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Biomedical subjects

B Jensen

Publications and source records attributed to B Jensen.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Arginine-vasopressin stimulates the formation of phosphatidic acid in rat Leydig cells.

Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) stimulated the formation of labelled phosphatidic acid (PA) in [14C]arachidonic acid-prelabelled rat Leydig cells. After addition of 10(-6)M AVP [14C]arachidonoylphosphatidic acid reached a maximum within 2 min. The increase was dose-dependent (10(-11)-10(-6)M). No change in labelling of other phospholipids and diacylglycerol could be detected. The V1 antagonist dPTyr(Me)AVP inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the AVP-stimulated accumulation of PA. The V2 agonist dPVDAVP was without effect. The present results suggest that AVP binds to V1 receptors in rat Leydig cells resulting in stimulation of PA turnover. We suggest that the AVP-stimulated PA formation is an indication of phosphoinositide turnover.

Animals↗

Synergism between thapsigargin and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate on the release of [14C]arachidonic acid and histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells.

Thapsigargin is a potent skin irritating sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the roots of Thapsia garganica L. (Apiaceae). In rat peritoneal mast cells thapsigargin induced a calcium-dependent non-cytotoxic [14C]arachidonic acid and histamine release. A minor amount of the released [14C]arachidonic acid was converted to [14C]prostaglandin D2. A potentiated effect was found between thapsigargin and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, as well as between A23187 and the phorbol ester with respect to release of [14C]arachidonic acid and histamine. It is suggested that the synergistic effect is due to activation of protein kinase C by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate and to increased intracellular calcium concentration mediated by A23187 as well as thapsigargin. [14C]arachidonic acid was released mainly from phosphatidylcholine. It is suggested that this release may be due to an action of phospholipase A2, and that protein kinase C is involved in activation of phospholipase A2.

Animals↗

[Evolution of hydrocarbons and bacterial activity in the marine sediments contaminated by crude oil overflow and treated].

The fate of an experimental oil pollution of intertidal sediments in a sheltered beach of North Brittany (France) has been investigated over a 16-month period. Chemical treatments were applied to two of the three contaminated plots by pre-mixing oil respectively with dispersant and biodegrading agents. The physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics of the polluted areas were followed with the purpose of identifying the limiting parameters for oil microbial degradation and the effect of treatment. The concentration of hydrocarbons in the oiled sediments did not change significantly during the experimental period. Spectrofluorimetric and chromatographic data showed that the main evolution of oil concerns the degradation of n-alkanes and the removal of light aromatics. Biodegradation of hydrocarbons occurred at a measurable rate only during the warm seasons (average temperature 18 +/- 2 degrees C) causing after sixteen months the disappearance of more than 80% of the n-alkanes fraction independently of the pollution sediment level and the chemical treatment of the experimental plots. However, the biodegradation of n-alkanes proceeded during the first months, at different rates, inversely depending on oil content in the collected samples. The main limiting factor is dissolved oxygen according to the fact that spilled oil was located at 3-5 cm depth in a poorly oxygenated zone characterized by low redox potential. Nutrients were not a limiting factor probably due to domestic and agricultural inputs in this area. A marked bacterial growth was observed two weeks after the oil spill with a relative increase in hydrocarbon degrading bacteria with respect to total heterotrophs. Degradation rates, based on C14 n-hexadecane experiments, seem to follow the same way than specific bacterial counts (plate technique). Specific bacteria are always high at the end of our 16 months' field experimentation. In the laboratory as well as in the field experiments, the same behaviour of untreated and chemically treated oil was observed in partially anaerobic sediment.

Bacteria↗

Apparent in vivo retroconversion of dietary arachidonic to linoleic acid in essential fatty acid-deficient rats.

Essential fatty acid-deficient rats were fed ethyl [U-14C]arachidonate (308 dpm/nmol) and when a decrease in the transepidermal water loss was seen, the epidermal sphingolipids, acylglucosylceramide and acylceramide were isolated. [14C]Linoleic acid (approx. 130 dpm/nmol) was present in both lipid classes, while the substrate was only detected in the former. These results intimate that in vivo retroconversion of arachidonic to linoleic acid can be induced in the rat.

Animals↗

Intake of marine fat, rich in (n-3)-polyunsaturated fatty acids, may increase birthweight by prolonging gestation.

