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Biomedical subjects

E Nilsson

Publications and source records attributed to E Nilsson.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Muscle and plasma amino acids and nutritional status in kidney-transplanted children.

Nutritional status, assessed by anthropometric and biochemical methods, protein and amino-acid (AA) composition and muscle water were evaluated in 11 kidney transplanted children and in a control group of 10 children with normal renal function who were undergoing elective surgery. Samples of the rectus abdominis muscle were taken when surgery was performed in the control children and when the peritoneal catheter was removed in the transplanted children. The mean time from the transplantation to the study time was 97 +/- 14 days (range 72-114 days). Height was reduced in the transplanted children compared to the controls but skinfold thickness, arm muscle circumference and serum proteins (total protein, albumin, transferrin, pseudocholinesterase) were normal. The body mass index was over the 50 degree percentile in nine of the eleven children. The muscle contents of total, extracellular, and intracellular water, alkali-soluble protein (ASP), DNA and the ASP/DNA ratio were not significantly different in transplanted children from those in the controls. Plasma leucine and taurine levels were significantly decreased, whereas plasma citrulline and alanine levels and the glycine/serine ratio were increased. Muscle threonine, alanine+taurine, glycine and aspartic acid levels as well as the glycine/serine ratio were increased in the transplanted children. Transplanted children show an almost normal muscle AA profile and a plasma AA pattern that seems to be related to the prednisone therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Do occupational factors influence the risk of colon and rectal cancer in different ways?

BACKGROUND: Occupational exposures and physical activity have been considered as risk factors for the development of colorectal cancer. METHODS: A case-control study on working conditions and the risk of colon and rectal cancer was performed in southeastern Sweden during 1984-86. Involved were 177 patients, 98 with colon cancer and 79 with rectal cancer, and two groups of control subjects, 371 hospital control subjects and 430 population control subjects. RESULTS: A significantly decreased risk of left-sided colon cancer was observed in persons involved in more than 20 years of physically active work and a significantly decreased risk of rectal cancer in persons involved in more than 20 years of sedentary work. A tendency toward increased risk was seen for colon cancer in male railroad workers and in male gas station workers. A reduced risk of rectal cancer was found for drivers, textile workers, and administration workers, whereas an increased risk of rectal cancer appeared among paper workers and assistant nurses. A low risk of both colon and rectal cancer was found among construction workers and forestry workers. Exposure to asbestos carried a slightly increased risk of colon cancer, whereas exposure to solvents slightly decreased the risk of rectal cancer. CONCLUSION: This study confirms earlier findings that physical activity decreases the risk for left-sided colon cancer, but also suggests that occupational factors influence the risk of colon and rectal cancer in different ways.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

Calpain processing of brain microtubules from the Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua.

Microtubules isolated from Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) brains retained assembly competence and ultraculture, although treatment with rabbit calpain resulted in loss of MAPs. In addition, spirals and aberrant structures formed when calpain I was activated post assembly. No such effect was seen with calpain II. Soluble fractions from cod brain were found to contain proteolytic activity that could be blocked by exogenously added calpastatin. Calpain was also isolated from cod muscle tissue with 10 times less yield, compared to rabbit lung. On the basis of Ca(2+)-requirements for activation in the mM range, electrophoretic mobility, antigenicity and hydrophobicity, we conclude that the proteolytic activity was attributable to calpain II. There was no difference in effects of rabbit and cod calpain II on cod microtubule proteins, indicating that calpain is a conserved protein. Our results suggest that calpains might be involved in the Ca(2+)-dependent irreversible regulation of cod brain microtubules.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Transient expression of a human beta-actin promoter/lacZ gene introduced into mouse embryos correlates with a low degree of methylation.

