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L Jørgensen

Publications and source records attributed to L Jørgensen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Changes in muscle mass, fat mass, and bone mineral content in the legs after stroke: a 1 year prospective study.

Demineralization and muscle atrophy, common among patients with hemiplegia, may be risk factors for future hip fracture. The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate changes in lean (muscle) mass and bone mineral content (BMC) of the legs during the first year after stroke according to the patient's ambulatory level. Twenty-five patients immobilized due to acute stroke were followed. BMC and lean mass of each leg were measured at a mean of 7 days, 2 months, 7 months, and 1 year after the stroke using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Both BMC and lean mass had decreased significantly in the paretic leg (p < 0.05) at the 1 year evaluation and the loss was significantly greater on the paretic side compared with the nonparetic side (p < 0.001). Patients who had not relearned to walk at the 2 month evaluation (n = 12) lost 6% (p < 0.05) of their lean mass in the paretic leg during this time period, and this mass was not regained within the subsequent 10 months. In contrast, a significant 5% loss of lean mass found at 2 months on the nonparetic side was regained completely. With respect to the patients who relearned to walk within the first 2 months (n = 13) lean mass had increased by 5% after 1 year (p < 0.05) in the nonparetic leg, whereas no significant changes were found in the paretic leg during follow-up. Both groups of patients did, however, lose bone mineral in the paretic leg during the first year after stroke (9% and 6%, respectively, p < 0.05), but only the patients who were still unable to walk by 2 months had significant bone loss in the nonparetic leg also (3%, p < 0.05). Thus, lean muscle mass is rapidly lost and may be regained shortly after stroke, whereas loss of BMC appears difficult to prevent, especially on the paretic side. Regaining muscle mass may, however, slow the loss of bone mineral.

Adipose Tissue↗

Evaluation of systematic and random factors in measurements of fasting plasma glucose as the basis for analytical quality specifications in the diagnosis of diabetes. 3. Impact of the new WHO and ADA recommendations on diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

On behalf of the Danish Society of Clinical Endocrinology and the Danish Society of Clinical Chemistry we were commissioned to evaluate the influence of analytical and pre-analytical systematic and random factors on the diagnosis of diabetes, in order to provide a tool for conclusions on the analytical quality specifications needed to diagnose diabetes. A systems analysis was performed in accordance with the principles for evaluation of analytical quality specifications. The clinical setting was defined--diagnosis of diabetes in accordance with the WHO and ADA criteria with determination of fasting plasma glucose concentration (FPG) > or =7.0 mmol/L in two independent samples--with well-documented data on In (loge)-Gaussian distribution of reference values from a low-risk population and values for within-subject biological variation taken from the literature. An investigation was made of the consequences for the clinical setting of assumed errors related to the measurement of FPG. Four approaches were investigated for a single sampling and measurement and also for two independent samples: one showing the percentage of healthy individuals who had values > or = 7.0 mmol/L, one illustrating the origin of biological set-points for results > or = 7.0 mmol/L, one showing the risk of being measured > or =7.0 mmol/L when the biological set-point is known, and one showing the combined bias and imprecision for assumed percentages of false-positive (FP), defined as measurements > or = 7.0 mmol/L for the low-risk population and false-negative (FN), defined as measurements <6.4 mmol/L (the upper reference limit) for diabetics. This leaves a "grey zone" which includes the upper part of low-risk individuals, and defined by ADA and WHO as "impaired fasting glucose" (IFG). In the analysis, increasing systematic and random errors (combined analytical and pre-analytical) were assumed, and for each error condition the fractions of FP and FN were calculated. This gave plots from which the combined allowable systematic and random errors could be read off for pre-determined clinically acceptable fractions of FP and FN. The analysis does not distinguish between pre-analytical and analytical errors, as specified information on one of these is needed for specification of the other. The investigation provides a reliable basis for estimation of the needed analytical quality, and thereby for decisions about analytical quality specifications for analysis of FPG in relation to diagnosis of diabetes under optimized pre-analytical and analytical conditions. Consequences of deviations from these ideal conditions are illustrated in the figures, and should be considered for the different approaches with different performance conditions.

