| 1. |
- Pickwell, K., et al.
(författare)
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Minor amputation does not negatively affect health-related quality of life as compared with conservative treatment in patients with a diabetic foot ulcer : An observational study
- 2017
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Ingår i: Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews. - : Wiley. - 1520-7552. ; 33:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is poor in patients with persistent diabetic foot ulcers and poor HRQoL predicts worse outcomes in these patients. Amputation is often considered a treatment failure, which is why conservative treatment is generally preferred over amputation. However, it is unclear whether minor amputation negatively affects HRQoL compared with conservative treatment in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Methods: In the cohort of the multicenter, prospective, observational Eurodiale study, we determined difference in change of HRQoL measured by EQ-5D between patients with a diabetic foot ulcers that healed after conservative treatment (n = 676) and after minor amputation (n = 145). Propensity score was used to adjust for known confounders, attempting to overcome lack of randomization. Results: Baseline HRQoL was not significantly different between patients treated conservatively and undergoing minor amputation. In addition, there was no difference in the change of HRQoL between these groups. In patients who healed 6 to 12 months after the first visit, HRQoL on the anxiety/depression subscale even appeared to improve more in those who underwent minor amputation. Conclusions: Minor amputation was not associated with a negative impact on HRQoL in patients with a diabetic foot ulcers. It may therefore not be considered treatment failure in terms of HRQoL but rather a viable treatment option. A randomized controlled trial is warranted to further examine the influence of minor amputations on health-related quality of life.
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| 2. |
- Björklund, J., et al.
(författare)
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Scientific Merits and Analytical Challenges of Tree-Ring Densitometry
- 2019
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Ingår i: Reviews of geophysics. - 8755-1209 .- 1944-9208. ; 57:4, s. 1224-1264
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- X-ray microdensitometry on annually resolved tree-ring samples has gained an exceptional position in last-millennium paleoclimatology through the maximum latewood density (MXD) parameter, but also increasingly through other density parameters. For 50 years, X-ray based measurement techniques have been the de facto standard. However, studies report offsets in the mean levels for MXD measurements derived from different laboratories, indicating challenges of accuracy and precision. Moreover, reflected visible light-based techniques are becoming increasingly popular, and wood anatomical techniques are emerging as a potentially powerful pathway to extract density information at the highest resolution. Here we review the current understanding and merits of wood density for tree-ring research, associated microdensitometric techniques, and analytical measurement challenges. The review is further complemented with a careful comparison of new measurements derived at 17 laboratories, using several different techniques. The new experiment allowed us to corroborate and refresh long-standing wisdom but also provide new insights. Key outcomes include (i) a demonstration of the need for mass/volume-based recalibration to accurately estimate average ring density; (ii) a substantiation of systematic differences in MXD measurements that cautions for great care when combining density data sets for climate reconstructions; and (iii) insights into the relevance of analytical measurement resolution in signals derived from tree-ring density data. Finally, we provide recommendations expected to facilitate futureinter-comparability and interpretations for global change research.
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| 3. |
- Björklund, Jesper, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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Scientific Merits and Analytical Challenges ofTree-Ring Densitometry
- 2019
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Ingår i: Reviews of Geophysics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 8755-1209 .- 1944-9208. ; 57:4, s. 1224-1264
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- X-ray microdensitometry on annually resolved tree-ring samples has gained an exceptional position in last-millennium paleoclimatology through the maximum latewood density (MXD) parameter, but also increasingly through other density parameters. For 50 years, X-ray based measurement techniques have been the de facto standard. However, studies report offsets in the mean levels for MXD measurements derived from different laboratories, indicating challenges of accuracy and precision. Moreover, reflected visible light-based techniques are becoming increasingly popular, and wood anatomical techniques are emerging as a potentially powerful pathway to extract density information at the highest resolution. Here we review the current understanding and merits of wood density for tree-ring research, associated microdensitometric techniques, and analytical measurement challenges. The review is further complemented with a careful comparison of new measurements derived at 17 laboratories, using several different techniques. The new experiment allowed us to corroborate and refresh "long-standing wisdom" but also provide new insights. Key outcomes include (i) a demonstration of the need for mass/volume-based recalibration to accurately estimate average ring density; (ii) a substantiation of systematic differences in MXD measurements that cautions for great care when combining density data sets for climate reconstructions; and (iii) insights into the relevance of analytical measurement resolution in signals derived from tree-ring density data. Finally, we provide recommendations expected to facilitate futureinter-comparability and interpretations for global change research.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Folens, K., et al.
(författare)
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Identification of platinum nanoparticles in road dust leachate by single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
- 2018
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 615, s. 849-856
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Elevated platinum (Pt) concentrations are found in road dust as a result of emissions from catalytic converters in vehicles. This study investigates the occurrence of Pt in road dust collected in Ghent (Belgium) and Gothenburg (Sweden). Total Pt contents, determined by tandem ICP-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS), were in the range of 5 to 79 ng g − 1 , comparable to the Pt content in road dust of other medium-sized cities. Further sample characterization was performed by single particle (sp) ICP-MS following an ultrasonic extraction procedure using stormwater runoff for leaching. The method was found to be suitable for the characterization of Pt nanoparticles in road dust leachates. The extraction was optimized using road dust reference material BCR-723, for which an extraction efficiency of 2.7% was obtained by applying 144 kJ of ultrasonic energy. Using this method, between 0.2% and 18% of the Pt present was extracted from road dust samples. spICP-MS analysis revealed that Pt in the leachate is entirely present as nanoparticles of sizes between 9 and 21 nm. Although representing only a minor fraction of the total content in road dust, the nanoparticulate Pt leachate is most susceptible to biological uptake and hence most relevant in terms of bioavailability.
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| 6. |
- Maric, Jovana, et al.
(författare)
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Prostaglandin E-2 suppresses human group 2 innate lymphoid cell function
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : MOSBY-ELSEVIER. - 0091-6749 .- 1097-6825. ; 141:5, s. 1761-1773.e6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are involved in the initial phase of type 2 inflammation and can amplify allergic immune responses by orchestrating other type 2 immune cells. Prostaglandin (PG) E-2 is a bioactive lipid that plays protective roles in the lung, particularly during allergic inflammation.Objective: We set out to investigate how PGE(2) regulates human ILC2 function.Methods: The effects of PGE(2) on human ILC2 proliferation and intracellular cytokine and transcription factor expression were assessed by means of flow cytometry. Cytokine production was measured by using ELISA, and real-time quantitative PCR was performed to detect PGE(2) receptor expression.Results: PGE(2) inhibited GATA-3 expression, as well as production of the type 2 cytokines IL-5 and IL-13, from human tonsillar and blood ILC2s in response to stimulation with a combination of IL-25, IL-33, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and IL-2. Furthermore, PGE(2) downregulated the expression of IL-2 receptor alpha (CD25). In line with this observation, PGE(2) decreased ILC2 proliferation. These effects were mediated by the combined action of E-type prostanoid receptor (EP) 2 and EP4 receptors, which were specifically expressed on ILC2s.Conclusion: Our findings reveal that PGE(2) limits ILC2 activation and propose that selective EP2 and EP4 receptor agonists might serve as a promising therapeutic approach in treating allergic diseases by suppressing ILC2 function.
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