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Biomedical subjects

K Eriksson

Publications and source records attributed to K Eriksson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

In vivo depletion of CD8+ cells does not affect primary maedi visna virus infection in sheep.

T-cells have been implicated both, in promoting and reducing viral replication during lentivirus infection. CD8+ lymphocytes are believed to be important in controlling viral load through direct killing of virus-infected cells and by secretion of inhibitory chemokines and cytokines. To evaluate the role of CD8+ T-cells in the induction and control of the primary phase of a lentivirus infection, we have used a non-T-cell tropic lentivirus, maedi-visna virus (MVV), to study the initial pathogenesis and subsequent immune responses in sheep depleted in vivo of CD8+ cells. Sheep were depleted of CD8+ cells in both blood and efferent lymph for up to 14 days. No difference in MVV replication was observed in either the draining efferent lymph or lymph node of these sheep. Surprisingly, these animals displayed a normal induction of pCTL whereas the virus-specific proliferative responses were reduced. This could reflect either that a proportion of functional CD8+ lymphocytes remained in these animals, as suggested by the appearance of pCTLs, or that CD8+ cells are not required for control of primary MVV infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

CD4(+) T-cells are required for the establishment of maedi-visna virus infection in macrophages but not dendritic cells in vivo.

The role of CD4(+) lymphocytes in the establishment of lentivirus infection in macrophages has been studied in an in vivo system of lentivirus infection where CD4(+) lymphocytes are not the targets for infection. Using the non-T-cell-tropic lentivirus, maedi-visna virus (MVV), in CD4-depleted sheep, we have found that CD4(+) T cells were required for MVV infection in macrophages but not dendritic cells. CD4-depleted sheep had significantly lower levels of MVV-infected cells in lymph nodes and efferent lymph after MVV challenge in the drainage area of the lymph node. Due to the absence of virus in combination with the lack of CD4(+) T helper cells, virus-specific immune responses were reduced. There was delayed induction of cytotoxic T cell precursors, a marked reduction in virus-specific in vitro proliferative responses, and a delay in the appearance of MVV-specific antibodies. By contrast, CD4 depletion had no effect on the establishment of MVV infection in afferent lymph dendritic cells migrating from the skin infection site to the lymph node.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Semitendinosus tendon regeneration after harvesting for ACL reconstruction. A prospective MRI study.

Utilisation of the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons in reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has become more common during the last few years. In recent studies a regeneration potential in the harvested tendons has been observed. In this study, 11 consecutive patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with a quadruple semitendinosus graft were examined 6-12 months postoperatively by MRI. Another two patients were examined within 2 weeks after surgery. The median age of the patients was 24 years and there were 8 males and 3 females. The right knee was involved in six patients and the left knee in five. A low-field 0.2 Tesla Siemens open MRI was used for examinations and T1 and T2 weighted transaxial sequences over the thigh and the knee joint were performed. In some instances, additional sagittal sequences were used. ROI analysis of the pixel value of the signal and area determinations on transaxial sequences was performed for both the involved and the healthy side. In 8 of the 11 patients examined 6-12 months postoperatively, a regeneration of the semitendinosus tendon with normal anatomical topographies to the level of the tibial plateau was found. Three of these eight patients were analysed more distally and fusion of the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons was found approximately 30 mm below the joint line before they inserted as a "conjoined tendon" into the pes anserinus. At the mid-thigh level, the semitendinosus muscle had a smaller area and a higher signal than that on the normal side. However, this difference was smaller in the patients showing normal distal tendon regeneration. This study indicates that the semitendinosus tendon has a strong potential for regeneration and that the muscle atrophy seems to be less in the patients with a more normalised distal insertion of the tendon in the pes anserinus.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of two adsorbents for diffusive sampling and thermal desorption-gas chromatographic analysis of monoterpenes in air.

Tube type samplers with two different adsorbents, Chromosorb 106 and Tenax TA, were evaluated by laboratory experiments and field tests for simultaneous diffusive sampling of alpha-pinene, beta-pinene and delta 3-carene and subsequent thermal desorption-gas chromatographic analysis. No statistically significant effects of exposure time, concentrations of monoterpenes or relative humidity were found for samplers with Chromosorb 106 when running a factorial design, with the exception of the adsorption of delta 3-carene, for which some weak effects were noted. Samplers with Tenax TA were affected by the sampling time as well as the concentration for all terpenes, with a strong interaction effect between these two factors. The terpenes showed good storage stability on both adsorbents. No effect of back-diffusion was noted when using Chromosorb 106, while Tenax TA showed some back-diffusion effects. The uptake rates, in ml min-1, for the terpenes on Chromosorb 106 were 0.36 for alpha-pinene, 0.36 for beta-pinene and 0.40 for delta 3-carene. The corresponding average values on Tenax TA were 0.30 for alpha-pinene, 0.32 for beta-pinene and 0.38 for delta 3-carene. The field validation proved that diffusive sampling on Chromosorb 106 agreed well with pumped sampling on charcoal for stationary samples, while the personal samples indicated a discrepancy of 25% between Chromosorb 106 and charcoal samples. Tenax TA generally gave lower results than Chromosorb 106 in all field samples. Samplers packed with Chromosorb 106 could be used to monitor terpene levels in workplaces such as sawmills. The major advantages with this method are the sampling procedure, which is simple to perform compared to other techniques, the easily automated analysis procedure and the possibility to reuse the samplers.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1999

A hermeneutic textual analysis of suffering and caring in the peri-operative context.

