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- Beronius, A., et al.
(author)
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Assessing the risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- 2009
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In: Endocrine disrupting chemicals in food. - : Woodhead Publishing Limited. - 9781845692186 ; , s. 356-380
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In this chapter, four European regulatory frameworks are compared concerning how they cope with identifying and risk assessing endocrine-disrupting chemicals. This comparison is performed by using four example chemicals, bisphenol A, dioxins, ethinyl estradiol and vinclozolin, representing four different regulatory categories. It is concluded that within these regulations, there are no general test requirements that specifically enable identification of endocrine disruptors, and there seem to be little conformity in the risk assessment processes even though the route of exposure and the mode of toxicity are similar. Further development of risk assessment guidance for endocrine disruptors requires continued cooperation between experimental scientists, risk assessors, regulators and industry.
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| 3. |
- Lindberg, Bo, et al.
(author)
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Modeling of Cherenkov light emission from BWR nuclear fuel with missing or substituted rods
- 2006
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In: IAEA Symposium on International Safeguards: Addressing Verification Challenges.
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Conference paper (pop. science, debate, etc.)abstract
- Computer simulations of Cherenkov glow from spent nuclear fuel were carried out. Spent nuclear fuel in storage ponds are verified with the help of the Cherenkov viewing device (CVD) and the Digital Cherenkov viewing device (DCVD). The instruments image the Cherenkov glow generated by gamma ray emissions from spent fuel into the water. An attempt to build a realistic digital model of the DCVD image containing partial-length, missing, and substituted rods was made to see if the effects of the deviations from normal can be predicted. It was concluded that partial-length or missing rods in the model was in good agreement with measured data, but replaced rods in the model showed a weaker attenuation of the Cherenkov glow than the observed DCVD images.
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| 5. |
- Baykut, Doan, et al.
(author)
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Molecular differentiation of ischemic and valvular heart disease by liquid chromatography/fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry
- 2006
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In: European Journal of Medical Research. - 0949-2321 .- 2047-783X. ; 11:6, s. 221-226
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Proteomic patterns of myocardial tissue in different etiologies of heart failure were investigated using a direct analytical approach with High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)/Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). Right atrial appendages from 20 patients, 10 with hemodynamically significant isolated aortic valve disease and 10 with symptomatic coronary artery disease were collected during elective cardiac surgery. After preparation of tissue samples and tryptic digestion of proteins, the peptide mixture was HPLC-separated and on-line analyzed by electrospray FT-ICR MS. Data obtained from HPLC / FT-ICR MS runs were compared for classification. To extract the classification features, the selection of best individual features was applied and the "nearest mean classifier" was used for the classification of test samples and the sample projection onto classification patterns. The pattern distribution characteristics of aortic and coronary diseases were clearly different. No interference between samples of both disease categories was registered, even if the distribution of unsupervised classified test samples were closer. Samples representing aortic valve disease showed a closer accumulation pattern of spots compared to the samples representing coronary disease, which indicated a more specific protein classification. Through selective identification of specific peptides and protein patterns with FTMS, valvular and coronary heart disease is for the first time clearly distinguished at molecular level. The described methodology could also be feasible in search for specific biomarkers in plasma or serum for diagnostic purposes.
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| 6. |
- Borglund, Erik A.M. 1969-
(author)
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Design for Recordkeeping: Areas of Improvement
- 2008
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This thesis is about problems related to design of information systems in which records are born and managed. The proactive approach has been derived from new archival theories suited for electronic recordkeeping, and implies that electronic records must, at the time of creation fulfil their current and future requirements. Information systems where records are born and managed should, based upon a proactive approach, meet recordkeeping requirements. This thesis is based upon a four-year research effort and consists of seven research articles that present the results of the research. The objective is to contribute to knowledge of design recommendations for information systems, in which records are born and managed. The main result of this thesis is identification of five areas that can affect and improve the design of information systems in which records are born and managed. First: A set of empirically and theoretical grounded characteristics of records are presented. Those characteristics have to be complemented with organization-defined characteristics. Second: this research has contributed a conceptualization of use of records and users of records. The notion of known use/user, and unknown use/user has been introduced. Design becomes difficult because requirements of unknown users are difficult to conceptualize. Third: The Recordkeeping Quality Assessment model (RQAM) is presented. The model implies a holistic quality approach to recordkeeping, and intends to be used as a basis for quality assessment, and as a reference model in design situations to achieve high recordkeeping quality. Fourth: Two dominant different views on records are presented. Private organizations appraise records principally upon business values, and public organisations base their appraisal criteria upon accountability and legislative values. The two views on records should be brought into one view and form a risk management-like appraisal. Fifth: Proactivity is a way of thinking and should be applied on several levels in the recordkeeping environment: to the electronic record, to the information system where the electronic record is born and managed, to the organization, and to the user.
