| 1. |
- Avdic, Tarik, et al.
(author)
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Reduced Long-Term Risk of Aortic Aneurysm and Aortic Dissection Among Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Nationwide Observational Study.
- 2018
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In: Journal of the American Heart Association. - 2047-9980. ; 7:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- No studies have examined long-term risks for aortic aneurysm (AA) and aortic dissection (AD) or mortality after AA or AD hospitalization among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).In this observational cohort study, we linked data for patients with T2DM in the Swedish National Diabetes Register, and 5 individually matched population-based control subjects (CSs) without diabetes mellitus (on the basis of sex, age, and county), to other national databases to capture hospitalizations and death. We examined the risk of hospitalization for AA and AD, as well as mortality risk after AA and AD using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression hazards models. Data on 448319 patients with T2DM and 2251015 CSs were obtained between 1998 and 2015. Mean follow-up time was 7.0years for the T2DM group and 7.2years for the CS group. Patients with T2DM had a relative risk reduction of 28% (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-0.76; P<0.0001) for AA and a 47% relative risk reduction (hazard ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.65; P<0.0001) for AD compared with CSs. Patients with T2DM had a relative risk reduction of 12% (hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.94; P<0.0001) for mortality after hospitalization for AA, and unaltered risk (hazard ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-1.34; P=0.5859) for mortality after AD, up to 2years compared with CSs.Patients with T2DM had significantly reduced risks of AA and AD as well as reduced risk of mortality after hospitalization for AA, compared to CS. Data suggest that glycated cross-links in aortic tissue may play a protective role in the progression of aortic diseases among patients with T2DM.
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| 2. |
- Fransson, Göran, 1968-, et al.
(author)
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On the Swedish National Grade School for Digital Technologies in Education – GRADE : Expectations and experiences of doctorial students and supervisors
- 2018
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In: ICERI2018 Proceedings. - Sevilla : IATED. - 9788409059485 ; , s. 769-774
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Swedish National Graduate School for Digital Technologies in Education (GRADE) is a cooperative venture between six Swedish universities established during 2018. Within the field of educational sciences and in the area of digital technologies in education, GRADE aims to strengthen the expertise in the area and to increase national and international cooperation in research training activities.Over a number of years, and from multitude of sources (cf. Brown & Davis, 2004; Fisher, Higgins & Loveless, 2006; Kafai & Resnick 1996), research has stressed that increased digitalization in schools leads to a complexity that needs to be taken into account on different levels, from different perspectives and with different designs, methodologies and theoretical perspectives (cf. Olofsson, Lindberg, Fransson & Hauge, 2015; Price, Jewitt & Brown, 2013; Tondeur, Valcke & van Braak, 2008). At a micro-level, the learning situation of students, teachers and school-leaders changes and it becomes important to deepen the knowledge about the impact digital technologies has on the fundamental conditions for teaching and learning of different school subjects (cf. Chun, Kern & Smith 2016; Leung & Baccaglini-Frank, 2017). On a macro-level, conditions for education as such changes and digital technologies becomes an important object of study as agents of change (Wong & Li, 2008). The digitalization of K-12 schools has long been highlighted in policy as a necessity (cf. Kirkman et al, 2002; OECD, 2010). However, research and evaluations (cf. Fransson et al, 2012; OECD, 2015; Wastiau et al, 2013) show that many substantial challenges remain. One of the fundamental pillars of GRADE is the interdisciplinary approach. Several disciplines are present (Applied IT, Curriculum studies, Education, Informatics, Technology and Learning, Educational work, Work-interated Learning) in researching digital technologies in K-12 schools with the ambition to contribute to the continued implementation, integration and use of digital technologies in Swedish K-12 schools that stems from the evidence-based knowledge produced within the activities of GRADE. The research within GRADE will be characterized by close cooperation with stakeholders from school practice, with the aim to contribute to concrete school development. In GRADE, a multi-level approach that involves multiple layers or levels of school activities will be encouraged. When possible, studies will be longitudinal. This will imply studies from an organizational and management perspective, e.g. studies of school leaders and other members of senior management positions responsible for digital technology use and implementation. Also implied are studies of teachers' teaching practices and didactical considerations, as well as studies of the students in classrooms and their learning using digital technologies. This will also imply that several issues with a bearing on the digitalization of education, for example regarding school policy, teaching, learning, assessment and professional development will be researched from different perspectives and with different methodological approaches. In this paper, these points of departure will be explored based on the expectations and experiences of the first twelve admitted doctoral students and their supervisors.
