| 1. |
- Bengtsson, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Low production of reactive oxygen species in granulocytes is associated with organ damage in systemic lupus erythematosus
- 2014
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research and Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362 .- 1478-6354. ; 16:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) are main effector cells in the acute immune response. While the specific role of PMN in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and autoimmunity is still unclear, their importance in chronic inflammation is gaining more attention. Here we investigate aspects of function, bone marrow release and activation of PMN in patients with SLE. Methods: The following PMN functions and subsets were evaluated using flow cytometry; (a) production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) after ex vivo stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or Escherichia coli (E. coli); (b) capacity to phagocytose antibody-coated necrotic cell material; (c) PMN recently released from bone marrow, defined as percentage of CD10(-)D16(low) in peripheral blood, and (d) PMN activation markers; CD11b, CD62L and C5aR. Results: SLE patients (n = 92) showed lower ROS production compared with healthy controls (n = 38) after activation ex vivo. The ROS production was not associated with corticosteroid dose or other immunotherapies. PMA induced ROS production was significantly reduced in patients with severe disease. In contrast, neither ROS levels after E. coli activation, nor the capacity to phagocytose were associated with disease severity. This suggests that decreased ROS production after PMA activation is a sign of changed PMN behaviour rather than generally impaired functions. The CD10(-)CD16(low) phenotype constitute 2% of PMN in peripheral blood of SLE patients compared with 6.4% in controls, indicating a decreased release of PMN from the bone marrow in SLE. A decreased expression of C5aR on PMN was observed in SLE patients, pointing towards in vivo activation. Conclusions: Our results indicate that PMN from SLE patients have altered function, are partly activated and are released abnormally from bone marrow. The association between low ROS formation in PMN and disease severity is consistent with findings in other autoimmune diseases and might be considered as a risk factor.
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| 2. |
- Bengtsson, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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Naturreservatet Kullan : inventering av kärlväxter och naturvärdesbedömning
- 2007
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Ingår i: Tsunami. - 1651-5803. ; :1
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Tidskriftsartikel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Olofströms kommun är på gång att starta ett ”Markernas museum” och i samband med detta fick vi i uppdrag av Olofströms kommun att inventera kärlväxterna i Kullans naturreservat. Detta tillsammans med en inventering av geologi som gjorts av Kamil Al-Ajely och de kulturella värdena som gjorts av Thomas Persson ska ligga som grund för ”Markernas museum”. Inventeringen till kommunen gjordes vid tre tillfällen, juni-augusti, 2005 och en rapport om detta lämnades in i september 2005 . Eftersom vi skulle ha material till vårt examensarbete har vi gjort ytterligare undersökningar än vad kommunen anvisade. Ytterligare en inventering har gjorts i maj 2006 för att få med vårväxterna. Naturreservatet Kullan är ett 41 ha stort område som blev naturreservat 2003. Den enda inventering som enligt uppgift gjorts är en artinventering från slutet av 1980-talet. Från denna ska det finnas en artlista, enligt inventeraren själv och länsstyrelsen, dock har det inte gått att få tag på den trots upprepade försök. Området som inventerats består av flera olika biotoper, ädellövskog, naturbetesmarker, kärr, slåtterängar och en sjö. Kullan har en lång kontinuitet som hävdad mark vilket ligger som grund för den stora artrikedomen. Det mesta av området har varit täckt av lövskog som förmodligen fungerat som betesmark ända fram till början av 1900-talet. Då ägdes gården av Åke och Bengta Svensson. Områdena runt sjön består av mosse eller kärr och i början av 1900-talet användes en del av våtmarkerna som åker. På kartan från 1915-17 ser man att sjön sänkts jämfört med föregående karta. Idag betas delar av området av 20-talet nötkreatur från vår till höst. Syfte och frågeställningarDen varierande omgivningen och det faktum att området hyser över 200 arter kärlväxter, gjorde att vi blev intresserade av att undersöka området. • Hur stora naturvärden finns här och hur skiljer sig vegetationen åt mellan de olika biotoperna?• Hur brukades Kullan under 1900-talet?• Hur såg markanvändningen ut under 1800-talet och hur har kontinuiteten av hävden sett ut?• Hur står sig Kullan jämfört med andra liknande områden?
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| 3. |
- Johansson, Åsa Cm, et al.
