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  • 1. Abbott, Jessica K.
    et al.
    Innocenti, Paolo
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal ecology.
    Chippindale, Adam K.
    Morrow, Edward H.
    Epigenetics and Sex-Specific Fitness: An Experimental Test Using Male-Limited Evolution in Drosophila melanogaster2013In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 8, no 7, p. e70493-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    When males and females have different fitness optima for the same trait but share loci, intralocus sexual conflict is likely to occur. Epigenetic mechanisms such as genomic imprinting (in which expression is altered according to parent-of-origin) and sex-specific maternal effects have been suggested as ways by which this conflict can be resolved. However these ideas have not yet been empirically tested. We designed an experimental evolution protocol in Drosophila melanogaster that enabled us to look for epigenetic effects on the X-chromosome-a hotspot for sexually antagonistic loci. We used special compound-X females to enforce father-to-son transmission of the X-chromosome for many generations, and compared fitness and gene expression levels between Control males, males with a Control X-chromosome that had undergone one generation of father-son transmission, and males with an X-chromosome that had undergone many generations of father-son transmission. Fitness differences were dramatic, with experimentally-evolved males approximately 20% greater than controls, and with males inheriting a non-evolved X from their father about 20% lower than controls. These data are consistent with both strong intralocus sexual conflict and misimprinting of the X-chromosome under paternal inheritance. However, expression differences suggested that reduced fitness under paternal X inheritance was largely due to deleterious maternal effects. Our data confirm the sexually-antagonistic nature of Drosophila's X-chromosome and suggest that the response to male-limited X-chromosome evolution entails compensatory evolution for maternal effects, and perhaps modification of other epigenetic effects via coevolution of the sex chromosomes.

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  • 2.
    Abramenkovs, Andris
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Medical Radiation Science.
    Stenerlöw, Bo
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Medical Radiation Science.
    Removal of heat-sensitive clustered damaged DNA sites is independent of double-strand break repair2018In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 13, no 12, article id e0209594Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most deleterious lesions that can arise in cells after ionizing radiation or radiometric drug treatment. In addition to prompt DSBs, DSBs may also be produced during repair, evolving from a clustered DNA damaged site, which is composed of two or more distinct lesions that are located within two helical turns. A specific type of cluster damage is the heat-sensitive clustered site (HSCS), which transforms into DSBs upon treatment at elevated temperatures. The actual lesions or mechanisms that mediate the HSCS transformation into DSBs are unknown. However, there are two possibilities; either these lesions are transformed into DSBs due to DNA lesion instability, e.g., transfer of HSCS into single-strand breaks (SSBs), or they are formed due to local DNA structure instability, e.g., DNA melting, where two SSBs on opposite strands meet and transform into a DSB. The importance of these processes in living cells is not understood, but they significantly affect estimates of DSB repair capacity. In this study, we show that HSCS removal in human cells is not affected by defects in DSB repair or inhibition of DSB repair. Under conditions where rejoining of prompt DSBs was almost completely inhibited, heat-sensitive DSBs were successfully rejoined, without resulting in increased DSB levels, indicating that HSCS do not transfer into DSB in cells under physiological conditions. Furthermore, analysis by atomic force microscopy suggests that prolonged heating of chromosomal DNA can induce structural changes that facilitate transformation of HSCS into DSB. In conclusion, the HSCS do not generate additional DSBs at physiological temperatures in human cells, and the repair of HSCS is independent of DSB repair.

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  • 3.
    Adams, A. M.
    et al.
    McGill Univ, Dept Family Med, Fac Med & Hlth Sci, Montreal, PQ, Canada; BRAC Univ, BRAC James P Grant Sch Publ Hlth, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    Khan, Akib
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Economics.
    Roy, A. S.
    McGill Univ, Dept Family Med, Fac Med & Hlth Sci, Montreal, PQ, Canada.
    Hassan, Md. T.
    BRAC Univ, BRAC James P Grant Sch Publ Hlth, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    Mridha, M. K.
    BRAC Univ, BRAC James P Grant Sch Publ Hlth, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    Ahmed, N. U.
    Shornokishori Network Fdn, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    Mustaphi, P.
    UNICEF Bangladesh Country Off, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    Chowdhury, I.
    UNICEF Bangladesh Country Off, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    Khondker, R.
    Global Alliance Improved Nutr GAIN, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    Hyder, Z.
    World Bank Grp Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
    Growth dynamics among adolescent girls in Bangladesh: Evidence from nationally representative data spanning 2011-20142021In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 16, no 7, article id e0255273Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background

    Adolescence is the last opportunity to reverse any growth faltering accumulated from fetal life through childhood and it is considered a crucial period to optimize human development. In Bangladesh, a growing double burden of underweight and obesity in adolescents is recognized, yet limited data exists on how, when, and where to intervene. This study assesses the dynamics of growth among adolescent girls in Bangladesh, providing insight about critical junctures where faltering occurs and where immediate interventions are warranted.

    Methods

    We pooled data from Bangladesh’s Food Security and Nutrition Surveillance Project collected between 2011 and 2014 to document the age dynamics of weight and linear growth. 20,572 adolescent girls were measured for height and 19,345 for weight. We constructed growth curves for height, weight, stunting, and underweight. We also stratified growth dynamics by wealth quintile to assess socioeconomic inequities in adolescent trajectories.

    Results

    Height-for-age z-score (HAZ) in Bangladeshi girls deteriorates throughout adolescence and especially during the early years. Mean HAZ decreases by 0.20 standard deviations (sd) per year in early adolescence (10–14 years) vs 0.06 sd/year during late adolescence (15–19 years), while stunting increases by 16 percentage points (pp) vs 6.7 pp, respectively. Conversely, BMI-for-age z-score (BAZ) increases by 0.13 sd/year in early adolescence vs 0.02 sd/year in late adolescence, and underweight decreases by 12.8 pp vs 3.2 pp. Adolescent girls in all socioeconomic groups show a similar pattern of HAZ and BAZ dynamics, but the curve for the richest quintile stays above that of the poorest across all ages.

    Conclusions

    Trends and levels of stunting and underweight among adolescent girls in Bangladesh are worrisome, suggesting substantial linear growth faltering in early adolescence, with improving weight-for-age occurring only as linear growth slows and stops. Given the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh and emerging evidence of the link between stunting and later chronic diseases, greater attention to adolescent growth and development is needed. Our findings suggest that, to address stunting, interventions in early adolescence would have the greatest benefits. School-based interventions could be a way to target this population.

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  • 4. Adem, Abdu
    et al.
    Al Haj, Mahmoud
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences.
    Benedict, Sheela
    Yasin, Javed
    Nagelkerke, Nicolas
    Nyberg, Fred
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences.
    Yandle, Tim G.
    Frampton, Chris M.
    Lewis, Lynley K.
    Nicholls, M. Gary
    Kazzam, Elsadig
    ANP and BNP Responses to Dehydration in the One-Humped Camel and Effects of Blocking the Renin-Angiotensin System2013In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 8, no 3, p. e57806-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    The objectives of this study were to investigate and compare the responses of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in the circulation of hydrated, dehydrated, and dehydrated losartan - treated camels; and to document the cardiac storage form of B-type natriuretic peptide in the camel heart. Eighteen male camels were used in the study: control or hydrated camels (n = 6), dehydrated camels (n = 6) and dehydrated losartan-treated camels (n = 6) which were dehydrated and received the angiotensin II (Ang II) AT-1 receptor blocker, losartan, at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight intravenously for 20 days. Control animals were supplied with feed and water ad-libitum while both dehydrated and dehydrated-losartan treated groups were supplied with feed ad-libitum but no water for 20 days. Compared with time-matched controls, dehydrated camels exhibited a significant decrease in plasma levels of both ANP and BNP. Losartan-treated camels also exhibited a significant decline in ANP and BNP levels across 20 days of dehydration but the changes were not different from those seen with dehydration alone. Size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography of extracts of camel heart indicated that proB-type natriuretic peptide is the storage form of the peptide. We conclude first, that dehydration in the camel induces vigorous decrements in circulating levels of ANP and BNP; second, blockade of the renin-angiotensin system has little or no modulatory effect on the ANP and BNP responses to dehydration; third, proB-type natriuretic peptide is the storage form of this hormone in the heart of the one-humped camel.

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  • 5.
    Adler, Jeremy
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab. Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology.
    Parmryd, Ingela
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Cell Biology. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Quantifying colocalization: thresholding, void voxels and the H-coef2014In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 9, no 11, p. e111983-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    A critical step in the analysis of images is identifying the area of interest e.g. nuclei. When the nuclei are brighter than the remainder of the image an intensity can be chosen to identify the nuclei. Intensity thresholding is complicated by variations in the intensity of individual nuclei and their intensity relative to their surroundings. To compensate thresholds can be based on local rather than global intensities. By testing local thresholding methods we found that the local mean performed poorly while the Phansalkar method and a new method based on identifying the local background were superior. A new colocalization coefficient, the Hcoef, highlights a number of controversial issues. (i) Are molecular interactions measurable (ii) whether to include voxels without fluorophores in calculations, and (iii) the meaning of negative correlations. Negative correlations can arise biologically (a) because the two fluorophores are in different places or (b) when high intensities of one fluorophore coincide with low intensities of a second. The cases are distinct and we argue that it is only relevant to measure correlation using pixels that contain both fluorophores and, when the fluorophores are in different places, to just report the lack of co-occurrence and omit these uninformative negative correlation. The Hcoef could report molecular interactions in a homogenous medium. But biology is not homogenous and distributions also reflect physico-chemical properties, targeted delivery and retention. The Hcoef actually measures a mix of correlation and co-occurrence, which makes its interpretation problematic and in the absence of a convincing demonstration we advise caution, favouring separate measurements of correlation and of co-occurrence.

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  • 6. Aeinehband, Shahin
    et al.
    Lindblom, Rickard P F
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgical Sciences, Thoracic Surgery.
    Al Nimer, Faiez
    Vijayaraghavan, Swetha
    Sandholm, Kerstin
    Khademi, Mohsen
    Olsson, Tomas
    Nilsson, Bo
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Clinical Immunology.
    Nilsson, Kristina Ekdahl
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Clinical Immunology.
    Darreh-Shori, Taher
    Piehl, Fredrik
    Complement Component C3 and Butyrylcholinesterase Activity Are Associated with Neurodegeneration and Clinical Disability in Multiple Sclerosis2015In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 10, no 4Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Dysregulation of the complement system is evident in many CNS diseases but mechanisms regulating complement activation in the CNS remain unclear. In a recent large rat genomewide expression profiling and linkage analysis we found co-regulation of complement C3 immediately downstream of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), an enzyme hydrolyzing acetylcholine (ACh), a classical neurotransmitter with immunoregulatory effects. We here determined levels of neurofilament-light (NFL), a marker for ongoing nerve injury, C3 and activity of the two main ACh hydrolyzing enzymes, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and BuChE, in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with MS (n = 48) and non-inflammatory controls (n = 18). C3 levels were elevated in MS patients compared to controls and correlated both to disability and NFL. C3 levels were not induced by relapses, but were increased in patients with >= 9 cerebral lesions on magnetic resonance imaging and in patients with progressive disease. BuChE activity did not differ at the group level, but was correlated to both C3 and NFL levels in individual samples. In conclusion, we show that CSF C3 correlates both to a marker for ongoing nerve injury and degree of disease disability. Moreover, our results also suggest a potential link between intrathecal cholinergic activity and complement activation. These results motivate further efforts directed at elucidating the regulation and effector functions of the complement system in MS, and its relation to cholinergic tone.

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  • 7.
    Agnarsdóttir, Margrét
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Clinical and experimental pathology. Department of Clinical Pathology, Akademiska University Hospital.
    Popova, Svetlana
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Clinical and experimental pathology. Department of Clinical Pathology, Akademiska University Hospital.
    Alafuzoff, Irina
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Clinical and experimental pathology. Department of Clinical Pathology, Akademiska University Hospital.
    Expression of CMV protein pp65 in cutaneous malignant melanoma2019In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 14, no 10, article id e0223854Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Human cytomegalovirus (CVM) has been detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in brain tumours; however, whether CMV antigen is seen in melanomas has not yet been elucidated. Applying IHC, melanoma tissue was assessed for the expression of pp65, a tegument protein of CMV. Two cohorts were available, cohort-I and II, the latter included also related metastasis. In addition to IHC, in situ hybridisation (ISH) was carried out to assess whether CMV related genetic sequences were detectable in a subset of cases. Seventy per cent of the 142 cases in cohort-I and 50% of the 37 cases in cohort-II displayed immunoreactivity (IR). In both cohorts, the IHC outcome correlated with T-stage (Cohort I: Spearman 0.22, p = 0.01, Cohort II: Fisher exact text 0.04). In 30 of cohort-II cases, when IHC staining was carried out on both the primary tumour and the corresponding metastasis, no change in IR was noted in 53%; in 20%, the IR was lower and in 27% higher in the metastasis when compared with the primary tumour. These results were significant (Fisher exact test 0.03). Applying ISH technique on four tumour cases with detectable pp65 protein, CMV related genetic sequence was not detected. Here, we demonstrate, congruent with observations published for brain tumours, that the protein pp65 is indeed observed in substantial number of melanoma cases with IHC; however, no signal was detected with ISH technique. These findings are in line with previously reported studies, demonstrating that the role of CMV in tumours is still debatable.

