Absence of interferon-lambda 4 enhances spontaneous clearance of acute hepatitis C virus genotypes 1-3 infection

Objectives Absence of a functional interferon-lambda 4 (IFN-lambda 4) gene (IFNL4) predicts spontaneous resolution of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in regions with a predominance of genotype 1, whereas variants of the inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPase) gene (ITPA) entailing reduced activity associate with increased sustained virologic response rates following some therapeutic regimens. This study aimed at investigating the impact of IFNL4 on acute HCV genotype 2 or 3 infections, and whether ITPase activity influenced outcome. Materials and Methods Two hundred and seven people who injected drugs (PWID) with documented anti-HCV seroconversion, and 57 PWID with reinfection with HCV were analyzed regarding IFNL4 (rs368234815 and rs12979860) and ITPA (rs1127354 and rs7270101), and longitudinally followed regarding HCV RNA. Results The spontaneous clearance of HCV infection in anti-HCV seronegative PWID was enhanced when IFN-lambda 4 was absent (44% vs. 20% for IFNL4 TT/TTrs1368234815 and Delta G(rs1368234815) respectively, p < .001; OR 3.2) across genotypes 1-3. The proportion lacking IFN-lambda 4 was further increased following resolution of repeated re-exposure to HCV (74% among re-infected participants who had cleared at least two documented HCV infections). ITPA genetic variants did not independently impact on the outcome, but among males lacking IFN-lambda 4, reduced ITPase activity markedly augmented the likelihood of resolution (65% vs. 29% for <100% and 100% ITPase activity, p = .006). Conclusions Absence of IFN-lambda 4 entails an enhanced likelihood of spontaneous resolution both following primary acute infection and repeated re-exposure to HCV across genotypes 1-3. Among men lacking IFN-lambda 4, reduced ITPase activity improved outcome

Results from the intercalibration of optical low light calibration sources 2011

Following the 38th Annual European Meeting on Atmospheric Studies by Optical Methods in Siuntio in Finland, an intercalibration workshop for optical low light calibration sources was held in Sodankylä, Finland. The main purpose of this workshop was to provide a comparable scale for absolute measurements of aurora and airglow. All sources brought to the intercalibration workshop were compared to the Fritz Peak reference source using the Lindau Calibration Photometer built by Wilhelm Barke and Hans Lauche in 1984. The results were compared to several earlier intercalibration workshops. It was found that most sources were fairly stable over time, with errors in the range of 5–25%. To further validate the results, two sources were also intercalibrated at UNIS, Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Preliminary analysis indicates agreement with the intercalibration in Sodankylä within about 15–25%.publishedVersio

REXUS BEXUS - A Swedish-German co-operation for university student experiments on rockets and balloons

In June 2007 the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Swedish National Space Board signed an agreement to jointly provide flight opportunities for university students to fly experiments on suborbital rockets and stratospheric balloons during a five year period. The implementation of this unique student programme is handled by EuroLaunch, which is a co-operation between the Mobile Rocket Base (MORABA) of DLR and the Swedish Space Corporation. Students from all ESA member states are eligible to apply to this programme, named REXUS (rockets) and BEXUS (balloons). The student programme involves two suborbital rocket missions and two stratospheric balloon flights per year. All flights are performed from the Esrange Space Center in Sweden. The REXUS is an unguided, spin-stabilised, solid propellant, single stage rocket. The BEXUS balloon has a volume of 12,000 m3 and a diameter of 25 m at floating altitude. The programme builds on experience of previous student missions where the best practices for how to carry out this kind of programme has been learnt. It involves students in all phases of a real space programme, from proposal through selection, design, reviews, construction, testing, flight campaign, and ending with data analysis and presentation of results. The students participate in a one week long Student Training Week, during which they learn about the space environment, best practices for design and assembly, integration and testing of space equipment, interfacing to power and telemetry and command links, and lessons learned from earlier students. A historical resume of previous flight opportunities for university students at Esrange and the current guidelines and procedures for REXUS and BEXUS flight opportunities involving DLR as well as the ESA Education office will be presented. The REXUS/BEXUS programme gives students the opportunity to efficiently build on the experience of today’s professional space engineers, and to obtain a flying start on their career

Hur utvecklas kompetens i små företag? Uppfattningar om kompetensutveckling hos småföretagare i Göteborgsregionen

