| 1. |
- Callaghan, Terry, et al.
(författare)
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Multi-Decadal Changes in Tundra Environments and Ecosystems : Synthesis of the International Polar Year-Back to the Future Project (IPY-BTF)
- 2011
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Ingår i: Ambio. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 40:6, s. 705-716
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Understanding the responses of tundra systemsto global change has global implications. Most tundraregions lack sustained environmental monitoring and oneof the only ways to document multi-decadal change is toresample historic research sites. The International PolarYear (IPY) provided a unique opportunity for such researchthrough the Back to the Future (BTF) project (IPY project#512). This article synthesizes the results from 13 paperswithin this Ambio Special Issue. Abiotic changes includeglacial recession in the Altai Mountains, Russia; increasedsnow depth and hardness, permafrost warming, andincreased growing season length in sub-arctic Sweden;drying of ponds in Greenland; increased nutrient availabilityin Alaskan tundra ponds, and warming at mostlocations studied. Biotic changes ranged from relativelyminor plant community change at two sites in Greenland tomoderate change in the Yukon, and to dramatic increasesin shrub and tree density on Herschel Island, and in subarcticSweden. The population of geese tripled at one sitein northeast Greenland where biomass in non-grazed plotsdoubled. A model parameterized using results from a BTFstudy forecasts substantial declines in all snowbeds andincreases in shrub tundra on Niwot Ridge, Colorado overthe next century. In general, results support and provideimproved capacities for validating experimental manipulation,remote sensing, and modeling studies.
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| 2. |
- Husby, Steffen, et al.
(författare)
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Celiac disease and risk management of gluten
- 2014
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Ingår i: Risk management for food allergy. - : Elsevier. ; , s. 129-152
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Celiac disease (CD) is a distinct disease caused by gluten from wheat and other related prolamins from rye and barley. CD is chronic, may affect multiple organs, and has autoimmune components. The clinical presentation may be diverse, reaching from frank mal-absorption to effects such as iron deficiency, anemia, or osteoporosis. The main autoantigen in CD is transglutaminase 2 (TG2), and IgA anti-TG2 antibodies have a high diagnostic accuracy. New guidelines for the diagnosis of CD in children and adolescents have recently been published. CD may be diagnosed at any age and in most populations CD is common, affecting approximately 1% of the general population. The cornerstone treatment of CD is a gluten-free diet. The diet may be cumbersome, and in children as well as adults diet adherence may present a considerable challenge. Maximal levels for gluten content in gluten-free foods are given in Codex Alimentarius. Governmental support for patients and families is important, and education and participation in a celiac patient organization is of value.
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| 3. |
- Johansson, Anneli, et al.
(författare)
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Remaining connected despite separation : former family caregivers’ experiences of aspects that facilitate and hinder the process of relinquishing the care of a person with dementia to a nursing home
- 2014
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Ingår i: Aging & Mental Health. - : Routledge. - 1360-7863 .- 1364-6915. ; 18:8, s. 1029-1036
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: This qualitative study aimed to illuminate former family caregivers’ experiences of aspects that facilitate and hinder the process of relinquishing the care of a person with dementia to a nursing home. METHOD: Ten narrative interviews with former family caregivers were performed and subjected to qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: An overall theme showed that family caregivers were remaining connected to the person with dementia despite separation. They experienced being ‘caught by surprise’ when the placement occurred. Negative expectations of dementia care made the separation more difficult. Lacking adequate information increased feelings of insecurity. Despite these hurdles, family caregivers found meaning in the new situation as they felt that they could remain connected to their loved one. Being recognized as partners in care of the person with dementia after placement was a facilitating aspect. Family caregivers regarded a well-functioning interaction with staff and a supportive social network as reassuring since they facilitated staying in touch. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the relinquishing process and adequate information about dementia and its progression may help family caregivers better prepare for and adapt to the situation. Family caregivers need to be recognized as partners in care and a welcoming nursing home environment is of utmost importance.
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| 4. |
- Kautto, Ethel, et al.
(författare)
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What happens to food choices when a gluten-free diet is required? : A prospective longitudinal population-based study among Swedish adolescent with coeliac disease and their peers
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Nutritional Science. - : Cambridge University Press. - 2048-6790 .- 2048-6790. ; 3:e2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A dietary survey was performed during a large screening study in Sweden among 13-year-old adolescents. The aim was to study how the intake of food groups was affected by a screening-detected diagnosis of celiac disease (CD) and its gluten-free (GF) treatment. Food intake, was reported using a food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) and intake reported by the adolescents who was screened to CD was compared with the intake of two same-aged referent groups: i) adolescents diagnosed to CD prior screening and ii) adolescents without CD.. The food intake groups were measured at baseline before the screening-detected cases were aware of their CD, and 12-18 months later.The result showed that the food intakes are affected by a screen detected CD and its dietary treatment. Many flour-based foods were reduced such as pizza, fish fingers, and pastries. The result also indicated that the bread intake was lower before the screened diagnosis compared to the other studied groups, but increased afterwards. Specially manufactured GF-products (e.g. pasta and bread) were frequently used in the screened CDgroup after changing to a GF-diet. Our results suggest that changing to a GF-diet reduces the intake of some popular foods, and the ingredients on the plate are altered, but this do not necessarily include a change of food groups. The availability of manufactured GF-replacement products makes it possible for adolescents to keep many of their old food habits when diagnosed with CD in Sweden.
