| 1. |
- Egecioglu, Emil, 1977, et al.
(author)
-
Growth hormone receptor deficiency in mice results in reduced systolic blood pressure and plasma renin, increased aortic eNOS expression, and altered cardiovascular structure and function
- 2007
-
In: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM. - : American Physiological Society. - 0193-1849 .- 1522-1555. ; 292:5
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To study the role of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) in the development of cardiovascular structure and function, female GHR gene-disrupted or knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice at age 18 wk were used. GHR KO mice had lower plasma renin levels (12 ± 2 vs. 20 ± 4 mGU/ml, P < 0.05) and increased aortic endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression (146%, P < 0.05) accompanied by a 25% reduction in systolic blood pressure (BP, 110 ± 4 vs. 147 ± 3 mmHg, P < 0.001) compared with WT mice. Aldosterone levels were unchanged, whereas the plasma potassium concentration was elevated by 14% ( P < 0.05) in GHR KO. Relative left ventricular weight was 14% lower in GHR KO mice ( P < 0.05), and cardiac dimensions as analyzed by echocardiography were similarly reduced. Myograph studies revealed a reduced maximum contractile response in the aorta to norepinephrine (NE) and K+ ( P < 0.05), and aorta media thickness was decreased in GHR KO ( P < 0.05). However, contractile force was normal in mesenteric arteries, whereas sensitivity to NE was increased ( P < 0.05). Maximal acetylcholine-mediated dilatation was similar in WT and GHR KO mice, whereas the aorta of GHR KO mice showed an increased sensitivity to acetylcholine ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, loss of GHR leads to low BP and decreased levels of renin in plasma as well as increase in aortic eNOS expression. Furthermore, GHR deficiency causes functional and morphological changes in both heart and vasculature that are beyond the observed alterations in body size. These data suggest an important role for an intact GH/IGF-I axis in the maintenance of a normal cardiovascular system.
|
|
| 2. |
- Grundén, Helena, 1968-
(author)
-
Mathematics teaching through the lens of planning : actors, structures, and power
- 2020
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This dissertation explores mathematics teaching by focusing on planning. The planning is seen as a social phenomenon related to surrounding practices and power relations in and between practices. Hence, planning in this dissertation is explored beyond what teachers do when planning.The research questions that guided the studies developed during the research process and address meaning of planning, influence of practices surrounding mathematics teaching, and common ideas about mathematics teaching in society. To answer the research questions, three studies were conducted, individual interviews, focus group interviews, and a study of mathematics education in news media.In addition to the aim of contributing to a deeper understanding of mathematics teaching, this dissertation aims to contribute methodologically by answering research questions addressing consequences different views of meaning have for thinking about interviews and assessment of research quality, and the usefulness of theoretical concepts from Critical Discourse Analysis on interview material about planning for mathematics teaching. In the dissertation, Critical Discourse Analysis is used as a theoretical frame, and theoretical constructs, such as actors, structures, and power, are used to explore planning as embedded in the social practice of mathematics teaching.The findings show that planning is an ongoing emotional process that is considered to be different things, including choosing examples to use or producing manipulatives. Findings also reveal that planning varies between teachers and schools, but also varies for individual teachers depending on, for example, time of the year or students. Another result is that although teachers are responsible for planning, their considerations, decisions, and reflections are influenced by other actors both in terms of how planning is done and what is planned for. These influences are explicitly through actors with formal power and implicitly through, for example, common ideas about mathematics teaching that are prevalent in society.Findings that relate to the methodological questions emphasize the importance of considering theoretical standpoints when assessing the quality of research. The findings also show that concepts such as power, actors, and structures are helpful to see and discuss in what ways mathematics teaching is a socially embedded phenomenon.
|
|
| 3. |
- Harcke, Katri, et al.
