| 1. |
- Bölenius, Karin, et al.
(author)
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Minor improvement of venous blood specimen collection practices in primary health care after a large-scale educational intervention
- 2013
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In: Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. - : Walter de Gruyter GmbH. - 1434-6621 .- 1437-4331. ; 51:2, s. 303-310
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Venous blood specimen collection is a common health care practice that has to follow strict guidelines, non-compliance among sampling staff may compromise patient safety. We evaluated a large-scale 2 h educational intervention that emphasised guideline adherence to assess possible improvements of venous blood specimen collection practices.Methods: Blood specimen haemolysis is usually caused by inadequate venous blood specimen collection and handling, reflecting overall pre-analytical handling. We monitored haemolysis of serum samples with haemolysis index corresponding to ≥150 mg/L of free haemoglobin for specimens sent from 11 primary health care centres and analysed on a Vitros 5,1 clinical chemistry analyser before (2008, n=6652 samples) and after (2010, n=6121 samples) the intervention.Results: The total percentage of haemolysed specimens was 11.8% compared to 10.5% (p=0.022) before the intervention. As groups, rural primary health care centres demonstrated a significant reduction [Odds ratios (OR)=0.744] of haemolysed specimens after intervention, whereas urban primary health care centres demonstrated a significant increase (OR=1.451) of haemolysis.Conclusions: A large-scale 2 h educational intervention to make venous blood specimen collection staff comply with guideline practices had minor effects on collection practices. Educational interventions may be effective in wards/care centres demonstrating venous blood specimen collection practices with larger deviations from guidelines.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Ekblom, Kim, 1970-, et al.
(author)
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Bilirubin and UGT1A1*28 are not associated with lower risk for ischemic stroke in a prospective nested case-referent setting
- 2010
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In: Cerebrovascular Diseases. - : S. Karger. - 1015-9770 .- 1421-9786. ; 30:6, s. 590-596
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Bilirubin, an antioxidant, has been associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk. A major cause of elevated plasma bilirubin is the common UGT1A1*28 promoter polymorphism in the gene of the bilirubin-conjugating enzyme UDP-glucuronosyltransferase-1A1, which reduces transcription by 70%. Earlier studies reporting a protective effect of bilirubin on stroke, have not included analysis of UGT1A1*28. The purpose of this study is to investigate if bilirubin and UGT1A1*28 are protective against ischemic stroke in a prospective case-referent setting.Methods: Cases with first-ever ischemic stroke (n=231; median lag time 4.9 years), and 462 matched referents from the The Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study Cohort were included. Plasma bilirubin was measured and UGT1A1*28 was analyzed by fragment analysis.Results: Plasma bilirubin was lower in cases than in referents, but the difference reached significance only for women. The UGT1A1*28 polymorphism (allele frequency 30%), showed a strong gene-dose relationship with bilirubin levels both among cases and referents, but was not associated with risk for stroke. Among multiple other variables analysed the strongest correlation with bilirubin was found for plasma iron.Conclusions: There was no evidence for a protective effect of the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism against stroke and consequently neither for bilirubin. The findings suggest that other factors influencing the risk for stroke also might affect bilirubin levels.
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| 4. |
- Ekblom, Kim, et al.
(author)
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Iron Biomarkers in Plasma, HFE Genotypes, and the Risk for Colorectal Cancer in a Prospective Setting
- 2012
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In: Diseases of the Colon & Rectum. - 0012-3706 .- 1530-0358. ; 55:3, s. 337-344
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: High iron levels can increase the formation of noxious oxygen radicals, which are thought to promote carcinogenesis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study was to determine whether iron biomarkers and HFE genotypes, which influence iron regulation, constitute risk factors for colorectal cancer. DESIGN: This is a prospective nested case-referent study. SETTINGS: The study was performed within the population-based Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study. PATIENTS: The study included 226 cases of colorectal cancer and 437 matched referents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Conditional regression analysis was performed. Adjustments for smoking, smoking and BMI, and HFE C282Y and H63D were performed. RESULTS: The highest quintile of total iron-binding capacity showed significantly higher risk for colorectal cancer, unadjusted OR 2.35 (95% CI 1.38-4.02). When stratified by sex, the findings were only present in women (OR 3.34 (95% CI 1.59-7.02)). Ferritin was associated with reduced risk throughout quintiles 2 to 5 both in univariate and multivariate models. LIMITATIONS: Colorectal cancer may influence iron markers because of occult bleeding. Homozygotes for HFE C282Y were too few to make conclusions for this group. The relatively short follow-up time might be insufficient to detect risk of iron biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: High iron levels do not increase the risk of colorectal cancer. HFE genotypes influencing iron uptake had no effect on colorectal cancer risk.