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| 5. |
- Murto, Tiina, 1975-
(författare)
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Folate, Hormones and Infertility : Different factors affecting IVF pregnancy outcome
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Various hormones have been studied as regards prediction of pregnancy outcome after infertility treatment, but no ideal candidate has been found. Folate and genetic variations in folate metabolism have also been associated with infertility, but it remains unclear how these factors affect IVF pregnancy outcome. It is known that infertility is associated with active folic acid supplement use, but the effect of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors on folic acid supplement use in infertile women has not been well investigated. The overall aim of this work was to obtain information on the prediction of live birth, and to study factors affecting the role of folate and folic acid intake in relation to IVF pregnancy outcome. Infertile women with various infertility diagnoses were studied. Healthy, fertile non-pregnant women were used as controls in three of the studies. Blood samples were taken for assay of eight different hormones, folate and homocysteine, and for genomic DNA extraction. A questionnaire was used to assess background data and use of folic acid supplements. Twenty-four-hour recall interviews were performed for validation of the questionnaire. The studied hormones were not good predictors of live birth. The best predictor was age of the women, together with ovulatory menstrual cycles, and thyroid-stimulating hormone and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) status. Well-educated women, high-status employed women, and married and infertile women used the most folic acid supplements. Infertile women had better folate status than fertile women. However, pregnancy outcome after infertility treatment was not dependent on folic acid intake, folate status, genetic variation of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase or socioeconomic status. In conclusion, AMH levels vary less than those of other hormones during the menstrual cycle, and AMH could be used as a predictive marker of live birth together with age and ovulation. Folate might play a minor role in IVF pregnancy outcome, but the importance of folate as regards other health perspectives should not be forgotten.
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| 6. |
- Namatovu, Fredinah, et al.
(författare)
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Celiac disease risk varies between birth cohorts, generating hypotheses about causality : evidence from 36 years of population-based follow-up
- 2014
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Ingår i: BMC Gastroenterology. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-230X .- 1471-230X. ; 14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Celiac disease (CD) is a major public health problem with estimated 1-3% prevalence in the general population. In recent years an increase in CD prevalence has been reported both in Sweden and worldwide. This study aimed at examining the annual incidence rate of biopsy-proven celiac disease among children in Sweden over a 36-year period, to assess variations by age, sex and birth cohort, and to assess the clinical impact of these changes.METHODS: The National Swedish Childhood CD Register was used to identify 9107 children aged 0-14.9 years who were diagnosed with CD during the period 1973 to 2009. From 1973 to 1990 the register covered 15% of the nation, this increased to 40% during 1991-1997; a full national coverage was obtained from 1998 onwards. Estimations for the annual incidence rate, cumulative incidence and clinical impact by age groups, calendar month and birth cohorts were made.RESULTS: CD incidence is continuing to increase in the child population aged 2-14.9 years. A continued variation in CD incidence was observed in children aged 0-1.9 years, characterized by a marked decrease in most recent years. The median age at diagnosis has increased from 1.0 year in the 1970s to 6.8 years in 2009. The average number of new cases has risen from ~200 during 1973-1983 to ~600 during 2004-2009. In the birth cohorts of 2000-2002 the cumulative incidence even exceeded that of the epidemic cohorts at comparable ages. The highest cumulative incidence was observed in the birth cohorts of 1985-1995 and 2000-2002.CONCLUSIONS: CD risk varies between birth cohorts, suggesting cyclic environmental and/or lifestyle risk factors in CD etiology. More research on underlying risk factors is required in order to move forward with preventive strategies.
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| 7. |
- Namatovu, Fredinah, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Neighborhood conditions and celiac disease risk among children in Sweden
- 2014
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : Sage Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 42:7, s. 572-580
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: To investigate celiac disease (CD) clustering at different geographical levels and to examine the association between neighborhood demographic and socioeconomic conditions and the risk of neighborhood CD.Methods: We included 2080 children diagnosed with CD between 1998 and 2003, identified from 43 of the 47 reporting hospitals in Sweden. A total of 8036 small area market statistics (SAMS) areas were included; these were nested in 253 municipalities that were further nested into eight ‘nomenclature of territorial units for statistics’ (NUTS) 2 regions. We performed multilevel logistic regression analyses.Results: We found the highest geographical variation in CD incidence at the municipality level, compared to the region level. The probability of having CD increased in the statistical areas of (SAMS) areas with higher average annual work income, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.24 and 95% CI of 1.76–2.85. Reduced CD risk in neighborhoods was associated with higher average age (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.95–0.97), higher proportion of residents with a university education (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.97–0.99), and higher level of industrial and commercial activity (OR 0.59; 95% CI 0.44–0.82). We found no significant association between CD risk and population density, proportion of Nordic to non-Nordic inhabitants, nor share of the population with only a compulsory education.Conclusions: Neighborhood composition influences CD risk. This is one of the first attempts to identify factors explaining geographical variation in CD.