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| 7. |
- Copier, J, et al.
(author)
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Improving the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy
- 2009
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In: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER. - : Elsevier BV. - 0959-8049 .- 1879-0852. ; 45:8, s. 1424-1431
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A series of cancer vaccines have been evaluated in clinical trials with encouraging results, but the demonstration of clinical benefit in confirmatory studies has so far proven to be difficult. The development of cancer vaccines is hampered by a range of issues particular to this field of research. On 12th March 2008, the Biotherapy Development Association convened a workshop to discuss issues faced by scientists and clinicians involved in the development of cancer vaccines. This paper is a review of the field, based on discussions held at the BDA workshop, and describes biological barriers encountered in generating effective immune responses to tumours, methodological obstacles encountered in the improvement of immunological monitoring which aims to improve inter-laboratory and inter-trial comparisons, challenges in clinical trial design and problems posed by the lack of specific regulation for cancer vaccines and the impact on their development. Ultimately, a number of general solutions are posed: (1) better patient selection, (2) use of multi-modal treatments that affect several aspects of the immune system at once, (3) a requirement for the development of good biomarkers to stratify patients for selection prior to trial and as surrogates for clinical response and (4) harmonisation of SOPs for immunological monitoring of clinical trials.
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| 8. |
- Düringer, Caroline, et al.
(author)
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Agonist-specific patterns of beta(2)-adrenoceptor responses in human airway cells during prolonged exposure.
- 2009
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In: British Journal of Pharmacology. - : Wiley. - 1476-5381 .- 0007-1188. ; 158, s. 169-179
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and purpose: beta(2)-Adrenoceptor agonists (beta(2)-agonists) are important bronchodilators used in the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. At the molecular level, beta(2)-adrenergic agonist stimulation induces desensitization of the beta(2)-adrenoceptor. In this study, we have examined the relationships between initial effect and subsequent reduction of responsiveness to restimulation for a panel of beta(2)-agonists in cellular and in vitro tissue models. Experimental approach: beta(2)-Adrenoceptor-induced responses and subsequent loss of receptor responsiveness were studied in primary human airway smooth muscle cells and bronchial epithelial cells by measuring cAMP production. Receptor responsiveness was compared at equi-effective concentrations, either after continuous incubation for 24 h or after a 1 h pulse exposure followed by a 23 h washout. Key findings were confirmed in guinea pig tracheal preparations in vitro. Key results: There were differences in the reduction of receptor responsiveness in human airway cells and in vitro guinea pig trachea by a panel of beta(2)-agonists. When restimulation occurred immediately after continuous incubation, loss of responsiveness correlated with initial effect for all agonists. After the 1 h pulse exposure, differences between agonists emerged, for example isoprenaline and formoterol induced the least reduction of responsiveness. High lipophilicity was, to some extent, predictive of loss of responsiveness, but other factors appeared to be involved in determining the relationships between effect and subsequent loss of responsiveness for individual agonists. Conclusions and implications: There were clear differences in the ability of different beta(2) agonists to induce loss of receptor responsiveness at equi-effective concentrations.
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| 10. |
- Hansson, Eva Ekvall, et al.
(author)
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Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group.
- 2008
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In: International Journal of Rehabilitation Research. - 1473-5660. ; 31:1, s. 51-57
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The objective of this study is to investigate whether vestibular rehabilitation can improve balance, reduce self-perceived handicap because of dizziness and, if possible, reduce falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare. The study also finds out which of the balance measures and measure of self-perceived handicap, if any, predicted the risk of falls. The design of this study is an intervention study with control group. Fifty-eight patients, 65 years and older, with multisensory dizziness were taken as participants. The intervention group trained vestibular rehabilitation twice a week for 9 weeks. All patients were assessed at baseline and after 3 months, with four different balance measures and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory. After 6, 9 and 12 months, a follow-up by telephone was performed and, at 12 months, the patients also filled out a Dizziness Handicap Inventory questionnaire. Statistically significant differences were found between the groups between baseline and 3 months in one static balance measure and in one dynamic measure (P=0.038 and 0.044). In total, 40 falls were reported, 31 were classified as intrinsic falls, 26 of them caused by vertigo and nine falls were classified as extrinsic. No difference was found between the two groups in proportions of patients who fell. Poor ability to stand in tandem stance doubled the risk for falls. Vestibular rehabilitation can improve balance in elderly patients with multisensory dizziness. Vertigo is a common cause of falls in this group of patients and vestibular rehabilitation is a feasible treatment.
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