Showing papers by "University of Ioannina published in 1987"
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The high incidence of autoantibodies in the healthy elderly, including for the first time, anti-CL antibodies, is documents and possibly indicates the involution of the senescent immune system.
Abstract: Serum samples from 64 apparently healthy individuals (32 men and 32 women, mean age 810 years) were examined for the prevalence of several autoantibodies, including rheumatoid factor (RF), antinuclear antibodies (ANA), antibodies to extracted cellular antigens Ro (SSA), La (SSB), Sm, U1nRNP and Scl-70 IgG and IgM isotype-specific ELISA methods were applied for the detection of antibodies to ssDNA (anti-ssDNA), to dsDNA (anti-dsDNA) and to cardiolipin (anti-CL) The sera of this elderly population were found to contain a plethora of autoantibodies; RF was detected in 141%, ANA in 313% and anti-Ro (SSA) in 16% of the individuals Precipitating antibodies to La (SSB), Sm, U1nRNP and Scl-70 were absent, while 156% of the sera displayed precipitating antibodies to a common undefined human spleen antigen ELISA methods revealed anti-ssDNA in 172% of the individuals, anti-dsDNA in 141% and anti-CL in an extremely high incidence (516%) Notably, the above autoantibodies were exclusively of IgG isotype Tests of 261 sera from healthy non-elderly individuals disclosed only anti-CL (IgG and IgM isotypes) in 23% of them The levels of IgA and IgG immunoglobulins were increased in 234% and 297% of the elderly subjects, respectively IgM was elevated in 31%, but it was also found decreased in 94% This study documents the high incidence of autoantibodies in the healthy elderly, including for the first time, anti-CL antibodies Furthermore, the relative impairment in IgM autoantibody production observed, possibly indicates the involution of the senescent immune system
314 citations
TL;DR: No statistical correlation could be demonstrated between the presence of anti-CL and thrombotic events, hematologic disorders, or recurrent abortions in the ARD patients.
116 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: It is suggested that sSS in RA is common, benign and subclinical, requiring a positive lip biopsy and specific tests for its diagnosis, and Rose bengal test was very sensitive for sSS, whereas Schirmer's I and PFR were not.
Abstract: One hundred and forty-three sequential, unselected patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were prospectively evaluated for evidence of secondary Sjogren's syndrome (sSS). All of them had a labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsy, since a greater than or equal to 2+ score (Tarpley's classification) was considered mandatory for the diagnosis of sSS. One hundred eleven were completely investigated. The diagnosis of sSS was established when a patient with a positive LSG biopsy (greater than or equal to 2+ score) had keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) (positive rose bengal test and/or the combination of subjective xerophthalmia and positive Schirmer's I) and/or xerostomia (subjective xerostomia and decreased parotid flow rate = [PFR]). Forty-four patients had an LSG biopsy score of greater than or equal to 2+, 28 a 1+ score and 39 a negative biopsy. Thirty-four of the 44 patients with positive biopsy had sSS, suggesting a 31% prevalence of sSS in RA. The 1+ score group represents a nonspecific category, resembling the negative biopsy group. Rose bengal test was very sensitive for sSS, whereas Schirmer's I and PFR were not. Parotid gland enlargement was unusual, and extraglandular manifestations, with the exception of diffuse interstitial lung disease, were relatively uncommon in all biopsy groups. No patient complained of xerophthalmia or xerostomia on his/her own. Anti-Ro (SSA) antibodies, detected in 23.5% of the patients with sSS, correlated well with positive LSG biopsy. Our study suggests that sSS in RA is common, benign and subclinical, requiring a positive lip biopsy and specific tests for its diagnosis.
115 citations
109 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a supersymmetric model for double β-decay with R-parity violating interactions is presented. But the resulting currents are of the S, P, T type rather than those familiar from the V -A theory.
87 citations
TL;DR: The membrane activity of this tremolite is greater than that of the commercially used asbestiform amphiboles amosite and crocidolite and lends further support to the hypothesis that this fibre is the agent of Metsovo lung and mesothelioma.
81 citations
76 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a necessary and sufficient condition for all solutions of (∗) to oscillate is that the characteristic equation λ + pλe−λτ + qe− ε−λσ = 0 of ( ∗) has no real roots.
58 citations
TL;DR: The combination of MPM and pleural plaques in such a high frequency in the same area strongly suggests asbestos fiber as a common etiologic agent and suggests a different response to this common offending agent.
Abstract: Between 1981 and 1985 seven patients from three villages of the Metsovo area in Northwestern Greece (population 5000) developed malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The diagnosis was made with pleura
51 citations
TL;DR: Application of high-speed CT for flow measurements in experimental animals and patients is promising and can measure flow accurately by all methods, including Stewart-Hamilton equation, mean transit time, and a modification of the Sapirstein principle.
