| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
- Bidleman, TF, et al.
(författare)
-
Chiral pesticides as tracers of air-surface exchange
- 1998
-
Ingår i: Environmental Pollution. - 0269-7491 .- 1873-6424. ; 102:1, s. 43-49
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The enantiomers of chiral pesticides are selectively broken down in soil and water to yield residues and metabolites, which are non-racemic. The distinctive enantiomer signatures of residues are preserved upon volatilization, providing site-specific tracers for air-soil and air-water exchange. Applications of enantiomeric tracers include distinguishing the atmospheric transport of freshly applied pesticides from those which are 'recycled' from lakes, oceans and soil, and investigating biotic vs abiotic degradation pathways. Examples are given of using pesticide enantiomers to follow volatilization from the Great Lakes and arctic waters and as indicators of pesticide emissions from agricultural soils.
|
|
| 3. |
- Bidleman, TF, et al.
(författare)
-
Soil as a source of atmospheric heptachlor epoxide
- 1998
-
Ingår i: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 32:10, s. 1546-1548
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The chiral pesticide heptachlor can undergo photolysis to yield the racemic products heptachlor-exo-epoxide (HEPX) and photoheptachlor. Heptachlor is also metabolized to nonracemic HEPX in biological systems and soils. HEPX in ambient air samples from the southern United States and Lakes Ontario and Superior was nonracemic and enriched in the (+) enantiomer. Average enantiomer ratios (ER = areas of (+)/(-) HEPX) in these locations ranged from 1.51 to 2.02, and were similar to ER values of HEPX reported for agricultural soils. Airborne heptachlor was racemic, with ERs of 0.98-1.02. These results suggest that the main source of HEPX in ambient air is not photolysis of heptachlor, hut rather metabolism of heptachlor in soils followed by volatilization of HEPX. The study exemplifies the use of chiral analysis for investigating the environmental fate of pesticides.
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
- Iorizzo, L., et al.
(författare)
-
Proposed cutoff for fetal scalp blood lactate in intrapartum fetal surveillance based on neonatal outcomes: a large prospective observational study
- 2022
-
Ingår i: BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. - : Wiley. - 1470-0328 .- 1471-0528. ; 129:4, s. 636-646
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Determination of lactate in fetal scalp blood (FBS) during labour has been recognised since the 1970s. The internationally accepted cutoff of >4.8mmol/l indicating fetal acidosis is exclusive for the point-of-care device (POC) LactatePro™, which is no longer in production. The aim of this study was to establish a new cutoff for scalp lactate based on neonatal outcomes with the use of the StatstripLactate®/StatstripXpress® Lactate system, the only POC designed for hospital use. Design: Observational study. Setting: January 2016 to March 2020 labouring women with indication for FBS were prospectively included from seven Swedish and one Australian delivery unit. Population: Inclusion criteria: singleton pregnancy, vertex presentation, ≥35+0weeks of gestation. Method: Based on the optimal correlation between FBS lactate and cord pH/lactate, only cases with ≤25minutes from FBS to delivery were included in the final calculations. Main outcome measures: Metabolic acidosis in cord blood defined as pH <7.05 plus BDecf >10mmol/l and/or lactate >10mmol/l. Results: A total of 3334 women were enrolled of whom 799 were delivered within 25minutes. The areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUC) and corresponding optimal cutoff values were as follows; metabolic acidosis AUC 0.87 (95% CI 0.77–0.97), cutoff 5.7mmol/l; pH <7.0 AUC 0.83 (95% CI 0.68–0.97), cutoff 4.6mmol/l; pH <7.05 plus BDecf ≥12mmol/l AUC 0.97 (95% CI 0.92–1), cutoff 5.8mmol/l; Apgar score <7 at 5minutes AUC 0.74 (95% CI 0.63–0.86), cutoff 5.2mmol/l; and pH <7.10 plus composite neonatal outcome AUC 0.76 (95% CI 0.67–0.85), cutoff 4.8mmol/l. Conclusion: A scalp lactate level <5.2mmol/l using the StatstripLactate®/StatstripXpress® system will safely rule out fetal metabolic acidosis. Tweetable abstract: Scalp blood lactate <5.2mmol/l using the StatstripLactate®/StatstripXpress system has an excellent ability to rule out fetal acidosis.
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
- Sircova, Anna, et al.
(författare)
-
A global look at time : a 24-country study of the equivalence of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory
- 2014
-
Ingår i: SAGE Open. - : SAGE Publications. - 2158-2440. ; :4, s. 1-12
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this article, we assess the structural equivalence of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) across 26 samples from 24 countries (N = 12,200). The ZTPI is proven to be a valid and reliable index of individual differences in time perspective across five temporal categories: Past Negative, Past Positive, Present Fatalistic, Present Hedonistic, and Future. We obtained evidence for invariance of 36 items (out of 56) and also the five-factor structure of ZTPI across 23 countries. The short ZTPI scales are reliable for country-level analysis, whereas we recommend the use of the full scales for individual-level analysis. The short version of ZTPI will further promote integration of research in the time perspective domain in relation to many different psycho-social processes.
|
|
| 10. |
|
|
| 11. |
- Birgisdottir, H., et al.