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| 5. |
- Ekblom, Kim, 1970-, et al.
(author)
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Iron stores and HFE genotypes are not related to increased risk of first-time myocardial infarction : a prospective nested case-referent study
- 2011
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In: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 150:2, s. 169-172
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: Our objectives were to study the relationship between iron stores, HFE genotypes and the risk for first-ever myocardial infarction. Methods: First-ever myocardial infarction cases (n=618) and double matched referents from the Northern Sweden Health and Disease Cohort Study were studied in a prospective nested case-referent setting. Plasma iron, total iron binding capacity, transferrin iron saturation and ferritin were analyzed, as well as several confounders. HFE C282Y and H63D genotypes were determined. Results: There was an inverse risk association for myocardial infarction in the highest quartiles of iron (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.48-0.96) and transferrin iron saturation (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.42-0.89) in men. This association, however, was lost after adjusting for C-reactive protein. Women homozygous for H63D had a higher risk for myocardial infarction. Conclusions: No risk association between high iron stores and first-ever myocardial infarction was found. The higher risk in female H63D homozygotes is probably not related to iron metabolism.
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| 6. |
- Ekblom, Kim, 1970-
(author)
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Oxidants and antioxidants in cardiovascular disease
- 2010
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background Cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction and stroke, are the main reason of death in Sweden and Western Europe. High iron stores are believed to produce oxygen radicals, which is the presumed putative mechanism behind lipid peroxidation, atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular disease. Iron levels are associated with the hemochromatosis associated HFE single nucleotide polymorphisms C282Y and H63D. Bilirubin is an antioxidant present in relatively high levels in the human body. Several previous studies have found an association between high bilirubin levels and a lower risk for cardiovascular disease. Bilirubin levels are highly influenced by the common promoter polymorphism TA-insertion UGT1A1*28, the main reason for benign hyperbilirubinemia in Caucasians. There is a lack of prospective studies on both the association of iron and bilirubin levels, and the risk for myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Material and methods Iron, transferrin iron saturation, TIBC, ferritin and bilirubin were analyzed and HFE C282Y, HFE H63D and UGT1A1*28 were determined in myocardial infarction and stroke cases, and their double matched referents within the Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study Cohort. Results There were no associations between iron levels in the upper normal range and risk for myocardial infarction or stroke. No associations were seen for HFE-genotypes, except for a near fivefold increase in risk for myocardial infarction in HFE H63D homozygous women. Plasma bilirubin was lower in cases vs. referents both in the myocardial infarction and the stroke cohort. Despite a strong gene-dosage effect on bilirubin levels in both cases and referents, the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism did not influence the risk for myocardial infarction or stroke. Conclusion High iron stores are not associated with increased risk for neither myocardial infarction, nor stroke. There was no association between UGT1A1*28 and the risk for myocardial infarction or stroke. Consequently data suggests that other factors, which also may lower bilirubin, are responsible for the elevated risk observed in conjunction with lower bilirubin levels.
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| 7. |
- Ekblom, Kim, 1970-, et al.
(author)
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Plasma Bilirubin and UGT1A1*28 Are Not Protective Factors Against First-Time Myocardial Infarction in a Prospective, Nested Case–Referent Setting
- 2010
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In: Circulation. - Philadelphia, PA : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 1942-325X .- 1942-3268. ; :3, s. 340-347
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Bilirubin, an effective antioxidant, shows a large variation in levels between individuals and has been positively associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk. A major reason for the variability is a common promoter polymorphism, UGT1A1*28, which reduces the transcription of the enzyme that conjugates bilirubin, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1. The aim of the study was to evaluate a possible protective effect of plasma bilirubin and the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism against myocardial infarction in a prospective case-referent setting.Methods and Results: 618 subjects with a first-ever myocardial infarction (median event age 60.5 years, median lag time 3.5 years) and 1184 matched referents were studied. Plasma bilirubin was lower in cases vs. referents. Despite a strong gene-dosage effect on bilirubin levels in both cases and referents, the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism did not influence the risk of myocardial infarction. Among multiple other variables, serum iron showed one of the strongest associations with bilirubin levels.Conclusion: We found no evidence for a protective effect of the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism against myocardial infarction and consequently neither for bilirubin. The lower bilirubin levels in cases might be caused by decreased production, increased degradation or increased elimination.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Forsberg, Karin, et al.
