| 1. |
- Ali, Hazrat, et al.
(författare)
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Translation of atherosclerotic disease features onto healthy carotid ultrasound images using domain-to-domain translation
- 2023
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Ingår i: Biomedical Signal Processing and Control. - 1746-8094 .- 1746-8108. ; 85
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: In this work, we evaluated a model for the translation of atherosclerotic disease features onto healthy carotid ultrasound images.Methods: An un-paired domain-to-domain translation model – the cycle Generative Adversarial Network (cycleGAN) – was trained to translate between carotid ultrasound images of healthy arteries and images of pronounced disease. Translation performance was evaluated using the measurement of wall thickness in original and generated images. In addition, we explored disease translation in different tissue segments (subcutaneous tissue, muscle, lumen, far wall, and deep tissues), using structural similarity index measure (SSIM) maps.Results: Features of pronounced disease were successfully translated to the healthy images (1.2 (0.33) mm vs 0.43 (0.07) mm, p < 0.001), while overall anatomy was retained as SSIM value was equal to 0.78 (0.02). Exploration of translated features showed that both arterial wall and subcutaneous tissues were modified in the translation, but that the subcutaneous tissue was subject to distortion of the anatomy in some cases. The image quality influenced the disease translation performance.Conclusion: The results show that the model can learn a mapping between healthy and diseased images while retaining the overall anatomical contents. This is the first study on atherosclerosis disease translation in medical images.Significance: The concept of translating disease onto existing healthy images may serve purposes such as education, cardiovascular risk communication in health conversations, or personalized modelling in precision medicine.
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| 2. |
- Bengtsson, Anna, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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Multi-view carotid ultrasound is stronger associated with cardiovascular risk factors than presence of plaque or single carotid intima media thickness measurements in subclinical atherosclerosis
- 2023
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Ingår i: The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging. - : Springer Nature. - 1569-5794 .- 1875-8312. ; 39:8, s. 1461-1471
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We aimed to explore the prevalence of atherosclerosis by using multi-view ultrasound examination of the carotid arteries and its association with clinical risk factors in a middle-aged population at low to intermediate risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Carotid vascular ultrasound was performed in 3532 participants in the VIPVIZA trial. Mean and maximal carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) at prespecified angles and plaque presence were examined on the left and right side. Associations between CVD risk factors and ultrasound variables were quantified by partial least squares (PLS) regression. A combined ultrasound variable was computed using weights of the first PLS component. Associations between CVD risk factors and the combined multi-view ultrasound variable, single cIMT and plaque measurements, respectively, were determined using linear regression modelling. The participants’ mean age was 55.7 years and 52.9% were women. Plaque prevalence was 51.1% in men and 39.0% in women. cIMT was higher in men than in women and in the left compared with the right carotid artery. The strongest association of CVD risk factors was observed with the combined multi-view ultrasound variable (R2 = 24%), compared with single cIMT variables (R2 = 14–18%) and plaque presence (R2 = 15%). The pattern was similar in both sexes. The association with CVD risk factors and the combined ultrasound variable was stronger in 40-year olds (R2 = 22%) compared with 50- or 60-year olds (R = 12%). CVD risk factors are stronger associated with a combined ultrasound variable than plaque presence or single cIMT measures suggesting that carotid multi-view ultrasonography better captures the focality of early atherosclerosis. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01849575. May 8, 2013.