Blood Glucose↗

Bone mineral density in acute stroke patients: low bone mineral density may predict first stroke in women.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Osteoporosis and stroke share several risk factors, including age, smoking, low physical activity, and hypertension. Thus, low bone mineral density (BMD) and high stroke risk may be related. We examined the relationship between BMD and acute stroke in noninstitutionalized men and women aged >/=60 years. METHODS: Sixty-three stroke patients (33 women and 30 men) and 188 control subjects from the general population were included. BMD was measured by using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at both proximal femurs. The measurements of the stroke patients were performed 6 days after the onset of stroke. RESULTS: The BMD at the femoral neck in the female stroke patients was 8% lower than in the control subjects (P:=0.007). In men, no difference in BMD between the stroke patients and their controls was found. Women with BMD values in the lowest quartile had a higher risk of stroke than women with BMD values in the highest quartile (OR 4.8), and the probability value for linear trend over the quartiles was statistically significant (P:=0.003). The OR for stroke increased 1.9 per SD (0.13 g/cm(2)) reduction in BMD, and the association between low BMD and stroke in women remained significant when the analysis was adjusted for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Female, but not male, stroke patients have lower BMD than population controls. Low BMD may predict stroke in women.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Evaluation of a quadruplex short atandem repeat system (HUMVWA31/A, HUMD11S554, HUMAPOAI1, and HUMACTBP2 loci) for forensic identity testing, confident typing of complex alleles, and population databases.

AIM: To evaluate a quadruplex short tandem repeat (STR) system based on the amplification of allelic products from HUMVWA31/A, HUMD11S554, HUMACTBP2, and HUMAPOAI1 loci for routine identity testing in forensic casework, and to provide details for the construction of a "multiplex allelic ladder" for confident typing of complex alleles from the quadruplex STR system and compiling a database for three representative populations living in Northern Norway (Norwegian, Saami, and Russian/Ukrainian). METHODS: The constructed "multiplex allelic ladder" consisted of 44 regularly spaced and uniform alleles, spanning from 135 to 333 bp, and included 9 HUMVWA31/A alleles (TCTA repeat unit), 9 HUMD11S554 alleles (AAAG repeat unit), and 26 HUMACTBP2 alleles (AAAG repeat unit). Confident typing of selected complex alleles from the quadruplex STR system was secured only when they were compared with their matching ladder composed of the same repetitive unit as in our constructed "multiplex allelic ladder". Using different fluorescent dyes, PCR products from the quadruplex STR system were sized with constructed allelic ladder (red labeled) in one lane. RESULTS: Population database was established for unrelated Norwegians (n=141), Saami (n=78), and Russians/Ukrainians (n=138). Combined paternity exclusions were 99.86%, 99.94%, 99.95% and the values of probability of match were 8.0x10-8, 1.4x10-8, and 1.1x10-8, in Saami, Norwegians, and Russians/Ukrainians, respectively. CONCLUSION: We conclude that by applying our constructed allelic ladder a confident typing of alleles from our quadruplex STR system may be ensured. Further, the high efficiency of the selected loci makes this system a reliable tool for use in forensic casework.

Alleles↗

Molecular characterization of a Leishmania donovanii cDNA clone with similarity to human 20S proteasome a-type subunit.

Using plasma from patients infected or previously infected with Leishmania donovanii, we isolated a L. donovanii cDNA clone with similarity to the proteasome a-type subunit from humans and other eukaryotes. The cDNA clone, designated LePa, was DNA sequenced and Northern blot analysis of L. donovanii poly(A(+))mRNA indicated the isolation of a full length cDNA clone with a transcript size of 1.9 kb. The expressed recombinant LePa fusion protein induced proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in one out of seven patients who had suffered from visceral leishmaniasis. Plasma from 16 out of 25 patients with visceral leishmaniasis and four out of 18 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis contained IgG antibodies which reacted with the purified LePa fusion protein as evaluated in an ELISA. The LePa DNA sequence was inserted into an eukaryotic expression vector and Balb/c mice were vaccinated. DNA vaccination of Balb/c mice with LePa generated an initial significant reduction in lesion size after challenge.

