| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Elfving, Kristina, et al.
(författare)
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Acute Uncomplicated Febrile Illness in Children Aged 2-59 months in Zanzibar : Aetiologies, Antibiotic Treatment and Outcome
- 2016
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 11:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that a large proportion of children with fever in Africa present at primary health care facilities, few studies have been designed to specifically study the causes of uncomplicated childhood febrile illness at this level of care, especially in areas like Zanzibar that has recently undergone a dramatic change from high to low malaria transmission.METHODS: We prospectively studied the aetiology of febrile illness in 677 children aged 2-59 months with acute uncomplicated fever managed by IMCI (Integrated Management of Childhood Illness) guidelines in Zanzibar, using point-of-care tests, urine culture, blood-PCR, chest X-ray (CXR) of IMCI-pneumonia classified patients, and multiple quantitative (q)PCR investigations of nasopharyngeal (NPH) (all patients) and rectal (GE) swabs (diarrhoea patients). For comparison, we also performed NPH and GE qPCR analyses in 167 healthy community controls. Final fever diagnoses were retrospectively established based on all clinical and laboratory data. Clinical outcome was assessed during a 14-day follow-up. The utility of IMCI for identifying infections presumed to require antibiotics was evaluated.FINDINGS: NPH-qPCR and GE-qPCR detected ≥1 pathogen in 657/672 (98%) and 153/164 (93%) of patients and 158/166 (95%) and 144/165 (87%) of controls, respectively. Overall, 57% (387/677) had IMCI-pneumonia, but only 12% (42/342) had CXR-confirmed pneumonia. Two patients were positive for Plasmodium falciparum. Respiratory syncytial virus (24.5%), influenza A/B (22.3%), rhinovirus (10.5%) and group-A streptococci (6.4%), CXR-confirmed pneumonia (6.2%), Shigella (4.3%) were the most common viral and bacterial fever diagnoses, respectively. Blood-PCR conducted in a sub-group of patients (n = 83) without defined fever diagnosis was negative for rickettsiae, chikungunya, dengue, Rift Valley fever and West Nile viruses. Antibiotics were prescribed to 500 (74%) patients, but only 152 (22%) had an infection retrospectively considered to require antibiotics. Clinical outcome was generally good. However, two children died. Only 68 (11%) patients remained febrile on day 3 and three of them had verified fever on day 14. An additional 29 (4.5%) children had fever relapse on day 14. Regression analysis determined C-reactive Protein (CRP) as the only independent variable significantly associated with CXR-confirmed pneumonia.CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study on uncomplicated febrile illness in African children that both applied a comprehensive laboratory panel and a healthy control group. A majority of patients had viral respiratory tract infection. Pathogens were frequently detected by qPCR also in asymptomatic children, demonstrating the importance of incorporating controls in fever aetiology studies. The precision of IMCI for identifying infections requiring antibiotics was low.
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| 3. |
- Nilsson, Marie, 1966-
(författare)
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Salutogenetic resources in the everyday lives of teachers : promoting workplace learning and well-being
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of this thesis was to explore salutogenic resources in the everyday lives of teachers, and toinvestigate how an intervention of collegial reflection influences their work-related learning and their being.The thesis includes two parts, a needs assessment and an intervention, performed between 2009 and2016. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches have been used in the process of the thesis. Methods used for data generation have been multistage focus groups interviews, individual interviews, questionnaire, open mail questions, and digital recordings of the reflection meetings. Four different methods have been used For the analyses: content analysis, hermeneutic analysis, multiple linear regression, and thematic analysis.The findings indicate that the caring relationships with pupils, but also colleagues, were important for the teachers’ finding meaning in their work. The caring relationships and the sense of meaningfulness were important resources for the teachers well-being.Collegial reflection was a health promoting resource in that it contributed with social support from colleagues, a sense of belonging, a consensus regarding shool issues, and recovery. This recovery occurred while the teachers were having their collegial reflection, indicating that they still felt recovered even though they were reflecting on work-related issues.The thesis also indicates that teachers’ experiences of time pressure at work was the variable with the strongest associaton to their experience of work-life balance. The integration of work and private lives is an important part of being a teacher. Certain aspects of work was considered as positive and salutogenic when integrated with their private lives, such as the creative aspect of teaching. However, other aspects, such as ruminating over abused pupils, were affecting their well-being in a detrimental way when integrated in their private lives.In a time when much focus is put on teachers’ increasing workload, documentation and psychosocial risks, it is important to pay more attention to the salutogenic and the enhancing aspects of teacher's work. By doing that, teachers’ well-being may be enhanced, as well as supporting teacher retention.
