| 1. |
- Lekander, Mats, et al.
(författare)
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Cytokines and memory across the mature life span of women
- 2011
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. - : Wiley. - 0036-5564 .- 1467-9450. ; 52:3, s. 229-235
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Increasing evidence suggests a role of the immune system in modulation of cognition, but details on affected memory systems are largely lacking. We therefore aimed to study the relation between selected cytokines and subsets of memory, and the impact of age in these relations. From a random population-based sample (the Betula Prospective Cohort Study), 298 women (age 45-90) were studied in terms of episodic recall and recognition, semantic fluency and knowledge, and prospective memory. Circulating cytokines of relevance for cognition and aging were measured with ELISA. Levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and sIL-2R were significantly and negatively associated with most cognitive variables, while the opposite was true for IL-1 beta. Age shared substantial variance with both cytokines and memory, and turned most correlations non-significant when controlled for together with education, BMI and presence of disease. Interactions between age and cytokines were further analyzed in multiple regressions. For IL-6, significant negative interactions with age were found for semantic fluency (p < 0.05) and prospective memory (p < 0.01), and for sIL-2R in predicting semantic knowledge (p < 0.05), indicating an increased negative impact of these cytokines on memory with increasing age. In conclusion, the study indicates a relation between cytokines and memory that appears to be largely mediated by age, and supports the suggestion that cytokine dysregulation with higher age may interact with cognitive aging.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Grubb, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Generation of a new cystatin C-based estimating equation for glomerular filtration rate by use of 7 assays standardized to the international calibrator
- 2014
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Ingår i: Clinical Chemistry. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0009-9147 .- 1530-8561. ; 60:7, s. 974-986
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND:Many different cystatin C-based equations exist for estimating glomerular filtration rate. Major reasons for this are the previous lack of an international cystatin C calibrator and the nonequivalence of results from different cystatin C assays.METHODS:Use of the recently introduced certified reference material, ERM-DA471/IFCC, and further work to achieve high agreement and equivalence of 7 commercially available cystatin C assays allowed a substantial decrease of the CV of the assays, as defined by their performance in an external quality assessment for clinical laboratory investigations. By use of 2 of these assays and a population of 4690 subjects, with large subpopulations of children and Asian and Caucasian adults, with their GFR determined by either renal or plasma inulin clearance or plasma iohexol clearance, we attempted to produce a virtually assay-independent simple cystatin C-based equation for estimation of GFR.RESULTS:We developed a simple cystatin C-based equation for estimation of GFR comprising only 2 variables, cystatin C concentration and age. No terms for race and sex are required for optimal diagnostic performance. The equation, [Formula: see text] is also biologically oriented, with 1 term for the theoretical renal clearance of small molecules and 1 constant for extrarenal clearance of cystatin C.CONCLUSIONS:A virtually assay-independent simple cystatin C-based and biologically oriented equation for estimation of GFR, without terms for sex and race, was produced.
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| 5. |
- Gustafsson, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
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Risk factors for cardiovascular mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, a prospective cohort study
- 2012
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research & Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362 .- 1478-6354. ; 14:2, s. R46-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION:Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is common and a major cause of mortality. Studies on cardiovascular morbidity are abundant, whereas mortality studies focusing on cardiovascular outcomes are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate causes of death and baseline predictors of overall (OM), non-vascular (N-VM), and specifically cardiovascular (CVM) mortality in SLE, and to evaluate Systematic coronary risk evaluation (SCORE).METHODS:208 SLE patients were included 1995-1999 and followed up after 12 years. Clinical evaluation, CVD risk factors, and biomarkers were recorded at inclusion. Death certificates and autopsy protocols were collected. Causes of death were divided into CVM (ischemic vascular and general atherosclerotic diseases), N-VM and death due to pulmonary hypertension. Predictors of mortality were investigated using multivariable Cox regression. SCORE and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) were calculated.RESULTS: During follow-up 42 patients died at mean age of 62 years. SMR 2.4 (CI 1.7-3.0). 48% of deaths were caused by CVM. SCORE underestimated CVM but not to a significant level. Age, high cystatin C levels and established arterial disease were the strongest predictors for all- cause mortality. After adjusting for these in multivariable analyses, only smoking of traditional risk factors, high soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), anti-beta2 glycoprotein-1 (abeta2GP1) and any antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) among biomarkers, remained predictive of CVM.CONCLUSION:With the exception of smoking, traditional risk factors do not capture the main underlying risk factors for CVM in SLE. Rather, cystatin C levels, inflammatory and endothelial markers, and anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) differentiate patients with favorable versus severe cardiovascular prognosis. Our results suggest that these new biomarkers are useful in evaluating the future risk of cardiovascular mortality in SLE patients.
