| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- Ekström, Magnus Pär, et al.
(författare)
-
The association of body mass index, weight gain and central obesity with activity-related breathlessness : the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Thorax. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 0040-6376 .- 1468-3296. ; 74:10, s. 958-964
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Breathlessness is common in the population, especially in women and associated with adverse health outcomes. Obesity (body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m(2)) is rapidly increasing globally and its impact on breathlessness is unclear.Methods: This population-based study aimed primarily to evaluate the association of current BMI and self-reported change in BMI since age 20 with breathlessness (modified Research Council score >= 1) in the middle-aged population. Secondary aims were to evaluate factors that contribute to breathlessness in obesity, including the interaction with spirometric lung volume and sex.Results: We included 13 437 individuals; mean age 57.5 years; 52.5% women; mean BMI 26.8 (SD 4.3); mean BMI increase since age 20 was 5.0 kg/m(2); and 1283 (9.6%) reported breathlessness. Obesity was strongly associated with increased breathlessness, OR 3.54 (95% CI, 3.03 to 4.13) independent of age, sex, smoking, airflow obstruction, exercise level and the presence of comorbidities. The association between BMI and breathlessness was modified by lung volume; the increase in breathlessness prevalence with higher BMI was steeper for individuals with lower forced vital capacity (FVC). The higher breathlessness prevalence in obese women than men (27.4% vs 12.5%; p<0.001) was related to their lower FVC. Irrespective of current BMI and confounders, individuals who had increased in BMI since age 20 had more breathlessness.Conclusion: Breathlessness is independently associated with obesity and with weight gain in adult life, and the association is stronger for individuals with lower lung volumes.
|
|
| 5. |
- Justice, A. E., et al.
(författare)
-
Genome-wide meta-analysis of 241,258 adults accounting for smoking behaviour identifies novel loci for obesity traits
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Few genome-wide association studies (GWAS) account for environmental exposures, like smoking, potentially impacting the overall trait variance when investigating the genetic contribution to obesity-related traits. Here, we use GWAS data from 51,080 current smokers and 190,178 nonsmokers (87% European descent) to identify loci influencing BMI and central adiposity, measured as waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio both adjusted for BMI. We identify 23 novel genetic loci, and 9 loci with convincing evidence of gene-smoking interaction (GxSMK) on obesity-related traits. We show consistent direction of effect for all identified loci and significance for 18 novel and for 5 interaction loci in an independent study sample. These loci highlight novel biological functions, including response to oxidative stress, addictive behaviour, and regulatory functions emphasizing the importance of accounting for environment in genetic analyses. Our results suggest that tobacco smoking may alter the genetic susceptibility to overall adiposity and body fat distribution.
|
|
| 6. |
- Karasik, D., et al.
(författare)
-
Disentangling the genetics of lean mass
- 2019
-
Ingår i: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9165 .- 1938-3207. ; 109:2, s. 276-287
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Lean body mass (LM) plays an important role in mobility and metabolic function. We previously identified five loci associated with LM adjusted for fat mass in kilograms. Such an adjustment may reduce the power to identify genetic signals having an association with both lean mass and fat mass. Objectives: To determine the impact of different fat mass adjustments on genetic architecture of LM and identify additional LM loci. Methods: We performed genome-wide association analyses for whole-body LM (20 cohorts of European ancestry with n = 38,292) measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) or bioelectrical impedance analysis, adjusted for sex, age, age(2), and height with or without fat mass adjustments (Model 1 no fat adjustment; Model 2 adjustment for fat mass as a percentage of body mass; Model 3 adjustment for fat mass in kilograms). Results: Seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in separate loci, including one novel LM locus (TNRC6B), were successfully replicated in an additional 47,227 individuals from 29 cohorts. Based on the strengths of the associations in Model 1 vs Model 3, we divided the LM loci into those with an effect on both lean mass and fat mass in the same direction and refer to those as "sumo wrestler" loci (FTO and MC4R). In contrast, loci with an impact specifically on LMwere termed "body builder" loci (VCAN and ADAMTSL3). Using existing available genome-wide association study databases, LM increasing alleles of SNPs in sumo wrestler loci were associated with an adverse metabolic profile, whereas LM increasing alleles of SNPs in "body builder" loci were associated with metabolic protection. Conclusions: In conclusion, we identified one novel LM locus (TNRC6B). Our results suggest that a genetically determined increase in lean mass might exert either harmful or protective effects on metabolic traits, depending on its relation to fat mass.
|
|
| 7. |
- Kilpeläinen, Tuomas O, et al.
(författare)
-
Genome-wide meta-analysis uncovers novel loci influencing circulating leptin levels
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 7
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Leptin is an adipocyte-secreted hormone, the circulating levels of which correlate closely with overall adiposity. Although rare mutations in the leptin (LEP) gene are well known to cause leptin deficiency and severe obesity, no common loci regulating circulating leptin levels have been uncovered. Therefore, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of circulating leptin levels from 32,161 individuals and followed up loci reaching P<10(-6) in 19,979 additional individuals. We identify five loci robustly associated (P<5 × 10(-8)) with leptin levels in/near LEP, SLC32A1, GCKR, CCNL1 and FTO. Although the association of the FTO obesity locus with leptin levels is abolished by adjustment for BMI, associations of the four other loci are independent of adiposity. The GCKR locus was found associated with multiple metabolic traits in previous GWAS and the CCNL1 locus with birth weight. Knockdown experiments in mouse adipose tissue explants show convincing evidence for adipogenin, a regulator of adipocyte differentiation, as the novel causal gene in the SLC32A1 locus influencing leptin levels. Our findings provide novel insights into the regulation of leptin production by adipose tissue and open new avenues for examining the influence of variation in leptin levels on adiposity and metabolic health.
|
|
| 8. |
- Nyholm, Tufve, et al.
(författare)
-
A national approach for automated collection of standardized and population-based radiation therapy data in Sweden
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Radiotherapy and Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-8140 .- 1879-0887. ; 119:2, s. 344-350
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: To develop an infrastructure for structured and automated collection of interoperable radiation therapy (RT) data into a national clinical quality registry. Materials and methods: The present study was initiated in 2012 with the participation of seven of the 15 hospital departments delivering RT in Sweden. A national RT nomenclature and a database for structured unified storage of RT data at each site (Medical Information Quality Archive, MIQA) have been developed. Aggregated data from the MIQA databases are sent to a national RT registry located on the same IT platform (INCA) as the national clinical cancer registries. Results: The suggested naming convention has to date been integrated into the clinical workflow at 12 of 15 sites, and MIQA is installed at six of these. Involvement of the remaining 3/15 RT departments is ongoing, and they are expected to be part of the infrastructure by 2016. RT data collection from ARIA (R), Mosaiq (R), Eclipse (TM), and Oncentra (R) is supported. Manual curation of RT-structure information is needed for approximately 10% of target volumes, but rarely for normal tissue structures, demonstrating a good compliance to the RT nomenclature. Aggregated dose/volume descriptors are calculated based on the information in MIQA and sent to INCA using a dedicated service (MIQA2INCA). Correct linkage of data for each patient to the clinical cancer registries on the INCA platform is assured by the unique Swedish personal identity number. Conclusions: An infrastructure for structured and automated prospective collection of syntactically inter operable RT data into a national clinical quality registry for RT data is under implementation. Future developments include adapting MIQA to other treatment modalities (e.g. proton therapy and brachytherapy) and finding strategies to harmonize structure delineations. How the RT registry should comply with domain-specific ontologies such as the Radiation Oncology Ontology (ROO) is under discussion.
|
|
| 9. |
|
|
| 10. |
- Aarnio, Mikko, et al.
(författare)
-
Visualization of painful inflammation in patients with pain after traumatic ankle sprain using [(11)C]-D-deprenyl PET/CT.