Birthweights in the Faroe Islands are among the highest in the world. Compared with Denmark, the average birthweight of liveborn singleton infants of primiparous mothers is 194 g higher, and a substantial part of this difference seems to be attributable to longer gestation. Prostaglandins play an important part in the timing of parturition in human beings. Dietary (n-3)-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in high amounts influence endogenous prostaglandin metabolism. Owing to the large consumption of marine fat, the average intake of (n-3)-PUFA in the Faroes by far exceeds that in Denmark. The hypothesis proposed is that dietary (n-3)-PUFA in high amounts prolong gestation in human beings by interfering with uterine production of prostaglandins, possibly by inhibiting the production of dienoic prostaglandins, primarily PGF2 alpha and PGE2, which are mediators of uterine contractions and cervical ripening.

Animals↗

Urinary excretion of arginine-vasopressin and prostaglandin E2 in essential fatty acid-deficient rats after oral supplementation with unsaturated fatty acid esters.

Essential fatty acid-deficient rats were supplemented with 300 mg/d of pure fatty acid esters: oleate (O), linoleate (L), arachidonate (A), and columbinate (C) for 10 d. The 24-h urine collections from each animal, collected 3 d before supplementations and again the last 3 d of the 10-d supplementation period, were analyzed for volume, and by radioimmunoassay for arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Linoleate and arachidonate supplements both decreased the initial high urinary AVP excretion, whereas it was further increased by the oleate supplement. There was no effect of columbinate supplementation on urinary AVP excretion. Urinary PGE2 excretion was increased ca. twofold by both linoleate and oleate supplements, increased ca. fivefold by arachidonate supplementation but was unaffected by columbinate supplementation. There was no effect of any of the supplemented fatty acids on urine output. Fatty acid analysis of total kidney lipids revealed a low percentage of 20:3(n-9) in the rats supplemented with (n-6) fatty acid (L, A and C). The triene-tetraene ratio was 1.8 +/- 0.6 (n = 6) in the kidneys of the oleate-supplemented rats. No relationship was found between urinary PGE2 excretion and the percentage of arachidonate or the ratio of 20:3 (n-9)/20:4(n-6) in total kidney lipids. It is suggested that increased urinary AVP excretion in EFA-deficient rats is mainly caused by a change in the renal excretatory mechanism of AVP rather than reflecting an increased plasma AVP concentration. Furthermore it is suggested that renal PGE2 synthesis in vivo is unaffected by high levels of 20:3(n-9) in kidney lipids.

Animals↗

Essential function of linoleic acid esterified in acylglucosylceramide and acylceramide in maintaining the epidermal water permeability barrier. Evidence from feeding studies with oleate, linoleate, arachidonate, columbinate and alpha-linolenate.

Essential fatty acid-deficient rats were supplemented with 300 mg per day of pure fatty acid esters: oleate (O), linoleate (L), arachidonate (A), and columbinate (C) for 10 days. During this period, the rats in groups L, A, and C all showed a decrease in their initially high trans-epidermal water loss, a classical essential fatty acid-deficiency symptom, to a level seen in non-deficient rats (group N). The trans-epidermal water loss in rats of group O was unaffected by the supplementation. Fatty acid composition of two epidermal sphingolipids, acylglucosylceramide and acylceramide, from the skin were determined. The results indicate that re-establishment of a low trans-epidermal water loss was associated with incorporation of linolenate into the two epidermal sphingolipids. Supplementation with columbinate resulted in relatively high amounts of this fatty acid in the investigated epidermal sphingolipids. Analysis of pooled skin specimens from a previous study in which weanling rats were fed a fat-free diet and supplemented orally with pure alpha-linolenate for 13 weeks (Hansen, H.S. and Jensen, B. (1983) Lipids 18, 682-690) revealed very little polyunsaturated fatty acid in the two sphingolipids. These rats showed increased evaporation which was comparable to that of essential fatty acid-deficient rats. We interpret these results as strong evidence for a very specific and essential function of linoleic acid in maintaining the integrity of the epidermal water permeability barrier. This function of linoleate is independent of its role as precursor for arachidonate and icosanoids.

Animals↗

The effect of a single oral dose of ethyl linoleate on urinary prostaglandin E2 excretion in essential fatty acid-deficient rats.

