11. |
- Soranzo, Nicole, et al.
(författare)
-
A genome-wide meta-analysis identifies 22 loci associated with eight hematological parameters in the HaemGen consortium
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 41:11, s. 38-1182
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The number and volume of cells in the blood affect a wide range of disorders including cancer and cardiovascular, metabolic, infectious and immune conditions. We consider here the genetic variation in eight clinically relevant hematological parameters, including hemoglobin levels, red and white blood cell counts and platelet counts and volume. We describe common variants within 22 genetic loci reproducibly associated with these hematological parameters in 13,943 samples from six European population-based studies, including 6 associated with red blood cell parameters, 15 associated with platelet parameters and 1 associated with total white blood cell count. We further identified a long-range haplotype at 12q24 associated with coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction in 9,479 cases and 10,527 controls. We show that this haplotype demonstrates extensive disease pleiotropy, as it contains known risk loci for type 1 diabetes, hypertension and celiac disease and has been spread by a selective sweep specific to European and geographically nearby populations.
|
|
12. |
- Simons, F E R, et al.
(författare)
-
Practical allergy (PRACTALL) report: risk assessment in anaphylaxis.
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Allergy. - : Wiley. - 1398-9995 .- 0105-4538. ; 63:1, s. 35-7
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Effector mechanisms in anaphylaxis were reviewed. Current approaches to confirmation of the clinical diagnosis were discussed. Improved methods for distinguishing between allergen sensitization (which is common in the general population) and clinical risk of anaphylaxis (which is uncommon) were deliberated. Innovative techniques that will improve risk assessment in anaphylaxis in the future were described.
|
|
13. |
- Simons, F. E., et al.
(författare)
-
Risk assessment in anaphylaxis: current and future approaches
- 2007
-
Ingår i: J Allergy Clin Immunol. - : Elsevier BV. - 0091-6749. ; 120:1 Suppl
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Risk assessment of individuals with anaphylaxis is currently hampered by lack of (1) an optimal and readily available laboratory test to confirm the clinical diagnosis of an anaphylaxis episode and (2) an optimal method of distinguishing allergen-sensitized individuals who are clinically tolerant from those at risk for anaphylaxis episodes after exposure to the relevant allergen. Our objectives were to review the effector mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of anaphylaxis; to explore the possibility of developing an optimal laboratory test to confirm the diagnosis of an anaphylaxis episode, and the possibility of improving methods to distinguish allergen sensitization from clinical reactivity; and to develop a research agenda for risk assessment in anaphylaxis. Researchers from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology held a PRACTALL (Practical Allergy) meeting to discuss these objectives. New approaches being investigated to support the clinical diagnosis of anaphylaxis include serial measurements of total tryptase in serum during an anaphylaxis episode, and measurement of baseline total tryptase levels after the episode. Greater availability of the test for mature beta-tryptase, a more specific mast cell activation marker for anaphylaxis than total tryptase, is needed. Measurement of chymase, mast cell carboxypeptidase A3, platelet-activating factor, and other mast cell products may prove to be useful. Consideration should be given to measuring a panel of mediators from mast cells and basophils. New approaches being investigated to help distinguish sensitized individuals at minimum or no risk from those at increased risk of developing anaphylaxis include measurement of the ratio of allergen-specific IgE to total IgE, determination of IgE directed at specific allergenic epitopes, measurement of basophil activation markers by using flow cytometry, and assessment of allergen-specific cytokine responses. Algorithms have been developed for risk assessment of individuals with anaphylaxis, along with a research agenda for studies that could lead to an improved ability to confirm the clinical diagnosis of anaphylaxis and to identify allergen-sensitized individuals who are at increased risk of anaphylaxis.
|
|
14. |
- Horbury, T., et al.
