| 1. |
- Acosta, Stefan, et al.
(författare)
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Current status on plasma biomarkers for acute mesenteric ischemia
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis. - : Springer. - 0929-5305 .- 1573-742X. ; 33:4, s. 355-361
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Clinical diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia is difficult. The aim of this review is to provide current status on the search for an accurate plasma biomarker for acute mesenteric ischemia. A search using the medical subject heading terms marker and mesenteric ischemia or intestinal ischemia or superior mesenteric artery occlusion or mesenteric venous thrombosis in the Medline and Embase databases from 1980 to 2011. Studies without a control group or a control group consisted of healthy individuals (human studies), or studies on intestinal reperfusion were excluded. Twenty animal and twelve human studies were identified. In human studies, the studied series of patients had a control group that had a need of laparotomy (n = 2), suspected acute mesenteric ischemia (n = 7), acute abdomen (n = 2) or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (n = 1). D: -dimer has been found to be the most consistent highly sensitive early marker, but specificity was low. The follow-up study on α-glutathione S-transferase yielded inferior sensitivity and accuracy than the preliminary study, clearly questioning the value of this marker. Intestinal fatty acid binding globulin (I-FABP) and D: -lactate are both interesting markers, but the results were conflicting. Different cut-off levels have been used in the studies on I-FABP. The encouraging preliminary result of cobalt-albumin and urinary FABP as an accurate marker needs to be addressed in other study populations. The early clinical and laboratory diagnosis of intestinal ischemia remains a challenge. None of the proposed plasma-derived tests for acute mesenteric ischemia has as yet entered routine clinical practice. The proposed biomarkers need to be evaluated in a prospective clinical research project in patients with acute abdomen.
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| 2. |
- Acosta, Stefan, et al.
(författare)
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Diagnostic pitfalls at admission in patients with acute superior mesenteric artery occlusion
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Emergency Medicine. - : Elsevier. - 0736-4679 .- 1090-1280. ; 42:6, s. 635-641
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Acute superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion leads to acute intestinal ischemia and is associated with high mortality. Early diagnosis is often missed, and confounding factors leading to diagnostic delays need to be highlighted.OBJECTIVES: To identify potential diagnostic laboratory pitfalls at admission in patients with acute SMA occlusion.METHODS: Fifty-five patients with acute SMA occlusion were identified from the in-hospital register during a 4-year period, 2005-2009.RESULTS: The median age was 76 years; 78% were women. The occlusion was embolic in 53% and thrombotic in 47% of patients. At admission, troponin I was above the clinical decision level (> 0.06 μg/L) for acute ischemic myocardial injury in 9/19 (47%) patients with embolic occlusion. Elevated pancreas amylase and normal plasma lactate were found in 12/45 and 13/27, respectively. A troponin I (TnI) above the clinical decision level was associated with a high frequency of referrals from the general surgeon to a specialist in internal medicine (p = 0.011) or a cardiologist (p = 0.024). The diagnosis was established after computed tomography angiography in 98% of the patients. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 33%. Attempting intestinal revascularization (n = 43; p < 0.001), with a 95% frequency rate of completion control of the vascular procedure, was associated with a higher survival rate, whereas referral to the cardiologist was associated with a higher mortality rate (p = 0.018).CONCLUSION: Elevated TnI was common in acute SMA occlusion, and referral to the cardiologist was found to be associated with adverse outcome. Elevated pancreas amylase and normal plasma lactate values are also potential pitfalls at admission in patients with acute SMA occlusion.
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| 3. |
- Breimer, Lars H., et al.
(författare)
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Considerations for appointing an external examiner of a PhD in the biomedical sciences in Sweden : a questionnaire-based survey
- 2014
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Ingår i: Scientometrics. - : Springer. - 0138-9130 .- 1588-2861. ; 98:3, s. 2039-2049
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A survey of 170 Swedish mentors of PhD-students found that expertise in the research field and avoidance of conflict of interest were big motivators for finding an examiner from abroad for PhD theses. The survey also identified that concern by supervisors for facilitating the career paths of younger scientists in terms of introductions to potential labs for post-doctoral work and obtaining high quality neutral review of one's research was also important, as was the desire to set up collaborations. An expectation from the management of one's university of the PR-value of a foreign senior person as examiner also played a part. Although few were willing to admit that PR for one's own group was a motivating factor. A small fraction of responders expressed concern that, as some of the costs of the PhD-examination were being shifted on to the research groups themselves, this might impact the current situation. Language also played a subordinate role. To get the best out of the visiting examiner, it was important to educate and instruct them in their role in a Swedish PhD-examination protocol. Male supervisors had had more PhD-candidates than female, but they also had used more Sweden-based examiners than their female colleagues. We conclude that using a foreign examiner was motivated by factors that are likely to prevail for the foreseeable future. This Swedish practice may also provide a template for a common standard.
