1. |
- Christiansen, Iben Maj, 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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The crosscurrents of Swedish mathematics teacher education
- 2021
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Ingår i: International perspectives on mathematics teacher education. - Waxhaw, NC, USA : Information Age Publishing. - 9781648026317 - 9781648026294 - 9781648026300 ; , s. 9-48
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As with any programs in teacher education, Swedish mathematics teacher education is influenced by changing political winds, developments in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), culture, history, PISA results, research-based program designs, and a fair amount of passion. Content and outcomes are nationally determined and include the requirement of a strong research foundation, but this is often not how practcing techers work, which exerts its own pull on teacher education. The specific implementations of programs take different forms at the universities that offer mathematics teacher education. In order to provide a comprehensive yet meaningful ntroduction to both the current system and current practices, we describe the overall organization of Swedish mathematics teacher education, and then offer short cases of implemented programs. To ensure inclusivity, the various parts are written by mathematics educators from the respective institutions. In this way, both variation across mathematicas teacher education for diffrent grade levels and variation across different institutions working with the same national directives can be distinguished. Issues such as the academization of teacher education are problematized, as are other forces that constitute the crosscurrents in Swedish mathematics teacher education.
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2. |
- Ahlin, Jane, et al.
(författare)
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Strategies to develop and strengthen human factors and ergonomics knowledge among stakeholders in Sweden
- 2015
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Ingår i: Proceedings 19th Triennial Congress of the IEA, Melbourne 9-14 August 2015. - Melbourne : International Ergonomics Association.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Knowledge and application of human factors and ergonomics (HFE) has significant potential as auseful tool and solution provider in the development, design and implementation of safe, efficient and sustainable artefacts and systems. Yet, it seems that this HFE knowledge is not utilised to its full potential. In a world of competing financial and commercial priorities, HFE specialists have apparently not succeeded in selling the systems approach as a tool towards improved overall systems performance and human well-being.The present paper describes the strategic and practical workperformed by the Swedish Ergonomics and Human Factors Society (EHSS) to strengthen the quality of human factors and ergonomics knowledge and practice among various stakeholders in Sweden. EHSS view human factors and ergonomics as a systems and design oriented discipline that extends across all aspects of human activity. Beyond the traditional domains of specialization within the discipline, the physical, cognitive and organisational ergonomics, EHSS has identified three focus areas; visual ergonomics, voice ergonomics and ergonomics design for all.Practitioner Summary: This paper presents the strategic and practical work performed by the Swedish Ergonomics and Human Factors Society (EHSS) in order to strengthen the quality of human factors and ergonomics knowledge and practice in Sweden. EHSS has identified three focus areas for its strategic work: visual ergonomics, voice ergonomics and ergonomics design for all.
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3. |
- Akhras, Michael S., et al.
(författare)
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The Sequencing Bead Array (SBA), a Next-Generation Digital Suspension Array
- 2013
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 8:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Here we describe the novel Sequencing Bead Array (SBA), a complete assay for molecular diagnostics and typing applications. SBA is a digital suspension array using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), to replace conventional optical readout platforms. The technology allows for reducing the number of instruments required in a laboratory setting, where the same NGS instrument could be employed from whole-genome and targeted sequencing to SBA broad-range biomarker detection and genotyping. As proof-of-concept, a model assay was designed that could distinguish ten Human Papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes associated with cervical cancer progression. SBA was used to genotype 20 cervical tumor samples and, when compared with amplicon pyrosequencing, was able to detect two additional co-infections due to increased sensitivity. We also introduce in-house software Sphix, enabling easy accessibility and interpretation of results. The technology offers a multi-parallel, rapid, robust, and scalable system that is readily adaptable for a multitude of microarray diagnostic and typing applications, e. g. genetic signatures, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), structural variations, and immunoassays. SBA has the potential to dramatically change the way we perform probe-based applications, and allow for a smooth transition towards the technology offered by genomic sequencing.
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4. |
- Behra, Phani Rama Krishna, et al.
(författare)
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Extended insight into the Mycobacterium chelonae-abscessus complex through whole genome sequencing of Mycobacterium salmoniphilum outbreak and Mycobacterium salmoniphilum-like strains
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Members of the Mycobacterium chelonae-abscessus complex (MCAC) are close to the mycobacterial ancestor and includes both human, animal and fish pathogens. We present the genomes of 14 members of this complex: the complete genomes of Mycobacterium salmoniphilum and Mycobacterium chelonae type strains, seven M. salmoniphilum isolates, and five M. salmoniphilum-like strains including strains isolated during an outbreak in an animal facility at Uppsala University. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis and core gene phylogeny revealed that the M. salmoniphilum-like strains are variants of the human pathogen Mycobacterium franklinii and phylogenetically close to Mycobacterium abscessus. Our data further suggested that M. salmoniphilum separates into three branches named group I, II and III with the M. salmoniphilum type strain belonging to group II. Among predicted virulence factors, the presence of phospholipase C (plcC), which is a major virulence factor that makes M. abscessus highly cytotoxic to mouse macrophages, and that M. franklinii originally was isolated from infected humans make it plausible that the outbreak in the animal facility was caused by a M. salmoniphilum-like strain. Interestingly, M. salmoniphilum-like was isolated from tap water suggesting that it can be present in the environment. Moreover, we predicted the presence of mutational hotspots in the M. salmoniphilum isolates and 26% of these hotspots overlap with genes categorized as having roles in virulence, disease and defense. We also provide data about key genes involved in transcription and translation such as sigma factor, ribosomal protein and tRNA genes.
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5. |
- Biró, Péter, et al.
(författare)
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Modelling and optimisation in European Kidney Exchange Programmes
- 2021
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Ingår i: European Journal of Operational Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0377-2217. ; 291:2, s. 447-456
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The complex multi-criteria optimisation problems arising in Kidney Exchange Programmes have received considerable attention both in practice and in the scientific literature. Whereas theoretical advancements are well reviewed and synthesised, this is not the case for practice. We present a synthesis of models and methods applied in present European Kidney Exchange Programmes, which is based on detailed descriptions we created for this purpose. Most descriptions address national programmes, yet we also present findings on emerging cross-national programmes. The synthesis provides a systematic and detailed description of the models and methods the programmes use, revealing important commonalities as well as considerable variation among them. Rather than distilling a single best practice from these results, we find that the variation in models and methods arises because of variation in country characteristics, policies, and ethics. The synthesised state of the art may benefit future national and cross-national initiatives and direct future theoretical contributions within and across the boundaries of the Operations Research discipline.
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6. |
- Björklund Boistrup, Lisa, 1960-
(författare)
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Assessment Discourses in Mathematics Classrooms : A Multimodal Social Semiotic Study
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This is a study of assessment in mathematics classrooms and assessment is here regarded as a concept with broad boundaries including e.g. diagnostic tests, portfolios, and acts in teacher-student communication. The study’s purpose is to analyse and understand assessment acts in discursive practices in mathematics classroom communication in terms of affordances for students’ active agency and learning. Five mathematics classrooms are visited and the main data consists of video-recordings and written classroom material. In the study, I examine assessment acts, focuses of assessment acts, and roles of semiotic resources (symbols, gestures, speech etc.). With these findings as a basis, four discourses of assessment in mathematics classrooms are construed. A main conclusion is how the construed discourses hold different affordances for students’ active agency and learning. One discourse, “Do it quick and do it right” has similarities to a traditional discourse of assessment described in previous research. In a second discourse, “Anything goes”, students’ performances that can be regarded as mathematically inappropriate are left unchallenged. In both these discourses the affordances for students’ active agency and learning of mathematics are considered low. In a third discourse, “Anything can be up for a discussion”, the focuses of assessment acts are mainly on mathematics processes and available semiotic resources are connected to these focuses. The fourth discourse, “Reasoning takes time”, takes it one step further with a lower pace and an emphasis on mathematics processes such as reasoning and problem-solving. In these two latter discourses the affordances for students’ active agency and learning of mathematics are high. I contend that there is positive power in an increased awareness of discourses like these. The four discourses of this study can be powerful in discussions about, understandings of, and positive changes in assessment practices in mathematics classrooms.