(författare)
-
Cross-scale : A multi-spacecraft mission to study cross-scale coupling in space plasmas
- 2006
-
Ingår i: European Space Agency, (Special Publication) ESA SP. ; , s. 561-568
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Collisionless astrophysical plasmas exhibit complexity on many scales: if we are to understand their properties and effects, we must measure this complexity. We can identify a small number of processes and phenomena, one of which is dominant in almost every space plasma region of interest: shocks, reconnection and turbulence. These processes act to transfer energy between locations, scales and modes. However, this transfer is characterised by variability and 3D structure on at least three scales: electron kinetic, ion kinetic and fluid. It is the nonlinear interaction between physical processes at these scales that is the key to understanding these phenomena and predicting their effects. However, current and planned multi-spacecraft missions such as Cluster and MMS only study variations on one scale in 3D at any given time - we must measure the three scales simultaneously fully to understand the energy transfer processes. We propose a mission, called Cross-Scale, to study these processes. Cross-Scale would comprise three nested groups, each consisting of up to four spacecraft. Each group would have a different spacecraft separation, at approximately the electron and ion gyroradii, and a larger MHD scale. We would therefore be able to measure variations on all three important physical scales, simultaneously, for the first time. The spacecraft would fly in formation through key regions of near-Earth space: The solar wind, bowshock, magnetosheath, magnetopause and magnetotail.
|
|
15. |
- v. Przewoski, B., et al.
(författare)
-
Analyzing powers and spin correlation coefficients for p+d elastic scattering at 135 and 200 MeV
- 2006
-
Ingår i: Physical Review C. Nuclear Physics. - 0556-2813 .- 1089-490X. ; 74:6
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The proton and deuteron analyzing powers and ten of the possible 12 spin correlation coefficients have been measured for p+d elastic scattering at proton bombarding energies of 135 and 200 MeV. The results are compared with Faddeev calculations using two different NN potentials. The qualitative features of the extensive data set on the spin dependence in p+d elastic scattering over a wide range of angles presented here are remarkably well explained by two-nucleon force predictions without inclusion of a three-nucleon force. The remaining discrepancies are, in general, not alleviated when theoretical three-nucleon forces are included in the calculations.
|
|
16. |
- Haefele, A., et al.
(författare)
-
Validation of ground-based microwave radiometers at 22 GHz for stratospheric and mesospheric water vapor
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 114:23
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a detailed intercomparison of five ground-based 22 GHz microwave radiometers for stratospheric and mesospheric water vapor. Four of these instruments are members of the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC). The global measurements of middle atmospheric water vapor of the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) onboard the Aura satellite serve as reference and allow intercomparison of the ground-based systems that are located between 45 degrees S and 57 degrees N. The retrievals of water vapor profiles from the ground-based radiation measurements have been made consistent to a large extent: for the required temperature profiles, we used the global temperature measurements of MLS and we agreed on one common set of spectroscopic parameters. The agreement with the reference measurements is better than +/- 8% in the altitude range from 0.01 to 3 hPa. Strong correlation is found between the ground-based and the reference data in the mesosphere with respect to seasonal cycle and planetary waves. In the stratosphere the measurements are generally more noisy and become sensitive to instrumental instabilities toward lower levels (pressures greater than 3 hPa). We further present a compilation of a NDACC data set based on the retrieval parameters described herein but using a temperature climatology derived from the MLS record. This makes the ground-based measurements independent of additional information and allows extension of the data set for years in a homogeneous manner.
|
|
17. |
- Samoli, E, et al.
