Anti-histone and anti-nucleosome rather than anti-dsDNA antibodies associate with IFN-induced biomarkers in Sudanese and Swedish Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients.

Objectives: In SLE, anti-dsDNA can co-occur with autoantibodies against other chromatin components, like histones and nucleosomes. These antibodies induce type-1 interferon production, a hallmark of SLE. We measured antinuclear antibody (ANA) sub-specificities and investigated their associations to inflammatory biomarkers including interferon-regulated chemokines.

Anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin antibodies and thrombosis associate positively with HLA-DRB1*13 and negatively with HLA-DRB1*03 in SLE.

Objectives: Emerging evidence demonstrates that aPS-PT associate with thrombotic events. Genetic predisposition, including HLA-DRB1 alleles, is known to contribute to the occurrence of conventional aPL [anti-β2glycoprotein-I (anti-β2GPI) and aCL]. We investigated associations between aPS-PT and HLA-DRB1* alleles and thrombosis in SLE.

Associations with thrombosis are stronger for antiphosphatidylserine/prothrombin antibodies than for the Sydney criteria antiphospholipid antibody tests in SLE.

Objectives: Antiphosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex antibodies (aPS/PT) are risk factors for thrombosis, yet further validation of their clinical relevance in different ethnic groups is required. We investigated the performance of aPS/PT of IgA/G/M isotypes among Sudanese and Swedish systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Methods: Consecutive SLE patients/matched controls from Sudan (n = 91/102) and Sweden (n = 332/163) were included.

Accumulation of antinuclear associated antibodies in circulating immune complexes is more prominent in SLE patients from Sudan than Sweden.

The role of anti-nuclear autoantibody (ANA) specificities in immune complexes (IC) formation has been studied to a limited extent in SLE, and not at all in African SLE patients. We compared ANA in IC from Sudanese and Swedish SLE patients. We included 93 Sudanese and 332 Swedish SLE patients fulfilling the 1982 ACR criteria.

High IgA antiphospholipid autoantibodies in healthy Sudanese explain the increased prevalence among Sudanese compared to Swedish systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Objectives: IgA antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are prevalent in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients of African American, Afro-Caribbean and South African origin. Nevertheless, data from North Africa are lacking, and most studies use manufacturer-suggested cut-offs based on Caucasian controls. Therefore, we compared aPL isotypes in Sudanese and Swedish SLE patients using nation-based cut-offs.

Elevated IgA antiphospholipid antibodies in healthy pregnant women in Sudan but not Sweden, without corresponding increase in IgA anti-β glycoprotein I domain 1 antibodies.

Objective: The role of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) during apparently normal pregnancy is still unclear. IgA aPL are prevalent in populations of African origin. Our aim was to measure all isotypes of anticardiolipin (anti-CL) and anti-β glycoprotein I (anti-βGPI) in healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women of different ethnicities.

Sudanese and Swedish patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: immunological and clinical comparisons.

Objective: SLE is known to have an aggressive phenotype in black populations, but data from African cohorts are largely lacking. We therefore compared immunological and clinical profiles between Sudanese and Swedish patients using similar tools.

Methods: Consecutive SLE patients from Sudan (n = 115) and Sweden (n = 340) and from 106 Sudanese and 318 Swedish age- and sex-matched controls were included.

Physicochemical characterization of particulate emissions from a compression ignition engine: the influence of biodiesel feedstock.

This study undertook a physicochemical characterization of particle emissions from a single compression ignition engine operated at one test mode with 3 biodiesel fuels made from 3 different feedstocks (i.e., soy, tallow, and canola) at 4 different blend percentages (20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%) to gain insights into their particle-related health effects.

Physicochemical characterization of particulate emissions from a compression ignition engine employing two injection technologies and three fuels.

Alternative fuels and injection technologies are a necessary component of particulate emission reduction strategies for compression ignition engines. Consequently, this study undertakes a physicochemical characterization of diesel particulate matter (DPM) for engines equipped with alternative injection technologies (direct injection and common rail) and alternative fuels (ultra low sulfur diesel, a 20% biodiesel blend, and a synthetic diesel). Particle physical properties were addressed by measuring particle number size distributions, and particle chemical properties were addressed by measuring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS).