| 1. |
- Macfarlane, M. D., et al.
(författare)
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Shape abnormalities of the caudate nucleus correlate with poorer gait and balance: Results from a subset of the ladis study
- 2015
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Ingår i: The American journal of geriatric psychiatry. - : Elsevier BV. - 1064-7481. ; 23:1, s. 59-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective Functional deficits seen in several neurodegenerative disorders have been linked with dysfunction in frontostriatal circuits and with associated shape alterations in striatal structures. The severity of visible white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on magnetic resonance imaging has been found to correlate with poorer performance on measures of gait and balance. This study aimed to determine whether striatal volume and shape changes were correlated with gait dysfunction. Methods Magnetic resonance imaging scans and clinical gait/balance data (scores from the Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB]) were sourced from 66 subjects in the previously published LADIS trial, performed in nondisabled individuals older than age 65 years with WMHs at study entry. Data were obtained at study entry and at 3-year follow-up. Caudate nuclei and putamina were manually traced using a previously published method and volumes calculated. The relationships between volume and physical performance on the SPPB were investigated with shape analysis using the spherical harmonic shape description toolkit. Results There was no correlation between the severity of WMHs and striatal volumes. Caudate nuclei volume correlated with performance on the SPPB at baseline but not at follow-up, with subsequent shape analysis showing left caudate changes occurred in areas corresponding to inputs of the dorsolateral prefrontal, premotor, and motor cortex. There was no correlation between putamen volumes and performance on the SPPB. Conclusion Disruption in frontostriatal circuits may play a role in mediating poorer physical performance in individuals with WMHs. Striatal volume and shape changes may be suitable biomarkers for functional changes in this population. © 2015 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.
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| 2. |
- Bahram, Mohammad, et al.
(författare)
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Structure and function of the global topsoil microbiome
- 2018
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 560:7717, s. 233-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Soils harbour some of the most diverse microbiomes on Earth and are essential for both nutrient cycling and carbon storage. To understand soil functioning, it is necessary to model the global distribution patterns and functional gene repertoires of soil microorganisms, as well as the biotic and environmental associations between the diversity and structure of both bacterial and fungal soil communities(1-4). Here we show, by leveraging metagenomics and metabarcoding of global topsoil samples (189 sites, 7,560 subsamples), that bacterial, but not fungal, genetic diversity is highest in temperate habitats and that microbial gene composition varies more strongly with environmental variables than with geographic distance. We demonstrate that fungi and bacteria show global niche differentiation that is associated with contrasting diversity responses to precipitation and soil pH. Furthermore, we provide evidence for strong bacterial-fungal antagonism, inferred from antibiotic-resistance genes, in topsoil and ocean habitats, indicating the substantial role of biotic interactions in shaping microbial communities. Our results suggest that both competition and environmental filtering affect the abundance, composition and encoded gene functions of bacterial and fungal communities, indicating that the relative contributions of these microorganisms to global nutrient cycling varies spatially.
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| 3. |
- Gustafsson, Karin L., 1987, et al.
(författare)
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The role of membrane ER alpha signaling in bone and other major estrogen responsive tissues
- 2016
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Estrogen receptor a (ER alpha) signaling leads to cellular responses in several tissues and in addition to nuclear ER alpha-mediated effects, membrane ER alpha (mER alpha) signaling may be of importance. To elucidate the significance, in vivo, of mER alpha signaling in multiple estrogen-responsive tissues, we have used female mice lacking the ability to localize ER alpha to the membrane due to a point mutation in the palmitoylation site (C451A), so called Nuclear-Only-ER (NOER) mice. Interestingly, the role of mER alpha signaling for the estrogen response was highly tissue-dependent, with trabecular bone in the axial skeleton being strongly dependent (>80% reduction in estrogen response in NOER mice), cortical and trabecular bone in long bones, as well as uterus and thymus being partly dependent (40-70% reduction in estrogen response in NOER mice) and effects on liver weight and total body fat mass being essentially independent of mER alpha (<35% reduction in estrogen response in NOER mice). In conclusion, mER alpha signaling is important for the estrogenic response in female mice in a tissue-dependent manner. Increased knowledge regarding membrane initiated ER alpha actions may provide means to develop new selective estrogen receptor modulators with improved profiles.
