197 research outputs found

    Neurofeedback Treatment for Traumatized Refugees - A Pilot Study

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    The aim of this quasi-experimental pilot study was to examine if neurofeedback is associated with a reduction in some of the common symptoms suffered by traumatized refugees who have been exposed to war and/or torture. Furthermore, an ambition was to develop and test methods for conducting research with this group. Twenty-one individuals were divided into either a treatment-group (n=12) or a non-equivalent control-group (n=9). No attrition occurred in the treatment-group, whereas 2 individuals dropped out of the control-group. The treatment consisted of 8-10 sessions of neurofeedback, over a time period of 10-15 weeks. Five instruments were used (the PTSD Checklist: Civilian Version, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist -25, the Symptom Checklist: Subscale Somatization and WHO-5 – Wellbeing Index and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) to measure difference in symptom severity. The main analysis of the data was conducted using mixed-design MANOVA and ANOVA. The results indicated a significant improvement seen over time for the treatment-group when compared to a non-equivalent control-group, on 4 of the 5 instruments. Neurofeedback appears to be a promising treatment for individuals with PTSD, but more research needs to be conducted in a controlled setting before any claims can be made concerning efficacy. This study was conducted in cooperation with the Red Cross Center for Victims of War and Torture in Malmö, Sweden

    The CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) ÎŽ is differently regulated by fibrillar and oligomeric forms of the Alzheimer amyloid-ÎČ peptide

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The transcription factors CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBP) α, ÎČ and ÎŽ have been shown to be expressed in brain and to be involved in regulation of inflammatory genes in concert with nuclear factor ÎșB (NF-ÎșB). In general, C/EBPα is down-regulated, whereas both C/EBPÎČ and ÎŽ are up-regulated in response to inflammatory stimuli. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) one of the hallmarks is chronic neuroinflammation mediated by astrocytes and microglial cells, most likely induced by the formation of amyloid-ÎČ (AÎČ) deposits. The inflammatory response in AD has been ascribed both beneficial and detrimental roles. It is therefore important to delineate the inflammatory mediators and signaling pathways affected by AÎČ deposits with the aim of defining new therapeutic targets.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Here we have investigated the effects of AÎČ on expression of C/EBP family members with a focus on C/EBPÎŽ in rat primary astro-microglial cultures and in a transgenic mouse model with high levels of fibrillar AÎČ deposits (tg-ArcSwe) by western blot analysis. Effects on DNA binding activity were analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Cross-talk between C/EBPÎŽ and NF-ÎșB was investigated by analyzing binding to a ÎșB site using a biotin streptavidin-agarose pull-down assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that exposure to fibril-enriched, but not oligomer-enriched, preparations of AÎČ inhibit up-regulation of C/EBPÎŽ expression in interleukin-1ÎČ-activated glial cultures. Furthermore, we observed that, in aged transgenic mice, C/EBPα was significantly down-regulated and C/EBPÎČ was significantly up-regulated. C/EBPÎŽ, on the other hand, was selectively down-regulated in the forebrain, a part of the brain showing high levels of fibrillar AÎČ deposits. In contrast, no difference in expression levels of C/EBPÎŽ between wild type and transgenic mice was detected in the relatively spared hindbrain. Finally, we show that interleukin-1ÎČ-induced C/EBPÎŽ DNA binding activity to both C/EBP and ÎșB sites is abolished after exposure to AÎČ.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data suggest that both expression and function of C/EBPÎŽ are dysregulated in Alzheimer's disease. C/EBPÎŽ seems to be differently regulated in response to different conformations of AÎČ. We propose that AÎČ induces an imbalance between NF-ÎșB and C/EBP transcription factors that may result in abnormal responses to inflammatory stimuli.</p

    Administrativa sanktionsavgifter : En nordisk komparativ studie

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    Administrativa avgiftspÄföljder av straffkaraktÀr har under de senaste Ären stÄtt föremÄl för ett vÀxande intresse och debatt i de nordiska lÀnderna. Förevarande forskning kartlÀgger rÀttslÀget gÀllande sanktionsavgifter i Finland samt Sverige, Norge och Danmark. I forskningen undersöks hur garantier för god förvaltning och rÀttvis rÀttegÄng kan sÀkerstÀllas i förfaranden som gÀller pÄförande av sanktionsavgift, samt överklagandet av dessa Àrenden. I studien jÀmförs och analyseras dessa europarÀttsliga krav med de nationellrÀttsliga, nordiska undersökningar som utförts. Dessutom diskuteras principiella utgÄngspunkter som ska beaktas vid reglering av sanktionsavgifter. Forskningen har utförts av professor Leena Halila och doktorand Veronica Lankinen vid Juridiska fakulteten, Helsingfors universitet, samt universitetslektor Annika K. Nilsson vid Juridiska fakulteten, Uppsala universitet

    Reduction of the HIV-1 reservoir in resting CD4+ T-lymphocytes by high dosage intravenous immunoglobulin treatment: a proof-of-concept study

