| 1. |
- Beaumont, Robin N, et al.
(author)
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Genome-wide association study of placental weight identifies distinct and shared genetic influences between placental and fetal growth.
- 2023
-
In: Nature genetics. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 55:11, s. 1807-19
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A well-functioning placenta is essential for fetal and maternal health throughout pregnancy. Using placental weight as a proxy for placental growth, we report genome-wide association analyses in the fetal (n=65,405), maternal (n=61,228) and paternal (n=52,392) genomes, yielding 40 independent association signals. Twenty-six signals are classified as fetal, four maternal and three fetal and maternal. A maternal parent-of-origin effect is seen near KCNQ1. Genetic correlation and colocalization analyses reveal overlap with birth weight genetics, but 12 loci are classified as predominantly or only affecting placental weight, with connections to placental development and morphology, and transport of antibodies and amino acids. Mendelian randomization analyses indicate that fetal genetically mediated higher placental weight is causally associated with preeclampsia risk and shorter gestational duration. Moreover, these analyses support the role of fetal insulin in regulating placental weight, providing a key link between fetal and placental growth.
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| 2. |
- Frederiksen, Line Elmerdahl, et al.
(author)
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Psychiatric disorders in childhood cancer survivors in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden : a register-based cohort study from the SALiCCS research programme
- 2022
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In: The Lancet Psychiatry. - 2215-0366 .- 2215-0374. ; 69
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: A childhood cancer diagnosis and treatment-induced somatic late effects can affect the long-term mental health of survivors. We aimed to explore whether childhood cancer survivors are at higher risk of psychiatric disorders later in life than their siblings and the general population. Methods: In this register-based cohort study (part of the Socioeconomic Consequences in Adult Life after Childhood Cancer [SALiCCS] research programme), we included 5-year survivors of childhood cancer diagnosed before 20 years of age between Jan 1, 1974 and Dec 31, 2011, in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. In Denmark and Sweden, 94·7% of individuals were born in a Nordic country (ie, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, or Sweden); similar information was not available in Finland. Data on ethnicity were not collected. Survivors were compared with their siblings and randomly selected individuals from the general population who were matched to the survivors by year of birth, sex, and geographical region. We followed up our study population from 5 years after the childhood cancer diagnosis or corresponding calendar date for matched individuals (the index date) until Aug 11, 2017, and assessed information on hospital contacts for any and specific psychiatric disorders. For siblings, the index date was defined as 5 years from the date on which they were of the same age as their sibling survivor when diagnosed with cancer. Findings: The study population included 18 621 childhood cancer survivors (9934 [53·3%] males and 8687 [46·7%] females), 24 775 siblings (12 594 [50·8%] males and 12 181 [49·2%] females), and 88 630 matched individuals (47 300 [53·4%] males and 41 330 [46·6%] females). The cumulative incidence proportion of having had a psychiatric hospital contact by 30 years of age between Jan 1, 1979, and Aug 11, 2017, was 15·9% (95% CI 15·3–16·5) for childhood cancer survivors, 14·0% (13·5–14·5) for siblings, and 12·7% (12·4–12·9) for matched individuals. Despite a small absolute difference, survivors were at higher relative risk of any psychiatric hospital contact than their siblings (1·39, 1·31–1·48) and matched individuals (hazard ratio 1·34, 95% CI 1·28–1·39). The higher risk persisted at the age of 50 years. Survivors had a higher burden of recurrent psychiatric hospital contacts and had more hospital contacts for different psychiatric disorders than their siblings and the matched individuals. Interpretation: Childhood cancer survivors are at higher long-term risk of psychiatric disorders than their siblings and matched individuals from the general population. To improve mental health and the overall quality of life after childhood cancer, survivorship care should include a focus on early signs of mental health problems, especially among high-risk groups of survivors. Funding: NordForsk, Aarhus University, Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation, Danish Health Foundation, and Swiss National Science Foundation.
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| 3. |
- Jin, S. C., et al.
(author)
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Mutations disrupting neuritogenesis genes confer risk for cerebral palsy
- 2020
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In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 52:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Whole-exome sequencing of 250 parent-offspring trios identifies an enrichment of rare damaging de novo mutations in individuals with cerebral palsy and implicates genetically mediated dysregulation of early neuronal connectivity in the etiology of this disorder. In addition to commonly associated environmental factors, genomic factors may cause cerebral palsy. We performed whole-exome sequencing of 250 parent-offspring trios, and observed enrichment of damaging de novo mutations in cerebral palsy cases. Eight genes had multiple damaging de novo mutations; of these, two (TUBA1AandCTNNB1) met genome-wide significance. We identified two novel monogenic etiologies,FBXO31andRHOB, and showed that theRHOBmutation enhances active-state Rho effector binding while theFBXO31mutation diminishes cyclin D levels. Candidate cerebral palsy risk genes overlapped with neurodevelopmental disorder genes. Network analyses identified enrichment of Rho GTPase, extracellular matrix, focal adhesion and cytoskeleton pathways. Cerebral palsy risk genes in enriched pathways were shown to regulate neuromotor function in aDrosophilareverse genetics screen. We estimate that 14% of cases could be attributed to an excess of damaging de novo or recessive variants. These findings provide evidence for genetically mediated dysregulation of early neuronal connectivity in cerebral palsy.
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| 4. |
- Kanoni, Stavroula, et al.
(author)
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Implicating genes, pleiotropy, and sexual dimorphism at blood lipid loci through multi-ancestry meta-analysis.
- 2022
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In: Genome biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1474-760X .- 1465-6906 .- 1474-7596. ; 23:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Genetic variants within nearly 1000 loci are known to contribute to modulation of blood lipid levels. However, the biological pathways underlying these associations are frequently unknown, limiting understanding of these findings and hindering downstream translational efforts such as drug target discovery.To expand our understanding of the underlying biological pathways and mechanisms controlling blood lipid levels, we leverage a large multi-ancestry meta-analysis (N=1,654,960) of blood lipids to prioritize putative causal genes for 2286 lipid associations using six gene prediction approaches. Using phenome-wide association (PheWAS) scans, we identify relationships of genetically predicted lipid levels to other diseases and conditions. We confirm known pleiotropic associations with cardiovascular phenotypes and determine novel associations, notably with cholelithiasis risk. We perform sex-stratified GWAS meta-analysis of lipid levels and show that 3-5% of autosomal lipid-associated loci demonstrate sex-biased effects. Finally, we report 21 novel lipid loci identified on the X chromosome. Many of the sex-biased autosomal and X chromosome lipid loci show pleiotropic associations with sex hormones, emphasizing the role of hormone regulation in lipid metabolism.Taken together, our findings provide insights into the biological mechanisms through which associated variants lead to altered lipid levels and potentially cardiovascular disease risk.
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| 5. |
- Nielsen, Christoffer T, et al.
(author)
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Increased IgG on cell-derived plasma microparticles in systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with autoantibodies and complement activation.
