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Biomedical subjects

B Andersson

Publications and source records attributed to B Andersson.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Cytokines and other markers of intrathecal immune response in patients with herpes simplex encephalitis.

Sequential samples of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), from 9 patients with herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE), were analyzed for cytokines and soluble cytokine receptors. The response to herpes simplex virus was characterized by a vigorous compartmentalized immune response. The intrathecal response comprised three different phases: an acute stage (first week of illness), characterized by elevated CSF levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and interferon-gamma; an early convalescence stage (weeks 2-6 after onset of disease), associated with peaking levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and late markers of the specific T cell-mediated immune response, soluble IL-2 receptor, and soluble CD8 antigen (sCD8); and finally, a late convalescence stage, lasting months to years and associated with persistently increased levels of sCD8 in particular. These findings show the compartmentalization and kinetics of the inflammatory response in HSE and demonstrate persistence of the intrathecal inflammatory process, which may have implications for antiviral and antiinflammatory therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Aftereffects of maternal environment on autumn frost hardiness in Pinus sylvestris seedlings in relation to cultivation techniques.

Full-sib families of Pinus sylvestris (L.) from genetically identical parent clones, grown at three geographic locations (64, 59.5, and 56 degrees N), were tested for autumn frost hardiness. At one of the locations (64 degrees N), maternal clones were grown in plots subjected to different site treatments. Progenies raised in a heated greenhouse with additional artificial light were induced to undergo two shoot elongation periods, separated by a period with long nights and non-hardening temperatures, followed by a hardening period. Frost hardiness was tested by exposing seedlings to -17, -19, or -21 degrees C during the hardening period. Progenies produced at the northernmost locality (64 degrees N) were the most hardy. The hardiness ranking among localities and the magnitude of differences in hardiness were in accordance with earlier results obtained from the same crosses that had undergone only one shoot elongation period. Effects of maternal site treatments were significant but small compared with family differences. The growth regimes used in the present study did not eliminate maternal effects induced by geographic location, but maternal effects related to site treatment decreased substantially in relation to family variation when compared with seedlings that had undergone only a single shoot elongation period. The results are discussed in relation to other studies of the same crosses raised under different growth conditions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

A prospective cohort study on breast-feeding and otitis media in Swedish infants.

This study analyzed the effect of breast-feeding on the frequency of acute otitis media. The protocol was designed to examine each child at 2, 6 and 10 months of age. At each visit nasopharyngeal cultures were obtained, the feeding pattern was recorded and the acute otitis media (AOM) episodes were documented. The analysis was based on 400 children from whom complete information was obtained. They represented 83% of the newborns in the study areas. By 1 year of age 85 (21%) children had experienced 111 AOM episodes; 63 (16%) had 1 and 22 (6%) had 2 or more episodes. The AOM frequency was significantly lower in the breast-fed than in the non-breast-fed children in each age group (P < 0.05). The first AOM episode occurred significantly earlier in children who were weaned before 6 months of age than in the remaining groups. The frequency of nasopharyngeal cultures positive for Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Streptococcus pneumoniae was significantly higher in children with AOM. At 4 to 7 and 8 to 12 months of age, the AOM frequency was significantly higher in children with day-care contact and siblings (P < 0.05 and < 0.01, respectively). The frequency of upper respiratory tract infections was increased in children with AOM but significantly reduced in the breast-fed group.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

Treatment of furcation defects. Guided tissue regeneration versus coronally positioned flap in mandibular molars; a pilot study.

The present study was designed to compare the healing results after treatment of buccal class II furcation defects in mandibular molars utilizing guided tissue regeneration (GTR) technique or coronally positioned flap (CPF) technique. The patient sample consisted of 8 subjects with 18 bilateral furcation defects in mandibular molars. At baseline, 6 and 12 months postoperatively assessments of plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depths, probing attachment level and bleeding on probing were recorded. Radiographic assessment was performed using conventional radiographs and subtraction images at baseline and 12 months postoperatively. The furcation defects were randomly assigned in each patient to either the GTR or the CPF technique. 12 months postoperatively, there was a statistically significant reduction in probing pocket depths in the GTR treated teeth and a tendency to gain of probing attachment levels 6 months postoperatively. The CPF group showed a statistically significant reduction of probing pocket depths at 6 months and a tendency to reduction after 12 months. The radiological assessment demonstrated gain of interradicular bone tissue in 2 furcation defects of the GTR group. Gain of bone tissue could not be demonstrated in the CPF group. No statistically significant differences were observed between the 2 treatment modalities.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Hypertension and thirst outlasting renal vasoconstriction as effects of a brief evaluation of systemic angiotensin II in sheep.