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| 4. |
- Breimer, Lars H., et al.
(författare)
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Has folate a role in the developing nervous system after birth and not just during embryogenesis and gestation?
- 2012
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation. - London, United Kingdom : Informa Healthcare. - 0036-5513 .- 1502-7686. ; 72:3, s. 185-191
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is now 30 years since the first publications stating that supplementation with folate could prevent neural tube defects appeared and 20 years since the definitive data, including prevention of other birth defects. Since then epidemiological studies and animal experiments have identified folate as a molecule at the crossroads of neural development. Fortification of food has greatly reduced the incidence of spina bifida. Much interest has focussed on long-term sequelae in children born to mothers severely deprived of folate (and other nutrients) such as during the Dutch Hunger Winter of 1944 and in poor parts of the world. In addition, deficiency in folate and B12 are increasingly discussed as a possible contributing factor in dementia and congenital orofacial and heart malformations. The year 2011 saw the publication of a study that implicated low folate intake in poorer school performance of adolescents as judged by school marks. This has enormous social implications but needs confirmation from other settings. This review assesses the current state of evidence and sets the data in context of whether folate has a role in the development and plasticity of the nervous system even after birth, with particular emphasis on childhood and adolescence.
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| 5. |
- Farkas, Sanja A., 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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DNA methylation changes in genes frequently mutated in sporadic colorectal cancer and in the DNA repair and Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway genes
- 2014
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Ingår i: Epigenomics. - : Future Medicine. - 1750-1911. ; 6:2, s. 179-191
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: The onset and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) involves a cascade of genetic and/or epigenetic events. The aim of the present study was to address the DNA methylation status of genes relevant in colorectal carcinogenesis and its progression, such as genes frequently mutated in CRC, genes involved in the DNA repair and Wnt signaling pathway.Material & methods: We analyzed methylation status in totally 160 genes in 12 paired colorectal tumors and adjacent healthy mucosal tissues using the Illumina Infinium Human Methylation 450 BeadChip.Results: We found significantly aberrant methylation in 23 genes (NEIL1, NEIL3, DCLRE1C, NHEJ1, GTF2H5, CCNH, CTNNB1, DKK2, DKK3, FZD5 LRP5, TLE3, WNT2, WNT3A, WNT6, TCF7L1, CASP8, EDNRB1, GPC6, KIAA1804, MYO1B, SMAD2 and TTN). External validation by mRNA expression showed a good agreement between hypermethylation in cancer and down-regulated mRNA expression of the genes EDNRB1, GPC6 and SMAD2, and between hypomethylation and up-regulated mRNA expression of the CASP8 and DCLRE1C genes.Conclusion: Aberrant methylation of the DCLRE1C and GPC6 genes are presented here for the first time and are therefore of special interest for further validation as novel candidate biomarker genes in CRC, and merit further validation with specific assays.
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| 6. |
- Gustafsson, Dan, et al.