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| 3. |
- Bengtsson, Anna, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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The beneficial effect over 3 years by pictorial information to patients and their physician about subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk : results from the VIPVIZA randomized clinical trial
- 2021
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Ingår i: American Journal of Preventive Cardiology. - : Elsevier. - 2666-6677. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Non-adherence to guidelines and preventive measures is a major challenge, particularly so to ob- tain long-term adherence to lifestyle changes and recommended medication. The objective was to investigate if pictorial information regarding subclinical carotid atherosclerosis provided to individuals and physicians gave sustained effects on cardiovascular risk beyond the previously reported effect after 1 year and up to 3 years. Methods: A Prospective Randomized Open Blinded End-point (PROBE) trial. Within a CVD prevention program in Västerbotten County, Sweden, 3532 healthy individuals aged 40, 50 or 60 years were enrolled and 1:1 ran- domized to intervention ( n = 1749; pictorial information with additional prevention materials to participants and physicians) or control group ( n = 1783; no pictorial information to participants and physicians). Preventive measures were managed within primary care. Participants were investigated at baseline during 2013–2016 and at follow-up after 1 and 3 years. Results: A beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk was observed at 3-year follow-up; Framingham Risk Score (FRS) was 13.38 for the intervention group and 14.08 for the control group ( p = 0.047) and SCORE was 1.69 vs. 1.82 ( p = 0.022). The effect observed at 1-year was sustained over 3 years after adjustment for sex and education and more pronounced among participants with a severe atherosclerotic picture at baseline.Conclusions: This study provides evidence of sustained beneficial effects on the adherence to prevention guidelines over 3 years of pictorial information about subclinical carotid atherosclerosis, resulting in lower cardiovascular risk regardless of sex and educational level. Direct visualization of the underlying still subclinical atherosclerotic disease, rather than just indirect information about risk factors and statistical risk of future myocardial infarction, stroke and death, is one way to tackle the problem of non-adherence to prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
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| 4. |
- Bolin, Anette, 1962-, et al.
(författare)
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Socialtjänstens brottsförebyggande arbete ur ungas perspektiv
- 2023
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Sverige har en lång historia av brottsförebyggande initiativ för att tidigt upptäcka ungdomar som är involverade i brottslighet eller befinner sig i kriminella miljöer. På operativ nivå involverar samarbetet främst socialtjänst och polis. Socialtjänsten i Trollhättans Stad har under 2021–2022 genomfört brottsförebyggande insatser inom ramen för projektet Tidig upptäckt – tidig insats (TUTI). Den här rapporten redovisar den följeforskning som bedrivits i anslutning till arbetet.TUTI bygger på tidiga interventioner, delaktighet och samverkan, såväl övergripande som i det enskilda fallet. Ambitionen med projektet var att minska risken för att unga 9–17 år utvecklar en kriminell livsstil samt förebygga risk för kriminalitet, missbruk, psykisk ohälsa och utanförskap. Detta genom att systematisera det arbete med brottsförebyggande insatser gällande unga förstagångslagöverträdare som sker i samverkan mellan socialtjänst, polis, åklagare och civilsamhälle.Följeforskningen har kartlagt typ av och bakgrund till orosanmälningar för unga 9–17 år i Trollhättans Stad samt undersökt ungas egna erfarenheter och förståelse av socialtjänstens brottsförebyggande insatser (TUTI-insatser). I studien har både kvantitativa och kvalitativa datainsamlingsmetoder använts. Data har tagits fram dels på aggregerad nivå gällande orosanmälningar i Trollhättans Stad under perioden 2017–2022, dels gällande de 196 unga som under perioden 2021–2022 erbjöds socialtjänstens brottsförebyggande insatser. Orsaker till orosanmälan var främst ringa stöld (30%), misshandel/våld/hot (20%) samt ringa narkotikabrott (20%). Ungefär hälften av de som erbjöds brottsförebyggande insatser tackade ja till insats. 21 av dessa deltog i återkommande kvalitativa intervjuer. Totalt genomfördes 41 intervjuer.Majoriteten av de intervjuade uppger vid uppföljningen cirka ett år efter den första intervjun att de inte har haft någon ny kontakt med socialtjänsten och att TUTI-stödet har förstärkt deras kapacitet att inte begå någon ny lagöverträdelse. Alla vittnar om att de redan vid tidpunkten för händelsen bestämt sig för att det var dumt gjort, men för några av dem var rentav det väsentligt att de fick stöd att vidmakthålla beslutet. De unga berättar att de har lärt sig mer om sig själva och utvecklat sin förmåga att ta positiva snarare än negativa beslut.För att förstå unga som för första gången kommer i kontakt med samhällets representanter när de misstänks för ett brott, har materialet analyserats med hjälp av modellen för proceduriell rättvisa (Tyler & Blader, 2003). Resultaten visar att de unga har högt förtroende för samhällets reaktion och ger legitimitet till det stöd som ges i kedjan av insatser: polis, mottagningsgrupp och familjebehandlare. Sammantaget kan vi konstatera att unga som genomgått hela TUTI-kedjan upplever samhällets reaktion vid sin första lagöverträdelse som positiv.
