| 1. |
- Fanton, Silvia, et al.
(författare)
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Anti-satellite glia cell IgG antibodies in fibromyalgia patients are related to symptom severity and to metabolite concentrations in thalamus and rostral anterior cingulate cortex.
- 2023
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Ingår i: Brain, behavior, and immunity. - : Elsevier. - 0889-1591 .- 1090-2139. ; 114, s. 371-382
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recent translational work has shown that fibromyalgia might be an autoimmune condition with pathogenic mechanisms mediated by a peripheral, pain-inducing action of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies binding to satellite glia cells (SGC) in the dorsal root ganglia. A first clinical assessment of the postulated autoimmunity showed that fibromyalgia subjects (FMS) had elevated levels of antibodies against SGC (termed anti-SGC IgG) compared to healthy controls and that anti-SGC IgG were associated with a more severe disease status. The overarching aim of the current study was to determine whether the role of anti-SGC IgG in driving pain is exclusively through peripheral mechanisms, as indirectly shown so far, or could be attributed also to central mechanisms. To this end, we wanted to first confirm, in a larger cohort of FMS, the relation between anti-SGC IgG and pain-related clinical measures. Secondly, we explored the associations of these autoantibodies with brain metabolite concentrations (assessed via magnetic resonance spectroscopy, MRS) and pressure-evoked cerebral pain processing (assessed via functional magnetic resonance imaging, fMRI) in FMS. Proton MRS was performed in the thalamus and rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) of FMS and concentrations of a wide spectrum of metabolites were assessed. During fMRI, FMS received individually calibrated painful pressure stimuli corresponding to low and high pain intensities. Our results confirmed a positive correlation between anti-SGC IgG and clinical measures assessing condition severity. Additionally, FMS with high anti-SGC IgG levels had higher pain intensity and a worse disease status than FMS with low anti-SGC IgG levels. Further, anti-SGC IgG levels negatively correlated with metabolites such as scyllo-inositol in thalamus and rACC as well as with total choline and macromolecule 12 in thalamus, thus linking anti-SGC IgG levels to the concentration of metabolites in the brain of FMS. However, anti-SGC IgG levels in FMS were not associated with the sensitivity to pressure pain or the cerebral processing of evoked pressure pain. Taken together, our results suggest that anti-SGC IgG might be clinically relevant for spontaneous, non-evoked pain. Our current and previous translational and clinical findings could provide a rationale to try new antibody-related treatments in FMS.
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| 2. |
- Forssgren, Alexandra, et al.
(författare)
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Leg ulcer point prevalence can be decreased by broad-scale intervention : a follow-up cross-sectional study of a defined geographical population
- 2008
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Ingår i: Acta Dermato-Venereologica. - 0001-5555 .- 1651-2057. ; 88:3, s. 252-6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 1988 a cross-sectional epidemiological study was performed in Skaraborg County, Sweden, establishing leg ulcer point prevalence. Based on the results of that study a complete change in the care of leg ulcer patients was brought into practice. The objective of this postal cross-sectional follow-up study was to evaluate the success of the new management strategy. Responding healthcare providers were asked to report all patients with an open wound below the knee that did not heal within a 6-week period after onset of ulceration. Validity of results was ensured by examining 203 randomly selected patients. Based on clinical examination, an assessment of the underlying causes of ulceration was made. The study setting was inpatient and outpatient care in hospitals, primary care and community care within Skaraborg, with a population of 254,111. The response rate was 100% from district nurses, hospital wards and outpatient clinics. Reports were collected from healthcare providers, mainly nurses, in all 15 communities. A total of 621 individual patients with active leg ulcers were identified. Age-adjusted sex ratio of ulcer patients was 1:1.1 (M:F). The median age was 79 years. A total of 507 patients (82%) were older than 64 years. District and community nurses provided care for the majority (88.5%) of patients. The study verified a point prevalence of 2.4/1000 population in 2002 compared with 3.1/1000 in 1988, a 23% decrease in leg ulcer prevalence. Venous insufficiency was still the dominating causative factor, although the number of patients with venous leg ulcers was reduced by 46%. Arterial ulcers had decreased by 23%, while patients with ulcers of diabetic and multifactorial causes were increased. In conclusion, it is likely that this reduction in point prevalence reflects the introduction of the change in management strategy undertaken in the area.
