| 1. |
- Goode-Romero, Guillermo, et al.
(författare)
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New information of dopaminergic agents based on quantum chemistry calculations
- 2020
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 10:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter that plays a key role in a wide range of both locomotive and cognitive functions in humans. Disturbances on the dopaminergic system cause, among others, psychosis, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. Antipsychotics are drugs that interact primarily with the dopamine receptors and are thus important for the control of psychosis and related disorders. These drugs function as agonists or antagonists and are classified as such in the literature. However, there is still much to learn about the underlying mechanism of action of these drugs. The goal of this investigation is to analyze the intrinsic chemical reactivity, more specifically, the electron donor-acceptor capacity of 217 molecules used as dopaminergic substances, particularly focusing on drugs used to treat psychosis. We analyzed 86 molecules categorized as agonists and 131 molecules classified as antagonists, applying Density Functional Theory calculations. Results show that most of the agonists are electron donors, as is dopamine, whereas most of the antagonists are electron acceptors. Therefore, a new characterization based on the electron transfer capacity is proposed in this study. This new classification can guide the clinical decision-making process based on the physiopathological knowledge of the dopaminergic diseases.
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| 2. |
- Karlstedt, Michaela, et al.
(författare)
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Sense of Coherence in partners to persons with Huntington's disease
- 2021
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 144:5, s. 576-584
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neuropsychiatric disease characterized by involuntary movements and behavioural symptoms. This study aimed to explore the association between the level of Sense of Coherence (SOC) and health problems, and psychological distress factors in partners to HD affected persons and their need of support.MATERIALS & METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational design was used. Data was generated from 94 HD partners from almost all networks, outpatient clinics and nursing homes specialized in HD across Sweden. HD partners filled out questionnaires with scales measuring SOC, health problems, psychological distress factors and the Total Functional Capacity Scale (TFC). Non-parametric analysis was used to analyse group differences.RESULTS: Huntington's disease partners with a lower level of SOC experienced more health problems than those with a higher level. Health problems among HD partners were most common among HD affected in TFC stage 3, indicating that the partners need most support during this period. Lower level of SOC was associated with loneliness in the relationship; less possibilities to socialize with friends; worries about the future as well as being subjected to physical aggression. The experience of physical aggression from the HD affected person was common (44.7%) and 28.6% of the partners expressed worries about being subjected to physical aggression.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that knowledge about the partners' SOC score may be a helpful indicator identifying HD partners who are more vulnerable and need additional help caring for the person with HD and can be a complementary tool in assessment protocols.
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| 3. |
- Klarare, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Methods and strategies to promote academic literacies in health professions : a scoping review
- 2022
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Ingår i: BMC Medical Education. - : BioMed Central. - 1472-6920. ; 22:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Universities enroll students from diverse backgrounds every year, with 300 million students expected in higher education by 2025. However, with widening participation, increasing numbers of students enrolling in higher health education and future health professions will be underprepared to meet demands of academic literacies, i.e. ability to read, interpret and critically evaluate academic texts and communicating the understanding verbally or in writing. The aim of this scoping review was to describe and explore methods and strategies to promote development of academic literacies.RESULTS: Thirty-one relevant studies were included and analyzed according to scoping review guidelines. The results showed four strategies: (1) integrating learning activities to develop academic literacies in the regular curriculum, (2) changing the course design with new methods for teaching and learning, (3) establish collaborations amongst academics and librarian faculty, and (4) adding courses or foundation year focusing on development of academic literacies. The results are discussed in light of the United Nations Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development, Goal 4, Quality Education, and widening participation.CONCLUSIONS: Aspects of widening participation and inclusion in higher education have been debated, and increasing numbers of students from diverse backgrounds are expected to enter health studies in higher education. We encourage integration of teaching and learning activities targeting parallel learning of course materials and development of academic literacies, beyond study skills. Embracing epistemic complexity and diversity as well as choosing strategic work with academic literacies may provide a starting point toward realizing sustainable development goals and widening participation.
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| 4. |
- Winnberg, Elisabeth, et al.
