| 1. |
- Ekström, Per, et al.
(författare)
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A calmodulin inhibitor with high specificity, compound 48/80, inhibits axonal transport in frog nerves without disruption of axonal microtubules.
- 1991
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Ingår i: Acta physiologica Scandinavica. - 0001-6772. ; 142:2, s. 181-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The calmodulin inhibitor compound 48/80 has previously been shown to arrest axonal transport in vitro in the regenerating frog sciatic nerve. The inhibition was limited to the outgrowth region of nerves, which had been allowed to regenerate in vivo for 6 days after a crush lesion, before they were incubated with or without drugs in vitro overnight. The effects of compound 48/80 on the regenerating nerve were further investigated. A concentration of compound 48/80 (50 micrograms ml-1), which effectively inhibits axonal transport, did not cause observable changes of the microtubules of regenerating axons in the outgrowth region as judged by electron microscopy. Furthermore, it was shown that also a lower concentration (25 micrograms ml-1) inhibited axonal transport. As a measure of possible metabolic effects, the level of ATP was assessed in the regenerating nerve after exposure to compound 48/80. Compound 48/80 at 25 micrograms ml-1 did not change the level of ATP in the nerve. The assembly of bovine brain microtubule proteins in a cell-free system was unaffected by 25 micrograms ml-1 of compound 48/80 and slightly inhibited by 50 micrograms ml-1. At higher concentrations (greater than 100 micrograms ml-1) assembly of microtubules appeared stimulated, and microtubule spirals as well as closely aligned microtubules could be seen. These effects appeared to be unrelated to the transport effects. The present results indicate that compound 48/80 arrests axonal transport via mechanisms other than destruction of axonal microtubules or interference with the energy metabolism. It is possible that these mechanisms involve inhibition of calmodulin-regulated events essential to the transport.
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| 2. |
- Karlsson, Mats Lennart, et al.
(författare)
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Emissioner från biobränsleeldade anläggningar mellan 0,5 och 10 MW.
- 1992
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Rapport (refereegranskat)abstract
- Emissions from Heating Plant burning Biomass in the interval 0.5 - 10 MW The emissions from the heating plants in the interval 0.5 - 10 MW, burning biomass, have been investigated. The measurements have included carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, a number of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Wood chips, wood briquettes, straw, bark, wood pellets, wood powder and peat are the fuel quantities included in the survey. The measurements were made at existing operating conditions for each plant. No adjustments to the combustion equipment were made. The measurements showed that biomass combustion can give rise to high emissions of unburnt hydrocarbons. In six out of thirteen tests, significant VOC emissions with methande, ethylene, propene and acetlyene in the interval 5 - 500 mg/MJ were recorded. In all these cases the CO emissions exceeded 1000 mg/MJ. A correlation between increasing CO content and increasing VOC content was indicated in these cases. This is most apparent for methane, which is the most abundant VOC species. In the other cases, where the CO emissions were below 500 mg/MJ, no significant VOC emissions were recorded. NOx, emissions varied for all cases between 35 and 256 mg NO2/MJ. No clear correlation between low levels of unburnt hydrocarbons and high levels of NOx could be established.
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| 3. |
- Lindgren, Arne, et al.
(författare)
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Carotid artery and heart disease in subtypes of cerebral infarction
- 1994
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Ingår i: Stroke: a journal of cerebral circulation. - 1524-4628. ; 25:12, s. 2356-2362
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalences of carotid artery disease and major and minor potential cardioembolic sources (1) in patients with cerebral infarction and age-matched control subjects and (2) in different clinical subtypes of cerebral infarction. METHODS: A series of 166 consecutive patients with cerebral infarction and 59 control subjects was examined. The study protocol included clinical subtyping of the cerebral infarctions, ultrasonography of the carotid arteries, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), ECG, and examination of the brain with computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or autopsy. RESULTS: Carotid artery stenosis > or = 80% or occlusion was present in 35 (21%) patients but in no control subjects (P < .001; chi 2 test). A major potential cardioembolic source was detected in 65 (39%) patients and 3 (5%) control subjects. Atrial fibrillation was present in 35 (21%) patients and 3 (5%) control subjects at initial ECG (P < .01) and in 47 (28%) patients at repeat examination; 17 patients had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Sinus rhythm and a major potential cardioembolic source were detected in 18 (11%) patients but in no control subjects (P < .01) at TTE (all patients and control subjects examined) or TEE (118 patients and 52 control subjects examined). The frequency of a minor potential cardioembolic source detectable at TTE or TEE was similar in the patient and control groups (51% and 53%, respectively [NS]) and increased significantly with age. A finding of carotid artery stenosis > or = 80% or occlusion, atrial fibrillation, or a major cardioembolic source detected at TTE or TEE was more frequent among patients with cortical symptoms from anterior or middle cerebral artery territories than among those with lacunar syndromes (66% versus 22%, respectively). The probable source of cerebral infarction was identified in most of the 166 patients: cardiac embolism in 28% of cases (n = 46), carotid artery disease in 8% (n = 14), both cardiac embolism and carotid artery disease in 7% (n = 11), and lacunar infarction in 23% (n = 38). In 57 (34%) of the patients no unequivocal cause of the cerebral infarction was found. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalences of carotid artery and heart disease differ significantly between clinical subtypes of cerebral infarction. The cause of cerebral infarction remains uncertain in one third of patients. Because a minor potential cardioembolic source occurs in about 50% of both patients and control subjects, this finding is of questionable value as a risk factor for stroke in the elderly.
