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| 32. |
- Axelsson, Malin, et al.
(författare)
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Differences in diagnostic patterns of obstructive airway disease between areas and sex in Sweden and Finland : The Nordic EpiLung Study
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Asthma. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0277-0903 .- 1532-4303. ; 58:9, s. 1196-1207
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To investigate the current prevalence of physician-diagnosed obstructive airway diseases by respiratory symptoms and by sex in Sweden and Finland. Method: In 2016, a postal questionnaire was answered by 34,072 randomly selected adults in four study areas: Västra Götaland and Norrbotten in Sweden, and Seinäjoki-Vaasa and Helsinki in Finland. Results: The prevalence of asthma symptoms was higher in Norrbotten (13.2%), Seinäjoki-Vaasa (14.8%) and Helsinki (14.4%) than in Västra Götaland (10.7%), and physician-diagnosed asthma was highest in Norrbotten (13.0%) and least in Västra Götaland (10.1%). Chronic productive cough was most common in the Finnish areas (7.7-8.2 % versus 6.3-6.7 %) while the prevalence of physician-diagnosed chronic bronchitis (CB) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) varied between 1.7-2.7% in the four areas. Among individuals with respiratory symptoms, the prevalence of asthma was most common in Norrbotten, while a diagnosis of COPD or CB was most common in Västra Götaland and Seinäjoki-Vaasa. More women than men with respiratory symptoms reported a diagnosis of asthma in Sweden and Seinäjoki-Vaasa but there were no sex differences in Helsinki. In Sweden, more women than men with symptoms of cough or phlegm reported a diagnosis of CB or COPD, while in Finland the opposite was found. Conclusion: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms and corresponding diagnoses varied between and within the countries. The proportion reporting a diagnosis of obstructive airway disease among individuals with respiratory symptoms varied, indicating differences in diagnostic patterns both between areas and by sex.
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| 33. |
- Axelsson, Malin, et al.
(författare)
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Sleep disturbances and physical inactivity impair health related quality of life in adult asthmatics
- 2017
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Sleep disturbances and physical inactivity have only sparsely been studied in relation to health related quality of life (HRQL) in adult asthmatics. Aim: to investigate sleep disturbances and physical inactivity in relation to HRQL in adult asthmatics. Method: The sample (n=737), aged between 21 and 85 years, selected from the OLIN-studies participated in structured interviews about respiratory health, sleep, physical activity and questionnaires on mental and physical HRQL. Results: Sleep disturbances were more common in asthmatics than in non-asthmatics: snoring (p=0.018), difficulties falling asleep (p=0.025), many nocturnal awakenings (p=0.001), daytime sleepiness (p=0.001), early awakenings (p=0.002). Lower mental HRQL was found in asthmatics with difficulties falling asleep (p=0.001), in asthmatics reporting daytime sleepiness (p=0.010) than asthmatics without sleep disturbances. Lower physical HRQL was found in asthmatics with daytime sleepiness (p=0.002), early awakenings (p=0.001) and many nocturnal awakenings (p=0.039) than asthmatics without these sleep disturbances. Lower physical HRQL was found in physically inactive asthmatics than in physically active asthmatics (p=0.034). Physical activity (p=0.008) and asthma control (p=0.049) were stronger predictors of low physical HRQL than sleep disturbances. Difficulties falling asleep (p=0.001) and many nocturnal awakenings (p=0.04) were identified as negative predictors of mental HRQL while asthma control was a non-significant predictor. Conclusion: Helping adult asthmatics to improve their sleeping habits and to increase their physical activity will have a positive impact on their HRQL. Malin Axelssona, Mai Leanderb, Helena Backmanc, Linnea Hedmanc, Eva Rönmarkc a Department of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden b Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden c Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, The OLIN Unit, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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| 34. |
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| 35. |
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| 36. |
- Axelsson, Malin, 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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Underdiagnosis and misclassification of COPD in Sweden - A Nordic Epilung study
- 2023
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Ingår i: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 217
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The prevalence of COPD tends to level off in populations with decreasing prevalence of smoking but the extent of underdiagnosis in such populations needs further investigation.Aim: To investigate underdiagnosis and misclassification of COPD with a focus on socio-economy, lifestyle determinants and healthcare utilization.Method: The 1839 participants were selected from two ongoing large-scale epidemiological research programs: The Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden Studies and the West Sweden Asthma Study. COPDGOLD was defined according to the fixed post-bronchodilator spirometric criteria FEV1/FVC<0.70 in combination with respiratory symptoms. Results: Among the 128 participants who fulfilled the criteria for COPDGOLD, the underdiagnosis was 83.6% (n = 107) of which 57.9% were men. The undiagnosed participants were younger, had higher FEV1% of predicted and less frequently a family history of bronchitis. One in four of the undiagnosed had utilized healthcare and had more frequently utilized healthcare due to a burden of respiratory symptoms than the general population without COPD. Underdiagnosis was not related to educational level. Misclassification of COPD was characterized by being a woman with low education, ever smoker, having respiratory symptoms and having a previous asthma diagnosis.Conclusion: In the high income country Sweden, the underdiagnosis of COPD was highly prevalent. Reduced underdiagnosis can contribute to risk factor modification, medical treatment and self-management strategies in early stages of the disease, which may prevent disease progression and improve the quality of life among those affected. Therefore, there is a need to increase the use of spirometry in primary care to improve the diagnostic accuracy.
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| 37. |
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| 38. |
- Backman, Dan, 1972-
(författare)
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Interaction Studies of Secreted Aspartic Proteases (Saps) from Candida albicans : Application for Drug Discovery
- 2005
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis is focused on enzymatic studies of the secreted aspartic proteases (Saps) from Candida albicans as a tool for discovery of anti-candida drugs. C. albicans causes infections in a number of different locations, which differ widely in the protein substrates available and pH. Since C. albicans needs Saps during virulent growth, these enzymes are good targets for drug development.In order to investigate the catalytic characteristics of Saps and their inhibitor affinities, substrate-based kinetic assays were developed. Due to the low sensitivity of these assays, especially at the sub-optimal pH required to mimic the different locations of infections, these assays were not satisfactory. Therefore, a biosensor assay was developed whereby, it was possible to study interaction between Saps and inhibitors without the need to optimise catalytic efficacy. Furthermore, the biosensor assay allowed determination of affinity, as well as the individual association and dissociation rates for inhibitor interactions.Knowledge about substrate specificity, Sap subsite adaptivity, and the pH dependencies of catalytic efficacy has been accumulated. Also, screening of transition-state analogue inhibitors designed for HIV-1 protease has revealed inhibitors with affinity for Saps. Furthermore, the kinetics and pH dependencies of their interaction with Saps have been investigated. One of these inhibitors, BEA-440, displayed a complex interaction with Saps, indicating a conformational change upon binding and a very slow dissociation rate. A time dependent interaction was further supported by inhibition measurements. The structural information obtained affords possibilities for design of new more potent inhibitors that might ultimately become drugs against candidiasis. The strategy to combine substrate specificity studies with inhibitor screening has led to complementary results that generate a framework for further development of potent inhibitors.
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