(författare)
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What to Do with a Second Chance in Life? : Long-Term Experiences of Non-carriers of Huntington's Disease
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Genetic Counseling. - : SPRINGER. - 1059-7700 .- 1573-3599. ; 27:6, s. 1438-1446
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Little is known about how people's lives are influenced when going from a 50% risk status of Huntington's disease (HD) to no risk after performing predictive testing. In this study, 20 interviews were conducted to explore the long-term (>5years) experiences after receiving predictive test results as a non-carrier of HD. The results showed a broad variety of both positive and negative reactions. The most prominent positive reaction reported was feelings of relief and gratitude, of not carrying the HD mutation for themselves and for their children. Also, the non-carrier status promoted in some individuals' significant life changes such as a wishing to have (more) children, pursuing a career or breaking up from an unhappy relationship. However, negative reactions on their psychological well-being were also described. Some had experienced psychological pressure of needing to do something extraordinary in their lives; others expressed feelings of guilt towards affected or untested siblings, resulting in sadness or clinical depression. The new genetic risk status could generate a need of re-orientation, a process that for some persons took several years to accomplish. The results of the present study show the importance of offering long-term post-result counselling for non-carriers in order to deal with the psychological consequences that may follow predictive testing.
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| 5. |
- Ewertzon, Mats, et al.
(författare)
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Adaptation and evaluation of the Family Involvement and Alienation Questionnaire for use in the care of older people, psychiatric care, palliative care and diabetes care
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Advanced Nursing. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0309-2402 .- 1365-2648. ; 74:8, s. 1839-1850
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AimTo adapt the Family Involvement and Alienation Questionnaire (FIAQ) for use in the care of older people, psychiatric care, palliative care and diabetes care and to evaluate its validity and reliability. BackgroundInvolvement in the professional care has proven to be important for family members. However, they have described feelings of alienation in relation to how they experienced the professionals' approach. To explore this issue, a broad instrument that can be used in different care contexts is needed. DesignA psychometric evaluation study, with a cross-sectional design. MethodThe content validity of the FIAQ was evaluated during 2014 by cognitive interviews with 15 family members to adults in different care contexts. Psychometric evaluation was then conducted (2015-2016). A sample of 325 family members participated, 103 of whom in a test-retest evaluation. Both parametric and non-parametric methods were used. ResultsThe content validity revealed that the questionnaire was generally understood and considered to be relevant and retrievable by family members in the contexts of the care of older people, psychiatric care, palliative care and diabetes care. Furthermore, the FIAQ (Revised), demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties in terms of data quality, homogeneity, unidimensionality (factor structure), internal consistency and test-retest reliability. ConclusionThe study provides evidence that the FIAQ (Revised) is reliable and valid for use in further research and in quality assessment in the contexts of the care of older people, psychiatric care, palliative care and diabetes care.
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| 6. |
- Fång, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Spatial and temporal trends of the Stockholm Convention POPs in mothers' milk - a global review
- 2015
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0944-1344 .- 1614-7499. ; 22:12, s. 8989-9041
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been of environmental and health concern for more than half a century and have their own intergovernmental regulation through the Stockholm Convention, from 2001. One major concern is the nursing child's exposure to POPs, a concern that has led to a very large number of scientific studies on POPs in mothers' milk. The present review is a report on the assessment on worldwide spatial distributions of POPs and of their temporal trends. The data presented herein is a compilation based on scientific publications between 1995 and 2011. It is evident that the concentrations in mothers' milk depend on the use of pesticides and industrial chemicals defined as POPs. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins are higher in the more industrialized areas, Europe and Northern America, whereas pesticides are higher in Africa and Asia and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are reported in higher concentrations in the USA. POPs are consequently distributed to women in all parts of the world and are thus delivered to the nursing child. The review points out several major problems in the reporting of data, which are crucial to enable high quality comparisons. Even though the data set is large, the comparability is hampered by differences in reporting. In conclusion, much more detailed instructions are needed for reporting POPs in mothers' milk. Temporal trend data for POPs in mothers' milk is scarce and is of interest when studying longer time series. The only two countries with long temporal trend studies are Japan and Sweden. In most cases, the trends show decreasing concentrations of POPs in mothers' milk. However, hexabromocyclododecane is showing increasing temporal concentration trends in both Japan and Sweden.
