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| 4. |
- Afram, Basema, et al.
(författare)
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Reasons for Institutionalization of People With Dementia: Informal Caregiver Reports From 8 European Countries
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. - : Elsevier BV. - 1525-8610. ; 15:2, s. 108-116
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To explore reasons for institutionalization of people with dementia according to informal caregivers as well as variation in reasons between countries. Design: An explorative cross-sectional study was conducted in 8 European countries. Setting: Per country, a minimum of 3 long term care facilities, offering care and accommodation as a package, participated in this study. Participating countries were selected to represent different geographic areas in Europe. Participants: Of the 791 informal caregivers involved in the RightTimePlaceCare project of people with dementia who were recently admitted to a long term care facility, 786 were included for this study. Measurements: As part of a semistructured interview, informal caregivers were asked the main reason for institutionalization in an open-ended question. Answers were categorized according to a conventional coding approach. All reasons were then quantified and tested. Results: Mainly patient-related reasons were stated, such as neuropsychiatric symptoms (25%), care dependency (24%), and cognition (19%). Neuropsychiatric symptoms were among the most often mentioned reasons in most countries. Besides patient-related reasons, caregiver burden and the inability of the informal caregiver to care for the patient were stated as reasons (both 15%). Further analyses showed countries differ significantly in reasons according to informal caregivers. Additionally, reasons were analyzed for spouses and child-caregivers, showing that spouses more often stated reasons related to themselves compared with child-caregivers. Conclusion: Multiple reasons contribute to the institutionalization for people with dementia, with several factors that may influence why there were country differences. Variation in the organization of dementia care and cultural aspects, or the relationship between the informal caregiver and person with dementia may be factors influencing the reasons. Because of a wide variation in reasons between countries, no one-size-fits-all approach can be offered to guide informal caregivers when facing the possibility of institutionalization of the person with dementia. (C) 2014 - American Medical Directors Association, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 10. |
- Gallo-Payet, Nicole, et al.
(författare)
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AT2 Receptor Agonists : Exploiting the Beneficial Arm of Ang II Signaling
- 2012
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Ingår i: current hypertension reviews. - : bentham science publishers. - 1573-4021. ; 8:1, s. 47-59
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the classical view, the hormone angiotensin II (Ang II) mediates its action via two major receptors, namely the Ang II type-1 receptor (AT1R) and the type-2 receptor (AT2R). Several recent reviews implicate the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in various aspects of adipose tissue physiology and dysfunction. Research on AT2R has long been hampered by at least three potential challenges, (i) the low expression level of the AT2R in the adult, (ii) the atypical signaling pathways of AT2R and (iii) the absence of appropriate selective ligands. Indeed, apart a few exceptions, the role of the AT2R was in fact revealed by the results of simultaneous treatment with Ang II and AT1R blockers or in AT2Rdeficient mice. The first aim of this review is to summarize current paradigms concerning the role of the AT2R in adipocyte differentiation and in metabolic disorders related to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Secondly, we will highlight the potential utility of selective AT2R agonists in clarifying potential roles of the AT2R in adipocyte physiology. We summarized our findings using a selective and high affinity nonpeptide ligand of the AT2R and demonstrate that AT2R is involved in adipocyte differentiation and may improve insulin sensitivity in a model of insulin resistance, in addition to increase vasodilation and reduce inflammation in adipose tissue. Thus the recent development of orally active, selective AT2R agonists should facilitate efforts to elucidate the distinct roles of the AT2R in physiology, including adipocyte physiology.
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| 13. |
- Jungert, Erland, et al.
(författare)
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A generic architecture for surveillance systems
- 2010
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Ingår i: DSM 2010. ; , s. 57-63
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Surveillance systems are generally intended for the protection of physical objects such as stationary installations and transport vehicles. Development of surveillance systems is an extensive development process, which involves considerations of a large number of design aspects that relates to a variety of disciplines, e.g. sensors systems, communications, decision-support functionality, multimedia usage and design and user interaction. Furthermore, there is an extensive need for a comprehensive understanding of the usage domain. Needs and requirements analyses are of utmost importance when developing surveillance systems. The objective of the work presented is a generic architecture for surveillance systems. The outline of the architecture is based on needs assessment and on analysis of required capabilities. The architecture comprehensively describes how surveillance capabilities are achieved by processes, actors and systems support.
