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- Backis, A., et al.
(author)
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Time- and energy-resolved effects in the boron-10 based multi-grid and helium-3 based thermal neutron detectors
- 2021
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In: Measurement science and technology. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 0957-0233 .- 1361-6501. ; 32:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The boron-10 based multi-grid detector is being developed as an alternative to helium-3 based neutron detectors. At the European Spallation Source, the detector will be used for time-of-flight neutron spectroscopy at cold to thermal neutron energies. The objective of this work is to investigate fine time- and energy-resolved effects of the Multi-Grid detector, down to a few mu eV, while comparing it to the performance of a typical helium-3 tube. Furthermore, it is to characterize differences between the detector technologies in terms of internal scattering, as well as the time reconstruction of similar to mu s short neutron pulses. The data were taken at the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, where the Multi-Grid detector and a helium-3 tube were installed at the ESS test beamline, V20. Using a Fermi-chopper, the neutron beam of the reactor was chopped into a few tens of mu s wide pulses before reaching the detector, located a few tens of cm downstream. The data of the measurements show an agreement between the derived and calculated neutron detection efficiency curve. The data also provide fine details on the effect of internal scattering, and how it can be reduced. For the first time, the chopper resolution was comparable to the timing resolution of the Multi-Grid detector. This allowed a detailed study of time- and energy resolved effects, as well as a comparison with a typical helium-3 tube.
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- Flesch, BK, et al.
(author)
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Multicenter Study on Differential Human Neutrophil Antigen 2 Expression and Underlying Molecular Mechanisms
- 2020
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In: Transfusion medicine and hemotherapy : offizielles Organ der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Transfusionsmedizin und Immunhamatologie. - : S. Karger AG. - 1660-3796. ; 47:5, s. 385-395
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- <b><i>Background:</i></b> The human neutrophil antigen 2 (HNA-2), which is expressed on CD177, is undetectable in 3–5% of the normal population. Exposure of these HNA-2<sub>null</sub> individuals to HNA-2-positive cells can cause immunization and production of HNA-2 antibodies, which can induce immune neutropenia and transfusion-related acute lung injury. In HNA-2-positive individuals, neutrophils are divided into a CD177<sup>pos.</sup> and a CD177<sup>neg.</sup> subpopulation. The molecular background of HNA-2 deficiency and the bimodal expression pattern, however, are not completely decoded. <b><i>Study Design:</i></b> An international collaboration was conducted on the genetic analysis of HNA-2-phenotyped blood samples, including HNA-2-deficient individuals, mothers, and the respective children with neonatal immune neutropenia and regular blood donors. <b><i>Results:</i></b> From a total of 54 HNA-2<sub>null</sub> individuals, 43 were homozygous for the <i>CD177</i>*<i>787A>T</i> substitution. Six carried the <i>CD177</i>*<i>c.1291G>A</i> single nucleotide polymorphism. All HNA-2-positive samples with >40% CD177<sup>pos.</sup> neutrophils carried the *<i>787A</i> wild-type allele, whereas a lower rate of CD177<sup>pos.</sup> neutrophils was preferentially associated with *<i>c.787AT</i> heterozygosity. Interestingly, only the *<i>c.787A</i> allele sequence was detected in complementary DNA (cDNA) sequence analysis carried out on all *<i>c.787AT</i> heterozygous individuals. However, cDNA analysis after sorting of CD177<sup>pos.</sup> and CD177<sup>neg.</sup> neutrophil subsets from HNA-2-positive individuals showed identical sequences, which makes regulatory elements within the promoter unlikely to affect <i>CD177</i> gene transcription in different CD177 neutrophil subsets. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> This comprehensive study clearly demonstrates the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms on the expression of HNA-2 on the neutrophil surface but challenges the hypothesis of regulatory epigenetic effects being implicated in the bimodal CD177 expression pattern.
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- Höglund, Arja, et al.