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| 6. |
- Hansson, Jenny, et al.
(författare)
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Use of snus and acute myocardial infarction: pooled analysis of eight prospective observational studies
- 2012
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Ingår i: European Journal of Epidemiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1573-7284 .- 0393-2990. ; 27:10, s. 771-779
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The use of snus (also referred to as Scandinavian or Swedish moist smokeless tobacco), which is common in Sweden and increasing elsewhere, is receiving increasing attention since considered a tobacco smoke "potential reduction exposure product". Snus delivers a high dose of nicotine with possible hemodynamic effects, but its impact on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate whether snus use is associated with risk of and survival after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Data from eight prospective cohort studies set in Sweden was pooled and reanalysed. The relative risk of first time AMI and 28-day case-fatality was calculated for 130,361 men who never smoked. During 2,262,333 person-years of follow-up, 3,390 incident events of AMI were identified. Current snus use was not associated with risk of AMI (pooled multivariable hazard ratio 1.04, 95 % confidence interval 0.93 to 1.17). The short-term case fatality rate appeared increased in snus users (odds ratio 1.28, 95 % confidence interval 0.99 to 1.68). This study does not support any association between use of snus and development of AMI. Hence, toxic components other than nicotine appear implicated in the pathophysiology of smoking related ischemic heart disease. Case fatality after AMI is seemingly increased among snus users, but this relationship may be due to confounding by socioeconomic or life style factors.
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| 7. |
- Hansson, Lars-Olof, et al.
(författare)
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Performance evaluation of a turbidimetric cystatin C assay on different high-throughput platforms
- 2010
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Clinical & Laboratory Investigation. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1502-7686 .- 0036-5513. ; 70:5, s. 347-353
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. The goal with this study was to evaluate the analytical performance of a new cystatin C immunoassay (Tina-quant (R) a Cystatin C, Roche Diagnostics GmbH). The evaluation was carried out at four centers according to a standardized protocol. Material and methods. The Tina-quant (R) a Cystatin C is a latex particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay. Roche cobas (R) 6000, MODULAR ANALYTICS SWA and COBAS INTEGRA (R) instruments were included in the study. Method comparison studies were carried out against two turbidimetric methods (Dako Cystatin C, Gentian Cystatin C), and one nephelometric method (Siemens N-Latex Cystatin C). Results. Linearity was proven throughout the measuring range from 0.4 to 8 mg/L. Within-run CVs ranged from 0.7-2.8%, and total CVs from 1.4-4.7 % (concentration range 0.6-3.9 mg/L). Comparable results were obtained with paired serum and Li-heparinate plasma samples. Good agreement was achieved in the comparisons between the Tina-quant (R) a Cystatin C assay and the other commercially available cystatin C assays, two different turbidimetric methods (slope range 0.88-1.04, intercept < 0.17 mg/L, r >= 0.993) and one nephelometric assay (slope range 0.90-1.05, intercept < 0.21 mg/L, r >= 0.986). Conclusions. The Tina-quant (R) a Cystatin C assay was shown to be precise and accurate with proven linearity over the measuring range. Good comparability was obtained with other commercially available assays for the determination of cystatin C. The Tina-quant (R) a Cystatin C assay is very well suited for clinical use on routine clinical chemistry analysers to detect renal dysfunction with a 24 h availability.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Hedén Ståhl, Christina, 1972, et al.
