| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Birney, Ewan, et al.
(författare)
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Identification and analysis of functional elements in 1% of the human genome by the ENCODE pilot project
- 2007
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 447:7146, s. 799-816
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report the generation and analysis of functional data from multiple, diverse experiments performed on a targeted 1% of the human genome as part of the pilot phase of the ENCODE Project. These data have been further integrated and augmented by a number of evolutionary and computational analyses. Together, our results advance the collective knowledge about human genome function in several major areas. First, our studies provide convincing evidence that the genome is pervasively transcribed, such that the majority of its bases can be found in primary transcripts, including non-protein-coding transcripts, and those that extensively overlap one another. Second, systematic examination of transcriptional regulation has yielded new understanding about transcription start sites, including their relationship to specific regulatory sequences and features of chromatin accessibility and histone modification. Third, a more sophisticated view of chromatin structure has emerged, including its inter-relationship with DNA replication and transcriptional regulation. Finally, integration of these new sources of information, in particular with respect to mammalian evolution based on inter- and intra-species sequence comparisons, has yielded new mechanistic and evolutionary insights concerning the functional landscape of the human genome. Together, these studies are defining a path for pursuit of a more comprehensive characterization of human genome function.
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| 3. |
- Clark, Andrew G., et al.
(författare)
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Evolution of genes and genomes on the Drosophila phylogeny
- 2007
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 450:7167, s. 203-218
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Comparative analysis of multiple genomes in a phylogenetic framework dramatically improves the precision and sensitivity of evolutionary inference, producing more robust results than single-genome analyses can provide. The genomes of 12 Drosophila species, ten of which are presented here for the first time (sechellia, simulans, yakuba, erecta, ananassae, persimilis, willistoni, mojavensis, virilis and grimshawi), illustrate how rates and patterns of sequence divergence across taxa can illuminate evolutionary processes on a genomic scale. These genome sequences augment the formidable genetic tools that have made Drosophila melanogaster a pre-eminent model for animal genetics, and will further catalyse fundamental research on mechanisms of development, cell biology, genetics, disease, neurobiology, behaviour, physiology and evolution. Despite remarkable similarities among these Drosophila species, we identified many putatively non-neutral changes in protein-coding genes, non-coding RNA genes, and cis-regulatory regions. These may prove to underlie differences in the ecology and behaviour of these diverse species.
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| 4. |
- Aulchenko, Yurii S, et al.
(författare)
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Loci influencing lipid levels and coronary heart disease risk in 16 European population cohorts
- 2009
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Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 41:1, s. 47-55
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recent genome-wide association (GWA) studies of lipids have been conducted in samples ascertained for other phenotypes, particularly diabetes. Here we report the first GWA analysis of loci affecting total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides sampled randomly from 16 population-based cohorts and genotyped using mainly the Illumina HumanHap300-Duo platform. Our study included a total of 17,797-22,562 persons, aged 18-104 years and from geographic regions spanning from the Nordic countries to Southern Europe. We established 22 loci associated with serum lipid levels at a genome-wide significance level (P < 5 x 10(-8)), including 16 loci that were identified by previous GWA studies. The six newly identified loci in our cohort samples are ABCG5 (TC, P = 1.5 x 10(-11); LDL, P = 2.6 x 10(-10)), TMEM57 (TC, P = 5.4 x 10(-10)), CTCF-PRMT8 region (HDL, P = 8.3 x 10(-16)), DNAH11 (LDL, P = 6.1 x 10(-9)), FADS3-FADS2 (TC, P = 1.5 x 10(-10); LDL, P = 4.4 x 10(-13)) and MADD-FOLH1 region (HDL, P = 6 x 10(-11)). For three loci, effect sizes differed significantly by sex. Genetic risk scores based on lipid loci explain up to 4.8% of variation in lipids and were also associated with increased intima media thickness (P = 0.001) and coronary heart disease incidence (P = 0.04). The genetic risk score improves the screening of high-risk groups of dyslipidemia over classical risk factors.
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| 5. |
- Wahlund, J. E., et al.
(författare)
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Detection of dusty plasma near the E-ring of Saturn
- 2009
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Ingår i: Planetary and Space Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0032-0633 .- 1873-5088. ; 57:14-15, s. 1795-1806
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present several independent in-situ measurements, which provide evidence that charged dust in the E-ring interacts collectively with the dense surrounding plasma disk of Saturn, i.e., form a system of dust-plasma interaction. The results are based on data sampled by the Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) investigation onboard Cassini, which allows for interferometry of plasma density inhomogeneities (delta n/n) with two antenna elements and a Langmuir probe sensor. The interferometer experiment detects two ion populations: one co-rotating with the planetary magnetic field and another moving with near Keplerian speed around Saturn. The full range of RPWS measurements indicates that the Keplerian population consists of colder ions (T-i
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| 6. |
- Adewumi, Oluseun, et al.
(författare)
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Characterization of human embryonic stem cell lines by the International Stem Cell Initiative
- 2007
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Ingår i: Nature Biotechnology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1087-0156 .- 1546-1696. ; 25:7, s. 803-816
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The International Stem Cell Initiative characterized 59 human embryonic stem cell lines from 17 laboratories worldwide. Despite diverse genotypes and different techniques used for derivation and maintenance, all lines exhibited similar expression patterns for several markers of human embryonic stem cells. They expressed the glycolipid antigens SSEA3 and SSEA4, the keratan sulfate antigens TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81, GCTM2 and GCT343, and the protein antigens CD9, Thy1 (also known as CD90), tissue- nonspecific alkaline phosphatase and class 1 HLA, as well as the strongly developmentally regulated genes NANOG, POU5F1 (formerly known as OCT4), TDGF1, DNMT3B, GABRB3 and GDF3. Nevertheless, the lines were not identical: differences in expression of several lineage markers were evident, and several imprinted genes showed generally similar allele-specific expression patterns, but some gene-dependent variation was observed. Also, some female lines expressed readily detectable levels of XIST whereas others did not. No significant contamination of the lines with mycoplasma, bacteria or cytopathic viruses was detected.
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| 7. |
- Mach, H., et al.
(författare)
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New structure information on Mg-30, Mg-31 and Mg-32
- 2005
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Ingår i: European Physical Journal A. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-601X .- 1434-6001. ; 25, s. 105-109
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The fast timing beta gamma gamma(t) method was applied to investigate the level lifetimes in Mg-30,Mg-31,Mg-32. Levels in Mg have been populated in beta and beta-delayed neutron emission of Na, at the ISOLDE facility. From the gamma gamma coincidences a number of new states have been identified and new level schemes were constructed for 30 31,32 Mg. The following preliminary half lives have been determined: T-1/2 = 3.9(4) ns for the 1789 keV state in Mg-30, T-1/2 = 133(8) ps and 10.5(8) us for the 221 keV and 461 keV states in Mg-31, respectively, and T1/2 = 16(4) ps for the 885 keV level in 32Mg. The 1789 keV level was established as a candidate for the intruder 0(+) configuration in Mg-30 with a possible strong E0 branch to the ground state.
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| 8. |
- Spokes, L., et al.
(författare)
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MEAD: An interdisciplinary study of the marine effects of atmospheric deposition in the Kattegat
- 2006
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Ingår i: Environmental Pollution. - : Elsevier BV. - 0269-7491. ; 140:3, s. 453-462
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper summarises the results of the EU funded MEAD project, an interdisciplinary study of the effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on the Kattegat Sea between Denmark and Sweden. The study considers emissions of reactive nitrogen gases, their transport, transformations, deposition and effects on algal growth together with management options to reduce these effects. We conclude that atmospheric deposition is an important source of fixed nitrogen to the region particularly in summer, when nitrogen is the limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth, and contributes to the overall eutrophication pressures in this region. However, we also conclude that it is unlikely that atmospheric deposition can, on its own, induce algal blooms in this region. A reduction of atmospheric nitrogen loads to this region will require strategies to reduce emissions of ammonia from local agriculture and Europe wide reductions in nitrous oxide emissions. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 9. |
- Zeggini, Eleftheria, et al.