(författare)
-
IEA ESC annex 57 'evaluation of embodied energy and CO2eq for building construction'
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Energy and Buildings. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA. - 0378-7788 .- 1872-6178. ; 154, s. 72-80
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The current regulations to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from buildings have focused on operational energy consumption. Thus legislation excludes measurement and reduction of the embodied energy and embodied GHG emissions over the building life cycle. Embodied impacts are a significant and growing proportion and it is increasingly recognised that the focus on reducing operational energy consumption needs to be accompanied by a parallel focus on reducing embodied impacts. Over the last six years the Annex 57 has 'addressed this issue, with researchers from 15 countries working together to develop a detailed understanding of the multiple calculation methods and the interpretation of their results. Based on an analysis of 80 case studies, Annex 57 showed various inconsistencies in current methodological approaches, which inhibit comparisons of results and difficult development of robust reduction strategies. Reinterpreting the studies through an understanding of the methodological differences enabled the cases to be used to demonstrate a number of important strategies for the reduction of embodied impacts. Annex 57 has also produced clear recommendations for uniform definitions and templates which improve the description of system boundaries, completeness of inventory and quality of data, and consequently the transparency of embodied impact assessments.
|
|
| 12. |
|
|
| 13. |
|
|
| 14. |
|
|
| 15. |
|
|
| 16. |
|
|
| 17. |
|
|
| 18. |
|
|
| 19. |
|
|
| 20. |
|
|
| 21. |
|
|
| 22. |
- Höglund, Katja, et al.
(författare)
-
Effect of Breed on Plasma Endothelin-1 Concentration, Plasma Renin Activity, and Serum Cortisol Concentration in Healthy Dogs
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0891-6640 .- 1939-1676. ; 30:2, s. 566-573
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: There are breed differences in several blood variables in healthy dogs.Objective: Investigate breed variation in plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentration, plasma renin activity, and serum cortisol concentration.Animals: Five-hundred and thirty-one healthy dogs of 9 breeds examined at 5 centers (2-4 breeds/center).Methods: Prospective observational study. Circulating concentrations of ET-1 and cortisol, and renin activity, were measured using commercially available assays. Absence of organ-related or systemic disease was ensured by thorough clinical investigations, including blood pressure measurement, echocardiography, ECG, blood and urine analysis.Results: Median ET-1 concentration was 1.29 (interquartile range [IQR], 0.97-1.82) pg/mL, median cortisol concentration 46.0 (IQR, 29.0-80.8) nmol/L, and median renin activity 0.73 (IQR, 0.48-1.10) ng/mL/h in all dogs. Overall, breed differences were found in ET-1 and cortisol concentrations, and renin activity (P < .0001 for all). Pair-wise comparisons between breeds differed in 67% of comparisons for ET-1, 22% for cortisol, and 19% for renin activity, respectively. Within centers, breed differences were found at 5/5 centers for ET-1, 4/5 centers for cortisol, and 2/5 centers for renin activity. Newfoundlands had highest median ET-1 concentration, 3 times higher than Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Doberman Pinschers, and Dachshunds. Median renin activity was highest in Dachshunds, twice the median value in Newfoundlands and Boxers. Median cortisol concentration was highest in Finnish Lapphunds, almost 3 times higher than in Boxers.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Breed variation might be important to take into consideration when interpreting test results in clinical studies.
|
|
| 23. |
|
|
| 24. |
|
|
| 25. |
|
|
| 26. |
- Keskitalo, E Carina H, et al.
(författare)
-
Contrasting arctic and mainstream Swedish descriptions of Northern Sweden : the view from established domestic research
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Arctic. - : Arctic Institute of North America. - 0004-0843 .- 1923-1245. ; 66:3, s. 351-365
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2011, Sweden released its first-ever Arctic strategy, in preparation for taking over the chairmanship of the Arctic Council, an eight-state cooperation organization. The recent political development that will include Sweden more extensively in Arctic regional cooperation makes it relevant to review and comment on the image of the areas involved from a Swedish viewpoint and to improve the often very brief descriptions of northernmost Sweden in Arctic literature. In this paper, we contrast descriptions of the Arctic in the Arctic Human Development Report (AHDR) with descriptions of northern Sweden in established domestic demographic and regional development research. The study shows that many of the assumptions in the first AHDR to the effect that the eight "Arctic" regions are rather directly comparable in fact reveal substantial differences between areas, with northern Sweden standing in sharp contrast to many of the descriptions. Instead of having a population that is very small, young, and rapidly growing because of a high birth rate, northern Sweden is characterized by relatively dense habitation with a stable and aging population of long-term residents. Moreover, it has a very small and relatively integrated indigenous population with largely the same health situation as in Sweden overall. While depopulation and urbanization are evident in its less populated areas, migration from the region is partly directed at the larger regional centres in the area, following a pattern seen in the Western world at large.
|
|
| 27. |
- Kingham, Paul J, et al.
