that people mostly believe that falsehoods are intended to deceive them, and selectively associate misinformation with the opposed camp.
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| 16. |
- Hopmann, David Nicolas, et al.
(författare)
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How We Did It: Approach and Methods
- 2017
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Ingår i: C.de Vreese, F. Esser, D. N, Hopmann (Eds.). Comparing political journalism / edited by. - New York : Routledge. - 9781138655867 ; , s. 10-21
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)
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| 17. |
- Jujic, Amra, et al.
(författare)
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Plasma S1P (Sphingosine-1-Phosphate) Links to Hypertension and Biomarkers of Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease : Findings From a Translational Investigation
- 2021
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Ingår i: Hypertension. - 1524-4563. ; 78:1, s. 195-209
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- S1P (Sphingosine-1-phosphate) is an important regulator of immune cell trafficking and vascular dysfunction contributing to the development and progression of overt hypertension. Although targeting S1P signaling revealed therapeutic potential in different experimental hypertension studies, validations of S1P-blood pressure (BP) associations in humans are lacking. In a translational approach, we explored the associations between plasma S1P and BP in a family based study cohort (MOS [Malmö Offspring Study]; N=1046) and in a longitudinally conducted murine hypertension cohort. In MOS, linear multivariate regression analyses showed that plasma S1P associates with increased systolic BP (β=1.06, P=0.015). Study subjects with systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg presented with significantly higher S1P plasma concentrations compared with subjects with BP <120 mm Hg independent of age and sex. The S1P-BP association was validated in a murine model where plasma S1P increased with systolic BP (r=0.7018, R2=0.4925; P<0.0001). In a subsample of MOS (N=444), proteomic profiling for markers of inflammation, metabolism, and cardiovascular disease using Proximity Extension Assays revealed multiple significant S1P associations, some of them with marked sex-specificity. In vitro and ex vivo validation of identified S1P associations disclosed augmented expression of different vascular dysfunction and inflammation markers in response to S1P. Our translational findings show a link between plasma S1P and systolic BP as well as several inflammation and cardiovascular disease markers and suggest S1P's biomarker potential. This encourages further studies to investigate its predictive capacity for hypertensive disease or the therapeutic potential of its signaling axis.
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
- Lidington, Darcy, et al.
(författare)
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CFTR Therapeutics Normalize Cerebral Perfusion Deficits in Mouse Models of Heart Failure and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- 2019
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Ingår i: JACC: Basic to Translational Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 2452-302X. ; 4:8, s. 940-958
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Heart failure (HF) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) chronically reduce cerebral perfusion, which negatively affects clinical outcome. This work demonstrates a strong relationship between cerebral artery cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) expression and altered cerebrovascular reactivity in HF and SAH. In HF and SAH, CFTR corrector compounds (C18 or lumacaftor) normalize pathological alterations in cerebral artery CFTR expression, vascular reactivity, and cerebral perfusion, without affecting systemic hemodynamic parameters. This normalization correlates with reduced neuronal injury. Therefore, CFTR therapeutics have emerged as valuable clinical tools to manage cerebrovascular dysfunction, impaired cerebral perfusion, and neuronal injury.
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| 20. |
- Matthes, Frank, et al.
(författare)
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An Improved Method for Physical Separation of Cerebral Vasculature and Parenchyma Enables Detection of Blood-Brain-Barrier Dysfunction
- 2021
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Ingår i: NeuroSci. - : MDPI AG. - 2673-4087. ; 2:1, s. 59-74
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The neurovascular niche is crucial for constant blood supply and blood-brain barrier (BBB) function and is altered in a number of different neurological conditions, making this an intensely active field of research. Brain vasculature is unique for its tight association of endothelial cells with astrocytic endfeet processes. Separation of the vascular compartment by centrifugation-based methods confirmed enrichment of astrocytic endfeet processes, making it possible to study the entire vascular niche with such methods. Several centrifugation-based separation protocols are found in the literature; however, with some constraints which limit their applicability and the scope of the studies. Here, we describe and validate a protocol for physically separating the neurovascular niche from the parenchyma, which is optimized for smaller tissue quantities. Using endothelial, neuronal, and astrocyte markers, we show that quantitative Western blot-based target detection can be performed of both the vessel-enriched and parenchymal fractions using as little as a single mouse brain hemisphere. Validation of our protocol in rodent stroke models by detecting changes in tight junction protein expression, serum albumin signals and astrocyte activation, i.e., increased glial fibrillary acidic protein expression, between the ipsilateral and the lesion-free contralateral hemisphere demonstrates this protocol as a new way of detecting BBB breakdown and astrogliosis, respectively.
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| 21. |
- Matthes, Jörg, et al.
(författare)
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Perceived prevalence of misinformation fuels worries about COVID-19: a cross-country, multi- method investigation
- 2023
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Ingår i: Information, Communication and Society. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1369-118X .- 1468-4462. ; 26:16, s. 3135-3158
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Data suggests that the majority of citizens in various countries came across ‘fake news’ during the COVID-19 pandemic. We test the relationship between perceived prevalence of misinformation and people’s worries about COVID-19. In Study 1, analyses of a survey across 17 countries indicate a positive association: perceptions of high prevalence of misinformation are correlated with high worries about COVID-19. However, the relationship is weaker in countries with higher levels of case-fatality ratios, and independent from the actual amount of misinformation per country. Study 2 replicates the relationship using experimental data. Furthermore, Study 2 demonstrates the underlying mechanism, that is, perceived prevalence of misinformation fosters the belief that COVID-19 is spiralling out of control, which in turn, increases worries. Our findings suggest that perceived prevalence of misinformation can have significant psychological effects, even though audience members reject the information as being false.
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| 22. |
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| 23. |
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| 24. |
- Reinemann, Carsten, et al.
(författare)
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Cross-Conceptual Architecture of News
- 2017
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Ingår i: Comparing Political Journalism - (eds.) Claes de Vreese, Frank Esser, David Nicolas Hopmann. - New York : Routledge. - 9781138655867 ; , s. 150-167
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)
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| 25. |
- Skoug, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
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Density of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptors Is Altered in Cortical Nerve-Terminals of Insulin-Resistant Goto-Kakizaki Rats and Diet-Induced Obese Mice
- 2023
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Ingår i: Neurochemical Research. - 0364-3190.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a phosphosphingolipid with pleiotropic biological functions. S1P acts as an intracellular second messenger, as well as extracellular ligand to five G-protein coupled receptors (S1PR1-5). In the brain, S1P regulates neuronal proliferation, apoptosis, synaptic activity and neuroglia activation. Moreover, S1P metabolism alterations have been reported in neurodegenerative disorders. We have previously reported that S1PRs are present in nerve terminals, exhibiting distinct sub-synaptic localization and neuromodulation actions. Since type 2 diabetes (T2D) causes synaptic dysfunction, we hypothesized that S1P signaling is modified in nerve terminals. In this study, we determined the density of S1PRs in cortical synaptosomes from insulin-resistant Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats and Wistar controls, and from mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and low-fat-fed controls. Relative to their controls, GK rats showed similar cortical S1P concentration despite higher S1P levels in plasma, yet lower density of S1PR1, S1PR2 and S1PR4 in nerve-terminal-enriched membranes. HFD-fed mice exhibited increased plasma and cortical concentrations of S1P, and decreased density of S1PR1 and S1PR4. These findings point towards altered S1P signaling in synapses of insulin resistance and diet-induced obesity models, suggesting a role of S1P signaling in T2D-associated synaptic dysfunction.
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