(author)
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Novel antibodies reveal inclusions containing non-native SOD1 in sporadic ALS patients
- 2010
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public library of science. - 1932-6203. ; 5:7, s. e11552-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mutations in CuZn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and are found in 6% of ALS patients. Non-native and aggregation-prone forms of mutant SOD1s are thought to trigger the disease. Two sets of novel antibodies, raised in rabbits and chicken, against peptides spaced along the human SOD1 sequence, were by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and an immunocapture method shown to be specific for denatured SOD1. These were used to examine SOD1 in spinal cords of ALS patients lacking mutations in the enzyme. Small granular SOD1-immunoreactive inclusions were found in spinal motoneurons of all 37 sporadic and familial ALS patients studied, but only sparsely in 3 of 28 neurodegenerative and 2 of 19 non-neurological control patients. The granular inclusions were by confocal microscopy found to partly colocalize with markers for lysosomes but not with inclusions containing TAR DNA binding protein-43, ubiquitin or markers for endoplasmic reticulum, autophagosomes or mitochondria. Granular inclusions were also found in carriers of SOD1 mutations and in spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) patients and they were the major type of inclusion detected in ALS patients homozygous for the wild type-like D90A mutation. The findings suggest that SOD1 may be involved in ALS pathogenesis in patients lacking mutations in the enzyme.
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| 10. |
- Gylling, Björn, et al.
(author)
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Low folate levels are associated with reduced risk of colorectal cancer in a population with low folate status
- 2014
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In: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. - 1055-9965 .- 1538-7755. ; 23:10, s. 2136-2144
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A diet rich in folate is associated with a reduced colorectal cancer risk, whereas the role of circulating levels is less clear. The aim of this study was to relate prediagnostic plasma folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine concentrations to the risk of colorectal cancer.METHODS: This was a prospective case-control study of 331 cases and 662 matched controls nested within the population-based Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study. Median follow-up time from recruitment to diagnosis was 10.8 years.RESULTS: Plasma folate concentrations were positively related to colorectal cancer risk; multivariate odds ratios were 1.62 [95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.08-2.42] and 1.42 (95% CI, 0.94-2.21) for the middle and highest versus lowest tertile, respectively. In subjects with follow-up <10.8 years, a statistically significant doubled risk was observed for the middle and highest versus lowest tertile, whereas findings for longer follow-up times were null. A positive risk relationship was also observed for tumor stage III-IV but not I-II. Plasma vitamin B12 concentrations were inversely associated with rectal cancer risk. Homocysteine was not significantly related to colorectal cancer risk.CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based, nested case-control study, low plasma folate concentrations were associated with a reduced colorectal cancer risk. This protective role was mainly observed in subjects with higher tumor stage or shorter follow-up time between recruitment and diagnosis. Low circulating folate status may protect against colorectal cancer or suppress progression of preneoplastic or neoplastic lesions.IMPACT: These findings may have relevance for the ongoing debate about mandatory folic acid fortification of flour.
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| 11. |
- Hultdin, Johan, et al.