(författare)
-
Stimulating the neurotrophic and angiogenic properties of human adipose-derived stem cells enhances nerve repair
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Stem Cells and Development. - : Mary Ann Liebert Inc. - 1547-3287 .- 1557-8534. ; 23:7, s. 741-754
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In future, adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) might be used to treat neurological disorders. In this study, the neurotrophic and angiogenic properties of human ASC were evaluated, and their effects in a peripheral nerve injury model were determined. In vitro growth factor stimulation of the cells resulted in increased secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), and angiopoietin-1 proteins. Conditioned medium from stimulated cells increased neurite outgrowth of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. Similarly, stimulated cells showed an enhanced ability to induce capillary-like tube formation in an in vitro angiogenesis assay. ASC were seeded into a fibrin conduit that was used to bridge a 10 mm rat nerve gap. After 2 weeks, the animals treated with control or stimulated ASC showed an enhanced axon regeneration distance. Stimulated cells evoked more total axon growth. Analysis of regeneration and apoptosis-related gene expression showed that both ASC and stimulated ASC enhanced GAP-43 and activating transcription factor 3 (ATF-3) expression in the spinal cord and reduced c-jun expression in the DRG. Caspase-3 expression in the DRG was reduced by stimulated ASC. Both ASC and stimulated ASC also increased the vascularity of the fibrin nerve conduits. Thus, ASC produce functional neurotrophic and angiogenic factors, creating a more desirable microenvironment for nerve regeneration.
|
|
| 28. |
- Kjölhede, Karin, et al.
(författare)
-
Glycemic, maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with type 1 diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring during pregnancy – Pump vs multiple daily injections, a secondary analysis of an observational cohort study
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. - : Wiley. - 0001-6349 .- 1600-0412. ; 100:5, s. 927-933
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) provides detailed information about glucose level fluctuations over time. The method is increasingly being used in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. However, only one previous study compared CGM results related to pregnancy outcomes in women using insulin pumps with those administering multiple daily injections (MDI). We performed a secondary analysis of CGM metrics from an observational cohort of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes and compared insulin pump and MDI therapies in relation to maternal and neonatal outcomes. Material and methods: The study included 185 pregnant Swedish women with type 1 diabetes undergoing CGM throughout pregnancy. Women were divided according to insulin administration mode, ie MDI (n = 131) or pump (n = 54). A total of 91 women used real-time CGM and 94 women used intermittently viewed CGM. Maternal demographics and maternal and neonatal outcome data were collected from medical records. CGM data were analyzed according to predefined glycemic indices: mean glucose; standard deviation; percentage of time within, below and above glucose target range; mean amplitude of glycemic excursion; high and low glucose indices; and coefficient variation in percent. Associations between insulin administration mode and CGM data, on the one hand, and maternal and neonatal outcomes, on the other, were analyzed with analysis of covariance and logistic regression, respectively, adjusted for confounders. Results: There were no differences in maternal characteristics or glycemic indices between the MDI and pump groups, except for a longer duration of type 1 diabetes and higher frequencies of microangiopathy and real-time CGM among pump users. Despite improvement with each trimester, glucose levels remained suboptimal throughout pregnancy in both groups. There were no differences between the MDI and pump groups concerning the respective associations with any of the outcomes. The frequency of large for gestational age was high in both groups (MDI 49% vs pump 63%) and did not differ significantly. Conclusions: Pregnant women with type 1 diabetes did not differ in glycemic control or pregnancy outcome, related to MDI or pump administration of insulin. Glycemic control remained suboptimal throughout pregnancy, regardless of insulin administration mode.
|
|
| 29. |
- Kolar, Mallappa K, et al.
(författare)
-
The therapeutic effects of human adipose derived stem cells in a rat cervical spinal cord injury model
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Stem Cells and Development. - : Mary Ann Liebert. - 1547-3287 .- 1557-8534. ; 23:14, s. 1659-1674
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Spinal cord injury triggers a cascade of degenerative changes leading to cell death and cavitation. Severed axons fail to regenerate across the scar tissue and are only capable of limited sprouting. In this study we investigated the effects of adult human adipose derived stem cells (ASC) on axonal regeneration following transplantation into the injured rat cervical spinal cord. ASC did not induce activation of astrocytes in culture and supported neurite outgrowth from adult rat sensory DRG neurons. After transplantation into the lateral funiculus 1mm rostral and caudal to the cervical C3-C4 hemisection, ASC continued to express BDNF, VEGF and FGF-2 for 3 weeks but only in animals treated with cyclosporine A. Transplanted ASC stimulated extensive ingrowth of 5HT-positive raphaespinal axons into the trauma zone with some terminal arborisations reaching the caudal spinal cord. In addition, ASC induced sprouting of raphaespinal terminals in C2 contralateral ventral horn and C6 ventral horn on both sides. Transplanted cells also changed the structure of the lesion scar with numerous astrocytic processes extended into the middle of the trauma zone in a chain-like pattern and in close association with regenerating axons. The density of the astrocytic network was also significantly decreased. Although the transplanted cells had no effect on the density of capillaries around the lesion site, the activity of OX42-positive microglial cells was markedly reduced. However, ASC did not support recovery of forelimb function. The results suggest that transplanted ASC can modify the structure of the glial scar and stimulate axonal sprouting.
