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- Andriopoulos, Thanos, et al.
(author)
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Commencement of and Retention in Web-Based Interventions and Response to Prompts and Reminders : Longitudinal Observational Study Based on Two Randomized Controlled Trials
- 2021
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In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. - : JMIR Publications. - 1438-8871. ; 23:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Web-based interventions are effective for several psychological problems. However, recruitment, adherence, and missing data are challenges when evaluating these interventions. Objective: This study aimed to describe the use patterns during the commencement phase, possible retention patterns (continuation of data provision), and responses to prompts and reminders among participants in 2 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating web-based interventions. Methods: Data on use patterns logged in 2 RCTs aiming to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression among adult patients recently diagnosed with cancer (AdultCan RCT) and patients with a recent myocardial infarction (Heart RCT) were analyzed. The web-based intervention in the AdultCan trial consisted of unguided self-help and psychoeducation and that in the Heart trial consisted of therapist-supported cognitive behavioral therapy. In total, 2360 participants' use patterns at first log-in, including data collection at baseline (ie, commencement) and at 2 follow-ups, were analyzed. Both the intervention and comparison groups were analyzed. Results: At commencement, 70.85% (909/1283) and 86.82% (935/1077) of the participants in AdultCan and Heart RCTs, respectively, logged in and completed baseline data collection after receiving a welcome email with log-in credentials. The median duration of the first log-in was 44 minutes and 38 minutes in AdultCan and Heart RCTs, respectively. Slightly less than half of the participants' first log-ins were completed outside standard office hours. More than 80% (92/114 and 103/111) of the participants in both trials explored the intervention within 2 weeks of being randomized to the treatment group, with a median duration of 7 minutes and 47 minutes in AdultCan and Heart RCTs, respectively. There was a significant association between intervention exploration time during the first 2 weeks and retention in the Heart trial but not in the AdultCan trial. However, the control group was most likely to retain and provide complete follow-up data. Across the 3 time points of data collection explored in this study, the proportion of participants responding to all questionnaires within 1 week from the prompt, without a reminder, varied between 35.45% (413/1165) and 66.3% (112/169). After 2 reminders, up to 97.6% (165/169) of the participants responded. Conclusions: Most participants in both RCTs completed the baseline questionnaires within 1 week of receiving the welcome email. Approximately half of them answered questions at baseline data collection outside office hours, suggesting that the time flexibility inherent in web-based interventions contributes to commencement and use. In contrast to what was expected, the intervention groups generally had lower completion rates than the comparison groups. About half of the participants completed the questionnaires without a reminder, but thereafter, reminders contributed to both baseline and follow-up retention, suggesting they were effective. Strategies to increase commencement of and retention in eHealth interventions are important for the future development of effective interventions and relevant research.
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- Borg, Helena, et al.
(author)
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Four-hour voiding observations detect neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in neonates with anorectal malformation
- 2021
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In: Journal of Pediatric Urology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1477-5131. ; 17:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) has been reported in 20–50% of children with anorectal malformations (ARM). As neurogenic LUTD represents an inherent risk of renal deterioration and urinary tract infections, an early diagnosis is important. The gold standard for evaluating neurogenic LUTD involves invasive urodynamic testing but a useful addition should be an easy-to-perform, non-invasive method of screening. Objective: In this study, we evaluate non-invasive 4 h voiding observations as a screening method for neurogenic LUTD in ARM children. Study design: Thirty-four patients with ARM, excluding those with perineal fistulas, were evaluated using both 4 h voiding observation and urodynamic testing before and after posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) at median ages of 0.3 and 1.1 years. In the urodynamic assessment, the gold standard for neurogenic LUTD, nine children received the diagnosis, eight innate and one post-surgery. Results: Five boys with a high urethral fistula and anomalies of the spinal cord had urodynamically diagnosed neurogenic LUTD, a dysfunction also identified in the 4 h voiding observations. The pattern was characterised both by an increase in the number of voiding and the number of interrupted voiding, urinary leakage and elevated residual urine (Figure). In three girls with a vestibular fistula and tethered cord, an urodynamic investigation identified suspected mild neurogenic LUTD. In the voiding observations, an abnormal voiding pattern was not as obvious in the girls as in the five males. One girl with cloaca showed signs of postsurgical denervation damage, which was easily identified in the 4 h voiding observations (high capacity and elevated residual urine). Discussion: In the present study, gender differences in the severity of dysfunction reflected in the free voiding pattern in infants with ARM and neurogenic LUTD is probably the result of the different underlying causes of neurogenic LUTD in boys and girls. Boys with the condition have a congenital malformation of the caudal part of the spinal cord and girls a tethering of the cord. The most obvious limitation of the study was the low number of patients. Despite this, we consider the results worth reporting, since we found that results in the free voiding observations effectively confirmed what was established in the urodynamic investigations. Conclusion: In pre-PSARP patients, 4 h voiding observations can be used to screen for severe neurogenic LUTD requiring attention and treatment. When post-surgical denervation is suspected, the voiding observation is also a good method for indicating the diagnosis.[Formula presented] © 2020 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company
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- Gatzinsky, Cathrine, 1975, et al.
