| 1. |
- Stocklassa, B, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of a new X-ray fluorescent analysis technique for the creation of a Nordic hair database : Elemental distributions within the root and the virgin segment of hair fibers
- 2001
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Ingår i: JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE. - New York : Society of Cosmetic Chemists. - 0037-9832 .- 1525-7886. ; 117:3, s. 312-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A new, non-destructive X-ray fluorescence technique for quantitative estimation of elemental content in biological tissues has been developed. Technical and instrumental characteristics of the ITRAX X-ray spectrometer have been evaluated in relation to the properties of biological samples, i.e., human hair fibers. Thus, attenuation variations of the fluorescent X-rays in the hair bulk mass were demonstrated by analysis of sulfur, calcium, and zinc in a virgin part near the root of one hair fiber with elliptical cross section. By rotation of the hair fiber and successive analyses made of the same part of the hair fiber, the results showed that concentrations of elements varied as functions of the diameter of the analyzed hair volume. Other sources of errors are also discussed. The ITRAX instrument allows for precise, fast, non-destructive, simultaneous, quantitative recording of the detected elements and trace elements down to levels of 1 ppm (mug/g). It was used fur assessment of normal values of physiologically important elements present in hair in a cohort of normal, healthy Swedish, Caucasian individuals. The database constructed from data retrieved from a conceivably homogenous ethnic set of individuals represents, to our knowledge, the first of its kind.
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| 2. |
- de Rooy, D. P. C., et al.
(författare)
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Smoking as a risk factor for the radiological severity of rheumatoid arthritis: a study on six cohorts
- 2014
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 73:7, s. 1384-1387
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Smoking is a risk factor for the development of anti -citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Whether smoking predisposes to severe joint damage progression is not known, since deleterious, protective and neutral observations have been made. Objective To determine the effect of smoking on joint damage progression. Methods Smoking status was assessed in 3158 RA patients included in six cohorts (Leiden Early Arthritis Clinic (Leiden-EAC), BARFOT, Lund, Iceland, NDB and Wichita). In total 9412 radiographs were assessed. Multivariate normal regression and linear regression analyses were performed. Data were summarised in a random effects inverse variance meta-analysis. Results When comparing radiological progression for RA patients that were never, past and current smokers, smoking was significantly associated with more severe joint damage in Leiden-EAC (p=0.042) and BARFOT (p=0.015) RA patients. No significant associations were found in the other cohorts, though a meta-analysis on the six cohorts showed significantly more severe joint damage progression in smokers (p=0.01). Since smoking predisposes to ACPA, analyses were repeated with ACPA as additional adjustment factor. Then the association was lost (meta-analysis p=0.29). Conclusions This multi-cohort study indicated that the effect of smoking on joint damage is mediated via ACPA and that smoking is not an independent risk factor for radiological progression in RA.
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| 3. |
- Nicander, I, et al.
(författare)
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Lipid content and electrical impedance
- 1998
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Ingår i: Current problems in dermatology. - Basel : KARGER. - 1421-5721. ; 26, s. 165-176
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
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| 4. |
- Ahlmen, M, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of gender on assessments of disease activity and function in early rheumatoid arthritis in relation to radiographic joint damage
- 2010
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Ingår i: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 69:1, s. 230-233
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To evaluate gender differences in score on 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Signals Of Functional Impairment (SOFI) and to relate these scores to radiographic joint destruction.Methods:In all, 549 patients with early RA (62% women) from the BARFOT (for “Better Anti-Rheumatic FarmacOTherapy”) study were included. At baseline, 1, 2 and 5 years DAS28, HAQ and SOFI scoring, and radiographs of hands and feet were performed. The radiographs were scored using the van der Heijde–Sharp score.Results:In women the DAS28 was significantly higher than in men due to higher scores for general health and tender joints. Likewise, HAQ and VAS pain were rated significantly higher in women. The SOFI score was worse in men during the first 2 years, depending on higher upper limb scores. Total Sharp score (TotSharp), erosion score and joint space narrowing score did not differ between the sexes at any time point. The DAS28 area under the curve (AUC) correlated significantly with TotSharp at 5 years in both genders (r = 0.316, r = 0.313) mainly owing to swollen joints and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The SOFI AUC correlated significantly with TotSharp in women (r = 0.135 to 0.220) but not in men.Conclusions:Despite a similar degree of radiographic joint destruction women had, compared with men, worse scores for DAS28 and HAQ, possibly due to higher pain perception and less muscular strength and perhaps because men overestimate their functional capacity.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Ajeganova, S., et al.
