| 1. |
- Flammini, Francesco, Senior Lecturer, 1978-, et al.
(författare)
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Towards wireless sensor networks for railway infrastructure monitoring
- 2010
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Ingår i: Electrical Systems for Aircraft, Railway and Ship Propulsion. - Piscataway : IEEE. - 9781424490943 - 9781424490929 - 9781424490936 ; , s. 1-6
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the adoption of emerging sensing technologies for instrumentation within a variety of structural systems. Structural health monitoring systems are widely adopted to monitor the behavior of structures during forced vibration testing or natural excitation (e.g. earthquakes, winds, live loading). They can be found in a number of civil structures, including bridges and viaducts, and also in applications of vehicle health monitoring. Moreover, since infrastructures can be damaged by human originated threats, the adoption of security measures is also essential. This paper presents a proposal of an early warning system based on Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) for railway infrastructure monitoring. It exploits already available research results and tools for WSN management, integration and data fusion. The aim is to hedge detection capabilities in a complete framework for structural failures as well as security threats, including both natural hazards and intentional attacks.
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| 2. |
- Da Costa, Mariana Gaya, et al.
(författare)
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Age and sex-associated changes of complement activity and complement levels in a healthy caucasian population
- 2018
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Immunology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-3224. ; 9:NOV
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The complement system is essential for an adequate immune response. Much attention has been given to the role of complement in disease. However, to better understand complement in pathology, it is crucial to first analyze this system under different physiological conditions. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate the inter-individual variation in complement activity and the influences of age and sex. Methods: Complement levels and functional activity were determined in 120 healthy volunteers, 60 women, 60 men, age range 20-69 year. Serum functional activity of the classical pathway (CP), lectin pathway activated by mannan (MBL-LP) and alternative pathway (AP) was measured in sera, using deposition of C5b-9 as readout. In addition, levels of C1q, MBL, MASP-1, MASP-2, ficolin-2, ficolin-3, C2, C4, C3, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, factor B, factor D, properdin, C1-inhibitor and C4b-binding protein, were determined. Age- and sex-related differences were evaluated. Results: Significantly lower AP activity was found in females compared to males. Further analysis of the AP revealed lower C3 and properdin levels in females, while factor D concentrations were higher. MBL-LP activity was not influenced by sex, but MBL and ficolin-3 levels were significantly lower in females compared to males. There were no significant differences in CP activity or CP components between females and males, nevertheless females had significantly lower levels of the terminal components. The CP and AP activity was significantly higher in the elderly, in contrast to MBL-LP activity. Moreover, C1-inhibitor, C5, C8, and C9 increased with age in contrast to a decrease of factor D and C3 levels. In-depth analysis of the functional activity assays revealed that MBL-LP activity was predominantly dependent on MBL and MASP-2 concentration, whereas CP activity relied on C2, C1-inhibitor and C5 levels. AP activity was strongly and directly associated with levels of C3, factor B and C5. Conclusion: This study demonstrated significant sex and age-related differences in complement levels and functionality in the healthy population. Therefore, age and sex analysis should be taken into consideration when discussing complement-related pathologies and subsequent complement-targeted therapies.
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| 3. |
- Podesta, Manuel Alfredo, et al.
(författare)
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Predictors of hypogammaglobulinemia in ANCA-associated vasculitis after a rituximab-based induction: a multicentre study
- 2023
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Ingår i: Rheumatology. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS. - 1462-0324 .- 1462-0332. ; 62:8, s. 2850-2854
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives Rituximab has become the cornerstone of induction treatment in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). B-cell depletion may increase the risk of hypogammaglobulinemia, potentially leading to severe infections. This study aims to assess factors associated with hypogammaglobulinemia in AAV patients treated with rituximab. Methods This retrospective cohort study included AAV patients treated with rituximab induction in 14 European centres. Severe adverse events (SAEs) were defined as episodes requiring hospitalization or intravenous antibiotics, malignancies, or death. Linear and logistic regression were used to identify predictors of IgG levels and of the risk of hypogammaglobulinemia, defined as IgG <= 7 g/l at 6 months. Results The study included 227 patients. IgG levels at 6 months were lower than baseline (P < 0.001). Patients requiring intravenous antibiotics during the first 6 months had lower IgG levels at 6 months (P = 0.004). Age [beta (95% CI): -0.23 (-0.38, -0.08) per 10 years, P = 0.003], oral glucocorticoid dose at induction [beta (95% CI): -0.37 (-0.51, -0.24) per sqrt-transformed mg prednisone, P < 0.001] and concomitant use of intravenous glucocorticoid pulses [beta (95% CI): -0.88 (-1.73, -0.02), P = 0.044] were associated with IgG levels at 6 months. Hypogammaglobulinemia was identified in 97 (42.7%) patients. In multivariable logistic regression, factors associated with the risk of hypogammaglobulinemia were age [OR (95% CI): 1.46 (1.15, 1.86) per 10 years, P = 0.002] and oral glucocorticoid dose at induction [OR (95% CI): 1.52 (1.23, 1.89) per 10 mg prednisone, P < 0.001]. Conclusions In AAV patients treated with rituximab, hypogammaglobulinemia at 6 months after induction is common, and lower IgG levels are associated with serious infections. The risk of hypogammaglobulinemia in these patients increases with age and higher glucocorticoid doses.
