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- Leinonen, E. S., et al.
(författare)
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Low-grade inflammation, endothelial activation and carotid intima-media thickness in type 2 diabetes
- 2004
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Ingår i: J Intern Med. ; 256:2, s. 119-27
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between inflammation, endothelial activation and incipient atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Setting and subjects. We studied 239 type 2 diabetic patients [71 with clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD)] and 78 healthy control subjects, aged 50-75 in a single research centre. METHODS: Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was determined by ultrasound. Circulating intracellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, ultra-sensitive C-reactive protein, human serum amyloid A, interleukin-6, monocyte colony-stimulating factor, secretory nonpancreatic phospholipase A(2) type IIA, glucose, HbA1c, and lipid/lipoprotein variables were measured. RESULTS: Carotid IMT was significantly thicker in diabetic patients than healthy controls across the whole age range. IMT was also thicker in diabetic patients with, than without, CVD, but this difference disappeared after controlling for confounding factors. Concentrations of the inflammatory and endothelial markers except IL-6 were significantly higher in the diabetic patients than in healthy controls, but comparable in diabetic patients with and without CVD. The main determinants of IMT in the diabetic patients were blood pressure, age and diabetes duration. CONCLUSIONS: Low-grade inflammation and endothelial activation are increased in diabetic patients but do not associate with IMT or clinical CVD. The inflammatory reaction seems to be rather a feature of the metabolic syndrome than a direct determinant of atherosclerosis.
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| 5. |
- Silén, A, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of the UBC test in the urine of healthy individuals, patients with benign disorders and urinary bladder cancer.
- 2000
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Ingår i: Oncology reports. - : Spandidos Publications. - 1021-335X .- 1791-2431. ; 7:6, s. 1269-74
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Using the UBC test, the specificity, sensitivity and prognostic information were evaluated in patients with recently diagnosed transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and in a control group consisting of apparently healthy individuals and individuals with benign disorders. Frozen urine samples from the 485 individuals in the control group and 100 newly diagnosed TCC patients were analyzed with the UBC test, specific for epitopes on cytokeratin fragments released from the urothelial cells. All the samples were analyzed and corrected for creatinine. No significant concentration difference was found between males and females (p=0.65) and there was no age dependent relation. The median concentration for the entire control group was estimated at 3.7 microg/g and the 95th percentile was calculated at 53.0 microg/g. The apparently healthy individuals in the control group had a median value of 3.4 microg/g with a 95th percentile of 24.3 microg/g. An increased frequency of elevated UBC concentrations was found in some benign disorders e.g., anemia, thyroid disorders, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia, urosepsis and cystitis. Patients with superficial tumors exhibited a 66% sensitivity (at 95% specificity), and the UBC concentrations did not differ statistically (p=0.16) from those patients with muscle invasive lesions with a 52% sensitivity. When the UBC concentrations were related to histopathological grade, a significant concentration difference (p<0.004) was found between low grade tumors (sensitivity 41%) and high grade tumors (sensitivity 72%). Survival analysis showed that patient with muscle invasive tumors, high-grade tumors and high UBC concentrations have a significantly reduced survival (five-year survival was estimated to 30%, 35% and 30% respectively) compared to patients with superficial tumors, low-grade tumors or low UBC concentrations (five-year survival, 60%, 85% and 75% respectively). The UBC test showed good accuracy and repeatability. Clinically the test could assist in tumor grading and the detection of recurrent disease, which in turn could assist in treatment selection for the individual patient and possibly improve prognosis.
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| 6. |
- 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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| 7. |
- Wiklund, H., et al.
(författare)
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Innovation and TQM in Swedish higher education development : possibilities and pitfalls
- 2003
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Ingår i: The TQM Magazine. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 1754-2731 .- 0954-478X. ; 15:2, s. 99-107
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Emphasis on quality improvement has been one of the most characteristic features of higher education policy in Nordic and other European countries during the 1990s. In Sweden, the universities’ work with quality management has been evaluated for several years. In January 2001, the National Agency of Higher Education in Sweden introduced a new comprehensive system for quality assessment. The Swedish assessment system stresses that the assessment should have as a corner‐stone the specific prerequisites for each university and subject, e.g. business administration and their development strategy. The comprehensive quality assessments of Swedish higher education institutions are discussed together with stimulating innovation and continuous improvement of higher education.
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