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  • 8. Agnarson, Abela Mpobela
    et al.
    Strömdahl, Susanne
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Infection medicine.
    Levira, Francis
    Masanja, Honorati
    Thorson, Anna Ekéus
    Female-Driven Multiple Concurrent Sexual Partnership Systems in a Rural Part of a Southern Tanzanian Province.2015In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 10, no 12, p. e0145297-, article id e0145297Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: Multiple concurrent sexual relationships are one of the major challenges to HIV prevention in Tanzania. This study aims to explore sexual behaviour patterns including the practice of multiple concurrent sexual partnerships in a rural Tanzanian setting.

    METHODS: This qualitative study used focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with men and women from the community as well as ethnographic participant observations. The data was collected during 16 months of fieldwork in 2007, 2008, and 2009. The focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were transcribed verbatim and translated into English. The data was analysed through the process of latent content analysis. An open coding coding process was applied to create categories and assign themes.

    FINDINGS: Mafiga matatu was an expression used in this society to describe women's multiple concurrent sexual partners, usually three partners, which was described as a way to ensure social and financial security for their families as well as to achieve sexual pleasure. Adolescent initiation ceremonies initiated and conducted by grand mothers taught young women why and how to engage successfully in multiple concurrent sexual relationships. Some men expressed support for their female partners to behave according to mafiga matatu, while other men were hesitant around this behaviour. Our findings indicate that having multiple concurrent sexual partners is common and a normative behaviour in this setting. Economical factors and sexual pleasure were identified as drivers and viewed as legitimate reason for women to have multiple concurrent sexual partnerships.

    CONCLUSIONS: Structural changes improving women's financial opportunities and increasing gender equality will be important to enable women to not depend on multiple concurrent sexual partnerships for financial security. Future research should explore how normative sexual behaviour changes as these structural changes take place.

  • 9.
    Ahi, Ehsan Pashay
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Organismal Biology. Univ Helsinki, Organismal & Evolutionary Biol Res Programme, Helsinki, Finland..
    Brunel, Mathilde
    Swedish Univ Agr Sci, Dept Mol Sci, Uppsala, Sweden..
    Tsakoumis, Emmanouil
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Organismal Biology, Physiology and Environmental Toxicology.
    Chen, Junyu
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Organismal Biology.
    Schmitz, Monika
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Organismal Biology, Physiology and Environmental Toxicology.
    Appetite regulating genes in zebrafish gut; a gene expression study2022In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 17, no 7, article id e0255201Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    The underlying molecular pathophysiology of feeding disorders, particularly in peripheral organs, is still largely unknown. A range of molecular factors encoded by appetite-regulating genes are already described to control feeding behaviour in the brain. However, the important role of the gastrointestinal tract in the regulation of appetite and feeding in connection to the brain has gained more attention in the recent years. An example of such inter-organ connection can be the signals mediated by leptin, a key regulator of body weight, food intake and metabolism, with conserved anorexigenic effects in vertebrates. Leptin signals functions through its receptor (lepr) in multiple organs, including the brain and the gastrointestinal tract. So far, the regulatory connections between leptin signal and other appetite-regulating genes remain unclear, particularly in the gastrointestinal system. In this study, we used a zebrafish mutant with impaired function of leptin receptor to explore gut expression patterns of appetite-regulating genes, under different feeding conditions (normal feeding, 7-day fasting, 2 and 6-hours refeeding). We provide evidence that most appetite-regulating genes are expressed in the zebrafish gut. On one hand, we did not observed significant differences in the expression of orexigenic genes (except for hcrt) after changes in the feeding condition. On the other hand, we found 8 anorexigenic genes in wild-types (cart2, cart3, dbi, oxt, nmu, nucb2a, pacap and pomc), as well as 4 genes in lepr mutants (cart3, kiss1, kiss1r and nucb2a), to be differentially expressed in the zebrafish gut after changes in feeding conditions. Most of these genes also showed significant differences in their expression between wild-type and lepr mutant. Finally, we observed that impaired leptin signalling influences potential regulatory connections between anorexigenic genes in zebrafish gut. Altogether, these transcriptional changes propose a potential role of leptin signal in the regulation of feeding through changes in expression of certain anorexigenic genes in the gastrointestinal tract of zebrafish.

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  • 10.
    Ahlgren, Kerstin M
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Autoimmunity. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Fall, Tove
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular epidemiology. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Landegren, Nils
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Autoimmunity. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Grimelius, Lars
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Molecular and Morphological Pathology. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    von Euler, Henrik
    Sundberg, Katarina
    Lindblad-Toh, Kerstin
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Genomics. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Lobell, Anna
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Hedhammar, Åke
    Andersson, Göran
    Hansson-Hamlin, Helene
    Lernmark, Åke
    Kämpe, Olle
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Autoimmunity. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Lack of evidence for a role of islet autoimmunity in the aetiology of canine diabetes mellitus2014In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 9, no 8, p. e105473-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    AIMS/HYPOTHESIS:

    Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine disorders in dogs and is commonly proposed to be of autoimmune origin. Although the clinical presentation of human type 1 diabetes (T1D) and canine diabetes are similar, the aetiologies may differ. The aim of this study was to investigate if autoimmune aetiology resembling human T1D is as prevalent in dogs as previously reported.

    METHODS:

    Sera from 121 diabetic dogs representing 40 different breeds were tested for islet cell antibodies (ICA) and GAD65 autoantibodies (GADA) and compared with sera from 133 healthy dogs. ICA was detected by indirect immunofluorescence using both canine and human frozen sections. GADA was detected by in vitro transcription and translation (ITT) of human and canine GAD65, followed by immune precipitation. Sections of pancreata from five diabetic dogs and two control dogs were examined histopathologically including immunostaining for insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and pancreas polypeptide.

    RESULTS:

    None of the canine sera analysed tested positive for ICA on sections of frozen canine or human ICA pancreas. However, serum from one diabetic dog was weakly positive in the canine GADA assay and serum from one healthy dog was weakly positive in the human GADA assay. Histopathology showed marked degenerative changes in endocrine islets, including vacuolisation and variable loss of immune-staining for insulin. No sign of inflammation was noted.

    CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATIONS:

    Contrary to previous observations, based on results from tests for humoral autoreactivity towards islet proteins using four different assays, and histopathological examinations, we do not find any support for an islet autoimmune aetiology in canine diabetes mellitus.

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  • 11.
    Ahmadi, Zainab
    et al.
    Lund Univ, Div Resp Med & Allergol, Dept Clin Sci, Lund, Sweden.
    Sundh, Josefin
    Univ Orebro, Sch Med Sci, Dept Resp Med, Orebro, Sweden.
    Bornefalk-Hermansson, Anna
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Statistics.
    Ekström, Magnus
    Lund Univ, Div Resp Med & Allergol, Dept Clin Sci, Lund, Sweden.
    Long-Term Oxygen Therapy 24 vs 15 h/day and Mortality in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease2016In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 11, no 9, article id e0163293Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) >= 15 h/day improves survival in hypoxemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD). LTOT 24 h/day is often recommended but may pose an unnecessary burden with no clear survival benefit compared with LTOT 15 h/day. The aim was to test the hypothesis that LTOT 24 h/day decreases all-cause, respiratory, and cardiovascular mortality compared to LTOT 15 h/day in hypoxemic COPD. This was a prospective, observational, population-based study of COPD patients starting LTOT between October 1, 2005 and June 30, 2009 in Sweden. Overall and cause-specific mortality was analyzed using Cox and Fine-Gray regression, controlling for age, sex, prescribed oxygen dose, PaO2 (air), PaCO2 (air), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), WHO performance status, body mass index, comorbidity, and oral glucocorticoids. A total of 2,249 included patients were included with a median follow-up of 1.1 years (interquartile range, 0.6-2.1). 1,129 (50%) patients died and no patient was lost to follow-up. Higher LTOT duration analyzed as a continuous variable was not associated with any change in mortality rate (hazard ratio [HR] 1.00; (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98 to 1.02) per 1 h/day increase above 15 h/day. LTOT exactly 24 h/day was prescribed in 539 (24%) patients and LTOT 15-16 h/day in 1,231 (55%) patients. Mortality was similar between the groups for all-cause, respiratory and cardiovascular mortality. In hypoxemic COPD, LTOT 24 h/day was not associated with a survival benefit compared with treatment 15-16 h/day. A design for a registry-based randomized trial (R-RCT) is proposed.

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  • 12.
    Ahmadpour, Doryaneh
    et al.
    Chalmers Univ Technol, Dept Biol & Biol Engn, Gothenburg, Sweden.;Motala Hosp, Inst Neurol, Dept Med Specialists, Motala, Sweden..
    Kristoffersson, Anna
    Motala Hosp, Inst Neurol, Dept Med Specialists, Motala, Sweden..
    Fredrikson, Mats
    Linkoping Univ, Forum Ostergotland, Linkoping, Sweden..
    Huang-Link, Yumin
    Linkoping Univ Hosp, Dept Neurol, Linkoping, Sweden..
    Eriksson, Anne
    Motala Hosp, Inst Med, Dept Med Specialists, Motala, Sweden..
    Iacobaeus, Ellen
    Karolinska Inst, Dept Clin Neurosci, Div Neurol, Stockholm, Sweden.;Karolinska Univ Hosp, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Landtblom, Anne-Marie
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Neurology. Linkoping Univ Hosp, Dept Neurol, Linkoping, Sweden.;Uppsala Univ, Dept Med Sci, Uppsala, Sweden..
    Haghighi, Sara
    Motala Hosp, Inst Neurol, Dept Med Specialists, Motala, Sweden.;Linkoping Univ Hosp, Dept Neurol, Linkoping, Sweden..
    Inventory study of an early pandemic COVID-19 cohort in South-Eastern Sweden, focusing on neurological manifestations2023In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 18, no 1, article id e0280376Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BackgroundNeurological manifestations in patients with COVID-19 have been reported previously as outcomes of the infection.The purpose of current study was to investigate the occurrence of neurological signs and symptoms in COVID-19 patients, in the county of ostergotland in southeastern Sweden. MethodsThis is a retrospective, observational cohort study. Data were collected between March 2020 and June 2020. Information was extracted from medical records by a trained research assistant and physician and all data were validated by a senior neurologist. ResultsSeventy-four percent of patients developed at least one neurological symptom during the acute phase of the infection. Headache (43%) was the most common neurological symptom, followed by anosmia and/or ageusia (33%), confusion (28%), hallucinations (17%), dizziness (16%), sleep disorders in terms of insomnia and OSAS (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) (9%), myopathy and neuropathy (8%) and numbness and tingling (5%). Patients treated in the ICU had a higher male presentation (73%). Several risk factors in terms of co-morbidities, were identified. Hypertension (54.5%), depression and anxiety (51%), sleep disorders in terms of insomnia and OSAS (30%), cardiovascular morbidity (28%), autoimmune diseases (25%), chronic lung diseases (24%) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (23%) founded as possible risk factors. ConclusionNeurological symptoms were found in the vast majority (74%) of the patients. Accordingly, attention to neurological, mental and sleep disturbances is warranted with involvement of neurological expertise, in order to avoid further complications and long-term neurological effect of COVID-19. Furthermore, risk factors for more severe COVID-19, in terms of possible co-morbidities that identified in this study should get appropriate attention to optimizing treatment strategies in COVID-19 patients.

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  • 13. Ahmed, AS
    Alim, MA ()
    Östenson, CG
    Salo, PT
    Hewitt, C
    Hart, DA
    Ackermann, PW
    Compromised Neurotrophic and Angiogenic Regenerative Capability during Tendon Healing in a Rat Model of Type-II Diabetes2017In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203Article in journal (Refereed)
  • 14. Ahmed, Saheeb
    et al.
    Wittenmayer, Nina
    Kremer, Thomas
    Hoeber, Jan
    Kiran Akula, Asha
    Urlaub, Henning
    Islinger, Markus
    Kirsch, Joachim
    Dean, Camin
    Dresbach, Thomas
    Mover is a homomeric phospho-protein present on synaptic vesicles2013In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 8, no 5, p. e63474-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    With remarkably few exceptions, the molecules mediating synaptic vesicle exocytosis at active zones are structurally and functionally conserved between vertebrates and invertebrates. Mover was found in a yeast-2-hybrid assay using the vertebrate-specific active zone scaffolding protein bassoon as a bait. Peptides of Mover have been reported in proteomics screens for self-interacting proteins, phosphorylated proteins, and synaptic vesicle proteins, respectively. Here, we tested the predictions arising from these screens. Using flotation assays, carbonate stripping of peripheral membrane proteins, mass spectrometry, immunogold labelling of purified synaptic vesicles, and immuno-organelle isolation, we found that Mover is indeed a peripheral synaptic vesicle membrane protein. In addition, by generating an antibody against phosphorylated Mover and Western blot analysis of fractionated rat brain, we found that Mover is a bona fide phospho-protein. The localization of Mover to synaptic vesicles is phosphorylation dependent; treatment with a phosphatase caused Mover to dissociate from synaptic vesicles. A yeast-2-hybrid screen, co-immunoprecipitation and cell-based optical assays of homomerization revealed that Mover undergoes homophilic interaction, and regions within both the N- and C- terminus of the protein are required for this interaction. Deleting a region required for homomeric interaction abolished presynaptic targeting of recombinant Mover in cultured neurons. Together, these data prove that Mover is associated with synaptic vesicles, and implicate phosphorylation and multimerization in targeting of Mover to synaptic vesicles and presynaptic sites.