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7. |
- Björklund Boistrup, Lisa, 1960-, et al.
(författare)
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Skolmatematiken och universitetsmatematiken ur ett didaktiskt perspektiv
- 2007
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Ingår i: <em>Matematikdidaktiska texter. </em>. - Stockholm : PRIM-gruppen, Institutionen för undervisningsprocesser, kommunikation och lärande, Lärarhögskolan i Stockholm. - 9176566331 - 9789176566336 ; , s. 8-26
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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8. |
- Blom, Lisa Karlsson, 1982, et al.
(författare)
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Tiggarnas liv fyllt av övergrepp
- 2014
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Ingår i: Göteborgs-Posten. - 1103-9345. ; :19 mars
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Tidskriftsartikel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)
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9. |
- Das, Sarbashis, et al.
(författare)
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Extensive genomic diversity among Mycobacterium marinum strains revealed by whole genome sequencing
- 2018
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mycobacterium marinum is the causative agent for the tuberculosis-like disease mycobacteriosis in fish and skin lesions in humans. Ubiquitous in its geographical distribution, M. marinum is known to occupy diverse fish as hosts. However, information about its genomic diversity is limited. Here, we provide the genome sequences for 15 M. marinum strains isolated from infected humans and fish. Comparative genomic analysis of these and four available genomes of the M. marinum strains M, E11, MB2 and Europe reveal high genomic diversity among the strains, leading to the conclusion that M. marinum should be divided into two different clusters, the "M"- and the "Aronson"-type. We suggest that these two clusters should be considered to represent two M. marinum subspecies. Our data also show that the M. marinum pan-genome for both groups is open and expanding and we provide data showing high number of mutational hotspots in M. marinum relative to other mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This high genomic diversity might be related to the ability of M. marinum to occupy different ecological niches.
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10. |
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11. |
- Engskog, Mikael K. R., et al.
(författare)
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β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) perturbs alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism pathways in human neuroblastoma cells as determined by metabolic profiling
- 2017
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Ingår i: Amino Acids. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0939-4451 .- 1438-2199. ; 49:5, s. 905-919
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- β-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a non-proteinogenic amino acid that induces long-term cognitive deficits, as well as an increased neurodegeneration and intracellular fibril formation in the hippocampus of adult rodents following short-time neonatal exposure and in vervet monkey brain following long-term exposure. It has also been proposed to be involved in the etiology of neurodegenerative disease in humans. The aim of this study was to identify metabolic effects not related to excitotoxicity or oxidative stress in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. The effects of BMAA (50, 250, 1000 µM) for 24 h on cells differentiated with retinoic acid were studied. Samples were analyzed using LC-MS and NMR spectroscopy to detect altered intracellular polar metabolites. The analysis performed, followed by multivariate pattern recognition techniques, revealed significant perturbations in protein biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism pathways and citrate cycle. Of specific interest were the BMAA-induced alterations in alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism and as well as alterations in various neurotransmitters/neuromodulators such as GABA and taurine. The results indicate that BMAA can interfere with metabolic pathways involved in neurotransmission in human neuroblastoma cells.
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12. |
- Enquist, Karl, et al.
(författare)
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Membrane-integration characteristics of two ABC transporters, CFTR and P-glycoprotein
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Molecular Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-2836 .- 1089-8638. ; 387:5, s. 1153-1164
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To what extent do corresponding transmembrane helices in related integral membrane proteins have different membrane-insertion characteristics? Here, we compare, side-by-side, the membrane insertion characteristics of the 12 transmembrane helices in the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Our results show that 10 of the 12 CFTR transmembrane segments can insert independently into the ER membrane. In contrast, only three of the P-gp transmembrane segments are independently stable in the membrane, while the majority depend on the presence of neighboring loops and/or transmembrane segments for efficient insertion. Membrane-insertion characteristics can thus vary widely between related proteins.
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13. |
- Evander, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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Puumala hantavirus viremia diagnosed by real-time reverse transcriptase PCR using samples from patients with hemorrhagic fever and renal syndrome
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Microbiology. - : American Society for Microbiology. - 0095-1137 .- 1098-660X. ; 45:8, s. 2491-2497
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Puumala virus (PUUV) is the endemic hantavirus in northern Sweden and causes nephropathia epidemica (NE), a milder form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. There is a need for fast and reliable diagnostics to differentiate the disease from other infections. By aligning virus RNA sequences isolated from 11 different bank voles and one human patient, we designed a real-time reverse transcriptase (RT) PCR method for detection of PUUV RNA. The real-time RT-PCR assay showed linearity from 20 to 2 x 10(6) virus copies with a correlation coefficient above 0.98 to 0.99 for all experiments. The detection threshold for PUUV cDNA was two copies per reaction. A two-step qualitative RT-PCR to detect PUUV RNA showed 100% concordance with the real-time RT-PCR assay. PUUV RNA viremia was detected in 33 of 34 PUUV immunoglobulin M (IgM)-positive patients with typical clinical NE disease from the region of endemicity. One PUUV IgM-negative sample had PUUV RNA, and 4 days later, the patient was IgM positive. Of samples with indeterminate IgM, 43% were PUUV RNA positive. The kinetics of antibody titers and PUUV viremia were studied, and five of six NE patients displayed a decrease in PUUV viremia a few days after disease outbreak coupled with an increase in PUUV IgM and IgG. In one patient with continuously high PUUV RNA levels but low IgM and no IgG response, the infection was lethal. These findings demonstrated that real-time RT-PCR is a useful method for diagnosis of PUUV viremia and for detecting PUUV RNA at early time points, before the appearance of IgM antibodies.
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14. |
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15. |
- Holmes, Thomas P., et al.
(författare)
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Fundamental Economic Irreversibilities Influence Policies for Enhancing International Forest Phytosanitary Security
- 2017
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Ingår i: Current Forestry Reports. - Cham : Springer. - 2198-6436. ; 3:3, s. 244-254
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- National and international efforts to manage forest biosecurity create tension between opposing sources of ecological and economic irreversibility. Phytosanitary policies designed to protect national borders from biological invasions incur sunk costs deriving from economic and political irreversibilities that incentivizes wait-and-see decision-making. However, the potential for irreversible ecological and economic damages resulting from failed phytosanitary policies argues for precautionary measures, creating sunk benefits while increasing the risk of over-investment in phytosanitary security. Here, we describe the inherent tension between these sources of irreversibility in economic terms, relate these forces to type I and type II errors, and use this framework to review national and international efforts to protect forests from biological invasions. Available historical evidence suggests that wait-and-see phytosanitary decision-making has dominated the adoption of precautionary measures in most regions and that willingness to under-regulate may sometimes be orders of magnitude greater than willingness to over-regulate. Reducing scientific uncertainty about threats to biosecurity may help mitigate the tendency to under-regulate, and phytosanitary security measures with relatively modest sunk costs could help protect forests as scientific learning advances. A fuller accounting of the costs associated with type II errors, particularly regarding the suite of non-market ecosystem services at risk, would help decision-makers better understand the trade-offs between the sunk costs of policies and long-term economic losses to stakeholders.
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16. |
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17. |
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18. |
- Liu, Chenxiao, et al.
(författare)
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V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells proliferate in response to phosphoantigens released from erythrocytes infected with asexual and gametocyte stage Plasmodium falciparum
- 2018
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Ingår i: Cellular Immunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0008-8749 .- 1090-2163. ; 334, s. 11-19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells, the dominant gamma delta T cell subset in human peripheral blood, are stimulated by phosphoantigens, of which (E)-4-Hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl pyrophosphate, is produced in the apicoplast of malaria parasites. Cell-free media from synchronised Plasmodium falciparum asexual ring, trophozoite, and schizont stage-cultures of high purity as well as media from ruptured schizont cultures, all stimulated V gamma 9V delta 2 T cell proliferation, as did media from pure gametocyte cultures, whereas media from uninfected erythrocytes cultures did not. The media from ruptured schizont cultures and all the asexual and gametocyte stage cultures contained only background iron levels, suggesting that all erythrocyte haemoglobin is consumed as the parasites develop and supporting that the phosphoantigens were released from intact parasitized erythrocytes. The V gamma 9V delta 2 T cell-stimulating agent was not affected by freezing, thawing or heating but was sensitive to phosphatase treatment, confirming its phosphoantigen identity. In summary, phosphoantigens are released from parasitised erythrocytes at all developmental blood stages.
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19. |
- Lozach, Pierre-Yves, et al.
(författare)
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Entry of bunyaviruses into mammalian cells
- 2010
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Ingår i: Cell host & microbe. - : Elsevier BV. - 1934-6069 .- 1931-3128. ; 7:6, s. 488-499
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Bunyaviridae constitute a large family of enveloped animal viruses, many members of which cause serious diseases. However, early bunyavirus-host cell interactions and entry mechanisms remain largely uncharacterized. Investigating Uukuniemi virus, a bunyavirus of the genus Phlebovirus, we found that virus attachment to the cell surface was specific but inefficient, with 25% of bound viruses being endocytosed within 10 min, mainly via noncoated vesicles. The viruses entered Rab5a+ early endosomes and, subsequently, Rab7a+ and LAMP-1+ late endosomes. Acid-activated penetration, occurring 20-40 min after internalization, required maturation of early to late endosomes. The pH threshold for viral membrane fusion was 5.4, and entry was sensitive to temperatures below 25 degrees C. Together, our results indicate that Uukuniemi virus penetrates host cells by acid-activated membrane fusion from late endosomal compartments. This study also highlights the importance of the degradative branch of the endocytic pathway in facilitating entry of late-penetrating viruses.
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20. |
- Martensson, Bjorn, et al.
(författare)
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Bright white light therapy in depression : A critical review of the evidence
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Affective Disorders. - : Elsevier BV. - 0165-0327 .- 1573-2517. ; 182, s. 1-7
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Light therapy is an accepted treatment option, at least for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Our aim was to critically evaluate treatment effects of bright white light (BWL) on the depressive symptoms in both SAD and non-seasonal depression. Methods: The systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO were searched (December 1974 through June 2014) for randomized controlled trials published in peer-reviewed journals. Study quality was assessed with a checklist developed by the Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care. Only studies with high or medium quality were used in the meta-analyses. Results: Eight studies of SAD and two studies of non-seasonal depression met inclusion and quality criteria. Effects on SAD were estimated in two meta-analyses. In the first, week by week, BWL reached statistical significance only at two and three weeks of treatment (Standardized Mean Difference, SMD: -0.50 (-CI 0.94, -0.05); -0.31 (-0.59, -0.03) respectively). The second meta-analysis, of endpoint data only, showed a SMD of -0.54 (CI, -0.95, -0.13), which indicates an advantage for BWL. No meta-analysis was performed for non-seasonal depression due to heterogeneity between studies. Limitations: This analysis is restricted to short-term effects of BWL measured as mean changes in scores derived from SIGH-SAD, SIGH-SAD self-report, or HDRS rating scales. Conclusions: Most studies of BWL have considerable methodological problems, and the results of published meta-analyses are highly dependent on the study selection. Even though quality criteria are introduced in the selection procedures of studies, when the results are carefully scrutinized, the evidence is not unequivocal.
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21. |
- Mårtensson, Björn, et al.
(författare)
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Behandling av depression med ljusterapi : En systematisk litteraturöversikt. SBU:s sammanfattning och slutsatser
- 2008
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Ingår i: Läkartidningen. - 0023-7205 .- 1652-7518. ; 105:28-29, s. 2024-2025
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Over the last 20 years light therapy has been increasingly used for the treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted by the Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care (SBU) to assess the scientific basis for that treatment. Papers assessed were published between 1984 and November 2006, indexed in the PubMed database and included adult patients (>18 years) with SAD or major depression (MD). The search generated 11 RCTs that fulfilled set criteria. The efficacy of light therapy in SAD was assessed with meta-analysis. There was no difference in response rate between those given active treatment and those given placebo in any of the studies on light therapy for SAD. The effect on remission rate differed between studies. The meta-analysis showed a weak and only transient effect (effect size 0.4) which was noticeable after two and three weeks of treatment, but not later. Studies on light therapy for non-seasonal depression were few and heterogeneous with respect to type of depression and patient population. No conclusions on efficacy of light therapy could be drawn.
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22. |
- Nilsson, Lisa O., et al.
(författare)
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Aromatic residues in the C-terminal region of glutathione transferase A1-1 influence rate-determining steps in the catalytic mechanism
- 2002
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Proteins and Proteomics. - 1570-9639 .- 1878-1454. ; 1598:1-2, s. 199-205
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Human glutathione transferase A1-1 (GST A1-1) has a flexible C-terminal segment that forms a helix (alpha9) closing the active site upon binding of glutathione and a small electrophilic substrate such as 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB). In the absence of active-site ligands, the C-terminal segment is not fixed in one position and is not detectable in the crystal structure. A key residue in the alpha9-helix is Phe 220, which can interact with both the enzyme-bound glutathione and the second substrate, and possibly guide the reactants into the transition state. Mutation of Phe 220 into Ala and Thr was shown to reduce the catalytic efficiency of GST A1-1. The mutation of an additional residue, Phe 222, caused further decrease in activity. The presence of a viscosogen in the reaction medium decreased the kinetic parameters k(cat) and k(cat)/K(m) for the conjugation of CDNB catalyzed by wild-type GST A1-1, in agreement with the view that product release is rate limiting for the substrate-saturated enzyme. The mutations cause a decrease of the viscosity dependence of both kinetic parameters, indicating that the motion of the alpha9-helix is linked to catalysis in wild-type GST A1-1. The isomerization reaction with the alternative substrate Delta(5)-androstene-3,17-dione (AD) is affected in a similar manner by the viscosogens. The transition state energy of the isomerization reaction, like that of the CDNB conjugation, is lowered by Phe 220 as indicated by the effects of the mutations on k(cat)/K(m). The results demonstrate that Phe 220 and Phe 222, in the dynamic C-terminal segment, influence rate-determining steps in the catalytic mechanism of both the substitution and the isomerization reactions.
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23. |
- Obanda, Vincent, et al.
