| 1. |
- Björkdahl, Ann, 1959, et al.
(author)
-
A randomized study of computerized working memory training and effects on functioning in everyday life for patients with brain injury
- 2013
-
In: Brain Injury. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0269-9052 .- 1362-301X. ; 27:13-14, s. 1658-65
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Working memory (WM) problems influence most activities of daily living. The aim was to evaluate if computerized working memory training after brain injury has a significant effect on functioning in daily life. Method: Outpatients with WM deficits, aged 22-63 years, were randomized to either intervention group (IG, n = 20) or control group (CG, n = 18) and received 5 weeks standard rehabilitation. The IG also received WM training with the Cogmed QM training program. Assessments were made before (A1), immediately (A2) and 3 months (A3) after intervention. After follow-up, the CG was offered the computerized training and assessed after this (A4; n = 8). Assessments included the WAIS-III Digit span reversed, Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS), Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test-II (RBMT-II) and a WM questionnaire. Results: The IG improved on digit span and FIS, A1-A2, and significantly more than the CG on the WM questionnaire, A1-A3. Both groups improved in AMPS motor skill and the AMPS process skill score tended towards significant improvement in the IG, from A1-A3. After training (A3-A4), the CG improved in digit span and RBMT-II. Conclusion: The WM training seems to have a generalized effect on functional activity and lessens fatigue.
|
|
| 2. |
- Esbjörnsson, Eva, et al.
(author)
-
Cognitive impact of traumatic axonal injury (TAI) and return to work
- 2013
-
In: Brain Injury. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0269-9052 .- 1362-301X. ; 27:5, s. 521-528
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Axonal injury (AI) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often overlooked as an explanation Methods: The sample included 17 patients younger than 65 years old, however one died. In the acute Results: After 1 year, all patients still showed cognitive dysfunction. A recovery had been noted at 6
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
- Esbjörnsson, Joakim, et al.
(author)
-
Frequent CXCR4 tropism of HIV-1 subtype A and CRF02_AG during late-stage disease - indication of an evolving epidemic in West Africa
- 2010
-
In: Retrovirology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1742-4690. ; 7
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: HIV-1 is one of the fastest evolving pathogens, and is distinguished by geographic and genetic variants that have been classified into different subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs). Early in infection the primary coreceptor is CCR5, but during disease course CXCR4-using HIV-1 populations may emerge. This has been correlated with accelerated disease progression in HIV-1 subtype B. Basic knowledge of HIV-1 coreceptor tropism is important due to the recent introduction of coreceptor antagonists in antiretroviral therapy, and subtype-specific differences regarding how frequently HIV-1 CXCR4-using populations appear in late-stage disease need to be further investigated. To study how frequently CXCR4-using populations appear in late-stage disease among HIV-1 subtype A and CRF02_AG, we evaluated the accuracy of a recombinant virus phenotypic assay for these subtypes, and used it to determine the HIV-1 coreceptor tropism of plasma samples collected during late-stage disease in Guinea-Bissau. We also performed a genotypic analysis and investigated subtype-specific differences in the appearance of CXCR4 tropism late in disease. Results: We found that the recombinant virus phenotypic assay accurately predicted HIV-1 coreceptor tropism of subtype A and CRF02_AG. Over the study period (1997-2007), we found an increasing and generally high frequency of CXCR4 tropism (86%) in CRF02_AG. By sequence analysis of the V3 region of our samples we developed a novel genotypic rule for predicting CXCR4 tropism in CRF02_AG, based on the combined criteria of the total number of charged amino acids and net charge. This rule had higher sensitivity than previously described genotypic rules and may be useful for development of future genotypic tools for this CRF. Finally, we conducted a literature analysis, combining data of 498 individuals in late-stage disease, and found high amounts of CXCR4 tropism for all major HIV-1 subtypes (60-77%), except for subtype C (15%). Conclusions: The increase in CXCR4 tropism over time suggests an evolving epidemic of CRF02_AG. The results of the literature analysis demonstrate the need for further studies investigating subtype-specific emergence for CXCR4-tropism; this may be particularly important due to the introduction of CCR5-antagonists in HIV treatment regimens.
|
|
| 7. |
- Esbjörnsson, Joakim, et al.
(author)
-
Increased survival among HIV-1 and HIV-2 dual-infected individuals compared to HIV-1 single-infected individuals
- 2014
-
In: AIDS. - 1473-5571. ; 28:7, s. 949-957
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To compare survival times of HIV-1 single and HIV-1 and HIV-2 dual-infected individuals. Design: Prospective open cohort study. Methods: We analysed data from 259 HIV-1-seroincident cases (either HIV-1 single or HIV-1 and HIV-2 dual-infected) from a cohort with long follow-up (similar to 20 years) in order to study the influence of type of infection and infection order on mortality. Sex and age at HIV-1 infection date was controlled for in a Cox proportional-hazards model. Results: Dual-infected individuals had a 42% longer time from HIV-1 infection to death compared with single-infected individuals, adjusting for age asymmetries between groups. Dual-infected individuals with an HIV-2 infection preceding the HIV-1 infection had a more than two-fold lower mortality risk during follow-up than HIV-1 single-infected individuals. Conclusion: Survival time is longer and the risk of progression to death is lower among HIV-1 and HIV-2 dual-infected individuals compared to HIV-1 single-infected individuals. This natural inhibition could have implications for the development of future HIV-1 vaccines and therapeutics.
|
|
| 8. |
- Esbjörnsson, Joakim, et al.