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| 4. |
- Knuuttila, M., et al.
(författare)
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Intratumoral androgen levels are linked to TMPRSS2-ERG fusion in prostate cancer
- 2018
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Ingår i: Endocrine-Related Cancer. - : Bioscientifica. - 1351-0088 .- 1479-6821. ; 25:9, s. 807-819
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Intratumoral androgen biosynthesis is one of the mechanisms involved in the progression of prostate cancer, and an important target for novel prostate cancer therapies. Using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and genome-wide RNA sequencing, we have analyzed androgen concentrations and androgen-regulated gene expression in cancerous and morphologically benign prostate tissue specimens and serum samples obtained from 48 primary prostate cancer patients. Intratumoral dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations were significantly higher in the cancerous tissues compared to benign prostate (P < 0.001). The tissue/serum ratios of androgens were highly variable between the patients, indicating individual patterns of androgen metabolism and/or uptake of androgens within the prostate tissue. An unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis of intratissue androgen concentrations indicated that transmembrane protease, serine 2/ETS-related gene (TMPRSS2-ERG)-positive patients have different androgen profiles compared to TMPRSS2-ERG- negative patients. TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion status was also associated with an enhanced androgen-regulated gene expression, along with altered intratumoral androgen metabolism, demonstrated by reduced testosterone concentrations and increased DHT/testosterone ratios in TMPRSS2-ERG-positive tumors. TMPRSS2-ERG-positive and - negative prostate cancer specimens have distinct intratumoral androgen profiles, possibly due to activation of testosterone-independent DHT biosynthesis via the alternative pathway in TMPRSS2-ERG-positive tumors. Thus, patients with TMPRSS2-ERG-positive prostate cancer may benefit from novel inhibitors targeting the alternative DHT biosynthesis.
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| 5. |
- Badou, Sylvestre A., et al.
(författare)
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Two new African siblings of Pulveroboletus ravenelii (Boletaceae)
- 2018
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Ingår i: MycoKeys. - : Pensoft Publishers. - 1314-4057 .- 1314-4049. ; :43, s. 115-130
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper sorts out the taxonomy of species affiliated with Pulveroboletus ravenelii in the Guineo-soudanian and Zambezian woodlands of Africa. Morphological and genetic characters of African Pulveroboletus collections were studied and compared to those of North American and Asian species. A phylogenetic analysis showed that the African specimens form a subclade, sister to the Asian and American taxa. Although clamp connections have previously never been reported from Pulveroboletus, all specimens of the African subclade show very small clamp connections. Two new African species, Pulveroboletus africanus sp. nov. and P. sokponianus sp. nov., are described and illustrated. Comments concerning morphology and identification, as well as distribution and ecology, are given for both species.
