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Biomedical subjects

N Nilsson

Publications and source records attributed to N Nilsson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Non-invasive physical treatments for chronic/recurrent headache.

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive physical treatments are often used to treat common types of chronic/recurrent headache. OBJECTIVES: To quantify and compare the magnitude of short- and long-term effects of non-invasive physical treatments for chronic/recurrent headaches. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the following databases from their inception to November 2002: MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, CINAHL, Science Citation Index, Dissertation Abstracts, CENTRAL, and the Specialised Register of the Cochrane Pain, Palliative Care and Supportive Care review group. Selected complementary medicine reference systems were searched as well. We also performed citation tracking and hand searching of potentially relevant journals. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials comparing non-invasive physical treatments for chronic/recurrent headaches to any type of control. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two independent reviewers abstracted trial information and scored trials for methodological quality. Outcomes data were standardized into percentage point and effect size scores wherever possible. The strength of the evidence of effectiveness was assessed using pre-specified rules. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-two studies with a total of 2628 patients (age 12 to 78 years) met the inclusion criteria. Five types of headache were studied: migraine, tension-type, cervicogenic, a mix of migraine and tension-type, and post-traumatic headache. Ten studies had methodological quality scores of 50 or more (out of a possible 100 points), but many limitations were identified. We were unable to pool data because of study heterogeneity. For the prophylactic treatment of migraine headache, there is evidence that spinal manipulation may be an effective treatment option with a short-term effect similar to that of a commonly used, effective drug (amitriptyline). Other possible treatment options with weaker evidence of effectiveness are pulsating electromagnetic fields and a combination of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS] and electrical neurotransmitter modulation. For the prophylactic treatment of chronic tension-type headache, amitriptyline is more effective than spinal manipulation during treatment. However, spinal manipulation is superior in the short term after cessation of both treatments. Other possible treatment options with weaker evidence of effectiveness are therapeutic touch; cranial electrotherapy; a combination of TENS and electrical neurotransmitter modulation; and a regimen of auto-massage, TENS, and stretching. For episodic tension-type headache, there is evidence that adding spinal manipulation to massage is not effective. For the prophylactic treatment of cervicogenic headache, there is evidence that both neck exercise (low-intensity endurance training) and spinal manipulation are effective in the short and long term when compared to no treatment. There is also evidence that spinal manipulation is effective in the short term when compared to massage or placebo spinal manipulation, and weaker evidence when compared to spinal mobilization. There is weaker evidence that spinal mobilization is more effective in the short term than cold packs in the treatment of post-traumatic headache. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS: A few non-invasive physical treatments may be effective as prophylactic treatments for chronic/recurrent headaches. Based on trial results, these treatments appear to be associated with little risk of serious adverse effects. The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of non-invasive physical treatments require further research using scientifically rigorous methods. The heterogeneity of the studies included in this review means that the results of a few additional high-quality trials in the future could easily change the conclusions of our review.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2001

Dynamic colloid--water partitioning of pyrene through a coastal Baltic spring bloom.

Colloidal organic particles constitute the dominant portion of particulate organic matter in surface seawater, but their influence on the phase speciation and bioavailability of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) is sparsely evaluated. Studies on colloid-water partitioning have been focused on other regimes and have largely been performed on chemically defined subportions of total colloids such as the humic fraction. Available estimates of colloid-water partition coefficients (Kcoc) are highly variable and not easily explained by regularly applied Kow-Koc relationships. Here, pyrene was partitioned to bulk natural colloids isolated using cross-flow ultrafiltration techniques from the surface water of a coastal bay. A key objective was to elucidate biogeochemical controls on the changing colloid-sorbent qualities over the course of the dynamic allochtonous-autochtonous transition of a well-constrained boreal coastal spring bloom. The pyrene Kcoc was found to decrease from 12.9+/-0.9 x 10(3) Lw/kg(oc) in the terrestrial runoff dominated regime to values around 2.9+/-0.7 x 10(3) Lw/kg(oc), once phytoplankton production became the governing source of organic matter to the surface waters. The changing Kcoc was well correlated with the molar extinction coefficient at 280 nm of the colloidal organic carbon. This study supports other reports of an improved prediction of HOC phase speciation through this simple molecular proxy of the "quality" of organic sorbents. While being poor sorbents on a carbon atom basis, relative to soils and sediments, coastal marine colloids, by their shear abundance, may significantly attenuate the truly dissolved exposures of HOCs with log Kow above 5.