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Pain. - : Walter de Gruyter. - 1877-8860 .- 1877-8879. ; 17:1, s. 418-424
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Positron emission tomography (PET) with the radioligand [(11)C]-D-deprenyl has shown increased signal at location of pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic whiplash injury. The binding site of [(11)C]-D-deprenyl in peripheral tissues is suggested to be mitochondrial monoamine oxidase in cells engaged in post-traumatic inflammation and tissue repair processes. The association between [(11)C]-D-deprenyl uptake and the transition from acute to chronic pain remain unknown. Further imaging studies of musculoskeletal pain at the molecular level would benefit from establishing a clinical model in a common and well-defined injury in otherwise healthy and drug-naïve subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate if [(11)C]-D-deprenyl uptake would be acutely elevated in unilateral ankle sprain and if tracer uptake would be reduced as a function of healing, and correlated with pain localizations and pain experience.METHODS: Eight otherwise healthy patients with unilateral ankle sprain were recruited at the emergency department. All underwent [(11)C]-D-deprenyl PET/CT in the acute phase, at one month and 6-14 months after injury.RESULTS: Acute [(11)C]-D-deprenyl uptake at the injury site was a factor of 10.7 (range 2.9-37.3) higher than the intact ankle. During healing, [(11)C]-D-deprenyl uptake decreased, but did not normalize until after 11 months. Patients experiencing persistent pain had prolonged [(11)C]-D-deprenyl uptake in painful locations.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The data provide further support that [(11)C]-D-deprenyl PET can visualize, quantify and follow processes in peripheral tissue that may relate to soft tissue injuries, inflammation and associated nociceptive signaling. Such an objective correlate would represent a progress in pain research, as well as in clinical pain diagnostics and management.
|
|
| 11. |
- Abrahamsson, Niclas, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
-
Gastric bypass reduces symptoms and hormonal responses to hypoglycemia
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Diabetes. - : American Diabetes Association. - 0012-1797 .- 1939-327X. ; 65:9, s. 2667-2675
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Gastric bypass (GBP) surgery, one of the most common bariatric procedures, induces weight loss and metabolic effects. The mechanisms are not fully understood, but reduced food intake and effects on gastrointestinal hormones are thought to contribute. We recently observed that GBP patients have lowered glucose levels and frequent asymptomatic hypoglycemic episodes. Here, we subjected patients before and after undergoing GBP surgery to hypoglycemia and examined symptoms and hormonal and autonomic nerve responses. Twelve obese patients without diabetes (8 women, mean age 43.1 years [SD 10.8] and BMI 40.6 kg/m(2) [SD 3.1]) were examined before and 23 weeks (range 19-25) after GBP surgery with hyperinsulinemic-hypoglycemic clamp (stepwise to plasma glucose 2.7 mmol/L). The mean change in Edinburgh Hypoglycemia Score during clamp was attenuated from 10.7 (6.4) before surgery to 5.2 (4.9) after surgery. There were also marked postsurgery reductions in levels of glucagon, cortisol, and catecholamine and the sympathetic nerve responses to hypoglycemia. In addition, growth hormone displayed a delayed response but to a higher peak level. Levels of glucagon-like peptide 1 and gastric inhibitory polypeptide rose during hypoglycemia but rose less postsurgery compared with presurgery. Thus, GBP surgery causes a resetting of glucose homeostasis, which reduces symptoms and neurohormonal responses to hypoglycemia. Further studies should address the underlying mechanisms as well as their impact on the overall metabolic effects of GBP surgery.
|
|
| 12. |
- Abrahamsson, Niclas, 1976-
(författare)
-
On the Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Glucose Homeostasis
- 2016
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Obesity has grown to epidemic proportions, and in lack of efficient life-style and medical treatments, the bariatric surgeries are performed in rising numbers. The most common surgery is the Gastric Bypass (GBP) surgery, with the Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (DS) as an option for the most extreme cases with a BMI>50 kg/m2.In paper I 20 GBP-patients were examined during the first post-operative year regarding the natriuretic peptide, NT-ProBNP, which is secreted from the cardiac ventricles. Levels of NT-ProBNP quickly increased during the first post-surgery week, and later established itself on a higher level than pre-surgery.In paper II we report of 5 patient-cases after GBP-surgery with severe problems with postprandial hypoglycaemia that were successfully treated with GLP-1-analogs. The effect of treatment could be observed both symptomatically and in some cases using continuous glucose measuring systems (CGMS).In paper III three groups of subjects; 15 post-GBP patients, 15 post-DS, and 15 obese controls were examined for three days using CGMS during everyday life. The post-GBP group had high glucose variability as measured by MAGE and CONGA, whereas the post-DS group had low variability. Both post-operative groups exhibited significant time in hypoglycaemia, about 40 and 80 minutes per day <3.3mmol/l and 20 and 40 minutes < 2.8mmol/l, respectively, longer time for DS-group. Remarkably, only about 20% of these hypoglycaemic episodes were accompanied with symptoms.In Paper IV the hypoglycaemia counter regulatory system was investigated; 12 patients were examined before and after GBP-surgery with a stepped hypoglycaemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. The results show a downregulation of symptoms, counter regulatory hormones (glucagon, cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, growth hormone), incretin hormones (GLP-1 and GIP), and sympathetic nervous response.In conclusion patients post bariatric surgery exhibit a downregulated counter regulatory response to hypoglycaemia, accompanied by frequent asymptomatic hypoglycaemic episodes in everyday life. Patients suffering from severe hypoglycaemic episodes can often be treated successfully with GLP-1-analogues.
|
|
| 13. |
- Ahlstedt, Jonas, et al.
(författare)
-
Non-invasive imaging methodologies for assessment of radiation damage to bone marrow and kidneys from peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. : -
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Neuroendocrinology. - : S. Karger AG. - 1423-0194 .- 0028-3835. ; 110:1-2, s. 130-138
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background/Aims: Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is becoming clinical routine for management of neuroendocrine tumours. The number of PRRT cycles is correlated with treatment effect but theoretically limited by off-target radiation damage to kidneys and bone marrow. New imaging biomarkers for assessment of PRRT tissue damage would enable evaluation of novel renal and bone marrow protective agents, as well as personalised PRRT treatment regiments. Methods: Mice treated with [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE PRRT or vehicle were examined at baseline and following treatment with [18F]fluorothymidine (FLT) positron emission tomography (PET) and technetium-99m-mercapto-acetyl-tri-glycine ([99mTc]Tc-Mag3) single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) to assess dynamic changes in bone marrow proliferation and renal function, respectively. Results: Bone marrow proliferation as assessed by [18F]FLT was decreased 2 days after PRRT treatment, but not vehicle, compared to baseline (target-to-background ratio [TBRmax] baseline:1.69 ± 0.29 vs. TBRmax PRRT: 0.91 ± 0.02, p < 0.01). Renal function as assessed by [99mTc]Tc-Mag3 SPECT was similarly decreased 2 days following PRRT compared to vehicle (fractional uptake rate [FUR] vehicle: 0.030 ± 0.014 s–1 vs. FUR PRRT: 0.0051 ± 0.0028 s–1, p < 0.01). Conclusion: [18F]FLT PET and [99mTc]Tc-Mag3 SPECT are promising techniques for assessing bone marrow and renal injury from [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE PRRT and may potentially improve patient management by allowing evaluation of protective interventions as well as enabling personalised PRRT treatments.
|
|
| 14. |
- Almby, Kristina E., et al.
(författare)
-
Effects of GLP-1 on counter-regulatory responses during hypoglycemia after GBP surgery
- 2019
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Endocrinology. - : Bioscientifica. - 0804-4643 .- 1479-683X. ; 181:2, s. 161-171
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the role of GLP-1 receptor activation on the counter-regulation and symptoms of hypoglycemia in subjects who have undergone gastric bypass surgery (GBP).Design: Experimental hyperinsulinemic–hypoglycemic clamp study.Methods: Twelve post-GBP subjects participated in a randomized cross-over study with two hyperinsulinemic, hypoglycemic clamps (glucose nadir 2.7 mmol/L) performed on separate days with concomitant infusions of the GLP-1 analog exenatide or with saline, respectively. Continuous measurements of metabolites and counter-regulatory hormones as well as assessments of heart rate variability and symptoms of hypoglycemia were performed throughout the clamps.Results: No effect of GLP-1 receptor activation on counter-regulatory hormones (glucagon, catecholamines, cortisol, GH) or glucose infusion rate was seen, but we found indications of a downregulation of the sympathetic relative to the parasympathetic nerve activity, as reflected in heart rate variability. No significant differences in symptom of hypoglycemia were observed.Conclusions/interpretation: Short-term exposure to a GLP-1 receptor agonist does not seem to impact the counter-regulatory hormonal and metabolic responses in post-GBP subjects during hypoglycemic conditions, suggesting that the improvement in symptomatic hypoglycemia post-GBP seen following treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists may be mediated by mechanism not directly involved in counter-regulation.
|
|
| 15. |
- Baldwin, Alexander, et al.
(författare)
-
Bus Runner : Using Contextual Cues for Procedural Generation of Game Content on Public Transport
- 2017
-
Ingår i: HCI 2017. - Cham : Springer. ; , s. 21-34
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- With the support of the regional public transport operator, this paper explores the potential for mobile games to make journeys on public transport more enjoyable. To this end we have developed a game called Bus Runner which is a context-aware endless runner, based on open and shared data. By blending features of the physical world, such as recognisable landmarks, with the game’s virtual world, we situate and enhance passengers’ experience of travelling on public transport. We identify a set of challenges and opportunities based on the development and evaluation of Bus Runner. These are of relevance not only for game development purposes, but also impact context-driven content generation of infotainment services as a whole.
|
|
| 16. |
- Berglind, Daniel, et al.
(författare)
-
Longitudinal assessment of physical activity in women undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Obesity Surgery. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0960-8923 .- 1708-0428. ; 25:1, s. 119-125
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Patients undergoing bariatric surgery do not seem to increase objectively measured physical activity (PA) after surgery, despite substantial weight loss. The aims of the present study were (i) to objectively characterize 3 months pre-surgery to 9 months postsurgery PA and sedentary behavior changes in women undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) using tri-axial accelerometers and (ii) to examine associations between pre-surgery versus postsurgery PA and sedentary behavior with anthropometric measures taken in home environment.Methods: Fifty-six women, with an average pre-surgery body mass index (BMI) of 37.6 (SD 2.6) and of age 39.5 years (SD 5.7), were recruited at five Swedish hospitals. PA was measured for 1 week by the Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer, and anthropometric measures were taken at home visits 3 months pre-surgery and 9 months postsurgery, thus limiting seasonal effects.Results: Average BMI loss, 9 months postsurgery, was 11.7 (SD 2.7) BMI units. There were no significant pre- to postsurgery differences in PA or sedentary behavior. However, pre-surgery PA showed negative association with PA change and positive association with postsurgery PA. Adjustments for pre-surgery BMI had no impact on these associations.Conclusions: No significant differences were observed in objectively measured changes in PA or time spent sedentary from 3 months pre-surgery to 9 months postsurgery among women undergoing RYGB. However, women with higher pre-surgery PA decreased their PA postsurgery while women with lower pre-surgery PA increased their PA.
|
|
| 17. |
- Bergstedt Oscarsson, Kristina, et al.
(författare)
-
Human Puumala hantavirus infection in northern Sweden : increased seroprevalence and association to risk and health factors
- 2016
-
Ingår i: BMC Infectious Diseases. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2334. ; 16
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The rodent borne Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) causes haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in central and northern Europe. The number of cases has increased and northern Sweden has experienced large outbreaks in 1998 and 2006-2007 which raised questions regarding the level of immunity in the human population.METHODS: A randomly selected population aged between 25 and 74 years from northern Sweden were invited during 2009 to participate in a WHO project for monitoring of trends and determinants in cardiovascular disease. Health and risk factors were evaluated and sera from 1,600 participants were available for analysis for specific PUUV IgG antibodies using a recombinant PUUV nucleocapsid protein ELISA.RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence in the investigated population was 13.4 %, which is a 50 % increase compared to a similar study only two decades previously. The prevalence of PUUV IgG increased with age, and among 65-75 years it was 22 %. More men (15.3 %) than women (11.4 %) were seropositive (p < 0.05). The identified risk factors were smoking (OR = 1.67), living in rural areas (OR = 1.92), and owning farmland or forest (OR = 2.44). No associations were found between previous PUUV exposure and chronic lung disease, diabetes, hypertension, renal dysfunction, stroke or myocardial infarction.CONCLUSIONS: PUUV is a common infection in northern Sweden and there is a high life time risk to acquire PUUV infection in endemic areas. Certain risk factors as living in rural areas and smoking were identified. Groups with increased risk should be targeted for future vaccination when available, and should also be informed about appropriate protection from rodent secreta.
|
|
| 18. |
- Bergström, Aileen L., et al.
(författare)
-
Participation in everyday life and life satisfaction in persons with stroke and their caregivers 3–6 months after onset
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. - : Medical Journals Sweden AB. - 1650-1977 .- 1651-2081. ; 47:6, s. 508-515
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To explore and describe persons with stroke and their caregivers' restrictions in participation in everyday occupations, i.e. occupational gaps, 3-6 months post-stroke, in relation to life satisfaction, combined life satisfaction, caregiver burden, perceived impact of stroke, and activities of daily living. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: Persons with stroke and their caregivers (105 dyads). Methods: The Occupational Gaps Questionnaire, Life Satisfaction Checklist, Caregiver Burden Scale, Stroke Impact Scale and Barthel Index were used. Correlations were analysed with Spearman's rank, and regression analyses used life satisfaction as the dependent variable. Results: At least one person in 86% of the dyads perceived restrictions in participation, with the most common gap in travelling for pleasure. Correlations were low between the numbers of occupational gaps and life satisfaction (R=-0.33, R=-0.31); however, life satisfaction accounted for occupational gaps both for persons with stroke and for caregivers. A greater number of occupational gaps were perceived in the dyads with combined low levels of life satisfaction compared with those with combined high levels of life satisfaction. Conclusion: Participation in everyday occupations is related to life satisfaction even for caregivers of persons with stroke. The results of this study add to our knowledge about the stroke-caregiver dyad and will help to inform family-centred approaches within stroke rehabilitation.
|
|
| 19. |
- Bertilsson, Ann Sofie, et al.
(författare)
-
A cluster randomized controlled trial of a client-centred, activities of daily living intervention for people with stroke : One year follow-up of caregivers
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Clinical Rehabilitation. - : SAGE Publications. - 0269-2155 .- 1477-0873. ; 30:8, s. 765-775
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Compare caregiver burden, provision of informal care, participation in everyday occupations and life satisfaction of caregivers to people with stroke, who either had received a client-centred, activities of daily living intervention or usual activities of daily living interventions. Design: A multicentre cluster randomized controlled trial in which 16 rehabilitation units were randomly assigned to deliver a client-centred, activities of daily living intervention or usual activities of daily living interventions. Caregiver outcomes were compared cross-sectionally at 12 months and changes in outcomes between three and 12 months after people with stroke were included in the study. Setting: Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. Participants: Caregivers of people with stroke enrolled in the trial. Intervention: A client-centred, activities of daily living intervention aiming to increase agency in daily activities and participation in everyday life for people after stroke. Main measures: Caregiver Burden Scale, Occupational Gaps Questionnaire, LiSat-11. Results: There were no differences in outcomes between caregivers in the client-centred, activities of daily living (n = 88) and the usual activities of daily living (n = 95) group at 12 months. The caregiver burden score was 42.7 vs. 41.8, p = 0.75, mean occupational gaps were 3.5 vs. 4.0, p = 0.52 and satisfaction with life was 53% vs. 50%, p = 0.87. There were no differences in changes between three and 12 months. However, within groups there were significant differences in caregiver burden, factor general strain, for caregivers in the client-centred, activities of daily living group, and in provision of informal care for the usual activities of daily living group. Conclusion: The client-centred intervention did not bring about any difference between caregiver-groups, but within groups some difference was found for caregiver burden and informal care.
|
|
| 20. |
- Bjerg, Anders, 1982, et al.