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| 4. |
- Lindgren, Arne, et al.
(författare)
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Cerebral lesions on magnetic resonance imaging, heart disease, and vascular risk factors in subjects without stroke. A population-based study
- 1994
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Ingår i: Stroke: a journal of cerebral circulation. - 1524-4628. ; 25:5, s. 929-934
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of asymptomatic abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and their possible relation to hypertension, heart disease, and carotid artery disease, we studied 77 randomly selected subjects (mean age, 65.1 years; range, 36 to 95 years) with no history of focal brain lesions. METHODS: The study protocol included magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, ultrasonography of the carotid arteries, and electrocardiographic recording. Deep and periventricular white matter hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging were assessed both separately and together. RESULTS: On magnetic resonance imaging of the brain 62.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 51.5% to 73.2%) of the subjects had white matter hyperintensities. These abnormalities increased significantly with age (chi 2 test; P = .0001), from 13.6% (95% CI, 0% to 28.0%) of subjects aged younger than 55 years to 85.2% (95% CI, 71.8% to 98.6%) of subjects aged 75 years or older. Six subjects had deep gray matter hyperintensities localized in the basal ganglia, and one had a cerebellar infarction. Stepwise logistic regression analysis identified age and a history of heart disease (but not echocardiographic findings) to be independently associated with deep and periventricular white matter hyperintensities. Hypertension was only independently associated with periventricular white matter hyperintensities. Of the 68 subjects examined with both transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, potential cardioembolic sources were detected in 38.2% (95% CI, 26.7% to 49.8%) of the subjects with transthoracic echocardiography and in 47.1% (95% CI, 35.2% to 58.9%) of those with transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography combined. In subjects aged 75 years or older, a possible cardiac embolic source was detected in 64.0% on transthoracic echocardiography and in 72.0% on transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography combined, compared with 5.3% and 15.8%, respectively, in subjects aged younger than 55 years. CONCLUSIONS: White matter hyperintensities and potential cardioembolic sources are frequently present in asymptomatic individuals, stressing the need for age-matched control subjects in studies of patients with stroke or dementia.
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| 5. |
- Wimo, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Group living, an alternative for dementia patients : A cost analysis
- 1991
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Ingår i: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. - : Wiley. - 0885-6230 .- 1099-1166. ; 6:1, s. 21-29
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The increasing number of patients with dementia requires new forms of care management. Group living (GL) is an alternative, and two units were established in Sundsvall, Sweden, in 1984. The patients in GL used institutional care to a significantly lower extent (nursing homes, emergency hospital care, psychiatric care) after admission to GL (p < 0.001). The costs for the Municipality and the County Council changed from £49 to £42/day (p=0.21) and patient during the first six-month period in GL compared to the six-month period prior to GL. If the costs for GL are compared to the costs for nursing home care (£68/day), GL is significantly cheaper (p < 0.05).
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| 6. |
- Wimo, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of Day Care on Dementia Patients–Costs, Well-being and Relatives' Views
- 1990
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Ingår i: Family Practice. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0263-2136 .- 1460-2229. ; 7:4, s. 279-287
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Forty-seven patients in psychogeriatric day centre were analysed regarding use of resources, costs and well-being. The level of well-being was based on interviews with staff and relatives and related to the economic outcome--a cost utility analysis. A 6 month period prior to day care was compared with the first 6 months in such care. The use of resources at home increased by 20% while the use of institutional care was reduced by 22%. Fifty-three percent of the patients improved in their well-being after participation in day care. When the cost of utility analysis was applied, the cost for a well-year was 4293 pounds.
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