- 2012
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In: Arthritis and Rheumatism. - : Wiley. - 1529-0131 .- 0004-3591. ; 64:4, s. 1227-1236
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE.: To quantify immunoglobulin and C1q on circulating cell-derived microparticles (MPs) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to correlate this with clinical and serological parameters. METHODS.: Sixty-eight clinically well-characterized SLE patients, 38 healthy controls (HC), 6 systemic sclerosis (SSc), and 6 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were included. The numbers of annexin V-binding MPs displaying IgG, IgM or C1q were enumerated by flow cytometry. MP protein levels were determined by mass spectrometry in clinically defined subsets of SLE patients and controls. The MP-IgG load was determined by flow cytometry of all SLE and HC samples. RESULTS.: SLE patients had significantly increased total and relative numbers of IgG-positive MPs (p = 0.0004) with a much higher average IgG-load/MP (p < 0.0001) than HCs. Quantitative mass spectrometry of purified MPs verified significantly increased IgG, IgM, and C1q in SLE. In RA and SSc the average IgG/MP was significantly lower than in SLE (p = 0.006 and 0.05, respectively). Also, IgM/MP and C1q/MP were higher in SLE than in controls (p < 0.05) except for IgM in the RA-group. IgG-positive MPs were significantly associated with the presence of anti-dsDNA, anti-ENA, and anti-histone antibodies, with total IgG, and with decreased leukocyte counts. Average IgG/MP was associated with lower concentrations of MPs, the presence of anti-C1q antibodies, and with complement consumption. CONCLUSIONS.: Circulating cell-derived MPs in SLE carry increased loads of IgG, IgM, and C1q and IgG-MPs are associated with autoantibodies and complement activation. The findings link immunological reactions on MPs with the etiopathology of SLE. © 2012 American College of Rheumatology.
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| 6. |
- Solé Navais, Pol, et al.
(author)
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Genetic effects on the timing of parturition and links to fetal birth weight.
- 2023
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In: Nature genetics. - 1546-1718. ; 55:4, s. 559-567
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The timing of parturition is crucial for neonatal survival and infant health. Yet, its genetic basis remains largely unresolved. We present a maternal genome-wide meta-analysis of gestational duration (n=195,555), identifying 22 associated loci (24 independent variants) and an enrichment in genes differentially expressed during labor. A meta-analysis of preterm delivery (18,797 cases, 260,246 controls) revealed six associated loci and large genetic similarities with gestational duration. Analysis of the parental transmitted and nontransmitted alleles (n=136,833) shows that 15 of the gestational duration genetic variants act through the maternal genome, whereas 7 act both through the maternal and fetal genomes and 2 act only via the fetal genome. Finally, the maternal effects on gestational duration show signs of antagonistic pleiotropy with the fetal effects on birth weight: maternal alleles that increase gestational duration have negative fetal effects on birth weight. The present study provides insights into the genetic effects on the timing of parturition and the complex maternal-fetal relationship between gestational duration and birth weight.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Aberg, Fredrik, et al.
(author)
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Differences in long-term mortality among liver transplant recipients and the general population: A population-based Nordic study.
- 2015
-
In: Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.). - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1527-3350 .- 0270-9139. ; 61:2, s. 668-677
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dramatic improvement in first-year outcomes post-liver transplantation (LT) has shifted attention to long-term survival, where efforts are now needed to achieve improvement. Understanding the causes for premature death is a prerequisite for improving long-term outcome. Overall and cause-specific mortality of 3299 Nordic LT patients (1985-2009) having survived 1 year post-LT were divided by expected rates in the general population, adjusted for age, sex, calendar time, and country to yield standardized mortality ratios (SMRs). Data came from the Nordic Liver-Transplant Registry and WHO mortality-indicator database. Stagnant patient survival rates >1 year post-LT were 21% lower at 10 years than expected survival for the general population. Overall SMR for death before age 75 (premature mortality) was 5.8 (95%CI 5.4-6.3), with improvement from 1985-1999 to 2000-2010 in hepatitis C (HCV) (SMR change 23.1-9.2), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (SMR 38.4-18.8), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (SMR 11.0-4.2), and deterioration in alcoholic liver disease (8.3-24.0) and acute liver failure (ALF) (5.9-7.6). SMRs for cancer and liver disease (recurrent or transplant-unrelated disease) were elevated in all indications except primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Absolute mortality rates underestimated the elevated premature mortality from infections (SMR 22-693) and kidney disease (SMR 13-45) across all indications, and from suicide in HCV and ALF. SMR for cardiovascular disease was significant only in PBC and alcoholic liver disease, owing to high mortality in the general population. Transplant-specific events caused 16% of deaths. Conclusion: standardized premature mortality provided an improved picture of long-term post-LT outcome, showing improvement over time in some indications, not revealed by overall absolute mortality rates. Causes with high premature mortality (infections, cancer, kidney and liver disease, and suicide) merit increased attention in clinical patient follow-up and future research. (Hepatology 2014;).
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
- Adl, Sina M., et al.
(author)
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Revisions to the Classification, Nomenclature, and Diversity of Eukaryotes
- 2019
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In: Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology. - : WILEY. - 1066-5234 .- 1550-7408. ; 66:1, s. 4-119
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This revision of the classification of eukaryotes follows that of Adl et al., 2012 [J. Euk. Microbiol. 59(5)] and retains an emphasis on protists. Changes since have improved the resolution of many nodes in phylogenetic analyses. For some clades even families are being clearly resolved. As we had predicted, environmental sampling in the intervening years has massively increased the genetic information at hand. Consequently, we have discovered novel clades, exciting new genera and uncovered a massive species level diversity beyond the morphological species descriptions. Several clades known from environmental samples only have now found their home. Sampling soils, deeper marine waters and the deep sea will continue to fill us with surprises. The main changes in this revision are the confirmation that eukaryotes form at least two domains, the loss of monophyly in the Excavata, robust support for the Haptista and Cryptista. We provide suggested primer sets for DNA sequences from environmental samples that are effective for each clade. We have provided a guide to trophic functional guilds in an appendix, to facilitate the interpretation of environmental samples, and a standardized taxonomic guide for East Asian users.
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| 13. |
- Ahlberg, Kerstin, 1947-, et al.
(author)
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Arbeidstilsynenes roller, strategier og redskaper i arbeidet mot sosial dumping: En nordisk studie
- 2013
-
Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Utgangspunktet for dette pilotprosjektet har vært den økte arbeidskraftsmobiliteten til Norden etter EU-utvidelsen i 2004–2007, og påfølgende utfordringer knyttet til å opprettholde anstendige arbeids- og lønnsvilkår også for arbeidsinnvandrere og utstasjonerte arbeidstakere. I alle de nordiske landene spiller arbeidstilsynene en sentral, men varierende rolle når det gjelder bekjempelsen av det som i mange sammenhenger betegnes som ”sosial dumping” av utenlandsk arbeidskraft. På tross av at de nordiske landene møter beslektede utfordringer på dette området, har det manglet en samlet oversikt og kunnskap om forskjellene i reguleringssystem, kontrollregimer, arbeidstilsynenes virkemidler, organisering og tilsynsstrategier. I dette pilotprosjektet har vi gjort en første kartlegging, som vi håper kan gi grunnlag for senerere analyse av betingelsene for effektiv kontroll og håndheving innenfor ulike reguleringsregimer, samt virkninger disse har i forhold til å bekjempe sosial dumping.
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| 14. |
- Alcorn, Sara R, et al.