(author)
-
Inhibition of HIV-1 disease progression by contemporaneous HIV-2 infection.
- 2012
-
In: New England Journal of Medicine. - 0028-4793 .- 1533-4406. ; 367:3, s. 224-232
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Progressive immune dysfunction and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) develop in most persons with untreated infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) but in only approximately 20 to 30% of persons infected with HIV type 2 (HIV-2); among persons infected with both types, the natural history of disease progression is poorly understood. METHODS: We analyzed data from 223 participants who were infected with HIV-1 after enrollment (with either HIV-1 infection alone or HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection) in a cohort with a long follow-up duration (approximately 20 years), according to whether HIV-2 infection occurred first, the time to the development of AIDS (time to AIDS), CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts, and measures of viral evolution. RESULTS: The median time to AIDS was 104 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 75 to 133) in participants with dual infection and 68 months (95% CI, 60 to 76) in participants infected with HIV-1 only (P=0.003). CD4+ T-cell levels were higher and CD8+ T-cell levels increased at a lower rate among participants with dual infection, reflecting slower disease progression. Participants with dual infection with HIV-2 infection preceding HIV-1 infection had the longest time to AIDS and highest levels of CD4+ T-cell counts. HIV-1 genetic diversity was significantly lower in participants with dual infections than in those with HIV-1 infection alone at similar time points after infection. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that HIV-1 disease progression is inhibited by concomitant HIV-2 infection and that dual infection is associated with slower disease progression. The slower rate of disease progression was most evident in participants with dual infection in whom HIV-2 infection preceded HIV-1 infection. These findings could have implications for the development of HIV-1 vaccines and therapeutics. (Funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency-Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation with Developing Countries and others.).
|
|
| 9. |
- Esbjörnsson, M, et al.
(author)
-
Sprint exercise enhances skeletal muscle p70S6k phosphorylation and more so in women than in men.
- 2012
-
In: Acta Physiologica. - : Wiley. - 1748-1708 .- 1748-1716. ; 205:3, s. 411-22
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIM: Sprint exercise is characterized by repeated sessions of brief intermittent exercise at a high relative workload. However, little is known about the effect on mTOR pathway, an important link in the regulation of muscle protein synthesis. An earlier training study showed a greater increase in muscle fibre cross-sectional area in women than men. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the activation of mTOR signalling is more pronounced in women than in men. Healthy men (n=9) and women (n=8) performed three bouts of 30-s sprint exercise with 20-min rest in between.METHODS: Multiple blood samples were collected over time, and muscle biopsy specimens were obtained at rest and 140 min after the last sprint.RESULTS: Serum insulin increased by sprint exercise and more so in women than in men [gender (g) × time (t)]: P=0.04. In skeletal muscle, phosphorylation of Akt increased by 50% (t, P=0.001) and mTOR by 120% (t, P=0.002) independent of gender. The elevation in p70S6k phosphorylation was larger in women (g × t, P=0.03) and averaged 230% (P=0.006) as compared to 60% in men (P=0.04). Phosphorylation rpS6 increased by 660% over time independent of gender (t, P=0.003). Increase in the phosphorylation of p70S6k was directly related to increase in serum insulin (r=0.68, P=0.004).CONCLUSION: It is concluded that repeated 30-s all-out bouts of sprint exercise separated by 20 min of rest increases Akt/mTOR signalling in skeletal muscle. Secondly, signalling downstream of mTOR was stronger in women than in men after sprint exercise indicated by the increased phosphorylation of p70S6k.
|
|
| 10. |
- Fenyö, Eva Maria, et al.
(author)
-
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 biological variation and coreceptor use: from concept to clinical significance.
- 2011
-
In: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 1365-2796 .- 0954-6820. ; 270, s. 520-531
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is ample evidence for intra-patient evolution of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) biological phenotype during the pathogenic process. Evolution often involves switch of coreceptor use from CCR5 to CXCR4, but change to more flexible use of CCR5 occurs over time even in patients with maintained CCR5 use. The increasing use of entry inhibitors in the clinic, often specific for one or the other HIV-1 coreceptor or with different binding properties to CCR5, calls for virus testing in patients prior to treatment initiation. Cell lines expressing CCR5/CXCR4 chimeric receptors are tools for testing viruses for mode of CCR5 use. It is conceivable that small-molecule entry inhibitors that differentially bind to CCR5 can be matched for best effect against HIV-1 with different modes of CCR5 use, thereby allowing an individualized drug choice specifically tailored for each patient.
|
|