(author)
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Transabdominal ultrasound of rectal diameter in healthy infants: a prospective cohort study during the first year of life
- 2023
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In: Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. - 1034-4810. ; 59:9, s. 1021-1027
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AimTransabdominal rectal ultrasound (TRU) is used to measure transverse rectal diameter (TRD) in order to diagnose functional constipation (FC) and megarectum, and to evaluate treatment. The proposed cut-off value is 3.0 cm. Currently, no standardised values exist for children below the age of 4. We used repeated TRUs to establish reference TRD values in healthy infants and to describe rectal diameter in infants with FC. MethodsThis prospective observational cohort study enrolled healthy term babies from a maternity department. TRD measurements were taken at 2 and 12 months of age, and questionnaires completed in interviews helped diagnose FC according to Rome III criteria. ResultsTwo hundred TRUs were performed on 110 infants (62 males). In infants without FC anytime, the mean TRD at 2 months was 1.56 (SD 0.32) cm and at 12 months 1.78 (0.47) cm, while the 95th percentiles were 2.26 and 2.64 cm, respectively. In 77 infants with two TRUs, the mean increase was 0.21 cm (95% confidence interval: 0.099-0.318). Thirteen infants were diagnosed with FC during the study period. At 2 and 12 months of age, there was no difference in TRD between infants with and without FC. ConclusionTRD increased from 2 to 12 months. We suggest 2.3 cm as an upper limit for normal TRD at 2 months and 2.6 cm at 12 months. Infants diagnosed with FC did not have a greater TRD than infants without, either before or after treatment. Further studies are needed to evaluate the usefulness of TRU in infants with FC or megarectum.
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- Handl, Verena, et al.
(author)
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Continuous iontronic chemotherapy reduces brain tumor growth in embryonic avian in vivo models
- 2024
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In: Journal of Controlled Release. - : ELSEVIER. - 0168-3659 .- 1873-4995. ; 369, s. 668-683
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Local and long-lasting administration of potent chemotherapeutics is a promising therapeutic intervention to increase the efficiency of chemotherapy of hard-to-treat tumors such as the most lethal brain tumors, glioblastomas (GBM). However, despite high toxicity for GBM cells, potent chemotherapeutics such as gemcitabine (Gem) cannot be widely implemented as they do not efficiently cross the blood brain barrier (BBB). As an alternative method for continuous administration of Gem, we here operate freestanding iontronic pumps - "GemIPs" - equipped with a custom-synthesized ion exchange membrane (IEM) to treat a GBM tumor in an avian embryonic in vivo system. We compare GemIP treatment effects with a topical metronomic treatment and observe that a remarkable growth inhibition was only achieved with steady dosing via GemIPs. Daily topical drug administration (at the maximum dosage that was not lethal for the embryonic host organism) did not decrease tumor sizes, while both treatment regimes caused S-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. We hypothesize that the pharmacodynamic effects generate different intratumoral drug concentration profiles for each technique, which causes this difference in outcome. We created a digital model of the experiment, which proposes a fast decay in the local drug concentration for the topical daily treatment, but a long-lasting high local concentration of Gem close to the tumor area with GemIPs. Continuous chemotherapy with iontronic devices opens new possibilities in cancer treatment: the long-lasting and highly local dosing of clinically available, potent chemotherapeutics to greatly enhance treatment efficiency without systemic side-effects. Significance statement: Iontronic pumps (GemIPs) provide continuous and localized administration of the chemotherapeutic gemcitabine (Gem) for treating glioblastoma in vivo. By generating high and constant drug concentrations near the vascularized growing tumor, GemIPs offer an efficient and less harmful alternative to systemic administration. Continuous GemIP dosing resulted in remarkable growth inhibition, superior to daily topical Gem application at higher doses. Our digital modelling shows the advantages of iontronic chemotherapy in overcoming limitations of burst release and transient concentration profiles, and providing precise control over dosing profiles and local distribution. This technology holds promise for future implants, could revolutionize treatment strategies, and offers a new platform for studying the influence of timing and dosing dependencies of already -established drugs in the fight against hard -to -treat tumors.
