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- Lassmann-Klee, P. G., et al.
(author)
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Parallel gradients in F-ENO and in the prevalences of asthma and atopy in adult general populations of Sweden, Finland and Estonia - A Nordic EpiLung study
- 2020
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In: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 173
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The prevalence of asthma is higher in Sweden and Finland than in neighbouring eastern countries including Estonia. Corresponding difference in bronchial eosinophilic inflammation could be studied by FENO measurements. We aimed to compare FENO in adult general populations of Sweden, Finland, and Estonia, to test the plausibility of the west-east disparity hypothesis of allergic diseases. We conducted clinical interviews (N = 2658) with participants randomly selected from the general populations in Sweden (Stockholm and dOrebro), Finland (Helsinki), and Estonia (Narva and Saaremaa), and performed FENO (n = 1498) and skin prick tests (SPT) in 1997-2003. The median (interquartile range) of FENO (ppb) was 15.5 (9.3) in Sweden, 15.4 (13.6) in Finland and 12.5 (9.6) in Estonia. We found the lowest median FENO values in the Estonian centres Saaremaa 13.1 (9.5) and Narva 11.8 (8.6). In the pooled population, asthma was associated with FENO >= 25 ppb, odds ratio (OR) 3.91 (95% confidence intervals: 2.29-6.32) after adjusting for SPT result, smoking, gender and study centre. A positive SPT test increased the likelihood of asthma OR 3.19 (2.02-5.11). Compared to Saaremaa, the likelihood of having asthma was higher in Helsinki OR 2.40 (1.04-6.02), Narva OR 2.45 (1.05-6.19), dOrebro OR 3.38 (1.59-8.09), and Stockholm OR 5.54 (2.18-14.79). There was a higher prevalence of asthma and allergic airway inflammation in adult general populations of Sweden and Finland compared to those of Estonia. Atopy and elevated FEND level were independently associated with an increased risk of asthma. In conclusion, the findings support the earlier west-east disparity hypothesis of allergic diseases.
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- Ahl, M, et al.
(author)
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The Dala granitoids
- 2004
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In: The Transscandinavian Igneous Belt (TIB) in Sweden; a review of its character and evolution. ; , s. 70-74
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)
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- Bood, JR, et al.
(author)
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Urinary excretion of lipid mediators in response to repeated eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea in asthmatic subjects
- 2015
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In: Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985). - : American Physiological Society. - 1522-1601 .- 8750-7587. ; 119:3, s. 272-279
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction displays refractoriness manifested as a decreased response to repeated exercise challenge within hours. The refractoriness may be attenuated by inhibition of the biosynthesis of prostaglandins (PG). The aim of the study was to determine which PGs and other lipid mediators are excreted during the refractory period. First, 16 subjects with mild stable asthma performed two repeated 4-min challenges with eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea (EVH) 1 and 3 h apart. There was a similar degree of refractoriness in both protocols (∼15% protection). The 1-h interval was too short to study mediator excretion because the urinary levels did not return to baseline before the second challenge. With the 3-h protocol, there was increased urinary excretion of cysteinyl-leukotrienes and metabolites of the mast cell product PGD2after both challenges. Next, another eight subjects performed two 6-min challenges with EVH 3 h apart, which produced a greater bronchoconstrictor response than the 4-min protocol (30.0 ± 5.4 vs. 17.7 ± 1.5%; P = 0.0029) and a greater degree of refractoriness (∼30%). Analysis by ultra-performance liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry confirmed excretion of the bronchoconstrictor cysteinyl-leukotrienes and PGD2during both challenges. In addition, there was increased excretion of the bronchoprotective PGE2, and also of the main metabolite of PGI2. This is the first report of excretion of PGE2and PGI2during the refractory period to EVH challenge, suggesting that they may mediate the refractoriness. Maintained excretion of PGD2and leukotriene E4following the repeat challenge argues against mast cell mediator depletion as the mechanism of refractoriness.
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- Borg, Elisabet, et al.
