| 1. |
- Uusitupa, M., et al.
(författare)
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Effects of an isocaloric healthy Nordic diet on insulin sensitivity, lipid profile and inflammation markers in metabolic syndrome : a randomized study (SYSDIET)
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 274:1, s. 52-66
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Different healthy food patterns may modify cardiometabolic risk. We investigated the effects of an isocaloric healthy Nordic diet on insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, blood pressure and inflammatory markers in people with metabolic syndrome. Methods We conducted a randomized dietary study lasting for 18-24weeks in individuals with features of metabolic syndrome (mean age 55years, BMI 31.6kgm-2, 67% women). Altogether 309 individuals were screened, 200 started the intervention after 4-week run-in period, and 96 (proportion of dropouts 7.9%) and 70 individuals (dropouts 27%) completed the study, in the Healthy diet and Control diet groups, respectively. Healthy diet included whole-grain products, berries, fruits and vegetables, rapeseed oil, three fish meals per week and low-fat dairy products. An average Nordic diet served as a Control diet. Compliance was monitored by repeated 4-day food diaries and fatty acid composition of serum phospholipids. Results Body weight remained stable, and no significant changes were observed in insulin sensitivity or blood pressure. Significant changes between the groups were found in non-HDL cholesterol (-0.18, mmolL-1 95% CI -0.35; -0.01, P=0.04), LDL to HDL cholesterol (-0.15, -0.28; -0.00, P=0.046) and apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A1 ratios (-0.04, -0.07; -0.00, P=0.025) favouring the Healthy diet. IL-1 Ra increased during the Control diet (difference -84, -133; -37ngL-1, P= 0.00053). Intakes of saturated fats (E%, beta estimate 4.28, 0.02; 8.53, P=0.049) and magnesium (mg, -0.23, -0.41; -0.05, P=0.012) were associated with IL-1 Ra. Conclusions Healthy Nordic diet improved lipid profile and had a beneficial effect on low-grade inflammation.
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| 2. |
- Oberbauer, S F, et al.
(författare)
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Phenological response of tundra plants to background climate variation tested using the International Tundra Experiment.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences. - : The Royal Society. - 1471-2970. ; 368:1624
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The rapidly warming temperatures in high-latitude and alpine regions have the potential to alter the phenology of Arctic and alpine plants, affecting processes ranging from food webs to ecosystem trace gas fluxes. The International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) was initiated in 1990 to evaluate the effects of expected rapid changes in temperature on tundra plant phenology, growth and community changes using experimental warming. Here, we used the ITEX control data to test the phenological responses to background temperature variation across sites spanning latitudinal and moisture gradients. The dataset overall did not show an advance in phenology; instead, temperature variability during the years sampled and an absence of warming at some sites resulted in mixed responses. Phenological transitions of high Arctic plants clearly occurred at lower heat sum thresholds than those of low Arctic and alpine plants. However, sensitivity to temperature change was similar among plants from the different climate zones. Plants of different communities and growth forms differed for some phenological responses. Heat sums associated with flowering and greening appear to have increased over time. These results point to a complex suite of changes in plant communities and ecosystem function in high latitudes and elevations as the climate warms.
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| 3. |
- Kerkhof, H. J. M., et al.
(författare)
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Recommendations for standardization and phenotype definitions in genetic studies of osteoarthritis: the TREAT-OA consortium
- 2011
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Ingår i: Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. - : Elsevier BV. - 1063-4584. ; 19:3, s. 254-264
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To address the need for standardization of osteoarthritis (OA) phenotypes by examining the effect of heterogeneity among symptomatic (SOA) and radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) phenotypes. Methods: Descriptions of OA phenotypes of the 28 studies involved in the TREAT-OA consortium were collected. We investigated whether different OA definitions result in different association results by creating various hip OA definitions in one large population based cohort (the Rotterdam Study I (RSI)) and testing those for association with gender, age and body mass index using one-way ANOVA. For ROA, we standardized the hip-, knee- and hand ROA definitions and calculated prevalence's of ROA before and after standardization in nine cohort studies. This procedure could only be performed in cohort studies and standardization of SOA definitions was not feasible at this moment. Results: In this consortium, all studies with SOA phenotypes (knee, hip and hand) used a different definition and/or assessment of OA status. For knee-, hip- and hand ROA five, four and seven different definitions were used, respectively. Different hip ROA definitions do lead to different association results. For example, we showed in the RSI that hip OA defined as "at least definite joint space narrowing (JSN) and one definite osteophyte" was not associated with gender (P=0.22), but defined as "at least one definite osteophyte" was significantly associated with gender (P=3 x 10(-9)). Therefore, a standardization process was undertaken for ROA definitions. Before standardization a wide range of ROA prevalence's was observed in the nine cohorts studied. After standardization the range in prevalence of knee- and hip ROA was small. Conclusion: Phenotype definitions influence the prevalence of OA and association with clinical variables. ROA phenotypes within the TREAT-OA consortium were standardized to reduce heterogeneity and improve power in future genetics studies. (C) 2010 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 4. |
- Bruchfeld, A, et al.