The influence of 10 min intracarotid (i.c.) and intravenous (i.v.) infusions of angiotensin II (Ang II; 20 pmol kg-1 min-1) on carotid blood pressure (cBP) and renal blood flow (RBF) was studied in unanaesthetized ewes without and with pre-treatment with the alpha 1- and beta-adrenoceptor blocker labetalol. RBF was also monitored during 30 min intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusions of Ang II at 2 pmol kg-1 min-1. The i.c. infusions of Ang II induced about 50 mmHg rise in cBP. A steep decline occurred during 5 min post-infusion, followed by a much slower reduction with the cBP remaining above control level at 40 min post-infusion. The pressure elevation induced by i.v. Ang II was less pronounced but exhibited a similar pattern. Labetalol significantly reduced the pressor response to i.c. as well as i.v. Ang II. The i.c. and i.v. infusions of Ang II conspicuously reduced the RBF regardless of whether the ewes were labetalol-treated or not. At 5 min after the infusions RBF had returned to control level. The ICV infusions did not influence the RBF. Ang II i.c. elicited thirst in 50% of the ewes with the urge to drink remaining at 40 min post-infusion. The dipsogenic response was not reduced by labetalol pretreatment. The results imply that no cerebral component contributes to the reduction in RBF induced by systemic Ang II. However, a centrally mediated action seems to be the cause of the long-lasting post-infusion cBP elevation and dipsogenic response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1994

Cardiac neuropeptide Y and noradrenaline balance in patients with congestive heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: To measure plasma concentrations of noradrenaline and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in relation to cardiac function in patients with congestive heart failure. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of plasma noradrenaline concentrations and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in the arterial and coronary circulations, in patients with a high or low ejection fraction (31.3% (1.3%) or 17.7% (1.1%) respectively) and in healthy volunteers. SETTING: Cardiology department of a university hospital. PATIENTS: 41 patients with congestive heart failure with various aetiologies. Ten healthy volunteers served as a reference group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Concentrations of noradrenaline measured by high performance liquid chromatography and of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity measured by radioimmunoassay. Cardiac index, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, and systemic vascular resistance were derived by catheterisation of the right heart. Ejection fraction was measured by radionuclide angiography, cineangiography, or M mode echocardiography. RESULTS: There were pronounced and significant increases in circulating arterial concentrations of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity and noradrenaline in both the high and low ejection fraction groups compared with the healthy subjects. In the patients myocardial release of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity tended to be greater compared with normal subjects, but not significantly so. While normal subjects showed myocardial noradrenaline uptake, patients with congestive heart failure showed significant and progressive myocardial noradrenaline release. Arterial as well as coronary sinus concentrations of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity correlated significantly with plasma noradrenaline concentrations from the respective sites. Plasma noradrenaline concentrations in the artery and coronary sinus were negatively correlated with ejection fraction and cardiac index; no such relations were found for concentrations of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity. CONCLUSIONS: Both circulating concentrations of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity and noradrenaline are significantly increased in moderate to severe forms of congestive heart failure. Plasma concentrations of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity correlated with plasma noradrenaline concentrations, but plasma noradrenaline concentrations alone correlated with ejection fraction and cardiac index. Thus plasma noradrenaline concentration seems to be a more sensitive index of cardiac dysfunction than the concentration of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in congestive heart failure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Recovery from left ventricular asynergy in ischemic cardiomyopathy following long-term beta blockade treatment.