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| 6. |
- Farman, Helen H., 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Female Mice Lacking Estrogen Receptor-alpha in Hypothalamic Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) Neurons Display Enhanced Estrogenic Response on Cortical Bone Mass
- 2016
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Ingår i: Endocrinology. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0013-7227 .- 1945-7170. ; 157:8, s. 3242-3252
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Estrogens are important regulators of bone mass and their effects are mainly mediated via estrogen receptor(ER)alpha. Central ER alpha exerts an inhibitory role on bone mass. ER alpha is highly expressed in the arcuate (ARC) and the ventromedial (VMN) nuclei in the hypothalamus. To test whether ER alpha in proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, located in ARC, is involved in the regulation of bone mass, we used mice lacking ER alpha expression specifically in POMC neurons (POMC-ER alpha(-/-)). Female POMC-ER alpha(-/-) and control mice were ovariectomized (OVX) and treated with vehicle or estradiol (0.5 mu g/d) for 6 weeks. As expected, estradiol treatment increased the cortical bone thickness in femur, the cortical bone mechanical strength in tibia and the trabecular bone volume fraction in both femur and vertebrae in OVX control mice. Importantly, the estrogenic responses were substantially increased in OVX POMC-ER alpha(-/-) mice compared with the estrogenic responses in OVX control mice for cortical bone thickness (+ 126 +/- 34%, P < .01) and mechanical strength (+ 193 +/- 38%, P <.01). To test whether ER alpha in VMN is involved in the regulation of bone mass, ER alpha was silenced using an adeno-associated viral vector. Silencing of ER alpha in hypothalamic VMN resulted in unchanged bone mass. In conclusion, mice lacking ER alpha in POMC neurons display enhanced estrogenic response on cortical bone mass and mechanical strength. We propose that the balance between inhibitory effects of central ER alpha activity in hypothalamic POMC neuronsin ARC and stimulatory peripheral ER alpha-mediated effects in bone determines cortical bone mass in female mice.
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| 7. |
- Farman, H. H., et al.
(författare)
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Female mice lacking estrogen receptor-α in hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons display enhanced estrogenic response on cortical bone mass
- 2016
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Ingår i: Endocrinology. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0013-7227 .- 1945-7170. ; 157:8, s. 3242-3252
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Estrogens are important regulators of bone mass and their effects are mainly mediated via estrogen receptor(ER)α.CentralERα exertsaninhibitoryroleonbonemass.ERα ishighlyexpressedinthearcuate (ARC) and the ventromedial (VMN) nuclei in the hypothalamus. To test whether ERα in proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, located in ARC, is involved in the regulation of bone mass, we used mice lacking ERα expression specifically in POMC neurons (POMC-ERα -/- ). Female POMC-ERα -/- and control mice were ovariectomized (OVX) and treated with vehicle or estradiol (0.5 μg/d) for 6 weeks. As expected, estradiol treatment increased the cortical bone thickness in femur, the cortical bone mechanical strength in tibia and the trabecular bone volume fraction in both femur and vertebrae in OVX control mice. Importantly, the estrogenic responses were substantially increased in OVX POMC-ERα -/- mice compared with the estrogenic responses in OVX control mice for cortical bone thickness (+126 ± 34%, P < .01) and mechanical strength (+193 ± 38%, P < .01). To test whether ERα in VMN is involved in the regulation of bone mass, ERα was silenced using an adeno-associated viral vector. Silencing of ERα in hypothalamic VMN resulted in unchanged bone mass. In conclusion, mice lacking ERα in POMC neurons display enhanced estrogenic response on cortical bone mass and mechanical strength. We propose that the balance between inhibitory effects of central ERα activity in hypothalamic POMC neurons in ARC and stimulatory peripheral ERaα-mediated effects in bone determines cortical bone mass in female mice.
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| 8. |
- Farman, Helen H., 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Membrane estrogen receptor alpha is essential for estrogen signaling in the male skeleton
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Endocrinology. - : Bioscientifica. - 0022-0795 .- 1479-6805. ; 239:3, s. 303-312
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The importance of estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) for the regulation of bone mass in males is well established. ERa mediates estrogenic effects both via nuclear and membraneinitiated ER alpha (mER alpha) signaling. The role of mERa signaling for the effects of estrogen on bone in male mice is unknown. To investigate the role of mERa signaling, we have used mice (Nuclear-Only-ER; NOER) with a point mutation (C451A), which results in inhibited trafficking of ER alpha to the plasma membrane. Gonadal-intact male NOER mice had a significantly decreased total body areal bone mineral density (aBMD) compared to WT littermates at 3, 6 and 9 months of age as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). High-resolution microcomputed tomography (mu CT) analysis of tibia in 3-month-old males demonstrated a decrease in cortical and trabecular thickness in NOER mice compared to WT littermates. As expected, estradiol (E2) treatment of orchidectomized (ORX) WT mice increased total body aBMD, trabecular BV/TV and cortical thickness in tibia compared to placebo treatment. E2 treatment increased these skeletal parameters also in ORX NOER mice. However, the estrogenic responses were significantly decreased in ORX NOER mice compared with ORX WT mice. In conclusion, mER alpha is essential for normal estrogen signaling in both trabecular and cortical bone in male mice. Increased knowledge of estrogen signaling mechanisms in the regulation of the male skeleton may aid in the development of new treatment options for male osteoporosis.
