| 11. |
- Hammarström, Per, 1960-
(author)
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Kyrkan och judarna : Religiös mångfald i Sundsvall
- 2017
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Under de sista decennierna av 1800-talet invandrade kanske ett par tusen östeuropeiska judar till Sverige, många med Norrland som slutdestination. Sundsvall blev huvudorten för judarna i Norrland där som mest över 250 judar levde och verkade under en period. Sundsvalls judar sökte upprätthålla ett gemensamt socialt och religiöst liv samtidigt som de integrerades i lokalsamhället, ekonomiskt och socialt. Svenska kyrkans lokala representanter hade få invändningar när det gällde etablerandet av en officiellt erkänd judisk församlingen men källorna speglar en ambivalens i förhållande till den judiska närvaron, i kyrkan såväl som inom andra delar av samhället. Ett sätt för åtminstone vissa delar av kyrkan att hantera invandringen av judar var genom mission. Lågkyrkliga Svenska Israelsmissionen bedrev, med stöd av stiftsledningen, verksamhet i Norrland som gick ut på att, dels öka intresset för judemissionen i församlingar och kyrkliga föreningar, dels bedriva evangeliskt och socialt arbete bland judarna, främst i Sundsvall. Flera judemissionärer var verksamma i regionen under sent 1800-tal. Jag kommer att diskutera denna del av den norrländska kyrkohistorien, mötet mellan en judisk grupp som genom sin församling sökte bevara en judisk identitet i en omgivning av möjligheter och begränsningar och en kyrka som förlorat mycket av sin statsbärande roll men som alltjämt präglades av antijudaism.
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| 12. |
- Jonson, Maria
(author)
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Investigating Amyloid β toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster
- 2017
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In this thesis Drosophila melanogaster (the fruit fly) has been used as a model organism to study the aggregation and toxic properties of the human amyloid β (Aβ) peptide involved in the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is one of many misfolding diseases where the important event of a protein to adopt its’ specific three-dimensional structure has failed, leading to aggregation and formation of characteristic amyloid fibrils. AD has a complex pathology and probably reflects a variety of related molecular and cellular abnormalities, however, the most apparent common denominator so far is abnormal Amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) processing, resulting in a pool of various Aβ-peptides. In AD, the Aβ peptide misfolds, aggregates and forms amyloid plaques in the brain of patients, resulting in progressive neurodegeneration that eventually leads to death.By expressing the human Aβ protein in the fly, we have studied the mechanisms and toxicity of the aggregation in detail and how different cell types in the fly are affected. We have also used this model to investigate the effect of potential drugs that can have a positive impact on disease progression. In the first and second work in this thesis, we have, in a systematic way, proved that the length of the Aβ-peptide is essential for its toxicity and propensity to aggregate. If the peptide expressed ends at amino acid 42 it is extremely toxic to the fly nervous system. However, this toxicity can be completely abolished by expressing a variant that is shorter than 42 amino acids (1-37 to 1-41 aa), or be significantly reduced by expressing a longer variant (1-43 aa). Toxicity can be partly mitigated in trans by co-expressing the 1-42 variant with a 1-38 variant. This supports the theory that the disease progression could be inhibited if the formation of Aβ 1-42 is decreased. In the third work we demonstrate that amyloid aggregates can be found in various cell types of Drosophila, however, the toxicity seem to be selective to neurons. Our results indicate that the aggregates of glial expressing flies have a more mature structure, which appear to be less toxic. This also suggests that glial cells might spread Aβ aggregates without being harmed. The last work in this thesis investigates how curcumin (turmeric) can affect Aβ aggregation and toxicity. Curcumin appears to shift the equilibrium between the less stableaggregates and mature fibers toward the final stage resulting in an improved lifespan for treated flies.In summary, this thesis demonstrates that the toxicity of Aβ in Drosophila is highly dependent on the Aβ variant expressed, the structure of the protein aggregates and which cell type that expresses the protein. We have also shed light on the potential of using Drosophila when it comes to examining possible therapeutic substances as a tool for drug discovery.
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| 13. |
- Jonsson, Frida, et al.