(författare)
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Rituximab for minimal change disease in adults: long-term follow-up
- 2014
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Ingår i: Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1460-2385. ; 29:4, s. 851-856
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Qiu, C, et al.
(författare)
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Cerebral microbleeds, retinopathy, and dementia : the AGES-Reykjavik Study
- 2010
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Ingår i: Neurology. - 0028-3878 .- 1526-632X. ; 75:24, s. 2221-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To determine whether microvascular damage, indicated by cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and retinal microvascular signs, is associated with cognitive function and dementia in older persons.METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 3,906 participants (mean age 76 years; 58% women) in the AGES-Reykjavik Study (2002-2006). We assessed CMBs on MRI and retinal microvascular signs on digital retinal images. Composite Z scores of memory, processing speed, and executive function were derived from a battery of neurocognitive tests. Dementia and subtypes were diagnosed following international criteria. Regression models were used to relate cognitive Z scores and dementia to CMBs and retinal microvascular signs, adjusting for demographics, cardiovascular factors, and brain ischemic lesions.RESULTS: People with multiple (≥ 2) CMBs had lower Z scores on tests of processing speed (β-coefficient -0.16; 95% confidence interval -0.26 to -0.05) and executive function (-0.14; -0.24 to -0.04); results were strongest for having multiple CMBs located in the deep hemispheric or infratentorial areas. The odds ratio of vascular dementia was 2.32 (95% confidence interval 1.02 to 5.25) for multiple CMBs and 1.95 (1.04 to 3.62) for retinopathy. Having both CMBs and retinopathy, compared to having neither, was significantly associated with markedly slower processing speed (-0.25; -0.37 to -0.12), poorer executive function (-0.19; -0.31 to -0.07), and an increased odds ratio of vascular dementia (3.10; 1.11 to 8.62).CONCLUSION: Having multiple CMBs or concomitant CMBs and retinopathy is associated with a profile of vascular cognitive impairment. These findings suggest that microvascular damage, as indicated by CMBs and retinopathy lesions, has functional consequences in older men and women living in the community.
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| 7. |
- Benediktsdottir, Berglind E., et al.
(författare)
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Synthesis of N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan homopolymer and highly substituted N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyl chitosan derivatives with the aid of di-tert-butyldimethylsilyl chitosan
- 2011
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Ingår i: Carbohydrate Polymers. - : Elsevier BV. - 0144-8617. ; 86:4, s. 1451-1460
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A highly chemoselective strategy for the synthesis of N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan (TMC) homopolymer and highly substituted N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyl chitosan derivatives was achieved using di-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-3,6-O-chitosan (di-TBDMS chitosan) as a precursor. The influence of different solvents, reagents and other reaction conditions on the reduction, trimethylation and quaternization of these di-TBDMS chitosan derivatives was studied. Products were characterized by NMR after each step. Di-TBDMS chitosan was reacted with methyl iodide in NMP, giving a 100% substituted TMC with the trimethyl group appearing at 3.35 ppm in H-1 NMR spectrum. N-Propyl-, N-butyl- and N-hexyl-N,N-dimethyl chitosan derivatives were synthesized by stepwise reductive alkylation of di-TBDMS chitosan, followed by quaternization with dimethyl sulfate in dichloromethane, giving 65-72% substituted N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyl chitosan derivatives under optimized conditions. Analysis of these water-soluble chitosan derivatives by FT-IR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, H-1-H-1 COSY and H-1-C-13 HSQC NMR enabled detailed structural characterization. All peaks could be assigned to N-modification, showing the selectivity of the di-TBDMS protection. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 8. |
- Bokhorst, Stef Frederik, et al.