(author)
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Practice patterns of photon and proton pediatric image guided radiation treatment : results from an International Pediatric Research consortium
- 2014
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In: Practical radiation oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-8500. ; 4:5, s. 336-341
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE: Image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) has become common practice for both photon and proton radiation therapy, but there is little consensus regarding its application in the pediatric population. We evaluated clinical patterns of pediatric IGRT practice through an international pediatrics consortium comprised of institutions using either photon or proton radiation therapy.METHODS AND MATERIALS: Seven international institutions with dedicated pediatric expertise completed a 53-item survey evaluating patterns of IGRT use in definitive radiation therapy for patients ≤21 years old. Two institutions use proton therapy for children and all others use IG photon therapy. Descriptive statistics including frequencies of IGRT use and means and standard deviations for planning target volume (PTV) margins by institution and treatment site were calculated.RESULTS: Approximately 750 pediatric patients were treated annually across the 7 institutions. IGRT was used in tumors of the central nervous system (98%), abdomen or pelvis (73%), head and neck (100%), lung (83%), and liver (69%). Photon institutions used kV cone beam computed tomography and kV- and MV-based planar imaging for IGRT, and all proton institutions used kV-based planar imaging; 57% of photon institutions used a specialized pediatric protocol for IGRT that delivers lower dose than standard adult protocols. Immobilization techniques varied by treatment site and institution. IGRT was utilized daily in 45% and weekly in 35% of cases. The PTV margin with use of IGRT ranged from 2 cm to 1 cm across treatment sites and institution.CONCLUSIONS: Use of IGRT in children was prevalent at all consortium institutions. There was treatment site-specific variability in IGRT use and technique across institutions, although practices varied less at proton facilities. Despite use of IGRT, there was no consensus of optimum PTV margin by treatment site. Given the desire to restrict any additional radiation exposure in children to instances where the exposure is associated with measureable benefit, prospective studies are warranted to optimize IGRT protocols by modality and treatment site.
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| 15. |
- Alisaari, Jenni, et al.
(author)
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Mother tongue education in four Nordic countries : problem, right or resource?
- 2023
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In: Apples - Journal of Applied Language Studies. - : University of Jyväskylä. - 1457-9863. ; 17:2, s. 52-72
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Jenni Alisaari, University of Stockholm, Sweden & University of Turku, Finland Line Møller Daugaard, VIA University College, Denmark Joke Dewilde University of Oslo, NorwayRaisa Harju-Autti, Tampere University, Finland Leena Maria Heikkola, Åbo Akademi University, FinlandJonas Yassin Iversen, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences Niina Kekki, University of Turku, Finland Sari Pesonen, University of Stockholm, SwedenAnne Reath Warren, Uppsala University, Sweden Boglárka Straszer, Dalarna University, Sweden Maija Yli-Jokipii, Tampere University, FinlandThe Declaration of a Nordic Language Policy stipulates that all Nordic residents have the right to preserve and develop their mother tongue and their national minority languages. Hence, this article investigates the question of mother tongue education for linguistic minority students. Through four ‘telling cases’, the article explores how four Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, orient towards mother tongues, Indigenous and national minority languages in their educational policies. Drawing on Ruíz’ (1984) framework of orientations in language planning, we investigate the following question: In what ways are mother tongues framed as rights, resources, or problems in four telling cases of educational policy in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden? The analysis of the telling cases shows that although all four countries provide various forms of mother tongue education, thus apparently aligning with the intentions in the Declaration of a Nordic Language Policy, there are important differences between the provisions. Nevertheless, across the four countries, the official national languages are placed at the top of a language ideological hierarchy. The official national languages are followed by national minority languages as mother tongues. These languages are awarded rights but are not considered resources for the whole population (e.g., Ruíz, 1984). The Danish telling case inserts a supranational layer in the hierarchy, namely mother tongues with status as official languages in the European Union. The hierarchy of mother tongues thus reflects how some types of mother tongues are more readily granted rights and considered to be resources than others.
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| 16. |
- Alves, Andreia, et al.
(author)
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Case Study on Screening Emerging Pollutants in Urine and Nails
- 2017
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In: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 51:7, s. 4046-4053
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alternative plasticizers and flame retardants (FRs) have been introduced as replacements for banned or restricted chemicals, but much is still unknown about their metabolism and occurrence in humans. We identified the metabolites formed in vitro for four alternative plasticizers (acetyltributyl citrate (ATBC), bis(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (DPHP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP), bis(2ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA)), and one FR (2,2-bis (chloromethyl)-propane-1,3-diyltetrakis(2-chloroethyl) bisphosphate (V6)). Further, these compounds and their metabolites were investigated by LC/ESI-Orbitrap-MS in urine and finger nails collected from a Norwegian cohort. Primary and secondary ATBC metabolites had detection frequencies (% DF) in finger nails ranging from 46 to 95%. V6 was identified for the first time in finger nails, suggesting that this matrix may also indicate past exposure to FRs as well as alternative plasticizers. Two isomeric forms of DEHTP primary metabolite were highly detected in urine (97% DF) and identified in finger nails, while no DPHP metabolites were detected in vivo. Primary and secondary DEHA metabolites were identified in both matrices, and the relative proportion of the secondary metabolites was higher in urine than in finger nails; the opposite was observed for the primary metabolites. As many of the metabolites present in in vitro extracts were further identified in vivo in urine and finger nail samples, this suggests that in vitro assays can reliably mimic the in vivo processes. Finger nails may be a useful noninvasive matrix for human biomonitoring of specific organic contaminants, but further validation is needed.
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| 17. |
- Amundin, Mats, et al.
(author)
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Estimating the abundance of the critically endangered Baltic Proper harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) population using passive acoustic monitoring
- 2022
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In: Ecology and Evolution. - : Wiley. - 2045-7758. ; 12:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Knowing the abundance of a population is a crucial component to assess its conservationstatus and develop effective conservation plans. For most cetaceans, abundanceestimation is difficult given their cryptic and mobile nature, especially when thepopulation is small and has a transnational distribution. In the Baltic Sea, the numberof harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) has collapsed since the mid-20thcenturyand the Baltic Proper harbour porpoise is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCNand HELCOM; however, its abundance remains unknown. Here, one of the largestever passive acoustic monitoring studies was carried out by eight Baltic Sea nationsto estimate the abundance of the Baltic Proper harbour porpoise for the first time. Bylogging porpoise echolocation signals at 298 stations during May 2011–April2013,calibrating the loggers’ spatial detection performance at sea, and measuring the clickrate of tagged individuals, we estimated an abundance of 71–1105individuals (95% CI,point estimate 491) during May–Octoberwithin the population's proposed managementborder. The small abundance estimate strongly supports that the Baltic Properharbour porpoise is facing an extremely high risk of extinction, and highlights theneed for immediate and efficient conservation actions through international cooperation.It also provides a starting point in monitoring the trend of the populationabundance to evaluate the effectiveness of management measures and determine itsinteractions with the larger neighboring Belt Sea population. Further, we offer evidencethat design-basedpassive acoustic monitoring can generate reliable estimatesof the abundance of rare and cryptic animal populations across large spatial scales.
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| 18. |
- Andreassen, Tor Wallin, et al.
(author)
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Linking service design to value creation and service research
- 2016
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In: Journal of Service Management. - 1757-5818 .- 1757-5826. ; 27:1, s. 21-29
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for understanding service design and how service design relates to central concepts within service marketing. Design/methodology/approach - For companies, service design is growing in importance and has become a crucial capability to survive in the service-dominant economy. Service design increases the capacity to improve not only service experiences but also organizational design. On this premise, the authors propose a conceptual framework. Findings - By relating service design to research efforts within service marketing, dual value creation can be enhanced. As such, the conceptual framework portrays service design as an enhancer of customer experience and organizational performance. Originality/value - To the authors knowledge, service design has not been discussed in the service marketing literature. Thus, this is the first attempt to see service design in light of well-established service marketing models such as SERVQUAL and an updated version of the Service-profit-chain.
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| 19. |
- Andrikopoulos, Petros, et al.