Abstract: A high‐speed computed tomography(CT)scanner with a scan time of 50 ms was used to measure flow in a phantom constructed to simulate both tissue and vessels. After a bolus injection of iodinated contrast medium, the phantom was scanned at a rate of up to 2 images/s. A gamma‐variate curve was fit to the time–density data obtained from the inlet and outlet, as well as from the tissue‐equivalent part of the phantom. Flow was then calculated using different curves and curve parameters according to the Stewart–Hamilton equation, the mean transit time, and a modification of the Sapirstein principle. Actual flow rates were assessed by timed sampling. The results demonstrated that high‐speed CT can measure flow accurately by all these methods. Application of high‐speed CT for flow measurements in experimental animals and patients is, therefore, promising. The limitations of each technique for clinical application are discussed.
50 citations
TL;DR: The association of clinical and serologic features of 34 patients with systemic sclerosis was examined, and anti-Scl 70 antibody was found to identify patients with abnormal pulmonary function, as well as patients with digital pitting scars, suggesting that interstitial pulmonary disease in systemic sclerosis may be secondary to vascular pathology.
TL;DR: In this paper, the influence of thickness shear deformation and rotatory inertia on the free vibrations of antisymmetric angle-ply laminated circular cylindrical panels is investigated.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Sera from 224 Greek patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases were evaluated and the anti-dsDNA activity proved to be a relatively sensitive marker of SLE activity.
Abstract: A solid phase Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was developed for the measurement of IgG and IgM antibodies to double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA). This method is sensitive, specific, relatively simple and suitable for routine use. Thus, we evaluated sera from 224 Greek patients with the following autoimmune rheumatic diseases: 54 patients with classical rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 50 patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS), 41 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 30 patients with scleroderma, 20 patients with idiopathic Raynaud's phenomenon (IRP) and 29 patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Sera from 119 age- and sex-matched healthy blood donors were tested as normal controls. The presence of both IgG and IgM anti-dsDNA highly correlated with SLE. However, IgM anti-dsDNA levels were significantly lower. Serum complement C3 and C4 levels correlated negatively with anti-dsDNA levels in the SLE group. Finally, in sequential sera from five SLE patients, the anti-dsDNA activity proved to be a relatively sensitive marker of SLE activity.
TL;DR: It is concluded, that HepG2 hepatoma cells behave similar to the normal hepatocytes in terms of AL DH regulation and can be used for studies on the activity of ALDH as modified by added xenobiotics.
TL;DR: It is proposed that expression and stability of pDS212 in Z. mobilis is due to the origin of replication of pZMO2 that it carries, and that it may be used for developing a gene transfer system in Zymomonas mobilis.
Abstract: SUMMARY: A recombinant plasmid was constructed by ligating EcoRI digests of the plasmid cloning vector pBR325 and pZMO2, one of the natural plasmids of Zymomonas mobilis ATCC 10988. This vector, named pDS212 (total size 7.9 kb), which was able to transform Escherichia coli efficiently, was also transferred to Z. mobilis hosts by mobilization during conjugation using the helper plasmid pRK2013. pDS212 was inherited stably in both E. coli and Z. mobilis hosts and could be recovered intact from them. Markers of pBR325 and pRK2013 were also transferred in Z. mobilis but at very low frequencies. Neither pBR325 nor pRK2013 could be recovered intact from the Z. mobilis hosts. It is proposed that expression and stability of pDS212 in Z. mobilis is due to the origin of replication of pZMO2 that it carries, and that it may be used for developing a gene transfer system in Z. mobilis.
TL;DR: In this paper, Ellerman bombs lying both below an Arch Filament System and near sunspots were studied at Hα - 1.0 A and Hα − 0.75 A.
Abstract: A developing active region near the center of the solar disk was observed for 80 min at the center and the wings of Hα. Ellerman bombs lying both below an Arch Filament System and near sunspots were studied at Hα - 1.0 A and Hα - 0.75 A. We determined their average contrast, lifetime, size and we studied their flux as a function of time. We found evidence that the size of Ellerman bombs increases with height. The time curves of flux provide evidence for both impulsive and gradual energy release. Under the AFS the Ellerman bombs form a cellular pattern with a characteristic size of 3.1 × 103 km. Fifty percent of the bombs appear and disappear in pairs, possibly associated with bipolar emerging magnetic flux tubes.
TL;DR: In this article, the new complexes M(LH) 2 (M = Pd,Pt), ML(M =Pd,Cu) and ML · H 2 O (m = Ni,Zn), where LH 2 = N, N ′-dimethylmonothio-oxamide, have been prepared.
TL;DR: Findings suggest that the HLA-DR antigen expression on the epithelial cells is the result rather than the triggering factor of this T cell mediated process and is probably related to decreased lymphokine production by activated T lymphocytes.
Abstract: Labial minor salivary gland biopsy specimens from 14 patients with Sjogren's syndrome treated either with cyclosporin A (CyA) or placebo (5 mg/kg body weight day for six months) were studied to determine T lymphocyte subsets and HLA-DR antigen expression using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. In all CyA treated patients we observed a decrease in the number of T lymphocytes and in the number of T helper cells, while the percentage of T suppressor cells and B cells was the same in both treated and untreated groups. It was also shown that the HLA-DR antigen expression on the epithelial cells was eliminated in the CyA treated patients. These findings suggest that the HLA-DR antigen expression on the epithelial cells is the result rather than the triggering factor of this T cell mediated process and is probably related to decreased lymphokine production by activated T lymphocytes.