  • 15.
    Ahmed, Sultan
    et al.
    Centre for Vaccine Sciences, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Dhaka.
    Rekha, Rokeya Sultana
    Centre for Vaccine Sciences, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Dhaka.
    Bin Ahsan, Khalid
    Centre for Vaccine Sciences, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Dhaka.
    Doi, Mariko
    Department of Clinical Trial and Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
    Grander, Margaretha
    Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Roy, Anjan Kumar
    Centre for Vaccine Sciences, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Dhaka.
    Ekström, Eva-Charlotte
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Women's and Children's Health.
    Wagatsuma, Yukiko
    Department of Clinical Trial and Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
    Vahter, Marie
    Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Raqib, Rubhana
    Centre for Vaccine Sciences, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Dhaka.
    Arsenic Exposure Affects Plasma Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) in Children in Rural Bangladesh2013In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 8, no 11, p. e81530-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background: Exposure to inorganic arsenic (As) through drinking water during pregnancy is associated with lower birth size and child growth. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of As exposure on child growth parameters to evaluate causal associations. Methodology/Findings: Children born in a longitudinal mother-child cohort in rural Bangladesh were studied at 4.5 years (n=640) as well as at birth (n=134). Exposure to arsenic was assessed by concurrent and prenatal (maternal) urinary concentrations of arsenic metabolites (U-As). Associations with plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), calcium (Ca), vitamin D (Vit-D), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and phosphate (PO4) were evaluated by linear regression analysis, adjusted for socioeconomic factor, parity and child sex. Child U-As (per 10 mu g/L) was significantly inversely associated with concurrent plasma IGF-1 (beta=-0.27; 95% confidence interval: -0.50, -0.0042) at 4.5 years. The effect was more obvious in girls (beta=-0.29; -0.59, 0.021) than in boys, and particularly in girls with adequate height (beta=-0.491; -0.97, -0.02) or weight (beta=-0.47; 0.97, 0.01). Maternal U-As was inversely associated with child IGF-1 at birth (r=-0.254, P=0.003), but not at 4.5 years. There was a tendency of positive association between U-As and plasma PO4 in stunted boys (beta=0.27; 0.089, 0.46). When stratified by % monomethylarsonic acid (MMA, arsenic metabolite) (median split at 9.7%), a much stronger inverse association between U-As and IGF-1 in the girls (beta=-0.41; -0.77, -0.03) was obtained above the median split. Conclusion: The results suggest that As-related growth impairment in children is mediated, at least partly, through suppressed IGF-1 levels.

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  • 16.
    Ahooghalandari, Parvin
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Cell Biology.
    Hanke, Nina
    Thorpe, Michael
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Cell Biology.
    Witte, Andreas
    Messinger, Josef
    Hellman, Lars
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Cell Biology.
    Mutations in Arg143 and Lys192 of the Human Mast Cell Chymase Markedly Affect the Activity of Five Potent Human Chymase Inhibitors2013In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 8, no 6, p. e65988-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Chymotrypsin-like serine proteases are found in high abundance in mast cell granules. By site-directed mutatgenesis, we have previously shown that basic amino acids in positions 143 and 192 (Arg and Lys respectively) of the human mast cell chymase are responsible for an acidic amino acid residue preference in the P2' position of substrates. In order to study the influence of these two residues in determining the specificity of chymase inhibitors, we have synthesized five different potent inhibitors of the human chymase. The inhibitory effects of these compounds were tested against the wild-type enzyme, against two single mutants Arg143Gln and Lys192Met and against a double mutant, Arg143Gln+Lys192Met. We observed a markedly reduced activity of all five inhibitors with the double mutant, indicating that these two basic residues are involved in conferring the specificity of these inhibitors. The single mutants showed an intermediate phenotype, with the strongest effect on the inhibitor by the mutation in Lys192. The Lys192 and the double mutations also affected the rate of cleavage of angiotensin I but did not seem to affect the specificity in the cleavage of the Tyr(4)-Ile(5) bond. A more detailed knowledge about which amino acids that confer the specificity of an enzyme can prove to be of major importance for development of highly specific inhibitors for the human chymase and other medically important enzymes.

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  • 17.
    Ahs, Fredrik
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology.
    Women with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Have Increased Harm Avoidance and Reduced 5-HT1A Receptor Binding Potential in the Anterior Cingulate and Amygdala2013In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a common condition, characterized by somatic distress upon exposure to odors. As in other idiopathic environmental intolerances, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Contrary to the expectations it was recently found that persons with MCS activate the odor-processing brain regions less than controls, while their activation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is increased. The present follow-up study was designed to test the hypotheses that MCS subjects have increased harm avoidance and deviations in the serotonin system, which could render them intolerant to environmental odors. Twelve MCS and 11 control subjects, age 22–44, all working or studying females, were included in a PET study where 5-HT1A receptor binding potential (BP) was assessed after bolus injection of [11C]WAY100635. Psychological profiles were assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory and the Swedish universities Scales of Personality. All MCS and 12 control subjects were also tested for emotional startle modulation in an acoustic startle test. MCS subjects exhibited significantly increased harm avoidance, and anxiety compared to controls. They also had a reduced 5-HT1A receptor BP in amygdala (p = 0.029), ACC (p = 0.005) (planned comparisons, significance level 0.05), and insular cortex (p = 0.003; significance level p<0.005 with Bonferroni correction), and showed an inverse correlation between degree of anxiety and the BP in the amygdala (planned comparison). No group by emotional category difference was found in the startle test. Increased harm avoidance and the observed changes in the 5-HT1A receptor BP in the regions processing harm avoidance provides a plausible pathophysiological ground for the symptoms described in MCS, and yields valuable information for our general understanding of idiopathic environmental intolerances.

  • 18. Akhtar, Malik N.
    et al.
    Southey, Bruce R.
    Andrén, Per E.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences.
    Sweedler, Jonathan V.
    Rodriguez-Zas, Sandra L.
    Accurate Assignment of Significance to Neuropeptide Identifications Using Monte Carlo K-Permuted Decoy Databases2014In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 9, no 10, p. e111112-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    In support of accurate neuropeptide identification in mass spectrometry experiments, novel Monte Carlo permutation testing was used to compute significance values. Testing was based on k-permuted decoy databases, where k denotes the number of permutations. These databases were integrated with a range of peptide identification indicators from three popular open-source database search software (OMSSA, Crux, and X! Tandem) to assess the statistical significance of neuropeptide spectra matches. Significance p-values were computed as the fraction of the sequences in the database with match indicator value better than or equal to the true target spectra. When applied to a test-bed of all known manually annotated mouse neuropeptides, permutation tests with k-permuted decoy databases identified up to 100% of the neuropeptides at p-value < 10(-5). The permutation test p-values using hyperscore (X! Tandem), E-value (OMSSA) and Sp score (Crux) match indicators outperformed all other match indicators. The robust performance to detect peptides of the intuitive indicator "number of matched ions between the experimental and theoretical spectra" highlights the importance of considering this indicator when the p-value was borderline significant. Our findings suggest permutation decoy databases of size 1x10(5) are adequate to accurately detect neuropeptides and this can be exploited to increase the speed of the search. The straightforward Monte Carlo permutation testing (comparable to a zero order Markov model) can be easily combined with existing peptide identification software to enable accurate and effective neuropeptide detection. The source code is available at http://stagbeetle.animal.uiuc.edu/pepshop/MSMSpermutationtesting.

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  • 19.
    Akiyama, Reiko
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Plant Ecology and Evolution.
    Ågren, Jon
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Plant Ecology and Evolution.
    Magnitude and timing of leaf damage affect seed production in a natural population of Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae)2012In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 7, no 1, p. e30015-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background: The effect of herbivory on plant fitness varies widely. Understanding the causes of this variation is of considerable interest because of its implications for plant population dynamics and trait evolution. We experimentally defoliated the annual herb Arabidopsis thaliana in a natural population in Sweden to test the hypotheses that (a) plant fitness decreases with increasing damage, (b) tolerance to defoliation is lower before flowering than during flowering, and (c) defoliation before flowering reduces number of seeds more strongly than defoliation during flowering, but the opposite is true for effects on seed size.

    Methodology/Principal Findings: In a first experiment, between 0 and 75% of the leaf area was removed in May from plants that flowered or were about to start flowering. In a second experiment, 0, 25%, or 50% of the leaf area was removed from plants on one of two occasions, in mid April when plants were either in the vegetative rosette or bolting stage, or in mid May when plants were flowering. In the first experiment, seed production was negatively related to leaf area removed, and at the highest damage level, also mean seed size was reduced. In the second experiment, removal of 50% of the leaf area reduced seed production by 60% among plants defoliated early in the season at the vegetative rosettes, and by 22% among plants defoliated early in the season at the bolting stage, but did not reduce seed output of plants defoliated one month later. No seasonal shift in the effect of defoliation on seed size was detected.

    Conclusions/Significance: The results show that leaf damage may reduce the fitness of A. thaliana, and suggest that in this population leaf herbivores feeding on plants before flowering should exert stronger selection on defence traits than those feeding on plants during flowering, given similar damage levels.

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  • 20.
    Akkad, Hazem
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Clinical Neurophysiology.
    Corpeno Kalamgi, Rebeca
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Clinical Neurophysiology.
    Larsson, Lars
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Clinical Neurophysiology.
    Masseter Muscle Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis and Degradation in an Experimental Critical Illness Myopathy Model2014In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 9, no 4, p. e92622-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Critical illness myopathy (CIM) is a debilitating common consequence of modern intensive care, characterized by severe muscle wasting, weakness and a decreased myosin/actin (M/A) ratio. Limb/trunk muscles are primarily affected by this myopathy while cranial nerve innervated muscles are spared or less affected, but the mechanisms underlying these muscle-specific differences remain unknown. In this time-resolved study, the cranial nerve innervated masseter muscle was studied in a unique experimental rat intensive care unit (ICU) model, where animals were exposed to sedation, neuromuscular blockade (NMB), mechanical ventilation, and immobilization for durations varying between 6 h and 14d. Gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting, RT-PCR and morphological staining techniques were used to analyze M/A ratios, myofiber size, synthesis and degradation of myofibrillar proteins, and levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs). Results obtained in the masseter muscle were compared with previous observations in experimental and clinical studies of limb muscles. Significant muscle-specific differences were observed, i.e., in the masseter, the decline in M/A ratio and muscle fiber size was small and delayed. Furthermore, transcriptional regulation of myosin and actin synthesis was maintained, and Akt phosphorylation was only briefly reduced. In studied degradation pathways, only mRNA, but not protein levels of MuRF1, atrogin-1 and the autophagy marker LC3b were activated by the ICU condition. The matrix metalloproteinase MMP-2 was inhibited and protective HSPs were up-regulated early. These results confirm that the cranial nerve innervated masticatory muscles is less affected by the ICU-stress response than limb muscles, in accordance with clinical observation in ICU patients with CIM, supporting the model' credibility as a valid CIM model.

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  • 21.
    Akula, Srinivas
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology.
    Mohammadamin, Sayran
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology.
    Hellman, Lars
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology.
    Fc Receptors for Immunoglobulins and Their Appearance during Vertebrate Evolution2014In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 9, no 5, p. e96903-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Receptors interacting with the constant domain of immunoglobulins (Igs) have a number of important functions in vertebrates. They facilitate phagocytosis by opsonization, are key components in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity as well as activating cells to release granules. In mammals, four major types of classical Fc receptors (FcRs) for IgG have been identified, one high-affinity receptor for IgE, one for both IgM and IgA, one for IgM and one for IgA. All of these receptors are related in structure and all of them, except the IgA receptor, are found in primates on chromosome 1, indicating that they originate from a common ancestor by successive gene duplications. The number of Ig isotypes has increased gradually during vertebrate evolution and this increase has likely been accompanied by a similar increase in isotype-specific receptors. To test this hypothesis we have performed a detailed bioinformatics analysis of a panel of vertebrate genomes. The first components to appear are the poly-Ig receptors (PIGRs), receptors similar to the classic FcRs in mammals, so called FcRL receptors, and the FcR gamma chain. These molecules are not found in cartilagous fish and may first appear within bony fishes, indicating a major step in Fc receptor evolution at the appearance of bony fish. In contrast, the receptor for IgA is only found in placental mammals, indicating a relatively late appearance. The IgM and IgA/M receptors are first observed in the monotremes, exemplified by the platypus, indicating an appearance during early mammalian evolution. Clearly identifiable classical receptors for IgG and IgE are found only in marsupials and placental mammals, but closely related receptors are found in the platypus, indicating a second major step in Fc receptor evolution during early mammalian evolution, involving the appearance of classical IgG and IgE receptors from FcRL molecules and IgM and IgA/M receptors from PIGR.

