| 1. |
- Eugen-Olsen, J, et al.
(författare)
-
The serum level of soluble urokinase receptor is elevated in tuberculosis patients and predicts mortality during treatment: a community study from Guinea-Bissau
- 2002
-
Ingår i: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. - 1815-7920. ; 6:8, s. 686-692
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the serum level of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) carries prognostic information in individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. DESIGN: suPAR was measured by ELISA in 262 individuals at the time of enrolment into a cohort based on suspicion of active tuberculosis and in 101 individuals after 8 months of follow-up. RESULTS: The suPAR levels were elevated in patients with active TB compared to TB-negative individuals (P < 0.001). suPAR levels were highest in patients positive for TB on direct microscopy (n = 84, median suPAR 3.17 ng/ml, P < 0.001), followed by patients negative on direct microscopy but culture positive (n = 35, median suPAR 2.41 ng/ml, P = 0.005) and by patients diagnosed on clinical grounds (n = 63, median suPAR 2.13 ng/ml, P = 0.06) compared to 64 TB-negative individuals (median suPAR 1.73 ng/ml). During the 8-month treatment period, 23 TB cases died. In a multivariate Cox model controlling for HIV status, age, sex, CD4 count and type of TB diagnosis, the mortality increase per ng suPAR was 1.25 (95%CI 1.12-1.40). After treatment, suPAR levels had decreased to the levels of TB-negative individuals. CONCLUSIONS: suPAR levels are elevated in TB patients and associated with mortality. Furthermore, suPAR may be a potential marker of treatment efficacy.
|
|
| 2. |
- Gustafson, Per, et al.
(författare)
-
Clinical Predictors for Death in HIV-positive and HIV-negative Tuberculosis Patients in Guinea-Bissau.
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Infection. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1439-0973 .- 0300-8126. ; 35:2, s. 69-80
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To assess easily monitored predictors for tuberculosis mortality. Risk factors for tuberculosis mortality were assessed during the 8-month treatment in 440 men and 269 women diagnosed with confirmed or presumed intrathoracic tuberculosis included prospectively in Guinea-Bissau from May 1996 to April 2001. A civil war occurred in the study area from June 1998 to May 1999. 12% were HIV-1 positive, 16% HIV-2 positive and 7% were HIV dually infected. Case fatality rates for HIV positive were higher during (35% [22/63]) and after the war (29% [27/92]) compared to before the war (17% [15/88]). The war did not have an effect on the case fatality rate in HIV negative (10% [13/135] before the war). HIV-1-infected patients had higher mortality than HIV-2 infected, mortality rate ratio (MRR) = 2.28 (95% confidence interval 1.17-4.46). Men had higher mortality than women but only among the HIV negative (MRR = 2.09 [0.95-4.59]). Hence, the negative impact of HIV infection on mortality was stronger in women (MRR = 6.51 [2.98-14.2]) than in men (MRR = 2.64 [1.67-4.17]) (test of homogeneity, p = 0.051). Anergy to tuberculin was associated with death in HIV positive (MRR = 2.77 [1.38-5.54]) but not in HIV negative (MRR = 1.14 [0.52-2.53]). Signs of immune deficiency, such as oral candida infection or leukoplakia (MRR = 4.25 [1.92-9.44]) and diarrhea (MRR = 2.15 [1.29-3.58] was associated with mortality in HIV positive. Tendencies were similar among HIV negative. HIV-positive relapse cases were at increased risk of dying (MRR = 2.42 [1.10-5.34]). Malnutrition, measured through mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), increased the risk of death. Easily monitored predictors for mortality in tuberculosis patients include clinical signs of immune deficiency and low MUAC.
|
|
| 3. |
- Gustafson, Per, et al.