(författare)
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High-normal blood pressure and long-term risk of type 2 diabetes: 35-year prospective population based cohort study of men
- 2012
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Ingår i: BMC cardiovascular disorders. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2261. ; 12:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The link between type 2 diabetes and hypertension is well established and the conditions often coexist. High normal blood pressure, defined by WHO-ISH as systolic blood pressure (SBP) 130--139 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 85--89 mm Hg, has been found to be an independent predictor for type 2 diabetes in studies, although with relatively limited follow-up periods of approximately 10 years. The aim of this study was to investigate whether hypertension, including mildly elevated blood pressure within the normal range, predicted subsequent development of type 2 diabetes in men over an extended follow-up of 35 years. METHODS: Data were derived from the Gothenburg Primary Prevention Study where a random sample of 7 494 men aged 47--55 years underwent a baseline screening investigation in the period 1970--1973. A total of 7 333 men were free from previous history of diabetes at baseline. During a 35-year follow-up diabetes was identified through the Swedish hospital discharge and death registries. The cumulative risk of diabetes adjusted for age and competing risk of death was calculated. Using Cox proportional hazard models we calculated the multiple adjusted hazard ratios (HR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) for diabetes at different blood pressure levels. RESULTS: During a 35-year follow-up, 956 men (13%) were identified with diabetes. The 35-year cumulative risk of diabetes after adjusting for age and competing risk of death in men with SBP levels <130 mm Hg, 130--139 mm Hg, 140--159 mm Hg and >=160 mm Hg were 19%, 30%, 31% and 49%, respectively. The HR for diabetes adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), cholesterol, antihypertensive treatment, smoking, physical activity and occupation were 1.43 (95% CI 1.12-1.84), 1.43 (95% CI 1.14-1.79) and 1.95 (95% CI 1.55-2.46) for men with SBP 130--139 mm Hg, 140--159 mm Hg, and >= 160 mm Hg, respectively (reference; SBP<130 mm Hg). CONCLUSION: In this population, at mid-life, even high-normal SBP levels were shown to be a significant predictor of type 2 diabetes, independently of BMI and other conventional type 2 diabetes risk factors over an extended follow-up.
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| 10. |
- Hedén Ståhl, Christina, 1972, et al.
(författare)
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Incidence of Type 2 diabetes among occupational classes in Sweden: a 35-year follow-up cohort study in middle-aged men
- 2014
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Ingår i: Diabetic Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0742-3071 .- 1464-5491. ; 31:6, s. 674-680
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AimsTo assess if low occupational class was an independent predictor of Type 2 diabetes in men in Sweden over a 35-year follow-up, after adjustment for both conventional risk factors and psychological stress. MethodsA random population-based sample of 6874 men aged 47-56 years without a history of diabetes was divided into five occupational classes and the men were followed from 1970 to 2008. Diabetes cases were identified through the Swedish inpatient and death registers. Subdistribution hazard ratios (SHRs) and 95% CIs from competing risk regressions, cumulative incidence and conditional probabilities were calculated, after accounting for the risk of death attributed to other causes. ResultsA total of 907 (13%) men with diabetes were identified over 35 years with a median follow-up of 27.9 years. The cumulative incidence of diabetes, when taking into account death as a competing event, was 11% in high officials, 12% in intermediate non-manual employees, 14% in assistant non-manual employees, 14% in skilled workers, and 16% in unskilled and semi-skilled workers. Men with unskilled and semi-skilled manual occupations had a significantly higher risk of diabetes than high officials (reference) after adjustment for age, BMI, hypertension, smoking and physical activity (SHR 1.39, 95% CI 1.08-1.78). Additional adjustment for self-reported psychological stress did not attenuate the results. ConclusionsA low occupational class suggests a greater risk of Type 2 diabetes, independently of conventional risk factors and psychological stress. Studies with a follow-up of 15 years have shown that Type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects people with a lower socio-economic status. With the world's aging population, it is important to determine if risk factors persist into older age groups. In contrast to many other studies, we adjusted the analysis, not only for conventional risk factors, but also for psychological stress and competing risk of death. The present study shows that low occupational class at mid-life remains an independent predictor for Type 2 diabetes after a 35-year follow-up.
