| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Abe, O, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy for early breast cancer on recurrence and 15-year survival: an overview of the randomised trials
- 2005
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Ingår i: The Lancet. - 1474-547X. ; 365:9472, s. 1687-1717
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Quinquennial overviews (1985-2000) of the randomised trials in early breast cancer have assessed the 5-year and 10-year effects of various systemic adjuvant therapies on breast cancer recurrence and survival. Here, we report the 10-year and 15-year effects. Methods Collaborative meta-analyses were undertaken of 194 unconfounded randomised trials of adjuvant chemotherapy or hormonal therapy that began by 1995. Many trials involved CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil), anthracycline-based combinations such as FAC (fluorouracil, doxombicin, cyclophosphamide) or FEC (fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide), tamoxifen, or ovarian suppression: none involved taxanes, trastuzumab, raloxifene, or modem aromatase inhibitors. Findings Allocation to about 6 months of anthracycline-based polychemotherapy (eg, with FAC or FEC) reduces the annual breast cancer death rate by about 38% (SE 5) for women younger than 50 years of age when diagnosed and by about 20% (SE 4) for those of age 50-69 years when diagnosed, largely irrespective of the use of tamoxifen and of oestrogen receptor (ER) status, nodal status, or other tumour characteristics. Such regimens are significantly (2p=0 . 0001 for recurrence, 2p<0 . 00001 for breast cancer mortality) more effective than CMF chemotherapy. Few women of age 70 years or older entered these chemotherapy trials. For ER-positive disease only, allocation to about 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen reduces the annual breast cancer death rate by 31% (SE 3), largely irrespective of the use of chemotherapy and of age (<50, 50-69, &GE; 70 years), progesterone receptor status, or other tumour characteristics. 5 years is significantly (2p<0 . 00001 for recurrence, 2p=0 . 01 for breast cancer mortality) more effective than just 1-2 years of tamoxifen. For ER-positive tumours, the annual breast cancer mortality rates are similar during years 0-4 and 5-14, as are the proportional reductions in them by 5 years of tamoxifen, so the cumulative reduction in mortality is more than twice as big at 15 years as at 5 years after diagnosis. These results combine six meta-analyses: anthracycline-based versus no chemotherapy (8000 women); CMF-based versus no chemotherapy (14 000); anthracycline-based versus CMF-based chemotherapy (14 000); about 5 years of tamoxifen versus none (15 000); about 1-2 years of tamoxifen versus none (33 000); and about 5 years versus 1-2 years of tamoxifen (18 000). Finally, allocation to ovarian ablation or suppression (8000 women) also significantly reduces breast cancer mortality, but appears to do so only in the absence of other systemic treatments. For middle-aged women with ER-positive disease (the commonest type of breast cancer), the breast cancer mortality rate throughout the next 15 years would be approximately halved by 6 months of anthracycline-based chemotherapy (with a combination such as FAC or FEC) followed by 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen. For, if mortality reductions of 38% (age <50 years) and 20% (age 50-69 years) from such chemotherapy were followed by a further reduction of 31% from tamoxifen in the risks that remain, the final mortality reductions would be 57% and 45%, respectively (and, the trial results could well have been somewhat stronger if there had been full compliance with the allocated treatments). Overall survival would be comparably improved, since these treatments have relatively small effects on mortality from the aggregate of all other causes. Interpretation Some of the widely practicable adjuvant drug treatments that were being tested in the 1980s, which substantially reduced 5-year recurrence rates (but had somewhat less effect on 5-year mortality rates), also substantially reduce 15-year mortality rates. Further improvements in long-term survival could well be available from newer drugs, or better use of older drugs.
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| 3. |
- Villa, Luisa L., et al.
