| 1. |
- Ludvigsson, Johnny, et al.
(author)
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GAD65 antigen therapy in recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus
- 2012
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In: New England Journal of Medicine. - : Massachusetts Medical Society. - 0028-4793 .- 1533-4406. ; 366:5, s. 433-442
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The 65-kD isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) is a major autoantigen in type 1 diabetes. We hypothesized that alum-formulated GAD65 (GAD-alum) can preserve beta-cell function in patients with recent-onset type 1 diabetes.METHODS: We studied 334 patients, 10 to 20 years of age, with type 1 diabetes, fasting C-peptide levels of more than 0.3 ng per milliliter (0.1 nmol per liter), and detectable serum GAD65 autoantibodies. Within 3 months after diagnosis, patients were randomly assigned to receive one of three study treatments: four doses of GAD-alum, two doses of GAD-alum followed by two doses of placebo, or four doses of placebo. The primary outcome was the change in the stimulated serum C-peptide level (after a mixed-meal tolerance test) between the baseline visit and the 15-month visit. Secondary outcomes included the glycated hemoglobin level, mean daily insulin dose, rate of hypoglycemia, and fasting and maximum stimulated C-peptide levels.RESULTS: The stimulated C-peptide level declined to a similar degree in all study groups, and the primary outcome at 15 months did not differ significantly between the combined active-drug groups and the placebo group (P=0.10). The use of GAD-alum as compared with placebo did not affect the insulin dose, glycated hemoglobin level, or hypoglycemia rate. Adverse events were infrequent and mild in the three groups, with no significant differences.CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with GAD-alum did not significantly reduce the loss of stimulated C peptide or improve clinical outcomes over a 15-month period.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Andersson, Blanka, et al.
(author)
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A novel mycobacterial growth inhibition assay employing live-cell imaging of virulent M. tuberculosis and monitoring of host cell viability
- 2020
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In: Tuberculosis. - : CHURCHILL LIVINGSTONE. - 1472-9792 .- 1873-281X. ; 124
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Our aim was to develop a Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) growth inhibition assay (MGIA) as a summary estimate of host immune control of virulent Mtb. Mycobacterial growth inhibition (MGI) using previously frozen human PBMCs infected with H37Rv was assessed by live-cell imaging (Incucyte (c)) complemented by imaging flow cytometry analysis of phagocytosis. MGI measured as relative fluorescence units (RFU) was calibrated to time to positive culture (TTP) in BACTEC 960 MGIT. At a MOI (multiplicity of infection) of 5, there was a wide range of MGI of blood donors (1.1*10(6)-2.7*10(6) RFU, n = 14). Intra- and inter-assay variability were at most 17.5 and 20.7 CV%. Cell viability at day 5 was 57 and 62% monitored by the LDH and Draq7 assays respectively. There was a strong correlation between a readout for Mtb growth using CFU counts or TTP compared to RFU (r2 >= 0.96). Our MGIA enabling live-cell imaging and monitoring of cell viability was able to detect a wide range of Mtb growth inhibition by PBMCs and was calibrated to several readout options for bacterial growth. This MGIA may be valuable as a surrogate marker of host immunity in a personalized medicine approach.
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| 4. |
- Arriaza Hult, Maria, 1990-
(author)
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Party Education as Mobilisation : Framing education in Swedish and Spanish political parties of the left
- 2022
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This dissertation aims to contribute knowledge of how five movement-related left parties in Sweden and Spain formulate education for their members. By analysing (i) the Swedish Social Democratic Workers’ Party, (ii) the Swedish Left Party, (iii) the Spanish Social Democratic Workers’ Party, (iv) the Spanish United Left and (v) the Spanish Podemos, the study interprets how organised educational activities are formulated and motivated with the aim to instigate member engagement. The analysis builds on interviews with leading party representatives and study leaders, study and course materials, and other official documents, which steer how the parties organise their education. With a framing perspective as a theoretical itinerary, the study emphasises parties' education as a setting where meaning is formulated to initiate collective action. The four included papers stress and discuss how educational material is formulated and how the parties perceive and motivate organised party education. Papers 1 and 2 analyse text materials and shows how educational materials establish narratives that invites the members to become active in the parties. Even though the educational narrative is welcoming, the study materials also reinforce frames of how to be schooled into becoming an ideal party member. Papers 3 and 4 study interview materials and suggest that member education is interpreted as something that strengthens parties’ movement relations, provides useful training, opens up a space for political reflection, and constructs a feeling of community within the parties. The dissertation emphasises that these five movement-related left parties perceive their educational activities as settings that create relations between the party and its members. Applying the framing perspective to the understudied educational practices that transpire in parties contributes to deepening the theoretical understanding of how education can be formulated in relation to its bearing on creating collective identities.
