| 1. |
- Bignert, Anders, et al.
(author)
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Övervakning av metaller och organiska miljögifter i marin biota, 2011
- 2011
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The environmental toxicants examined in this report can be classified into five groups –heavy metals, chlorinated compounds, brominated flame retardants, polyaromatichydrocarbons and perfluorinated compounds. Each of these contaminants has beenexamined from various sites for up to six different fish species, in blue mussels, and inguillemot eggs, for varying lengths of time. The following summary examines overalltrends, spatial and temporal, for the five groups.Condition and Fat ContentCondition and fat content in different species tended to follow the same pattern at the samesites, with a few exceptions. Most of the fish species generally displayed a decreasing trendin both condition and fat content at most sites examined. Exceptions to this were increasesin fat content seen in herring (the last ten years) and cod at Fladen; an increase in conditionfor herring at Ängskärsklubb in spring; and in perch, a decrease in fat content atKvädöfjärden but no trend in condition for the same site.Heavy MetalsDue to a change in methods for metal analysis (not Hg) in 2004, values between 2003 and2007 should be interpreted with care. From 2009 metals are analyzed at ITM, Stockholmuniversity.The longer time series in guillemot egg and spring-caught herring from the southernBothnian Sea and southern Baltic Proper show significant decreases of mercury. Theherring site in the southern Bothnain Sea indicates a local Hg-source. The rest of the timeseries show varying concentrations over the study period, and even increasing trends in e.g.cod muscle and blue mussels, but the concentrations are fairly low compared to measuredconcentrations in perch from fresh water and coastal sites. However, in most cases, theseconcentrations are above the newly suggested EU-target level of 20 ng/g wet weight.Lead is generally decreasing over the study period (in time series of sufficient length),supposedly due to the elimination of lead in gasoline. Elevated lead concentrations between2003 and 2007 (e.g. Harufjärden) should be viewed with caution (see above regardingchange in analysis methods).Cadmium concentrations show varying non-linear trends over the monitored period. It isworth noting that despite several measures taken to reduce discharges of cadmium,generally the most recent concentrations are similar to concentrations measured 30 yearsago in the longer time series.The reported nickel concentrations show no consistent decreasing trends. Some series beginwith two elevated values that exert a strong leverage effect on the regression line and maygive a false impression of decreasing trends. Chromium generally shows decreasing trends,possibly explained by a shift in analytical method. The essential trace metals, copper andzinc, show no consistent trends during the monitored period.
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| 2. |
- Danielsson, Karin, et al.
(author)
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Altered expression of miR-21, miR-125b, and miR-203 indicates a role for these microRNAs in oral lichen planus
- 2012
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In: Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0904-2512 .- 1600-0714. ; 41:1, s. 90-95
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP), which is a chronic inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa with unknown etiology, affects about 2% of the population. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs involved in normal processes such as development and differentiation as well as progression of human diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of miR-21, miR-125b, and miR-203 and to compare RNA levels of their potential targets, the tumor suppressor p53 and its relative p63, both known to be deregulated in OLP. Methods: In biopsies from 20 patients with OLP and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, epithelium was laser dissected and analyzed for the expression of miR-21, miR-125b, miR-203, p53, and p63 using qRT/PCR. Results: Increased expression of miR-21 and miR-203, decreased expression of miR-125, and down-regulation of p53 and ΔNp63 RNA were seen in OLP compared to normal oral mucosa. When comparing microRNA expression to levels of p53 and p63 RNA, a significant negative correlation was seen between ΔNp63 and miR-203 and between miR-21 and p53, respectively. Conclusion: Results indicate a role for the studied microRNAs in changes seen in OLP.
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| 3. |
- Danielsson, Karin, 1965-, et al.
