| 1. |
- Alvehus, Malin, et al.
(author)
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The human visceral fat depot has a unique inflammatory profile
- 2010
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In: Obesity. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 1930-7381 .- 1930-739X. ; 18:5, s. 879-883
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Obesity can be considered as a low-grade inflammatory condition, strongly linked to adverse metabolic outcomes. Obesity-associated adipose tissue inflammation is characterized by infiltration of macrophages and increased cytokine and chemokine production. The distribution of adipose tissue impacts the outcomes of obesity, with the accumulation of fat in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and deep subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), but not superficial SAT, being linked to insulin resistance. We hypothesized that the inflammatory gene expression in deep SAT and VAT is higher than in superficial SAT. A total of 17 apparently healthy women (BMI: 29.3 +/- 5.5 kg/m2) were included in the study. Body fat (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) and distribution (computed tomography) were measured, and insulin sensitivity, blood lipids, and blood pressure were determined. Inflammation-related differences in gene expression(real-time PCR) from VAT, superficial and deep SAT biopsies were analyzed using univariate and multivariate data analyses. Using multivariate discrimination analysis, VAT appeared as a distinct depot in adipose tissue inflammation,while the SAT depots had a similar pattern, with respect to gene expression. A significantly elevated (P < 0.01)expression of the CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in VAT contributed strongly to the discrimination. In conclusion, the human adipose tissue depots have unique inflammatory patterns, with CCR2 and MIF distinguishing between VAT and the SAT depots.
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| 2. |
- Asklund, Ina, 1978-
(author)
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A mobile app for self-management of urinary incontinence : treatment effect and user experience
- 2020
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background Urinary incontinence affects 25-45% of all women. The most common type is stress urinary incontinence, which is the leakage of urine on physical exertion. Pelvic floor muscle training is an effective first-line treatment for this condition but many women do not seek help from their ordinary health care service. There is a need to evaluate new methods to offer effective treatment, and internet-based treatment has previously been found to be effective for women with stress urinary incontinence.Aim To evaluate the mobile app Tät® which has a self-management program focused on pelvic floor muscle training for women with stress urinary incontinence, with respect to treatment effect, factors associated with successful treatment, user experience and use by pregnant and postnatal women.Methods Papers I, II and III are based on the same study population from a randomized controlled trial (RCT). We recruited adult women who had stress urinary incontinence at least weekly via our website. In total, 123 women were randomized to the app group (n=62) or the control group (n=61). The app included information about incontinence, the pelvic floor and lifestyle factors associated with incontinence, pelvic floor muscle training exercises and functions for reminders and training statistics. Treatment outcome after three months was evaluated using validated questionnaires assessing incontinence symptoms, quality of life, subjective improvement and a leakage diary. Outcomes were compared between the two groups. Factors associated with a successful outcome in the app group were further analysed using logistic regression. We strategically selected 15 women who had used the app and interviewed them about their experiences of using the app. The interviews were analysed according to Grounded Theory. After closing the RCT we made the app freely available and continued to follow its use on a larger scale by incorporating an anonymous questionnaire that appeared within the app upon download and after three months. The data from these questionnaires is used in paper IV. Results Participants in the RCT had a mean age of 44.7 years (range 27-72) and 120 of the 123 women had moderate/severe incontinence. The app group reported significant improvements in the primary outcomes, the incontinence symptom score (mean ICIQ-UI SF reduction 3.9, 95% CI 3.0-4.7) and the quality of life score (mean ICIQ LUTSqol reduction 4.8, 95% CI 3.4-6.2), and the difference between the groups was significant. The app group also reduced their number of leakages and use of incontinence aids compared to the control group. At follow-up 92% of women in the app group experienced subjective improvement and 56% had improved “much” or “very much” and were classified as having a successful treatment outcome.Factors associated with a successful outcome were higher expectations of treatment effect (OR 11.38, 95% CI 2.02-64.19), weight control (OR 0.44 per kg gained, 95% CI 0.24-0.79), and self-assessed improvement of pelvic floor muscle strength (OR 35.54, 95% CI 4.96-254.61).The main finding from the interviews was that women experienced that the app “enabled their independence”. They described that the app was “something new” that helped with “keeping motivation up” although they sometimes wondered whether their training efforts were “good enough”.The freely available app was downloaded by 10,456 pregnant and postnatal women during a period of ten months (41% of all users). At inclusion 51% experienced incontinence and their mean ICIQ-UI SF score was 6.7 (SD 3.45). After three months, 1,805 women answered the follow-up. The majority of women with incontinence at inclusion experienced improvement with greater improvement in the postnatal group than in the pregnant group.Conclusion The mobile app Tät® offers a new, easily accessible and effective self-management program for women with stress urinary incontinence. Women appreciated that the app enabled them to manage their pelvic floor muscle training independently. Once the app was freely released it reached a large population with many pregnant and postnatal women. We believe that the app could be useful for the prevention of urinary incontinence among pregnant women. We also believe that the app could be used both as a stand-alone treatment and as a complement to other treatments provided by the ordinary health care service.