Absorption↗
PubMed2000

Utilization of fat retainers in supercritical fluid extraction for the selective extraction of polychlorinated biphenyls from a model fat sample.

Two common fat retainers used in supercritical fluid extraction--basic alumina and the silica based adsorbent Florisil--were investigated using lard fat as model material. With a fat retainer in the extraction cell it was possible to obtain fat-free time windows. Activation by heating did not influence the length of the time windows, while deactivation of the retainers with 10% water (w/w) drastically decreased the fat retaining capabilities. The influence of modifier addition was also investigated. Finally, a method was developed, where basic alumina was utilized to selectively extract polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from a model fat sample, containing PCBs, triglycerides and phospholipids. The PCBs could be quantitatively extracted in a totally fat-free time window.

Chromatography↗
PubMed2000

Immature B cells in bone marrow express Fas/FasL.

Negative selection is a process by which autoreactive lymphocytes are eliminated from the developing antigen receptor repertoire. The mechanisms regulating negative selection of immature B lymphocytes in the bone marrow are poorly elucidated. Human bone marrow cells were examined in order to investigate the presence of the members of the Fas (APO-1/CD95) system. Here we demonstrate the expression of Fas in immature B lymphocytes (CD10/CD19+/CD40+/sIg+), and the presence of Fas natural ligand (FasL) in CD19+ bone marrow cells. The observed expression of apoptosis-related molecules might indicate how negative selection of autoreactive B cells can occur in human bone marrow.

Antigens, CD19↗
PubMed2000

The phage infection process: a functional role for the distal linker region of bacteriophage protein 3.

The filamentous bacteriophage infects Escherichia coli by interaction with the F pilus and the TolQRA complex. The virus-encoded protein initiating this process is the gene 3 protein (g3p). The g3p molecule can be divided into three different domains separated by two glycine-rich linker regions. Though there has been extensive evaluation of the importance of the diverse domains of g3p, no proper function has so far been assigned to these linker regions. Through the design of mutated variants of g3p that were displayed on the surface of bacteriophage, we were able to elucidate a possible role for the distal glycine-rich linker region. A phage that displayed a g3p comprised of only the N1 domain, the first linker region, and the C-terminal domain was able to infect cells at almost the same frequency as the wild-type phage. This infection was proven to be dependent on the motif between amino acid residues 68 and 86 (i.e., the first glycine-rich linker region of g3p) and on F-pilus expression.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1999

The short-term effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of infantile colic: a randomized controlled clinical trial with a blinded observer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is a short-term effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of infantile colic. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: A private chiropractic practice and the National Health Service's health visitor nurses in the suburb Ballerup (Copenhagen, Denmark). SUBJECTS: Infants seen by the health visitor nurses, who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for infantile colic. INTERVENTION: One group received spinal manipulation for 2 weeks, the other was treated with the drug dimethicone for 2 weeks. OUTCOME MEASURE: Changes in daily hours of crying as registered in a colic diary. RESULTS: By trial days 4 to 7, hours of crying were reduced by 1 hour in the dimethicone group compared with 2.4 hours in the manipulation group (P = .04). On days 8 through 11, crying was reduced by 1 hour for the dimethicone group, whereas crying in the manipulation group was reduced by 2.7 hours (P = .004). From trial day 5 onward the manipulation group did significantly better that the dimethicone group. CONCLUSION: Spinal manipulation is effective in relieving infantile colic.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1999

The ability to reproduce the neutral zero position of the head.