(författare)
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Meta-analysis of genome-wide association data and large-scale replication identifies additional susceptibility loci for type 2 diabetes
- 2008
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Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 40:5, s. 638-645
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Genome-wide association (GWA) studies have identified multiple loci at which common variants modestly but reproducibly influence risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D)(1-11). Established associations to common and rare variants explain only a small proportion of the heritability of T2D. As previously published analyses had limited power to identify variants with modest effects, we carried out meta-analysis of three T2D GWA scans comprising 10,128 individuals of European descent and similar to 2.2 million SNPs (directly genotyped and imputed), followed by replication testing in an independent sample with an effective sample size of up to 53,975. We detected at least six previously unknown loci with robust evidence for association, including the JAZF1 (P=5.0 x 10(-14)), CDC123-CAMK1D (P=1.2 x 10(-10)), TSPAN8-LGR5 (P=1.1 x 10(-9)), THADA (P=1.1 x 10(-9)), ADAMTS9 (P=1.2 x 10(-8)) and NOTCH2 (P=4.1 x 10(-8)) gene regions. Our results illustrate the value of large discovery and follow-up samples for gaining further insights into the inherited basis of T2D.
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| 10. |
- Adiyaman, Ahmet, et al.
(författare)
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Determinants of the ambulatory arterial stiffness index in 7604 subjects from 6 populations
- 2008
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Ingår i: Hypertension. - 1524-4563. ; 52:6, s. 1038-44
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) is derived from 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure recordings. We investigated whether the goodness-of-fit of the AASI regression line in individual subjects (r(2)) impacts on the association of AASI with established determinants of the relation between diastolic and systolic blood pressures. We constructed the International Database on the Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Relation to Cardiovascular Outcomes (7604 participants from 6 countries). AASI was unity minus the regression slope of diastolic on systolic blood pressure in individual 24-hour ambulatory recordings. AASI correlated positively with age and 24-hour mean arterial pressure and negatively with body height and 24-hour heart rate. The single correlation coefficients and the mutually adjusted partial regression coefficients of AASI with age, height, 24-hour mean pressure, and 24-hour heart rate increased from the lowest to the highest quartile of r(2). These findings were consistent in dippers and nondippers (night:day ratio of systolic pressure >or=0.90), women and men, and in Europeans, Asians, and South Americans. The cumulative z score for the association of AASI with these determinants of the relation between diastolic and systolic blood pressures increased curvilinearly with r(2), with most of the improvement in the association occurring above the 20th percentile of r(2) (0.36). In conclusion, a better fit of the AASI regression line enhances the statistical power of analyses involving AASI as marker of arterial stiffness. An r(2) value of 0.36 might be a threshold in sensitivity analyses to improve the stratification of cardiovascular risk.
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| 11. |
- Bach, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Modified peptides as potent inhibitors of the postsynaptic density-95/N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor interaction.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0022-2623 .- 1520-4804. ; 51:20, s. 6450-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The protein-protein interaction between the NMDA receptor and its intracellular scaffolding protein, PSD-95, is a potential target for treatment of ischemic brain diseases. An undecapeptide corresponding to the C-terminal of the NMDA was used as a template for finding lead candidates for the inhibition of the PSD-95/NMDA receptor interaction. Initially, truncation and alanine scan studies were carried out, which resulted in a pentapeptide with wild-type affinity, as examined in a fluorescence polarization assay. Further examination was performed by systematic substitutions with natural and unnatural amino acids, which disclosed a tripeptide with micromolar affinity and N-methylated tetrapeptides with improved affinities. Molecular modeling studies guided further N-terminal modifications and introduction of a range of N-terminal substitutions dramatically improved affinity. The best compound, N-cyclohexylethyl-ETAV (56), demonstrated up to 19-fold lower K i value ( K i = 0.94 and 0.45 microM against PDZ1 and PDZ2 of PSD-95, respectively) compared to wild-type values, providing the most potent inhibitors of this interaction reported so far. These novel and potent inhibitors provide an important basis for development of small molecule inhibitors of the PSD-95/NMDA receptor interaction.
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| 12. |
- Benzinou, Michael, et al.
(författare)
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Common nonsynonymous variants in PCSK1 confer risk of obesity.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Nature genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 40:8, s. 943-5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mutations in PCSK1 cause monogenic obesity. To assess the contribution of PCSK1 to polygenic obesity risk, we genotyped tag SNPs in a total of 13,659 individuals of European ancestry from eight independent case-control or family-based cohorts. The nonsynonymous variants rs6232, encoding N221D, and rs6234-rs6235, encoding the Q665E-S690T pair, were consistently associated with obesity in adults and children (P = 7.27 x 10(-8) and P = 2.31 x 10(-12), respectively). Functional analysis showed a significant impairment of the N221D-mutant PC1/3 protein catalytic activity.
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| 13. |
- Boesgaard, T. W., et al.
(författare)
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The common SLC30A8 Arg325Trp variant is associated with reduced first-phase insulin release in 846 non-diabetic offspring of type 2 diabetes patients--the EUGENE2 study
- 2008
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Ingår i: Diabetologia. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0012-186X .- 1432-0428. ; 51:5, s. 816-20
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: A recent genome-wide association study identified the SLC30A8 rs13266634 polymorphism encoding an Arg325Trp polymorphism in the zinc transporter protein member 8 (ZnT-8) to be associated with type 2 diabetes. Here, we investigate whether the polymorphism is related to altered insulin release in response to intravenous and oral glucose loads in non-diabetic offspring of type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: We genotyped SLC30A8 rs13266634 in 846 non-diabetic offspring of type 2 diabetic patients from five different white populations: Danish (n = 271), Finnish (n = 217), German (n = 149), Italian (n = 109) and Swedish (n = 100). Participants were subjected to both IVGTTs and OGTTs, and measurements of insulin sensitivity. RESULTS: Homozygous carriers of the major type 2 diabetes C risk-allele showed a 19% decrease in first-phase insulin release (0-10 min) measured during the IVGTT (CC 3,624 +/- 3,197; CT 3,763 +/- 2,674; TT 4,478 +/- 3,032 pmol l(-1) min(-1), mean +/- SD; p = 0.007). We found no significant genotype effect on insulin release measured during the OGTT or on estimates of insulin sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Of European non-diabetic offspring of type 2 diabetes patients, 46% are homozygous carriers of the Arg325Trp polymorphism in ZnT-8, which is known to associate with type 2 diabetes. These diabetes-prone offspring are characterised by a 19% decrease in first-phase insulin release following an intravenous glucose load, suggesting a role for this variant in the pathogenesis of pancreatic beta cell dysfunction.
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| 14. |
- Boesgaard, T. W., et al.
(författare)
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Variant near ADAMTS9 known to associate with type 2 diabetes is related to insulin resistance in offspring of type 2 diabetes patients--EUGENE2 study
- 2009
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Ingår i: PLoS One. - 1932-6203. ; 4:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKROUND: A meta-analysis combining results from three genome-wide association studies and followed by large-scale replication identified six novel type 2 diabetes loci. Subsequent studies of the effect of these variants on estimates of the beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity have been inconclusive. We examined these variants located in or near the JAZF1 (rs864745), THADA (rs7578597), TSPAN8 (rs7961581), ADAMTS9 (rs4607103), NOTCH2 (rs10923931) and the CDC123/CAMK1D (rs12779790) genes for associations with measures of pancreatic beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity. METHODOLOGY/RESULTS: Oral and intravenous glucose stimulated insulin release (n = 849) and insulin sensitivity (n = 596) estimated from a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp were measured in non-diabetic offspring of type 2 diabetic patients from five European populations. Assuming an additive genetic model the diabetes-associated major C-allele of rs4607103 near ADAMTS9 associated with reduced insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (p = 0.002) during a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. However, following intravenous and oral administration of glucose serum insulin release was increased in individuals with the C-allele (p = 0.003 and p = 0.01, respectively). A meta-analyse combining clamp and IVGTT data from a total of 905 non-diabetic individuals showed that the C-risk allele associated with decreased insulin sensitivity (p = 0.003) and increased insulin release (p = 0.002). The major T-allele of the intronic JAZF1 rs864745 conferring increased diabetes risk was associated with increased 2(nd) phase serum insulin release during an IVGTT (p = 0.03), and an increased fasting serum insulin level (p = 0.001). The remaining variants did not show any associations with insulin response, insulin sensitivity or any other measured quantitative traits. CONCLUSION: The present studies suggest that the diabetogenic impact of the C-allele of rs4607103 near ADAMTS9 may in part be mediated through decreased insulin sensitivity of peripheral tissues.