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| 11. |
- Hedgren, Olof, et al.
(författare)
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Vedskalbaggar och andra insekter i tallskogar i Västmanlands län.
- 2010
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Faunan av främst vedlevande skalbaggar i tjugo områden med äldre tallskog i Västmanlands län undersöktes sommaren 2008. Tio områden studerades mer intensivt med trädfönsterfällor placerade på tallved. Sållning av bark och ved samt observationer av arter direkt eller deras gnagspår användes som en kompletterande metod på dessa tio lokaler, samt som enda metod på de övriga tio lokalerna som undersöktes mer översiktligt. Totalt erhölls ca 11000 individer av drygt 400 arter skalbaggar, samt en rad intressanta barkskinnbaggar, parasitsteklar, ormhalssländor och klokrypare. Av dessa var 27 arter med på aktuell rödlista för år 2005 (hänsynskrävande (NT) 21 arter, sårbara (VU) fem arter och starkt hotade (EN) en art). Ett stort antal s.k. signalarter knutna till främst äldre tallskog med naturskogskaraktär påträffades. Samtliga områden innehöll intressanta arter knutna till tallved. De mest intressanta fynden gjordes i arealmässigt stora områden som Lapplands naturreservat (Skinnskattebergs kommun) och Acksjön (Sala kommun) samt mindre lokaler inom landskap med hög andel äldre tallskog. Det senare gäller särskilt Slogmossen tillsammans med brandfältet på Stora Flyten (Surahammar), och Fermansbo urskog med närliggande Höskovsmossen och Jan-Ols skogen (Surahammar/Sala kommun). Det sedan tidigare undersökta naturreservatet Stora Hoberget (Norberg) inventerades nu översiktligt med ytterligare fynd av tallvedinsekter som följd. På ett brandfält i närheten påträffades slät tallkapuschongbagge Stephanopachys linearis, en art som ingår i åtgärdsprogrammet för brandinsekter i boreal skog. På sydliga lokaler vid Mälaren hittades likaledes en rik vedfauna på tall inom reservaten Ängsö och Strömsholm (Västerås kommun). På Ängsö finns en rad intressanta arter knutna till grov levande tall samt nyligen död tall. Länets sannolikt största population av reliktbock finns på Ängsö i hagmarker med grov tall. Här påträffades även en intressant fauna av vedlevande parasitsteklar, bl.a. en art (Xorides depressus) som är specialiserad på reliktbock. Strömsholm präglas av att ädellövskogens rika vedfauna (främst hålträdsarter) spiller över på tall. Sammantaget uppvisade flera lokaler (bl.a. Lapplands NR) en artrik fauna knuten till lövträd, särskilt gammal vårtbjörk, som är ett naturligt inslag i gamla tallskogar med brandhistorik. Två rödlistade arter som ingår i förslaget till åtgärdsprogram för skalbaggar på nyligen död tall påträffades - linjerad plattstumpbagge Platysoma linearis och tallgångbagge Cerylon impressum. Båda arter påträffades i Lapplands naturreservat. Övriga förekomster för tallgångbagge var Fermansbo urskog, samt för linjerad plattstumpbagge fyra andra lokaler (Ängsö, Stora Flyten, Kråksten och Passboberget). Av arter i förslag till åtgärdsprogram för skalbaggar på äldre tallved påträffades skrovlig flatbagge Calitys scabra på fem lokaler (Fermansbo, Stingsberget, Höskovsmossen, Kråksten och Acksjön). Raggbock Tragosoma depsarium är tidigare rapporterad från länet, men kunde ej påträffas trots fällor och direkt sök efter gnagspår på lämplig tallved på flera lokaler. En del lokaler var dock olämpliga för denna art, så för att fastställa dess status i länet skulle det behövas en riktad studie. Om raggbocken eventuellt finns kvar i länet är dess populationer sannolikt små och i behov av direkta stödåtgärder. Faunan på nydöd tall var mest artrik inom sammanhängande landskap med stor andel äldre tallskog (ofta tack vare stora