OBJECTIVE: To determine how precisely asymptomatic subjects can reproduce a neutral zero position of the head. STUDY DESIGN: Repeated measures of the active cervical neutral zero position. SETTING: Institute of Medical Biology (Center of Biomechanics) at Odense University. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-eight asymptomatic students from the University of Odense, male/female ratio 20:18 and mean age 24.3 years (range, 20 to 30 years). INTERVENTION: Measurements of the location of the neutral zero head position by use of the electrogoniometer CA-6000 Spine Motion Analyzer. Each subject's neutral zero position with eyes closed was measured 3 times. The device gives the localization of the neutral zero as coordinates in 3 dimensions (x, v, z) corresponding to the 3 motion planes. RESULTS: The mean difference from neutral zero in 3 motion planes was found to be 2.7 degrees in the sagittal plane, 1.0 degree in the horizontal plane, and 0.65 degree in the frontal plane. CONCLUSION: We found that young adult asymptomatic subjects are very good at reproducing the neutral zero position of the head. This suggests the existence of some advanced neurologic control mechanisms.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Synthesis of a eukaryotic virus protein in a prokaryotic viral-cell system: production of the adenovirus type 2 fiber shaft fragment by a tightly regulated T7POL-M13 expression system.

The use of recombinant technology for the production of proteins of interest in biotechnology and medicine has grown immensely during the last decade. A major problem often encountered is the degradation of the recombinant product by host cell proteases. We developed a novel system based on the cloning and expression of an inducible phage T7 RNA polymerase into the main intergenic region of the phage M13-KO7. After infection of permissive bacterial strains with the engineered phage, the polymerase gene is transcribed, subsequently translated and gene fragments cloned under T7 promoter sequences are then transcribed. For the evaluation of this system, the gene encoding the shaft fragment of the adenovirus type 2 fiber was cloned into a pET 3a-based expression vector. Expression was demonstrated in a BL21(DE3) strain (containing one copy of the T7 RNA polymerase gene) and also in several F pili-containing bacterial strains only after infection with the proper bacteriophage. Several important parameters for heterologous gene expression in Escherichia coli were investigated. Different bacterial strains were evaluated for the production of the recombinant protein, following: the expression levels, the growth rates and the stability of the plasmid vector at different time intervals after induction. It was observed that the expression levels as well as division rates and plasmid stability differed between the different bacterial strains. The best expression levels were obtained when using the E. coli Top IOF' strain. Degradation was only observed in BL21(DE3) cells after 6 h of induction, whereas none of the F'-containing cells were shown to degrade the recombinant protein during the time of expression. This system, based on the T7 pol-M13 bacteriophage, was shown to be very tightly regulated for most of the bacterial strains evaluated with no expression before induction of the T7 RNA polymerase.

Adenoviruses, Human↗
PubMed1999

Protective role of NK1.1+ cells in experimental Staphylococcus aureus arthritis.

In a model of Staphylococcus aureus-induced septic arthritis in C57Bl/6 mice we investigated the role of natural killer (NK) cells in the development of disease. Depletion of NK1.1+ cells was achieved by repeated injections of the PK136 antibody, whereas control mice received an irrelevant monoclonal antibody, O1C5.B2. Both groups of mice then received injections intravenously with 2 x 107 live S. aureus LS-1 secreting toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1). The mice were evaluated for 16 days with regard to weight, mortality and arthritis. Nine days after bacterial injection, 9/19 mice depleted of NK cells had developed arthritis compared with 1/17 in the control group (P = 0.01). The experiment was repeated twice with the same outcome. NK cell-depleted and control mice displayed the same degree of histopathological signs of arthritis at day 16. Depletion of NK cells did not affect uptake of bacteria by phagocytic cells in vitro, or bacterial clearance in vivo. In NK cell-depleted mice there was a tendency to increased levels of antibodies to TSST-1, whereas total immunoglobulin levels were similar to those in controls. NK cell depletion of non-infected mice did not affect the magnitude of inflammatory response during the T cell-dependent cutaneous DTH reaction to oxazolone, or during granulocyte-mediated inflammation. However, specific antibody responses to oxazolone were greatly increased in depleted animals. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that NK cells protect against arthritis during S. aureus infection. This outcome does not seem to be due to an influence on bacterial clearance, but could be due to an interaction with the host anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Pressure pain threshold and pain tolerance in episodic tension-type headache do not depend on the presence of headache.