(author)
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Autoantibodies and decreased expression of the transcription factor ELF-3 together with increased chemokine pathways support an autoimmune phenotype and altered differentiation in lichen planus located in oral mucosa
- 2013
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In: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0926-9959 .- 1468-3083. ; 27:11, s. 1410-1416
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background The pathogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP), a chronic inflammatory disease, is not fully understood. It is known that OLP has autoimmune features, and it is suggested to be an autoimmune disease. ELF-3 is involved in differentiation of keratinocytes and deregulated in different tumours and inflammatory diseases. CXCR-3 and its ligands CXCL-10 and CXCL-11 are increased in autoimmune diseases and linked to Th-1 immune response. Objectives To analyse and compare expression of ELF-3, CXCR-3, CXCL-10 and CXCL-11 in OLP lesions and controls in whole and microdissected epithelium. Methods Tissue biopsies from 20 patients clinically and histologically diagnosed with OLP and 20 healthy controls were studied using whole tissues or microdissected epithelium. By the use of qRT-PCR, mRNA levels of ELF-3, CXCR-3, CXCL-10 and CXCL-11 were studied. Western blot was used for analysis of ELF-3 protein expression. Sera from 19 OLP patients and 20 controls were analysed with ELISA in search for autoantibodies. Results The upregulation of CXCR-3, CXCL-10 and CXCL-11 found in OLP is similar to previous findings showing an autoimmune phenotype in lichen planus (LP) and lichen sclerosus. Decreased expression of the differentiation-related transcription factor ELF-3 was also seen in OLP lesions, and we further demonstrate presence of circulating autoantibodies against the ELF-3 protein in sera from 3 of 19 (16%) LP patients tested. Conclusions On the basis of these findings, we confirm that OLP shows features of an autoimmune disease and suggest deregulated differentiation of keratinocytes to be one of the causes of the disease phenotype.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Danielsson, Karin, et al.
(author)
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Genes Involved in Epithelial Differentiation and Development are Differentially Expressed in Oral and Genital Lichen Planus Epithelium Compared to Normal Epithelium
- 2014
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In: Acta Dermato-Venereologica. - : Medical Journals Sweden AB. - 0001-5555 .- 1651-2057. ; 94:5, s. 526-530
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic mucocutaneous disease with unknown cause. Patients with LP often have both oral and genital lesions, but these conditions are often considered as separate diseases and treated accordingly. To find out which genes are differently expressed in mucosal LP compared to normal mucosa and establish whether oral and genital LP are in fact the same disease, whole genome expression analysis was performed on epithelium from 13 patients diagnosed with oral and/or genital LP and normal controls. For confirmation of keratin 4 and corneodesmosin expression, quantitative reverse-transcription PCR and immunohistochemistry were used. Many genes involved in epithelial development and differentiation are differently expressed in epithelium from LP compared to normal epithelium. Several of the differentially expressed genes are common for oral and genital LP and the same biological processes are altered which supports the fact that oral and genital LP are manifestations of the same disease. The change in gene expression indicates that differentiation is altered leading to changes in the epithelial barrier.
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| 6. |
- Danielsson, Karin, et al.
(author)
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Increased expression of Smad proteins, and in particular Smad3, in oral lichen planus compared to normal oral mucosa
- 2010
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In: Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0904-2512 .- 1600-0714. ; 39:9, s. 639-644
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Backgound: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa which the World Health Organisation (WHO) considers a premalignant condition. One step in malignant development is so called epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process whereby epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal characteristics. EMT occurs during embryogenesis and wound healing but also in some human diseases such as cancer and fibrosis. A factor known to induce EMT is transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), which uses the Smad proteins as mediators for its signalling. TGF-beta is also often over-expressed in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Methods: In the present study we mapped expression of Smad proteins in OLP lesions by immunohistochemistry, and compared to expression in normal and sensitive oral mucosa. The latter group of patients had developed SCCHN after shorter or longer periods of diffuse oral symptoms. The aim was to see if there were any signs of EMT related changes in the OLP lesions, as judged by changes in the TGF-beta pathway. Conclusion: Changes in the TGF-beta pathway related to EMT are seen in the very earliest stages of oral malignancy and become more severe as lesions progress.
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| 7. |
- Danielsson, Karin, et al.
(author)
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Increased levels of COX-2 in oral lichen planus supports an autoimmune cause of the disease
- 2012
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In: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0926-9959 .- 1468-3083. ; 26:11, s. 1415-1419
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease for which the pathogenesis is not fully understood. OLP has autoimmune features and auto immunity has been suggested as a potential cause, whereas WHO has classified OLP as a premalignant condition. Association between chronic inflammation and cancer is known and chronic inflammation is one of the characteristics of OLP. A protein connected to inflammation and suggested to be involved in cancer development is cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) which can be inhibited by microRNA-26b (miR-26b).Objective: The aim was to map levels of COX-2 and miR-26b in OLP lesions to see if there was any correlation between expression of COX-2 and its regulator miR-26b in OLP.Methods: In biopsies from 20 OLP patients and 20 age and gender-matched controls laser- micro dissection of epithelium was performed. Quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used in the analysis.Results: Levels of COX-2 mRNA were significantly higher while levels of miR-26b were significantly lower in OLP lesions compared to controls. Using immunohistochemistry normal oral mucosa samples did not show any expression of COX-2 while OLP samples expressed the protein. No COX-2 protein was detectable with Western blot.Conclusion: Increased expression of COX-2 and decreased expression of miR-26b in OLP suggests both to play a role in OLP. COX-2 has been connected to both malignant development and autoimmunity but as malignant development of OLP is quite rare we suggest that the increased levels of COX-2 seen here support an autoimmune cause of the disease.