naturreservat). Brandpåverkan är positivt då det ofta skapar ett successivt döende av tall, vilket är särskilt gynnsamt för flera sällsynta arter. Avgörande tycks dock vara att tillräckligt stora delar av landskapet hålls fria från skogsbruk, som annars ensidigt gynnar vissa mycket allmänna vedinsekter vilket leder till en trivialisering av faunan. Naturvårdsbränningar bör i första hand förläggas till större skyddade områden, eller i anslutning till stora värdekärnor av äldre tall inom den brukade skogen. I Västmanlands län har åtgärder inom Färna ekopark stor betydelse för att bevara tallvedsfaunan tack vare ekoparkens storlek och läge intill flera fina tallområden (Lappland, Stora Flyten och Slogmossen, samt andra lokaler på längre avstånd). Arter på äldre tallved har i flera fall ytterst små populationer (t.ex. tallpraktbagge och skrovlig flatbagge) vilket medför stor risk för utdöende. Dessa arter kräver solexponering och missgynnas av en fortgående naturlig succession mot en allt tätare skog genom uppväxt av yngre träd av olika slag (tall, gran och ibland lövträd). De är framförallt beroende av olika former av ved uppkommen ur långsamt växande träd, vilket gör att det krävs planering och lång tid att öka tätheten av lämplig ved. Det är därför viktigt att i dagsläget bevara sådan ved, och se till att den ej beskuggas. Många av lokalerna är i behov av restaurering för att återskapa eller öka andelen solöppen gles tallskog med exponerad ved. Naturvårdsbränning är en viktig metod, men ibland kan selektiv utglesning (fällning eller ringbarkning) vara ett lämpligare alternativ. Ett annat mål bör vara att gynna lövträden, särskilt vårtbjörk som utgör ett naturligt inslag i tallskogen. Detta kan uppnås bl.a. genom särskilt anpassad naturvårdsbränning.
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| 12. |
- Helmersson-Karlqvist, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
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The age related association is more pronounced for cystatin C estimated GFR than for creatinine estimated GFR in primary care patients
- 2013
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Ingår i: Clinical Biochemistry. - : Elsevier BV. - 0009-9120 .- 1873-2933. ; 46:16-17, s. 1761-1763
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ObjectivesThere is an age associated change in GFR but this association may be influenced by the method used. The aims of the present study were to assess the association between age and cystatin C and creatinine based glomerular filtration rate estimates in primary care patients, and to determine the proportion of patients with clinically important renal impairment.Materials and methods1552 samples with simultaneous requests for creatinine and cystatin C from 1552 primary care patients in the county of Uppsala, Sweden were analysed. MDRD, CKD-EPI and cystatin C equations were used to calculate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and the associations between GFR and age were explored.ResultsThe yearly change in cystatin C estimated GFR was 1.24 mL/min/1.73 m2 while the corresponding decline for creatinine estimated GFR was 0.76 mL/min/1.73 m2 for MDRD and 0.99 mL/min/1.73 m2 for CKD-EPI.ConclusionsThe age related association with GFR estimates is smaller for creatinine estimates than for cystatin C estimates. This leads to differences in the number of patients with reduced eGFR detected with the three estimates and the patient treatment will depend on the estimate used. This is not coherent with a good patient care and we thus need to develop new eGFR equations with better agreement between the estimates.
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| 13. |
- Hergens, Maria-Pia, et al.