(author)
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Prospective study of first stroke in relation to plasma homocysteine and MTHFR 677C > T and 1298A > C genotypes and haplotypes : evidence for an association with hemorrhagic stroke
- 2011
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In: Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. - Berlin : Walter de Gruyter. - 1434-6621 .- 1437-4331. ; 49:9, s. 1555-1562
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Abnormalities in homocysteine metabolism have been suggested as risk factors for stroke. The aim of this prospective study was to examine whether total plasma homocysteine concentration (tHcy) and its main genetic determinant, methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms, were associated with first ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.Methods: This was a nested case-referent study of 321 ischemic and 60 hemorrhagic stroke cases, defined by WHO MONICA criteria and each matched with two event-free referents for sex, age, cohort, recruitment date and geographical area. All subjects were from the population-based Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study cohorts. Odds ratios were determined by conditional logistic regression.Results: The mean follow-up time was 4.2 years. Both tHcy and MTHFR were independent predictors of hemorrhagic stroke in multivariate models including body mass index, hypertension and, for MTHFR, tHcy [OR for the highest vs. lowest tHcy quartile 8.13 (95% CI 1.83-36.1), p(trend)=0.002; OR for MTHFR 677TT vs. 677CC genotype 3.62 (95% CI 0.77-17.0), p(trend)=0.040]. Haplotype analyses confirmed that the MTHFR 677T-1298A haplotype was positively associated with hemorrhagic stroke [OR 1.81 (95% CI 1.09-3.00), p=0.022], whereas the MTHFR 677C-1298C haplotype was not significantly related to either hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke. Neither tHcy nor the MTHFR polymorphisms were significant predictors of ischemic stroke.Conclusion: Both elevated plasma homocysteine levels and the MTHFR 677T allele are indicators of increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke in the northern Swedish population.
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| 12. |
- Johansson, Ingegerd, et al.
(author)
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Validity of food frequency questionnaire estimated intakes of folate and other B vitamins in a region without folic acid fortification.
- 2010
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In: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 0954-3007 .- 1476-5640. ; 64:8, s. 905-913
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background/Objectives: B vitamins have been implicated in major chronic diseases but results have been inconsistent. This study evaluated the accuracy of dietary intakes of folate, vitamin B12, riboflavin and vitamin B6 as measured by the Northern Sweden Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) against repeated 24-h recalls (24HR) and plasma levels, taking into consideration the MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism. Subjects/Methods: B vitamin intakes assessed by a semi-quantitative FFQ designed to measure the intake over the previous year were compared with those from 10 24HR, as well as to plasma levels of folate and vitamin B12, in randomly selected men (n=96) and women (n=99) aged 30–60 years. FFQ-based B-vitamin intakes were also compared with plasma levels of B-vitamins and with MTHFR 677C4T genotype in 878 men, aged 40–61 years. Results: Intakes of vitamins B12 and riboflavin were similar, whereas folate and B6 intakes were 16–27% higher, as estimated by FFQ versus 24HR. Spearman correlation coefficients between the two methods ranged from 0.31 to 0.63 (all P0.002), and were lowest for vitamin B12. Intakes estimated by FFQ were correlated with plasma levels, but coefficients were lower (range: 0.13–0.33), particularly for vitamin B12 in men (0.15–0.18). Folate intake was not correlated with plasma levels in subjects with the MTHFR 677 T/T genotype. Conclusions: The validity of the Northern Sweden FFQ for assessing B vitamin intake is similar to that of many other FFQs used in large-scale studies. The FFQ is suitable for ranking individuals by intake of folate, riboflavin, vitamin B6 and to a lesser extent vitamin B12.
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| 13. |
- Lundqvist, Anette, et al.
(author)
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Reported dietary intake in early pregnant compared to non-pregnant women : a cross-sectional study
- 2014
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In: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-2393 .- 1471-2393. ; 14:373
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: A woman's nutritional status before conception and during pregnancy is important for maternal health and the health of the foetus. The aim of the study was to compare diet intake in early pregnant women with non-pregnant women. Methods: Between September 2006 and March 2009, 226 women in early pregnancy were consecutively recruited at five antenatal clinics in Northern Sweden. Referent women (n = 211) were randomly selected from a current health screening project running in the same region (the Vasterbotten Intervention Program; VIP). We collected diet data with a self-reported validated food frequency questionnaire with 66 food items/food aggregates, and information on portion size, alcohol consumption, and supplement intake. Data were analysed using descriptive, comparative statistics and multivariate partial least square modelling. Results: Intake of folate and vitamin D from foods was generally low for both groups. Intake of folate and vitamin D supplements was generally high in the pregnant group and led to significantly higher total estimated intake of vitamin D and folate in the pregnant group. Iron intake from foods tended to be lower in pregnant women although iron supplement intake evened out the difference with respect to iron intake from foods only. Energy intake was slightly lower in pregnant women but not significant, a reflection of that they reported consuming significantly less of potatoes/rice/pasta, meat/fish, and vegetables (grams/day) than the women in the referent group. Conclusions: In the present study, women in early pregnancy reported less intake of vegetables, potatoes, meat, and alcohol than non-pregnant women. As they also had a low intake (below the Nordic Nutritional Recommendations) of folate, vitamin D, and iron from foods, some of these women and their unborn children are possibly at risk for adverse effects on the pregnancy and birth outcome.
