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- Canova, C R, et al.
(författare)
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Increased prevalence of perennial allergic rhinitis in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
- 2004
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Ingår i: Respiration. - : S. Karger AG. - 1423-0356 .- 0025-7931. ; 71:2, s. 138-143
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Impaired nasal breathing is a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether atopy to perennial allergens and existence of perennial allergic rhinitis was a risk factor for OSAS. Methods: In a case-control study, we compared the proportions of OSAS patients with atopy to perennial allergens and perennial allergic rhinitis to the proportions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Seventy-two OSAS patients (mean age 60.7 years; 79.4% male) and 44 COPD patients (mean age 63.6 years; 88.6% male) were selected from a hospital outpatients' clinic in Switzerland. All patients completed a respiratory symptom questionnaire, performed spirometry and had a skin prick test for atopy. Results: OSAS patients were significantly heavier than COPD patients (BMI 32.4 +/- (SD) 6.6 vs. 29.2 +/- 6.6 kg/m(2), p = 0.04) and had a better lung function than COPD patients (FEV1% predicted 91.3 +/- 19.2 vs. 51.6 +/- 18.9%, p < 0.001). Patients with OSAS were more likely to be sensitized to perennial allergens such as house dust mite (23.6 vs. 4.5%, p = 0.009) and dog (18 vs. 4.5%, p = 0.04) than the COPD patients. Perennial allergic rhinitis ( having nose problems [ nasal obstruction and/or runny nose and/or sneezing] all year and being atopic to at least one perennial allergen) was reported in 11% of OSAS patients but in only 2.3% of COPD patients (p = 0.15). Conclusion: We conclude that subjects with OSAS may have an increased risk of being allergic to perennial allergens and suffer from perennial rhinitis. Awareness of this risk may have important consideration in the clinical situation.
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| 2. |
- Magnuson, Ann, et al.
(författare)
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High-valent Ruthenium-Manganese Complexes for Solar Energy Production.
- 2001
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Ingår i: PS2001 Proceedings.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present progress in the development of artificial photosynthesis, as a means to harvesting and storage of solar energy. The plan is to compose molecular systems that combine known photochemistry with emerging functional model compounds. A photochemical device for solar energy conversion contains a photosensitizer, an electron acceptor system and a donor system that prevents charge recombination. Our goal is to utilize water as sacrificial electron donor, which will allow a net production of reducing equivalents, and the ultimate production of fuel. The only light-driven molecular catalyst for water oxidation exists in Photosystem II (PSII), which has a tetranuclear Mn-cluster in the active site. Here we present several Mn-compounds, that we have developed for the purpose of creating water-oxidizing catalysts. Our idea is to link Ru-tris(bipyridine) derivatives, which mimicks the function of the primary donor in PS II, with manganese complexes, mimicking the tetra-Mn cluster on the PSII donor side. We have constructed a number of heteronuclear complexes, containing a Ru-photosensitizer and various Mn-complexes. The compounds have been characterized with regards to their photophysical and photochemical properties, redox potentials and structure. The most promising compounds are capable of undergoing several electron transfers from the Mn-complex to the photosensitizer, leaving 3 to 4 oxidizing equivalents on the Mn. In the latest development, we have constructed ligands that stabilize higher oxidation states in Mn, in order to promote formation of Mn(V) which many believes is an intermediate in the water oxidation mechanism.
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