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| 3. |
- Asklund, Ina, et al.
(author)
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Mobile app for treatment of stress urinary incontinence : a randomized controlled trial
- 2017
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In: Neurourology and Urodynamics. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0733-2467 .- 1520-6777. ; 36:5, s. 1369-1376
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIMS: To evaluate the effect of a mobile app treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women.METHODS: Randomized controlled trial, conducted 2013-2014 in Sweden. Community-dwelling adult women with ≥1 SUI episode/week recruited through our website and randomized to app treatment (n = 62) or control group (postponed treatment, n = 61). One participant from each group was lost to follow-up. Intervention was the mobile app Tät(®) with a treatment program focused on pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), and information about SUI and lifestyle factors. Primary outcomes, 3 months after randomization: symptom severity (International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence Short Form [ICIQ-UI SF]); and condition-specific quality of life (ICIQ Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Quality of Life [ICIQ-LUTSqol]).RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-three women were included (mean age 44.7), with moderate/severe SUI (97.5%, 120/123), mean ICIQ-UI SF score 11.1 (SD 2.8) and mean ICIQ-LUTSqol score 34.4 (SD 6.1) at baseline. At follow-up, the app group reported improvements in symptom severity (mean ICIQ-UI SF score reduction: 3.9, 95% confidence interval 3.0-4.7) and condition-specific quality of life (mean ICIQ-LUTSqol score reduction: 4.8, 3.4-6.2) and the groups were significantly different (mean ICIQ-UI SF score difference: -3.2, -4.3to -2.1; mean ICIQ-LUTSqol score difference: -4.6, -7.8 to -1.4). In the app group, 98.4% (60/61) performed PFMT at follow-up, and 41.0% (25/61) performed it daily.CONCLUSIONS: The mobile app treatment was effective for women with SUI and yielded clinically relevant improvements. This app may increase access to first-line treatment and adherence to PFMT.
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| 4. |
- Asklund, Ina, et al.
(author)
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User Experience of an App-Based Treatment for Stress Urinary Incontinence : Qualitative Interview Study
- 2019
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In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. - : JMIR Publications Inc.. - 1438-8871. ; 21:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) affects 10%-39% of women. Its first-line treatment consists of lifestyle interventions and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), which can be performed supervised or unsupervised. Health apps are increasing in number and can be used to improve adherence to treatments. We developed the Tät app, which provides a 3-month treatment program with a focus on PFMT for women with SUI. The app treatment was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial, which demonstrated efficacy for improving incontinence symptoms and quality of life. In this qualitative interview study, we investigated participant experiences of the app-based treatment.Objective: This study aimed to explore women’s experiences of using an app-based treatment program for SUI.Methods: This qualitative study is based on telephone interviews with 15 selected women, with a mean age of 47 years, who had used the app in the previous randomized controlled trial. A semistructured interview guide with open-ended questions was used, and the interviews were transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed according to the grounded theory.Results: The results were grouped into three categories: “Something new!” “Keeping motivation up!” and “Good enough?” A core category, “Enabling my independence,” was identified. The participants appreciated having a new and modern way to access a treatment program for SUI. The use of new technology seemed to make incontinence treatment feel more prioritized and less embarrassing for the subjects. The closeness to their mobile phone and app features like reminders and visual graphs helped support and motivate the women to carry through the PFMT. The participants felt confident that they could perform the treatment program on their own, even though they expressed some uncertainty about whether they were doing the pelvic floor muscle contractions correctly. They felt that the app-based treatment increased their self-confidence and enabled them to take responsibility for their treatment.Conclusions: Use of the app-based treatment program for SUI empowered the women in this study and helped them self-manage their incontinence treatment. They appreciated the app as a new tool for supporting their motivation to carry through a slightly challenging PFMT program.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01848938; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01848938 (Archived by WebCite at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01848938)
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| 5. |
- Björk, Anna-Bell, et al.
