| 1. |
- Aasa, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Collecting dialect data and making use of them an interim report from Swedia 2000
- 2000
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Ingår i: Proceedings FONETIK 2000. ; , s. 17-20
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This paper consists of two, somewhat disparate parts. In the first part, some experiences of two years of fieldwork are summarized, concentrating, as the subtitle suggests, on the very heart of phonetic fieldwork: the encounters and interviews with the informants. As a result of the fieldwork, the project now has access to recordings from approximately 1300 speakers of more than 100 dialects of Swedish. We are currently initiating research on various aspects of the sound patterns of these dialects. The second part of the paper is meant to give an overview of some of our research plans for the near future.
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| 2. |
- Agewall, S, et al.
(författare)
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Multiple risk intervention trial in high risk hypertensive men: comparison of ultrasound intima-media thickness and clinical outcome during 6 years of follow-up
- 2001
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Ingår i: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 1365-2796 .- 0954-6820. ; 249:1, s. 305-314
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: The objective was to analyse whether a favourable change in risk factors, caused by a comprehensive risk factor modification programme, affected intima-media thickness (IMT) in the common carotid artery, and whether any such change was associated with a change in cardiovascular events during a 6-year follow-up. DESIGN: Patients were randomized 1 : 1 to special intervention or usual care. SETTING: Hypertension Unit at university hospital. SUBJECTS: A total of 164 patients were randomized. Inclusion criteria were male, aged 50-72 years (at randomization) and one or more of the following: Serum cholesterol level > 6.5 mmol L(-1), smoking or diabetes mellitus. All patients were prescribed antihypertensive treatment since many years. In 142 men good quality ultrasound recording of the common carotid IMT were achieved at baseline, 119 were re-examined after 3.3 years, and 97 patients were available for examination after mean follow-up time of 6.2 years. Cardiovascular events were available for all randomized patients. INTERVENTIONS: The nonpharmacological special intervention programme was based on one information meeting followed by five weekly 2-h sessions with participation of patients and spouses. The diet recommendations were similar to established guidelines. Overweight patients were instructed to lose weight, and diabetic patients were systematically taught self-monitoring of blood glucose. Smokers were invited to a smoking cessation programme with five weekly meetings. Follow-up visits were thereafter scheduled every 6 months. Lipid lowering drugs were recommended in the intervention group if the treatment goals using nonpharmacological measures were not achieved. Patients in the usual care group were told to quit smoking and to lower their consumption of fat and glucose. Antihypertensive treatment (i.e., selection of drugs) was on purpose kept similar in the two groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The IMT of the common carotid artery as measured by ultrasound. Cardiovascular events during follow-up. RESULTS: Significant net reductions were seen for serum cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose and smoking. No difference in change in IMT was observed during follow-up between the two randomization groups. The explanation was that patients with positive plaque status at baseline had a much larger increase in IMT over time than patients with negative plaque status, and that patients with positive plaque status more often survived and were available for re-examination after 6 years in the intervention group than in the usual care group. Total mortality was lower in the intervention group, compared with the usual care group, 13 and 29%, respectively (P=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: In high risk populations, long-term studies with surrogate endpoints may be misleading because of missing data in patients where a large increase in IMT would have been observed, had they been re-examined. Another important conclusion from our study was that the gloomy prognosis for this patient category may be improved by a dedicated risk factor intervention programme. The improved prognosis was observed mainly in those patients at highest risk judged from history of cardiovascular disease or positive ultrasound plaque status at baseline.
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| 3. |
- Ahola, T., et al.
(författare)
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Plasma 8-isoprostane is increased in preterm infants who develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia or periventricular leukomalacia
- 2004
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Ingår i: Pediatr Res. - 0031-3998. ; 56:1, s. 88-93
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Our aim was to assess the plasma free 8-epi-prostaglandin F(2alpha) (8-isoprostane) and ascorbyl radical as risk indicators for oxidative damage in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs) and the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on these markers. Plasma samples were collected on days 3 and 7 of life from infants who were enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial in which i.v. NAC or placebo was administered to ELBWIs during the first week of life, with the aim of preventing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Plasma 8-isoprostane was analyzed in 83 infants using an enzyme immunoassay kit. Ascorbyl radical concentration was measured in 61 infants with electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The 8-isoprostane concentrations were similar in the NAC and placebo groups. In infants who later developed BPD or died (n = 29), the median (range) 8-isoprostane concentration was significantly higher (p = 0.001) on day 3 and day 7 [50.0 pg/mL (19-360) and 57.0 pg/mL (14-460), respectively] than in survivors without BPD [n = 54; 34.5 pg/mL (5-240) and 39.5 pg/mL (7-400), respectively]. The 8-isoprostane levels increased significantly more (p < 0.05) in infants who later developed periventricular leukomalacia. NAC treatment or the later development of BPD was not related to the ascorbyl radical levels. The ascorbyl radical level decreased significantly in all groups from day 3 to day 7, but the difference between the groups was not significant. The mean (SD) ascorbyl radical level on day 3 was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in infants who later developed periventricular leukomalacia [287 (124) versus 194 (90)]. These data suggest that plasma 8-isoprostane could serve as a marker in assessing the risk for BPD development in ELBWIs.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Al-Bishri, A, et al.
