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Biomedical subjects

G Beckman

Publications and source records attributed to G Beckman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Gc subtypes in Finns, Swedes and Swedish Lapps.

The group-specific component (Gc) subtypes were determined by isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting. The gene frequencies in the Swedish Lapps were Gc1F = 0.412, Gc1S = 0.367 and Gc2 = 0.221, which was significantly different from the frequencies found in Finns and in the populations of northern and central Sweden (p less than 0.001). The gene frequencies in the Swedish Lapps, although similar to those in Asiatic populations, are probably not reflecting an Asiatic influence, since the accumulated genetic information on the Swedish Lapps suggests that founder effect and genetic drift are to a large extent responsible for the peculiar gene pool of the original Lapp population.

Finland↗
PubMed1988

Serum protein markers in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Serum protein markers (alpha 1-AT, Bf, C3, C4A, C4B, Hp and Tf) were studied in a series of 36 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and compared to normal blood donors. In agreement with the results of previous investigations a significant increase of complement C4 deficiency was found among the SLE patients. The relative risks for AQ0 and BQ0 homozygosity were 7.2 and 4.1, respectively. Simultaneous occurrence of AQ0 and BQ0 was found in three patients with a calculated relative risk of about 65. A significant increase of the haptoglobin type 2-2 (p less than 0.05) was found among SLE patients. The remaining serum protein systems showed no statistically significant associations with SLE.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1988

Population studies in northern Sweden. XIII. The 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase polymorphism.

Frequencies of the 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) genes were studied in a series of 314 Finns from northern Finland and in a material of 4,348 conscripts and blood donors from the counties of Norrbotten and Västerbotten in northern Sweden. The Swedish individuals were distributed into 23 subpopulations according to place of birth. The frequency of the PGDC gene was comparatively high in Finns (5.3%) and showed significant variations between subpopulations (from 5.3 to 0.0%). The frequency of the PGDC gene showed a cline, with a decreasing gene frequency in the north-south direction. This geographical pattern could be explained in terms of Lappish and Finnish influence.

Gene Frequency↗
PubMed1987

Genetic markers in patients with intracranial aneurysms.

HLA antigens, blood group systems (ABO, Rh, MNSs, P, Kell, Lewis and Duffy) and serum group systems (Hp, Tf, Gc, Pi, Bf, C3 and C4) were studied in a series of patients with intracranial aneurysms. A significantly increased frequency of HLA antigen A28, a significantly decreased frequency of HLA antigen B40, and a significantly decreased frequency of complement factor C4 B2 was found among the patients when compared with controls from the same geographic area.

Complement C4↗
PubMed1987

Relationship between transferrin C2 and birth weight.

In previous investigations transferrin C2 has been found to be associated with spontaneous abortion and premature birth. In a study of newborn infants from northern Sweden, no significant correlation was found between birth weight and transferrin C2 of the infants. Thus transferrin C2 appears to be associated with reproductive disturbances and with premature birth, but not with birth weight in mature infants.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1986

Serum protein polymorphisms in a Liberian population.

Serum protein variations were studied in a Liberian population living in Buchanan town. Of the alpha 1-antitrypsin genes only M1 and M3 were polymorphic. The frequencies of the haptoglobin and Gc genes were in accordance with earlier known estimates in African populations. There was, however, a relatively low frequency of Hp 0 which may be related to the low malarial parasite prevalence in this group. The transferrin C2 gene was found in a significantly lower frequency among Liberians compared to European and Asiatic populations. A new transferrin variant was observed by isoelectric focusing. This variant could not be identified with conventional starch or polyacrylamide electrophoresis.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1986

Decrease of transferrin C2 frequency with age.

In previous studies, transferrin C2 has been found to be associated with spontaneous abortion, prematurity, phototoxic eczema and rheumatoid arthritis. We have suggested that the mechanism behind these negative effects may be that transferrin C2 increases the risk for damage through hydroxyl radicals. This hypothesis predicts that the C2 frequency should decrease with age. Such an effect is demonstrated in this report. In a population from northern Sweden the C2 gene frequency was found to decrease from 0.173 in newborns to 0.099 in 70-year-old healthy individuals.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Haptoglobin groups and lung cancer.

Haptoglobin groups were investigated in 309 patients with primary lung cancer divided by sex, smoking habits and tumor type. Patients with squamous epithelial cancer and oat-cell cancer showed no significant difference from normal controls. Among patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma the frequency of the Hp 2-2 type was significantly (p less than 0.05) lower compared to the controls, with a corresponding increase of the Hp 1-1 and Hp 2-1 types. This difference was more pronounced (p less than 0.025) among females with pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1985

Prevalence of HTLV-I in Arctic regions.

