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Biomedical subjects

L Larsson

Publications and source records attributed to L Larsson.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

Gas chromatographic analysis of cellular fatty acids in anaerobic curved bacteria isolated from the vagina.

The fatty acid compositions of forty-five strains of anaerobic curved rods isolated from vaginal content were analysed by gas chromatography. Twenty-six of the strains were of a short Gram-variable type and 19 of a long Gram-negative type. The bacteria were subjected to alkaline saponification, after which the liberated fatty acids were methylated using boron trichloride-methanol. The samples were introduced onto a cross-linked (SE-54) fused silica capillary column. The major peaks in the chromatograms from all strains corresponded to C14:0, C16:0, C18:2, C18:1 and C18:0 fatty acids. Five additional components were seen, three of them identified by mass spectrometry as fatty aldehydes (saturated and unsaturated) of 16 to 18 carbon atoms, whereas the remaining two were not identified. The fatty aldehydes indicated the presence of plasmalogens in the bacterial strains studied. With two exceptions, all of the short rods were distinguishable from the long ones by the presence of one aldehyde and two unidentified compounds, all three eluting between C16:0 and C18:2.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗

Urinary excretion of urate in patients with calcium oxalate stone disease.

The diurnal variation in excretion and concentration of urinary urate was studied in 31 patients with calcium oxalate stone disease. Urate excretion was highest during the day-time, decreased in the evening and was low during the night. Meal-related peaks were observed. The concentration of urate reached the highest levels during the morning hours and, attributable to a low pH in morning urine, most samples were at this time super-saturated with respect to uric acid. In addition, many urines appeared to be at high risk of exceeding the uric acid formation product. Concerning the ion-activity product of sodium urate, supersaturated samples were frequently found, but the risk of exceeding the formation product for sodium urate at a normal urate excretion was apparently low.

Calcium Oxalate↗

Effect of renal tubular obstruction on stop-flow pressure and glomerular deposition of fibrin during intravascular coagulation in the rat.

Intravascular coagulation in the rat kidney was induced by intravenous infusion of thrombin for 1 hr. The proximal tubular free-flow (Pt) and stop-flow (Psf) pressures were measured by micropuncture. Some proximal tubules were obstructed with solid paraffin before infusion of thrombin. In certain rats saralasin or indomethacin was administered for 1 hr starting 30 min after the thrombin infusion, and the effect on the tubular pressures was studied. The deposition of fibrin in the glomeruli was examined by light and electron microscopy. Pt fell from 15 +/- 1 (SE) to 7 +/- 2 mm Hg (P less than 0.05) during the infusion of thrombin. After a brief period of increased pressure the Psf fell rapidly from 37 +/- 1 to 17 +/- 1 mm Hg (P less than 0.05). In the previously obstructed nephrons the pressure (Po) increased parallel to the increase in Psf but remained elevated after the infusion of thrombin, 54 +/- 2 mm Hg. The arterial blood pressure (Pa) increased from 119 +/- 2 to 138 +/- 3 mm Hg (P less than 0.05). Saralasin raised the Psf from 15 +/- 1 to 19 +/- 1 mm Hg (P less than 0.05) but had no effect on Pt, Po, or Pa. Indomethacin did not influence the pressures. Morphological examination revealed fibrin in all glomeruli of normal nephrons. In the previously obstructed nephrons the deposition of fibrin was almost totally prevented. The results suggest that glomerular filtration is important for deposition of fibrin in the kidney.

Animals↗

Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in adults and elderly humans after a prophylactic dose of vitamin D2.

Vitamin D2 was administered orally as a single dose (2 mg) to 19 elderly subjects and 17 young adults. The maximum elevation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was significantly greater in young than in elderly subjects. To evaluate intestinal absorption we also measured serum levels of vitamin D2 5 h after the given dose. A vitamin A absorption test was also performed simultaneously. Small differences between young and old subjects were seen with respect to serum vitamin D2 or vitamin A increments. In both groups the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was still elevated above initial level 60 days after a dose was given. No side effects, nor any change in serum calcium ion activity were noted during this period. These results speak in favour of the use of intermittent large doses of vitamin D2 as a prophylaxis against vitamin D deficiency in the elderly.