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| 15. |
- Boggia, José, et al.
(författare)
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Prognostic accuracy of day versus night ambulatory blood pressure : a cohort study
- 2007
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Ingår i: The Lancet. - 0140-6736 .- 1474-547X. ; 370:9594, s. 1219-1229
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Few studies have formally compared the predictive value of the blood pressure at night over and beyond the daytime value. We investigated the prognostic significance of the ambulatory blood pressure during night and day and of the night-to-day blood pressure ratio. Methods We did 24-h blood pressure monitoring in 7458 people (mean age 56.8 years [SD 13.9]) enrolled in prospective population studies in Denmark, Belgium, Japan, Sweden, Uruguay, and China. We calculated multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios for daytime and night-time blood pressure and the systolic night-to-day ratio, while adjusting for cohort and cardiovascular risk factors. Findings Median follow-up was 9.6 years (5th to 95th percentile 2.5-13.7). Adjusted for daytime blood pressure, night-time blood pressure predicted total (n=983; p<0.0001), cardiovascular (n=387; p<0.01), and non-cardiovascular (n=560; p<0.001) mortality. Conversely, adjusted for night-time blood pressure, daytime blood pressure predicted only non-cardiovascular mortality (p<0.05), with lower blood pressure levels being associated with increased risk. Both daytime and night-time blood pressure consistently predicted all cardiovascular events (n=943; p<0.05) and stroke (n=420; p<0.01). Adjusted for night-time blood pressure, daytime blood pressure lost prognostic significance only for cardiac events (n=525; p >= 0.07). Adjusted for the 24-h blood pressure, night-to-day ratio predicted mortality, but not fatal combined with non-fatal events. Antohypertensive drug treatment removed the significant association between cardiovascular events and the daytime blood pressure. Participants with systolic night-to-day ratio value of 1 or more were older, at higher risk of death, and died at an older age than those whose night-to-day ratio was normal (>= 0.80 to <0.90). Interpretation In contrast to commonly held views, daytime blood pressure adjusted for night-time blood pressure predicts fatal combined with non-fatal cardiovascular events, except in treated patients, in whom antihypertensive drugs might reduce blood pressure during the day, but not at night. The increased mortality in patients with higher night-time than daytime blood pressure probably indicates reverse causality. Our findings support recording the ambulatory blood pressure during the whole day.
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| 16. |
- Bonow, Johan M., et al.
(författare)
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A multi-disciplinary study of Phanerozoic landscape development in West Greenland
- 2007
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Ingår i: Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin: Review of Survey activities 2006. - 1604-8156. ; :13, s. 33-36
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The western margin of the Greenland craton has been muchless stable in the Phanerozoic than previously thought. Thisnew insight has come from close integration of independentdata sets: geomorphological analysis of large-scale landscapes,apatite fission track analysis (AFTA), onshore and offshorestratigraphy and analysis of onshore fault and fracture sys -tems. Each data set records specific and unique parts of theevent chronology and is equally important to establish a con-sistent model. A key area for understanding the Mesozoic-Cenozoic landscape evolution and into the present is theuplifted part of the Nuussuaq Basin, where remnants of pla-nation surfaces cut across the Cretaceous to Eocene sedimen-tary and volcanic rocks. Our integrated analysis concludedthat the West Greenland mountains were formed by lateNeogene tectonic uplift (Fig. 1) and also provided newinsight into early Phanerozoic development. To understandour model, we present the different methods and the resultsthat can be deduced from them.
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
- Cleland, J. G., et al.
(författare)
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A comparison of the effects of carvedilol and metoprolol on well-being, morbidity, and mortality (the "patient journey") in patients with heart failure: a report from the Carvedilol Or Metoprolol European Trial (COMET)
- 2006
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Ingår i: Journal of the American College of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1558-3597 .- 0735-1097. ; 47:8, s. 1603-11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the loss of well-being, in terms of life-years, overall and in patients randomized to metoprolol versus carvedilol in the Carvedilol Or Metoprolol European Trial (COMET). BACKGROUND: The ultimate objectives of treating patients with heart failure are to relieve suffering and prolong life. Although the effect of treatment on mortality is usually described in trials, the effects on patient well-being throughout the trials' courses are rarely reported. METHODS: A total of 3,029 patients randomized in the COMET study were included in the analysis. "Patient journey" was calculated by adjusting days alive and out of hospital over four years using a five-point score completed by the patient every four months, adjusted according to the need for intensification of diuretic therapy. Scores ranged from 0% (dead or hospitalized) to 100% (feeling very well). RESULTS: Over 48 months, 17% of all days were lost through death, 1% through hospitalization, 23% through impaired well-being, and 2% through the need for intensified therapy. Compared with metoprolol, carvedilol was associated with fewer days lost to death, with no increase in days lost due to impaired well-being or days in hospital. The "patient journey" score improved from a mean of 54.8% (SD 26.0) to 57.4% (SD 26.3%) (p < 0.0068). CONCLUSIONS: Despite treatment with beta-blockers, heart failure remains associated with a marked reduction in well-being and survival. Loss of quality-adjusted life-years through death and poor well-being seemed of similar magnitude over four years, and both were much larger than the loss that could be attributed to hospitalization.
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| 19. |
- Di Lenarda, A., et al.
(författare)
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Exchange of beta-blockers in heart failure patients. Experiences from the poststudy phase of COMET (the Carvedilol or Metoprolol European Trial)
- 2005
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Ingår i: European journal of heart failure. - : Wiley. - 1388-9842. ; 7:4, s. 640-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The Carvedilol or Metoprolol European Trial (COMET) reported a significant survival benefit for carvedilol, a beta1-, beta2- and alpha1-blocker, vs. metoprolol tartrate, a beta1-selective blocker, in patients with mild-to-severe chronic heart failure (CHF). Patients on treatment with metoprolol might benefit from switching to carvedilol. AIM: To investigate the safety and tolerability of switching beta-blockers in CHF. METHODS: At the end of COMET, the Steering Committee recommended that study medication was stopped without unblinding, and patients were commenced on open-label beta-blockade at a dose equivalent to half the dose of blinded therapy, with subsequent titration to target or maximum tolerated dose. Patients were followed for 30 days. RESULTS: 1321 out of 1440 patients were transitioned to open-label treatment (76.8% to carvedilol). Serious adverse and CHF-related events were respectively 9.4% and 4.7% in those switching from carvedilol to metoprolol and 3.1% and 1.5% in patients switching from metoprolol to carvedilol. Patients who switched from carvedilol to metoprolol showed the highest mortality or hospitalisation rate (12.3%) in comparison with those who switched from metoprolol to carvedilol (3.1%, p<0.001) or who stayed on the same drug (carvedilol: 2.5%, p<0.001; metoprolol: 4.2%, p=0.04). Reducing the initial dose of the second beta-blocker maximised the safety of this strategy. Event rate was higher in patients with more severe heart failure and in those withdrawing from beta-blockade. CONCLUSION: Our data show that switching beta-blockers is a practical, safe and well-tolerated strategy to optimise treatment of CHF. Patients who switched to carvedilol showed the lowest rate of adverse events. A closer clinical monitoring is recommended during transition in high-risk patients.
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| 20. |
- Durham, S. R., et al.
(författare)
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Sublingual immunotherapy with once-daily grass allergen tablets: A randomized controlled trial in seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis
- 2006
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Ingår i: J Allergy Clin Immunol.. ; 117:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Specific immunotherapy is the only treatment modality that has the potential to alter the natural course of allergic diseases. Sublingual immunotherapy has been developed to facilitate access to this form of treatment and to minimize serious adverse events. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of sublingual grass allergen tablets in seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. METHODS: A multinational, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted during 2002 and 2003. Fifty-five centers in 8 countries included 855 participants age 18 to 65 years who gave a history of grass pollen-induced allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and had a positive skin prick test and elevated serum allergen-specific IgE to Phleum pratense. Participants were randomized to 2500, 25,000, or 75,000 SQ-T grass allergen tablets (GRAZAX; ALK-Abello, Horsholm, Denmark) or placebo for sublingual administration once daily. Mean duration of treatment was 18 weeks. RESULTS: Average rhinoconjunctivitis scores during the season showed moderate reductions of symptoms (16%) and medication use (28%) for the grass allergen tablet 75,000 SQ-T (P = .0710; P = .0470) compared with placebo. Significantly better rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life scores (P = .006) and an increased number of well days (P = .041) were also observed. Efficacy was increased in the subgroup of patients who completed the recommended preseasonal treatment of at least 8 weeks before the grass pollen season (symptoms, 21%, P = .0020; and medication use, 29%, P = .0120). No safety concerns were observed. CONCLUSION: This study confirms dose-dependent efficacy of the grass allergen tablet. Although further studies are required, the greater tolerability of the tablet may permit immunotherapy to be available to a much broader group of patients with impaired quality of life caused by grass pollen allergy. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: For patients with grass pollen allergy, sublingual immunotherapy is well tolerated and can reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
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| 21. |
- Edvinsson, B, et al.
