| 11. |
- Fall, Katja, et al.
(författare)
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Prostate-specific antigen levels as a predictor of lethal prostate cancer
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of the National Cancer Institute. - Oxford : Oxford Univ. Press. - 0027-8874 .- 1460-2105. ; 99:7, s. 526-532
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Rates of long-term survival among patients with untreated localized prostate cancer are high. To avoid unnecessary treatment, tools are needed to identify the small proportion of patients who are destined to develop lethal prostate cancer. Methods: To evaluate the accuracy of early changes in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels as predictors of prostate cancer outcome, we assessed serial measurements of PSA level among 267 men with localized prostate cancer in a Scandinavian cohort of men who were diagnosed between 1989 and 1999 and who were managed by watchful waiting. We then 1) fitted individual regression lines to the PSA values assessed for each patient during the first 2 years of follow-up by using three different models, 2) evaluated early PSA curve characteristics as determinants of the cumulative incidence of lethal prostate cancer and calculated hazard ratios for baseline PSA value and rate of change in PSA level to prostate cancer outcome, and 3) plotted time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. All P values are two-sided. Results: During complete follow-up for a mean of 8.5 years, 34 patients (13%) died from prostate cancer, and 18 (7%) developed metastases but were still alive at end of follow-up. In a log-linear model, both PSA value at baseline (P = .05) and the rate of PSA change (P<.001) were associated with the development of lethal prostate cancer. In the ROC analysis, however, the accuracy of classifying the disease as either indolent or destined to progress was low, regardless of the cut point chosen for initial PSA level or rate of change in PSA level. Conclusions: Although baseline PSA value and rate of PSA change are prognostic factors for lethal prostate cancer, they are poor predictors of lethal prostate cancer among patients with localized prostate cancer who are managed by watchful waiting.
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| 12. |
- Folkeson, Nicklas, 1981, et al.
(författare)
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Fireside corrosion of stainless and low alloyed steels in a waste-fired CFB boiler; The effect of adding sulphur to the fuel
- 2008
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Ingår i: Materials Science Forum. ; 595-598, s. 289-297
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Corrosion field tests have been carried out in the superheater region of a commercial waste-fired 75MW CFBC boiler using air cooled probes. Exposure time was 24 and 1000 hours. The effect of adding sulphur to the fuel on the corrosion of two high alloyed steels and a low alloyed steel was studied. The fuel consisted of 50% household waste and 50% industrial waste. The exposed samples were analyzed by ESEM/EDX and XRD. Metal loss was determined after 1000 hours. Both materials suffered significant corrosion in the absence of sulphur addition and the addition of sulphur to the fuel reduced corrosion significantly. The rapid corrosion of the high alloyed steel in the absence of sulphur addition is caused by the destruction of the chromium-containing protective oxide by formation of calcium chromate. Adding sulphur to the fuel inhibited chromate formation and increased the sulphate/chloride ratio in the deposit. Iron(II) chloride formed on the low alloyed steel regardless of whether sulphur was added or not.
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| 13. |
- Gupta, Anil, et al.