Rapporten är resultatet av ett uppdrag från Svenska ESF-rådet i Göteborg med den övergripande frågan: varför söker inte fler företagare stöd för sin kompetensutveckling? Svenska ESF-rådet har till uppgift att stimulera små och medelstora företag/arbetsplatser i deras kompetens- utveckling. Vi har intervjuat 53 företagare/verksamhets- ledare för mikro-, små och medelstora arbetsplatser i olika branscher i Göteborgsregionen. Vi har frågat efter deras syn på kompetens och kompetensutveckling och vad de faktiskt gör för att utveckla sin och de anställdas kompetens för verksamheten. Analysen av svaren redovisas i tre delar. Först besvarar vi den konkreta frågan som Svenska ESF-rådet ställt. Därefter beskriver vi de intervjuades uppfattningar om kompetens och kompetensutveckling. Vi delar in företagen i tre grupper, beroende på hur mycket de satsar på kompetensutveckling, och vi undersöker vad som karaktäriserar de olika grupperna. Till sist undersöker vi hur företagarna utvecklar 'orienteringskunskap', dvs en sorts övergripande helhetsuppfattning om omvärlden som kan bidra till utvecklingen av andra kompetenser. Rapporten avslutas med en sammanfattning av resultaten och reflektioner över hur resultaten kan användas praktiskt och teoretiskt

Hur utvecklas kompetens i små företag? Uppfattningar om kompetensutveckling hos småföretagare i Göteborgsregionen

Rapporten är resultatet av ett uppdrag från Svenska ESF-rådet i Göteborg med den övergripande frågan: varför söker inte fler företagare stöd för sin kompetensutveckling? Svenska ESF-rådet har till uppgift att stimulera små och medelstora företag/arbetsplatser i deras kompetensutveckling. Vi har intervjuat 53 företagare/verksamhetsledare för mikro-, små och medelstora arbetsplatser i olika branscher i Göteborgsregionen. Vi har frågat efter deras syn på kompetens och kompetensutveckling och vad de faktiskt gör för att utveckla sin och de anställdas kompetens för verksamheten. Analysen av svaren redovisas i tre delar. Först besvarar vi den konkreta frågan som Svenska ESF-rådet ställt. Därefter beskriver vi de intervjuades uppfattningar om kompetens och kompetensutveckling. Vi delar in företagen i tre grupper, beroende på hur mycket de satsar på kompetensutveckling, och vi undersöker vad som karaktäriserar de olika grupperna. Till sist undersöker vi hur företagarna utvecklar ”orienteringskunskap”, dvs en sorts övergripande helhetsuppfattning om omvärlden som kan bidra till utvecklingen av andra kompetenser. Rapporten avslutas med en sammanfattning av resultaten och reflektioner över hur resultaten kan användas praktiskt och teoretiskt.kompetens; kompetensutveckling; orienteringskunskap; småföretag; medelstora företag; företagsstöd; EU-stöd

Response to splenectomy is durable after a certain point in time in adult patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura

Splenectomy may lead to a good response in 60-80% of adult patients with corticosteroid refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) but, the long-term response to splenectomy still remains less well defined. We assessed the long-term efficacy and safety of splenectomy in adult patients with chronic ITP. A cohort of 59 splenectomised ITP patients (M/F = 25/34; median age 39 yr; range 14-75) were followed up for a median of 18 yr (range 2-32). No life-threatening surgical complications were observed. The overall response rate was 78% with 59% complete remission (CR) and 19% partial remission (PR). CR and PR patients were younger than non-responding patients at time of diagnosis (median age: 36 yr vs 48 yr, P = 0.03) and at splenectomy (median age: 38 yr vs 51 yr, P = 0.02). Among the 46 responding patients, eventually 17 had relapse. No disease progression occurred after 12.1 and 7.3 yr for patients in CR or PR, respectively. One case of fatal septicaemia was recorded. We conclude that splenectomy is an effective and safe treatment in adult patients with chronic ITP failing to respond to corticosteroid treatment and importantly, our findings support the view that response to splenectomy is durable after a certain point in time

Response to Splenectomy Is Durable after a Certain Point in Time in Adult ITP Patients