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| 5. |
- Bladh, Daniel, 1980-
(author)
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Didaktiska val i partidemokratin : Om partiskolning och lärande i politiken
- 2023
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Syftet med avhandlingen är att undersöka de överväganden och skäl som ligger bakom didaktiska val som fattas när utbildning organiseras för partipolitiskt aktiva personer. De anordnare som främst står i fokus för avhandlingen är de nationella partiorganisationerna medan den kommunala förvaltningen fungerar som en kon-trastpunkt. Avhandlingens teoretiska perspektiv utgörs av vuxendidaktik samt av ett analytiskt schema där politiska partier förstås som strategiska aktörer. Det didaktiska kunskapsintresset riktar sig främst mot det politiska systemet, partierna som aktörer samt de egna partimedlemmarna. Det är kvalitativ forskning som ligger till grund för de specifika studier som avhandlingen omfattar. Det empiriska materialet har genererats genom kvalitativa forskningsintervjuer, insamling av olika typer av dokument samt omfattande kartläggning.Avhandlingen utgör en sammanläggningsavhandling som omfattar fyra artiklar. Artikel I analyserar organisering av partiskolning som verktyg för nationella partiorganisationer. Artikel II lyfter fram fostransprocesser som de nationella partiorganisationerna söker främja genom organisering av partiskolning riktat till partimedlemmar och lokalföreningar. Artikel III lyfter blicken gentemot det politiska systemet och visar hur partiskolning både kan påverka och påverkas av hur olika partifunktioner utövas. Artikel IV tar sikte på den utbildningsverksamhet som genomförs i svenska kommuner och lyfter fram tre tankelinjer som uttryck för hur de kommunala anordnarna resonerar kring och motiverar den utbildning som de erbjuder till lokala folkvalda. Sammantaget bidrar avhandlingen med kunskap om vad som sker i mötet mellan utbildning och partidemokratin. Påverkan och fostran lyfts fram som två centrala skäl bakom de didaktiska val som fattas av de nationella partiorganisationerna vid organisering av partiskolning. Hur de nationella partiorganisationerna motiverar och resonerar kring den utbildningsverksamhet som de organiserar diskuteras i samband med samlingsbegreppen personer, process och platsen. Avhandlingen visar också hur partiskolning innehar en strategisk potential för partierna. Organisering av utbildningsverksamhet i politiska partier och kommuner kan även påverka konstruktionen av deltagarnas demokratiska kompetens, vilket kan spela roll för hur partimedlemmarnas aktiva medborgarskap kommer till uttryck.
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| 6. |
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| 8. |
- Hedlund, Therese, 1978-
(author)
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Tourists' vacation choice structure : Influence of values and implications for green tourism
- 2013
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In the vacation choice structure, denoting how vacation choices such as choice of destination, travel mode, and accommodation, are related and prioritized by tourists, every choice plays an important and unique role. Although it has been recognized that vacation choices inter-relate in several different aspects, previous research has primarily studied the primacy aspect. It can however be argued that to only study the primacy of vacation choices is too limited and that it is necessary to also include other aspects, especially how important a certain vacation choice is to the tourist. This knowledge is important in order to get a more holistic picture of the vacation choice structure, but also for understanding the demand for green tourism. It can be argued that the vacation choice structure has an influence on tourists’ possibility to make green choices. This thesis extends present knowledge by analyzing the inter-relation between vacation choices and providing a framework for how the vacation choice structure is related to tourists’ green choices. The influence of personal factors such as values and green attitudes on the vacation choice structure and tourists’ green choices are also examined. Four studies with quantitative data are included in the present thesis.The findings of the first study show that the vacation choice structure varies with regard to primacy, importance, inflexibility, and impact on other choices, which further explains the inter-relation between vacation choices. The findings also show that familiarity with a destination has an effect on how important and inflexible the destination choice is experienced. The second study shows how value orientation mediates the relationships between socio-demographic factors and tourists’ green attitude. The findings suggest that the relationships vary depending on what vacation choice that is in focus, indicating that it is not possible to talk about a general green attitude in tourism. The study thus contributes to the knowledge about how values and green attitudes in tourism are related.In the third study, the findings from the second study are advanced by showing a positive relationship between the value type universalism, green attitudes, and tourists’ green buying intentions. This further enhances the knowledge about determinants for tourists’ green buying intentions. In the final study, the inter-relation between vacation choices are examined by studying the trade-off tourists make between and within various choices in a vacation package. If and when green alternatives are included in the different choices are also studied, as well as the influence of value orientation of tourists’ green