Airflow limitation and changes in pulmonary function among bleachery workers.

This study investigated whether chronic airflow limitation and rapid decline in pulmonary function were associated with peak exposures to ozone and other irritant gases in pulp mills. Bleachery workers potentially exposed to irritant gassings (n = 178) from three Swedish pulp mills, and a comparison group of workers not exposed to irritant gassings (n = 54) from two paper mills, were studied. Baseline surveys occurred in 1995-1996, with follow-up surveys in 1998-1999.

Luminal nitric oxide in ileal reservoirs for continent cutaneous diversion or orthotopic bladder reconstruction.

Objectives: To measure mucosal inflammation as reflected in nitric oxide (NO) production in ileal reservoirs for the storage of urine and to correlate it with the growth of bacteria as well as CRP.

Methods: Intraluminal gas NO concentrations were determined using the chemoluminescence technique in 25 patients with continent cutaneous ileal reservoirs (Kock pouch) and 12 patients with orthotopic bladders (hemi-Kock or T-pouch). NO concentrations were determined in both intestinal reservoir gas and silicon catheter balloon gas.

Measurement of the Michel parameter rho in muon decay.

The TWIST Collaboration has measured the Michel parameter rho in normal muon decay, mu(+)--> e(+)nu(e)nu (mu). In the standard model, rho = 3/4. Deviations from this value imply mixing of left- and right-handed muon and electron couplings.

Exposure to ozone gases in pulp mills and the onset of rhinitis.

Objective: Rhinitis is a common upper respiratory disease influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. It is also accepted that allergic rhinitis may precede asthma, a disease with more serious consequences. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the risk of noninfectious rhinitis is increased after accidental gassings with ozone among bleachery workers in two pulp mills.

Optimization and validation of an ion chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of sodium, ammonium and potassium in exhaled breath condensate.

An ion chromatographic method with conductivity detection for the simultaneous quantification of sodium, ammonium and potassium in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) was developed and validated. A factorial design was used to optimize the chromatographic conditions, which resulted in baseline separations of the cations within 6 min. The method requires no pre-treatment of EBC samples.

A prospective study of asthma incidence and its predictors: the RHINE study.

The objective of this longitudinal study was to estimate the incidence rate of asthma, and to compare the incidence between subjects with or without baseline reporting of certain respiratory symptoms. A follow-up of the random population samples in the European Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Estonia was conducted in 1999-2001, in a population aged 30-54 yrs at follow-up (n=14,731). Asthma was defined as reporting either asthma or physician-diagnosed asthma, and a reported year when asthma symptoms were first noticed.

Determination of hydrogen peroxide in exhaled breath condensate by flow injection analysis with fluorescence detection.

A method for the determination of hydrogen peroxide in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) by automated flow injection analysis (FIA) with fluorescence detection was developed and validated. In the enzymatic assay a fluorescent dimer of para-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid (HPAA) was formed by the redox coupling reaction between hydrogen peroxide and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The calibration curve of hydrogen peroxide was linear over a range of 40-5000 nM.

Structural basis for interactions between tenascins and lectican C-type lectin domains: evidence for a crosslinking role for tenascins.

The C-terminal G3 domains of lecticans mediate crosslinking to diverse extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins during ECM assembly, through their C-type lectin (CLD) subdomains. The structure of the rat aggrecan CLD in a Ca(2+)-dependent complex with fibronectin type III repeats 3-5 of rat tenascin-R provides detailed support for such crosslinking. The CLD loops bind Ca2+ like other CLDs, but no carbohydrate binding is observed or possible.

Obesity and nocturnal gastro-oesophageal reflux are related to onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms.

Several studies have identified obesity as a risk factor for asthma in both children and adults. An increased prevalence of asthma in subjects with gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome has also been reported. The aim of this investigation was to study obesity, nocturnal GOR and snoring as independent risk factors for onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms in a Nordic population.

Exhaled nitric oxide: relation to sensitization and respiratory symptoms.

Background: Conflicting data have been presented as to whether nitric oxide (NO) in exhaled air is merely reflecting atopy rather than airway inflammation.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between exhaled NO (eNO) and nasal NO (nNO), respiratory symptoms, and atopy, in the context of a cross-sectional study of the respiratory health of bleachery workers.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-six non-smoking bleachery and paper-mill workers answered a questionnaire and were examined by measurements of eNO and nNO and spirometry, outside the pollen season.

Prevalence of asthma and exhaled nitric oxide are increased in bleachery workers exposed to ozone.

The aims of the present study were to determine whether exposure to high peaks of ozone resulted in an increased prevalence of asthma or respiratory symptoms among bleachery workers and whether nitric oxide (NO) was elevated in the exhaled air of these workers. Bleachery workers (n=228) from three Swedish pulp mills who had been exposed to ozone, together with 63 unexposed control subjects, were investigated by means of spirometry, Phadiatop, exhaled and nasal NO and answers to a questionnaire concerning respiratory symptoms and exposure. Exposure to an ozone peak that gave rise to respiratory symptoms was defined as a "gassing".

Alternative splicing in the aggrecan G3 domain influences binding interactions with tenascin-C and other extracellular matrix proteins.