(författare)
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Epidemiology and ecology of the sylvatic cycle of African swine fever virus in Kenya
- 2024
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Ingår i: Virus Research. - : Elsevier. - 0168-1702 .- 1872-7492. ; 348
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- African Swine Fever (ASF) is caused by a DNA virus (AFSV) maintained and transmitted by the Argasid ticks. The re-emergence of the disease in Africa coupled with its rapid spread globally is a threat to the pig industry, food security and livelihoods. The ecology and epidemiology of the ASFV sylvatic cycle, especially in the face of changing land use and land cover, further compounds the menace and impacts of this disease in Kenya. The study aimed to determine the occurrence and distribution of ASFV seroprevalence in warthog populations, the tick vectors and extent of tick infestation of warthog burrows, and the genotypes of ASFV in soft ticks in Kenya. Warthogs from different parts of Kenya were captured and venous blood was centrifuged to harvest sera. Warthog burrows were examined for their conditions and to extract ticks. Sera were analyzed for antibodies against ASFV using a commercial ELISA kit coated with p32 ASFV recombinant protein. Ticks were pooled, DNA extracted and the p72 gene of the ASFV was amplified by qPCR and conventional PCR. The overall seroprevalence of ASFV in warthogs was 87.5 %. A total of 228 warthog burrows were examined and 2154 argasid ticks were extracted from the burrows. Tick pools from Kigio Farm and Lewa Wildlife Conservancies were ASFV-positive by qPCR and conventional PCR. ASFV was further confirmed by the Twist Comprehensive Viral Research Panel (TCVRP), which also identified the argasid ticks as Ornithodoros porcinus. The ticks were infected with virus genotype IX, and their occurrence overlaps with regions of previous ASF outbreaks in domestic pigs. Further, Viruses that could be tick endosymbionts/commensals or due to bloodmeal were detected in ticks by TCVRP; Porcine type-C oncovirus; Pandoravirus neocaledonia; Choristoneura fumiferana granulovirus; Enterobacteria phage p7; Leporid herpesvirus 4 isolate; 5; Human Lymphotropic virus; Human herpesvirus 5. In conclusion, our results suggest that infected Ornithodoros spp. seems to have a rich virome, which has not been explored but could be exploited to inform ASF control in Kenya. Further, the ecology of Ornithodoros spp. and burrow-use dynamics are complex and more studies are needed to understand these dynamics, specifically in the spread of ASFV at the interface of wild and domestic pigs. Further, our results provide evidence of genotype IX ASFV sylvatic cycle which through O. porcinus tick transmission has resulted in high exposure of adult common warthogs. Finally, the co-circulation of ASFV genotype IX in the same location with past ASF outbreaks in domestic pigs and presently in ticks brings to focus the role of the interface and ticks on virus transmission to pigs and warthogs.
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24. |
- Ohlsson, Sophie, et al.
(författare)
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Neutrophils from ANCA-associated vasculitis patients show an increased capacity to activate the complement system via the alternative pathway after ANCA stimulation
- 2019
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 14:6, s. 0218272-0218272
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV), including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), are autoimmune conditions associated with small vessel inflammation. Earlier studies indicate that complement activation via the alternative pathway plays a major role in the pathogenesis. In this study we have investigated if ANCA-activation of neutrophils from AAV patients leads to activation of the alternative complement pathway. C5a-primed neutrophils (PMN) from 10 AAV patients and 10 healthy controls (HC) were stimulated with PMA or IgG purified from PR3-ANCA positive patients (ANCA IgG). The supernatants were analyzed for release of complement proteins and markers of different granules by ELISA, and release of microparticles (MP) by flow cytometry. The ability of the supernatants to activate the alternative complement pathway was determined by incubation with normal serum and C3bBbP and C5a were measured by ELISA. MP were analyzed by flow cytometry and removed by centrifugation. The supernatants from the AAV patients' neutrophils produced significantly more C3bBbP compared with HCs (p = 0.0001). C3bBbP levels correlated with the number of MP. After removal of MP from the supernatants, alternative pathway activation was significantly lower. This study shows that primed and ANCA-stimulated neutrophils from AAV patients have a greater ability to activate the alternative complement pathway compared to primed neutrophils from healthy controls. This finding emphasizes the role of complement in the pathogenesis of AAV - underlining the therapeutic potential of C5a and other complement blockade.
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25. |
- Olsson, C. E., et al.
(författare)
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Feasibility of Mastication-Structure-Sparing Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer
- 2021
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Ingår i: International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-355X .- 0360-3016. ; 111:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S): Although radiation-induced side-effects affecting mastication functionality have been studied in head and neck cancer (HNC) radiotherapy (RT), dose constraints for the associated structures are rarely included during treatment plan optimization. Previous research has identified several radiation dose relationships with mean dose thresholds around 30-40 Gy for masseter muscles, 40-50 Gy for pterygoid muscles, and 15-60 Gy for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) relating to a 10% trismus risk post RT. The purpose of this work was to use a multi-criteria optimization (MCO) approach to investigate to what extent doses to these structures can be lowered without violating existing clinical treatment goals in inverse planning of HNC RT. MATERIALS/METHODS: This exploratory treatment planning study used data from 22 HNC patients treated to 68 Gy without mastication-structure-sparing intent in 2017-2019 at one institute in Sweden. Original volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans were re-activated in the treatment planning system and masseter muscles, pterygoid muscles (medial and lateral), and TMJ were consistently delineated according to a previously reported delineation manual4. Re-planning was done using the MCO function of the treatment planning system with the resulting dose distribution normalized to match the clinical target volume (CTV T) mean dose of the clinical treatment plan. Dose differences between MCO and clinical plans were not allowed to exceed 2 Gy for any original clinical treatment goal unless tolerance doses had been substantially exceeded in the clinical treatment plan. To what extent dose to mastication structures could be lowered without violating existing clinical treatment goals were quantified by group and by patient. RESULTS: Altogether, there were 334 clinical treatment goals in the clinical treatment plans (median=15, range: 7-24 per patient, depending on tumor location), which easily could be met in the corresponding MCO plans. Mean doses to the mastication structures were in most cases below proposed tolerance doses in the clinical plan but could on average be further reduced between 3-5 Gy in the MCO plans (Table). Of the 25/88 patient reductions below 5 Gy (28%), 18/25 (72%) were for the masseter (n=8) and medial pterygoid (n=10) muscles. CONCLUSION: With modern RT, it seems possible to reduce the dose to mastication structures below proposed trismus dose tolerance thresholds for most HNC patients without violating clinical treatment goals. Focusing on masseter and medial pterygoid muscle doses may prove to give the largest benefit in individual cases. Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.
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26. |
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27. |
- Pettersson, Astrid, 1947-, et al.
(författare)
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National Assessment in Swedish Compulsory School
- 2010
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Ingår i: The First Sourcebook on Nordic Research in Mathematics Education. - Charlotte : Information Age Pub.. - 9781617350986 ; , s. 373-385
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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28. |
- Pettersson, Agneta, et al.
