Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Nilsson

Publications and source records attributed to A Nilsson.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources

Plasma concentrations of prilocaine and lidocaine and methaemoglobin formation in infants after epicutaneous application of a 5% lidocaine-prilocaine (EMLA).

The aim of the study was to measure the plasma levels of lidocaine and prilocaine after dermal application of EMLA in infants and to evaluate whether this procedure increases the levels of methaemoglobin (Met-Hb). Two groups of infants, 3-6 (n = 12) and 6-12 months (n = 10) of age, were studied. In total, 2 ml of EMLA was applied to 4 x 4 cm of skin surface for 4 h and blood samples for detection of Met-Hb and plasma levels of local anaesthetics were taken at 0, 2, 4 and 8 h after the application. After removal of the cream the infants were operated mainly for minor procedures under general anaesthesia. The plasma concentrations of lidocaine and prilocaine were in all cases below toxic levels and there were only minor increases in Met-Hb in a few infants. In conclusion, EMLA can be used safely in infants above 3 months of age provided that the recommendations with regard to dose, application area and time are followed. The use of EMLA in smaller infants and in children taking other Met-Hb-inducing drugs needs further evaluation.

Administration, Topical↗

A mixed endocrine adrenal tumour causing steatorrhoea.

A 60 year old man developed steatorrhoea, weight loss, mild diabetes mellitus, labile hypertension and limb cramps. Raised plasma concentrations of catecholamines, particularly noradrenaline and a computed tomography-scan showing an adrenal tumour strongly suggested a pheochromocytoma. Adrenoreceptor blockade reversed the symptoms, decreased faecal fat, and increased duodenal trypsin to normal concentrations. After adrenalectomy the patient was asymptomatic and there was no steatorrhoea. The blood glucose concentrations became normal. Immunocytochemistry revealed the tumour cells to store large amounts of enkephalin and somatostatin reactive material and moderate amounts of immunoreactive beta-endorphin and dynorphin.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Absorption and lymphatic transport of exogenous and endogenous arachidonic and linoleic acid in the rat.

[3H]Arachidonic (20:4) and [14C]linoleic acid (18:2) were fed to thoracic duct-cannulated rats in test meals of either tracers alone, cream, Intralipid, pure arachidonic acid, or pure linoleic acid. Less [3H]20:4 than [14C]18:2 was recovered in chyle during the first 5 h. After cream feeding, the proportion of radioactivity found in phospholipids was high and increased during the first 3 h. After the meal (3-5 h) 61 +/- 6% of the 3H and 57 +/- 10% of the 14C was in phosphatidylcholine, and 11 +/- 3% of the 3H and 3.0 +/- 4% of the 14C was in phosphatidylethanolamine. Changing the fat vehicle to Intralipid or pure 18:2 decreased the proportion of label in the phospholipids and increased the 3H and 14C radioactivity in the triacylglycerol fraction, the distribution of 14C being influenced more than that of 3H. After feeding the tracers in 200 microliters of pure 20:4, greater than 90% of both isotopes was in triacylglycerol. During fasting, triacylglycerol transported 56% (0.7 mumol/h), phosphatidylcholine transported 34% (0.4 mumol/h), and phosphatidylethanolamine transported 10% (0.1 mumol/h) of the 20:4 mass. After cream or Intralipid feeding, the output of 20:4-containing phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine increased 2.1- to 2.8-fold, whereas the transport of 20:4 with triacylglycerol remained constant. Phospholipids thus became the predominant transport form for 20:4. After feeding 200 microliters of 20:4, the intestine produced, however, 20:4-rich triacylglycerols that transported 89% of the chyle 20:4.

Animals↗

Effects of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I on colony formation of rabbit epiphyseal chondrocytes at different stages of maturation.

The effect of human GH (hGH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on colony formation of rabbit epiphyseal tibial chondrocytes at different stages of maturation was studied in suspension culture. The epiphyseal growth plate from the proximal tibia of 8-week-old male rabbits was dissected and divided into three different (proximal, intermediate and distal) zones, each zone representing an enrichment of chondrocytes from the germinative, proliferative and hypertrophic cell layers respectively. Chondrocytes from these three zones were isolated by collagenase digestion and cultured in the presence of 10% (v/v) newborn calf serum in suspension stabilized with 0.5% (w/v) agarose for 14 days. The colonies were classified according to diameter and the number of colonies was estimated as a function of colony size (distribution of cloning efficiency). Cell clusters with a diameter of 56 micron or more were classified as colonies. The cloning efficiency (number of colonies formed per 1000 seeded cells) was 10.1 +/- 0.7 and 6.0 +/- 0.8 for chondrocytes isolated from the proximal and intermediate zones respectively. Insulin-like growth factor-I (25-200 ng/ml) increased the number of colonies in chondrocytes isolated from the proximal zone (122 +/- 9.0-156 +/- 8.4%; control value, 100%) and from the intermediate zone (136 +/- 14.0-191 +/- 29%). Low concentrations of hGH (10-40 ng/ml) stimulated colony formation in chondrocytes isolated from the proximal zone (125 +/- 6.4-137 +/- 7.9%) whereas a high concentration of hGH (160 ng/ml) was ineffective. Chondrocytes isolated from the intermediate zone showed no response to low concentrations of hGH (10-20 ng/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Factors affecting the impaired hepatic uptake of chylomicron remnants in the cholestatic rat.

