| 11. |
|
|
| 12. |
- Bally, Marta, et al.
(author)
-
Lipid-based bioanalytical sensors
- 2021
-
In: Handbook of lipid membranes. - Boca Raton : CRC Press. - 9781466555723 - 9781032014418 - 9780429194078 ; , s. 241-269
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Lipid assemblies have attracted considerable interest as components in bioanalytical sensors. They provide a native-like environment for the immobilization of membrane proteins and for the study of membrane-related processes. Liposomes are also excellent bioanalytical assay components since selected functionalities can be added to the membrane while their aqueous interior can encapsulate a variety of molecules. This chapter highlights the potential of lipid assemblies in surface-based affinity sensors. It first describes how such sensors are created, providing an overview of lipid immobilization strategies together with a summary of the major transduction techniques used to probe binding at and transport through membrane interfaces. It then reviews the implementation of lipid-based sensors in the study of membrane proteins and membrane-mediated interactions, followed by a discussion of the potential of liposomes as nanoscale labels and as nanoreactors. Finally, it illustrates how external forces can be used to manipulate membrane component for biosensing applications.
|
|
| 13. |
- Bally, Marta, 1981, et al.
(author)
-
Lipid-Based Bioanalytical Sensors
- 2021
-
In: Handbook of Lipid Membranes Molecular, Functional, and Materials Aspects. - Boca Raton : CRC Press. - 9781466555730 ; , s. 241-270, s. 241-269
-
Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Lipid assemblies have attracted considerable interest as components in bioanalytical sensors. They provide a native-like environment for the immobilization of membrane proteins and for the study of membrane-related processes. Liposomes are also excellent bioanalytical assay components since selected functionalities can be added to the membrane while their aqueous interior can encapsulate a variety of molecules. This chapter highlights the potential of lipid assemblies in surface-based affinity sensors. It first describes how such sensors are created, providing an overview of lipid immobilization strategies together with a summary of the major transduction techniques used to probe binding at and transport through membrane interfaces. It then reviews the implementation of lipid-based sensors in the study of membrane proteins and membrane-mediated interactions, followed by a discussion of the potential of liposomes as nanoscale labels and as nanoreactors. Finally, it illustrates how external forces can be used to manipulate membrane component for biosensing applications.
|
|
| 14. |
- Ban, Jiaxing, et al.
(author)
-
Advances in the use of recycled non-ferrous slag as a resource for non-ferrous metal mine site remediation
- 2022
-
In: Environmental Research. - : Elsevier. - 0013-9351 .- 1096-0953. ; 213
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The growing global demand for non-ferrous metals has led to serious environmental issues involving uncovered mine site slag dumps that threaten the surrounding soils, surface waters, groundwater, and the atmosphere. Remediation of these slags using substitute cement materials for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and precursors for alkali-activated materials (AAMs) can convert hazardous solid wastes into valuable construction materials, as well as to attain the desired solidification and stabilization (S/S) of heavy metal(loid)s (HM). This review discusses the current research on the effect of non-ferrous slags on the reaction mechanisms of the OPC and AAM. The S/S of HM from the non-ferrous slags in AAM and OPC is also reviewed. HM can be stabilized in these materials based on the complex salt effect and isomorphic effects. The major challenges faced in AAMs and OPC for HM stabilization include the long-term durability of the matrix (e.g., sulfate attack, stability of volume). The existing knowledge gaps and future trends for the sustainable application of non-ferrous slags are also discussed.
|
|
| 15. |
- Bar, N., et al.
(author)
-
A reference map of potential determinants for the human serum metabolome
- 2020
-
In: Nature. - : Nature Research. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 588:7836, s. 135-140
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The serum metabolome contains a plethora of biomarkers and causative agents of various diseases, some of which are endogenously produced and some that have been taken up from the environment1. The origins of specific compounds are known, including metabolites that are highly heritable2,3, or those that are influenced by the gut microbiome4, by lifestyle choices such as smoking5, or by diet6. However, the key determinants of most metabolites are still poorly understood. Here we measured the levels of 1,251 metabolites in serum samples from a unique and deeply phenotyped healthy human cohort of 491 individuals. We applied machine-learning algorithms to predict metabolite levels in held-out individuals on the basis of host genetics, gut microbiome, clinical parameters, diet, lifestyle and anthropometric measurements, and obtained statistically significant predictions for more than 76% of the profiled metabolites. Diet and microbiome had the strongest predictive power, and each explained hundreds of metabolites—in some cases, explaining more than 50% of the observed variance. We further validated microbiome-related predictions by showing a high replication rate in two geographically independent cohorts7,8 that were not available to us when we trained the algorithms. We used feature attribution analysis9 to reveal specific dietary and bacterial interactions. We further demonstrate that some of these interactions might be causal, as some metabolites that we predicted to be positively associated with bread were found to increase after a randomized clinical trial of bread intervention. Overall, our results reveal potential determinants of more than 800 metabolites, paving the way towards a mechanistic understanding of alterations in metabolites under different conditions and to designing interventions for manipulating the levels of circulating metabolites.