(författare)
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Use of Scandinavian Moist Smokeless Tobacco (Snus) and the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation
- 2014
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Ingår i: Epidemiology. - 1044-3983 .- 1531-5487. ; 25:6, s. 872-876
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Snus is a smokeless tobacco product, widely used among Swedish men and increasingly so elsewhere. There is debate as to whether snus is an acceptable "harm-reduction" tobacco product. Since snus use delivers a dose of nicotine equivalent to cigarettes, and has been implicated in cardiac arrhythmia because of associations with sudden cardiovascular death, a relation with atrial fibrillation is plausible and important to investigate.METHODS:: To assess the relation between use of snus and risk of atrial fibrillation, we carried out a pooled analysis of 7 prospective Swedish cohort studies. In total, 274,882 men, recruited between 1978 and 2004, were followed via the National Patient Register for atrial fibrillation. Primary analyses were restricted to 127,907 never-smokers. Relative risks were estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression.RESULTS:: The prevalence of snus use was 25% among never-smokers. During follow-up, 3,069 cases of atrial fibrillation were identified. The pooled relative risk of atrial fibrillation was 1.07 (95% confidence interval = 0.97-1.19) in current snus users, compared with nonusers.CONCLUSION:: Findings from this large national pooling project indicate that snus use is unlikely to confer any important increase in risk of atrial fibrillation.
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
- Larsson, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Cystatin C and modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) estimated glomerular filtration rate differ during normal pregnancy
- 2010
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Ingår i: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. - : Wiley. - 0001-6349 .- 1600-0412. ; 89:7, s. 939-944
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To calculate normal values for estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for pregnant females. eGFR is used to monitor patients with suspected kidney disease and to optimize the dosage of drugs that are eliminated by the kidneys. Plasma creatinine and cystatin C are the two most widely used GFR markers. Both markers are recommended to be automatically reported as estimated GFR. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary university hospital. POPULATION: We have studied creatinine (eGFR(MDRD)) (MDRD, modified diet in renal disease) and cystatin C (eGFR(cystc)) estimated GFR during 52 normal pregnancies from pregnancy week 10 to delivery and postpartum. METHODS: Each woman was sampled repeatedly and the samples were grouped according to gestational age into the following periods: week 7-16; week 18-24; week 24-28; week 28-31; week 31-34; week 34-38; -2-0 weeks prior to delivery and postpartum (> 6 weeks after delivery). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles for these markers were calculated according to the recommendations of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry on the statistical treatment of reference values. RESULTS: In healthy pregnant females eGFR(cystc) was higher in the first two trimesters and lower prior to delivery in comparison with eGFR(MDRD). eGFR(cystc) and eGFR(MDRD) give different results. No significant correlations between the two estimates were found in any of the time groups. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to distinguish between the two GFR estimates and use separate reference intervals for pregnant females.
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| 16. |
- Larsson, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Weight reduction is associated with decreased CRP levels
- 2013
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Ingår i: Clinical Laboratory. - 1433-6510. ; 59:9-10, s. 1135-1138
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Obesity is very costly for society and weight reduction is important to reduce obesity related dis-eases. We have evaluated the effect of weight reduction on CRP values to see if high sensitivity CRP could be used to provide persons on life style intervention programs with positive feedback.Methods: Study subjects (n = 26) were recruited to a life style intervention program aiming for weight loss among the laboratory staff at Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden. Blood samples for high sensitivity CRP were collect-ed at inclusion and after 4 weeks. Body composition was estimated by measurements performed on an inexpensive bioimpedance analyzer.Results: CRP reduction was significantly associated with weight reduction after four weeks (p = 0.00005) and eight weeks (p = 0.0002). Data from the bioimpedance analyzer were not useful on an individual level.Conclusions: High sensitivity CRP could be used to provide positive feedback in workplace weight reduction pro-grams.
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| 17. |
- Leoni, Valerio, et al.
