Single breath N2-test and exhaled nitric oxide in men

SummaryThe N2 slope is an index of inhomogeneous distribution of ventilation and has been suggested to be suited for early testing of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in smokers. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) and the N2 slope in a random population of smoking and non-smoking men. Altogether 57 subjects were included in the study, 24 never-smokers, seven ex-smokers and 26 current smokers. Subjects were examined twice, in 1995 when they regarded themselves as healthy, and in a follow-up in 2001. Spirometry, N2 slope and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) were performed in 1995 while the follow-up examination included also measurement of FENO.The FENO value was significantly lower and the N2 slope higher in current smokers. In smokers but not in never- or ex-smokers FENO was correlated to the difference in N2 slope between 1995 and 2001 (rs=0.49, P=0.01). We analysed the data by multiple linear regression adjusted for smoking, mild respiratory symptoms and inhaled steroids. There were significant associations between FENO and the N2 slope both in 1995 and in 2001. The strongest association was found to exist with the change in N2 slope during these years.Sixteen of the subjects could be classified as having COPD, six with mild and ten with moderate COPD. There was a trend for an increase in N2 slope with increased severity of COPD; among subjects with no COPD the N2 slope in 2001 was 2.3% N2/L, and those with mild and moderate COPD had 2.5% N2/L and 3.9% N2/L, respectively (P=0.0004). No such trend was seen for FENO (17.8, 15.5 and 20.3 parts per billion (ppb), respectively, P=0.8).The results show that FENO is associated with the N2 slope, indicating that FENO reflects inflammatory changes in the peripheral airways of both non-smoking and smoking subjects

Low-density granulocytes are related to shorter pregnancy duration but not to interferon alpha protein blood levels in systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND: An increased risk of pregnancy complications is seen in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the specific immunopathological drivers are still unclear. Hallmarks of SLE are granulocyte activation, type I interferon (IFN) overproduction, and autoantibodies. Here we examined whether low-density granulocytes (LDG) and granulocyte activation increase during pregnancy, and related the results to IFNα protein levels, autoantibody profile, and gestational age at birth. METHODS: Repeated blood samples were collected during pregnancy in trimesters one, two, and three from 69 women with SLE and 27 healthy pregnant women (HC). Nineteen of the SLE women were also sampled late postpartum. LDG proportions and granulocyte activation (CD62L shedding) were measured by flow cytometry. Plasma IFNα protein concentrations were quantified by single molecule array (Simoa) immune assay. Clinical data were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: Women with SLE had higher LDG proportions and increased IFNα protein levels compared to HC throughout pregnancy, but neither LDG fractions nor IFNα levels differed during pregnancy compared to postpartum in SLE. Granulocyte activation status was higher in SLE relative to HC pregnancies, and it was increased during pregnancy compared to after pregnancy in SLE. Higher LDG proportions in SLE were associated with antiphospholipid positivity but not to IFNα protein levels. Finally, higher LDG proportions in trimester three correlated independently with lower gestational age at birth in SLE. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that SLE pregnancy results in increased peripheral granulocyte priming, and that higher LDG proportions late in pregnancy are related to shorter pregnancy duration but not to IFNα blood levels in SLE

A nuclear magnetic resonance study of dialkyldithiophosphate complexes : polycrystalline and surface adsorbed

31P, 13C and 207Pb NMR were used to characterize different metal (Ni, Zn, Pb) dialkyldithiophosphate complexes. Eight different sodium or potassium dialkyldithiophosphate salts (alkyl groups R=ethyl-, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n- butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, iso-amyl and cyclo-hexyl) were used as starting materials. The metal complexes studied are mononuclear, binuclear, tetranuclear or polynuclear and the structural diversity is reflected in different 31P chemical shifts and chemical shift aniostropies of the complexes. A correlation between the 31P chemical shift tensor principal value d22 and the S-P-S angle of the complexes was revealed. The ligands were also adsorbed on the surface of synthetic ZnS and PbS and studied by 31P CP/MAS NMR: spectra of the dry samples showed that in both cases chemisorption of the ligands on the mineral surfaces occured. The ligands chemisorbed on ZnS have a bridging coordination, while the coordination of the ligand to PbS is terminal. Products of oxidation and hydrolysis were also found on the mineral surfaces; disulfides were detected on the surface of ZnS and monothiophosphates and orthophosphates on the surface of PbS. After three months of storing of the PbS samples, more hydrolysis products were formed as well as precipitated lead(II) dithiophosphate complexes.Godkänd; 2004; 20061026 (haneit

A nuclear magnetic resonance study of dialkyldithiophosphate complexes : polycrystalline and surface adsorbed

