| 1. |
- Andréasson, Hanna, et al.
(författare)
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Forensic mitochondrial coding region analysis for increased discrimination using pyrosequencing technology
- 2007
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Ingår i: Forensic Science International. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-4973 .- 1878-0326. ; 1:1, s. 35-43
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is very useful when nuclear DNA analysis fails due to degradation or insufficient amounts of DNA in forensic analysis. However, mtDNA analysis has a lower discrimination power compared to what can be obtained by nuclear DNA (nDNA) analysis, potentially resulting in multiple individuals showing identical mtDNA types in the HVI/HVII region. In this study, the increase in discrimination by analysis of mitochondrial coding regions has been evaluated for identical or similar HVI/HVII sequences. A pyrosequencing-based system for coding region analysis, comprising 17 pyrosequencing reactions performed on 15 PCR fragments, was utilised. This assay was evaluated in 135 samples, resulting in an average read length of 81 nucleotides in the pyrosequencing analysis. In the sample set, a total of 52 coding region SNPs were identified, of which 18 were singletons. In a group of 60 samples with 0 or 1 control region difference from the revised Cambridge reference sequence (rCRS), only 12 samples could not be resolved by at least two differences using the pyrosequencing assay. Thus, the use of this pyrosequencing-based coding region assay has the potential to substantially increase the discriminatory power of mtDNA analysis.
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| 2. |
- Andréasson, Hanna, 1975-
(författare)
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Sensitive Forensic DNA Analysis : Application of Pyrosequencing and Real-time PCR Quantification
- 2005
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The field of forensic genetics is growing fast and the development and optimisation of more sensitive, faster and more discriminating forensic DNA analysis methods is highly important. In this thesis, an evaluation of the use of novel DNA technologies and the development of specific applications for use in forensic casework investigations are presented.In order to maximise the use of valuable limited DNA samples, a fast and user-friendly Real-time PCR quantification assay, of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA copies, was developed. The system is based on the 5’ exonuclease detection assay and was evaluated and successfully used for quantification of a number of different evidence material types commonly found on crime scenes. Furthermore, a system is described that allows both nuclear DNA quantification and sex determination in limited samples, based on intercalation of the SYBR Green dye to double stranded DNA. To enable highly sensitive DNA analysis, Pyrosequencing of short stretches of mitochondrial DNA was developed. The system covers both control region and coding region variation, thus providing increased discrimination power for mitochondrial DNA analysis. Finally, due to the lack of optimal assays for quantification of mitochondrial DNA mixture, an alternative use of the Pyrosequencing system was developed. This assay allows precise ratio quantification of mitochondrial DNA in samples showing contribution from more than one individual.In conclusion, the development of optimised forensic DNA analysis methods in this thesis provides several novel quantification assays and increased knowledge of typical DNA amounts in various forensic samples. The new, fast and sensitive mitochondrial DNA Pyrosequencing assay was developed and has the potential for increased discrimination power.
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| 3. |
- Andréasson, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Emotional Empathy and Facial Feedback
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of nonverbal behavior. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0191-5886 .- 1573-3653. ; 32:4, s. 215-224
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We studied if emotional empathy is related to sensitivity to facial feedback. The participants, 112 students, rated themselves on the questionnaire measure of emotional empathy (QMEE) and were divided into one high and one low empathic group. Facial expressions were manipulated to produce a happy or a sulky expression. During the manipulation, participants rated humorous films with respect to funniness. These ratings were the dependent variable. No main effect of facial expression was found. However, a significant interaction between empathy and condition indicated that the high as compared to the low empathic group rated the films as being funnier in a happy condition and a tendency to be less funny in a sulky condition. On the basis of the present results we suggest emotional empathy to be one important and previously ignored factor to explain individual differences in effects of facial feedback.
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| 4. |
- Andreasson, Ulf, 1967-
(författare)
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Arbetslösa i rörelse : Organisationssträvanden och politisk kamp inom arbetslöshetsrörelsen i Sverige, 1920-34
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This doctoral thesis sets out to analyse the development of the unemployed movement in Sweden during the period 1920–34. The study is divided into two parts. The first is empirical and descriptive while the second is interpretive and explanatory, and seeks to examine why this phenomenon developed in the way it did. Mass unemployment in Sweden between the World Wars did not cause the same social tensions as in many other countries. This relative peace endured despite high and consistent unemployment and hard living conditions for the unemployed. These conditions served as sources for tensions present in the unemployed movement, and which some actors sought to take advantage of and even exacerbate. Andréasson argues that a major reason that society did not take a more radical turn in the period was that the reformist labour movement actively moderated these tensions. This was done by the Social Democratic Party (SAP) changing the environment of the unemployed organisations, for example by using local unemployment policy to polish off the rough edges of the national unemployment policy. More important was the crisis politics in the early 1930s that helped narrow the socio-economic gap between those who had and those who did not have a job. The Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) neutralised the movement of the unemployed by introducing changes within the unemployed movement itself, involving a variety of strategies. After 1933, the LO and SAP dominated and were able to direct the activities of most of the organisations that existed. Gaining control over the unemployed was as important for the LO and SAP as being able to exert control over other forces that might threaten to weaken their long-term strategies and aims. There was a conviction within the unemployed movement that mass unemployment was largely a consequence of technological developments in production. This argument had roots dating back to the early stages of industrialism in England when Luddites had attacked production machinery. The coalition of organisations of unemployed workers in Sweden during the 1920s and 1930s did not seriously consider engaging in machine-breaking activities. The movement’s criticism of technology did not extend into the Swedish model which envisioned the development of machinery as a way to prevent rising unemployment.