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  • 22.
    Akula, Srinivas
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology.
    Thorpe, Michael
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology.
    Boinapally, Vamsi
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology.
    Hellman, Lars
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology.
    Granule Associated Serine Proteases of Hematopoietic Cells - An Analysis of Their Appearance and Diversification during Vertebrate Evolution2015In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 10, no 11, article id e0143091Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Serine proteases are among the most abundant granule constituents of several hematopoietic cell lineages including mast cells, neutrophils, cytotoxic T cells and NK cells. These proteases are stored in their active form in the cytoplasmic granules and in mammals are encoded from four different chromosomal loci: the chymase locus, the met-ase locus, the T cell tryptase and the mast cell tryptase locus. In order to study their appearance during vertebrate evolution we have performed a bioinformatic analysis of related genes and gene loci from a large panel of metazoan animals from sea urchins to placental mammals for three of these loci: the chymase, met-ase and granzyme A/K loci. Genes related to mammalian granzymes A and K were the most well conserved and could be traced as far back to cartilaginous fish. Here, the granzyme A and K genes were found in essentially the same chromosomal location from sharks to humans. However in sharks, no genes clearly identifiable as members of the chymase or met-ase loci were found. A selection of these genes seemed to appear with bony fish, but sometimes in other loci. Genes related to mammalian met-ase locus genes were found in bony fish. Here, the most well conserved member was complement factor D. However, genes distantly related to the neutrophil proteases were also identified in this locus in several bony fish species, indicating that this locus is also old and appeared at the base of bony fish. In fish, a few of the chymase locus-related genes were found in a locus with bordering genes other than the mammalian chymase locus and some were found in the fish met-ase locus. This indicates that a convergent evolution rather than divergent evolution has resulted in chymase locus-related genes in bony fish.

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  • 23.
    Al Adhami, Maissa
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Women's and Children's Health, SWEDESD - Sustainability Learning and Research Centre. Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Social medicine/CHAP.
    Berglund, Erik
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences. Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Wångdahl, Josefin
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Social medicine/CHAP. Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Salari, Raziye
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Public Health. Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Social medicine/CHAP.
    A cross-sectional study of health and well-being among newly settled refugee migrants in Sweden–The role of health literacy, social support and self-efficacy2022In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 17, no 12, article id e0279397Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Structural barriers such as inadequate housing, lack of employment opportunities, and discrimination are known to adversely affect the health of newly settled refugee migrants. However, these barriers remain largely unresolved and unaddressed. Thus, there is a need to better understand how other factors, such as individual-level health resources, may influence health and mitigate ill health in the early post-migration phase. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between health outcomes and individual health resources including health literacy, social support, and self-efficacy in newly settled refugee migrants. Survey data was collected from 787 refugee migrants in Sweden. Logistical regression analysis showed that limited health literacy, lack of emotional support, and low self-efficacy were consistently associated with poor health outcomes. Demographic variables such as gender, education, and type of residence permit were not as imperative. Individual-level health resources may play an important role in the general and psychological well-being of newly settled migrants. Promoting health literacy and facilitating the attainment of social support may buffer for structural challenges in the establishment phase and enhance the prospects of later health and social integration.

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  • 24.
    Alassaad, Anna
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical pharmacogenomics and osteoporosis.
    Bertilsson, Maria
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Medicinska och farmaceutiska vetenskapsområdet, centrumbildningar mm, UCR-Uppsala Clinical Research Center.
    Gillespie, Ulrika
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences.
    Sundström, Johan
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Medicinska och farmaceutiska vetenskapsområdet, centrumbildningar mm, UCR-Uppsala Clinical Research Center. Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Cardiology.
    Hammarlund-Udenaes, Margareta
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences.
    Melhus, Håkan
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical pharmacogenomics and osteoporosis.
    The effects of pharmacist intervention on emergency department visits in patients 80 years and older: subgroup analyses by number of prescribed drugs and appropriate prescribing2014In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 9, no 11, p. e111797-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background: Clinical pharmacist interventions have been shown to have positive effect on occurrence of drug-related issues as well as on clinical outcomes. However, evidence about which patients benefiting most from the interventions is limited. We aimed to explore whether pharmacist intervention is equally effective in preventing emergency department (ED) visits in patients with few or many prescribed drugs and in those with different levels of inappropriate prescribing. Methods: Patient and outcome data from a randomized controlled trial exploring the clinical effects of a ward-based pharmacist intervention in patients, 80 years and older, were used. The patients were divided into subgroups according to the number of prescribed drugs (< 5 or >= 5 drugs) and the level of inappropriate prescribing [using the Screening Tool Of Older People's potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) and the Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment (START) with a score of >= 2 (STOPP) and >= 1 (START) as cutoff points]. The effect of the intervention on the number of times the different subgroups visited the ED was analyzed. Results: The pharmacist intervention was more effective with respect to the number of subsequent ED visits in patients taking < 5 drugs on admission than in those taking >= 5 drugs. The rate ratio (RR) for a subsequent ED visit was 0.22 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.09-0.52] for,5 drugs and 0.70 (95% CI 0.47-1.04) for >= 5 drugs (p = 0.02 for the interaction). The effect of intervention did not differ between patients with high or low STOPP or START scores. Conclusion: In this exploratory study, the pharmacist intervention appeared to be more effective in preventing visits to the ED for patients who were taking fewer drugs before the intervention. Our analysis of STOPP and START scores indicated that the level of inappropriate prescribing on admission had no effect on the outcomes of intervention with respect to ED visits.

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  • 25.
    Albert, Benjamin B.
    et al.
    Univ Auckland, Liggins Inst, Auckland, New Zealand..
    Derraik, José G. B.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Research group (Dept. of women´s and children´s health), Perinatal, Neonatal and Pediatric Cardiology Research. Univ Auckland, Liggins Inst, Auckland, New Zealand.
    Xia, Yin-Yin
    Chongqing Med Univ, Innovat Ctr Social Risk Governance Hlth, Res Ctr Med & Social Dev, Sch Publ Hlth & Management, Chongqing, Peoples R China..
    Norris, Tom
    Univ Leicester, Coll Life Sci, Leicester, Leics, England..
    Zhang, Ting
    Chongqing Med Univ, Affiliated Hosp 1, Dept Obstet & Gynaecol, Chongqing, Peoples R China..
    Han, Ting-Li
    Chongqing Med Univ, Affiliated Hosp 1, Dept Obstet & Gynaecol, Chongqing, Peoples R China.;Chongqing Med Univ, Canada China New Zealand Joint Lab Maternal & Fet, Chongqing, Peoples R China..
    Chang, Chen
    Chongqing Med Univ, Affiliated Hosp 1, Dept Obstet & Gynaecol, Chongqing, Peoples R China.;Chongqing Med Univ, Canada China New Zealand Joint Lab Maternal & Fet, Chongqing, Peoples R China..
    Rowan, Angela
    Fonterra Cooperat Grp Ltd, Palmerston North, New Zealand..
    Gallier, Sophie
    Fonterra Cooperat Grp Ltd, Palmerston North, New Zealand..
    Souza, Renato T.
    Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Obstet & Gynaecol, Campinas, Brazil..
    Hammond, Judith J.
    Auckland UniServ Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand..
    Zhou, Wei
    Chongqing Hlth Ctr Women & Children, Dept Obstet, Chongqing, Peoples R China..
    Zhang, Hua
    Chongqing Med Univ, Affiliated Hosp 1, Dept Obstet & Gynaecol, Chongqing, Peoples R China.;Chongqing Med Univ, Canada China New Zealand Joint Lab Maternal & Fet, Chongqing, Peoples R China..
    Qi, Hong-Bo
    Chongqing Med Univ, Affiliated Hosp 1, Dept Obstet & Gynaecol, Chongqing, Peoples R China.;Chongqing Med Univ, Canada China New Zealand Joint Lab Maternal & Fet, Chongqing, Peoples R China..
    Baker, Philip N.
    Chongqing Med Univ, Affiliated Hosp 1, Dept Obstet & Gynaecol, Chongqing, Peoples R China.;Chongqing Med Univ, Canada China New Zealand Joint Lab Maternal & Fet, Chongqing, Peoples R China..
    Supplementation with milk enriched with complex lipids during pregnancy: A double-blind randomized controlled trial2021In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 16, no 2, article id e0244916Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background Gangliosides are a class of sphingolipids that are present in the cell membranes of vertebrates. Gangliosides influence a broad range of cellular processes through effects on signal transduction, being found abundantly in the brain, and having a role in neurodevelopment.

    Objective We aimed to assess the effects of maternal daily consumption of ganglioside-enriched milk vs non-enriched milk and a non-supplemented group of pregnant women on maternal ganglioside levels and pregnancy outcomes.

    Design Double-blind parallel randomized controlled trial.

    Methods 1,500 women aged 20-40 years were recruited in Chongqing (China) between 11 and 14 weeks of a singleton pregnancy, and randomized into three groups: Control-received standard powdered milk formulation (>= 4 mg gangliosides/day); Complex milk lipid-enhanced (CML-E) group-same formulation enriched with complex milk lipids (>= 8 mg gangliosides/day) from milk fat globule membrane; Reference-received no milk. Serum ganglioside levels were measured in a randomly selected subsample of 250 women per group.

    Results CML-E milk was associated with marginally greater total gangliosides levels in maternal serum compared to Control (13.02 vs 12.69 mu g/ml; p = 0.034) but not to Reference group. CML-E milk did not affect cord blood ganglioside levels. Among the 1500 women, CML-E milk consumption was associated with a lower rate of gestational diabetes mellitus than control milk [relative risk 0.80 (95% CI 0.64, 0.99)], but which was not different to the Reference group. CML-E milk supplementation had no other effects on maternal or newborn health.

    Conclusions Maternal supplementation with milk fat globule membrane, as a source of gangliosides, was not associated with any adverse health outcomes, and did not increase serum gangliosides compared with the non-supplemented reference group.

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  • 26. Al-Henhena, Nawal
    et al.
    Ying, Rozaida Poh Yuen
    Ismail, Salmah
    Najm, Wala
    Khalifa, Shaden A. M.
    El-Seedi, Hesham
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Division of Pharmacognosy.
    Abdulla, Mahmood Ameen
    Chemopreventive Efficacy of Andrographis paniculata on Azoxymethane-Induced Aberrant Colon Crypt Foci In Vivo2014In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 9, no 11, article id e111118Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Andrographis paniculata is a grass-shaped medicinal herb, traditionally used in Southeast Asia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemoprotective effects of A. paniculata on colorectal cancer. A. paniculata ethanol extract was tested on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in vivo and in vitro. A. paniculata treated groups showed a significant reduction in the number of ACF of the treated rats. Microscopically, ACF showed remarkably elongated and stratified cells, and depletion of the submucosal glands of AOM group compared to the treated groups. Histologically, staining showed slightly elevated masses above the surrounding mucosa with oval or slit-like orifices. Immunohistochemically, expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and beta-catenin protein were down-regulated in the A. paniculata treated groups compared to the AOM group. When colon tissue was homogenized, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were significantly decreased, whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was increased in the treated groups compared to the AOM group. A. paniculata ethanol extract showed antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity, as elucidated by the measure of oxidative stress markers. Further, the active fractions were assessed against cell lines of CCD841 and HT29 colon cancer cells.