Hermeneutic text interpretation is discussed in this paper as a possible way of releasing nurses' knowledge, in order to develop a deeper understanding of professional caring. The text is a nurse's story, which has been gathered by means of the critical incident technique. The intention is to elicit the knowledge of professional caring in the stories and the language of caring science, which is concealed in a nurse's reality. Hermeneutic text interpretation through reading a text and having a dialogue with the nurse's reality will give a voice and a language to silent knowledge.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The patient's perceived caring needs: measuring the unmeasurable.

The aim of this study is to elucidate the phenomenon of the caring need in the life-world of the patient and, on the basis of this, to compare patients' perceived caring needs with the six areas of need contained in a new instrument for patient classification, the Oulu Patient Classification (OPC). A total of 75 patients were interviewed and the data were analysed by means of a phenomenological-hermeneutical method. Seventeen perceived caring needs emerged from the process of interpretation. The patients experienced themselves as an indivisible unit that contained existential/spiritual needs and desires. The patients' caring needs are constituted from their problems, needs and desires, where human desire for life, love and meaningfulness may, express itself as bodily, psychical and existential/spiritual needs. A comparison between the patients' perceived caring needs and the OPC shows that patients' existential/spiritual needs do not emerge clearly enough and that the instrument should be supplemented by a caring perspective.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1999

Chronic hepatitis B in children in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Sweden is a low prevalence area for hepatitis B, but the number of chronic carriers has increased during the last decade due to immigration. Out of a total of 120 children with identified chronic hepatitis B in Gothenburg, Sweden, 93 were investigated during the 2-year period 1994-95. The children had a mean age of 10.9 years and originated from 21 different countries. Most infections were discovered during various screening programmes after arrival in Sweden. A total of 90 of the 93 children were HBV-DNA positive by Amplicor HBV Monitor (Roche Diagnostics) and 58% (54/93) were HBeAg positive. All children either originated from areas with a high or medium prevalence of HBV infection (81/93, 87%) or were born in Sweden to mothers originating from high or medium prevalence countries (12/93, 13%). Three of these 12 children were vertically infected in spite of adequate immunoprophylaxis and 8 were born to mothers with undiscovered chronic HBV infection. In all, 34 children had mothers who were HBsAg positive. No overt case of transmission was notified in day-care centres or schools, or from a child to a non-immune parent. None of the children reported any symptoms of liver disease, but 38% (35/93) had elevated aminotransferases. Therefore, screening programmes are essential to identify chronic HBV infection in children in order to prevent transmission and to find individuals at risk of progressive liver damage who should be considered for treatment.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Anatomic segmentation of the intestinal immune response in nonhuman primates: differential distribution of B cells after oral and rectal immunizations to sites defined by their source of vascularization.

We show that the distribution of specific antibodies and antibody-secreting cells in the intestine after oral and rectal immunizations corresponds to the vascularization and lymph drainage patterns of the gut. Oral immunizations induce antibody responses along the parts of the intestine connected to the superior mesenteric vessels and lymph ducts, whereas rectal immunizations induce antibody responses along the parts of the intestine associated with the inferior mesenteric vessels and ducts.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1998

A comparison between patients' experiences of how their caring needs have been met and the nurses' patient classification--an explorative study.

AIM: To examine whether patient classification carried out in accordance with the Oulu Patient Classification (OPC) method can measure the patient's caring needs in a reliable manner as seen from the patient's perspective. BACKGROUND: On the basis of earlier research it can be established that there are differences between nurses' and patients' assessments of patients' caring needs. Research on patients' assessments of perceived caring needs and the care they receive in connection with patient classification does not seem to have interested researchers in caring science. METHODS: The reliability from the patient's perspective is gauged by comparing the patient's perceived caring needs with the nurse's patient classification during a 24-h bed-day. Data was collected during a semi-structured interview with a total of 73 patients. Documentary analysis was carried out on the basis of patient classifications by 30 ward nurses. FINDINGS: On the basis of the degree of correspondence between nursing care intensity experienced by the patients and the nurses' patient classification it was decided whether the patients' caring needs had been met. The results indicate, however, that patient classification as a gauging method has a built-in reductive function regarding the patient's need for care and nursing care intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Nevertheless the OPC offers possibilities from a patient perspective of providing an overall picture of the patient's nursing care intensity and can therefore serve as a reliable basis for decisions concerning staff planning.

