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Biomedical subjects

M Olsson

Publications and source records attributed to M Olsson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Development and preliminary application of a new scale for assessing dysfunctional working models of self and others (DWM-S) in severely disturbed patients.

Although several suggestions have been made concerning the content and characteristics of cognitive/emotive schemata held by people with different disorders, there is still a scarcity of suitable instruments for verifying or measuring such constructs. This is particularly true of schemata postulated to be present in patients with personality disorders or a schizophrenic disorder. This article deals with the development of a new scale for assessing dysfunctional internal working models of self and others (DWM-S) in psychiatric patients. Preliminary results obtained in a sample of patients (n=110) and healthy subjects (n=40) suggest that the scale has a highly satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.97), and satisfactory test-retest reliability (rho coefficient=0.90 in healthy subjects and 0.86 in patients). Moreover, the DWM-S is able to discriminate between patients and healthy subjects and between patients suffering from various disorders. Further studies are in progress to assess the cross-national generalizability of the findings obtained so far.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Update on Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. hominis typing based on nucleotide sequence variations in internal transcribed spacer regions of rRNA genes.

Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. hominis isolates from 207 clinical specimens from nine countries were typed based on nucleotide sequence variations in the internal transcribed spacer regions I and II (ITS1 and ITS2, respectively) of rRNA genes. The number of ITS1 nucleotides has been revised from the previously reported 157 bp to 161 bp. Likewise, the number of ITS2 nucleotides has been changed from 177 to 192 bp. The number of ITS1 sequence types has increased from 2 to 15, and that of ITS2 has increased from 3 to 14. The 15 ITS1 sequence types are designated types A through O, and the 14 ITS2 types are named types a through n. A total of 59 types of P. carinii f. sp. hominis were found in this study.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Identification of Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. hominis gene sequences in filtered air in hospital environments.

To evaluate the risk of a nosocomial spread of Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. hominis (P. carinii hominis), air filter samples from rooms of P. carinii pneumonia (PCP) patients, adjacent corridors, and other hospital environments have been investigated for the presence of P. carinii hominis. Amplified DNA from air filters and sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage samples from the PCP patients have been genotyped with the P. carinii hominis genes of the mitochondrial large-subunit (mtLSU) rRNA and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of the rRNA. Genotypes of the two loci were identified by direct sequencing, and for site 85 of the mtLSU locus, three allele-specific PCR assays were used. P. carinii hominis DNA was identified in the air of five of seven PCP patient rooms and in the air of two of four air filtrations from the ward corridors. The P. carinii hominis genotypes were the same in four of the five room air samples as those in the corresponding patients, suggesting a risk of person-to-person transmission of P. carinii hominis from PCP patients. Three of 16 air samples collected in infectious disease wards without the presence of PCP patients and one sample from a cardiology unit in a separate hospital building were also positive, which further strengthens the possibility of acquisition of P. carinii hominis from the environment.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed1997

Towards a molecular level understanding of protein stabilization: the interaction between lysozyme and sorbitol.

The paper is investigating the mechanism of stabilization of proteins by polyols at the molecular level. It is addressing the interactions of sorbitol, a polyol commonly used as a protein stabilizing agent, with hen egg white lysozyme, a well studied protein. Differential scanning calorimetry shows an increase in denaturation temperature of lysozyme upon addition of sorbitol at a concentration of 250 mM and above. Increasing sorbitol concentration also caused an increase in signal intensity of the CD spectrum of lysozyme in the wavelength region of 280-300 nm. Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to examine interactions between lysozyme and sorbitol. Most significant changes are manifest in the anomalous relaxation properties of Ala and Thr methyl groups indicating modifications of local motions and possibly compression of the entire structure. This is further corroborated by new intra-protein nuclear Overhauser effects in the presence of sorbitol. There is also evidence that water is displaced from the enzyme surface close to Ile-88 upon addition of sorbitol. In combination these results reveal a complex interplay of different interactions. Comparison to NMR-spectra of lysozyme with a bound inhibitor (tri-N-acetyl-glucosamine) shows that the interaction with sorbitol affects spatially disparate regions of the protein.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗
PubMed1997

Specimen banking--a planning in advance.

The future value and usefulness of a Specimen Banking Programme is dependent on the way we select the material to be saved and the way we save it. If the material consists of non-representative samples or samples from which we cannot produce a set of analytical chemical data that allows us to make a proper statistical analysis, then the data merely provides us with anecdotal information. Experience as well as studies of large data sets have taught us that poor research material gives us poor understanding and knowledge. We know in advance that some questions will be important in the future. Of these, spatial and temporal changes in environmental contamination are high on the list. What priorities should we set and what kind of selection criteria should we use to create useful collections in the specimen banks? This paper will discuss some of the qualities samples must possess if they are to be included in a specimen bank.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The Swedish Environmental Specimen Bank--application in trend monitoring of mercury and some organohalogenated compounds.

The Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, constitutes a base for ecotoxicological research as well as for spatial and trend monitoring of contaminants in Swedish fauna. Since the 1960s, tissue samples from more than 150000 organisms have been collected from different groups of animals, habitats and types of landscape. Samples from the ESB have been utilized for retrospective studies of trace elements, organohalogenated compounds and radionuclides. Among many matrices utilized, eggs of guillemot (Uria aalge) have proven to be an appropriate matrix for assessment of the contamination of the Baltic Sea. Results from time trend studies based on this material showing trends in concentrations of DDT, PCB, PCDD/F, and mercury are presented in this paper.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Extensive migration and target innervation by striatal precursors after grafting into the neonatal striatum.

Embryonic striatal precursors grafted into the lesioned adult host striatum show limited integration with little migration and restricted efferent projections. In the present study, the influence of an immature striatal environment on the integrative capacity of grafted neuroblasts was examined after transplantation of striatal progenitors into the striatum at different stages of postnatal development. Mouse progenitors, derived from embryonic day 13.5-14 lateral or medial ganglionic eminence or the cerebellar primordium, were transplanted as a single cell suspension into the developing postnatal day 1, 7 and 21 rat striatum. The grafted cells and their axonal projections were visualized using antibodies raised against the mouse-specific neural markers, M6 and M2. Cells from the lateral (but not the medial) ganglionic eminence showed a remarkable capacity to innervate selectively the striatal target structures, globus pallidus, entopeduncular nucleus and substantia nigra, reminiscent of endogenous striatal neurons, which is not observed after grafting into adult hosts. M6 and M2-immunopositive cellular profiles from both the lateral and medial ganglionic eminences were observed to have migrated extensively away from the injection site, in contrast to the cerebellar precursors which remained clustered at the implantation site. Cells from the lateral ganglionic eminence were largely confined within the striatal complex where they developed striatal characteristics, displaying expression of DARPP-32, the 32,000 mol. wt dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein, whereas cells from the medial ganglionic eminence had migrated caudally along the internal capsule and were observed predominantly in the globus pallidus and thalamus, in addition to the striatum. The cells located outside the striatum were all DARPP-32 negative. The improved integration and increased projection capacity of the lateral ganglionic eminence precursors grafted into postnatal day 1 hosts gradually declined as the host advanced into later stages of development (postnatal day 7), and in postnatal day 21 hosts the grafted striatal precursors behaved similarly to grafts implanted into adult recipients. These results demonstrate the specific capacity of embryonic striatal progenitors to integrate into the developing basal ganglia circuitry during early postnatal development, and that the extent of neuronal and glial integration and graft host connectivity declines when the host has developed beyond the first postnatal week.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Specification of mouse telencephalic and mid-hindbrain progenitors following heterotopic ultrasound-guided embryonic transplantation.

We have demonstrated the utility of ultrasound backscatter microscopy for targeted intraparenchymal injections into embryonic day (E) 13.5 mouse embryos. This system has been used to test the degree of commitment present in neural progenitors from the embryonic ventral telencephalon and mid-hindbrain region. Many E13.5 ventral telencephalic progenitors were observed to integrate and adopt local phenotypes following heterotopic transplantation into telencephalic or mid-hindbrain targets, whereas mid-hindbrain cells of the same stage were unable to integrate and change fate in the telencephalon. In contrast, many mid-hindbrain cells from an earlier developmental stage (E10.5) were capable of integrating and adopting a forebrain phenotype after grafting into the telencephalon, suggesting that mouse mid-hindbrain progenitors become restricted in their developmental potential between E10.5 and E13.5.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Microsatellites in the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis): description, variation, inheritance, and applicability.

We developed microsatellite markers for the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) to enable investigations of the genetic variability within and among populations with a heterogeneous spatial distribution in Sweden. The populations, which could not be characterized by variation in allozymes or mitochondrial DNA, had a substantial level of variability in microsatellite loci. However, the variability in Swedish populations was limited compared to a large, outbred Hungarian population. In the sand lizard, the number of (GT/CA)n repeats was approximately three times higher than that for (CT/GA)n. The number of repeats and the frequency of microsatellites were within the range reported for other species. Three of nine microsatellite loci showed alleles that could not be amplified, which is in agreement with recent reports describing microsatellite "null alleles" as a common occurrence. We discuss the caution which this calls for when calculating paternity probabilities and when estimating between-population allelic differentiation. A potential problem with different mutation rates for alleles within the same locus is discussed.