(author)
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Evidence of a causal and modifiable relationship between kidney function and circulating trimethylamine N-oxide
- 2023
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In: Nature Communications. - 2041-1723 .- 2041-1723. ; 14:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The host-microbiota co-metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is linked to increased cardiovascular risk but how its circulating levels are regulated remains unclear. We applied "explainable" machine learning, univariate, multivariate and mediation analyses of fasting plasma TMAO concentration and a multitude of phenotypes in 1,741 adult Europeans of the MetaCardis study. Here we show that next to age, kidney function is the primary variable predicting circulating TMAO, with microbiota composition and diet playing minor, albeit significant, roles. Mediation analysis suggests a causal relationship between TMAO and kidney function that we corroborate in preclinical models where TMAO exposure increases kidney scarring. Consistent with our findings, patients receiving glucose-lowering drugs with reno-protective properties have significantly lower circulating TMAO when compared to propensity-score matched control individuals. Our analyses uncover a bidirectional relationship between kidney function and TMAO that can potentially be modified by reno-protective anti-diabetic drugs and suggest a clinically actionable intervention for decreasing TMAO-associated excess cardiovascular risk.
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| 20. |
- Arnarsson, Arsaell, et al.
(author)
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Cyberbullying and traditional bullying among Nordic adolescents and their impact on life satisfaction
- 2020
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - London : SAGE Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 48:5, s. 502-510
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © Author(s) 2019. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of cybervictimization in the six Nordic countries and to assess its overlap with traditional bullying. A further aim was to examine potential associations between life satisfaction, on the one hand, and traditional bullying and cyberbullying on the other. Methods: Analyses were based on data from the 2013⁄2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. It included 32,210 boys and girls, aged 11, 13, and 15, living in the six Nordic countries. Results: The prevalence of cyberbullying by both pictures and by messages was around 2% in all the Nordic countries except Greenland. There it was considerably higher. The prevalence of being bullied in a traditional manner varied widely by country. For boys, this type of bullying was most frequent in the youngest age group and then decreased steadily in the older age groups. Girls were on average more likely to be cyberbullied. Cyberbullying was more common among 13- and 15-year-olds than 11-year-olds. Higher family affluence was unrelated to the risk of cyberbullying. However, it was related to traditional bullying and combined forms of bullying. Compared with intact families, cybervictimization was commoner among single-parent families and stepfamilies. Adjusting for age, gender, family affluence, and family structure, those subjected to cyberbullying had lower life satisfaction than those who were not bullied. Conclusions: We found relatively little overlap between cyberbullying and traditional bullying, indicating that the two may be separate phenomena stemming from different mechanisms, at least in the Nordic context.
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| 21. |
- Asplund, Johan, et al.
(author)
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Simulated nitrogen deposition influences gastropod grazing in lichens
- 2010
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In: Ecoscience. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1195-6860. ; 17:1, s. 83-89
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Lichens are often important photosynthetic organisms in oligotrophic environments where high-quality fodder plants are rare. A strong herbivore defence and/or low nutritional quality allows the accumulation of a high lichen biomass in such areas. However, it is not known how N deposition influences lichen palatability. This study analyzes possible changes in gastropod grazing preference after 3 months simulated N deposition on 3 foliose (Lobaria scrobiculata, Platismatia glauca, and Xanthoria aureola) and 1 pendulous lichen species (Alectoria sarmentosa). Lichens were daily irrigated in the field with rainwater containing 1.625 mM NH4NO3 from June to September, equivalent to a deposition of 50 kg N·ha-1·y-1. Irrigations applied at night, morning, or noon simulated different C-gain regimes. Afterwards in the lab, we offered 2 common lichen-feeding gastropods the choice between N-fertilized thalli and control thalli irrigated with artificial rainwater. The gastropods clearly preferred the unfertilized thalli of the 3 foliose species. For the pendulous A. sarmentosa, the gastropods preferred N-enriched thalli (irrigated at night) to controls. In conclusion, N-enrichment changes the palatability of lichens in species-specific ways.
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| 22. |
- Austdal, Marie, et al.
(author)
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First Trimester Urine and Serum Metabolomics for Prediction of Preeclampsia and Gestational Hypertension: A Prospective Screening Study.
- 2015
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In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. - : MDPI AG. - 1422-0067. ; 16:9, s. 21520-21538
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia, are major contributors to maternal morbidity. The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential of metabolomics to predict preeclampsia and gestational hypertension from urine and serum samples in early pregnancy, and elucidate the metabolic changes related to the diseases. Metabolic profiles were obtained by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of serum and urine samples from 599 women at medium to high risk of preeclampsia (nulliparous or previous preeclampsia/gestational hypertension). Preeclampsia developed in 26 (4.3%) and gestational hypertension in 21 (3.5%) women. Multivariate analyses of the metabolic profiles were performed to establish prediction models for the hypertensive disorders individually and combined. Urinary metabolomic profiles predicted preeclampsia and gestational hypertension at 51.3% and 40% sensitivity, respectively, at 10% false positive rate, with hippurate as the most important metabolite for the prediction. Serum metabolomic profiles predicted preeclampsia and gestational hypertension at 15% and 33% sensitivity, respectively, with increased lipid levels and an atherogenic lipid profile as most important for the prediction. Combining maternal characteristics with the urinary hippurate/creatinine level improved the prediction rates of preeclampsia in a logistic regression model. The study indicates a potential future role of clinical importance for metabolomic analysis of urine in prediction of preeclampsia.
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| 23. |
- Ayres Pereira, Marina, et al.
(author)
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Placental Sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Parasites Is Mediated by the Interaction Between VAR2CSA and Chondroitin Sulfate A on Syndecan-1
- 2016
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In: PLoS Pathogens. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7366 .- 1553-7374. ; 12:8
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- During placental malaria, Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes sequester in the placenta, causing health problems for both the mother and fetus. The specific adherence is mediated by the VAR2CSA protein, which binds to placental chondroitin sulfate (CS) on chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) in the placental syncytium. However, the identity of the CSPG core protein and the cellular impact of the interaction have remain elusive. In this study we identified the specific CSPG core protein to which the CS is attached, and characterized its exact placental location. VAR2CSA pull-down experiments using placental extracts from whole placenta or syncytiotrophoblast microvillous cell membranes showed three distinct CSPGs available for VAR2CSA adherence. Further examination of these three CSPGs by immunofluorescence and proximity ligation assays showed that syndecan-1 is the main receptor for VAR2CSA mediated placental adherence. We further show that the commonly used placental choriocarcinoma cell line, BeWo, express a different set of proteoglycans than those present on placental syncytiotrophoblast and may not be the most biologically relevant model to study placental malaria. Syncytial fusion of the BeWo cells, triggered by forskolin treatment, caused an increased expression of placental CS-modified syndecan-1. In line with this, we show that rVAR2 binding to placental CS impairs syndecan-1-related Src signaling in forskolin treated BeWo cells, but not in untreated cells.
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| 24. |
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| 25. |
- Backe, Marie Balslev, et al.
(author)
-
Lysine demethylase inhibition protects pancreatic β cells from apoptosis and improves β-cell function
- 2018
-
In: Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0303-7207. ; 460, s. 47-56
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Transcriptional changes control β-cell survival in response to inflammatory stress. Posttranslational modifications of histone and non-histone transcriptional regulators activate or repress gene transcription, but the link to cell-fate signaling is unclear. Inhibition of lysine deacetylases (KDACs) protects β cells from cytokine-induced apoptosis and reduces type 1 diabetes incidence in animals. We hypothesized that also lysine demethylases (KDMs) regulate β-cell fate in response to inflammatory stress.Expression of the demethylase Kdm6B was upregulated by proinflammatory cytokines suggesting a possible role in inflammation-induced β-cell destruction. Inhibition of KDM6 demethylases using the selective inhibitor GSK-J4 protected insulin-producing cells and human and mouse islets from cytokine-induced apoptosis by blunting nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response gene expression. GSK-J4 furthermore increased expression of insulin gene and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Expression of genes regulating purinergic and cytokine ligand-receptor interactions was downregulated following GSK-J4 exposure, while expression of genes involved in cell maintenance and survival was upregulated. These data suggest that KDMs are important regulators of inflammation-induced β-cell dysfunction and death.