Sera of native inhabitants of Arctic regions were assayed for antibodies to HTLV-I by the ELISA technique followed by competition experiments to confirm antibody specificity. Residents of 7 widely separated Alaskan villages exhibited prevalence rates of 0 to 12% for HTLV-I antibodies. Less than 1% of Greenland Eskimos were HTLV-I antibody-positive. Residents of 3 northern Swedish regions ranged in HTLV-I antibody prevalence from 0 to 5%. Sera of healthy native inhabitants of Alaska and northern Sweden were similarly assayed for antibodies to HTLV-II. No additional sera were shown to be positive for HTLV-II antibodies. While some of the HTLV-I antibody-positive sera exhibited cross-reactivity with HTLV-II antigens, competition experiments using disrupted HTLV-II or purified HTLV-I p24 as test antigens indicated that the primary antibody response in all cases tested was elicited by HTLV-I. Our results show that HTLV-I distribution is not restricted to endemic areas in warm, humid climates, but extends to Arctic regions. Within these regions, HTLV-I exhibits the same restricted distribution seen in other areas where virus infection is prevalent. The Arctic does not seem to be a reservoir for HTLV-II infection. The origin of HTLV-I in Arctic areas is not known. One may speculate that foreign visitors introduced the virus into Aleut and Lapp populations, and that it has been maintained there and restricted in its distribution as a result of close familial relationships.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Transferrin C subtypes and occupational photodermatosis of the face.

In a factory in northern Sweden where 120 workers were uniformly exposed to photoactive substances 73 developed occupational facial eczema while 47 showed no reaction. The workers were examined with respect to 16 genetic marker systems: HLA, blood groups (ABO, Rh, MNSs, P, K, Le and Fy) and serum groups (Hp, Tf, Gc, Pi, Bf, C3, C4 and C6). Between reactors and nonreactors the following differences were found: (1) a significant decrease (p less than 0.05) of HLA A11 among the reactors; (2) a significant increase (p less than 0.05) of the C3 FS type among the reactors; (3) a highly significant increase (p less than 0.001) of the transferrin C2 gene and of the C2 variant among the reactors. The association with Tf C2 remained significant also after correction for number of significance tests. Since transferrin (iron) is known to catalyze the formation of hydroxyl radicals we hypothesize that the Tf C2 variant is more efficient in promoting radical formation and thereby cell damage. Other results supporting the notion that transferrin C2 may be associated with an increased susceptibility to toxic damage are discussed.

Blood Group Antigens↗
PubMed1985

Bf and C3 complement types in rheumatoid arthritis.

Bf and C3 complement types were studied in 100 male and 100 females patients from northern Sweden with erosive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compared with population controls. A significantly decreased frequency of the Bf FS phenotype was found particularly in males and in patients with a family history of polyarthritis. Significant Bf associations were also found with a more severe form of RA (functional classes III and IV) and with high titers of the rheumatoid factor. No significant difference with respect to C3 phenotype and gene frequencies was found between RA patients and controls. Thus, the association between RA and C3F found in some previous investigations was not confirmed.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1984

Alpha-1-antitrypsin types and rheumatoid arthritis.

Frequencies of alpha-1-antitrypsin (Pi) phenotypes were studied in 100 female and 100 male Swedish patients with classical rheumatoid arthritis and compared with the population frequencies. A significant increase of rare Pi types (MS, MZ, MF and SZ) was found among the patients. However, the increase concerned mainly Z heterozygotes and was more strongly pronounced in male patients. The M-subtypes showed no association with rheumatoid arthritis. Previous investigations of Pi types in rheumatoid arthritis have shown somewhat variable results. The results so far indicate, however, that an association between the Z allele and rheumatoid arthritis is likely to exist, while the evidence for a relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and other Pi alleles is considerably weaker.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Association between haptoglobin groups and aortic abdominal aneurysms.

Six different serum group systems (Bf, C3, Gc, Hp, Pi and Tf) were studied in a series of patients from northern Sweden with abdominal aortic aneurysms. In the haptoglobin system an increased frequency of the Hp 2-1 type was observed among the patients. No association was found between abdominal aortic aneurysms and the other five serum group systems.

Aorta, Abdominal↗
PubMed1984

Alpha-1-antitrypsin types and pulmonary disease among employees at a sulphite pulp factory in northern Sweden.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) phenotypes and serum levels were measured in 518 employees at a sulphite pulp factory. There were 439 men and 79 women with the mean age of 42 years (range 18-65 years). Mean time of employment at the factory was 17.5 years and 216 (42%) individuals had been employed for more than 20 years. Chronic bronchitis was present in 47 (9.1%) individuals. alpha 1-AT rare types (MZ, MS, MF) were present in 12.8% of the individuals with chronic bronchitis compared to 8.4% in employees with no respiratory symptoms, the difference being not statistically significant. Individuals with chronic bronchitis and rare types were evenly distributed with regard to work place at the factory. Serum levels of alpha 1-AT were somewhat higher in smokers compared to non-smokers, but the difference was not statistically significant. Exposure to SO2 and chlorine did not seem to affect the serum levels of alpha 1-AT in M type individuals. In the present study, individuals heterozygous for alpha 1-AT deficiency phenotypes (MZ, MS, MF) did not seem to have an increased rate of chronic bronchitis. However, the rate of chronic bronchitis in factory employees was significantly increased compared to that among non-employees in the surrounding community. This increase appears to be due to a higher rate of smoking and to occupational exposure (SO2 and chlorine) among the sulphite pulp factory workers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Is the PiF allele of alpha 1-antitrypsin associated with pulmonary disease?

Pulmonary function was studied in thirteen individuals heterozygous for the alpha 1-antitrypsin allele PiF. Respiratory symptoms were present in seven out of twelve individuals with the FM phenotype, of which five had pulmonary function impairment, mostly of the obstructive type. One patient with the phenotype FZ had bronchitic symptoms and a mild obstructive spirometry pattern. The results suggest a relationship between the PiF allele and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is independent of the serum alpha 1-AT level.

Adult↗