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- Bezemer, T. M., et al.
(author)
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Divergent composition but similar function of soil food webs of individual plants: plant species and community effects
- 2010
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In: Ecology. - 0012-9658. ; 91:10, s. 3027-3036
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Soils are extremely rich in biodiversity, and soil organisms play pivotal roles in supporting terrestrial life, but the role that individual plants and plant communities play in influencing the diversity and functioning of soil food webs remains highly debated. Plants, as primary producers and providers of resources to the soil food web, are of vital importance for the composition, structure, and functioning of soil communities. However, whether natural soil food webs that are completely open to immigration and emigration differ underneath individual plants remains unknown. In a biodiversity restoration experiment we first compared the soil nematode communities of 228 individual plants belonging to eight herbaceous species. We included grass, leguminous, and non-leguminous species. Each individual plant grew intermingled with other species, but all plant species had a different nematode community. Moreover, nematode communities were more similar when plant individuals were growing in the same as compared to different plant communities, and these effects were most apparent for the groups of bacterivorous, carnivorous, and omnivorous nematodes. Subsequently, we analyzed the composition, structure, and functioning of the complete soil food webs of 58 individual plants, belonging to two of the plant species, Lotus corniculatus (Fabaceae) and Plantago lanceolata (Plantaginaceae). We isolated and identified more than 150 taxa/groups of soil organisms. The soil community composition and structure of the entire food webs were influenced both by the species identity of the plant individual and the surrounding plant community. Unexpectedly, plant identity had the strongest effects on decomposing soil organisms, widely believed to be generalist feeders. In contrast, quantitative food web modeling showed that the composition of the plant community influenced nitrogen mineralization under individual plants, but that plant species identity did not affect nitrogen or carbon mineralization or food web stability. Hence, the composition and structure of entire soil food webs vary at the scale of individual plants and are strongly influenced by the species identity of the plant. However, the ecosystem functions these food webs provide are determined by the identity of the entire plant community.
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| 2. |
- Holmfeldt, Linda, et al.
(author)
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The genomic landscape of hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- 2013
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In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 45:3, s. 242-252
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The genetic basis of hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a subtype of ALL characterized by aneuploidy and poor outcome, is unknown. Genomic profiling of 124 hypodiploid ALL cases, including whole-genome and exome sequencing of 40 cases, identified two subtypes that differ in the severity of aneuploidy, transcriptional profiles and submicroscopic genetic alterations. Near-haploid ALL with 24-31 chromosomes harbor alterations targeting receptor tyrosine kinase signaling and Ras signaling (71%) and the lymphoid transcription factor gene IKZF3 (encoding AIOLOS; 13%). In contrast, low-hypodiploid ALL with 32-39 chromosomes are characterized by alterations in TP53 (91.2%) that are commonly present in nontumor cells, IKZF2 (encoding HELIOS; 53%) and RB1 (41%). Both near-haploid and low-hypodiploid leukemic cells show activation of Ras-signaling and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-signaling pathways and are sensitive to PI3K inhibitors, indicating that these drugs should be explored as a new therapeutic strategy for this aggressive form of leukemia.
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| 6. |
- Hannan, Johanna L., et al.
(author)
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Inhibition of Rho-Kinase Improves Erectile Function, Increases Nitric Oxide Signaling and Decreases Penile Apoptosis in a Rat Model of Cavernous Nerve Injury
- 2013
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In: Journal of Urology. - : Elsevier. - 0022-5347 .- 1527-3792. ; 189:3, s. 1155-1161
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: Bilateral cavernous nerve injury results in up-regulation of ROCK signaling in the penis. This is linked to erectile dysfunction in an animal model of post-prostatectomy erectile dysfunction. We evaluated whether daily treatment with the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 (Tocris Bioscience, Ellisville, Missouri) would prevent erectile dysfunction in a rat model of bilateral cavernous nerve injury.Materials and Methods: Sprague-Dawley(R) rats underwent surgery to create sham (14) or bilateral (27) cavernous nerve injury. In the injury group 13 rats received treatment with Y-27632 (5 mg/kg twice daily) and 14 received vehicle. At 14 days after injury, rats underwent cavernous nerve stimulation to determine erectile function. Penes were assessed for neuronal and nitric oxide synthase membrane-endothelial nitric oxide synthase. ROCK2 was assessed by Western blot. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cavernous homogenates were tested for ROCK and protein kinase G enzymatic activity. Penile apoptosis was evaluated using the Apostain technique (Alexis, San Diego, California). Data were analyzed on ROCK using ANOVA and the t test.Results: While erectile function was decreased in rats with bilateral cavernous nerve injury, daily administration of Y-27632 improved erectile responses. Injury decreased neuronal and nitric oxide synthase membrane-endothelial nitric oxide synthase but ROCK2 was significantly increased. Y-27632 treatment restored neuronal nitric oxide synthase, nitric oxide synthase membrane-endothelial nitric oxide synthase and cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels, and protein kinase G activity. Treatment significantly decreased ROCK2 protein and ROCK activity. There were significantly fewer apoptotic cells after treatment than in injured controls.Conclusions: These results provide evidence for up-regulation of the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway with detrimental effects on erectile function after bilateral cavernous nerve injury. ROCK inhibition improved erectile dysfunction associated with bilateral cavernous nerve injury by preserving penile nitric oxide bioavailability and decreasing penile apoptosis.