It has been suggested that long-term beta blockade treatment in congestive heart failure might be less effective in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy as compared with patients having idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of long-term adrenergic beta blockade treatment on regional myocardial function in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. The regional wall motion (RWM) was evaluated in 12 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy before and after long-term open treatment with metoprolol. On average, the patients were treated over 11 months (range 6-36 months). The regional left ventricular function was assessed using two-dimensional echocardiographic recordings by two independent blinded observers. The RWM score was evaluated in 16 segments of the left ventricle on a scale from 0 (hypercontractility) to 5 (dyskinesia). Following treatment, there was an improvement in general ventricular function (ejection fraction 0.24-0.31; p = 0.01) as well as in RWM (86 improved segments, 48 deteriorated, 49 unchanged; p < 0.002). Ventricular segments with poor contractility (RWM score > or = 3.5) tended to improve (53 improved segments, 16 deteriorated, 13 unchanged; p < 0.0001), whereas less severely impaired segments (RWM score < 3.5) did not improve (33 improved segments, 32 deteriorated, 36 unchanged; NS). It is suggested that poorly contracting myocardial segments might improve following beta blockade treatment, while an effect on less impaired segments might be lacking. An improvement in overall myocardial function would then be harder to detect.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Mutations induced in the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase gene by three urban air pollutants: acetaldehyde, benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide, and ethylene oxide.

Provisional mutational spectra at the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) locus in vitro have been worked out for acetaldehyde (AA) and benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide (BPDE) in human (T)-lymphocytes and for ethylene oxide (EtO) in human diploid fibroblasts using Southern blotting and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based DNA sequencing techniques. The results indicate that large genomic deletions are the predominating hprt mutations caused by AA and EO, whereas BPDE induces point mutations that are mainly GC > TA transversions. The mutational spectra induced by the three agents are clearly different from the background spectrum in human T-cells. Thus, the hprt locus is a useful target for the study of chemical-specific mutational events that may help identify causes of background mutation in human cells in vivo.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1994

Muscle fiber composition and capillary density in women and men with NIDDM.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether muscle fiber composition and capillary density differed between diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Muscle fiber composition and capillary density were determined in biopsies from women and men with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and compared with those of control subjects matched for gender, age, obesity, and the waist-to-hip ratio, which are all factors known to influence muscle morphology. RESULTS: Patients with NIDDM, as well as control subjects with abdominal obesity and insulin resistance, showed the same abnormalities in muscle morphology, namely, a low percentage of type I fibers, elevated type II (particularly type IIB) fibers, and a low capillary density. These changes correlated closely with insulin concentrations in both diabetic and nondiabetic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Recent information suggests that insulin may regulate myosin synthesis in muscle in the direction of the changes observed. Therefore, it is possible that muscle fiber composition abnormalities in insulin-resistant conditions are secondary to hyperinsulinemia. However, the low capillary density, hypothetically, may contribute to insulin resistance.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1994

Testosterone concentrations in women and men with NIDDM.

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVE--To evaluate androgen concentrations in relation to insulin resistance in men and women with and without NIDDM. Recent studies have indicated the potential importance of the regulation of insulin sensitivity by androgens in both women and men. Low sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) concentration is an independent risk factor for the development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in women and is strongly associated statistically with signs of insulin resistance. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--We compared measurements of anthropometric variables and SHBG, steroid hormone, and insulin concentrations of women and men who have NIDDM with those of control subjects. RESULTS--Women with NIDDM had somewhat higher plasma insulin concentrations, lower SHBG, and higher free testosterone values than did control subjects with similar body mass index (BMI). Women with NIDDM had marginally higher waist-to-hip ratios (WHR). Plasma insulin concentrations correlated positively with BMI, WHR, and free testosterone and negatively with SHBG. In multivariate analyses, insulin concentrations remained positively associated with BMI and free testosterone. Men with NIDDM had higher fasting plasma insulin concentrations than did the nondiabetic control subjects. Testosterone and SHBG were lower in the diabetic men than in both control groups. The derived value of free testosterone was not different between groups. Univariate correlation analyses revealed tight statistical couplings between plasma insulin on the one hand and SHBG and testosterone concentrations (negative) on the other. In multivariate analyses, only the insulin-testosterone association remained. CONCLUSIONS: Women with NIDDM have high levels of free testosterone and low levels of SHBG. Insulin resistance is closely correlated with these signs of hyperandrogenicity as well as with obesity. Men with NIDDM also have low levels of SHBG and, in contrast to women, low testosterone values. Insulin values correlate negatively with these hormonal factors. Based on the results of experimental work and intervention studies, we suggest that these androgen abnormalities might be causally related to insulin resistance in NIDDM.

