| 1. |
- Berghammer, Malin, 1970-, et al.
(author)
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Committed to Life : Adolescents’ and Young Adults’ Experiences of Living with Fontan Circulation
- 2015
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In: Congenital Heart Disease. - : Computers, Materials and Continua (Tech Science Press). - 1747-079X .- 1747-0803. ; 10:5, s. 403-412
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Single ventricle defects are among the most complex congenital heart defects and the development of advanced surgical procedures in recent decades has created the first generation of adolescents and young adults living with this condition. Yet little is known about how these individuals experience life and what impact the heart defect has on their life in general. Objective The aim was to illuminate and gain a deeper understanding of adolescents’ and young adults’ experiences of living with a surgically palliated univentricular heart. Design Seven open-ended in-depth interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed according to the henomenological hermeneutical method. All adolescents and young adults operated before 1995 according to the Fontan procedure or the total cavo-pulmonary connection procedure at one pediatric cardiology unit were included in the study. They were 17–32 years of age (median age 22 years). Results The interpretation of the interview transcripts showed that the participants experienced living with a surgically palliated univentricular heart in terms of feeling exceptional, strong, and healthy. This was supported by two structural analyses, where three themes emerged: happiness over being me, focusing on possibilities, and being committed to life. Conclusion Living with a Fontan circulation included negative experiences but the analyses clearly demonstrated a feeling of being strong and healthy. An appreciation of having survived and being committed to life was found to be an integral part of the development of the interviewees’ existential growth. This probably strengthens them further in their ability to balance expectations and hurdles in life. This study provides valuable insights into the experience of patients after the Fontan procedure and the importance of a positive health care environment throughout their lives.
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| 2. |
- Boman, Antonia, et al.
(author)
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Antibodies against citrullinated peptides are associated with clinical and radiological outcomes in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis : a prospective longitudinal inception cohort study
- 2019
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In: RMD Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2056-5933. ; 5:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: Anticitrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) responses for 22 citrullinated peptides in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were analysed and related to radiological and clinical outcome during the first 2 years in a prospective inception cohort.Methods: The ACPA reactivities were assessed in 1022 patients with early RA (symptoms <12 months) using the custom-made microarray chip (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Uppsala, Sweden) in a prospective longitudinal study of observational assessments of Disease Activity Score (DAS28 and its components) and radiology during the first 24 months, accounting for the treatment.Results: Frequency of ACPA reactivities varied between 13.3% and 63.1%. Of the anticyclic citrullinated peptide-2 (anti-CCP2) antibody-negative patients, ACPA reactivities were positive in 32.6%. Smoking, human leucocyte antigen-shared epitope (HLA-SE), anti-CCP2/rheumatoid factor, protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (1858C/T) and DAS28 were significantly associated with number of ACPA reactivities. The ACPA reactivities modified differently the development of DAS28 over 24 months (identified using trajectories). Anti-Filaggrin307-324, anti-hnRNP (Peptide)-Z1 and anti-F4-CIT-R antibodies anticipated lower DAS28 values (p<0.01–0.05), while positivity for anti-Fibrinogen(Fib)β62-78(74), and anti-Fibα563-583 predicted higher DAS28 (p<0.01 both). Interaction between anti-Fibß36-52, anti-Pept-5 and anti-Bla-26 antibodies, respectively, and DAS28 during 24 months decreased significantly the DAS28 values (p<0.01–0.05). Corticosteroids and biologicals were related to DAS28-area under the curve and Larsen score 24 months. Anti-vimentin2-17 antibodies remained significantly associated with Larsen score at baseline and 24 months, respectively, and radiological progression, besides biologicals at 24 months adjusted for sex and age.Conclusions: Several ACPA reactivities modified significantly the DAS28 development during the first 24 months and were significantly associated with Larsen score at baseline, 24 months and radiological progression.
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| 3. |
- Brink, Jan-Olof, et al.
