Publikationer från Uppsala Universitet
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Preclinical Protein Signatures of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis : A Nested Case-Control Study Within Large Population-Based Cohorts
No full textBackground & Aims Biomarkers are needed to identify individuals at elevated risk of inflammatory bowel disease. This study aimed to identify protein signatures predictive of inflammatory bowel disease. Methods Using large population-based cohorts (n ≥180,000), blood samples were obtained from individuals who later in life were diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and compared with age and sex-matched controls, free from inflammatory bowel disease during follow-up. A total of 178 proteins were measured on Olink platforms. We used machine-learning methods to identify protein signatures of preclinical disease in the discovery cohort (n = 312). Their performance was validated in an external preclinical cohort (n = 222) and assessed in an inception cohort (n = 144) and a preclinical twin cohort (n = 102). Results In the discovery cohort, a signature of 29 proteins differentiated preclinical Crohn’s disease (CD) cases from controls, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.85. Its performance was confirmed in the preclinical validation (AUC = 0.87) and the inception cohort (AUC = 1.0). In preclinical samples, downregulated (but not upregulated) proteins related to gut barrier integrity and macrophage functionality correlated with time to diagnosis of CD. The preclinical ulcerative colitis signature had a significant, albeit lower, predictive ability in the discovery (AUC = 0.77), validation (AUC = 0.67), and inception cohorts (AUC = 0.95).The preclinical signature for CD demonstrated an AUC of 0.89 when comparing twins with preclinical CD with matched external healthy twins, but its predictive ability was lower (AUC = 0.58; P = .04) when comparing them with their healthy twin siblings, that is, when accounting for genetic and shared environmental factors. Conclusion We identified protein signatures for predicting a future diagnosis of CD and ulcerative colitis, validated across independent cohorts. In the context of CD, the signature offers potential for early prediction
Gastrointestinal side effects in hepatocellular carcinoma patients receiving transarterial chemoembolization : a meta-analysis of 81 studies and 9495 patients
No full textBackground: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a widely used treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), combining targeted chemotherapy and embolization. While effective, TACE can be associated with significant gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, impacting a patient’s quality of life. Objectives: Quantify the prevalence of key GI complications (diarrhea, nausea, GI toxicity, abdominal pain) following TACE. Design: Systematic review was performed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, focusing on studies that reported side effects of TACE. Studies not involving cTACE or drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE), non-HCC studies, meta-analyses or systematic reviews, and inaccessible publications were excluded. Data sources and methods: A PubMed search for clinical and randomized trials was conducted. Extracted data included study identifiers, demographics, TACE details, and GI side effect prevalences. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool assessed study quality and bias. Results: The analysis included data from 81 studies with 121 individual study arms and 9495 patients. Diarrhea was reported in 38 studies, with a mean prevalence of 23.46% (2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 18.39–28.544) and a weighted prevalence of 23.5%. Nausea was most frequently reported, mentioned in 67 studies, with a mean prevalence of 34.66% (2.4; 95% CI: 29.89–39.44) and a weighted prevalence of 32.5%. Abdominal pain was reported in 59 studies, with the highest mean prevalence of 48.07% (2.9; 95% CI: 42.20–53.93) and a weighted prevalence of 46.1%. GI toxicity was reported in 32 studies, with a mean prevalence of 8.85% (1.4; 95% CI: 5.99–11.70) and a weighted prevalence of 9.9%. DEB-TACE generally led to slightly higher rates of nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and GI toxicity compared to conventional TACE. The type of chemotherapy agent influenced prevalence of GI-side effects, with high prevalences observed for agents such as zinostatin and cisplatin. Conclusion: This meta-analysis synthesizes current evidence on managing GI side effects in TACE. Standardizing reporting and developing effective management strategies are crucial to improving patient outcomes
Chirality Assisted Triplet Electron Pairing
No full textRedox processes that involve pairs of electrons are common in nature. Some of these reactions involve oxygen molecules. The understanding of the efficiency of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), for example, is a challenge since the reaction is spin forbidden and requires the transfer of two pairs of electrons. Past experimental and theoretical studies demonstrated that by controlling the spin of the transferred electrons, it is possible to overcome the barrier resulting from the spin mismatch between the reactants and the products. In other works, it was suggested that the reaction is enhanced if the two electrons in each pair have phase relation, namely, they possess the property of a triplet state. Since in nature electrons are transferred through chiral systems, we probed if chirality affects the formation of paired electrons with the same spin, namely, a triplet like state. The model calculations demonstrate that chirality enhances the probability of the formation of electron pairing in the triplet states, even at room temperature. This enhancement originates from breaking the spin degeneracy, enabled by chirality and interaction of the spins with vibrations
Influence of hydrogen on the electronic structure in the transition metallic glass V80Zr20
