| 1. |
- Ballantyne, C., et al.
(författare)
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Collaborative meta-analysis of individual participant data from observational studies of Lp-PLA2 and cardiovascular diseases
- 2007
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Ingår i: European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1741-8267 .- 1741-8275 .- 2047-4873. ; 14:1, s. 3-11
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A large number of observational epidemiological studies have reported generally positive associations between circulating mass and activity levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Few studies have been large enough to provide reliable estimates in different circumstances, such as in different subgroups (e.g., by age group, sex, or smoking status) or at different Lp-PLA2 levels. Moreover, most published studies have related disease risk only to baseline values of Lp-PLA2 markers (which can lead to substantial underestimation of any risk relationships because of within-person variability over time) and have used different approaches to adjustment for possible confounding factors. OBJECTIVES: By combination of data from individual participants from all relevant observational studies in a systematic 'meta-analysis', with correction for regression dilution (using available data on serial measurements of Lp-PLA2), the Lp-PLA2 Studies Collaboration will aim to characterize more precisely than has previously been possible the strength and shape of the age and sex-specific associations of plasma Lp-PLA2 with coronary heart disease (and, where data are sufficient, with other vascular diseases, such as ischaemic stroke). It will also help to determine to what extent such associations are independent of possible confounding factors and to explore potential sources of heterogeneity among studies, such as those related to assay methods and study design. It is anticipated that the present collaboration will serve as a framework to investigate related questions on Lp-PLA2 and cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: A central database is being established containing data on circulating Lp-PLA2 values, sex and other potential confounding factors, age at baseline Lp-PLA2 measurement, age at event or at last follow-up, major vascular morbidity and cause-specific mortality. Information about any repeat measurements of Lp-PLA2 and potential confounding factors has been sought to allow adjustment for possible confounding and correction for regression dilution. The analyses will involve age-specific regression models. Synthesis of the available observational studies of Lp-PLA2 will yield information on a total of about 15 000 cardiovascular disease endpoints.
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| 2. |
- Ballantyne, C., et al.
(författare)
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Collaborative meta-analysis of individual participant data from observational studies of Lp-PLA(2) and cardiovascular diseases
- 2007
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Ingår i: European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation. - 1741-8275. ; 14:1, s. 41344-41344
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background A large number of observational epidemiological studies have reported generally positive associations' between circulating mass and activity levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Few studies have been large enough to provide reliable estimates in different circumstances, such as in different subgroups (e.g., by age group, sex, or smoking status) or at different Lp-PLA2 levels. Moreover, most published studies have related disease risk only to baseline values of Lp-PLA(2) markers (which can lead to substantial underestimation of any risk relationships because of within-person variability over time) and have used different approaches to adjustment for possible confounding factors. Objectives By combination of data from individual participants from all relevant observational studies in a systematic,meta-analysis, with correction for regression dilution (using available data on serial measurements of Lp-PLA(2)), the Lp-PLA(2) Studies Collaboration will aim to characterize more precisely than has previously been possible the strength and shape of the age and sex-specific associations of plasma Lp-PLA(2) with coronary heart disease (and, where data are sufficient with other vascular diseases, such as ischaemic stroke). It will also help to determine to what extent such associations are independent of possible confounding factors and to explore potential sources of heterogeneity among studies, such as those related to assay methods and study design. It is anticipated that the present collaboration will serve as a framework to investigate related questions on Lp-PLA(2) and cardiovascular outcomes. Methods A central database is being established containing data on circulating Lp-PLA(2) values, sex and other potential confounding factors, age at baseline Lp-PLA(2) Measurement, age at event or at last follow-up, major vascular morbidity and cause-specific mortality. Information about any repeat measurements of Lp-PLA2 and potential confounding factors has been sought to allow adjustment for possible confounding and correction for regression dilution. The analyses will involve age-specific regression models. Synthesis of the available observational studies of Lp-PLA(2) will yield information on a total of about 15 000 cardiovascular disease endpoints.
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| 3. |
- Sanchez-Vega, M., et al.