Animals↗

Walking after stroke: does it matter? Changes in bone mineral density within the first 12 months after stroke. A longitudinal study.

Stroke patients have increased risk of hip fractures. Nearly all fractures occur on the hemiplegic side, and reduced bone mineral density (BMD) may be an important predisposing factor. The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of demineralization within the first year after stroke, and to elucidate a possible difference in patients with high versus low ambulatory levels. Forty acute stroke patients were followed (17 initially wheelchair-bound and 23 initially ambulatory). BMD was measured in the proximal femur bilaterally at a mean 6 days, 7 months and 1 year after stroke onset using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Ambulatory status was independently associated with changes in BMD (p < or = 0.005) 1 year after stroke. The 17 initially wheelchair-bound patients had a significant 10% reduction in BMD at the paretic side and 5% reduction at the non-paretic side (p < 0.001), while the 23 patients initially able to walk had a significant loss (3%) only at the paretic side (p = 0.01). The analysis also indicated that the major reduction in BMD took place within the first 7 months. Two months after stroke 12 of the wheelchair-bound patients had relearned to walk. At the paretic side the 1 year changes in BMD in the patients who stayed wheelchair-bound, the patients who re-learned to walk within the first 2 months and the patients who were able to walk throughout the study were 13%, 8% and 3%, respectively, and a statistically significant trend with ambulatory level was found (p = 0.007). This study provides clear evidence that lack of mobility and weight-bearing early after stroke is an important factor for the greater bone loss in the paretic leg, but that relearning to walk within the first 2 months after stroke, even with the support of another person, may reduce the bone loss after immobilization.

Acute Disease↗

Effects of ethoxyquin on the blood composition of turbot, Scophthalmus maximus L.

Ethoxyquin (6-ethoxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EQ) is a synthetic antioxidant used for preventing rancidity in animal foodstuffs. Three groups of ten fish were given a diet containing respectively 75 (control group with the commercial food), 200 and 400 ppm EQ for 16 days. The control group had a plasma osmolality and chloride concentration within the normal range of marine teleosts, but sodium concentrations of only about 110 mM, indicating the presence in the plasma of substantial amounts of another cation. Fish given food with 400 ppm EQ displayed a 70 mM increase in the plasma concentration of sodium. This indicates that EQ has disturbed the iono-regulatory mechanisms, probably by reducing the ATP production or inhibiting directly the Na/K-ATPase in the gills. The large increase in plasma sodium concentration was not accompanied by any significant increase in plasma osmolality, indicating that at least a part of the sodium added to the plasma is made osmotically inactive. In spite of the elevated plasma sodium concentration, the sodium content of erythrocytes of the 400-ppm EQ fish was reduced to half, while the content of calcium was unaffected. The transmembrane energy gradient of sodium in the EQ exposed turbot obviously increased, allowing them to use a sodium coupled antiport system to keep the cellular calcium content low when the Ca-ATPases is blocked. A mechanism of this kind is also likely to be important to turbot that experience hypoxia under natural conditions. The 400-ppm group also displayed a substantial increase in liver weight, but the physiological significance of this effect is not clear. The leucocyte counts indicated the absence of obvious immunological effects.

Animal Feed↗

Ambulatory level and asymmetrical weight bearing after stroke affects bone loss in the upper and lower part of the femoral neck differently: bone adaptation after decreased mechanical loading.

The aim of this 1-year prospective study of acute stroke patients was to determine the effects of walking and asymmetrical weight bearing on the loss of bone mineral in the upper and lower femoral neck. Forty patients were followed. Eight remained unable to walk, whereas 32 relearned to walk independently within 7 months (12 shortly after the stroke, 15 by 2 months, 5 by 7 months). Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in the proximal femur within the first week after stroke and 1 year later; regional BMD changes were computed for the lower and upper femoral neck. The lower part of the femoral neck is mainly influenced by compressive stresses of the hip, the upper part by tensile stresses during walking. When comparing mean BMD loss in groups of patients according to when they relearned to walk, a statistically significant trend in BMD loss was found in the lower femoral neck on both the paretic and nonparetic sides (p < 0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively), whereas, for the upper femoral neck, no significant trend was seen (p >/= 0.1). In addition, the body weight distribution during standing was assessed by use of a force-plate in 38 patients who could stand independently at the 7 month evaluation. The only significant correlation between changes in BMD and asymmetrical weight bearing was found in the lower femoral neck on the paretic side (r = 0.6, p < 0.001). In conclusion, this study shows that the reduction in BMD in the femoral neck occurs mainly in the lower part of the neck and on the paretic side. The BMD loss depended on when or if the patients relearned to walk, but also on the amount of body weight born on the paretic leg. Thus, measuring the lower part of the femoral neck gives a better estimate of the impact of gait and weight bearing than measuring the total femoral neck.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Proteasome subunit zeta, a putative ribonuclease, is also found as a free monomer.

