Academic literature on the topic 'Åkerblad'

Background:The anaGO (anakinra ingout) study was a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, phase 2 study investigating the efficacy and safety of anakinra for recurrent gout flares. Results from subsequent flares (extension phase) are presented in relation to the previously reported results from the 1stflare (flare at study enrollment).Objectives:The objective of the extension phase was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of two anakinra regimens (100 or 200 mg daily s.c. injections for 5 days) compared to triamcinolone (single i.m. injection 40 mg) for subsequent flares after initial study enrollment flare. The primary endpoint of the study was change in patient-assessed flare pain intensity from baseline to 24-72 hours (average of 24, 48 and 72 hours) in the most affected joint measured on a visual analogue scale (0-100 VAS). Secondary endpoints included: patient’s and physician’s assessments of global response, anti-drug antibodies (ADA) and safety.Methods:The study included patients with acute gout (ACR/EULAR 2015 gout classification criteria) unsuitable for anti-inflammatory therapy with NSAIDs and colchicine due to contraindication, intolerance or inefficacy. Patients were eligible for treatment of subsequent flares for up to 2 years. Each patient received the same treatment for all flares, starying with the flare at enrollment.Results:161 patients were treated for 1 flare, 61 patients for 2 flares, 31 patients for 3, and 20 patients for 4 or more flares with 1 patient treated for 9 flares. In total, 300 flares were treated in the full study; anakinra 100 mg and 200 mg, 107 and 106 flares, respectively; and triamcinolone, 87 flares. Both anakinra doses and triamcinolone provided a clinical meaningful reduction in patient-assessed pain intensity in both the 1stand subsequent flares. Mean changes in pain intensity from baseline to 24–72 hours for total anakinra and triamcinolone were: 1stflare -41.2 and -39.4; 2ndflare -33.9 and -31.1; 3rdflare -31.8 and -51.2, respectively. Mean differences in pain reduction between anakinra and triamcinolone treatment groups were (negative value favors anakinra): 1stflare -1.8, 2ndflare -2.8 3rdflare 19.4. The majority of secondary endpoints favored anakinra, including patient’s and physician’s global assessement of response and physician’s assessement of the joint. No unexpected safety findings during subsequent flares were identified. 21 patients (19.6%) developed ADA to anakinra in low titers at some time point; 7 (6.5%) had pre-existing ADA at baseline and 12 (11.2%) developed treatment induced ADA. 2 patients had pre-existing ADA to triamcinolone at baseline. 4 patients on anakinra (3.7%) developed neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). Pre-dose 72 hour anakinra serum concentrations were in similar range for ADA+ and ADA- patients. Presence of ADA was not associated with adverse events or had an impact on pain reduction.Conclusion:The efficacy and safety of anakinra and triamcinolone in subsequent flares were similar to the findings from 1stflare in patients with acute gout. Patient-assessed pain in the 1stand 2ndflare was reduced to similar degrees in all treatment groups, but to a larger extent in the 3rdflare in the small triamcinolone group. Secondary endpoints were in favor of anakinra across flares 1 to 3. The overall incidence of ADA and NAb was low also after repeated anakinra dosing and did not appear to impact exposure, efficacy or safety. In conclusion, anakinra was shown to be an option in the treatment of recurrent gout flares in patients for whom conventional therapy is unsuitable.Disclosure of Interests: :Kenneth Saag Grant/research support from: Horizon, Sobi, Shanton, Grant/research support from: Horizon Pharma, Sobi, Shanton, Consultant of: Horizon and Sobi, Consultant of: Horizon Pharma, Amgen, Radius, LG-Pharma, Takeda, Sobi, Atom, Arthrosi, Puja Khanna Grant/research support from: Dyve, Selecta, Sobi, Consultant of: Sobi, Horizon, Robert Keenan Consultant of: Sobi, Selecta, Horizon, Sven Ohlman Shareholder of: Sobi, Employee of: Former employee of Sobi, Erik Sparve Shareholder of: Sobi, Employee of: Sobi, Daniel Lindqvist Employee of: Sobi, Ann-Charlotte Åkerblad Shareholder of: Sobi, Employee of: Sobi, Margareta Wikén Shareholder of: Sobi, Employee of: Former employee of Sobi, Alexander So Consultant of: Sobi, Grünenthal, Michael H. Pillinger Grant/research support from: Horizon, Hikma, Consultant of: Sobi, Horizon, Robert Terkeltaub Consultant of: Sobi, Selecta, Horizon, Astra-Zeneca

Writing is an important skill necessary for students pursuing a higher level of education. The challenge for second language learners would be to write accurate academic essays as required by the course for students that has been aligned to the Common European Framework (CEFR) B1 standard since 2015 at a public institution of higher learning. The academic English course offered at a public institution of higher learning was subjected to a guided academic writing using online tools by Harju and Åkerblom (2017) description of the teacher’s role in facilitating learning to achieve the intended learning outcome which is to write an academic essay focusing on its features. The participants in this study were second year undergraduates in the second semester of their study who struggled to write an essay early in the semester. This study used a quantitative analysis collected from 10 participating students (n=10). The results found that the students made improvements to the feature of their essay and their feedback of the intervention were processed using frequency analysis indicated a hundred percent preference of the students to learn by their own discretion guided by the instructor and supported with online learning tools.