(författare)
-
Tuberculosis in Bissau: incidence and risk factors in an urban community in sub-Saharan Africa
- 2004
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Epidemiology. - Oxford : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1464-3685 .- 0300-5771. ; 33:1, s. 163-172
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Despite the long history of tuberculosis (TB) research, population-based studies from developing countries are rare. Methods In a prospective community study in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, we assessed the impact of demographic, socioeconomic and cultural risk factors on active TB. A surveillance system in four districts of the capital identified 247 adult (greater than or equal to15 years) cases of intrathoracic TB between May 1996 and June 1998. Risk factors were evaluated comparing cases with the 25 189 adults living in the area in May 1997. Results The incidence of intrathoracic TB in the adult population was 471 per 100 000 person-years. Significant risk factors in a multivariate analysis were increasing age (P < 0.0001), male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.85, 3.60), ethnic group other than the largest group (Pepel) (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.20, 2.22), adult crowding (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.39 for >2 adults in household), and poor quality of housing (OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.24, 2.22). Household type was important; adults living alone or with adults of their own sex only, had a higher risk of developing TB than households with husband and wife present, the adjusted OR being 1.76 (95% CI: 1.11, 2.78) for male households and 3.80 (95% CI: 1.69, 8.56) for female households. In a multivariate analysis excluding household type, child crowding was a protective factor, the OR being 0.68 (95% CI: 0.51, 0.90) for households with >2 children per household. Conclusions Bissau has a very high incidence of intrathoracic TB. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), increasing age, male sex, ethnicity, adult crowding, family structure, and poor housing conditions were independent risk factors for TB. Apart from HIV prevention, TB control programmes need to emphasize risk factors such as socioeconomic inequality, ethnic differences, crowding, and gender.
|
|
| 4. |
- Hasselbalch, H., et al.
(författare)
-
Circulating hyaluronan in the myelofibrosis/osteomyelosclerosis syndrome and other myeloproliferative disorders
- 1991
-
Ingår i: American Journal of Hematology. - 0361-8609 .- 1096-8652. ; 36:1, s. 1-8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The serum concentration of hyaluronan (HYA) was determined in 59 patients with various myeloproliferative disorders, including 33 patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis. In 18 patients the serum concentration of the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) was measured concomitantly. Raised serum HYA levels were seen in patients with active disease compared with age-matched healthy subjects, whereas no significant difference in serum HYA was seen between patients with stable disease and age-matched controls. Serum HYA concentrations correlated significantly with the leukocyte count (rho = 0.38; P less than 0.02) and with the serum concentration of PIIINP (rho = 0.50; P less than 0.001). During cytotoxic treatment, the serum HYA and PIIINP concentrations decreased in concert with declining leukocyte counts. These findings suggest that clonal expansion is accompanied by a bone marrow stromal reaction similar to the repair processes following injury to soft connective tissues. The relatively modest changes in serum HYA with frequent overlaps between patient categories and healthy subjects imply that the clinical utility of single determinations of serum HYA in the present disease groups is restrained. On the other hand, sequential measurements of HYA may provide a reflection of the myeloproliferative process in individual patients.
|
|
| 5. |
- Knudsen, TB, et al.
(författare)
-
Predictive value of soluble haemoglobin scavenger receptor CD163 serum levels for survival in verified tuberculosis patients
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Clinical Microbiology and Infection. - : Elsevier BV. - 1469-0691 .- 1198-743X. ; 11:9, s. 730-735
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pre-treatment serum levels of sCD163 were measured in a cohort of 236 suspected tuberculosis (TB) cases from Guinea-Bissau, with a median follow-up period of 3.3 years (range 0-6.4 years). In 113 cases, the diagnosis of TB was verified by positive sputum microscopy and/or culture. Among the verified TB cases, a decreased survival rate was found in 27 patients with sCD163 levels above the upper reference limit (3.95 mu g/mL). The difference in survival was significant during TB treatment (log rank, p < 0.02) and after long-term follow-up (log rank, p < 0.001). The decrease in survival rate during TB treatment remained significant in a multivariate Cox model controlling for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status, age and gender, with a mortality increase of 1.19 (95% CI, 1.04-1.36) per mu g of sCD163, and a hazard ratio (HR) for sCD163 levels above the upper reference limit of 4.18 (95% CI, 1.06-16.4). The difference was not significant after excluding patients with concomitant HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection in Kaplan-Meier analyses (log rank, p 0.11). In contrast, the difference in survival remained significant in Kaplan-Meier analyses after long-term follow-up, even after excluding patients with concomitant HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection (log rank, p 0.002). In the Cox model, the mortality increase per mu g of sCD163 was 1.27 (95% CI, 1.14-1.40), with an HR for elevated sCD163 levels of 2.85 (95% CI, 1.44-5.63). The HRs for concomitant HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection were 6.92 (95% CI, 3.28-14.58) and 2.48 (95% CI, 1.09-5.67), respectively. Thus, sCD163 levels appeared to be an independent predictor of survival in verified TB patients.
|
|
| 6. |
- Meech, K. J., et al.