(författare)
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Tissue zinc levels in a child with hypercalprotectinaemia and hyperzincaemia : a case report and a review of the literature
- 2012
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation. - London, United Kingdom : Informa Healthcare. - 0036-5513 .- 1502-7686. ; 72:1, s. 34-38
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: A girl suffering from a rare syndrome of unknown aetiology, termed hypercalprotectinaemia, was evaluated for tissue zinc status, because calprotectin is a protein which chelates Zn at multiple binding-sites, which might have affected the distribution of Zn in her body.Methods: Measurement of serum, urine, hair and nail zinc (Zn) concentration, complemented with measurement of total Zn in ultrafiltrates of plasma.Results: Her serum Zn concentration was 105-133 mu mol/L. Zn levels in her hair (102 mu g/g), nail (90 mu g/g) and urine (3-12 mu mol/L; 20-80 mu g/dL) were all at the lower end of the reference intervals described in the sparse literature. Zn concentrations in ultrafiltrates of plasma were below the detection limit (<100 nmol/L). Thus, the elevated serum Zn did not translate into a similarly increased level of Zn in any of the tissues tested, nor in free Zn concentrations. Instead it appeared to be a result of Zn being chelated to binder proteins, most probably calprotectin.Conclusion: Her grossly elevated serum calprotectin concentration is probably able to raise circulating total Zn concentrations without raising ionized concentrations, but this Zn remains confined to the circulating blood as well as to excreted body fluids, particularly faeces.
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| 7. |
- Hagnelius, Nils-Olof, 1953-, et al.
(författare)
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Blood concentrations of homocysteine and methylmalonic acid among demented and non-demented Swedish elderly with and without home care services and vitamin B(12) prescriptions
- 2012
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Ingår i: Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra. - Basel, Switzerland : S. Karger. - 1664-5464. ; 2:1, s. 387-399
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and Aims: Total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) has been suggested as a risk factor of dementia. Our aim was to investigate potential differences in tHcy status in relation to the prescription of vitamin B(12) and dementia diagnosis. We examined whether vitamin B(12) prescriptions, a family history of dementia, or the need for home care service might be associated with tHcy values.Methods: A cross-sectional monocenter study comprising 926 consecutive subjects attending our Memory Care Unit was conducted.Results: Demented subjects being prescribed vitamin B(12) had higher serum vitamin B(12) (p = 0.025) but also higher tHcy (p < 0.001) and serum methylmalonate (p = 0.032), and lower serum folate (p < 0.001) than those who did not receive vitamin B(12) prescriptions. tHcy levels were significantly higher in non-demented subjects receiving home care service (p = 0.007). This group also had lower serum albumin (dementia: p < 0.001; non-dementia: p = 0.004). There was no difference in renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate) in demented or non-demented subjects with or without vitamin B(12) prescriptions (dementia with/without vitamin B(12) prescription: p = 0.561; non-dementia with/without vitamin B(12) prescription: p = 0.710).Conclusion: Despite vitamin B(12) prescriptions, demented subjects had higher tHcy and methylmalonate values. The elevated metabolite values could not be explained by differences in renal function. Thus, elderly subjects on vitamin B(12) prescription appear to have unmet nutritional needs.
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| 8. |
- Isaksson, Helena S., 1978-, et al.
(författare)
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Whole blood RNA expression profiles in ovarian cancer patients with or without residual tumors after primary cytoreductive surgery
- 2012
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Ingår i: Oncology Reports. - Athens, Greece : Spandidos Publications Ltd.. - 1021-335X .- 1791-2431. ; 27:5, s. 1331-1335
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Significant improvements in the treatment results of ovarian cancer have been achieved during the last decades, but further improvements require additional methods identifying signs of the disease and its biological behavior, preferably by a simple blood test. We hypothesized that peripheral blood leukocytes may express genes that carry such clinical information. Therefore, we studied the relative gene expressions of 168 cancer- and metastasis-specific genes in blood samples from ovarian cancer patients with different prognoses after primary cytoreductive surgery. Total RNA was extracted from whole blood and the relative gene expression profile of 168 genes were analyzed using real-time qPCR assays. Two groups of patients were analyzed; one group with residual tumor mass after primary surgery, and one group where the tumor was macroscopically radically resected, resulting in no visible tumor mass left behind. The group with the remaining tumor mass after surgery showed significantly different gene expression profiles compared to the group with no remaining tumor mass. Differences were noted for the metastasis associated 1 family, member 2 gene (MTA2), the TNF, alpha-catenin, interleukin 1 beta, the KiSS-1 metastasis suppressor and the matrix metalloproteinase 10 genes. All genes were downregulated with a fold-change between 1.15 to 1.57; there were no upregulated genes. Thus, a signature of genes involved in metastasis, invasion and inflammation was found to be significantly downregulated in native unstimulated blood leukocytes from ovarian cancer patients with a poor prognosis. Preoperatively it may serve as a guide to the biology of the tumor and postoperatively in the optimization of adjuvant treatment of ovarian cancer patients.