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The latency of HIV-1 in resting CD4<sup>+ </sup>T-lymphocytes constitutes a major obstacle for the eradication of virus in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). As yet, no approach to reduce this viral reservoir has proven effective.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nine subjects on effective ART were included in the study and treated with high dosage intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for five consecutive days. Seven of those had detectable levels of replication-competent virus in the latent reservoir and were thus possible to evaluate. Highly purified resting memory CD4<sup>+ </sup>T-cells were activated and cells containing replication-competent HIV-1 were quantified. HIV-1 from plasma and activated memory CD4<sup>+ </sup>T-cells were compared with single genome sequencing (SGS) of the <it>gag </it>region. T-lymphocyte activation markers and serum interleukins were measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The latent HIV-1 pool decreased with in median 68% after IVIG was added to effective ART. The reservoir decreased in five, whereas no decrease was found in two subjects with detectable virus. Plasma HIV-1 RNA ≄ 2 copies/mL was detected in five of seven subjects at baseline, but in only one at follow-up after 8–12 weeks. The decrease of the latent HIV-1 pool and the residual plasma viremia was preceded by a transitory low-level increase in plasma HIV-1 RNA and serum interleukin 7 (IL-7) levels, and followed by an expansion of T regulatory cells. The magnitude of the viral increase in plasma correlated to the size of the latent HIV-1 pool and SGS of the <it>gag </it>region showed that viral clones from plasma clustered together with virus from activated memory T-cells, pointing to the latent reservoir as the source of HIV-1 RNA in plasma.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings from this uncontrolled proof-of-concept study suggest that the reservoir became accessible by IVIG treatment through activation of HIV-1 gene expression in latently-infected resting CD4<sup>+ </sup>T-cells. We propose that IVIG should be further evaluated as an adjuvant to effective ART.</p

    Global CO2 fertilization of Sphagnum peat mosses via suppression of photorespiration during the twentieth century

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    Natural peatlands contribute significantly to global carbon sequestration and storage of biomass, most of which derives from Sphagnum peat mosses. Atmospheric CO2 levels have increased dramatically during the twentieth century, from 280 to > 400 ppm, which has affected plant carbon dynamics. Net carbon assimilation is strongly reduced by photorespiration, a process that depends on the CO2 to O-2 ratio. Here we investigate the response of the photorespiration to photosynthesis ratio in Sphagnum mosses to recent CO2 increases by comparing deuterium isotopomers of historical and contemporary Sphagnum tissues collected from 36 peat cores from five continents. Rising CO2 levels generally suppressed photorespiration relative to photosynthesis but the magnitude of suppression depended on the current water table depth. By estimating the changes in water table depth, temperature, and precipitation during the twentieth century, we excluded potential effects of these climate parameters on the observed isotopomer responses. Further, we showed that the photorespiration to photosynthesis ratio varied between Sphagnum subgenera, indicating differences in their photosynthetic capacity. The global suppression of photorespiration in Sphagnum suggests an increased net primary production potential in response to the ongoing rise in atmospheric CO2, in particular for mire structures with intermediate water table depths

    The cerebrospinal fluid proteome of preterm infants predicts neurodevelopmental outcome

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    Funding Information: This study was funded by the Karolinska Institutet, the University Hospital of Iceland and the Swedish Society for Medical Research, the Swedish Brain Foundation (FO2019-0087 and FO2019-0006), Strategic Research Area Neuroscience (StratNeuro), Ehrling-Person Family Foundation, Axel Tielmans, Freemasons Children’s House, the Swedish National Heart and Lung (20180505) Foundations, the Swedish Research Council (2019-01157), and the Stockholm County Council (20190400). KJ received funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation (Postdoc Mobility Fellowship, P400PM_194474. The funders did not participate in the design or conduct of the study. Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Leifsdottir, Jost, Siljehav, Thelin, LassarĂ©n, Nilsson, Haraldsson, Eksborg and Herlenius.Background: Survival rate increases for preterm infants, but long-term neurodevelopmental outcome predictors are lacking. Our primary aim was to determine whether a specific proteomic profile in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of preterm infants differs from that of term infants and to identify novel biomarkers of neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants. Methods: Twenty-seven preterm infants with median gestational age 27 w + 4 d and ten full-term infants were enrolled prospectively. Protein profiling of CSF were performed utilizing an antibody suspension bead array. The relative levels of 178 unique brain derived proteins and inflammatory mediators, selected from the Human Protein Atlas, were measured. Results: The CSF protein profile of preterm infants differed from that of term infants. Increased levels of brain specific proteins that are associated with neurodevelopment and neuroinflammatory pathways made up a distinct protein profile in the preterm infants. The most significant differences were seen in proteins involved in neurodevelopmental regulation and synaptic plasticity, as well as components of the innate immune system. Several proteins correlated with favorable outcome in preterm infants at 18–24 months corrected age. Among the proteins that provided strong predictors of outcome were vascular endothelial growth factor C, Neurocan core protein and seizure protein 6, all highly important in normal brain development. Conclusion: Our data suggest a vulnerability of the preterm brain to postnatal events and that alterations in protein levels may contribute to unfavorable neurodevelopmental outcome.Peer reviewe

    The cerebrospinal fluid proteome of preterm infants predicts neurodevelopmental outcome

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    BackgroundSurvival rate increases for preterm infants, but long-term neurodevelopmental outcome predictors are lacking. Our primary aim was to determine whether a specific proteomic profile in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of preterm infants differs from that of term infants and to identify novel biomarkers of neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants.MethodsTwenty-seven preterm infants with median gestational age 27 w + 4 d and ten full-term infants were enrolled prospectively. Protein profiling of CSF were performed utilizing an antibody suspension bead array. The relative levels of 178 unique brain derived proteins and inflammatory mediators, selected from the Human Protein Atlas, were measured.ResultsThe CSF protein profile of preterm infants differed from that of term infants. Increased levels of brain specific proteins that are associated with neurodevelopment and neuroinflammatory pathways made up a distinct protein profile in the preterm infants. The most significant differences were seen in proteins involved in neurodevelopmental regulation and synaptic plasticity, as well as components of the innate immune system. Several proteins correlated with favorable outcome in preterm infants at 18–24 months corrected age. Among the proteins that provided strong predictors of outcome were vascular endothelial growth factor C, Neurocan core protein and seizure protein 6, all highly important in normal brain development.ConclusionOur data suggest a vulnerability of the preterm brain to postnatal events and that alterations in protein levels may contribute to unfavorable neurodevelopmental outcome

    Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

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    A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements
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