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| 14. |
- Nilsson-Ehle, Herman, 1950, et al.
(author)
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Vitaminer och spårämnen.
- 2012
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In: Laurells Klinisk kemi i praktisk medicin. - 2012 - 9., [rev. och utök.] uppl. / redaktion: Peter Nilsson-Ehle, Maria Berggren Söderlund, Elvar Theodorsson ; redaktionskommitté: Charlotte Becker, Kjell Grankvist, Anders Grubb, Göran Lindstedt, Per Simonsson.. - Lund : Studentlitteratur AB. - 9789144047874
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)
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| 15. |
- Polaschegg, H. D., et al.
(author)
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Microbubbles of air during hemodialysis : negligible for the patient?
- 2011
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In: International Journal of Artificial Organs. - 0391-3988 .- 1724-6040. ; 34:8, s. 654-654
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The symposium covers information about the presence of microbubbles in hemodialysis. Physical basis, technical considerations and regulations will be presented by Hans-Dietrich Polaschegg (Koestenberg, Austria). Per Jonsson (Umeå, Sweden) will cover experimental projects that were focused to evaluate the presence of microbubble air as contamination in the in vitro setting and some experiences. Those data and techniques were further used in in vitro testing of prevailing materials and basis for initial clinical studies on chronic hemodialysis sessions (Bernd Stegmayr, Umeå, Sweden). The symposium will thereafter focus on more clinical studies to investigate various clinical settings in relation to micro bubble exposure. This will be presented by Ulf Forsberg (Skellefteå, Sweden). The importance of microbubbles of air may be questioned. Therefore post mortem investigations were performed on hemodialysis patients. These data will be presented by Thomas Brännström (Umeå, Sweden). The symposium will end with time for discussion.
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| 16. |
- Stegmayr, Bernd, et al.
(author)
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Microbubbles of air may occur in the organs of hemodialysis patients
- 2012
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In: ASAIO journal (1992). - 1058-2916 .- 1538-943X. ; 58:2, s. 177-179
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- During hemodialysis (HD), blood that passes the dialysis device gets loaded with microbubbles (MB) of air that are returned to the patient without inducing an alarm. The aim with this study was to clarify if these signals are due to microembolies of air, clots, or artifacts, by histopathology of autopsy material of HD patients. These first results are from a patient on chronic HD. Due to pulmonary edema he was ultrafiltered. Within 30 minutes after the start, he suffered from a cardiac arrest and died. Autopsy verified the clinical findings. Microscopic investigation verified microembolies of air that were surrounded by fibrin in the lungs, brain, and heart. The study verified that MBs can enter the blood during HD and are trapped in the lungs. In addition, MBs pass the pulmonary capillaries and enter the arterial part of the body and are dispersed throughout the body. This can contribute to organ damage and be part of the poor prognoses seen in HD patients. Data support the importance to reduce MBs in the dialysis circuit.
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| 17. |
- Sundberg, Erik, 1979-, et al.
(author)
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Evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation in a hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome-scoring models and severe illness
- 2011
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In: PLOS ONE. - San Francisco, CA : Public Library of Science. - 1932-6203. ; 6:6, s. e21134-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) are considered to be a serious threat to public health worldwide with up to 100 million cases annually. The general hypothesis is that disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an important part of the pathogenesis. The study objectives were to study the variability of DIC in consecutive patients with acute hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), and to evaluate if different established DIC-scores can be used as a prognostic marker for a more severe illness. Method and Findings: In a prospective study 2006–2008, data from 106 patients with confirmed HFRS were analyzed and scored for the presence of DIC according to six different templates based on criteria from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH). The DIC-scoring templates with a fibrinogen/CRP-ratio were most predictive, with predictions for moderate/severe illness (p<0.01) and bleeding of moderate/major importance (p<0.05). With these templates, 18.9–28.3% of the patients were diagnosed with DIC. Conclusions: DIC was found in about one fourth of the patients and correlated with a more severe disease. This supports that DIC is an important part of the pathogenesis in HFRS. ISTH-scores including fibrinogen/CRP-ratio outperform models without. The high negative predictive value could be a valuable tool for the clinician. We also believe that our findings could be relevant for other VHFs.
