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Biomedical subjects

B Olsen

Publications and source records attributed to B Olsen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Murderers in white coats--the physicians' plot against Stalin].

During the Moscow trials in 1936-38 several doctors were sentenced for participating in the murders of party leaders. As others who were accused, the doctors willingly confessed to crimes they could not possibly have committed. A second doctors' plot took place in the autumn of 1952. This time nine doctors, six of them Jews, were arrested for the attempted murder of political leaders. Only the unexpected death of Josef Stalin prevented a new wave of terror. With the single exception of Genrikh Grigorjevitsj Jagoda (1891-1938), head of the NKVD (KGB's predecessor), all those sentenced under the Moscow process are now rehabilitated. The participants of the second doctors' plot were rehabilitated immediately after Stalin's death.

Famous Persons↗
PubMed1997

Leuconostoc spp. septicaemia in a child with short bowel syndrome.

Septicaemia caused by the vancomycin-resistant Gram-positive bacteria Leuconostoc spp. is uncommon. We report a case of Leuconostoc spp. septicaemia in a child with short bowel syndrome fed through a central venous catheter and a gastrostomy. Leuconostoc spp. were isolated from several blood cultures. Despite several courses of antibiotics the fever continued and her condition deteriorated. After removal of the thrombotized central venous catheter her condition improved. Leuconostoc spp. was isolated from the thrombotic masses.

Bacteremia↗
PubMed1997

CD4 lymphopenia in a patient with cryptococcal osteomyelitis.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a rarely reported cause of osteomyelitis. In most cases, no obvious underlying condition is found. Immunological laboratory data, however, are not generally available. In the present case of cryptococcal osteomyelitis, idiopathic CD4 lymphopenia was detected. This immunodeficiency is found in cases of disseminated cryptococcosis by chance. Possibly, it may be one so far unrecognized underlying condition in cryptococcal osteomyelitis.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Enteropathogenic bacteria in migrating birds arriving in Sweden.

Birds have been thought to play a role in transmitting infectious agents like influenza, Borrelia and Salmonella. To investigate the role of migrating birds in the dispersal of enteropathogenic bacteria, stool samples from 151 wild birds (50 gulls and 101 passerines) just entering Sweden from their winter grounds were analysed for Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp. and EHEC O157:H7. The thermophilic isolated enteropathogens found were further analysed by antibiograms. Among the 50 gulls examined, we found 2 isolates of Salmonella typhimurium with multiple antibiotic resistance. Three isolates of C. jejuni were found in the 101 stool samples from passerines. We did not isolate EHEC O157:H7 in any of the bird stools examined.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Inhibition of angiogenesis by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3.

PURPOSE: It has been established that Sorsby's fundus dystrophy, a dominantly inherited form of blindness, is caused by mutations in the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) gene. Because choroidal neovascularization is a prominent feature of Sorsby's fundus dystrophy, the authors have examined whether TIMP-3 protein plays a role in the regulation of angiogenesis. METHODS: Chemotaxis of endothelial cells toward vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was examined using a modified Boyden chamber assay. Endothelial cells placed in the upper chamber were allowed to migrate through a polycarbonate membrane with 8 microns pores toward VEGF or bFGF present in the lower chamber. Next, the ability of TIMP-3 to inhibit chemotaxis was studied by incubating the cells with varying amounts of TIMP-3 during the assay. Finally, an in vitro angiogenesis assay was performed on collagen gels. Endothelial cells were seeded onto three-dimensional collagen gels. Treatment with bFGF and VEGF induced invasion of the gel and the formation of tube-like structures. TIMPs (1, 2, and 3) were added to the cultures to determine their effect on invasion. An in vivo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay was performed using methylcellulose discs containing bFGF with or without TIMP-3. Induction of new blood vessels was observed with a stereomicroscope. RESULTS: TIMP-3 inhibits chemotaxis of vascular endothelial cells toward VEGF and bFGF, inhibits collagen gel invasion and capillary morphogenesis in vitro, and inhibits bFGF-induced angiogenesis in the CAM assay in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: TIMP-3 has the potential to inhibit angiogenesis. These results allow us to speculate on a possible mechanism by which mutant TIMP-3 protein might contribute to the Sorsby fundus dystrophy phenotype.

Allantois↗
PubMed1996

Canary finches (Serinus canaria) as an avian infection model for Lyme borreliosis.