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| 7. |
- Hedlund, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Democratic expert influence through bioethical advisory commissions? The case of Sweden
- 2010
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In: Quality Issues in Clinical Genetic Services. - 9789048139187
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Bioethical government advisory committees have profound influence on political decision-making on gene technology issues, concerning not only patients with genetically related diseases, but also, potentially, the whole society. • Decision-making on issues concerning all society should be democratically legitimate in all aspects, including the work of government advisory committees. • Democratic legitimacy of expert advice is desirable not only for the democratic values per se, but also for the quality of political decisions. • In the case of PGD legislation in Sweden, the national government advisory committee functioned as a bridge between political representatives, specialist civil servants, and scientific experts, but the connection with public opinion was more or less absent. • Had the advisory committee worked more openly and allowed a multiplicity of perspectives being heard, the democratic and quality aspects in this legislation process would have been strengthened.
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| 9. |
- Saiepour, Daniel, et al.
(author)
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Radiologic and Long-Term Clinical Outcome From Treatment of Isolated Medial Orbital Wall Blowout Fractures
- 2012
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In: The Journal of craniofacial surgery (Print). - 1049-2275 .- 1536-3732. ; 23:5, s. 1252-1255
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Blowout fractures in the medial orbital wall may lead to enophthalmos, ocular dysmotility, and diplopia. Ten consecutive patients with unilateral, isolated fractures of the medial orbital wall were retrospectively studied. The radiologic accuracy of the medial orbital wall reconstructions and the long-term clinical outcomes were assessed. All cases were treated through a bicoronal approach and by use of porous polyethylene-titanium implants. The total fracture area and the orbital volume increase from the blowout were measured on computed tomographic scans. Next, we evaluated the reconstruction in the posterior part of the medial wall. This was done by calculating the ratio between the defect area and the implant area located behind the anterior ethmoidal canal. The patients were examined at least 1 year after the operation, and the rates of enophthalmos and diplopia were evaluated. The mean fracture defect area was 2.45 cm(2) (range, 0.41-4.16 cm(2)), and the mean volume increase from the blowout fractures was 1.82 cm(3) (range, 0.53-2.76 cm(3)). The orbital volume was accurately restored in all patients. However, the ratio of implant to defect area behind the anterior ethmoidal canal ranged from 0% to 100% (mean, 47.3%). None of the patients had enophthalmos or diplopia at the long-term follow-up. The results confirm that restoration of orbital volume is important to prevent postoperative enophthalmos in isolated medial orbital blowout fractures. Complete reconstruction of the most posterior part of the medial orbital wall seems to be of lesser importance.
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| 10. |
- Aglen, B., et al.
(author)
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Self-help and self-help groups for people with long-lasting health problems or mental health difficulties in a Nordic context : A review
- 2011
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : SAGE Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 39:8, s. 813-822
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: The aim of this review is to provide systematic knowledge of research from Nordic countries about the meaning of self-help and self-help groups when these are used as a concept or method addressing issues related to long-lasting health problems or mental health difficulties. Methods: Included were studies conducted in the Nordic countries that were published between January 1999 and September 2009. These studies investigated self-help and self-help groups addressing issues related to long-lasting health problems. Results: A total of 83 publications met the inclusion criteria. Four major characteristics of self-help were found to be present in the publications: self-help as an intrapsychological process, self-help as an interpsychological or group process, self-help as a coping, individual learning or empowerment process, and self-help as an alternative or complement to medical treatment. Of the 83 studies, 72 publications used a professional treatment perspective for studying self-help and 11 publications used a perspective derived from alternative or complementary therapies. Conclusions: The review shows that most of the research on self-help and self-help groups for people with long-lasting health problems or disability is conducted with an interest to improve the professional healthcare system. That is, the health-promotion strategy is mainly considered in the framework of treatment or care settings. This means that self-help in this context does not challenge the dominant biomedical health model. © 2011 the Nordic Societies of Public Health.
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