(författare)
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Real-time PCR targeting a 529-bp repeat element for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis
- 2006
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Ingår i: Clinical Microbiology and Infection. - : Elsevier BV. - 1198-743X .- 1469-0691. ; 12:2, s. 131-136
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sensitive and rapid detection of infection with Toxoplasma gondii in transplanted immunocompromised patients is crucial for a good prognosis. Two DNA fragments are used currently for detecting T. gondii infection by PCR, i.e., the B1 gene and a 529-bp repeat element that exists in 200-300 copies/genome. This study investigated whether targeting the 529-bp repeat element gives better sensitivity and accuracy than can be obtained when targeting the B1 gene (35 copies) when concentrations of T. gondii DNA are low. The results demonstrated that detection of the 529-bp repeat element increased diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy. Addition of an internal amplification control did not affect the PCR performance and was useful in order to monitor PCR inhibition by non-specific DNA in the LightCycler instrument. The real-time PCR was used successfully in a clinical context to monitor parasitaemia in the blood of a transplant recipient suffering from toxoplasmosis.
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| 22. |
- Franks, P. W., et al.
(författare)
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Genomic variants at the PINK1 locus are associated with transcript abundance and plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentrations in European whites
- 2008
-
Ingår i: The FASEB Journal. - : Wiley. - 0892-6638 .- 1530-6860. ; 22:9, s. 3135-3145
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to characterize associations between PINK1 genotypes, PINK1 transcript levels, and metabolic phenotypes in healthy adults and those with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We measured PINK1 skeletal muscle transcript levels and 8 independent PINK1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a cohort of 208 Danish whites and in a cohort of 1701 British whites (SNPs and metabolic phenotypes only). Furthermore, we assessed the effects of PINK1 transcript ablation in primary adipocytes using RNA interference (RNAi). Six PINK1 SNPs were associated with PINK1 transcript levels (P < 0.04 to P < 0.0001). Obesity modified the association between PINK1 transcript levels and T2D risk (interaction P=0.005); transcript levels were inversely related with T2D in obese (n=105) [odds ratio (OR) per SD increase in expression levels=0.44; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.23, 0.84; P=0.013] but not in nonobese (n=103) (OR=1.20; 95% CI: 0.82, 1.76; P=0.34) individuals. In the British cohort, several PINK1 SNPs were associated with plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentrations. Nominal genotype associations were also observed for fasting glucose, 2-h glucose, and maximal oxygen consumption, although these were not statistically significant after correcting for multiple testing. In primary adipocytes, Pink1 knockdown affected fatty acid binding protein 4 (Fabp4) expression, indicating that PINK1 may influence substrate metabolism. We demonstrate that PINK1 polymorphisms are associated with PINK1 transcript levels and measures of fatty acid metabolism in a concordant manner, whereas our RNAi data imply that PINK1 may indirectly influence lipid metabolism.
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| 23. |
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| 24. |
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| 25. |
- Gustafson, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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One-dimensional PtO(2) at Pt steps : Formation and reaction with CO
- 2005
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Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 95:25, s. 1-4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Using core-level spectroscopy and density functional theory we show that a one-dimensional (1D) PtO(2) oxide structure forms at the steps of the Pt(332) surface after O(2) exposure. The 1D oxide is found to be stable in an oxygen pressure range, where bulk oxides are only metastable, and is therefore argued to be a precursor to the Pt oxidation. As an example of the consequences of such a precursor exclusively present at the steps, we investigate the reaction of CO with oxygen covered Pt(332). Albeit more strongly bound, the oxidic oxygen is found to react more easily with CO than oxygen chemisorbed on the Pt terraces.
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| 26. |
- Hansen, Tine W., et al.
(författare)
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Diagnostic Thresholds for Ambulatory Blood Pressure Moving Lower : A Review Based on a Meta-Analysis-Clinical Implications
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Hypertension. - : Wiley. - 1524-6175 .- 1751-7176. ; 10:5, s. 377-381
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Upper limits of normal ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) have been a matter of debate in recent years. Current diagnostic thresholds for ABP rely mainly on statistical parameters derived from reference populations. Recent findings from the International Database of Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Relation to Cardiovascular Outcome (IDACO) provide outcome-driven thresholds for ABP Rounded systolic/diastolic thresholds for optimal ABP were found to be 115/75 mm Hg for 24 hours, 120/80 mm Hg for daytime, and 100/65 mm Hg for nighttime. The corresponding rounded thresholds for normal ABP were 125/75 mm Hg, 130/85 mm Hg, and 110/70 mm Hg, respectively, and those for ambulatory hypertension were 130/80 mm Hg, 140/85 mm Hg, and 120/70 mm Hg. However, in clinical practice, any diagnostic threshold for blood pressure needs to be assessed in the context of the patient's overall risk profile. The IDACO database is therefore being updated with additional population cohorts to enable the construction of multifactorial risk score charts, which also include ABP.
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| 27. |
- Hansen, Tine W., et al.
(författare)
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Prognostic superiority of daytime ambulatory over conventional blood pressure in four populations : a meta-analysis of 7,030 individuals
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Hypertension. - 0263-6352 .- 1473-5598. ; 25:8, s. 1554-1564
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective To investigate the multivariate-adjusted predictive value of systolic and diastolic blood pressures on conventional (CBP) and daytime (10-20h) ambulatory (ABP) measurement. Methods We randomly recruited 7030 subjects (mean age 56.2 years; 44.8% women) from populations in Belgium, Denmark, Japan and Sweden. We constructed the International Database on Ambulatory blood pressure and Cardiovascular Outcomes. Results During follow-up (median = 9.5 years), 932 subjects died. Neither CBP nor ABP predicted total mortality, of which 60.9% was due to noncardiovascular causes. The incidence of fatal combined with nonfatal cardiovascular events amounted to 863 (228 deaths, 326 strokes and 309 cardiac events). In multivariate-adjusted continuous analyses, both CBP and ABP predicted cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, cardiac and coronary events. However, in fully-adjusted models, including both CBP and ABP, CBP lost its predictive value (P>0.052), whereas systolic and diastolic ABP retained their prognostic significance (P< 0.007) with the exception of diastolic ABP as predictor of cardiac and coronary events (P>0.21). In adjusted categorical analyses, normotension was the referent group (CBP<140/90 mmHg and ABP<135/ 85 mmHg). Adjusted hazard ratios for all cardiovascular events were 1.22 [95% confidence interval (Cl) = 0.96-1.53; P=0.09] for white-coat hypertension (≥140/90 and <135/85 mmHg); 1.62 (95% Cl = 1.35-1.96; P< 0.0001) for masked hypertension (<140/90 and ≥ 135/85 mmHg); and 1.80 (95% Cl = 1.59-2.03; P<0.0001) for sustained hypertension (≥140/90 and ≥135/85 mmHg). Conclusions ABP is superior to CBP in predicting cardiovascular events, but not total and noncardiovascular mortality. Cardiovascular risk gradually increases from normotension over white-coat and masked hypertension to sustained hypertension.
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| 28. |
- Hansen, Tine W., et al.