(author)
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Women's Experiences of Internet-Based or Postal Treatment for Stress Urinary Incontinence
- 2014
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In: Qualitative Health Research. - : SAGE Publications. - 1049-7323 .- 1552-7557. ; 24:4, s. 484-493
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Stress urinary incontinence is common and sometimes embarrassing. New, simple, and easily accessible treatments are needed. We telephone interviewed 21 women who participated in a randomized controlled study comparing two treatment programs based on instructions for pelvic floor muscle training. One program was Internet-based and included email support by a urotherapist; the other was sent by post. There was no face-to-face contact in either program. Our main aim was to explore the women's experiences of the Internet-based treatment. Grounded theory analysis revealed three categories: hidden but present, at a distance but close, and by myself but not alone. These were incorporated in a core category: acknowledged but not exposed. The leakage was often a well-hidden secret, but the study treatments lowered the barrier for seeking care. In the Internet group, a supportive patient-provider relationship developed despite the lack of face-to-face contact. Internet-based treatment programs can increase access to care and empower women.
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| 6. |
- Björnheden, Tom, 1945, et al.
(author)
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Computerized determination of adipocyte size.
- 2004
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In: Obesity research. - 1071-7323. ; 12:1, s. 95-105
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Fat cell size is a fundamental parameter in the study of adipose tissue metabolism, because it markedly influences the cellular rates of metabolism. Previous techniques for the sizing of adipocytes are often complicated or time-consuming. The aim of this study was to develop a new, computerized method for rapid and accurate determination of adipocyte size in a cell suspension obtained by incubating human or rat adipose tissue biopsies with collagenase. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The cell suspension was placed between a siliconized glass slide and a cover slip. Using the reference method [designated as (R)], the cell diameters were determined manually using a microscope with a calibrated ocular. The new method presented here [designated as (C)] was based on computerized image analysis. RESULTS: After two well-defined corrective adjustments, measurements with (R) and (C) agreed very well. The small remaining differences seemed, in fact, to depend on inconsistencies in (R). DISCUSSION: We propose that (C) constitutes a valuable tool to study fat cell size, because this method is fast and allows the assessment of a sufficient number of cells to get reliable data on size distribution. Furthermore, images of cell preparations may be stored for future reference.
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| 7. |
- Bokne, Kajsa, et al.
(author)
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Self-management of stress urinary incontinence : effectiveness of two treatment programmes focused on pelvic floor muscle training, one booklet and one Internet-based
- 2019
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0281-3432 .- 1502-7724. ; 37:3, s. 380-387
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: In a previous study, self-management of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), via an Internet-based programme or a booklet improved symptoms and quality of life. We wanted to evaluate the effectiveness of these programmes when implemented for free use, as well as to characterize the users.Design: Pragmatic prospective cohort study.Setting and subjects: Information about the Internet programme and the booklet was provided at www.tät.nu and by nurse midwives. Both programmes included a three-month pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) programme. Questionnaires were used at the start and after three months.Main outcome measures: Characteristics of the participants regarding age and education. Reductions in symptom severity was measured using the validated ICIQ-UI SF.Results: 109 women using the booklet, and 166 women using the Internet-based programme responded to the pre-treatment questionnaire. Of these, 53 (48.6%) in the booklet group and 27 (16.3%) in the Internet group responded to the follow-up. The mean age of booklet users was higher, 59.4 years vs. 54.5 years (p = .005). The proportion of women with post-secondary education was high, 59% in the booklet group and 67% in the Internet group. The mean reduction in the symptom score was 2.6 points (SD 3.4) in the booklet group, and 3.4 (SD 2.9) in the Internet group. These reductions were significant within both groups, with no difference between the groups, and in the same order of magnitude as in the previous randomised controlled study.Conclusion: Two self-management programmes for SUI, one provided as a booklet and one as an Internet-based programme, also rendered clinically relevant improvements when made freely available.Key points:Female stress urinary incontinence can be treated using self-management programmes focused on pelvic floor muscle training. This study evaluates the effect of two different programmes, one provided as a booklet and one Internet-based, when made freely available to the public.Both programmes rendered clinically relevant improvements, in the same order of magnitude as in the previous randomised controlled study.Self-management of stress urinary incontinence should be recommended to women that request treatment.
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| 8. |
- Boks, Marije, et al.