|
|
| 30. |
- Kolar, Mallappa K., 1981-
(författare)
-
Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells and injections of microRNA as therapeutics for nervous system repair
- 2016
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Traumatic injuries to the spinal cord (SCI) and peripheral nerve (PNI) affect several thousand people worldwide every year. At present, there is no effective treatment for SCI and despite continuous improvements in microsurgical reconstructive techniques for PNI, many patients are still left with permanent, devastating neurological dysfunction. This thesis investigates the effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) derived from adipose (ASC) and dental (DSC) tissue and chitosan/microRNA-124 polyplex particles on regeneration after spinal cord and peripheral nerve injury in adult rats. Dental stem cells were obtained from apical papilla, dental pulp, and periodontal ligament. ASC and DSC expressed MSC surface markers (CD73, CD90, CD105 and CD146) and various neurotrophic molecules including BDNF, GDNF, NGF, VEGF-A and angiopoietin-1. Growth factor stimulation of the stem cells resulted in increased secretion of these proteins. Both ASC and DSC supported in vitro neurite outgrowth and in contrast to Schwann cells, ASC did not induce activation of astrocytes. Stimulated ASC also showed an enhanced ability to induce capillary-like tube formation in an in vitro angiogenesis assay. In a peripheral nerve injury model, ASC and DSC were seeded into a fibrin conduit, which was used to bridge a 10 mm rat sciatic nerve gap. After 2 weeks, both ASC and DSC promoted axonal regeneration in the conduit and reduced caspase-3 expression in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). ASC also enhanced GAP-43 and ATF-3 expression in the spinal cord, reduced c-jun expression in the DRG and increased the vascularity of the implant. After transplantation into injured C3-C4 cervical spinal cord, ASC continued to express neurotrophic factors and laminin and stimulated extensive ingrowth of 5HT-positive raphaespinal axons into the trauma zone. In addition, ASC induced sprouting of raphaespinal terminals in C2 contralateral ventral horn and C6 ventral horn on both sides. Transplanted cells also changed the structure and the density of the astroglial scar. Although the transplanted cells had no effect on the density of capillaries around the lesion site, the reactivity of OX42-positive microglial cells was markedly reduced. However, ASC did not enhance recovery of forelimb function. In order to reduce activation of microglia/macrophages and the secondary tissue damage after SCI, the role of microRNA-124 was investigated. In vitro transfection of chitosan/microRNA-124 polyplex particles into rat microglia resulted in the reduction of reactive oxygen species and TNF-α levels and lowered expression of MHC-II. Upon microinjection into uninjured rat spinal cords, particles formed with Cy3-labeled control sequence RNA, were specifically internalized by OX42 positive macrophages and microglia. Alternatively, particles injected in the peritoneum were transported by macrophages to the site of spinal cord injury. Microinjections of chitosan/microRNA-124 particles significantly reduced the number of ED-1 positive macrophages after SCI. In summary, these results show that human MSC produce functional neurotrophic and angiogenic factors, creating a more desirable microenvironment for neural regeneration after spinal cord and peripheral nerve injury. The data also suggests that chitosan/microRNA-124 particles could be potential treatment technique to reduce neuroinflammation.
|
|
| 31. |
- Kristensen, Karl, et al.
(författare)
-
Continuous glucose monitoring in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes : an observational cohort study of 186 pregnancies
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Diabetologia. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0012-186X .- 1432-0428. ; 62:7, s. 1143-1153
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to analyse patterns of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data for associations with large for gestational age (LGA) infants and an adverse neonatal composite outcome (NCO) in pregnancies in women with type 1 diabetes. Methods: This was an observational cohort study of 186 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes in Sweden. The interstitial glucose readings from 92 real-time (rt) CGM and 94 intermittently viewed (i) CGM devices were used to calculate mean glucose, SD, CV%, time spent in target range (3.5–7.8 mmol/l), mean amplitude of glucose excursions and also high and low blood glucose indices (HBGI and LBGI, respectively). Electronic records provided information on maternal demographics and neonatal outcomes. Associations between CGM indices and neonatal outcomes were analysed by stepwise logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounders. Results: The number of infants born LGA was similar in rtCGM and iCGM users (52% vs 53%). In the combined group, elevated mean glucose levels in the second and the third trimester were significantly associated with LGA (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.12, 2.08, and OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.12, 2.19, respectively). Furthermore, a high percentage of time in target in the second and the third trimester was associated with lower risk of LGA (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94, 0.99 and OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95, 1.00, respectively). The same associations were found for mean glucose and for time in target and the risk of NCO in all trimesters. SD was significantly associated with LGA in the second trimester and with NCO in the third trimester. Glucose patterns did not differ between rtCGM and iCGM users except that rtCGM users had lower LBGI and spent less time below target. Conclusions/interpretation: Higher mean glucose levels, higher SD and less time in target range were associated with increased risk of LGA and NCO. Despite the use of CGM throughout pregnancy, the day-to-day glucose control was not optimal and the incidence of LGA remained high.
|
|
| 32. |
|
|
| 33. |
- Louw, Andrew M, et al.