The effects of a single oral dose of ethyl linoleate on urinary prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) excretion and urine output were investigated in essential fatty acid (EFA)-deficient rats. Weanling male rats were fed a fat-free diet. After 13 wk of feeding, eight rats received an oral dose of 400 mg of ethyl oleate. Seven days later the same eight rats received 400 mg of ethyl linoleate. The oleate dosage served as control. Another seven EFA-deficient rats received an oral dose of 100 mg of ethyl linoleate. The 24-h urine collections from each animal were analyzed for PGE2 by radioimmunoassay. Within 24 h the oleate dose resulted in a 1.3-fold increase in urinary PGE2 excretion. The 400-mg dose of ethyl linoleate induced a 2- to 3-fold increase in urinary PGE2 excretion during 7 d. The 100-mg dose of ethyl linoleate resulted in a 1.3- to 1.5-fold increase for 2 d. Neither the ethyl oleate dose nor the low dose of ethyl linoleate had any effect on urine output, whereas the high dose of ethyl linoleate induced a slow increase during the following 6 d. The present results show that a single dose of 400 mg of ethyl linoleate increased urinary PGE2 excretion and urine output in EFA-deficient rats. However, these two parameters do not seem to be correlated. The amount of urinary PGE2 excreted in excess of baseline urinary PGE2 excretion accounted on a molar basis for less than 1 ppm of the administered dose of ethyl linoleate.

Animals↗

Dermatomyositis associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Dermatomyositis and polymyositis have been well established in association with malignant neoplastic disease. Most commonly, this association has been noted in patients with solid tumors rather than in patients with neoplasms of hematopoietic origin. We describe here a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia who developed typical dermatomyositis, which responded to therapy with corticosteroids. This concurrence has been reported in only one previous patient to our knowledge. The nature and implications of the association of dermatomyositis and neoplasia are discussed.

Adult↗

The prospective diagnostic value of real-time cholecystosonography.

A series of 82 consecutive patients scheduled for operation, with pre-operatively obtained P.O. cholecystography and in some cases also I.V. cholangiography, is presented. All patients had cholecystosonography performed "blindly" the day prior to the operation (76 had a cholecystectomy and six had a vagotomy). Based upon the operative findings, the diagnostic value of ultrasonic examination for gallstones can be calculated to predictive value of positive test--1.00; predictive value of negative test--0.71. The diagnostic failures are discussed but it is not possible to predict which patients will benefit more from peroral cholecystography rather than from ultrasound. It is concluded that cholecystosonography is a safe alternative to peroral cholecystography.

Cholangiography↗

Malignant eccrine poroma. Case report and review of the literature.

A case of malignant eccrine poroma with lymph node metastases is described. The patient had a nodular growth of the right thigh 2 years before its first excision. Local recurrence in the scar occurred in 6 months, and by 8 months a right groin lymph node was involved. Subsequent skin nodules of the right thigh occurred over the next 12 months, associated with recurrent lymphedema of the leg. During several follow-up visits, associated malignancies were found including villous adenoma of the ascending colon and renal cell carcinoma of the right kidney, both typical histologically and unrelated to the cutaneous tumor. Subsequently, left inguinal lymph node disease histologically identical to the skin tumor was found. Clinical and histologic findings were similar to the 31 previous cases reviewed. Electron microscopic examination confirmed the presence of a ductal structure consistent with eccrine duct and a crystalline membrane-bound granule which may represent a specific marker for this rare tumor. The histologic features of this tumor are important to separate from other differential diagnostic possibilities which may have a quite different prognosis.

Adenoma, Sweat Gland↗

Antigen specific in vitro activity of lymphocyte subpopulations from Mantoux positive and negative subjects assessed by lymphocyte proliferation assay.

A micromethod for the lymphocyte proliferative assay and multifactorial analysis of stimulation indices classified according to subjects, lymphocyte combinations and antigens was used to elucidate deficient Mantoux (Mx) reactions in BCG-vaccinated subjects. It was possible to group each of the factors so that interactions between the two latter factors were not present within but only between groups. Comparisons between the subject groups showed a clear association between results of this in vitro test with PPD antigen and the Mx test carried out with 1 TU. The in vitro test had the advantage of being more sensitive and of not introducing the immune reactions occasionally seen with the Mx test. Thymus-processed lymphocytes were the cells responsible with functions both as effector and regulator cells, B lymphocytes had only regulatory properties.

Analysis of Variance↗