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  • 27.
    Ali, Abir Salwa
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Endocrin Oncology.
    Grönberg, Malin
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Endocrin Oncology.
    Federspiel, Birgitte
    Rigshosp, Copenhagen Univ Hosp, Copenhagen, Denmark.
    Scoazec, Jean-Yves
    Inst Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
    Hjortland, Geir Olav
    Univ Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
    Gronbaek, Henning
    Aarhus Univ Hosp, Aarhus, Denmark.
    Ladekarl, Morten
    Aarhus Univ Hosp, Aarhus, Denmark.
    Langer, Seppo W.
    Rigshosp, Copenhagen Univ Hosp, Copenhagen, Denmark.
    Welin, Staffan
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Endocrin Oncology.
    Vestermark, Lene Weber
    Odense Univ Hosp, Odense, Denmark.
    Arola, Johanna
    Univ Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Helsinki Univ Hosp, Helsinki, Finland.
    Osterlund, Pia
    Univ Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Helsinki Univ Hosp, Helsinki, Finland; Tampere Univ Hosp, Tampere, Finland.
    Knigge, Ulrich
    Univ Copenhagen, Rigshosp, Copenhagen, Denmark.
    Sorbye, Halfdan
    Haukeland Hosp, Bergen, Norway; Univ Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
    Grimelius, Lars
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Experimental and Clinical Oncology.
    Tiensuu Janson, Eva
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Endocrin Oncology. Uppsala Univ, Sect Endocrine Oncol, Dept Med Sci, Uppsala, Sweden..
    Expression of p53 protein in high-grade gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma2017In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 12, no 11, article id e0187667Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas (GEP-NECs) are aggressive, rapidly proliferating tumors. Therapeutic response to current chemotherapy regimens is usually short lasting. The aim of this study was to examine the expression and potential clinical importance of immunoreactive p53 protein in GEP-NEC. Materials and methods Tumor tissues from 124 GEP-NEC patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease treated with platinum-based chemotherapy were collected from Nordic centers and clinical data were obtained from the Nordic NEC register. Tumor proliferation rate and differentiation were re-evaluated. All specimens were immunostained for p53 protein using a commercially available monoclonal antibody. Kaplan-Meier curves and cox regression analyses were used to assess progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results All tumor tissues were immunoreactive for either one or both neuroendocrine biomarkers (chromogranin A and synaptophysin) and Ki67 index was >20% in all cases. p53 immunoreactivity was only shown in 39% of the cases and was not found to be a prognostic marker for the whole cohort. However, p53 immunoreactivity was correlated with shorter PFS in patients with colorectal tumors (HR = 2.1, p = 0.03) in a univariate analysis as well as to poorer PFS (HR = 2.6, p = 0.03) and OS (HR = 3.4, p = 0.02) in patients with colorectal tumors with distant metastases, a correlation which remained significant in the multivariate analyses. Conclusion In this cohort of GEP-NEC patients, p53 expression could not be correlated with clinical outcome. However, in patients with colorectal NECs, p53 expression was correlated with shorter PFS and OS. Further studies are needed to establish the role of immunoreactive p53 as a prognostic marker for GEP-NEC patients.

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  • 28.
    Ali, Abir Salwa
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Endocrine Oncology.
    Langer, Seppo W.
    Federspiel, Birgitte
    Hjortland, Geir Olav
    Grønbæk, Henning
    Ladekarl, Morten
    Welin, Staffan
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Endocrine Oncology.
    Weber Vestermark, Lene
    Arola, Johanna
    Osterlund, Pia
    Knigge, Ulrich
    Sørbye, Halfdan
    Micke, Patrick
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Clinical and experimental pathology.
    Grimelius, Lars
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Experimental and Clinical Oncology.
    Grönberg, Malin
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Endocrine Oncology.
    Tiensuu Janson, Eva
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Endocrine Oncology.
    PD-L1 expression in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms grade 32020In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 15, no 12, article id e0243900Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms grade 3 (GEP-NENs G3) are rare tumors. These highly aggressive neoplasms are traditionally treated with platinum-based chemotherapy in combination with etoposide. Immune checkpoint proteins such as programmed cell death ligand (PD-L1) may have a role in different cancers allowing them escape the immune system and hence, progress. We aimed to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1 in GEP-NEN G3 and evaluate its correlation to clinical parameters. In a cohort of 136 patients, 14 (10%) expressed PD-L1 immunoreactivity; four (3%) patients in the tumor cells and 10 (7%) had immunoreactive immune cells. PD-L1 expression did not correlate to clinical parameters, progression-free survival or overall survival. We conclude that PD-L1 expression is present only in a subset of GEP-NEN G3 patients. Further studies are needed to fully understand the role of PD-L1 in patients with GEP-NEN G3, including the future possibility for treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

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  • 29.
    Ali, Mahmoud Alhaj
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences.
    Adem, Abdu
    Chandranath, Irwin S.
    Benedict, Sheela
    Pathan, Javed Y.
    Nagelkerke, Nicolas
    Nyberg, Fred
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences.
    Lewis, Lynley K.
    Yandle, Tim G.
    Nicholls, Gary M.
    Frampton, Chris M.
    Kazzam, Elsadig
    Responses to Dehydration in the One-Humped Camel and Effects of Blocking the Renin-Angiotensin System2012In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 7, no 5, p. e37299-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Our objectives were to compare the levels of circulating electrolytes, hormones, and renal function during 20 days of dehydration in camels versus the level in non-dehydrated camels and to record the effect of blocking angiotensin II AT1 receptors with losartan during dehydration. Dehydration induced significant increments in serum sodium, creatinine, urea, a substantial fall in body weight, and a doubling in plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels. Plasma aldosterone, however, was unaltered compared with time-matched controls. Losartan significantly enhanced the effect of dehydration to reduce body weight and increase serum levels of creatinine and urea, whilst also impairing the rise in plasma AVP and reducing aldosterone levels. We conclude that dehydration in the camel induces substantial increments in serum sodium, creatinine, urea and AVP levels; that aldosterone levels are altered little by dehydration; that blockade of angiotensin II type 1 receptors enhances the dehydration-induced fall in body weight and increase in serum creatinine and urea levels whilst reducing aldosterone and attenuating the rise in plasma AVP.

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  • 30. Allara, Elias
    et al.
    Lee, Wei-Hsuan
    Burgess, Stephen
    Larsson, Susanna C.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgical Sciences, Medical epidemiology. Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Genetically predicted cortisol levels and risk of venous thromboembolism2022In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 17, no 8, article id e0272807Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    INTRODUCTION: In observational studies, venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been associated with Cushing's syndrome and with persistent mental stress, two conditions associated with higher cortisol levels. However, it remains unknown whether high cortisol levels within the usual range are causally associated with VTE risk. We aimed to assess the association between plasma cortisol levels and VTE risk using Mendelian randomization.

    METHODS: Three genetic variants in the SERPINA1/SERPINA6 locus (rs12589136, rs11621961 and rs2749527) were used to proxy plasma cortisol. The associations of the cortisol-associated genetic variants with VTE were acquired from the INVENT (28 907 cases and 157 243 non-cases) and FinnGen (6913 cases and 169 986 non-cases) consortia. Corresponding data for VTE subtypes were available from the FinnGen consortium and UK Biobank. Two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses (inverse-variance weighted method) were performed.

    RESULTS: Genetic predisposition to higher plasma cortisol levels was associated with a reduced risk of VTE (odds ratio [OR] per one standard deviation increment 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62-0.87, p<0.001). The association was stronger for deep vein thrombosis (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.55-0.88, p = 0.003) than for pulmonary embolism which did not achieve statistical significance (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.63-1.09, p = 0.184). Adjusting for genetically predicted systolic blood pressure inverted the direction of the point estimate for VTE, although the resulting CI was wide (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.70-1.61, p = 0.780).

    CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that genetically predicted plasma cortisol levels in the high end of the normal range are associated with a decreased risk of VTE and that this association may be mediated by blood pressure. This study has implications for the planning of observational studies of cortisol and VTE, suggesting that blood pressure traits should be measured and accounted for.

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  • 31.
    Alm, Per A.
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Logopedi.
    Karlsson, Ragnhild
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience.
    Sundberg, Madeleine
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience.
    Axelson, Hans W.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Clinical Neurophysiology.
    Hemispheric Lateralization of Motor Thresholds in Relation to Stuttering2013In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 8, no 10, p. e76824-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Stuttering is a complex speech disorder. Previous studies indicate a tendency towards elevated motor threshold for the left hemisphere, as measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This may reflect a monohemispheric motor system impairment. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relative side-to-side difference (asymmetry) and the absolute levels of motor threshold for the hand area, using TMS in adults who stutter (n = 15) and in controls (n = 15). In accordance with the hypothesis, the groups differed significantly regarding the relative side-to-side difference of finger motor threshold (p = 0.0026), with the stuttering group showing higher motor threshold of the left hemisphere in relation to the right. Also the absolute level of the finger motor threshold for the left hemisphere differed between the groups (p = 0.049). The obtained results, together with previous investigations, provide support for the hypothesis that stuttering tends to be related to left hemisphere motor impairment, and possibly to a dysfunctional state of bilateral speech motor control.

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  • 32.
    Almblad, Ann-Charlotte
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Women's and Children's Health, International Maternal and Child Health (IMCH), International Child Health and Nutrition.
    Målqvist, Mats
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Women's and Children's Health, International Maternal and Child Health (IMCH), International Child Health and Nutrition.
    Engvall, Gunn
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Research group (Dept. of women´s and children´s health), Neuropediatrics/Paediatric oncology.
    From skepticism to assurance and control: Implementation of a patient safety system at a pediatric hospital in Sweden2018In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 13, no 11, article id e0207744Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: The use of evidence-based practice among healthcare professionals directly correlates to better outcomes for patients and higher professional satisfaction. Translating knowledge in practice and mobilizing evidence-based clinical care remains a continuing challenge in healthcare systems across the world.

    PURPOSE: To describe experiences from the implementation of an Early Detection and Treatment Program for Children (EDT-C) among health care professionals at a pediatric hospital in Sweden.

    DESIGN AND METHODS: Sixteen individual interviews were conducted with physicians, nurses and nurse assistants, which of five were instructors. Data were analyzed with qualitative content analysis.

    RESULTS: An overarching theme was created: From uncertainty and skepticism towards assurance and control. The theme was based on the content of eight categories: An innovation suitable for clinical practice, Differing conditions for change, Lack of organizational slack, Complex situations, A pragmatic implementation strategy, Delegated responsibility, Experiences of control and Successful implementation.

    CONCLUSIONS: Successful implementation was achieved when initial skepticism among staff was changed into acceptance and using EDT-C had become routine in their daily work. Inter-professional education including material from authentic patient cases promotes knowledge about different professions and can strengthen teamwork. EDT-C with evidenced-based material adapted to the context can give healthcare professionals a structured and objective tool with which to assess and treat patients, giving them a sense of control and assurance.

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  • 33.
    Almgren, Malin
    et al.
    Karolinska Inst, Dept Mol Med & Surg, Stockholm, Sweden.;Karolinska Univ Hosp, Ctr Mol Med, Stockholm, Sweden.;Karolinska Inst, Dept Clin Neurosci, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Atkinson, Richard
    Obetech Obes Res Ctr, Richmond, VA USA.;Virginia Commonwealth Univ, Richmond, VA USA..
    He, Jia
    Obetech Obes Res Ctr, Richmond, VA USA.;Virginia Commonwealth Univ, Richmond, VA USA..
    Hilding, Agneta
    Karolinska Inst, Dept Mol Med & Surg, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Hagman, Emilia
    Karolinska Inst, Dept Clin Sci Intervent & Technol, Div Pediat, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Wolk, Alicja
    Karolinska Inst, Inst Environm Med, Div Nutr Epidemiol, S-10401 Stockholm, Sweden..
    Thorell, Anders
    Ersta Hosp, Dept Surg, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Marcus, Claude
    Karolinska Inst, Dept Clin Sci Intervent & Technol, Div Pediat, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Naslund, Erik
    Karolinska Inst, Dept Clin Sci, Danderyd Hosp, Div Surg, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Ostenson, Claes-Goran
    Karolinska Inst, Dept Mol Med & Surg, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Schalling, Martin
    Karolinska Inst, Dept Mol Med & Surg, Stockholm, Sweden.;Karolinska Univ Hosp, Ctr Mol Med, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Lavebratt, Catharina
    Karolinska Inst, Dept Mol Med & Surg, Stockholm, Sweden.;Karolinska Univ Hosp, Ctr Mol Med, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Adenovirus-36 Is Associated with Obesity in Children and Adults in Sweden as Determined by Rapid ELISA2012In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 7, no 7, article id e41652Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background: Experimental and natural human adenovirus-36 (Adv36) infection of multiple animal species results in obesity through increasing adipogenesis and lipid accumulation in adipocytes. Presence of Adv36 antibodies detected by serum neutralization assay has previously been associated with obesity in children and adults living in the USA, South Korea and Italy, whereas no association with adult obesity was detected in Belgium/the Netherlands nor among USA military personnel. Adv36 infection has also been shown to reduce blood lipid levels, increase glucose uptake by adipose tissue and skeletal muscle biopsies, and to associate with improved glycemic control in non-diabetic individuals. Principal Findings: Using a novel ELISA, 1946 clinically well-characterized individuals including 424 children and 1522 nondiabetic adults, and 89 anonymous blood donors, residing in central Sweden representing the population in Stockholm area, were studied for the presence of antibodies against Adv36 in serum. The prevalence of Adv36 positivity in lean individuals increased from similar to 7% in 1992-1998 to 15-20% in 2002-2009, which paralleled the increase in obesity prevalence. We found that Adv36-positive serology was associated with pediatric obesity and with severe obesity in females compared to lean and overweight/mildly obese individuals, with a 1.5 to 2-fold Adv36 positivity increase in cases. Moreover, Adv36 positivity was less common among females and males on antilipid pharmacological treatment or with high blood triglyceride level. Insulin sensitivity, measured as lower HOMA-IR, showed a higher point estimate in Adv36-positive obese females and males, although it was not statistically significant (p = 0.08). Conclusion: Using a novel ELISA we show that Adv36 infection is associated with pediatric obesity, severe obesity in adult females and lower risk of high blood lipid levels in non-diabetic Swedish individuals.