20 S Proteasomes are large proteinase complexes found in eukaryotic cells where they degrade cell proteins in an ATP-dependent manner. Proteasomes consist of 14 different subunits. One of them, zeta, was found in HeLa cells at a concentration of 890 microg per g of cell protein. A large proportion of zeta was found in the free state rather than incorporated into proteasomes, namely 28% in HeLa cells and 37% in BSC-1 cells. Free zeta was found in both nuclei and cytoplasm. In HeLa cells free zeta had a t1/2 of 2.8 h, compared to 5 d for proteasomes, and did not exchange with zeta in proteasomes. We confirmed (Petit F et al.: Biochem. J. 326: 93-98 (1997)) that both 20 S proteasomes and free zeta subunits possess RNase activity though the activities were very low: 4 mMoles and 0.6 mMoles of tobacco mosaic virus RNA degraded per mole of enzyme per min, respectively. The physiological function of the relatively abundant zeta monomers is not known.

Cysteine Endopeptidases↗

Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma in combination with hemangiosarcoma in the ovary.

The ovary is the sixth most frequent site of cancer in women in Denmark with an incidence of approximately 600 cases per year. Carcinomas predominate whereas sarcomas are rare. We describe a case of the combination mucinous cystadenocarcinoma and hemangiosarcoma in a 37-year old woman, who had a right-sited oophorectomy because of a cyst. Clinically there was no suspicion of malignancy. The macro- and microscopic findings are described as well as the immunohistochemical stainings performed to confirm the diagnosis. The case shows the importance of careful sampling at the macroscopic examination, especially from areas with a striking appearance.

Adult↗

Endothelial injury and trapping of blood cells in human myocardium following coronary bypass surgery.

To investigate the focal myocytic and microvascular injury that develops during the first hour of reperfusion after hypothermic cardioplegic cardiac arrest, and to compare the influence of gentle versus more abrupt reperfusion, serial atrial biopsies were obtained from 14 patients undergoing uneventful coronary bypass surgery. The biopsies were taken before cardioplegia, at the start of reperfusion, and after 20 and 60 min of reperfusion. Transmission electron micrographs of biopsies examined by stereological techniques revealed endothelial injury. Following 20 min reperfusion there was accumulation of both red blood cells (p = 0.03) and polymorphonuclear leucocytes (p = 0.0004) were found. There was also intravascular accumulation of platelets (p = 0.008) and extravasation of red blood cells (p = 0.02), which increased throughout the observation period. If reperfusion was started with a gradual rise in temperature and pressure, the numbers of platelets in the microvessels were lower than following ordinary, abrupt reperfusion (p = 0.06). It is concluded that reperfusion injury is associated with microcirculatory disturbances with trapping of blood cells, changes which may be favourably modified by a gentle reperfusion technique.

Adult↗

High antibiotic consumption in Danish intensive care units?

Decreased antibiotic susceptibility among microorganisms isolated from intensive care unit (ICU) patients is found to be associated with high total antibiotic consumption or inappropriate use of antibiotics in the ICUs. The aims of this study were: 1) to characterize the antibiotic consumption in Danish ICUs, and in four ICUs with expectedly large differences in levels of antibiotic consumption, 2) to estimate the association between antibiotic susceptibility among isolated microorganisms and antibiotic consumption. This was done by: 1) a retrospective questionnaire study of the annual supply of antibiotics in 1995 to 30 ICUs in Denmark, and 2) a 2-month prospective study of patients and microbiological samples in four Danish ICUs in 1996. We found that the supply of antibiotics to Danish ICUs was substantial, with a median value of 124 DDD/100 patient days. No association was found between high consumption of antibiotics and decreased antibiotic susceptibility in the four ICUs.