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| 3. |
- Svensson, Maria K., et al.
(author)
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Decreased systolic blood pressure is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment : A nationwide longitudinal observational study of 27,732 patients based on the Swedish National Diabetes Register
- 2017
-
In: Diabetes & Vascular Disease Research. - : SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD. - 1479-1641 .- 1752-8984. ; 14:3, s. 226-235
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Previous studies have shown a U-shaped relationship between systolic blood pressure and risk of all-cause of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment.Aims: To evaluate the associations between time-updated systolic blood pressure and time-updated change in systolic blood pressure during the follow-up period and risk of all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment.Patients and methods: A total of 27,732 patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment in the Swedish National Diabetes Register were followed for 4.7years. Time-dependent Cox models were used to estimate risk of all-cause mortality. Time-updated mean systolic blood pressure is the average of the baseline and the reported post-baseline systolic blood pressures.Results: A time-updated systolic blood pressure<130mmHg was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality in patients both with and without a history of chronic heart failure (hazard ratio: 1.25, 95% confidence interval: 1.13-1.40 and hazard ratio: 1.26, 1.17-1.36, respectively). A time-updated decrease in systolic blood pressure>10mmHg between the last two observations was associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality (-10 to -25mmHg; hazard ratio: 1.24, 95% confidence interval: 1.17-1.32).Conclusion: Both low systolic blood pressure and a decrease in systolic blood pressure during the follow-up are associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment.
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| 4. |
- Taimour, Soumia, et al.
(author)
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Survival, cardiovascular morbidity, and reinterventions after elective endovascular aortic aneurysm repair in patients with and without diabetes : A nationwide propensity-adjusted analysis
- 2019
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In: Vascular Medicine (United Kingdom). - 1358-863X. ; 24:6, s. 539-546
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Epidemiological data indicate decreased risk for development and growth of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). On the other hand, DM adds to increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. In a nationwide observational cohort study of patients registered in the Swedish Vascular Register and the Swedish National Diabetes Register, we evaluated potential effects of DM on total mortality, CV morbidity, and the need for reintervention after elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for AAA. We compared 748 patients with and 2630 without DM with propensity score-adjusted analysis, during a median 4.22 years of follow-up for patients with DM, and 4.05 years for those without. In adjusted analysis, diabetic patients showed higher rates of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during follow-up (relative risk (RR) 1.44, 95% CI 1.06–1.95; p = 0.02), but lower need for reintervention (RR 0.12, CI 0.02–0.91; p = 0.04). There were no differences in total (RR 0.88, CI 0.74–1.05; p = 0.15) or CV (RR 1.58, CI 0.87–2.86; p = 0.13) mortality, or stroke (RR 0.95, CI 0.68–1.32; p = 0.75) during follow-up. In conclusion, patients with DM had higher rates of AMI and lower need for reintervention after elective EVAR than those without DM, whereas neither total nor CV mortality differed between groups. The putative protective effects of DM towards further AAA enlargement and late sac rupture may help explain the lower need for reintervention and absence of excess mortality.
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| 5. |
- Zamora, Juan Carlos, et al.
(author)
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Considerations and consequences of allowing DNA sequence data as types of fungal taxa
- 2018
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In: IMA Fungus. - : INT MYCOLOGICAL ASSOC. - 2210-6340 .- 2210-6359. ; 9:1, s. 167-185
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), allowing DNA sequences alone (of any region and extent) to serve as types of taxon names for voucherless fungi (mainly putative taxa from environmental DNA sequences), have been submitted to be voted on at the 11th International Mycological Congress (Puerto Rico, July 2018). We consider various genetic processes affecting the distribution of alleles among taxa and find that alleles may not consistently and uniquely represent the species within which they are contained. Should the proposals be accepted, the meaning of nomenclatural types would change in a fundamental way from physical objects as sources of data to the data themselves. Such changes are conducive to irreproducible science, the potential typification on artefactual data, and massive creation of names with low information content, ultimately causing nomenclatural instability and unnecessary work for future researchers that would stall future explorations of fungal diversity. We conclude that the acceptance of DNA sequences alone as types of names of taxa, under the terms used in the current proposals, is unnecessary and would not solve the problem of naming putative taxa known only from DNA sequences in a scientifically defensible way. As an alternative, we highlight the use of formulas for naming putative taxa (candidate taxa) that do not require any modification of the ICN.
