Syftet med studien var att studera effekterna av några miljöfaktorer och genetiskt predisponerande faktorer för reumatoid artrit (RA). RA är en inflammatorisk sjukdom där immunsystemet bryter ner kroppsegen vävnad. En signifikant ökad risk för RA påvisades vid exponering för spannmålsdamm och rökning. Generna som studerades var GSTM1, GSTT1 och Fc-gamma-RII. Generna i sig var ingen predisponerande faktor för RA, men rökning visade sig vara en signifikant högre riskfaktor för de som hade en deletion av GSTM1 eller Fc-gamma-RII genen samt för de som inte hade deletion av GSTT1 genen. Exponering för spannmålsdamm visade sig vara en signifikant större riskfaktor för RA för de som inte hade deletion av GSTM1, GSTT1 eller Fc-gamma-RII genen. Vidare visade individer som inte hade en deletion av Fc-gamma-RII genen en ökad risk för RA vid exponering för stendamm. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of some environmental and genetic predisposing factors of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). RA is an inflammatory disease where the immune system decomposes body tissue. A significant increased risk of RA was shown when exposed to grain and smoking. The genes that were studied were GSTM1, GSTT1 and Fcgamma- RII. The genes themselves were no predisposing factors of RA, but smoking showed to be a significant greater riskfactor for RA for individuals having a deletion of the GSTM1 or the Fc-gamma-RII gene, or not having a deletion of the GSTT1 gene. Exposure to grain showed to be a significant greater riskfactor for RA for individuals not having a deletion of the GSTM1, GSTT1 or the Fc-gamma-RII gene. Also individuals not having a deletion of the Fc-gamma-RII gene showed an increased risk for RA when exposed to stonedust.

Den svenska befolkningen blir allt äldre, och denna förskjutning av befolkningssammansättningen leder till ett ökat behov av vård och omsorg. Den utmaning som detta medför för samhället motiverar att närmare studera vad som påverkar hälsan specifikt hos målgruppen äldre. Studien utgår från ett nytt datamaterial från en omfattande enkätundersökning besvarad av äldre invånare i Linköpings och Norrköpings kommun. Med Grossmans hälsoekonomiska modell som ramverk ämnar studien med kvantitativ metodik analysera vilken påverkan modellens faktorer har på äldres hälsa. För att möta syftet valde författarna att i regressionsanalys tillämpa modellen ordered probit och skatta effekterna av socioekonomiska faktorer och levnadsvanor på individers självrapporterade hälsa. Studien omfattade tio förklaringsvariabler i ett datamaterial omfattande 6 300 objekt. Resultatet visar att i en reducerad modell finns indikationer på att högre inkomst och utbildning kan leda till bättre hälsa i äldre, vilket överensstämmer med Grossmans teori. Utbildning uppvisar dock ej statistisk signifikans efter att förklaringsvariabler för levnadsvanor – rökning, fetma, alkoholmissbruk och motionering – introducerats i modellen. Författarna presenterar hypotesen att resultatet kan förklaras av att både utbildning och levnadsvanor fångas upp av en bakomliggande variabel – individens tidspreferens. Vidare finner författarna att Linköpingsbor i överensstämmelse med tidigare jämförelser anger en högre hälsonivå än Norrköpingsbor. Variabeln kommuntillhörighet visar sig vara signifikant efter kontroll av samtliga av studiens förklaringsvariabler, vilket kan tyda på en underliggande skillnad mellan kommunerna med avseende på kultur och socialt arv bortsett från effekter av levnadsvanor, utbildning och inkomstnivå.

An initial analysis of sustainable project life cycle management methodologies’ current status highlighted that social and environmental aspects of sustainable development are not addressed effectively. An acceptable model aimed at addressing the various sustainable development aspects from a project management perspective is thus needed. This study’s main research objective was consequently to develop the different elements of such a model for social business sustainability. The research focused on the three main research questions discussed below. Which lifecycles should be considered when evaluating the project’s possible impacts? Projects implement or deliver certain products, which in turn, can produce other commodities sold by the company. The three lifecycles, i.e. project, asset and product, were studied to determine which lifecycles to consider when evaluating projects’ possible impacts. It was concluded that it is specifically the project’s deliverables and its associated products that have economic, social and environmental consequences. These life cycles must therefore be considered as part of the project life cycle when evaluating social impacts. What social business sustainability impacts or aspects should be considered in the project life cycle? A sustainable development framework that can be applied to projects directly to ensure their alignment with sustainable development does not exist at present. A social sustainability assessment framework as part of a sustainability assessment framework for operational initiatives was consequently developed and introduced. The social framework was verified and validated by means of case studies, a survey and a Delphi Technique case study to test the framework’s completeness and relevance. How should project management methodologies be adopted to ensure incorporation of social business sustainability? The research indicated that the various social aspects are addressed in different ways in the individual asset life cycle phase. The social criteria in the framework should therefore also be addressed in different ways in the project management methodologies. A Social Impact Indicator (SII) calculation procedure, based on a previously introduced Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) calculation procedure for environmental Resource Impact Indicators (RIIs), was developed as a method to evaluate social impacts in the project life cycle phases. Case studies in the process industry and statistical information for South Africa have been used to establish information availability for the SII calculation procedure. / Thesis (PhD (Engineering Management))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) / unrestricted

<p>IgG, IgM and IgE in complex with antigen have the capacity to regulate specific immune responses. In this investigation, the role of Fc receptors for IgG (FcγRI, FcγRII and FcγRIII) and complement receptors 1 and 2 (CR1/2) for antibody-mediated enhancement of antibody responses are investigated.</p><p>IgM is known to efficiently activate complement and thereby enhance specific antibody responses but it is not known if this involves binding to CR1/2. Using CR1/2 deficient mice, immunized with sheep erythrocytes alone or together with specific IgM, we present evidence that IgM-mediated enhancement is completely dependent on CR1/2 expression, whereas IgG or IgE in complex with bovine serum albumin (BSA) induce strong antibody responses in CR1/2-deficient mice. Enhancement by IgE is mediated via the low affinity receptor for IgE (FcεRII, CD23). However, the receptors which are involved in IgG-mediated enhancement are not known. We find that γ-chain-deficient mice (lacking FcγRI and FcγRIII) have impaired antibody responses to IgG/BSA complexes. In contrast, FcγRIII deficient mice have normal responses, suggesting that FcγRI mediates the effect. Furthermore, IgG/BSA complexes induce up to 189-fold stronger antibody responses in FcγRIIB-deficient mice than in wild-type mice. The threshold dose of IgG/BSA required was lower, the response was sustained for longer and initiated earlier in FcγRIIB-deficient than in wild-type animals. The findings suggest that FcγRIIB acts as a "safety-valve" preventing excessive antibody production during an immune response. We show for the first time that IgG3/BSA complexes can mediate enhancement of specific antibody responses. Their effect does not involve known Fcγ receptors.</p>

IgG, IgM and IgE in complex with antigen have the capacity to regulate specific immune responses. In this investigation, the role of Fc receptors for IgG (FcγRI, FcγRII and FcγRIII) and complement receptors 1 and 2 (CR1/2) for antibody-mediated enhancement of antibody responses are investigated. IgM is known to efficiently activate complement and thereby enhance specific antibody responses but it is not known if this involves binding to CR1/2. Using CR1/2 deficient mice, immunized with sheep erythrocytes alone or together with specific IgM, we present evidence that IgM-mediated enhancement is completely dependent on CR1/2 expression, whereas IgG or IgE in complex with bovine serum albumin (BSA) induce strong antibody responses in CR1/2-deficient mice. Enhancement by IgE is mediated via the low affinity receptor for IgE (FcεRII, CD23). However, the receptors which are involved in IgG-mediated enhancement are not known. We find that γ-chain-deficient mice (lacking FcγRI and FcγRIII) have impaired antibody responses to IgG/BSA complexes. In contrast, FcγRIII deficient mice have normal responses, suggesting that FcγRI mediates the effect. Furthermore, IgG/BSA complexes induce up to 189-fold stronger antibody responses in FcγRIIB-deficient mice than in wild-type mice. The threshold dose of IgG/BSA required was lower, the response was sustained for longer and initiated earlier in FcγRIIB-deficient than in wild-type animals. The findings suggest that FcγRIIB acts as a "safety-valve" preventing excessive antibody production during an immune response. We show for the first time that IgG3/BSA complexes can mediate enhancement of specific antibody responses. Their effect does not involve known Fcγ receptors.