No full textWe investigate the influence of hydrogen on the electronic structure of a binary transition metallic glass of V80Zr20. We examine the hybridization between the hydrogen and metal atoms with the aid of hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Combined with ab initio density functional theory, we are able to show and predict the formation of − hybridized energy states. With optical transmission and resistivity measurements, we investigate the emergent electronic properties formed out of those altered energy states, and together with the theoretical calculations of the frequency-dependent conductivity tensor, we qualitatively support the observed strong wavelength-dependency of the hydrogen-induced changes on the optical absorption and a positive parabolic change in resistivity with hydrogen concentration.Title in the list of papers of Johan Bylin's thesis: The inuence of hydrogen on the electronic structure in transition metallic glasses</p
Perspectives on Swedish Regulations for Online Record Access Among Adolescents With Serious Health Issues and Their Parents : Mixed Methods Study
No full textBackground: With the increasing implementation of patient online record access (ORA), various approaches to access to minors’ electronic health records have been adopted globally. In Sweden, the current regulatory framework restricts ORA for minors and their guardians when the minor is aged between 13 and 15 years. Families of adolescents with complex health care needs often desire health information to manage their child’s care and involve them in their care. However, the perspectives of adolescents with serious health issues and their parents have not been studied. Objective: This study aims to qualitatively and quantitatively investigate the perceived benefits and risks of ORA and the awareness of and views on ORA regulations among adolescents with serious health issues and their parents in Sweden. Methods: We used a convergent mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) design, consisting of a survey and semistructured individual interviews with adolescents with serious health issues (aged 13-18 y) and their parents. Participants were recruited via social media and in clinics. Quantitative data were presented descriptively. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using inductive thematic content analysis. Results: The survey population included 88 individuals (adolescents: n=31, 35%; parents: n=57, 65%). Interviews were completed by 8 (26%) of the 31 adolescents and 17 (30%) of the 57 parents. The mean age of the surveyed adolescents was 16 (SD 1.458) years, and most of the parents (29/57, 51%) were aged 45 to 54 years. The surveys indicated that most of the parents (51/56, 91%) were critical of the access gap, and most of the adolescents (20/31, 65%) were unaware of the age at which they could gain access. In the interviews, adolescents and parents identified benefits related to ORA that were categorized into 6 themes (empowering adolescents, improved emotional state, enhanced documentation accuracy, improved partnership and communication, supported parental care management, and better prepared for appointments) and risks related to ORA that were categorized into 4 themes (emotional distress and confusion, threatened confidentiality, increased burden, and low usability). Adolescents’ and parents’ views on ORA regulations were categorized into 3 themes (challenges of the access gap, balancing respect for autonomy and support, and suggested regulatory change). Conclusions: In Sweden, ORA regulations and a lack of available information cause significant inconvenience for adolescents with serious health issues and their parents. Views on access age limits differed, with adolescents expressing their perceived need for independent access, while parents exhibited concerns about adolescents having ORA. The findings indicated the importance of increased education, dialogue, and flexibility to uphold confidential and consistent delivery of adolescent health care. Further exploration is needed to understand the experiences of adolescents and parents in diverse clinical and geographic contexts, as well as the perspectives of pediatric health care professionals on restrictive ORA regulations
Mindre kapital, större risk? : En studie om effekten av minskat kapitalkrav år 2020 för privata aktiebolag
No full textDenna uppsats undersöker effekterna av sänkningen av kapitalkravet för privata aktiebolag i Sverige, från 50 000 till 25 000 kronor, som trädde i kraft år 2020. Syftet är att analysera reformens påverkan på företagsstarter och konkursfrekvens. Med hjälp av en kvantitativ Difference-in-Differences-metod analyserades data från perioden 2016-2023. Resultatet visar att reformen ledde till en signifikant ökning av antalet nystartade privata aktiebolag, vilket tyder på sänkta inträdesbarriärer för entreprenörer. Samtidigt visar resultaten en signifikant ökning av konkursfrekvensen, vilket kan vara ett resultat av riskerna med lägre eget kapital och högre skuldsättning bland nya privata aktiebolag. Studien visar både möjligheter och risker med sänkta kapitalkrav och bidrar till en bredare förståelse för entreprenörskap och kapitalstruktur
Konsten att skapa en livfull stad : Offentliga platser genom invånarnas ögon
No full textFyra kvalitativa promenadintervjuer med lokalbefolkningen i Västerås innerstad ämnade att bidra till en ökad förståelse angående vilka faktorer som får invånarna att vilja delta i de offentliga rummen. Därtill genomfördes en semi-strukturerad intervju med en planarkitekt för en angränsande stadsdel, vilket tillförde kunskap beträffande kommunens strategier för att nå den konstaterade målsättningen med en livfull stad. Genom en tematisering av intervju-materialet identifierades tre framstående teman gällande invånarnas åsikter; trygghet, möjligheten till aktivitet samt estetiskt tilltalande miljöer. Resultatet pekar på att ett brett serviceutbud, ett levande bottenplan med verksamheter, lågt tempo på gatorna, närhet till lekplatser, god belysning, samt kulturmiljöer och en kontinuitet av karaktär i den estetiska och arkitektoniska gestaltningen bidrar till attraktiva i stadsrum. Kommunens strategier för ökad livfullhet i området visade sig främst handla om att värdesätta platsens identitet men även att prioritera god belysning samt öppna och aktiva bottenplan, något som leder till fler “ögon på platsen” vilket generar en känsla av trygghet.