(författare)
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Variable temperature effects of Open Top Chambers at polar and alpine sites explained by irradiance and snow depth
- 2013
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Ingår i: Global Change Biology. - : Wiley. - 1354-1013 .- 1365-2486. ; 19:1, s. 64-74
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Environmental manipulation studies are integral to determining biological consequences of climate warming. Open Top Chambers (OTCs) have been widely used to assess summer warming effects on terrestrial biota, with their effects during other seasons normally being given less attention even though chambers are often deployed year-round. In addition, their effects on temperature extremes and freeze-thaw events are poorly documented. To provide robust documentation of the microclimatic influences of OTCs throughout the year, we analysed temperature data from 20 studies distributed across polar and alpine regions. The effects of OTCs on mean temperature showed a large range (-0.9 to 2.1 degrees C) throughout the year, but did not differ significantly between studies. Increases in mean monthly and diurnal temperature were strongly related (R-2 = 0.70) with irradiance, indicating that PAR can be used to predict the mean warming effect of OTCs. Deeper snow trapped in OTCs also induced higher temperatures at soil/vegetation level. OTC-induced changes in the frequency of freeze-thaw events included an increase in autumn and decreases in spring and summer. Frequency of high-temperature events in OTCs increased in spring, summer and autumn compared with non-manipulated control plots. Frequency of low-temperature events was reduced by deeper snow accumulation and higher mean temperatures. The strong interactions identified between aspects of ambient environmental conditions and effects of OTCs suggest that a detailed knowledge of snow depth, temperature and irradiance levels enables us to predict how OTCs will modify the microclimate at a particular site and season. Such predictive power allows a better mechanistic understanding of observed biotic response to experimental warming studies and for more informed design of future experiments. However, a need remains to quantify OTC effects on water availability and wind speed (affecting, for example, drying rates and water stress) in combination with microclimate measurements at organism level.
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| 9. |
- Dagsson-Waldhauserova, P., et al.
(författare)
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Physical properties of suspended dust during moist and low wind conditions in Iceland
- 2014
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Ingår i: Icelandic Agricultural Sciences. - 1670-567X. ; 27, s. 25-39
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We measured a dust event which occurred during wet and low wind/windless conditions as the result of surface heating in August 2013. Maximum particle number concentration (PM similar to 0.3-10 mu m) reached 149,954 particles cm(-3) min(-1) while mass concentration (PM<10 m) was 1757 g m-3 min-1. The suspended dust was very fine with the highest number of particles in the size range 0.3-0.337 mu m, followed by particles 1.5-5 mu m in diameter. Close-to-ultrafine particle size distributions showed a significant increase in number with the severity of the measured dust event (during dust peaks). Number concentrations were well correlated with mass concentrations. The mineralogy and geochemical compositions showed that glaciogenic dust contains sharp-tipped shards with bubbles and 80 % of the particulate matter is volcanic glass rich in heavy metals. Wet dust particles were mobilized within < 4 hours. This is the first scientific study of particle size distributions in an Icelandic dust event including findings on initiation of dust suspension.
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| 10. |
- D'Hertefeldt, Tina, et al.
(författare)
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Responses to mineral nutrient availability and heterogeneity in physiologically integrated sedges from contrasting habitats.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Plant Biology. - Chichester : Wiley. - 1438-8677 .- 1435-8603. ; 13:3, s. 483-492
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Clonal plants from poor habitats benefit less from morphologically plastic responses to heterogeneity than plants from more productive sites. In addition, physiological integration has been suggested to either increase or decrease the foraging efficiency of clonal plants. We tested the capacity for biomass production and morphological response in two closely related, rhizomatous species from habitats that differ in resource availability, Carex arenaria (from poor sand dunes) and C. disticha (from nutrient-richer, moister habitats). We expected lower total biomass production and reduced morphological plasticity in C. arenaria, and that both species would produce more ramets in high nutrient patches, either in response to signals transported through physiological integration, or by locally determined responses to nutrient availability. To investigate mineral nutrient heterogeneity, plants were grown in boxes divided into two compartments with homogeneous or heterogeneous supply of high (H) or low (L) nutrient levels, resulting in four treatments, H-H, H-L, L-H and L-L. Both C. arenaria and C. disticha produced similar biomass in high nutrient treatments. C. disticha responded to high nutrients by increased biomass production and branching of the young parts and by altering root:shoot ratio and rhizome lengths, while C. arenaria showed localised responses to high nutrients in terms of local biomass and branch production in high nutrient patches. The results demonstrated that although it has a conservative morphology, C. arenaria responded to nutrient heterogeneity through morphological plasticity. An analysis of costs and benefits of integration on biomass production showed that young ramets of both species benefited significantly from physiological integration, but no corresponding costs were found. This suggests that plants from resource-poor but dynamic habitats like sand dunes respond morphologically to high nutrient patches. The two species responded to nutrient heterogeneity in different traits, and this is discussed in terms of local and distant signalling of plant status.
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