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| 26. |
- Bager, Line, et al.
(author)
-
Adverse childhood experiences among children of parents who are refugees affected by trauma in Denmark : a register-based cohort study
- 2022
-
In: The Lancet Public Health. - 2468-2667. ; 7:10, s. 825-833
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Children in families who are refugees might experience more adversities than their peers. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are well known risk factors for poorer adulthood health and adjustment. The risk of ACEs for children with a parent who is a refugee affected by trauma is unknown. We aimed to estimate the hazard of individual and cumulative ACEs using a unique sample of children with parents who are refugees affected by and seeking treatment for trauma and population level data. Methods: This was a register-based cohort study carried out in Denmark. All children aged 0–15 years, residing in Denmark between Jan 1, 1990, and Dec 31, 2016, were followed up from birth or migration into the country to their 15th birthday. We linked data from the Danish Civil Registration System, the Danish National Patient Register, the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register, the Employment Classification Module, the Register of Causes of Death, and the Income Statistics Register to investigate ten ACE categories (parental: natural and unnatural death, serious mental illness, substance use disorder, somatic illness, and disability; child: residential instability, family disruption, poverty, and stressors) and the cumulative number of ACE categories for children with a parent from a refugee-sending country and children with a parent who is a refugee in treatment for trauma. The main outcome was the hazard ratio (HR) of the individual and cumulative ACEs among children with a parent from a refugee-sending country and children with a parent who is a refugee affected by trauma, compared with the general population of children in Denmark, both adjusted and unadjusted for parental country of origin. Findings: 2 688 794 children were included in the study, 252 310 of whom had parents from refugee-sending countries. 11 603 children had parents affected by trauma and seeking treatment, of whom 1163 (10%) migrated to Denmark before their second birthday and 10 440 (90%) were born in Denmark. Compared with the general population of children in Denmark, the hazard for most ACEs was significantly higher for both children with parents from a refugee-sending country and children with parents who are refugees affected by trauma. For children with a parent from a refugee-sending country, the highest HR was related to the child living in relative poverty for 3 years (3·62 [95% CI 3·52–3·73]). After adjusting for parental country of origin, the hazards for five ACEs were significantly greater for children of parents who are refugees affected by trauma compared with the remaining children of parents from the same countries. The highest HR for this child group was for parental serious mental illness (1·98 [1·85–2·12]). The hazard for experiencing multiple ACEs was significantly higher for both child groups compared with the general population. Interpretation: Our findings suggest that children with parents from refugee-sending countries have a higher rate of several ACEs compared with the general population. Furthermore, having a parent who is a refugee affected by trauma and seeking treatment seems to be an independent risk factor for poorer health and adjustment in adulthood. This study informs decision makers and caregivers that there might be much added value in addressing needs within the whole family, as opposed to only attending to the parent who is seeking treatment. Funding: The Lundbeck Foundation.
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| 27. |
- Balog, Richard, et al.
(author)
-
Hydrogen interaction with graphene on Ir(1 1 1) : A combined intercalation and functionalization study
- 2019
-
In: Journal of Physics Condensed Matter. - 0953-8984. ; 31:8
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We demonstrate a procedure for obtaining a H-intercalated graphene layer that is found to be chemically decoupled from the underlying metal substrate. Using high-resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy techniques, we reveal that the hydrogen intercalated graphene is p-doped by about 0.28 eV, but also identify structures of interfacial hydrogen. Furthermore, we investigate the reactivity of the decoupled layer towards atomic hydrogen and vibrationally excited molecular hydrogen and compare these results to the case of non-intercalated graphene. We find distinct differences between the two. Finally, we discuss the possibility to form graphane clusters on an iridium substrate by combined intercalation and H atom exposure experiments.
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| 28. |
- Basnet, Shyam, et al.
(author)
-
Organic agriculture in a low-emission world : exploring combined measures to deliver a sustainable food system in Sweden
- 2023
-
In: Sustainability Science. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1862-4065 .- 1862-4057. ; 18:1, s. 501-519
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the EU, including Sweden, organic farming is seen as a promising pathway for sustainable production, protecting human health and animal welfare, and conserving the environment. Despite positive developments in recent decades, expanding organic farming to the Swedish national target of 30% of farmland under organic production remains challenging. In this study, we developed two scenarios to evaluate the role of organic farming in the broader context of Swedish food systems: (i) baseline trend scenario (Base), and (ii) sustainable food system scenario (Sust). Base describes a future where organic farming is implemented alongside the current consumption, production and waste patterns, while Sust describes a future where organic farming is implemented alongside a range of sustainable food system initiatives. These scenarios are coupled with several variants of organic area: (i) current 20% organic area, (ii) the national target of 30% organic area by 2030, and (iii) 50% organic area by 2050 for Sust. We applied the ‘FABLE (Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land-use and Energy) Calculator’ to assess the evolution of the Swedish food system from 2000 to 2050 and evaluate land use, emissions and self-sufficiency impacts under these scenarios. Our findings show that expanding organic farming in the Base scenarios increases the use of cropland and agricultural emissions by 2050 compared to the 2010 reference year. However, cropland use and emissions are reduced in the Sust scenario, due to dietary changes, reduction of food waste and improved agricultural productivity. This implies that there is room for organic farming and the benefits it provides, e.g. the use of fewer inputs and improved animal welfare in a sustainable food system. However, changing towards organic agriculture is only of advantage when combined with transformative strategies to promote environmental sustainability across multiple sections, such as changed consumption, better production and food waste practices.
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| 29. |
- Baste, Valborg, et al.
(author)
-
Pregnancy outcomes after paternal radiofrequency field exposure aboard fast patrol boats
- 2012
-
In: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 54:4, s. 431-438
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: To investigate adverse reproductive outcomes among male employees in the Royal Norwegian Navy exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields aboard fast patrol boats. Methods: Cohort study of Royal Norwegian Navy servicemen linked to the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, including singleton offspring born between 1967 and 2008 (n = 37,920). Exposure during the last 3 months before conception (acute) and exposure more than 3 months before conception (nonacute) were analyzed. Results: Perinatal mortality and preeclampsia increased after service aboard fast patrol boats during an acute period and also after increased estimated radiofrequency exposure during an acute period, compared with service aboard other vessels. No associations were found between nonacute exposure and any of the reproductive outcomes. Conclusions: Paternal work aboard fast patrol boats during an acute period was associated with perinatal mortality and preeclampsia, but the cause is not clear.
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| 30. |
- Baumann, Katrine Y., et al.
(author)
-
Skin microdialysis: methods, applications and future opportunities-an EAACI position paper
- 2019
-
In: Clinical and Translational Allergy. - : BMC. - 2045-7022 .- 2045-7022. ; 9
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Skin microdialysis (SMD) is a versatile sampling technique that can be used to recover soluble endogenous and exogenous molecules from the extracellular compartment of human skin. Due to its minimally invasive character, SMD can be applied in both clinical and preclinical settings. Despite being available since the 1990s, the technique has still not reached its full potential use as a tool to explore pathophysiological mechanisms of allergic and inflammatory reactions in the skin. Therefore, an EAACI Task Force on SMD was formed to disseminate knowledge about the technique and its many applications. This position paper from the task force provides an overview of the current use of SMD in the investigation of the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria, psoriasis, and in studies of cutaneous events during type 1 hypersensitivity reactions. Furthermore, this paper covers drug hypersensitivity, UVB-induced- and neurogenic inflammation, and drug penetration investigated by SMD. The aim of this paper is to encourage the use of SMD and to make the technique easily accessible by providing an overview of methodology and applications, supported by standardized operating procedures for SMD in vivo and ex vivo.