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| 6. |
- Abbott, Allan, 1978-, et al.
(author)
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Understanding the role of diabetes in the osteoarthritis disease and treatment process: a study protocol for the Swedish Osteoarthritis and Diabetes (SOAD) cohort
- 2019
-
In: Bmj Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 9:12
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Metabolic comorbidities such as type II diabetes occur with a higher rate in people with OA than in the general population. Several factors including obesity, hyperglycaemia toxicity and physical inactivity have been suggested as potential links between diabetes and OA, and have been shown to negatively impact patients' health and quality of life. However, little is known on the role of diabetes in determining the outcome of non-surgical and surgical management of OA, and at the same time, how different OA interventions may affect diabetes control. Thus, the overall aim of this project is to explore (1) the impact of diabetes on the outcome of non-surgical and surgical OA treatments and (2) the impact of non-surgical and surgical OA treatments on diabetes control. Methods and analysis The study cohort is based on prospectively ascertained register data on a national level in Sweden. Data from OA patients who received a first-line non-surgical intervention and are registered in the National Quality Register for Better Management of Patients with Osteoarthritis will be merged with data from the Swedish Knee and Hip Arthroplasty Registers and the National Diabetes Register. Additional variables regarding patients' use of prescribed drugs, comorbidities, socioeconomic status and cause of death will be obtained through other national health and population data registers. The linkage will be performed on an individual level using unique personal identity numbers. Ethics and dissemination This study received ethical approval (2019-02570) from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority. Results from this cohort will be submitted to peer-reviewed scientific journals and reported at the leading national and international meetings in the field.
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| 7. |
- Acosta, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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Open Abdomen Therapy with Vacuum and Mesh Mediated Fascial Traction After Aortic Repair : An International Multicentre Study
- 2017
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In: European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. - : Elsevier BV. - 1078-5884 .- 1532-2165. ; 54:6, s. 697-705
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: Open abdomen therapy may be necessary to prevent or treat abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). The aim of the study was to analyse the primary delayed fascial closure (PDFC) rate and complications after open abdomen therapy with vacuum and mesh mediated fascial traction (VACM) after aortic repair and to compare outcomes between those treated with open abdomen after primary versus secondary operation. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort, multicentre study in Sweden, Finland, and Norway, including consecutive patients treated with open abdomen and VACM after aortic repair at six vascular centres in 2006-2015. The primary endpoint was PDFC rate. Results: Among 191 patients, 155 were men. The median age was 71 years (IQR 66-76). Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) occurred in 69.1%. Endovascular/hybrid and open repairs were performed in 49 and 142 patients, respectively. The indications for open abdomen were inability to close the abdomen (62%) at primary operation and ACS (80%) at secondary operation. Duration of open abdomen was 11 days (IQR 7-16) in 157 patients alive at open abdomen termination. The PDFC rate was 91.8%. Open abdomen initiated at primary (N=103), compared with secondary operation (N=88), was associated with less severe initial open abdomen status (p=.006), less intestinal ischaemia (p=.002), shorter duration of open abdomen (p=.007), and less renal replacement therapy (RRT, p<.001). In hospital mortality was 39.3%, and after entero-atmospheric fistula (N=9) was 88.9%. Seven developed graft infection within 6 months, 1 year mortality was 28.6%. Intestinal ischaemia (OR 3.71, 95% CI 1.55-8.91), RRT (OR 3.62, 95% CI 1.72-7.65), and age (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.06-1.12), were independent factors associated with in hospital mortality, but not open abdomen initiated at primary versus secondary operation. Conclusions: VACM was associated with a high PDFC rate after prolonged open abdomen therapy following aortic repair. Patient outcomes seemed better when open abdomen was initiated at primary, compared with secondary operation but a selection effect is possible.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
- Annell, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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Probabilistic collision estimation system for autonomous vehicles
- 2016
-
In: IEEE Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems, Proceedings, ITSC. - : IEEE conference proceedings. - 9781509018895 ; , s. 473-478
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nearly 1.3 million people die each year in traffic-related accidents, whereas an additional 20-50 million peopleare injured. Introducing autonomous vehicles would aim to reduce these numbers by removing the driver from the loop entirely, and thus removing the human error. Intersections are considered a complex traffic situation for autonomous vehicles. Functions which could accurately foresee future events in those situations, mimicking the situation awareness of humans, would improve autonomous systems and increase traffic safety. To address this a system is designed with two main functionalities: estimate the movements of observed vehicles in a general traffic situation and predict the probability of a collision, given the current ego trajectory. This system could either be used as information and feedback for a trajectoryplanner or as support for decision making at higher level system monitoring. The main contributions are the robust system design, that robustly and consistently estimates the likelihood of a collision and thus preventing future collision, and the intention estimation which determines the probability of which route through an intersection an observed vehicle will take through an intersection by using its current state. The system is validated by controlling the ego vehicle’s velocity with a Velocity Planning Controller to avoid colliding. It is shown that in terms of robustness to noise the system successfully avoids collision.