(author)
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An index for breathlessness and leg fatigue
- 2010
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. - : Wiley. - 0905-7188 .- 1600-0838. ; 20:4, s. 644-650
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The features of perceived symptoms causing discontinuation of strenuous exercise have been scarcely studied. The aim was to characterize the two main symptoms causing the discontinuation of heavy work in healthy persons as well as describe the growth of symptoms during exercise. Breathlessness (b) and leg fatigue (l) were assessed using the Borg CR10 Scale® and the Borg CR100 (centiMax) Scale®, during a standardized exercise test in 38 healthy subjects (24–71 years). The b/l-relationships were calculated for terminal perceptions (ERIb/l), and the growth of symptoms determined by power functions for the whole test, as well as by growth response indexes (GRI). This latter index was constructed as a ratio between power levels corresponding to a very strong and a moderate perception. In the majority (71%) of the test subjects, leg fatigue was the dominant symptom at the conclusion of exercise (P<0.001) and the b/l ratio was 0.77 (CR10) and 0.75 (CR100), respectively. The GRI for breathlessness and leg fatigue was similar, with good correlations between GRI and the power function exponent (P<0.005). In healthy subjects, leg fatigue is the most common cause for discontinuing an incremental exercise test. The growth functions for breathlessness and leg fatigue during work are, however, almost parallel.
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- Donadi, Serena, et al.
(author)
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A cross-scale trophic cascade from large predatory fish to algae in coastal ecosystems
- 2017
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In: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences. - : The Royal Society. - 0962-8452 .- 1471-2954. ; 284:1859
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Trophic cascades occur in many ecosystems, but the factors regulating them are still elusive. We suggest that an overlooked factor is that trophic interactions (TIs) are often scale-dependent and possibly interact across spatial scales. To explore the role of spatial scale for trophic cascades, and particularly the occurrence of cross-scale interactions (CSIs), we collected and analysed food-web data from 139 stations across 32 bays in the Baltic Sea. We found evidence of a four-level trophic cascade linking TIs across two spatial scales: at bay scale, piscivores (perch and pike) controlled mesopredators (three-spined stickleback), which in turn negatively affected epifaunal grazers. At station scale (within bays), grazers on average suppressed epiphytic algae, and indirectly benefitted habitat-forming vegetation. Moreover, the direction and strength of the grazer-algae relationship at station scale depended on the piscivore biomass at bay scale, indicating a cross-scale interaction effect, potentially caused by a shift in grazer assemblage composition. In summary, the trophic cascade from piscivores to algae appears to involve TIs that occur at, but also interact across, different spatial scales. Considering scale-dependence in general, and CSIs in particular, could therefore enhance our understanding of trophic cascades.
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- Eriksson, Jonas, 1984, et al.
(author)
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Cigarette smoking is associated with high prevalence of chronic rhinitis and low prevalence of allergic rhinitis in men
- 2013
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In: Allergy. - : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 68:3, s. 347-354
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background The harmful effects of tobacco smoke on human health, including respiratory health, are extensive and well documented. Previous data on the effect of smoking on rhinitis and allergic sensitization are inconsistent. We sought to investigate how smoking correlates with prevalence of allergic and chronic rhinitis among adults in Sweden. Methods The study population comprised 27 879 subjects derived from three large randomly selected cross-sectional population surveys conducted in Sweden between 2006 and 2008. The same postal questionnaire on respiratory health was used in the three surveys, containing questions about obstructive respiratory diseases, rhinitis, respiratory symptoms and possible determinants of disease, including smoking habits. A random sample from one of the cohorts underwent a clinical examination including skin prick testing. Results Smoking was associated with a high prevalence of chronic rhinitis in both men and women and a low prevalence of allergic rhinitis in men. These associations were dose dependent and remained when adjusted for a number of possible confounders in multiple logistic regression analysis. Prevalence of chronic rhinitis was lowest in nonsmokers and highest in very heavy smokers (18.5% vs 34.5%, P < 0.001). Prevalence of sensitization to common airborne allergens was lower in current smokers (25.9%, P = 0.008) and ex-smokers (28.2%, P = 0.022) than in nonsmokers (38.5%). Conclusion We found that smoking was associated with a high prevalence of chronic rhinitis in both sexes and a low prevalence of allergic rhinitis in men. The associations were dose dependent and remained when adjusting for several possible confounders.