(author)
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Associations between fluctuations in daytime sleepiness and motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease
- 2021
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In: Movement Disorders Clinical Practice. - 2330-1619. ; 8:1, s. 44-50
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Abstract Background Non-motor fluctuations (NMF) are a major concern in Parkinson's disease (PD), and they have been categorised into neuropsychiatric, autonomic and sensory fluctuations. However, this categorisation does not include sleep and sleep-related features, and the association between daytime sleepiness and other motor and/or non-motor fluctuations in PD remains to be elucidated. Objective To investigate the relationship between daytime sleepiness and other non-motor and motor fluctuations in people with PD. Methods A three-day home diary recording daytime sleepiness, mood, anxiety, and motor symptoms was used along with the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) and six days of accelerometer (Parkinson's KinetiGraph?; PKG?) registration to detect motor fluctuations among people with a DaTSCAN verified clinical PD diagnosis (32 men; mean PD duration, 8.2?years). Participants were categorised as motor fluctuators or non-fluctuators according to the UPDRS part IV and/or the presence of motor and non-motor fluctuations. Results Fifty-two people with PD participated. Daytime sleepiness correlated significantly with motor symptoms, mood and anxiety among those classified as motor fluctuators (n = 28). Motor fluctuators showed stronger correlations between the individual mean level of all diary variables (daytime sleepiness, anxiety, mood and motor symptoms) when compared to the non-fluctuators (n = 24). Stronger positive within-individual correlations were found among fluctuators in comparison to non-fluctuators. In general, PKG data did not correlate with diary data. Conclusion Episodes of daytime sleepiness, as reported by home diaries, were associated with other self-reported non-motor and motor fluctuations, but were not supported by PKG data.
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- Onatsu, J., et al.
(author)
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Tau, S100B and NSE as Blood Biomarkers in Acute Cerebrovascular Events
- 2020
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In: In Vivo. - : Anticancer Research USA Inc.. - 0258-851X .- 1791-7549. ; 34:5, s. 2577-2586
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background/Aim: We aimed to analyze the diagnostic value of total tau (T- tau), S-100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) as blood-based biomarkers in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA), and their correlation with symptom severity, infarct size, etiology and outcome. Patients and Methods: A total of 102 patients with stroke and 35 with TIA were analyzed. Subacute (63.8 +/- 50.1 h) plasma T-tau was measured with the single-molecule array (Simoa) method and NSE and S100B were evaluated for comparison. We evaluated biomarkers associations with: (i) diagnosis of AIS or TIA, (ii) cerebral infarction volume in the brain computed tomography, (iii) stroke etiology, (iv) clinical stroke severity and (iv) functional outcome after three months. Results: T-tau was higher in patients with stroke (1.0 pg/ml (IQR=0.3-2 2)] than with TIA (05 pg/ml (IQR=0.2- 1 .0), p=0.02] . The levels of S100B were also increased in stroke [0.082 mu g/l (IQR=0.049-0.157)] patients compared to TIA patients (0.045 mu g/l (IQR=0.03 -0.073 ), p<0.001]. However, when the results were adjusted for confounders, significance was lost. Serum levels of NSE among patients with AIS [11.85 mu g/l (IQR=9.30-16.14)] compared to those with TIA (10.96 mu g/l (IQR=7 .98-15.33), p=0.301 were equal. T-tau and S100B concentrations significantly correlated with cerebral infarction volume (r=0.412, p<0.001) and (r=0.597, p<0.001), also after corrections (p<0.001). mRS scores at three-month follow-up correlated with T-tau (r=0.248, p=0.016) and S100B concentrations (r=0.205, p=0.045). Conclusion: For the diagnosis of TIA vs. AIS, blood T-tau and S100B concentrations discriminated only modestly. Additionally, groups were not separable after measuring of T-tau and S100B levels in the blood. T-tau and S100B concentrations correlated with the infarct size, but were not alone predictive for functional outcome at 3 months.
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- Wikman, A, et al.
(author)
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Cryopreserved platelets in bleeding management in remote hospitals: A clinical feasibility study in Sweden
- 2023
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In: Frontiers in public health. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-2565. ; 10, s. 1073318-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Balanced transfusions, including platelets, are critical for bleeding patients to maintain hemostasis. Many rural hospitals have no or limited platelet inventory, with several hours of transport time from larger hospitals. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using cryopreserved platelets that can be stored for years, in remote hospitals with no or limited platelet inventory.Material and methodsThree remote hospitals participated in a prospective study including adult bleeding patients where platelet transfusions were indicated. Cryopreserved platelets were prepared in a university hospital, concentrated in 10 ml, transported on dry ice, and stored at −80°C at the receiving hospital. At request, the concentrated platelet units were thawed and diluted in fresh frozen plasma. The indications, blood transfusion needs, and laboratory parameters pre- and post-transfusion, as well as logistics, such as time from request to transfusion and work efforts in preparing cryopreserved platelets, were evaluated.ResultsTwenty-three bleeding patients were included. Nine patients (39%) were treated for gastrointestinal bleeding, five (22%) for perioperative bleeding, and four (17%) for trauma bleeding. The transfusion needs were 4.9 ± 3.3 red blood cell units, 3.2 ± 2.3 plasma units, and 1.9 ± 2.2 platelet units, whereof cryopreserved were 1.5 ± 1.1 (mean ± SD). One patient had a mild allergic reaction. We could not show the difference in laboratory results between pre- and post-transfusion of the cryopreserved units in the bleeding patients. The mean time from the order of cryopreserved platelets to transfusion was 64 min, with a range from 25 to 180 min.ConclusionCryopreserved platelets in remote hospitals are logistically feasible in the treatment of bleeding. The ability to have platelets in stock reduces the time to platelet transfusion in bleeding patients where the alternative often is many hours delay. Clinical effectiveness and safety previously shown in other studies are supported in this small feasibility study.