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| 4. |
- Andersson, Björn, et al.
(författare)
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Strain-specific metabarcoding reveals rapid evolution of copper tolerance in populations of the coastal diatom Skeletonema marinoi
- 2023
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Ingår i: Molecular Ecology. - 0962-1083 .- 1365-294X.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Phytoplankton have short generation times, flexible reproduction strategies, large population sizes and high standing genetic diversity, traits that should facilitate rapid evolution under directional selection. We quantified local adaptation of copper tolerance in a population of the diatom Skeletonema marinoi from a mining-exposed inlet in the Baltic Sea and in a non-exposed population 100 km away. We hypothesized that mining pollution has driven evolution of elevated copper tolerance in the impacted population of S. marinoi. Assays of 58 strains originating from sediment resting stages revealed no difference in the average tolerance to copper between the two populations. However, variation within populations was greater at the mining site, with three strains displaying hyper-tolerant phenotypes. In an artificial evolution experiment, we used a novel intraspecific metabarcoding locus to track selection and quantify fitness of all 58 strains during co-cultivation in one control and one toxic copper treatment. As expected, the hyper-tolerant strains enabled rapid evolution of copper tolerance in the mining-exposed population through selection on available strain diversity. Within 42 days, in each experimental replicate a single strain dominated (30%–99% abundance) but different strains dominated the different treatments. The reference population developed tolerance beyond expectations primarily due to slowly developing plastic response in one strain, suggesting that different modes of copper tolerance are present in the two populations. Our findings provide novel empirical evidence that standing genetic diversity of phytoplankton resting stage allows populations to evolve rapidly (20–50 generations) and flexibly on timescales relevant for seasonal bloom progressions.
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| 5. |
- Andersson, I, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term oxygen therapy and quality of life in elderly patients hospitalised due to severe exacerbation of COPD. A 1 year follow-up study
- 2002
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Ingår i: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 1532-3064 .- 0954-6111. ; 96:11, s. 944-949
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate the effects of long-term oxygen treatment (LTOT) in elderly patients with severe exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hypoxaemia, (2) to study the health-related quality of life (QOL) during hospital stay and at follow-up, (3) to study the safety of an oxygen withdrawal test performed a few days after admission to hospital and the possibility to predict the future need for LTOT from that test. Patients > 70 years with COPD-exacerbations with hypoxaemia were included after 5-7 days treatment in hospital. Inclusion was based on results of a standardised oxygen withdrawal test. After 1, 3, 6 and 12 months a new oxygen withdrawal test was performed. Health-related QOL was evaluated with SF-36 and the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire at inclusion and after 3,6 and 12 months. Forty-seven patients were screened for participation and 29 patients, mean age 79 years, participated in the study Only one patient could not tolerate the oxygen withdrawal test. Eighteen patients survived to the follow-up after 12 months, 8/19 women and 2/10 men died. After 1 month LTOT was needed (PaO2 without oxygen was less than or equal to 7.5 kPa) in only 6/20 patients. The effect of LTOT could therefore not be studied. Most components of SF-36 were very low at inclusion, but tended to increase after 3 months and were among the surviving patients after 12 months similar to that of healthy people of the same age for psychic well being and functioning. Especially, the symptom score of the SGRQ improved after 3 months. In conclusion, the future need for LTOT cannot be judged after a few days treatment in hospital due to exacerbations with hypoxaemia in elderly patients with COPD. A standardised oxygen withdrawal test can be safely done. Health-related QOL is low in patients during the stay in hospital, but improves after returning home.
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| 6. |
- Andersson, Kerstin I., et al.