(författare)
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Diagnostic Power of 24S-Hydroxycholesterol in Cerebrospinal Fluid: Candidate Marker of Brain Health
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 36:4, s. 739-747
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We evaluated the diagnostic potential of 24S-hydroxycholesterol (24OHC) in cerebrospinal fluid. At a memory clinic, we investigated subjects with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI, n = 33), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients (n = 27), MCI patients with later progression into Alzheimer dementia at follow up (n = 10), and patients with AD (n = 24). We also had a control group of healthy volunteers who did not later develop cognitive problems (n = 13). The fraction of the population with pathological levels of 24OHC was 8% in controls, 34% in SCI, 37% in MCI, 80% in MCI with progression, and 42% in AD. The corresponding fractions for T-tau, P-tau, and A beta(42) were lower in the case of SCI and MCI but higher in the case of controls and AD. In case of MCI with progression, the fraction of pathological levels of 24OHC and A beta(42) were 80% and 63% respectively. We also studied a population of old healthy subjects age 75-99 years (n = 25). The fraction of individuals in this population with pathological levels of 24OHC was 0% whereas the fraction of individuals with pathological level of at least one of the other three biomarkers was 40%. The diagnostic power of 24OHC in cerebrospinal fluid seems to be similar to or lower than that of the established biomarkers T-tau, P-tau, and A beta(42) in the diagnosis of established AD. Our data suggest that 24OHC may be more sensitive than the classical biomarkers in an early phase of the neurodegenerative process and a better marker for "brain health" in old age.
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| 18. |
- Mindemark, Mirja, 1982-
(författare)
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The Use of Laboratory Analyses in Sweden : Quality and Cost-Effectiveness in Test Utilization
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Laboratory analyses, essential in screening, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of disease, are indispensable in health care, but appropriate utilization is intricate. The overall aim of this thesis was to study the use of laboratory tests in Sweden with the objective to evaluate and optimize test utilization. Considerable inter-county variations in test utilization in primary health care in Sweden were found; variations likely influenced by local traditions and habits of test ordering leading to over- as well as underutilization. Optimized test utilization was demonstrated to convey improved quality and substantial cost savings. It was further established that continuing medical education is a suitable means of optimizing test utilization, and consequently enhancing quality and cost-efficiency, as such education was demonstrated to achieve long-lasting improvements in the test ordering habits of primary health care physicians. Laboratory tests are closely associated with other, greater, health care costs, but their indirect effects on other areas of medicine are rarely evaluated or measured in monetary terms. In an illustrative example of the effects that optimal test utilization may have on associated health care costs it was demonstrated that F-calprotectin, a fecal marker of intestinal inflammation, has the potential to substantially reduce the number of invasive investigations necessary in, and the costs associated with, the diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Information on trends in test utilization is essential to optimal financial management of laboratories. A longitudinal evaluation revealed that test utilization had increased by 70% in 6 years, and even though the selection of tests more than doubled, a very small number of tests represented a stable, and disproportionally large, share of the total number of tests ordered. The study defines trends and thus has potential predictive values. In summary, appropriate utilization of laboratory analyses has both clinical and economical benefits on all levels of health care.
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| 19. |
- Nyman, Ulf, et al.
(författare)
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The revised Lund-Malmo GFR estimating equation outperforms MDRD and CKD-EPI across GFR, age and BMI intervals in a large Swedish population
- 2014
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Ingår i: Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. - : Walter de Gruyter GmbH. - 1434-6621 .- 1437-4331. ; 52:6, s. 815-824
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The performance of creatinine-based glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimating equations may vary in subgroups defined by GFR, age and body mass index (BMI). This study compares the performance of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations with the revised Lund-Malmo equation (LM Revised), a new equation that can be expected to handle changes in GFR across the life span more accurately. Methods: The study included 3495 examinations in 2847 adult Swedish patients referred for measurement of GFR (mGFR) 2008-2010 by plasma clearance of iohexol (median 52 mL/min/1.73 m(2)). Bias, precision [interquartile range (IQR)] and accuracy [percentage of estimates +/- 10% (P-10) and +/- 30% (P-30) of mGFR] were compared. Results: The overall results of LM Revised/MDRD/CKD-EPI were: median bias 2%/8%/11%, IQR 12/14/14 mL/min/1.73 m(2), P-10 40%/35%/35% and P-30 84%/75%/76%. LM Revised was the most stable equation in terms of bias, precision and accuracy across mGFR, age and BMI intervals irrespective of gender. MDRD and CKD-EPI overestimated mGFR in patients with decreased kidney function, young adults and elderly. All three equations overestimated mGFR and had low accuracy in patients with BMI <20 kg/m(2), most pronounced among men. Conclusions: In settings similar to the investigated cohort LM Revised should be preferred to MDRD and CKD-EPI due to its higher accuracy and more stable performance across GFR, age and BMI intervals.
