| 1. |
- Terracciano, A, et al.
(författare)
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National character does not reflect mean personality trait levels in 49 cultures
- 2005
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 1095-9203 .- 0036-8075. ; 310:5745, s. 96-100
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Most people hold beliefs about personality characteristics typical of members of their own and others' cultures. These perceptions of national character may be generalizations from personal experience, stereotypes with a "kernel of truth," or inaccurate stereotypes. We obtained national character ratings of 3989 people from 49 cultures and compared them with the average personality scores of culture members assessed by observer ratings and self-reports. National character ratings were reliable but did not converge with assessed traits. Perceptions of national character thus appear to be unfounded stereotypes that may serve the function of maintaining a national identity.
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| 2. |
- Edholm, T, et al.
(författare)
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The incretin hormones GIP and GLP-1 in diabetic rats : effects on insulin secretion and small bowel motility
- 2009
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Ingår i: Neurogastroenterology and Motility. - : Wiley. - 1350-1925 .- 1365-2982. ; 21:3, s. 313-321
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Incretin hormones often display inhibitory actions on gut motility. The aim of this study was to investigate if altered responsiveness to glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) as regards insulin release and small bowel motility could bring further clarity to the pathophysiology of diabetes in the Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat. The isolated perfused pancreas was studied in male GK and Wistar rats (controls) under euglycemic and hyperglycemic conditions. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (10 nmol L−1) or GLP-1 (10 nmol L−1) were added to the medium and perfusate was collected and analysed for insulin. Moreover, GK and Wistar rats were supplied with bipolar electrodes in the small bowel and myoelectric activity was recorded during intravenous administration of GIP (1–400 pmol kg−1 min−1) or GLP-1 (0.1–20 pmol kg−1 min−1). Finally, tissue was collected from GK and Wistar rats for RNA extraction. Under euglycemia, GIP and GLP-1 stimulated the initial insulin response by 10-fold in GK rats (P < 0.05). At later hyperglycemia, the insulin response to GIP and GLP-1 was blunted to about one-third compared with controls (P < 0.05). In the bowel GLP-1 was about 2.6–16.7 times more potent than GIP in abolishing the migrating myoelectric complex in the GK and control rats. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed GIP and GLP-1 receptor gene expression in pancreatic islets and in small bowel. The initially high, but later low insulin responsiveness to stimulation with GIP and GLP-1 along with inhibition of small bowel motility in the GK rat indicates a preserved incretin response on motility in diabetes type 2.
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| 3. |
- Eliason, Gabriella, et al.
(författare)
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Physical performance and muscular characteristics in different stages of COPD
- 2009
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. - : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.. - 0905-7188 .- 1600-0838. ; 19:6, s. 865-870
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study has examined exercise capacity and muscle morphology in patients with different severities of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Twenty-three patients and 12 healthy matched controls were recruited. Based on the severity of airflow obstruction, patients were divided into two subgroups. Exercise capacity was determined using a 6-min walk test. Muscle fiber composition, fiber area and number of satellite cells/muscle fiber were determined in muscle biopsies using immunohistochemistry. A progressive decline in exercise capacity was noted with ascending disease severity. Furthermore, a correlation between reduction in exercise capacity and changes in muscle fiber composition was observed in COPD. The group with severe and very severe COPD had a lower proportion of type I and a higher proportion of type IIa fibers compared with the other groups. In severe and very severe COPD, a reduction in fiber area of type IIa fibers was also seen. The number of satellite cells/muscle fiber did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, a decline in exercise capacity occurs already in mild and moderate COPD, indicating that the 6-min walk test is a reliable indicator of disease severity. Furthermore, changes in skeletal muscle morphology are associated with disease severity while muscle regenerative capacity is not altered.
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| 4. |
- He, Guang S., et al.
(författare)
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Dynamic properties and optical phase conjugation of two-photon pumped ultrashort blue stimulated emission in a chromophore solution
- 2008
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Ingår i: Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics. - 1050-2947 .- 1094-1622. ; 77:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The dynamic properties of two-photon pumped blue lasing (similar to 470 nm) in the solution of an organic chromophore [2-acetyl-6-(dimethylamino)naphthalene], excited by similar to 160-fs laser pulses at similar to 775 nm, have been studied. Both the forward and backward stimulated emission are enhanced by feedback from the reflection at the two optical windows of the solution filled cuvette. Under current experimental conditions, the lasing wavelengths in the forward and backward directions were almost the same, but both blueshifted compared to the fluorescence peak wavelength of the sample solution. The temporal behavior of the lasing output was recorded by a high-speed streak camera system. The multipulse structure and spectral properties of the output lasing are semiquantitatively explained. In addition, excellent optical phase-conjugation properties of the backward stimulated emission were observed; the aberration influences from an aberrator on the backward lasing beam were automatically removed.
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| 5. |
- Piehl-Aulin, Karin, 1947-, et al.
(författare)
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Increased serum inflammatory markers in the absence of clinical and skeletal muscle inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- 2009
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Ingår i: Respiration. - : S. Karger AG. - 0025-7931 .- 1423-0356. ; 78:2, s. 191-196
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Muscle wasting and cachexia are common occurrences in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate markers of inflammation in the circulation and skeletal muscle that might be associated with development of muscle wasting. Methods: Three groups of patients with mild, moderate and severe COPD and matched healthy controls were recruited. Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, cortisol, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), leptin and ghrelin were analysed. Skeletal muscle inflammation was investigated microscopically using a panel of antibodies and standard staining for inflammatory cell infiltration. Results: All COPD patients were clinically stable, with no sign of inflammation and normal CRP values. Compared to controls, significantly increased hs-CRP levels were observed in all COPD patient groups. Significant rises in IL-6 levels were first observed in moderate COPD, while IL-8 levels were significantly elevated at the late severe stage. Circulating levels of TNF-α, cortisol, IGF-1, leptin and ghrelin were similar to control levels. No microscopic signs of skeletal muscle inflammation were observed. Conclusion: Our results identify hs-CRP as an early marker of inflammation that is significantly increased in the circulation even in mild COPD. Serum interleukin levels appear to be increased with disease progress. These changes were manifested in the absence of any clinical signs of disease exacerbation, evidence of skeletal muscle inflammation or hormonal changes. © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.
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