| 1. |
- Abul-Kasim, Kasim, et al.
(author)
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Interobserver and intraobserver agreement in the evaluation of CT perfusion in ischemic stroke
- 2009
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In: Functional Neurology. - 0393-5264. ; 24:3, s. 139-145
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Knowledge of interrater reliability in the evaluation of perfusion computed tomography (CTP) studies is very limited even though the method is widely used in the workup of acute stroke. The aims of this study were to estimate the inter- and intraolbserver agreement in the evaluation of CTP data and to evaluate the feasibility of the method. The CTP data of 20 consecutive patients (50% were females) aged 68 +/- 11 years with different categories of acute ischemic stroke were included in this retrospective analysis. Perfusion studies were evaluated independently by six radiologists on two different occasions. The overall inter- and intraolbserver agreement was substantial, showing a K value of 0.65 (95% confidence interval 0.39-0.91). The time required for the post-processing and interpretation ranged from 37 to 460 seconds. Evaluation of manually post-processed CTP data according to the maximum slope model appears to be reliable. Experience and also a short training period increase the reliability of the method and reduce the time needed for delivery of the results to the treating clinician.
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| 2. |
- Conaway, H Herschel, et al.
(author)
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Retinoids inhibit differentiation of hematopoietic osteoclast progenitors.
- 2009
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In: The FASEB journal. - Bethesda, Md. : Wiley. - 1530-6860 .- 0892-6638. ; 23:10, s. 3526-38
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Whether vitamin A promotes skeletal fragility, has no effect on fracture rate, or protects against bone loss is unclear. In the present study, effects of retinoids on osteoclast differentiation in cultured mouse bone marrow cells (BMCs), bone marrow macrophages (BMMs), spleen cells, and RAW264.7 cells were evaluated by analyzing osteoclast formation and expression of genes important in signal transduction and osteoclast function. All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) did not stimulate osteoclastogenesis in BMCs, but inhibited hormone and RANKL-induced gene expression and formation of osteoclasts. In BMMs, spleen cells, and RAW264.7 cells, osteoclast differentiation and formation stimulated by M-CSF/RANKL were inhibited (IC(50) = 0.3 nM) by ATRA. The effect was exerted at an early step of RANKL-induced differentiation. ATRA also abolished increases of the transcription factors c-Fos and NFAT2 stimulated by RANKL and suppressed down-regulation of the antiosteoclastogenic transcription factor MafB. By comparing effects of several compounds structurally related to ATRA, as well as by using receptor antagonists, evaluation pointed to inhibition being mediated by RARalpha, with no involvement of PPARbeta/delta. The results suggest that activation of RARalpha by retinoids in myeloid hematopoietic precursor cells decreases osteoclast formation by altering expression of the transcription factors c-Fos, NFAT2, and MafB.
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| 3. |
- Guron, Cecilia Wallentin, 1965, et al.
(author)
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Can the left ventricular early diastolic tissue-to-blood time interval be used to identify a normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure?
- 2007
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In: Eur J Echocardiogr. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1525-2167. ; 8:2, s. 94-101
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The pulsed Doppler early diastolic left ventricular (LV) tissue (e)-blood (E) onset temporal relationship (e-E) is suggested to predict pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), through the formulas: tau = 32 + 0.7(e-E) and PCWP = LV end-systolic pressure x e(-IVRT/tau). Small changes/errors in E could influence the quotient IVRT/tau by oppositely affecting IVRT and e-E. At rest in 50 healthy individuals we noted: e-E: 2 +/- 14 ms; IVRT: 89 +/- 17 ms; calculated tau: 33 +/- 10 ms; and PCWP: 9 +/- 9 mmHg (> 12 mmHg in 28%). Non-pharmacological preload alterations in 14 individuals rendered an intraindividual 'PCWP'-fluctuation of up to 40 mmHg. This application may therefore not be clinically robust.
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| 4. |
- Guron, Cecilia Wallentin, 1965, et al.