(författare)
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Prognostic value of ambulatory heart rate revisited in 6928 subjects from 6 populations
- 2008
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Ingår i: Hypertension. - 0194-911X .- 1524-4563. ; 52:2, s. 229-235
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The evidence relating mortality and morbidity to heart rate remains inconsistent. We performed 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in 6928 subjects (not on beta-blockers; mean age: 56.2 years; 46.5% women) enrolled in prospective population studies in Denmark, Belgium, Japan, Sweden, Uruguay, and China. We computed standardized hazard ratios for heart rate, while stratifying for cohort, and adjusting for blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors. Over 9.6 years (median), 850, 325, and 493 deaths accrued for total, cardiovascular, and noncardiovascular mortality, respectively. The incidence of fatal combined with nonfatal end points was 805, 363, 439, and 324 for cardiovascular, stroke, cardiac, and coronary events, respectively. Twenty-four-hour heart rate predicted total (hazard ratio: 1.15) and noncardiovascular (hazard ratio: 1.18) mortality but not cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio: 1.11) or any of the fatal combined with nonfatal events (hazard ratio: < or =1.02). Daytime heart rate did not predict mortality (hazard ratio: < or =1.11) or any fatal combined with nonfatal event (hazard ratio: < or =0.96). Nighttime heart rate predicted all of the mortality outcomes (hazard ratio: > or =1.15) but none of the fatal combined with nonfatal events (hazard ratio: < or =1.11). The night:day heart rate ratio predicted total (hazard ratio: 1.14) and noncardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio: 1.12) and all of the fatal combined with nonfatal events (hazard ratio: > or =1.15) with the exception of stroke (hazard ratio: 1.06). Sensitivity analyses, in which we stratified by risk factors or from which we excluded 1 cohort at a time or the events occurring within 2 years of enrollment, showed consistent results. In the general population, heart rate predicts total and noncardiovascular mortality. With the exception of the night:day heart rate ratio, heart rate did not add to the risk stratification for fatal combined with nonfatal cardiovascular events. Thus, heart rate adds little to the prediction of cardiovascular risk.
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| 29. |
- Helgadottir, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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The same sequence variant on 9p21 associates with myocardial infarction, abdominal aortic aneurysm and intracranial aneurysm
- 2008
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Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 40:2, s. 217-224
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recently, two common sequence variants on 9p21, tagged by rs10757278-G and rs10811661-T, were reported to be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD)(1-4) and type 2 diabetes (T2D)(5-7), respectively. We proceeded to further investigate the contributions of these variants to arterial diseases and T2D. Here we report that rs10757278-G is associated with, in addition to CAD, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA; odds ratio (OR) 1.31, P = 1.2 x 10(-12)) and intracranial aneurysm (OR = 1.29, P = 2.5 x 10(-6)), but not with T2D. This variant is the first to be described that affects the risk of AAA and intracranial aneurysm in many populations. The association of rs10811661-T to T2D replicates in our samples, but the variant does not associate with any of the five arterial diseases examined. These findings extend our insight into the role of the sequence variant tagged by rs10757278-G and show that it is not confined to atherosclerotic diseases.
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| 30. |
- Huth, Cornelia, et al.
(författare)
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IL6 gene promoter polymorphisms and type 2 diabetes - Joint analysis of individual participants' data from 21 studies
- 2006
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Ingår i: DIABETES. - : American Diabetes Association. - 0012-1797 .- 1939-327X. ; 55:10, s. 2915-2921
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Several lines of evidence indicate a causal role of the cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 in the development of type 2 diabetes in humans. Two common polymorphisms in the promoter of the IL-6 encoding gene IL6, −174G>C (rs1800795) and −573G>C (rs1800796), have been investigated for association with type 2 diabetes in numerous studies but with results that have been largely equivocal. To clarify the relationship between the two IL6 variants and type 2 diabetes, we analyzed individual data on >20,000 participants from 21 published and unpublished studies. Collected data represent eight different countries, making this the largest association analysis for type 2 diabetes reported to date. The GC and CC genotypes of IL6 −174G>C were associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes (odds ratio 0.91, P = 0.037), corresponding to a risk modification of nearly 9%. No evidence for association was found between IL6 −573G>C and type 2 diabetes. The observed association of the IL6 −174 C-allele with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes provides further evidence for the hypothesis that immune mediators are causally related to type 2 diabetes; however, because the association is borderline significant, additional data are still needed to confirm this finding.
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| 31. |
- Huth, Cornelia, et al.
(författare)
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Joint analysis of individual participants' data from 17 studies on the association of the IL6 variant -174G>C with circulating glucose levels, interleukin-6 levels, and body mass index.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Annals of medicine. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1365-2060 .- 0785-3890. ; 41:2, s. 128-38
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Several studies have investigated associations between the -174G>C single nucleotide polymorphism (rs1800795) of the IL6 gene and phenotypes related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) but presented inconsistent results. AIMS: This joint analysis aimed to clarify whether IL6 -174G>C was associated with glucose and circulating interleukin-6 concentrations as well as body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Individual-level data from all studies of the IL6-T2DM consortium on Caucasian subjects with available BMI were collected. As study-specific estimates did not show heterogeneity (P>0.1), they were combined by using the inverse-variance fixed-effect model. RESULTS: The main analysis included 9440, 7398, 24,117, or 5659 non-diabetic and manifest T2DM subjects for fasting glucose, 2-hour glucose, BMI, or circulating interleukin-6 levels, respectively. IL6 -174 C-allele carriers had significantly lower fasting glucose (-0.091 mmol/L, P=0.014). There was no evidence for association between IL6 -174G>C and BMI or interleukin-6 levels, except in some subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that C-allele carriers of the IL6 -174G>C polymorphism have lower fasting glucose levels on average, which substantiates previous findings of decreased T2DM risk of these subjects.
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| 32. |
- Kikuya, Masahiro, et al.
(författare)
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Diagnostic thresholds for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring based on 10-year cardiovascular risk
- 2007
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Ingår i: Circulation. - 0009-7322 .- 1524-4539. ; 12:6, s. 393-395
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background - Current diagnostic thresholds for ambulatory blood pressure ( ABP) mainly rely on statistical parameters derived from reference populations. We determined an outcome-driven reference frame for ABP measurement. Methods and Results - We performed 24-hour ABP monitoring in 5682 participants ( mean age 59.0 years; 43.3% women) enrolled in prospective population studies in Copenhagen, Denmark; Noorderkempen, Belgium; Ohasama, Japan; and Uppsala, Sweden. In multivariate analyses, we determined ABP thresholds, which yielded 10-year cardiovascular risks similar to those associated with optimal ( 120/80 mm Hg), normal ( 130/85 mm Hg), and high ( 140/90 mm Hg) blood pressure on office measurement. Over 9.7 years ( median), 814 cardiovascular end points occurred, including 377 strokes and 435 cardiac events. Systolic/diastolic thresholds for optimal ABP were 116.8/74.2 mm Hg for 24 hours, 121.6/78.9 mm Hg for daytime, and 100.9/65.3 mm Hg for nighttime. Corresponding thresholds for normal ABP were 123.9/76.8, 129.9/82.6, and 110.2/68.1 mm Hg, respectively, and those for ambulatory hypertension were 131.0/79.4, 138.2/86.4, and 119.5/70.8 mm Hg. After rounding, approximate thresholds for optimal ABP amounted to 115/75 mm Hg for 24 hours, 120/80 mm Hg for daytime, and 100/65 mm Hg for nighttime. Rounded thresholds for normal ABP were 125/75, 130/85, and 110/70 mm Hg, respectively, and those for ambulatory hypertension were 130/80, 140/85, and 120/70 mm Hg. Conclusions - Population-based outcome-driven thresholds for optimal and normal ABP are lower than those currently proposed by hypertension guidelines.
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| 33. |
- Kirstetter, Peggy, et al.
(författare)
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Modeling of C/EBP alpha mutant acute myeloid leukemia reveals a common expression signature of committed myeloid leukemia-initiating cells
- 2008
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Ingår i: Cancer Cell. - : Elsevier BV. - 1878-3686 .- 1535-6108. ; 13:4, s. 299-310
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mutations in the CEBPA gene are present in 7%-10% of human patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, no genetic models exist that demonstrate their etiological relevance. To mimic the most common mutations affecting CEBPA-that is, those leading to loss of the 42 kDa C/EBP alpha isoform (p42) while retaining the 30kDa isoform (p30)-we modified the mouse Cebpa locus to express only p30. p30 supported the formation of granulocyte-macrophage progenitors. However, p42 was required for control of myeloid progenitor proliferation, and p42-deficient mice developed AML with complete penetrance. p42-deficient leukemia could be transferred by a Mac1(+)c-Kit(+) population that gave rise only to myeloid cells in recipient mice. Expression profiling of this population against normal Mac1(+)c-Kit(+) progenitors revealed a signature shared with MLL-AF9-transformed AML.
