| 1. |
- Gudjonsdottir, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
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Psychometric evaluation of the Swedish Quality of Dyadic Relationships scale : homogeneity and construct validity
- 2021
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0283-9318 .- 1471-6712. ; 35:2, s. 468-475
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rationale and aims: The Quality of Dyadic Relationships is a self-assessment scale used to evaluate various aspects of relationship quality. Psychometric evaluation by the developers of the instrument has led to a nontested amended version. Further psychometric testing is thus warranted, and the aim of this study was to evaluate homogeneity, construct validity (in terms of concurrent, discriminant and known-groups validity) and any floor and ceiling effects of the Quality of Dyadic Relationships.Methods: Forty-seven cohabitant couples (47 women with a mean age of 30.0 years and 47 men with a mean age of 31.5 years) answered the Quality of Dyadic Relationships, the Relationship Assessment Scale (to test concurrent validity) and the Perceived Stress Scale (to test discriminant validity). Homogeneity (internal consistency) was calculated by Cronbach's alpha. Concurrent and discriminant validity were estimated as correlations between Quality of Dyadic Relationships and the other instruments. Assessment of known-groups validity was based on the variables of parental status and gender. Floor and ceiling effects were evaluated according to frequency distribution.Results: The overall homogeneity was good with acceptable Cronbach's alpha values (alpha > 0.70) for all subscales but dyadic sexuality. Concurrent validity and discriminant validity were found. Known-groups validity was indicated by significant differences between individuals with different parental status on the total QDR index, where the ones without children scored higher. No difference between the genders was found. No significant floor effects were found, but a significant ceiling effect was found in the subscale dyadic sensuality, with 27.7% of respondents scoring maximum.Conclusion: In all, the QDR showed promising psychometric properties and may be used for screening and follow-up purposes. However, it can benefit from further development, as suggested by the ceiling effect in the subscale dyadic sensuality and the low internal consistency in the subscale dyadic sexuality.
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| 2. |
- Ingberg, Edvin, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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RT-PCR cycle threshold value in combination with visual scoring of chest computed tomography at hospital admission predicts outcome in COVID-19
- 2022
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Ingår i: Infectious Diseases. - : Taylor & Francis. - 2374-4235 .- 2374-4243. ; 54:6, s. 431-440
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has a most variable prognosis. Several risk factors for an unfavourable outcome have been identified including extensive lung involvement on chest CT and high viral load estimated by RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values. We investigated Ct value for outcome prediction, relation between Ct value and extent of lung involvement on chest CT and the combination of Ct value and chest CT lung involvement to predict outcome in COVID-19.METHODS: Population-based retrospective study on all patients (n = 286) hospitalised for COVID-19 in Örebro Region, Sweden, between 1 March and 31 August 2020. Nasopharyngeal samples and chest CT at hospital admission were evaluated in relation to outcome of COVID-19.RESULTS: Both Ct value and chest CT lung involvement were independently associated with risk for ICU admission or death. Lung involvement was superior as a single parameter, but addition of Ct value increased the prediction performance. Ct value was especially useful to identify patients with high risk for severe disease despite limited lung involvement.CONCLUSIONS: The addition of RT-PCR Ct value to the assessment of lung involvement on chest CT adds valuable prognostic information in COVID-19. We believe that this information can be used to support clinical decision-making when managing COVID-19 patients.
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| 3. |
- Preinbergs, Julia, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of cosmetic hair treatment and natural hair colour on hair testosterone concentrations
- 2023
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 18:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: Testosterone analysis in hair allows for retrospective evaluation of endogenous testosterone concentrations, but studies devoted to investigating confounders in hair testosterone analysis have hitherto been scarce. The current study examined the stability of testosterone concentrations between two hair samples collected three months apart and investigated two potential confounding factors: natural hair colour and cosmetic hair treatments.METHODS: Testosterone was analysed with an in-house radioimmunoassay with a limit of detection adequate for the purpose.RESULTS: The testosterone concentrations from the two samplings, at baseline and three months later, had an intra-individual correlation of moderate strength (rho = 0.378, p<0.001, n = 146). Hair treatment, such as colouring or bleaching, seemed to increase testosterone concentrations (p = 0.051, n = 191, and in a paired analysis in a subset of the cohort p = 0.005, n = 24), while no effect of natural colour in untreated hair (p = 0.133) could be detected.CONCLUSION: The current results suggest that cosmetic hair treatments need to be considered in hair testosterone analyses and demonstrate the utility of a radioimmunoassay to reliably measure testosterone concentrations in small hair samples in women.