(författare)
-
Chitosan polyplex mediated delivery of miRNA-124 reduces activation of microglial cells in vitro and in rat models of spinal cord injury
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Nanomedicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 1549-9634 .- 1549-9642. ; 12:3, s. 643-653
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Traumatic injury to the central nervous system (CNS) is further complicated by an increase in secondary neuronal damage imposed by activated microglia/macrophages. MicroRNA-124 (miR-124) is responsible for mouse monocyte quiescence and reduction of their inflammatory cytokine production. We describe the formulation and ex vivo transfection of chitosan/miR-124 polyplex particles into rat microglia and the resulting reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and TNF-α and lower expression of MHC-II. Upon microinjection into uninjured rat spinal cords, particles formed with Cy3-labeled control sequence RNA, were specifically internalized by OX42 positive macrophages and microglia cells. Alternatively particles injected in the peritoneum were transported by macrophages to the site of spinal cord injury 72h post injection. Microinjections of chitosan/miR-124 particles significantly reduced the number of ED-1 positive macrophages in the injured spinal cord. Taken together, these data present a potential treatment technique to reduce inflammation for a multitude of CNS neurodegenerative conditions.
|
|
| 34. |
- Ma, J, et al.
(författare)
-
Plexus avulsion and spinal cord injury increase the serum concentration of S-100 protein : an experimental study in rats.
- 2001
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery. - 0284-4311 .- 1651-2073. ; 35:4, s. 355-9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The possibility of using the presence of the glial-cell-derived protein S-100 in serum as a marker for neuronal damage caused by spinal cord injury and plexus avulsion injury was investigated in 144 adult rats. After a spinal cord injury had been induced at the thoracic level or a plexus avulsion injury at the lumbar level, blood samples were taken and analysed for S-100 protein by a monoclonal two-site immunoluminometric assay. The two types of neurotrauma changed the kinetics of serum S-100 in different ways. After spinal cord injury it rapidly increased and within 72 hours had reached a concentration about 5 times that of the control animals. Three peak concentrations occurred at 3, 12, and 72 hours, respectively, and differed significantly from those of the control group (p < 0.05). After six days the values had returned to normal. After lumbar plexus injury alone there was no significant increase in the concentration of S-100. These results suggest that the concentration of S-100 protein in serum may be used as an early diagnostic tool for detecting neuronal damage caused by spinal cord injury or plexus avulsion associated with damage to the root entry zone.
|
|
| 35. |
- Magnusson, R, et al.
(författare)
-
Determination of chemical composition and mutagenicity in particles from chainsaw exhaust. Experimental set-up, stability and results from two different fuels
- 2000
-
Ingår i: Environmental Technology. - 0959-3330. ; 21:7, s. 819-29
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A dilution tunnel for sampling of particles and gaseous emissions in chainsaw exhaust was constructed and tested for reproducibility. In addition the equipment was used to measure chainsaw emissions when using two different fuels, aliphatic petrol with synthetic lubricating oil and regular lead-free petrol with mineral lubricating oil. The content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and the mutagenicity of sampled particles were measured as well as the concentration of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and aldehydes in the exhaust. particles were sampled isokinetically and collected on a filter followed by two polyurethane foam plugs (PUF) in series for sampling of the semivolatile components. PAH were analysed by a coupled liquid chromatography - gas chromatography (LC-GC) system and mutagenicity testing was carried out by using Ames Salmonella assay. The measured physical parameters as well as the particulate, semivolatile and gaseous emissions showed that reproducible measurements of exhaust emissions could be achieved using this experimental set-up. In terms of mutagenicity when testing for reproducibility, a small but significant effect was observed for the Salmonella strains TA98 and TA100 in the absence of a metabolizing system, both for the particulate phase and the semivolatile components. A significant difference was seen between the two different fuels tested, the conventional petrol with mineral oil having 5-10 times higher concentrations of different PAH compounds and a much higher mutagenic effect for all strains. This difference was seen both for the particulate phase and the semivolatile components.
|
|
| 36. |
|
|
| 37. |
- Novikova, Liudmila N., et al.
(författare)
-
Trimethylene carbonate-caprolactone conduit with poly-p-dioxanone microfilaments to promote regeneration after spinal cord injury
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Acta Biomaterialia. - : Elsevier. - 1742-7061 .- 1878-7568. ; 66, s. 177-191
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) is often associated with scarring and cavity formation and therefore bridging strategies are essential to provide a physical substrate for axonal regeneration. In this study we investigated the effects of a biodegradable conduit made from trimethylene carbonate and c-caprolactone (TC) containing poly-p-dioxanone microfilaments (PDO) with longitudinal grooves on regeneration after SCI in adult rats. In vitro studies demonstrated that different cell types including astrocytes, meningeal fibroblasts, Schwann cells and adult sensory dorsal root ganglia neurons can grow on the TC and PDO material. For in vivo experiments, the TC/PDO conduit was implanted into a small 2-3 mm long cavity in the C3-C4 cervical segments immediately after injury (acute SCI) or at 2-5 months after initial surgery (chronic SCI). At 8 weeks after implantation into acute SCI, numerous 5HT-positive descending raphaespinal axons and sensory CGRP-positive axons regenerated across the conduit and were often associated with PDO microfilaments and migrated host cells. Implantation into chronically injured SCI induced regeneration mainly of the sensory CGRP-positive axons. Although the conduit had no effect on the density of OX42-positive microglial cells when compared with SCI control, the activity of GFAP-positive astrocytes was reduced. The results suggest that a TC/PDO conduit can support axonal regeneration after acute and chronic SCI even without addition of exogenous glial or stem cells.
|
|
| 38. |
- Parker, D. J., et al.