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| 20. |
- Birgersson, Sofia, 1976, et al.
(author)
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Population pharmacokinetics of artesunate and dihydroartemisinin in pregnant and non-pregnant women with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Burkina Faso: An open label trial [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
- 2020
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In: Wellcome Open Research. - : F1000 Research Ltd. - 2398-502X. ; 4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Malaria during pregnancy is a major health risk for both the mother and the foetus. Pregnancy has been shown to influence the pharmacokinetics of a number of different antimalarial drugs. This might lead to an under-exposure in these patients which could increase the risk of treatment failure and the development of drug resistance. The study aim was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of artesunate and dihydroartemisinin in pregnant and non-pregnant patients using a population modelling approach. Methods: Twenty-four women in their second and third trimester of pregnancy and twenty-four paired non-pregnant women, all with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria, were enrolled in this study. Treatment was a fixed-dose combination of oral artesunate and mefloquine once daily for three days. Frequent blood samples were collected and concentration-time data for artesunate and dihydroartemisinin were analysed simultaneously using nonlinear mixed-effects modelling. Results: Artesunate pharmacokinetics was best described by a transit-compartment absorption model followed by a one-compartment disposition model under the assumption of complete in vivo conversion of artesunate into dihydroartemisinin. Dihydroartemisinin pharmacokinetics was best described by a one-compartment disposition model with first-order elimination. Pregnant women had a 21% higher elimination clearance of dihydroartemisinin, compared to non-pregnant women resulting in proportionally lower drug exposure. In addition, initial parasitaemia and liver enzyme levels (alanine aminotransferase) were found to affect the relative bioavailability of artesunate. Conclusions: Results presented here show a substantially lower drug exposure to the antimalarial drug dihydroartemisinin during pregnancy after standard oral treatment of artesunate and mefloquine. This might result in an increased risk of treatment failure and drug resistance development especially in low transmission settings where relative immunity is lower. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00701961 (19/06/2008). © 2020 Birgersson S et al.
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- Hagell, Peter, et al.
(author)
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Apomorphine formulation may influence subcutaneous complications from continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion in Parkinson's disease
- 2020
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In: Journal of Neurology. - 0340-5354 .- 1432-1459. ; 267:11, s. 3411-3417
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Continuous subcutaneous (s.c.) apomorphine infusion is an effective therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD), but a limitation is the formation of troublesome s.c. nodules. Various chemically non-identical apomorphine formulations are available. Anecdotal experiences have suggested that shifting from one of these (Apo-Go PumpFill®; apoGPF) to another (Apomorphine PharmSwed®; apoPS) may influence the occurrence and severity of s.c. nodules. We, therefore, followed 15 people with advanced PD (median PD-duration, 15 years; median "off"-phase Hoehn and Yahr, IV) on apoGPF and with troublesome s.c. nodules who were switched to apoPS. Data were collected at baseline, at the time of switching, and at a median of 1, 2.5, and 7.3 months post-switch. Total nodule numbers (P < 0.001), size (P < 0.001), consistency (P < 0.001), skin changes (P = 0.058), and pain (P ≤ 0.032) improved over the observation period. PD severity and dyskinesias tended to improve and increase, respectively. Apomorphine doses were stable, but levodopa doses increased by 100 mg/day. Patient-reported apomorphine efficacy tended to increase and all participants remained on apoPS throughout the observation period; with the main patient-reported reason being improved nodules. These observations suggest that patients with s.c. nodules caused by apoGPF may benefit from switching to apoPS in terms of s.c. nodule occurrence and severity. Alternatively, observed benefits may have been due to the switch itself. As nodule formation is a limiting factor in apomorphine treatment, a controlled prospective study comparing local tolerance with different formulations is warranted.
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- Luu, TT, et al.