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| 4. |
- Preinbergs, Julia, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of cosmetic hair treatment and natural hair colour on hair testosterone concentrations
- 2023
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 18:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeTestosterone analysis in hair allows for retrospective evaluation of endogenous testosterone concentrations, but studies devoted to investigating confounders in hair testosterone analysis have hitherto been scarce. The current study examined the stability of testosterone concentrations between two hair samples collected three months apart and investigated two potential confounding factors: natural hair colour and cosmetic hair treatments.MethodsTestosterone was analysed with an in-house radioimmunoassay with a limit of detection adequate for the purpose.ResultsThe testosterone concentrations from the two samplings, at baseline and three months later, had an intra-individual correlation of moderate strength (rho = 0.378, p<0.001, n = 146). Hair treatment, such as colouring or bleaching, seemed to increase testosterone concentrations (p = 0.051, n = 191, and in a paired analysis in a subset of the cohort p = 0.005, n = 24), while no effect of natural colour in untreated hair (p = 0.133) could be detected.ConclusionThe current results suggest that cosmetic hair treatments need to be considered in hair testosterone analyses and demonstrate the utility of a radioimmunoassay to reliably measure testosterone concentrations in small hair samples in women.
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| 5. |
- Preinbergs, Julia, et al.
(författare)
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Segmental hair analysis as a retrospective testosterone diary: possibilities and pitfalls
- 2023
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PORTFOLIO. - 2045-2322. ; 13:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Testosterone is thought to be incorporated in growing hair strands so that specific hair segments reflect average free hormone concentrations from the corresponding time period. However, the exact mechanisms of hormone integration in scalp hair have not yet been established and it is not known how testosterone is stored in the hair segments over time. The aim of this study was to investigate the stability of testosterone concentrations in hair as it grows and to determine if segmental hair analysis can be used as a retrospective testosterone diary. Thirty men and 40 women provided two hair samples and 16 saliva samples during a period of three months. Hair growth between the two samplings was measured. Hair samples were cut into 10 mm segments resulting in three segments from the first sampling and six segments from the second sampling. Hair samples were pulverised and extracted with methanol. Hair testosterone concentrations were analysed using an in-house radioimmunoassay. Salivary testosterone was analysed using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Demeditec). The results demonstrated that there is a degree of segmental hormone conservation over time (rho=0.405-0.461, p<0.001, n=66-67), but also highlighted three potential confounders. Firstly, testosterone concentrations were higher in distal hair segments (mean concentration ratio most distal by most scalp-near was 1.55, SD 0.70), which may be due to continuous hormone integration from sebum and changes in hair matrix composition. Secondly, more frequent hair washing stunted the increase in testosterone concentrations in distal segments (rho=-0.404, p=<0.001, n=66). And lastly, intra- and inter- individual variability in hair growth rate influenced the temporal resolution along the hair, although mean growth rate was indeed 30.0 mm for three months. In a multiple regression model the biological sex, natural hair colour, and relationship status were significant explanatory variables to hair testosterone concentrations. The current results indicate that repeated hair sampling near the hair roots during a study may be preferable to analysing concentration changes between proximal and distal segments within the same hair sample. Also, hair testosterone analysis needs to be adjusted for sex and the natural hair colour.
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| 6. |
- Preinbergs, Julia, 1989-
(författare)
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Testosterone Analysis in Hair
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The effects of testosterone in the body are dependent on the concentrations at the target organs, as well as the susceptibility of the androgen receptor. Steroid hormones circulate in the bloodstream bound to proteins, and only a small part is unbound and free to exert its effect at the receptors. Due to the diurnal variation in testosterone levels, the measured concentrations can change rapidly. Thus, a kind of "long-term measure" of the average free testosterone concentration would facilitate the understanding of the hormones' long-term effects on target organs.Hair seems at first sight to be a suitable matrix. The current theory is that only the free, unbound fraction of hormones passively diffuse from the bloodstream into the hair matrix as the hair grows. In this thesis, we have developed an analysis capable of analysing testosterone in the hair of men and women. We have systematically explored potential confounding factors and the pattern of testosterone concentrations in different hair segments. Furthermore, we have sought to confirm biological differences such as sex, age and BMI which affect hormone concentrations in the blood. Finally, we have investigated how hair testosterone concentrations change in relation to treatment with oral contraceptives and before an acute myocardial infarction.Our conclusions are that it is possible to measure testosterone in extracts from hair in very low concentrations. The choice of measurement method needs to balance between high specificity, which mass spectrometry can offer, and adequate detection limits, which can be achieved with immunoassays. Hair testosterone concentrations correlate significantly with testosterone concentrations in saliva, which suggests that hair testosterone reflects the average hormone concentrations in the body. The significant variation in hair growth rate within and between individuals impedes the theoretical relationship between certain hair segments and a specific time in the past. Hair testosterone concentrations are affected by the frequency of hair washing, cosmetic hair treatment, natural hair colour and the biological sex. In hair samples taken shortly after a patient was admitted to hospital due to a myocardial infarction, lower concentrations of testosterone can be seen in hair compared to individuals of the same age who have not had an acute heart attack. This suggests that a reduction in testosterone concentrations occurs shortly before the heart attack, independently of other cardiovascular risk factors. Reduced testosterone concentrations could thus be an independent risk factor for developing an acute myocardial infarction.
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