(författare)
-
Inter and Intraspecific Genomic Divergence in Drosophila montana Shows Evidence for Cold Adaptation
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Genome Biology and Evolution. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1759-6653. ; 10:8, s. 2086-2101
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The genomes of species that are ecological specialists will likely contain signatures of genomic adaptation to their niche. However, distinguishing genes related to ecological specialism from other sources of selection and more random changes is a challenge. Here, we describe the genome of Drosophila montana, which is the most extremely cold-adapted Drosophila species known. We use branch tests to identify genes showing accelerated divergence in contrasts between cold- and warm-adapted species and identify about 250 genes that show differences, possibly driven by a lower synonymous substitution rate in cold- adapted species. We also look for evidence of accelerated divergence between D. montana and D.virilis. a previously sequenced relative, but do not find strong evidence for divergent selection on coding sequence variation. Divergent genes are involved in a variety of functions, including cuticular and olfactory processes. Finally, we also resequenced three populations of D. montana from across its ecological and geographic range. Outlier loci were more likely to be found on the X chromosome and there was a greater than expected overlap between population outliers and those genes implicated in cold adaptation between Drosophila species, implying some continuity of selective process at these different evolutionary scales.
|
|
| 39. |
|
|
| 40. |
|
|
| 41. |
|
|
| 42. |
- Pettersson, Robert
(författare)
-
Sami tourism in Northern Sweden : Supply, demand and interaction
- 2004
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Indigenous tourism is an expansive sector in the growing tourism industry. The Sami people living in Sápmi in northern Europe have started to engage in tourism, particularly in view of the rationalised and modernised methods of reindeer herding. Sami tourism offers job opportunities and enables the spreading of information. On the other hand, Sami tourism may jeopardise the indigenous culture and harm the sensitive environment in which the Sami live. The aim of this thesis is to analyse the supply and demand of Sami tourism in northern Sweden. This is presented in four articles. The first article analyses the potential of the emerging Sami tourism in Sweden, with special emphasis on the access to Sami tourism products. The study shows that there is a growing supply of tourism activities related to the Swedish Sami. The development of tourism is, however, restricted by factors such as the peripheral location and the lack of traditions of entrepreneurship. The second article analyse which factors influence tourists when they make their decisions about Sami tourism. In the article the respondents are requested to answer a number of hypothetical questions, ranking their preferences regarding supply, price and access. The study indicates that tourism related to the Sami and Sami culture has a considerable future potential, but also that there is a gap between supply and demand. In the third article the analysis shows that the festival in Jokkmokk, thanks to continuously added attractions, has been able to retain a rather high level of popularity, despite its peripheral location. Finally, the fourth article analyses to what extent the winter festival in Jokkmokk is a genuinely indigenous event, and to what extent it is staged. It is argued that the indigenous culture presented at the festival and in media is highly staged, although backstage experiences are available for the Sami and for the tourists who show a special interest.
|
|
| 43. |
- Rahman, S., et al.
(författare)
-
Prescribed antidepressants before and after disability pension due to common mental disorders
- 2016
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Public Health. - : Oxford University Press. - 1101-1262 .- 1464-360X. ; 26:Suppl 1, s. 39-40
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Disability pension (DP) due to common mental disorders (CMD) has become very frequent in many European countries. Inadequate treatment including prescribed antidepressants (AD) before DP may play a crucial role in such early retirement. The study aimed to 1) identify and describe different groups of prescribed ADs based on defined daily dosages (DDD) from three years before up to three years after granted DP due to CMD and 2) characterize the groups with regard to socio-demographics and previous healthcare use.Methods: This is a population-based cohort study of 4642 individuals aged 19-64 years with incident DP due to CMD during 2009-10 in Sweden. Patterns (trajectories) of annual prescribed DDDs of ADs were analysed over a 7-year period by a group-based trajectory method. Associations between socio-demographic factors and previous healthcare use with the different trajectory groups were estimated by chi2-test and multinomial logistic regression.Results: Three groups comprising 33%, 34%, and 21% had constant AD levels during the period of three years before up to three years after DP granting with mean annual DDDs of 5, 250 and 600, respectively. One group increased before DP and levelled off at around 1100 DDDs annually (6%). The remaining 6%, the ‘increasing low’ group, showed a steep increase in prescribed annual DDDs from 5 to 800. Socio-demographics and health care characteristics were significantly associated with different groups (p < 0.05). Individuals in the ‘increasing low’ group were considerably younger and had low levels of education and high levels of specialised health careConclusions: Focus should be on the group with lowest AD prescription as this group migght lack adequate treatment before DP granting. Public health interventions should also focus on the ‘increasing low’ group in order to identify individuals at risk for early DP and subsequent worsening mental health in time.Key messages:Dosages of antidepressant treatment before and after granting of disability pension due to common mental disorders vary stronglyA large group had hardly any such treatment at all
|
|
| 44. |
|
|
| 45. |
- Rantapää-Dahlqvist, Solbritt, 1947-, et al.