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| 12. |
- Bartesaghi, Stefano, et al.
(author)
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Thermogenic Activity of UCP1 in Human White Fat-Derived Beige Adipocytes.
- 2015
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In: Molecular endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.). - : The Endocrine Society. - 1944-9917 .- 0888-8809. ; 29, s. 130-139
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Heat-producing beige/brite (brown-in-white) adipocytes in white adipose tissue have the potential to suppress metabolic disease in mice and hold great promise for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes in humans. Here, we demonstrate that human adipose-derived stromal/progenitor cells (hASCs) from sc white adipose tissue can be efficiently converted into beige adipocytes. Upon pharmacological activation of PPARγ, hASC-derived adipocytes activated beige fat-selective genes and a brown/beige fat-selective electron transport chain gene program. Importantly, hASC-derived beige fat cells displayed the bioenergetic characteristics of genuine brown fat cells, including a capacity for increased respiratory uncoupling in response to β-adrenergic agonists. Furthermore, knock-down experiments reveal that the thermogenic capacity of human beige fat cells was entirely dependent on the presence of uncoupling protein 1. In summary, this study reveals that hASCs can be readily differentiated into beige adipocytes that, upon activation, undergo uncoupling protein 1-dependent thermogenesis.
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| 13. |
- Bergengren, Jakob, et al.
(author)
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A recent Dreissena invasion in an old canal system in northern Europe
- 2015
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The Göta Canal was opened in 1832 and connects the Baltic and the Atlantic Sea via the large lakes Vänern and Vättern in south Sweden. Originally used for commercial transport, the canal is today one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sweden with canal cruises, pleasure boating and canoeing. Inventories in 2013 showed that Dreissena mussels recently have invaded lakes, streams and canals in the Motala River drainage basin, i.e. the eastern part of the Göta Canal. According to interviews with local people the mussels may have been there since 2012. During the late summer in 2013 and in 2014 we monitored mussels by scuba diving and we sampled planktonic larval populations in locks and the canal. Dreissena has not dispersed to the western part of the canal system, i.e. west of lake Vättern, where most lakes are oligotrophic with low Ca- andMg-levels. In the eastern part, where several lakes are eutrophic and Ca- and Mg-levels higher, populations have increased very fast. The inventories showed local densities of 10 000 adults m-2 in some eutrophic lakes and larval densities of up to 70 individuals L-1 in the canal water. In Europe, the large range expansion of Dreissena occurred during the late 19th and early 20th century. Why have they dispersed so late into the Göta Canal, i.e. some 170 years after the canal was constructed and some 80 years after they had dispersed to other lakes in Swedennorth of Göta Canal? We can not dismiss dispersal as a a limiting factor but given the historically sustained boat traffic in the region it seems likely that ecological factors may have been important. Freshwaters in Scandinavia are usually low in Ca and Mg and many lakes are characterized by oligotrophic conditions poor in food for filter-feeding Dreissena. In the Göta Canal, changes in biological factors affecting relationships between Dreissena and the regional biota needs to be studied, however. Although we can not explain the delayed invasion we conclude that Dreissena is now established in one of the largest canal system in northern Europe.
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| 14. |
- Biendicho, Jordi Jacas, et al.