(author)
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Introduktion till EMC
- 2017
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Book (pop. science, debate, etc.)abstract
- All elektronik stör eller störs av radiovågor och elektromagnetiska fält. EMC – elektromagnetisk kompatibilitet – handlar om förmågan hos en apparat eller utrustning att fungera i sin elektromagnetiska omgivning utan att orsaka oacceptabla störningar. EMC är ett komplext ämne som det råder stor okunskap om i vårt samhälle. Många gånger upptäcks brister i EMC sent i processen och medför då kostsamma förseningar och problem. Det är därför viktigt att man redan på ett tidigt stadium tar hänsyn till EMC-direktiv och följer de lagar och regler som finns. I Introduktion till EMC beskriver författarna ämnet på ett enkelt, övergripande och lättfattligt sätt. Innehållet är upplagt så att boken både kan användas som ett uppslagsverk och läsas i utbildningssyfte. Introduktion till EMC är tänkt som en första introduktion till EMC-området och som läsare behöver du inte ha några speciella förkunskaper, endast en grundläggande förståelse för ellära.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Brink, Mikael, et al.
(author)
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Anti-carbamylated protein antibodies in the pre-symptomatic phase of rheumatoid arthritis, their relationship with multiple anti-citrulline peptide antibodies and association with radiological damage
- 2015
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In: Arthritis Research & Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362 .- 1478-6354. ; 17
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The presence of a new autoantibody system, anti-carbamylated protein (anti-CarP) antibodies, has been identified in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The presence of anti-CarP antibodies was evaluated in samples taken from individuals who subsequently developed RA before and after onset of symptoms and related to previously analysed antibodies against citrullinated peptides (ACPA specificities) and anti-CCP2. Methods: A total of 252 individuals, with 423 samples from before onset of symptoms of RA, and 197 population controls were identified as donors to the Medical Biobank of Northern Sweden; 192 of them were also sampled at the time of diagnosis. All samples were analysed for anti-CarP IgG and anti-CCP2 antibodies using ELISAs. Ten different antibody reactivities against citrullinated antigens (ACPA specificities) were analysed using a custom-made microarray based on the ImmunoCAP ISAC system (Phadia). Results: The concentration of anti-CarP antibodies was significantly increased in the pre-symptomatic individuals compared with controls (P < 0.001) and also increased significantly after disease onset (P < 0.001). The sensitivity for anti-CarP antibodies in the pre-symptomatic individuals was 13.9% (95% CI: 11 to 17.6) and 42.2% (95% CI: 35.4 to 49.3) following development of RA. Anti-CarP antibody positivity was found in 5.1% to 13.3% of individuals negative for anti-CCP2 or ACPA specificities. Presence of anti-CarP antibodies was significantly related to radiological destruction at baseline, at 24 months and also to radiological change (P < 0.05, all). Conclusions: The results indicate that anti-CarP antibodies are associated with disease development, even after adjusting for the presence of different ACPA fine specificities, and in anti-CCP2 negative individuals and contribute to the identification of a subset of patients with worse radiological progression of the disease independent of ACPA.
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| 6. |
- Brink, Mikael, 1984-
(author)
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Presence of immunological markers preceding the onset of rheumatoid arthritis
- 2015
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease with an unknown aetiology characterized by joint destruction. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the disease development with HLA-DRB1* alleles and smoking identified as most important. The disease is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies, originally by rheumatoid factor (RF) and more recently by anti citrullinated protein/peptide antibodies (ACPA) and antibodies against carbamylated peptides (CarP). These autoantibodies are present, not only after the onset of disease, but also prior to the onset of symptoms. The development of RA is a gradual process lasting several years before the onset of any joint symptom, but when and if there is a temporal difference in the development both between and within the different antibody systems is currently unknown. B-cells produce the antibodies, and a subset of B-cells, i.e., B-regulatory (Breg) cells, produces interleukin-10, and thus have the ability to down-regulate pro-inflammatory cytokines. Whether the Breg cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RA is, as yet, unknown.The aim of this thesis was to increase knowledge of the pathophysiological processes in the development of RA through identification of factors involved. The analyses involved detection of autoantibodies to post-translationally modified peptides/proteins in addition to RF isotypes, cell surface markers on immune cells in asymptomatic individuals, who have an increased risk of developing RA. In a co-analysis of the registers of patients with RA attending