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| 9. |
- Isaksson, Helena S., 1978-, et al.
(författare)
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Whole genome expression profiling of blood cells in ovarian cancer patients : prognostic impact of the CYP1B1, MTSS1, NCALD, and NOP14 genes
- 2014
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Ingår i: Oncotarget. - : Impact press. - 1949-2553. ; 5:12, s. 4040-4049
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ovarian cancer patients with different tumor stages and cell differentiation might be distinguished from each other by gene expression profiles in whole blood cell mRNA by the Affymetrix Human Gene 1.0 ST Array. We also examined if there is any association with other clinical variables, response to therapy, and residual tumor burden after surgery. Patients were divided into two groups, one with poor prognosis, advanced stage and poorly differentiated tumors (n = 22), and one group with good prognosis, early stage and well-to medium differentiated tumors (n = 11). Six genes were found to be differentially expressed: the PDIA3, LYAR, NOP14, NCALD and MTSS1 genes were down-regulated and the CYP1B1 gene expression was up-regulated in the poor prognosis group, all with p value <0.05, adjusted for mass comparison. In survival analyses, CYP1B1, MTSS1, NCALD and NOP14 remained significantly different (p<0.05). Patient groups did not differ in any transcript related to acute phase or immune responses. This minimal gene expression signature of prognostic ovarian cancer-related genes opens up an avenue for more practicable monitoring of ovarian cancer patients by simple peripheral blood tests, which may evolve into a tool to guide selection of curative and postoperative supportive therapies.
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
- Nilsson, Olof, 1956-, et al.
(författare)
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e-Power to the People– a Driver for CrossSector Regional Development in Europe
- 2010
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Ingår i: eChallenges e-2010 Conference. - 9781905824212
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This position paper introduces the project ISSI – Citizen Centric Public Service in Sparsely Populated Areas. In the project we are applying the citizen value model, to improve interaction between citizens and municipal authorities as well as within and between municipal authorities, aiming at a major improvement of the level of service for citizens and SMEs in the sparsely populated northern municipality of Örnsköldsvik. The project applies an adaptable and scalable comprehensive e-service model focusing on multi-functionality and cross-sector services – a new up- and running modular infrastructure for e-services The model is based on social media, an on-line community InneLandet, www.innelandet.se, driven by a privatepublic partnership, that will successively take over the project. Core concerns are individual and organizational participation, e-service literacy, citizen - authority dialogue, activity and flexibility – a new tool for implementing co-design as the next step in e-democracy. A special concern now is to increase the number of users in a higher pace
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| 12. |
- Nilsson, Torbjörn K., 1956-, et al.
(författare)
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A folate receptor alpha double-mutated haplotype 1816delC-1841A is distributed throughout Eurasia and associated with lower erythrocyte folate levels
- 2012
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Ingår i: Molecular Biology Reports. - Dordrecht, Netherlands : Springer. - 0301-4851 .- 1573-4978. ; 39:4, s. 4471-4478
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Folate is crucial for various cellular functions. Several transport mechanisms allow folate to enter the intracellular compartment with folate receptor-alpha being the major high-affinity receptor. Rare genetic variations in exons of the FR-alpha gene, FOLR1, were recently shown to cause severe folate deficiency accompanied by neurological and other disturbances. So far, similar effects by genetic variation in noncoding parts of the FOLR1 gene have not been identified. The aim of our study was to determine biochemically the haplotype structure of two linked polymorphisms in the FOLR1 gene, 1816delC and 1841G > A, the prevalences of the mutated alleles across Eurasia, and their possible effects on physiological folate levels in vivo. For this purpose we employed allele-specific PCR and Pyrosequencing technology and performed genotyping in 738 subjects from Spain, 387 from Sweden, 952 from Estonia, and 47 from Korea. We demonstrate the presence of an ancient double-mutated haplotype 1816delC-1841A in the FOLR1 gene, with the prevalence of the mutated allele being highest among Koreans (q = 0.074), lower in Estonians (q = 0.017), Spaniards (q = 0.0061), and the lowest among Swedes (q = 0.0026). Erythrocyte folate levels were studied in the Spanish population sample, where subjects carrying the double-mutated FOLR1 haplotype had significantly reduced levels by 27% (P = 0.039), adjusted for serum vitamin B-12 levels and MTHFR 677C > T genotype, while the mean serum folate levels were only 20% lower among the carriers (P = 0.11). Plasma homocysteine and cobalamin levels did not differ. Thus, we have demonstrated by molecular haplotyping an ancient double-mutated haplotype 1816delC-1841A in the FOLR1 gene, spread over the whole Eurasian continent, which may be of functional importance for uptake of folate in red blood cells.