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| 18. |
- Söderström, Elisabet, et al.
(author)
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Plasma folate, but not homocysteine, is associated with Apolipoprotein A1 levels in a non-fortified population
- 2013
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In: Lipids in Health and Disease. - : Springer Nature. - 1476-511X. ; 12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Elevated total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) in humans is associated with cardiovascular disease but prevention trials have failed to confirm causality. Reported reasons for this association have been that homocysteine and its major genetic determinant methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) may have an effect on HDL and Apolipoprotein (Apo) A1 levels. We wanted to study if tHcy and its major determinants were correlated with Apo A1 levels in a large population without folate fortification.Methods: This study was a prospective incident nested case-referent study within the Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study Cohort (NSHDSC), including 545 cases with first myocardial infarction and 1054 matched referents, median age at inclusion was 59 years. Univariate and multiple regression analyzes was used to study the associations between apolipoproteins Apo A1 and B, tHcy, folate and vitamin B12 in plasma as well as MTHFR polymorphisms 677C>T and 1298A>C.Results: Apo A1 and Apo B were strongly associated with the risk of a first myocardial infarction. tHcy was not associated with Apo A1 levels. Instead, folate had an independent positive association with Apo A1 levels in univariate and multiple regression models. The associations were seen in all men and women, among referents but not among cases. MTHFR polymorphisms had no clear effect on Apo A1 levels.Conclusions: Analyzing over 1500 subjects we found an independent positive association between plasma folate (major dietary determinant of tHcy) and Apo A1 levels among those who later did not develop a first myocardial infarction. No association was seen between tHcy and Apo A1.
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| 19. |
- Van Guelpen, Bethany, et al.
(author)
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One-carbon metabolism and CpG island methylator phenotype status in incident colorectal cancer : a nested case-referent study
- 2010
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In: Cancer Causes and Control. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0957-5243 .- 1573-7225. ; 21:4, s. 557-566
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: We related prediagnostic plasma folate, vitamin B12, and total homocysteine concentrations, and the MTHFR 677C>T and 1298A>C polymorphisms, to the risk of colorectal cancer with and without the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP). METHODS: This was a nested case-referent study of 190 cases and double, matched referents from the large, population-based Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study. Using archival tumor tissue, promoter methylation in an eight-gene panel was analyzed by MethyLight. RESULTS: A reduced risk of CIMP-low/CIMP-high CRC (>/=1 gene methylated) was observed in subjects with very low plasma folate concentrations [multivariate odds ratio 2.96 (95% CI 1.24-7.08) for quintiles two to five versus one (lowest)]. With the exception of a reduced risk in MTHFR 677 TT-homozygotes, none of the other one-carbon variables were associated with the risk of CIMP-low/CIMP-high CRC. For CIMP-negative CRC, only the MTHFR polymorphisms were statistically significantly related to risk, inversely for 677C>T and positively for 1298A>C, but a tendency toward a reduced risk was observed in subjects with an adequate methyl availability, combining the plasma variables [multivariate odds ratio 0.61 (95% CI 0.32-1.15)]. CONCLUSION: Though limited by low power, these findings suggest the possibility of different roles for one-carbon metabolism in different pathways of colorectal tumorigenesis.
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| 20. |
- Wikgren, Mikael, 1981-, et al.