(författare)
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Effects of biological treatment on the chemical structure of dissolved lignin-related substances in effluent from thermomechanical pulping
- 2008
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Ingår i: Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal. - : Walter de Gruyter GmbH. - 0283-2631 .- 2000-0669. ; 23:2, s. 164-171
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Effluent from a TMP-based pulp and paper mill was collected at the inlet and outlet of the mill's biological treatment plant and fractionated by sorption on XAD-8 resin and MTBE precipitation. Fractionation indicated that the refractory dissolved organic material in biologically treated effluent was mainly composed of lignin-related substances. Characterisation of the lignin-related substances by chromatographic and spectrometric methods confirmed the similarities of the isolated material and milled wood lignin. Fractionation and characterisation of alkali-extracted material from solids (biosludge) in biologically treated effluent found evidence of lignin-related material. Results indicated that biological treatment had altered the chemical structure and molar-mass distribution of dissolved lignin-related substances.
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| 7. |
- Andersson, Kerstin I, et al.
(författare)
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Lignin removal from wastewater by adsorption
- 2009
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Ingår i: Proceedings - 2009 International Mechanical Pulping Conference, IMPC 2009. ; , s. 280-285
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Lignin contributes to residual COD in wastewater after biological treatment. Available methods for removal of recalcitrant material like lignin, e.g. chemical oxidation and coagulation, are associated with heavy operational expenses. Stringent discharge requirements demand new cost-effective methods for removal of recalcitrant COD. Adsorption is an important mechanism for lignin removal in biological wastewater treatment. A study of lignin, using activated carbon as a model adsorbent, was performed to learn more about the adsorption behaviour of lignin. At the adsorbent dose 4 g/L and an initial lignin concentration of 0.5 g/L, 77% of the lignin was removed after six hours. The adsorption kinetics was found to follow the pseudo second-order rate expression and no temperature dependency could be observed in the temperature range studied.
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| 8. |
- Andersson, Kerstin I., et al.
(författare)
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Removal of Lignin from Wastewater Generated by Mechanical Pulping Using Activated Charcoal and Fly Ash : Adsorption Kinetics
- 2011
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Ingår i: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0888-5885 .- 1520-5045. ; 50:13, s. 7733-7739
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The possible application of adsorption for the removal of lignin-related material found in wastewater generated by mechanical pulping was investigated. Activated charcoal and fly ash were used as adsorbents in batch experiments. The lignin-related material exhibited properties well-suited for adsorption onto both adsorbents, although the sorption capacity of activated charcoal exceeds that of fly ash. The experimental data were fitted to pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order rate kinetic expressions, and an attempt was made to find the rate-limiting step involved in the adsorption processes. The results showed that lignin adsorption onto both activated charcoal and fly ash follows pseudo-second-order rate kinetics and that both boundary-layer diffusion and intraparticle diffusion are likely involved in the rate-limiting mechanisms. Adsorption is an interesting option in advanced wastewater treatment, and fly ash appears to be a suitable low-cost adsorbent for recalcitrant organic pollutants.
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| 9. |
- Andersson, Kerstin I, et al.
(författare)
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Removal of Lignin from Wastewater Generated by Mechanical Pulping Using Activated Charcoal and Fly Ash: Adsorption Isotherms and Thermodynamics
- 2011
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Ingår i: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0888-5885 .- 1520-5045. ; 50:13, s. 7722-7732
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Lignin-related material found in wastewater from thermomechanical pulping resists conventional biological treatment, entailing the use of advanced removal methods. In this work, the use of adsorption for removing lignin-related material was investigated. Activated charcoal and fly ash were used to study the adsorption behavior of lignin and to determine the adsorption capacities of these two adsorbents. Experimental data were fitted to various isotherm equations to find the best description of the sorption systems, and the corresponding thermodynamic parameters were calculated. Fly ash exhibited good sorption properties, although its sorption capacity was inferior to that of activated charcoal. Both the Freundlich and Langmuir equations provided reasonable models of the sorption processes, and the thermodynamic parameters indicated that sorption onto activated charcoal is endothermic, whereas sorption onto fly ash appears to be exothermic. Fly ash is a low-cost material that is often available on-site and offers an interesting alternative to high-cost advanced wastewater treatment systems for removing recalcitrant organic materials.
