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Biomedical subjects

J Christiansen

Publications and source records attributed to J Christiansen.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Washless double staining of unfixed nuclei for flow cytometric analysis of DNA and a nuclear antigen (Ki-67 or bromodeoxyuridine).

Washless methods for double staining of nuclear antigen and DNA in unfixed nuclei were compared with established methods for staining of fixed cells. The methods were tested on phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated normal human blood lymphocytes for the double staining of 1) Ki-67 antigen and DNA and 2) bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) and DNA, in continuously BrdUrd-labeled cells. With respect to the discrimination between antigen-positive and -negative subpopulations, there was no statistically significant differences between the results from direct (Ki-67) or indirect (Ki-67 or BrdUrd) washless staining of unfixed nuclei and the results from staining of fixed cells. Washless staining of unfixed nuclei was found to be rapid and simple and resulted in greater precision of the DNA analysis and in less aggregation and loss of cells.

Bromodeoxyuridine↗

Insulin-like growth factor II: complexity of biosynthesis and receptor binding.

Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) belongs to the insulin family of peptides and acts as a growth factor in many fetal tissues and tumors. The gene expression of IGF-II is initiated at three different promoters which gives rise to multiple transcripts. In a human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line IN 157 IGF-II mRNAs of 6.0-kb, 4.8-kb, and 4.2-kb are present. Fractionation of cellular extracts on sucrose gradients and Northern blot analysis showed that only the 4.8-kb mRNA was associated with polysomes, whereas the other transcripts cosedimented with monosomal particles. This suggests that only the 4.8-kb mRNA is translated to IGF-II. The cell line secretes two forms of immunoreactive and bioactive IGF-II to the medium of molecular size 10 kd and 7.5 kd which may be involved in autocrine control of cell growth. IGF-II binds to two receptors on the surface of many cell types: the IGF-I receptor and the mannose-6-phosphate (Man-6-P)/IGF-II receptor. There is consensus that the cellular effects of IGF-II are mediated by the IGF-I receptor via activation of its intrinsic tyrosine kinase. The Man-6-P/IGF-II receptor is involved in endocytosis of lysosomal enzymes and IGF-II. In selected cell types, however, Man-6-P induces cellular responses. We have studied rat brain neuronal precursor cells where Man-6-P acted as a mitogen suggesting that phosphomannosylated proteins may act as growth factors via the Man-6-P/IGF-II receptor. In conclusion, the gene expression and mechanism of action of IGF-II is very complex suggesting that its biological actions can be regulated at different levels including the transcription, translation, posttranslational processing, receptor binding and intracellular signalling.

Animals↗

Anorectal dysfunction in patients with urologic disturbance due to multiple sclerosis.

Anorectal function was evaluated in 11 patients with voiding dysfunction due to multiple sclerosis. In six patients with constipation, three also had symptoms of obstructed defecation and one patient was incontinent due to stercoral diarrhea. One patient was only fecal incontinent and one patient had obstructed defecation as the only symptom. Three patients had no anorectal symptoms. Anal manometry in the women compared with a control group revealed significant lower anal resting and squeeze pressures, although no significant difference of rectal sensation to distention with air was found. Pudendal nerve terminal latencies were obtained in seven patients and were all normal. In four patients latency could not be demonstrated due to poor contraction of the sphincter on stimulation of the pudendal nerve. Two of these patients were incontinent and two had both constipation and obstructed defecation. It is concluded that patients with voiding symptoms due to multiple sclerosis often reveal anorectal symptoms or motility disorders. Although anal sphincter function is reduced, fecal incontinence is not prevalent in this group. The reason for this lies probably in the fact that many of the patients are constipated, thus securing fecal continence.

Adult↗

Experimental studies on the development and propagation of shock waves created by the interaction of short Nd:YAG laser pulses with a titanium target. Possible implications for Nd:YAG laser phacolysis of the cataractous human lens.

The formation and propagation of shock waves created by the interaction of high powered Nd:YAG laser pulses with a titanium target are photographed and analyzed. The titanium target is located at the distal end of a probe, similar to an irrigation/aspiration probe used in cataract surgery, and the Nd:YAG laser is delivered by a cladded 300 microns quartz fiber. This device, and the results of this study, are being applied to develop a device for fragmenting nuclear material for cataract extraction.

