| 1. |
- Mangano, M. C., et al.
(author)
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The aquaculture supply chain in the time of covid-19 pandemic : Vulnerability, resilience, solutions and priorities at the global scale
- 2022
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In: Environmental Science and Policy. - : Elsevier. - 1462-9011 .- 1873-6416. ; 127, s. 98-110
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The COVID-19 global pandemic has had severe, unpredictable and synchronous impacts on all levels of perishable food supply chains (PFSC), across multiple sectors and spatial scales. Aquaculture plays a vital and rapidly expanding role in food security, in some cases overtaking wild caught fisheries in the production of high quality animal protein in this PFSC. We performed a rapid global assessment to evaluate the effects of the COVID19 pandemic and related emerging control measures on the aquaculture supply chain. Socio-economic effects of the pandemic were analysed by surveying the perceptions of stakeholders, who were asked to describe potential supply-side disruption, vulnerabilities and resilience patterns along the production pipeline with four main supply chain components: a) hatchery, b) production/processing, c) distribution/logistics and d) market. We also assessed different farming strategies, comparing land-vs. sea-based systems; extensive vs. intensive methods; and with and without integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, IMTA. In addition to evaluating levels and sources of economic distress, interviewees were asked to identify mitigation solutions adopted at local / internal (i.e., farm site) scales, and to express their preference on national / external scale mitigation measures among a set of a priori options. Survey responses identified the potential causes of disruption, ripple effects, sources of food insecurity, and socio-economic conflicts. They also pointed to various levels of mitigation strategies. The collated evidence represents a first baseline useful to address future disaster-driven responses, to reinforce the resilience of the sector and to facilitate the design reconstruction plans and mitigation measures, such as financial aid strategies.
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| 2. |
- Sarà, G., et al.
(author)
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The Synergistic Impacts of Anthropogenic Stressors and COVID-19 on Aquaculture : A Current Global Perspective
- 2022
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In: Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture. - : Informa UK Limited. - 2330-8249 .- 2330-8257. ; 30:1, s. 123-135
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The rapid, global spread of COVID-19, and the measures intended to limit or slow its propagation, are having major impacts on diverse sectors of society. Notably, these impacts are occurring in the context of other anthropogenic-driven threats including global climate change. Both anthropogenic stressors and the COVID-19 pandemic represent significant economic challenges to aquaculture systems across the globe, threatening the supply chain of one of the most important sources of animal protein, with potential disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities. A web survey was conducted in 47 countries in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic to assess how aquaculture activities have been affected by the pandemic, and to explore how these impacts compare to those from climate change. A positive correlation between the effects of the two categories of drivers was detected, but analysis suggests that the pandemic and the anthropogenic stressors affect different parts of the supply chain. The immediate measurable reported losses varied with aquaculture typology (land vs. marine, and intensive vs. extensive). A comparably lower impact on farmers reporting the use of integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) methods suggests that IMTA might enhance resilience to multiple stressors by providing different market options under the COVID-19 pandemic. Results emphasize the importance of assessing detrimental effects of COVID-19 under a multiple stressor lens, focusing on areas that have already locally experienced economic loss due to anthropogenic stressors in the last decade. Holistic policies that simultaneously address other ongoing anthropogenic stressors, rather than focusing solely on the acute impacts of COVID-19, are needed to maximize the long-term resilience of the aquaculture sector.
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| 3. |
- Arnerić, S. P., et al.