the Department of Rheumatology, with the registers from population based screening programmes within the Biobank of Northern Sweden, blood samples collected from individuals prior to the onset of symptoms were identified, as were those from population control subjects. A cohort of pre-symptomatic individuals also donated samples at the time of receiving a diagnosis of RA. First-degree relatives (FDR) of patients with RA were also identified and included for analyses.The levels of ten different ACPAs, i.e., (fibrinogen (Fib) α563-583(573), Fibα580-600(591), Fibβ62-81a(72), Fibβ62-81b(74), Fibβ36-52, a-enolase (CEP-1), triple helical collagen type II (citC1III), filaggrin (Fil307-324), vimentin (Vim) 2-17, and Vim60-75) were measured using the ImmunoCAP ISAC system (Phadia/ThermoFischer, Uppsala, Sweden) in blood samples from individuals before the onset of symptoms and when diagnosed with RA in comparison with those in population based controls. In a subset of samples, the levels of anti-CarP antibodies were measured using ELISA coated with anti-CarP-FCS, as well as analysis of RF of IgM, IgG and IgA isotype using the EliA assay (Phadia, Uppsala, Sweden). Breg cells were analysed both with and without stimulation ex vivo along with other cell types using flow cytometry in samples from patients with RA, their first degree relatives (FDR) and healthy controls.In paper I it was shown that levels of ACPA were initially restricted to a few antibodies but disseminated over time to involve additional different antibodies. The levels of antibodies to CEP-1, Fibß36-52, and filaggrin were significantly increased. In paper II, anti-CarP antibodies were positive in 5-13% of the individuals negative for the various ACPA studied. The presence of anti-CarP antibodies was significantly related to radiological destruction of joints at baseline, at follow-up after 24 months and to the radiological progress between baseline and 24months. In paper III, the relationships between the frequencies of RF isotypes, the ten different ACPA, anti-CCP2 and anti-CarP antibodies before the onset of any symptoms and the presence of certain combinations of antibodies were associated with a very high risk of developing RA. In paper IV Breg cells from patients with RA are functionally impaired and FDR showed a similar pattern by responding less to stimulation ex vivo than cells from healthy controls.In conclusion, individuals who subsequently develop RA have an increased number and amount of ACPAs, anti-CarP antibodies and RF of IgM, IgG and IgA isotype, several years before symptom onset. Most of the different antibodies analysed remain associated with disease development after adjustments for each separate antibody. In FDRs, Breg cells were functionally altered in that they produce less IL-10 and consequently contribute to a more inflammation-prone status, as in their relatives with RA. These findings contribute to information about the development of RA as well as a given individual’s risk(s) of developing RA and its progression.
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| 7. |
- Brink, Mikael, et al.
(author)
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Protein profiling and network enrichment analysis in individuals before and after the onset of rheumatoid arthritis
- 2019
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In: Arthritis Research & Therapy. - : BioMed Central. - 1478-6362. ; 21:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Antibodies and upregulated cytokines and chemokines predate the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms. We aimed to identify the pathways related to the early processes leading to RA development, as well as potential novel biomarkers, using multiple protein analyses.Methods: A case-control study was conducted within the Biobank of northern Sweden. The plasma samples from 118 pre-symptomatic individuals (207 samples; median predating time 4.1 years), 79 early RA patients, and 74 matched controls were analyzed. The levels of 122 unique proteins with an acknowledged relationship to autoimmunity were analyzed using 153 antibodies and a bead-based multiplex system (FlexMap3D; Luminex Corp.). The data were analyzed using multifactorial linear regression model, random forest, and network enrichment analysis (NEA) based on the 10 most significantly differentially expressed proteins for each two-by-two group comparison, using the MSigDB collection of hallmarks.Results: There was a high agreement between the different statistical methods to identify the most significant proteins. The adipogenesis and interferon alpha response hallmarks differentiated pre-symptomatic individuals from controls. These two hallmarks included proteins involved in innate immunity. Between pre-symptomatic individuals and RA patients, three hallmarks were identified as follows: apical junction, epithelial mesenchymal transition, and TGF-beta signaling, including proteins suggestive of cell interaction, remodulation, and fibrosis. The adipogenesis and heme metabolism hallmarks differentiated RA patients from controls.Conclusions: We confirm the importance of interferon alpha signaling and lipids in the early phases of RA development. Network enrichment analysis provides a tool for a deeper understanding of molecules involved at different phases of the disease progression.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Brink, Mikael, et al.