Diagnosis-Related Groups↗
PubMed1998

Multicellular and aggregative behaviour of Salmonella typhimurium strains is controlled by mutations in the agfD promoter.

A colony morphology type is described in which cells of Salmonella typhimurium form a rigid multicellular network with expression of thin aggregative fimbriae that mediate tight intercellular bonds. Surface translocation of cells on plates and adherence to glass and polystyrene surfaces in biofilm assays are further characteristics of the morphotype. This morphotype (rdar) is normally expressed only at low temperature. However, in two unrelated S. typhimurium strains, spontaneous mutants were found forming rdar colonies independent of temperature. Allelic replacement proved a single point mutation in the promoter region of PagfD in each of the two mutants to be responsible for the constitutive phenotype of a multicellular behaviour. Transcription levels of the two divergently transcribed agf operons required for biogenesis of thin aggregative fimbriae by Northern blot analysis with gene probes for agfA and agfD as well as expression levels of AgfA by Western blotting were compared in the wild type, the constitutive mutants and their respective ompR and rpoS- derivatives. In the wild type the rdar morphotype and expression of thin aggregative fimbriae are restricted to low temperature on plates containing rich medium of low osmolarity, but biogenesis of thin aggregative fimbriae occurs upon iron starvation at 37 degrees C. In the upregulated mutants biogenesis of thin aggregative fimbriae is only abolished at high osmolarity at 37 degrees C and in the exponential phase in broth culture. Control of expression of thin aggregative fimbriae and rdar morphology takes place at the transcriptional level at the agfD promoter. A functional ompR allele is required, however an rpoS mutation abolishes transcription only in the wild type, but has no influence on expression of thin aggregative fimbriae in the constitutive mutants.

Bacterial Adhesion↗
PubMed1998

Specific-antibody-secreting cells in the rectums and genital tracts of nonhuman primates following vaccination.

To determine optimal strategies to induce specific-antibody-secreting cells (specific ASC) in the rectal and vaginal mucosae, we immunized monkeys with a prototype mucosal immunogen, cholera toxin (CT), given locally or via gastric or parenteral administration. Repeated rectal or vaginal CT immunizations induced strong mucosal and systemic ASC responses. The mucosal responses were, however, confined to the immunization sites and comprised high levels of both specific antitoxin immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG. Large numbers of specific IgA and IgG ASC were detected in cell suspensions from dissociated genital and rectal tissues, demonstrating local accumulation of effector B cells at these sites. Intragastric immunization with CT did not per se give rise to cervicovaginal or rectal ASC responses but did prime for a rectal IgA ASC response to local booster immunization. Both rectal and vaginal immunizations also induced circulating blood IgG ASC and IgA ASC. In conclusion, these results show that local administration of antigen to the rectal or vaginal mucosa results in higher ASC responses than systemic or distant mucosal delivery. Furthermore, both the vaginal and the rectal mucosae can serve as inductive sites for systemic ASC responses. These observations should be relevant to the development of vaccines against sexually transmitted diseases such as that caused by human immunodeficiency virus.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1998

Antibodies and antibody-secreting cells in the female genital tract after vaginal or intranasal immunization with cholera toxin B subunit or conjugates.

We studied the antibody response including antibody-secreting cells (ASC) in the female genital tract of mice after mucosal immunizations with the recombinant B subunit of cholera toxin (rCTB) perorally, intraperitoneally, vaginally, and intranasally (i.n.). The strongest genital antibody responses as measured with a novel perfusion-extraction method were induced after vaginal and i.n. immunizations, and these routes also gave rise to specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG ASC in the genital mucosa. Specific ASC in the iliac lymph nodes, which drain the female genital tract, were seen only after vaginal immunization. Progesterone treatment increased the ASC response in the genital tissue after all mucosal immunizations but most markedly after vaginal immunization. We also tested rCTB as a carrier for human gamma globulin (HGG) and the effect of adding cholera toxin (CT) as an adjuvant for the induction of systemic and genital antibody responses to HGG after vaginal and i.n. immunizations. Vaginal immunizations with HGG conjugated to rCTB resulted in high levels of genital anti-HGG antibodies whether or not CT was added, while after i.n. immunization the strongest antibody response was seen with the conjugate together with CT. In summary, vaginal and i.n. immunization give rise to a specific mucosal immune response including ASC in the genital tissue, and vaginal immunization also elicits ASC in the iliac lymph nodes. We have also shown that rCTB can act as an efficient carrier for a conjugated antigen for induction of a specific antibody response in the genital tract of mice after vaginal or i.n. immunization.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1998

Induction and expression of intestinal humoral immunity in HIV-infected individuals: prospects for vaccination against secondary enteric infections.