The study described in this paper concerns science education in preschool, more specifically how young children in preschool settings invent, develop and explore science and scientific concepts in problem-solving and communicative situations. The aim of the paper is to discuss young children´s concept creation and draw conclusions for early science education. The method used was a secondary analysis of empirical material drawn from three previous studies carried out by the authors. Examples of preschool children’s use of language were extracted and was, for the purpose of this study, analyzed with a new focus on children’s use of concepts. The re-analysis draws from Vygotsky’s theoretical framework on children’s conceptual development and appropriation of new concepts (Vygotsky, 1934/1999; Åkerblom 2011) and from the later Wittgenstein (1986) on the role of language meaning in understanding. The findings underline the importance of allowing preschool children to invent, develop and explore science and technology concepts, as well as implications for preschool teachers to create dialogic spaces for the children to do so. The limitations of the study are however that it is based on a limited number of examples and even though it can give implications and point out directions, is not conclusive and should be followed by further research.

Vähäsalo P, Knip M, Karjalainen J, Tuomilehto-Wolf E, Lounamaa R, Åkerblom HK, and the Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group. Islet cell-specific autoantibodies in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and their siblings at clinical manifestation of the disease. Eur J Endocrinol 1996;135:689–95. ISSN 0804–4643 The aim of this work was to characterize both newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetic subjects and their siblings with positive tests for islet cell-specific autoantibodies (ICSAA) and to evaluate whether there is an association between the ICSAA levels detected in the diabetic children and siblings. We analysed 781 probands younger than 15 years of age for islet cell antibodies (ICA) and 755 for insulin autoantibodies (IAA) and 610 of their 3–19-year-old non-diabetic siblings for ICA and IAA upon diagnosis of the proband. Islet cell antibodies were observed in 657 of the probands (84.1%) and IAA in 353 (46.8%). The ICA-positive probands were younger in age and had higher IAA levels than the ICA-negative probands, while the IAA-positive probands were younger and had higher levels of ICA than the IAA-negative probands. Islet cell antibodies were detected in 46 (7.5%) and IAA in 16 (2.6%) siblings, and the ICA-positive siblings had higher IAA levels than the ICA-negative siblings. A falling trend was seen in the frequency of ICA [2A7E] 20 Juvenile Diabetes Foundation units in the siblings with decreasing degrees of HLA identity with the index case. Infections during the preceding year, especially respiratory infections, increased the prevalence of both ICA and IAA in the diabetic children at diagnosis and the frequency of IAA in the siblings. There was a significant, although weak, correlation between the IAA levels of the probands and those of their siblings when 594 pairs were tested (rs = 0.15; p < 0.001). No association could be seen between the ICA levels of the probands and those of their siblings, not even when including only HLA-identical proband–sib pairs in the analysis. The lack of any relation between ICA levels in the probands and siblings supports the view that there may be multiple exogenous factors capable of inducing ICA formation or else a common factor but variable responsiveness in the index case and the sibling. Paula Vähäsalo, Department of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, FIN-90220 Oulu, Finland

Defence date: 10 September 2009
Examining Board: Prof. Antonella Romano, (EUI) – supervisor; Prof. Anthony Molho, (EUI); Prof. Maya Jasanoff, Harvard University; Prof. Eldem Edhem, Bogaziçi University.
PDF of thesis uploaded from the Library digital archive of EUI PhD theses
I. The first part: The making of a diplomat and orientalist treats Åkerblad’s education, his initial diplomatic career and travels in East. The aim has been to give a broad background of what influenced both his political and scholarly choices and interests. Åkerblad became an accomplished oriental linguist in Uppsala. In 1783 he was sent to Constantinople to finish his education as an interpreter in the Swedish foreign service. After a short time in Turkey he was fluent in Turkish, Arabic and Modern Greek. Already before leaving Sweden in 1783 he had the ambition to travel in the East. There was a tradition of Swedes travelling in the Ottoman empire, they were not many, but Åkerblad was certainly inspired by them. II. The second part: 1789-1801: Political and professional change focuses on the decade following the French Revolution. Passing Paris in the spring of 1789 Åkerblad met the leading scholars in his fields. He missed the events of July by a couple of months. Åkerblad was initially an enthusiastic observer of the change in France. The fall of the French monarchy had immediate effects in both Constantinople and Stockholm. Sweden entered a period of political instability until 1809 when Finland was lost to Russia and a new constitution curtailed royal power. III. The third part: Reading Egyptian; deciphering the Rosetta inscriptions gives a detailed account of Åkerblad’s Egyptian work. It also describes his final diplomatic appointments in The Hague and Paris. Here the mainly chronological exposé of the first two parts is abandoned. Åkerblad’s entire work with the Rosetta inscription 1802-1815, as well as his continued Coptic and Egyptian research is treated. To give sufficient weight to what may be considered Åkerblad’s most important scholarly work it is necessary to treat his Egyptian involvement in a single context. IV. Åkerblad was ordered back to Sweden in 1804 when the diplomatic relations with France were severed. He disobeyed and went to Italy instead. This fourth part chronicles Åkerblad’s years during Occupation and restoration in Italy, the most stationary period in his adult life. Åkerblad’s life and his scholarly interests are certainly not representative of his times. But it cannot be the task of a biography to try to capture only what is representative. This biography is instead an attempt to make a few aspects of the period visible, some of them hitherto ignored. To write about Åkerblad’s experiences today sheds light on a few tumultuous decades and highlights the view of a scholar from the European periphery.