(författare)
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Postoperative analgesia after radical retropubic prostatectomy : a double-blind comparison between low thoracic epidural and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia
- 2006
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Ingår i: Anesthesiology. - : Wolters Kluwer. - 0003-3022 .- 1528-1175. ; 105:4, s. 784-793
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain after radical retropubic prostatectomy can be severe unless adequately treated. Low thoracic epidural analgesia and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia were compared in this double-blind, randomized study.METHODS: Sixty patients were randomly assigned to receive either low thoracic epidural analgesia (group E) or patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (group P) for postoperative pain relief. All patients had general anesthesia combined with thoracic epidural analgesia during the operation. Postoperatively, patients in group E received an infusion of 1 mg/ml ropivacaine, 2 microg/ml fentanyl, and 2 microg/ml adrenaline, 10 ml/h during 48 h epidurally, and a placebo patient-controlled intravenous analgesia pump intravenously. Patients in group P received a patient-controlled intravenous analgesia pump with morphine intravenously and 10 ml/h placebo epidurally. Pain, the primary outcome variable, was measured using the numeric rating scale at rest (incision pain and "deep" visceral pain) and on coughing. Secondary outcome variables included gastrointestinal function, respiratory function, mobilization, and full recovery. Health-related quality of life was measured using the Short Form-36 questionnaire, and plasma concentration of fentanyl was measured in five patients to exclude a systemic effect of fentanyl.RESULTS: Incisional pain and pain on coughing were lower in group E compared with group P at 2-24 h, as was deep pain between 3 and 24 h postoperatively (P < 0.05). Maximum expiratory pressure was greater in group E at 4 and 24 h (P < 0.05) compared with group P. No difference in time to home discharge was found between the groups. The mean plasma fentanyl concentration varied from 0.2 to 0.3 ng/ml during 0-48 h postoperatively. At 1 month, the scores on emotional role, physical functioning, and general health of the Short Form-36 were higher in group E compared with group P. However, no group x time interaction was found in the Short Form-36.CONCLUSIONS: The authors found evidence for better pain relief and improved expiratory muscle function in patients receiving low thoracic epidural analgesia compared with patient-controlled analgesia for radical retropubic prostatectomy. Low thoracic epidural analgesia can be recommended as a good method for postoperative analgesia after abdominal surgery.
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| 14. |
- Hagel, Eva, et al.
(författare)
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PCBaSe Sweden : a register-based resource for prostate cancer research
- 2009
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology. - London : Taylor & Francis. - 0036-5599 .- 1651-2065. ; 43:5, s. 342-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. To construct a database for clinical epidemiological prostate cancer research based on linkages between the National Prostate Cancer Register (NPCR) of Sweden, a population-based, nationwide quality database, and other nationwide registries. Material and methods. By use of the individually unique Swedish Personal Identity Number, the NPCR was linked to the Swedish Cancer Registry, the Cause of Death Register, the Prescribed Drug Register, the National Patient Register and the Acute Myocardial Infarction Register, all held at the Centre for Epidemiology at the National Board of Health and Welfare, and the Register of the Total Population, the Longitudinal Integration Database for Health Insurance and Labor Market Studies and the Multi-Generation Register, held at Statistics Sweden, and to the Swedish Hernia Register. Results. Record linkages between the NPCR and the Swedish Cancer Registry, the Cause of Death Register and the Register of the Total Population generated a database, named PCBaSe Sweden, including 80 079 prostate cancer cases, diagnosed between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 2006. Record linkage between PCBaSe Sweden and the Prescribed Drug Register generated 59 721 unique matches and linkage to the Acute Myocardial Infarction Register resulted in 11 459 matches. Conclusion. PCBaSe Sweden is a newly created and unique database with over 80 000 cases of prostate cancer with comprehensive data on inpatient and outpatient care, patterns of use of prescribed drugs and socioeconomic and familial factors. Many topics in clinical prostate cancer epidemiology can be investigated. using PCBaSe Sweden.
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| 15. |
- Herstad-Svärd, S., et al.
