Exploring the Possible Impact of Oral Nutritional Supplements on Children's Oral Health: An In Vitro Investigation.

Eight pediatric oral nutritional supplements (ONSs) and 0.5% fat bovine milk were examined in vitro regarding their effect on the adhesion of three caries-related bacteria, (strain CCUG 11877T), (strain CCUG 31451), and (strain CCUG 58090) to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite, as well as their pH and capacity to withstand pH changes. Bacteria were cultivated and radiolabeled.

Lower bone strength in young patients with Fontan circulation compared to controls.

Objectives: Previous reports indicate bone deficits in patients with Fontan circulation. However, the consequences of these deficits on bone strength and when these changes occur are unclear.

Aim: To compare the tibial bone strength-strain index between young patients (6-19 years) with Fontan circulation and age- and sex-matched controls, and to determine strength-strain-index in subgroups of children (6-12 years) and adolescents (13-19 years) versus controls.

Large-Scale Functional Genomics Screen to Identify Modulators of Human β-Cell Insulin Secretion.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disorder affecting almost half a billion people worldwide. Impaired function of pancreatic β-cells is both a hallmark of T2D and an underlying factor in the pathophysiology of the disease. Understanding the cellular mechanisms regulating appropriate insulin secretion has been of long-standing interest in the scientific and clinical communities.

Vitamin D, liver-related biomarkers, and distribution of fat and lean mass in young patients with Fontan circulation.

Introduction/aim: Young patients with Fontan circulation may have low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, an affected liver, and unhealthy body compositions. This study aimed to explore the association between vitamin D intake/levels, liver biomarkers, and body composition in young Fontan patients.

Method: We collected prospective data in 2017 to 2018, obtained with food-frequency questionnaires, biochemical analyses of liver biomarkers, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans in 44 children with Fontan circulation.

Comparison of DNA Methylation Profiles of Hemostatic Genes between Liver Tissue and Peripheral Blood within Individuals.

DNA methylation has become increasingly recognized in the etiology of complex diseases, including thrombotic disorders. Blood is often collected in epidemiological studies for genotyping and has recently also been used to examine DNA methylation in epigenome-wide association studies. DNA methylation patterns are often tissue-specific, thus, peripheral blood may not accurately reflect the methylation pattern in the tissue of relevance.

Impaired knee extension muscle strength in adolescents but not in children with Fontan circulation.

Introduction: Impaired isometric muscle strength was previously reported in adults with Fontan circulation. However, it is unclear if this impairment is present in children and adolescents with Fontan circulation. We investigated isometric muscle strength of the lower limb in patients (6-18 years) with Fontan circulation in comparison with healthy controls.

Semantic text mining in early drug discovery for type 2 diabetes.

Background: Surveying the scientific literature is an important part of early drug discovery; and with the ever-increasing amount of biomedical publications it is imperative to focus on the most interesting articles. Here we present a project that highlights new understanding (e.g.

An atlas of human metabolism.

Genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) are valuable tools to study metabolism and provide a scaffold for the integrative analysis of omics data. Researchers have developed increasingly comprehensive human GEMs, but the disconnect among different model sources and versions impedes further progress. We therefore integrated and extensively curated the most recent human metabolic models to construct a consensus GEM, Human1.

A Comprehensive Sequencing-Based Analysis of Allelic Methylation Patterns in Hemostatic Genes in Human Liver.

Characterizing the relationship between genetic, epigenetic (e.g., deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA] methylation), and transcript variation could provide insights into mechanisms regulating hemostasis and potentially identify new drug targets.

Hemostatic Genes Exhibit a High Degree of Allele-Specific Regulation in Liver.

Objective:  Elucidating the genetic basis underlying hepatic hemostatic gene expression variability may contribute to unraveling genetic factors contributing to thrombotic or bleeding disorders. We aimed to identify novel -regulatory variants involved in regulating hemostatic genes by analyzing allele-specific expression (ASE) in human liver samples.

Study Design:  Biopsies of human liver tissue and blood were collected from adults undergoing liver surgery at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital ( = 20).

Fluid restriction negatively affects energy intake and growth in very low birthweight infants with haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus.

Aim: We explored if fluid restriction in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants with a haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) affected energy and protein intakes and growth.

Methods: Retrospectively, we identified 90 VLBW infants that were admitted to Umea University Hospital, Sweden, between 2009 and 2012: 42 with and 48 without haemodynamically significant PDA (hsPDA). Anthropometric, fluid, energy and protein intake data during the first 28 days of life were expressed as z-scores.

Cross-sectional associations between maternal self-efficacy and dietary intake and physical activity in four-year-old children of first-time Swedish mothers.

Background: Healthy dietary and physical activity behaviours are established early in life where children learn by observing their parents. Therefore, parents can act as role models and influence their children toward a healthier lifestyle. Besides a strong association between parental and child health behaviours, parents also influence their children's health behaviours through socio-cognitive processes, where perceived self-efficacy is the central component.

The EndoC-βH1 cell line is a valid model of human beta cells and applicable for screenings to identify novel drug target candidates.

Objective: To characterize the EndoC-βH1 cell line as a model for human beta cells and evaluate its beta cell functionality, focusing on insulin secretion, proliferation, apoptosis and ER stress, with the objective to assess its potential as a screening platform for identification of novel anti-diabetic drug candidates.