Androgens↗
PubMed1994

Detection of Candida albicans DNA in serum by polymerase chain reaction.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied in order to improve the diagnosis of disseminated candidosis. A nested PCR technique with 2 primer pairs was used to increase the sensitivity. We were able to detect Candida DNA in serum and tissue samples from experimentally infected mice as well as in serum samples from candidemia patients and patients with deep-seated Candida infection. Our PCR could detect as little as 1 pg Candida albicans DNA. The PCR method was more sensitive than culture in both the mouse experiments and the patients with deep candidosis (5/7 were PCR positive and 0/7 blood culture positive), and of similar sensitivity in candidemia patients (11/17 were 15/17 blood culture positive). The relatively short processing time of PCR, when compared with culturing, its sensitivity, as well as the possibility of using serum samples for analysis, all helped improve the diagnostics in deep-seated candidosis and candidemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Interferon-gamma in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with viral and bacterial meningitis.

Interferon (IFN)-gamma was analysed immunologically in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampled in the acute phase from 27 patients (15-66 years) with viral meningitis and from 18 patients (0.5-90 years) with bacterial meningitis. Increased CSF concentrations were observed in 19/27 viral and in 13/18 bacterial cases. CSF-IFN-gamma did not distinguish between viral and bacterial meningitis. Five of 8 patients with meningitis due to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) had CSF-IFN-gamma levels above the highest found in enteroviral meningitis. Thus, a markedly increased CSF-IFN-gamma value in patients with suspected viral meningitis ought to indicate HSV-2 etiology. The patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis (6 adults and 1 child) had significantly higher levels than the 7 children with Haemophilus influenzae meningitis. This may indicate that S. pneumoniae induces more IFN-gamma secretion than H. influenzae, and/or that during meningitis, adults are more apt to react with IFN-gamma production, than are children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Serum cystatin C, determined by a rapid, automated particle-enhanced turbidimetric method, is a better marker than serum creatinine for glomerular filtration rate.

We describe a fully automated particle-enhanced turbidimetric assay for cystatin C in undiluted serum and EDTA-plasma. The throughput is 90 samples per hour and urgent samples can be analyzed in 7 min. The assay range (0.4-14.1 mg/L) covers the concentration range in health and disease. The within- and between-run imprecision is 0.9% and 2.2%, respectively. Analytical recovery of additions of recombinant cystatin C averaged 98%. Rheumatoid factors (< or = 323,000 IU/L), bilirubin (< or = 150 mumol/L), hemoglobin (< or = 1.2 g/L), and triglycerides (< or = 8.5 mmol/L) do not interfere in the assay. In view of the superior (by ROC analysis) diagnostic accuracy of serum concentrations of cystatin C for reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in comparison with creatinine, cystatin C seems an attractive alternative to creatinine for estimation of GFR.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMed1994

High doses of cyclophosphamide, etoposide and total body irradiation followed by autologous stem cell transplantation in the management of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Eighteen patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in chronic (9 patients) or advanced phases (9 patients) underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) with a preparative regimen using high doses of cyclophosphamide, etoposide and total body irradiation (CY-VP16-TBI): cyclophosphamide 60 mg/kg daily on days 1 and 2; VP16 250 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1-3 and TBI 1020 cGy in six fractionated doses on days 5-7. Autologous marrow cells were reinfused on day 8. Three of the 8 patients in late chronic phase Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome-positive CML (37%) achieved a cytogenetic response, with Ph suppression to 25%, 29% and 44% Ph-positive metaphases, respectively, and lasting for 11, 1 and 3 months, respectively. The median duration of chronic phase following BMT was 26+ months (range 2-33+ months). One patient with Ph-negative, BCR-rearranged, chronic phase CML had a decrease of the BCR-rearranged band to 10% of pretreatment levels, which persisted for 6 months. None of the 9 patients with advanced CML phases (5 in second chronic, 1 in blastic, 3 in accelerated) achieved meaningful cytogenetic responses. Their median survival was 7 months from the time of BMT. Toxicities were mostly related to myelosuppression, particularly thrombocytopenia. Febrile episodes developed in 16 patients (89%). Treatment-related deaths occurred in 2 patients (11%). In summary, autologous BMT using a TBI-containing regimen had acceptable toxicity. Future investigations will evaluate the additional benefit of purged autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with chronic phase CML.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

A phase I-II study of high-dose thiotepa, busulfan and cyclophosphamide as a preparative regimen for allogeneic marrow transplantation.