(författare)
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Ramprogram – Åtgärder för samtidig minimering av alkalirelaterade driftproblem, Etapp 2
- 2007
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Combustion of an increasing amount of biofuel and waste woods has resulted in certainenvironmental advantages, including decreased emissions of fossil CO2, SO2 andmetals. On the other hand, a number of chloride and alkali related operational problemshave occurred which are related to combustion of these fuels.Alkali related operational problems have been studied in a project consisting of twoparts. The overall scope has been to characterise the operational problems and to studymeasures to minimise them. The first part was reported in Värmeforsk report 997 wherethe results were summarised in a table of different measures. In part two, additionalmeasures have been included in the test plan and initial corrosion has been studiedlinked to the different measures. The tests have also in part two been carried out at the12 MW CFB boiler at Chalmers. The effect of the selected measures has beeninvestigated concerning both deposit formation and bed agglomeration, and at the sametime emissions and other operational conditions were characterised.The second part of the project has among other things focused on:• To investigate measures which decrease the content of alkali and chloride in thedeposits, and consequently decrease the risk for corrosion (by investigating theinitial corrosion). Focus was also on trying to explain favourable effects.• To investigate if it is possible to combine a rather low dosage of kaolin and injectionof ammonium sulphate. This was done in order to reduce both bed agglomerationand problems from deposits during combustion of fuels rich in chlorine.• To investigate if co-combustion with sewage sludge, de-inking sludge or peat withhigh ash content, could give similar advantages as conventional additives.• Investigate if ash from PFBC is possible to use as an alternative bed material.By comparing the different measures in part two, it could be concluded that cocombustionof sewage sludge gave the best overall effect. The judgement was based onthe effects concerning bed agglomeration, level of alkali chloride in the flue gas,deposits and initial corrosion. Simultaneous addition of kaolin and ammonia sulphatealso had a favourable impact both in the bed and on the alkali chlorides in the gas phase.Dosage of kaolin did not reduce the effect of injected ammonium sulphate. Cocombustionof peat could also be a very attractive alternative, but it is critical to select asuitable peat type. It is of special concern to avoid peat with a high content of calcium,since it can increase the level of alkali chlorides by reacting with available sulphur.Change of bed material to ash from PFBC can decrease problems with bedagglomeration, but there is a risk of increased deposit formation and corrosion. A boileroperated with high steam data should consequently combine the change of bed materialwith injection of ammonium sulphate or another source of sulphur.Co-combustion of de-inking sludge from pulp and paper production can reduceproblems with bed agglomeration. There is, however, an increased chance of corrosiondue to the high content of calcium. Injection of sulphates may improve the situationconcerning corrosion. The results also showed that low potassium chlorine content in the flue gas decreasesthe risk of corrosion. Increased amount of potassium chlorine content in the flue gaswill not necessary give a high amount of chlorine content in the deposits if there is sulphur in the system.Key words: agglomeration, deposits, corrosion, alkali, kaolin, ammonium sulphate,sludge
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| 16. |
- Holmberg, Lars, et al.
(författare)
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Season of diagnosis and prognosis in breast and prostate cancer
- 2009
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Ingår i: Cancer Causes and Control. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0957-5243 .- 1573-7225. ; 20:5, s. 633-670
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Patients with breast or prostate cancer diagnosed during the summer season have been observed to have better survival. The extent to which this is due to biological and/or health care system related factors is unclear. METHODS: Using the Swedish Cancer Register and clinical databases, we analyzed overall survival by month of diagnosis among the incident cases of breast (n = 89,630) cancer and prostate (n = 72,375) cancer diagnosed from 1960 to 2004. We retrieved data on tumor stage from 1976 for breast cancer and 1997 for prostate cancer. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate relative risk of survival by the season of diagnosis. RESULTS: There was a higher hazard ratio of death in men and women diagnosed with cancer in the summer with a relative hazard of 1.20 (95% confidence interval 1.15-1.25) for July for prostate cancer and 1.14 (95% confidence interval 1.09-1.19) for August for breast cancer when compared to being diagnosed in January. This difference coincided with a lower mean number of cases diagnosed per day, and a higher proportion of advanced cases diagnosed in the summer. This pattern of presentation was stronger in the later years. CONCLUSION: The difference in stage distribution explains the seasonal variation in prognosis seen in this study. The variation may be because of structure of the health care system and a strong tradition of vacationing from mid June to mid August. Thus, the health care infrastructure and the late presentation of symptomatic disease may influence cancer survival studied by season of diagnosis substantially.
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| 17. |
- Johansson, Christina, et al.
