| 1. |
- Möllerberg, Marie-Louise, et al.
(author)
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Managing an altered social context-Patients experiences of staying away from home while undergoing proton beam therapy
- 2020
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In: Nursing Open. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2054-1058. ; 7:4, s. 1157-1163
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: To illuminate the experience of an altered social context for patients with primary brain tumours living away from home while undergoing proton beam therapy.Design: A descriptive, qualitative cross-sectional interview study.Methods: Nineteen patients were interviewed between December 2015-August 2016, either during (N = 7) or before and after (N = 12) their proton beam therapy. A hermeneutical analysis was performed.Results: Participants made adjustments to achieve control and well-being during the treatment period. The analysis also revealed two interrelated patterns that helped participants adjust: being part of the family from a distance and seeking affinity.Conclusion: It is important that patients receiving treatment far from home find a way to remain a part of their family and find affinity in the altered social context. Health professionals can prepare patients for the treatment period and can implement interventions to promote well-being for both patients and their relatives.
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| 2. |
- Karling, Pontus, et al.
(author)
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Function and dysfunction of the colon and anorectum in adults: working team report of the Swedish Motility Group (SMoG).
- 2009
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In: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1502-7708 .- 0036-5521. ; 44:6, s. 646-60
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Symptoms of fecal incontinence and constipation are common in the general population. These can, however, be unreliably reported and are poorly discriminatory for underlying pathophysiology. Furthermore, both symptoms may coexist. In the elderly, fecal impaction always must be excluded. For patients with constipation, colon transit studies, anorectal manometry and defecography may help to identify patients with slow-transit constipation and/or pelvic floor dysfunction. The best documented medical treatments for constipation are the macrogols, lactulose and isphagula. Evolving drugs include lubiprostone, which enhances colonic secretion by activating chloride channels. Surgery is restricted for a highly selected group of patients with severe slow-transit constipation and for those with large rectoceles that demonstrably cause rectal evacuatory impairment. For patients with fecal incontinence that does not resolve on antidiarrheal treatment, functional and structural evaluation with anorectal manometry and endoanal ultrasound or magnetic resonance (MR) of the anal canal may help to guide management. Sacral nerve stimulation is a rapidly evolving alternative when other treatments such as biofeedback and direct sphincter repair have failed. Advances in understanding the pathophysiology as a guide to treatment of patients with constipation and fecal incontinence is a continuing important goal for translational research. The content of this article is a summary of presentations given by the authors at the Fourth Meeting of the Swedish Motility Group, held in Gothenburg in April 2007.
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| 3. |
- Locke, Adam E, et al.
(author)
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Genetic studies of body mass index yield new insights for obesity biology.
- 2015
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In: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 518:7538, s. 197-401
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Obesity is heritable and predisposes to many diseases. To understand the genetic basis of obesity better, here we conduct a genome-wide association study and Metabochip meta-analysis of body mass index (BMI), a measure commonly used to define obesity and assess adiposity, in up to 339,224 individuals. This analysis identifies 97 BMI-associated loci (P < 5 × 10(-8)), 56 of which are novel. Five loci demonstrate clear evidence of several independent association signals, and many loci have significant effects on other metabolic phenotypes. The 97 loci account for ∼2.7% of BMI variation, and genome-wide estimates suggest that common variation accounts for >20% of BMI variation. Pathway analyses provide strong support for a role of the central nervous system in obesity susceptibility and implicate new genes and pathways, including those related to synaptic function, glutamate signalling, insulin secretion/action, energy metabolism, lipid biology and adipogenesis.
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| 4. |
- Mårtensson, Ulrika, et al.
(author)
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Deletion of the G protein-coupled receptor 30 impairs glucose tolerance, reduces bone growth, increases blood pressure, and eliminates estradiol-stimulated insulin release in female mice.
- 2009
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In: Endocrinology. - : The Endocrine Society. - 1945-7170 .- 0013-7227. ; 150:2, s. 687-98
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In vitro studies suggest that the G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 30 is a functional estrogen receptor. However, the physiological role of GPR30 in vivo is unknown, and it remains to be determined whether GPR30 is an estrogen receptor also in vivo. To this end, we studied the effects of disrupting the GPR30 gene in female and male mice. Female GPR30((-/-)) mice had hyperglycemia and impaired glucose tolerance, reduced body growth, increased blood pressure, and reduced serum IGF-I levels. The reduced growth correlated with a proportional decrease in skeletal development. The elevated blood pressure was associated with an increased vascular resistance manifested as an increased media to lumen ratio of the resistance arteries. The hyperglycemia and impaired glucose tolerance in vivo were associated with decreased insulin expression and release in vivo and in vitro in isolated pancreatic islets. GPR30 is expressed in islets, and GPR30 deletion abolished estradiol-stimulated insulin release both in vivo in ovariectomized adult mice and in vitro in isolated islets. Our findings show that GPR30 is important for several metabolic functions in female mice, including estradiol-stimulated insulin release.
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| 5. |
- Möllerberg, Marie-Louise, et al.
(author)
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Evaluation of skin reactions during proton beam radiotherapy : patient-reported versus clinician-reporte
- 2021
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In: Technical innovations & patient support in radiation oncology. - : Elsevier. - 2405-6324. ; 19, s. 11-17
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Skin reaction is a common side-effect of radiotherapy and often only assessed as clinician-reported outcome (CRO). The aim was to examine and compare patient-reported outcome (PRO) of skin reactions with CRO for signs of acute skin reactions for patients with primary brain tumour receiving proton beam radiotherapy (PBT). A further aim was to explore patients' experiences of the skin reactions.Methods: Acute skin reactions were assessed one week after start of treatment, mid-treatment and end of treatment among 253 patients with primary brain tumour who underwent PBT. PRO skin reactions were assessed with the RSAS and CRO according to the RTOG scale. Fleiss' kappa was performed to measure the inter-rater agreement of the assessments of skin reactions.Results: The results showed a discrepancy between PRO and CRO acute skin reactions. Radiation dose was associated with increased skin reactions, but no correlations were seen for age, gender, education, occupation, other treatment or smoking. There was a poor agreement between patients and clinicians (κ = -0.016) one week after the start of PBT, poor (κ = -0.045) to (κ = 0.396) moderate agreement at mid treatment and poor (κ = -0.010) to (κ = 0.296) moderate agreement at end of treatment. Generally, patients' symptom distress toward skin reactions was low at all time points.Conclusion: The poor agreement between PRO and CRO shows that the patient needs to be involved in assessments of skin reactions for a more complete understanding of skin reactions due to PBT. This may also improve patient experience regarding involvement in their own care.