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| 5. |
- Andreasson, Ulf, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Aspects of beta-amyloid as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease
- 2007
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Ingår i: Biomarkers in Medicine. - : Future Medicine Ltd. - 1752-0363 .- 1752-0371. ; 1:1, s. 59-78
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alzheimer’s disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder that results in progressive cognitive impairment and death. The accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) in specific brain regions is believed by many to represent the earliest event in the pathogenesis of the disease. Here, we review the key aspects of Aβ as a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease, including the pathogenicity of Aβ, the possible biological functions of its precursor protein, the Aβ metabolism and homeostasis, the diagnostic performance of different Aβ assays in different settings and the potential usefulness of Aβ as a surrogate marker for treatment efficacy in clinical trials of novel Aβ-targeting drugs against Alzheimer’s disease.
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| 6. |
- Bjerke, Maria, 1977, et al.
(författare)
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Subcortical vascular dementia biomarker pattern in mild cognitive impairment.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders. - : S. Karger AG. - 1421-9824 .- 1420-8008. ; 28:4, s. 348-56
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an etiologically unclear disorder. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are potentially useful for the differentiation between various MCI etiologies. AIM: The aim of the study was to assess whether baseline CSF hyperphosphorylated tau (P-tau), total tau (T-tau), amyloid beta 1-42 (Abeta(42)) and neurofilament light (NF-L) in patients with MCI could predict subcortical vascular dementia (SVD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) at follow-up. METHODS: Biomarker levels were assessed by Luminex xMAP technology and ELISA. RESULTS: Increased baseline concentrations of NF-L significantly separated MCI-SVD from stable MCI. The MCI-SVD patients were inseparable from stable MCI but separable from patients developing AD (MCI-AD) on the basis of Abeta(42,) T-tau and P-tau(181) levels. CONCLUSION: A combination of the biomarkers Abeta(42), T-tau, P-tau(181) and NF-L has the potential to improve the clinical separation of MCI-SVD patients from stable MCI and MCI-AD patients.
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| 7. |
- Brinkmalm-Westman, Ann, 1966, et al.
(författare)
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Proteomics/peptidomics tools to find CSF biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Frontiers in bioscience : a journal and virtual library. - : IMR Press. - 1093-4715. ; 14, s. 1793-806
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by premature neuronal loss in specific brain regions. During the past decades our knowledge on molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration has increased immensely and resulted in promising drug candidates that might slow down or even stop the neuronal loss. These advances have put a strong focus on the development of diagnostic tools for early or pre-clinical detection of the disorders. In this review we discuss our experience in the field of neuroproteomics/peptidomics, with special focus on biomarker discovery studies that have been performed on CSF samples from well-defined patient and control populations.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Gisslén, Magnus, 1962, et al.
(författare)
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Amyloid and tau cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in HIV infection.
- 2009
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Ingår i: BMC neurology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2377. ; 9:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Because of the emerging intersections of HIV infection and Alzheimer's disease, we examined cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers related of amyloid and tau metabolism in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study we measured soluble amyloid precursor proteins alpha and beta (sAPPalpha and sAPPbeta), amyloid beta fragment 1-42 (Abeta1-42), and total and hyperphosphorylated tau (t-tau and p-tau) in CSF of 86 HIV-infected (HIV+) subjects, including 21 with AIDS dementia complex (ADC), 25 with central nervous system (CNS) opportunistic infections and 40 without neurological symptoms and signs. We also measured these CSF biomarkers in 64 uninfected (HIV-) subjects, including 21 with Alzheimer's disease, and both younger and older controls without neurological disease. RESULTS: CSF sAPPalpha and sAPPbeta concentrations were highly correlated and reduced in patients with ADC and opportunistic infections compared to the other groups. The opportunistic infection group but not the ADC patients had lower CSF Abeta1-42 in comparison to the other HIV+ subjects. CSF t-tau levels were high in some ADC patients, but did not differ significantly from the HIV+ neuroasymptomatic group, while CSF p-tau was not increased in any of the HIV+ groups. Together, CSF amyloid and tau markers segregated the ADC patients from both HIV+ and HIV- neuroasymptomatics and from Alzheimer's disease patients, but not from those with opportunistic infections. CONCLUSIONS: Parallel reductions of CSF sAPPalpha and sAPPbeta in ADC and CNS opportunistic infections suggest an effect of CNS immune activation or inflammation on neuronal amyloid synthesis or processing. Elevation of CSF t-tau in some ADC and CNS infection patients without concomitant increase in p-tau indicates neural injury without preferential accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau as found in Alzheimer's disease. These biomarker changes define pathogenetic pathways to brain injury in ADC that differ from those of Alzheimer's disease.
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| 10. |
- Hansson, Oskar, et al.
(författare)
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Prediction of Alzheimer's disease using the CSF A beta 42/A beta 40 ratio in patients with mild cognitive impairment
- 2007
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Ingår i: DEMENTIA AND GERIATRIC COGNITIVE DISORDERS. - : S. Karger AG. - 1420-8008 .- 1421-9824. ; 23:5, s. 316-320
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Evidence supports an important role for β-amyloid (Aβ) in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, we investigate baseline levels of the 40- and 42-amino-acid-long Aβ peptides (Aβ40 and Aβ42) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a cohort of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 137) in relation to the final diagnosis after 4–6 years of follow-up time. CSF Aβ42 concentration at baseline and the Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio were significantly decreased in the MCI patients who developed AD as compared to cognitively stable MCI patients and MCI patients who developed other forms of dementia (p < 0.001). The baseline levels of Aβ40 were similar in all MCI groups but correlated with change in Mini Mental State Examination scores in converters to AD. The Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio was superior to Aβ42 concentration with regard to identifying incipient AD in MCI (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the data provide further support for the view that amyloid precursor protein metabolism is disturbed in early sporadic AD and points to the usefulness of the Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio as a predictive biomarker for AD.
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