Thirty adults with hematologic malignancies at high-risk for relapse were treated on a phase I-II study of high-dose thiotepa, busulfan (BU) and cyclophosphamide (CY) as the preparative regimen for allogeneic marrow transplantation. Cyclosporine and methylprednisolone or anti-CD5 ricin A chain immunoconjugate were used as graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis. Filgrastim was given from day 1 to enhance engraftment. Median follow-up time is 16 months (range 9-29 months). Grades III-IV regimen-related toxicity occurred in 5 (26%) of 19 patients treated with thiotepa 250 mg/m2 x 3, BU 1 mg/kg x 12 and CY 60 mg/kg x 2 and this was considered the maximal tolerated dose-schedule. Stomatitis and hepatoxicity were dose-limiting. All patients engrafted and had complete donor chimerism. The actuarial rate of acute graft-versus-host disease was 71% (95% CI 62-80%). The relapse rate at 1 year was 38% (95% CI 25-50%) and the actuarial survival at 1 year was 30% (95% CI 22-38%). The combination of thiotepa, BU and CY is tolerable as a preparative regimen for allogeneic marrow transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Ganciclovir three times per week is not adequate to prevent cytomegalovirus reactivation after T cell-depleted marrow transplantation.

To determine if ganciclovir given three times per week post-transplant is tolerable and effective for prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in recipients of T cell-depleted marrow from related or unrelated donors, we have used ganciclovir 2.5 mg/kg iv three times daily on days -8 to -2 and 5 or 6 mg/kg iv 3 times per week from engraftment to day 100 as CMV prophylaxis for 51 adults who were CMV-seropositive or had seropositive donors. All patients received iv immunoglobulin 500 mg/kg weekly and CMV-negative or filtered blood products. Blood and urine were tested for CMV at weekly intervals through day 100. All patients received ganciclovir pre-transplant. Ten patients did not receive ganciclovir post-transplant (5 deaths, 3 graft failure, 1 renal failure, 1 required foscarnet). The median time to initiation of ganciclovir was 27 days (range 17-59 days) and the median duration of therapy was 51 days (range 5-83 range). Twelve patients had dose reductions (3 neutropenia and 9 renal insufficiency). Seven patients died before day 100, 2 had indications to change to foscarnet, 15 discontinued ganciclovir because of neutropenia and 17 completed the full ganciclovir course through day 100. G- or GM-CSF was given to 29 patients with neutrophils < 1.5 x 10(9)/l (10 had neutrophils < 0.5 x 10(9)/l) but only 12 of them could continue full-dose ganciclovir. Bacteremia occurred in 12 of the neutropenic patients. At day 120, the actuarial rate of CMV infection was 58% (95% CI 42-74%) and that of CMV disease was 36% (95% CI 21-51%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Lateral diffusion of an integral membrane protein: Monte Carlo analysis of the migration of phosphorylated light-harvesting complex II in the thylakoid membrane.

The lateral migration of the integral light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein complex of photosystem II, LHCII, has been studied in the undisturbed membranes of thylakoids without artificial probes. LHCII was phosphorylated at 0 degree C. The diffusion of the mobile phospho-LHCII from appressed grana to nonappressed membrane regions was induced by a temperature jump to 20 degrees C and analyzed by a rapid detergent fractionation of the two membrane areas. This long-range diffusion of the integral phospho-LHCII is analyzed by a Monte Carlo calculation which is based on a model of the thylakoid membrane and includes all integral proteins as mobile particles. A comparison of the calculation with the experimental time course indicates a diffusion constant of phospho-LHCII in the range of (2-4) x 10(-12) cm2 s-1. This value is evidence for a severe restriction of protein mobility in the appressed thylakoid membrane. From a statical point of view, the percolation theory predicts that the high protein density in the grana membranes is above the threshold of percolation and the long-range diffusion should be inhibited by finite clusters of lipids. However, the shape of the experimental time course is in favor of a lateral motion also of photosystem II and nonphosphorylated LHCII and not of a rigid lattice of these complexes. Our data and Monte Carlo analysis suggest a dynamic or fluid lattice of the protein complexes with a lifetime of the clusters in the millisecond time range. The consequences of these transient fluctuations on the long-range diffusion of plastoquinone are discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