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
- Erichsen Andersson, Annette, 1966, et al.
(författare)
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The application of evidence-based measures to reduce surgical site infections during orthopedic surgery - report of a single-center experience in Sweden.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Patient safety in surgery. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1754-9493. ; 6:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Current knowledge suggests that, by applying evidence-based measures relating to the correct use of prophylactic antibiotics, perioperative normothermia, urinary tract catheterization and hand hygiene, important contributions can be made to reducing the risk of postoperative infections and device-related infections. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the application of intraoperative evidence-based measures, designed to reduce the risk of infection. In addition, we aimed to investigate whether the type of surgery, i.e. total joint arthroplasty compared with tibia and femur/hip fracture surgery, affected the use of protective measures. METHOD: Data on the clinical application of evidence-based measures were collected structurally on site during 69 consecutively included operations involving fracture surgery (n = 35) and total joint arthroplasties (n = 34) using a pre-tested observation form. For observations in relation to hand disinfection, a modified version of the World Health Organization hand hygiene observation method was used. RESULTS: In all, only 29 patients (49%) of 59 received prophylaxis within the recommended time span. The differences in the timing of prophylactic antibiotics between total joint arthroplasty and fracture surgery were significant, i.e. a more accurate timing was implemented in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (p = 0.02). Eighteen (53%) of the patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty were actively treated with a forced-air warming system. The corresponding number for fracture surgery was 12 (34%) (p = 0.04).Observations of 254 opportunities for hand hygiene revealed an overall adherence rate of 10.3% to hand disinfection guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the utilization of evidence-based measures to reduce infections in clinical practice is not sufficient and there are unjustifiable differences in care depending on the type of surgery. The poor adherence to hand hygiene precautions in the operating room is a serious problem for patient safety and further studies should focus on resolving this problem. The WHO Safe Surgery checklist "time out" worked as an important reminder, but is not per se a guarantee of safety; it is the way we act in response to mistakes or lapses that finally matters.
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| 13. |
- Erichsen Andersson, Annette, 1966, et al.
(författare)
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Traffic flow in the operating room : An explorative and descriptive study on air quality during orthopedic trauma implant surgery
- 2012
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Ingår i: American Journal of Infection Control. - : Elsevier. - 0196-6553 .- 1527-3296. ; 40:8, s. 750-755
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background:Understanding the protective potential of operating room (OR) ventilation under different conditions is crucial to optimizing the surgical environment. This study investigated the air quality, expressed as colony-forming units (CFU)/m³, during orthopedic trauma surgery in a displacementventilated OR; explored how traffic flow and the number of persons present in the OR affects the air contamination rate in the vicinity of surgical wounds; and identified reasons for door openings in the OR.Methods:Data collection, consisting of active air sampling and observations, was performed during 30 orthopedic procedures.Results:In 52 of the 91 air samples collected (57%), the CFU/m³ values exceeded the recommended level of <10 CFU/m³. In addition, the data showed a strongly positive correlation between the total CFU/m³ per operation and total traffic flow per operation (r=0.74;P=.001; n=24), after controlling for duration of surgery. A weaker, yet still positive correlation between CFU/m³ and the number of persons present in the OR (r=0.22;P=.04; n=82) was also found. Traffic flow, number of persons present, and duration of surgery explained 68% of the variance in total CFU/m³ (P=.001).Conclusions:Traffic flow has a strong negative impact on the OR environment. The results of this study support interventions aimed at preventing surgical site infections by reducing traffic flow in the OR.