(author)
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In situ investigation of commercial Ni(OH)(2) and LaNi5-based electrodes by neutron powder diffraction
- 2015
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In: Journal of Materials Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0884-2914 .- 2044-5326. ; 30:3, s. 407-416
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Electrochemical reactions at both positive and negative electrodes in a nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery during charge have been investigated by in situ neutron powder diffraction. Commercially available beta-Ni(OH)(2) and LaNi5-based powders were used in this experiment as positive and negative electrodes, respectively. Exchange of hydrogen by deuterium for the beta-Ni(OH)(2) electrode was achieved by ex situ cycling of the cell prior to in situ measurements. Neutron diffraction data collected in situ show that the largest amount of deuterium contained at the positive electrode is de-intercalated from the electrode with no phase transformation involved up to similar to 100 mA h/g and, in addition, the 110 peak width for the positive electrode increases on charge. The negative electrode of composition MmNi(3.6)Al(0.4)Mn(0.3)Co(0.7), where Mm = Mischmetal, exhibits a phase transformation to an intermediate hydride gamma phase first and then to the beta phase on charge. Unit cell dimensions and phase fractions have been investigated by Rietveld refinement of the crystal structure.
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| 15. |
- Braegelmann, Johannes, et al.
(author)
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Pan-Cancer Analysis of the Mediator Complex Transcriptome Identifies CDK19 and CDK8 as Therapeutic Targets in Advanced Prostate Cancer
- 2017
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In: Clinical Cancer Research. - : American Association for Cancer Research Inc.. - 1078-0432 .- 1557-3265. ; 23:7, s. 1829-1840
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: The Mediator complex is a multiprotein assembly, which serves as a hub for diverse signaling pathways to regulate gene expression. Because gene expression is frequently altered in cancer, a systematic understanding of the Mediator complex in malignancies could foster the development of novel targeted therapeutic approaches.Experimental Design: We performed a systematic deconvolution of the Mediator subunit expression profiles across 23 cancer entities (n = 8,568) using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Prostate cancer-specific findings were validated in two publicly available gene expression cohorts and a large cohort of primary and advanced prostate cancer (n = 622) stained by immunohistochemistry. The role of CDK19 and CDK8 was evaluated by siRNA-mediated gene knockdown and inhibitor treatment in prostate cancer cell lines with functional assays and gene expression analysis by RNAseq.Results: Cluster analysis of TCGA expression data segregated tumor entities, indicating tumor-type-specific Mediator complex compositions. Only prostate cancerwasmarked by high expression of CDK19. In primary prostate cancer, CDK19 was associated with increased aggressiveness and shorter disease-free survival. During cancer progression, highest levels of CDK19 and of its paralog CDK8were present inmetastases. In vitro, inhibition ofCDK19 and CDK8 by knockdown or treatment with a selective CDK8/ CDK19 inhibitor significantly decreased migration and invasion.Conclusions: Our analysis revealed distinct transcriptional expression profiles of the Mediator complex across cancer entities indicating differential modes of transcriptional regulation. Moreover, it identified CDK19 and CDK8 to be specifically overexpressed during prostate cancer progression, highlighting their potential as novel therapeutic targets in advanced prostate cancer.
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| 16. |
- Braun, Oscar, et al.
(author)
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Concomitant use of warfarin and ticagrelor as an alternative to triple antithrombotic therapy after an acute coronary syndrome.
- 2015
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In: Thrombosis Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-2472 .- 0049-3848. ; 135:1, s. 26-30
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Treatment with warfarin in combination with clopidogrel has been shown to reduce the incidence of major bleeding as compared to triple antithrombotic therapy (TT; warfarin, clopidogrel and aspirin). However, there are uncertainties regarding the risk for thrombosis since poor-responsiveness to clopidogrel is common. Ticagrelor is a more potent platelet inhibitor, but data supporting concurrent use of ticagrelor and warfarin (dual antithrombotic therapy, DT) is limited. This study therefore sought to evaluate the risk of bleeding and thrombosis associated with DT after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
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| 17. |
- Brehm, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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A fragmented environmental state? Analysing spatial compliance patterns for the case of transparency legislation in China
- 2017
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In: Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2509-7946 .- 2509-7954. ; 1:2, s. 471-493
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Do Chinese cities compete for investments with lax environmental law enforcement? The here presented study suggests that this is true for some municipalities but not all of them. Based on data for 126 key environmental protection cities and regional economic hubs between 2010 and 2012 we show that economic decentralization and political centralization both shape spatial patterns of compliance with environmental transparency legislation. Our results give reason to suppose that the Chinese economy moved beyond homogenous preferences for low-cost regulatory arrangements. The emerging jurisdictional interaction is in line with a Tiebout sorting process, where cities compete with diverse factor packages to attract an optimal amount of investments.