Adult↗

Airborne bacteria, endotoxin and fungi in dust in poultry and swine confinement buildings.

Airborne dust in swine and poultry confinements was analyzed to determine concentrations of total and gram-negative bacteria, total fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus and endotoxin. Airborne concentrations of total and gram-negative bacteria in swine and confinement units have been found to be as high as, or higher, than those found in other environments, such as wastewater treatment plants and cotton card rooms, where microbiologically contaminated organic dusts were present. Airborne endotoxin concentrations in the swine units (average 0.12 micrograms/m3) and poultry units (average 0.31 micrograms/m3) were in the range where clinical effects have occurred in other populations. Therefore, health studies of poultry and swine confinement workers with concurrent estimation of the individual daily exposure dose are warranted.

Air↗

Determination of fatty acids and carbohydrate monomers in micro-organisms by means of glass capillary gas chromatography: analysis of Mycobacterium gordonae and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum.

Trifluoroacetylated whole-cell methanolysates of four strains each of Mycobacterium gordonae and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum were analysed by gas chromatography, using a glass capillary column. The major chromatographic peaks were identified by mass spectrometry as derivatives of fatty acids and carbohydrates. In addition, two predominant peaks, present in chromatograms representing M. scrofulaceum, were identified as 2-octadecanol and 2-eicosanol. These secondary alcohols were not found in any of the strains of M. gordonae studied. The amount of tuberculostearic acid in the latter species was less than 1% of that in M. scrofulaceum.

Carbohydrates↗

Three-day treatment of acute lower urinary tract infections in women. A double-blind study with amoxycillin and co-trimazine.

The aim of this study was to determine if a three-day treatment of lower urinary tract infection (UTI) is effective. 215 women with symptoms of lower UTI, seen in general practice, were randomly allocated to a double-blind study and given either amoxycillin 1000 mg twice a day for three days or trimethoprim 90 mg/sulphadiazine 410 mg (co-trimazine) 2 tablets initially, then one tablet twice daily for three days. 157 women (73%) had significant bacteriuria. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated in 146 patients. One week after treatment had started, 88% of the women in the amoxycillin group and 100% in the co-trimazine group were cured (p less than 0.01). After a follow-up period of four weeks, the cumulative relapse frequencies were 19% and 9% respectively. Adverse reactions were mild in most cases. Two patients, both on co-trimazine, had to discontinue treatment because of nausea and vomiting. Vulvovaginal irritation was more often reported by women treated with amoxycillin (n = 8) than by those treated with co-trimazine (n = 1) (p less than 0.05). It is concluded that a three-day course of amoxycillin or co-trimazine in lower UTI is safe, causes few adverse reactions, is simple to administer and comfortable for the patient. Co-trimazine seems to be more effective than amoxycillin.

Adolescent↗

Severe hypophosphatemia--a hospital survey.

Eleven patients with a serum phosphate concentration below 0.3 mmol/l were detected in a prospective study of severe hypophosphatemia carried out over 7 weeks on 13 579 adult inpatients. For only one of these patients had a serum phosphate determination been requested by the ward, whereas the remaining cases of severe hypophosphatemia were detected as a result of the study. The most common cause of unexpected severe hypophosphatemia was chronic alcoholism.

Adult↗

Structural and functional development of the nephron.

The present review deals with structural and functional relationships during the development of the nephron. Ultrastructural morphometric technique has been used to obtain quantitative data on structural observations in order to make correlations between structure and function possible. The area of the glomerular basement membrane was found to increase by a factor 1.7 when relating the change in glomerular basement surface area to kidney weight. Furthermore it is suggested that a permeability change of the glomerular basement membrane occurs during development and that this change probably is the result of an increased area of endothelial pores and epithelial slits. The increased capacity of different nephron segments to transport Na and fluid is directly correlated to the increase in the area of the basal and lateral cell membranes as well as the amount of Na-K-ATPase. This suggests a significant contribution of these factors to the maturation of solute and fluid transport through the tubular wall.

Absorption↗

Acidic methanolysis v. alkaline saponification in gas chromatographic characterization of mycobacteria: differentiation between Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare and Mycobacterium gastri.

Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare and M.gastri were analyzed with capillary gas chromatography after each strain had been subjected to acidic methanolysis or to alkaline saponification followed by methylation. Prominent peaks of myristic, palmitoleic, palmitic, oleic, stearic and tuberculostearic acids were found in the chromatograms of both species, whereas 2-octadecanol and 2-eicosanol were detected only in M. avium-intracellulare. In initial runs, both of the derivatization principles yielded virtually identical chromatograms for a given strain. After repeated injections of extracts from alkaline saponification, however, the alcohol peaks showed pronounced tailing and finally almost disappeared from the chromatograms. This disadvantage, which was not observed when only acid methanolysis was used, could be overcome with trifluoroacetylation. Restored peak shape of the underivatized alcohols could be achieved by washing the cross-linked stationary phase in the capillary tubing with organic solvents. The study demonstrated the importance of conditions which enable separation of 2-octadecanol and 2-eicosanol when gas chromatography is used for species identification of mycobacteria.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Levels of gram-negative bacteria, Aspergillus fumigatus, dust, and endotoxin at compost plants.

Airborne gram-negative bacteria, endotoxins, dust, and Aspergillus fumigatus were measured in four compost plants in Sweden. At sites where material was processed, the number of airborne A. fumigatus exceeded 10(6)/m3, whereas the number of gram-negative bacteria was usually lower. Dust levels were moderate, and endotoxin levels were well below 0.5 micrograms/m3. Medical studies to evaluate the effects of this type of microbial exposure are recommended.

Air↗

Effect of betamethasone on Na-K-ATPase activity and basal and lateral cell membranes in proximal tubular cells during early development.

The mechanism by which betamethasone induces Na-K-ATPase activity in developing tissue was studied in homogenates of proximal tubular cells from 10-day-old rats. A significant increase in Na-K-ATPase activity occurred after 5 micrograms . 100 g-1 . 12 h-1 X 2 beta-methasone and a maximal increase after 15-60 micrograms . 100 g-1 . 12 h-1 X 2. Following a single dose of 60 micrograms . 100 g-1 betamethasone Na-K-ATPase activity increased significantly after 16 h and maximally after 24-30 h. The 16-h time lag suggests that betamethasone does not act only directly on Na-K-ATPase synthesis. Betamethasone 60 micrograms . 100 g-1 increases Na-K-ATPase activity significantly in kidneys in which glomerular filtration rate is reduced by ureteral ligation, but the increase is significantly less pronounced than in kidneys with intact ureters, suggesting that the induction is not mediated only by alterations in sodium supply. Twenty-four hours after 10-60 micrograms . 100 g-1 betamethasone there was no significant increase in glucose-6-phosphatase and Mg-ATPase activity in 10-day-old rats or in Na-K-ATPase activity in 40-day-old rats. The basal and lateral cell membranes of the proximal tubular cells were not significantly increased 24 h after 60 micrograms . 100 g-1 betamethasone. Accordingly, structural development is not a prerequisite for enzymatic differentiation.

Aging↗

Urine composition following jejunoileal bypass.

The urinary excretion of oxalate, calcium, citrate, magnesium, urate and creatinine and the inhibition of calcium oxalate crystal growth were determined in 30 patients operated with three different types of jejunoileal bypass. In addition the ion-activity products of calcium oxalate and calcium oxalate saturation were calculated. 15 of the patients had formed urolithiasis postoperatively. The patients were investigated on an out-patient basis with their ordinary diet. All patients had hyperoxaluria. The oxalate excretion did not seem to decrease with time after operation. The patients operated with a biliointestinal shunt had a significantly higher excretion of oxalate than those with the other two types of operation, indicating that variations in the anatomy of the small intestine after jejunoileal bypass might result in different absorption of oxalate or oxalate precursors. Urinary oxalate, calcium oxalate saturation and ion-activity products were higher whereas the excretion of calcium, magnesium and citrate was lower in patients than in controls. The urine volumes, excretion of creatinine and urate and inhibition of calcium oxalate crystal growth were equal in patients and controls. Analogous urine composition was found in patients both with and without urolithiasis with the exception of a higher magnesium excretion observed in stone formers.

Adult↗