(author)
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Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease: A view of the regulatory science qualification landscape from the coalition against major diseases CSF biomarker team
- 2017
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In: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 55:1, s. 19-35
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) drug development is burdened with the current requirement to conduct large, lengthy, and costly trials to overcome uncertainty in patient progression and effect size on treatment outcome measures. There is an urgent need for the discovery, development, and implementation of novel, objectively measured biomarkers for AD that would aid selection of the appropriate subpopulation of patients in clinical trials, and presumably, improve the likelihood of successfully evaluating innovative treatment options. Amyloid deposition and tau in the brain, which are most commonly assessed either in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or by molecular imaging, are consistently and widely accepted. Nonetheless, a clear gap still exists in the accurate identification of subjects that truly have the hallmarks of AD. The Coalition Against Major Diseases (CAMD), one of 12 consortia of the Critical Path Institute (C-Path), aims to streamline drug development for AD and related dementias by advancing regulatory approved drug development tools for clinical trials through precompetitive data sharing and adoption of consensus clinical data standards. This report focuses on the regulatory process for biomarker qualification, briefly comments on how it contrasts with approval or clearance of companion diagnostics, details the qualifications currently available to the field of AD, and highlights the current challenges facing the landscape of CSF biomarkers qualified as hallmarks of AD. Finally, it recommends actions to accelerate regulatory qualification of CSF biomarkers that would, in turn, improve the efficiency of AD therapeutic development. © 2017 - IOS Press and the authors.
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| 4. |
- Hellstrom-Lindberg, E., et al.
(author)
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A validated decision model for treating the anaemia of myelodysplastic syndromes with erythropoietin + granulocyte colony-stimulating factor : Significant effects on quality of life
- 2003
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In: British Journal of Haematology. - : Wiley. - 0007-1048 .- 1365-2141. ; 120, s. 1037-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have published previously a prototype of a decision model for anaemic patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), in which transfusion need and serum erythropoietin (S-Epo) were used to define three groups with different probabilities of erythroid response to treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) + Epo. S-Epo = 500 U/l and a transfusion need of < 2 units/month predicted a high probability of response to treatment, S-Epo > 500 U/l and =2 units/month for a poor response, whereas the presence of only one negative prognostic marker predicted an intermediate response. A total of 53 patients from a prospective study were included in our evaluation sample. Patients with good or intermediate probability of response were treated with G-CSF + Epo. The overall response rate was 42% with 28.3% achieving a complete and 13.2% a partial response to treatment. The response rates were 61% and 14% in the good and intermediate predictive groups respectively. The model retained a significant predictive value in the evaluation sample (P < 0.001). Median duration of response was 23 months. Scores for global health and quality of life (QOL) were significantly lower in MDS patients than in a reference population, and fatigue and dyspnoea was significantly more prominent. Global QOL improved in patients responding to treatment (P = 0.01). The validated decision model defined a subgroup of patients with a response rate of 61% (95% confidence interval 48-74%) to treatment with G-CSF + Epo. The majority of these patients have shown complete and durable responses.
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| 6. |
- Ahlström, M. M., et al.
(author)
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CYP2C9 structure-metabolism relationships: Optimizing the metabolic stability of COX-2 inhibitors
- 2007
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In: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0022-2623 .- 1520-4804. ; 50:18, s. 4444-4452
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The cytochrome P450 (CYP) family is composed of a large group of monooxygenases that mediate the metabolism of xenobiotics and endogenous compounds. CYP2C9, one of the major isoforms of the CYP family, is responsible for the phase I metabolism of a variety of drugs. The aim of the present investigation is to use rational design together with MetaSite, a metabolism site prediction program, to synthesize compounds that retain their pharmacological effects but that are metabolically more stable in the presence of CYP2C9. The model compound for the study is the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib, a COX-2 selective inhibitor and known CYP2C9 substrate. Thirteen analogs of celecoxib were designed, synthesized, and evaluated with regard to their metabolic properties and pharmacologic effects. The docking solutions and the predictions from MetaSite gave useful information leading to the design of new compounds with improved metabolic properties.
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| 8. |
- Fridén-Saxin, Maria, 1979, et al.
(author)
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Synthesis and Evaluation of Substituted Chroman-4-one and Chromone Derivatives as Sirtuin 2-Selective Inhibitors
- 2012
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In: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0022-2623 .- 1520-4804. ; 55:16, s. 7104-7113
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A series of substituted chromone/chroman-4-one derivatives has been synthesized and evaluated as novel inhibitors of SIRT2, an enzyme involved in aging-related diseases, e.g., neurodegenerative disorders. The analogues were efficiently synthesized in a one-step procedure including a base-mediated aldol condensation using microwave irradiation. The most potent compounds, with inhibitory concentrations in the low micromolar range, were substituted in the 2-, 6-, and 8-positions. Larger, electron-withdrawing substituents in the 6- and 8-positions were favorable. The most potent inhibitor of SIRT2 was 6,8-dibromo-2-pentylchroman-4-one with an IC50 of 1.5 mu M. The synthesized compounds show high selectivity toward SIRT2 over SIRT1 and SIRT3 and represent an important starting point for the development of novel SIRT2 inhibitors.