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| 18. |
- Brehm, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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Are Model Cities an Effective Instrument for Urban Environmental Governance?
- 2019
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In: Greening China's Urban Governance : Tackling Environmental and Sustainability Challenges - Tackling Environmental and Sustainability Challenges. - Singapore : Springer Nature Singapore. - 2367-1068 .- 2367-105X. - 9789811307393 - 9789811307409 ; 7, s. 25-49
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Since the 1980s, China’s central government has created various model and incentive schemes aimed at systematically and concurrently promoting innovative approaches for protecting the urban ecological environment. In this context, programmes such as the ‘model city for protecting the environment’, ‘garden city’, ‘eco-city’, or ‘low-carbon city’ have become an integral part of China’s system for urban environmental governance. However, the role of these policy-incentive schemes for promoting best practice is only partly understood. This chapter contributes to the literature with a conceptualization of model cities as a dynamic governance instrument. The analysis suggests that the distance between programme objectives and local practices increases with programme maturity. Model-city schemes inevitably reach a point of saturation once a competing programme provides new opportunities to gain political and economic rents.
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| 19. |
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| 20. |
- Cadrin-Tourigny, Julia, et al.
(author)
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A new prediction model for ventricular arrhythmias in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
- 2019
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In: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1522-9645 .- 0195-668X. ; 40:23, s. 1850-1858
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIMS: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is characterized by ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). We aimed to develop a model for individualized prediction of incident VA/SCD in ARVC patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Five hundred and twenty-eight patients with a definite diagnosis and no history of sustained VAs/SCD at baseline, aged 38.2 ± 15.5 years, 44.7% male, were enrolled from five registries in North America and Europe. Over 4.83 (interquartile range 2.44-9.33) years of follow-up, 146 (27.7%) experienced sustained VA, defined as SCD, aborted SCD, sustained ventricular tachycardia, or appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy. A prediction model estimating annual VA risk was developed using Cox regression with internal validation. Eight potential predictors were pre-specified: age, sex, cardiac syncope in the prior 6 months, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, number of premature ventricular complexes in 24 h, number of leads with T-wave inversion, and right and left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEFs). All except LVEF were retained in the final model. The model accurately distinguished patients with and without events, with an optimism-corrected C-index of 0.77 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.73-0.81] and minimal over-optimism [calibration slope of 0.93 (95% CI 0.92-0.95)]. By decision curve analysis, the clinical benefit of the model was superior to a current consensus-based ICD placement algorithm with a 20.6% reduction of ICD placements with the same proportion of protected patients (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Using the largest cohort of patients with ARVC and no prior VA, a prediction model using readily available clinical parameters was devised to estimate VA risk and guide decisions regarding primary prevention ICDs (www.arvcrisk.com).
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| 21. |
- Cappel, Ute B, et al.
(author)
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Electronic structure dynamics in a low bandgap polymer studied by time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy.
- 2016
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In: Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 1463-9076 .- 1463-9084. ; 18:31, s. 21921-9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Means to measure the temporal evolution following a photo-excitation in conjugated polymers are a key for the understanding and optimization of their function in applications such as organic solar cells. In this paper we study the electronic structure dynamics by direct pump-probe measurements of the excited electrons in such materials. Specifically, we carried out a time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TRPES) study of the polymer PCPDTBT by combining an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) high harmonic generation source with a time-of-flight spectrometer. After excitation to either the 1st excited state or to a higher excited state, we follow how the electronic structure develops and relaxes on the electron binding energy scale. Specifically, we follow a less than 50 fs relaxation of the higher exited state and a 10 times slower relaxation of the 1st excited state. We corroborate the results using DFT calculations. Our study demonstrates the power of TRPES for studying photo-excited electron energetics and dynamics of solar cell materials.
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| 22. |
- Caraballo, Remi, et al.
