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Biomedical subjects

J Larsen

Publications and source records attributed to J Larsen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Organic and mineral fertilization, respectively, increase and decrease the development of external mycelium of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a long-term field experiment.

Effects of long-term mineral fertilization and manuring on the biomass of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were studied in a field experiment. Mineral fertilization reduced the growth of AMF, as estimated using both measurements of hyphal length and the signature fatty acid 16:1omega5, whereas manuring alone increased the growth of AMF. The results of AMF root colonization followed the same pattern as AMF hyphal length in soil samples, but not AMF spore densities, which increased with increasing mineral and organic fertilization. AMF spore counts and concentration of 16:1omega5 in soil did not correlate positively, suggesting that a significant portion of spores found in soil samples was dead. AMF hyphal length was not correlated with whole cell fatty acid (WCFA) 18:2omega6,9 levels, a biomarker of saprotrophic fungi, indicating that visual measurements of the AMF mycelium were not distorted by erroneous involvement of hyphae of saprotrophs. Our observations indicate that the measurement of WCFAs in soil is a useful research tool for providing information in the characterization of soil microflora.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2004

There are no differences in pretransplant characteristics of individuals receiving simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant and individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus receiving living-related kidney transplant.

Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK) recipients have longer survival compared to type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) cadaveric kidney recipients. However, DM1 living-related kidney transplant (KTX-LR) recipients have the same mortality as SPK recipients. It is unknown whether cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors pretransplant are similar between the two groups, SPK and DM1 KTX-LR. We analyzed pretransplant characteristics of SPK recipients (n = 39) and DM1 KTX-LR/living unrelated (LUR) recipients (KTX-LR/LUR, n = 20). In individuals who had multiple transplants, only pretransplant data from the first transplant was used. As all characteristics of KTX-LR/LUR recipients were the same, they were grouped for comparison with SPK. Pretransplant blood pressure (BP), body mass index, (BMI), hemoglobin A1c (A1c), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), triglycerides (TG), serum creatinine, type and duration of dialysis, and duration of diabetes were compared between the two groups. Mean age at time of transplantation was 41 +/- 1 years (mean +/- SEM) for SPK versus 39 +/- 2 years for KTX-LR/LUR (P = NS). Pretransplant BP, BMI, duration of diabetes, TC, HDL, LDL, TG, and lipid agent use were not different between the groups. Pretransplant A1c was 7.8 +/- 0.3% for SPK recipients and 8.3 +/- 0.5% for KTX-LR/LUR recipients (P = NS). Pretransplant serum creatinine was higher in KTX-LR/LUR compared to SPK (7.9 +/- 0.6 mg/dL versus 5.4 +/- 0.5 mg/dL; P =.01). Except for serum creatinine, there were no significant differences in traditional CVD risk factors pretransplant. However, factors posttransplant in addition to better glucose control with SPK may still be different between SPK and KTX-LR/LUR groups.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed2004

24-h Ambulatory blood pressure in patients with ECG-determined left ventricular hypertrophy: left ventricular geometry and urinary albumin excretion-a LIFE substudy.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationships among left ventricular (LV) geometric patterns and urinary albumin excretion in patients with hypertension and electrocardiographic (ECG) LV hypertrophy. In 143 patients with stage II-III hypertension, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring, single urine albumin determination, and echocardiography were performed after 14 days of placebo treatment. Mean age was 68+/-7 years, 35% were women, body mass index was 28+/-5 kg/m(2), LV mass index (LVMI) was 125+/-26 g/m(2), and 24% had microalbuminuria. The mean office BP was 176+/-15/99+/-8 mmHg and the mean daytime ambulatory BP was 161+/-18/92+/-12 mmHg. Ambulatory BP, but not office BP, was higher among albuminuric compared to normoalbuminuric patients. In patients with established hypertension, daytime pulse pressure and office BP were different in the four patterns of LV geometry, with the highest pressure in those with abnormal geometry. Furthermore, microalbuminuria was more frequent in hypertensive patients with LV hypertrophy than in those with either normal geometry or concentric remodelling. White coat hypertensives (10%) showed lower LVMI and no microalbuminuria compared to patients with established hypertension. There were no differences in the prevalence of nondippers (26%) among the four LV geometric patterns or in microalbuminuria. In conclusion, increased daytime pulse pressure and office BP were associated with increased prevalence of abnormal LV geometry. Microalbuminuria was more frequent in groups with concentric and eccentric LV hypertrophy. Ambulatory BP, but not office BP, was higher in albuminuric than normoalbuminuric patients. With regard to the relationship among BP, LV geometric patterns, and urine albumin excretion in this population, 24-h ambulatory BP did not provide additional information beyond the office BP.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Aspects of the barley seed proteome during development and germination.

