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- Amin, Kawa, et al.
(author)
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Inflammation and structural changes in the airways of patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome
- 2001
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In: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 95:11, s. 904-910
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The present study aimed to compare the cellular pattern and structural changes in the airways of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) with healthy controls. Bronchial biopsy specimens were obtained from seven subjects with pSS and seven healthy controls. All the patients with pSS had increased bronchial responsiveness to methacholine. In the biopsies inflammatory cells, cytokine-producing cells, tenascin and laminin were visual zed by immunostaining. Patients with pSS had a higher number of neutrophils and mast cells than healthy controls, while the number of eosinophils was similar in the two groups. The number of IL-8-positive cells was higher in pSS butthe numbers of IL-4-and IL-5-positive cells were not significantly different between pSS and healthy controls. The numbers of T cells in patients with pSS were higher than in healthy controls, while the numbers of CD25-positive cells were similar to the healthy controls. The degree of epithelial integrity in patients with pSS was significantly lower than in the control group and the tenascin and laminin layers were significantly thicker in the pSS group. There was a correlation between the number of mast cells and the thickness of the tenascin and laminin layers in pSS. In conclusion, we found that the cellular pattern in the bronchial mucosa of patients with pSS displayed large numbers of neutrophils, mast cells and T-lymphocytes. These changes in inflammatory cell numbers seemed to relate to the observed increased epithelial damage and structural changes of the subepithelium. The structural findings, but not the pattern of inflammatory cells, are shared with atopic asthma and may relate to the increased bronchial hyper-responsiveness seen in both diseases.
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| 2. |
- Apfalter, Petra, et al.
(author)
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Multicenter comparison trial of DNA extraction methods and PCR assays for detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae in endarterectomy specimens
- 2001
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In: Journal of Clinical Microbiology. - 1098-660X. ; 39:2, s. 519-524
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The reported rate of detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA within atherosclerotic lesions by PCR varies between 0 and 100%. In this study, identical sets of coded experimental atheroma samples (n = 15) and spiked controls (n = 5) were analyzed by 16 test methods in nine centers by means of PCR. The positive controls were correctly identified to levels of 1, 0.1, and 0.01 inclusion bodies of C. pneumoniae/ml of tissue homogenate by 16 (100%), 11 (69%), and 3 (19%) of the test methods, respectively. Three out of 16 negative controls (19%) were rated positive. Positivity rates for atheroma samples varied between 0 and 60% for the different test methods, with the maximum concordant result for positivity being only 25% for one carotid artery sample. There was no consistent pattern of positive results among the various laboratories, and there was no correlation between the detection rates and the sensitivity of the assay used.
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| 7. |
- Boman, I-L, et al.
(author)
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Cognitive training in home environment
- 2004
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In: Brain Injury. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0269-9052 .- 1362-301X. ; 18:10, s. 985-995
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation in the patient's home or vocational environment. Research design: Pre-post-follow-up design. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Ten outpatients with acquired attention and memory problems received cognitive training three times weekly, for 3 weeks. They received individual attention training with Attention Process Training, training for generalization for everyday activities and education in compensatory strategies for self-selected cognitive problems. Treatment effects were evaluated with neuropsychological and occupational therapy instruments before and after the training and after 3 months on impairment, activity and participation levels. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The results indicated a positive effect on some measures on impairment level, but no differences on activity or participation levels at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that home-based cognitive training improves some attentional and memory functions and facilitates learning of strategies. Future controlled studies are needed to confirm the results and analyse the efficacy of different aspects of home-based training.
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| 9. |
- Brackmann, Christian, et al.
(author)
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Laser-induced fluorescence of formaldehyde in combustion using third harmonic Nd : YAG laser excitation
- 2003
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In: Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy. - 1386-1425. ; 59:14, s. 3347-3356
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Formaldehyde (CH2O) is an important intermediate species in combustion processes and it can through laser-induced fluorescence measurements be used for instantaneous flame front detection. The present study has focussed on the use of the third harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser at 355 nm as excitation wavelength for formaldehyde, and different dimethyl ether (C2H6O) flames were used as sources of formaldehyde in the experiments. The investigations included studies of the overlap between the laser profile and the absorption lines of formaldehyde, saturation effects and the potential occurrence of laser-induced photochemistry. The technique was applied for detection of formaldehyde in an internal combustion engine operated both as a spark ignition engine and as a homogenous charge compression ignition engine. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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