(author)
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Structure-activity relationships for lipoprotein lipase agonists that lower plasma triglycerides in vivo
- 2015
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In: European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. - : Elsevier. - 0223-5234 .- 1768-3254. ; 103, s. 191-209
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The risk of cardiovascular events increases in individuals with elevated plasma triglyceride (TG) levels, therefore advocating the need for efficient TG-lowering drugs. In the blood circulation, TG levels are regulated by lipoprotein lipase (LPL), an unstable enzyme that is only active as a non-covalently associated homodimer. We recently reported on a N-phenylphthalimide derivative (1) that stabilizes LPL in vitro, and moderately lowers triglycerides in vivo (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Common. 2014, 450, 1063). Herein, we establish structure activity relationships of 51 N-phenylphthalimide analogs of the screening hit 1. In vitro evaluation highlighted that modifications on the phthalimide moiety were not tolerated and that lipophilic substituents on the central phenyl ring were functionally essential. The substitution pattern on the central phenyl ring also proved important to stabilize LPL However, in vitro testing demonstrated rapid degradation of the phthalimide fragment in plasma which was addressed by replacing the phthalimide scaffold with other heterocyclic fragments. The in vitro potency was retained or improved and substance 80 proved stable in plasma and efficiently lowered plasma TGs in vivo. 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.
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| 23. |
- Carlsson, Andreas, et al.
(author)
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Prediction of designer drugs: Synthesis and spectroscopic analysis of synthetic cathinone analogs that may appear on the Swedish drug market
- 2018
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In: Drug Testing and Analysis. - : WILEY. - 1942-7603 .- 1942-7611. ; 10:7, s. 1076-1098
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The use of hyphenated analytical techniques in forensic drug screening enables simultaneous identification of a wide range of different compounds. However, the appearance of drug seizures containing new substances, mainly new psychoactive substances (NPS), is steadily increasing. These new and other already known substances often possess structural similarities and consequently they exhibit spectral data with slight differences. This situation has made the criteria that ensure indubitable identification of compounds increasingly important. In this work, 6 new synthetic cathinones that have not yet appeared in any Swedish drug seizures were synthesized. Their chemical structures were similar to those of already known cathinone analogs of which 42 were also included in the study. Hence, a total of 48 synthetic cathinones making up sets of homologous and regioisomeric compounds were used to challenge the capabilities of various analytical techniques commonly applied in forensic drug screening, ie, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gas chromatography-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (GC-FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS). Special attention was paid to the capabilities of GC-MS and GC-FTIR to distinguish between the synthetic cathinones and the results showed that neither GC-MS nor GC-FTIR alone can successfully differentiate between all synthetic cathinones. However, the 2 techniques proved to be complementary and their combined use is therefore beneficial. For example, the structural homologs were better differentiated by GC-MS, while GC-FTIR performed better for the regioisomers. Further, new spectroscopic data of the synthesized cathinone analogs is hereby presented for the forensic community. The synthetic work also showed that cathinone reference compounds can be produced in few reaction steps.
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| 24. |
- Carlsson, Hanna, et al.
(author)
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Consumer Credit Behavior in the Digital Context : A Bibliometric Analysis and Literature Review
- 2017
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In: Journal of Financial Counceling and Planning. - : Springer Publishing Company. - 1052-3073 .- 1947-7910. ; 28:1, s. 76-94
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This literature review seeks to map the state of research on the effects of digitization on personal financial behavior and management through a bibliometric analysis and a systematic literature review. The findings indicate that current knowledge is primarily based on perspectives of actors in commerce and systems development. More research is needed on how personal financial behavior change in relation to digital technology, the vulnerability of children and adolescents, and the links between changes in credit behavior and indebtedness. Financial counseling could benefit from an awareness of young adults vulnerability as digital consumers and an extended perception of financial literacy that encompasses requirements of digital society. Policymakers need to be aware of the consequences of digital measurability.
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| 25. |
- Carneiro, Karina M M, et al.
(author)
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Amyloid-like ribbons of amelogenins in enamel mineralization
- 2016
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Enamel, the outermost layer of teeth, is an acellular mineralized tissue that cannot regenerate; the mature tissue is composed of high aspect ratio apatite nanocrystals organized into rods and inter-rod regions. Amelogenin constitutes 90% of the protein matrix in developing enamel and plays a central role in guiding the hierarchical organization of apatite crystals observed in mature enamel. To date, a convincing link between amelogenin supramolecular structures and mature enamel has yet to be described, in part because the protein matrix is degraded during tissue maturation. Here we show compelling evidence that amelogenin self-assembles into an amyloid-like structure in vitro and in vivo. We show that enamel matrices stain positive for amyloids and we identify a specific region within amelogenin that self-assembles into β-sheets. We propose that amelogenin nanoribbons template the growth of apatite mineral in human enamel. This is a paradigm shift from the current model of enamel development.
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