(författare)
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Quadrivalent vaccine against human papillomavirus to prevent high-grade cervical lesions
- 2007
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Ingår i: New England Journal of Medicine. - 0028-4793 .- 1533-4406. ; 356:19, s. 1915-1927
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus types 16 (HPV-16) and 18 (HPV-18) cause approximately 70% of cervical cancers worldwide. A phase 3 trial was conducted to evaluate a quadrivalent vaccine against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 (HPV-6/11/16/18) for the prevention of high-grade cervical lesions associated with HPV-16 and HPV-18. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind trial, we assigned 12,167 women between the ages of 15 and 26 years to receive three doses of either HPV-6/11/16/18 vaccine or placebo, administered at day 1, month 2, and month 6. The primary analysis was performed for a per-protocol susceptible population that included 5305 women in the vaccine group and 5260 in the placebo group who had no virologic evidence of infection with HPV-16 or HPV-18 through 1 month after the third dose (month 7). The primary composite end point was cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or 3, adenocarcinoma in situ, or cervical cancer related to HPV-16 or HPV-18. RESULTS: Subjects were followed for an average of 3 years after receiving the first dose of vaccine or placebo. Vaccine efficacy for the prevention of the primary composite end point was 98% (95.89% confidence interval [CI], 86 to 100) in the per-protocol susceptible population and 44% (95% CI, 26 to 58) in an intention-to-treat population of all women who had undergone randomization (those with or without previous infection). The estimated vaccine efficacy against all high-grade cervical lesions, regardless of causal HPV type, in this intention-to-treat population was 17% (95% CI, 1 to 31). CONCLUSIONS: In young women who had not been previously infected with HPV-16 or HPV-18, those in the vaccine group had a significantly lower occurrence of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia related to HPV-16 or HPV-18 than did those in the placebo group.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Novotny, O, et al.
(författare)
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The dissociative recombination of fluorocarbon ions : II. CF
- 2005
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Ingår i: Journal of Physics B. - : IOP Publishing. - 0953-4075 .- 1361-6455. ; 38:10, s. 1471-1482
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The dissociative recombination and excitation of CF+ have been measured at the ASTRID and CRYRING storage rings. Though examination of the available potential energy curves would suggest that the recombination rate would be large for this ion, in fact a rate constant of 5.2 +/- 1.0 x 10(-8) (T-e/300)(-0.8) cm(3) s(-1) was found. The recombination cross section at low energies falls off to a minimum at 0.5 eV centre-of-mass collision energy but exhibits resonances at energies above this. The dissociative excitation cross section leading to C+ + F was also measured and this displays an onset beginning at about 7 eV.
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| 7. |
- Wills, A-M, et al.
(författare)
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A large-scale international meta-analysis of paraoxonase gene polymorphisms in sporadic ALS.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Neurology. - : American Academy of Neurology. - 0028-3878 .- 1526-632X. ; 73:1, s. 16-24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Six candidate gene studies report a genetic association of DNA variants within the paraoxonase locus with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, several other large studies, including five genome-wide association studies, have not duplicated this finding. METHODS: We conducted a meta-analysis of 10 published studies and one unpublished study of the paraoxonase locus, encompassing 4,037 ALS cases and 4,609 controls, including genome-wide association data from 2,018 ALS cases and 2,425 controls. RESULTS: The combined fixed effects odds ratio (OR) for rs662 (PON1 Q192R) was 1.09 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.16, p = 0.01); the genotypic OR for RR homozygotes at Q192R was 1.25 (95% CI, 1.07-1.45, p = 0.0004); the combined OR for rs854560 (PON1 L55M) was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.86-1.10, p = 0.62); the OR for rs10487132 (PON2) was 1.08 (95% CI, 0.92-1.27, p = 0.35). Although the rs662 polymorphism reached a nominal level of significance, no polymorphism was significant after multiple testing correction. In the subanalysis of samples with genome-wide data from which population outliers were removed, rs662 had an OR of 1.06 (95% CI, 0.97-1.16, p = 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to previous positive smaller studies, our genetic meta-analysis showed no significant association of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with the PON locus. This is the largest meta-analysis of a candidate gene in ALS to date and the first ALS meta-analysis to include data from whole genome association studies. The findings reinforce the need for much larger and more collaborative investigations of the genetic determinants of ALS.