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| 31. |
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| 32. |
- Bengtsson, Fia, 1986-, et al.
(author)
-
Environmental drivers of Sphagnum growth in peatlands across the Holarctic region
- 2021
-
In: Journal of Ecology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0022-0477 .- 1365-2745. ; 109:1, s. 417-431
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The relative importance of global versus local environmental factors for growth and thus carbon uptake of the bryophyte genusSphagnum-the main peat-former and ecosystem engineer in northern peatlands-remains unclear. We measured length growth and net primary production (NPP) of two abundantSphagnumspecies across 99 Holarctic peatlands. We tested the importance of previously proposed abiotic and biotic drivers for peatland carbon uptake (climate, N deposition, water table depth and vascular plant cover) on these two responses. Employing structural equation models (SEMs), we explored both indirect and direct effects of drivers onSphagnumgrowth. Variation in growth was large, but similar within and between peatlands. Length growth showed a stronger response to predictors than NPP. Moreover, the smaller and denserSphagnum fuscumgrowing on hummocks had weaker responses to climatic variation than the larger and looserSphagnum magellanicumgrowing in the wetter conditions. Growth decreased with increasing vascular plant cover within a site. Between sites, precipitation and temperature increased growth forS. magellanicum. The SEMs indicate that indirect effects are important. For example, vascular plant cover increased with a deeper water table, increased nitrogen deposition, precipitation and temperature. These factors also influencedSphagnumgrowth indirectly by affecting moss shoot density. Synthesis. Our results imply that in a warmer climate,S. magellanicumwill increase length growth as long as precipitation is not reduced, whileS. fuscumis more resistant to decreased precipitation, but also less able to take advantage of increased precipitation and temperature. Such species-specific sensitivity to climate may affect competitive outcomes in a changing environment, and potentially the future carbon sink function of peatlands.
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| 33. |
- Bennett, Elena M., et al.
(author)
-
Understanding relationships among multiple ecosystem services.
- 2009
-
In: Ecology Letters. - : Wiley. - 1461-023X .- 1461-0248. ; 12:12, s. 1394-1404
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ecosystem management that attempts to maximize the production of one ecosystem service often results in substantial declines in the provision of other ecosystem services. For this reason, recent studies have called for increased attention to development of a theoretical understanding behind the relationships among ecosystem services. Here, we review the literature on ecosystem services and propose a typology of relationships between ecosystem services based on the role of drivers and the interactions between services. We use this typology to develop three propositions to help drive ecological science towards a better understanding of the relationships among multiple ecosystem services. Research which aims to understand the relationships among multiple ecosystem services and the mechanisms behind these relationships will improve our ability to sustainably manage landscapes to provide multiple ecosystem services.
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| 34. |
- Bennett, Elena, et al.
(author)
-
Toward a more resilient agriculture
- 2014
-
In: Solutions : For a Sustainable & Desirable Future. - : Australian National University. - 2154-0926. ; 5:5, s. 65-75
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In Brief Agriculture is a key driver of change in the Anthropocene. It is both a critical factor for human well-being and development and a major driver of environmental decline. As the human population expands to more than 9 billion by 2050, we will be compelled to find ways to adequately feed this population while simultaneously decreasing the environmental impact of agriculture, even as global change is creating new circumstances to which agriculture must respond. Many proposals to accomplish this dual goal of increasing agricultural production while reducing its environmental impact are based on increasing the efficiency of agricultural production relative to resource use and relative to unintended outcomes such as water pollution, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. While increasing production efficiency is almost certainly necessary, it is unlikely to be sufficient and may in some instances reduce long-term agricultural resilience, for example, by degrading soil and increasing the fragility of agriculture to pest and disease outbreaks and climate shocks. To encourage an agriculture that is both resilient and sustainable, radically new approaches to agricultural development are needed. These approaches must build on a diversity of solutions operating at nested scales, and they must maintain and enhance the adaptive and transformative capacity needed to respond to disturbances and avoid critical thresholds. Finding such approaches will require that we encourage experimentation, innovation, and learning, even if they sometimes reduce short-term production efficiency in some parts of the world.
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| 35. |
- Bentham, James, et al.
(author)
-
A century of trends in adult human height
- 2016
-
In: eLIFE. - 2050-084X. ; 5
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Being taller is associated with enhanced longevity, and higher education and earnings. We reanalysed 1472 population-based studies, with measurement of height on more than 18.6 million participants to estimate mean height for people born between 1896 and 1996 in 200 countries. The largest gain in adult height over the past century has occurred in South Korean women and Iranian men, who became 20.2 cm (95% credible interval 17.522.7) and 16.5 cm (13.319.7) taller, respectively. In contrast, there was little change in adult height in some sub-Saharan African countries and in South Asia over the century of analysis. The tallest people over these 100 years are men born in the Netherlands in the last quarter of 20th century, whose average heights surpassed 182.5 cm, and the shortest were women born in Guatemala in 1896 (140.3 cm; 135.8144.8). The height differential between the tallest and shortest populations was 19-20 cm a century ago, and has remained the same for women and increased for men a century later despite substantial changes in the ranking of countries.
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| 36. |
- Bentham, James, et al.
(author)
-
A century of trends in adult human height
- 2016
-
In: eLIFE. - : eLife Sciences Publications Ltd. - 2050-084X. ; 5
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Being taller is associated with enhanced longevity, and higher education and earnings. We reanalysed 1472 population-based studies, with measurement of height on more than 18.6 million participants to estimate mean height for people born between 1896 and 1996 in 200 countries. The largest gain in adult height over the past century has occurred in South Korean women and Iranian men, who became 20.2 cm (95% credible interval 17.5–22.7) and 16.5 cm (13.3– 19.7) taller, respectively. In contrast, there was little change in adult height in some sub-Saharan African countries and in South Asia over the century of analysis. The tallest people over these 100 years are men born in the Netherlands in the last quarter of 20th century, whose average heights surpassed 182.5 cm, and the shortest were women born in Guatemala in 1896 (140.3 cm; 135.8– 144.8). The height differential between the tallest and shortest populations was 19-20 cm a century ago, and has remained the same for women and increased for men a century later despite substantial changes in the ranking of countries.
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| 37. |
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| 38. |
- Berger, Erich, et al.
(author)
-
Editorial: State of the Art
- 2023
-
In: State of the Art: Elements for Critical Thinking and Doing. - Helsinki : Bioart Society. ; , s. 8-17
-
Book chapter (other academic/artistic)
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| 39. |
- Bergquist, Maria, et al.
(author)
-
TNFR1, TNFR2, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and heparin binding protein in identifying sepsis and predicting outcome in an intensive care cohort
- 2020
-
In: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 10:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To date no biomarkers can aid diagnosing sepsis with adequate accuracy. We set out to assess the ability of Tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) 1 and 2, Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and Heparin binding protein (HBP) to discriminate sepsis from non-infected critically ill patients in a large ICU cohort, and to evaluate their value to predict mortality at 30 days. Adult patients admitted to the ICU with an arterial catheter were included. Clinical data and blood samples were prospectively recorded daily. Diagnoses were set retrospectively. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used. NGAL, TNFR1 and TNFR2 were higher in sepsis patients compared to other diagnoses, as well as in non-survivors compared to survivors. In addition, these biomarkers increased with increasing stages of acute kidney injury. TNFR1 and TNFR2 performed similarly to NGAL and CRP in identifying sepsis patients, but they performed better than CRP in predicting 30-day mortality in this ICU cohort. Thus, TNFR1 and TNFR2 may be particularly useful in identifying high risk sepsis patients and facilitate relevant health care actions in this group of sepsis patients.