(författare)
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Incidence of neurosensory disturbance after sagittal split osteotomy alone or combined with genioplasty
- 2004
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Ingår i: The British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery. - : Elsevier BV. - 0266-4356 .- 1532-1940. ; 42:2, s. 105-11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We mailed questionnaires to all patients who had had sagittal split osteotomies alone (n=84) or in combination with genioplasty (n=37) between 1995 and 2000, to find out the incidence of postoperative sensory disturbances. The patients with sagittal split osteotomies alone reported sensory disturbance in 48/131 (37%) operated sides. When combined with genioplasty patients experienced them in 20/54 (37%) operated sides. The incidences were 36/101 (36%) for mandibular advancement and 12/30 (40%) for mandibular setback. Out of the patients with sagittal split osteotomies alone, 59/66 (89%) were satisfied with the result of the operation, and when combined with the genioplasty the corresponding figure was 23/27 (85%). We conclude that differences in the incidence of sensory disturbance after sagittal split osteotomy for mandibular advancement and setback were not significant. The combination with genioplasty did not increase the incidence of sensory disturbance. Sensory changes after the osteotomies do not serve to be the main determinant of the patients’ satisfaction.
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| 6. |
- Albin, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Incidence of asthma in female Swedish hairdressers.
- 2002
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Ingår i: Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : BMJ. - 1470-7926 .- 1351-0711. ; 59:2, s. 119-23.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk of asthma in hairdressers. METHODS: The incidence of asthma was retrospectively estimated in a Swedish nationwide study including all female hairdressers certified from vocational schools from 1970 to 1995, and a stratified sample of women from the general population were referents. A postal questionnaire included questions on respiratory tract symptoms, atopy, smoking, working periods as a hairdresser, and number of specific hair treatments performed/week. Reported exposures were validated by occupational hygienists. Rate ratios of incidence (IRRs) of asthma were estimated by Poisson regression, adjusted for calendar year of observation, hay fever, smoking, and region of domicile. RESULTS: The crude incidences of asthma/1000 person-years were: 3.9 during active years as a hairdresser, 2.8 among the hairdressers when not working in the profession, and 3.1 among the referents. The corresponding IRR for being an active hairdresser compared with the referents was 1.3 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.0 to 1.6). Moderate effects on risk of asthma were found both from hairdressing work (IRR=1.6 (1.1 to 2.2) among never-smokers) and from smoking (IRR=1.6 (1.2 to 2.2) among referents). However, the combined effect from hairdressing work and smoking (IRR=1.5 (1.0 to 2.1)) was less than expected (p=0.02). No effect modification by respiratory atopy was found. The hairdressers most often performing hair bleaching treatments (IRR=1.5 (0.7 to 3.0)) or using hair spray (IRR=1.4 (0.8 to 2.4)) had, compared with the most infrequent users, a slightly, but not significantly higher incidence of asthma. Exposure to persulphates in hair bleach was estimated to be 0.04-0.15 mg/m(3) during mixing of the powder. Reported average number of bleaching treatments agreed well with those performed according to a diary. CONCLUSIONS: Active hairdressing work was associated with a moderately increased incidence of asthma among lifelong non-smokers. The results are moderately supportive, but not conclusive, of associations between asthma and exposure to hair bleach or hair spray.
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| 7. |
- Almkvist, Jenny, 1971, et al.
(författare)
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Activation of the neutrophil nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase by galectin-1.
- 2002
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Ingår i: Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950). - 0022-1767. ; 168:8, s. 4034-4041
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Galectins are a group of lactose-binding proteins widely distributed in nature. Twelve mammalian galectins have so far been identified, but their functions are to a large extent unknown. In this work we study galectin-1 in its interaction with human neutrophils, with regard to both cell surface binding and activation of the superoxide-producing NADPH-oxidase. We show that galectin-1 is able to activate the neutrophil NADPH-oxidase, provided that the cells have been primed by extravasation from the blood into the tissue, an activation pattern that is similar to that of galectin-3. Using in vitro priming protocols, the galectin-1 responsiveness was found to correlate to granule mobilization and galectin-1 binding to the cells, suggesting the presence of granule-localized receptors that are up-regulated to the cell surface upon priming. By galectin-1 overlay of fractionated neutrophils we identified potential galectin-1 receptor candidates localized in the membranes of the secretory vesicle and gelatinase granules. The binding of galectin-1 and galectin-3 to neutrophil proteins was compared, as were the dose dependencies for activation by the two lectins. The results suggest that, although similarities are found between the two galectins, they appear to activate the NADPH-oxidase using different receptors. In conclusion, galectin-1 appears to have proinflammatory functions, mediated through activation of the neutrophil respiratory burst.