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| 8. |
- Ben, Rayana M.C., et al.
(författare)
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Guidelines for sampling, measuring and reporting ionized magnesium in undiluted serum, plasma or blood : International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC)
- 2005
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Ingår i: Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. - 1434-6621 .- 1437-4331. ; 43:5, s. 564-569
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- All analyzers with ion-selective electrodes for ionized magnesium (iMg) should yield comparable and unbiased results. The prerequisite to achieve this goal is to reach consensus on sampling, measurement and reporting. The recommended guidelines for sampling, measurement and reporting iMg in plasma ("plasma" refers to circulating plasma and the forms in which it is sampled: the plasma phase of anticoagulated whole blood, plasma separated from blood cells, or serum) or blood, referring to the substance concentration of iMg in the calibrants, will provide results for iMg that are approximately 3% greater than its true concentration, and 4% less than its true molality. Binding of magnesium to proteins and ligands in plasma and blood is pH-dependent. Therefore, pH should be simultaneously measured to allow adjustment of iMg concentration to pH 7.4. The substance concentration of iMg may be physiologically and consequently clinically more relevant than the substance concentration of total magnesium. © 2005 by Walter de Gruyter.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Andersen, O., et al.
(författare)
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Haemoglobin polymorphisms affect the oxygen-binding properties in Atlantic cod populations
- 2009
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences. - : The Royal Society. - 0962-8452 .- 1471-2954. ; 276:1658, s. 833-841
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A major challenge in evolutionary biology is to identify the genes underlying adaptation. The oxygen-transporting haemoglobins directly link external conditions with metabolic needs and therefore represent a unique system for studying environmental effects on molecular evolution. We have discovered two haemoglobin polymorphisms in Atlantic cod populations inhabiting varying temperature and oxygen regimes in the North Atlantic. Three-dimensional modelling of the tetrameric haemoglobin structure demonstrated that the two amino acid replacements Met55β1Val and Lys62β1Ala are located at crucial positions of the α1β1subunit interface and haem pocket, respectively. The replacements are proposed to affect the oxygen-binding properties by modifying the haemoglobin quaternary structure and electrostatic feature. Intriguingly, the same molecular mechanism for facilitating oxygen binding is found in avian species adapted to high altitudes, illustrating convergent evolution in water- and air-breathing vertebrates to reduction in environmental oxygen availability. Cod populations inhabiting the cold Arctic waters and the low-oxygen Baltic Sea seem well adapted to these conditions by possessing the high oxygen affinity Val55–Ala62 haplotype, while the temperature-insensitive Met55–Lys62 haplotype predominates in the southern populations. The distinct distributions of the functionally different haemoglobin variants indicate that the present biogeography of this ecologically and economically important species might be seriously affected by global warming.
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| 11. |
- D'Orazio, P., et al.
(författare)
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Approved IFCC recommendation on reporting results for blood glucose
- 2006
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Ingår i: Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. - 1434-6621 .- 1437-4331. ; 44:12, s. 1486-1490
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In current clinical practice, plasma and blood glucose are used interchangeably with a consequent risk of clinical misinterpretation. In human blood, glucose is distributed, like water, between erythrocytes and plasma. The molality of glucose (amount of glucose per unit water mass) is the same throughout the sample, but the concentration is higher in plasma, because the concentration of water and therefore glucose is higher in plasma than in erythrocytes. Different devices for the measurement of glucose may detect and report fundamentally different quantities. Different water concentrations in the calibrator, plasma, and erythrocyte fluid can explain some of the differences. Results for glucose measurements depend on the sample type and on whether the method requires sample dilution or uses biosensors in undiluted samples. If the results are mixed up or used indiscriminately, the differences may exceed the maximum allowable error for glucose determinations for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes mellitus, thus complicating patient treatment. The goal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Scientific Division, Working Group on Selective Electrodes and Point of Care Testing (IFCC-SD-WG-SEPOCT) is to reach a global consensus on reporting results. The document recommends reporting the concentration of glucose in plasma (in the unit mmol/L), irrespective of sample type or measurement technique. A constant factor of 1.11 is used to convert concentration in whole blood to the equivalent concentration in plasma. The conversion will provide harmonized results, facilitating the classification and care of patients and leading to fewer therapeutic misjudgments. © 2006 by Walter de Gruyter.
