Publikationer från Uppsala Universitet
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SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine-Induced Humoral Immunity in Immunocompetent European Adults : A Systematic Review
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, profoundly impacted global health systems and economies. Vaccination and diagnostic advancements were pivotal in managing the pandemic. This systematic review evaluates antibody levels in adults following complete COVID-19 vaccination and examines the prevalence of infections in vaccinated populations. A systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines was conducted, focusing on studies analyzing antibody levels at least 14 days after full vaccination with FDA- or EMA-approved vaccines. Five European studies meeting the inclusion criteria were selected. Data were extracted and synthesized from studies involving 6280 participants aged 19 to 105, with an average of 11% having prior exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Antibody levels were analyzed over time, and the incidence of post-vaccination COVID-19 cases was recorded. The reviewed studies demonstrated that antibody levels peaked shortly after vaccination but gradually declined over time. Individuals with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection exhibited higher antibody titers than those without prior exposure. After the first dose, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine led to significantly higher antibody levels than the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, especially in those without prior infection. Across all studies, the incidence of COVID-19 among vaccinated individuals was low (0.1-3.8% for 144-302 days post-vaccination). Vaccination reduced severe outcomes despite decreasing antibody levels. The decline in new COVID-19 cases and related deaths is attributed to widespread vaccination, natural immunity, and virus mutations reducing severity. Further studies are warranted to explore antibody persistence and optimal vaccination strategies
An analytical model for two-step reaction gamma-ray spectroscopy in magnetized plasmas
No full textWe present a method to analytically compute gamma-ray spectra generated via two-step fusion reactions, where a gamma-ray is emitted from the excited nucleus generated in the first step of the reaction. If one reactant is energetic and the other is at rest, the first step of the reaction can be treated analytically. The second step, which is the gamma-ray emission from the excited nucleus, can always be treated analytically. The model we derive is tested against the established forward-model code GENESIS, obtaining very satisfactory results. Our fully analytic treatment is a far less expensive technique than standard Monte Carlo methods, achieving several times faster computations. Fast calculations of spectra are especially beneficial when working with finely-resolved 3D-4D phase spaces. Furthermore, tractable analytical expressions give insight that is not provided by Monte Carlo methods. The formalism used for the first step of the reaction additionally allows the computation of birth distributions of fusion products from any beam-target reaction with one reactant at rest, e.g. fusion-born alpha distributions
Computational Study on the Dynamics of a Bis(benzoxazole)-Based Overcrowded Alkene
No full textUnderstanding and controlling molecular motions is of pivotal importance for designing molecular machinery and functional molecular systems, capable of performing complex tasks. Herein, we report a comprehensive theoretical study to elucidate the dynamic behavior of a bis(benzoxazole)-based overcrowded alkene displaying several coupled and uncoupled molecular motions. The benzoxazole moieties give rise to 4 different stable conformers that interconvert through single-bond rotations. By performing excited- and ground-state molecular dynamics simulations, DFT calculations, and NMR studies, we found that the photochemical E-Z isomerization of the central double bond of each stable conformer is directional and leads to a mixture of metastable isomers. This transformation is analogous to the classical Feringa-type molecular motors, with the notable difference that, during the photochemical isomerization and the subsequent thermal helix inversion (THI) steps, multiple possible pathways take place that involve single-bond rotations that can be both coupled and uncoupled to the rotation of the naphthyl half of the molecule
Plasma endostatin at intensive care admission is independently associated with acute kidney injury, dialysis, and mortality in COVID-19.