(författare)
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To score or not to score: a qualitative study on GPs views on the use of instruments for depression
- 2014
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Ingår i: Family Practice. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0263-2136 .- 1460-2229. ; 31:2, s. 215-221
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background. To improve the detection, diagnosis and follow-up of depression in primary care patients, it has been proposed that GPs should employ assessment instruments as a complement to the consultation. However, most GPs do not use such instruments routinely. Objective. To explore perceptions of Swedish GPs on the use of instruments in the medical consultation. Methods. Twenty-seven GPs discussed in five focus groups that were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed by systematic text condensation. Results. Six code groups emerged from the focus group discussions: (i) a perceived pressure from authorities and psychiatry to report depression scores; (ii) the scores were considered to be of limited value for the GP but could help the patient by facilitating sick leave compensation and hospitalization; (iii) instruments hampered the dialogue with the patient and non-verbal information was lost; (iv) the reliability of questionnaires was questioned; (v) instruments were seen as not fitting into primary care and GPs were uncertain how to use them and (vi) the main advantage of instruments was to promote communication with specific categories of patients. Conclusions. Using instruments to obtain a quantitative score of depression was of no benefit to the GPs. Given the weak evidence for the clinical relevance of many instruments, there is little reason to introduce them into practice. However, the instruments can facilitate communication with external actors and specific groups of patients.
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29. |
- Pettersson, Agneta, et al.
(författare)
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Which instruments to support diagnosis of depression have sufficient accuracy? A systematic review
- 2015
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Ingår i: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0803-9488 .- 1502-4725. ; 69:7, s. 497-508
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Instruments are frequently used in case finding, diagnosis and severity grading of major depression, but the evidence supporting their utility is weak.AIM: To systematically review the specificity and sensitivity of instruments used to diagnose and grade the severity of depression.METHODS: MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Embase and the Cochrane Library databases were searched until April 2014. Fifty studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias was assessed with QUADAS. The average sensitivity and specificity of each instrument was estimated with hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristics analyses and the confidence in the estimates was evaluated using GRADE. Minimum acceptable sensitivity/specificity, with structured interview as the reference, was 80%/80% for structured interviews and 80%/70% for case-finding instruments. The minimum acceptable standard for severity measures was a correlation of 0.7 with DSM-IV classification.RESULTS: Twenty instruments were investigated. The average sensitivity/specificity was 85%/92% for the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-Axis-I Disorders (SCID-I), 95%/84% for the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), < 70%/85% for the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD), 88%/78% for the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) with a cut-off score of 10, 69%/95% for PHQ-9 as a diagnostic algorithm and 70%/83% for the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) with a cut-off score of 7. The confidence in the estimates for the other instruments was very low.CONCLUSIONS: Only the SCID-I, MINI and PHQ-9 with a cut-off score of 10 fulfilled the minimum criteria for sensitivity and specificity. The use of the PRIME-MD and HADS is not supported by current evidence.
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30. |
- Pettersson, Hanna, et al.
(författare)
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CYP7B1-mediated metabolism of dehydroepiandrosterone and 5alpha-androstane-3beta,17beta-diol--potential role(s) for estrogen signaling
- 2008
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Ingår i: The FEBS Journal. - : Wiley. - 1742-464X .- 1742-4658. ; 275:8, s. 1778-1789
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- CYP7B1, a cytochrome P450 enzyme, metabolizes several steroids involved in hormonal signaling including 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta,17 beta-diol (3 beta-Adiol), an estrogen receptor agonist, and dehydroepiandrosterone, a precursor for sex hormones. Previous studies have suggested that CYP7B1-dependent metabolism involving dehydroepiandrosterone or 3 beta-Adiol may play an important role for estrogen receptor beta-mediated signaling. However, conflicting data are reported regarding the influence of different CYP7B1-related steroids on estrogen receptor beta activation. In the present study, we investigated CYP7B1-mediated conversions of dehydroepiandrosterone and 3 beta-Adiol in porcine microsomes and human kidney cells. As part of these studies, we compared the effects of 3 beta-Adiol (a CYP7B1 substrate) and 7 alpha-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone (a CYP7B1 product) on estrogen receptor beta activation. The data obtained indicated that 3 beta-Adiol is a more efficient activator, thus lending support to the notion that CYP7B1 catalysis may decrease estrogen receptor beta activation. Our data on metabolism indicate that the efficiencies of CYP7B1-mediated hydroxylations of dehydroepiandrosterone and 3 beta-Adiol are very similar. The enzyme catalyzed both reactions at a similar rate and the K-cat/K-m values were in the same order of magnitude. A high dehydroepiandrosterone/3 beta-Adiol ratio in the incubation mixtures, similar to the ratio of these steroids in many human tissues, strongly suppressed CYP7B1-mediated 3 beta-Adiol metabolism. As the efficiencies of CYP7B1-mediated hydroxylation of dehydroepiandrosterone and 3 beta-Adiol are similar, we propose that varying steroid concentrations may be the most important factor determining the rate of CYP7B1-mediated metabolism of dehydroepiandrosterone or 3 beta-Adiol. Consequently, tissue-specific steroid concentrations may have a strong impact on CYP7B1-dependent catalysis and thus on the levels of different CYP7B1-related steroids that can influence estrogen receptor beta signaling.
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31. |
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32. |
- Pettersson-Kymmer, Ulrika, et al.
(författare)
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HLA and KIR Associations of Cervical Neoplasia
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Infectious Diseases. - : Oxford University Press. - 0022-1899 .- 1537-6613. ; 218:12, s. 2006-2015
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, and we recently reported human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles showing strong associations with cervical neoplasia risk and protection. HLA ligands are recognised by killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) expressed on a range of immune cell subsets, governing their proinflammatory activity. We hypothesized that the inheritance of particular HLA-KIR combinations would increase cervical neoplasia risk.Methods: Here, we used HLA and KIR dosages imputed from SNP genotype data from 2,143 cervical neoplasia cases and 13,858 healthy controls of European decent.Results: Four novel HLA alleles were identified in association with cervical neoplasia: HLA-DRB3*9901 (OR=1.24, P=2.49×10-9), HLA-DRB5*0101 (OR=1.29, P=2.26×10-8), HLA-DRB5*9901 (OR=0.77, P=1.90×10-9) and HLA-DRB3*0301 (OR=0.63, P=4.06×10-5), due to their linkage disequilibrium with known cervical neoplasia-associated HLA-DRB1 alleles. We also found homozygosity of HLA-C1 group alleles is a protective factor for HPV16-related cervical neoplasia (C1/C1, OR=0.79, P=0.005). This protective association was restricted to carriers of either KIR2DL2 (OR=0.67, P=0.00045) or KIR2DS2 (OR=0.69, P=0.0006).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that HLA-C1 group alleles play a role in protecting against HPV16-related cervical neoplasia, mainly through a KIR-mediated mechanism.
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33. |
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34. |
- Pettersson, Lisa, et al.
(författare)
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Hantavirus-specific IgA in saliva and viral antigen in the parotid gland in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Medical Virology. - : Wiley. - 0146-6615 .- 1096-9071. ; 83:5, s. 864-870
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Hantavirus genus comprises rodent borne, zoonotic viruses of the Bunyaviridae family that cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Eurasia and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in the Americas. Rodent saliva contains infectious hantavirus and evidence suggests that hantavirus is also shed in human saliva, but person-to-person transmission is rare. In saliva, immunoglobulin (Ig) A is the predominant immunoglobulin class. Secretory IgA serves as an important first line of defence on epithelial surfaces and the binding of secretory IgA to pathogens can inhibit adherence of microorganisms to mucosal cells and neutralize viruses. This study investigated the presence and importance of salivary IgA in relation to viral antigen in the saliva by testing Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) specific IgA, and RNA in saliva in acutely ill patients with HFRS. In saliva samples, PUUV specific IgA was detected in 12 of 33 (36%) patients with HFRS and 20 (61%) were PUUV RNA positive. There was a statistically significant inverse association between the presence of salivary IgA antibodies and PUUV RNA in the saliva. PUUV-specific IgA in saliva was not found in a long-term follow-up, while PUUV IgA in serum was detected in three patients, 28-32 months after the initial study. Notably, both PUUV RNA and PUUV nucleocapsid antigen were detected in endothelial cells within the parotid gland of a deceased patient with HFRS. J. Med. Virol. 83:864-870, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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35. |
- Pettersson, Lisa, et al.
