| 1. |
- Fröbert, Ole, 1964-, et al.
(author)
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Platelet function in brown bear (Ursus arctos) compared to man
- 2010
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In: Thrombosis Journal. - London, UK : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1477-9560. ; 8, s. 11-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Information on hemostasis and platelet function in brown bear (Ursus arctos) is of importance for understanding the physiological, protective changes during hibernation.Objective: The study objective was to document platelet activity values in brown bears shortly after leaving the den and compare them to platelet function in healthy humans.Methods: Blood was drawn from immobilized wild brown bears 7-10 days after leaving the den in mid April. Blood samples from healthy human adults before and after clopidogrel and acetylsalicylic acid administration served as control. We analyzed blood samples by standard blood testing and platelet aggregation was quantified after stimulation with various agonists using multiple electrode aggregometry within 3 hours of sampling.Results: Blood samples were collected from 6 bears (3 females) between 1 and 16 years old and from 10 healthy humans. Results of adenosine diphosphate, aspirin, and thrombin receptor activating peptide tests in bears were all half or less of those in humans. Platelet and white blood cell counts did not differ between species but brown bears had more and smaller red blood cells compared with humans.Conclusion: Using three different tests, we conclude that platelet function is lower in brown bears compared to humans. Our findings represent the first descriptive study on platelet function in brown bears and may contribute to explain how bears can endure denning without obvious thrombus building. However, the possibility that our findings reflect test-dependent and not true biological variations in platelet reactivity needs further studies.
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| 2. |
- Lidström, Helene, et al.
(author)
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Using a Participatory Action Research Design to Develop an Application Together with Young Adults with Spina Bifida
- 2015
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In: Studies in Health Technology and Informatics. - : IOS PRESS. - 0926-9630 .- 1879-8365. ; 217, s. 189-194, s. 189-194
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Young adults with spina bifida often have cognitive difficulties. As a result, young adults with disabilities are facing challenges with respect to housing, education, relationships and vocation which increases risk of unemployment.AIM: The aim is to describe a method to develop a smartphone application together with young adults with spina bifida as an assistive technology for cognition.METHOD: In a Participatory Action Research approach, young adults (n = 5) with spina bifida were individually interviewed with Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). The participants' restrictions in everyday life activities, identified by COPM, were discussed in a focus group formed by the young adults and the result was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Developing the application the principles of Human-Centered-Design and Universal Design was followed.RESULT: An application made for iOS with a focus on usability and worthiness, done by creating a clear and intuitive interface, with a calendar function useful for example to initiate and plan social activities was developed.CONCLUSION: The method seems useful when the outcome from the project, a beta version of an application for iOS Smartphone, was achieved in agreement with the participants. The study highlight the importance of involving individuals with disabilities when developing smartphone applications.
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| 3. |
- Moraeus, L., et al.
(author)
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Riksmaten Adolescents 2016-17: A national dietary survey in Sweden - design, methods, and participation
- 2018
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In: Food & Nutrition Research. - : SNF Swedish Nutrition Foundation. - 1654-6628 .- 1654-661X. ; 62
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Nationally representative information on food consumption data is essential to evaluate dietary habits, inform policy-making and nutritional guidelines, as well as forming a basis for risk assessment and identification of risk groups. Objective: To describe the methods used in the Swedish national dietary survey of adolescents, Riksmaten Adolescents 2016-2017. Design: Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 (mean ages 12, 15, and 18 years) were recruited in this school-based cross-sectional survey. A new, validated, web-based method was used to assess dietary intake. Information on physical activity, health, and socioeconomic background was collected through web questionnaires. Physical activity was also evaluated by accelerometers. Weight and height were measured in all participants, while blood and urine samples were collected in a subsample of 40% of the participants. Results: A total of 3,477 (68%) respondents participated and 3,099 (60%) had complete dietary information. In the subsample, 1,305 (55%) respondents participated and 1,105 (46%) had complete dietary information. The participants were overall representative for the population with regard to socioeconomic background and school organization (public or independent). All types of municipalities were represented in the survey and overall, the geographic distribution corresponded to the underlying population. Some differences by school grade were observed. Sample weights were calculated for the total sample and the subsample. Conclusion: The Riksmaten Adolescents 2016-2017 provides valuable national data on diet, physical activity, and markers of exposure in age groups where data have been lacking. The data will provide a valuable basis for risk assessment, public health policy, and in-depth analyses.
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| 4. |
- Pedrelli, Matteo, et al.