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| 6. |
-
Neutrino Physics : Proceedings of Nobel Symposium 129
- 2006
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Editorial proceedings (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PREFACE Nobel Symposium 129 on Neutrino Physics was held at Haga Slott in Enköping, Sweden during August 19–24, 2004. Invited to the symposium were around 40 globally leading researchers in the field of neutrino physics, both experimental and theoretical. In addition to these participants, some 30 local researchers and graduate students participated in the symposium. The dominant theme of the lectures was neutrino oscillations, which after several years were recently verified by results from the Super-Kamiokande detector in Kamioka, Japan and the SNO detector in Sudbury, Canada. Discussion focused especially on effects of neutrino oscillations derived from the presence of matter and the fact that three different neutrinos exist. Since neutrino oscillations imply that neutrinos have mass, this is the first experimental observation that fundamentally deviates from the standard model of particle physics. This is a challenge to both theoretical and experimental physics. The various oscillation parameters will be determined with increased precision in new, specially designed experiments. Theoretical physics is working intensively to insert the knowledge that neutrinos have mass into the theoretical models that describe particle physics. It will probably turn out that the discovery of neutrino oscillations signifies a breakthrough in the description of the very smallest constituents of matter. The lectures provided a very good description of the intensive situation in the field right now. The topics discussed also included mass models for neutrinos, neutrinos in extra dimensions as well as the `seesaw mechanism', which provides a good description of why neutrino masses are so small. Also discussed, besides neutrino oscillations, was the new field of neutrino astronomy. Among the questions that neutrino astronomy hopes to answer are what the dark matter in the Universe consists of and where cosmic radiation at extremely high energies comes from. For this purpose, large neutrino telescopes are built deep in the Antarctic ice, in the Baikal Lake, and in the Mediterranean Sea. Among prominent unanswered questions, highlighted as one of the most important, was whether neutrinos are Dirac or Majorana particles. By studying neutrino double beta decay, researchers hope to answer this question, but it will put very large demands on detectors. The programme also included ample time for lively and valuable discussions, which cannot normally be held at ordinary conferences. The symposium concluded with a round-table discussion, where participants discussed the future of neutrino physics.Without a doubt, neutrino physics today is moving toward a very exciting and interesting period. An important contribution to the success of the symposium was the wonderful setting that the Haga Slott manor house hotel and conference center offered to the participants.
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| 7. |
- Schmidt, Peter Thelin, et al.
(author)
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Methods to assess gastric motility and sensation
- 2008
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. - London : Informa Healthcare. - 0036-5521 .- 1502-7708. ; 43:11, s. 1285-1295
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)
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| 8. |
- Sjövall, Katarina, et al.
(author)
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To become part of the team—patient experiences of participating in decision-making for a new treatment (proton beam therapy)
- 2024
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In: Supportive Care in Cancer. - : Springer Verlag. - 0941-4355 .- 1433-7339. ; 32:7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose : The aim of this study was to explore patients’ experience of participation in the treatment decision of proton beam therapy versus conventional radiotherapy. Background : Proton beam therapy (PBT) has become a treatment option for some cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. The decision to give PBT instead of conventional radiotherapy (CRT) needs to be carefully planned together with the patient to ensure that the degree of participation is based on individuals’ preferences. There is a knowledge gap of successful approaches to support patients’ participation in the decision-making process, which is particularly important when it comes to the situation of having to choose between two treatment options such as PBT and CRT, with similar expected outcomes. Method : We conducted a secondary analysis of qualitative data collected from interviews with patients who received PBT for their brain tumor. Transcribed verbatims from interviews with 22 patients were analyzed regarding experiences of participation in the decision-making process leading to PBT. Findings : Participants experienced their participation in the decision-making process to a varying degree, and with individual preferences. Four themes emerged from data: to be a voice that matters, to get control over what will happen, being in the hand of doctors’ choice, and feeling selected for treatment. Conclusion : A decision for treatment with PBT can be experienced as a privilege but can also cause stress as it might entail practical issues affecting everyday life in a considerable way. For the patient to have confidence in the decision-making process, patients’ preferences, expectations, and experiences must be included by the healthcare team. Including the patient in the healthcare team as an equal partner by confirming the person enables and facilitates for patients’ voice to be heard and reckoned with. Person-centered care building on a partnership between patients and healthcare professionals should provide the right basis for the decision-making process.
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| 9. |
- Svensson, Per Anders, 1959, et al.
(author)
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Identification of genes predominantly expressed in human macrophages
- 2004
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In: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier BV. ; 177, s. 287-290
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Identification of cell and tissue specific genes may provide novel insights to signaling systems and functions. Macrophages play a key role in many diseases including atherosclerosis. Using DNA microarrays we compared the expression of approximately 10,000 genes in 56 human tissues and identified 23 genes with predominant expression in macrophages. The identified genes include both genes known to be macrophage specific and genes previously not well described in this cell type. Tissue distribution of two genes, liver X receptor (LXR) alpha and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN), was verified by real-time RT-PCR. We conclude that comparison of expression profiles from a large number of tissues can be used to identify genes that are predominantly expressed in certain tissues. Identification of novel macrophage specific genes may increase our understanding of the role of this cell in different diseases.
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| 10. |
- Svensson, Per-Arne, 1969, et al.
(author)
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Regulation and splicing of scavenger receptor class B type I in human macrophages and atherosclerotic plaques
- 2005
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In: BMC Cardiovasc Disord. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2261. ; 5
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The protective role of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the cardiovascular system is related to its role in the reverse transport of cholesterol from the arterial wall to the liver for subsequent excretion via the bile. Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) binds HDL and mediates selective uptake of cholesterol ester and cellular efflux of cholesterol to HDL. The role of SR-BI in atherosclerosis has been well established in murine models but it remains unclear whether SR-BI plays an equally important role in atherosclerosis in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of SR-BI and its isoforms in human macrophages and atherosclerotic plaques. METHODS: The effect of hypoxia and minimally modified low-density lipoprotein (mmLDL), two proatherogenic stimuli, on SR-BI expression was studied in human monocyte-derived macrophages from healthy subjects using real-time PCR. In addition, SR-BI expression was determined in macrophages obtained from subjects with atherosclerosis (n = 15) and healthy controls (n = 15). Expression of SR-BI isoforms was characterized in human atherosclerotic plaques and macrophages using RT-PCR and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: SR-BI expression was decreased in macrophages after hypoxia (p < 0.005). In contrast, SR-BI expression was increased by exposure to mmLDL (p < 0.05). There was no difference in SR-BI expression in macrophages from patients with atherosclerosis compared to controls. In both groups, SR-BI expression was increased by exposure to mmLDL (p < 0.05). Transcripts corresponding to SR-BI and SR-BII were detected in macrophages. In addition, a third isoform, referred to as SR-BIII, was discovered. All three isoforms were also expressed in human atherosclerotic plaque. Compared to the other isoforms, the novel SR-BIII isoform was predicted to have a unique intracellular C-terminal domain containing 53 amino acids. CONCLUSION: We conclude that SR-BI is regulated by proatherogenic stimuli in humans. However, we found no differences between subjects with atherosclerosis and healthy controls. This indicates that altered SR-BI expression is not a common cause of atherosclerosis. In addition, we identified SR-BIII as a novel isoform expressed in human macrophages and in human atherosclerotic plaques.
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| 11. |
- Alsved, Julia, et al.