We have analysed the correlation between expression and methylation for the human beta-actin promoter introduced into mouse embryos. The beta-actin promoter was fused to the reporter gene lacZ, and expression was analysed after pronuclear injection into fertilized mouse eggs. We analysed transient expression in in vitro cultured preimplantation embryos and expression after chromosomal integration in 5 independent lines of transgenic mice. The in vitro cultured preimplantation embryos expressed lacZ from the 2-cell to the blastocyst stages, and most abundantly at the morula stage. By increasing the amount of injected DNA, a larger proportion of embryos expressed lacZ. Embryos expressing lacZ in only a subset of the blastomeres were detected at all preimplantation stages. In contrast to the transient expression after injection, we have not detected lacZ expression in any of the 5 analysed lines of transgenic mice carrying the same construct. The lack of expression in transgenic mice correlates with hypermethylation of C residues in the vast majority of CG sequences in the integrated beta-actin/lacZ construct, whereas the injected construct was completely nonmethylated. We discuss methylation and other possible reasons for the observed differences in expression between injected and integrated copies of the beta-actin/lacZ construct and for lacZ expression in only a subset of blastomeres in preimplantation embryos.

Actins↗
PubMed1993

Prognostic significance of p53 expression in relation to DNA ploidy in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

p53 expression, DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction were analysed retrospectively in colorectal adenocarcinomas from 293 patients in whom the long-term outcome was known. The frequency of nuclear p53 staining was increased in non-diploid tumours (42%) when compared with diploid tumours (33%). Cytoplasmic p53 positive tumours were more common in the proximal colon (32%) than in the distal sites (21%). In univariate survival analysis, nuclear p53 and cytoplasmic staining were significantly associated with poor prognosis in patients with Dukes' A-C tumours. The patients showing both nuclear and cytoplasmic p53 staining had the poorest survival and the patients with tumours negative in both the nucleus and cytoplasm showed the best prognosis. The patients with tumours positive in the nucleus alone or in the cytoplasm alone presented an intermediate survival. In multivariate survival analyses, nuclear p53 expression, cytoplasmic p53 expression and DNA ploidy were prognostic indicators independent of Dukes' stage and each other. Further analysis suggested that the prognostic importance of cytoplasmic p53 expression was greater in diploid than in non-diploid tumours. We conclude that nuclear p53 expression, cytoplasmic p53 expression and DNA ploidy provide important prognostic information in colorectal adenocarcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

Standardisation and validation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques for the detection of antibody in infectious disease diagnosis.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques for the detection of antibodies are now widely used throughout the world for the diagnosis of infectious diseases in veterinary medicine. Although many laboratories have independently developed ELISA techniques for their own purposes, little progress has been made with respect to the international standardisation and validation of these techniques. This lack of international conformity is of major concern to organisations such as the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which are involved in the establishment of international guidelines and programmes for the control, surveillance and/or eradication of infectious diseases. In this regard, a Joint FAO/IAEA Meeting of Consultants was convened in Vienna in January 1992 to review aspects of ELISA data expression, primary reference standards, quality assurance and diagnostic validation. Based on the consensus derived from this meeting, the authors describe procedures which are recommended as a platform on which to build definitive guidelines for international standardisation of ELISA protocols and reagents, in cooperation with the OIE and the OIE Reference Laboratories.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Cereal fiber, calcium, and colorectal cancer.

Food intake during the preceding 15 years was evaluated in detail in 41 patients treated for colorectal cancer and an equal number of matched control subjects by means of a dietary history technique that permitted quantitation of nutrients. Dietary habits of the control group could be compared against two larger groups of 371 hospital control and 430 population control subjects. Patients with cancer, who were interviewed after complete recovery from surgery, consumed more fat, protein, and carbohydrates, and thus more energy, than control subjects although these differences were not statistically significant. Per unit energy, the habitual diet of patients with cancer contained less cereal fiber (P less than 0.001), less riboflavin (P less than 0.05), less calcium (P less than 0.05), and less phosphorus (P less than 0.05) than the diet of the control subjects. A high intake of either cereal fiber, total fiber, calcium, and phosphorus in relation to energy intake was found to be associated with a reduced risk ratio of colorectal cancer. For colon cancer separately, a high intake of calcium and cereal fiber was associated with a reduced risk ratio. For rectal cancer, a high intake of total fiber and cereal fiber was associated with a reduced risk ratio. High alcohol consumption correlated with an increased risk ratio. These data are compatible with previous Scandinavian studies relating food consumption to the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

T cell receptor diversity and activation markers in the V delta 1 subset of rheumatoid synovial fluid and peripheral blood T lymphocytes.