(författare)
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Studies of quadrupole collectivity in the γ -soft 106Ru
- 2008
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Ingår i: European Physical Journal A. - 1434-6001 .- 1434-601X. ; 35:2, s. 159-165
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Various alternative models were used to describe the structure of 106Ru . For example, the General Collective Model (GCM) predicts shape-coexistence for 106Ru with a spherical and a triaxial minimum and strongly mixed structures, while in the IBA-2 calculations, where 106Ru was considered as transitional from vibrational U(5) to γ -soft O(6) , no need was found to include the shape-coexisting configurations. In order to provide additional constraints on the model interpretations, we have applied the Advanced Time-Delayed (ATD) βγγ(t) method to measure the level lifetimes of the excited levels in 106Ru . The new results include the half-lives of T 1/2 = 183(3) ps and 7.5(30)ps for the 2+ 1 and 2+ 2 states, respectively.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Martinka, P, et al.
(författare)
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Adenosine increases calcium sensitivity via receptor-independent activation of the p38/MK2 pathway in mesenteric arteries
- 2008
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Ingår i: Acta Physiologica. - : Wiley. - 1748-1708 .- 1748-1716. ; 193:1, s. 37-46
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIM: Adenosine (Ado) restores desensitized angiotensin II-induced contractions in the renal arterioles via an intracellular, receptor-independent mechanisms including the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). In the present study we test the hypothesis that MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) mediates the Ado effect downstream from p38 MAPK resulting in an increased phosphorylation of the regulatory unit of the myosin light chain (MLC(20)). METHODS AND RESULTS: Contraction experiments were performed in rings of mesenteric arteries under isometric conditions in C57BL6 and MK2 knock out mice (MK2-/-). Ado pretreatment (10(-5) mol L(-1)) strongly increased Ang II sensitivity, calcium sensitivity and the phosphorylation of MLC(20). Treatment with Ado (3 x 10(-6) or 10(-5) mol L(-1) in between successive Ang II applications) enhanced the desensitized Ang II responses (second to fifth application). Ca(2+) transients were not effected by Ado. Further, blockade of type 1 and type 2 Ado receptors during treatment did not influence the effect. Type 3 receptor activation by inosine instead of Ado had no effect. Conversely, inhibition of nitrobenzylthioinosine-sensitive Ado transporters prevented the effects of Ado. Inhibition of p38 MAPK as well as use of MK2-/- mice prevented contractile Ado effects on the mesenteric arteries and the phosphorylation of MLC(20). CONCLUSION: The study shows that Ado activates the p38 MAPK/MK2 pathway in vascular smooth muscle via an intracellular action, which results in an increased MLC(20) phosphorylation in concert with increased calcium sensitivity of the contractile apparatus. This mechanism can significantly contribute to the regulation of vascular tone, e.g. under post-ischaemic conditions.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Tomas, S. A., et al.
(författare)
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Optical and electronic characterization of the band structure of blue methylene and rhodamine 6G-doped TiO2 sol-gel nanofilms
- 2005
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Ingår i: Microelectronics Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 0026-2692. ; 36:3-6, s. 570-573
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The optical properties and the band structure of TiO2 sol-gel thin films prepared by the sot-gel process and doped with methylene blue or rhodamine were studied by absorption, excitation and emission spectroscopy. The absorption spectra show two absorption bands, around 2.3 eV and above 3.0 eV suggesting that besides the excitation bands observed in rhodamine at 2.3 eV an efficient energy transfer occurs between the TiO2 conduction band and the molecular rhodamine excited states, yielding a strong emission band at 600 nm, while for methylene blue a strong hypsochromic shift of the absorption bands is observed. The optical absorption and band gap energy for the phase rutile of TiO2 films were calculated with a LDA+U/FPLAPW method, and a comparison of this calculation with experimental data of TiO2 films prepared by undoped sol-gel and sputtering is performed.
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| 8. |
- Sanchez-Vega, M., et al.