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| 18. |
- Flaten, G. E., et al.
(author)
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Drug permeability across a phospholipid vesicle based barrier: 3. Characterization of drug-membrane interactions and the effect of agitation on the barrier integrity and on the permeability
- 2007
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In: European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. - : Elsevier BV. - 0928-0987. ; 30:3-4, s. 324-332
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recently, we reported on the development and structural characterization of a phospholipid vesicle based barrier useful for medium throughput screening of passive drug permeability. Here, we investigate the physical and functional integrity of the phospholipid vesicle based barriers to agitation by stirring or shaking, and whether agitation affects drug permeability of sulpiride, metoprolol and testosterone. In addition, three drugs (caffeine, naproxen and sulphasalazine) which were shown in a previous study to affect the electrical resistance of the barriers, were investigated for their influence on the permeability of a simultaneously applied hydrophilic marker (calcein), and on the thermotropic phase transition of the phospholipid bilayers using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Electrical resistance measurements indicated that the barriers should withstand shaking speeds up to 150 rpm without losing their integrity, but significant release of phospholipids from the membrane barriers to the donor and acceptor chambers was observed under agitation >= 150 rpm. When using agitation up to 100 rpm no increase in permeability was observed for sulpiride, metoprolol and testosterone. The phospholipid vesicle-based barrier thus differ from other permeability models in that agitation does not lead to an increase in permeability, not even for highly lipophilic drugs such as testosterone. This is explained by the different morphology of the vesicle-based barrier which is containing a 100 mu m thick layer of mostly aqueous compartments immobilised within a matrix of phospholipids vesicles. Sulphasalazine and naproxen were shown to decrease the electrical resistance and increase the permeability of the hydrophilic marker calcein. The DSC experiments showed that these two drugs probably interact with the head groups of the phospholipids. In contrast, caffeine gave an increase in electrical resistance and a decrease in permeability of calcein. From the DSC experiments no signs of interaction of caffeine with the phospholipid bilayer could be observed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 27. |
- Ahlström, Marie M, et al.
(author)
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Virtual screening and scaffold hopping based on GRID molecular interaction fields.
- 2005
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In: Journal of chemical information and modeling. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1549-9596 .- 1549-960X. ; 45:5, s. 1313-23
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this study, a set of strategies for structure-based design using GRID molecular interaction fields (MIFs) to derive a pharmacophoric representation of a protein is reported. Thrombin, one of the key enzymes involved in the blood coagulation cascade, was chosen as the model system since abundant published experimental data are available related to both crystal structures and structurally diverse sets of inhibitors. First, a virtual screening methodology was developed either using a pharmacophore representation of the protein based on GRID MIFs or using GRID MIFs from the 3D structure of a set of chosen thrombin inhibitors. The search was done in a 3D multiconformation version of the Available Chemical Directory (ACD) database, which had been spiked with 262 known thrombin inhibitors (multiple conformers available per compound). The model managed to find 80% of the known thrombin inhibitors among the 74,291 conformers in the ACD by only searching 5% of the database; hence, a 15-fold enrichment of the library was achieved. Second, a scaffold hopping methodology was developed using GRID MIFs, giving the scaffold interaction pattern and the shape of the scaffold, together with the distance between the anchor points. The scaffolds reported by Dolle in the Journal of Combinatorial Chemistry summaries (2000 and 2001) and scaffolds built or derived from ligands cocomplexed with the thrombin enzyme were parameterized using a new set of descriptors and saved into a searchable database. The scaffold representation from the database was then compared to a template scaffold (from a thrombin crystal structure), and the thrombin-derived scaffolds included in the database were found among the top solutions. To validate the usefulness of the methodology to replace the template scaffold, the entire molecule was built (scaffold and side chains) and the resulting compounds were docked into the active site of thrombin. The docking solutions showed the same binding pattern as the cocomplexed compound, hence, showing that this method can be a valuable tool for medicinal chemists to select interchangeable core structures (scaffolds) in an easy manner and retaining the binding properties from the original ligand.