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| 12. |
- Elíasdóttir, Á., et al.
(författare)
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Dust Extinction in High-z Galaxies with Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglow Spectroscopy : The 2175 Å Feature at z = 2.45
- 2009
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 697, s. 1725-1740
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report the clear detection of the 2175 Å dust absorption feature in the optical afterglow spectrum of the gamma-ray burst (GRB) GRB 070802 at a redshift of z = 2.45. This is the highest redshift for a detected 2175 Å dust bump to date, and it is the first clear detection of the 2175 Å bump in a GRB host galaxy, while several tens of optical afterglow spectra without the bump have been recorded in the past decade. The derived extinction curve gives AV = 0.8-1.5 depending on the assumed intrinsic slope. Of the three local extinction laws, a Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) type extinction gives the best fit to the extinction curve of the host of GRB 070802. Besides the 2175 Å bump we find that the spectrum of GRB 070802 is characterized by unusually strong low-ionization metal lines and possibly a high metallicity for a GRB sightline ([Si/H] = -0.46 ± 0.38, [Zn/H] = -0.50 ± 0.68). In particular, the spectrum of GRB 070802 is unique for a GRB spectrum in that it shows clear C I absorption features, leading us to propose a correlation between the presence of the bump and C I. The gas-to-dust ratio for the host galaxy is found to be significantly lower than that of other GRB hosts with N(H I)/AV = (2.4 ± 1.0) × 1021 cm-2 mag-1, which lies between typical Milky Way and LMC values. Our results are in agreement with the tentative conclusion reached by Gordon et al. that the shape of the extinction curve, in particular the presence of the bump, is affected by the UV flux density in the environment of the dust. Based on observations collected under progs. ID 079.D-0429(B) and 177.D-0591(P,Q), using the FORS2 instrument installed at the Cassegrain focus of the Very Large Telescope (VLT), Unit 1 - Antu, operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) on Cerro Paranal, Chile.
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| 13. |
- Norkus, A, et al.
(författare)
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Use of a hydrocapillary dressing in the management of highly exuding ulcers; a comparative study
- 2005
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Ingår i: Journal of Wound Care. - 0969-0700. ; 14:9, s. 129-432
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To evaluate the safety and performance of Alione Hydrocapillary dressing (Coloplast A/S) in the management of highly exuding chronic venous leg ulcers and compare it with two hydropolymer dressings, Tielle and Tielle Plus (Johnson & Johnson). Method: A comparative clinical trial was conducted on 97 patients with an ankle brachial pressure index ?0.8 and a highly exuding leg ulcer. Ulcer duration was at least four weeks. Treatment continued until healing or for a maximum of 12 months. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in healing time or wound area reduction between the two treatment protocols. The test dressing (Alione Hydrocapillary) had better absorption capacity and was more comfortable for the patients than the comparator dressings (Tielle/Tielle Plus) and adhered less to the wound bed. Also, more patients preferred the test dressing to their previous treatment. Although severe leakage and maceration were observed more frequently in the comparator group compared with the test group, this was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Both treatment protocols were safe and effective in treating highly exuding chronic venous leg ulcers. The test dressing performed as well as or better than the comparator dressings for all study parameters and more patients preferred the test dressing to their previous dressing compared with the comparator dressings.
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| 14. |
- Andersen, Kristin, et al.