No full textBACKGROUND: Critical COVID-19 is associated with high mortality, and acute kidney injury (AKI) is common. Endostatin has emerged as a promising prognostic biomarker for predicting AKI and mortality in intensive care. This study aimed to investigate plasma endostatin at intensive care unit (ICU) admission as a biomarker for AKI, renal replacement therapy (RRT), and 90-day mortality in COVID-19. METHODS: A pre-planned retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected cohort of admissions with a primary SARS-CoV-2 infection to six ICUs in southern Sweden between May 2020 and May 2021 was undertaken. Endostatin at ICU admission was evaluated with multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, C-reactive protein, and creatinine. Net reclassification index analyses were also performed. RESULTS: Four hundred eighty-four patients were included. Endostatin showed a non-linear association with AKI, RRT, and 90-day mortality. Endostatin levels of 100-200 ng/mL were associated with AKI on ICU day 1 (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.5-18, p = 0.0097), RRT during the ICU stay (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.1-12, p = 0.039), and 90-day mortality (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.6-11, p = 0.0037). Adding endostatin to creatinine improved prediction of AKI on ICU day 1, while adding it to a model containing age, sex, CRP, and creatinine improved prediction of both AKI on ICU day 1 and 90-day mortality, but not RRT. CONCLUSIONS: Endostatin at ICU admission was independently associated with AKI, RRT, and 90-day mortality in ICU patients with COVID-19. In addition, endostatin improved the prediction of AKI and 90-day mortality, highlighting its potential as a biomarker for early risk stratification in intensive care
Regulatory effects of RNA-protein interactions revealed by reporter assays of bacteria grown on solid media
No full textReporter systems are widely used to study biomolecular interactions and processes in vivo, representing one of the basic tools used to characterize synthetic regulatory circuits. Here, we developed a method that enables the monitoring of RNA–protein interactions through a reporter system in bacteria with high temporal resolution. For this, we used a Real-Time Protein Expression Assay (RT-PEA) technology for real-time monitoring of a fluorescent reporter protein, while having bacteria growing on solid media. Experimental results were analyzed by fitting a three-variable Gompertz growth model. To validate the method, the interactions between a set of RNA sequences and the RNA-binding protein (RBP) Musashi-1 (MSI1) were evaluated, as well as the allosteric modulation of the interaction by a small molecule (oleic acid). This new approach proved to be suitable to quantitatively characterize RNA–RBP interactions, thereby expanding the toolbox to study molecular interactions in living bacteria, including allosteric modulation, with special relevance for systems that are not suitable to be studied in liquid media
Search for ηc(2)Þ → p ¯p and branching fraction measurements of →p ‾p via (2) radiative decays
No full textUsing (27.12 +/- 0.14) x 10(8) psi(2S) events collected by the BESIII detector operating at BEPCII, we search for the decay eta(c) (2S) -> p (p) over bar via the process psi(2S) -> gamma eta(c)(2S) and only find a signal with a significance of 1.7 sigma. The upper limit of the product branching fraction at the 90% confidence level is determined to be B(psi(2S) -> gamma eta(c)(2S)) B(eta(c) (2S) -> p (p) over bar)< 2.4 x 10(-7). The branching fractions of chi(cJ) -> p<(p)over bar> (J = 0, 1, 2) are also measured to be B(chi(c0) -> p (p) over bar) = (2.51 +/- 0.02 +/- 0.08) x 10(-4), B(chi(c1) -> p (p) over bar) = (8.16 +/- 0.09 +/- 0.25) x 10(-4), and B(chi(c2) -> p (p) over bar) = (8.33 +/- 0.09 +/- 0.22) x 10(-4), where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.For complete list of authors see http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.111.012003</p
The impact of globalized conflicts : Examining attitudes toward Jews among Britons in the political context of the war in Gaza
No full textReports have indicated an increase in anti-Jewish hostility and antisemitic incidents following the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza. In two studies (NStudy1 = 354 and NStudy2 = 490), we experimentally investigated the impact of priming with material referring to the war in Gaza on hostility toward Jews, and on antisemitism as well as other various ethnic groups (to determine whether this exposure specifically affected attitudes toward Jews or had a broader impact on ethnic attitudes in general). We also examined the indirect relationship between political orientation and anti-Jewish hostility and antisemitism, through sociopolitical factors such as global identification, out-group identity fusion, social dominance orientation, and misanthropy. Our results showed an experimental effect of increased negative attitudes toward Jews, as well as toward Britons and Scandinavians, but did not reveal an increase in antisemitism. This effect was not replicated in Study 2, possibly due to reduced media attention. The indirect effects suggested that political orientation (left vs. right-wing) was positively associated with anti-Jewish hostility and antisemitism through social dominance orientation. In contrast, conservative political orientation was negatively associated with antisemitism through out-group identity fusion with the Palestinian people. Our findings imply two distinct political pathways to antisemitism: one linked with classical political right-wing orientation and the other to a complex identity-based conflation of attitudes toward Israel with prejudice toward the Jewish ethnic group