(author)
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Label-free separation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from whole blood by gradient acoustic focusing
- 2024
-
In: Scientific Reports. - 2045-2322. ; 14:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Efficient techniques for separating target cells from undiluted blood are necessary for various diagnostic and research applications. This paper presents acoustic focusing in dense media containing iodixanol to purify peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from whole blood in a label-free and flow-through format. If the blood is laminated or mixed with iodixanol solutions while passing through the resonant microchannel, all the components (fluids and cells) rearrange according to their acoustic impedances. Red blood cells (RBCs) have higher effective acoustic impedance than PBMCs. Therefore, they relocate to the pressure node despite the dense medium, while PBMCs stay near the channel walls due to their negative contrast factor relative to their surrounding medium. By modifying the medium and thus tuning the contrast factor of the cells, we enriched PBMCs relative to RBCs by a factor of 3600 to 11,000 and with a separation efficiency of 85%. That level of RBC depletion is higher than most other microfluidic methods and similar to that of density gradient centrifugation. The current acoustophoretic chip runs up to 20 µl/min undiluted whole blood and can be integrated with downstream analysis.
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
- Anderberg, Cecilia, et al.
(author)
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Wear Resistance of Smooth Automotive Cylinder Liner Surfaces
- 2005
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In: World Tribology Congress III, Volume 2. - New York, NY : ASME Press. - 0791842029 ; , s. 603-604
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Demands for decreased environmental impact from vehicles are resulting in a strong push for decreased engine oil, fuel consumption and weight. New machining and coating technologies have offered ways to attack these problems. Engine oil and fuel consumption are to a great extent controlled by the topography of the cylinder liner surface and it is therefore important to optimise this surface. Recent engine tests have shown a reduction in oil consumption when using cylinder liners with a smoother finish than that given by the current plateau honing. However, engine manufacturers are hesitant to introduce smoother liner surfaces because of fears of severe wear and scuffing. There is also the possibility that smoother liner surfaces may be more sensitive to the choice of piston ring finishes. This paper therefore seeks to investigate the functional performance and resistance to wear of these smooth cylinder liners and the mating top ring surfaces. Copyright © 2005 by ASME
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| 14. |
- Anderson, Arne M., 1925, et al.
(author)
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Industriell ekonomi
- 2003
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Book (other academic/artistic)
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| 15. |
- Andersson, Mariette, et al.
(author)
-
Genome editing in potato via CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein delivery
- 2018
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In: Physiologia Plantarum. - : Wiley. - 0031-9317 .- 1399-3054. ; 164, s. 378-384
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated protein-9 (CRISPR-Cas9) can be used as an efficient tool for genome editing in potato (Solanum tuberosum). From both a scientific and a regulatory perspective, it is beneficial if integration of DNA in the potato genome is avoided. We have implemented a DNA-free genome editing method, using delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) to potato protoplasts, by targeting the gene encoding a granule bound starch synthase (GBSS, EC 2.4.1.242). The RNP method was directly implemented using previously developed protoplast isolation, transfection and regeneration protocols without further adjustments. Cas9 protein was preassembled with RNA produced either synthetically or by in vitro transcription. RNP with synthetically produced RNA (cr-RNP) induced mutations, i.e. indels, at a frequency of up to 9%, with all mutated lines being transgene-free. A mutagenesis frequency of 25% of all regenerated shoots was found when using RNP with in vitro transcriptionally produced RNA (IVT-RNP). However, more than 80% of the shoots with confirmed mutations had unintended inserts in the cut site, which was in the same range as when using DNA delivery. The inserts originated both from DNA template remnants from the in vitro transcription, and from chromosomal potato DNA. In 2-3% of the regenerated shoots from the RNP-experiments, mutations were induced in all four alleles resulting in a complete knockout of the GBSS enzyme function.
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| 16. |
- Beausang, Angela, et al.
(author)
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"Möjligheten att rädda några av dessa kvinnors liv har inte vägts in"
- 2014
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In: Dagens Medicin. - : Dagens Medicin.
-
Journal article (pop. science, debate, etc.)abstract
- Namnet på Socialstyrelsens vägledning lyder: Hur upptäcka våldsutsatthet? Ja, det kan man verkligen fråga sig efter att ha läst detta föga vägledande dokument, skriver ett stort antal kritiska debattörer.
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| 17. |
- Bellman, Jakob, et al.
(author)
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Loading enhances glucose uptake in muscles, bones, and bone marrow of lower extremities in humans.
- 2024
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In: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. - 1945-7197.
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Increased standing time has been associated with improved health, but the underlying mechanism is unclear.We herein investigate if increased weight loading increases energy demand and thereby glucose uptake (GU) locally in bone and/or muscle in the lower extremities.In this single-center clinical trial with randomized crossover design (ClinicalTrials.gov ID, NCT05443620), we enrolled 10 men with body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 35kg/m2. Participants were treated with both high load (standing with weight vest weighing 11% of body weight) and no load (sitting) on the lower extremities. GU was measured using whole-body quantitative positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging. The primary endpoint was the change in GU ratio between loaded bones (i.e. femur and tibia) and non-loaded bones (i.e. humerus).High load increased the GU ratio between lower and upper extremities in cortical diaphyseal bone (e.g. femur/humerus ratio increased by 19%, p=0.029), muscles (e.g. m. quadriceps femoris/m. triceps brachii ratio increased by 28%, p=0.014) and in certain bone marrow regions (femur/humerus diaphyseal bone marrow region ratio increased by 17%, p=0.041). Unexpectedly, we observed the highest GU in the bone marrow region of vertebral bodies, but its GU was not affected by high load.Increased weight-bearing loading enhances GU in muscles, cortical bone, and bone marrow of the exposed lower extremities. This could be interpreted as increased local energy demand in bone and muscle caused by increased loading. The physiological importance of the increased local GU by static loading remains to be determined.
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| 18. |
- Berndt, Sonja I., et al.
(author)
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Genome-wide meta-analysis identifies 11 new loci for anthropometric traits and provides insights into genetic architecture
- 2013
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In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 45:5, s. 501-U69
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Approaches exploiting trait distribution extremes may be used to identify loci associated with common traits, but it is unknown whether these loci are generalizable to the broader population. In a genome-wide search for loci associated with the upper versus the lower 5th percentiles of body mass index, height and waist-to-hip ratio, as well as clinical classes of obesity, including up to 263,407 individuals of European ancestry, we identified 4 new loci (IGFBP4, H6PD, RSRC1 and PPP2R2A) influencing height detected in the distribution tails and 7 new loci (HNF4G, RPTOR, GNAT2, MRPS33P4, ADCY9, HS6ST3 and ZZZ3) for clinical classes of obesity. Further, we find a large overlap in genetic structure and the distribution of variants between traits based on extremes and the general population and little etiological heterogeneity between obesity subgroups.