(författare)
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Environmental Monitoring at the Maren Wave Power Test Site off the Island of Runde, Western Norway : Planning and Design
- 2009
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper provides a general description of theenvironmental monitoring programme currentlyongoing at Vattenfall’s/Tussa’s wave power testsite "Maren", on the Norwegian west coast. Thepurpose of the environmental monitoring istwofold: (i) to monitor the potential impact of theMaren installation on the environment, therebyfulfilling the consent requirements of theNorwegian authorities, (ii) more generally, to gainexperiences about the design and management ofan environmental monitoring programme and testa variety of monitoring methodologies andequipment. The primary environmentalparameters assessed in the monitoring programmeinclude fish, benthos and seabird communities.Observations on marine mammals are includedmarginally and underwater noise measurementsare scheduled to be included at a later stage. Therationale for choosing the specific components ofthe monitoring programme is elucidated in thecontext of site specific environmental features, aswell as project-specific technical characteristics.Generally, the monitoring strategy follows amodified so-called BACI (Before-After, Control-Impact) design, i.e. takes place before and afterdeployment of the wave power devices and duringoperation over a period of approximately 3 years.A communication plan accompanies theprogramme and is considered an essentialprerequisite for transparency and publicacceptance of the programme.
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| 15. |
- Coombes, R C, et al.
(författare)
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Survival and safety of exemestane versus tamoxifen after 2-3 years' tamoxifen treatment (Intergroup Exemestane Study): a randomised controlled trial.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Lancet. - 1474-547X. ; 369:9561, s. 559-70
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Early improvements in disease-free survival have been noted when an aromatase inhibitor is given either instead of or sequentially after tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with oestrogen-receptor-positive early breast cancer. However, little information exists on the long-term effects of aromatase inhibitors after treatment, and whether these early improvements lead to real gains in survival. METHODS: 4724 postmenopausal patients with unilateral invasive, oestrogen-receptor-positive or oestrogen-receptor-unknown breast cancer who were disease-free on 2-3 years of tamoxifen, were randomly assigned to switch to exemestane (n=2352) or to continue tamoxifen (n=2372) for the remainder of a 5-year endocrine treatment period. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival; overall survival was a secondary endpoint. Efficacy analyses were intention-to-treat. This study is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN11883920. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 55.7 months (range 0-89.7), 809 events contributing to the analysis of disease-free survival had been reported (354 exemestane, 455 tamoxifen); unadjusted hazard ratio 0.76 (95% CI 0.66-0.88, p=0.0001) in favour of exemestane, absolute benefit 3.3% (95% CI 1.6-4.9) by end of treatment (ie, 2.5 years after randomisation). 222 deaths occurred in the exemestane group compared with 261 deaths in the tamoxifen group; unadjusted hazard ratio 0.85 (95% CI 0.71-1.02, p=0.08), 0.83 (0.69-1.00, p=0.05) when 122 patients with oestrogen-receptor-negative disease were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that early improvements in disease-free survival noted in patients who switch to exemestane after 2-3 years on tamoxifen persist after treatment, and translate into a modest improvement in overall survival.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Gylvin, T., et al.
(författare)
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Functional SOCS1 polymorphisms are associated with variation in obesity in whites
- 2009
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Ingår i: Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. - : Wiley. - 1462-8902 .- 1463-1326. ; 11:3, s. 196-203
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The suppressor of cytokine signalling 1 (SOCS1) is a natural inhibitor of cytokine and insulin signalling pathways and may also play a role in obesity. In addition, SOCS1 is considered a candidate gene in the pathogenesis of both type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The objective was to perform mutation analysis of SOCS1 and to test the identified variations for association to T2D-related quantitative traits, T2D or T1D. Mutation scanning was performed by direct sequencing in 27 white Danish subjects. Genotyping was carried out by TaqMan allelic discrimination. A total of more than 8100 individuals were genotyped. Eight variations were identified in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) region. Two of these had allele frequencies below 1% and were not further examined. The six other variants were analysed in groups of T1D families (n = 1461 subjects) and T2D patients (n = 1430), glucose tolerant first-degree relatives of T2D patients (n = 212) and normal glucose tolerant (NGT) subjects. The rs33977706 polymorphism (-820G > T) was associated with a lower body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.004). In a second study (n = 4625 NGT subjects), significant associations of both the rs33977706 and the rs243330 (-1656G > A) variants to obesity were found (p = 0.047 and p = 0.015) respectively. The rs33977706 affected both binding of a nuclear protein to and the transcriptional activity of the SOCS1 promoter, indicating a relationship between this polymorphism and gene regulation. This study demonstrates that functional variations in the SOCS1 promoter may associate with alterations in BMI in the general white population.