Identification and Diversity of Deep-sea Sponges (Porifera) from The Denmark Strait : A Taxonomic Study
No full textPorifera is a highly diverse phylum that can be found all over our planet, being particularly important in the deep-sea. Deep-sea sponges serve a great purpose for the welfare of many other organisms, providing ecosystem services such as habitat, nutrient recycling, and food sources. They are also exposed to several anthropogenic disturbances such as trawling and climate change which increases the conservation interests regarding this group. Despite this, there is a huge knowledge gap regarding the diversity of deep-sea sponges, their abundance, as well as their distribution. One location where this is the case is in the Denmark Strait and around Iceland. The deep-sea in these regions has a unique oceanographic setting with cold Arctic waters and warm Atlantic saline waters, which allows for a great diversity of benthic communities. By examining the spicule content as well as sequencing the COI marker of specimens from the Icelandic AS11-2016 cruise, the diversity of boreo-arctic deep-sea sponges could be investigated. With the help of spicules, the classes Hexactinellida and Demospongiae were identified, as well as nine different demosponge orders. Demospongiae was the largest part of this collection, and the most abundant order was Tetractinellida. Amongst these nine orders, 52 different species were identified. With COI barcoding, a subset of specimens could be determined either to species level or identified further than with morphology. This study sheds light on the diversity of Porifera that exists in the deep-sea of the Denmark Strait and around Iceland. The diversity and rarity of some species that were found highlight the conservation value for this area, making this study particularly important regarding the distribution and diversity of deep-sea sponges
Hormonal Crossroads in Inborn Errors of the Metabolism Impact of Puberty and Dietary Interventions on Metabolic Health
No full textBackground/Objectives: Inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) represent a diverse group of genetic disorders characterized by enzymatic defects that disrupt metabolic pathways, leading to toxic metabolite accumulation, deficits, or impaired macromolecule synthesis. While strict dietary interventions are critical for managing many of these conditions, hormonal and metabolic changes during puberty introduce new challenges. Advancements in early diagnosis and treatment have significantly extended the lifespan of individuals with IEMs. However, this increased longevity is associated with heightened risks of new medical problems, including obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), as these complications share mechanistic features with those seen in obesity and T2DM. Methods: This mini-review examines current knowledge of the intricate interplay between pubertal hormones and metabolic pathways in IEM patients. Results: We address critical questions, such as if puberty intensifies the risk of metabolic derangements in these individuals and if there is a metabolic intersection where these disorders converge, leading to shared complications. We highlight the impact of puberty-induced hormonal fluctuations, such as growth hormone (GH) surges and sex steroid activity, on disorders like phenylketonuria, urea cycle defects, and fatty acid oxidation disorders. Moreover, we explore the role of dietary interventions in mitigating or exacerbating these effects, emphasizing the importance of balancing nutritional needs during growth spurts. Conclusions: A multidisciplinary approach integrating endocrinology, nutrition, and emerging therapies is advocated to optimize metabolic health during puberty. Addressing these challenges is critical for improving long-term outcomes for individuals with IEMs, particularly during this pivotal developmental phase
Partial wave analyses of (3686) →¯0 and (3686) →¯
No full textUsing a sample of (2712 ±14) ×106 (3686) events collected with the BESIII detector, we perform partial wave analyses of the decays (3686) →¯0 and (3686) →¯. The branching fractions of (3686) →¯0 and (3686) →¯ are determined to be (133.9 ±11.2 ±2.3) ×10−6 or (183.7 ±13.7 ±3.2) ×10−6 and (61.5 ±6.5 ±1.1) ×10−6 or (84.4 ±6.9 ±1.4) ×10−6, respectively, where the two solutions are caused by an ambiguous phase angle between resonant and continuum processes. Several well-established * states are observed in the 0 and systems, and the corresponding branching fractions are measured. The ratio of decay widths Γ(1535)→/Γ(1535)→ is determined to be 0.99 ±0.05 ±0.19.For complete list of authors see http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.111.032011</p