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| 13. |
- Nilsson, Torbjörn, K., 1956-, et al.
(författare)
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Folate in dementia and cognitive dysfunction
- 2011. - 1
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Ingår i: Vitamins in the prevention of human diseases. - Berlin, Germany : De Gruyter. - 9783110214499 ; , s. 125-140
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)
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| 14. |
- Olsson, Lovisa A., 1950-, et al.
(författare)
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Subjective well-being in Swedish active seniors and its relationship with physical activity and commonly available biomarkers
- 2014
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Ingår i: Clinical Interventions in Aging. - : Dove Medical Press. - 1176-9092 .- 1178-1998. ; 9, s. 233-239
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Physical activity is claimed to be related to well-being and to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the possible associations of well-being with physical activity and biomarkers of somatic health were studied in a sample of Swedish active seniors to determine the strength of these associations.Methods: Three hundred and eighty-nine community-dwelling senior citizens (127 men and 262 women) of mean age 74 +/- 5 years were recruited for this cross-sectional population study. Serum samples were analyzed for lipoproteins and markers of inflammation. The Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) index was used to measure subjective well-being. Physical activity was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire modified for the elderly.Results: More than 50% of men and women rated their physical activity as high; in the women, there was a significant difference between the age groups (younger and older than the median age [median =74.1 years], respectively). The mean PGWB index indicates a high degree of subjective well-being in this group of Swedish seniors. Of the PGWB subdimensions, general health had the strongest positive relationship with physical activity (r(2)=5.4%). for the subdimensions of depressed mood, positive well-being, vitality, and PGWB index, physical activity had an r(2)<= 4%, while the contributions of sex, age, and biomarkers were minor.Conclusion: We have estimated the contribution of physical activity to the variance of subjective well-being in active seniors. Physical activity appears to play a greater role as a determinant of subjective well-being than do biomarkers of somatic health, especially in females, but most of the variance remained unaccounted for by the studied variables.
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| 15. |
- Olsson, Lovisa A., 1950-, et al.
(författare)
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Subjective well-being in Swedish active seniors or seniors with cognitive complaints and its relation to commonly available biomarkers
- 2013
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Ingår i: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics (Print). - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-4943 .- 1872-6976. ; 56:2, s. 303-308
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Well-being (WB) is a complex variable in its relation to physical health and other personal and social characteristics. The aim was to study subjective well-being (SWB) and its possible associations with traditional biomarkers of cardiovascular risk or dementia, in Swedish seniors. SWB was estimated by the Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) index in two study groups. The active seniors (AS) group consisted of community-dwelling elderly Swedes leading an active life (n=389). The DGM cohort (n=300) consisted of subjects referred to the Memory Unit at the Department of Geriatrics, the cognitive problems had to be subjective, mild or moderate (MMSE≥10). There were differences in all six subdimensions of SWB or distress, and in the sum of PGWB scores, between the two study groups (p<0.001 for all), and adjustment for differences in biomarkers of somatic health (age, sex, blood pressure, BMI, HDL cholesterol, ApoB/ApoA1 ratio, creatinine, and homocysteine) did not attenuate these differences. In addition, cognition as assessed by the Clock-Drawing Test (CDT) showed independent associations with four of the PGWB subdimensions and with the PGWB sum. Among the subjects in the DGM cohort, SWB was equally low among subjects with an MCI (minor cognitive impairment) diagnosis or without a dementia diagnosis as among subjects diagnosed with dementia disorder. We conclude that the nosological grouping variable (AS vs. DGM cohort) and a cognitive factor were the main independent predictors of SWB in this sample of elderly Swedes, whereas biomarkers of somatic health played a subordinated role.
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