| 1. |
- Eriksson, Anna-Lena, 1971, et al.
(författare)
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Association between the low activity genotype of catechol-O-methyltransferase and myocardial infarction in a hypertensive population
- 2004
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Ingår i: Eur Heart J. ; 25:5, s. 386-91
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIM: Estrogens regulate several biological processes involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is a key enzyme in the degradation of estrogens. There is a functional polymorphism in the COMT gene (Val158Met), affecting the activity of the enzyme. We investigated if the low activity genotype of COMT is associated with an altered risk of myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a prospectively followed hypertensive cohort we identified 174 patients who suffered a myocardial infarction during the study and compared them to 348 controls from the same cohort. The COMT polymorphism and serum levels of sex hormones were analysed. Patients homozygous for the low activity COMT genotype had a decreased risk of myocardial infarction compared to those with the high activity genotype, odds ratio 0.65 (95% CI 0.44-0.97, p=0.033 ). The protective effect of the low activity genotype was most evident among older patients (> 58 years of age), odds ratio 0.43 (95% CI 0.23-0.79, p=0.006 ). Serum levels of estradiol were increased ( p=0.006 ) in males with the low activity genotype. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the low activity COMT genotype is protective against myocardial infarction. One may speculate that the altered estrogen status could be involved in this effect.
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| 2. |
- Svensson, Per-Arne, 1969, et al.
(författare)
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Copper induces the expression of cholesterogenic genes in human macrophages.
- 2003
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Ingår i: Atherosclerosis. - 0021-9150. ; 169:1, s. 71-6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Accumulation of lipids and cholesterol by macrophages and subsequent transformation into foam cells are key features in development of atherosclerosis. Serum copper concentrations have been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanism behind the proatherogenic effect of copper is not clear. We used DNA microarrays to define the changes in gene expression profile in response to copper exposure of human macrophages. Expression monitoring by DNA microarray revealed 91 genes that were regulated. Copper increased the expression of seven cholesterogenic genes (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) synthase, IPP isomerase, squalene synthase, squalene epoxidase, methyl sterol oxidase, H105e3 mRNA and sterol-C5-desaturase) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R), and decreased the expression of CD36 and lipid binding proteins. The expression of LDL-R and HMG CoA reductase was also investigated using real time PCR. The expression of both of these genes was increased after copper treatment of macrophages (P<0.01 and P<0.01, respectively). We conclude that copper activates cholesterogenic genes in macrophages, which may provide a mechanism for the association between copper and atherosclerosis. The effect of copper on cholesterogenic genes may also have implications for liver steatosis in early stages of Wilson's disease.
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| 3. |
- Wiklund, Lena, 1960-
(författare)
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Lidandets kamp
- 2003
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Ingår i: Gryning II. - Vasa : Åbo Akademi, Institutionen för vårdvetenskap, Samhälls- och vårdvetenskapliga fakulteten. - 9521212373 ; , s. 133-145
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Bokkapitel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)
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| 4. |
- Wiklund, Lena, 1960-
(författare)
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"The Anchor" - a treatment approach using cognitive psychotherapy from a caring perspective
- 2003
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Ingår i: Building excellence through evidence.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- During the last few years there has been increasing demands on changes and higher effectiveness in mental health care. As a result, the Psychiatric Clinic in Gävle, Sweden, has made great effort to provide qualified psychiatric care outside the hospital. One step in this process was the opening of the day-care unit ”The Anchor” in May 2001. “The Anchor” is situated in the town centre (not at the hospital), and next doors to the community’s activity centre. As a consequence, the co-operation between different caregivers is strengthened, resulting in an increased possibility to provide care close to the patient’s home and every-day-living.The unit provides individual care as well as group-treatment for different kinds of mental suffering. The staff is all nurses or mental health assistants and the theoretical foundations are rooted in caring science. An approach inspired by cognitive therapy is used within the caring framework. The patient’s functional level and symptoms was estimated before and after treatment by the means of GAF and SCL-90, and shows significant improvements on the patients’ well-being. Patient satisfaction was studied after treatment by means of a questionnaire, QPP (Quality from the Patient's Perspective).This way of organising the mental health care, and of using therapeutic methods from a caring perspective thus seams fruitful. The paper will give a brief presentation on the results, but focus on how the staff were prepared and the work organised.
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