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| 18. |
- Kuhl, JE, et al.
(författare)
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Exercise training decreases the concentration of malonyl-CoA and increases the expression and activity of malonyl-CoA decarboxylase in human muscle
- 2006
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Ingår i: American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism. - : American Physiological Society. - 0193-1849 .- 1522-1555. ; 290:6, s. E1296-E1303
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The study was designed to evaluate whether changes in malonyl-CoA and the enzymes that govern its concentration occur in human muscle as a result of physical training. Healthy, middle-aged subjects were studied before and after a 12-wk training program that significantly increased V̇o2 maxby 13% and decreased intra-abdominal fat by 17%. Significant decreases (25–30%) in the concentration of malonyl-CoA were observed after training, 24–36 h after the last bout of exercise. They were accompanied by increases in both the activity (88%) and mRNA (51%) of malonyl-CoA decarboxylase (MCD) in muscle but no changes in the phosphorylation of AMP kinase (AMPK, Thr172) or of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. The abundance of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), a regulator of transcription that has been linked to the mediation of MCD expression by PPARα, was also increased (3-fold). In studies also conducted 24–36 h after the last bout of exercise, no evidence of increased whole body insulin sensitivity or fatty acid oxidation was observed during an euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. In conclusion, the concentration of malonyl-CoA is diminished in muscle after physical training, most likely because of PGC-1α-mediated increases in MCD expression and activity. These changes persist after the increases in AMPK activity and whole body insulin sensitivity and fatty acid oxidation, typically caused by an acute bout of exercise in healthy individuals, have dissipated.
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| 19. |
- Schmid, M, et al.
(författare)
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Structure of Ag(111)-p(4x4)-O: No silver oxide
- 2006
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Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - 1079-7114. ; 96:14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The structure of the oxygen-induced p(4x4) reconstruction of Ag(111) is determined by a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy, surface x-ray diffraction, core level spectroscopy, and density functional theory. We demonstrate that all previous models of this surface structure are incorrect and propose a new model which is able to explain all our experimental findings but has no resemblance to bulk silver oxide. We also shed some light on the limitations of current density functional theories and the potential role of van der Waals interactions in the stabilization of oxygen-induced surface reconstructions of noble metals.
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| 20. |
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| 21. |
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| 22. |
- Beiske, A. G., et al.
(författare)
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Health-related quality of life in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
- 2007
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Ingår i: Multiple Sclerosis Journal. - : SAGE Publications. - 1477-0970 .- 1352-4585. ; 13:3, s. 386-392
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Common disability scales in multiple sclerosis (MS) are often weighted towards physical disability. Non-motor symptoms such as depression, fatigue and pain substantially influence wellbeing in MS. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures the broader impact of MS and might indicate less obvious disease burdens. We analysed HRQoL, using the Nottingham Health Profile Part I (NHP-I), among 345 secondary progressive MS (SPMS) patients participating in a randomized trial of interferon-beta 1a (IFN-beta 1a), 22 mu g subcutaneously weekly, or matching placebo. The results did not reveal any beneficial effect of IFN-beta 1a in any outcome measure. NHP-I sub- and sum scores were compared for 217 population controls and correlated with demographic and clinical disease variables. SPMS patients had lower NHP-I sum and all subscores than the controls. Patients experiencing disease progression reported worse NHP-I sum scores. Increased fatigue, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Arm Index scores were independently associated with reduction in several NHP-I subscores. SPMS patients had significantly lower HRQoL than controls and physical disability (EDSS and Arm Index), disease progression and fatigue strongly influenced this. MS influenced subdimensions such as pain, sleep and emotional reactions. Increased focus on optimizing symptomatic treatment and psychosocial patient care could improve patients' HRQoL.