Cataract Extraction↗

Relation between electromyography and anal manometry of the external anal sphincter.

Thirteen patients with faecal incontinence and 26 control subjects were studied to investigate whether a quantitative electromyographic (EMG) signal could be correlated to anal manometry. Three different electrodes were used--a concentric needle electrode, a disposable sponge electrode, and a hard anal plug electrode. The maximum amplitude of the EMG recording was used as a quantitative parameter. Linear regression showed significant correlation between EMG and anal manometry with the sponge electrode, both at rest and during squeeze. Significant correlation was also found with the concentric needle electrode during squeeze but not at rest. No correlation was found with the hard anal plug electrode either during squeeze or at rest. Reproducibility studies using the sponge electrode showed acceptable day to day variation. In conclusion, quantitative EMG recordings from a disposable sponge electrode placed in the anal canal correlate well to anal manometry and may be used for assessment of sphincter function, but the hard anal plug electrode cannot be recommended.

Adult↗

Endosonography of the anal sphincter: findings in healthy volunteers.

Knowledge of the normal sonographic features of the anal canal is essential for the detection of anal carcinomas, anal sphincteric defects, or other anal abnormalities with endosonography. The anal sphincters consist of the circular smooth muscle fibers of the internal sphincter and the circular striated muscle fibers of the external sphincter together with the sling-shaped puborectalis muscle. Anal endosonography was performed in 14 healthy women with normal anophysiologic examinations. The procedure was performed during electromyographic registration in five. A radial 7-MHz probe and a multiplane 7-MHz probe were used, and transverse and longitudinal images were obtained. On transverse images, the internal anal sphincter was visualized as a circular hypoechoic band, which on longitudinal images was seen in continuity with the muscularis layer of the rectal wall. The external anal sphincter was seen as a thicker circular echogenic band just outside the internal sphincter. The puborectalis muscle sling, which is the medial part of the levator and muscle, was visualized in the upper anal canal and had the same echogenic appearance as the external sphincter. Our experience in volunteers provides information about the normal sonographic features of the anal canal as depicted on anal endosonography with high-frequency probes. The results suggest the procedure may be a useful diagnostic tool in detecting pathologic conditions in the anal canal.

Anal Canal↗

Risk of recurrence and reoperation after resection for ileocolic Crohn's disease.

To evaluate possible risk factors for recurrence after primary resection of ileocolic Crohn's disease, the clinical course of 48 consecutive patients operated on over a 27-year period were reviewed. Median follow-up was 10 years (range, 3-27 years). The probability of not having a recurrence and the probability of not undergoing a second resection were 0.476 (+/- 0.191, 95% confidence limits) and 0.701 (+/- 0.180), respectively, after 10 years. None of the possible risk factors examined--sex, age at the primary resection, length of preoperative history, length of bowel involvement, failure of preoperative medical treatment, and residual microscopic disease at resections lines--significantly influenced the risk of recurrent disease (P greater than 0.05, log-rank test); however, there was a trend towards a higher risk of recurrence for the patients who had received medical treatment preoperatively. In the present study it was not possible to identify any factors that influenced the risk of recurrence.

Adult↗

Emergency haemorrhoidectomy compared with incision and banding for the treatment of acute strangulated haemorrhoids. A prospective randomised study.

OBJECTIVE: To find out if incision and banding was as effective as emergency haemorrhoidectomy in the treatment of strangulated haemorrhoids. DESIGN: Prospective randomised study. SETTING: Glostrup Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. SUBJECTS: 30 patients with uncomplicated acute strangulated haemorrhoids. INTERVENTIONS: Milligan-Morgan haemorrhoidectomy or incision, evacuation of blood clot, and application of elastic bands. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Amount of analgesia required, length of stay in hospital, and incidence of complications. RESULTS: Patients treated by incision and banding required significantly less opioid analgesia and spent significantly fewer days in hospital than those treated by haemorrhoidectomy, but two of them required emergency haemorrhoidectomy because the bands had slipped. CONCLUSIONS: Incision and banding is a reasonable alternative to emergency haemorrhoidectomy provided that it is done correctly, but long term follow up is needed before a final conclusion can be drawn.