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| 34. |
- Koutnikova, H., et al.
(författare)
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Identification of the UBP1 locus as a critical blood pressure determinant using a combination of mouse and human genetics
- 2009
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Ingår i: PLoS Genet. - 1553-7404. ; 5:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hypertension is a major health problem of largely unknown genetic origins. To identify new genes responsible for hypertension, genetic analysis of recombinant inbred strains of mice followed by human association studies might prove powerful and was exploited in our current study. Using a set of 27 recombinant BXD strains of mice we identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for blood pressure (BP) on distal chromosome 9. The association analysis of markers encompassing the syntenic region on human chromosome 3 gave in an additive genetic model the strongest association for rs17030583 C/T and rs2291897 G/A, located within the UBP1 locus, with systolic and diastolic BP (rs17030583: 1.3+/-0.4 mmHg p<0.001, 0.8+/-0.3 mmHg p = 0.006, respectively and rs2291897: 1.5+/-0.4 mmHg p<0.001, 0.8+/-0.3 mmHg p = 0.003, respectively) in three separate studies. Our study, which underscores the marked complementarities of mouse and human genetic approaches, identifies the UBP1 locus as a critical blood pressure determinant. UBP1 plays a role in cholesterol and steroid metabolism via the transcriptional activation of CYP11A, the rate-limiting enzyme in pregnenolone and aldosterone biosynthesis. We suggest that UBP1 and its functional partners are components of a network controlling blood pressure.
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| 35. |
- Laakso, M., et al.
(författare)
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Insulin sensitivity, insulin release and glucagon-like peptide-1 levels in persons with impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance in the EUGENE2 study
- 2008
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Ingår i: Diabetologia. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0012-186X .- 1432-0428. ; 51:3, s. 502-11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We examined the phenotype of individuals with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) with regard to insulin release and insulin resistance. METHODS: Non-diabetic offspring (n=874; mean age 40+/-10.4 years; BMI 26.6+/-4.9 kg/m(2)) of type 2 diabetic patients from five different European Centres (Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy and Sweden) were examined with regard to insulin sensitivity (euglycaemic clamps), insulin release (IVGTT) and glucose tolerance (OGTT). The levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) were measured during the OGTT in 278 individuals. RESULTS: Normal glucose tolerance was found in 634 participants, while 110 had isolated IFG, 86 had isolated IGT and 44 had both IFG and IGT, i.e. about 28% had a form of reduced glucose tolerance. Participants with isolated IFG had lower glucose-corrected first-phase (0-10 min) and higher second-phase insulin release (10-60 min) during the IVGTT, while insulin sensitivity was reduced in all groups with abnormal glucose tolerance. Similarly, GLP-1 but not GIP levels were reduced in individuals with abnormal glucose tolerance. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The primary mechanism leading to hyperglycaemia in participants with isolated IFG is likely to be impaired basal and first-phase insulin secretion, whereas in isolated IGT the primary mechanism leading to postglucose load hyperglycaemia is insulin resistance. Reduced GLP-1 levels were seen in all groups with abnormal glucose tolerance and were unrelated to the insulin release pattern during an IVGTT.
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| 36. |
- Li, Yan, et al.
(författare)
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Is blood pressure during the night more predictive of cardiovascular outcome than during the day?
- 2008
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Ingår i: Blood Pressure Monitoring. - 1359-5237 .- 1473-5725. ; 13:3, s. 145-147
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of the ambulatory blood pressure (BP) during night and day and of the night-to-day BP ratio (NDR). We studied 7458 participants (mean age 56.8 years; 45.8% women) enrolled in the International Database on Ambulatory BP in relation to Cardiovascular Outcome. Using Cox models, we calculated hazard ratios (HR) adjusted for cohort and cardiovascular risk factors. Over 9.6 years (median), 983 deaths and 943 cardiovascular events occurred. Nighttime BP predicted mortality outcomes (HR, 1.18-1.24; P<0.01) independent of daytime BP. Conversely, daytime systolic (HR, 0.84; P<0.01) and diastolic BP (HR, 0.88; P<0.05) predicted only noncardiovascular mortality after adjustment for nighttime BR Both daytime BP and nighttime BP consistently predicted all cardiovascular events (HR, 1.11-1.33, P<0.05) and stroke (HR, 1.21-1.47; P<0.01). Daytime BP lost its prognostic significance for cardiovascular events in patients on antihypertensive treatment. Adjusted for the 24-h BP, NDR predicted mortality (P<0.05), but not fatal combined with nonfatal events. Participants with systolic NDR of at least 1 compared with participants with normal NDR (>= 0.80 to < 0.90) were older, at higher risk of death, but died at higher age. The predictive accuracy of the daytime and nighttime BP and the NDR depended on the disease outcome under study. The increased mortality in patients with higher NDR probably indicates reverse causality. Our findings support recording the ambulatory BP during the whole day.
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| 37. |
- McEvoy, Brian P., et al.
(författare)
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Geographical structure and differential natural selection among North European populations
- 2009
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Ingår i: Genome Research. - : Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. - 1088-9051 .- 1549-5469. ; 19:5, s. 804-814
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Population structure can provide novel insight into the human past, and recognizing and correcting for such stratification is a practical concern in gene mapping by many association methodologies. We investigate these patterns, primarily through principal component (PC) analysis of whole genome SNP polymorphism, in 2099 individuals from populations of Northern European origin (Ireland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Australia, and HapMap European-American). The major trends (PC1 and PC2) demonstrate an ability to detect geographic substructure, even over a small area like the British Isles, and this information can then be applied to finely dissect the ancestry of the European-Australian and European-American samples. They simultaneously point to the importance of considering population stratification in what might be considered a small homogeneous region. There is evidence from FST-based analysis of genic and nongenic SNPs that differential positive selection has operated across these populations despite their short divergence time and relatively similar geographic and environmental range. The pressure appears to have been focused on genes involved in immunity, perhaps reflecting response to infectious disease epidemic. Such an event may explain a striking selective sweep centered on the rs2508049-G allele, close to the HLA-G gene on chromosome 6. Evidence of the sweep extends over a 8-Mb/3.5-cM region. Overall, the results illustrate the power of dense genotype and sample data to explore regional population variation, the events that have crafted it, and their implications in both explaining disease prevalence and mapping these genes by association.
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| 38. |
- Metra, M., et al.
(författare)
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Influence of heart rate, blood pressure, and beta-blocker dose on outcome and the differences in outcome between carvedilol and metoprolol tartrate in patients with chronic heart failure: results from the COMET trial
- 2005
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Ingår i: European heart journal. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 26:21, s. 2259-68
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS: We studied the influence of heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and beta-blocker dose on outcome in the 2599 out of 3029 patients in Carvedilol Or Metoprolol European Trial (COMET) who were alive and on study drug at 4 months after randomization (time of first visit on maintenance therapy). METHODS AND RESULTS: By multivariable analysis, baseline HR, baseline SBP, and their change after 4 months were not independently related to subsequent outcome. In a multivariable analysis including clinical variables, HR above and SBP below the median value achieved at 4 months predicted subsequent increased mortality [relative risk (RR) for HR>68 b.p.m. 1.333; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.152-1.542; P<0.0001 and RR for SBP>120 mmHg 0.78; 95% CI 0.671-0.907; P<0.0013]. Achieving target beta-blocker dose was associated with a better outcome (RR 0.779; 95% CI 0.662-0.916; P<0.0025). The superiority of carvedilol as compared to metoprolol tartrate was maintained in a multivariable model (RR 0.767; 95% CI 0.663-0.887; P=0.0004) and there was no interaction with HR, SBP, or beta-blocker dose. CONCLUSION: Beta-blocker dose, HR, and SBP achieved during beta-blocker therapy have independent prognostic value in heart failure. None of these factors influenced the beneficial effects of carvedilol when compared with metoprolol tartrate at the pre-defined target doses used in COMET.
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| 39. |
- Metra, M., et al.