|
|
| 16. |
- Bauman, Cecilia, et al.
(author)
-
Mutuality and understanding through web-based support during specialised palliative home care : Family caregivers’ and patients’ experiences
- 2024
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background/Aim Family caregivers and patients in palliative care are often mutually dependent, supporting each other through the impact of serious illness. The possibility to cope as a couple is of particular importance for family caregivers when providing care at home. A psycho-educational website was developed to support family caregivers in this situation. In short videos healthcare professionals and family caregivers (actors) interact, discussing issues known to be of importance for family caregivers, for example illness-related communication and planning for the future. This study aimed to explore influences of web-based support on experiences of mutual support between family caregivers and patients with life-threatening illness.Methods This study was part of a randomised controlled trial and used a qualitative approach. In total, 8 couples were interviewed, one family caregiver and one patient together in each interview (age 46–85). Data were analysed using interpretive description.Results Both family caregivers and patients appreciated the opportunity for family caregivers to have their own private platform of support. For each of them personally, and as a couple, it was relieving that also family caregivers’ needs gained attention and were put into focus. Family caregivers expressed feelings of normalisation as their own thoughts were addressed in the videos. Recognising the situations described in the videos was empowering, helping to cope with their own stress and strain, as well as facing the patient’s similar feelings. This facilitated their everyday life as a couple supporting each other in illness. Couples described themselves as being a team.Conclusions This website, supporting family caregivers, influenced family caregivers’ and patients’ mutual life by enhancing understanding of the shared situation and how to approach it. Although only family caregivers did access the website, it was beneficial for both of them in their everyday life.
|
|
| 17. |
- Bauman, Cecilia, et al.
(author)
-
Recognition and reassurance through web-based support for family caregivers during specialised palliative home care
- 2024
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background/Aims Even though in person supportive group interventions for family caregivers have been effective they can also be challenging to implement. Web-based support could be an alternative and hence we developed a website focused on a psycho-education for family caregivers. In short videos healthcare professionals and family caregivers (actors) interact, discussing issues known to be of importance for family caregivers. Informative texts and a moderated chat forum are also included. This study aimed to explore family caregivers’ experiences of the website while caring for a patient with life-threatening illness at home.Methods The present study was a part of a randomised controlled trial and used a qualitative approach. Interviews were performed with 16 family caregivers (age 42–85); 12 partners, 2 adult children, 1 parent, and 1 sibling. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.Results Family caregivers appreciated the flexibility and possibility to access the website at a time and place of their own convenience when ready to do so. Having access to the website was perceived as reassuring because caregivers knew they could access support when needed throughout the illness progression. Using the website made it easier to approach and reflect upon issues related to incurable illness and death, it also facilitated addressing such issues with the patient. The videos contributed to a sense of recognition and comfort when the family caregivers’ own thoughts, concerns, and feelings were described by others. This was important to gain new insights on difficulties and challenges in their role as caregivers. Family caregivers hesitated to use the chat forum even though they wanted to. They expressed waiting for others to initiate a conversation.Conclusions Psycho-education content via a website allowed family caregivers to decide what support they wanted depending on needs, time, and situation. Future research should focus on evaluating effects of web-based support through experimental designs.
|
|
| 18. |
- Behle, Anna, et al.