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| 29. |
- Bergström, Christel A S, et al.
(author)
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Absorption classification of oral drugs based on molecular surface properties
- 2003
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In: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0022-2623 .- 1520-4804. ; 46:4, s. 558-570
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this study was to investigate whether easily calculated and comprehended molecular surface properties can predict drug solubility and permeability with sufficient accuracy to allow theoretical absorption classification of drug molecules. For this purpose, structurally diverse, orally administered model drugs were selected from the World Health Organization (WHO)'s list of essential drugs. The solubility and permeability of the drugs were determined using well-established in vitro methods in highly accurate experimental settings. Descriptors for molecular surface area were generated from low-energy conformations obtained by conformational analysis using molecular mechanics calculations. Correlations between the calculated molecular surface area descriptors, on one hand, and solubility and permeability, on the other, were established with multivariate data analysis (partial least squares projection to latent structures (PLS)) using training and test sets. The obtained models were challenged with external test sets. Both solubility and permeability of the druglike molecules could be predicted with high accuracy from the calculated molecular surface properties alone. The established correlations were used to perform a theoretical biopharmaceutical classification of the WHO-listed drugs into six classes, resulting in a correct prediction for 87% of the essential drugs. An external test set consisting of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standard compounds for biopharmaceutical classification was predicted with 77% accuracy. We conclude that PLS models of easily comprehended molecular surface properties can be used to rapidly provide absorption profiles of druglike molecules early on in drug discovery.
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| 30. |
- Bergström, Christel A S, et al.
(author)
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Global and local computational models for aqueous solubility prediction of drug-like molecules.
- 2004
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In: Journal of chemical information and computer sciences. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0095-2338 .- 1520-5142. ; 44:4, s. 1477-88
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this study was to develop in silico protocols for the prediction of aqueous drug solubility. For this purpose, high quality solubility data of 85 drug-like compounds covering the total drug-like space as identified with the ChemGPS methodology were used. Two-dimensional molecular descriptors describing electron distribution, lipophilicity, flexibility, and size were calculated by Molconn-Z and Selma. Global minimum energy conformers were obtained by Monte Carlo simulations in MacroModel and three-dimensional descriptors of molecular surface area properties were calculated by Marea. PLS models were obtained by use of training and test sets. Both a global drug solubility model (R(2) = 0.80, RMSE(te) = 0.83) and subset specific models (after dividing the 85 compounds into acids, bases, ampholytes, and nonproteolytes) were generated. Furthermore, the final models were successful in predicting the solubility values of external test sets taken from the literature. The results showed that homologous series and subsets can be predicted with high accuracy from easily comprehensible models, whereas consensus modeling might be needed to predict the aqueous drug solubility of datasets with large structural diversity.
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| 34. |
- Cavelier, L, et al.