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| 19. |
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| 20. |
- Boisvert, Catherine Anne, 1978-
(author)
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The Origin of Tetrapod Limbs and Girdles: Fossil and Developmental Evidence
- 2009
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Around 375 million years ago, the first tetrapods appeared, marking one of the most important events in vertebrate evolutionary history. The fin to limb transition saw the appearance of fingers and a weight bearing pelvic girdle. While very little research has been done on the evolution of the tetrapod pelvic girdle, a fair amount has been done on the origins of fingers but some aspects remained controversial. A combination of palaeontology, developmental biology and comparative morphology was therefore used in this thesis to better understand the fin to limb transition. The pectoral fin of Panderichthys, a sarcopterygian fish closely related to tetrapods was CT-scanned and modeled in three dimensions and its pelvic girdle and fin were examined with traditional techniques. This information from the fossil record was integrated with comparisons of the development of the Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri, our closest living fish relative and the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), a salamander representing well the condition of early tetrapods. Development of bone and cartilage was studied through clearing and staining and development of skeletal muscles through immunostaining. In situ hybridizations were performed on the lungfish to study the expression of Hoxd13, associated with the formation of digits in tetrapods. This work shows that the late expression phase of Hoxd13 is present in Neoceratodus and is associated with the formation of radials. Redescription of the pectoral fin of Panderichthys reveals that distal radials are present, which, in addition to other information, lead us to conclude that digits are not novelties in tetrapods but rather have evolved from the distal radials present in the fins of all sarcopterygian fish. The earliest tetrapods lack a full set of wrist + carpals/ankle + tarsal bones. Here, we propose that this region of the limbs evolved after fingers and toes through an expansion of the region between the proximal limb bones and the digits. As for the pelvic girdle, it is very primitive in Panderichthys but comparison of its development in Neoceratodus and Ambystoma suggest that the ischium evolved through the posterior expansion of the pubis and the ilium, through an elongation of the iliac process already present in sarcopterygian fishes. The results of this thesis help to better understand the fin to limb transition and show that it is more gradual than previously believed.
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| 21. |
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| 22. |
- Broomé, Per, et al.
(author)
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Self-employment : the significance of ability, desire and opportunity
- 2018
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In: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 1355-2554 .- 1758-6534. ; 24:2, s. 538-552
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of ability, desire and opportunity on the individual's intention to be self-employed. Design/methodology/approach The authors created a database from Swedish national registers consisting of all individuals residing in Sweden sometime during the period 1997-2010 and selected all 333,001 full sibling pairs, 12,810 maternal half sibling pairs and 15,944 paternal half sibling pairs. Three types of entrepreneurs were defined based on information from the Swedish Tax Register. The authors divided the intention to be self-employed into ability and desire and defined ability as a genetic factor and desire as a common family factor. A classical twin model was used to separate the variance of the outcome variables into genetic, common and unshared environmental factors. Findings The study demonstrates that the influence from opportunity on the intention to be self-employed is generally strong and that all factors, ability, desire and opportunity, differ, both in size and content, for the three outcomes of entrepreneurs. Originality/value The authors divide self-employment into three distinct company types, which enables a sophisticated additive genetic analysis of the ability, desire and opportunity to be self-employed. The authors contribute to the understanding of why individuals become self-employed by examining the influences from internal and external factors of family on the intentions of self-employment.
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| 23. |
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| 24. |
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| 25. |
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| 26. |
- Cuddington, John T, et al.
(author)
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Optimal policy rules and regime switching in disequilibrium models
- 1985
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In: Journal of Public Economics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0047-2727 .- 1879-2316. ; 27:2, s. 247-254
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper emphasizes the need to search for globally optimal policy levels (for public production, say) in fix-price disequilibrium analysis. Regime-specific rules are inadequate. They ignore the fact that moving a policy towards its optimal level may move the economy from its initial disequilibrium regime to a different regime where the rule no longer applies.
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| 27. |
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| 28. |
- Dahlqvist, Johanna, 1979-, et al.
(author)
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Identification and functional characterization of a novel susceptibility locus for small vessel vasculitis with MPO-ANCA
- 2022
-
In: Rheumatology. - Oxford, United Kingdom : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1462-0324 .- 1462-0332. ; 61:8, s. 3461-3470
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective To identify and characterize genetic loci associated with the risk of developing ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV). Methods Genetic association analyses were performed after Illumina sequencing of 1853 genes and subsequent replication with genotyping of selected single nucleotide polymorphisms in a total cohort of 1110 Scandinavian cases with granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis, and 1589 controls. A novel AAV-associated single nucleotide polymorphism was analysed for allele-specific effects on gene expression using luciferase reporter assay. Results PR3-ANCA(+) AAV was significantly associated with two independent loci in the HLA-DPB1/HLA-DPA1 region [rs1042335, P = 6.3 x 10(-61), odds ratio (OR) 0.10; rs9277341, P = 1.5 x 10(-44), OR 0.22] and with rs28929474 in the SERPINA1 gene (P = 2.7 x 10(-10), OR 2.9). MPO-ANCA(+) AAV was significantly associated with the HLA-DQB1/HLA-DQA2 locus (rs9274619, P = 5.4 x 10(-25), OR 3.7) and with a rare variant in the BACH2 gene (rs78275221, P = 7.9 x 10(-7), OR 3.0), the latter a novel susceptibility locus for MPO-ANCA(+) granulomatosis with polyangiitis/microscopic polyangiitis. The rs78275221-A risk allele reduced luciferase gene expression in endothelial cells, specifically, as compared with the non-risk allele. Conclusion We identified a novel susceptibility locus for MPO-ANCA(+) AAV and propose that the associated variant is of mechanistic importance, exerting a regulatory function on gene expression in specific cell types.
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| 29. |
- Dalemo, Sofia, et al.
(author)
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Variation in plasma calcium analysis in primary care in Sweden--a multilevel analysis.
- 2010
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In: BMC family practice. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2296. ; 11
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is a common disease that often remains undetected and causes severe disturbance especially in postmenopausal women. Therefore, national recommendations promoting early pHPT detection by plasma calcium (P-Ca) have been issued in Sweden. In this study we aimed to investigate variation of P-Ca analysis between physicians and health care centres (HCCs) in primary care in county of Skaraborg, Sweden.
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| 30. |
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| 31. |
- Edin, Per-Anders, et al.
(author)
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Political determinants of budget deficits : Coalition effects versus minority effects
- 1991
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In: European Economic Review. - 0014-2921 .- 1873-572X. ; 35:8, s. 1597-1603
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper reexamines some recent empirical evidence on the hypothesis that institutional arrangements in the political process affect budget deficits. The results of Roubini and Sachs (1989b) are replicated, and sensitivity analysis indicate that their results are robust. However, the main conclusion of Roubini and Sachs, that coalition governments are less capable of budgetary discipline, needs to be modified. A reformulation of their variable representing political cohesion reveals that it captures the effects of minority governments rather than majority coalition governments. The data support the hypothesis that it is harder to negotiate in parliament than within a government.
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| 32. |
- Ek, Malin, et al.
