Welcome to the ABIS website!

ABIS is becoming increasingly important! International collaborations are increasing! It has taken many years to build up ABIS 'huge biobank with associated registers. Very valuable research has been carried out over the years (see publication list!), But ABIS is becoming increasingly important and more valuable over the years. Although gratifyingly, the vast majority of children in ABIS have remained mainly healthy, of course many have suffered from various diseases or problems, and ABIS then provides the opportunity to study the role factors early in life played in the development of these diseases. Thus, a large number of projects are underway. Examples include:
 * Type 1 diabetes: 31/12 2018, 147 children had contracted Type 1 diabetes, ie in fact significantly more than what was initially expected. We have tried to find the causes of Type 1 diabetes but unfortunately the origin of the disease is still a mystery. Because the disease has increased so dramatically in most countries with a Western lifestyle, one should find changes in the environment associated with this lifestyle, but it is not yet possible to point out a single factor. - Viruses are suspected. We have found some connections between stomach infections during pregnancy and later development of such autoantibodies against the insulin-producing cells, which often precede the onset of Type 1 diabetes, and we have found some connection with actual later development of Type 1 diabetes. We have also found a statistically significant association between upper respiratory tract infections during pregnancy and later development of Type 1 diabetes in the baby. However, it is still not possible to pinpoint any particular virus, but there are suspicions regarding some so-called coxsackie viruses and other research groups working on the development of vaccines to see if one can prevent Type 1 diabetes. - Serious life events seem to increase the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes, which we believe may be partly due to how the immune system is affected, and partly because stress increases the need for insulin. There is reason to believe that factors that increase the need for insulin (stress on the insulin-producing beta cells) such as infections, rapid growth, puberty, etc. can contribute to the onset of Type 1 diabetes.
We have also studied factors that are associated with hygiene, such as how much you have been exposed to infections, daycare stays, how many people live together in a home, etc. but find no explanation. Indirectly, however, hygiene may play a role in the development of the immune system and not least to the extent that the intestinal flora (both bacteria, viruses, and sometimes additional organisms) is disturbed.
- The intestinal bacterial flora has been shown to look different in children who develop allergies, and also autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 diabetes. In recent years, we have ongoing studies of the intestinal flora both in terms of bacteria and viruses, in collaboration with research groups in Gainesville, USA (University of Florida), Boston, USA (College of Biology), Yale University, USA, and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm. Thus, we have obtained startling results that genetics (tissue type, sp k HLA) affect the appearance of the intestinal flora. Children at risk of developing autoimmune disease, such as Type 1 diabetes, appear to have a tendency to have certain bacterial strains and lack some others. We also find that already at the age of 1 year, children who later developed autoimmune disease tend to have certain bacterial strains and this in fact regardless of genetic predisposition, while other strains are only found in those who have not developed autoimmune disease. We continue the studies as this might lead to us finding that certain bacterial strains could be used to prevent disease.
We have so far mainly studied stool samples taken at the age of 1 year, but will now follow up with studies of stool samples taken at the age of 3.5.8 years and hope to receive stool samples from ABIS individuals in a follow-up 2021-2023. We really hope that all ABIS individuals want to set up and send samples as it makes a very important contribution.
*Celiac disease (gluten intolerance) has affected many ABIS children. Exposure to gluten in the diet plays a role, but no clear link to concomitant infections has been demonstrated. We also carry out studies of the appearance of the intestinal flora when it comes to celiaci.
* Rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is another serious so-called autoimmune disease, which seems to be associated with very early breeding. As with Type 1 diabetes, it may be that cow's milk in the diet during the first months of life may increase the risk of later JRA. We have also found some connections between exposure to certain heavy metals during pregnancy, and are now conducting further studies, e.g. impact on the intestinal tract early in life, to what extent early antibiotic treatment may play a role etc
* Asthma: A large number of children have developed allergies of various kinds and also regular asthma. ABIS is included in several studies where the onset of asthma is studied in relation to eg early breeding, degree of physical activity, psychological stress, etc.
* Autism: The cause of autism is unknown, but immunological mechanisms are discussed, and we therefore also have studies here, among others. in terms of the relationship to exposure to heavy metals early in life, and also what the intestinal flora looks like at an early age in children who later develop autism.
To further strengthen the power of ABIS, ABIS collaborates within a European network (CHICOS) where several European birth cohorts are included.
* Cardiovascular disease: Obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Health problems are studied in another international network,
EPOCH, where ABIS together with some well-known birth cohorts from e.g. The USA, Canada, Australia, England and the Netherlands have joined forces with financial support from the Canadian Research Council in a 5-year project that started on 1 January 2013, but has continued longer and is still in January 2021. We study the development of obesity (obesity), asthma, psychosomatic problems etc. do not occur at least in relation to social inequality, which can of course lead to stress and e.g. via immunological mechanisms affect health.
* ADHD has received a lot of attention in recent years. ABIS provides special opportunities to conduct studies of the causes of ADHD in studies that have been started, as well as autism and language disorders. Of course, these studies only include patients and parents according to a particularly ethical condition, which is always required when new issues are studied.
* Stress, like physical activity, sleep, nutrition are the kind of basic factors that can play a big role in health. By analyzing the stress hormone cortisol in hair, we have unique opportunities to obtain objective data on what stress children have been exposed to.
* Epigenetics is a new area of ​​research where it has been learned that the way genes express themselves can be affected by the environment and the current situation. Such studies have now begun in ABIS, not least in relation to cortisol in hair levels (stress). We have collected material to be able to do
* Transgenerational study where parents and grandparents answered questionnaires and provided samples.
In order to have even better opportunities to study how the above-mentioned and even more diseases develop, a web survey was conducted in 2016-2017 for everyone who was once part of ABIS, and we received responses from almost 6,000 young people about health conditions, and various factors that play a role role for health ex certain information about cough, exercise, sleep, etc ..
In 2020, two pilot studies were conducted (smaller trials) to follow up ABIS individuals both with questionnaires that answer via mobile / web, and sampling where we ask to get blood samples (stick in the finger, hair, saliva samples, urine samples, and not least stool samples. Many show up, and we are EXTREMELY grateful for this.
2021-2023, we will contact EVERYONE who once participated in ABIS for this follow-up, which is of course approved by the Ethics Review Board.


Publications