(författare)
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Should beta-blocker therapy be reduced or withdrawn after an episode of decompensated heart failure? Results from COMET
- 2007
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Ingår i: Eur J Heart Fail. - : Wiley. - 1388-9842. ; 9:9, s. 901-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether beta-blocker therapy should be reduced or withdrawn in patients who develop acute decompensated heart failure (HF). We studied the relationship between changes in beta-blocker dose and outcome in patients surviving a HF hospitalisation in COMET. METHODS: Patients hospitalised for HF were subdivided on the basis of the beta-blocker dose administered at the visit following hospitalisation, compared to that administered before. RESULTS: In COMET, 752/3029 patients (25%, 361 carvedilol and 391 metoprolol) had a non-fatal HF hospitalisation while on study treatment. Of these, 61 patients (8%) had beta-blocker treatment withdrawn, 162 (22%) had a dose reduction and 529 (70%) were maintained on the same dose. One-and two-year cumulative mortality rates were 28.7% and 44.6% for patients withdrawn from study medication, 37.4% and 51.4% for those with a reduced dosage (n.s.) and 19.1% and 32.5% for those maintained on the same dose (HR,1.59; 95%CI, 1.28-1.98; p<0.001, compared to the others). The result remained significant in a multivariable model: (HR, 1.30; 95%CI, 1.02-1.66; p=0.0318). No interaction with the beneficial effects of carvedilol, compared to metoprolol, on outcome was observed (p=0.8436). CONCLUSIONS: HF hospitalisations are associated with a high subsequent mortality. The risk of death is higher in patients who discontinue beta-blocker therapy or have their dose reduced. The increase in mortality is only partially explained by the worse prognostic profile of these patients.
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| 40. |
- O'Byrne, Paul M, et al.
(författare)
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Severe exacerbations and decline in lung function in asthma.
- 2009
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Ingår i: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine. - 1535-4970. ; 179:1, s. 19-24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To evaluate the association between asthma exacerbations and the decline in lung function, as well as the potential effects of an inhaled corticosteroid, budesonide, on exacerbation-related decline in patients with asthma.
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| 41. |
- Olsson, Lars G., 1970, et al.
(författare)
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Prognostic importance of plasma NT-pro BNP in chronic heart failure in patients treated with a beta-blocker: results from the Carvedilol Or Metoprolol European Trial (COMET) trial
- 2007
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Ingår i: Eur J Heart Fail. - 1388-9842. ; 9:8, s. 795-801
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Plasma levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) are increased in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Beta-blockers (BB) may influence these levels but it is unclear whether changes in NT-pro BNP reflect concomitant changes in prognosis. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prognostic importance of NT-pro BNP at baseline and during follow-up, in patients in whom beta-blocker therapy is initiated. METHODS: In COMET, 3029 patients with CHF in NYHA class II-IV and EF<35% were randomised to carvedilol or metoprolol tartrate and were followed for an average of 58 months. Blood samples were collected for the measurement of NT-pro BNP at baseline (n=1559) and during follow-up (n=309). RESULTS: Baseline plasma concentrations of NT-pro BNP above the median (1242 pg/ml) were associated with higher all-cause mortality (RR 2.77; 95% CI 2.33-3.3, p<0.001). Patients who achieved NT-pro BNP levels<400 pg/ml during follow-up had a lower subsequent mortality (RR 0.32; 95% CI 0.15-0.69, p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The plasma concentration of NT-pro BNP is a powerful predictor of mortality in patients with CHF. Patients who achieve an NT-pro BNP of <400 pg/ml subsequent to treatment with a beta-blocker have a favourable prognosis.
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| 42. |
- Rak, Sabina, 1945, et al.
(författare)
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Once-daily sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy improves quality of life in patients with grass pollen-induced allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: A double-blind, randomised study
- 2007
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Ingår i: Qual Life Res. - 0962-9343. ; 16:2, s. 191-201
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effect of sublingual immunotherapy on quality of life (QoL) was examined in patients with grass pollen-induced rhinoconjunctivitis. Patients (n = 855) were randomised to once-daily grass allergen tablets (2,500; 25,000; or 75,000 SQ-T Phleum pratense extract; GRAZAX(R)) or placebo. Treatment was initiated 8 weeks before the start of the grass pollen season and continued throughout. If symptoms were present, patients received loratadine or placebo rescue medication. There were three major findings: in patients using loratadine, grass allergen tablets provided QOL benefits over placebo; Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) score was 17% (p = 0.006) and 20% (p = 0.020) greater with 75,000 SQ-T tablet than with placebo at first and second seasonal visit, respectively; in patients not using loratadine, grass allergen tablets improved QoL more than placebo; RQLQ score was 21% greater (p = 0.021) with 75,000 SQ-T tablet at second seasonal visit; grass tablets (without loratadine) had a greater effect on QoL than loratadine alone. RQLQ score was 26% (p = 0.014) greater with 75,000 SQ-T tablets than loratadine at second seasonal visit. These data show that sublingual immunotherapy with grass allergen tablets improves QOL in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, reduces symptoms, and that this effect is greater than rescue antihistamine alone.
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| 43. |
- Remme, W. J., et al.
(författare)
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Carvedilol protects better against vascular events than metoprolol in heart failure: results from COMET
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of the American College of Cardiology. - 1558-3597. ; 49:9, s. 963-71
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: We explored whether vascular protection by carvedilol could contribute to its superior effects in the treatment of heart failure (HF) compared with metoprolol tartrate in the COMET (Carvedilol Or Metoprolol European Trial) study. BACKGROUND: Full adrenergic blockade by carvedilol and additional (e.g., antioxidative) properties may lead to vascular protection relative to beta-1 blockade alone, and contribute to its efficacy in HF treatment. METHODS: Three thousand twenty-nine patients with HF due to ischemic (51%) or idiopathic cardiomyopathy (44%) were randomized double-blind to carvedilol (n = 1,511) or metoprolol (n = 1,518) and followed for 58 months. Vascular end points were cardiovascular death, stroke, stroke death, myocardial infarction (MI), and unstable angina. RESULTS: The effect of carvedilol on cardiovascular death improved consistently in subgroups with prespecified baseline variables. Myocardial infarctions were reported in 69 carvedilol and 94 metoprolol patients (hazard ratio [HR] 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52 to 0.97, p = 0.03). Cardiovascular death or nonfatal MI combined were reduced by 19% in carvedilol (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.92, p = 0.0009 vs. metoprolol). Unstable angina was reported as an adverse event in 56 carvedilol and in 77 metoprolol patients (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.501 to 0.998, p = 0.049). A stroke occurred in 65 carvedilol and 80 metoprolol patients (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.10). Stroke or MI combined occurred in 130 carvedilol and 168 metoprolol patients (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.95, p = 0.015), and fatal MI or fatal stroke occurred in 34 carvedilol and in 72 metoprolol patients (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.69, p = 0.0002). Death after a nonfatal MI or stroke occurred in 61 of 124 carvedilol and in 106 of 160 metoprolol patients (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.90, p = 0.0086). CONCLUSIONS: Carvedilol improves vascular outcomes better than metoprolol. These results suggest a ubiquitous protective effect of carvedilol against major vascular events.
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| 44. |
- Remme, W. J., et al.
(författare)
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Effect of carvedilol and metoprolol on the mode of death in patients with heart failure
- 2007
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Ingår i: Eur J Heart Fail. - : Wiley. - 1388-9842 .- 1879-0844. ; 9:11, s. 1128-35
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: In the COMET study, carvedilol improved survival compared to metoprolol tartrate in 3029 patients with NYHA II-IV heart failure and EF <35%, followed for an average of 58 months. AIMS: To evaluate whether the effect on overall mortality was specific for a particular mode of death. This may help to identify the mechanism of the observed difference. METHODS: Of the 1112 total deaths, 972 were adjudicated as cardiovascular, including 480 sudden, 365 circulatory failure (CF) and 51 stroke deaths. For each mode of death, the effect of pre-specified baseline variables was assessed, including sex, age, NYHA class, aetiology, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, EF, atrial fibrillation, previous myocardial infarction or hypertension, renal function, concomitant medication, and study treatment allocation. RESULTS: In multivariate Cox regression analyses, compared to metoprolol, carvedilol reduced cardiovascular (RR 0.80, CI 0.7-0.91, p=0.0009), sudden (RR 0.77, CI 0.64-0.93, p=0.0073) and stroke deaths (RR 0.37, CI 0.19-0.71, p=0.0027) with a non-significant trend for CF death (RR 0.83, CI 0.66-1.04, p=0.07). Treatment benefit with carvedilol did not differ between modes of death, except for a greater reduction in stroke death with carvedilol (competing risk analysis, p=0.0071 vs CF death). There were no interactions between treatment allocation and baseline characteristics. CONCLUSION: Mortality reduction with carvedilol compared to metoprolol appears relatively non-specific and could be consistent with a superior effect of carvedilol on cardiac function, arrhythmias or, in view of the greater reduction in stroke deaths, on vascular events.