(author)
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Gastrointestinal symptoms among endometriosis patients : A case-cohort study
- 2015
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In: BMC Women's Health. - : BioMed Central. - 1472-6874. ; 15
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Women with endometriosis often experience gastrointestinal symptoms. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs are used to treat endometriosis; however, some patients develop gastrointestinal dysmotility following this treatment. The aims of the present study were to investigate gastrointestinal symptoms among patients with endometriosis and to examine whether symptoms were associated with menstruation, localization of endometriosis lesions, or treatment with either opioids or GnRH analogs, and if hormonal treatment affected the symptoms. Methods All patients with diagnosed endometriosis at the Department of Gynecology were invited to participate in the study. Gastrointestinal symptoms were registered using the Visual Analogue Scale for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (VAS-IBS); socioeconomic and medical histories were compiled using a clinical data survey. Data were compared to a control group from the general population. Results A total of 109 patients and 65 controls were investigated. Compared to controls, patients with endometriosis experienced significantly aggravated abdominal pain (P = 0.001), constipation (P = 0.009), bloating and flatulence (P = 0.000), defecation urgency (P = 0.010), and sensation of incomplete evacuation (P = 0.050), with impaired psychological well-being (P = 0.005) and greater intestinal symptom influence on their daily lives (P = 0.001). The symptoms were not associated with menstruation or localization of endometriosis lesions, except increased nausea and vomiting (P = 0.010) in patients with bowel-associated lesions. Half of the patients were able to differentiate between abdominal pain from endometriosis and from the gastrointestinal tract. Patients using opioids experienced more severe symptoms than patients not using opioids, and patients with current or previous use of GnRH analogs had more severe abdominal pain than the other patients (P = 0.024). Initiation of either combined oral contraceptives or progesterone for endometriosis had no effect on gastrointestinal symptoms when the patients were followed prospectively. Conclusions The majority of endometriosis patients experience more severe gastrointestinal symptoms than controls. A poor association between symptoms and lesion localization was found, indicating existing comorbidity between endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Treatment with opioids or GnRH analogs is associated with aggravated gastrointestinal symptoms.
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| 33. |
- Ekman, Diana, et al.
(author)
-
Stratified genetic analysis reveals sex differences in MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis
- 2023
-
In: Rheumatology. - : Oxford University Press. - 1462-0324 .- 1462-0332. ; 62:9, s. 3213-3218
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To identify and genetically characterize subgroups of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV) based on sex and ANCA subtype. Methods: A previously established SNP dataset derived from DNA sequencing of 1853 genes and genotyping of 1088 Scandinavian cases with AAV and 1589 controls was stratified for sex and ANCA subtype and analysed for association with five top AAV SNPs. rs9274619, a lead variant at the HLA-DQB1/HLA-DQA2 locus previously associated with AAV positive for myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA, was analysed for association with the cumulative disease involvement of ten different organ systems. Results: rs9274619 showed a significantly stronger association to MPO-ANCA-positive females than males [P = 2.0 × 10-4, OR = 2.3 (95% CI 1.5, 3.5)], whereas proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA-associated variants rs1042335, rs9277341 (HLA-DPB1/A1) and rs28929474 (SERPINA1) were equally associated with females and males with PR3-ANCA. In MPO-ANCA-positive cases, carriers of the rs9274619 risk allele were more prone to disease engagement of eyes [P = 0.021, OR = 11 (95% CI 2.2, 205)] but less prone to pulmonary involvement [P = 0.026, OR = 0.52 (95% CI 0.30, 0.92)]. Moreover, AAV with both MPO-ANCA and PR3-ANCA was associated with the PR3-ANCA lead SNP rs1042335 [P = 0.0015, OR = 0.091 (95% CI 0.0022, 0.55)] but not with rs9274619. Conclusions: Females and males with MPO-ANCA-positive AAV differ in genetic predisposition to disease, suggesting at least partially distinct disease mechanisms between the sexes. Double ANCA-positive AAV cases are genetically similar to PR3-ANCA-positive cases, providing clues to the clinical follow-up and treatment of these patients.
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| 34. |
- Emek, Sinan Cem, et al.
(author)
-
Pigments protect the light harvesting proteins of chloroplast thylakoid membranes against digestion by gastrointestinal proteases
- 2011
-
In: Food Hydrocolloids. - : Elsevier BV. - 0268-005X. ; 25:6, s. 1618-1626
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chloroplast thylakoid membranes inhibit pancreatic lipase/colipase activity in vitro and, when included in food, induce satiety signals. As thylakoid membranes themselves are nutrients, containing lipids and proteins, it is of interest to study the digestion of thylakoids by enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract. Thylakoid membranes were treated with pepsin, trypsin, gastric and pancreatic juice at 37 degrees C and the resulting enzymatic breakdown was analyzed by gel electrophoresis, electron microscopy and mass spectroscopy. In all cases, several of the proteins were degraded within half an hour, while the main parts of the pigment-protein complexes were resistant for hours. Oil emulsified thylakoids were more resistant towards the enzymatic breakdown. Electron microscopy demonstrated that, after treatments, the thylakoids still remained in a membrane vesicular form. The capacity of thylakoid membranes to inhibit the lipase/colipase activity was partly reduced in all cases. About 50% of the inhibition capacity remained after treatment with pancreatic juice when the thylakoids were present in an oil emulsion. Delipidated thylakoids and plasma membranes, which lack the photosynthetic pigments, were degraded rapidly by pancreatic juice. Conclusion: The pigments, closely bound to the trans-membrane helices of thylakoid membrane proteins protect these from digestion by pepsin, trypsin, gastric and pancreatic juice. This supports the notion that a substantial inhibition of lipase/colipase takes place during the first 2 h in the intestine resulting in a retardation and prolongation of lipolysis in vivo. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 35. |
- Engström, Per, et al.
(author)
-
Loss evasion and tax aversion
- 2011
-
Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The objective of this paper is to study if taxpayers behave in a loss averse manner when filing their tax returns. This is important for tax design but also for understanding human behavior in general. The predictions of prospect theory can be contrasted to those of expected utility theory. We use data for 3.6 million Swedish taxpayers for the income year 2006. Our research method is quasi-experimental using a regression kink and discontinuity approach. We also use an alternative instrumental-variables approach. There is strong evidence of loss aversion. We estimate the coefficient of loss aversion using actual behavior and the instrument-variables approach. Our estimate is very close to the estimates reported in the experimental literature.
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| 36. |
- Engström, Per, et al.
(author)
-
Loss evasion and tax aversion
- 2015
-
In: American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. ; 7, s. 132-164
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The objective of this paper is to study if taxpayers behave in a loss aversemanner when filing their tax returns. This is important for tax design but alsofor understanding human behavior in general. The predictions of prospecttheory can be contrasted to those of expected utility theory. We use datafor 3.6 million Swedish taxpayers for the income year 2006. Our researchmethod is quasi-experimental using a regression kink and discontinuity approach.We also use an alternative instrumental-variables approach. There isstrong evidence of loss aversion. We estimate the coefficient of loss aversionusing actual behavior and the instrument-variables approach. Our estimate isvery close to the estimates reported in the experimental literature.
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| 37. |
- Engström, Per, et al.
(author)
-
Tax Compliance and Loss Aversion
- 2015
-
In: American Economic Journal. - : American Economic Association. - 1945-7731 .- 1945-774X. ; 7:4, s. 132-164
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We study if taxpayers are loss averse when filing returns. Preliminary deficits might be viewed as losses assuming zero preliminary balances as reference points. Swedish taxpayers can to try to escape such losses by claiming deductions after receiving information about the preliminary balance. Using a regression kink and discontinuity approach, we study data for 3.6 million Swedish taxpayers for 2006. There are strong causal effects of preliminary tax deficits on the probability of claiming deductions. Compliance will increase and auditing costs will be reduced if preliminary taxes are calibrated so that most taxpayers receive refunds.
