Aspirin intake and breast cancer survival – a nation-wide study using prospectively recorded data in Sweden

Background: Aspirin (ASA) use has been associated with improved breast cancer survival in several prospective studies. Methods: We conducted a nested case–control study of ASA use after a breast cancer diagnosis among women using Swedish National Registries. We assessed prospectively recorded ASA exposure during several different time windows following cancer diagnosis using conditional logistic regression with breast cancer death as the main outcome. Within each six-month period of follow-up, we categorized dispensed ASA doses into three groups: 0, less than 1, and 1 or more daily doses. Results: We included 27,426 women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2005 and 2009; 1,661 died of breast cancer when followed until Dec 31, 2010. There was no association between ASA use and breast cancer death when exposure was assessed either shortly after diagnosis, or 3–12 months before the end of follow-up. Only during the period 0–6 months before the end of follow-up was ASA use at least daily compared with non-use associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer death: HR (95% CI) = 0.69 (0.56-0.86). However, in the same time-frame, those using ASA less than daily had an increased risk of breast cancer death: HR (95% CI) = 1.43 (1.09-1.87). Conclusions: Contrary to other studies, we did not find that ASA use was associated with a lower risk of death from breast cancer, except when assessed short term with no delay to death/end of follow-up, which may reflect discontinuation of ASA during terminal illness

Exosomes Communicate Protective Messages during Oxidative Stress; Possible Role of Exosomal Shuttle RNA

BACKGROUND: Exosomes are small extracellular nanovesicles of endocytic origin that mediate different signals between cells, by surface interactions and by shuttling functional RNA from one cell to another. Exosomes are released by many cells including mast cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, epithelial cells and tumour cells. Exosomes differ compared to their donor cells, not only in size, but also in their RNA, protein and lipid composition. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, we show that exosomes, released by mouse mast cells exposed to oxidative stress, differ in their mRNA content. Also, we show that these exosomes can influence the response of other cells to oxidative stress by providing recipient cells with a resistance against oxidative stress, observed as an attenuated loss of cell viability. Furthermore, Affymetrix microarray analysis revealed that the exosomal mRNA content not only differs between exosomes and donor cells, but also between exosomes derived from cells grown under different conditions; oxidative stress and normal conditions. Finally, we also show that exposure to UV-light affects the biological functions associated with exosomes released under oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results argue that the exosomal shuttle of RNA is involved in cell-to-cell communication, by influencing the response of recipient cells to an external stress stimulus

Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles 2018 (MISEV2018):a position statement of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles and update of the MISEV2014 guidelines

The last decade has seen a sharp increase in the number of scientific publications describing physiological and pathological functions of extracellular vesicles (EVs), a collective term covering various subtypes of cell-released, membranous structures, called exosomes, microvesicles, microparticles, ectosomes, oncosomes, apoptotic bodies, and many other names. However, specific issues arise when working with these entities, whose size and amount often make them difficult to obtain as relatively pure preparations, and to characterize properly. The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) proposed Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles (“MISEV”) guidelines for the field in 2014. We now update these “MISEV2014” guidelines based on evolution of the collective knowledge in the last four years. An important point to consider is that ascribing a specific function to EVs in general, or to subtypes of EVs, requires reporting of specific information beyond mere description of function in a crude, potentially contaminated, and heterogeneous preparation. For example, claims that exosomes are endowed with exquisite and specific activities remain difficult to support experimentally, given our still limited knowledge of their specific molecular machineries of biogenesis and release, as compared with other biophysically similar EVs. The MISEV2018 guidelines include tables and outlines of suggested protocols and steps to follow to document specific EV-associated functional activities. Finally, a checklist is provided with summaries of key points

Кераміка «terra sigillata» з с. Зимне на Волині

Стаття присвячена публікації чотирьох керамічних посудин типу «terra sigillata», знайдених на дні р. Луги у с. Зимне Володимир-Волинського району Волинської області. Попередній аналіз цих знахідок дозволяє віднести їх до Понтійського центру виробництва такого посуду. Вірогідним шляхом потрапляння цієї колекції на Волинь була готська експансія у Північне Причорномор’я

Elusive Consumption in retrospect. Report from the conference

This CFK-report is from the conference “Elusive consumption, tracking new research perspectives” which took place in June 2002 at the Center for Consumer Science (CFK), School of Economics and Commercial Law at Göteborg University. The conference gathered a large number of internationally renowned consumer researchers. The aim was to problematize the elusive concept of consumption, to reflect upon new research perspectives, theories and methods within consumer research. Researchers from a vast area of disciplines from both sides of the Atlantic were invited. The participants represented the disciplines of anthropology, ethnology, marketing and sociology, which are not often combined within one conference. It led to interesting and exciting discussions reflecting the importance of having reciprocal exchange between disciplines. This CFK-report is an attempt to capture some of the discussions from the workshops at the conference. At the conference, 8 keynote speakers were asked to give a talk. The conference was organized as follows. Two key note speeches were presented in a row followed by two workshops where the issues raised in either one or both of the keynote speeches were discussed. The discussion leaders were asked to summarize the discussions or to reflect on a certain theme discussed at the workshop. The workshop summaries or reflections are presented in this CFK-report together with two dinner speeches and our own speeches on current research projects. Since the conference took place we have edited a book called “Elusive consumption” published at Berg 2004, where a majority of the keynote speakers present their speeches in chapters. The book also includes chapters written by the workshop leaders. We think this CFK-report can complement the book and be of interest for consumer researchers in different disciplines. We hope the report brings back memories to researchers who attended the conference, but also results in discussions and reflections on the field of consumption among people who did not attend the conference. As researchers we depend on keeping the debate going, never settling for final answers, but constantly looking for new perspectives and nuances. The conference shows that consumption is a multidimensional phenomena representing different meanings and practices

Marknadsföringsforskning om konsumenter och konsumtion

Föreliggande rapport är en kartläggning av marknadsföringsforskning som fokuserar på konsumenter och konsumtion i Norden. Projektet har genomförts av forskare på Centrum för konsumtionsvetenskap och är finansierat av Handelns utvecklingsråd (HUR). Centrum för konsumtionsvetenskap är Sveriges nationella centrum där tvärvetenskaplig forskning om konsumtion bedrivs utifrån ett konsumentperspektiv. I rapporten betonas just konsumentperspektivet och det är anledningen till att forskargrupper med ett utpräglat företagsperspektiv inte ingår i presentationen. En historisk tillbakablick (kapitel 1) och aktuella och framtida forskningsfrågor (kapitel 2) har skrivits av undertecknad. Ekon dr Ulrika Holmberg och ekon dr Eva Ossiansson har skrivit om forskning vid universitet och högskolor (kapitel 3), forskning vid myndigheter och andra organisationer (kapitel 4) samt genomfört och skrivit forskningskartläggningen (kapitel 5). Konsumtionsforskningen i Sverige har historiskt haft en undervärderad betydelse, men har under senare år fått en mer framträdande position. Internationellt har konsumtionsforskningen en högre status. Av kartläggningen framgår att det finns en ansenlig mängd marknadsföringsforskning om konsumenter och konsumtion i Norden, men forskningen är inte alltid tydligt kopplad till handeln. De svenska universiteten och högskolorna är dominerande, men även Finland och Danmark har mycket forskning på området. I både Sverige och Finland är forskningen om konsumentmarknadsföring spridd på många olika lärosäten både stora och små, medan den i Danmark och Norge är koncentrerad till några få större universitet och högskolor. Av utredningen framgår att det finns ett beho