(författare)
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Impaired phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species production in phagocytes is associated with systemic vasculitis
- 2016
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research & Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6354 .- 1478-6362. ; 18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies associated vasculitides (AAV) is a group of autoimmune diseases, characterized by small vessel inflammation. Phagocytes such as neutrophils and monocytes are the main effector cells found around the inflamed vessel wall. Therefore, we wanted to investigate aspects of function and activation of these cells in patients with AAV.METHODS: Flow cytometry was used to evaluate: the expression of activation markers (CD11c, CD62L, CD177 and C5aR); the number of recently released neutrophils from bone marrow, defined as CD10(-)D16(low) cells in peripheral blood; and the capacity of peripheral blood monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) to produce reactive oxygen species and to phagocytose opsonized bacteria.RESULTS: AAV patients (n = 104) showed an increase of CD10(-)CD16(low) neutrophils and total PMN in peripheral blood, suggesting a combination of increased bone marrow release and prolonged survival. An increased percentage of AAV PMN expressed CD177 but no other signs of activation were seen. A decreased production of reactive oxygen species was observed in AAV phagocytes, which was associated with disease activity. Moreover, granulocytes from patients with microscopic polyangiitis showed lower oxidative burst capacity compared to patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis or eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. In addition, decreased phagocytosis capacity was seen in PMN and monocytes.CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that phagocytes from AAV patients have impaired function, are easily mobilized from bone marrow but are not particularly activated. The association between low reactive oxygen species formation in PMN and disease severity is consistent with findings in other autoimmune diseases and might be considered as a risk factor.
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| 4. |
- Lidman, Fredrik, et al.
(författare)
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Distribution and transport of radionuclides in a boreal mire : assessing past, present and future accumulation of uranium, thorium and radium
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. - : Elsevier. - 0265-931X .- 1879-1700. ; 121, s. 87-97
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The spatial distribution of U-238, Ra-226, K-40 and the daughters of Th-232, Ra-228 and Th-228, were measured in a small mire in northern Sweden. High activity concentrations of U-238 and Th-232 (up to 41 Bq U-238 kg(-1)) were observed in parts of the mire with a historical or current inflow of groundwater from the surrounding till soils, but the activities declined rapidly further out in the mire. Near the outlet and in the central parts of the mire the activity concentrations were low, indicating that uranium and thorium are immobilized rapidly upon their entering the peat. The Ra-226 was found to be more mobile with high activity concentrations further out into the mire (up to 24 Bq kg(-1)), although the central parts and the area near the outlet of the mire still had low activity concentrations. Based on the fluxes to and from the mire, it was estimated that approximately 60-70% of the uranium and thorium entering the mire currently is retained within it. The current accumulation rates were found to be consistent with the historical accumulation, but possibly lower. Since much of the accumulation still is concentrated to the edges of the mire and the activities are low compared to other measurements of these radionuclides in peat, there are no indications that the mire will be saturated with respect to radionuclides like uranium, thorium and radium in the foreseen future. On the contrary, normal peat growth rates for the region suggest that the average activity concentrations of the peat currently may be decreasing, since peat growth may be faster than the accumulation of radionuclides. In order to assess the total potential for accumulation of radionuclides more thoroughly it would, however, be necessary to also investigate the behaviour of other organophilic elements like aluminium, which are likely to compete for binding sites on the organic material. Measurements of the redox potential and other redox indicators demonstrate that uranium possibly could be reduced in parts of the mire. The results of the study suggest that this mire currently is, and historically has been, an important sink for radionuclides and that it most likely will continue to be so for a long time to come.
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| 5. |
- Nived, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Methotrexate reduces circulating Th17 cells and impairs plasmablast and memory B cell expansions following pneumococcal conjugate immunization in RA patients
- 2021
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 11:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Methotrexate (MTX) impairs antibody response after pneumococcal vaccination. We aimed to investigate differences in phenotypes of circulating B and T cells after pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients on MTX (MTX group), RA without disease-modifying drugs (0DMARD), and controls (HC). MTX group (n = 11), 0DMARD (n = 12) and HC (n = 13) were studied. Blood samples were collected: before MTX, ≥ 4 weeks on stable MTX dose (prevaccination), and 7 days postvaccination (MTX group), and pre- and 7 days postvaccination (0DMARD and HC). Phenotypes of B- and T cell subsets were determined using flow cytometry. Serotype-specific IgG were quantified using multiplex bead assay, pre- and 4–6 weeks postvaccination. Concentrations of plasmablasts and switched memory B cells increased after PCV in HC (both p = 0.03) and the 0DMARD group (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02), but not in the MTX group. Postimmunization plasmablasts were lower in MTX group, compared to the 0DMARD group and HC (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001). Th17 cells decreased after MTX start (p = 0.02), and increased in HC after immunization (p = 0.01). Postimmunization plasmablasts correlated with mean antibody response ratio in all RA patients (R = 0.57, p = 0.035). Methotrexate reduced Th17 cells and blocked activation of plasmablasts and switched memory B cells following polysaccharide-protein conjugate antigen challenge in RA.
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| 6. |
- AbdGawad, Mohamed, et al.