(författare)
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Outbreak of Puumala virus infection, Sweden.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Emerging infectious diseases. - 1080-6059. ; 14:5, s. 808-10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An unexpected and large outbreak of Puumala virus infection in Sweden resulted in 313 nephropathia epidemica patients/100,000 persons in Västerbotten County during 2007. An increase in the rodent population, milder weather, and less snow cover probably contributed to the outbreak.
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36. |
- Pettersson, Lisa, 1975-
(författare)
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TRANSMISSION AND PATHOGENESIS OF HANTAVIRUS
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Hantaviruses are the causative agents of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Eurasia, and of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in the Americas. Transmission to humans usually occurs by inhalation of aerosolized virus-contaminated rodent excreta. To date, human-to-human transmission has only been described for the Andes hantavirus. The mode of transmission of Andes hantavirus is not yet known, but transmission through saliva has been suggested. In Sweden, we have one hantavirus that is pathogenic to humans, Puumala virus (PUUV), which is endemic in Central and Northern Europe. It induces a relatively mild form of HFRS, also called nephropathia epidemica (NE). The rodent reservoir is the bank vole (Myodes glareolus). The mechanism behind the pathogenesis of hantavirus is complex and probably involves both virus-mediated and host-mediated mechanisms. The aim of this project was to investigate the transmission mechanisms and pathogenesis of hantavirus disease in humans.In our first study, we described the largest outbreak of PUUV so far in Sweden. We investigated factors that might be important for causing the outbreak, and suggested that a peak in the bank vole population together with concurrent extreme weather conditions most probably contributed to the outbreak.Our next studies concentrated on human-to-human transmission of hantaviruses. We found PUUV RNA in saliva from PUUV-infected patients, suggesting that there is PUUV in the saliva of infected humans, although no person-to person transmission appears to occur with PUUV. In the studies that followed, we showed that human saliva and human salivary components could inhibit hantavirus replication. We also found PUUV-specific IgA in the saliva of PUUV-infected patients, which might prevent person-to-person transmission of the virus. In the final study, we focused on the pathogenesis of NE. One hundred five patients were included in a prospective study. They were divided into a group with mild disease and a group with moderate or severe disease. We found that the immune response had a dual role in disease development. It was partly responsible for development of severe disease, with significantly higher amounts of neutrophils in severely ill patients, but it was also protective against severe disease, because patients with mild disease had higher levels of PUUV-specific IgG.In conclusion, a peak in the bank vole population in combination with extreme weather will increase the risk of human infection, PUUV RNA is present in saliva, PUUV-specific IgA and salivary components inhibit person-to-person transmission of PUUV, and the immune response is important for the pathogenesis of PUUV and the severity of the disease.
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37. |
- Pettersson, Lisa, et al.
(författare)
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Viral load and humoral immune response in association with disease severity in Puumala hantavirus-infected patients-implications for treatment
- 2014
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Ingår i: Clinical Microbiology and Infection. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1198-743X .- 1469-0691. ; 20:3, s. 235-241
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hantaviruses are the causative agents of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Eurasia and of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in the Americas. The case fatality rate varies between different hantaviruses and can be up to 40%. At present, there is no specific treatment available. The hantavirus pathogenesis is not well understood, but most likely, both virus-mediated and host-mediated mechanisms are involved. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association among Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) viral RNA load, humoral immune response and disease severity in patients with HFRS. We performed a study of 105 PUUV-infected patients that were followed during the acute phase of disease and for up to 1-3 months later. Fifteen of the 105 patients (14%) were classified as having moderate/severe disease. A low PUUV-specific IgG response (p <0.05) and also a higher white blood cell count (p <0.001) were significantly associated with more severe disease. The PUUV RNA was detected in a majority of patient plasma samples up to 9 days after disease onset; however, PUUV RNA load or longevity of viraemia were not significantly associated with disease severity. We conclude that a low specific IgG response was associated with disease severity in patients with HFRS, whereas PUUV RNA load did not seem to affect the severity of HFRS. Our results raise the possibility of passive immunotherapy as a useful treatment for hantavirus-infected patients.
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38. |
- Rafati, Nima, et al.
(författare)
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Large Deletions at the SHOX Locus in the Pseudoautosomal Region Are Associated with Skeletal Atavism in Shetland Ponies
- 2016
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Ingår i: G3. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 2160-1836. ; 6:7, s. 2213-2223
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Skeletal atavism in Shetland ponies is a heritable disorder characterized by abnormal growth of the ulna and fibula that extend the carpal and tarsal joints, respectively. This causes abnormal skeletal structure and impaired movements, and affected foals are usually killed. In order to identify the causal mutation we subjected six confirmed Swedish cases and a DNA pool consisting of 21 control individuals to whole genome resequencing. We screened for polymorphisms where the cases and the control pool were fixed for opposite alleles and observed this signature for only 25 SNPs, most of which were scattered on genome assembly unassigned scaffolds. Read depth analysis at these loci revealed homozygosity or compound heterozygosity for two partially overlapping large deletions in the pseudoautosomal region (PAR) of chromosome X/Y in cases but not in the control pool. One of these deletions removes the entire coding region of the SHOX gene and both deletions remove parts of the CRLF2 gene located downstream of SHOX. The horse reference assembly of the PAR is highly fragmented, and in order to characterize this region we sequenced bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones by single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology. This considerably improved the assembly and enabled size estimations of the two deletions to 1602180 kb and 60280 kb, respectively. Complete association between the presence of these deletions and disease status was verified in eight other affected horses. The result of the present study is consistent with previous studies in humans showing crucial importance of SHOX for normal skeletal development.
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39. |
- Reverté, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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National records of 3000 European bee and hoverfly species : A contribution to pollinator conservation
- 2023
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Ingår i: Insect Conservation and Diversity. - 1752-458X. ; 16:6, s. 758-775
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pollinators play a crucial role in ecosystems globally, ensuring the seed production of most flowering plants. They are threatened by global changes and knowledge of their distribution at the national and continental levels is needed to implement efficient conservation actions, but this knowledge is still fragmented and/or difficult to access. As a step forward, we provide an updated list of around 3000 European bee and hoverfly species, reflecting their current distributional status at the national level (in the form of present, absent, regionally extinct, possibly extinct or non-native). This work was attainable by incorporating both published and unpublished data, as well as knowledge from a large set of taxonomists and ecologists in both groups. After providing the first National species lists for bees and hoverflies for many countries, we examine the current distributional patterns of these species and designate the countries with highest levels of species richness. We also show that many species are recorded in a single European country, highlighting the importance of articulating European and national conservation strategies. Finally, we discuss how the data provided here can be combined with future trait and Red List data to implement research that will further advance pollinator conservation.
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40. |
- Rosenbaum, William, et al.