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| 15. |
- Leblanc, Samuel, et al.
(författare)
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Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Stimulation Improves Fatty Acid Ovarian Uptake and Hyperandrogenemia in an Obese Rat Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- 2014
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Ingår i: Endocrinology. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0013-7227 .- 1945-7170. ; 155:9, s. 3684-3693
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is mainly defined by hyperandrogenism but is also characterized by insulin resistance (IR). Studies showed that overexposure of nonadipose tissues to nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) may explain both IR and hyperandrogenism. Recent studies indicate that treatment with an angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R)-selective agonist improves diet-induced IR. We thus hypothesized that PCOS hyperandrogenism is triggered by ovarian NEFA overexposure and is improved after treatment with an AT2R agonist. Experiments were conducted in 12-week-old female JCR:LA-cp/cp rats, which are characterized by visceral obesity, IR, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. Control JCR:LA +/? rats have a normal phenotype. Rats were treated for 8 days with saline or the selective AT2R agonist C21/M24 and then assessed for: 1) fasting testosterone, NEFA, and insulin levels; and 2) an iv 14(R,S)-[F-18]fluoro-6-thia-heptadecanoic acid test to determine NEFA ovarian tissue uptake (Km). Compared with controls, saline-treated PCOS/cp rats displayed higher insulin (100 vs 5.6 mu U/mL), testosterone (0.12 vs 0.04 nmol/L), NEFA (0.98 vs 0.48 mmol/L), and Km (20.7 vs 12.9 nmol/g.min) (all P < .0001). In PCOS/cp rats, C21/M24 did not significantly improve insulin or NEFA but normalized testosterone (P = .004) and Km(P = .009), which were strongly correlated together in all PCOS/cp rats (rho = 0.74, P = .009). In conclusion, in an obese PCOS rat model, ovarian NEFA uptake and testosterone levels are strongly associated and are both significantly reduced after short-term C21/M24 therapy. These findings provide new information on the role of NEFA in PCOS hyperandrogenemia and suggest a potential role for AT2R agonists in the treatment of PCOS.
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| 16. |
- Mazot, P, et al.
(författare)
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The constitutive activity of the ALK mutated at positions F1174 or R1275 impairs receptor trafficking
- 2011
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Ingår i: Oncogene. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0950-9232 .- 1476-5594. ; 30, s. 2017-2025
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), which is transiently expressed during development of the central and peripheral nervous system. ALK has been recently identified as a major neuroblastoma predisposition gene and activating mutations have also been identified in a subset of sporadic neuroblastoma tumors. Two hot spots of ALK mutations have been observed at positions F1174 and R1275. Here, we studied stably transfected cell lines expressing wild-type or F1174L- or R1275Q-mutated ALK in parallel with a neuroblastoma cell line (CLB-GE) in which the allele mutated at position F1174 is amplified. We observed that the mutated ALK variants were essentially intracellular and were largely retained in the reticulum/Golgi compartments. This localization was corroborated by a defect of N-linked glycosylation. Although the mutated receptors exhibited a constitutive activation, the minor pool of receptor addressed to the plasma membrane was much more tyrosine phosphorylated than the intracellular pool. The use of antagonist monoclonal antibodies suggested that the constitutive activity of the mutated receptors did not require the dimerization of the receptor, whereas adequate dimerization triggered by agonist monoclonal antibodies increased this activity. Finally, kinase inactivation of the mutated receptors restored maturation and cell-surface localization. Our results show that constitutive activation of ALK results in its impaired maturation and intracellular retention. Furthermore, they provide a rationale for the potential use of kinase inhibitors and antibodies in ALK-dependent tumors.Oncogene advance online publication, 17 January 2011; doi:10.1038/onc.2010.595.
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| 17. |
- McDonald, H.A., et al.