(författare)
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Long-term fracture risk in rheumatoid arthritis: impact of early sustained DAS28-remission and restored function, progressive erosive disease, body mass index, autoantibody positivity and glucocorticoids. A cohort study over 10 years
- 2023
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Ingår i: BMC Rheumatology. - 2520-1026. ; 7:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundRisk of fragility fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is increased. Disease-related inflammation in RA is associated with low Bone Mineral Density (BMD). However, effects of specific disease factors on fracture occurrence and whether or not such disease effects are independent of BMD are unknown.MethodsAnalysis of fracture outcome in the prospective cohort of 2557 patients with early RA (67% women, mean age 58.1 & PLUSMN; 15.6 years) during an observation period of 10.6 & PLUSMN; 4.7 years. In 602 patients BMD was measured at baseline. The first major fragility fractures were considered. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis, adjusted for traditional factors, prior fracture, disease activity and period of inclusion, were used to estimate the risk of the outcome.ResultsDuring follow-up fracture occurred in 352 patients (13.8%), a rate of 13/1000 p-y. A proportional risk reduction for the outcome was associated with Body Mass Index (BMI) at baseline, BMI & GE; 30 kg/m(2), and over the first two years sustained Disease Activity Score (DAS28)-remission, DAS28-low disease activity and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) & LE; 0.5. The proportional risk elevation for fractures was associated with BMI & LE; 20 kg/m(2), DAS28 at baseline, 6-month and at 1-year, cumulative DAS28 over the two years, RF, erosion score progression at 2-year, HAQ score and HAQ & GE; 1 at 6-month and 1-year and showed a trend for ACPA positivity. The estimated fracture risk was increased in users of glucocorticoids (GC), associated with a higher GC-dosage at follow-ups and a higher cumulative dosage over two years, independently of disease activity. With adjustment for BMD, there was no difference in fracture outcome by exposure to GC. The effects of a higher BMI, DAS28-remission and low HAQ & LE; 0.5 attained at 6-month of treatment initiation and sustained up to 2 years, RF, ACPA, and erosion score progression at 2-year were independent of low BMD.ConclusionsThis analysis supports importance of RA-specific risk factors in early RA for future major fragility fractures. Treat-to-target strategy and restored functional capacity in early RA-disease are important to prevent fractures. Autoantibody positivity, progressively erosive disease, and low weight could have additional value for personalized fracture preventive strategies in early RA.
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| 7. |
- Ajeganova, S., et al.
(författare)
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The association between anti-carbamylated protein (anti-CarP) antibodies and radiographic progression in early rheumatoid arthritis : A study exploring replication and the added value to ACPA and rheumatoid factor
- 2017
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 76:1, s. 112-118
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective Anti-carbamylated protein (anti-CarP) antibodies are reported to associate with more radiographic progression within the total rheumatoid arthritis (RA) population and anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA)-negative subgroup. We explored the association of anti-CarP with radiographic progression in RA and aimed to replicate the association and evaluate the added value of anti-CarP antibodies in relation to ACPA and rheumatoid factor (RF). Methods 576 Swedish and 628 Dutch patients with RA (2394 and 3247 sets of radiographs, respectively) were longitudinally studied. Replication was restricted to the Swedish patients. In both cohorts, the association of anti-CarP with radiographic progression was determined in strata of patients with similar ACPA and RF status; results of both cohorts were combined in fixed-effect meta-analyses. The net percentage of patients for whom the radiographic progression in 5 years was additionally correctly classified when adding anti-CarP to a model including ACPA and RF was evaluated. Results Anti-CarP associated with radiographic progression in the total Swedish RA population (beta=1.11 per year, p=8.75×10-13) and in the ACPAnegative subgroup (beta=1.14 per year, p=0.034). Anti- CarP associated with more radiographic progression in the strata of ACPA-positive/RF-negative, ACPA-negative/ RF-positive and ACPA-positive/RF-positive patients with RA (respective p values 0.014, 0.019 and 0.0056). A model including ACPA and RF correctly classified 54% and 57% of the patients; adding anti-CarP to this model did not increase these percentages (54% and 56% were correctly classified). Conclusions Anti-CarP antibodies associated with more severe radiographic progression in the total and ACPA-negative RA population. Anti-CarP-positivity had a statistically significant additive value to ACPA and RF, but did not improve correct classification of patients.