(författare)
-
Increased incidence of low-energy fractures in RA patients from northern Sweden
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology. - : Informa Healthcare. - 0300-9742 .- 1502-7732. ; 43:Suppl. 127, Meeting Abstract: PP154, s. 43-44
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Periarticular bone loss is an early sign of joint involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1). Patients with RA also have an increased generalized bone loss with development of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis and related fractures constitute an important extra-articular complication in RA. Osteoporosis per se is a known risk factor for fracture in the general population. In addition to general background factors (e.g. old age, low body mass, female gender, immobility) treatment with glucocorticoids and disease activity increase the risk of fractures in osteoporotic patients with RA (1, 2). However, the incidence of fracture is not well explored. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of low-energy fractures in RA patients identified within a population-based register of fractures in northern Sweden.Method: The register of patients with RA (1987 ACR criteria), consecutively included since 1995 (n = 1178), was co-analysed with the Umeå register of injury data base with regard to low-energy fractures. This data base was constructed in 1993 and covers six districts with a population of 118 000 at-risk adults. All individuals admitted to the emergency ward with fractures are included consecutively. The individuals in this study were followed until fracture or to 1 January 2011. The standard incidence ratio (SIR) was calculated. SIR calculations were performed using the method of indirect standardization relative to the standard population of the geographic origin as the RA patients. Confidence intervals were obtained by treating the observed number of events as Poisson variables with expectation equal to the expected number.Results: Among the RA patients, 329 individuals (246 females and 83 males) were identified with a fracture. The corresponding figures among the controls were 14 102 females and 13 313 males with fractures. The odds ratio (OR) for a fracture in the RA patients was 1.38 (95% CI 1.21–1.57) in females and 1.85 (95% CI 1.46–2.32) in males. Stratification for age showed an increased SIR in the individuals aged > 65 years: OR 1.41 (95% CI 1.20–1.64) in females and OR 1.97 (95% CI 1.48–2.57) inmales. The highest SIR was for hip fracture (females OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.21–4.61 and males OR 3.95, 95% CI 1.28–9.23), with a similar mean age for cases and controls (72–75 years). The duration of time from diagnosis of RA to the first fracture was, during the follow-up, mean (SD) 18.7 (14.0) years in females and 14.4 (11.7) years in males. The RA patients had a similar frequency of fractures indoors as outdoors compared with controls, who had a significantly higher frequency of fractures outdoors.Conclusions: RA is associated with a higher incidence of fractures. Stratification for age showed increased SIR in those above 65 years of age. The highest SIR was for hip fractures in both females and males.
|
|
| 46. |
- Rodrigues, Leonor R., et al.
(författare)
-
The genetic basis and adult reproductive consequences of developmental thermal plasticity
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Journal of Animal Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0021-8790 .- 1365-2656. ; 91:6, s. 1119-1134
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Increasing temperature and thermal variability generate profound selection on populations. Given the fast rate of environmental change, understanding the role of plasticity and genetic adaptation in response to increasing temperatures is critical. This may be especially true for thermal effects on reproductive traits in which thermal fertility limits at high temperatures may be lower than for survival traits. Consequences of changing environments during development on adult phenotypes may be particularly problematic for core traits such as reproduction that begin early in development. Here we examine the consequences of developmental thermal plasticity on subsequent adult reproductive traits and its genetic basis.We used a panel of Drosophila melanogaster (the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel; DGRP) in which male fertility performance was previously defined as either showing relatively little (status = ‘high’-performing lines) or substantial (‘low’-performing lines) decline when exposed to increasing developmental temperatures. We used a thermal reaction norm approach to quantify variation in the consequences of developmental thermal plasticity on multiple adult reproductive traits, including sex-specific responses, and to identify candidate genes underlying such variation.Developmental thermal stress impacted the means and thermal reaction norms of all reproductive traits except offspring sex ratio. Mating success declined as temperature increased with no difference between high and low lines, whereas increasing temperature resulted in declines for both male and female fertility and productivity but depended on line status. Fertility and offspring number were positively correlated within and between the sexes across lines, but males were more affected than females.We identified 933 SNPs with significant evolved genetic differentiation between high and low lines. In all, 54 of these lie within genomic windows of overall high differentiation, have significant effects of genotype on the male thermal reaction norm for productivity and are associated with 16 genes enriched for phenotypes affecting reproduction, stress responses and autophagy in Drosophila and other organisms.Our results illustrate considerable plasticity in male thermal limits on several reproductive traits following development at high temperature, and we identify differentiated loci with relevant phenotypic effects that may contribute to this population variation. While our work is on a single population, phenotypic results align with an increasing number of studies demonstrating the potential for stronger selection of thermal stress on reproductive traits, particularly in males. Such large fitness costs may have both short- and long-term consequences for the evolution of populations in response to a warming world.
|
|
| 47. |
- Sakhnini, Laila I, et al.
(författare)
-
Improving the Developability of an Antigen Binding Fragment by Aspartate Substitutions
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Biochemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0006-2960 .- 1520-4995. ; 58:24, s. 2750-2759
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aggregation can be a major challenge in the development of antibody-based pharmaceuticals as it can compromise the quality of the product during bioprocessing, formulation, and drug administration. To avoid aggregation, developability assessment is often run in parallel with functional optimization in the early screening phases to flag and deselect problematic molecules. As developability assessment can be demanding with regard to time and resources, there is a high focus on the development of molecule design strategies for engineering molecules with a high developability potential. Previously, Dudgeon et al. [(2012) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 109, 10879-10884] demonstrated how Asp substitutions at specific positions in human variable domains and single-chain variable fragments could decrease the aggregation propensity. Here, we have investigated whether these Asp substitutions would improve the developability potential of a murine antigen binding fragment (Fab). A full combinatorial library consisting of 393 Fab variants with single, double, and triple Asp substitutions was first screened in silico with Rosetta; thereafter, 26 variants with the highest predicted thermodynamic stability were selected for production. All variants were subjected to a set of developability studies. Interestingly, most variants had thermodynamic stability on par with or improved relative to that of the wild type. Twenty-five of the variants exhibited improved nonspecificity. Half of the variants exhibited improved aggregation resistance. Strikingly, while we observed remarkable improvement in the developability potential, the Asp substitutions had no substantial effect on the antigenic binding affinity. Altogether, by combining the insertion of negative charges and the in silico screen based on computational models, we were able to improve the developability of the Fab rapidly.