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| 38. |
- Ericsson, Rolf
(author)
-
A Comparative Study of Head Development in Mexican Axolotl and Australian Lungfish: Cell Migration, Cell Fate and Morphogenesis
- 2003
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The development of the vertebrate head is a complex process involving interactions between a multitude of cell types and tissues. This thesis describes the development of the cranial neural crest and of the visceral arch muscles in the head of two species. One, the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), is a basal tetrapod, whereas the other, the Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri), belongs to the Dipnoi, the extant sister group of the Tetrapoda. The migration of neural crest cells, which form most of the bones and connective tissues in the head, and the morphogenesis of the jaw, was determined in the Mexican axolotl. It was shown that both the upper and lower jaws form from ventral condensations of neural crest cells in the mandibular arch. The dorsal condensation, earlier considered to give rise to the upper jaw, was shown to form the trabecula cranii.The normal spatio-temporal development of visceral arch muscles was investigated in both the Mexican axolotl and the Australian lungfish. In axolotl, the muscles tended to start forming almost simultaneously in all visceral arches at their future origins and extend towards their future insertions at the onset of muscle fibre formation. In lungfish, fibres formed simultaneously throughout most of each muscle anlage in the first and second visceral arch, but were delayed in the branchial arches. The anlagen were first observed at their future insertion, from which they developed towards future origins. To test the ability of neural crest cells to pattern the visceral arch muscles, migrating crest cells were extirpated from axolotl embryos, which resulted in a wide range of muscle malformations. In most cases, the muscles appeared in the right position but were small and extended in abnormal directions. This shows that neural crest cells are responsible not for the position of the muscles but for their correct anatomical pattern. Fate mapping showed that connective tissue surrounding myofibers is, at least partly, neural crest derived.In conclusion, the work presented in this thesis shows that although early development may map out the patterns of later development, the differences between axolotl and lungfish head development are not seen until during morphogenesis. Further investigation of morphogenesis is needed to explain the great variation of head morphology seen in vertebrates today.
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| 39. |
- Evander, Eva, et al.
(author)
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Role of ventilation scintigraphy in diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism: an evaluation using artificial neural networks.
- 2003
-
In: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1619-7070 .- 1619-7089. ; 30:7, s. 961-965
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to assess the value of the ventilation study in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism using a new automated method. Either perfusion scintigrams alone or two different combinations of ventilation/perfusion scintigrams were used as the only source of information regarding pulmonary embolism. A completely automated method based on computerised image processing and artificial neural networks was used for the interpretation. Three artificial neural networks were trained for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Each network was trained with 18 automatically obtained features. Three different sets of features originating from three sets of scintigrams were used. One network was trained using features obtained from each set of perfusion scintigrams, including six projections. The second network was trained using features from each set of (joint) ventilation and perfusion studies in six projections. A third network was trained using features from the perfusion study in six projections combined with a single ventilation image from the posterior view. A total of 1,087 scintigrams from patients with suspected pulmonary embolism were used for network training. The test group consisted of 102 patients who had undergone both scintigraphy and pulmonary angiography. Performances in the test group were measured as area under the receiver operation characteristic curve. The performance of the neural network in interpreting perfusion scintigrams alone was 0.79 (95% confidence limits 0.71–0.86). When one ventilation image (posterior view) was added to the perfusion study, the performance was 0.84 (0.77–0.90). This increase was statistically significant (P=0.022). The performance increased to 0.87 (0.81–0.93) when all perfusion and ventilation images were used, and the increase in performance from 0.79 to 0.87 was also statistically significant (P=0.016). The automated method presented here for the interpretation of lung scintigrams shows a significant increase in performance when one or all ventilation images are added to the six perfusion images. Thus, the ventilation study has a significant role in the diagnosis of acute lung embolism.
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| 40. |
- Forsberg, Per Ola, et al.
(author)
-
Causal nature of neighborhood deprivation on individual risk of coronary heart disease or ischemic stroke : A prospective national Swedish co-relative control study in men and women
- 2018
-
In: Health and Place. - : Elsevier BV. - 1353-8292. ; 50, s. 1-5
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We studied the association between neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) or ischemic stroke in the total population and in full- and half-siblings to determine whether these associations are causal or a result from familial confounding. Data were retrieved from nationwide Swedish registers containing individual clinical data linked to neighborhood of residence. After adjustment for individual SES, the association between neighborhood SES and CHD showed no decrease with increasing genetic resemblance, particularly in women. This indicates that the association between neighborhood SES and CHD incidence is partially causal among women, which represents a novel finding.
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| 41. |
- Forsberg, Per Ola, et al.
(author)
-
Workplace socioeconomic characteristics and coronary heart disease : a nationwide follow-up study
- 2023
-
In: BMJ Open. - 2044-6055. ; 13:7
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives Important gaps in previous research include a lack of studies on the association between socioeconomic characteristics of the workplace and coronary heart disease (CHD). We aimed to examine two contextual factors in association with individuals' risk of CHD: the mean educational level of all employees at each individual's workplace (education work) and the neighbourhood socioeconomic characteristics of each individual's workplace (neighbourhood SES work). Design Nationwide follow-up/cohort study. Setting Nationwide data from Sweden. Participants All individuals born in Sweden from 1943 to 1957 were included (n=1 547 818). We excluded individuals with a CHD diagnosis prior to 2008 (n=67 619), individuals without workplace information (n=576 663), individuals lacking residential address (n=4139) and individuals who had unknown parents (n=7076). A total of 892 321 individuals were thus included in the study (426 440 men and 465 881 women). Primary and secondary outcome measures The outcome variable was incident CHD during follow-up between 2008 and 2012. The association between education work and neighbourhood SES work and the outcome was explored using multilevel and cross-classified logistic regression models to determine ORs and 95% CIs, with individuals nested within workplaces and neighbourhoods. All models were conducted in both men and women and were adjusted for age, income, marital status, educational attainment and neighbourhood SES residence. Results Low (vs high) education work was significantly associated with increased CHD incidence for both men (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.34) and women (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.47) and remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders. These findings were not replicable for the variable neighbourhood SES work. Conclusions Workplace socioeconomic characteristics, that is, the educational attainment of an individual's colleagues, may influence CHD risk, which represents new knowledge relevant to occupational health management at workplaces.
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| 42. |
- Frodlund, Martina, et al.