(författare)
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Hybrid capture-based next-generation sequencing of new and old world Orthohantavirus strains and wild-type Puumala isolates from humans and bank voles
- 2024
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Virology. - : Elsevier. - 1386-6532 .- 1873-5967. ; 172
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Orthohantaviruses, transmitted primarily by rodents, cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Eurasia and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the Americas. These viruses, with documented human-to-human transmission, exhibit a wide case-fatality rate, 0.5–40 %, depending on the virus species, and no vaccine or effective treatment for severe Orthohantavirus infections exists. In Europe, the Puumala virus (PUUV), carried by the bank vole Myodes glareolus, causes a milder form of HFRS. Despite the reliance on serology and PCR for diagnosis, the three genomic segments of Swedish wild-type PUUV have yet to be completely sequenced.We have developed a targeted hybrid-capture method aimed at comprehensive genomic sequencing of wild-type PUUV isolates and the identification of other Orthohantaviruses. Our custom-designed panel includes >11,200 probes covering the entire Orthohantavirus genus. Using this panel, we sequenced complete viral genomes from bank vole lung tissue, human plasma samples, and cell-cultured reference strains. Analysis revealed that Swedish PUUV isolates belong to the Northern Scandinavian lineage, with nucleotide diversity ranging from 2.8 % to 3.7 % among them. Notably, no significant genotypic differences were observed between the viral sequences from reservoirs and human cases except in the nonstructural protein.Despite the high endemicity of PUUV in Northern Sweden, these are the first complete Swedish wild-type PUUV genomes and substantially increase our understanding of PUUV evolution and epidemiology. The panel's sensitivity enables genomic sequencing of human samples with viral RNA levels reflecting the natural progression of infection and underscores our panel's diagnostic value, and could help to uncover novel Orthohantavirus transmission routes.
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41. |
- Rådestad, Ingela, et al.
(författare)
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Sleeping patterns of Swedish women experiencing a stillbirth between 2000-2014 : an observational study
- 2016
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Ingår i: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. - London : BioMed Central. - 1471-2393 .- 1471-2393. ; 16:1, s. 193-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: External (to the fetus) stressors may act together with maternal factors as well as fetal and placental factors to increase the risk of stillbirth. Data published in 2011 indicate non-left side sleeping positions, particularly the supine one, is such a stressor; we do not know, however, if this new knowledge has influenced the choice of sleeping position among pregnant women.METHODS: Using a web-based questionnaire made available at the home page of the Swedish national infant foundation we collected information on sleeping positions among women who gave birth to a stillborn baby between 2000 and 2014.RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 583 women. About one third of the women reporting their sleeping position stated that they lay down on their the left side when going to bed, and another third reported lying down as often on the left as on the right side. Figures for typically going to bed on the left side the 4 weeks preceding the stillbirth was as follows: 72 (30 %) of 242 between 2011 and 2014 and 86 (27 %) of 313 between 2000 and 2010. Among the 240 women who remembered their position when waking up on the day the stillbirth was diagnosed, 63 (26 %) reported a supine position.CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that one third of the women went to bed on the left side the month before the stillbirth. The data are consistent with the notion that efforts in Sweden to advise women to lie on their left side when going to bed may decrease the rate of stillbirth.
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42. |
- Segnestam, Lisa, 1971-
(författare)
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Culture and Capacity : Drought and Gender Differentiated Vulnerability of Rural Poor in Nicaragua, 1970-2010
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This dissertation interprets gender-differentiated vulnerability to drought within a rural community located in the dry zone, la zona seca, of Nicaragua, a region that has been identified by the government and NGO sector as suffering from prolonged and, since the 1970s, more frequent droughts. A combination of gender, capitals, and vulnerability demonstrates the value in using a multidimensional perspective to look at the socioeconomic and cultural contexts that form the capacity individuals have had to reduce their long-term vulnerability to drought in Nicaragua. Due to the place-based characteristics of gender as well as vulnerability the analysis is mainly based on people’s stories about the history of their lives. Based on these stories a local level picture is created of the households’ situation over time, how their work strategies and management of resources have varied, and how they perceived changes in capacity and vulnerability in relation to continuity and change in the climate. The issue of adaptive capacity, which currently is less covered in research on gender and vulnerability and recognized in the literature as in need of more attention, and how it distinguishes itself from coping capacity in relation to vulnerability, is placed at the center of analysis. In an additional analysis of how Nicaragua’s hazard management policies look upon the role and importance of interaction among societal levels and actors in reducing hazard vulnerability I show how the discourse has moved from emergency response to risk management with an increased emphasis on capacity building. However, the recognition to differentiated vulnerability is lacking which risks hampering a successful vulnerability reduction.
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43. |
- Soderman, Lisa, et al.
(författare)
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Adjuvant use of melatonin for pain management in endometriosis-associated pelvic pain-A randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial
- 2023
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE. - 1932-6203. ; 18:6
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Considering the pharmacological treatment options for endometriosis-associated pain are confined to hormonal therapy and analgesics, we studied the analgesic effect of 20 mg melatonin as an adjuvant therapy in women with endometriosis-associated pain. This randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at the Research Center for Womens Health at Sodersjukhuset, a university hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. Forty women from 18 to 50 years of age with endometriosis and severe dysmenorrhea with or without chronic pelvic pain were given 20 mg Melatonin or placebo orally daily for two consecutive menstrual cycles or months. The level of pain was recorded daily on the 11-point numeric rating scale, a difference of 1.3 units was considered clinically significant. Clincaltrials.gov nr NCT03782740. Sixteen participants completed the study in the placebo group and 18 in the melatonin group. The difference in endometriosis-associated pain between the groups showed to be non-significant statistically as well as clinically, 2.9 (SD 1.9) in the melatonin group and 3.3 (SD 2.0) in the placebo group, p = 0.45. This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial could not show that 20 mg of melatonin given orally at bedtime had better analgesic effect on endometriosis-associated pain compared with placebo. No adverse effects were observed.
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44. |
- Spang, Lisa, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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Aging in place or in a nursing home : a case-control study comparing nursinghome applicants to matched non-applicants
- 2024
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction Previous research has shown that nursing home applicants had negative experiences of living and receiving care in their ordinary housing due to several factors, such as difficulties in everyday activities and being depressed. However, whether these experiences stand solely for nursing home applicants, or are common in an older population in general needs to be investigated. Aim of this study was to compare nursing home applicants with matched older adults with respect to difficulties in everyday life, life satisfaction and depressive mood.Methods Using a case-control design, 34 participants (17 in each group) were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank test for continuous variables and McNemar test for binary variables. The magnitude of associations was explored using conditional logistic regression.Results Nursing home applicants experienced more difficulties in daily life and were more depressed than their matched peers, and this difference between groups was significant. To experience several difficulties in everyday life and being depressed increased the odds for a nursing home application.Conclusions As aging in place is the societal norm, older adults with increased likelihood of nursing home applications need to be identified and catered for in an early stage, to prevent nursing home admission.
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45. |
- Spang, Lisa, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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Experiences of Close Relatives of Older Adults in Need of a Nursing Home : It Is We Who Manage Their Fragile Daily Life
- 2023
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Ingår i: Health & Social Care in the Community. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0966-0410 .- 1365-2524. ; 2023
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Home-based care is expanding, and we need to know more about what kind of support older adults need and how such support should be designed. One way to gain more knowledge is to study the experiences that underlie a nursing home application. However, older adults in need of nursing homes are often too weak to participate in research. Thus, this study aimed to describe the experiences of close relatives of the daily life of older adults in need of a nursing home. A qualitative approach was used, where fifteen relatives of nursing home applicants in central Sweden were interviewed using a study-specific interview guide. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings are presented in one main theme "Being the person who manages a fragile life situation" with three underlying themes: Balancing and fulfilling expectations, striving to achieve a status quo, experiencing a breaking point, a change is inevitable, and waiting and moving into a nursing home, a period of tension. The main theme describes how the participants contributed to managing the older adults' life situation and acted as a representative in contacts with health and social care. They tried to offer support in their daily life but over time experienced a breaking point when ageing in place was no longer sustainable, resulting in a nursing home application. The rationale for a nursing home application was often a combination of the older adult's own wishes and the fact that their relatives felt there was a combined need for extensive care and physical proximity to staff, which cannot be provided in ordinary housing. Sometimes the decision to apply was also based on relatives no longer having the capacity to continue managing an older adult's fragile situation.