Analysis of the water-soluble barley seed proteome has led to the identification of proteins by MS in the major spots on two-dimensional gels covering the pI ranges 4-7 and 6-11. This provides the basis for in-depth studies of proteome changes during seed development and germination, tissue-specific proteomes, cultivar differences related to quality parameters, analysis of the genetic basis for spot variations and targeted investigations of specific proteins.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional↗
PubMed2004

The most common chromosome aberration detected by high-resolution comparative genomic hybridization in vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia is not seen in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.

We analyzed genetic changes in condylomas (four cases), vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia I-III (VIN I-III, eleven cases), and primary vulvar squamous cell carcinomas (VSCC, ten cases) by high-resolution comparative genomic hybridization (HR-CGH) and flowcytometry. All samples were also human papilloma virus (HPV)-genotyped. Gain of chromosome 1, the aberration most often seen in VIN III (67%), was not seen in HPV-positive or -negative VSCCs (0%). Both VIN III and VSCC frequently showed gain of 3q (56 and 70%, respectively). The VIN III samples often demonstrated gain of 20q (56%) and 20p (44%), and the VSCC samples gain of 8q (60%), loss of 3p (50%), and 8p (40%). None of the four most frequent changes in the VSCC samples occurred exclusively in the HPV-positive or -negative samples. As expected, we did not find any cytogenetic changes in condylomas and nearly any changes in VIN I-II.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Use of the subcutaneously based nasolabial flap in lower eyelid reconstruction.

A 54-year-old male had a history of approximately 18 months, with a diagnostically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the lower left eyelid. The full-thickness subtotal defect was reconstructed with the Hughes procedure (tarsoconjunctival flap) combined with a subcutaneously based nasolabial flap for skin coverage. To our knowledge, the use of the subcutaneous based nasolabial flap in this context has not been described previously. Use of the nasolabial flap may be considered for eyelid reconstruction.

Blepharoplasty↗
PubMed2003

Symptom distress, functional status and health-related quality of life before high-dose chemotherapy with stem-cell transplantation.

The aims of this study were to describe how a group of patients with different malignant diseases perceived symptom distress (SD), functional status (FS) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) on admission to the hospital for stem-cell transplantation (SCT), to compare the obtained data regarding FS and HRQOL with similar data from two general-population groups, and to relate the results to disease- and treatment-specific data. Fifty-one patients participated in the study. Three instruments were used to collect data: SFID-SCT, SIP and SWED-QUAL. The majority of the patients (92%) reported ongoing symptoms even before the SCT with tiredness (67%) and anxiety (53%) as the two most commonly reported symptoms. Although tiredness and anxiety were reported to be the most frequently occurring symptoms, these symptoms were not considered to cause that much distress. Instead, vomiting, reduced mobility and fever, although less commonly occurring, were reported as highly distressing when present. Compared with the general-population groups, the patients reported significantly poorer FS and HRQOL but no statistically significant correlations were found between SD, FS or HRQOL and the time since the last chemotherapy cycle or cycles respectively. Patients with advanced disease and patients with multiple myeloma were found to report more SD and poorer FS and HRQOL.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2003

Continued improvement of clinical outcome and cost effectiveness following intravascular ultrasound guided PCI: insights from a prospective, randomised study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate in a prospective randomised study both long term clinical effects and cost effectiveness of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) with or without intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance. METHODS: 108 male patients with stable angina referred for PCI of a significant coronary lesion were randomly assigned to IVUS guided PCI or conventional PCI. Individual accumulated costs of the entire follow up period were calculated and compared in the randomisation groups. Effectiveness of treatment was measured by freedom from major adverse cardiac events. RESULTS: Cost effectiveness of IVUS guided PCI that was noted at six months was maintained and even accentuated at long term follow up (median 2.5 years). The cumulated cost level was found to be lower for the IVUS guided group, with a cumulated cost of &163 672 in the IVUS guided group versus &313 706 in the coronary angiography group (p = 0.01). Throughout the study, mean cost per day was lower in the IVUS guided PCI group (&2.7 v & 5.2; p = 0.01). In the IVUS group, 78% were free from major adverse cardiac events versus 59% in the coronary angiography group (p = 0.04) with an odds ratio of 2.5 in favour of IVUS guidance. CONCLUSION: IVUS guidance results in continued improvement of long term clinical outcome and cost effectiveness. The results of this study suggest that IVUS guidance may be used more liberally in PCI.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Heterotrophic bacteria growing in association with Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) in a single cell protein production process.