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| 4. |
- Stacey, Glyn N, et al.
(författare)
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Stem cell culture conditions and stability : a joint workshop of the PluriMes Consortium and Pluripotent Stem Cell Platform
- 2019
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Ingår i: Regenerative Medicine. - : Future Medicine Ltd. - 1746-0751 .- 1746-076X. ; 14:3, s. 243-255
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Human stem cells have the potential to transform medicine. However, hurdles remain to ensure that manufacturing processes produce safe and effective products. A thorough understanding of the biological processes occurring during manufacture is fundamental to assuring these qualities and thus, their acceptability to regulators and clinicians. Leaders in both human pluripotent and somatic stem cells, were brought together with experts in clinical translation, biomanufacturing and regulation, to discuss key issues in assuring appropriate manufacturing conditions for delivery of effective and safe products from these cell types. This report summarizes the key issues discussed and records consensus reached by delegates and emphasizes the need for accurate language and nomenclature in the scientific discourse around stem cells.
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| 5. |
- Woodruff, Trent M., et al.
(författare)
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Inhibiting the C5-C5a receptor axis
- 2011
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Ingår i: Molecular Immunology. - Oxford : Elsevier. - 0161-5890 .- 1872-9142. ; 48:14, s. 1631-1642
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Activation of the complement system is a major pathogenic event that drives various inflammatory responses in numerous diseases. All pathways of complement activation lead to cleavage of the C5 molecule generating the anaphylatoxin C5a and, C5b that subsequently forms the terminal complement complex (C5b-9). C5a exerts a predominant pro-inflammatory activity through interactions with the classical G-protein coupled receptor C5aR (CD88) as well as with the non-G protein coupled receptor C5L2 (GPR77), expressed on various immune and non-immune cells. C5b-9 causes cytolysis through the formation of the membrane attack complex (MAC), and sub-lytic MAC and soluble C5b-9 also possess a multitude of non-cytolytic immune functions. These two complement effectors, C5a and C5b-9, generated from C5 cleavage, are key components of the complement system responsible for propagating and/or initiating pathology in different diseases, including paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, rheumatoid arthritis, ischemia-reperfusion injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, the C5-C5a receptor axis represents an attractive target for drug development. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of different methods of inhibiting the generation of C5a and C5b-9 as well as the signalling cascade of C5a via its receptors. These include the inhibition of C5 cleavage through targeting of C5 convertases or via the C5 molecule itself, as well as blocking the activity of C5a by neutralizing antibodies and pharmacological inhibitors, or by targeting C5a receptors per se. Examples of drugs and naturally occurring compounds used are discussed in relation to disease models and clinical trials. To date, only one such compound has thus far made it to clinical medicine: the anti-C5 antibody eculizumab, for treating paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. However, a number of drug candidates are rapidly emerging that are currently in early-phase clinical trials. The C5-C5a axis as a target for drug development is highly promising for the treatment of currently intractable major human diseases. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
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| 6. |
- Würzner, Reinhard, et al.
(författare)
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European Union funded project on the development of a whole complement deficiency screening ELISA-A story of success and an exceptional manager: Mohamed R. Daha.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Molecular Immunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-9142 .- 0161-5890. ; 68:1, s. 63-66
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- A whole complement ELISA-based assay kit, primarily designed to screen for deficiencies in components of the complement system was developed during a European Union grant involving more than a dozen European scientists and a small-medium enterprise company (Wieslab, which later merged into Eurodiagnostica). The consortium was led by Prof. Mohamed R. Daha who had already guided a preceding European grant which prepared the ground for this endeavor to create a novel and sophisticated complement measurement tool. The final result of the grant was a scientific publication (Seelen et al., 2005, J. Immunol. Methods 296, 187-198) and a commercially available complement deficiency screening kit, WIESLAB(®) Complement system Screen. Thereafter, the group decided to carry on with a grant, located at Innsbruck Medical University, and supported by royalties and unrestricted educational grants from Eurodiagnostica, Malmö, entitled "Search for Applications for WIESLAB(®) Complement system Screen (SAW)" with the aim to look for further applications of this assay. During the latter project the group organized several scientific meetings aimed at evaluating the use of the assay as well as developing further branches of its platform. A look back over almost two decades reveals a great story of excellent research which was also commercially successful, fulfilling the aims of European Union grants. It is also a story of ageless friendship, only possible due to the vision and guidance of an exceptional manager: Moh Daha.
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