(author)
-
Observational study of selective screening for prediabetes and diabetes in a real-world setting : an interprofessional collaboration method between public dental services and primary health care in Sweden
- 2024
-
In: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0281-3432 .- 1502-7724. ; 42:1, s. 170-177
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Describe a method in a real-world setting to identify persons with undiagnosed prediabetes and type 2 diabetes through an interprofessional collaboration between Public Dental Services and Primary Health Care in Regions Stockholm.Design: A descriptive observational study.Setting: The study was conducted at seven sites in the region of Stockholm, Sweden. Each collaborating site consisted of a primary health clinic and dental clinic.Subjects: Study participants included adults over 18 years of age who visited the Public Dental Services and did not have a medical history of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.Main outcome measures: Selective screening is conducted in accordance with a risk assessment protocol at the Public Dental Services. In the investigated method, DentDi (Dental and Diabetes), adults diagnosed with caries and/or periodontitis over a cut-off value are referred to the Primary Health Care clinic for screening of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.Results: DentDi, introduced at seven sites, between the years 2017 and 2020, all of which continue to use the method today. A total of 863 participants from the Public Dental Services were referred to the Primary Health Care. Of those 396 accepted the invitation to undergo screening at the primary health care centre. Twenty-four individuals did not meet the inclusion criteria, resulting in a total of 372 persons being included in the study. Among the 372 participants, 27% (101) had elevated glucose levels, of which 12 were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and 89 with prediabetes according to the study classification.Conclusions: DentDi is a feasible method of interprofessional collaboration where each profession contributes with the competence included in everyday clinical practice for early identification of persons with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes with a complete chain of care. The goal is to disseminate this method throughout Stockholm County and even other regions in Sweden.
|
|
| 4. |
- Johansson, Maria E, 1977, et al.
(author)
-
Blood pressure is the major driving force for plaque formation in aortic-constricted ApoE-/- mice
- 2006
-
In: Journal of Hypertension. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0263-6352. ; 24:10, s. 2001-8
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Using an aortic constriction model in mice, we studied whether the increase in pressure or the activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and its main receptors is the main driving force for plaque progression. METHODS: Male ApoE mice underwent sham surgery or placement of a suprarenal silver clip around the aorta (AoC). Half the group was treated with the selective AT1 receptor antagonist losartan (30 mg/kg per day) for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Anesthetized mean arterial pressure (MAP) was increased in AoC mice compared to sham (106 +/- 3 versus 90 +/- 1 mmHg, P < 0.001). Losartan reduced MAP in sham mice (78 +/- 2 mmHg, P < 0.01) but not in AoC (AoC losartan 104 +/- 2 mmHg). Plasma renin concentration (PRC) was increased in AoC mice compared to sham [1.6 +/- 0.3 versus 0.8 +/- 0.2 milliGoldblatt units (mGU)/ml, P < 0.001]. Losartan treatment augmented this difference (18.7 +/- 3.7 versus 4.6 +/- 1.7 mGU/ml, P < 0.01). AT2 receptor mRNA expression was increased 5.8-fold by aortic constriction in thoracic aorta (P < 0.05) and the major site for expression of the AT2 receptor protein was within the plaques. The plaque area was increased in AoC mice compared to sham (0.61 +/- 0.09 versus 0.07 +/- 0.01%, P < 0.001); however, losartan did not alter plaque area. CONCLUSIONS: Our data do not support a role for the AT1 receptor in the progression of atherosclerosis in this model, since blockade with losartan did not alter plaque distribution. Furthermore, we found no support for the counteraction of atherogenesis by increased activity of the RAS acting on the AT2 receptor. Our data suggest that increased pressure is the main driving force for atherosclerosis in this model.
|
|
| 5. |
- Peterson, Christer, et al.
(author)
-
Detection of Local Mast-Cell Activity in Patients With Food Hypersensitivity
- 2007
-
In: Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology. - 1018-9068 .- 1698-0808. ; 17:5, s. 314-320
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Mast cells play a central role in many inflammatory diseases and assessment of their activation may be of use to provide objective confirmation of the outcome of food challenge in the diagnosis of food hypersensitivity. However, to date, assessment of mastcell activation using serum markers has been unsuccessful. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore whether locally released tryptase could be detected in stool samples from patients with food hypersensitivity. Methods: Nine patients (median age, 55 years; range, 26 - 68 years) with food hypersensitivity confirmed by double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge were included in the study. Tryptase concentration was assessed in stool samples collected before and after an open food challenge at home and symptoms were recorded throughout the study. Tryptase concentration was also assessed in stool samples from 16 apparently healthy individuals (median age, 44 years; range, 27 - 72 years). Results: Measurement of fecal tryptase levels in 16 healthy control subjects revealed an upper limit of the normal range (mean + 2 SD of log transformed data) of 10 ng/g. Fecal tryptase levels exceeded 10 ng/g in 7 out of 9 patients in one or more samples obtained during the study. The tryptase levels varied between patients in response to the food challenge and the individual mean levels of tryptase correlated with the corresponding levels of the inflammatory marker eosinophil protein X (ρ = 0.7500, P = .02). Conclusion: Measurement of tryptase levels in stool samples is feasible using the method described here. Our results revealed elevated concentrations of fecal tryptase in patients with food hypersensitivity. However, several factors, including food exposure, may account for the increase in fecal tryptase and further studies are necessary to elucidate the role of mast cells in food hypersensitivity.
|
|