We have previously shown that bile duct ligation inhibits the hepatic uptake of chylomicron remnants in rats. In the present study we have investigated different possible causes of this inhibition. Intravenous infusion of bile or sodium taurocholate reduced the hepatic chylomicron remnant uptake. Perfused livers from bile duct-ligated rats metabolized chylomicron remnants at a reduced rate. Rat hepatocyte monolayer cultures metabolized remnants formed in cholestatic rats and those formed in hepatectomized animals equally well, but serum from cholestatic rats inhibited remnant uptake more strongly than control serum. Bile duct ligation did not influence the clearance from plasma of human low-density lipoprotein, and the inhibition of hepatic remnant uptake was not affected by treatment of cholestatic rats with ethinylestradiol. The clearance of 125I-labeled asialofetuin was only slightly impaired by cholestasis, indicating that no strong inhibition of all endocytic processes of the hepatocytes occurred. The reduced hepatic uptake of chylomicron remnants in the cholestatic rat is thus not due to formation of abnormal remnant particles. An increased plasma bile acid concentration rapidly reduced the hepatic remnant uptake without causing any significant hyperlipidemia. However, the pathological lipoproteins accumulating in the cholestatic rat aggravated the hepatic uptake defect even further.

Animals↗

A controlled randomized trial of budesonide versus prednisolone retention enemas in active distal ulcerative colitis.

Sixty-four patients with active distal ulcerative colitis participated in a multicentre, randomized, investigator-blind trial to compare the effect of budesonide enema, 2 mg/100 ml, with prednisolone disodium phosphate enema, 31.25 mg/100 ml. Budesonide is a new potent corticosteroid with a rapid first-pass elimination. The patients were treated for 4 weeks, and the efficacy of the drugs were evaluated by sigmoidoscopy, histology, and subjective symptoms after 2 and 4 weeks. After 4 weeks of treatment 16 of 31 patients (52%) receiving budesonide enema had healed endoscopically, compared with 8 of 33 (24%) (p = 0.045) receiving prednisolone enema. Budesonide was superior to prednisolone in terms of both significantly improved sigmoidoscopic and histologic scores and subjective symptoms evaluated by visual analogue scales. The patients receiving prednisolone had a significant depression of endogenous cortisol levels during the treatment period, but not the patients receiving budesonide. Budesonide enema seems to be a promising therapy for active distal ulcerative colitis and causes no adverse reactions.

Adolescent↗

Smoking habits in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. A case-control study.

In a case-control study there were significantly fewer smokers among patients with ulcerative colitis both at disease onset and at interview, the relative risk compared with non-smokers being 0.33 and 0.12, respectively. Among female patients with Crohn's disease there were significantly more smokers, the relative risk being 2.70 and 2.33, respectively. Of the ex-smokers with ulcerative colitis, two-thirds became ill after they stopped smoking, and most of these during the first years after stopping. Neither in ulcerative colitis nor in Crohn's disease could any relation be found between the localization of disease and smoking habits at the time of diagnosis. The findings in the present study support the hypothesis that smoking may influence the course of inflammatory bowel disease.

Adult↗

Binding of bile salts to fibre-enriched wheat fibre.

A commercial product of fibre-enriched wheat fibre (Fiberform R) was tested for its binding of bile salts in vitro. The wheat fibre preparation was standardized and through enzymatic digestion of protein and starch contained 78 per cent fibre (w/w). Fibre-enriched wheat fibre bound with high capacity both conjugated and unconjugated bile salts. Binding was saturable, reversible and showed no specificity towards tauro- or glycine-conjugated bile salts. Binding was rapid, dependent on pH, was enhanced by the presence of high salt concentrations and partially inhibited by 6 M urea. This indicated that binding was a combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions.

Bile Acids and Salts↗

Occurrence and distribution of bone tumors in beagle dogs exposed to 90Sr.