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| 5. |
- Dahlin, Emma, et al.
(författare)
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Neuromas cause severe residual problems at long-term despite surgery
- 2023
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PORTFOLIO. - 2045-2322. ; 13:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pain, and disabilities after neuroma surgery, using patient reported outcome measurements (PROMs), were evaluated by QuickDASH and a specific Hand Questionnaire (HQ-8). The 69 responding individuals (response rate 61%; 59% women; 41% men; median follow up 51 months) reported high QuickDASH score, pain on load, cold sensitivity, ability to perform daily activities and sleeping difficulties. Individuals reporting impaired ability to perform daily activities and sleeping problems had higher scores for pain, stiffness, weakness, numbness/tingling, cold sensitivity and QuickDASH. Only 17% of individuals reported no limitations at all. No differences were observed between sexes. Surgical methods did not influence outcome. Symptoms and disabilities correlated moderately-strongly to each other and to ability to perform regular daily activities as well as to sleeping difficulties. Pain, cold sensitivity, sleeping difficulties and limitation to perform daily activities were associated to higher QuickDASH. A weak association was found between follow up time and QuickDASH score as well as pain on load, but not cold sensitivity. A major nerve injury was frequent among those with limitations during work/performing other regular daily activities. Despite surgical treatment, neuromas cause residual problems, which affect the capacity to perform daily activities and ability to sleep with limited improvement in long-term.
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| 6. |
- Dahlin, Emma, et al.
(författare)
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Patient reported symptoms and disabilities before and after neuroma surgery: a register-based study
- 2023
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PORTFOLIO. - 2045-2322. ; 13:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Residual problems may occur from neuroma despite surgery. In a 12-month follow-up study using national register data, symptoms, and disabilities related to surgical methods and sex were evaluated in patients surgically treated for a neuroma. Among 196 identified patients (55% men; lower age; preoperative response rate 20%), neurolysis for nerve tethering/scar formation was the most used surgical method (41%; more frequent in women) irrespective of affected nerve. Similar preoperative symptoms were seen in patients, where different surgical methods were performed. Pain on load was the dominating symptom preoperatively. Women scored higher preoperatively at pain on motion without load, weakness and QuickDASH. Pain on load and numbness/tingling in fingers transiently improved. The ability to perform daily activities was better after nerve repair/reconstruction/transposition than after neurolysis. Regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex, and affected nerve, showed no association between surgical method and pain on load, tingling/numbness in fingers, or ability to perform daily activities. Neuroma, despite surgery, causes residual problems, affecting daily life. Choice of surgical method is not strongly related to pre- or postoperative symptoms. Neurolysis has similar outcome as other surgical methods. Women have more preoperative symptoms and disabilities than men. Future research would benefit from a neuroma-specific ICD-code, leading to a more precise identification of patients.
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| 7. |
- Engdahl, Emma, 1969-, et al.
(författare)
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#Metoo : En kamp för socialt erkännande och rättvisa
- 2021
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Ingår i: Sociologisk forskning. - Huddinge : Sveriges Sociologförbund. - 0038-0342 .- 2002-066X. ; 58:3, s. 199-216
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- #Metoo. A struggle for social recognition and justiceIn the article Honneth's theory of social recognition and Frickers' theory of epistemic injustice is used to analyse testimonies of sexual harassment. The study is based on a content analysis of the testimonies about sexual harassment that are included in the 65 Swedish #metoo calls. Those who testified talk about what, with help of Honneth's theory, can be described as a systematic withholding of social recognition. They are denied solidarity and rights through sexualized physical and psychological abuse, which has a negative impact on their basic self-confidence, self-respect, and self-esteem. In practice, the actions of the perpetrators result in both personal suffering for the women who has been subjected to sexual harassment and to the exclusion of them from social contexts. The latter takes place by the women either leaving the context in which they have been subjected to sexual harassment or to their participation in the context being conditional. For example, they must refrain from telling what they have been through or they lack support when they do. In the article, the difficulty of mobilizing support for those who are subjected to sexual harassment is interpreted as an effect of epistemic injustice.
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| 8. |
- Engdahl, Emma, 1969, et al.