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- Igelström, Helena, 1976-, et al.
(author)
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User Experiences of an Internet-Based Stepped-Care Intervention for Individuals With Cancer and Concurrent Symptoms of Anxiety or Depression (the U-CARE AdultCan Trial) : Qualitative Study
- 2020
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In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. - : JMIR PUBLICATIONS, INC. - 1438-8871. ; 22:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The internet-based stepped-care intervention iCAN-DO, used in the multicenter randomized controlled trial AdultCan, was developed for adult patients undergoing treatment for cancer and concurrently experiencing anxiety or depressive symptoms. iCAN-DO aimed to decrease symptoms of anxiety or depression. Step 1 comprises access to a library with psychoeducational material and a peer-support section, as well as the possibility to pose questions to a nurse. Step 2 of the intervention offers treatment consisting of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) to participants still experiencing anxiety or depression at 1, 4, or 7 months after inclusion.Objective: The study aimed to explore user experiences of delivery, design, and structure of iCAN-DO from the perspective of people with cancer.Methods: We studied user experiences by interviewing 15 informants individually: 10 women with breast cancer (67%), 4 men with prostate cancer (27%), and 1 man with colorectal cancer (7%) with a mean age 58.9 years (SD 8.9). The interviews focused on informants' perceptions of ease of use and of system design and structure. Informants had been included in iCAN-DO for at least 7 months. They were purposefully selected based on activity in Step 1, participation in iCBT (ie, Step 2), gender, and diagnosis.Results: Of the 15 informants, 6 had been offered iCBT (40%). All informants used the internet on a daily basis, but 2 (13%) described themselves as very inexperienced computer users. The analysis revealed three subthemes, concerning how user experiences were affected by disease-specific factors and side effects (User experience in the context of cancer), technical problems (Technical struggles require patience and troubleshooting), and the structure and design of iCAN-DO (Appealing and usable, but rather simple).Conclusions: The results indicate that user experiences were affected by informants' life situations, the technical aspects and the design of iCAN-DO, and informants' preferences. The results have generated some developments feasible to launch during the ongoing study, but if iCAN-DO is to be used beyond research interest, a greater level of tailoring of information, features, and design may be needed to improve user experiences. The use of recurrent questionnaires during the treatment period may highlight an individual's health, but also function as a motivator showing improvements over time.
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- Kristensson Hallström, Inger, et al.
(author)
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eHealth as an Aid for Facilitating and Supporting Self-Management in Families with Long-Term Childhood Illness; Development, Evaluation, and Implementation in Clinical Practice
- 2023
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In: Clinical Health Promotion - Research and Best Practice for patients, staff and community. ; 13:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction eHealth, defined by WHO as: “the transfer of health resources and healthcare by electronic means” are expected to increase communication between healthcare providers and patients and increase accessibility and patient participation in healthcare. The aim of this research programme is to: 1) develop a sustainable multidisciplinary environment for advancing, evaluating, and implementing models of eHealth to promote self-management for children and their families, and 2) increase the present knowledge of clinical and economic cost-effectiveness of eHealth as an aid for supporting self-management in families with long-term childhood illness. Method The research is performed in Sweden, Denmark, and Ethiopia and organized in three research domains: eHealth to enable and promote self-management in advanced paediatric care, eHealth for early diagnosis and treatment in paediatric care, and Co-Creation of multidisciplinary knowledge for the translation of eHealth in practice. The research follows a framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions in healthcare. Through participatory design family members and care providers participate throughout the research process. Quantitative and qualitative data as well as health economics are collected in six clinical areas. Five general areas are run transversal. Results and conclusion Evidence-based best practices in developing and evaluating eHealth in paediatric healthcare will be suggested. As implementation is part of the programme, cost-effective eHealth directly benefiting families and healthcare services will be guaranteed.