In view of the high incidence and severity of AIDS-related mucosal complications and secondary mucosal infections, we have evaluated the impact of HIV infection on the mucosal humoral immune status. By measuring the number of total and specific antibody-secreting cells in duodenal biopsies, we could show that HIV infection induces a pronounced polyclonal B-cell activation already in the early stages of the disease. Furthermore, we could document normal mucosal B-cell responses following oral vaccination, also in the late stages of the disease, and despite a lack of concomitant systemic responses. The relevance of these observations will be discussed with respect to the possibility of vaccinating HIV-infected individuals against secondary opportunistic infections.

AIDS Vaccines↗
PubMed1998

Evolution of epilepsy in children with mental retardation: five-year experience in 78 cases.

Various aspects of epilepsy, including its evolution, were studied in 78 children with mental retardation in a prospective 5-year (1989-1994) follow-up study. Level of mental retardation was moderate or even more severe (IQ < 50) in 83% of children, and 56% suffered from significant cerebral palsy. Epilepsy remained uncontrolled in 28% of cases, 2-year remission was achieved by 26%, and mortality was 12% during the study period. Associated cerebral palsy was the most important single risk factor for severe epilepsy, and several handicaps seemed to have a strong multiplicative effect. Complexity of epilepsy in children with mental retardation was reflected by the evolutionary features described.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1997

Resistance training in the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Aerobic endurance exercise has traditionally been advocated in the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). However, the effect of aerobic endurance exercise programs on long-term glycaemic control is small to moderate. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of circuit resistance training on long-term glycaemic control (HbA1c) and to examine the potential association between muscle size and glycaemic control in NIDDM subjects. Eight NIDDM subjects participated in a 3 month individualized progressive resistance training program (moderate intensity, high-volume) twice a week with measurements of HbA1c, lipids, blood pressure, VO2max and thigh muscle cross-sectional area. There was a significant improvement in HbA1c (8.8% - 8.2%; p < 0.05). Muscle endurance increased by 32 +/- 23% (p < 0.05), and the cross-sectional area of m. vastus lateralis increased by 21% (p < 0.001). There was a strong inverse correlation between HbA1c and muscle cross-sectional area (knee extensors) after the exercise period (r = -0.73; p < 0.05). Circuit resistance training seems to be feasible in moderately obese, sedentary elderly NIDDM subjects and the inclusion of circuit resistance training in exercise training programs for NIDDM subjects should be considered.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Abduction--a way to deeper understanding of the world of caring.

In this article, abduction is discussed as a possible way of developing an epistemology for an autonomous caring science based on an ontology that requires deeper understanding of the world of caring. The intention is to elicit a more distinct caring-scientific pattern of knowledge based on the innermost core and historical conditions of caring. Abduction makes it possible to perceive connections on a deeper level and to penetrate in a way that reveals a richness of meaning, reflecting the true being in the dynamic process which is expressed in clinical reality. In the tradition of knowledge developed by Peirce, a synthesis of Hume's and Kant's tradition of knowledge, abduction is a fundamental idea. Peirce sees abduction as an operation of thought in which the recognition of underlying patterns makes a complex reality comprehensible. We regard the triad of abduction, induction and deduction as the basis for developing a caring-scientific epistemology where abduction makes a synthesizing abstraction possible and may implement understanding of deeper patterns.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

Changes in the isoforms of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone during puberty in normal children.

Concentrations of LH and FSH are known to increase during normal pubertal development, but changes in the isoforms of the gonadotropins at this time have not been investigated in depth. We examined the median charge of serum LH and FSH using agarose suspension electrophoresis in 81 normal children at pubertal stages I-V. In pubertal girls there were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in the median charge of LH, but there was a small (P = 0.05) shift to more acidic FSH isoforms between pubertal stages I and IV. In boys there was a significant (P < 0.01) shift to more acidic isoforms for both LH and FSH by pubertal stage II. Further changes were not found later in puberty. Except for LH at pubertal stage I, where the median charge was similar (P > 0.05) for both sexes, the median charge was more basic (P < 0.001) for both LH and FSH in girls compared with boys at all five pubertal stages. The degree of charge heterogeneity of FSH, estimated as the peak width at half the peak height, was significantly (P < 0.01) larger at pubertal stage I than at pubertal stages III-V in both boys and girls. The charge heterogeneity of LH was similar for all pubertal stages in both sexes. In conclusion, there were few qualitative changes in the gonadotropins during normal female puberty, whereas in the male there was a dramatic shift to more acidic isoforms of LH and FSH early in puberty. This information may assist our understanding of normal and pathological processes during puberty and may be of clinical relevance in detecting the initiation of puberty in boys.

Adolescent↗