(författare)
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#Metoo. En kamp för socialt erkännande och rättvisa : #Metoo. A struggle for social recognition and justice
- 2021
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Ingår i: Sociologisk forskning. - : Sociologisk Forskning, Swedish Sociological Association. - 0038-0342 .- 2002-066X. ; 58:3, s. 199-216
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- #Metoo. A struggle for social recognition and justice In the article Honneth’s theory of social recognition and Frickers’ theory of epistemic injustice is used to analyse testimonies of sexual harassment . The study is based on a content analysis of the testimonies about sexual harassment that are included in the 65 Swedish #metoo calls . Those who testified talk about what, with help of Honneth’s theory, can be described as a systematic withholding of social recognition . They are denied solidarity and rights through sexualized physical and psychological abuse, which has a negative impact on their basic self-confidence, self-respect, and self-esteem . In practice, the actions of the perpetrators result in both personal suffering for the women who has been subjected to sexual harassment and to the exclusion of them from social contexts . The latter takes place by the women either leaving the context in which they have been subjected to sexual harassment or to their participation in the context being conditional . For example, they must refrain from telling what they have been through or they lack support when they do . In the article, the difficulty of mobilizing support for those who are subjected to sexual harassment is interpreted as an effect of epistemic injustice .
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| 9. |
- Jäwert, Fredrik, et al.
(författare)
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Regular clinical follow-up of oral potentially malignant disorders results in improved survival for patients who develop oral cancer
- 2021
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Ingår i: Oral Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1368-8375. ; 121
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To evaluate whether clinical follow-up programs of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) result in earlier detection and improved survival rates if malignant transformation occurs, as compared to OPMD patients without follow-up and other patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and methods: Three OSCC groups were retrospectively studied for disease stage at diagnosis and survival rates (N = 739): Group A, patients with OSCC with regular follow-up of preceding OPMD (N = 94); Group B, patients with OSCC with preceding OPMD but no follow-up (N = 68); Group C, patients with OSCC without previously known OPMD diagnosis (N = 577). Results: The patients with OPMD with follow-up (Group A) was diagnosed at a significantly earlier stage and have significantly higher survival rates compared to Group B (p < 0.001 and p = 0.022, respectively) and Group C (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference between Group B and Group C in terms of survival rate (p = 0.143) or stage at diagnosis (p = 0.475). Patients with OPMD and follow-up (Group A) had a 5-year net survival rate of 90.0% (95%CI 80.3-100.8%), as compared to 68.3% percent (95% CI 54.5-85.7) for Group B and 56.1% (95% CI 51.4-61.3) for Group C. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that regular follow-up of patients with OPMD results in earlier detection of OSCC (if malignant transformation occurs) and improved survival.
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| 10. |
- Krynina, Olha, et al.
(författare)
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The potential of liquid biopsy for detection of the KIAA1549-BRAF fusion in circulating tumor DNA from children with pilocytic astrocytoma
- 2024
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Ingår i: Neuro-Oncology Advances. - : Oxford University Press. - 2632-2498. ; 6:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundLow-grade gliomas (LGGs) represent children’s most prevalent central nervous system tumor, necessitating molecular profiling to diagnose and determine the most suitable treatment. Developing highly sensitive screening techniques for liquid biopsy samples is particularly beneficial, as it enables the early detection and molecular characterization of tumors with minimally invasive samples.MethodsWe examined CSF and plasma samples from patients with pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) using custom multiplexed droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assays based on whole genome sequencing data. These assays included a screening test to analyze BRAF duplication and a targeted assay for the detection of patient-specific KIAA1549::BRAF fusion junction sequences or single nucleotide variants.ResultsOur findings revealed that 5 out of 13 individual cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples tested positive for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Among these cases, 3 exhibited the KIAA1549::BRAF fusion, which was detected through copy number variation (CNV) analysis (n = 1) or a fusion-specific probe (n = 2), while 1 case each displayed the BRAF V600E mutation and the FGFR1 N577K mutation. Additionally, a quantitative analysis of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) concentrations in PA CSF samples showed that most cases had low cfDNA levels, below the limit of detection of our assay (<1.9 ng).ConclusionsWhile CNV analysis of CSF samples from LGGs still has some limitations, it has the potential to serve as a valuable complementary tool. Furthermore, it can also be multiplexed with other aberrations, for example, to the BRAF V600 test, to provide important insights into the molecular characteristics of LGGs.
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