(author)
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Timing of regional left ventricular lengthening by pulsed tissue Doppler
- 2004
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In: J Am Soc Echocardiogr. - : Elsevier BV. - 0894-7317 .- 1097-6795. ; 17:4, s. 307-12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Pulsed tissue Doppler can measure myocardial velocities with high temporal resolution. Our aim was to determine the onset timing of the regional left ventricular longitudinal early lengthening (e) in relation to the mitral inflow (E) in acute coronary syndromes. We applied pulsed tissue Doppler to the septal, lateral, inferior, and anterior left ventricular basal walls of 160 patients with acute coronary syndromes and 60 control subjects. Maximum systolic and early diastolic velocities were lower for patient than for control walls (6.1 +/- 1.7 vs 7.9 +/- 1.4 cm/s, P <.0001, and 6.9 +/- 2.3 vs 10.0 +/- 2.3 cm/s, P <.0001, respectively) and e started later than E (12 +/- 30 vs 2 +/- 19 milliseconds later, P <.0001). All 3 variables related to the degree of visual left ventricular wall pathology. The intraindividual time range for all 4 e starts was wider for patients (43 +/- 27 vs 30 +/- 18 milliseconds, P <.0001). Our results show that pulsed tissue Doppler can identify a delayed and asynchronous initial wall lengthening in acute coronary syndromes.
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| 5. |
- Hartford, Marianne, 1944, et al.
(author)
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C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, secretory phospholipase A(2) group IIA and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the prediction of late outcome events after acute coronary syndromes
- 2007
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In: J Intern Med. - : Wiley. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 262:5, s. 526-536
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective. We investigated whether levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), secretory phospholipase A(2) group IIA (sPLA(2)-IIA) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-I) predict late outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Design. Prospective longitudinal study. CRP (mg L(-1)), IL-6 (pg mL(-1)), sPLA(2)-IIA (ng mL(-1)) and ICAM-1 (ng mL(-1)) were measured at days 1 (n = 757) and 4 (n = 533) after hospital admission for ACS. Their relations to mortality and rehospitalization for myocardial infarction (MI) and congestive heart failure (CHF) were determined. Setting. Coronary Care Unit at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Subjects. Patients with ACS alive at day 30; median follow-up 75 months. Results. Survival was related to day 1 levels of all markers. After adjustment for confounders, CRP, IL-6 and ICAM-1, but not sPLA(2)-IIA, independently predicted mortality and rehospitalization for CHF. For CRP, the hazard ratio (HR) was 1.3 for mortality (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-1.5, P = 0.003) and 1.4 for CHF (95% CI: 1.1-1.9, P = 0.006). For IL-6, HR was 1.3 for mortality (95% CI: 1.1-1.6, P < 0.001) and 1.4 for CHF (95% CI: 1.1-1.8, P = 0.02). For ICAM-1, HR was 1.2 for mortality (95% CI: 1.0-1.4, P = 0.04) and 1.3 for CHF (95% CI: 1.0-1.7, P = 0.03). No marker predicted MI. Marker levels on day 4 provided no additional predictive value. Conclusions. In patients with ACS, CRP, IL-6, sPLA(2)-IIA and ICAM-1 are associated with long-term mortality and CHF, but not reinfarction. CRP, IL-6 and ICAM-1 provide prognostic information beyond that obtained by clinical variables.
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| 6. |
- Koskela, Anita, 1979-, et al.
(author)
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Prevalence of the ica operon and insertion sequence IS256 among Staphylococcus epidermidis prosthetic joint infection isolates
- 2009
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In: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. - Berlin : Springer. - 0934-9723 .- 1435-4373. ; 28:6, s. 655-660
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Joint replacement surgery has improved the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of patients. However, the infection of a joint implant is an important and serious complication, though the prevalence is low. Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most important pathogen involved in foreign-body infections. S. epidermidis is also a commensal that comprises a substantial part of the normal skin flora of humans. The possibility to demonstrate potential specific virulence markers may facilitate the interpretation of the bacteriological findings, as well as the clinical decision. The prevalence of the ica locus and insertion sequence IS256 by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) among 32 clinical S. epidermidis isolates from prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) and 24 commensal isolates from nares and skin was investigated. Sixteen (50%) of the 32 PJI isolates harbored the ica operon compared with one-third of the commensal isolates obtained from the samples of the skin and nares of healthy individuals. The IS256 was demonstrated in 26 (81%) out of 32 PJI isolates. By contrast, IS256 was found in one of 24 commensal isolates. In conclusion, IS256 may be superior to the ica operon as a marker of the invasive capacity of S. epidermidis, since it was found in most of the PJI isolates, but rarely among commensals.
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| 7. |
- Nilsson, Gabriella, et al.
