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| 2. |
- Dånmark, Staffan, et al.
(författare)
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In vitro and in vivo degradation profile of aliphatic polyesters subjected to electron beam sterilization
- 2011
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Ingår i: ACTA BIOMATERIALIA. - : Elsevier BV. - 1742-7061. ; 7:5, s. 2035-2046
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Degradation characteristics in response to electron beam sterilization of designed and biodegradable aliphatic polyester scaffolds are relevant for clinically successful synthetic graft tissue regeneration Scaffold degradation in vitro and in vivo were documented and correlated to the macroscopic structure and chemical design of the original polymer The materials tested were of inherently diverse hydrophobicity and crystallinity poly(L-lactide) (poly(LLA)) and random copolymers from L-lactide and epsilon-caprolactone or 1.5-dioxepan-2-one, fabricated into porous and non-porous scaffolds After sterilization, the samples underwent hydrolysis in vitro for up to a year In vivo, scaffolds were surgically implanted into rat calvarial defects and retrieved for analysis after 28 and 91 days In vitro, poly(L-lactide-co-1, 5-dioxepan-2-one) (poly(LLA-co-DXO)) samples degraded most rapidly during hydrolysis, due to the pronounced chain-shortening reaction caused by the sterilization. This was indicated by the rapid decrease in both mass and molecular weight of poly(LLA-co-DXO). Poly(L-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) (poly(LLA-co-CL)) samples were also strongly affected by sterilization, but mass loss was more gradual; molecular weight decreased rapidly during hydrolysis Least affected by sterilization were the poly(LLA) samples, which subsequently showed low mass loss rate and molecular weight decrease during hydrolysis. Mechanical stability varied greatly. poly(LLA-co-CL) withstood mechanical testing for up to 182 days, while poly(LLA) and poly(LLA-co-DXO) samples quickly became too brittle Poly(LLA-co-DXO) samples unexpectedly degraded more rapidly in vitro than in vivo. After sterilization by electron beam irradiation, the three biodegradable polymers present widely diverse degradation profiles, both in vitro and in vivo. Each exhibits the potential to be tailored to meet diverse clinical tissue engineering requirements
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- Hochberg, Z., et al.
(författare)
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Child health, developmental plasticity, and epigenetic programming
- 2011
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Ingår i: Endocrine reviews. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0163-769X .- 1945-7189. ; 32:2, s. 159-224
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Plasticity in developmental programming has evolved in order to provide the best chances of survival and reproductive success to the organism under changing environments. Environmental conditions that are experienced in early life can profoundly influence human biology and long-term health. Developmental origins of health and disease and life-history transitions are purported to use placental, nutritional, and endocrine cues for setting long-term biological, mental, and behavioral strategies in response to local ecological and/or social conditions. The window of developmental plasticity extends from preconception to early childhood and involves epigenetic responses to environmental changes, which exert their effects during life-history phase transitions. These epigenetic responses influence development, cell- and tissue-specific gene expression, and sexual dimorphism, and, in exceptional cases, could be transmitted transgenerationally. Translational epigenetic research in child health is a reiterative process that ranges from research in the basic sciences, preclinical research, and pediatric clinical research. Identifying the epigenetic consequences of fetal programming creates potential applications in clinical practice: the development of epigenetic biomarkers for early diagnosis of disease, the ability to identify susceptible individuals at risk for adult diseases, and the development of novel preventive and curative measures that are based on diet and/or novel epigenetic drugs.
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- Nyhäll-Wåhlin, B-M, et al.
(författare)
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The presence of rheumatoid nodules at early rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis is a sign of extra-articular disease and predicts radiographic progression of joint destruction over 5 years
- 2011
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Ingår i: Scandinavian journal of rheumatology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0300-9742 .- 1502-7732. ; 40:2, s. 81-87
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Radiographic damage is an important outcome in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The disease course varies considerably, and there is a need for simple and reliable prognostic markers. The aim of the study was to determine the utility of early signs of extra-articular disease, manifested as rheumatoid nodules (RN), in predicting radiographic outcome. METHODS: In a cohort (n = 1589) of consecutive, newly diagnosed patients with RA, 112 cases with RN at inclusion (7%) were identified. Each case was compared to two age- and sex-matched controls without nodules from the same cohort. Radiographs of the hands and feet were performed at inclusion, after 1, 2, and 5 years and scored according to the modified Sharp van der Heijde Score (SHS; range 0-448). RESULTS: Fifty-two cases with RN and 139 controls without RN had available radiographs at baseline and after 5 years. Cases were more often rheumatoid factor (RF) positive and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) positive, and had higher disease activity and radiographic damage scores at baseline (7.9 vs. 2.5). After 5 years, there was more extensive radiographic damage among the cases (mean SHS progression 21.7 vs. 13.5). In bivariate analysis, positive RF, positive anti-CCP, SHS, and RN were strong baseline predictors for radiographic progression up to 5 years. In multivariate analysis, positive anti-CCP and SHS at baseline were independently associated with radiographic progression. CONCLUSION: The presence of RN at baseline is a marker of extra-articular involvement and severe disease, and a predictor of subsequent joint damage.