(författare)
-
Increase in pollen sensitization in Swedish adults and protective effect of keeping animals in childhood
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Clinical and Experimental Allergy. - : Wiley. - 0954-7894 .- 1365-2222. ; 46:10, s. 1328-1336
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: To date, most studies of the "allergy epidemic" have been based on self-reported data. There is still limited knowledge on time trends in allergic sensitization, especially among adults.OBJECTIVE: To study allergic sensitization, its risk factors, and time trends in prevalence.METHODS: Within West Sweden Asthma Study (WSAS) a population-based sample of 788 adults (17-60y) underwent skin prick tests (SPT) for 11 aeroallergens 2009-2012. Specific IgE was analyzed in 750 of the participants. Those aged 20-46y (n=379) were compared with the European Community Respiratory Health Survey sample aged 20-46y from the same area (n=591) in 1991-1992.RESULTS: Among those aged 20-46y the prevalence of positive SPT to pollen increased; timothy from 17.1% to 29.0% (p<0.001) and birch from 15.6% to 23.7% (p=0.002) between 1991-1992 and 2009-2012. Measurements of specific IgE confirmed these increases. Prevalence of sensitization to all other tested allergens was unchanged. In the full WSAS sample aged 17-60y any positive SPT was seen in 41.9%, and the dominating sensitizers were pollen (34.3%), animals (22.8%) and mites (12.6%). Pollen sensitization was strongly associated with rhinitis, whereas indoor allergens were more associated with asthma. Growing up with livestock or furred pets decreased the risk of sensitization, adjusted odds ratio 0.53 (0.28-0.995) and 0.68 (0.47-0.98) respectively.CONCLUSION: Pollen sensitization has increased in Swedish adults since the early 1990's, while the prevalence of sensitization to other allergens has remained unchanged. This is one plausible explanation for the increase in rhinitis 1990-2008 in Swedish adults, during which time the prevalence of asthma, which is more associated with perennial allergens, was stable. Contact with animals in childhood seems to reduce the risk of sensitization well into adulthood. One major factor contributing to the rise in pollen allergy is a significant increase in levels of birch and grass pollen over the past three decades.
|
|
| 21. |
- Borgmästars, Emmy, et al.
(författare)
-
Improved Detection of Norovirus and Hepatitis A Virus in Surface Water by Applying Pre-PCR Processing
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Food and Environmental Virology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1867-0334 .- 1867-0342. ; 9:4, s. 395-405
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) detection of waterborne RNA viruses generally requires concentration of large water volumes due to low virus levels. A common approach is to use dead-end ultrafiltration followed by precipitation with polyethylene glycol. However, this procedure often leads to the co-concentration of PCR inhibitors that impairs the limit of detection and causes false-negative results. Here, we applied the concept of pre-PCR processing to optimize RT-qPCR detection of norovirus genogroup I (GI), genogroup II (GII), and hepatitis A virus (HAV) in challenging water matrices. The RT-qPCR assay was improved by screening for an inhibitor-tolerant master mix and modifying the primers with twisted intercalating nucleic acid molecules. Additionally, a modified protocol based on chaotropic lysis buffer and magnetic silica bead nucleic acid extraction was developed for complex water matrices. A validation of the modified extraction protocol on surface and drinking waters was performed. At least a 26-fold improvement was seen in the most complex surface water studied. The modified protocol resulted in average recoveries of 33, 13, 8, and 4% for mengovirus, norovirus GI, GII, and HAV, respectively. The modified protocol also improved the limit of detection for norovirus GI and HAV. RT-qPCR inhibition with Cq shifts of 1.6, 2.8, and 3.5 for norovirus GI, GII, and HAV, respectively, obtained for the standard nucleic acid extraction were completely eliminated by the modified protocol. The standard nucleic acid extraction method worked well on drinking water with no RT-qPCR inhibition observed and average recoveries of 80, 124, 89, and 32% for mengovirus, norovirus GI, GII, and HAV, respectively.
|
|
| 22. |
- Brancoli, Pedro, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
-
Bread loss rates at the supplier-retailer interface – Analysis of risk factors tosupport waste prevention measures
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Resources, Conservation and Recycling. - : Elsevier BV. - 0921-3449 .- 1879-0658. ; , s. 128-136
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper quantifies bread waste throughout the Swedish supply chain and investigates the loss rate of prepackagedbread products at the supplier-retailer interface. The goal is to understand the extent of bread waste inSweden and to identify risk factors for high quantities of waste at the supplier-retailer interface, in order toprovide information supporting waste prevention measures. The study uses primary data, in combination withnational statistics and data from sustainability reports and the literature. Primary data were collected from 380stores of a Swedish retail company and a bakery. Bread waste was calculated to be 80 410 tons/year in Sweden,the equivalent of 8.1 kg per person/year, and was found to be concentrated at households and in retail, specificallyat the supplier-retailer interface. The results provide evidence that take-back agreements between suppliersand retailers, where the retailer only pays for sold products and the supplier bears the cost of the unsoldproducts and their collection and treatment, are risk factors for high waste generation. Current business modelsmay need to be changed to achieve a more sustainable bread supply chain with less waste.
|
|
| 23. |
- Çakir, S., et al.
(författare)
-
Multiblock copolymers of polyamide 6 and diepoxy propylene adipate obtained by solid state polymerization
- 2016
-
Ingår i: European Polymer Journal. - : Elsevier. - 0014-3057 .- 1873-1945. ; 79, s. 13-22
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Polyesteramide multiblock copolymers based on polyamide 6 and diepoxy propylene adipate blocks were synthesized. For this purpose a carboxyl-terminated polyamide 6 (Mn = 2400 g/mol, Tm = 205.5 °C) and diepoxy propylene adipate (Mn = 450 g/mol) were separately synthesized and characterized. The incorporation of the oligoester into the polyamide 6 backbone was performed by solid state polymerization (SSP) well below the melting temperature of the polyamide (80-140 °C) so that the physical and thermal properties of the original polyamide 6 block were retained. Formation of the multiblock structure was confirmed by following the increase in molecular weight by SEC, reaction of the end groups by 1H NMR and by following the maintained melting temperature after the copolymerization. These segmented copolymers have molecular weights up to 10 kg/mol, thermal stability of 325 °C at 5% weight loss and a melting temperature of 205 °C.
|
|
| 24. |
- Carlsson, Magnus, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
-
Age Discrimination in Hiring Decisions: Evidence from a Field Experiment in the Labor Market
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Labour Economics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0927-5371 .- 1879-1034. ; 59, s. 173-183
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper shows the results of a field experiment in which over 6000 fictitious resumes with randomly assigned information about age (35–70 years) were sent to Swedish employers with vacancies in low- and medium-skilled occupations. We find that the callback rate begins to fall substantially for workers in their early 40s and becomes very low for workers close to the retirement age. The decline in the callback rate by age is steeper for women than for men. Employer stereotypes about the ability to learn new tasks, flexibility, and ambition seem to be an important explanation for age discrimination.
|
|
| 25. |
|
|
| 26. |
- Carlsson, Magnus, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
-
Do attitudes expressed in surveys predict ethnic discrimination?