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| 8. |
- Andersson, Maria L., et al.
(författare)
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Distribution of erosions in hands and feet at the time for the diagnosis of RA and during 8-year follow-up
- 2021
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Ingår i: Clinical Rheumatology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0770-3198 .- 1434-9949. ; 40:5, s. 1799-1810
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is usually evaluated by radiographs of both hands and feet, while the inflammatory status mostly is evaluated by DAS28 which, however, does not include the feet. Objectives: To investigate the distribution of erosions in hands and feet in early RA over 8 years and its potential clinical implications. Furthermore, the group of patients never showing erosions has been addressed. Methods: This study comprises 1041 patients from the BARFOT study of patients with early RA. Radiographs of hands and feet were performed at baseline, 1, 2, 5, and 8 years and evaluated by the Sharp van der Heijde scoring (SHS) method (32 joints in the hands and 12 in the feet). Disease activity was measured by DAS28, SR, CRP, and function with HAQ. Results: In the feet, there were significantly more eroded joints in percent of examined joints than in the hands at all time points. Patients with erosions only in the feet were younger, more often seropositive and smokers. They had significantly lower baseline DAS28, than the patients with erosions only in the hands. The patients without erosions over time were, at diagnosis, significantly younger and less frequently seropositive compared with patients having erosions. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of evaluating the feet in patients with RA, both with clinical examinations and with imaging and lends support to the notion that seropositivity and smoking are risk factors for erosive disease. Further studies of patients with nonerosive disease are needed.Key Points:• Foot problems are common in RA• This study emphasizes the limitations of DAS28 and Sharp van der Heijde score as regards evaluating disease activity and radiographic damage• This study highlights the importance of evaluating the feet in patients with RA with clinical examinations and imaging• This study also points out the need of further studies of patients with non-erosive RA.
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| 9. |
- Bala, V., et al.
(författare)
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Towards measurement of person-centered care outcomes in outpatient nurse-led clinics
- 2017
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ Publishing Group. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 76, s. 1520-1520
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Person-centered care (PCC) is increasingly emphasized as a key component of effective illness management and of developing high quality of care. Despite considerable progress of PCC in many areas of care there is currently a gap and a need for means to assess PCC practice in outpatient care. In rheumatology, PCC is considered an unmet need and further development and evaluation of this approach to care is thus of high priority. Objectives To develop an instrument for measuring person-centered care from the perspective of the person with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in nurse-led outpatient clinics. Methods A conceptual framework of PCC in the outpatient context and focusing on the meeting between the person with RA and the nurse and on the patient as an active care partner was undertaken. Based on this framework, qualitative interviews (1,2) and a literature review, a 35-item questionnaire was proposed and qualitatively tested regarding acceptability and content validity among 50 persons with RA attending a nurse-led outpatient clinic. Two versions of the questionnaire were tested: one using four response categories (0 = Totally disagree; 3 = Completely agree), and one using two response categories (0 = Disagree; 1 = Agree). Content validity was estimated by calculating Content Validity Index of the individual items (I-CVI) and of the overall instrument (S-CVI). Results Respondents found the items easy to understand (77%) and relevant (93%). Seventy-three percent of the respondents preferred the questionnaire version with four response categories. This version took a mean (SD) of 5.3 (2.5) minutes to complete. I-CVI values ranged from 0.87 to 1.00 and S-CVI was 0.94. About 80% of the respondents considered some items to be redundant. This resulted in a reduced 24-item draft questionnaire that yield a total score between 0–72. Conclusions A preliminary 24-item patient-reported PCC questionnaire was developed. Psychometric testing is needed for validation of this tool before implementation.
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