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| 45. |
- Schmidt, Jacob W., et al.
(författare)
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FRP tendon anchorage in post-tensioned concrete structures
- 2009
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Ingår i: Concrete Repair, Rehabilitation and Retrofitting. - Boca Raton, Fla : CRC Press. - 9780415468503 ; , s. 419-420
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Strengthening of building structures by the use of various external post-tensioning steel tendon systems, is known to be a very efficient method. However, FRP as material in external post-tensioning projects has been investigated during the last decade. The advantages for this material are the high effective Young's modulus and the high stress capacity in the linear elastic range of the material. The use of external tendons increases the requirements on the anchorage systems. This is in particular important when using un-bonded tendon systems, where the anchorage and deviators are the only force transfer points. The demand for high capacity anchorage tendons is fulfilled for steel tendons, but no competitive mechanical anchor has yet been developed for FRP tendon. A new small, reliable and more user friendly anchor has to be developed, before FRP tendons can be utilized with all of its capacity. Thus, several attempts of developing a mechanical FRP anchor have been made worldwide with promising results. Some of these attempts are presented in this paper together wim an insight into a present research collaboration project at the Technical University of Denmark, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, and COWI AS, Denmark
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| 46. |
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| 47. |
- Stancakova, A., et al.
(författare)
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Single-nucleotide polymorphism rs7754840 of CDKAL1 is associated with impaired insulin secretion in nondiabetic offspring of type 2 diabetic subjects and in a large sample of men with normal glucose tolerance
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0021-972X .- 1945-7197. ; 93:5, s. 1924-30
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- CONTEXT: CDKAL1 is a recently discovered susceptibility gene for type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate the impact of rs7754840 of CDKAL1 on insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, and risk of type 2 diabetes. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: Study 1 (the EUGENE2 study) was a cross-sectional study including subjects from five white populations in Europe (Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, and Sweden). Study 2 is an ongoing prospective study of Finnish men. PARTICIPANTS: In study 1, 846 nondiabetic offspring of type 2 diabetic patients (age 40 +/- 10 yr; body mass index 26.7 +/- 5.0 kg/m(2)) participated. In study 2, subjects included 3900 middle-aged men (533 type 2 diabetic and 3367 nondiabetic subjects). Interventions: Interventions included iv glucose-tolerance test (IVGTT), oral glucose-tolerance test (OGTT), and euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp in study 1 and OGTT in study 2. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Parameters of insulin secretion, insulin resistance, and glucose tolerance status were assessed. RESULTS: In study 1, carriers of the GC and CC genotypes of rs7754840 had 11 and 24% lower first-phase insulin release in an IVGTT compared with that in carriers of the GG genotype (P = 0.002). The C allele was also associated with higher glucose area under the curve in an OGTT (P = 0.016). In study 2, rs7754840 was significantly associated with type 2 diabetes (P = 0.022) and markers of impaired insulin release [insulinogenic index (IGI), P = 0.012] in 2405 men with normal glucose tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: rs7754840 of CDKAL1 was associated with markers of impaired insulin secretion in two independent studies. Furthermore, rs7754840 was associated with type 2 diabetes in Finnish men (study 2). Therefore, CDKAL1 is likely to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by impairing insulin secretion.
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| 48. |
- Sörensen, Malin H., et al.
(författare)
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Expansion of the F127-templated mesostructure in aerosolgeneratedparticles by using polypropylene glycol as a swelling agent
- 2008
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Ingår i: Microporous and Mesoporous Materials. - : Elsevier BV. - 1387-1811 .- 1873-3093. ; 113, s. 1-13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Expansion of the mesostructure in aerosol-generated particles was performed through incorporation of polypropylene glycol (PPG), a non-volatile swelling agent. TEOS was used as silica source and the Pluronic block copolymer, F127, as template. The ratio of TEOS to F127 was kept constant during synthesis, while varying the weight ratio of PPG to F127 systematically. The impact of the PPG on the expansion of the structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nitrogen adsorption. Different methods were used to calculate the pore size distributions, the BJH, the BdB-FHH, the KJS and the NLDFT method. Simple geometrical models of the expansion were derived to interpret the experimental data and establish their accuracy. Experimental data showed a roughly linear expansion of the unit cell and pore size, consistent with that expected by modelling the swelling of a hexagonal (p6mm) structure assuming constant wall thickness. The expansion is increasing as a function of increasing PPG/F127 ratio by about 25 Å. An expression of the density of the silica wall was calculated from the models resulting in a density of 1.95 ± 0.2 g/cm3. At a PPG/F127 ratio of approximately 0.31, the p6mm structure (found at lower PPG/F127 ratios) transforms to a microemulsion-templated foam structure. At an even higher PPG/F127 ratio (0.63–1.56), phase separation of the oil from the swollen template occurred, yielding a two-phase system of coexisting foam and large vesicles.
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| 49. |
- Thijs, Lutgarde, et al.
(författare)
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The International Database of Ambulatory Blood Pressure in relation to Cardiovascular Outcome (IDACO) : protocol and research perspectives
- 2007
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Ingår i: Blood Pressure Monitoring. - 1359-5237 .- 1473-5725. ; 12:4, s. 255-262
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: The International Database on Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (1993-1994) lacked a prospective dimension. We are constructing a new resource of longitudinal population studies to investigate with great precision to what extent the ambulatory blood pressure improves risk stratification. Methods: The acronym IDACO refers to the new International Database of Ambulatory blood pressure in relation to Cardiovascular Outcome. Eligible studies are population based, have fatal as well as nonfatal outcomes available for analysis, comply with ethical standards, and have been previously published in peer-reviewed journals. In a meta-analysis based on individual patient data, composite and cause-specific cardiovascular events will be related to various indexes derived by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The analyses will be stratified by cohort and adjusted for the conventional blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors. Results: To date, the international database includes 7609 patients from four cohorts recruited in Copenhagen, Denmark (n=2311), Noorderkempen, Belgium (n=2542), Ohasama, Japan (n=1535), and Uppsala, Sweden (n=1221). In these four cohorts, during a total of 69 295 person-years of follow-up (median 9.3 years), 1026 patients died and 929 participants experienced a fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular event. Follow-up in five other eligible cohorts, involving a total of 4027 participants, is still in progress. We expect that this follow-up will be completed by the end of 2007. Conclusion: The international database of ambulatory blood pressure in relation to cardiovascular outcome will provide a shared resource to investigate risk stratification by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to an extent not possible in any earlier individual study.
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| 50. |
- Thomsen, J, et al.
(författare)
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Optical Doppler tomography for monitoring vascularization during photodynamic therapy of skin cancer lesions
- 2008
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Ingår i: BIOPHOTONICS: PHOTONIC SOLUTIONS FOR BETTER HEALTH CARE. - : SPIE. - 1996-756X .- 0277-786X. - 9780819471895 ; 6991
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigate vascular changes during Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of skin tumors using optical Doppler tomography (ODT). The effect of vascular shut down on tumor destruction is currently not known, and to optimize treatment it is relevant to investigate this issue further. Optical Doppler tomography is capable of measuring blood flow in biological tissue down to 1-2 mm with sub-mm/s velocity sensitivity and micrometer spatial resolution making it suitable for blood flow measurements in the skin. We demonstrate the ability of detecting blood flow in the human skin using non-interstitial ODT to preserve the non-invasiveness. In general a very limited blood flow activity was observed in normal skin and around skin tumors making monitoring of changes difficult. We suggest solutions to a number of practical issues such as sampling errors and natural fluctuations in flow activity for future work.
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