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
- Kalbina, Irina, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
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Arabidopsis thaliana plants expressing Rift Valley fever virus antigens : Mice exhibit systemic immune responses as the result of oraladministration of the transgenic plants
- 2016
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Ingår i: Protein Expression and Purification. - San Diego, USA : Elsevier. - 1046-5928 .- 1096-0279. ; 127, s. 61-67
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The zoonotic Rift Valley fever virus affects livestock and humans in Africa and on the Arabian Peninsula.The economic impact of this pathogen due to livestock losses, as well as its relevance to public health,underscores the importance of developing effective and easily distributed vaccines. Vaccines that can bedelivered orally are of particular interest.Here, we report the expression in transformed plants (Arabidopsis thaliana) of Rift Valley fever virusantigens. The antigens used in this study were the N protein and a deletion mutant of the Gn glycoprotein.Transformed lines were analysed for specific mRNA and protein content by RT-PCR and Westernblotting, respectively. Furthermore, the plant-expressed antigens were evaluated for their immunogenicityin mice fed the transgenic plants. After oral intake of fresh transgenic plant material, a proportionof the mice elicited specific IgG antibody responses, as compared to the control animals that were fedwild-type plants and of which none sero-converted.Thus, we show that transgenic plants can be readily used to express and produce Rift Valley Fever virusproteins, and that the plants are immunogenic when given orally to mice. These are promising findingsand provide a basis for further studies on edible plant vaccines against the Rift Valley fever virus.
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| 16. |
- Larson, Greger, et al.
(författare)
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Rethinking dog domestication by integrating genetics, archeology, and biogeography
- 2012
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 109, s. 8878-8883
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The dog was the first domesticated animal but it remains uncertain when the domestication process began and whether it occurred just once or multiple times across the Northern Hemisphere. To ascertain the value of modern genetic data to elucidate the origins of dog domestication, we analyzed 49,024 autosomal SNPs in 1,375 dogs (representing 35 breeds) and 19 wolves. After combining our data with previously published data, we contrasted the genetic signatures of 121 breeds with a worldwide archeological assessment of the earliest dog remains. Correlating the earliest archeological dogs with the geographic locations of 14 so-called "ancient" breeds (defined by their genetic differentiation) resulted in a counterintuitive pattern. First, none of the ancient breeds derive from regions where the oldest archeological remains have been found. Second, three of the ancient breeds (Basenjis, Dingoes, and New Guinea Singing Dogs) come from regions outside the natural range of Canis lupus (the dog's wild ancestor) and where dogs were introduced more than 10,000 y after domestication. These results demonstrate that the unifying characteristic among all genetically distinct so-called ancient breeds is a lack of recent admixture with other breeds likely facilitated by geographic and cultural isolation. Furthermore, these genetically distinct ancient breeds only appear so because of their relative isolation, suggesting that studies of modern breeds have yet to shed light on dog origins. We conclude by assessing the limitations of past studies and how next-generation sequencing of modern and ancient individuals may unravel the history of dog domestication.
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| 17. |
- Megeus, Veronika, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Hand Contamination, Cross-Transmission, and Risk-Associated Behaviors: An Observational Study of Team Members in ORs
- 2015
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Ingår i: AORN Journal. - : Wiley. - 0001-2092. ; 102:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Team members in ORs have frequent hand contact with many surfaces and sites during high workload, thus increasing the risk for microorganism cross-transmission. This study aimed at identifying risks for hand contamination and microorganism cross-transmission during invasive procedures in ORs. We carried out observations during 22 daytime sessions and analyzed data using qualitative content analysis. The results revealed that clinicians’ hands may be contaminated by self-contamination, via objects, or by touching the patient. Contamination may occur before, during, or directly after performing an invasive procedure requiring the use of aseptic technique, which risks cross-transmitting microorganisms. The results of the study contribute detailed knowledge about risk-associated activities and behaviors in relation to performing invasive procedures in the OR. This knowledge provides clinicians, managers, and educators with specific information that can be used in nursing and medical education and in quality improvement projects aimed at improving hand hygiene routines and enhancing aseptic technique.
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| 18. |
- Megeus, Veronika, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Hand hygiene and aseptic techniques during routine anesthetic care - observations in the operating room.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Antimicrobial resistance and infection control. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2047-2994. ; 5:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- More knowledge is needed about task intensity in relation to hand hygiene in the operating room during anesthetic care in order to choose effective improvement strategies. The aim of this study was to explore the indications and occurrence of hand hygiene opportunities and the adherence to hand hygiene guidelines during routine anesthetic care in the operating room.