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| 40. |
- Bergsmark, T., et al.
(author)
-
Long-term survival after liver transplantation for alcohol-related liver disease in the Nordic countries
- 2023
-
In: Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0036-5521 .- 1502-7708. ; 58:8, s. 923-30
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ObjectivesAlcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is among the most common indications for liver transplantation (LTX) in Europe and North America, with good five-year survival rates post-LTX. Here we evaluated survival up to and beyond 20 years after LTX for patients with ALD compared to a comparison group.MethodsPatients with ALD and a comparison group transplanted in the Nordic countries between 1982 and 2020 were included. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier curves and predictors of survival were assessed with Cox-regressions.Results831 patients with ALD and 2979 patients in the comparison group were included in the study. Patients with ALD were older at the time of LTX (p < .001) and more likely to be male (p < .001). The estimated median follow-up time was 9.1 years for the ALD-group and 11.1 years for the comparison group. 333 (40.1%) patients with ALD and 1010 (33.9%) patients in the comparison group died during follow-up. The overall survival was impaired for patients with ALD compared to the comparison group (p < .001) and was evident for male and female patients, patients transplanted before and after 2005, and observed in all age-groups except patients over 60 years. Age at transplant, waiting time, year of LTX and country of LTX were associated with decreased survival after LTX for patients with ALD.ConclusionsPatients with ALD have a decreased long-term survival following LTX. This difference was evident in most sub-groups of patients and warrants close follow-up of liver transplanted patients with ALD with focus on risk reduction.
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| 41. |
- Berthold, Anne, et al.
(author)
-
Cultivation Methods of Spirochetes from Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Complex and Relapsing Fever Borrelia
- 2022
-
In: Journal of Visualized Experiments. - : MyJove Corporation. - 1940-087X. ; 2022:189
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Borrelia consists of three groups of species, those of the Lyme borreliosis (LB) group, also known as B. burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) and recently reclassified into Borreliella, the relapsing fever (RF) group Borrelia, and a third reptile-associated group of spirochetes. Culture-based methods remain the gold standard for the laboratory detection of bacterial infections for both research and clinical work, as the culture of pathogens from bodily fluids or tissues directly detects replicating pathogens and provides source material for research. Borrelia and Borreliella spirochetes are fastidious and slow growing, and thus are not commonly cultured for clinical purposes; however, culture is necessary for research. This protocol demonstrates the methodology and recipes required to successfully culture LB and RF spirochetes, including all recognized species from B. burgdorferi s.l. complex including B. afzelii, B. americana, B. andersonii, B. bavariensis, B. bissettii/bissettiae, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), B. californiensis, B. carolinensis, B. chilensis, B. finlandensis, B. garinii, B. japonica, B. kurtenbachii, B. lanei, B. lusitaniae, B. maritima, B. mayonii, B. spielmanii, B. tanukii, B. turdi, B. sinica, B. valaisiana, B. yangtzensis, and RFspirochetes, B. anserina, B. coriaceae, B. crocidurae, B. duttonii, B. hermsii, B. hispanica, B. persica, B. recurrentis, and B. miyamotoi. The basic medium for growing LB and RF spirochetes is the Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK-II or BSK-H) medium, which reliably supports the growth of spirochetes in established cultures. To be able to grow newly isolated Borrelia isolates from tick-or host-derived samples where the initial spirochete number is low in the inoculum, modified Kelly-Pettenkofer (MKP) medium is preferred. This medium also supports the growth of B. miyamotoi. The success of the cultivation of RF spirochetes also depends critically on the quality of ingredients.
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| 42. |
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| 43. |
- Biggs, Reinette, et al.
(author)
-
Regime Shifts
- 2011
-
In: Sourcebook in Theoretical Ecology. - : University of California Press.
-
Book chapter (other academic/artistic)
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| 44. |
- Bjerager, Jakob, et al.
(author)
-
Long-term development of lens fluorescence in a twin cohort : Heritability and effects of age and lifestyle
- 2022
-
In: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 17:5 May
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The blue-green autofluorescence of the ocular lens increases with age, glycemia and smoking, as the irreplaceable structural proteins of the lens slowly accumulate damage from the encounter with reactive molecular species. We have conducted a prospective study of lens autofluorescence over two decades in a twin cohort. The study included 131 phakic, non-diabetic adult twins (median age at follow-up 58 years, range 41–66 years) who were examined twice at an interval of 21 years. Change in anterior lens peak autofluorescence was analyzed in relation to age, current and baseline glycemia, cumulative smoking and heritability. The level of lens autofluorescence in the study population increased as a function of age and smoking (p ≤.002), but not as a function of glycemia (p ≥.069). Lens autofluorescence remained a highly heritable trait (90.6% at baseline and 93.3% at follow-up), but whereas the combined effect of age and cumulative smoking explained 57.2% of the variance in lens autofluorescence at baseline in mid-life, it only accounted for 31.6% at followup 21 years later. From mid to late adulthood, the level of blue-green fluorescence remained overwhelmingly heritable, but became less predictable from age, smoking habits and glycemic status. Presumably, as the lens ages, its intrinsic characteristics come to dominate over environmental and systemic factors, perhaps in a prelude to the development of cataract.
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| 45. |
- Bjureberg, Johan, et al.
(author)
-
Targeting Maladaptive Anger With Brief Therapist-Supported Internet-Delivered Emotion Regulation Treatments : A Randomized Controlled Trial
- 2023
-
In: Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. - : American Psychological Association Press. - 0022-006X .- 1939-2117. ; 91:5, s. 254-266
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To evaluate the relative impact of three brief therapist-supported internet-delivered emotion regulation treatments for maladaptive anger (mindful emotion awareness [MEA], cognitive reappraisal [CR], and mindful emotion awareness + cognitive reappraisal [MEA + CR]) and to test whether baseline levels of anger pathology moderate treatment outcome.Method: Treatments were evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. In total, 234 participants (59% female; mean age = 41.1, SD = 11.6) with maladaptive anger were randomized to MEA (n = 78), CR (n = 77), or MEA + CR (n = 79). Self-reported primary and secondary outcomes were followed up at primary endpoint, 3 months after treatment termination (88% retention). Primary outcomes were also assessed weekly during a prolonged baseline phase (4 weeks) and an active treatment phase (4 weeks).Results: At the primary endpoint, the MEA + CR was superior in terms of anger expression (d = 0.27 95% confidence interval, CI [0.03, 0.51]), aggression (d = 0.43 [0.18, 0.68]), and anger rumination (d = 0.41 [0.18, 0.63]). MEA + CR was particularly effective in reducing anger expression (d = 0.66 [0.21, 1.11]), aggression (d = 0.90 [0.42, 1.39]), and anger rumination (d = 0.80 [0.40, 1.20]) for individuals who reported high values (+1SD) of the outcomes at baseline.Conclusions: Brief therapist-supported internet-delivered MEA and CR treatments are effective interventions for maladaptive anger. Combining MEA and CR is especially effective in reducing anger expression and aggression, particularly, in individuals who report higher levels of initial anger pathology. The present study highlights the importance of emotion regulation as an important treatment target for reducing maladaptive anger.