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46. |
- Spang, Lisa, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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Older adults’ reasons for applying to a nursing home admission : a document analysis
- 2024
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction Societal norms and policies encourage older adults to age and receive care in their home, referred to as ageing in place. Nevertheless, Swedish older adults apply for nursing home admission. To understand how ageing in place better could be supported, the aim was to study descriptions of older adults’ reasons for applying to a nursing home in documents of granted nursing home decisions.Methods 160 granted nursing home decisions underwent document analysis, to study if reasons occurred due to person, environmental or occupational factors according to occupational theory model Canadian Model of Occupation Performance- Engagement.Result Several factors in different parts of life were experienced to lead to a nursing home application, e.g., multiple impairments, anxiety, loneliness, or longing to be closer to relatives or healthcare staff. Additionally, reasons could also be recommendations from healthcare staff or that a spouse didn´t want to live together with support from home-based care.Conclusions The results highlight societal injustices that occurred for older adults who age in place, which expedited the applications. The documents described how ageing in place shrunk their opportunities for activity, social cohesion, and the possibility to proximity to staff.
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47. |
- Spang, Lisa, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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To be a relative to an older adult who have applied to a nursing home
- 2022
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Ageing in place, is in most European societies a social norm and is made possible by home-based care services and by support from relatives. Yet some older adults describe ageing in place as an unsatisfying life situation and instead apply for a nursing home. Thus, relatives supporting these older adults´ daily lives are part of that experience but the knowledge of how that unsatisfying experience is shared by the relatives is limited. Hence, the study aimed to describe experiences of being a relative to a nursing home applicant.Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted by phone with 15 relatives (spouse n=2, children n=13) to nursing home applicants. The data was collected in year 2020 during the covid-19 pandemic. Interviews were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach according to Braun and Clark. Results: Preliminary results show that the relatives have many expectations to handle, both from themselves, the nursing home applicant and healthcare. In addition, the covid-19 pandemic made it difficult to fulfill the expectations and the relatives consider both their own and the nursing home applicant’s situation as fragile. Final themes will be presented at the conference.Conclusion: Increased understanding of what experiences that influence everyday activities when ageing in place, could facilitate occupational therapists’ work with older adults living at home. For example, relatives should be included at an early stage of the occupational therapy process in order to provide insight into which areas of daily life occupational therapists should prioritize and support.
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48. |
- Varpula, Reetta, et al.
(författare)
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Early suppression policies protected pregnant women from COVID-19 in 2020 : A population-based surveillance from the Nordic countries
- 2024
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Ingår i: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. - 0001-6349. ; 103:6, s. 1063-1072
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The Coronavirus 2019 Disease (COVID-19) pandemic reached the Nordic countries in March 2020. Public health interventions to limit viral transmission varied across different countries both in timing and in magnitude. Interventions indicated by an Oxford Stringency Index ≥50 were implemented early (March 13–17, 2020) in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland, and on March 26, 2020 in Sweden. The aim of the current study was to assess the incidence of COVID-19-related admissions of pregnant women in the Nordic countries in relation to the different national public health strategies during the first year of the pandemic. Material and methods: This is a meta-analysis of population-based cohort studies in the five Nordic countries with national or regional surveillance in the Nordic Obstetric Surveillance System (NOSS) collaboration: national data from Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway, and regional data covering 31% of births in Sweden. The source population consisted of women giving birth in the included areas March 1–December 31, 2020. Pregnant women with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test ≤14 days before hospital admission were included, and admissions were stratified as either COVID-19-related or non-COVID (other obstetric healthcare). Information about public health policies was retrieved retrospectively. Results: In total, 392 382 maternities were considered. Of these, 600 women were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection and 137 (22.8%) were admitted for COVID-19 symptoms. The pooled incidence of COVID-19 admissions per 1000 maternities was 0.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2 to 1.2, I2 = 77.6, tau2 = 0.68, P = 0.0), ranging from no admissions in Iceland to 1.9 admissions in the Swedish regions. Interventions to restrict viral transmission were less stringent in Sweden than in the other Nordic countries. Conclusions: There was a clear variation in pregnant women's risk of COVID-19 admission across countries with similar healthcare systems but different public health interventions to limit viral transmission. The meta-analysis indicates that early suppression policies protected pregnant women from severe COVID-19 disease prior to the availability of individual protection with vaccines.
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49. |
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50. |
- Wallgren, Ulrika M., 1971-, et al.
(författare)
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Association between variables measured in the ambulance and in-hospital mortality among adult patients with and without infection : a prospective cohort study
- 2022
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Ingår i: BMC Emergency Medicine. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1471-227X. ; 22:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Patients presenting with infection to the ambulance are common, but risk factors for poor outcome are not known. The primary aim of the current study was to study the association between variables measured in the ambulance and mortality among adult patients with and without infection. The secondary aim was to study the association between these variables and mortality in a subgroup of patients who developed sepsis within 36 h.METHODS: Prospective cohort study of 553 ambulance patients with, and 318 patients without infection, performed in Stockholm during 2017-2018. The association between 21 variables (8 keywords related to medical history, 6 vital signs, 4 blood tests, and age, gender, comorbidity) and in-hospital mortality was analysed using logistic regression.RESULTS: Among patients with infection, inability of the patient to answer questions relating to certain symptoms such as pain and gastrointestinal symptoms was significantly associated with mortality in univariable analysis, in addition to oxygen saturation < 94%, heart rate > 110 /min, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) < 15, soluble urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) 4.0-7.9 ng/mL, suPAR ≥ 8.0 ng/mL and a Charlson comorbidity score ≥ 5. suPAR ≥ 8.0 ng/mL remained significant in multivariable analysis (OR 25.4; 95% CI, 3.2-199.8). Among patients without infection, suPAR ≥ 8.0 ng/mL and a Charlson comorbidity score ≥ 5 were significantly associated with mortality in univariable analysis, while suPAR ≥ 8.0 ng/mL remained significant in multivariable analysis (OR 56.1; 95% CI, 4.5-700.0). Among patients who developed sepsis, inability to answer questions relating to pain remained significant in multivariable analysis (OR 13.2; 95% CI, 2.2-78.9), in addition to suPAR ≥ 8.0 ng/mL (OR 16.1; 95% CI, 2.0-128.6).CONCLUSIONS: suPAR ≥ 8.0 ng/mL was associated with mortality in patients presenting to the ambulance both with and without infection and in those who developed sepsis. Furthermore, the inability of the ambulance patient with an infection to answer questions relating to specific symptoms was associated with a surprisingly high mortality. These results suggest that suPAR and medical history are valuable tools with which to identify patients at risk of poor outcome in the ambulance and could potentially signal the need of enhanced attention.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03249597. Registered 15 August 2017-Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03249597 .
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