Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2006. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Wyoming, 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on June 23, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 17-19).

Abstract Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common respiratory pathogen worldwide. It does not only cause acute respiratory infections, but is also associated with chronic inflammatory diseases, such as asthma and coronary heart disease (CHD). Chlamydial heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) is associated with the development of immunopathological damage following C. trachomatis infections, but the role of Hsp60 in C. pneumoniae infections is unclear. A slightly elevated level of C-reactive protein (CRP), as a marker of systemic inflammation, predicts cardiovascular events, but its role in asthma has not been studied. The aim of this study was to develop an EIA method for the measurement of Hsp60 antibodies and for studying the host immune responses to C. pneumoniae and chlamydial and human Hsp60 proteins, CRP levels and their interactions in asthma and CHD. Elevated levels of serum IgA antibodies to the Hsp60 protein of C. pneumoniae were associated with asthma and decreased pulmonary function. CRP levels were also higher in the asthma patients than in the controls. The patients with moderate asthma had higher CRP levels than those with mild asthma. The patients with a CRP level over 2 mg/l had higher levels of serum IgA antibodies to C. pneumoniae and chlamydial Hsp60 than the patients with lower CRP levels. A prospective nested case-control study was carried out, to study the role of Hsp60 antibodies as coronary risk predictors, and their association with C. pneumoniae infection and inflammation. The participants were obtained from the Helsinki Heart Study: 241 myocardial infarctions or coronary deaths occurred during the 8.5-year period among dyslipidemic middle-aged men. An elevated level of human Hsp60 IgA antibodies in baseline serum predicted the occurrence of a coronary event several years later, especially when present simultaneously with a high C. pneumoniae IgA antibody level and an elevated CRP level. Further studies showed that only persistently, not transiently, elevated levels predicted coronary events. The risk associated with elevated antibody levels increased markedly in the presence of an elevated CRP level, and vice versa. In conclusion, these results suggest that chlamydial Hsp60 is involved in the association between C. pneumoniae infection and asthma, while autoimmunity to human Hsp60 is implicated in the association between C. pneumoniae infection and CHD. Inflammation evidently plays an important role in these associations. It can also be concluded that IgA antibodies, compared to IgG antibodies, against C. pneumoniae and Hsp60 are better markers of chronicity, especially when they are persistently elevated.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Feb. 14, 2008). Includes bibliographical references.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2003. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

MSc (Microbiology) / Department of Microbiology / See the attached abstract below

Morbidity data for chlamydia {CT) and gonorrhea (GC) reported to San Joaquin County (SJC) Department of Health Services (DHS) from 1997 to 2006 was analyzed to geographically locate high risk areas and populations. The largest city in SJC is Stockton, which had the highest incidence rates and highest rates of repeat infections per population, and therefore is the primary focus of this analysis. Rates were determined by dividing the number of infections per census tract by the census 2000 population of each tract. Maps were made first for incidence (cumulative and annual), then for repeat infections, and then coinfections. Census tracts that continually showed high rates of infections were then mapped at the block level to locate more focused areas of infection. Demographic characteristics such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, incarceration, and poverty provided information on the high risk population. Case information was also examined by provider location and the treatment administered. By examining the population characteristics with the highest risk, along with the geographic location, outreach efforts by SJC DHS were far more focused and productive at targeting the core transmissions groups. Also through understanding where the cases were seeking treatment, or identifying a lack of medical availability in certain areas, SJC DHS can contact providers to distribute updated treatment guidelines and educational information to pass on to their patients.