The proteoglycans aggrecan, versican, neurocan, and brevican bind hyaluronan through their N-terminal G1 domains, and other extracellular matrix proteins through the C-type lectin repeat in their C-terminal G3 domains. Here we identify tenascin-C as a ligand for the lectins of all these proteoglycans and map the binding site on the tenascin molecule to fibronectin type III repeats, which corresponds to the proteoglycan lectin-binding site on tenascin-R. In the G3 domain, the C-type lectin is flanked by epidermal growth factor (EGF) repeats and a complement regulatory protein-like motif.

Aseptic meningitis epidemic during a West Nile virus avian epizootic.

While enteroviruses have been the most commonly identified cause of aseptic meningitis in the United States, the role of the emerging, neurotropic West Nile virus (WNV) is not clear. In summer 2001, an aseptic meningitis epidemic occurring in an area of a WNV epizootic in Baltimore, Maryland, was investigated to determine the relative contributions of WNV and enteroviruses. A total of 113 aseptic meningitis cases with onsets from June 1 to September 30, 2001, were identified at six hospitals.

21Na(p,gamma)22Mg reaction and oxygen-neon novae.

The 21Na(p,gamma)22Mg reaction is expected to play an important role in the nucleosynthesis of 22Na in oxygen-neon novae. The decay of 22Na leads to the emission of a characteristic 1.275 MeV gamma-ray line.

Adult-onset asthma and wheeze among irritant-exposed bleachery workers.

Background: Whether new-onset asthma is associated with irritant exposure is unclear. The aim was to investigate if occupational exposure to irritant gases, especially repeated peak exposure (gassings), increased the risk of obstructive airways disease.

Methods: Data on airway symptoms and exposure among bleachery (n = 101) and paper department workers (n = 314) were collected by a questionnaire.

Determination of ethane, pentane and isoprene in exhaled air using a multi-bed adsorbent and end-cut gas-solid chromatography.

A method for the determination of exhaled ethane, pentane and isoprene was developed and validated. The method was based on pre-concentration of the analytes on a multi-bed solid adsorbent tube containing Tenax TA, Carboxen 569 and Carboxen 1000, thermal desorption and gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionisation detection (FID). A pre-column in an end-cut GC system was used to avoid problems with water and strongly retained substances.

Rhinitis increase the risk for adult-onset asthma--a Swedish population-based case-control study (MAP-study).

The aim of the study was to examine certain predictors, especially non-infectious rhinitis, and the risk for adult-onset asthma. A nested case-control study of adult-onset asthma was performed in a random sample from the general population (n = 15,813), aged 21 to 51 years. Cases for the study included subjects reporting physician-diagnosed asthma (n = 235) and controls (n = 2044) were randomly selected from the whole population sample.

Respiratory health among bleachery workers exposed to ozone and chlorine dioxide.

Objectives: This study investigated the possibility of occupational exposure to ozone increasing the risk of obstructive airway disease among bleachery workers. : Bleachery workers (N = 129) from two Swedish pulp mills using ozone for bleaching were studied together with referents (N = 80) from adjacent paper mills. The pulp mills had previously used chlorine dioxide as the bleaching agent.

Determination of malondialdehyde in breath condensate by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

An automated and rapid method for quantifying malondialdehyde (MDA) in breath condensate was developed and validated. The method is based on derivatisation with thiobarbituric acid, HPLC separation and fluorescence detection and is optimised for determination of MDA in breath condensate. Sample collection is non-invasive and simple.

Nitric oxide (NO) in exhaled air after experimental ozone exposure in humans.

We hypothesized that ozone, a common air pollutant, potent in producing airway inflammation, would increase the production of exhaled nitric oxide (NO). If so, measurement of exhaled NO could potentially be a valuable tool in population studies of air pollution effects. Eleven healthy non-smoking volunteers were exposed to 0.

Measurement of the resonant d(mu)t molecular formation rate in solid HD.

Measurements of muon-catalyzed dt fusion ( d(mu)t-->4He + n + mu(-)) in solid HD have been performed. The theory describing the energy dependent resonant molecular formation rate for the reaction (mu)t + HD-->[(d(mu)t)pee](*) is compared to experimental results in a pure solid HD target. Constraints on the rates are inferred through the use of a Monte Carlo model developed specifically for the experiment.

Nasal symptoms among workers exposed to soft paper dust.

Objectives: To clarify whether occupational exposure to paper-dust is associated with an increased risk of non-infectious rhinitis.

Methods: Thirty-seven workers exposed to paper-dust in a soft-paper mill were compared with 36 unexposed controls. The study was performed under normal working conditions during the non-pollen season.

Increased nitric oxide in exhaled air after intake of a nitrate-rich meal.

Exhaled and nasal NO (ENO, NNO) have been suggested as markers for inflammation in lower and upper respiratory tract respectively. It is still unknown how a number of factors, apart from airway inflammation, can influence NO levels. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a nitrate-rich meal on ENO and NNO.

The proteoglycans aggrecan and Versican form networks with fibulin-2 through their lectin domain binding.

Aggrecan, versican, neurocan, and brevican are important components of the extracellular matrix in various tissues. Their amino-terminal globular domains bind to hyaluronan, but the function of their carboxyl-terminal globular domains has long remained elusive. A picture is now emerging where the C-type lectin motif of this domain mediates binding to other extracellular matrix proteins.