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Ethnic and Racial Studies. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0141-9870 .- 1466-4356. ; 40:10, s. 1739-1757
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Survey data on people’s reported attitudes towards ethnic minorities are sometimes used as a proxy for ethnic discrimination. However, there is weak empirical evidence of a link between reported attitudes and discrimination. In this article, we use survey data on people’s attitudes towards ethnic minorities combined with a direct measure of ethnic discrimination from a field experiment in the Swedish housing market to re-examine this policy-relevant issue. We find clear evidence of a link between reported attitudes towards ethnic minorities and the extent of ethnic discrimination: in regions where attitudes are more negative, there is more discrimination, and vice versa. Thus, in contrast to most prior studies, our results suggest that reported attitudes may be a useful predictor of ethnic discrimination.
|
|
| 27. |
- Carlsson, Magnus, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
-
Ethnic Discrimination in the London Market for Shared Housing
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Journal of ethnic and migration studies. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1369-183X .- 1469-9451. ; 41:8, s. 1276-1301
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is well documented that there exists ethnic discrimination in the regular housing market in European and US cities. However, the existing literature has so far neglected the informal market for shared housing. We use a field experiment to investigate ethnic discrimination in this market. We sent fictitious enquiries with a randomly assigned name signalling a British, Eastern European, Indian, African or Arabic/Muslim background to more than 5000 room advertisers in the Greater London Area. Our main finding is that ethnic discrimination is widespread. We also find that the degree of discrimination depends on the applicant's occupation and the ethnic residential concentration.
|
|
| 28. |
- Carlsson, Magnus, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
-
In-Group Gender Bias in Hiring : Real-World Evidence
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Economics Letters. - : Elsevier BV. - 0165-1765 .- 1873-7374. ; 185
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigate in-group gender bias in real-world hiring decisions by combining administrative data with data from a large-scale field experiment on hiring in which fictitious resumes with randomly assigned information about gender were sent to Swedish employers. Our results suggest that women (female recruiters or firms with a high share of female employees) favor women in the recruitment process. In contrast, we do not find much evidence that men (male recruiters or firms with a high share of male employees) favor men.
|
|
| 29. |
- Carlsson, Magnus, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
-
Job Search Methods and Wages : Are Natives and Immigrants Different?
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Manchester School. - : Wiley. - 1463-6786 .- 1467-9957. ; 86:2, s. 219-247
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We conduct a survey of newly hired workers in the Swedish labour market to analyse if there are differences between natives and immigrants in the choice of search intensity/methods and in the search method getting the job. We further investigate if the wage and other characteristics of the new job differ depending on the successful search method. We find that immigrants use all search methods more than natives, but they especially rely on informal search. Immigrants are more likely than natives to find a job using informal search through friends and relatives, and these jobs are associated with lower wages.
|
|
| 30. |
- Carlsson, Magnus, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
-
The effect of age and gender on labor demand : evidence from a field experiment
- 2017
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In most countries, there are systematic age and gender differences in labor market outcomes. Older workers and women often have lower employment rates, and the duration of unemployment increases with age. These patterns may reflect age and gender differences in either labor demand (i.e. discrimination) or labor supply. In this study, we investigate the importance of demand effects by analyzing whether employers use information about a job applicant’s age and gender in their hiring decisions. To do this, we conducted a field experiment, where over 6,000 fictitious resumes with randomly assigned information about age (in the interval 35-70) and gender were sent to employers with a vacancy and the employers’ responses (callbacks) were recorded. We find that the callback rate starts to fall substantially early in the age interval we consider. This decline is steeper for women than for men. The negative age effect prevails in all seven occupations we include. These results indicate that age discrimination is a widespread phenomenon affecting workers already in their early 40s. Ageism and occupational skill loss due to aging are unlikely explanations of these effects. Instead, our employer survey suggests that employer stereotypes about other worker characteristics – ability to learn new tasks, flexibility/adaptability, and ambition – are important. We find no evidence of gender discrimination against women on average, but the gender effect is heterogeneous across occupations and firms. Women have a higher callback rate in female-dominated occupations and firms, and when the recruiter is a woman. These results suggest that an in-group bias affects hiring patterns, which may reinforce the existing gender segregation in the labor market.
|
|
| 31. |
- Chu, Xia, 1981-
(författare)
-
Aspects of MEN1 Tumorigenesis in Endocrine Pancreas and Adrenal Glands
- 2015
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominantly inherited disease, which is described as an association of tumors mainly in endocrine organs, including pancreas and adrenal glands. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are the most common cause of death in MEN1 patients. More than one third of the MEN1 patients also develop enlargement of the adrenals. MEN1 is caused by a germline mutation of MEN1 gene, a tumor suppressor gene that is located on the human chromosome 11. As noticed, the MEN1 related tumors often develop prior to inactivation of both wild type alleles, indicating MEN1 haploinsufficiency. In this thesis, I utilized a conventional Men1 mouse model that has the phenotype mimicking the human MEN 1 traits, in order to investigate MEN1 tumorigenesis in endocrine pancreas and adrenal glands. The microvascular aberrations contributing to development and maintenance of PNETs were characterized. The increased vascular density of PNETs developed in the Men1 mice was paralleled by an early and extensive redistribution of pericytes within endocrine tissue. These morphological alterations were supported by fine-tuned variations in expression of several angiogenic regulators (VEGF, FGF and PDGF) and were further potentiated by hypoxia. Vascular reactivity and blood perfusion of tumor arterioles were significantly altered in response to glucose and L-nitro-arginine methyl ester.Investigation of adrenals from10-month-old Men1 mice showed 681 proteins in mass spectrometry data sets, in which 52 proteins were commonly found in the Men1+/+ and Men1+/- adrenals, and the differential expression between the genotypes reached significant levels. Prdx3, catalyzing the reduction of oxidative stress to cell survival, is one of the overexpressed proteins. Some proteins belonging to the PPARα pathway, e.g. ACLY were also overexpressed. Subsequent microRNA (miRNA) profiling analysis of adrenals from the same age group revealed 31 miRNAs whose expression was significantly altered in comparison between the genotypes. The tumor suppressor miRNAs, miR-486, miR-330 and miR-214, were significantly downregulated in Men1+/- adrenals. The latter, miR-214, is known to inhibit ACLY expression. This finding was in concordance with the proteomic analysis. The oncogene miRNAs, miR-132 and miR-494, were significantly enhanced in the Men1+/- adrenals. Gene ontology analysis demonstrated overrepresentation of the miRNA-targeted genes that are involved in nucleic acid metabolism, vasculature development, angiogenesis, and transcription. Together, these finding after validation in humans may be exploited to improve MEN1 cancer treatment.
|
|
| 32. |
- Clark, DW, et al.
(författare)
-
Associations of autozygosity with a broad range of human phenotypes
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 10:1, s. 4957-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In many species, the offspring of related parents suffer reduced reproductive success, a phenomenon known as inbreeding depression. In humans, the importance of this effect has remained unclear, partly because reproduction between close relatives is both rare and frequently associated with confounding social factors. Here, using genomic inbreeding coefficients (FROH) for >1.4 million individuals, we show that FROH is significantly associated (p < 0.0005) with apparently deleterious changes in 32 out of 100 traits analysed. These changes are associated with runs of homozygosity (ROH), but not with common variant homozygosity, suggesting that genetic variants associated with inbreeding depression are predominantly rare. The effect on fertility is striking: FROH equivalent to the offspring of first cousins is associated with a 55% decrease [95% CI 44–66%] in the odds of having children. Finally, the effects of FROH are confirmed within full-sibling pairs, where the variation in FROH is independent of all environmental confounding.