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| 9. |
- Hagvall, Lina, 1978, et al.
(författare)
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Contact allergy to oxidized geraniol among Swedish dermatitis patients-A multicentre study by the Swedish Contact Dermatitis Research Group
- 2018
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Ingår i: Contact Dermatitis. - : Wiley. - 0105-1873 .- 1600-0536. ; 79:4, s. 232-238
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Geraniol is a widely used fragrance terpene, and is included in fragrance mix I. Geraniol is prone to autoxidation, forming the skin sensitizers geranial, neral, and geraniol-7-hydroperoxide. Oxidized geraniol has previously been patch tested in 1 clinic, giving 1% to 4.6% positive reactions in consecutive patients when tested at 2% to 11%. Aim: To compare test reactions to pure and oxidized geraniol, to compare 2 different test concentrations of oxidized geraniol and to investigate the pattern of concomitant reactions to fragrance markers of the baseline series in a multicentre setting. Methods: One thousand four hundred and seventy-six consecutive patients referred for patch testing were patch tested with geraniol 6% pet. and oxidized geraniol 6% and 11% pet. Results: Pure geraniol 6% pet., oxidized geraniol 6% pet. and oxidized geraniol 11% pet. gave 1%, 3% and 8% positive patch test reactions and 0.7%, 3% and 5% doubtful reactions, respectively. Approximately 50% of the patients with doubtful reactions to oxidized geraniol 6% pet. had positive reactions to oxidized geraniol 11% pet. Conclusions: Oxidized geraniol 11% pet. provides better detection than oxidized geraniol 6% pet. As most patients reacted only to oxidized geraniol, it is important to explore further whether oxidized geraniol should be included in a baseline patch test series.
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| 10. |
- Ragnarsson, Oskar, 1971, et al.
(författare)
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Decreased prefrontal functional brain response during memory testing in women with Cushing's syndrome in remission
- 2017
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Ingår i: Psychoneuroendocrinology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0306-4530 .- 1873-3360. ; 82, s. 117-125
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neurocognitive dysfunction is an important feature of Cushing's syndrome (CS). Our hypothesis was that patients with CS in remission have decreased functional brain responses in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus during memory testing. In this cross-sectional study we included 19 women previously treated for CS and 19 commis matched for age, gender, and education. The median remission time was 7 (IQR 6-10) years. Brain activity was studied with functional magnetic resonance imaging during episodic- and working memory tasks. The primary regions of interest were the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. A voxel-wise comparison of functional brain responses in patients and controls was performed. During episodic-memory encoding, patients displayed lower functional brain responses in the left and right prefrontal gyrus (p < 0.001) and in the right inferior occipital gyrus (p < 0.001) compared with controls. There was a trend towards lower functional brain responses in the left posterior hippocampus in patients (p = 0.05). During episodic-memory retrieval, the patients displayed lower functional brain responses in several brain areas with the most predominant difference in the right prefrontal cortex (p < 0.001). During the working memory task, patients had lower response in the prefrontal cortices bilaterally (p < 0.005). Patients, but not controls, had lower functional brain response during a more complex working memory task compared with a simpler one. In conclusion, women with CS in long-term remission have reduced functional brain responses during episodic and working memory testing. This observation extends previous findings showing long-term adverse effects of severe hypercortisolaemia on brain function.
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