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| 7. |
- Hagberg, Anette, et al.
(författare)
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More Appreciation of Life or Regretting the Test? : Experiences of Living as a Mutation Carrier of Huntington's Disease
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Genetic Counseling. - : Wiley. - 1059-7700 .- 1573-3599. ; 20:1, s. 70-79
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Little is known about how the knowledge of being a mutation carrier for Huntington's disease (HD) influences lives, emotionally and socially. In this qualitative study 10 interviews were conducted to explore the long term (> 5 years) experiences of being a mutation carrier. The results showed a broad variety of both positive and negative impact on the carriers' lives. The most prominent positive changes reported were a greater appreciation of life and a tendency to bring the family closer together. On the other hand, some participants expressed decisional regrets and discussed the negative impact this knowledge had on their psychological well-being. The knowledge variously served as either a motivator or an obstacle in pursuing further education, career or investment in personal health. Deeper understanding of people's reactions to the certainty of knowing they will become affected with HD is essential for the genetic counseling team in order to provide appropriate support.
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| 8. |
- Karlstedt, Michaela, et al.
(författare)
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Psychometric properties of the mutuality scale in Swedish dyads with Parkinson's disease
- 2017
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 136:2, s. 122-128
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: The 15-item mutuality scale (MS) has been used in several neurological conditions assessing the quality of relationship associations with negative effects of the caregiving situation. The aim of this study was to translate the original MS into Swedish and assess its psychometric properties in Parkinson's disease (PD).MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following the forward-backward translation method, the scale was evaluated regarding linguistic correctness at a conceptual level and user-friendliness. The scale was filled out by a sample of 50 care dyads where one was having PD. Scale assumptions and scale structure were evaluated using floor/ceiling effect and principal component analyses (PCA) with promax rotation. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha and mean inter-item correlation coefficients.RESULTS: The Swedish MS was evaluated as user-friendly and relevant by the participants. The scale demonstrated no floor/ceiling effect and showed high internal consistency (α≥0.93) with a mean inter-item correlation coefficient of ≥0.5. Through the PCA, a two factor solution emerged, which accounted for 67% and 64% of the variance of the MS score by PD-partners and PD-patients, respectively. However, some variables were complex and discarded in the final solution.CONCLUSION: Our findings provide initial support of the Swedish MS as a user-friendly and useful instrument with acceptable psychometric properties even though more research is needed to evaluate the existence of subscales.
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| 9. |
- Momeni, Pardis, et al.
(författare)
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A survey study of family members' encounters with healthcare services within the care of older people, psychiatric care, palliative care and diabetes care
- 2022
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0283-9318 .- 1471-6712. ; 36:4, s. 1228-1240
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to describe and compare family members' experiences of approach in encounters with healthcare professionals and possible feelings of alienation in the professional care within four care contexts: the care of older people, psychiatric care, palliative care and diabetes care. The design was an explorative cross-sectional survey study. Data were collected in Sweden using the Family Involvement and Alienation Questionnaire-Revised (FIAQ-R). It measures family members' experiences of the healthcare professionals' approach and the family members' feeling of alienation from the provision of professional care. A total of 1047 questionnaires were distributed to family members using convenient sampling method, of which 294 were included. Data were analysed using rank-based, non-parametric statistical methods. The results indicated that most respondents experienced a positive actual approach from the healthcare professionals. Many participants rated the importance of approach at a higher level than their actual experience. Participants in the context of diabetes care reported a more negative actual approach from the healthcare professionals than did participants in the other contexts and considered the healthcare professionals' approach towards them as being less important. The results for the entire group indicated that the participants felt a low level of alienation from the professional care. Participants in the context of the care of older people reported significantly lower level of feeling of being alienated than did participants in the contexts of psychiatric care and diabetes care. The differences between participants in diabetes care and other care contexts can possibly be explained by a more fully implemented self-care approach among the patients in diabetes care than in the other care contexts. Even though the results are quite positive, it is still important that nurses consider a family-centred approach to better adapt to the needs of both the family members and the patients.
