1. |
- Niessen, Peter, et al.
(author)
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Recent results from the amanda experiment
- 2003
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In: Proceedings of 38th Rencontres de Moriond on Electroweak Interactions and Unified Theories 15-22 Mar 2003. Les Arcs, France.
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AMANDA (Antarctic Muon And Neutrino Detector Array) is a neutrino telescope built under the southern polar icecap and its scope is to explore the possibility to detect high energy cosmic neutrinos. This should generate insight into the powerful celestial objects where acceleration mechanisms can bring up to 10 20 eV. We describe the achievements and results from the AMANDA-B10 prototype and the preliminary results from the current AMANDA-II detector which show dramatic increase in sensitivity.
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2. |
- Alsaqal, Salem, et al.
(author)
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The Combination of MR Elastography and Proton Density Fat Fraction Improves Diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.
- 2022
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In: Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1053-1807 .- 1522-2586. ; 56:2, s. -379
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly increasing worldwide. It is subdivided into nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and the more aggressive form, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which carries a higher risk of developing fibrosis and cirrhosis. There is currently no reliable non-invasive method for differentiating NASH from NAFL.PURPOSE: To investigate the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based imaging biomarkers to diagnose NASH and moderate fibrosis as well as assess their repeatability.STUDY TYPE: Prospective.SUBJECTS: Sixty-eight participants (41% women) with biopsy-proven NAFLD (53 NASH and 15 NAFL). Thirty participants underwent a second MRI in order to assess repeatability.FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0 T; MR elastography (MRE) (a spin-echo echo-planar imaging [SE-EPI] sequence with motion-encoding gradients), MR proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and R2* mapping (a multi-echo three-dimensional gradient-echo sequence), T1 mapping (a single-point saturation-recovery technique), and diffusion-weighted imaging (SE-EPI sequence).ASSESSMENT: Quantitative MRI measurements were obtained and assessed alone and in combination with biochemical markers (cytokeratin-18 [CK18] M30, alanine transaminase [ALT], and aspartate transaminase [AST]) using logistic regression models. Models that could differentiate between NASH and NAFL and between moderate to advanced fibrosis (F2-4) and no or mild fibrosis (F0-1), based on the histopathological results, were identified.STATISTICAL TESTS: Independent samples t-test, Pearson's chi-squared test, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), Spearman's correlation, intra-individual coefficient of variation, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the NASH and NAFL groups with liver stiffness assessed with MRE, CK18 M30, and ALT, with an AUROC of 0.74, 0.76, and 0.70, respectively. Both MRE and PDFF contributed significantly to a bivariate model for diagnosing NASH (AUROC = 0.84). MRE could significantly differentiate between F2-4 and F0-1 (AUROC = 0.74). A model combining MRE with AST improved the diagnosis of F2-4 (AUROC = 0.83). The ICC for repeatability was 0.94 and 0.99 for MRE and PDFF, respectively.DATA CONCLUSION: MRE can potentially diagnose NASH and differentiate between fibrosis stages. Combining MRE with PDFF improves the diagnosis of NASH.LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.
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3. |
- Braunstein, Kerstin E., et al.
(author)
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A point mutation in the dynein heavy chain gene leads to striatal atrophy and compromises neurite outgrowth of striatal neurons
- 2010
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In: Human Molecular Genetics. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0964-6906 .- 1460-2083. ; 19:22, s. 4385-4398
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The molecular motor dynein and its associated regulatory subunit dynactin have been implicated in several neurodegenerative conditions of the basal ganglia, such as Huntington's disease (HD) and Perry syndrome, an atypical Parkinson-like disease. This pathogenic role has been largely postulated from the existence of mutations in the dynactin subunit p150(Glued). However, dynactin is also able to act independently of dynein, and there is currently no direct evidence linking dynein to basal ganglia degeneration. To provide such evidence, we used here a mouse strain carrying a point mutation in the dynein heavy chain gene that impairs retrograde axonal transport. These mice exhibited motor and behavioural abnormalities including hindlimb clasping, early muscle weakness, incoordination and hyperactivity. In vivo brain imaging using magnetic resonance imaging showed striatal atrophy and lateral ventricle enlargement. In the striatum, altered dopamine signalling, decreased dopamine D1 and D2 receptor binding in positron emission tomography SCAN and prominent astrocytosis were observed, although there was no neuronal loss either in the striatum or substantia nigra. In vitro, dynein mutant striatal neurons displayed strongly impaired neuritic morphology. Altogether, these findings provide a direct genetic evidence for the requirement of dynein for the morphology and function of striatal neurons. Our study supports a role for dynein dysfunction in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders of the basal ganglia, such as Perry syndrome and HD.