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| 23. |
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| 24. |
- Bruun, Georg, et al.
(författare)
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Antiferromagnetic noise correlations in optical lattices
- 2009
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Ingår i: Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics). - 1050-2947. ; 80:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We analyze how noise correlations probed by time-of-flight experiments reveal antiferromagnetic (AF) correlations of fermionic atoms in two-dimensional and three-dimensional optical lattices. Combining analytical and quantum Monte Carlo calculations using experimentally realistic parameters, we show that AF correlations can be detected for temperatures above and below the critical temperature for AF ordering. It is demonstrated that spin-resolved noise correlations yield important information about the spin ordering. Finally, we show how to extract the spin correlation length and the related critical exponent of the AF transition from the noise.
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| 25. |
- Gissler, M, et al.
(författare)
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Sex differences in child and adolescent mortality in the Nordic countries, 1981--2000
- 2009
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Ingår i: Scandinavian journal of public health. - : SAGE Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 37:4, s. 340-346
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims: Unlike the situation for infant and adult mortality, there are only a few studies on child and adolescent mortality. The purpose of this study was to examine sex differences in child and adolescent mortality by age and cohort in four Nordic countries over a 20-year period. Methods: Data on all live-born children were received from national population-covering birth registries from 1981 to 2000 (Denmark, n = 1,184,926; Finland, n = 841,470 (from 1987 to 2000); Norway, n = 1,090,127; and Sweden, n = 1,961,911). Data on mortality and causes of death until the age of 20 years were received from the national cause-of-death registers. Results: The overall mortality rates were higher in Denmark and Norway than in Finland and Sweden, among both boys and girls, and the difference between countries increased over time. In all countries, boys had higher mortality rates than girls. Overall, the sex difference was larger in Denmark and Norway (36% and 33% higher, respectively) than in Finland and Sweden (both 24%). The sex differences were more pronounced for deaths of those aged 5—19 years than for those aged 0—4 years. Twelve per cent of all deaths among boys and 10% of those among girls were due to external causes, mainly unintentional injury deaths or intentional deaths. For children and adolescents aged 5—19 years, the corresponding figures were 43% for boys and 35% for girls. Conclusions: Boys have excess mortality, but the sex difference is lower in countries with lower mortality. Boys' excess mortality was only partly accounted for by deaths from external causes. Avoidable deaths and causes of death need further investigation.
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| 26. |
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| 27. |
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| 28. |
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| 29. |
- Ling, Charlotte, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 beta (PGC-1 beta) Ala203Pro polymorphism on in vivo metabolism, PGC-1 beta expression and fibre type composition in human skeletal muscle
- 2007
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Ingår i: Diabetologia. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-0428 .- 0012-186X. ; 50:8, s. 1615-1620
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims/hypothesis Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma coactivator-lp (PGC-1 beta, also known as PPARGCIB) expression is reduced in skeletal muscle from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and in elderly subjects. Ala203Pro, a common variant in the PGC-1 beta gene is associated with obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the PGC-1 beta Ala203Pro polymorphism influences the age-related decline in skeletal muscle PGC-1 beta expression, in vivo metabolism and markers for muscle fibre type composition. Materials and methods The PGC-1 beta Ala203Pro polymerphism was genotyped in 110 young (age 28.0 +/- 1.9 years) and 86 elderly (age 62.4 +/- 2.0 years) twins and related to muscle PGC-1 beta expression, in vivo metabolism and markers for fibre type composition. Results Insulin-stimulated non-oxidative glucose metabolism (NOGM; p=0.025) and glycolytic flux rate (GF; p=0.026) were reduced in young Ala/Ala carriers compared with carriers of a 203Pro allele. In addition, a regression analysis, correcting for covariates, showed that the PGC-1 beta 203Pro allele was positively related to insulin-stimulated NOGM and GF in the young twins. While muscle expression of PGC-1 beta was reduced in elderly compared with young carriers of the Ala/Ala genotype (p <= 0.001), there was no significant age-related decline in PGC-1 beta expression in carriers of the 203Pro allele (p >= 0.4). However, a regression analysis, correcting for covariates, showed that only age was significantly related to muscle PGC-1 beta expression. Finally, PGC-1 beta expression correlated positively with markers for oxidative fibres in human muscle. Conclusions/interpretation This study suggests that young carriers of a PGC-1 beta 203Pro allele have enhanced insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism and may be protected against an age-related decline in PGC-1 beta expression in muscle.