The methanotrophic bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) grows on pure methane. However, in a single cell protein production process using natural gas as methane source, a bacterial consortium is necessary to support growth over longer periods in continuous cultures. In different bioreactors of Norferm Danmark A/S, three bacteria consistently invaded M. capsulatus cultures growing under semi-sterile conditions in continuous culture. These bacteria have now been identified as a not yet described member of the Aneurinibacillus group, a Brevibacillus agri strain, and an acetate-oxidiser of the genus Ralstonia. The physiological roles of these bacteria in the bioreactor culture growing on natural, non-pure methane gas are discussed. The heterotrophic bacteria do not have the genetic capability to produce either the haemolytic enterotoxin complex HBL or non-haemolytic enterotoxin.

Bacillus↗
PubMed2002

Simultaneous glyburide/metformin therapy is superior to component monotherapy as an initial pharmacological treatment for type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether simultaneous initial treatment of both insulin resistance and impaired beta-cell insulin secretion with glyburide/metformin tablets is superior to monotherapy with each component agent. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In this randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, multicentre study, 806 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean duration, 3 years) who had failed diet and exercise were randomly assigned to 4 weeks of therapy with placebo, glyburide 2.5 mg, metformin 500 mg, glyburide/metformin 1.25/250 mg, or glyburide/metformin 2.5/500 mg once daily. Doses were then titrated over 8 weeks based on glycaemic response. The primary outcome measure was change from baseline in mean HbA1c after 20 weeks. Changes in fasting plasma glucose, lipids and body weight were also assessed along with 2-h postprandial glucose and insulin values after a standardized meal. RESULTS: At week 20, patients taking glyburide/metformin 1.25/250 mg or 2.5/500 mg tablets had greater reductions in HbA1c levels (-1.48% and -1.53% respectively) compared with placebo (-0.21%; both p < 0.001), glyburide (-1.24%; p = 0.016 and p = 0.004 respectively) or metformin (-1.03%; both p < 0.001). Fasting plasma glucose concentrations were reduced more in both glyburide/metformin groups compared with placebo and metformin (p < 0.001); patients in both combination therapy groups also had significantly lower postprandial glucose concentrations compared with placebo, glyburide and metformin. CONCLUSIONS: Initial combination treatment with glyburide/metformin tablets produces greater improvements in glycaemic control than either glyburide or metformin monotherapy. The superiority of initial therapy with glyburide/metformin tablets may arise from simultaneous treatment of both pathophysiological defects of type 2 diabetes.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed2002

Reactive oxygen species generation by leukocytes in populations at risk for atherosclerotic disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in circulating leukocytes in populations at risk for atherosclerosis compared with in healthy individuals. The study populations consisted of 27 non-diabetic men (aged 40-69 years) with untreated hypercholesterolemia (HC), 13 individuals (aged 39-56 years) with well-controlled insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DM), and 20 healthy individuals (aged 26-61 years) (REF). Citrated whole blood was collected in fasting condition. Using flow cytometric techniques, the resting levels and the response upon phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 100 ng/mL) stimulation of ROS were measured in circulating monocytes (MO) and granulocytes (GR). The relative mean fluorescence intensity (rMFI) in 10(4) leukocytes of fluorochromes mainly reflecting the levels of peroxynitrite (ONOO-) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anion (O2-) was recorded. Significantly, higher basal levels of ONOO- in GR from the combined risk population compared with REF were found (1.4 vs. 1.5 rMFI, p<0.05). Upon PMA stimulation, significantly lower levels of O2 in GR in the risk populations compared to REF (119 vs. 90 Si, p<0.001) were observed. In conclusion, increased resting levels of ROS in circulating granulocytes, but reduced response to PMA stimulation could be demonstrated in populations at risk for atherosclerosis compared with in healthy individuals. This might indicate a higher degree of resting oxidative reactions, with partly exhausted cells and less capacity to host defence.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Primary amyloid tumour of the breast: a case report.