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| 46. |
- Bjørnsbo, Kirsten Schroll, et al.
(author)
-
Protocol for the combined cardiometabolic deep phenotyping and registry-based 20-year follow-up study of the Inter99 cohort
- 2024
-
In: BMJ Open. - 2044-6055. ; 14:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction The population-based Inter99 cohort has contributed extensively to our understanding of effects of a systematic screening and lifestyle intervention, as well as the multifactorial aetiology of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease. To understand causes, trajectories and patterns of early and overt cardiometabolic disease manifestations, we will perform a combined clinical deep phenotyping and registry follow-up study of the now 50–80 years old Inter99 participants. Methods and analysis The Inter99 cohort comprises individuals aged 30–60 years, who lived in a representative geographical area of greater Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1999. Age-stratified and sex-stratified random subgroups were invited to participate in either a lifestyle intervention (N=13 016) or questionnaires (N=5264), while the rest served as a reference population (N=43 021). Of the 13 016 individuals assigned to the lifestyle intervention group, 6784 (52%) accepted participation in a baseline health examination in 1999, including screening for cardiovascular risk factors and prediabetic conditions. In total, 6004 eligible participants, who participated in the baseline examination, will be invited to participate in the deep phenotyping 20-year follow-up clinical examination including measurements of anthropometry, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, cardiometabolic biomarkers, coronary artery calcification, heart rate variability, heart rhythm, liver stiffness, fundus characteristics, muscle strength and mass, as well as health and lifestyle questionnaires. In a subsample, 10-day monitoring of diet, physical activity and continuous glucose measurements will be performed. Fasting blood, urine and faecal samples to be stored in a biobank. The established database will form the basis of multiple analyses. A main purpose is to investigate whether low birth weight independent of genetics, lifestyle and glucose tolerance predicts later common T2D cardiometabolic comorbidities. Ethics and dissemination The study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee, Capital Region, Denmark (H-20076231) and by the Danish Data Protection Agency through the Capital Region of Denmark’s registration system (P-2020-1074). Informed consent will be obtained before examinations. Findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, at conferences and via presentations to stakeholders, including patients and public health policymakers.
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| 47. |
- Björnsdotter, Malin, et al.
(author)
-
Somatotopic organization of gentle touch processing in the posterior insular cortex.
- 2009
-
In: The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. - Washington, DC, United States : Society for Neuroscience. - 1529-2401 .- 0270-6474. ; 29:29, s. 9314-20
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A network of thin (C and A delta) afferents relays various signals related to the physiological condition of the body, including sensations of gentle touch, pain, and temperature changes. Such afferents project to the insular cortex, where a somatotopic organization of responses to noxious and cooling stimuli was recently observed. To explore the possibility of a corresponding body-map topography in relation to gentle touch mediated through C tactile (CT) fibers, we applied soft brush stimuli to the right forearm and thigh of a patient (GL) lacking A beta afferents, and six healthy subjects during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). For improved fMRI analysis, we used a highly sensitive multivariate voxel clustering approach. A somatotopic organization of the left (contralateral) posterior insular cortex was consistently demonstrated in all subjects, including GL, with forearm projecting anterior to thigh stimulation. Also, despite denying any sense of touch in daily life, GL correctly localized 97% of the stimuli to the forearm or thigh in a forced-choice paradigm. The consistency in activation patterns across GL and the healthy subjects suggests that the identified organization reflects the central projection of CT fibers. Moreover, substantial similarities of the presently observed insular activation with that described for noxious and cooling stimuli solidify the hypothesized sensory-affective role of the CT system in the maintenance of physical well-being as part of a thin-afferent homeostatic network.
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| 48. |
- Blomberg, Annelise, et al.
(author)
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Changes in perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations in human milk over the course of lactation : A study in Ronneby mother-child cohort
- 2023
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In: Environmental Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 1096-0953 .- 0013-9351. ; 219
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Little is known about how PFAS concentrations in human milk change over the course of lactation, although this is an important determinant of cumulative infant exposure from breastfeeding.Objective: To estimate changes in PFAS concentrations in human milk over the course of lactation in a population with a wide range of exposure from background-to high-exposed.Methods: We measured PFAS concentrations in colostrum and mature milk samples from women in the Ronneby Mother-Child Cohort. For each PFAS, we estimated the change in concentration from colostrum collected 3-4 days postpartum to mature milk collected 4-12 weeks postpartum using linear mixed-effects models. We evaluated whether this estimated change varied by quartiles of colostrum concentrations. In a subset of mothers with at least three mature milk samples, we estimated the change in concentration per month over the first eight months of lactation.Results: Our study included 77 mother-child pairs, of whom 74 had colostrum and initial mature milk samples and 11 had three or more repeated samples. The concentration change from colostrum to mature milk varied by PFAS. While PFOS increased by 21% (95% CI: 8.9, 35), PFOA decreased by 17% (95% CI: -28, -3.5) and PFHxS decreased by 12% (95% CI: -24, 3.3). In addition, PFAS concentrations tended to increase in women with lower colostrum levels, but decreased or remained the same in women with high colostrum concentrations. When we estimated changes over the course of lactation, we found that PFOA concentrations decreased the most (-12% per month; 95% CI: -22, -1.5), whereas PFHxS and PFOS showed small nonsignificant decreases.Conclusions: Models for cumulative infancy exposure from breastfeeding need to account for differences in concentration trajectories by PFAS and possibly by maternal exposure level. Additional research is needed to evaluate the relative exposure from breastfeeding vs prenatal exposure, especially in highly exposed communities where breastfeeding guidance is urgently needed.
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| 49. |
- Blomberg, Annelise J., et al.
(author)
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Estimated transfer of perfluoroalkyl substances (Pfas) from maternal serum to breast milk in women highly exposed from contaminated drinking water: A study in the ronneby mother-child cohort
- 2023
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In: Environmental Health Perspectives. - 0091-6765 .- 1552-9924. ; 131:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Infancy perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure from breastfeeding is partially determined by the transfer efficiencies (TEs) of PFAS from maternal serum into breast milk. However, to our knowledge there are no studies of such TEs in highly exposed populations. OBJECTIVES: We estimated the TEs of PFAS from maternal serum into colostrum and breast milk in a cohort of women with a wide range of PFAS exposures. METHODS: The Ronneby Mother-Child Cohort was established in 2015 after PFAS contamination was discovered in the public drinking water of Ronneby, Sweden. We measured seven PFAS in matched samples of maternal serum at delivery and colostrum and breast milk. We calculated the TE (in percentage) as the ratio of PFAS in colostrum or breast milk to serum multiplied by 100 and evaluated whether TEs varied by PFAS, lactation stage, or exposure level using a series of linear mixed-effects models with a random intercept for each woman. RESULTS: This study included 126 mothers. PFAS associated with firefighting foams [i.e., perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)] were substantially elevated in the serum, colostrum, and breast milk samples of highly exposed women in the cohort and showed strong correlation. PFHxS and PFOS also contributed the largest fraction of total PFAS on average in colostrum and breast milk. Median TEs varied from 0.9% to 4.3% and were higher for perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, including perfluorooctanoic acid, than perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids, including PFHxS and PFOS. TEs varied by exposure level, but there was not a consistent pattern in this variation. DISCUSSION: PFAS concentrations in the colostrum and breast milk of highly exposed women were higher than the concentrations in low-exposed women, and TEs were of a similar magnitude across exposure categories. This implies that breastfeeding may be an important route of PFAS expo-sure for breastfeeding infants with highly exposed mothers, although the relative contribution of breastfeeding vs. prenatal transplacental transfer remains to be clarified.
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