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| 19. |
- Ottervald, Jan, et al.
(författare)
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Multiple sclerosis : Identification and clinical evaluation of novel CSF biomarkers
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Proteomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1876-7737 .- 1874-3919. ; 73:6, s. 1117-1132
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuro-inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease that results in damage to myelin sheaths and axons in the central nervous system and which preferentially affects young adults. We performed a proteomics-based biomarker discovery study in which cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from MS and control individuals was analyzed (n=112). Ten candidate biomarkers were selected for evaluation by quantitative immunoassay using an independent cohort of MS and control subjects (n=209). In relapsing remitting MS (ARMS) patients there were significant increases in the CSF levels of alpha-1 antichymotrypsin (A1AC), alpha-1 macroglobulin (A2MG) and fibulin 1 as compared to control subjects. In secondary progressive MS (SPMS) four additional proteins (contactin 1, fetuin A, vitamin D binding protein and angiotensinogen (ANGT)) were increased as compared to control subjects. In particular, ANGT was increased 3-fold in SPMS, indicating a potential as biomarker of disease progression in MS. In PPMS, A1AC and A2MG exhibit significantly higher CSF levels than controls, with a trend of increase for ANGT. Classification models based on the biomarker panel could identify 70% of the RRMS and 80% of the SPMS patients correctly. Further evaluation was conducted in a pilot study of CSF from RRMS patients (n=36), before and after treatment with natalizumab.
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| 20. |
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| 21. |
- Strid, Åke, 1960-, et al.
(författare)
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Expression of Rift Valley Fever virus antigens in Arabidopsis thaliana for oral consumption
- 2012
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Ingår i: Molecular farming. - Bryssel : COST.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a viral disease affecting both domesticated ruminants and humans. Since 1931, when the causative agent was first discovered in Kenya [1], there have been several severe outbreaks mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa [2]. RVF is now considered as one of Africa’s most important viral zoonoses and is endemic in large parts of the continent. In recent years, RVF has also emerged into Saudi Arabia and the Yemen, where it now is endemic [3]. Common symptoms of an ongoing RVF infection in humans are influenza-like, although more severe clinical manifestations such as hemorrhagic fever, ocular disease and encephalitis are often observed [4]. Outbreaks in livestock may have large economic impact. The etiological agent, the RVF virus (RVFV), is an enveloped negative sense RNA virus, which belongs to the genus Phlebovirus in the Bunyaviridae family. As the other members of this family, RVFV has three gene segments; the L, M, and S segments. The L segment encodes an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and the M-segment the glycoproteins and a non-structural protein. By using an ambisense strategy, the S-segment codes for the highly immunogenic nucleocapsid protein (N) and a non-structural protein [4]. The main focus of this project is to establish the plant production of an RVF vaccine candidate, primarily for oral administration. This is an attractive model for vaccination, especially of livestock. The two currently available vaccines for animals are a live attenuated variant, albeit teratogenic, or a weaker inactivated vaccine which requires annual boosters. There is no human vaccine available for general use. Similarly to our previous expression studies with the HIV p24 protein [5-7], the Helicobacter pylori TonB protein [8], and the Chlamydia trachomatis MOMP chimera [9], we have used Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer to introduce genes encoding RVFV antigens into Arabidopsis thaliana. Transformed model plants have been created that express the full length RVFV N protein or deletion mutants of the two RVF glycoproteins. Analyses of transformants are on-going (PCR for genomic insertion, cDNA synthesis and RT-PCR for mRNA occurrence, and Western blotting for protein production) and in at least some cases have been shown to carry the corresponding recombinant protein. Mice are being fed fresh transgenic A. thaliana and the subsequent immune response towards the N protein and the glycoproteins will be closely monitored and evaluated by neutralisation test, Western blot and ELISA. Thereafter, the mice will be challenged with the wild-type virus and the protective efficacy of the edible vaccine will be determined. References1. Daubney R, Garnham P (1931) J Patol Bacterio 34: 8922-8926; 2. Gerdes G (2004) Rev Sci Tech 23: 613-623; 3. Balkhy H, Memish Z (2003) Int J Antimicrob Agents 21: 153-157; 4. Flick R, Bouloy M (2005) Curr Mol Med 5: 827-834; 5. Lindh, I., Kalbina, I., Thulin, S., Scherbak, N., Sävenstrand, H., Bråve, A., Hinkula, J., Strid, Å. & Andersson, S. (2008) APMIS 116, 985-994; 6. Lindh, I., Wallin, A., Kalbina, I., Sävenstrand, H., Engström, P., Andersson, S. & Strid, Å. (2009) Prot. Expr. Purif. 66, 46-51; 7. Lindh, I., Andersson, S. & Strid, Å. (2010) In vivo 24, 368-370; 8. Kalbina, I., Engstrand, L., Andersson, S. & Strid, Å. (2010) Helicobacter 15, 430-437; 9. Kalbina I., Wallin A., Lindh I., Engström P., Andersson S. & Strid Å. (2011) Prot. Expr. Purif. 80, 194-202.