|
|
| 48. |
- Schenker, Michael, et al.
(författare)
-
Precision grip function after hand replantation and digital nerve injury.
- 2006
-
Ingår i: Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery. - : Elsevier BV. - 1748-6815. ; 59:7, s. 706-716
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Understanding how the loss of digital sensibility affects manual dexterity could have important implications for rehabilitation after hand injury. We investigated precision grip function during lifting tasks in seven patients after hand replantation, in five after single digital nerve injury and in four volunteers subjected to digital anaesthesia. Using their affected hand, all participants could successfully lift test objects with parallel and vertical grip surfaces and they all reliably increased the grip force with increasing object weight (0.11-0.55 kg). However, the grip forces used were frequently significantly higher than those applied by the unaffected hand. This was partly due to participants compensating for loss of sensibility with high grip force safety margins against slips, and partly related to misalignments of the fingertips on the grasp surfaces. The latter was most prominent after hand replantation. In a second series of lifting experiments we changed the shape of the grip surfaces in order to investigate the participants' ability to adapt grip forces based on tactile recognition of object shape. An important finding from this series was that in patients with poor clinical outcomes, the contralateral unaffected hand tended to mirror the abnormal grasp patterns of the injured hand. This suggests that control strategies developed for the impaired hand can influence the control of the contralateral uninjured hand.
|
|
| 49. |
- Sjöstrand, Karin, et al.
(författare)
-
Breed Differences in Natriuretic Peptides in Healthy Dogs
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0891-6640 .- 1939-1676. ; 28:2, s. 451-457
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Measurement of plasma concentration of natriuretic peptides (NPs) is suggested to be of value in diagnosis of cardiac disease in dogs, but many factors other than cardiac status may influence their concentrations. Dog breed potentially is 1 such factor. Objective To investigate breed variation in plasma concentrations of pro-atrial natriuretic peptide 31-67 (proANP 31-67) and N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in healthy dogs. Animals 535 healthy, privately owned dogs of 9 breeds were examined at 5 centers as part of the European Union (EU) LUPA project. Methods Absence of cardiovascular disease or other clinically relevant organ-related or systemic disease was ensured by thorough clinical investigation. Plasma concentrations of proANP 31-67 and NT-proBNP were measured by commercially available ELISA assays. Results Overall significant breed differences were found in proANP 31-67 (P<.0001) and NT-proBNP (P<.0001) concentrations. Pair-wise comparisons between breeds differed in approximately 50% of comparisons for proANP 31-67 as well as NT-proBNP concentrations, both when including all centers and within each center. Interquartile range was large for many breeds, especially for NT-proBNP. Among included breeds, Labrador Retrievers and Newfoundlands had highest median NT-proBNP concentrations with concentrations 3 times as high as those of Dachshunds. German Shepherds and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels had the highest median proANP 31-67 concentrations, twice the median concentration in Doberman Pinschers. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Considerable interbreed variation in plasma NP concentrations was found in healthy dogs. Intrabreed variation was large in several breeds, especially for NT-proBNP. Additional studies are needed to establish breed-specific reference ranges.
|
|
| 50. |
- Sobek, Anna, et al.
(författare)
-
Coastal sediments in the Gulf of Bothnia as a source of dissolved PCDD/Fs and PCBs to water and fish
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 487, s. 463-470
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in Baltic Sea biota have been a matter of great concern during the last decades. We measured the freely dissolved concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in sediment pore water and bottom water in eight areas along the Swedish coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, by using state-of-the-art passive samplers. Chemical activity ratios (calculated from freely dissolved concentrations in pore water and bottom water based on chemical activity ratios) for PCDD/Fs were higher than 1 at all stations (PCDD/Fs average 27; stdev 22). High activity ratios suggest that the sediments have a potential to act as a source of dissolved PCDD/Fs to the water column. Activity ratios for PCBs varied between 0.3 and 17 (average 2; stdev 4). The concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in bottom water were significantly correlated with concentrations in sediment pore water (p < 0.00001 to p = 0.03) as well as with concentrations in juvenile perch caught in the same areas (p < 0.00001 to p = 0.02). To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating a correlation between in-situ measured freely dissolved PCDD/F concentrations and lipid-normalized contents in stationary fish. Our results confirm that freely dissolved concentrations should be used as chemical predictors of bioaccumulation. The results from this study imply that continued efforts to reduce levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in coastal sediments will have positive effects on concentrations of these contaminants in lower trophic levels of Baltic Sea ecosystems.
|
|