(author)
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Childhood abuse in Swedish female users of psychiatric services
- 2005
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In: Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. - 1351-0126 .- 1365-2850. ; 12:3, s. 365-371
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: The aims of this study were to investigate: (1) the prevalence of childhood abuse in women admitted to psychiatric services in a county in the south of Sweden; (2) who the perpetrators were; and (3) the women's self-reported consequences of childhood abuse. Method: The study had a cross-sectional design and was a part of a more comprehensive study. An anonymous self-reported questionnaire was used which included both closed and open-ended questions. The data material were analysed by means of descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U-test and manifest content analysis. Results: The total number of women who participated in the study was 259, 51% of whom reported experiences of abuse during childhood, with 53% of these having been exposed to more than one type of abuse. The most frequent perpetrator was the woman's parents; mainly the fathers but also the mothers turned out to be frequent perpetrators of abuse. Some 75% of the women reported current psychological problems in adulthood related to abuse in childhood. According to a manifest content analysis, five themes of self-reported psychological problems emerged: psychiatric problems, shortcomings in social relations, poor self-confidence, fears and bad memories.
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| 8. |
- Nilsson, Gabriella, et al.
(author)
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Childhood abuse in Swedish female users of psychiatric services
- 2005
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In: Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. - : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. - 1351-0126 .- 1365-2850. ; 12:3, s. 365-371
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: The aims of this study were to investigate: (1) the prevalence of childhood abuse in women admitted to psychiatric services in a county in the south of Sweden; (2) who the perpetrators were; and (3) the women's self-reported consequences of childhood abuse. Method: The study had a cross-sectional design and was a part of a more comprehensive study. An anonymous self-reported questionnaire was used which included both closed and open-ended questions. The data material were analysed by means of descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U-test and manifest content analysis. Results: The total number of women who participated in the study was 259, 51% of whom reported experiences of abuse during childhood, with 53% of these having been exposed to more than one type of abuse. The most frequent perpetrator was the woman's parents; mainly the fathers but also the mothers turned out to be frequent perpetrators of abuse. Some 75% of the women reported current psychological problems in adulthood relatedto abuse in childhood. According to a manifest content analysis, five themes of self-reported psychological problems emerged: psychiatric problems, shortcomings in social relations, poor self-confidence, fears and bad memories.
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| 9. |
- Omland, Torbjörn, et al.
(author)
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Circulating osteoprotegerin levels and long-term prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndromes.
- 2008
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In: Journal of the American College of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1558-3597 .- 0735-1097. ; 51:6, s. 627-33
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the association between osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels on admission and long-term prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). BACKGROUND: Osteoprotegerin, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, has pleiotropic effects on bone metabolism, endocrine function, and the immune system. METHODS: Serum samples for OPG analysis were obtained within 24 h of admission in 897 ACS patients (median age 66 years, 71% men) and related to the incidence of death, heart failure (HF) hospitalizations, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. RESULTS: A total of 261 patients died during a median follow-up of 89 months. The baseline OPG concentration was strongly associated with increased long-term mortality (hazard ratio [HR] for HR per 1 SD increase in logarithmically transformed OPG level 1.7 [range 1.5 to 1.9] p < 0.0001) and HF hospitalizations (HR 2.0 [range 1.6 to 2.5]; p < 0.0001) but weaker with recurrent MI (HR 1.3 [range 1.0 to 1.5]; p = 0.02) and not with stroke (HR 1.2 [range 0.9 to 1.6]; p = 0.35). After adjustment for conventional risk markers, including troponin I, C-reactive protein (CRP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and ejection fraction, the association remained significant for mortality (HR 1.4 [range 1.2 to 1.7]; p < 0.0001) and HF hospitalization (HR 1.6 [range 1.2 to 2.1]; p = 0.0002), but not recurrent MI. By comparison of the area under the receiver-operating characteristics curves, OPG performed similarly to BNP and ejection fraction and significantly better than CRP and troponin I as a predictor of death. CONCLUSIONS: Serum OPG is strongly predictive of long-term mortality and HF development in patients with ACS, independent of conventional risk markers.
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| 10. |
- Omland, Torbjørn, et al.
(author)
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N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and long-term mortality in acute coronary syndromes.
- 2002
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In: Circulation. - 1524-4539. ; 106:23, s. 2913-8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a predictor of short- and medium-term prognosis across the spectrum of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The N-terminal fragment of the BNP prohormone, N-BNP, may be an even stronger prognostic marker. We assessed the relation between subacute plasma N-BNP levels and long-term, all-cause mortality in a large, contemporary cohort of patients with ACS.
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