To investigate if passerine birds can be used as an avian model for Lyme borreliosis, the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto strain Sh2-82 was inoculated subcutaneously on Canary finches (Serinus canaria). Spirochaetes could be detected in the blood by direct microscopy and an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) up to 2 weeks after the inoculation. DNA amplification (PCR) revealed B. burgdorferi DNA in the serum for up to 3 weeks, in the faeces up to 4 weeks, and from several internal organs at autopsy 3 months after the inoculation. Of particular interest was the finding of B. burgdorferi DNA in the liver of all birds at the end of the experiment, indicating a persistent infection. Four weeks after the primary infection, all infected birds showed an increase in anti Borrelia IgG antibodies and after 6 weeks all birds had seroconverted. Except for a brief episode of diarrhoea, none of the birds showed any signs of disease. This study shows that passerine birds experience short-term spirochaetemia after infection with B. burgdorferi, but show few clinical symptoms. This suggests that, although these birds can act as reservoirs of B. burgdorferi s.s., they may be of less importance as long lasting amplifiers for this pathogen.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia.

The present concepts of the aetiology, prevention and treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia are discussed. The satisfactory results of Ilizarov's method and vascularised fibular grafting make these methods optimal choices for treatment. When they are not available, a bone graft with intramedullary fixation is a valuable alternative.

Amputation, Surgical↗
PubMed1996

Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopic analysis identifies alterations in mineral properties in bones from mice transgenic for type X collagen.

Type X collagen has been implicated in the morphogenetic events of endochondral ossification (EO), including the calcification of hypertrophic cartilage and trabeculae prior to their replacement by bone and marrow. Recently, transgenic mice, which expressed a truncated collagen X protein, were reported to exhibit morphologic alterations in all tissues arising through EO. Specifically, the growth plates were compressed within the zone of cartilage hypertrophy, and the number and size of calcified trabeculae were reduced. The condition in the mouse is comparable to Schmid metaphyseal chondrodysplasia in humans for which, to date, 20 defined type X collagen mutations have been reported. The transgenic mouse showed no alterations in mineralization by conventional histology, however, it did show a decrease in newly formed bony trabeculae, and a thinning of periosteal bones. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has previously been shown to provide quantitative and qualitative information about the relative amount of mineral and carbonate present, mineral composition, and crystal perfection. To determine whether the expression of abnormal collagen X molecules had an effect on mineral properties, the "quality" of mineral crystals was analyzed in thin sections of tibia from day 17 and day 25 genotypically negative (normal) and positive (mutant) mice from several independent transgenic mouse lines showing varying degrees of the mutant phenotype, by means of Fourier transform infrared microscopic analysis (FTIRM). The results indicate definite differences between normal and transgenic mice calcified cartilage mineral, both in the amount present and the "quality" of the crystals. Calcified cartilage mineral from transgenic mice exhibited less crystallinity and higher acidic phosphate content than the corresponding mineral from normal specimens.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The role of type X collagen in endochondral ossification as deduced by Fourier transform infrared microscopy analysis.

Type X collagen has been implicated in the morphogenetic events of endochondral ossification (EO), including the calcification of hypertrophic cartilage and trabeculae prior to their replacement by bone and marrow. Recently, transgenic mice which expressed a truncated collagen X protein were reported to exhibit morphologic alterations in all tissues arising through EO. Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy has previously been shown to provide quantitative and qualitative information about the relative amount of mineral and carbonate present, mineral composition, and crystal perfection. To determine the role of collagen X in mineralization, the "quality" of mineral crystals was analyzed in thin sections of calcified cartilage from tibia obtained from several independent transgenic mouse lines showing varying degrees of the mutant phenotype and mice without type X collagen expression, by means of Fourier Transform InfraRed microscopy (FTIRM). In the present paper, the term "mineral quality" is employed to describe crystallinity/crystal maturation, and acid phosphate content. The results indicate significant differences between normal and transgenic mice bone mineral, both in the amount present and the "quality" of the crystals. In contrast, the analysis of the mineral in mice without type X collagen expression was not different from their age/sex-matched controls.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Mikhail Bulgakov--a colleague and cult figure].

Mikhail Bulgakov (1891-1940) was medically qualified, but practised as a doctor only a few years before he launched on a full time career as a writer. His writings are marked by exuberant satire and burlesque phantasy, a genre condemned anti-Sovietic. Throughout his writing life, Bulgakov found it extremely difficult to get his writings published. He did not become known to the reading public inside and outside USSR until 30 years after his death.

Communism↗