Adult↗

DNA polymorphisms of the apolipoprotein B gene (XbaI, EcoRI, and MspI RFLPs) in Norwegians at risk of atherosclerosis and healthy controls.

OBJECTIVES: Apo B is the exclusive protein constituent of LDL and is ligand on LDL, recognized and bound by the LDL receptor. Several restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of the apo B gene have been shown to be associated with variation in serum lipid levels in different populations. In this study we sought to determine the frequency of XbaI, EcoRI, and MspI polymorphisms and the haplotypes generated by these three polymorphic sites of the apo B gene and their influence on lipid levels in a sample of Norwegian subjects at risk of atherosclerosis and healthy control subjects. METHODS AND RESULTS: 108 White Norwegians at risk of atherosclerosis (cases) and 64 healthy individuals (controls) were examined for possible association between the alleles at the XbaI (X), EcoRI (R), and MspI (M) polymorphic restriction sites of the apolipoprotein B gene and serum lipid levels. The frequency of the M allele (absence of restriction site) was significantly higher in cases with high total cholesterol (TC), high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), and high apolipoprotein B (apo B) than in controls with normal TC, LDLC, and apo B (P < 0.04, P < 0.02, and P < 0.01, respectively). The frequencies of apo B genotypes detected with XbaI, EcoRI, and MspI did not differ significantly between cases and control subjects. A significant association between MspI genotypes and TC (P < 0.02), LDLC (P = 0.03), and apo B (P = 0.001) was observed only in cases. However, cases with the genotype M+/M+ had the lowest and those with the genotype M+/M- had the highest levels of serum TC, LDLC, and apo B. We did not observe any significant association between the alleles or genotypes detected with XbaI or EcoRI and serum lipid levels. In cases, genotypes defined by EcoRI and MspI RFLP paired loci differed significantly for apo B (chi 2 = 19; P = 0.007) but not for other blood lipids. EcoRI and MspI RFLPs change glutamic acid (Glu) 4154 to lysine (Lys) and arginine (Arg) 3611 to glutamine (Gln), respectively, which lie near the low density lipoprotein receptor binding region of apo B. Haplotypes containing "Lys/Arg Lys/Arg" (all basic amino acids) in cases were associated with low serum TC, LDLC, and apo B. In individuals at risk of atherosclerosis the concentration of serum lipids tends to be inversely related to the number of lysine and arginine. CONCLUSION: We conclude that variations in the apo B gene, resulting in changes of charged amino acids, affect the circulating blood lipids and that these may contribute to the risk of atherosclerosis.

Adult↗

Quantifying biosynthetic human growth hormone in Escherichia coli with capillary electrophoresis under hydrophobic conditions.

A method has been developed which is able to quantitate the content of precursor biosynthetic human growth hormone (Pre-bhGH) in the cytosol of E. coli cells containing the gene for human growth hormone (hGH). The method uses hydrophobic C18 coated capillaries with native biosynthetic human growth hormone (bhGH) as an internal standard. This allows for highly robust and precise determinations as well as the evaluation of the presence of deamidated forms in the cytosol samples. Furthermore, by modifying the running buffer with zwitterionic surfactants and an organic modifier, it is possible to detect a related form with a three sulfur atom Cys-Cys bridge (trisulfide Pre-bhGH). Thus, a strong tool for monitoring the effect of fermentation conditions on the biosynthesis of bhGH is obtained.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Unexplained and explained natural deaths among persons above 1 year of age in a series of medico-legal autopsies.