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- Kylander, Malin E., 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Storm chasing : Tracking Holocene storminess in southern Sweden using mineral proxies from inland and coastal peat bogs
- 2023
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In: Quaternary Science Reviews. - : Elsevier BV. - 0277-3791 .- 1873-457X. ; 299, s. 107854-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Severe extratropical winter storms are a recurrent feature of the European climate and cause widespread socioeconomic losses. Due to insufficient long-term data, it remains unclear whether storminess has shown a notable response to changes in external forcing over the past millennia, which impacts our ability to project future storminess in a changing climate. Reconstructing past storm variability is essential to improving our understanding of storms on these longer, missing timescales. Peat sequences from coastal ombrotrophic bogs are increasingly used for this purpose, where greater quantities of coarser grained beach sand are deposited by strong winds during storm events. Moving inland however, storm intensity decreases, as does sand availability, muting potential paleostorm signals in bogs. We circumvent these issues by taking the innovative approach of using mid-infrared (MIR) spectral data, supported by elemental information, from the inorganic fraction of Store Mosse Dune South (SMDS), a 5000-year-old sequence from a large peatland located in southern Sweden. We infer past changes in mineral composition and thereby, the grain size of the deposited material. The record is dominated by quartz, whose coarse nature was confirmed through analyses of potential local source sediments. This was supported by further mineralogical and elemental proxies of atmospheric input. Comparison of SMDS with within-bog and regionally relevant records showed that there is a difference in proxy and site response to what should be similar timing in shifts in storminess over the-100 km transect considered. We suggest the construction of regional storm stacks, built here by applying changepoint modelling to four transect sites jointly. This modelling approach has the effect of reinforcing signals in common while reducing the influence of random noise. The resulting Southern Sweden-Storm Stack dates stormier periods to 4495-4290, 3880-3790, 2885-2855, 2300-2005, 1175-1065 and 715-425 cal yr BP. By comparing with a newly constructed Western Scotland-Storm Stack and proximal dune records, we argue that regional storm stacks allow us to better compare past storminess over wider areas, gauge storm track movements and by extension, increase our understanding of the drivers of storminess on centennial to millennial timescales.
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- Malmgren, Linnea, et al.
(author)
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The complexity of kidney disease and diagnosing it - Cystatin C, selective glomerular hypofiltration syndromes and proteome regulation.
- 2023
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In: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 293:3, s. 293-308
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Estimation of kidney function is often part of daily clinical practice, mostly done by using the endogenous GFR-markers creatinine or cystatin C. A recommendation to use both markers in parallel in 2010 has resulted in new knowledge concerning the pathophysiology of kidney disorders by identification of a new set of kidney disorders, selective glomerular hypofiltration syndromes. These syndromes, connected to strong increases in mortality and morbidity, are characterised by a selective reduction in the glomerular filtration of 5-30 kDa molecules, such as cystatin C, compared to the filtration of small molecules < 1kDa dominating the glomerular filtrate e.g., water, urea, creatinine. At least two types of such disorders, shrunken or elongated pore syndrome, are possible according to the pore model for glomerular filtration. Selective glomerular hypofiltration syndromes are prevalent in investigated populations, and patients with these syndromes often display normal measured GFR or creatinine-based GFR-estimates. The syndromes are characterised by proteomic changes promoting the development of atherosclerosis, indicating antibodies and specific receptor-blocking substances as possible new treatment modalities. Presently, the KDIGO guidelines for diagnosing kidney disorders do not recommend cystatin C as a general marker of kidney function and will therefore not allow the identification of a considerable number of patients with selective glomerular hypofiltration syndromes. Furthermore, as cystatin C is uninfluenced by muscle mass, diet or variations in tubular secretion and cystatin C-based GFR-estimation equations do not require controversial race or sex terms, it is obvious that cystatin C should be a part of future KDIGO guidelines.
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