choices. The study advances the knowledge about the vacation choice structure and its relation to green tourism. The results also suggest that value orientation does not directly affect the vacation choice structure.To conclude, the findings of the present thesis show that it is not possible to define a universal vacation choice structure. It is suggested that the motive of the vacation and the choice situation play important roles here. Further, it can be concluded values do influence green buying intentions through green attitudes, but that it is not likely that this intention results in an actual green behavior if the behavior does not give any individual benefits to the tourist. Finally, the findings demonstrate that the vacation choice structure can influence tourists’ possibility to make green choices as the most important vacation choice governs to what extent other less important choice alternatives are possible to consider. Taken together, the findings develop theory about the vacation choice structure and its relation to values and green tourism as well as it provides practitioners with important knowledge and suggestions on how to make their work more efficient.
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| 9. |
- Hedlund, Therese, 1978-, et al.
(author)
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Tourists’ vacation choice structure : Exploring the relationship between values, vacation choices, and green tourism
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In order for charter tourists to be able to go on vacation, they have to make several different sub-choices, for example regarding what type of destination to visit and what travel mode and accommodation to choose. These sub-choices can be seen as part of an individual’s vacation choice structure. The outcome of one sub-choice can have an impact on other choices in this structure and also be more or less harmful to the environment. The present study used conjoint analysis to explore the trade-off between and within vacation choices as well as to see if and when green aspects are included in the choice of vacation packages. It also explored how value orientation influences tourists’ green vacation choices. The results indicated that charter tourists clearly make a distinction between vacation choices with regard to their importance in a trade-off situation and that travel mode is the most important choice. The findings also showed that green preferences only could be found in choice of accommodation and that individuals’ value orientation does not affect vacation choices to a large extent. Implications of the findings and recommendations for further research are also provided.
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| 10. |
- Hedlund, Therese, 1978-, et al.
(author)
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Tourists’ vacation choice structure : Exploring the relationship between values, vacation choices, and green tourism
-
Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In order for charter tourists to be able to go on vacation, they have to make several different sub-choices, for example regarding what type of destination to visit and what travel mode and accommodation to choose. These sub-choices can be seen as part of an individual’s vacation choice structure. The outcome of one sub-choice can have an impact on other choices in this structure and also be more or less harmful to the environment. The present study used conjoint analysis to explore the trade-off between and within vacation choices as well as to see if and when green aspects are included in the choice of vacation packages. It also explored how value orientation influences tourists’ green vacation choices. The results indicated that charter tourists clearly make a distinction between vacation choices with regard to their importance in a trade-off situation and that travel mode is the most important choice. The findings also showed that green preferences only could be found in choice of accommodation and that individuals’ value orientation does not affect vacation choices to a large extent. Implications of the findings and recommendations for further research are also provided.
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| 11. |
- Horvath, Istvan, et al.
(author)
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Modulation of α-synuclein fibrillization by ring-fused 2-pyridones : templation and inhibition involve oligomers with different structure
- 2013
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In: Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. - : Elsevier. - 0003-9861 .- 1096-0384. ; 532:2, s. 84-90
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In a recent study we discovered that a ring-fused 2-pyridone compound triggered fibrillization of a key protein in Parkinson's disease, α-synuclein. To reveal how variations in compound structure affect protein aggregation, we now prepared a number of strategic analogs and tested their effects on α-synuclein amyloid fiber formation in vitro. We find that, in contrast to the earlier templating effect, some analogs inhibit α-synuclein fibrillization. For both templating and inhibiting compounds, the key species formed in the reactions are α-synuclein oligomers that contain compound. Despite similar macroscopic appearance, the templating and inhibiting oligomers are distinctly different in secondary structure content. When the inhibitory oligomers are added in seed amounts, they inhibit fresh α-synuclein aggregation reactions. Our study demonstrates that small chemical changes to the same central fragment can result in opposite effects on protein aggregation.