(författare)
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Växtnäring från trekammarbrunnar för hållbar produktion av energigräs : rapportering för åren 2007 och 2008
- 2009
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Det långsiktiga målet för projekt ”Växtnäring från trekammarbrunnar för hållbar produktion av energigräs” är att visa på hållbara metoder för produktion av fleråriga energigräs på energiåkrar som gödslas med trekammarbrunnsslam. Uppnås projektets långsiktiga mål innebär det en mer hållbar odling av energigräs för produktion av fordonsbränsle (biogas och bioetanol) eller fastbränsle. I större skala innebär det en ökad återföring av växtnäring från samhället till jordbruket, via trekammarbrunnsslam från landsbygden. Det innebär en minskad användning av fossil energi genom minskade transporter av trekammarbrunnsslam till reningsverk, minskat behov av konstgödsel vid odling av energigräsen och genom att energigräsen kan ersätta fossil energi. Växtnäringen i trekammarbrunnsslammet uppgraderas via odling och användning av energigräsen som biogassubstrat alt. som fastbränsle när de växtnäringsrika restprodukterna (biogödsel eller aska) blir så rena att de kan användas som gödselmedel vid livsmedels- och foderproduktion. Se rapportens framsida som schematiskt visar hur trekammarbrunnsslam kan ingå i ett kretslopp. Det kortsiktiga målet för projektet är att utvärdera möjligheterna att nyttiggöra trekammarbrunnsslam som en växtnäringsresurs vid odling av fleråriga energigräs såsom rörflen och biogasvall på energiåkrar i jämförelse med ett nytt högavkastande energigräs Szarvasi-1. Detta sker genom odlingsförsök med energigräsen, analyser och värdering av dessa för olika energiändamål, hygieniska studier på trekammarbrunnsslammet samt kemiska analyser av åkermarken och av trekammarbrunnsslammet som används i odlingsförsöken. I denna rapport redovisas resultat från 1)Etablering av energigräsen i odlingsförsök 2)Utvärdering av trekammarbrunnsslammet som en växtnäringsresurs 3)Utvärdering av hygienisering av trekammarbrunnsslammet med tillsats av urea 4)Studier av produktion av bioetanol och biogas baserad på energigräs. Trekammarbrunnsslammet har en betydligt sämre kvalitet ur växtnärings- och metallsynpunkt än både nötflytgödsel och klosettvatten från slutna avloppstankar. Koppar- och zinkhalterna i trekammarbrunnsslam kan överskrida gränsvärdena enligt reglerna för spridning av avloppsslam på åkermark. Hygienisering med 0,6 % urea i 3 månader visade sig ge en acceptabel hygienisk kvalitet för användning av trekammarbrunnsslam i energiodling. Halterna av miljöstörande organiska ämnen ligger långt under riktvärdena för avloppsslam. Kombinerad produktion av etanol och biogas från ångbehandlad hampa gav i labskala 20-25% högre bruttoproduktion av drivmedel jämfört med att endast göra biogas från finhackad hampa. Det som återstår att studera är: a)Hygieniseringens effektivitet på indikatororganismerna vid olika doser av urea b)Hygieniska gränsvärden vid spridning av trekammarbrunnsslam i växande energigröda c)Energigräsens potential för produktion av bioetanol och biogas vid olika skördetidpunkter d)Energigräsens potential som stråbränsle vid olika skördetidpunkter e)Gödslingseffektiviteten och energibalansen vid olika användningar av energigräsen f)Eventuell ackumulation av metaller och organiska föroreningar i energiåkern. The long-term objective of the project ‘Plant nutrients from three-chamber septic tanks in sustainable production of energy grass’ is to demonstrate sustainable methods for the production of perennial grass leys on arable land dedicated to energy crops fertilised with sewage sludge from three-chamber septic tanks. Achievement of this long-term objective will allow more sustainable production of energy grass for use as vehicle fuel (biogas and bioethanol) or solid fuel. On a larger scale it will increase recycling of plant nutrients from society to agriculture via three-chamber septic tank sludge from rural homes. That will decrease the use of fossil energy indirectly by decreasing the need for mineral fertilisers and for sludge transport to sewage plants, and directly through biofuel made from the energy grass replacing fossil energy. The plant nutrients in the sludge are upgraded through the cultivation of energy grass and its use as a biogas substrate or solid fuel, since the nutrient-rich residues (biodigestate or ash) are so