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| 8. |
- Nordyke, Katrina, et al.
(författare)
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Epidemiological research drives a paradigm shift in complementary feeding : the celiac disease story and lessons learnt
- 2010
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Ingår i: Drivers of Innovation in Pediatric Nutrition. - : S. Karger. - 9783805594547 - 9783805594554 ; , s. 65-79
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Breast milk is the initial natural food for infants, but already during the second half year complementary feeding is essential. Epidemiological research, first on celiac disease and later on atopic diseases, has driven a paradigm shift with respect to most favorable age to introduce complementary feeding. Simplified, this implies a shift from later to earlier introduction, which is now taken into account in recommendations on infant feeding. Complementary feeding, including all foods, should not be initiated for any infant before 4 months of age, and not later than around 6 months, including infants with elevated disease risk (e.g. for celiac disease or atopic diseases). Motivating reasons could be that ongoing breastfeeding provides an 'immunological umbrella' and/ or a different age interval gives a 'window of opportunity' for developing oral tolerance towards gluten and other food antigens. This will for some infants be in conflict with recent WHO recommendations on exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. Epidemiology has evolved over time and could, if increasingly used, contribute even more to innovations in pediatric nutrition and other phenomena related to population health.
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| 9. |
- Olsson, Anneli G, et al.
(författare)
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Differences in quality of life modalities give rise to needs of individual support in patients with ALS and their next of kin.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Palliative & supportive care. - 1478-9523. ; 8:1, s. 75-82
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective:The aim of this study was to examine health-related quality of life (HRQoL), individual QoL, anxiety and depression in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their next of kin in relation to patients' physical function over time.Methods:35 patients and their next of kin were studied using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), Schedule for Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life-Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and patients also by the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised and the Norris scale every fourth to sixth month, one to four times.Results:Changes were found over time in both patients and their next of kin in the SF-36 but not in the SEIQoL-DW or HADS. Patients rated worse than their next of kin in the SF-36 physical subscales and next of kin rated worse than the patients in the global QoL score in SEIQoL-DW. Health, hobbies, and total relations were important areas in the SEIQoL-DW among all participants, but some important areas also differed between the patients and their next of kin. In most important areas among the pairs, the next of kin estimated their functioning/satisfaction worse than patients estimated their functioning/satisfaction.Significance of results:There were few changes over time in the QoL among the participants. Although most of the estimates in patients and their next of kin were equal, there were also some differences. These results emphasize the importance of support for both patients and their next of kin and that support ought to be given on both individual bases and together in pairs. The SEIQoL-DW might give signposts in the care through the course of the disease about what should be focused on to increase satisfaction of the important areas of life and might help the person to find coping strategies to handle his or her life situation.
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| 10. |
- Olsson, Anneli G
(författare)
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Living with ALS – Perspectives of Patients and Next of kin
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- ALS is a neurodegenerative disease without curative treatment. The knowledge of the relationship between patients and their next of kin with respect to quality of life (QoL) is deficient. The overall aim of this thesis is to describe different perspectives of QoL of patients with ALS and their next of kin, and to describe strengths and hindrances in the manageability of their daily lives. The participants were recruited from Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden. In the quantitative studies I–III, 35 couples participated. Fourteen patients and thirteen next of kin participated in the qualitative study (IV). Few changes were found over time in studies I and III, but in patients, there was a decreased rating in some of the physical subscales and in general health in the health-related QoL (HRQoL). The ratings in those subscales were worse in patients than in next of kin, even though next of kin also gave a decreased rating in some of the physical and mental subscales. Next of kin estimated individual QoL to be worse than patients did. No changes were found over time in anxiety, depression, or individual QoL. The ratings in discrete pairs were often similar, indicating that if one person felt bad, the other one did also. Even though the pairs gave relatively good ratings of QoL, study II showed that QoL was worse than in a subset of the general population. Study IV found a constant fluctuation between factors that facilitated and hindered the manageability for each individual person, as well as similarities and differences between patients and their next of kin. QoL was worse in our participants compared with the general population and did not change much over time. The similarities and differences between the patients and next of kin show the need to offer them physical, psychosocial, and existential support, both together and individually, to ensure the best possible QoL. The knowledge that the manageability can change from one moment to another makes it necessary to meet the individuals with a wide perspective and to support them in the situation in which they are currently living.
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