(author)
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Rheumatoid Factor Isotypes in Relation to Antibodies Against Citrullinated Peptides and Anti-Carbamylated Antibodies in Individuals Before the Onset of Rheumatoid Arthritis
- 2016
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In: Arthritis Research & Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362. ; 18
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The presence of rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-carbamylated protein antibodies (anti-CarP) and antibodies against citrullinated protein and peptides (ACPA) precedes the onset of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by several years. Relationships between the development of these antibodies are not obvious. Methods: Three isotypes [immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG and IgM) of RF were analysed in 321 pre-symptomatic individuals who provided 598 samples collected a median of 6.2 (interquartile range 7.2) years before the onset of symptoms, and in 492 population control subjects. All samples were donated to the Biobank of Northern Sweden. RF isotypes were analysed using the EliA system (Phadia GmbH, Freiburg, Germany) with 96 % specificity according to receiver operating characteristic curves. Ten ACPA specificities were analysed using the ImmunoCAP ISAC system, and anti-CCP2 and anti-CarP antibodies were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: The frequencies of RF isotypes in pre-symptomatic individuals were significantly increased compared with control subjects (p < 0.0001). In samples collected >= 15 years before the onset of symptoms, the IgA-RF isotype was significantly more prevalent than the most frequent ACPAs. Combinations of IgM- and IgA-RF isotypes with ACPA specificities [a-enolase (CEP-1/Eno(5-21))], fibrinogen (Fib)beta(36-52), Fiba(580-600), filaggrin (CCP-1/Fil(307-324)) and anti-CCP2 antibodies were associated with a significantly shorter time to onset of symptoms (p < 0.001-0.05). Using conditional inference tree analysis, anti-CCP2 in combination with anti-filaggrin antibodies gave the highest probability, 97.5 %, for disease development. Conclusions: RF isotypes predicted the development of RA, particularly in combination with ACPA, anti-CCP2 or anti-CarP antibodies. The highest probability for disease development was the presence of anti-CCP2 and anti-filaggrin antibodies.
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| 10. |
- Brink, Mikael, et al.
(author)
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Rheumatoid factor isotypes in relation to antibodies against citrullinated peptides and carbamylated proteins before the onset of rheumatoid arthritis
- 2016
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In: Arthritis Research & Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362. ; 18
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The presence of rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-carbamylated protein antibodies (anti-CarP) and antibodies against citrullinated protein and peptides (ACPA) precedes the onset of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by several years. Relationships between the development of these antibodies are not obvious. Methods: Three isotypes [immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG and IgM) of RF were analysed in 321 pre-symptomatic individuals who provided 598 samples collected a median of 6.2 (interquartile range 7.2) years before the onset of symptoms, and in 492 population control subjects. All samples were donated to the Biobank of Northern Sweden. RF isotypes were analysed using the EliA system (Phadia GmbH, Freiburg, Germany) with 96 % specificity according to receiver operating characteristic curves. Ten ACPA specificities were analysed using the ImmunoCAP ISAC system, and anti-CCP2 and anti-CarP antibodies were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: The frequencies of RF isotypes in pre-symptomatic individuals were significantly increased compared with control subjects (p < 0.0001). In samples collected >= 15 years before the onset of symptoms, the IgA-RF isotype was significantly more prevalent than the most frequent ACPAs. Combinations of IgM- and IgA-RF isotypes with ACPA specificities [a-enolase (CEP-1/Eno(5-21))], fibrinogen (Fib)beta(36-52), Fiba(580-600), filaggrin (CCP-1/Fil(307-324)) and anti-CCP2 antibodies were associated with a significantly shorter time to onset of symptoms (p < 0.001-0.05). Using conditional inference tree analysis, anti-CCP2 in combination with anti-filaggrin antibodies gave the highest probability, 97.5 %, for disease development. Conclusions: RF isotypes predicted the development of RA, particularly in combination with ACPA, anti-CCP2 or anti-CarP antibodies. The highest probability for disease development was the presence of anti-CCP2 and anti-filaggrin antibodies.
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