|
|
| 33. |
- Dalin, Frida, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
-
Clinical and immunological characteristics of Autoimmune Addison's disease : a nationwide Swedish multicenter study
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : Oxford University Press. - 0021-972X .- 1945-7197. ; 102:2, s. 379-389
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- CONTEXT: Studies on clinical and immunological features of Autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD) are needed to understand the disease burden and increased mortality.OBJECTIVE: To provide upgraded data on autoimmune comorbidities, replacement therapy, autoantibody profiles and cardiovascular risk factors.DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross sectional, population-based study. 660 AAD patients were included utilizing the Swedish Addison Registry (SAR) 2008-2014. When analyzing cardiovascular risk factors, 3,594 individuals from the population-based survey in Northern Sweden, MONICA (MONItoring of Trends and Determinants of CArdiovascular Disease), served as controls.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Prevalence of autoimmune comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors. Autoantibodies against 13 autoantigens were determined.RESULTS: Sixty percent of the SAR cohort consisted of females. Mean age at diagnosis was significantly higher for females than for males (36.8 vs. 31.1 years). The proportion of 21-hydroxylase autoantibody positive patients was 83% and 62% of patients had one or more associated autoimmune diseases, more frequently coexisting in females (p<0.0001). AAD patients had lower BMI (p<0.0001) and prevalence of hypertension (p=0.027) compared with controls. Conventional hydrocortisone tablets were used by 89% of patients; with the mean dose 28.1±8.5 mg/day. The mean hydrocortisone equivalent dose normalized to body surface was 14.8±4.4 mg/m(2)/day. Higher hydrocortisone equivalent dose was associated with higher incidence of hypertension (p=0.046).CONCLUSIONS: Careful monitoring of AAD patients is warranted to detect associated autoimmune diseases. Contemporary Swedish AAD patients do not have increased prevalence of overweight, hypertension, T2DM or hyperlipidemia. However, high glucocorticoid replacement doses may be a risk factor for hypertension.
|
|
| 34. |
- Davidsson, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
-
Writing : teaching and researching
- 2015
-
Ingår i: The NAWE Conference, Durham, 13-15 November 2015. - : National Association of Writers in Education.
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- How do we teach creative writing? How do we examine literary creation? Howcan we theorize the relationship between creative writing and the literarycanon? How can we make the distinction between works of art, which throughtheir aesthetic expression and content also include research, from works ofart where the creation process needs to be documented? In the long run, isthere a risk that conventionality might isolate the academy from the openartistic community? How do we assess the national perspective in relation tothe international perspective in our writing, teaching and researching?
|
|
| 35. |
- Davidsson, Cecilia, 1963-, et al.
(författare)
-
Writing "the Forbidden"
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Presented at The NAWE Conference with Paper Nations. - York : National Association of Writers in Education. ; , s. 21-21
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this session, Cecilia Davidsson and Magnus Eriksson from Linnaeus University in Sweden will present and critically analyze a challenging exercise for their Creative Writing students: Writing about a taboo. There ara external taboos, created by society's norms, but also internal taboos related to personal experience. In this exercise, we want the students to ask themselves: What is the worst thing I can write about? What is my taboo? Do I dare to write about it? Do I dare letting other people read the piece? The aim of the task is to get our students to test their own limits.
|
|
| 36. |
|
|
| 37. |
- Djuric Ilic, Danica, et al.
(författare)
-
No zero burden assumption in a circular economy
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Journal of Cleaner Production. - : Elsevier Ltd. - 0959-6526 .- 1879-1786. ; 182, s. 352-362
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A majority of previous studies on environmental problems caused by waste generation have focused on waste disposal issues without fully highlighting the primary reasons behind the problems. As a consequence, efforts to reduce these problems are usually directed towards the stakeholders that provide waste treatment and disposal instead of the stakeholders that contribute to waste generation. In order to detect connections between different problems of sustainability and to suggest measures which may contribute to their solutions, this study provides a simplified overview of the mechanisms behind waste generation and management. The results from the study show that the only way to eliminate problems of sustainability is to apply an upstream approach by dealing with the primary problems which occur in the early stages of the system (e.g. overconsumption of products, as well as use of finite resources, toxic materials, and non-recyclable materials). By dealing with these problems, the emergence of secondary problems would be prevented. Thereby, stakeholders who have the highest possibility to contribute to the sustainable development of the waste generation and management are the stakeholders from the origin of the product's life cycles, such as product developers, manufacturing companies, product users and policy makers. Different trade-off situations such as contradictions between economics, recyclability, energy efficiency, make it even harder to deal with issues of sustainability related to the system and to detect the stakeholders who may contribute to the development. One of the main conclusions from this study is that when transforming society towards a circular economy, the traditional view of separate systems for production and waste management must be changed. In order to refer to all problems of sustainability and also cover the top steps of the waste hierarchy, life cycle assessment of waste management should include manufacture and use of products ending up as waste. Waste entering the waste management system with “zero burden” by releasing the previous actors of the waste life cycle from any responsibility related to the environment (i.e. by shifting the total environmental burden into the waste management system), does not capture the problems with waste generation.
|
|
| 38. |
- Ekerstad, Niklas, et al.
(författare)
-
Frailty as an instrument for evaluation of elderly patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A follow-up after more than 5 years
- 2018
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. - : SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD. - 2047-4873 .- 2047-4881. ; 25:17, s. 1813-1821
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background There is a growing body of evidence on the relevance of using frailty measures also in a cardiovascular context. The estimated time to death is crucial in clinical decision-making in cardiology. However, data on the importance of frailty in long-term mortality are very scarce. The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic value of frailty on mortality at long-term follow-up of more than 5 years in patients 75 years or older hospitalised for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. We hypothesised that frailty is independently associated with long-term mortality. Design This was a prospective, observational study conducted at three centres. Methods and results Frailty was assessed according to the Canadian Study of Health and Aging clinical frailty scale (CFS). Of 307 patients, 149 (48.5%) were considered frail according to the study instrument (degree 5-7 on the scale). The long-term all-cause mortality of more than 5 years (median 6.7 years) was significantly higher among frail patients (128, 85.9%) than non-frail patients (85, 53.8%), (P amp;lt; 0.001). In Cox regression analysis, frailty was independently associated with mortality from the index hospital admission to the end of follow-up (hazard ratio 2.06, 95% confidence interval 1.51-2.81; P amp;lt; 0.001) together with age (P amp;lt; 0.001), ejection fraction (P = 0.012) and Charlson comorbidity index (P = 0.018). Conclusions In elderly non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients, frailty was independently associated with all-cause mortality at long-term follow-up of more than 6 years. The combined use of frailty and comorbidity may be the ultimate risk prediction concept in the context of cardiovascular patients with complex needs.
|
|
| 39. |
- Eklund, Caroline, et al.
(författare)
-
Development of the web application My Stress Control—Integrating theories and existing evidence
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Cogent Psychology. - : Cogent OA. - 2331-1908. ; 5:1, s. 1-19
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: To describe the systematic development of an evidence-based, tailored, interactive web application for self-management of work-related stress, and to test usability issues regarding how to proceed through the programme. Methods: Evidence from the fields of stress management, behaviour change and web-based interventions was the foundation for the theoretical framework and content. The next step was the development process of the web application and validation among experts and one possible end user. Last, a usability test with 14 possible end users was conducted. Results: The web-application, My Stress Control (MSC), was built on a solid theoretical framework. It consists of 12 modules including: introduction, psychoeducation, ambivalence, stress management strategies, lifestyle change, and maintenance. Self-monitoring, goal-setting, re-evaluating goals, feedback, and prompting formulation of intention to change are central techniques supporting behaviour change. The usability test revealed difficulties in understanding how to proceed through the programme. Conclusion: The development contributes to filling a gap in the literature regarding development of complex web-based interventions. MSC is dissimilar to existing programs in the field, considering the tailoring and multi-tracked opportunities. Although developed from the evidence in multiple fields, the web application would benefit from further development to support users in reaching the end module.