(author)
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Vasculoprotective Properties of Plasma Lipoproteins from Brown Bears (Ursus arctos)
- 2021
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In: Journal of Lipid Research. - : American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. - 0022-2275 .- 1539-7262. ; 62
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels are twice as high in hibernating brown bears (Ursus arctos) than healthy humans. Yet, bears display no signs of early-stage atherosclerosis development when adult. To explore this apparent paradox, we analysed plasma lipoproteins from the same ten bears in winter (hibernation) and in summer using size exclusion chromatography, ultracentrifugation and electrophoresis. LDL cholesterol binding to arterial proteoglycans, and plasma cholesterol efflux capacity were also evaluated. The data collected and analysed from bears were also compared with those from healthy humans. In bears the cholesterol esters, unesterified cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid content of VLDL and LDL were higher in winter than in summer. The percentage lipid composition of LDL differed between bears and humans, but did not change seasonally in bears. Bear LDL was larger, richer in triglycerides, showed pre-beta electrophoretic mobility and had 5-10 times lower binding to arterial proteoglycans than human LDL. Finally, plasma cholesterol efflux capacity was higher in bears than in humans, especially the HDL fraction when mediated by ABCA1. These results suggest that in brown bears the absence of early atherogenesis is likely associated with a lower affinity of LDL cholesterol for arterial proteoglycans and an elevated cholesterol efflux capacity of bear plasma.
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| 5. |
- Pedrelli, Matteo, et al.
(author)
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Vasculoprotective properties of plasma lipoproteins from brown bears (Ursus arctos)
- 2021
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In: Journal of Lipid Research. - : Elsevier. - 0022-2275 .- 1539-7262. ; 62
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels are twice as high in hibernating brown bears (Ursus arctos) than healthy humans. Yet, bears display no signs of early stage atherosclerosis development when adult. To explore this apparent paradox, we analyzed plasma lipoproteins from the same 10 bears in winter (hibernation) and summer using size exclusion chromatography, ultracentrifugation, and electrophoresis. LDL binding to arterial proteoglycans (PGs) and plasma cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) were also evaluated. The data collected and analyzed from bears were also compared with those from healthy humans. In bears, the cholesterol ester, unesterified cholesterol, TG, and phospholipid contents of VLDL and LDL were higher in winter than in summer. The percentage lipid composition of LDL differed between bears and humans but did not change seasonally in bears. Bear LDL was larger, richer in TGs, showed prebeta electrophoretic mobility, and had 5-10 times lower binding to arterial PGs than human LDL. Finally, plasma CEC was higher in bears than in humans, especially the HDL fraction when mediated by ABCA1. These results suggest that in brown bears the absence of early atherogenesis is likely associated with a lower affinity of LDL for arterial PGs and an elevated CEC of bear plasma.
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| 6. |
- Sahdo, Berolla, 1984-, et al.
(author)
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Body temperature during hibernation is highly correlated with a decrease in circulating innate immune cells in the brown bear (Ursus arctos) : a common feature among hibernators?
- 2013
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In: International Journal of Medical Sciences. - Sydney, Australia : Ivyspring International Publisher. - 1449-1907. ; 10:5, s. 508-514
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Hibernation involves periods of severely depressed metabolism (torpor) and decreases in body temperature (Tb). Small arctic mammals (<5kg), in which Tb generally drop drastically, display leukopenia during hibernation. This raised the question of whether the decreased leukocyte counts in mammalian hibernators is due to torpor per se or is secondary to low Tb. The present study examined immune cell counts in brown bears (Ursus arctos), where torpor is only associated with shallow decreases in Tb. The results were compared across hibernator species for which immune and Tb data were available.Methods and Results: The white blood cell counts were determined by flow cytometry in 13 bears captured in the field both during summer and winter over 2 years time. Tb dropped from 39.6+/-0.8 to 33.5+/-1.1 degrees C during hibernation. Blood neutrophils and monocytes were lower during hibernation than during the active period (47%, p=0.001; 43%, p=0.039, respectively), whereas no change in lymphocyte counts was detected (p=0.599). Further, combining our data and those from 10 studies on 9 hibernating species suggested that the decline in Tb explained the decrease in innate immune cells (R-2=0.83, p<0.0001).Conclusions: Bears have fewer innate immune cells in circulation during hibernation, which may represent a suppressed innate immune system. Across species comparison suggests that, both in small and large hibernators, Tb is the main driver of immune function regulation during winter dormancy. The lack of a difference in lymphocyte counts in this context requires further investigations.
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