Abstract Background. Splenectomy is the recommended treatment in adult patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who fail to respond to corticosteroid treatment or who require unacceptably high doses to maintain a safe platelet level. For these patients splenectomy may produce a good response in 60–80% of patients. However, the observation time after splenectomy has in most published studies been relatively short. Thus, the true long-term response to splenectomy still remains less well defined. The efficacy and safety of splenectomy were assessed in a cohort of adult ITP patients followed for a very long period of time. Patients and methods. The study included 59 ITP patients (M/F=25/34, median age at splenectomy; 39 yrs, range 14–75 yrs). The median time from diagnosis to splenectomy was 5.5 mos (range 0.4–199 mos). Criteria used to define response to splenectomy were: CR; platelet count >150 x 109/l lasting ≥4 weeks, PR; platelet count ≥50–150 x 109/l lasting ≥4 weeks and, NR; failure to achieve platelet counts ≥50 x 109/l. The criterion for relapse in CR/PR patients was a decrease in platelet counts to <50 x 109/l. Results. The median follow-up time after splenectomy was 18 yrs (range 2–32 yrs). No serious surgical complications occurred. The overall response rate was 78% with 59% CR and 19% PR. CR and PR patients were younger than NR patients at time of diagnosis (median age: 36 yrs vs 48 yrs, p=0.03) and at splenectomy (median age: 38 yrs vs 51 yrs, p=0.02). Among the 46 responding patients 17 eventually relapsed. A plateau in the progression free survival curve was identified after 12.1 and 7.3 years for patients in CR or PR, respectively. Figure Figure At follow-up, 5 of 17 patients relapsing after splenectomy were in CR. Bacteremia was recorded in two patients during a total of 1023 patient years at risk. Conclusions We conclude that splenctomy is an effective and safe treatment in adult patients with chronic ITP failing to respond to corticosteroid treatment. The complication rate was low and our findings support the view that response to splenectomy is durable after a certain point in time

Genotyping of hepatitis C virus isolates by a modified polymerase chain reaction assay using type specific primers: epidemiological applications

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay using primers against the hepatitis C core gene has been described [Okamoto et al. (1992a): Journal of General Virology 73:673-679]. Within the two major HCV genotypes 1 and 2, the Okamoto system identifies two subtypes each (1a, 1b and 2a, 2b, respectively). Typing is achieved by a primary PCR with consensus primers followed by a nested PCR with type specific primers. The original assay was modified by addition of a parallel second PCR identifying the recently described major genotype 3. The assay also identifies in duplicate subtype 1b (type II by Okamoto), suggested to respond poorly to interferon. Reaction conditions were reviewed and melting temperatures of all typing primers equalised to increase strigency. The modified system functioned well and typing results were supported by partial core sequencing. The following distribution of genotypes was found in 53 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected Swedish blood donors: genotype 1a (57%), 3 (19%), 1b (13%), and 2b (11%). In six recipients of HCV infected blood identified in a retrospective study, the recipient HCV genotype was identical to donor HCV genotype. Furthermore, in HCV positive couples identical genotype was observed when only one partner had an external risk factor; whereas genotypes were often diverse if both sex partners had parenteral risk factors. Finally, a cluster of hepatitis C cases in a haemodialysis unit was evaluated retrospectively. Eight patients had genotype 1b, two had mixed 1a and 1b, and one had type 1a. The modified HCV genotyping assay was of value in examining different epidemiological situations and can be expanded presumably to include future genotypes

Results from the intercalibration of optical low-light calibration sources 2011

Abstract. Following the 38th Annual Meeting on Atmospheric studies by Optical methods at Siuntio in Finland, an intercalibration workshop for optical low-light calibration sources was held in Sodankylä, Finland. The main purpose of this workshop was to provide a comparable scale for absolute measurements of aurora and airglow. All sources brought to the intercalibration workshop were compared to an international standard source (Fritz-Peak) using the Lindau Calibration Photometer built by Wilhelm Barke and Hans Lauche in 1984. The international standard source is on loan from Michael Gadsden, Aberdeen. The results were compared to several earlier intercalibration workshops. It was found that most sources were fairly stable over time with errors in the range of 5–20%. To further validate the results, two sources were also intercalibrated at UNIS, Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Preliminary analysis indicate good agreement with the intercalibration in Sodankylä