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| 22. |
- Strömland, Kerstin, 1934, et al.
(författare)
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CHARGE association in Sweden: malformations and functional deficits.
- 2005
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Ingår i: American journal of medical genetics. Part A. - : Wiley. - 1552-4825. ; 133:3, s. 331-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- CHARGE association (CA) consists of a non-random association of ocular coloboma (C), heart anomaly (H), atresia of choanae (A), retarded growth and/or development (R), genital hypoplasia (G), and ear anomalies and/or hearing impairment (E). A prospective multidisciplinary study of 31 Swedish patients with CA was undertaken in order to describe the associated malformations and functional deficits, find possible etiological factors and identify critical time periods for the maldevelopment. The clinical files were analyzed, the mothers answered a questionnaire on history of prenatal events, and a clinical evaluation of systemic findings, vision, hearing, balance, speech, oral and swallowing function, and neuro-psychiatric function, especially autism, was performed. The most frequent physical abnormalities affected ears (90%), eyes (90%), brain (61%), heart (52%), retarded growth (48%), genitals (38%), choanae (35%), and facial nerve (32%). Sixty-one percent of the patients were visually impaired or blind, and 74% had hearing loss or deafness. Problems in balance, speech, and eating were common. Forty percent of the patients had autism/atypical autism, and 82% had developmental delay. Three children were born following assisted fertilization and two mothers had diabetes. The mothers reported infections, bleedings, and drug use during pregnancy. Analysis of possible critical time periods suggested that most malformations were produced early in pregnancy, mainly during post conceptual weeks 4, 5, and 6. A multidisciplinary approach is essential in the assessment and management of CA.
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| 23. |
- Strömland, Kerstin, 1934, et al.
(författare)
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Oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum: associated anomalies, functional deficits and possible developmental risk factors.
- 2007
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Ingår i: American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part A. - : Wiley. - 1552-4825 .- 1552-4833. ; 143A:12, s. 1317-1325
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Swedish patients with the oculo-auriculo-vertebral (OAV) spectrum participated in a prospective multidisciplinary investigation. The aims of the study were to describe their systemic and functional defects, especially autism spectrum disorders, and to search for possible etiologic risk factors. Available medical records were studied and the mothers answered a questionnaire on history of prenatal events. A clinical examination evaluating systemic findings, vision, hearing, speech, oral and swallowing function, and neuropsychiatric function, especially autism, was made. Eighteen patients, (11 males, 7 females) aged 8 months to 17 years with OAV were studied. Most frequent systemic malformations included, ear abnormalities (100%), ocular malformations (72%), vertebral deformities (67%), cerebral anomalies (50%), and congenital heart defects (33%). Functional defects consisted of hearing impairment (83%), visual impairment (28%), both visual and hearing impairment (28%), difficulties in feeding/eating (50%), speech (53%), mental retardation (39%), and severe autistic symptoms (11%). Three children were born following assisted fertilization (two intracytoplasmatic sperm injection, one in vitro fertilization), two mothers reported early bleedings, and six (33%) mothers had smoked during pregnancy.
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