Acute Disease↗

Translational discrimination of mRNAs coding for human insulin-like growth factor II.

Sucrose gradient and Northern analyses were used to study the translational status of endogenous multiple mRNAs encoding the prepropeptide for human insulin-like growth factor II. The results showed that a minor 4.8-kilobase mRNA was exclusively engaged in the synthesis of the prepropeptide on membrane-bound polysomes, whereas a major 6.0-kilobase mRNA was present in a cytoplasmic particle which was stable in EDTA. We conclude that the translational discrimination between the mRNAs is dictated by their different 5'-untranslated regions.

Cell Line↗

Outcome of panic disorder. Relationship to diagnostic subtypes and comorbidity.

Eighty-nine subjects with panic disorder, who had been naturalistically treated, and 46 nonanxious controls were followed up after 3 years. Although they remained symptomatic, most subjects with panic disorder reported relatively little distress or social maladjustment. The course of panic disorder was characterized by fluctuating anxiety and depressive symptoms. Panic subtypes (uncomplicated, limited phobic avoidance, and extensive phobic avoidance) and Axis I and II comorbidity (major depression and personality disorders) were highly predictive of symptoms and social adjustment after 3 years. Abnormal personality was, in fact, the strongest predictor of social maladjustment in both subjects with panic disorder and controls. The results showed that while panic disorder has a favorable outcome, the illness is a chronic one that may require continuing treatment. They also show that subtypes and comorbid disturbances are important predictors of outcome.

Adult↗

Gracilis muscle transposition for faecal incontinence.

Transposition of the gracilis muscle for faecal incontinence was performed in 13 patients. Six gained satisfactory continence, four were improved, two did not benefit from the operation and one patient died from intercurrent disease before closure of a pre-existing colostomy. Anal manometry compared with a control group showed no alteration in resting and pressure at a median of 35 mmHg (range 5-63 mmHg), whereas maximum squeeze pressure increased from a median of 38 mmHg (range 5-79 mmHg) to 59 mmHg (range 10-143 mmHg) (P = 0.041) which was, however, significantly lower than 130 mmHg (range 81-236 mmHg) in the control group. All patients who benefited from the operation had an increase in maximum squeeze pressure. The ability to retain a viscous fluid in the rectum was measured in seven patients, four of whom had gained satisfactory continence and three of whom had improved continence. They were able to retain a median volume of 200 ml (range 50-225 ml) without leakage compared with 325 ml (range 250-400 ml) in the control group. These patients could retain the maximum amount of viscous fluid for 5-8 min, whereas all control subjects could do so for more than 15 min. It is concluded that, although gracilis transposition never results in normal continence, acceptable continence may be achieved in selected patients provided careful attention is paid to the technical details of the procedure and provided that systematic postoperative exercises are performed.

Adolescent↗

A technique for the dynamic assessment of anal sphincter function.

A technique which renders continuous measurement of the cross-sectional area and pressure of the anal canal possible during distension and contraction of the anal sphincter has been developed. Electromyography of the external sphincter is measured simultaneously. With this technique a more detailed assessment of anal sphincter function is possible, including the opening and closing pressures of the sphincter at rest, anal compliance, anal hysteresis and the maximal closing pressure during squeeze. The results of in vitro measurements, measurements on 16 healthy subjects and 6 patients with faecal incontinence are presented.

Anal Canal↗

Rectal compliance in the assessment of patients with fecal incontinence.

Rectal compliance (dV/dP) was studied in 31 patients with fecal incontinence, 8 patients with constipation, and 16 control subjects. Patients with fecal incontinence experienced a constant defecation urge at a lower rectal volume and also had a lower maximal tolerable volume and a lower rectal compliance than control subjects (median 126 vs. 155 ml, 170 vs. 220 ml, and 9 vs. 15 ml/mm Hg, respectively; P less than 0.05). Constipated patients had a higher constant defecation urge volume and maximal tolerable volume than controls (median, 266 ml and 300 ml; P less than 0.05). There was no differences in the parameters between patients with idiopathic fecal incontinence and patients with incontinence of traumatic origin, indicating that a poorly compliant rectum in patients with fecal incontinence may be secondary to anal incontinence due to the lack of normal reservoir function.

Adult↗