(författare)
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Decreased Neutrophil Apoptosis in Quiescent ANCA-Associated Systemic Vasculitis
- 2012
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science. - 1932-6203. ; 7:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: ANCA-Associated Systemic Vasculitis (AASV) is characterized by leukocytoclasis, accumulation of unscavenged apoptotic and necrotic neutrophils in perivascular tissues. Dysregulation of neutrophil cell death may contribute directly to the pathogenesis of AASV. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMethods: Neutrophils from Healthy Blood Donors (HBD), patients with AASV most in complete remission, Polycythemia Vera (PV), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and renal transplant recipients (TP) were incubated in vitro, and the rate of spontaneous apoptosis was measured by FACS. Plasma levels of cytokines and sFAS were measured with cytometric bead array and ELISA. Expression of pro/anti-apoptotic factors, transcription factors C/EBP-alpha, C/EBP-beta and PU.1 and inhibitors of survival/JAK2-pathway were measured by real-time-PCR. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults: AASV, PV and RA neutrophils had a significantly lower rate of apoptosis compared to HBD neutrophils (AASV 50 +/- 14% vs. HBD 64 +/- 11%, p andlt; 0.0001). In RA but not in AASV and PV, low apoptosis rate correlated with increased plasma levels of GM-CSF and high mRNA levels of anti-apoptotic factors Bcl-2A1 and Mcl-1. AASV patients had normal levels of G-CSF, GM-CSF and IL-3. Both C/EBP-alpha, C/EBP-beta were significantly higher in neutrophils from AASV patients than HBD. Levels of sFAS were significantly higher in AASV compared to HBD. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusion: Neutrophil apoptosis rates in vitro are decreased in AASV, RA and PV but mechanisms seem to differ. Increased mRNA levels of granulopoiesis-associated transcription factors and increased levels of sFAS in plasma were observed in AASV. Additional studies are required to define the mechanisms behind the decreased apoptosis rates, and possible connections with accumulation of dying neutrophils in regions of vascular lesions in AASV patients.
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| 7. |
- Adolfsson, Göran, 1981, et al.
(författare)
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Realization of spectrally engineered semiconductor Fabry-Perot lasers with narrow geometrical tolerances
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Applied Physics. - : AIP Publishing. - 0021-8979 .- 1089-7550. ; 109:9, s. 093112-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Spectrally engineered semiconductor Fabry-Perot laser resonators are designed to enhance the optical feedback for selected longitudinal modes, which thereby require less gain for lasing. This is achieved by introducing refractive index perturbations along the length of the resonator. However,the physical realization of these resonators is a challenge because of very narrow tolerances; in particular the need for precise positioning of the end facets of the resonator in relation to the perturbations, and the excess propagation loss associated with the perturbations, has been a majorconcern. We report on a method to achieve high-quality end facet mirrors enabling precise positioning relative to the perturbations, the latter which are realized as lateral corrugations of the waveguide. Measurements show that the mirror quality is comparable to that of cleaved mirrorsand that the additional loss introduced by the perturbations adds
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| 8. |
- Ahlbäck Widenfalk, Lina, et al.
(författare)
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Spatially structured environmental filtering of collembolan traits in late successional salt marsh vegetation
- 2015
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Ingår i: Oecologia. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0029-8549 .- 1432-1939. ; 179, s. 537-549
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Both the environment and the spatial configuration of habitat patches are important factors that shape community composition and affect species diversity patterns. Species have traits that allow them to respond to their environment. Our current knowledge on environment to species traits relationships is limited in spite of its potential importance for understanding community assembly and ecosystem function. The aim of our study was to examine the relative roles of environmental and spatial variables for the small-scale variation in Collembola (springtail) communities in a Dutch salt marsh. We used a trait-based approach in combination with spatial statistics and variance partitioning, between environmental and spatial variables, to examine the important ecological factors that drive community composition. Turnover of trait diversity across space was lower than for species diversity. Most of the variation in community composition was explained by small-scale spatial variation in topography, on a scale of 4-6 m, most likely because it determines the effect of inundation, which restricts where habitat generalists can persist. There were only small pure spatial effects on species and trait diversity, indicating that biotic interactions or dispersal limitation probably were less important for structuring the community at this scale. Our results suggest that for springtails, life form (i.e. whether they live in the soil or litter or on the surface/in vegetation) is an important and useful trait to understand community assembly. Hence, using traits in addition to species identity when analysing environment-organism relationships results in a better understanding of the factors affecting community composition.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Andersson, Svante, 1962-, et al.
(författare)
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Mega-sport football events’ influence on destination images : A study of the 2016 UEFA European Football Championship in France, the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Destination Marketing & Management. - Amsterdam : Elsevier. - 2212-571X .- 2212-5752. ; 19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this study is to examine whether mega-sport events influence visitors' destination images and to explore which factors influence their perceptions of and intentions to attend a mega-sport event in certain destinations. We examine visitors' perceptions of the 2016 UEFA European Football Championship in France, the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, and the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar through a structured questionnaire published on the Facebook group Camp Sweden, a community of Swedish football supporters. We find differences among supporters’ destination image after they attended the mega-sport football events. The study also shows that positive destination images after visits were based on whether the destinations were able to satisfy important factors for supporters when visiting the destination. Qatar will be challenged to improve its destination image, as supporters do not connect factors important for visiting destinations with their current perceptions of Qatar. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd
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