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- Petersen, Jens Kjerulf, et al.
(författare)
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Reference conditions and EQOs for aquatic vegetation and macrozoobenthos.
- 2005
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Ingår i: Final report from The project RETRO - ”Reference conditions and typologies for aquatic vegetation and macrozoobenthos in the Skagerrak and Kattegat” - is an 2002-4 RTD-project funded by Nordic Council of Ministers involving partners from Denmark, Norway and Sweden..
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 33. |
- Svensson, A., et al.
(författare)
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A 60 000 year Greenland stratigraphic ice core chronology
- 2008
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Ingår i: Climate of the Past. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1814-9332. ; 4:1, s. 47-57
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Greenland Ice Core Chronology 2005 (GICC05) is a time scale based on annual layer counting of high-resolution records from Greenland ice cores. Whereas the Holocene part of the time scale is based on various records from the DYE-3, the GRIP, and the NorthGRIP ice cores, the glacial part is solely based on NorthGRIP records. Here we present an 18 ka extension of the time scale such that GICC05 continuously covers the past 60 ka. The new section of the time scale places the onset of Greenland Interstadial 12 (GI-12) at 46.9 +/- 1.0 ka b2k (before year AD 2000), the North Atlantic Ash Zone II layer in GI-15 at 55.4 +/- 1.2 ka b2k, and the onset of GI-17 at 59.4 +/- 1.3 ka b2k. The error estimates are derived from the accumulated number of uncertain annual layers. In the 40-60 ka interval, the new time scale has a discrepancy with the Meese-Sowers GISP2 time scale of up to 2.4 ka. Assuming that the Greenland climatic events are synchronous with those seen in the Chinese Hulu Cave speleothem record, GICC05 compares well to the time scale of that record with absolute age differences of less than 800 years throughout the 60 ka period. The new time scale is generally in close agreement with other independently dated records and reference horizons, such as the Laschamp geomagnetic excursion, the French Villars Cave and the Austrian Kleegruben Cave speleothem records, suggesting high accuracy of both event durations and absolute age estimates.
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- Tomita, S., et al.
(författare)
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Lifetimes of C602- and C702- dianions in a storage ring
- 2006
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Ingår i: J. Chem. Phys.. - : AIP Publishing. - 0021-9606. ; 124
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- C602- and C702- dianions have been produced by electrospray of the monoanions and subsequent electron pickup in a Na vapor cell. The dianions were stored in an electrostatic ring and their decay by electron emission was measured up to 1 s after injection. While C ions are stable on this time scale, except for a small fraction of the ions which have been excited by gas collisions, most of the C ions decay on a millisecond time scale, with a lifetime depending strongly on their internal temperature. The results can be modeled as decay by electron tunneling through a Coulomb barrier, mainly from thermally populated triplet states about 120 meV above a singlet ground state. At times longer than about 100 ms, the absorption of blackbody radiation plays an important role for the decay of initially cold ions. The tunneling rates obtained from the modeling, combined with WKB estimates of the barrier penetration, give a ground-state energy 200±30 meV above the energy of the monoanion plus a free electron and a ground-state lifetime of the order of 20 s.
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