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- Roy, Prasun K., et al.
(författare)
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Degradable Polyethylene : Fantasy or Reality
- 2011
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 45:10, s. 4217-4227
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Plastic waste disposal is one of the serious environmental issues being tackled by our society today. Polyethylene, particularly in packaging films, has received criticism as it tends to accumulate over a period of time, leaving behind an undesirable visual footprint. Degradable polyethylene, which would enter the eco-cycle harmlessly through biodegradation would be a desirable solution to this problem. However, the "degradable polyethylene" which is presently being promoted as an environmentally friendly alternative to the nondegradable counterpart, does not seem to meet this criterion. This article reviews the state of the art on the aspect of degradability of polyethylene containing pro-oxidants, and more importantly the effect these polymers could have on the environment in the long run. On exposure to heat, light, and oxygen, these polymers disintegrate into small fragments, thereby reducing or increasing the visual presence. However, these fragments can remain in the environment for prolonged time periods. This article also outlines important questions, particularly in terms of time scale of complete degradation, environmental fate of the polymer residues, and possible accumulation of toxins, the answers to which need to be established prior to accepting these polymers as environmentally benign alternatives to their nondegradable equivalents. It appears from the existing literature that our search for biodegradable polyethylene has not yet been realized.
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| 8. |
- Ahlmen, M, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of gender on assessments of disease activity and function in early rheumatoid arthritis in relation to radiographic joint damage
- 2010
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Ingår i: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 69:1, s. 230-233
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To evaluate gender differences in score on 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Signals Of Functional Impairment (SOFI) and to relate these scores to radiographic joint destruction.Methods:In all, 549 patients with early RA (62% women) from the BARFOT (for “Better Anti-Rheumatic FarmacOTherapy”) study were included. At baseline, 1, 2 and 5 years DAS28, HAQ and SOFI scoring, and radiographs of hands and feet were performed. The radiographs were scored using the van der Heijde–Sharp score.Results:In women the DAS28 was significantly higher than in men due to higher scores for general health and tender joints. Likewise, HAQ and VAS pain were rated significantly higher in women. The SOFI score was worse in men during the first 2 years, depending on higher upper limb scores. Total Sharp score (TotSharp), erosion score and joint space narrowing score did not differ between the sexes at any time point. The DAS28 area under the curve (AUC) correlated significantly with TotSharp at 5 years in both genders (r = 0.316, r = 0.313) mainly owing to swollen joints and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The SOFI AUC correlated significantly with TotSharp in women (r = 0.135 to 0.220) but not in men.Conclusions:Despite a similar degree of radiographic joint destruction women had, compared with men, worse scores for DAS28 and HAQ, possibly due to higher pain perception and less muscular strength and perhaps because men overestimate their functional capacity.
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| 10. |
- Beltrand, Jacques, et al.
(författare)
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Post-Term Birth is Associated with Greater Risk of Obesity in Adolescent Males.
- 2012
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Ingår i: The Journal of pediatrics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1097-6833 .- 0022-3476. ; 160:5, s. 769-773
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesise that post-term birth (>42 weeks gestation) adversely affects longitudinal growth and weight gain throughout childhood. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 525 children (including 17 boys and 20 girls born post-term) were followed from birth to age 16 years. Weight and height were recorded prospectively throughout childhood, and respective velocities from birth to end of puberty were calculated using a mathematical model. RESULTS: At birth, post-term girls were slimmer than term girls (ponderal index, 27.7±2.6 kg/m(3) vs 26.3±2.8 kg/m(3); P<.05). At age 16 years, post-term boys were 11.8 kg heavier than term subjects (body mass index [BMI], 25.4±5.5 kg/m(2) vs 21.7±3.1 kg/m(2); P<.01). The rate of obesity was 29% in post-term boys and 7% in term boys (P<.01), and the combined rate of overweight and obesity was 47% in post-term boys and 13% in term boys (P<.01). Weight velocity, but not height velocity, was higher in post-term boys at age 1.5-7 years (P<.05) and again at age 11.5-16 years (P<.05). BMI was higher in post-term boys at age 3 years, with the difference increasing thereafter. BMI and growth were similar in post-term and term girls. CONCLUSION: In this post-term birth cohort, boys, but not girls, demonstrated accelerated weight gain during childhood, leading to greater risk of obesity in adolescence.
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