Radiation-induced bone tumors in beagle dogs exposed to 90Sr have been evaluated in terms of their incidence, time of appearance, occurrence as multiple tumors, anatomic distribution, and the influence of sex on their development. Among dogs fed 90Sr during skeletal development, the incidence of bone tumors was dose dependent. Tumors thus appeared in 10 of 19 dogs receiving average skeletal doses of 130 Gy, 15 of 60 receiving 97 Gy, 5 of 61 receiving 61 Gy, 2 of 65 receiving 26 Gy, and 1 of 40 receiving 1.3 Gy. No tumors appeared among 66 dogs who received 8 Gy, 78 who received 0.3 Gy, and 80 non-irradiated controls, all of which have been observed for life. Among dogs given a single intravenous injection of 90Sr in early adulthood, tumor production was somewhat higher than among 90Sr-fed dogs at the same radiation dose: bone tumors were present in 6 of 25 dogs who received 62 Gy and 1 of 20 dogs who received 7.5 Gy. Bone tumors appeared sooner and were more often multiple in animals receiving the higher doses. Long bones were the sites of most of the tumors appearing after the highest dose level. Bones of the head, particularly the mandible, were the predominant site of tumors in the next highest dose level group.

Animals↗

Magnesium and potassium status in healthy subjects as assessed by analysis of magnesium and potassium in skeletal muscle biopsies and magnesium in mononuclear cells.

Magnesium and potassium concentrations were determined in plasma, erythrocytes and urine collected during 24 h, and in percutaneous muscle biopsies obtained in 30 healthy subjects. Magnesium was also analyzed in mononuclear cells. Men, compared to women, showed a higher urinary excretion of magnesium (p less than 0.05). The magnesium contents in mononuclear cells correlated significantly with the concentrations of magnesium in muscle biopsies (r = 0.63; p less than 0.001) and with the urinary losses of magnesium (r = 0.40; p less than 0.05). A significant interrelationship between magnesium and potassium was found in striated muscle (r = 0.65; p less than 0.001), and the contents of potassium in muscle biopsies correlated significantly with the levels of potassium in plasma (r = 0.41; p less than 0.05). In a separate study the day-to-day variations for the magnesium and potassium parameters were investigated during 5 consecutive days in 7 healthy subjects. The coefficient of variation for magnesium in mononuclear cells was comparably low (8.0%), considering the wide range between the subjects. This indicates that magnesium in mononuclear cells might be a valuable parameter in longitudinal follow-up studies.

Adult↗

Hydrolysis of chylomicron arachidonate and linoleate ester bonds by lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase.

Chylomicrons labeled with [3H]arachidonic and [14C]linoleic acid were incubated with bovine milk lipoprotein lipase or rat postheparin plasma, containing both lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase. During incubation with bovine lipoprotein lipase, [3H]arachidonic acid was released from chylomicron triacylglycerols at a slower rate than [14C]linoleic acid. Only small amounts of [14C]linoleic acid were found as 1,2(2,3)-diacylglycerols, whereas a transient accumulation as [14C]monoacylglycerols was observed. In contrast, significantly more [3H]arachidonic acid was found as 1,2(2,3)-diacylglycerols than as monoacylglycerols at all time intervals investigated. The initial pattern of triacylglycerol hydrolysis by postheparin plasma was similar to that of bovine lipoprotein lipase. However, in contrast to the results obtained with bovine lipoprotein lipase, little [3H]1,2(2,3)-diacylglycerol accumulated. The addition of antiserum to hepatic lipase increased the amount of 3H found in 1,2(2,3)-diacylglycerols and inhibited the formation of free [3H]arachidonic acid. The antiserum also caused a significant inhibition of the hydrolysis of [3H]-but not of [14C]triacylglycerol. With regard to chylomicron phospholipids, the rate of hydrolysis of [14C]linoleoyl phosphatidylcholine with milk lipoprotein lipase was twofold higher than that of the [3H]arachidonyl phosphatidylcholine. However, the hepatic lipase of postheparin plasma had similar activity towards the two phosphatidylcholine species. Postheparin plasma rapidly hydrolyzed chylomicron 3H-labeled and 14C-labeled phosphatidylethanolamine to the same degree, and lipoprotein lipase similarly hydrolyzed 3H-labeled and 14C-labeled phosphatidylethanolamine at approximately equal rates. Antiserum to hepatic lipase inhibited the postheparin plasma hydrolysis of phosphatidylethanolamine and 3H-labeled phosphatidylcholine by about 60%, but the 14C-labeled phosphatidylcholine by only 27%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The effect of high-fat diets on microsomal lauric acid hydroxylation in rat liver.