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| 8. |
- Danielsson, Karin
(author)
-
Oral lichen planus : studies of factors involved in differentiation, epithelial mesenchymal transition and inflammation
- 2012
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Lichen planus is a chronic inflammation of skin and mucosa with unknown cause. Oral Lichen Planus, OLP, affects around 2% of the population. Autoimmunity has been suggested as a possible cause as the disease has autoimmune features such as female predominance, cyclic nature and cytotoxic T-cell infiltrate. It has been suggested that the intense inflammatory response seen in OLP is caused by factors on the keratinocyte surface triggering the immune system. Chronic inflammation is one of the hallmarks of oral lichen planus and chronic inflammation is connected to increased risk of tumor development. WHO classifies OLP as a potentially malignant condition with increased risk of developing Squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck, SCCHN, but malignant transformation of OLP is a matter of controversy. The aim of these studies was to further elucidate the autoimmune and premalignant character of OLP. Factors involved in malignant transformation, autoimmunity and inflammation were analyzed in normal oral mucosa, OLP and SCCHN. Factors studied were the signal transducers of Transforming growth factor-β the Smad proteins, microRNAs, COX-2, the receptor CXCR-3 and its ligands CXCL-10 and -11 and ELF-3. Material and methods: In the study on Smad protein expression formalin fixed and paraffin embedded biopsies from normal oral mucosa, OLP and SCCHN was used. For the remaining studies fresh frozen biopsies from OLP and normal controls was used. All of the fresh frozen OLP samples and their controls were micro dissected to be able to analyze the epithelial part only as well as sections of the whole biopsy. Methods used are immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR and Western blot. Results: Analyses of smad proteins expression showed a clear increase of smad3 and smad7 in OLP compared to normal oral mucosa. The expressions of smad proteins in the tumors were more heterogeneous. Some of the SCCHN samples showed a similar expression as OLP while others did not. Micro RNA analyzes showed that miR-21 and miR-203 was significantly increased in OLP epithelium compared to normal oral epithelium while the expression of miR-125b and their potential targets p53 and p63 was decreased in OLP. The presence of COX-2 was significantly higher in OLP than normal controls. At the same time the expression of miR-26b, a suggested repressor of COX-2 was decreased in OLP compared to normal mucosa. The receptor CXCR-3 and its ligands CXCL-10 and -11 were increased in OLP. Expressions of the differentiation involved factor ELF-3 mRNA as well as protein were decreased in OLP. Conclusion: The factors studied are involved in differentiation, malignant transformation and inflammation. Some of the results in these studies indicate a similar expression pattern for OLP and SCCHN. Several of the factors studied are involved in differentiation and their deregulation suggests a disturbed differentiation pattern and this could indicate a premalignant character of OLP but malignant transformation of OLP lesions are relative rare. A lot of these factors are also involved in inflammatory processes and connected to autoimmune diseases and their deregulation in OLP could also support an autoimmune cause of the disease. Based on our studies a suggestion is that the disturbed differentiation pattern triggers the intense immune response directed against the epithelial cells seen in OLP.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Danielsson, Ulrika, 1969-, et al.
(author)
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Psychosocial Life Environment and Life Roles in Interaction with Daily Use of Information Communication Technology Boundaries between Work and Leisure
- 2010
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In: Information and Communication Technologies, Society and Human Beings: Theory and Framework. - Hershey : IGI Global. - 9781609600570 - 1609600576 ; , s. 266-282
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The presence of ICT (Information Communication Technology) in our psychosocial work environment and in our personal lives, has increased rapidly during the past 40 years. This way of interacting with ICT is often characterized in terms of access to information and social networks with the possibility of being independent of time and place. Every person’s psychosocial health is influenced by their life environment; a combination of their work and home environments, their life roles and of their social networks. People who work professionally in the field of ICT or use ICT in their work experience a blurring between their professional and private roles. However, when people’s experience of work and leisure becomes blurred, this may impact on their psychosocial health. They need to develop strategies to create ways of allowing time for recovery. In this chapter we present a review of the literature that identifies the effects that cause a blurring of the line between work and leisure. Moreover, we present some examples of strategies for managing the blurring of contexts facilitated by ICT. Presented research combines theories from the fields of psychology, informatics and work science.
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