(author)
-
The serological immunogenicity of the third and fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccine in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases on different biologic or targeted DMARDs : a Swedish nationwide study (COVID-19-REUMA)
- 2024
-
In: Microbiology Spectrum. - : AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY. - 2165-0497. ; 12:4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Studies investigating the immunogenicity of additional COVID-19 vaccine doses in immunosuppressed patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) are still limited. The objective was to explore the antibody response including response to omicron virus subvariants (sBA.1 and sBS.2) after third and fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses in Swedish IRD patients treated with immunomodulating drugs compared to controls. Antibody levels to spike wild-type antigens (full-length protein and S1) and the omicron variants sBA.1 and sBA.2 (full-length proteins) were measured. A positive response was defined as having antibody levels over cut-off or ≥fourfold increase in post-vaccination levels for both antigens. Patients with arthritis, vasculitis, and other autoimmune diseases (n = 414), and controls (n = 61) receiving biologic/targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) with or without conventional synthetic DMARDs participated. Of these, blood samples were available for 370 patients and 52 controls after three doses, and 65 patients and 15 controls after four doses. Treatment groups after three vaccine doses were rituximab (n = 133), abatacept (n = 22), IL6r inhibitors (n = 71), JAnus Kinase inhibitors (JAK-inhibitors) (n = 56), tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNF-inhibitors) (n = 61), IL12/23/17 inhibitors (n = 27), and controls (n = 52). The percentage of responders after three and four vaccine doses was lower in rituximab-treated patients (59% and 57%) compared to controls (100%) (P < 0.001). After three doses, the percentage of responders in all other groups was 100%, including response to omicron sBA.1 and sBA.2. In rituximab-treated patients, higher baseline immunoglobulin G (IgG) and longer time-period between rituximab and vaccination predicted better response. In this Swedish nationwide study including IRD patients three and four COVID-19 vaccine doses were immunogenic in patients treated with IL6r inhibitors, TNF-inhibitors, JAK-inhibitors, and IL12/23/17-inhibitors but not in rituximab. As >50% of rituximab patients responded to vaccines including omicron subvariants, these patients should be prioritized for additional vaccine doses.
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| 43. |
- Frodlund, Martina, et al.
(author)
-
The serological immunogenicity of the third and fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccine in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases on different biologic or targeted DMARDs: a Swedish nationwide study (COVID-19-REUMA)
- 2024
-
In: Microbiology Spectrum. - : AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY. - 2165-0497.
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Studies investigating the immunogenicity of additional COVID-19 vaccine doses in immunosuppressed patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) are still limited. The objective was to explore the antibody response including response to omicron virus subvariants (sBA.1 and sBS.2) after third and fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses in Swedish IRD patients treated with immunomodulating drugs compared to controls. Antibody levels to spike wild-type antigens (full-length protein and S1) and the omicron variants sBA.1 and sBA.2 (full-length proteins) were measured. A positive response was defined as having antibody levels over cut-off or >= fourfold increase in post-vaccination levels for both antigens. Patients with arthritis, vasculitis, and other autoimmune diseases (n = 414), and controls (n = 61) receiving biologic/targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) with or without conventional synthetic DMARDs participated. Of these, blood samples were available for 370 patients and 52 controls after three doses, and 65 patients and 15 controls after four doses. Treatment groups after three vaccine doses were rituximab (n = 133), abatacept (n = 22), IL6r inhibitors (n = 71), JAnus Kinase inhibitors (JAK-inhibitors) (n = 56), tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNF-inhibitors) (n = 61), IL12/23/17 inhibitors (n = 27), and controls (n = 52). The percentage of responders after three and four vaccine doses was lower in rituximab-treated patients (59% and 57%) compared to controls (100%) (P < 0.001). After three doses, the percentage of responders in all other groups was 100%, including response to omicron sBA.1 and sBA.2. In rituximab-treated patients, higher baseline immunoglobulin G (IgG) and longer time-period between rituximab and vaccination predicted better response. In this Swedish nationwide study including IRD patients three and four COVID-19 vaccine doses were immunogenic in patients treated with IL6r inhibitors, TNF-inhibitors, JAK-inhibitors, and IL12/23/17-inhibitors but not in rituximab. As >50% of rituximab patients responded to vaccines including omicron subvariants, these patients should be prioritized for additional vaccine doses. IMPORTANCE Results from this study provide further evidence that additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines are immunogenic and result in satisfactory antibody response in a majority of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) receiving potent immunomodulating treatments such as biological or targeted disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) given as monotherapy or combined with traditional DMARDs. We observed that rituximab treatment, both as monotherapy and combined with csDMARDs, impaired antibody response, and only roughly 50% of patients developed a satisfactory antibody response including response to omicron subvariants after the third vaccine. In addition, higher IgG levels at the last rituximab course before the third vaccine dose and a longer time after the last rituximab treatment increased the chance of a satisfactory antibody response. These results indicate that rituximab-treated patients should be prioritized for additional vaccine doses. CLINICAL TRIALS EudraCT (European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database) with number 2021-000880-63.
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| 44. |
- Frodlund, Martina, et al.
(author)
-
The serological immunogenicity of the third and fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccine in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases on different biologic or targeted DMARDs: a Swedish nationwide study (COVID-19-REUMA)
- 2024
-
In: MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM. - : AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY. - 2165-0497. ; 12:4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Studies investigating the immunogenicity of additional COVID-19 vaccine doses in immunosuppressed patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) are still limited. The objective was to explore the antibody response including response to omicron virus subvariants (sBA.1 and sBS.2) after third and fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses in Swedish IRD patients treated with immunomodulating drugs compared to controls. Antibody levels to spike wild-type antigens (full-length protein and S1) and the omicron variants sBA.1 and sBA.2 (full-length proteins) were measured. A positive response was defined as having antibody levels over cut-off or >= fourfold increase in post-vaccination levels for both antigens. Patients with arthritis, vasculitis, and other autoimmune diseases (n = 414), and controls (n = 61) receiving biologic/targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) with or without conventional synthetic DMARDs participated. Of these, blood samples were available for 370 patients and 52 controls after three doses, and 65 patients and 15 controls after four doses. Treatment groups after three vaccine doses were rituximab (n = 133), abatacept (n = 22), IL6r inhibitors (n = 71), JAnus Kinase inhibitors (JAK-inhibitors) (n = 56), tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNF-inhibitors) (n = 61), IL12/23/17 inhibitors (n = 27), and controls (n = 52). The percentage of responders after three and four vaccine doses was lower in rituximab-treated patients (59% and 57%) compared to controls (100%) (P < 0.001). After three doses, the percentage of responders in all other groups was 100%, including response to omicron sBA.1 and sBA.2. In rituximab-treated patients, higher baseline immunoglobulin G (IgG) and longer time-period between rituximab and vaccination predicted better response. In this Swedish nationwide study including IRD patients three and four COVID-19 vaccine doses were immunogenic in patients treated with IL6r inhibitors, TNF-inhibitors, JAK-inhibitors, and IL12/23/17-inhibitors but not in rituximab. As >50% of rituximab patients responded to vaccines including omicron subvariants, these patients should be prioritized for additional vaccine doses. IMPORTANCE Results from this study provide further evidence that additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines are immunogenic and result in satisfactory antibody response in a majority of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) receiving potent immunomodulating treatments such as biological or targeted disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) given as monotherapy or combined with traditional DMARDs. We observed that rituximab treatment, both as monotherapy and combined with csDMARDs, impaired antibody response, and only roughly 50% of patients developed a satisfactory antibody response including response to omicron subvariants after the third vaccine. In addition, higher IgG levels at the last rituximab course before the third vaccine dose and a longer time after the last rituximab treatment increased the chance of a satisfactory antibody response. These results indicate that rituximab-treated patients should be prioritized for additional vaccine doses. CLINICAL TRIALS EudraCT (European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database) with number 2021-000880-63.