(författare)
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A web based tool for storing and visualising data generated within a smart home
- 2011
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Ingår i: Annual international conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), 2011. - Piscataway, NJ : IEEE Communications Society. - 9781424441211 - 9781424441228 ; , s. 5303-5306
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is a growing need to re-assess the current approaches available to researchers for storing and managing heterogeneous data generated within a smart home environment. In our current work we have developed the homeML Application; a web based tool to support researchers engaged in the area of smart home research as they perform experiments. Within this paper the homeML Application is presented which includes the fundamental components of the homeML Repository and the homeML Toolkit. Results from a usability study conducted by 10 computer science researchers are presented; the initial results of which have been positive
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| 18. |
- McDonald, H.A., et al.
(författare)
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homeRuleML Version 2.1 : a revised and extended version of the homeRuleML concept
- 2013
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Ingår i: XIII Mediterranean Conference on Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing 2013. - Wien : Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology/Springer Verlag. - 9783319008455 - 9783319008462 ; , s. 1262-1265
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- As a direct result of the changes in global demographics, a significant amount of research has been undertaken in the area of home based support and healthcare provision, particularly in the direction of smart home environments. When applied to data generated within a smart home environment, decision support rules have the potential to recognise an inhabitant’s behaviour and provide suitable support and assistance when required. homeRuleML is an XML-based format for the storage and exchange of decision support rules generated within smart home environments. In our current work we have extended upon the concepts of homeRuleML and have subsequently developed an improved format. The evolution of homeRuleML from version 1.0 to version 2.1 has been documented within this paper.
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| 19. |
- Namsolleck, P., et al.
(författare)
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AT2-receptor stimulation enhances axonal plasticity after spinal cord injury by upregulating BDNF expression
- 2013
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Ingår i: Neurobiology of Disease. - : Elsevier BV. - 0969-9961 .- 1095-953X. ; 51:SI, s. 177-191
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is widely accepted that the angiotensin AT2-receptor (AT2R) has neuroprotective features. In the present study we tested pharmacological AT2R-stimulation as a therapeutic approach in a model of spinal cord compression injury (SCI) in mice using the novel non-peptide AT2R-agonist, Compound 21 (C21). Complementary experiments in primary neurons and organotypic cultures served to identify underlying mechanisms. Functional recovery and plasticity of corticospinal tract (CST) fibers following SCI were monitored after application of C21 (0.3. mg/kg/day. i.p.) or vehicle for 4. weeks. Organotypic co-culture of GFP-positive entorhinal cortices with hippocampal target tissue served to evaluate the impact of C21 on reinnervation. Neuronal differentiation, apoptosis and expression of neurotrophins were investigated in primary murine astrocytes and neuronal cells.C21 significantly improved functional recovery after SCI compared to controls, and this significantly correlated with the increased number of CST fibers caudal to the lesion site. In vitro, C21 significantly promoted reinnervation in organotypic brain slice co-cultures (+50%) and neurite outgrowth of primary neurons (+25%). C21-induced neurite outgrowth was absent in neurons derived from AT2R-KO mice. In primary neurons, treatment with C21 further induced RNA expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 (+75.7%), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (+53.7%), the neurotrophin receptors TrkA (+57.4%) and TrkB (+67.9%) and a marker for neurite growth, GAP43 (+103%), but not TrkC. Our data suggest that selective AT2R-stimulation improves functional recovery in experimental spinal cord injury through promotion of axonal plasticity and through neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. Thus, AT2R-stimulation may be considered for the development of a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of spinal cord injury.
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| 21. |
- Schönherr, Christina, et al.