The aim of this study was to describe unexplained and explained natural deaths among decreased above 1 year of age in a series of medico-legal autopsies collected over a 20-year period (1972-1992). Unexplained natural deaths can be defined as those deaths where no cause-of-death is revealed after post-mortem and without circumstances indicating violent death. The death was considered to be natural in 491 cases above 1 year of age among a total of 2004 medico-legal autopsies. In 428 of these cases an explanation as to the cause-of-death was reached. The three most frequently encountered causes-of-death were complications to coronary atherosclerosis (62.6%), diseases of the lung (12.4%) and diseases in the central nervous system (9.8%). Among 59 cases with unexplained natural death, 50 had various chronic diseases or fatty liver. In 43 of these cases the deceased had epilepsy or chronic alcoholism. In nine cases (1.8% of the natural deaths) no explanation to the cause-of-death could be given.

Adolescent↗

Medicolegal autopsies of violent deaths in northern Norway 1972-1992.

The aim of this paper is to describe the characteristics of medicolegal autopsies of violent deaths in northern Norway over a period of 20 years. On request by the police, 1446 violent deaths were examined--82.6% males and 17.4% females. The mean age was 40.2 years (range 0-98). The most frequent violent manners of death were suicides (24.9%), deaths caused by motor vehicle traffic accidents (18.6%), accidental poisoning (11.5%) and boating incidents (8.4%). Homicides and involuntary manslaughter came to 4.4% and 1.7%, respectively, whereas in 11.4% of cases the manner of death was unknown. The five most frequent causes of death were blunt injury (31.4%), drowning (17.4%), suffocation (11.8%), firearm (11.3%) and poisoning (10.5%). In 3.5% of the cases the cause of death was unknown. The spectrum of the manner of death and the cause of death in a subarctic population is discussed with reference to legislation, practise of request and information given by the police.

Adolescent↗

Innervation of the human middle meningeal artery: immunohistochemistry, ultrastructure, and role of endothelium for vasomotility.

The majority of nerve fibers in the middle meningeal artery and branching arterioles are sympathetic, storing norepinephrine and neuropeptide Y (NPY). A sparse supply of fibers contain acetylcholinesterase activity and immunoreactivity toward vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), peptidine histidine methionine (PHM), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Only few substance P and neuropeptide K immunoreactive fibers are noted. Electronmicroscopy shows axons and terminals at the adventitial medial border of the human middle meningeal artery, with a fairly large distance to the smooth muscle cells (>500 nM). Several axon profiles contain vesicles of different types, including putative sensory profiles. The perivascularly stored signal substances, norepinephrine and NPY induced vasoconstrictor. Relaxations were induced by acetylcholine and substance P, and these were significantly reduced in arteries without endothelium, while the responses to norepinephrine, NPY, VIP, PHM, and CGRP were not changed by endothelium removal. Blockade experiments showed that the vasomotor responses to norepinephrine were blocked by prazosin, to NPY by BIBP 3226, acetylcholine by atropin, substance P by RP 67580, and the human alpha-CGRP response by human alpha-CGRP(8-37).

Acetylcholine↗

Addition of both platelets and thrombin in combination accelerates tumor cells to adhere to endothelial cells in vitro.

Platelets and coagulation are involved in the pathogenesis of blood-borne metastases. The aim of this study is to obtain more information about the mechanisms involved in the initial adhesion of tumor cells to endothelial cells. In short term experiments with tumor cells, suspended in the medium of cultured endothelial cells, we tested whether addition of both platelets and thrombin cause more tumor cell adhesion to endothelial cells, than when either platelets or thrombin are acting alone. HeLa cells or HT29 cells, prelabeled with radioactive 51Cr, human platelets, and thrombin were added to human endothelial cell cultures. Following 15 min of shaking at 37 degrees C, the percentage of tumor cell adhesion was calculated. The percentages of adhering tumor cells with the presence of both platelets and thrombin were greatly increased compared to controls. Addition of hirudin 2 min before thrombin lowered the adhesion percentage of tumor cells. Hirudin added immediately before and 2 min after thrombin gave only minor effects. When the endothelium was treated with superoxide dismutase, catalase, and mannitol, the adhesion of tumor cells was lowered with catalase and superoxide dismutase. The cause of tumor cell-endothelial cell interaction is probably complex. Our results show that activated platelets enhance the tumor cell adhesion, and that generation of active oxygen species may be important in the initial phase of the interaction.

Adult↗