31P, 13C and 207Pb NMR were used to characterize different metal (Ni, Zn, Pb) dialkyldithiophosphate complexes. Eight different sodium or potassium dialkyldithiophosphate salts (alkyl groups R=ethyl-, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n- butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, iso-amyl and cyclo-hexyl) were used as starting materials. The metal complexes studied are mononuclear, binuclear, tetranuclear or polynuclear and the structural diversity is reflected in different 31P chemical shifts and chemical shift aniostropies of the complexes. A correlation between the 31P chemical shift tensor principal value d22 and the S-P-S angle of the complexes was revealed. The ligands were also adsorbed on the surface of synthetic ZnS and PbS and studied by 31P CP/MAS NMR: spectra of the dry samples showed that in both cases chemisorption of the ligands on the mineral surfaces occured. The ligands chemisorbed on ZnS have a bridging coordination, while the coordination of the ligand to PbS is terminal. Products of oxidation and hydrolysis were also found on the mineral surfaces; disulfides were detected on the surface of ZnS and monothiophosphates and orthophosphates on the surface of PbS. After three months of storing of the PbS samples, more hydrolysis products were formed as well as precipitated lead(II) dithiophosphate complexes.Godkänd; 2004; 20061026 (haneit

Studies on environmentally friendly flame retardants for cellulose-based materials

Phosphorus based flame retardants are considered to be the best for cellulose-based materials such as cotton and wood. A non-toxic naturally occurring substance with high phosphorus content is phytic acid, which is used by plants as the main storage of phosphorus. It is prevalent in grains and seeds, so we eat it every day. Phytic acid and phytate complexes with various common and non-toxic metal ions or ammonia have been studied on cotton and wood in orderto systematically assess their performance as flame retardants and elucidate their mechanismsof action. Simple combustion tests have been used to gain a first overview of the relative performance of the flame retardants depending on which ion is combined with the phytic acid, and in which proportions. Analytical methods such as TGA and calorimetry have been used to investigate the thermal properties and thermal degradation of the samples. Spectroscopic techniques suchas MAS NMR have been used to explain the chemistry behind the thermal degradation mechanisms in molecular detail. The main focus has been on cotton samples, but an efficient methodology to control the humidity of wood samples in lab scale has been developed for future investigations on wood. Phytic acid and its complexes have a flame retarding effect on both cotton and wood. The thermal process is similar on both materials. The mechanism is low-temperature charring giving less combustible degradation products, followed by cooling polymerization of the phosphate groups in the phytic acid, and formation of a second barrier to prevent the mixture of combustible volatiles and oxygen. It is important to have ionizable protons available in the flame retardant to induce the main mechanism of charring. Cone calorimeter tests on cotton samples show that the samples self-extinguish. Sodium phytates have a better performance than calcium phytates, as shown from combustion tests and FIGRA index on cotton samples. Possibly the superior flame retarding effect of sodium compared to the other ions is because ofthe radical quenching ability of alkali metals, but further investigations are needed into thisissue. Some of the results are also available in Bachelor and Master theses, and in a recently accepted paper in Green Materials Special Issue on Sustainable Flame Retardants. The results may be of interest to the scientific community as well as for companies and organizations that work for a fire-safe and sustainable living environment

Environmentally friendly flameretardants for cellulose-basedmaterials

Flame retardants are commonly used as a way to reduce the risk of fire. However, many of the currently used flame retardants are toxic and hazardous to the environment. Therefore, there are incentives to find safer alternatives. In nature, there are many substances that can function as non-toxic and environmentally friendly flame retardants. Phytic acid is the main storage form of phosphorus in plants and can be found in e.g. nuts and cereals. Amino acids are the building blocks of enzymes and proteins. Many common metal ions are important nutrients.Reference groupAnders Lundberg, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)Leif Andersson, ProtegaMattias Delin, BrandforskRobert McNamee, RISEThomas Gell, GellCon</p

Environmentally friendly flameretardants for cellulose-basedmaterials

Flame retardants are commonly used as a way to reduce the risk of fire. However, many of the currently used flame retardants are toxic and hazardous to the environment. Therefore, there are incentives to find safer alternatives. In nature, there are many substances that can function as non-toxic and environmentally friendly flame retardants. Phytic acid is the main storage form of phosphorus in plants and can be found in e.g. nuts and cereals. Amino acids are the building blocks of enzymes and proteins. Many common metal ions are important nutrients.Reference groupAnders Lundberg, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)Leif Andersson, ProtegaMattias Delin, BrandforskRobert McNamee, RISEThomas Gell, GellCon</p

Verklighetsanknutet temaarbete : ett sätt att öka intresset för kemi?

Validerat; 20101217 (root

Det är mycket som är viktigt i förskolan, men dans är också viktigt : en studie om förskollärares uppfattningar om dans i förskolan

Validerat; 20101217 (root