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| 8. |
- Almkvist, Jenny, 1971, et al.
(författare)
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Lipopolysaccharide-induced gelatinase granule mobilization primes neutrophils for activation by galectin-3 and formylmethionyl-Leu-Phe.
- 2001
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Ingår i: Infection and immunity. - 0019-9567 .- 1098-5522. ; 69:2, s. 832-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have earlier shown that galectin-3, a lactose-binding mammalian lectin that is secreted from activated macrophages, basophils, and mast cells, induces activation of the NADPH oxidase in exudated but not in peripheral blood neutrophils (A. Karlsson, P. Follin, H. Leffler, and C. Dahlgren, Blood 91:3430-3438, 1998). The alteration in responsiveness occurring during extravasation correlated with mobilization of the gelatinase and/or specific granules to the cell surface, indicating a role for mobilizable galectin-3 receptors. In this study we have investigated galectin-3-induced NADPH oxidase activation, measured as superoxide production, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-primed neutrophils. Upon galectin-3 challenge, the LPS-primed cells produced superoxide, both extracellularly and intracellularly. A primed extracellular response to formylmethionyl-Leu-Phe (fMLF) was also achieved. The exposure of complement receptors 1 and 3 as well as the formyl peptide receptor on the cell surface was markedly increased after LPS treatment, indicating that granule fusion with the plasma membrane had occurred. Further assessment of specific markers for neutrophil granules showed that the LPS treatment had mobilized the gelatinase granules but only a minor fraction of the specific granules. We thus suggest that the mechanism behind LPS priming lies at the level of granule (receptor) mobilization for galectin-3 as well as for fMLF.
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| 9. |
- Almkvist, Jenny, 1971, et al.
(författare)
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Newcastle disease virus neuraminidase primes neutrophils for stimulation by galectin-3 and formyl-Met-Leu-Phe
- 2004
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Ingår i: Experimental cell research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0014-4827 .- 1090-2422. ; 298:1, s. 74-82
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Human neutrophils are activated by the beta-galactoside-binding lectin galectin-3, provided that the cells are primed by in vivo extravasation or by in vitro preactivation with, for example, LPS. Removal of terminal sialic acid can change neutrophil functionality and responsiveness due to exposure of underlying glycoconjugate receptors or change in surface charge. Here, we investigated whether such alteration of the cell surface carbohydrate composition can alter the responsiveness of the cells to galectin-3. Neutrophils were treated with neuraminidases (NA) of different origins: Clostridium perfringens (CP), Salmonella typhimurium, Vibrio cholerae, and Newcastle disease virus (NDV). In the presence of NDV-NA, but no other NA, the otherwise non-responding neutrophils responded readily to galectin-3 by activation of the NADPH-oxidase. The galectin-3 priming effect was inhibited by the sialidase inhibitor 2,3-dehydro-2-deoxy-N-acetyl-neuraminic acid. Earlier studies have shown that priming of the neutrophil response to galectin-3 with, for example, LPS is paralleled by degranulation of intracellular vesicles and granules and upregulation of potential galectin-3 receptors. Also, NDV-NA (but not CP-NA) treatment induced degranulation, shown as an upregulation of complement receptor 3. Since not only the galectin response but also the response to the chemoattractant fMLF was primed, NDV-NA appears to induce a general priming phenomenon, possibly due to receptor upregulation by degranulation.
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| 10. |
- Amin, Kawa, et al.
(författare)
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Relationship between inflammatory cells and structural changes in the lungs of asymptomatic and never smokers : a biopsy study
- 2003
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Ingår i: Thorax. - : BMJ. - 0040-6376 .- 1468-3296. ; 58:2, s. 135-142
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between inflammatory cells and structural changes in the mucosa of the airways in an epidemiological sample of a group of asymptomatic smokers (smokers who had never sought medical attention for respiratory problems) and in non-smoking subjects. METHODS: Bronchial biopsy specimens were taken from 29 smokers and 16 never smokers and stained with monoclonal antibodies HNL, EPO, AA1, CD68 in order to identify neutrophils, eosinophils, mast cells, and macrophages, respectively. The biopsy specimens were also stained with monoclonal antibodies to the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-8. Structural changes were identified by staining the biopsy specimens with antibodies to tenascin and laminin and by evaluating the condition of the epithelial layer. RESULTS: The numbers of all inflammatory cells and of cytokine staining cells were significantly increased in smokers. The thickness of the tenascin and laminin layers was increased in the smoking group and the integrity of the epithelial layer was significantly reduced. In smokers the epithelial integrity was negatively correlated with the number of eosinophils and macrophages. The thickness of the tenascin and laminin layers was positively correlated with AA1 and EPO positive cells only. CONCLUSION: High numbers of inflammatory cells are present in the bronchial mucosa of asymptomatic smokers which have a clear relationship with the impaired epithelial integrity. The increased thickness of the laminin and tenascin layers in these subjects was strongly related to the presence of eosinophils and mast cells, suggesting a role for these cells in tissue remodelling of the airways of smokers.
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