(author)
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Short-term IL-15 priming leaves a long-lasting signalling imprint in mouse NK cells independently of a metabolic switch
- 2021
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In: Life science alliance. - : Life Science Alliance, LLC. - 2575-1077. ; 4:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- IL-15 priming of NK cells is a broadly accepted concept, but the dynamics and underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. We show that as little as 5 min of IL-15 treatment in vitro, followed by removal of excess cytokines, results in a long-lasting, but reversible, augmentation of NK cell responsiveness upon activating receptor cross-linking. In contrast to long-term stimulation, improved NK cell function after short-term IL-15 priming was not associated with enhanced metabolism but was based on the increased steady-state phosphorylation level of signalling molecules downstream of activating receptors. Inhibition of JAK3 eliminated this priming effect, suggesting a cross talk between the IL-15 receptor and ITAM-dependent activating receptors. Increased signalling molecule phosphorylation levels, calcium flux, and IFN-γ secretion lasted for up to 3 h after IL-15 stimulation before returning to baseline. We conclude that IL-15 rapidly and reversibly primes NK cell function by modulating activating receptor signalling. Our findings suggest a mechanism by which NK cell reactivity can potentially be maintained in vivo based on only brief encounters with IL-15 trans-presenting cells.
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| 45. |
- Muraro, A., et al.
(author)
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MBGEM : a stack of borated GEM detector for high efficiency thermal neutron detection
- 2021
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In: The European Physical Journal Plus. - : SPRINGER HEIDELBERG. - 2190-5444. ; 136:7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A new position-sensitive thermal neutron detector based on boron-coated converters has been developed as an alternative to todays standard -based technology for application to thermal neutron scattering. The key elements of the development are the boron-coated GEM foils (Sauli in Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res Sect A Accel Spectrom Detect Assoc Equip 386:531, 1997) that are used as a multi-layer neutron converter via the reaction together with an efficient collection of the produced secondary electrons. This paper reports the test performed on a 3 layers converter prototype coupled to a GEMPix detector (Murtas in Radiat Meas 138:106421, 2020), carried out in order to study the possibility to produce a large-scale multi-layer neutron detector capable to reach high detection efficiency with high spatial resolution and able to sustain the high neutron flux expected in the new neutron spallation source under development like the ESS.
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| 48. |
- Schmied, L, et al.
(author)
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Platelet-Mediated Protection of Cancer Cells From Immune Surveillance - Possible Implications for Cancer Immunotherapy
- 2021
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In: Frontiers in immunology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-3224. ; 12, s. 640578-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The growing insights in the complex interactions between metastatic cancer-cells and platelets have revealed that platelet tumor cell interactions in the blood stream are an important factor supporting tumor metastasis. An increased coagulability of platelets facilitates the vascular evasion and establishment of solid tumor metastasis. Furthermore, platelets can support an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment or shield tumor cells directly from engagement of cytotoxic lymphocytes as e.g., natural killer (NK) cells. Platelets are both in the tumor microenvironment and systemically the quantitatively most important source of TGF-β, which is a key cytokine for immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. If similar platelet-tumor interactions are of physiological relevance in hematological malignancies remains less well-studied. This might be important, as T- and NK cell mediated graft vs. leukemia effects (GvL) are well-documented and malignant hematological cells have a high exposure to platelets compared to solid tumors. As NK cell-based immunotherapies gain increasing attention as a therapeutic option for patients suffering from hematological and other malignancies, we review the known interactions between platelets and NK cells in the solid tumor setting and discuss how these could also apply to hematological cancers. We furthermore explore the possible implications for NK cell therapy in patients with solid tumors and patients who depend on frequent platelet transfusions. As platelets have a protective and supportive effect on cancer cells, the impact of platelet transfusion on immunotherapy and the combination of immunotherapy with platelet inhibitors needs to be evaluated.
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| 50. |
- Serra Filho, L. A., et al.
(author)
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Double-GEM based thermal neutron detector prototype
- 2022
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In: Journal of Instrumentation. - : IOP Publishing Ltd. - 1748-0221. ; 17:9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Helium-3 shortage and the growing interest in neutron science constitute a driving factor in developing new neutron detection technologies. In this work, we report the development of a double-GEM detector prototype that uses a (B4C)-B-10 layer as a neutron converter material. GEANT4 simulations were performed predicting an efficiency of (3.14 +/- 0.10)%, agreeing within 2.7 sigma with the experimental and analytic detection efficiencies obtained by the detector when tested in a 41.8 meV thermal neutron beam. The detector is position sensitive, equipped with a 256+256 strip readout connected to resistive chains, and achieves a spatial resolution better than 3 mm. The gain stability over time was also measured with a fluctuation of about 0.2% h(-1) of the signal amplitude. A simple data acquisition with only 5 electronic channels is sufficient to operate this detector.
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