Pressure pain thresholds and responses to painful mechanical stimuli were obtained from 20 subjects with episodic tension-type headaches (TTH). Tender points in the temporalis and trapezius muscles were studied, along with two nontender points, one in the temporalis and one on the Achilles tendon. Two examinations were performed, one during and one without a headache, and results were compared. No significant differences were found in either variable for any tested points. The data demonstrate that the sensitivity level of these points does not differ based on the presence or absence of TTH. This suggests that the muscle sensitivity in TTH is constant. The observation that the sensitivity levels of both tender and nontender points did not vary suggests that the underlying mechanism or effect of TTH is not restricted to tender muscles.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Spinal manipulation in the treatment of episodic tension-type headache: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT: Episodic tension-type headache is common and is often treated using manual therapies. Few data exist for the efficacy of these interventions. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of spinal manipulation therapy on adults with episodic tension-type headache. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial lasting 19 weeks. SETTING: Outpatient facility of a National Health Service-funded chiropractic research institution in Denmark. PARTICIPANTS: Volunteer sample of 26 men and 49 women aged 20 to 59 years who met the diagnostic criteria for episodic tension-type headache as defined by the International Headache Society. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomized into 2 groups, 1 receiving soft tissue therapy and spinal manipulation (the manipulation group), and the other receiving soft tissue therapy and a placebo laser treatment (the control group). All participants received 8 treatments over 4 weeks; all treatments were performed by the same chiropractor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Daily hours of headache, pain intensity per episode, and daily analgesic use, as recorded in diaries. RESULTS: Based on intent-to-treat analysis, no significant differences between the manipulation and control groups were observed in any of the 3 outcome measures. However, by week 7, each group experienced significant reductions in mean daily headache hours (manipulation group, reduction from 2.8 to 1.5 hours; control group, reduction from 3.4 to 1.9 hours) and mean number of analgesics per day (manipulation group, reduction from 0.66 to 0.38; control group, reduction from 0.82 to 0.59). These changes were maintained through the observation period. Headache pain intensity was unchanged for the duration of the trial. CONCLUSION: As an isolated intervention, spinal manipulation does not seem to have a positive effect on episodic tension-type headache.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The reliability of measuring active and passive cervical range of motion: an observer-blinded and randomized repeated-measures design.

PURPOSE: To study the intra- and interexaminer reliability of measuring active and passive cervical range of motion (ROM). STUDY DESIGN: Observer-blinded, randomized repeated measures of active or passive cervical ROM by two different examiners. SETTING: Institute of Medical Biology (Center of Biomechanic) at Odense University. PARTICIPANTS: Forty asymptomatic students, 20 of each gender, aged 20 to 30 yr, from the University of Odense. INTERVENTION: Measurements of either active or passive cervical ROM using the electrogoniometer CA-6000 Spine Motion Analyzer by two blinded examiners. Each subject was measured four times, twice by each examiner in random order, using a mean-of-three-measurements protocol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The reliability within and between examiners in active and passive ROM was assessed by the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient [ICC (2,k)]. Coefficient of variation (CV) was used to assess the reproducibility within and between examiners in active and passive ROM. RESULTS: Intraexaminer ICCs for active ROM ranged from .81 to .97 and for passive ROM from .85 to .98. The interexaminer ICCs for active ROM ranged from .76 to .98 and for passive ROM from .65 to .95. Intraexaminer CVs for active ROM ranged from 2.42 to 10.93 and for passive ROM, from 1.82 to 5.77. The interexaminer CVs for active ROM ranged from 2.30 to 14.43 and for passive ROM, from 2.58 to 10.93. CONCLUSION: Active and passive ROM could be measured reliably in six movement directions by the same examiner. Measurements were reliable when measured by different examiners for active cervical ROM in six movement directions and passive total ROM in three motion planes.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Altered gene expression associated with apoptosis in a pre-B-leukemic cell line following cross-linking of MHC class I.

The major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) has recently been shown not only to present antigens to the immune system but also to mediate transmembrane signaling, resulting in activation, inactivation, or apoptosis. Such signaling has been observed in both normal and malignant cells of the B and T cell lineage. Cross-linking of MHC-I on the pre-B-acute-lymphocytic cell line KM-3 induces an apoptotic process, which becomes evident after approximately 12 h. In order to better understand the mechanisms regulating this apoptotic process, we have investigated both gene expression and the effect of cross-linking on certain intracellular events. Differential display PCR was used to isolate two gene fragments whose level of expression was associated with the induction of apoptosis as they were downregulated in KM-3 cells following MHC-I cross-linking. These genes encode novel molecules whose function remains to be elucidated. It was further demonstrated that the apoptotic process was not accompanied by changes in [Ca2+]i, the level of activation of NF-kappaB, or changes in protein kinase C activity and that the initiation of apoptosis could be prevented by phorbol ester treatment. It is thus suggested that multiple, fine-tuned molecular events determine the outcome of cross-linking of MHC-I in this pre-B-lymphocytic cell line.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

The effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of cervicogenic headache.