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| 10. |
- Momeni, Pardis, et al.
(författare)
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Family Members' Experiences with the Healthcare Professionals in Nursing Homes - A Survey Study
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nursing: Research and Reviews. - : Dove Medical Press Ltd. - 2230-522X. ; 12, s. 57-66
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: The purpose was to investigate family members' experiences of the healthcare professionals' approach and feeling of alienation in nursing homes.Methods: This study had a cross-sectional design collecting data from seven nursing homes in Sweden using the Family Involvement and Alienation Questionnaire - Revised (FIAQ-R). The final sample consisted 133 family members (response rate 42.6%). Data were analyzed with a variety of rank-based, non-parametric statistical methods.Results: Family members in general experienced a positive approach from the healthcare professionals and considered that as being of the very highest importance. This could be explained by the skewed sociodemographic characteristics of the sample. The concept of continuity generated the most comments of a negative character indicating the importance of organizational factors in nursing homes.Conclusion: The results indicate the need to improve continuity in the care of older persons in nursing homes by limiting the amount of different health care professionals surrounding the older person. Also, it highlights the importance of having a specific contact person assigned to each older person living in nursing homes.
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| 11. |
- Paucar, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Genotype-phenotype analysis in inherited prion disease with eight octapeptide repeat insertional mutation.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Prion. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1933-6896 .- 1933-690X. ; 7:6, s. 501-10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A minority of inherited prion diseases (IPD) are caused by four to 12 extra octapeptide repeat insertions (OPRI) in the prion protein gene (PRNP). Only four families affected by IPD with 8-OPRI have been reported, one of them was a three-generation Swedish kindred in which four of seven affected subjects had chorea which was initially attributed to Huntington's disease (HD). Following the exclusion of HD, this phenotype was labeled Huntington disease-like 1 (HDL1). Here, we provide an update on the Swedish 8-OPRI family, describe the clinical features of one of its affected members with video-recordings, compare the four 8-OPRI families and study the effect of PRNP polymorphic codon 129 and gender on phenotype. Surprisingly, the Swedish kindred displayed the longest survival of all of the 8-OPRI families with a mean of 15.1 years from onset of symptoms. Subjects with PRNP polymorphic codon 129M in the mutated allele had significantly earlier age of onset, longer survival and earlier age of death than 129V subjects. Homozygous 129MM had earlier age of onset than 129VV. Females had a significantly earlier age of onset and earlier age of death than males. Up to 50% of variability in age of onset was conferred by the combined effect of PRNP polymorphic codon 129 and gender. An inverse correlation between early age of onset and long survival was found for this mutation.
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| 12. |
- Winnberg Almqvist, Elisabeth, et al.
(författare)
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At risk for Huntington disease : The PHAROS (Prospective Huntington At Risk Observational Study) cohort enrolled.
- 2006
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Ingår i: Archives of Neurology. - : American Medical Association (AMA). - 0003-9942 .- 1538-3687. ; 63:7, s. 991-6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To identify the emerging clinical precursors that indicate the early onset of Huntington disease (HD) in a reliable and gene-specific manner. This information is critical for the development of therapeutic trials aimed at postponing clinical onset in HD gene carriers. METHODS: Between July 1999 and January 2004, 1001 adults at 50-50 risk for HD agreed to provide longitudinal clinical data and a blood DNA sample under consent provisions that require their individual clinical and genetic information to never be revealed. RESULTS: The Prospective Huntington At Risk Observational Study (PHAROS) cohort is characterized by a 2:1 predominance of women to men, high educational attainment, and gainful employment. Despite the gender disparity, the demographic, hereditary, and clinical characteristics of the female and male participants were similar. Investigators, who are unaware of individual gene status, characterized the baseline cohort to be highly functional with minimal motor or cognitive impairment; 92.3% of participants were judged to have no or nonspecific motor abnormalities; 6.7%, to have possible or probable motor signs; and only 1.0%, to have unequivocal HD. CONCLUSION: The baseline characteristics of the PHAROS cohort make it well suited to generate objective and prospective data about gene-specific clinical precursors that can be used as outcomes in controlled trials aimed at postponing the onset of HD.
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