(författare)
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Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) regulates initiation of transcription of MYCN in neuroblastoma cells
- 2012
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Ingår i: Oncogene. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0950-9232 .- 1476-5594. ; 31:50, s. 5193-5200
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neuroblastoma is a neural crest-derived embryonal tumour of the postganglionic sympathetic nervous system and a disease with several different chromosomal gains and losses, which include MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma on chromosome 2, deletions of parts of the chromosomes 1p and 11q, gain of parts of 17q and triploidy. Recently, activating mutations of the ALK (Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase) RTK (Receptor Tyrosine Kinase) gene have been described in neuroblastoma. A meta-analysis of neuroblastoma cases revealed that ALK mutations (49 of 709 cases) in relation to genomic subtype were most frequently observed in MYCN amplified tumours (8.9%), correlating with a poor clinical outcome. MYCN proteins target proliferation and apoptotic pathways, and have an important role in the progression of neuroblastoma. Here, we show that both wild-type and gain-of-function mutants in ALK are able to stimulate transcription at the MYCN promoter and initiate mRNA transcription of the MYCN gene in both neuronal and neuroblastoma cell lines. Further, this stimulation of MYCN gene transcription and de novo MYCN protein expression is abrogated by specific ALK inhibitors, such as crizotinib (PF-2341066), NVP-TAE684, and by small interfering RNA to ALK resulting in a decrease in proliferation rate. Finally, co-transfection of ALK gain-of-function mutations together with MYCN leads to an increase in transformation potential. Taken together, our results indicate that ALK signalling regulates initiation of transcription of the MYCN gene providing a possible explanation for the poor clinical outcome observed when MYCN is amplified together with activated ALK.
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| 23. |
- Shum, Michael, et al.
(författare)
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Angiotensin II type 2 receptor promotes adipocyte differentiation and restores adipocyte size in high-fat/high-fructose diet-induced insulin resistance in rats
- 2013
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Ingår i: American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : American Physiological Society. - 0193-1849 .- 1522-1555. ; 304:2, s. E197-E210
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Angiotensin II type 2 receptor promotes adipocyte differentiation and restores adipocyte size in high-fat/high-fructose diet-induced insulin resistance in rats. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 304: E197-E210, 2013. First published November 13, 2012; doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00149.2012.-This study was aimed at establishing whether specific activation of angiotensin II (ANG II) type 2 receptor (AT2R) modulates adipocyte differentiation and function. In primary cultures of subcutaneous (SC) and retroperitoneal (RET) preadipocytes, both AT2R and AT1R were expressed at the mRNA and protein level. Cells were stimulated with ANG II or the AT2R agonist C21/M24, alone or in the presence of the AT1R antagonist losartan or the AT2R antagonist PD123,319. During differentiation, C21/M24 increased PPA gamma expression in both RET and SC preadipocytes while the number of small lipid droplets and lipid accumulation solely increased in SC preadipocytes. In mature adipocytes, C21/M24 decreased the mean size of large lipid droplets. Upon abolishment of AT2R expression using AT2R-targeted shRNAs, expressions of AT2R, aP2, and PPAR gamma remained very low, and cells were unable to differentiate. In Wistar rats fed a 6-wk high-fat/high-fructose (HFHF) diet, a significant shift toward larger adipocytes was observed in RET and SC adipose tissue depots. C21/M24 treatments for 6 wk restored normal adipocyte size distribution in both these tissue depots. Moreover, C21/M24 and losartan decreased hyperinsulinemia and improved insulin sensitivity impaired by HFHF diet. A strong correlation between adipocyte size area and glucose infusion rate during euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp was observed. These results indicate that AT2R is involved in early adipocyte differentiation, while in mature adipocytes and in a model of insulin resistance AT2R activation restores normal adipocyte morphology and improves insulin sensitivity.
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| 24. |
- Wadelius, Mia, et al.
(författare)
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Phenotype Standardization of Angioedema in the Head and Neck Region Caused by Agents Acting on the Angiotensin System
- 2014
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Ingår i: Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 0009-9236 .- 1532-6535. ; 96:4, s. 477-481
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Angioedema is a potentially life-threatening adverse reaction to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers. To study the genetic etiology of this rare adverse event, international consortia and multicenter recruitment of patients are needed. To reduce patient heterogeneity, we have standardized the phenotype. In brief, it comprises swelling in the head and neck region that first occurs during treatment. It should not coincide with urticaria or have another likely cause such as hereditary angioedema.
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