(author)
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Intragenerational social mobility and functional somatic symptoms in a northern Swedish context : analyses of diagonal reference models
- 2017
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In: International Journal for Equity in Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-9276. ; 16
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Research indicate that social class mobility could be potentially important for health, but whether this is due to the movement itself or a result of people having been integrated in different class contexts is, to date, difficult to infer. In addition, although several theories suggest that transitions between classes in the social hierarchy can be stressful experiences, few studies have empirically examined whether such movements may have health effects, over and above the implications of "being" in these classes. In an attempt to investigate whether intragenerational social mobility is associated with functional somatic symptoms in mid-adulthood, the current study tests three partially contrasting theories.METHOD: The dissociative theory suggests that mobility in general and upward mobility in particular may be linked to psychological distress, while the falling from grace theory indicates that downward mobility is especially stressful. In contrast, the acculturation theory holds that the health implications of social mobility is not due to the movement itself but attributed to the class contexts in which people find themselves. Diagonal Reference Models were used on a sample of 924 individuals who in 1981 graduated from 9(th) grade in the municipality of Luleå, Sweden. Social mobility was operationalized as change in occupational class between age 30 and 42 (measured in 1995 and 2007). The health outcome was functional somatic symptoms at age 42, defined as a clustering self-reported physical symptoms, palpitation and sleeping difficulties during the last 12 months.RESULTS: Overall mobility was not associated with higher levels of functional somatic symptoms compared to being immobile (p = 0.653). After controlling for prior and current class, sex, parental social position, general health, civil status, education and unemployment, the association between downward mobility was borderline significant (p = 0.055) while upward mobility was associated with lower levels of functional somatic symptoms (p = 0.03).CONCLUSION: The current study did not find unanimous support for any of the theories. Nevertheless, it sheds light on the possibility that upward mobility may be beneficial to reduce stress-related health problems in mid-life over and above the exposure to prior and current class, while downward mobility can be of less importance for middle-age health complaints.
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| 14. |
- Nyström, Sofie, et al.
(author)
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Imaging Amyloid Tissues Stained with Luminescent Conjugated Oligothiophenes by Hyperspectral Confocal Microscopy and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging
- 2017
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In: Journal of Visualized Experiments. - : JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS. - 1940-087X. ; :128
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Proteins that deposit as amyloid in tissues throughout the body can be the cause or consequence of a large number of diseases. Among these we find neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease afflicting primarily the central nervous system, and systemic amyloidosis where serum amyloid A, transthyretin and IgG light chains deposit as amyloid in liver, carpal tunnel, spleen, kidney, heart, and other peripheral tissues. Amyloid has been known and studied for more than a century, often using amyloid specific dyes such as Congo red and Thioflavin T (ThT) or Thioflavin (ThS). In this paper, we present heptamer-formyl thiophene acetic acid (hFTAA) as an example of recently developed complements to these dyes called luminescent conjugated oligothiophenes (LCOs). hFTAA is easy to use and is compatible with co-staining in immunofluorescence or with other cellular markers. Extensive research has proven that hFTAA detects a wider range of disease associated protein aggregates than conventional amyloid dyes. In addition, hFTAA can also be applied for optical assignment of distinct aggregated morphotypes to allow studies of amyloid fibril polymorphism. While the imaging methodology applied is optional, we here demonstrate hyperspectral imaging (HIS), laser scanning confocal microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). These examples show some of the imaging techniques where LCOs can be used as tools to gain more detailed knowledge of the formation and structural properties of amyloids. An important limitation to the technique is, as for all conventional optical microscopy techniques, the requirement for microscopic size of aggregates to allow detection. Furthermore, the aggregate should comprise a repetitive beta-sheet structure to allow for hFTAA binding. Excessive fixation and/or epitope exposure that modify the aggregate structure or conformation can render poor hFTAA binding and hence pose limitations to accurate imaging.
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| 15. |
- Rasmussen, Jay, et al.
(author)
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Amyloid polymorphisms constitute distinct clouds of conformational variants in different etiological subtypes of Alzheimers disease
- 2017
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In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : NATL ACAD SCIENCES. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 114:49, s. 13018-13023
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The molecular architecture of amyloids formed in vivo can be interrogated using luminescent conjugated oligothiophenes (LCOs), a unique class of amyloid dyes. When bound to amyloid, LCOs yield fluorescence emission spectra that reflect the 3D structure of the protein aggregates. Given that synthetic amyloid-beta peptide (A beta) has been shown to adopt distinct structural conformations with different biological activities, we asked whether A beta can assume structurally and functionally distinct conformations within the brain. To this end, we analyzed the LCO-stained cores of beta-amyloid plaques in postmortem tissue sections from frontal, temporal, and occipital neocortices in 40 cases of familial Alzheimers disease (AD) or sporadic (idiopathic) AD (sAD). The spectral attributes of LCO-bound plaques varied markedly in the brain, but the mean spectral properties of the amyloid cores were generally similar in all three cortical regions of individual patients. Remarkably, the LCO amyloid spectra differed significantly among some of the familial and sAD subtypes, and between typical patients with sAD and those with posterior cortical atrophy AD. Neither the amount of A beta nor its protease resistance correlated with LCO spectral properties. LCO spectral amyloid phenotypes could be partially conveyed to A beta plaques induced by experimental transmission in a mouse model. These findings indicate that polymorphic A beta-amyloid deposits within the brain cluster as clouds of conformational variants in different AD cases. Heterogeneity in the molecular architecture of pathogenic A beta among individuals and in etiologically distinct subtypes of AD justifies further studies to assess putative links between A beta conformation and clinical phenotype.