In the present study we have characterized the gamma/delta T cell receptor (TcR) population in synovial fluid (SF) and peripheral blood (PB) of patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis. By double staining we have shown that (a) synovial V delta 1+ cells have a high expression of activation markers CD45R0 ("memory cells") and HLA-DR as compared to PB, indicating a preactivated population of V delta 1-carrying T cells in vivo and (b) interleukin 2-induced expansion of synovial cells yields a high proportion of gamma/delta in most samples expressing predominantly the V delta 1 TcR. Junctional sequence analysis of the TcR delta chain from interleukin 2-expanded PB cell lines demonstrated a polyclonal V delta 1 population in three out of three samples. In SF cell lines three out of four samples were polyclonally expanded. In SF from one patient, however, a limited repertoire of expressed V delta 1 genes was found. Altogether, our data demonstrate the presence of preactivated V delta 1-expressing cells in the synovial compartment. This V delta 1 population is predominantly polyclonal, except in one patient where oligoclonally expanded V delta 1 cells were detected.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1992

Integrins and other adhesion molecules on lymphocytes from synovial fluid and peripheral blood of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Cell and matrix adhesion of lymphocytes participates in homing, migration and accumulation of these cells in inflamed tissues as well as in the generation of immune and inflammatory responses. In inflamed joints of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, lymphocytes accumulate in the synovial membrane and the synovial fluid. In the present study we have analyzed the expression of integrins and other adhesion molecules in synovial fluid lymphocytes (RA-SFL) and paired peripheral blood lymphocytes (RA-PBL) from 21 RA patients by immunofluorescence flow cytometry. We have also investigated the expression of these adhesion molecules on peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from 13 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (CO-PBL). RA-SFL, which consisted mostly of T cells, showed higher expression of the integrin subunits beta 1 (CD29), VLA-1 alpha, -3 alpha, -4 alpha, -5 alpha and -6 alpha when compared to RA-PBL. In turn, RA-PBL showed lower expression of these molecules than CO-PBL. The expression of the immunoglobulin-related molecules CD2, CD54 (ICAM-1) and CD58 (LFA-3) was higher on RA-SFL when compared to RA-PBL or CO-PBL, and similar results were obtained with the beta 2 integrin subunits CD11a and CD18. In contrast, L-selectin (LECAM-1) and ICAM-2 were expressed at much lower levels on RA-SFL than on RA-PBL or CO-PBL. CD44, a receptor for hyaluronic acid and collagen, was expressed by most RA-SFL, RA-PBL and CO-PBL cells but at higher density on RA-SFL. The results indicate that RA-SFL express a distinct array of adhesion molecules, similar to the one of memory T lymphocytes. This characteristic phenotype may contribute to the lymphocytic infiltration of the synovium and to the pathogenesis of RA.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effect of the selective MAO-A inhibitors brofaromine, clorgyline and moclobemide on human platelet MAO-B activity.

MAO-B activity was compared in healthy volunteers following oral treatment with clinically effective doses of the selective MAO-A inhibitors brofaromine (100 mg q.d. for 14 days), moclobemide (150 mg t.i.d. for 14 days) and clorgyline (5 mg t.i.d. for 10 days). Brofaromine and clorgyline did not alter platelet MAO activity. Following moclobemide treatment, MAO-B activity was reduced by 32% (p less than 0.05). It recovered during the 5 subsequent days after discontinuation of treatment. These results confirm earlier findings. The explanation for this finding may be that metabolites of moclobemide are active inhibitors of MAO-B.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The possible role of Coxsackie A and echo viruses in the pathogenesis of type I diabetes mellitus studied by IgM analysis.