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- Kallner Bastviken, Sofia, et al.
(author)
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Effects of vegetation and hydraulic load on seasonal nitrate removal in treatment wetlands
- 2009
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In: Ecological Engineering. - Amsterdam : Elsevier. - 0925-8574 .- 1872-6992. ; 35:5, s. 946-952
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Optimising nitrate removal and identifying critical factors for nitrate removal in wetlands is an important environmental task in the effort to achieve better surface water quality. In this study, eighteen free water surface wetlands with similar shape and size (22 m2 each) received groundwater with a high nitrate-N concentration (about 11 mg l−1). The effects of two hydraulic loads, 0.13 m d−1 and 0.39 m d−1, and three vegetation types – emergent, submersed and freely developing vegetation – on the nitrate-N removal were investigated through mass inflow and outflow measurements.No significant difference in nitrate removal between the different hydraulic loads could be detected. Significantly higher area-specific nitrate removal and first-order area-based rate coefficients were found in the basins with emergent vegetation, with no difference between the basins with submersed and freely developing vegetation. The nitrate-N removal increased as the wetlands matured and the vegetation grew denser, emphasizing the role of dense emergent vegetation for nitrate removal at high nitrate concentrations.
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| 14. |
- Kynkäänniemi, P., et al.
(author)
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Assessment of particle deposition and accumulation in newly constructed wetlands receiving agricultural runoff
- 2015
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This study analysed variations in sediment deposition and accumulation to improve understanding of retention processes in small wetlands constructed on clay soils. Sediment deposition (in traps) and accumulation (on plates) was measured in four wetlands in east-central Sweden.Particle deposition generally exceeded (up to eight-fold) the total particle load to the wetlands, especially in the spring-summer period, suggesting that the settled particles in the traps were generated from internal processes. The particles probably originated from erosion of the bottom and sides of the wetlands, or from production of organic material which deposited in the traps.Particle resuspension was evident in all wetlands and considered an important process. Only 13-23% of the deposited material in the traps remained on the plates in the wetlands. Both particle deposition and accumulation was very low in one wetland receiving high hydraulic load (HL, 400 m yr-1), suggesting that such high-loaded wetlands are not efficient as particle sinks in clay soil areas. In the other wetlands, more than 80% of the total sediment accumulation occurred in the initial parts of the wetlands (which represented the first 20% of the total wetland area), indicating the importance of designing wetlands with an initial wetland section that is easy accessed for sediment removal as maintenance.The results from this study point to the importance of internal processes and resuspension for annual particle accumulation in constructed wetlands.
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- Sundblad, B. M., et al.
(author)
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during the two last years of life - A retrospective study of decedents
- 2013
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In: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 8:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Little is known about the management of patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during the last years of life. The aim of the study was to describe how management of COPD is performed in Sweden during the last two years of life. Methods: From the nationwide Cause of Death register all individuals with COPD as the underlying cause of death during two years were identified in one sparsely and one densely populated area of Sweden. Data were collected from medical records using a pre-defined protocol, especially developed for this purpose. Results: Of 822 individuals with COPD as underlying cause of death, medical records from 729 were available. The COPD diagnosis was based on lung function measurements in approximately half of the patients and median age at COPD diagnosis was 74 years (range 34-95). Women died at younger age, median 78 years (range 52-96) than did men (80 years (51-99)). The median survival time from diagnosis to death was 6 years in men and women in both areas. Among women and men 8.3% and 4.3% were never smokers, respectively. The structure of COPD management differed between the two areas, with utilization of physiotherapists, dieticians and working therapists being more used in the northern area, likely because of differences in accessibility to care institutions. Conclusions: In Sweden COPD is mostly diagnosed late in life and often not verified by lung function measurements. Opposite to the general population, women with COPD die at a lower age than men. © 2013 Sundblad et al.
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