(author)
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APOE ε4 is associated with longer telomeres, and longer telomeres among ε4 carriers predicts worse episodic memory
- 2012
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In: Neurobiology of Aging. - : Elsevier. - 0197-4580 .- 1558-1497. ; 33:2, s. 335-344
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Both leukocyte telomere length and the apolipoprotein ε4 allele have been associated with mortality, cardiovascular disease, cognition, and dementia. The authors investigated whether leukocyte telomere length was associated with APOE genotype or cognitive abilities in the context of APOE genotype. The setting for this cross-sectional study was 427 nondemented individuals aged 41–81 yr. The authors found that ε4 carriers overall exhibited significantly longer telomeres compared with non-carriers (difference of 268 bp, p = 0.001). This difference was greatest at the lower limit of the age span and nonsignificant at the upper limit, which translated into a significantly higher telomere attrition rate (p = 0.049) among ε4 carriers (37 bp/years) compared with non-carriers (21 bp/year). Further, longer telomeres among ε4 carriers significantly predicted worse performance on episodic memory tasks. No significant associations were found on tasks tapping semantic and visuospatial ability, or among ε3/ε3 carriers. In conclusion, APOE ε4 carriers had longer telomeres compared with non-carriers, but higher rate of attrition. Among them, longer telomeres predicted worse performance on episodic memory tasks. These observations suggest that the ε4 allele is associated with abnormal cell turnover of functional and possibly clinical significance.
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| 21. |
- Wikgren, Mikael, et al.
(author)
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Longer Leukocyte Telomere Length Is Associated with Smaller Hippocampal Volume among Non-Demented APOE epsilon 3/epsilon 3 Subjects
- 2012
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science. - 1932-6203. ; 7:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Telomere length shortens with cellular division, and leukocyte telomere length is used as a marker for systemic telomere length. The hippocampus hosts adult neurogenesis and is an important structure for episodic memory, and carriers of the apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele exhibit higher hippocampal atrophy rates and differing telomere dynamics compared with non-carriers. The authors investigated whether leukocyte telomere length was associated with hippocampal volume in 57 cognitively intact subjects (29 epsilon 3/epsilon 3 carriers; 28 epsilon 4 carriers) aged 49-79 yr. Leukocyte telomere length correlated inversely with left (r(s) = -0.465; p = 0.011), right (r(s) = -0.414; p = 0.025), and total hippocampus volume (r(s) = -0.519; p = 0.004) among APOE epsilon 3/epsilon 3 carriers, but not among epsilon 4 carriers. However, the epsilon 4 carriers fit with the general correlation pattern exhibited by the epsilon 3/epsilon 3 carriers, as epsilon 4 carriers on average had longer telomeres and smaller hippocampi compared with epsilon 3/epsilon 3 carriers. The relationship observed can be interpreted as long telomeres representing a history of relatively low cellular proliferation, reflected in smaller hippocampal volumes. The results support the potential of leukocyte telomere length being used as a biomarker for tapping functional and structural processes of the aging brain.
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| 22. |
- Wikgren, Mikael, 1981-, et al.
(author)
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Short Telomeres in Depression and the General Population Are Associated with a Hypocortisolemic State
- 2012
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In: Biological Psychiatry. - New York : Elsevier. - 0006-3223 .- 1873-2402. ; 71:4, s. 294-300
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays a central role in stress regulation, and leukocyte telomere length (TL) has been suggested to represent a cumulative measure of stress. Depression is intimately related with stress and frequently exhibits a dysregulated HPA axis. We aimed to study the relationships between TL and biological and psychological facets of stress in recurrent major depressive disorder and controls. Methods Leukocyte TL was measured in 91 subjects with recurrent major depressive disorder and 451 control subjects. Stress was assessed from both a biological perspective, by assessing HPA axis function with a weight-adjusted very-low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (DST), and a psychological perspective, with self-report questionnaires. Results TL was shorter among patients compared with control subjects (277 base pairs, p = .001). Overall, short TL was associated with a hypocortisolemic state (low post-DST cortisol and high percentage of cortisol reduction after the DST) among both patients and control subjects but more pronounced among patients. This state, which was overrepresented among patients, was characterized by high familial loading of affective disorders among patients (p = .001) and high C-reactive protein levels among control subjects (p = .040). TL was also inversely associated with stress measured with the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (rs = −.258, p = .003). Conclusions Short TL is associated with depression and hypocortisolism. Because hypocortisolism has been shown to develop from chronic stress exposure, our findings corroborate the concept of TL as a cumulative measure of stress and provide novel insights into the detrimental role of stress in depressive illness and the general population.
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