PURPOSE: To study whether the isolated intervention of high-speed, low-amplitude spinal manipulation in the cervical spine has any effect on cervicogenic headache. DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled trial with a blinded observer. SETTING: Ambulatory outpatient facility in an independent research institution. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-three subjects suffering from frequent headaches who fulfilled the International Headache Society criteria for cervicogenic headache (excluding radiological criteria). These subjects were recruited from 450 headache sufferers who responded to newspaper advertisements. INTERVENTION: After randomization, 28 of the group received high-velocity, low-amplitude cervical manipulation twice a week for 3 wk. The remaining 25 received low-level laser in the upper cervical region and deep friction massage (including trigger points) in the lower cervical/upper thoracic region, also twice a week for 3 wk. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The change from week 1 to week 5 in analgesic use per day, in headache intensity per episode and in number of headache hours per day, as registered in a headache diary. RESULTS: The use of analgesics decreased by 36% in the manipulation group, but was unchanged in the soft-tissue group; this difference was statistically significant (p = .04, chi 2 for trend). The number of headache hours per day decreased by 69% in the manipulation group, compared with 37% in the soft-tissue group; this was significant at p = .03 (Mann-Whitney). Finally, headache intensity per episode decreased by 36% in the manipulation group, compared with 17% in the soft-tissue group; this was significant at p = .04 (Mann-Whitney). CONCLUSION: Spinal manipulation has a significant positive effect in cases of cervicogenic headache.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Structure and Bonding of Orthophosphate Ions at the Iron Oxide-Aqueous Interface.

The surface speciation of orthophosphate ions on goethite has been studied as a function of pH, time, total phosphate concentration, and ionic medium by means of diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy. The samples were prepared in accordance with a distribution diagram of surface species as calculated from thermodynamic data. In agreement with the thermodynamic model three dominating surface complexes could be distinguished with IR spectroscopy, and the relative distribution of the species was shown to be primarily a function of pH. The IR characteristics of the individual surface complexes were indicative of molecular symmetries of the PO(4) unit of C(3v), C(2v), and C(3v), respectively. This was concluded to be incompatible with the bidentate, bridging structural model previously suggested. Instead, the IR data are in good agreement with a monodentate coordination of phosphate to the surfaces, where the three surface complexes only differ in the degree of protonation. A comparison between the adsorption behavior of phosphate on goethite and hematite was also made. Here the importance of the aqueous stability of the adsorbent on the adsorption mechanism was shown.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Enhanced natural but diminished antibody-mediated cytotoxicity in the lungs of MRLlpr/lpr mice.

Human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, as well as MRLlpr/lpr mice which develop a SLE-like disease, have decreased numbers and functional activity of systemic natural killer (NK) cells. In contrast, it has been found that among lymphocytes recovered from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of SLE patients, NK cells were increased in number, correlating with the severity of the lung engagement. The present study was undertaken to assay the capacity for natural killing in the lung compartment of MRLlpr/lpr mice compared with healthy congenic MRL +/+ and heterozygous MRL +/lpr mice. 51Cr-labelled YAC-1 cells were injected intravenously to settle in the lungs where they were targeted for lysis by NK cells. YAC-1 cell killing inversely correlated with radioactivity remaining in the lungs after the assay, and was inhibited by antibody to the asialo-GM1 antigen expressed on NK cells. To analyse the capacity in the lung for cytolysis of non-NK cell-sensitive target cells, a similar in vivo 51Cr-release assay was set up for antibody-mediated allospecific cytotoxicity. We demonstrate that MRLlpr/lpr mice throughout their lifespan display significantly increased natural cytotoxic activity in the lungs compared with MRL +/+ and MRL +/lpr mice, as demonstrated by more efficient killing of YAC-1 cells. In contrast, antibody-mediated allospecific cytotoxicity in the lungs was significantly less effective in the MRLlpr/lpr strain.

Animals↗