A diet with 20% (w/w) fish oil or partially hydrogenated fish oil has been shown to stimulate omega-oxidation of lauric acid 2.5-fold with rat liver microsomal preparations after 1 week of feeding. A diet containing either 20% (w/w) soybean oil, partially hydrogenated soybean oil or rapeseed oil had no effect. The omega-oxidation was also stimulated by fasting (3.7-fold) and by clofibrate (13-fold). The stimulation of omega-oxidation with partially hydrogenated fish oil was at its highest level after 3 days of feeding, and was dose dependent in the dietary oil of range 5-25% (w/w). With various high-fat diets, a high correlation was found (r = 0.81) between peroxisomal beta-oxidation of palmitoyl-CoA and microsomal omega-oxidation of lauric acid.

Animals↗

Regulation by growth hormone of number of chondrocytes containing IGF-I in rat growth plate.

Whether growth hormone stimulates longitudinal bone growth by a direct effect at the site of the growth plate or indirectly by increasing the concentration of circulating somatomedins (insulin-like growth factors) has been the subject of controversy. Immunohistochemical methods were used to explore the localization and distribution of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) immunoreactivity in the epiphyseal growth plate of the proximal tibia of male rats. Cells in the proliferative zone of the growth plate of normal rats exhibited a bright immunofluorescence, whereas cells in the germinal and hypertrophic zones stained only weakly. In rats subjected to hypophysectomy, the number of fluorescent cells was markedly reduced. When the hypophysectomized rats were treated with growth hormone, either systemically or at the site of the growth plate, the number of IGF-I-immunoreactive cells in the proliferative zone was increased. The results show that IGF-I is produced in proliferative chondrocytes in the growth plate and that the number of IGF-I-containing cells is directly regulated by growth hormone. These findings suggest that IGF-I has a specific role in the clonal expansion of differentiated chondrocytes and exerts its function locally through autocrine or paracrine mechanisms.

Animals↗

Stimuli-induced superoxide radical generation in vitro by human alveolar macrophages from smokers: modulation by N-acetylcysteine treatment in vivo.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed on nine healthy nonsmoking subjects and on 11 healthy smokers; in the last mentioned group lavage was performed before and after eight weeks treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC; 200 mg t.i.d.). The BAL cells were cultured for 2 h or overnight. Adherent cells were examined for their capacity to generate superoxide radicals (determined by superoxide dismutase (SOD)-inhibitable cytochrome C-reduction) at stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), serum-treated zymosan (STZ), the calcium ionophore A23187, or the chemotactic tripeptide formyl-methionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP). Cells from nonsmokers responded with a very low degree of O(2)-generation to any of the stimuli employed whether cultured for 2 h or overnight. Cells from smokers also responded with low O(2)-generation after 2 h of culture. However, cells from smokers cultured overnight responded with marked O(2)-generation to PMA and STZ but the responses to FMLP and A23187 were low. NAC-treatment of the smokers resulted in a reduced degree of both PMA- and STZ-induced O(2)-generation in five individuals. In two other subjects, PMA-induced (but not STZ-induced) O(2)-generation was reduced. Two individuals showed increased O(2)-generation to PMA- and to STZ-stimulation after NAC-treatment. Mean values of O(2)-generation induced by A23187 or by FMLP were significantly reduced for cells harvested after NAC-treatment. Mean values for PMA-induced O(2)-generation also tended to be reduced by the treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcysteine↗

Relation between induction of ornithine decarboxylase and specific gene expression in rat liver in response to the tumor promoter agent clofibrate.

The time course of changes in a number of biochemical parameters in rat liver was studied during 10 days of clofibrate administration. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and putrescine levels began to increase within hours of the first dose and reached maxima at about 36 h (40 and 10 times control levels, respectively) and then returned to normal levels by 48 h. This ODC induction by clofibrate is different from that seen in compensatory liver hyperplasia or diethylnitrosamine administration in that it was not accompanied by elevations in cAMP or increased activation of cytoplasmic cAMP-dependent protein kinases, type I or II. Messenger RNA levels, notably of the species coding for the enzymes of the peroxisomal beta-oxidation pathway, increased in parallel with ODC and putrescine to reach a maximum also at 36 h. The enzymes of the peroxisomal beta-oxidation pathway, on the other hand, increased more gradually over time to reach a plateau at approximately 7 - 10 days. The magnitude of increase in mRNA (about 7-fold) was comparable to that of peroxisomal beta-oxidation as measured by cyanide-insensitive palmitoyl-CoA-dependent NAD+ reductase activity; comparable increases in the specific content of enoyl-CoA hydratase: beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase and of peroxisomal thiolase were observed, as determined by SDS electrophoresis. A gradual increase in long-chain acyl-CoA (1.5-fold) followed the increase in beta-oxidation, whereas a 2-fold increase in acid-soluble CoA (free CoA and short-chain acyl-CoA) was seen as early as 36 h. This sequence of changes is at variance with proposals that increased levels of long-chain acyl-CoA mediate induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