|
|
| 40. |
- Eklund, Caroline, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
-
Evaluation of a Web-Based Stress Management Application : A Feasibility Study
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science. - : Springer. - 2366-5963. ; 3:3, s. 150-160
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the current study was to investigate the feasibility of a Web-based program that promotes behavior change for stress-related problems in terms of the program’s acceptability, practicability, and any possible effects. In addition, the aim was also to study how appropriate and realistic the study’s process and resource management would be for conducting a randomized controlled trial. A convenience sample consisting of 14 individuals was recruited from a university in Sweden. The participants had access to the program for a duration of 9 weeks. Questionnaires were answered before accessing, during use of, and after completing the program. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed. The program was considered acceptable and practically feasible, though small adjustments have to be made. The program was considered time-consuming, extensive, and in need of some clarifications. Regarding process and resource management, the study participants required minimum support. It was difficult to identify the time point when to send out the process measures because the participants worked at their own pace. Also, one of the process measurements, the motivation to change, remained stable. With some adjustments to the instructions to the study participants and minor changes in the program, the intervention and study’s procedure were considered as feasible and can be carried out in a randomized controlled trial.
|
|
| 41. |
- Eklund, Caroline, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
-
User experiences from a web-based, self-management programme : struggling with what I need when stress management is about me
- 2019
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Physiotherapy. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 2167-9169 .- 2167-9177. ; , s. 39-48
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To explore users’ experiences of a tailored, interactive web application that supports behaviour change in stress management and to identify if and in that case what in the web-based programme that needed further development or adjustment to be feasible in a randomised controlled trial.Method: The design of this study was explorative with a qualitative approach. Nine individuals were recruited among the staff at a university. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted and analysed using qualitative content analysis, after the participants had completed the web-based stress management programme.Results: One theme was identified, Struggling with what I need when stress management is about me, describing the paradox in having a programme that is perceived as supporting stress management while also being perceived as extensive and time consuming. The theme was divided in two categories: Defining the needs, where the users expressed what they needed from the programme and their everyday environment, to be able to use the programme, and It is about me, where the programme was described as helping the users understand their own stress.Conclusion: The participants expressed acceptance of using a web-based programme for stress related problems. The perceived extensiveness of the programme must be considered in further development.
|
|
| 42. |
- Ekström, Veronica, 1975-
(författare)
-
Det besvärliga våldet : Socialtjänstens stöd till kvinnor som utsatts för våld i nära relationer
- 2016
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- I avhandlingen analyseras hur våldsutsatta kvinnors behov tolkas, omförhandlas och anpassas för att kunna hanteras inom socialtjänstens organisation. Avhandlingens övergripande frågeställningar fokuserar på insatser och behov, betydelsen av socialtjänstens organisering och betydelsen av socialarbetarnas handlingsutrymme. Avhandlingen baseras på kvalitativa analyser av statliga propositioner, intervjuer med socialarbetare och med kvinnor som varit utsatta för våld i nära relationer. Det teoretiska ramverket bygger bland annat på Frasers (1989) teoretiska perspektiv som tar sin utgångspunkt i samhällets tolkningar av människors/gruppers behov av stöd, nyinstitutionell teori och teorier om gatubyråkrater. Avhandlingen visar att socialarbetares tolkningar är centrala aspekter av förhandlingen om hur våldsutsatta kvinnors behov och rätt till stöd ska förstås. Ett viktigt resultat i avhandlingen är att stödet till våldsutsatta kvinnor blir så pass olika. Avhandlingen ger inga svar i kvantitativa termer på hur olikheten är fördelad, men den ger exempel på hur olikheten tar sig uttryck. I kommuner där specialiseringen innebär att socialarbetarna på socialkontoret i första hand utreder behov och fattar beslut om insatser, måste det också finnas adekvata insatser att besluta om. Saknas det så erbjuds inte heller något stöd. Stödet till kvinnor som utsatts för våld i nära relationer blir också olika eftersom socialarbetare ställer olika krav eller sätter upp olika trösklar för att kvinnor ska få stöd. Avhandlingen visar att både gemensam kunskap och gemensam syn på sociala problem är centralt för att samarbetet inom den specialiserade socialtjänstens ska fungera och i längden också för vilket stöd människor kommer att erbjudas.
|
|
| 43. |
- Ericsson, Daniel, et al.
(författare)
-
The Art and Business of "Being Critical"
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Art and Business. - : Routledge. - 9781138887442 ; , s. 16-27
-
Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Being critical within academia is a matter of the utmost importance. It could be regarded as the primary means of scientific production as well as a scientific end in itself, but it could also be conceptualized as a necessary scientific condition in the sense that science without it probably would not qualify as science at all. With reference to the institutionalized imperatives Merton (1942/1973) outlined to encircle research, one could even argue that being critical forms a crucial and unescapable part of the modernistic scientific ethos together with other highly valued principles, such as communalism, universalism and disinterestedness.
|
|
| 44. |
- Eriksson, Andreas, 1973, et al.
(författare)
-
Collaborating to constructively align writing assignments on engineering master's programmes
- 2017
-
Ingår i: 5th ICLHE conference (Integrating Content and Language in Higher Education).
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- PROFiLE is a three-university project investigating the alleged incidental effects on English professional literacy in EMI-education. This sub-project in PROFiLE encompasses mapping writing assignment and writing development in twointernational master’s programmes of engineering. The observational mapping stage evolved into an interventional study and material presented here stems from teachers at the programmes not being satisfied with texts written by students on courses on the programmes. This dissatisfaction prompted discussion with course managers and analysis of course material. These dialogues and analyses revealedthat instructions for assignments were vague, did not highlight teacher expectations, and that crucial features were not obvious to the students. The challenges involved e.g. selection of content, articulating the understanding of core theory, comments about how results should be interpreted, and the presentation of results in figures and tables.Our results show that student texts improved in many ways at the same time as students considered the assignments relevant for assessing the expected learning outcomes. The sub-project shows how student writing in an EMI-context can be improved through collaboration between content and communication staff on the alignment of learning outcomes, activities, task descriptions, and disciplinary expectations.The redesign processes also show that expectations change as students move into master’s level and that criteria and task descriptions have to capture expectations of disciplinary discourse that students have not necessarily been expected to meet before. Our studies show that teachers at master’s level may need support in the unpacking of these disciplinary expectations and when they get this type of support they are able to address challenges in such a way that it promotes student performance. In many mixed ICLHE and EMI contexts, one of the great challenges is therefore to unpack course and disciplinary expectations and to make these explicit and tangible to students.
|
|
| 45. |
- Eriksson, Andreas, 1973, et al.
(författare)
-
Enhancing the development of students’ disciplinary discourse and content learning in science and engineering through a focus on writing: a comparison between approaches at a Swedish and a UK university.
- 2017
-
Ingår i: 9th Conference of the European Association for the Teaching of Academic Writing (EATAW).