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| 20. |
- Shlipak, Michael G., et al.
(författare)
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Comparison of Cardiovascular Prognosis by 3 Serum Cystatin C Methods in the Heart and Soul Study
- 2011
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Ingår i: Clinical Chemistry. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0009-9147 .- 1530-8561. ; 57:5, s. 737-745
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Cystatin C is a promising new biomarker to estimate glomerular filtration (eGFR). However, the Siemens' cystatin C assay (Siemens), used in many longitudinal studies, has had limited clinical applicability because it requires a specific, dedicated instrument. Other companies, including Gentian and Roche, have developed cystatin C assays that can be used with most routine clinical chemistry analyzers. METHODS: We compared the agreement of Gentian and Roche with Siemens in 948 participants at the baseline visit of the Heart and Soul Study, a cohort of participants with established coronary artery disease who were followed for an average of 8 years. We then compared associations of all 3 cystatin C measures and eGFR-Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) with clinical outcomes. RESULTS: The Gentian assay had higher correlation with Siemens (r = 0.96) than did Roche (r = 0.93, P < 0.001). After cross-tabulating quartiles of each cystatin C measure, agreements (κ statistic) were higher for Siemens and Gentian (0.73, 95% CI 0.72-0.75) than for Roche and Siemens (0.64, 0.63-0.66) or for Roche and Gentian (0.69, 0.65-0.71). These differences in agreement had minimal impact on associations with clinical outcomes; the hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality comparing the high vs low quartiles were 3.2 (95% CI 2.1-4.8) for Siemens, 3.1 (CI 2.1-4.7) for Gentian, 3.1 (CI 2.1-4.7) for Roche, and 1.6 (CI 1.1-2.3) for eGFR-MDRD, after multivariate adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, agreement with the Siemens' assay was modestly higher for the Gentian compared with the Roche assay, although all 3 methods for cystatin C measurement had similar utility as predictors of clinical outcomes.
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| 21. |
- Wilhelmsen, Lars, 1932, et al.
(författare)
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Factors associated with reaching 90 years of age : a study of men born in 1913 in Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 269:4, s. 441-451
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives. Increasing numbers of people reach old age. We wanted to identify variables of importance for reaching 90 years old and determine how the predictive ability of these variables might change over time. Setting and subjects. All men in the city of Gothenburg born in 1913 on dates divisible by 3, which is on the 3rd, 6th, 9th etc., were included in the study. Thus, 973 men were invited, and 855 were examined in 1963 at age 50. Further examinations were made at age 54, 60 and 67. Anthropometric data, lifestyle and parental factors, blood pressure, lung function, X-ray of heart and lungs and maximum work performance were recorded. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyse the predictive capacity of a variable. Results. A total of 111 men (13%) reached 90 years of age, men who reached 90 years were more likely at age 50 to be nonsmokers, consume less coffee, have higher socio-economic status and have low serum cholesterol levels than those who did not reach this age; however, at age 50 or 62, parents' survival was of no prognostic importance. Variables of greatest importance at higher ages were low blood pressure and measures related to good cardiorespiratory function. In multivariable analysis, including all examinations, being a nonsmoker, consuming small amounts of coffee, having high housing costs at age 50, good maximum working capacity and low serum cholesterol were related to a better chance of survival to age 90. Conclusions. Low levels of cardiovascular risk factors, high socio-economic status and good functional capacity, irrespective of parents' survival, characterize men destined to reach the age of 90.
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