(author)
-
Manipulation of topoisomerase expression inhibits cell division but not growth and reveals a distinctive promoter structure in Synechocystis
- 2022
-
In: Nucleic Acids Research. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0305-1048 .- 1362-4962. ; 50:22, s. 12790-12808
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In cyanobacteria DNA supercoiling varies over the diurnal cycle and is integrated with temporal programs of transcription and replication. We manipulated DNA supercoiling in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 by CRISPRi-based knockdown of gyrase subunits and overexpression of topoisomerase I (TopoI). Cell division was blocked but cell growth continued in all strains. The small endogenous plasmids were only transiently relaxed, then became strongly supercoiled in the TopoI overexpression strain. Transcript abundances showed a pronounced 5'/3' gradient along transcription units, incl. the rRNA genes, in the gyrase knockdown strains. These observations are consistent with the basic tenets of the homeostasis and twin-domain models of supercoiling in bacteria. TopoI induction initially led to downregulation of G+C-rich and upregulation of A+T-rich genes. The transcriptional response quickly bifurcated into six groups which overlap with diurnally co-expressed gene groups. Each group shows distinct deviations from a common core promoter structure, where helically phased A-tracts are in phase with the transcription start site. Together, our data show that major co-expression groups (regulons) in Synechocystis all respond differentially to DNA supercoiling, and suggest to re-evaluate the long-standing question of the role of A-tracts in bacterial promoters.
|
|
| 19. |
- Bergillos-Ruiz, Marta, et al.
(author)
-
Impact of carrier particle surface properties on drug nanoparticle attachment
- 2024
-
In: International Journal of Pharmaceutics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-5173 .- 1873-3476. ; 651
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hypothesis: The stabilization and isolation to dryness of drug nanoparticles has always been a challenge for nano-medicine production. In the past, the use of montmorillonite (MMT) clay carrier particles to adsorb drug nanoparticles and maintain their high surface area to volume ratio after isolation to dryness has proven to be effective. We hypothesise that the distribution of hydrophilic and hydrophobic patches on the clay's surface as well as its porosity/roughness, hinder the agglomeration of the drug nanoparticles to the extent that they retain their high surface area to volume ratio and display fast dissolution profiles. Experiments: In this work, the distribution of hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity, and the porosity/roughness, of the surface of selected silica carrier particles were varied and the impact of these variations on drug nanoparticle attachment to the carrier particle and subsequent dissolution profiles was studied. Findings: The fastest dissolution profiles at the highest drug nanoparticle loadings were obtained with a periodic mesoporous organosilane carrier particle which had a homogeneous distribution of hydrophobic and hydrophilic surface properties. Carrier particles with rough/porous surfaces and a combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic patches resulted in nanocomposite powders with faster dissolution behaviour than carrier particles with predominantly either a hydrophobic or hydrophilic surface, or with non-porous/smoother surfaces.
|
|
| 20. |
- Borozan, Ivan, et al.
(author)
-
Molecular and Pathology Features of Colorectal Tumors and Patient Outcomes Are Associated with Fusobacterium nucleatum and Its Subspecies animalis
- 2022
-
In: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. - : American Association for Cancer Research. - 1055-9965 .- 1538-7755. ; 31:1, s. 210-220
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) activates oncogenic signaling pathways and induces inflammation to promote colorectal carcinogenesis.Methods: We characterized F. nucleatum and its subspecies in colorectal tumors and examined associations with tumor characteristics and colorectal cancer-specific survival. We conducted deep sequencing of nusA, nusG, and bacterial 16s rRNA genes in tumors from 1,994 patients with colorectal cancer and assessed associations between F. nucleatum presence and clinical characteristics, colorectal cancer-specific mortality, and somatic mutations.Results: F. nucleatum, which was present in 10.3% of tumors, was detected in a higher proportion of right-sided and advanced-stage tumors, particularly subspecies animalis. Presence of F. nucleatum was associated with higher colorectal cancer-specific mortality (HR, 1.97; P = 0.0004). This association was restricted to nonhypermutated, microsatellite-stable tumors (HR, 2.13; P = 0.0002) and those who received chemotherapy [HR, 1.92; confidence interval (CI), 1.07-3.45; P = 0.029). Only F. nucleatum subspecies animalis, the main subspecies detected (65.8%), was associated with colorectal cancer-specific mortality (HR, 2.16; P = 0.0016), subspecies vincentii and nucleatum were not (HR, 1.07; P = 0.86). Additional adjustment for tumor stage suggests that the effect of F. nucleatum on mortality is partly driven by a stage shift. Presence of F. nucleatum was associated with microsatellite instable tumors, tumors with POLE exonuclease domain mutations, and ERBB3 mutations, and suggestively associated with TP53 mutations.Conclusions: F. nucleatum, and particularly subspecies animalis, was associated with a higher colorectal cancer-specific mortality and specific somatic mutated genes.
|
|