(författare)
-
EPOXI: Comet 103P/Hartley 2 Observations from a Worldwide Campaign
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - London : IOP. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 734:L1, s. 1-9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Earth- and space-based observations provide synergistic information for space mission encounters by providing data over longer timescales, at different wavelengths and using techniques that are impossible with an in situ flyby. We report here such observations in support of the EPOXI spacecraft flyby of comet 103P/Hartley 2. The nucleus is small and dark, and exhibited a very rapidly changing rotation period. Prior to the onset of activity, the period was ~16.4?hr. Starting in 2010 August the period changed from 16.6?hr to near 19?hr in December. With respect to dust composition, most volatiles and carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios, the comet is similar to other Jupiter-family comets. What is unusual is the dominance of CO 2 -driven activity near perihelion, which likely persists out to aphelion. Near perihelion the comet nucleus was surrounded by a large halo of water-ice grains that contributed significantly to the total water production.
|
|
| 7. |
- Purdum, Josiah N., et al.
(författare)
-
Time-series and Phase-curve Photometry of the Episodically Active Asteroid (6478) Gault in a Quiescent State Using APO, GROWTH, P200, and ZTF
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 911:2
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We observed the episodically active asteroid (6478) Gault in 2020 with multiple telescopes in Asia and North America and found that it is no longer active after its recent outbursts at the end of 2018 and the start of 2019. The inactivity during this apparition allowed us to measure the absolute magnitude of Gault of H ( r ) = 14.63 +/- 0.02, G ( r ) = 0.21 +/- 0.02 from our secular phase-curve observations. In addition, we were able to constrain Gault's rotation period using time-series photometric lightcurves taken over 17 hr on multiple days in 2020 August, September, and October. The photometric lightcurves have a repeating less than or similar to 0.05 mag feature suggesting that (6478) Gault has a rotation period of similar to 2.5 hr and may have a semispherical or top-like shape, much like the near-Earth asteroids Ryugu and Bennu. The rotation period of similar to 2.5 hr is near the expected critical rotation period for an asteroid with the physical properties of (6478) Gault, suggesting that its activity observed over multiple epochs is due to surface mass shedding from its fast rotation spin-up by the Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack effect.
|
|
| 8. |
- Stabell Benn, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Thymus size and head circumference at birth and the development of allergic diseases
- 2001
-
Ingår i: Clinical and Experimental Allergy. - : Wiley. - 0954-7894 .- 1365-2222. ; 31:12, s. 1862-1866
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The positive association between a large head circumference at birth and total serum IgE levels has been suggested to be due to negative associations between head circumference at birth and thymus development and between thymus development and total serum IgE levels. Objectives: To examine the associations between head circumference and thymus size at birth and the development of allergic disease. Methods: The size of the thymus was assessed by sonography during the first week of life in 149 healthy term infants. Information on birth characteristics and mode of delivery was collected at delivery. The presence of allergic disease was assessed 5 years later by mailed questionnaires, which were returned by 85% of the eligible families. Results: At birth, head circumference was positively associated with thymus size (P < 0.001). In all, 27 (23%) of the children had developed at least one allergic disease. Multivariate analysis revealed that both parental allergy (Prevalence Ratio and 95% CI) = 3.18 (1.49-6.78)) and caesarean delivery (2.62 (1.48-4.64)) were independently correlated with allergic disease, whereas thymus size was not. Conclusions: Our study does not support that a large head circumference is associated with a small thymus size, nor that a small thymus size is associated with allergic disease. Whether thymus size at birth is related to total serum IgE levels still remains to be elucidated.
|
|