(author)
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MtDNA mutations in maternally inherited diabetes : presence of the 3397 ND1 mutation previously associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease
- 2001
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In: Hereditas. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0018-0661 .- 1601-5223. ; 135:1, s. 65-70
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mutations in the mitochondrial tRNA(leu) (UUR) gene have been associated with diabetes mellitus and deafness. We screened for the presence of mtDNA mutations in the tRNA(leu) (UUR) gene and adjacent ND1 sequences in 12 diabetes mellitus pedigrees with a possible maternal inheritance of the disease. One patient carried a G to A substitution at nt 3243 (tRNA(leu) (UUR) gene) in heteroplasmic state. In a second pedigree a patient had an A to G substitution at nt 3397 in the ND1 gene. All maternal relatives of the proband had the 3397 substitution in homoplasmic state. This substitution was not present in 246 nonsymptomatic Caucasian controls. The 3397 substitution changes a highly conserved methionine to a valine at aa 31 and has previously been found in Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD) disease patients. Substitutions in the mitochondrial ND1 gene at aa 30 and 31 have associated with a number of different diseases (e.g. AD/PD, MELAS, cardiomyopathy and diabetes mellitus, LHON, Wolfram-syndrome and maternal inherited diabetes) suggesting that changes at these two codons may be associated with very diverse pathogenic processes. In a further attempt to search for mtDNA mutations outside the tRNAleu gene associated with diabetes, the whole mtDNA genome sequence was determined for two patients with maternally inherited diabetes and deafness. Except for substitutions previously reported as polymorphisms, none of the two patients showed any non-synonymous substitutions either in homoplasmic or heteroplasmic state. These results imply that the maternal inherited diabetes and deafness in these patients must result from alterations of nuclear genes and/or environmental factors.
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| 40. |
- Enberg, B, et al.
(author)
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Characterisation of novel missense mutations in the GH receptor gene causing severe growth retardation
- 2000
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In: European journal of endocrinology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0804-4643 .- 1479-683X. ; 143:1, s. 71-76
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Two Swedish brothers, 2.5 and 4 years of age, were found to fulfil all the clinical and laboratory characteristics of Laron's syndrome. They were shown to have unique missense mutations in the GH receptor gene. Both of their parents were of normal height, but they both separately carried one of the identified gene alterations. A molecular model of the first receptor alteration suggests that a collapse in three-dimensional receptor structure most likely contributed to the GH insensitivity in these patients.
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| 41. |
- EstenneBouhtou, G, et al.
(author)
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Design, synthesis, tandem mass spectrometric sequencing and biological activity of NGF mimetics
- 1996
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In: International journal of peptide & protein research. - 0367-8377. ; 48:4, s. 337-346
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nine low molecular weight nerve growth factor (NGF)-like peptides have been designed to mimic the putative receptor-binding epitope of NGF defined by two beta-hairpin loops. Eight different spacers were used as variable links between the beta-loop amino acid residues, which from mutagenesis experiments were found to play an important role in the biological activity of NGF. These spacers were amino acids, natural or non-natural, differing in length (5-13 A) and polarity. The peptides were synthesized via the Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis and purified by reversed-phase HPLC. Their primary sequences were analyzed by a combination of automated Edman degradation and mass spectrometry. The peptides were tested using two different biological assays, the fibre outgrowth from chick embryonic sympathetic ganglia and the PC12 cell differentiation assay. Weak antagonistic effects could be observed for some peptides.
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| 44. |
- Hagvall, Lina, 1978, et al.
(author)
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Assessment of cross-reactivity of new less sensitizing epoxy resin monomers in epoxy resin-allergic individuals
- 2016
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In: Contact Dermatitis. - : Wiley. - 0105-1873. ; 75:3, s. 144-150
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundMeasures to prevent occupational exposure to epoxy resins, including education, medical examination, and voluntary agreements between employers and workers, have not been effective enough to protect against skin sensitization. Therefore, alternatives to the major epoxy resin haptens that have been found to be less sensitizing in the local lymph node assay have been developed. ObjectivesTo study the cross-reactivity of two newly designed epoxy resin monomers, with decreased skin-sensitizing potency and good technical properties as compared with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), in subjects with known contact allergy to epoxy resin of DGEBA type. Patients and MethodsEleven individuals with previous positive patch test reactions to epoxy resin of DGEBA participated in the study. The two alternative epoxy resin monomers were synthesized and patch tested in dilution series in parallel with epoxy resin of DGEBA from the baseline series (containing 92% DGEBA). ResultsAll participants reacted to epoxy resin of DGEBA on retesting. Three participants reacted to monomer 1. No reactions were seen to monomer 2. ConclusionsThe alternative monomers studied showed little or no cross-reactivity with epoxy resin of DGEBA. Decreasing the risk of sensitization by using less sensitizing compounds is important, as contact allergy to epoxy resins is common in spite of thorough preventive measures.
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