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- An Erasmus funded collaboration between Chalmers University and Queen Mary University of London in2016, involving a one‐week visit by Queen Mary disciplinary and Learning Development/Thinking Writingstaff to Chalmers, enabled us to share practices and approaches in how we support the development ofstudents’ disciplinary discourse in science and engineering.In Queen Mary, a funded project known as The Whole Programme Approach to Writing Development hasbeen focusing on two degree programmes, Mechanical Engineering and Electronic Engineering andComputer Science. The objective of the project is to investigate writing development across the three yearsof the programmes and support innovations that build engineering discourse along a more coherenttrajectory. At Chalmers, there is a long tradition of developing disciplinary discourse at the level of entireeducational programmes. Given that many students start on a BSc‐programme and continue onto anassociated MSc, the ‘programme’ at Chalmers allows for a five‐year sequenced progression for a majority ofthe students. There are also a number of students (25%) who enter at the level of the MSc and consequentlyexperience less of the sequenced progression. Since the BSc section of the programmes is delivered inSwedish and the MSc is delivered in English, the whole programme approach at Chalmers also needs tonegotiate issues of transferring from L1 to ESL or EFL. The different engineering programmes, therefore,exemplify different degrees of EMI and some provide more integrated disciplinary discourse developmentthan others.The symposium will be organised in the form of a dialogue between the two universities to draw outsignificant parallels and differences, and how these have been addressed. The dialogue is framed by threeinterrelated conceptual configurations: disciplinary practices, contexts, and multimodal texts. Ourengagement with these configurations is influenced by our educational philosophies or theories; thepedagogical approaches we encounter or use and find to be effective with specialists or students; and themultimodal artefacts and practices of students and specialists we encounter in the various programmes.Drawing on experience in our respective contexts and using joint concept mapping to visualise our activities,we will offer some of the approaches we have adopted (e.g. social semiotics; constructive alignment;research‐based learning, genre‐based writing instruction; writing‐to‐learn; and concept mapping) to explorehow they are used in strategic mixes within the various programmes. In our practices, we find our focusshifting between the three configurations of practices, contexts and texts, sometimes emphasising artefacts,sometimes practices, sometimes students, sometimes specialists/lecturers, and sometimes the developmentof educational material and resources.We hope to be able to present the audience possible ways towards implementing a whole programmeapproach at their respective institutions. However, we also want to highlight the challenges we face and howwe are currently addressing them.Discussion questions:How do your experiences of developing students’ disciplinary discourses and content learning compare withthe ones you have heard about in the presentations?Do the three broad perspectives of practices, contexts, and texts and the theories and approaches referredto help in articulating your experience?
|
|
| 46. |
- Eriksson, Anna-Lena, 1971, et al.
(författare)
-
Genetic Determinants of Circulating Estrogen Levels and Evidence of a Causal Effect of Estradiol on Bone Density in Men.
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0021-972X .- 1945-7197. ; 103:3, s. 991-1004
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Serum estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1) levels exhibit substantial heritability.To investigate the genetic regulation of serum E2 and E1 in men.Genome-wide association study in 11,097 men of European origin from nine epidemiological cohorts.Genetic determinants of serum E2 and E1 levels.Variants in/near CYP19A1 demonstrated the strongest evidence for association with E2, resolving to three independent signals. Two additional independent signals were found on the X chromosome; FAMily with sequence similarity 9, member B (FAM9B), rs5934505 (P = 3.4 × 10-8) and Xq27.3, rs5951794 (P = 3.1 × 10-10). E1 signals were found in CYP19A1 (rs2899472, P = 5.5 × 10-23), in Tripartite motif containing 4 (TRIM4; rs17277546, P = 5.8 × 10-14), and CYP11B1/B2 (rs10093796, P = 1.2 × 10-8). E2 signals in CYP19A1 and FAM9B were associated with bone mineral density (BMD). Mendelian randomization analysis suggested a causal effect of serum E2 on BMD in men. A 1 pg/mL genetically increased E2 was associated with a 0.048 standard deviation increase in lumbar spine BMD (P = 2.8 × 10-12). In men and women combined, CYP19A1 alleles associated with higher E2 levels were associated with lower degrees of insulin resistance.Our findings confirm that CYP19A1 is an important genetic regulator of E2 and E1 levels and strengthen the causal importance of E2 for bone health in men. We also report two independent loci on the X-chromosome for E2, and one locus each in TRIM4 and CYP11B1/B2, for E1.
|
|
| 47. |
- Eriksson, Amanda, et al.
(författare)
-
Morphology drives water storage traits in the globally widespreadlichen genus Usnea
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Fungal ecology. - : Elsevier. - 1754-5048 .- 1878-0083. ; 35, s. 51-61
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Links between lichen morphology, internal/external water storage and distribution patterns are poorly known. We compared mass- (WC, % H2O) and area-based (WHC, mg H2O cm−2) hydration traits in seven pendent or shrubby Usnea species from oceanic to continental climates. All species held more external than internal water. Internal WHC and WC increased with specific thallus mass (STM, mg cm−2), while external WC decreased. Shrubby species had higher STM and total WHC than pendent ones. The continental Usnea hirta (shrubby) had the highest total and external storage; the suboceanic Usnea longissima (pendent) had the lowest internal storage. Morphology drives hydration traits and explains distributions of some Usnea species, but such traits did not distinguish oceanic from widespread species. Shrubby species maximize water storage and thus prolong hydration after rainfall events and/or hydration by dew. The low internal WHC in pendent species is likely an adaptation to frequent hydration in humid air.
|
|
| 48. |
- Eriksson, Andreas, 1973, et al.
(författare)
-
PROFiLE (Professional Literacy in English): a longitudinal study of the relationship between English as the medium of instruction and the development of professional English literacy
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Integrating Content and Language in Higher Education (ICLHE 2015), 2-4 September, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In many European universities, English is today used as a medium of instruction. One of the reasons is that it is believed that using English as a medium of instruction (EMI) can develop students’ subject-specific knowledge of English. This knowledge is seen as an asset in the workplace and often presented as providing a competitive advantage supporting professional success. The design of many educational programmes shows that this knowledge is supposed to develop incidentally rather than through explicit instruction. Recent research has, however, offered reason to question the extent to which such incidental learning actually occurs (Pecorari et al., 2011, Shaw et al. 2010). In addition, little is known about what type of knowledge is developed in different educational contexts. The present paper reports on the preliminary findings of a project testing assumptions about the development of English-language skills in the EMI environment.This longitudinal study is following students from several master's programmes from the beginning of their degrees into the workplace, gathering a range of data including language test results, interviews and observations. The aim is to carry out a thorough analysis of proficiency levels, the development of English literacy, and the extent to which activities in the programs support the development of disciplinary discourse and workplace demands. The findings will be used to discuss and recommend measures for improved practice.Preliminary analysis of the data reveals several themes: evidence that teaching staff and students see use of English as opposed to the local language as both opportunity and disadvantage; a wide diversity of English proficiency levels in the English-medium classroom (as shown by results from four tests distributed to approximately 150 students); and significant differences across participating programmes in terms of the sorts of English-language proficiencies their students are believed to need in the workplace.
|
|
| 49. |
- Eriksson, Bjorn, et al.
(författare)
-
Limited value of NT-proBNP as a prognostic marker of all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure with preserved and mid-range ejection fraction in primary care : A report from the swedish heart failure register
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. - 0281-3432 .- 1502-7724. ; 37:4, s. 434-443
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: The prognostic value of natriuretic peptides in the management of heart failure (HF) patients with ejection fraction (EF) <40% is well established, but is less known for those with EF >= 40% managed in primary care (PC). Therefore, the aim of this study is to describe the prognostic significance of plasma NT-proBNP in such patients managed in PC. Subjects: We included 924 HF patients (48% women) with EF >= 40% and NT-proBNP registered in the Swedish Heart Failure Registry. Follow-up was 1100 +/- 687 days. Results: One-, three- and five-year mortality rates were 8.1%, 23.9% and 44.7% in patients with EF 40-50% (HFmrEF) and 7.3%, 23.6% and 37.2% in patients with EF >= 50% (HFpEF) (p = 0.26). Patients with the highest mean values of NT-proBNP had the highest all-cause mortality but wide standard deviations (SDs). In univariate regression analysis, there was an association only between NT-proBNP quartiles and all-cause mortality. In HFmrEF patients, hazard ratio (HR) was 1.96 (95% CI 1.60-2.39) p < 0.0001) and in HFpEF patients, HR was 1.72 (95% CI 1.49-1.98) p < 0.0001). In a multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, adjusted for age, NYHA class, atrial fibrillation and GFR class, this association remained regarding NT-proBNP quartiles [HR 1.83 (95% CI 1.38-2.44), p < 0.0001] and [HR 1.48 (95% CI 1.16-1.90), p = 0.0001], HFmrEF and HFpEF, respectively. Conclusion: NT-proBNP has a prognostic value in patients with HF and EF >= 40% managed in PC. However, its clinical utility is limited due to high SDs and the fact that it is not independent in this population which is characterized by high age and much comorbidity.
|
|
| 50. |
|
|