(author)
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Increased incidence of late-onset inflammatory bowel disease and microscopic colitis after a Cryptosporidium hominis outbreak
- 2022
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 0036-5521 .- 1502-7708. ; 57:12, s. 1443-1449
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: In 2010, 27,000 inhabitants (45% of the population) of Östersund, Sweden, contracted clinical cryptosporidiosis after drinking water contaminated with Cryptosporidium hominis. After the outbreak, local physicians perceived that the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD), and IBD-unclassified, and microscopic colitis (MC) increased. This study assessed whether this perception was correct.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational study included adult patients (≥18 years old) from the local health care region who were diagnosed with pathology-confirmed IBD or MC during 2006-2019. We collected and validated the diagnosis, date of diagnosis, age at diagnosis, and sex from the Swedish quality register SWIBREG and electronic patient records. Population data were collected from Statistics Sweden. The incidences for 2006-2010 (pre-outbreak) and 2011-2019 (post-outbreak) were evaluated by negative binomial regression analysis and presented as incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Data were analyzed for IBD, for UC and CD separately, and MC.RESULTS: During the study period, we identified 410 patients with new onset IBD and 155 new cases of MC. Overall, we found a trend toward an increased incidence of IBD post-outbreak (IRR 1.39, confidence interval (CI) 0.99-1.94). In individuals ≥40 years old, the post-outbreak incidence significantly increased for IBD (IRR 1.69, CI 1.13-2.51) and CD (IRR 2.23, CI 1.08-4.62). Post-outbreak incidence of MC increased 6-fold in all age groups (IRR 6.43, CI 2.78-14.87).CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of late-onset IBD and MC increased after the Cryptosporidium outbreak. Cryptosporidiosis may be an environmental risk factor for IBD and MC.
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| 9. |
- Boks, Marije, et al.
(author)
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Persisting symptoms after Cryptosporidium hominis outbreak : a 10-year follow-up from Östersund, Sweden
- 2023
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In: Parasitology Research. - : Springer Nature. - 0932-0113 .- 1432-1955. ; 122:7, s. 1631-1639
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In late 2010, an outbreak of Cryptosporidium hominis affected 27,000 inhabitants (45%) of Östersund, Sweden. Previous research shows that abdomen and joint symptoms commonly persist up to 5 years post-infection. It is unknown whether Cryptosporidium is associated with sequelae for a longer duration, how persisting symptoms present over time, and whether sequelae are associated with prolonged infection. In this prospective cohort study, a randomly selected cohort in Östersund was surveyed about cryptosporidiosis symptoms in 2011 (response rate 69.2%). A case was defined as a respondent reporting new diarrhoea episodes during the outbreak. Follow-up questionnaires were sent after 5 and 10 years. Logistic regressions were used to examine associations between case status and symptoms reported after 10 years, with results presented as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals. Consistency of symptoms and associations with case status and number of days with symptoms during outbreak were analysed using X 2 and Mann–Whitney U tests. The response rate after 10 years was 74% (n = 538). Case status was associated with reporting symptoms, with aOR of ~3 for abdominal symptoms and ~2 for joint symptoms. Cases were more likely to report consistent symptoms. Cases with consistent abdominal symptoms at follow-up reported 9.2 days with symptoms during the outbreak (SD 8.1), compared to 6.6 days (SD 6.1) for cases reporting varying or no symptoms (p = 0.003). We conclude that cryptosporidiosis was associated with an up to threefold risk for reporting symptoms 10 years post-infection. Consistent symptoms were associated with prolonged infection.
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| 10. |
- Brulin, E., et al.
(author)
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Healthcare in distress: A survey of mental health problems and the role of gender among nurses and physicians in Sweden
- 2023
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In: Journal of Affective Disorders. - : Elsevier. - 0165-0327 .- 1573-2517. ; 339, s. 104-110
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction:The present article aimed to investigate 1) if mental health problems (depression and burnout including the dimensions; emotional exhaustion, mental distance and cognitive and emotional impairment) differed between nurses and physicians in Sweden, 2) if any differences were explained by differences in sex compositions, and 3) if any sex differences were larger within either of the two professions. Method:Data were derived from a representative sample of nurses (n = 2903) and physicians (n = 2712) in 2022. Two scales were used to assess burnout (KEDS and BAT) and one to assess depression (SCL-6). The BAT scale has four sub-dimensions. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyse each scale and dimension separately. Results:Results showed that 16-28 % of nurses and physicians reported moderate to severe symptoms of burnout. The prevalence differed between occupations across the scales and dimensions used. Nurses reported higher scores on KEDS while physicians reported higher scores on BAT including the four dimensions. Also, 7 % of nurses' and 6 % of physicians' scores were above the cut-off for major depression. The inclusion of sex in the models changed the odds ratios of differences between doctors and nurses in all mental health dimensions except mental distance and cognitive impairment. Limitations: This study was based on cross-sectional survey data which has some limitations. Conclusion:Our study suggests that the prevalence of mental health problems is prominent among nurses and physicians in Sweden. Sex plays an important role in the difference in the prevalence of mental health problems between the two professions.
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