Methods: EndoC-βH1 was transplanted into mice for validation of in vivo functionality. Insulin secretion was evaluated in cells cultured as monolayer and as pseudoislets, as well as in diabetic mice.

Levels and Patterns of Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in 4-Year-Old Swedish Children.

Background: Levels of physical activity (PA) affect health already at 4 years of age. The aims of this study were to describe levels and patterns of PA and sedentary time (ST) in a sample of 4-year-old Swedish children and to assess the number of children achieving PA guidelines throughout the week.

Methods: Data from 540 4-year-old children enrolled in the population-based PRIMROSE trial was used.

Associations Between Swedish Mothers' and 3- and 5-Year-Old Children's Food Intake.

Objective: To investigate associations between mothers' and children's food intake.

Design: Cross-sectional study. Background variables collected through self-reports and from the register of the total population.

Motivational Interviewing to Prevent Childhood Obesity: A Cluster RCT.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate a manualized theory-driven primary preventive intervention aimed at early childhood obesity. The intervention was embedded in Swedish child health services, starting when eligible children were 9 to 10 months of age and continuing until the children reached age 4.

Methods: Child health care centers in 8 Swedish counties were randomized into intervention and control units and included 1355 families with 1369 infants.

Analysis artefacts of the INS-IGF2 fusion transcript.

Background: In gene expression analysis, overlapping genes, splice variants, and fusion transcripts are potential sources of data analysis artefacts, depending on how the observed intensity is assigned to one, or more genes. We here exemplify this by an in-depth analysis of the INS-IGF2 fusion transcript, which has recently been reported to be among the highest expressed transcripts in human pancreatic beta cells and its protein indicated as a novel autoantigen in Type 1 Diabetes.

Results: Through RNA sequencing and variant specific qPCR analyses we demonstrate that the true abundance of INS-IGF2 is >20,000 fold lower than INS in human beta cells, and we suggest an explanation to the nature of the artefacts which have previously led to overestimation of the gene expression level in selected studies.

Association between perceived health care stigmatization and BMI change.

Background/aims: This study examined the association between experiences of health care stigmatization and BMI changes in men and women with normal weight and obesity in Sweden.

Methods: The participants were drawn from a population-based survey in Sweden (1996-2006), and data on their perceived health care stigmatization were measured in 2008. They were categorized in individuals with normal weight (n = 1,064), moderate obesity (n = 1,273), and severe obesity (n = 291).

Primary prevention of childhood obesity through counselling sessions at Swedish child health centres: design, methods and baseline sample characteristics of the PRIMROSE cluster-randomised trial.

Background: Childhood obesity is a growing concern in Sweden. Children with overweight and obesity run a high risk of becoming obese as adults, and are likely to develop comorbidities. Despite the immense demand, there is still a lack of evidence-based comprehensive prevention programmes targeting pre-school children and their families in primary health care settings.

Attitudes towards obesity in the Swedish general population: the role of one's own body size, weight satisfaction, and controllability beliefs about obesity.

This study examined the associations of different socio-demographic and psychological factors with attitudes towards obesity. Individuals with different weight status (N=2436) were drawn from an annual population-based survey in Sweden, and data on attitudes towards obesity (ATOP) and predictor variables were assessed in 2008. The strongest predictor of ATOP was controllability beliefs about obesity (β=0.

General practitioners' and district nurses' conceptions of the encounter with obese patients in primary health care.

Background: Primary health care specialists have a key role in the management of obesity. Through understanding how they conceive the encounter with patients with obesity, treatment may be improved. The aim of this study was thus to explore general practitioners' and district nurses' conceptions of encountering patients with obesity in primary health care.

Perceived discrimination among men and women with normal weight and obesity. A population-based study from Sweden.

Aims: We examined whether men and women with obesity reported different types of discrimination to a greater extent than those with normal weight, and explored whether these associations were modified by socioeconomic position.

Method: National representative sample of men and women, with normal weight (n = 2,000), moderate obesity (n = 2,461) and severe obesity (n = 557). Participants were identified in a yearly population-based survey (1996-2006) and data on perceived discrimination and potential confounding factors were measured in 2008.

Predictors of 10-year-olds' obesity stereotypes: A population-based study.

Introduction: Limited research has been conducted on factors that may increase children's likelihood of developing negative attitudes or stereotypes about obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate predictors of children's obesity stereotypes.

Methods And Procedures: A nationally representative sample of 10-year-old children (N=3,000), and their parents were requested to respond to a questionnaire in 2005.

Prejudice against obesity among 10-year-olds: a nationwide population-based study.

Aims: Population-based research on children's possible prejudice against thin, obese and average body sizes is scarce. This study examined children's prejudice against various body sizes of both sexes. The effects of sex, body size, place of residence and socio-economic status (SES) on children's prejudice were also investigated.

PEDRo: a database for storing, searching and disseminating experimental proteomics data.

Background: Proteomics is rapidly evolving into a high-throughput technology, in which substantial and systematic studies are conducted on samples from a wide range of physiological, developmental, or pathological conditions. Reference maps from 2D gels are widely circulated. However, there is, as yet, no formally accepted standard representation to support the sharing of proteomics data, and little systematic dissemination of comprehensive proteomic data sets.