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| 45. |
- Gunnlaugsson, Adalsteinn, et al.
(author)
-
A prospective phase II study of prostate-specific antigen-guided salvage radiotherapy and Ga-68-PSMA-PET for biochemical relapse after radical prostatectomy-The PROPER 1 trial
- 2022
-
In: Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 2405-6308. ; 36, s. 77-82
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and purpose: The treatment of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after prostatectomy is challenging as the site of the recurrence is often undetectable. Our aim was to test a personalised treatment concept for BCR based on PSA kinetics during salvage radiotherapy (SRT) combined with prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA-PET). Materials and methods: This phase II trial included 100 patients with BCR. PSMA-PET was performed at baseline. PSA was measured weekly during SRT. Initially, 70 Gy in 35 fractions was prescribed to the prostate bed. Radiotherapy was adapted after 50 Gy. Non-responders (PSA still >= 0.15 ng/mL) received sequential lymph node irradiation with a boost to PSMA-PET positive lesions, while responders (PSA < 0.15 ng/mL) continued SRT as planned. PET-findings were only taken into consideration for treatment planning in case of PSA non-response after 50 Gy. Results: Data from 97 patients were eligible for analysis. Thirty-four patients were classified as responders and 63 as non-responders. PSMA-PET was positive in 3 patients (9%) in the responder group and in 22 (35%) in the non-responder group (p = 0.007). The three-year failure-free survival was 94% for responders and 68% for non-responders (median follow-up 38 months). There were no significant differences in physician-reported urinary and bowel toxicity. Patient-reported diarrhoea at end of SRT was more common among non-responders. Conclusion: This new personalised treatment concept with intensified SRT based on PSA response demonstrated a high tumour control rate in both responders and non-responders. These results suggest a clinically significant effect with moderate side effects in a patient group with otherwise poor prognosis. PSMA-PET added limited value. The treatment approach is now being evaluated in a phase III trial.
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| 46. |
- Gustafsson, Anna W, et al.
(author)
-
An intricate dance of intersubjectivity : The social and cognitive benefits of a digital shared reading group
- 2023
-
In: Scientific Study of Literature. - 2210-4380. ; 12:1, s. 103-132
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This article deepens the understanding of characteristic features of Shared Reading (SR) that can shed light on health benefits of this literary practice suggested by previous research. We provide a detailed analysis of language, interaction, reading strategies and collaborative meaning-making in an online SR group in which participants read and discussed a modernist poem. We triangulate our analysis with results from a focus group with the participants. Our study is informed by psychological theories about joint attention and its effects on social cohesion, mentalisation and perspective-taking. The analysis shows how the SR format provides a space in which ingroupness, intersubjectivity, and perspective-taking are created and realised in language use and interaction. Furthermore, our study suggests that many characteristic features of SR identified in earlier research can still be observed in an online SR group. The study lays the ground for more conclusive research of the benefits of this reading practice.
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| 47. |
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| 48. |
- Gynther, Per, 1961-
(author)
-
Möjligheter och begränsningar : Om lärares arbete med montessoripedagogiken i praktiken
- 2016
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This study examines processes connected to teacher’s transformation of the Montessori theory and it's described application to a daily practice. The aim is to create knowledge about what constitutes possibilities and limitations for teachers in their daily work with Montessori education. This does not only refer to what constitutes opportunities and limitations in teachers' everyday work with teaching, but also to what constitutes opportunities and limitations for teachers to learn at work. The theoretical framework is based on action theory and theories on adult learning and connects to a tradition called workplace-learning in which learning is considered to take place in, but also between, individuals. This approach indicates that the contextual conditions which the teachers were imbedded in are important to identify. The study was conducted in four different Montessori-environments and involved nine Montessori teachers. The methods used were participant observation, interviews, informal conversations and review of teacher produced material and documents.Possibilities and limitations in teachers work were related to if they had access to Montessori materials or not. In work with Montessori materials teachers identified the children's abilities to a greater extent than they did when other materials were in use. This identification directed their interventions. When the teachers did not have access to Montessori material their method often appeared to be the same as “individual work” with the provided material. Furthermore, interventions of the teacher were then significantly often procedural rather than content-related, although the teachers clearly expressed that they wanted to go into a dialogue with children about the treated subject area. The survey therefore contradicts with the opinion that Montessori-teachers withdraw in favor of Montessori materials that sometimes has been brought up by interpreters of the pedagogy. Rather, teachers stepped back when other materials were in use. The study also shows how a prerequisite for a collective development-oriented learning among the teachers was dependent on whether teachers made their own private understanding of the pedagogy available to each other. At times, however, teachers took the use of the materials for granted. Some of the teachers also deliberately refrained from making their personal understanding available to others due to the fact that they then could be seen as a less competent Montessori-teacher. This maintaining of a “false” collective understanding is seen as an expression of an institutionalization of teaching practice which was maintained by sanctions from the environment if the individual didn´t recognize the institutionalization in question. Since teacher’s “space for action” in this way was limited, the institution created conditions that prevented a possible development of the working methods in use. In those cases when conditions for a collective development-oriented learning were more favorable, it was clear that the teachers did not perceive Montessori education as a given method but rather saw it as a "model" for teaching in which the teachers had to interpret and define their own method from. The teachers thus came to take advantage of a potential “space for action” which was not noticed when the pedagogy was seen as a method.
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| 49. |
- Hammar, Oskar, et al.
(author)
-
Impaired Gastric Emptying in Primary Sjogren's Syndrome.
- 2010
-
In: Journal of Rheumatology. - : The Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; Okt, s. 2313-2318
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of impaired gastric emptying (IGE) and its relation to autonomic nervous dysfunction (AD), functional bowel syndrome, and inflammatory and serological variables in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with pSS according to the American-European Consensus Criteria were included in the study. Gastric emptying was evaluated by the octanoate breath test from which half-time (t(half)) and lag-time (t(lag)) were determined and compared with the results from 50 healthy controls. Autonomic nervous function was evaluated by 5 objective autonomic reflex tests (ART) and by the Autonomic Symptom Profile (ASP) questionnaire evaluating AD symptoms. These results were compared with previously investigated healthy ART controls and population-based ASP controls. Patients were also assessed regarding symptoms of functional bowel syndrome. RESULTS: The t(half) and the t(lag) were significantly prolonged in patients compared to controls. Forty-three percent of patients with pSS presented signs of IGE and 29% fulfilled the criteria for gastroparesis. Significant correlations were found between t(lag) and increased levels of IgG (p = 0.02) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; p = 0.01). In addition, rheumatoid factor (RF) seropositives showed objective signs of IGE to a greater extent than RF seronegatives. No associations between IGE, ART variables, ASP variables, or gastrointestinal symptoms were found. CONCLUSION: IGE was common in pSS. Associations with inflammatory and serological features of pSS could imply immunological mechanisms behind the IGE. Objective signs of IGE were not associated with objective signs or subjective symptoms of AD or functional bowel syndrome.
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