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
- Kuhlin, Johanna, et al.
(author)
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Genotypic resistance of pyrazinamide but not MIC is associated with longer time to sputum culture conversion in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis
- 2021
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In: Clinical Infectious Diseases. - : Oxford University Press. - 1058-4838 .- 1537-6591. ; 73:9, s. E3511-E3517
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: PZA resistance in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is common and it is not clear how it affects interim and treatment outcomes. Although rarely performed, phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (pDST) is used to define PZA resistance but genotypic DST (gDST) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) could be beneficial. We aimed to assess the impact of PZA gDST and MIC on time to sputum culture conversion (SCC) and treatment outcome in patients with MDR-TB.METHODS: Clinical, microbiological and treatment data was collected in this cohort study for all patients diagnosed with MDR-TB in Sweden 1992-2014. MIC, pDST and whole genome sequencing of the pncA, rpsA and panD genes were used to define PZA resistance. A Cox regression model was used for statistical analyses.RESULTS: Of 157 patients with MDR-TB, 56.1% (n=88) had PZA resistant strains and 49.7% (n=78) were treated with PZA. In crude and adjusted analyses, PZA gDST resistance was associated with a 29-day longer time to SCC (hazard ratio [HR] 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36-0.89, p=0.013 and HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.29-0.82, p=0.007, respectively). A two-fold decrease in dilutions of PZA MIC for PZA susceptible strains showed no association with SCC in crude or adjusted analyses (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.73-1.31, p=0.89). Genotypic DST and MIC for PZA were not associated with treatment outcome.CONCLUSION: In patients with MDR-TB, gDST PZA resistance was associated with a longer time to SCC. Rapid PZA gDST is important to identify patients who may benefit from PZA treatment.
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
- Larsson, Marie C, et al.
(author)
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A luciferase-based assay for rapid assessment of drug activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis including monitoring of macrophage viability
- 2014
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In: Journal of Microbiological Methods. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-7012 .- 1872-8359. ; 106, s. 146-150
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The intracellular (IC) effect of drugs against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is not well established but increasingly important to consider when combining current and future multidrug regimens into the best possible treatment strategies. For this purpose, we developed an IC model based on a genetically modified Mtb H37Rv strain, expressing the Vibrio harvei luciferase (H37Rv-lux) infecting the human macrophage like cell line THP-1. Cells were infected at a low multiplicity of infection (1:1) and subsequently exposed to isoniazid (INH), ethambutol (EMB), amikacin (AMI) or levofloxacin (LEV) for 5 days in a 96-well format. Cell viability was evaluated by Calcein AM and was maintained throughout the experiment. The number of viable H37Rv-lux was determined by luminescence and verified by a colony forming unit analysis. The results were compared to the effects of the same drugs in broth cultures. AMI, EMB and LEV were significantly less effective intracellularly (MIC90: >4 mg/L, 8 mg/L and 2 mg/L, respectively) compared to extracellularly (MIC90: 0.5 mg/L for AMI and EMB; 0.25 mg/L for LEV). The reverse was the case for INH (IC: 0.064 mg/L vs EC: 0.25 mg/L). In conclusion, this luciferase based method, in which monitoring of cell viability is included, has the potential to become a useful tool while evaluating the intracellular effects of anti-mycobacterial drugs. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Nordvall, Henrik, 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Vad är ett studieförbund?
- 2020. - 1
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In: Om vuxenutbildning och vuxnas studier. - Lund : Studentlitteratur AB. - 9789144133294 ; , s. 141-161
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Det är få sammanhang som kommer i närheten av att samla så många vuxenstuderande som studieförbunden. Ett studieförbund är en organisation som organiserar fri och frivillig bildningsverksamhet för huvudsakligen vuxna, i form av studiecirklar, föreläsningsserier, samtal och andra folkbildnings- eller kulturrelaterade evenemang. I Sverige deltar årligen drygt 600 000 personer bara i studiecirklar. Räknar vi in all annan verksamhet blir antalet mångdubbelt större. Det finns när detta skrivs tio studieförbund. Dessa har olika profil och ideologisk särart och består, med något undantag, av medlemsorganisationer, vilket gör att studieförbunden är förbundna med stora delar av det svenska föreningslivet. Tillsammans med folkhögskolorna utgör studieförbunden den organisatoriska stommen för den statsbidragsfinansierade folkbildningen i Sverige.