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4. |
- Fridén, Michael, et al.
(author)
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Hepatic Unsaturated Fatty Acids Are Linked to Lower Degree of Fibrosis in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
- 2022
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In: Frontiers in Medicine. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-858X. ; 8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The hepatic lipidome of patients with early stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been fairly well-explored. However, studies on more progressive forms of NAFLD, i.e., liver fibrosis, are limited. Materials and methods: Liver fatty acids were determined in cholesteryl esters (CE), phospholipids (PL), and triacylglycerols (TAG) by gas chromatography. Cross-sectional associations between fatty acids and biopsy-proven NAFLD fibrosis (n = 60) were assessed using multivariable logistic regression models. Stages of fibrosis were dichotomized into none-mild (F0–1) or significant fibrosis (F2–4). Models were adjusted for body-mass index (BMI), age and patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3 rs738409) (I148M) genotype. A secondary analysis examined whether associations from the primary analysis could be confirmed in the corresponding plasma lipid fractions. Results: PL behenic acid (22:0) was directly associated [OR (95% CI): 1.86 (1.00, 3.45)] whereas PL docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) [OR (95% CI): 0.45 (0.23, 0.89)], TAG oleic acid (18:1n-9) [OR (95% CI): 0.52 (0.28, 0.95)] and 18:1n-9 and vaccenic acid (18:1n-7) (18:1) [OR (95% CI): 0.52 (0.28, 0.96)] were inversely associated with liver fibrosis. In plasma, TAG 18:1n-9 [OR (95% CI): 0.55 (0.31, 0.99)], TAG 18:1 [OR (95% CI): 0.54 (0.30, 0.97)] and PL 22:0 [OR (95% CI): 0.46 (0.25, 0.86)] were inversely associated with liver fibrosis. Conclusion: Higher TAG 18:1n-9 levels were linked to lower fibrosis in both liver and plasma, possibly reflecting an altered fatty acid metabolism. Whether PL 22:6n-3 has a protective role, together with a potentially adverse effect of hepatic 22:0, on liver fibrosis warrants large-scale studies.
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5. |
- Rosqvist, Fredrik, 1985-, et al.
(author)
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Fatty acids in multiple circulating lipid fractions reflects the composition of liver triglycerides in humans
- 2022
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In: Clinical Nutrition. - : Elsevier BV. - 1532-1983 .- 0261-5614. ; 41:4, s. 805-809
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and aims: Fatty acids (e.g. 16:1n-7) and desaturase indices (e.g. stearoyl-CoA desaturase, SCD) in plasma cholesteryl esters (CE) and phospholipids (PL) are used as biomarkers of dietary fat quality and lipid metabolism and are associated with disease outcomes. Endogenously produced circulating fatty acids are believed to reflect composition of the liver, yet little data exist to support such relationship. We investigated associations between circulating fatty acids and fatty acids within the liver. Methods: Liver biopsies and blood were collected from n = 60 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Fatty acids in CE, PL and triglycerides (TG) in plasma and liver were analyzed using gas chromatography. Associations were assessed using Spearman rank correlations. Results: Overall, fatty acids and desaturase indices in plasma PL and TG showed moderate–strong correlations with fatty acids and desaturase indices in corresponding lipid fractions in liver. For plasma CE, 16:1n-7 and SCD were correlated with 16:1n-7 and SCD in liver CE. Noteworthy, fatty acids in plasma CE and PL also showed moderate–strong correlations with fatty acids in liver TG (e.g. r = 0.82–0.87 for 16:1n-7 and r = 0.77 for SCD). Conclusion: We demonstrate that fatty acids in circulating lipid fractions, including CE, TG and PL, reflects the composition of liver TG in humans, suggesting that circulating fatty acids might be useful biomarkers for the fatty acid composition of the liver. As liver tissue is rarely available in cohort studies, our findings could enhance our understanding of plasma fatty acids as markers of hepatic lipid metabolism and their links to metabolic diseases.
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