IgM antibodies to Coxsackie B virus (CBV) have recently been observed in the serum of a relatively high proportion of children with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). In the present study, 108 IDDM patients below the age of 15 years, diagnosed during the period 1976 to 1985, were investigated at the onset of their disease by mu-antibody-capture radioimmunoassay (RIA) of IgM against seven different enterovirus antigens, namely virions of CBV serotypes 1-5 (CBV 1-5) and procapsids of CBV 3 and CBV 5. As has been shown the RIAs with virions give type-specific or narrow type-specific reactions, whereas procapsids react with IgM against both homotypic and heterotypic enteroviruses. The annual frequency of IgM against virions varied between 15 and 76% (mean 38%). IgM against CBV3 and CBV2 predominated, but IgM against the other serotypes was also observed. When procapsids were used as antigen, the frequency of IgM varied between 11 and 86% (mean 63%). With virions and procapsids, the corresponding variation was 44-100% (mean 70%). The total number of patients exhibiting virion-IgM was 41, whereas procapsid-IgM alone [indicating an infection with Coxsackie A virus (CAV) and/or echo virus (EV)] was detected in 36 patients. For 2 of the years, samples of serum from control groups were included. These showed a significantly lower frequency of IgM in both the virion and the procapsid RIAs. It is concluded that not only infection with CBV but also that with other enteroviruses, such as CAV and/or EV, may be involved in the pathogenesis of IDDM in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Effects of ethanol on the chemotactic peptide-induced second messenger generation and superoxide production in polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The generation of oxygen radicals by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) plays a pivotal role for host defense. Since ethanol reduced FMLP- but not PMA-induced superoxide ion (O2-) formation by PMNL, the effects of ethanol on second messenger systems in PMNL were studied. FMLP induced a biphasic rise in cytosolic calcium concentrations, [Ca2+]i. Ethanol treatment abolished the second phase (believed to reflect Ca2+ influx), an effect also observed in PMNL treated with La3+ or suspended in Ca(2+)-free buffer. The FMLP-induced inositol trisphosphate generation was unaffected by ethanol, whereas diacylglycerol formation was, as expected, markedly reduced. Propranolol, an inhibitor of diacylglycerol formation from phosphatidic acid, caused a prolonged transmembrane influx of Ca2+ and partially reversed the inhibitory effect of ethanol on FMLP-induced O2- production. Thus, the ability of ethanol to inhibit FMLP-induced O2- generation in neutrophils seems to be due to both impaired influx of Ca2+ across the plasma membrane and reduced phospholipase D-mediated generation of phosphatidic acid.

Calcium↗
PubMed1991

Changes in brain calpain activity as a result of in vitro ischemia and pH alterations.

Calpains and calpastatin in the brain of the rabbit were examined in experimental situations that could mimic some features of brain ischemia. Incubations of bisected brains in saline at 39 degrees C for 0.5, 1, or 1.5 h resulted in a decreased calpain I activity in the cytosol and in an increased hydrophobicity of cytosolic calpain II activity. Incubation of brain homogenates at different pH levels demonstrated an almost-complete transfer of calpains from the cytoplasmic compartment to the membranes when pH was lowered from 6 to 5. At pH values lower than 5, the total calpain activity (soluble plus membrane-bound) markedly decreased. No significant changes of calpastatin activity or its subcellular distribution was found following incubation of the homogenates at different pH levels.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Muscle composition in relation to age and sex.