  • 34.
    Almlöf, Jonas Carlsson
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Lundmark, Per
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Lundmark, Anders
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Ge, B.
    Maouche, S.
    Göring, H. H. H.
    Liljedahl, Ulrika
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Enström, Camilla
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Brocheton, J.
    Proust, C.
    Godefroy, T.
    Sambrook, J. G.
    Jolley, J.
    Crisp-Hihn, A.
    Foad, N.
    Lloyd-Jones, H.
    Stephens, J.
    Gwilliam, R.
    Rice, C. M.
    Hengstenberg, C.
    Samani, N. J.
    Erdmann, J.
    Schunkert, H.
    Pastinen, T.
    Deloukas, P.
    Goodall, A. H.
    Ouwehand, W. H.
    Cambien, F.
    Syvänen, Ann-Christine
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Powerful Identification of Cis-regulatory SNPs in Human Primary Monocytes Using Allele-Specific Gene Expression2012In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 7, no 12, p. e52260-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    A large number of genome-wide association studies have been performed during the past five years to identify associations between SNPs and human complex diseases and traits. The assignment of a functional role for the identified disease-associated SNP is not straight-forward. Genome-wide expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis is frequently used as the initial step to define a function while allele-specific gene expression (ASE) analysis has not yet gained a wide-spread use in disease mapping studies. We compared the power to identify cis-acting regulatory SNPs (cis-rSNPs) by genome-wide allele-specific gene expression (ASE) analysis with that of traditional expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) mapping. Our study included 395 healthy blood donors for whom global gene expression profiles in circulating monocytes were determined by Illumina BeadArrays. ASE was assessed in a subset of these monocytes from 188 donors by quantitative genotyping of mRNA using a genome-wide panel of SNP markers. The performance of the two methods for detecting cis-rSNPs was evaluated by comparing associations between SNP genotypes and gene expression levels in sample sets of varying size. We found that up to 8-fold more samples are required for eQTL mapping to reach the same statistical power as that obtained by ASE analysis for the same rSNPs. The performance of ASE is insensitive to SNPs with low minor allele frequencies and detects a larger number of significantly associated rSNPs using the same sample size as eQTL mapping. An unequivocal conclusion from our comparison is that ASE analysis is more sensitive for detecting cis-rSNPs than standard eQTL mapping. Our study shows the potential of ASE mapping in tissue samples and primary cells which are difficult to obtain in large numbers.

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  • 35.
    Almlöf, Jonas
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Lundmark, Per
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Lundmark, Anders
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Ge, Bing
    Pastinen, Tomi
    Goodall, Alison H
    Cambien, François
    Deloukas, Panos
    Ouwehand, Willem H
    Syvänen, Ann-Christine
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.
    Single nucleotide polymorphisms with cis-regulatory effects on long non-coding transcripts in human primary monocytes2014In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 9, no 7, p. e102612-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    We applied genome-wide allele-specific expression analysis of monocytes from 188 samples. Monocytes were purified from white blood cells of healthy blood donors to detect cis-acting genetic variation that regulates the expression of long non-coding RNAs. We analysed 8929 regions harboring genes for potential long non-coding RNA that were retrieved from data from the ENCODE project. Of these regions, 60% were annotated as intergenic, which implies that they do not overlap with protein-coding genes. Focusing on the intergenic regions, and using stringent analysis of the allele-specific expression data, we detected robust cis-regulatory SNPs in 258 out of 489 informative intergenic regions included in the analysis. The cis-regulatory SNPs that were significantly associated with allele-specific expression of long non-coding RNAs were enriched to enhancer regions marked for active or bivalent, poised chromatin by histone modifications. Out of the lncRNA regions regulated by cis-acting regulatory SNPs, 20% (n = 52) were co-regulated with the closest protein coding gene. We compared the identified cis-regulatory SNPs with those in the catalog of SNPs identified by genome-wide association studies of human diseases and traits. This comparison identified 32 SNPs in loci from genome-wide association studies that displayed a strong association signal with allele-specific expression of non-coding RNAs in monocytes, with p-values ranging from 6.7×10-7 to 9.5×10-89. The identified cis-regulatory SNPs are associated with diseases of the immune system, like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

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  • 36.
    Alpkvist, Helena
    et al.
    Karolinska Univ Hosp, Dept Infect Dis, Stockholm, Sweden.;Karolinska Inst, Dept Med Huddinge, Infect Dis Unit, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Athlin, Simon
    Univ Orebro, Dept Infect Dis, Fac Med & Hlth, SE-70182 Orebro, Sweden..
    Naucler, Pontus
    Karolinska Univ Hosp, Dept Infect Dis, Stockholm, Sweden.;Karolinska Inst, Dept Med Solna, Infect Dis Unit, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Herrmann, Björn
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Medicine.
    Abdeldaim, Guma
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Medicine. Benghazi Univ, Dept Med Microbiol & Parasitol, Fac Med, Benghazi, Libya..
    Slotved, Hans-Christian
    Statens Serum Inst, Dept Microbiol & Infect Control, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark..
    Hedlund, Jonas
    Karolinska Univ Hosp, Dept Infect Dis, Stockholm, Sweden.;Karolinska Inst, Dept Med Solna, Infect Dis Unit, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Stralin, Kristoffer
    Karolinska Univ Hosp, Dept Infect Dis, Stockholm, Sweden.;Karolinska Inst, Dept Med Huddinge, Infect Dis Unit, Stockholm, Sweden.;Univ Orebro, Dept Infect Dis, Fac Med & Hlth, SE-70182 Orebro, Sweden..
    Clinical and Microbiological Factors Associated with High Nasopharyngeal Pneumococcal Density in Patients with Pneumococcal Pneumonia2015In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 10, no 10, article id e0140112Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background We aimed to study if certain clinical and/or microbiological factors are associated with a high nasopharyngeal (NP) density of Streptococcus pneumoniae in pneumococcal pneumonia. In addition, we aimed to study if a high NP pneumococcal density could be useful to detect severe pneumococcal pneumonia. Methods Adult patients hospitalized for radiologically confirmed community-acquired pneumonia were included in a prospective study. NP aspirates were collected at admission and were subjected to quantitative PCR for pneumococcal DNA (Spn9802 DNA). Patients were considered to have pneumococcal etiology if S. pneumoniae was detected in blood culture and/ or culture of respiratory secretions and/or urinary antigen test. Results Of 166 included patients, 68 patients had pneumococcal DNA detected in NP aspirate. Pneumococcal etiology was noted in 57 patients (84%) with positive and 8 patients (8.2%) with negative test for pneumococcal DNA (p<0.0001). The median NP pneumococcal density of DNA positive patients with pneumococcal etiology was 6.83 log(10) DNA copies/mL (range 1.79-9.50). In a multivariate analysis of patients with pneumococcal etiology, a high pneumococcal density was independently associated with severe pneumonia (Pneumonia Severity Index risk class IV-V), symptom duration >= 2 days prior to admission, and a medium/high serum immunoglobulin titer against the patient's own pneumococcal serotype. NP pneumococcal density was not associated with sex, age, smoking, co-morbidity, viral co-infection, pneumococcal serotype, or bacteremia. Severe pneumococcal pneumonia was noted in 28 study patients. When we studied the performance of PCR with different DNA cut-off levels for detection of severe pneumococcal pneumonia, we found sensitivities of 54-82% and positive predictive values of 37-56%, indicating suboptimal performance. Conclusions Pneumonia severity, symptom duration similar to 2 days, and a medium/high serum immunoglobulin titer against the patient's own serotype were independently associated with a high NP pneumococcal density. NP pneumococcal density has limited value for detection of severe pneumococcal pneumonia.

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  • 37.
    Alsharari, Zayed
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism.
    Risérus, Ulf
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism.
    Leander, Karin
    Karolinska Inst, Inst Environm Med, Unit Cardiovasc Epidemiol, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Sjögren, Per
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism.
    Carlsson, Axel C.
    Karolinska Inst, Div Family Med, Dept Neurobiol Care Sci & Soc, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Vikstrom, Max
    Karolinska Inst, Inst Environm Med, Unit Cardiovasc Epidemiol, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Laguzzi, Federica
    Karolinska Inst, Inst Environm Med, Unit Cardiovasc Epidemiol, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Gigante, Bruna
    Karolinska Inst, Inst Environm Med, Unit Cardiovasc Epidemiol, Stockholm, Sweden.;Karolinska Inst, Danderyds Hosp, Div Cardiovasc Med, Dept Clin Sci, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Cederholm, Tommy
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism.
    De Faire, Ulf
    Karolinska Inst, Inst Environm Med, Unit Cardiovasc Epidemiol, Stockholm, Sweden.;Karolinska Univ Hosp, Karolinska Inst, Dept Med, Cardiol Unit, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Hellenius, Mai-Lis
    Karolinska Univ Hosp, Karolinska Inst, Dept Med, Cardiol Unit, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Marklund, Matti
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism.
    Serum Fatty Acids, Desaturase Activities and Abdominal Obesity - A Population-Based Study of 60-Year Old Men and Women2017In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 12, no 1, article id e0170684Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Abdominal obesity is a key contributor of metabolic disease. Recent trials suggest that dietary fat quality affects abdominal fat content, where palmitic acid and linoleic acid influence abdominal obesity differently, while effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are less studied. Also, fatty acid desaturation may be altered in abdominal obesity. We aimed to investigate cross-sectional associations of serum fatty acids and desaturases with abdominal obesity prevalence in a population-based cohort study. Serum cholesteryl ester fatty acids composition was measured by gas chromatography in 60-year old men (n = 1883) and women (n = 2015). Cross-sectional associations of fatty acids with abdominal obesity prevalence and anthropometric measures (e.g., sagittal abdominal diameter) were evaluated in multivariable-adjusted logistic and linear regression models, respectively. Similar models were employed to investigate relations between desaturase activities (estimated by fatty acid ratios) and abdominal obesity. In logistic regression analyses, palmitic acid, stearoyl-CoA- desaturase and Delta 6-desaturase indices were associated with abdominal obesity; multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for highest versus lowest quartiles were 1.45 (1.19-1.76), 4.06 (3.27-5.05), and 3.07 (2.51-3.75), respectively. Linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, docohexaenoic acid, and Delta 5-desaturase were inversely associated with abdominal obesity; multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals): 0.39 (0.32-0.48), 0.74 (0.61-0.89), 0.76 (0.62-0.93), and 0.40 (0.33-0.49), respectively. Eicosapentaenoic acid was not associated with abdominal obesity. Similar results were obtained from linear regression models evaluating associations with different anthropometric measures. Sex-specific and linear associations were mainly observed for n3-polyunsaturated fatty acids, while associations of the other exposures were generally non-linear and similar across sexes. In accordance with findings from short-term trials, abdominal obesity was more common among individuals with relatively high proportions of palmitic acid, whilst the contrary was true for linoleic acid. Further trials should examine the potential role of linoleic acid and its main dietary source, vegetable oils, in abdominal obesity prevention.

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  • 38.
    Ambavane, Apoorva
    et al.
    Modeling and Simulation, Evidera, London, United Kingdom.
    Lindahl, Bertil
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Medicinska och farmaceutiska vetenskapsområdet, centrumbildningar mm, UCR-Uppsala Clinical Research Center. Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Cardiology.
    Giannitsis, Evangelos
    Medizinische Klinik III, University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany .
    Roiz, Julie
    Modeling and Simulation, Evidera, London, United Kingdom .
    Mendivil, Joan
    Market Access, Roche Diagnostics International Ltd., Rotkreuz, Switzerland .
    Frankenstein, Lutz
    Department of Cardiology, Angiology, Pulmonology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany .
    Body, Richard
    Emergency Department, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom .
    Christ, Michael
    Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg General Hospital, Nuremberg, Germany .
    Bingisser, Roland
    Emergency Department, University of Basel, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland .
    Alquezar, Aitor
    Servei de Urgencies. Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain .
    Mueller, Christian
    Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland .
    Economic evaluation of the one-hour rule-out and rule-in algorithm for acute myocardial infarction using the high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T assay in the emergency department2017In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 12, no 11, article id e0187662Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: The 1-hour (h) algorithm triages patients presenting with suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to the emergency department (ED) towards "rule-out," "rule-in," or "observation," depending on baseline and 1-h levels of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn). The economic consequences of applying the accelerated 1-h algorithm are unknown.