(författare)
-
Short-term effects of nitrogen dioxide on mortality : an analysis within the APHEA project
- 2006
-
Ingår i: European Respiratory Journal. - Copenhagen : Munksgaard. - 0903-1936 .- 1399-3003. ; 27:6, s. 1129-1138
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The short-term effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on total, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality in 30 European cities participating in the Air Pollution on Health: a European Approach (APHEA)-2 project were investigated. The association was examined using hierarchical models implemented in two stages. In the first stage, data from each city were analysed separately, whereas in the second stage, the city-specific air pollution estimates were regressed on city-specific covariates to obtain overall estimates and to explore sources of possible heterogeneity. A significant association of NO2 with total, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality was found, with stronger effects on cause-specific mortality. There was evidence of confounding in respiratory mortality with black smoke and sulphur dioxide. The effect of NO2 on total and cardiovascular mortality was observed mainly in western and southern European cities, and was larger when smoking prevalence was lower and household gas consumption was higher. The effect of NO2 on respiratory mortality was higher in cities with a larger proportion of elderly persons in the population and higher levels of particulate matter with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm. The results of this large study are consistent with an independent effect of nitrogen dioxide on mortality, but the role of nitrogen dioxide as a surrogate of other unmeasured pollutants cannot be completely ruled out.
|
|
18. |
- Schwartz, Gregory G, et al.
(författare)
-
Rationale and design of the dal-OUTCOMES trial: Efficacy and safety of dalcetrapib in patients with recent acute coronary syndrome
- 2009
-
Ingår i: American Heart Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-8703 .- 1097-6744. ; 158:6, s. 896-U34
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Despite contemporary therapies for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), morbidity and mortality remain high. Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are common among patients with ACS and may contribute to ongoing risk. Strategies that raise levels of HDL cholesterol, such as inhibition of cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP), might reduce risk after ACS. Dal-OUTCOMES is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to test the hypothesis that CETP inhibition with dalcetrapib reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with recent ACS. Design The study will randomize approximately 15,600 patients to receive daily doses of dalcetrapib 600 mg or matching placebo, beginning 4 to 12 weeks after an index ACS event. There are no prespecified boundaries for HDL cholesterol levels at entry. Other elements of care, including management of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, are to follow best evidence-based practice. The primary efficacy measure is time to first occurrence of coronary heart disease death, nonfatal acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina requiring hospital admission, resuscitated cardiac arrest, or atherothrombotic stroke. The trial will continue until 1,600 primary end point events have occurred, all evaluable subjects have been followed for at least 2 years, and 80% of evaluable subjects have been followed for at least 2.5 years. Summary Dal-OUTCOMES will determine whether CETP inhibition with dalcetrapib, added to current evidence-based care, reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality after ACS.
|
|
19. |
|
|
20. |
- Hasegawa, H., et al.
(författare)
-
Kelvin-Helmholtz waves at the Earth's magnetopause : Multiscale development and associated reconnection
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 114:12, s. A12207-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We examine traversals on 20 November 2001 of the equatorial magnetopause boundary layer simultaneously at similar to 1500 magnetic local time (MLT) by the Geotail spacecraft and at similar to 1900 MLT by the Cluster spacecraft, which detected rolled-up MHD-scale vortices generated by the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) under prolonged northward interplanetary magnetic field conditions. Our purpose is to address the excitation process of the KHI, MHD-scale and ion-scale structures of the vortices, and the formation mechanism of the low-latitude boundary layer (LLBL). The observed KH wavelength (>4 x 10(4) km) is considerably longer than predicted by the linear theory from the thickness (similar to 1000 km) of the dayside velocity shear layer. Our analyses suggest that the KHI excitation is facilitated by combined effects of the formation of the LLBL presumably through high-latitude magnetopause reconnection and compressional magnetosheath fluctuations on the dayside, and that breakup and/or coalescence of the vortices are beginning around 1900 MLT. Current layers of thickness a few times ion inertia length similar to 100 km and of magnetic shear similar to 60 degrees existed at the trailing edges of the vortices. Identified in one such current sheet were signatures of local reconnection: Alfvenic outflow jet within a bifurcated current sheet, nonzero magnetic field component normal to the sheet, and field-aligned beam of accelerated electrons. Because of its incipient nature, however, this reconnection process is unlikely to lead to the observed dusk-flank LLBL. It is thus inferred that the flank LLBL resulted from other mechanisms, namely, diffusion and/or remote reconnection unidentified by Cluster.
|
|