well-sanitised that they can be used as a fertiliser in food and feed production. The diagram on the front cover shows how three-chamber septic tank sludge can be incorporated into nutrient recycling. The short-term objective of the project was to assess the potential for utilising three-chamber septic tank sludge as a plant nutrient resource in the cultivation of perennial energy grasses such as reed canarygrass and biogas leys on arable land dedicated to energy crops, in comparison with the high-yielding energy grass Szarvasi-1. This was achieved through cropping trials with the energy grasses, analyses and evaluations of these for different energy purposes, hygiene studies on the three-chamber septic tank sludge and chemical analyses of the soil and the sludge used in the cropping trials. This report presents results on: 1)Establishment of energy grass in cropping trials. 2)Evaluation of three-chamber septic tank sludge as a plant fertiiser. 3)Evaluation of sludge sanitation through the addition of urea. 4)Preliminary studies of bioethanol and biogas production based on energy grass The three-chamber septic tank sludge is of much lower quality from a nutrient and metal perspective than cattle manure or blackwater from holding tanks. The copper and zinc concentrations in the sludge can exceed the permissible values for spreading sewage sludge on arable land. Sanitation with 0.6% urea for three months was shown to give acceptable hygiene quality for use of the three-chamber septic tank sludge in energy crops. The concentrations of organic environmental pollutants were well below the permissible values for sewage sludge. The next phase of the project will examine: a)The efficacy of sanitation at different doses of urea. b)Permissible hygiene values for spreading three-chamber septic tank sludge in growing energy grass. c)The potential of energy grasses for production of bioethanol and biogas at different harvesting times. d)The potential of energy grasses as a solid fuel at different harvesting times. e)The fertiliser efficiency and energy balance for energy grass. f)The incidence of metal and organic pollutant accumulation in energy grass fields.
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
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| 20. |
- Jonsson, Torbjörn, 1970, et al.
(författare)
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The influence of KCl on the corrosion of an austenitic stainless steel (304L) in oxidizing humid conditions at 600 ºC: A microstructural study
- 2009
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Ingår i: Oxidation of Metals. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1573-4889 .- 0030-770X. ; 72:3, s. 213-239
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effect of KCl on the corrosion behavior of the austenitic stainless steel 304L was studied at 600 A degrees C in 5% O(2) + 40% H(2)O + N(2). The breakdown of the protective oxide was investigated. This was done through a detailed microstructural characterization of the oxide scales formed after 1, 24 and 168 h. The oxidized samples were investigated by SEM/EDX, FIB and STEM/EDX. The presence of KCl(s) causes a breakdown of most of the protective scale, even though it is not in direct contact with KCl(s) particles, starting after just 1 h exposure. A fast growing porous oxide formed in direct contact with (former) KCl(s) particles and an about 2 mu m thick scale covered most of the surface. Only some regions were covered by a thin scale. K(2)CrO(4) particles were randomly distributed all over the scale after 1 h exposure. The particles are situated above the oxide scale and are not in direct contact with the subjacent metal. The thin scale contains lower Cr levels than has been observed in corresponding scales formed in the absence of KCl. The breakdown of the protective scale is suggested to be caused primarily by the formation of K(2)CrO(4), depleting the protective oxide in chromium. In addition, chromia evaporation contributes to chromia depletion and breakdown of the protective scale. Very little or no transition metal chlorides were found after breakaway oxidation. Cl is suggested to play a minor role in the initial breakdown of the protective scale. The presence of KCl particles caused local rapid oxidation, which results in an outward growing Fe and Fe-Cr rich porous oxide.
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