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| 3. |
- Fransson, Emma, PhD, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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Cohort profile : the Swedish Maternal Microbiome project (SweMaMi) - assessing the dynamic associations between the microbiome and maternal and neonatal adverse events
- 2022
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 12:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose The Swedish Maternal Microbiome (SweMaMi) project was initiated to better understand the dynamics of the microbiome in pregnancy, with longitudinal microbiome sampling, shotgun metagenomics, extensive questionnaires and health registry linkage. Participants Pregnant women were recruited before the 20th gestational week during 2017-2021 in Sweden. In total, 5439 pregnancies (5193 unique women) were included. For 3973 pregnancies (73%), samples were provided at baseline, and for 3141 (58%) at all three timepoints (second and third trimester and postpartum). In total, 38 591 maternal microbiome samples (vaginal, faecal and saliva) and 3109 infant faecal samples were collected. Questionnaires were used to collect information on general, reproductive and mental health, diet and lifestyle, complemented by linkage to the nationwide health registries, also used to follow up the health of the offspring (up to age 10). Findings to date The cohort is fairly representative for the total Swedish pregnant population (data from 2019), with 41% first-time mothers. Women with university level education, born in Sweden, with normal body mass index, not using tobacco-products and aged 30-34 years were slightly over-represented. Future plans The sample and data collection were finalised in November 2021. The next steps are the characterisation of the microbial DNA and linkage to the health and demographic information from the questionnaires and registries. The role of the microbiome on maternal and neonatal outcomes and early-childhood diseases will be explored (including preterm birth, miscarriage) and the role and interaction of other risk factors and confounders (including endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, diet, drug use). This is currently among the largest pregnancy cohorts in the world with longitudinal design and detailed and standardised microbiome sampling enabling follow-up of both mothers and children. The findings are expected to contribute greatly to the field of reproductive health focusing on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes.
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| 4. |
- Fransson, Petra, et al.
(författare)
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Ectomycorrhizal exudates and pre-exposure to elevated CO2 affects soil bacterial growth and community structure
- 2016
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Ingår i: Fungal ecology. - : Elsevier. - 1754-5048 .- 1878-0083. ; 20, s. 211-224
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ectomycorrhizal fungi produce low molecular weight organic compounds, supporting diverse microbial communities. To link mycorrhizal root exudation directly to bacterial responses, we used Scots pine exudates with (Suillus variegatus and Piloderma fallax) and without mycorrhiza as substrata for forest soil bacteria. Bacterial growth and vitality was monitored, and community composition determined using TRFLP, cloning and sequencing. We investigated if the amount of organic acids in exudates explained bacterial growth, and whether bacterial communities were influenced by pre-exposure to elevated atmospheric CO2. We demonstrated functional differences in bacterial growth rates related to CO2. There was a shift in the bacterial community (e.g. Burkholderia sp. and gamma-proteobacteria) toward organisms better able to rapidly utilize exudates when pine microcosms were pre-exposed to elevated CO2. Soil bacteria from all treatments tended to grow more abundantly and rapidly in exudates from Pilo derma -colonized seedlings, suggesting that the organic acids and/or unidentified compounds present supported greater growth.
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| 5. |
- Selvefors, Anneli, et al.
(författare)
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User-centered circular value propositions – approaches in practice and research
- 2024
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Ingår i: Resources, Conservation and Recycling. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 0921-3449 .- 1879-0658. ; 207
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Circular value propositions enable companies to build business models based on value preservation and circular resource flows. Circular value propositions also allow people to live more sustainably by facilitating increased utilization and resource efficiency. However, despite potential, transitions to circular business models remain low. One reason may be that circular value propositions are less attractive because they are often not developed with a user-centered approach and thus fail to meet people’s everyday needs. Through interviews with 13 companies and a literature study, this paper explores how companies consider user needs and involve users during development of circular value propositions. It also identifies conditions and actions that aid development of attractive circular offers. The findings are synthesized in a framework describing six enabling conditions and a definition of user-centered circular value propositions useful for circular economy practice and research.
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| 6. |
- Sterpu, Irene, et al.
(författare)
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No evidence for a placental microbiome in human pregnancies at term
- 2021
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Ingår i: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. - : Elsevier. - 0002-9378 .- 1097-6868. ; 224:3, s. 296.e1-296.e23
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The placenta plays an important role in the modulation of pregnancy immunity; however, there is no consensus regarding the existence of a placental microbiome in healthy full-term pregnancies.Objective: This study aimed to investigate the existence and origin of a placental microbiome.Study Design: A cross-sectional study comparing samples (3 layers of placental tissue, amniotic fluid, vernix caseosa, and saliva, vaginal, and rectal samples) from 2 groups of full-term births: 50 women not in labor with elective cesarean deliveries and 26 with vaginal deliveries. The comparisons were performed using polymerase chain reaction amplification and DNA sequencing techniques and bacterial culture experiments.Result: There were no significant differences regarding background characteristics between women who delivered by elective cesarean and those who delivered vaginally. Quantitative measurements of bacterial content in all 3 placental layers (quantitative polymerase chain reaction of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene) did not show any significant difference among any of the sample types and the negative controls. Here, 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of the maternal side of the placenta could not differentiate between bacteria in the placental tissue and contamination of the laboratory reagents with bacterial DNA. Probe-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction for bacterial taxa suspected to be present in the placenta could not detect any statistically significant difference between the 2 groups. In bacterial cultures, substantially more bacteria were observed in the placenta layers from vaginal deliveries than those from cesarean deliveries. In addition, 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of bacterial colonies revealed that most of the bacteria that grew on the plates were genera typically found in human skin; moreover, it revealed that placentas delivered vaginally contained a high prevalence of common vaginal bacteria. Bacterial growth inhibition experiments indicated that placental tissue may facilitate the inhibition of bacterial growth.Conclusion: We found no evidence to support the existence of a placental microbiome in our study of 76 term pregnancies, which used polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing techniques and bacterial culture experiments. Incidental findings of bacterial species could be due to contamination or to low-grade bacterial presence in some locations; such bacteria do not represent a placental microbiome per se.
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