TL;DR: Results suggest that Metsovo tremolite may have caused pleural calcifications to all individuals born in Met sovo before 1940, and is the first study indicating that environmental asbestos exposure can cause abnormalities in everyone exposed to it.
TL;DR: In this article, the motion of test particles in polar orbit about the source of the Kerr field of gravity is studied, using Carter's first integrals for timelike geodesies in the Kerr space-time.
Abstract: The motion of test particles in polar orbit about the source of the Kerr field of gravity is studied, using Carter's first integrals for timelike geodesies in the Kerr space-time. Expressions giving the angular coordinates of such particles as functions of the radial one are derived, both for the case of a rotating black hole as well as for that of a naked singularity.
TL;DR: In this article, a study of the temperature records from 1858 to 1982 at Athens, on the southeast coast of Greece, supports the findings of earlier studies which indicate that the period of the 1920's to the 1950's were, climatologically, warmer than the preceding 60 yr and after about 1960.
Abstract: Air temperature data of Athens are analysed to point out the variations caused by natural controls and anthropogenic activities. The study of the temperature records from 1858 to 1982 at Athens, on the southeast coast of Greece, supports the findings of earlier studies which indicate that the period of the 1920's to the 1950's were, climatologically, warmer than the preceding 60 yr and after about 1960. In particular, minimum temperatures show an increase from the 1920's to the 1980's, possibly due to the urbanization of the area. The climatological trends are clearly indicated in the data, when averaged over 30 yr and/or a numerical low-pass filtering technique is used. However, the sizes of the trends in climate are smaller than the interannual variations in the temperature measures. Over periods of several generations these small variations in climate cannot have had any effect on human activity when compared with the large effects caused by the interannual variability in the temperature.
TL;DR: It is suggested that fertilization and developmental potential of human oocytes in vitro cannot be predicted by the intrafollicular levels of PRL and sex steroids at the time of laparoscopic egg recovery.
Abstract: In this study the importance of intrafollicular prolactin (PRL) and sex steroid levels, as indices of the potential in-vitro fertilization and development of human oocytes, was investigated. Oocytes were recovered from 20 normal female volunteers treated with a fixed schedule including norethisterone and clomiphene. The embryos which developed after in-vitro fertilization were graded on a scale of 0 to 10 using morphological criteria. Intrafollicular PRL, oestradiol, progesterone and androstenedione levels did not differ significantly between follicles containing oocytes which fertilized and those which did not fertilize in vitro. Nor did these hormones differ significantly between follicles giving rise to embryos with a bad score (0-5) and those with a good score (6-10). No significant correlation was found between serum and follicular fluid PRL levels. It is suggested that fertilization and developmental potential of human oocytes in vitro cannot be predicted by the intrafollicular levels of PRL and sex steroids at the time of laparoscopic egg recovery.
TL;DR: In this article, second-derivative spectrophotometry was used to detect 5% adulteration of virgin olive oil by refined oils by detecting weak absorption maxima of conjugated tetraenoic systems.
TL;DR: In this paper, a classification of linear (stationary) iterative methods for linear systems of algebraic equations is presented, with a focus on extrapolation, relaxation and relaxation.
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of Cs on the adsorption of hydrogen on Mo(110) has been studied with the standard surface analysis techniques such as LEED, AES, EELS, TDS and WF measurements.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors obtained sufficient conditions for the oscillation of delay differential equations with oscillating coefficients, where p, q, $\tau $, and $\sigma $ are positive constants.
Abstract: Consider the delay differential equation \[ (*)\quad y'(t) + py(t - \tau ) - qy(t - \sigma ) = 0\] where p, q, $\tau $, and $\sigma $ are positive constants.THEOREM. Assume that$\sigma \leqq \tau $, $q 1$. Then every solution of$(*)$oscillates.The above result was extended to equations with several delays.Finally we obtained sufficient conditions for the oscillation of delay differential equations with oscillating coefficients.
TL;DR: Histochemical staining of cryostat tissue sections revealed that the enzyme is exclusively confined to the epithelial cells of the glandular ducts of the colonic mucosa, which may explain the significant anaplastic changes of the mucosa and the variation of ALDH activity detected in the homogenates of the primary and metastatic adenocarcinomas.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors deal with the propagation of thermoelastic waves in a thin plate occupying the Cartesian space and present a mathematical analysis for the wave motion characteristics of the plate.
Abstract: In the present work we deal with the propagation of thermoelastic waves in a thin plate occupying the Cartesian space (x
1∈[−∞, +∞],x
2∈[−α, +α],x
3∈[−δ, +δ]). The analysis is based on the generalized theory of thermoelasticity proposed by Lord and Shulman modified for plane stress problems. A mathematical analysis is presented to study the wave motion characteristics of the plate and the proposed analysis is applied for the special cases of very short and very long waves.