(författare)
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Studies of quadrupole collectivity in the γ -soft 106Ru
- 2008
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Ingår i: European Physical Journal A. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6001 .- 1434-601X. ; 35:2, s. 159-165
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Various alternative models were used to describe the structure of Ru-106. For example, the General Collective Model (GCM) predicts shape-coexistence for Ru-106 with a spherical and a triaxial minimum and strongly mixed structures, while in the IBA-2 calculations, where Ru-106 was considered as transitional from vibrational U(5) to gamma -soft O(6) , no need was found to include the shape-coexisting configurations. In order to provide additional constraints on the model interpretations, we have applied the Advanced Time-Delayed (ATD) beta gamma gamma(t) method to measure the level lifetimes of the excited levels in Ru-106 . The new results include the half-lives of T-1/2 = 183(3) ps and 7.5(30)ps for the 2(1)(+) and 2(1)(+) states, respectively.
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| 9. |
- Titarenko, Yu. E., et al.
(författare)
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Cross sections for nuclide production in a Fe-56 target irradiated by 300, 500, 750, 1000, 1500, and 2600 MeV protons compared with data on a hydrogen target irradiated by 300, 500, 750, 1000, and 1500 MeV/nucleon Fe-56 ions
- 2008
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Ingår i: Physical Review C. Nuclear Physics. - 0556-2813 .- 1089-490X. ; 78:3, s. 034615-
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- This work presents the cross sections for radioactive nuclide production in Fe-56( p, x) reactions determined in six experiments using 300, 500, 750, 1000, 1500, and 2600 MeV protons of the external beam from the ITEP U-10 proton accelerator. In total, 221 independent and cumulative yields of radioactive residuals of half-lives from 6.6 min to 312 d have been obtained. The radioactive product nuclide yields were determined by direct gamma-spectrometry. The measured data have been compared with the experimental data obtained elsewhere by the direct and inverse kinematics methods and with calculation results of 15 different codes that simulated hadron-nucleus interactions: MCNPX (INCL, CEM2K, BERTINI, ISABEL), LAHET (BERTINI, ISABEL), CEM03 (.01,. G1,. S1), LAQGSM03 (.01,. G1,. S1), CASCADE-2004, LAHETO, and BRIEFF. Most of the data obtained here are in a good agreement with the inverse kinematics results and disprove the results of some earlier activation measurements that were quite different from the inverse kinematics measurements. The most significant calculation-to-experiment differences are observed in the yields of the A < 30 light nuclei, indicating that further improvements in nuclear reaction models are needed, and pointing out as well to a necessity of more complete experimental measurements of such reaction products.
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| 10. |
- Wyatt, C C L, et al.
(författare)
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Chlorhexidine and preservation of sound tooth structure in older adults : A placebo-controlled trial
- 2007
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Ingår i: Caries Research. - 0008-6568 .- 1421-976X. ; 41:2, s. 93-101
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Trial to Enhance Elderly Teeth Health (TEETH) was designed to test the impact of regular rinsing with a 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX) solution on tooth loss, and the causes of tooth loss (caries, periodontal disease and trauma) were also investigated. This paper reports on the effectiveness of a 0.12% CHX solution for controlling caries using a tooth surface (coronal and root) survival analysis. A total of 1,101 low income elders in Seattle (United States) and Vancouver (Canada), aged 60-75 years, were recruited for a double-blind clinical trial and assigned to either a CHX (n = 550) or a placebo (n = 551) mouth rinse. Subjects alternated between daily rinsing for 1 month, followed by weekly rinsing for 5 months. All sound coronal and root surfaces at baseline were followed annually for up to 5 years. At each follow-up examination, those tooth surfaces with caries, restored, or extracted were scored as 'carious'. The hazard ratio associated with CHX for a sound surface to become filled, decayed, or extracted was 0.87 for coronal surfaces (95% confidence interval: 0.71-1.14, p = 0.20) and 0.91 for root surfaces (95% confidence interval: 0.73-1.14, p = 0.41). These findings suggest that regular rinsing with CHX does not have a substantial effect on the preservation of sound tooth structure in older adults.
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