Multi-observatory Study of Young Stellar Energetic Flares (MORYSEF) : No Evidence for Abnormally Strong Stellar Magnetic Fields after Powerful X-Ray Flares
No full textWe explore the empirical power-law relationship between X-ray luminosity (LX) and total surface magnetic flux (Phi), established across solar magnetic elements, time- and disk-averaged emission from the Sun, older active stars, and pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars. Previous models of large PMS X-ray flares, lacking direct magnetic field measurements, showed discrepancies from this baseline law, which MHD simulations attribute to unusually strong magnetic fields during flares. To test this, we used nearly simultaneous Chandra X-ray and HET-HPF near-infrared observations of four young Orion stars, measuring surface magnetic fields during or just after powerful PMS X-ray flares. We also modeled these PMS X-ray flares, incorporating their measured magnetic field strengths. Our findings reveal magnetic field strengths at the stellar surface typical of nonflaring PMS stars, ruling out the need for abnormally strong fields during flares. Both PMS and solar flares deviate from the LX-Phi law, with PMS flares exhibiting a more pronounced deviation, primarily due to their much larger active regions on the surface and larger flaring loop volumes above the surface compared to their solar counterparts. These deviations likely stem from the fact that powerful flares are driven by magnetic reconnection, while baseline X-ray emission may involve less efficient mechanisms like Alfv & eacute;n wave heating. Our results also indicate a preference for dipolar magnetic loops in PMS flares, consistent with Zeeman-Doppler imaging of fully convective stars. This requirement for giant dipolar loops aligns with MHD predictions of strong dipoles supported by polar magnetic surface active regions in fast-rotating, fully convective stars
Från initialt köpbeslut till långsiktig kundrelation : En kvalitativ studie om utmaningarna som svenska skadeförsäkringsbolag upplever med att få unga vuxna att fatta ett initialt köpbeslut
No full textUppsatsen undersöker de utmaningar Sveriges skadeförsäkringsbolag upplever när de ämnar att få unga vuxna att fatta ett initialt köpbeslut. Utgångspunkten är att kunder som anskaffas av skadeförsäkringsbolag har en stor möjlighet att bli långvariga kunder. Av denna anledning, är det initiala köpbeslutet betydande för skadeförsäkringsbolagen. Unga vuxna befinner sig i en livsfas där behovet av att teckna sin första skadeförsäkring är stor och betydelsen av kundgruppen blir därmed central inom branschen. Unga vuxna har unika behov som präglas av ett digitalt förhållningssätt, vilket gör dem särskilt intressanta att undersöka i en bransch som ofta betraktas som traditionell. En kvalitativ metod genomfördes med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer på tre svenska skadeförsäkringsbolag. Studiens slutsats visar att de främsta utmaningarna som förekommer när Sveriges skadeförsäkringsbolag försöker få unga vuxna till ett initialt köpbeslut är olika. Först och främst är det att lyckas erbjuda ett marknadskommunikativt innehåll som är av intresse för kundgruppen, sedan är det att bygga en stark varumärkesuppfattning i en digital miljö och slutligen att skapa ett digitalt tjänsteerbjudande som anses relevant för unga vuxna.