1. A method is described enabling the determination of fat, water, electrolytes, protein, DNA, RNA and total creatine in a single sample of human muscle obtained by the percutaneous needle-biopsy technique. The amino acid content can also be analysed in the same muscle sample. 2. Fifty healthy subjects were studied: 29 between 19 and 40 years of age, 11 between 41 and 60 years of age, and 10 between 61 and 85 years of age. The two groups aged less than 60 years showed only marginal differences in muscle composition, whereas the highest age group showed increases in muscle fat content in relation to tissue weight and decreases in alkali-soluble protein content in relation to both tissue weight and tissue DNA content. Also, potassium, magnesium, total creatine and RNA contents were decreased in this age group when related to tissue DNA content. When alkali-soluble protein was used as a reference base, only magnesium content was decreased. 3. A comparison was also made between female (n = 23) and male (n = 18) subjects in the age groups below 60 years. Differences observed included a higher fat content in female muscle, and an increase in total creatine content in relation to tissue weight. The alkalisoluble protein content was lower per muscle cell in the females when calculated on the basis of DNA content. 4. The results show that in the assessment of muscle constituents, age and sex must be taken into account.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Ethanol impairs certain aspects of neutrophil adhesion in vitro: comparisons with inhibition of expression of the CD18 antigen.

Since ethanol impairs polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) delivery to inflammatory sites, the effect of ethanol on PMNL adhesiveness was studied in vitro. Ethanol inhibited PMNL aggregation induced by formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP) but not by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), whereas responses to both stimuli were abolished by treating PMNL with monoclonal antibody 60.3 (against the adhesion protein CD18). This antibody also abrogated spontaneous and FMLP-stimulated PMNL adhesion to plastic, whereas ethanol reduced spontaneous but not FMLP-induced adherence. Chemotaxis in Boyden or agarose systems was not diminished by ethanol, but high concentrations of MAb 60.3 inhibited migration under agarose. Nonetheless, upregulation of cell surface expression of CD18 (assessed by immunofluorescence flow cytometry) induced by FMLP or PMA was similarly reduced by ethanol. Thus, ethanol inhibited only certain of PMNL adhesion, and although the stimulated up-regulation of CD18 expression was reduced it is unlikely that ethanol effects were mediated only by this inhibition.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1991

Quality assessment in hernia surgery.

Questionnaires were sent five years postoperatively to all patients between 15 and 80 years old at operation who were treated for inguinal or femoral hernia in 1984 at Motala Hospital. Patients were asked about pain or a lump in the operation area and a clinical examination was offered. Of 137 patients with 142 hernias, 92% answered the questionnaire and 88% came to the examination. Among patients who answered the questionnaire and attended the examination the cumulated recurrence rate was 19%, when recurrence was defined as an indication for reoperation or a bulge in the operation area that appeared or increased during abdominal straining. Predictive values for positive and negative questionnaire answers in relation to hernia recurrence were 69% and 95%, respectively. In 14% of hernia operations a reoperation had been performed or was needed. Testicular atrophy was found in 2.7% of male patients. A questionnaire follow-up may be appropriate for identifying patients with symptomatic recurrencies, but it is inadequate as a single indicator of quality assessment in hernia surgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

The effect of 20-trifluoromethyl leukotriene B4 on neutrophil functional responses.

20-trifluoromethyl-leukotriene B4 (20CF3-LTB4) is a stable derivative of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) that is not subjected to omega-oxidation to less active metabolites. 20CF3-LTB4 was as potent as LTB4 as a chemotactic, adhesion-promoting and aggregatory agent for human neutrophils, but had only 11 +/- 3% of the ability to induce an oxidative response. Nonetheless, both compounds were equally efficient in order to confer a rapid and monophasic increment of the concentration of cytosolic calcium. The kinetics of the calcium, aggregatory and chemiluminescent responses to 20CF3-LTB4 were similar to that of LTB4. These findings suggest that the insertion of the trifluoromethyl group into the LTB4 molecule causes a shift of the biological activity profile, suggesting that 20CF3-LTB4 binds mainly to high affinity LTB4 receptors. Moreover, the similarity of the response kinetics of LTB4 and 20CF3-LTB4 suggests that the mechanism for the rapid and transient responses of LTB4 is not due to its omega-oxidation.

Calcium↗