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Biomedical subjects

B Pedersen

Publications and source records attributed to B Pedersen.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Microheterogeneity of orosomucoid in pathological conditions.

Studies of orosomucoid (alpha 1-acid glycoprotein) in human serum have revealed that orosomucoid is a mixture of molecules with differences in the glycan chains. This microheterogeneity has been studied using crossed affinoimmuno-electrophoresis with the lectin concanavalin A which binds to biantennary glycans. The relative proportions of the three orosomucoid subtypes are altered in various pathological conditions independently of the total serum orosomucoid concentration. There are reproducible differences in microheterogeneity patterns between some pathological conditions: Acute tissue injury or inflammation results in a high proportion of orosomucoid with biantennary glycans. Conditions with increased estrogen levels are associated with a high proportion of orosomucoid with tri- or tetraantennary glycans and a low total serum orosomucoid concentration. Chronic inflammation also seems to be associated with a high proportion of orosomucoid with tri- or tetraantennary glycans but with a high total serum concentration of orosomucoid. Other diseases, such as cancer, can not be associated with any specific microheterogeneity pattern. The microheterogeneity pattern in these conditions seems to be determined by disease activity and unspecific inflammation in surrounding tissues.

Concanavalin A↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of rat heart morphology and function in vivo in two models of cardiac hypertrophy by means of magnetic resonance imaging.

Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was applied to assess structural and functional parameters of the rat heart in vivo. Using ECG and respiratory triggering, MR images were obtained at different time points during the cardiac cycle. This allowed accurate determinations of the left ventricular (LV) mass, wall thickness, LV end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes, stroke volume, and ejection fraction. LV mass determined by MRI showed and excellent linear correlation with post mortem gravimetric determination of LV weight. MRI was then used to examine the pathophysiological changes in two models of LV hypertrophy. In one group of animals the aortic arch was banded to an outer diameter of 1.0 mm to elicit a pressure overload on the LV. A second group was subjected to a volume overload due to graded disruption of the aortic valve. Although both models exhibited a similar degree of LV hypertrophy as shown by the LV weight/body weight ratio, important functional and structural differences were revealed by MRI. Aortic stenosis resulted in an increase in wall thickness, whereas stroke volume and ejection fraction did not differ compared to control animals. In contrast, aortic valve insufficiency did not affect LV wall thickness, however, LV chamber volume as well as stroke volume were markedly increased. Ejection fraction was significantly reduced in these animals. In conclusion, MRI allows the reliable in vivo determination of important structural and functional parameters of hearts in small rodents.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) provokes vaginal lubrication in normal women.

The human vagina is known to be heavily innervated by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactive nerve fibres. In the present study we have examined the effect of VIP (900 pmol x kg-1 x h-1, IV during 30 min) on vaginal lubrication and blood flow in fourteen normal non-pregnant women. Vaginal blood flow was measured by the heat clearance technique and the vaginal lubrication quantified by the weight gain of preweighed filter papers placed on the surface of the vaginal wall for 30 min. Arterial blood pressure, pulse frequency and the concentration of VIP in peripheral blood were monitored. VIP (median concentrations of 200-300 pmol x l-1) induced a significant increase in vaginal blood flow accompanied by a 100% increase in vaginal lubrication (from 27 mg/cm2 to 53 mg/cm2). The VIP infusion lead to a significant increase in pulse frequency and a significant fall in diastolic arterial blood pressure. The findings suggest that VIP may participate in the control of the local physiological changes observed during sexual arousal: genital vasodilation and increase in vaginal lubrication.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

No influence of the antidepressant paroxetine on carbamazepine, valproate and phenytoin.

A single-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial investigating possible interactions between paroxetine, a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, and carbamazepine (CBZ), valproate (VPA) and phenytoin (PHT) was carried out in 20 outpatients with epilepsy. Patients on long-term treatment with CBZ, VPA, or PHT were given a 7-day placebo treatment, followed by paroxetine co-treatment for 16 days. Side effects were infrequent and mild. Paroxetine caused no changes in the plasma concentrations and all values were within the recommended ranges. No changes in protein binding were found. Plasma concentrations of paroxetine at steady state (8-147 ng/ml) were in the normal range for a 30-mg daily dosing regimen. None of the patients experienced epileptic seizures during the study.

Adult↗