    METHODS AND FINDINGS: We performed a post-hoc economic analysis in a large, diagnostic, multicenter study of hs-cTnT using central adjudication of the final diagnosis by two independent cardiologists. Length of stay (LoS), resource utilization (RU), and predicted diagnostic accuracy of the 1-h algorithm compared to standard of care (SoC) in the ED were estimated. The ED LoS, RU, and accuracy of the 1-h algorithm was compared to that achieved by the SoC at ED discharge. Expert opinion was sought to characterize clinical implementation of the 1-h algorithm, which required blood draws at ED presentation and 1h, after which "rule-in" patients were transferred for coronary angiography, "rule-out" patients underwent outpatient stress testing, and "observation" patients received SoC. Unit costs were for the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Germany. The sensitivity and specificity for the 1-h algorithm were 87% and 96%, respectively, compared to 69% and 98% for SoC. The mean ED LoS for the 1-h algorithm was 4.3h-it was 6.5h for SoC, which is a reduction of 33%. The 1-h algorithm was associated with reductions in RU, driven largely by the shorter LoS in the ED for patients with a diagnosis other than AMI. The estimated total costs per patient were £2,480 for the 1-h algorithm compared to £4,561 for SoC, a reduction of up to 46%.

    CONCLUSIONS: The analysis shows that the use of 1-h algorithm is associated with reduction in overall AMI diagnostic costs, provided it is carefully implemented in clinical practice. These results need to be prospectively validated in the future.

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  • 39. Amrmstrong, Chelsey
    et al.
    Shoemaker, Anna
    McKechnie, Ian
    Ekblom, Anneli
    Anthropological contributions to historical ecology: 50 questions, infinite prospects2017In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    This paper presents the results of a consensus-driven process identifying 50 priority research

    questions for historical ecology obtained through crowdsourcing, literature reviews,

    and in-person workshopping. A deliberative approach was designed to maximize discussion

    and debate with defined outcomes. Two in-person workshops (in Sweden and Canada)

    over the course of two years and online discussions were peer facilitated to define specific

    key questions for historical ecology from anthropological and archaeological perspectives.

    The aim of this research is to showcase the variety of questions that reflect the broad scope

    for historical-ecological research trajectories across scientific disciplines. Historical ecology

    encompasses research concerned with decadal, centennial, and millennial human-environmental

    interactions, and the consequences that those relationships have in the formation

    of contemporary landscapes. Six interrelated themes arose from our consensus-building

    workshop model: (1) climate and environmental change and variability; (2) multi-scalar,

    multi-disciplinary; (3) biodiversity and community ecology; (4) resource and environmental

    management and governance; (5) methods and applications; and (6) communication and

    policy. The 50 questions represented by these themes highlight meaningful trends in historical

    ecology that distill the field down to three explicit findings. First, historical ecology is fundamentally

    an applied research program. Second, this program seeks to understand longterm

    human-environment interactions with a focus on avoiding, mitigating, and reversing

    adverse ecological effects. Third, historical ecology is part of convergent trends toward

    transdisciplinary research science, which erodes scientific boundaries between the cultural

    and natural.

  • 40.
    Anan, Intissar
    et al.
    Umeå Univ, Dept Publ Hlth & Clin Med, Umeå, Sweden.;Umeå Univ, Wallenberg Ctr Mol Med, Umeå, Sweden..
    Suhr, Ole B.
    Umeå Univ, Dept Publ Hlth & Clin Med, Umeå, Sweden..
    Liszewska, Katarzyna
    Pitea Hosp, Dept Med, Pitea, Sweden..
    Baranda, Jorge Mejia
    Pitea Hosp, Dept Med, Pitea, Sweden..
    Pilebro, Bjorn
    Umeå Univ, Dept Publ Hlth & Clin Med, Umeå, Sweden..
    Wixner, Jonas
    Umeå Univ, Dept Publ Hlth & Clin Med, Umeå, Sweden..
    Ihse, Elisabet
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Geriatrics. Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Clinical and experimental pathology.
    Amyloid fibril composition type is consistent over time in patients with Val30Met (p.Val50Met) transthyretin amyloidosis2022In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 17, no 3, article id e0266092Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background: We have previously shown that transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis patients have amyloid fibrils of either of two compositions; type A fibrils consisting of large amounts of C-terminal TTR fragments in addition to full-length TTR, or type B fibrils consisting of only full-length TTR. Since type A fibrils are associated with an older age in ATTRVal30Met (p.Val50Met) amyloidosis patients, it has been discussed if the TTR fragments are derived from degradation of the amyloid deposits as the patients are aging. The present study aimed to investigate if the fibril composition type changes over time, especially if type B fibrils can shift to type A fibrils as the disease progresses.

    Material and method:s Abdominal adipose tissue biopsies from 29 Swedish ATTRVal30Met amyloidosis patients were investigated. The fibril type in the patients initial biopsy taken for diagnostic purposes was compared to a biopsy taken several years later (ranging between 2 and 13 years). The fibril composition type was determined by western blot.

    Results: All 29 patients had the same fibril composition type in both the initial and the follow-up biopsy (8 type A and 21 type B). Even patients with a disease duration of more than 12 years and an age over 75 years at the time of the follow-up biopsy had type B fibrils in both biopsies.

    Discussion: The result clearly shows that the amyloid fibril composition containing large amounts of C-terminal fragments (fibril type A) is a consequence of other factors than a slow degradation process occurring over time.

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  • 41.
    Anandavadivelan, Poorna
    et al.
    Karolinska Inst, Karolinska Univ Hosp, Dept Mol Med & Surg, Surg Care Sci, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Wikman, Anna
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Research group (Dept. of women´s and children´s health), Reproductive Health.
    Johar, Asif
    Karolinska Inst, Karolinska Univ Hosp, Dept Mol Med & Surg, Surg Care Sci, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Lagergren, Pernilla
    Karolinska Inst, Karolinska Univ Hosp, Dept Mol Med & Surg, Surg Care Sci, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Profiles of patient and tumour characteristics in relation to health-related quality of life after oesophageal cancer surgery2018In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 13, no 4, article id e0196187Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Strong deterioration in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a major concern in a sub-group of long-term oesophageal cancer survivors. This study aimed to identify potential clustering of patients and tumour variables that predicts such deterioration. Patient and tumour variables were collected in a prospective cohort of patients who underwent surgery for oesophageal cancer in Sweden 2001–2005. Latent cluster analysis identified statistically significant clustering of these variables. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, BMI, tumour stage and marital status was used to determine odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between patient profiles and HRQOL at 3 and 5 years from surgery. Among 155 included patients at 3 years, three patient profiles were identified: 1) ‘reference profile’ (males, younger age, employed, upper secondary education, co-habitating, urban dwellers, adenocarcinoma and advanced tumour stage) (n = 47;30%), 2) ‘adenocarcinoma profile’ (middle age, unemployed/retired, males, low education, co-habitating, adenocarcinoma, advanced tumour stage, tumour in lower oesophagus/cardia, and co-morbidities (n = 79;51%), and 3) ‘squamous-cell carcinoma profile’ (unemployed/retired, middle-age, males, low BMI, urban dwellers, squamous-cell carcinoma, tumour in upper/middle oesophagus (n = 29;19%). These profiles did not differ regarding most HRQOL measures. Exceptions were the squamous-cell carcinoma profile, reporting more constipation (OR = 5.69; 95%CI: 1.34–24.28) and trouble swallowing saliva (OR = 4.87; 95%CI: 1.04–22.78) and the adenocarcinoma profile reporting more dyspnoea (OR = 2.60; 95%CI: 1.00–6.77) and constipation (OR = 3.31; 95%CI: 1.00–10.97) compared to the reference profile. Three distinct patient profiles were identified but these could not explain the substantial deterioration in HRQOL observed in the sub-sample of survivors.

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  • 42.
    Ander, Malin
    et al.
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Research group (Dept. of women´s and children´s health), Clinical Psychology in Healthcare.
    Thorsell Cederberg, Jenny
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Women's and Children's Health.
    von Essen, Louise
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Research group (Dept. of women´s and children´s health), Clinical Psychology in Healthcare.
    Hovén, Emma
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Research group (Dept. of women´s and children´s health), Clinical Psychology in Healthcare. Karolinska institutet.
    Exploration of psychological distress experienced by survivors of adolescent cancer reporting a need for psychological support2018In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 13, no 4, article id e0195899Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Objective

    In this qualitative study, we aimed to provide an in-depth exploration of cancer-related psychological distress experienced by young survivors of cancer during adolescence reporting a need for psychological support.

    Methods

    Two individual interviews were held with ten young survivors of cancer diagnosed in adolescence. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis followed the guidelines for inductive qualitative manifest content analysis.

    Results

    The survivors described distress experienced during and after the end of treatment. Five categories comprising 14 subcategories were generated. The categories included: A tough treatment, Marked and hindered, Not feeling good enough, Struggling with the fragility of life, and finally, An ongoing battle with emotions.

    Conclusion

    Young survivors of adolescent cancer reporting a need for psychological support described feeling physically, socially, and mentally marked by the cancer experience. They struggled with powerlessness, insecurity, social disconnection, loneliness, and feelings of being unimportant and a failure, and had difficulties understanding and managing their experiences. These concerns should be addressed in psychological treatments for the population irrespective of which approach or model is used to understand survivors’ difficulties. A transdiagnostic approach targeting processes that underpin different manifestations of distress may be effective.

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  • 43.
    Anderson, Jennifer L
    et al.
    University of Oregon.
    Rodríguez Marí, Adriana
    Braasch, Ingo
    Amores, Angel
    Hohenlohe, Paul
    Batzel, Peter
    Postlethwait, John H
    Multiple sex-associated regions and a putative sex chromosome in zebrafish revealed by RAD mapping and population genomics.2012In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 7, no 7Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Within vertebrates, major sex determining genes can differ among taxa and even within species. In zebrafish (Danio rerio), neither heteromorphic sex chromosomes nor single sex determination genes of large effect, like Sry in mammals, have yet been identified. Furthermore, environmental factors can influence zebrafish sex determination. Although progress has been made in understanding zebrafish gonad differentiation (e.g. the influence of germ cells on gonad fate), the primary genetic basis of zebrafish sex determination remains poorly understood. To identify genetic loci associated with sex, we analyzed F(2) offspring of reciprocal crosses between Oregon *AB and Nadia (NA) wild-type zebrafish stocks. Genome-wide linkage analysis, using more than 5,000 sequence-based polymorphic restriction site associated (RAD-tag) markers and population genomic analysis of more than 30,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms in our *ABxNA crosses revealed a sex-associated locus on the end of the long arm of chr-4 for both cross families, and an additional locus in the middle of chr-3 in one cross family. Additional sequencing showed that two SNPs in dmrt1 previously suggested to be functional candidates for sex determination in a cross of ABxIndia wild-type zebrafish, are not associated with sex in our AB fish. Our data show that sex determination in zebrafish is polygenic and that different genes may influence sex determination in different strains or that different genes become more important under different environmental conditions. The association of the end of chr-4 with sex is remarkable because, unique in the karyotype, this chromosome arm shares features with known sex chromosomes: it is highly heterochromatic, repetitive, late replicating, and has reduced recombination. Our results reveal that chr-4 has functional and structural properties expected of a sex chromosome.

  • 44.
    Anderson, Jennifer L
    et al.
    University of Illinois.
    Shearer, Carol A
    Population genetics of the aquatic fungus Tetracladium marchalianum over space and time.2011In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 6, no 1Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Aquatic hyphomycete fungi are fundamental mediators of energy flow and nutrient spiraling in rivers. These microscopic fungi are primarily dispersed in river currents, undergo substantial annual fluctuations in abundance, and reproduce either predominantly or exclusively asexually. These aspects of aquatic hyphomycete biology are expected to influence levels and distributions of genetic diversity over both spatial and temporal scales. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal distribution of genotypic diversity in the representative aquatic hyphomycete Tetracladium marchalianum. We sampled populations of this fungus from seven sites, three sites each in two rivers in Illinois, USA, and one site in a Wisconsin river, USA, and repeatedly sampled one population over two years to track population genetic parameters through two seasonal cycles. The resulting fungal isolates (N = 391) were genotyped at eight polymorphic microsatellite loci. In spite of seasonal reductions in the abundance of this species, genotypic diversity was consistently very high and allele frequencies remarkably stable over time. Likewise, genotypic diversity was very high at all sites. Genetic differentiation was only observed between the most distant rivers (∼450 km). Clear evidence that T. marchalianum reproduces sexually in nature was not observed. Additionally, we used phylogenetic analysis of partial β-tubulin gene sequences to confirm that the fungal isolates studied here represent a single species. These results suggest that populations of T. marchalianum may be very large and highly connected at local scales. We speculate that large population sizes and colonization of alternate substrates in both terrestrial and aquatic environments may effectively buffer the aquatic populations from in-stream population fluctuations and facilitate stability in allele frequencies over time. These data also suggest that overland dispersal is more important for structuring populations of T. marchalianum over geographic scales than expected.