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| 18. |
- Risling, Mårten, et al.
(author)
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Mechanisms of blast induced brain injuries
- 2008
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In: 38th NeuroSience Conference, Washington Convention Center, November 15–19, Washington DC, USA.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)
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| 19. |
- Svenning, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Vilka betydelser har internet för organiserade kvinnor inom kvinnorörelsen i Ecuador? Kommunikationsteknologi, kunskap och kvinnors organisering i ljuset av den globala digitala klyftan
- 2014
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In: Utbildning och Lärande / Education and Learning. - Skövde : Högskolan i Skövde. - 2001-4554. ; 8:1, s. 12-28
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In large parts of the world Internet is used on a daily basis, whereas in others many people don’t have access to the required technology. This inequality in Internet access is usually referred to as the ”digital divide”. In this study we draw attention to marginalized voices in relation to this divide. Our aim has been to gain an understanding of the perspectives on, and experiences of, Internet among organized women in Ecuador, a country where very few have access. The study is based on interviews with eight women, organized within the women’s movement. Results show that their main purpose in using Internet is to communicate, primarily with international organizations, and to find inspiration from other distant women’s groups. The limited access leads to frustration, since the women experience that they, compared to their international counterparts, have not the resources to utilize the potential of the Internet. They also share a vision for the future where more women are included in the network society.
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| 20. |
- Woksepp, Hanna, et al.
(author)
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High-Resolution Melting-Curve Analysis of Ligation-Mediated Real-Time PCR for Rapid Evaluation of an Epidemiological Outbreak of Extended-Spectrum-Beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli
- 2011
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In: Journal of Clinical Microbiology. - : American Society for Microbiology. - 0095-1137 .- 1098-660X. ; 49:12, s. 4032-4039
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Methods for the confirmation of nosocomial outbreaks of bacterial pathogens are complex, expensive, and time-consuming. Recently, a method based on ligation-mediated PCR (LM/PCR) using a low denaturation temperature which produces specific melting-profile patterns of DNA products has been described. Our objective was to further develop this method for real-time PCR and high-resolution melting analysis (HRM) in a single-tube system optimized in order to achieve results within 1 day. Following the optimization of LM/PCR for real-time PCR and HRM (LM/HRM), the method was applied for a nosocomial outbreak of extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and ST131-associated Escherichia coli isolates (n = 15) and control isolates (n = 29), including four previous clusters. The results from LM/HRM were compared to results from pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), which served as the gold standard. All isolates from the nosocomial outbreak clustered by LM/HRM, which was confirmed by gel electrophoresis of the LM/PCR products and PFGE. Control isolates that clustered by LM/PCR (n = 4) but not by PFGE were resolved by confirmatory gel electrophoresis. We conclude that LM/HRM is a rapid method for the detection of nosocomial outbreaks of bacterial infections caused by ESBL-producing E. coli strains. It allows the analysis of isolates in a single-tube system within a day, and the discriminatory power is comparable to that of PFGE.
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| 21. |
- Ängeby, Kristian A., et al.
(author)
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Wild-type MIC distributions of four fluoroquinolones active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in relation to current critical concentrations and available pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data
- 2010
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In: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0305-7453 .- 1460-2091. ; 65:5, s. 946-952
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To describe wild-type distributions of the MIC of fluoroquinolones for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in relation to current critical concentrations used for drug susceptibility testing and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) data. METHODS: A 96-stick replicator on Middlebrook 7H10 medium was used to define the MICs of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, moxifloxacin and levofloxacin for 90 consecutive clinical strains and 24 drug-resistant strains. The MICs were compared with routine BACTEC 460 susceptibility results and with MIC determinations in the BACTEC MGIT 960 system in a subset of strains using ofloxacin as a class representative. PK/PD data for each drug were reviewed in relation to the wild-type MIC distribution. RESULTS: The wild-type MICs of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, moxifloxacin and levofloxacin were distributed from 0.125 to 1, 0.25 to 1, 0.032 to 0.5 and 0.125 to 0.5 mg/L, respectively. The MIC data correlated well with the BACTEC 960 MGIT and BACTEC 460 results. PD indices were the most favourable for levofloxacin, followed by moxifloxacin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. CONCLUSIONS: We propose S (susceptible)
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