Alleles↗
PubMed1997

Mk II: the self-tapping Brånemark implant: 5-year results of a prospective 3-center study.

The 5-year result of a prospective 3-center study is presented, comprising 103 patients with 288 Mk II self-tapping and 275 standard implants of the Brånemark System. Out of 363 mandibular and 200 maxillary fixtures, one Mk II was lost of the lower jaw and 13 of each implant type failed in maxillae during the study period. Cumulative prosthesis stability was 97%. Five patients accounted for more than 85% of the fixture losses. Marginal bone resorption was similar for both implant designs. Apart from the implant failures and one patient exhibiting disturbed nerve sensation of the mental nerve, no major complications were encountered. Overall, this study revealed equal cumulative success rates for standard and Mk II implants after 5 years of observation. Mandibular implants exhibited greater success rates (100%) for both tested implant types compared to maxillary implants (87%).

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Efficient adenovirus-mediated gene transduction of normal and leukemic hematopoietic cells.

We evaluated the efficiency of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer into normal and malignant human hematopoietic cells. An E-1 and E-3 deleted, replication-defective recombinant Ad.RSV beta gal vector was used and the transduction efficiency was studied at a multiplicity of infection of 13 p.f.u. per cell. Approximately 40-50% of normal monocytes were transduced, whereas purified normal resting T cells and B cells were resistant to infection. We showed that 50-80% of primary chronic myeloid leukemia cells (CML, n = 12) were efficiently transduced in contrast to CML, successful transduction of resting primary chronic B lymphocytic leukemia cells required appropriate preactivation of targeted cells. A novel protocol for the efficient transduction of adenovirus into B-CLL cells was presented. We showed that anti-CD40 mAb or CD40 ligand acts in synergy with rhIL-4 to enable the transduction of approximately 50-75% of B-CLL cells (B-CLL, n = 6). Expression of beta-galactosidase in transduced CML cells and B-CLL cells was detected for at least 15 days after transduction. The present studies underline the utility of adenovirus vectors for the construction of cytokine gene-modified tumor vaccines for the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies such as CML and B-CLL.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1997

Intrathecal sufentanil compared with epidural bupivacaine analgesia in labour.

Epidural analgesia for pain relief during labour has certain disadvantages including slow onset. However, intrathecal sufentanil provides rapid onset and well-controlled analgesia lasting 1-4 h. The aim of this study was to compare the analgesia and the side effects of intrathecal sufentanil with epidural bupivacaine during labour. In a randomized, double-blind and controlled trial 58 parturient women requesting analgesia during labour were studied. The patients received either intrathecal sufentanil 10 micrograms and epidural saline, or intrathecal saline and epidural bupivacaine 20 mg. Visual analogue scores (VAS) for pain, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, level of sedation and the incidence of pruritus and nausea were recorded. Pain scores were significantly lower between 5 and 90 min after injection in patients receiving intrathecal sufentanil. Pruritus was significantly more frequent among those receiving intrathecal sufentanil. The rapid onset and effective analgesia of intrathecal sufentanil may in certain situations be advantageous.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Social support in bereavement crisis--a study of interaction in crisis situations.

This article is based on a study of the interaction between relatives of patients who died in Coronary Care Units in Sweden and staff members of these units. The social support concept is used in a qualitative analysis of the narratives of bereaved spouses and adult children in order to learn about the nature of supportive interactions in such crisis situations. Specific needs for support and different patterns in mobilizing support are described as well as obstacles to the supportive process stemming from the nature of the crisis situation and problems in the interaction. The findings indicate reciprocal influences between the individual bereavement process and the interpersonal social support process. The author also suggests ways for medical social workers to use the findings.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

No evidence of nosocomial Pneumocystis carinii infection via health care personnel.

Clusters of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in immunocompromised settings suggest person-to-person transmission. We examined whether personnel in a ward for HIV-infected patients were carriers of P. carinii. None of 29 sputum samples from 19 personnel caring for HIV-infected patients had detectable amounts of P. carinii DNA, as determined by the two PCR methods used. Two of 26 personnel were found, by an immunofluorescence assay, to have serum antibodies for P. carinii. The results do not support the hypothesis that personnel represent major vectors or transient reservoirs for spreading P. carinii infection to immunocompromised hosts.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