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| 16. |
- Svensson, Harry R:son, 1976-
(author)
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Fabian Philip, familjen Ruben och örlogsstaden : Entreprenörsfamiljen som grundade Mosaiska församlingen i Karlskrona 1780–1945
- 2017
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The purpose of the dissertation is to investigate Jewish integration in the naval city of Karlskrona in the period 1780–1945. This was done by the investigation of the economic, social and cultural strategies that the Jewish Philip/Ruben family used in their family business in Karlskrona during the 19th century. This has made it possible to understand how a Jewish family and congregation interacted with and became integrated in a Swedish naval-city environment. The study gives also new information about and a better understanding of the Swedish naval environment and naval production capacity. The study provides new knowledge on different fields of studies as Swedish Jewish history, urban history, naval history (the history of the Swedish Royal Navy), history of migration and integration, and the history of Karlskrona. The dissertation studies the history of the Philip/Ruben family in three distinct perspectives: economic, social and cultural. Moreover, the study pays attention to the process of the family’s integration and adaptation of different Jewish groups in Karlskrona.Fabian Philip obtained an exception from the Swedish legislation forbidding Jews to live in other towns than Stockholm, Göteborg and Norrköping, and settled in the naval city of Karlskrona. His family came to constitute the Jewish congregation in Karlskrona in the period 1782–1862. Karlskrona therefore became the fourth city in Sweden where Jews were allowed to settle. Fabian Philip and his family originated from Bützow in northern Germany. Fabian Philip’s establishment in Karlskrona depended upon his role as contractor, supplying sailcloth to the Swedish Royal Navy. After the Vienna Congress of 1815 Sweden adopted a Doctrine of Central defense and The Swedish Royal Navy lost its importance for the defense of Sweden. With a minimum of funding the Swedish Royal Navy went into a state of despair and so did Karlskrona’s local economy.By 1830 agriculture was the only viable economic niche in the economically neglected Karlskrona but Jews were prohibited to own landed property until 1860. Fabian Philip was able, with the help of Karlskrona’s officer staff, to circumnavigate the legislation and became a landowner of big Afvelsgärde estate. Of all the Jewish-owned estates in Sweden in the mid-century 10 percent were to be owned by the Philip/Ruben family. When Sweden was industrialized in 1870–1890, the local economy of Karlskrona managed to compensate for the decline in activities of the Swedish Royal Navy. The family succeeded to take part in the program of local modernization that was launched from the 1880s. The Philip/Ruben family contributed to the economic modernization of Karlskrona as bankers and factory owners. The family thrived in the city’s surprisingly open and cosmopolitan environment. Until now, no research has been undertaken about the Jewish congregation or the Jewish life in Karlskrona. The results of this dissertation contribute to the understanding of Jewish life in Sweden.
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| 17. |
- Zhang, Jun, Dr. 1987-, et al.
(author)
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trans-Stilbenoids with Extended Fluorescence Lifetimes for the Characterization of Amyloid Fibrils
- 2017
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In: ACS Omega. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2470-1343. ; 2:8, s. 4693-4704
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It was previously reported that two naphthyl-based trans-stilbene probes, (E)-4-(2-(naphthalen-1-yl)vinyl)benzene-1,2-diol (1) and (E)-4-(2-(naphthalen-2-yl)vinyl)benzene-1,2-diol (3), can bind to both native transthyretin (TTR) and misfolded protofibrillar TTR at physiological concentrations, displaying distinct emission maxima bound to the different conformational states (>100 nm difference). To further explore this amyloid probe scaffold to obtain extended fluorescence lifetimes, two new analogues with expanded aromatic ring systems (anthracene and pyrene), (E)-4-(2-(anthracen-2-yl)vinyl)benzene-1,2-diol (4) and (E)-4-(2-(pyren-2-yl)vinyl)benzene-1,2-diol (5), were synthesized employing the palladium-catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck reaction. (E)-4-Styrylbenzene-1,2-diol (2), 3, 4, and 5 were investigated with respect to their photophysical properties in methanol and when bound to insulin, lysozyme, and Aβ1-42 fibrils, including time-resolved fluorescence measurements. In conclusion, 4 and 5 can bind to both native and fibrillar TTR, becoming highly fluorescent. Compounds 2–5 bind specifically to insulin, lysozyme, and Aβ1-42 fibrils with an apparent fluorescence intensity increase and moderate binding affinities. The average fluorescence lifetimes of the probes bound to Aβ1-42 fibrils are 1.3 ns (2), 1.5 ns (3), 5.7 ns (4), and 29.8 ns (5). In summary, the variable aromatic moieties of the para-positioned trans-stilbenoid vinyl-benzene-1,2-diol with benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, and pyrene showed that the extended conjugated systems retained the amyloid targeting properties of the probes. Furthermore, both the anthracene and pyrene moieties extensively enhanced the fluorescence intensity and prolonged lifetimes. These attractive probe properties should improve amyloid detection and characterization by fluorescence-based techniques.
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