A case of primary amyloid tumour of the breast is reported with a brief review of the literature. The tumour was mammographically suspicious of carcinoma. Fine needle aspiration cytology yielded clumps of amorphous material surrounded by giant cells and lymphocytes. Subsequent histology showed nodular amyloid associated with osseous metaplasia and giant cell reaction. There are 13 cases of amyloid tumour of the breast reported in the literature and in four of these fine needle aspiration had been undertaken.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Identification of putative genes in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) genomic (Bng) RFLP clones and their conversion to STSs.

A set of 79 previously mapped bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) genomic (Bng) clones were partially sequenced. BLAST database searches detected homologies between 59 of these clones and genes from a variety of plants, especially Arabidopsis thaliana. Some matches in the database to the Bng clones included a putative P-glycoprotein-ABC transporter from Arabidopsis, an early nodulin-binding protein (ENBPI) from Medicago truncatula, a lon-protease protein from spinach, a branched-chain amino-acid aminotransferase from Arabidopsis, and a vacuolar sorting receptor (BP-80) from Pisum sativum. Additional matches were found for genes involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis, sulfur metabolism, proline biosynthesis, and floral development. Sequence tagged site (STSs) were produced for 16 of the clones, 2 of which contain simple sequence repeats (SSRs). Polymorphisms were detected for six of the STSs.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Optimization of DOP-PCR amplification of DNA for high-resolution comparative genomic hybridization analysis.

BACKGROUND: Whole-genome amplification of minute samples of DNA for the use in comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis has found widespread use, but the method has not been well validated. METHODS: Four protocols for degenerate oligonucleotide primed polymerase chain reaction (DOP-PCR) and fluorescence labeling were applied to test DNA from normal and K-562 cells. The DNA products were used for CGH analysis. RESULTS: The DOP-PCR-amplified DNA from each protocol produced hybridizations with different qualities. These could be seen primarily as differences in background staining and signal-to-noise ratios, but also as characteristic deviations of normal/normal hybridizations. One DOP-PCR-protocol was further investigated. We observed concordance between CGH results using unamplified and DOP-PCR-amplified DNA. An example of an analysis of an invasive carcinoma of the breast supports the practical value of this approach. CONCLUSIONS: DOP-PCR-amplified DNA is applicable for high- resolution CGH, the results being similar to those of CGH using unamplified DNA.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2001

[Tramadol and oxazepam. Effect on pulmonry function in elderly patients with chronic obstructive lung disease].

Many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suffer from osteoporotic pain as a result of glucocorticoid treatment and nervous symptoms partly related to their lung disease. There seems to be som reluctance to treat these patients with an opioid or benzodiazepine. Upon request, the Drug Information Centre in Odense made an extensive literature search on the subject. No documentation was found that tramadol additionally depresses the respiration in patients with COPD, nor has oxazepam in clinically relevant doses been found to exacerbate their lung disease. The clinical effect is subject to large interindividual variability, and the use of these drugs should, to a greater extent, rest on experience with the individual patient. There seems to be no reason to maintain a priori this rigoristic reluctance to use tramadol and/or oxazepam in patients with COPD.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Changes in the utilisation of lipid-lowering drugs over a 6-year period (1993-1998) in a Danish population.

OBJECTIVE: The effect of lipid-lowering drugs (LLDs) on coronary heart disease is well established. However, their utilisation is often suspected to be too low. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of LLD use with special emphasis on the development of utilisation over a 6-year period in a Danish population. METHODS: For all people who purchased LLDs from 1993 to 1998 in Funen County, all prescriptions for LLDs and co-medication with cardiovascular and antidiabetic drugs were retrieved from Odense University Pharmacoepidemiologic Database (OPED). RESULTS: During the study period, LLD use increased nearly exponentially. In 1998, statins accounted for 95% of the total LLD consumption. The incidence increased markedly around the time of the publication of the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S). Only 3% of the statins were purchased without reimbursement. The female/male ratio was 0.69 and the median age was 60 years. General practitioners issued 73% of the total number of LLD prescriptions, and 55% of the treatments were initiated in general practice. A larger fraction of females and elderly started treatment in general practice. About 40% of the treatments were hospital initiated, and about one-third were followed up in general practice within the first year. CONCLUSIONS: Over the 6 years studied, utilisation of LLDs approached a level that may correspond to the current guideline recommendations. Compliance with guidelines should, however, be studied by following people with coronary heart disease.

Aged↗