  • 45.
    Andersson, Anna Karin
    et al.
    Mälardalen Univ, Sch Hlth Care & Welf, Västerås, Sweden..
    Almqvist, Lena
    Mälardalen Univ, Sch Hlth Care & Welf, Västerås, Sweden..
    Strand Brodd, Katarina
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Perinatal, Neonatal and Pediatric Cardiology Research.
    Harder, Maria
    Mälardalen Univ, Sch Hlth Care & Welf, Västerås, Sweden..
    Meaningful everyday life situations from the perspective of children born preterm: A photo-elicitation interview study with six-year-old children2023In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 18, no 8, article id e0284217Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Aim: The aim of the study was to explore meaningful everyday life situations as perceived by six-year-old children born preterm.

    Materials and methods: The study had a descriptive qualitative design with an inductive approach. Ten, six-year-old children born preterm, not diagnosed with any disabilities, participated. Data was collected by photo-elicitation interviews to stimulate and help the children to describe their meaningful everyday life situations. A qualitative content analysis according to Elo and Kyngas was applied.

    Results: The children's descriptions of meaningful everyday life situations can be understood as being in an active and dynamic process, representing the core category. The analysis resulted in three generic categories, as the children described the significance of having significant circumstances and doing things. The experiences the children gain when they do things create their desire for further development.

    Discussion: The results reveal that children born preterm are able to reflect on and give detailed descriptions of situations of importance to them. The study suggests that if six-year-old children born preterm are given the opportunity to share their views they can take an active role e.g. in planning and carrying through of interventions by health care services.

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  • 46. Andersson, Evelyn
    et al.
    Rück, Christian
    Lavebratt, Catharina
    Hedman, Erik
    Schalling, Martin
    Lindefors, Nils
    Eriksson, Elias
    Carlbring, Per
    Andersson, Gerhard
    Furmark, Tomas
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology.
    Genetic polymorphisms in monoamine systems and outcome of cognitive behavior therapy for social anxiety disorder2013In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 8, no 11, p. e79015-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    OBJECTIVE: The role of genetics for predicting the response to cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for social anxiety disorder (SAD) has only been studied in one previous investigation. The serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR), the catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) val158met, and the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) G-703Tpolymorphisms are implicated in the regulation of amygdala reactivity and fear extinction and therefore might be of relevance for CBT outcome. The aim of the present study was to investigate if these three gene variants predicted response to CBT in a large sample of SAD patients.

    METHOD: Participants were recruited from two separate randomized controlled CBT trials (trial 1: n = 112, trial 2: n = 202). Genotyping were performed on DNA extracted from blood or saliva samples. Effects were analyzed at follow-up (6 or 12 months after treatment) for both groups and for each group separately at post-treatment. The main outcome measure was the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale Self-Report.

    RESULTS: At long-term follow-up, there was no effect of any genotype, or gene × gene interactions, on treatment response. In the subsamples, there was time by genotype interaction effects indicating an influence of the TPH2 G-703T-polymorphism on CBT short-term response, however the direction of the effect was not consistent across trials.

    CONCLUSIONS: None of the three gene variants, 5-HTTLPR, COMTval158met and TPH2 G-703T, was associated with long-term response to CBT for SAD.

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  • 47. Andersson, Gerhard
    et al.
    Carlbring, Per
    Furmark, Tomas
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology.
    Therapist Experience and Knowledge Acquisition in Internet-Delivered CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial2012In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 7, no 5, p. e37411-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background: Guided internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) has been tested in several trials on social anxiety disorder (SAD) with moderate to large effects. The aims of this study were threefold. First, to compare the effects of ICBT including online discussion forum with a moderated online discussion forum only. Second, to investigate if knowledge about SAD increased following treatment and third to compare the effects of inexperienced versus experienced therapists on patient outcomes. Methods: A total of 204 participants with a primary diagnosis of SAD were included and randomized to either guided ICBT or the control condition. ICBT consisted of a 9-week treatment program which was guided by either psychology students at MSc level (n=6) or by licensed psychologists with previous experience of ICBT (n=7). A knowledge test dealing with social anxiety was administered before and after treatment. Measures of social anxiety and secondary outcomes dealing with general anxiety, depression, and quality of life were administered before and after treatment. In addition, a 1-year follow-up was conducted on the treated individuals. Results: Immediately following treatment, the ICBT group showed superior outcome on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale self-report version with a between group posttreatment Hedges g effect size of g=0.75. In addition, significant differences on all the secondary outcomes were observed. Gains were well maintained one year later. Knowledge, as assessed by the knowledge test, increased following treatment with little gain in the control group. Therapist experience did not result in different outcomes, but experienced therapists logged in less frequently compared to the inexperienced therapists, suggesting that they needed less time to support patients. Discussion: We conclude that guided ICBT reduce symptoms of SAD, increase knowledge about SAD and that therapist experience does not make a difference apart from the finding that experienced therapist may require less time to guide patients.

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  • 48. Andersson, Johanna
    et al.
    Rosell, Michelle
    Kockum, Karin
    Lilja-Lund, Otto
    Söderström, Lars
    Laurell, Katarina
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Landtblom: Neurology.
    Prevalence of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: A prospective, population-based study.2019In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 14, no 5, article id e0217705Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) causing gait impairment, dementia and urinary incontinence among the elderly, is probably under-diagnosed and under-treated. Despite being known since the 1960s, there is still a lack of prospective, population-based studies on the prevalence of iNPH. Such studies are warranted to minimize selection bias and estimate the true prevalence of the disease.

    METHODS: The prevalence of iNPH was determined in a randomly selected sample of residents, aged 65 years and older, in the Swedish county of Jämtland. Out of 1,000 individuals invited to participate, 673 (67.3%) completed a questionnaire with seven questions on iNPH symptoms. A subgroup, with and without self-reported symptoms, participated in clinical and radiological evaluations and were diagnosed according to international guidelines. Measurement of cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure was not performed as it was considered too invasive.

    RESULTS: Those who reported at least two symptoms in the questionnaire (n = 117) and 51 randomly selected individuals with 0-1 symptom participated in further examinations. Out of them, 25 individuals received the diagnosis probable iNPH according to American-European guidelines (except for the criterion of CSF opening pressure) corresponding to a prevalence of 3.7%. The prevalence of iNPH was four times higher among those aged 80 years and older (8.9%) than among those aged 65-79 years (2.1%) (p <0.001). The difference in prevalence between men (4.6%) and women (2.9%) was not significant (p = 0.24). When iNPH was diagnosed according to the Japanese guidelines the prevalence was 1.5.

    CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective, population-based study the prevalence of iNPH was 3.7% among individuals 65 years and older, and more common in the higher age group, 80 years and above. INPH should be increasingly recognized since it is a fairly common condition and an important cause of gait impairment and dementia among the elderly that can be effectively treated by shunt surgery.

  • 49.
    Andersson, Kristofer
    et al.
    Karolinska Inst, Dept Dent Med, Div Pediat Dent, Huddinge, Sweden..
    Dahllöf, Goran
    Karolinska Inst, Dept Dent Med, Div Pediat Dent, Huddinge, Sweden.;Ctr Pediat Oral Hlth Res, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Lindahl, Katarina
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Endocrinology and mineral metabolism.
    Kindmark, Andreas
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Endocrinology and mineral metabolism.
    Grigelioniene, Giedre
    Karolinska Univ Hosp, Dept Clin Genet, Stockholm, Sweden.;Karolinska Inst, Dept Mol Med & Surg, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Åström, Eva
    Karolinska Inst, Dept Woman & Child Hlth, Stockholm, Sweden.;Karolinska Univ Hosp, Astrid Lindgren Childrens Hosp, Pediat Neurol & Musculoskeletal Disorders & Home, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Malmgren, Barbro
    Karolinska Inst, Dept Dent Med, Div Pediat Dent, Huddinge, Sweden..
    Mutations in COL1A1 and COL1A2 and dental aberrations in children and adolescents with osteogenesis imperfecta - A retrospective cohort study2017In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 12, no 5, article id e0176466Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heterogeneous group of disorders of connective tissue, caused mainly by mutations in the collagen I genes (COL1A1 and COL1A2). Dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI) and other dental aberrations are common features of OI. We investigated the association between collagen I mutations and DGI, taurodontism, and retention of permanent second molars in a retrospective cohort of 152 unrelated children and adolescents with OI. The clinical examination included radiographic evaluations. Teeth from 81 individuals were available for histopathological evaluation. COL1A1/2 mutations were found in 104 individuals by nucleotide sequencing. DGI was diagnosed clinically and radiographically in 29% of the individuals (44/152) and through isolated histological findings in another 19% (29/152). In the individuals with a COL1A1 mutation, 70% (7/10) of those with a glycine substitution located C-terminal of p. Gly305 exhibited DGI in both dentitions while no individual (0/7) with a mutation N-terminal of this point exhibited DGI in either dentition (p = 0.01). In the individuals with a COL1A2 mutation, 80% (8/10) of those with a glycine substitution located C terminal of p. Gly211 exhibited DGI in both dentitions while no individual (0/5) with a mutation N-terminal of this point (p = 0.007) exhibited DGI in either dentition. DGI was restricted to the deciduous dentition in 20 individuals. Seventeen had missense mutations where glycine to serine was the most prevalent substitution (53%). Taurodontism occurred in 18% and retention of permanent second molars in 31% of the adolescents. Dental aberrations are strongly associated with qualitatively changed collagen I. The varying expressivity of DGI is related to the location of the collagen I mutation. Genotype information may be helpful in identifying individuals with OI who have an increased risk of dental aberrations.

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  • 50.
    Andersson, Malin
    et al.
    Univ Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Acad, Inst Clin Sci, Dept Anesthesiol & Intens Care, Gothenburg, Sweden..
    Oras, Jonatan
    Univ Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Acad, Inst Clin Sci, Dept Anesthesiol & Intens Care, Gothenburg, Sweden..
    Thorn, Sven Egron
    Univ Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Acad, Inst Clin Sci, Dept Anesthesiol & Intens Care, Gothenburg, Sweden..
    Karlsson, Ove
    Univ Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Acad, Inst Clin Sci, Dept Anesthesiol & Intens Care, Gothenburg, Sweden..
    Kalebo, Peter
    Univ Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Acad, Inst Clin Sci, Dept Radiol, Gothenburg, Sweden..
    Zetterberg, Henrik
    Univ Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Acad, Inst Neurosci & Physiol, Dept Psychiat & Neurochem, Mölndal, Sweden.;Sahlgrens Univ Hosp, Clin Neurochem Lab, Mölndal, Sweden.;UCL Inst Neurol, Dept Neurodegenerat Dis, Queen Sq, London, England.;UK Dementia Res Inst, London, England..
    Blennow, Kaj
    Univ Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Acad, Inst Neurosci & Physiol, Dept Psychiat & Neurochem, Mölndal, Sweden.;Sahlgrens Univ Hosp, Clin Neurochem Lab, Mölndal, Sweden..
    Bergman, Lina
    Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, research centers etc., Center for Clinical Research Dalarna. Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Research group (Dept. of women´s and children´s health), Clinical Obstetrics. Univ Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Acad, Inst Clin Sci, Dept Obstet & Gynecol, Gothenburg, Sweden.;Uppsala Univ, Dept Womens & Childrens Hlth, Uppsala, Sweden.;Stellenbosch Univ, Dept Obstet & Gynecol, Cape Town, South Africa..
    Signs of neuroaxonal injury in preeclampsia-A case control study2021In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 16, no 2, article id e0246786Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background Cerebral injury is a common cause of maternal mortality due to preeclampsia and is challenging to predict and diagnose. In addition, there are associations between previous preeclampsia and stroke, dementia and epilepsy later in life. The cerebral biomarkers S100B, neuron specific enolase, (NSE), tau protein and neurofilament light chain (NfL) have proven useful as predictors and diagnostic tools in other neurological disorders. This case-control study sought to determine whether cerebral biomarkers were increased in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a marker of cerebral origin and potential cerebral injury in preeclampsia and if concentrations in CSF correlated to concentrations in plasma. Methods CSF and blood at delivery from 15 women with preeclampsia and 15 women with normal pregnancies were analysed for the cerebral biomarkers S100B, NSE, tau protein and NfL by Simoa and ELISA based methods. MRI brain was performed after delivery and for women with preeclampsia also at six months postpartum. Results Women with preeclampsia demonstrated increased CSF- and plasma concentrations of NfL and these concentrations correlated to each other. CSF concentrations of NSE and tau were decreased in preeclampsia and there were no differences in plasma concentrations of NSE and tau between groups. For S100B, serum concentrations in preeclampsia were increased but there was no difference in CSF concentrations of S100B between women with preeclampsia and normal pregnancy. Conclusion NfL emerges as a promising circulating cerebral biomarker in preeclampsia and increased CSF concentrations point to a neuroaxonal injury in preeclampsia, even in the absence of clinically evident neurological complications.

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