Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Aman

Publications and source records attributed to P Aman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Bran fermentation as a means to enhance technological properties and bioactivity of rye.

Response surface methodology was applied to study the effects of fermentation on the levels of phytochemicals (folates, phenolic compounds, alkylresorcinols) and on the solubilization of pentosans in rye bran from native and peeled grains. Furthermore, the microbial composition of the brans before and after fermentation was studied. Peeling reduced the microbial load and lower microbial counts were detected in the fermentation experiments carried out with the bran from peeled grains. High temperature and long fermentation time favoured the growth of indigenous lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and a diverse microbial community was detected. The brans contained low levels of aerobic spore-forming bacteria, but their number was not increased during the fermentations. Fermentation of both brans increased the levels of folates, easily extractable total phenolics and free ferulic acid. During fermentation of bran from native grains, the levels of alkylresorcinols slightly increased but during fermentation of bran from peeled grains they decreased. Significant increase in soluble pentosans was established in both types of rye bran fermentations. Enhanced bioactivity and solubilization of pentosans with limited microbial growth were obtained after 12-14 h fermentation at 25 degrees C. The results suggest that fermentation is a potential bioprocessing technology for improved technological properties and bioactivity of rye bran.

Bread↗

Levels of nitrate in Swedish lettuce and spinach over the past 10 years.

Monitoring of nitrate in Swedish-produced lettuce and spinach over the past 10 years (1996-2005) showed that more than 95% of the samples were below the maximum levels established by the European Commission in 1997. The good agricultural practices used by Swedish farmers may partly explain these results. Analytical results of organic farming production of lettuce from 2000 showed low nitrate levels compared with conventional production. The 10 years of Swedish experience has shown good compliance with the European Union maximum levels, but even lower nitrate levels may be achieved by organic farming methods, at least regarding fresh lettuce grown under cover.

European Union↗

Cell-type-specific expression of p53 and p21 in giant cell arteritis.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of TP53 (p53) and CDKN1A (CIP1; p21) in the arterial wall in giant cell arteritis (GCA). Cross-sections from 18 temporal artery biopsies displaying GCA and 8 control arteries were double-stained with monoclonal antibody directed at p53 or p21 on the one hand and alpha-smooth muscle actin, CD68 (macrophage) or CD3 (T-cell) on the other. Nuclear p53 was expressed in CD68-positive cells and smooth muscle cells in 16 of the 18 inflamed arteries. P21-positive nuclei were found in CD68-positive cells in 14 biopsies and in smooth muscle cells in all the specimens. All p53-positive giant cells also contained p21-positive nuclei. In the giant cells, immunopositive nuclei were mixed with negative ones. CD3-positive T-cells did not express p53 or p21. Only one p53-positive smooth muscle cell nucleus was found in the non-GCA controls and, compared with GCA, p21 expression was noted in few smooth muscle nuclei. The presence of p53 and p21 in the same types of cell in GCA indicates that the former protein is functional; p21 expression is induced by wild-type, functional p53 but not by its mutant form. The current observations suggest cellular stress in GCA, the nature of which requires further investigation.

Aged↗

Effects of meal frequency and high-fibre rye-bread diet on glucose and lipid metabolism and ileal excretion of energy and sterols in ileostomy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a rye, high-fibre diet (HFD) vs a wheat, low-fibre diet (LFD), meal frequency, nibbling (Nib, seven times a day) or ordinary (Ord, three times a day), and their combined effects on blood glucose, insulin, lipids, urinary C-peptide and ileal excretion of energy, cholesterol and bile acids in humans. DESIGN: LFD period with Nib or Ord meal frequency followed by an HFD diet with Nib or Ord meal frequency in randomized, crossover design. SETTING: Outpatients of ileostomy volunteers were called for an investigation in research word. SUBJECTS: A total of 10 subjects (two female subjects, age 34 and 51 y; eight males, mean age 54.4 y, range 43-65 y) participated in the experiment. All subjects were proctocolectomized for ulcerative colitis (mean 16.0 y, range 8-29 y before the study). INTERVENTION: In total, 10 ileostomy subjects started with LFD for 2 weeks, the first week on either Nib (five subjects) or Ord (five subjects) and the second week on the other meal frequencies, in a crossover design, followed by a wash-out week, and continued with HFD period for 2 weeks in the same meal frequency manner. All foods consumed in both Nib or Ord regimens were identical and a high-fibre rye bread was used in the HFD period and a low-fibre wheat bread in the LFD period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Day-profiles of blood glucose, insulin and lipids, blood lipids before and after dietary intervention, and excretion of steroids in the effluents and C-peptide in the urine. RESULTS: During the Nib regimen, plasma glucose and insulin peaks were lower at the end of the day with HFD compared with LFD. Urinary C-peptide excretion was significantly higher in the day-time on LFD compared with HFD (LFD-Ord vs HFD-Ord, P < 0.01; LFD-Nib vs HFD-Nib, P < 0.01). Plasma free-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids were significantly higher (P < 0.05) after LFD than after HFD with the Nib regimen. A higher excretion of energy (P < 0.05) and chenodeoxycholic acid (P < 0.05) were observed with HFD compared with LFD regardless of meal frequency. A higher daily excretion of cholic acid, total bile acids, cholesterol, net cholesterol and net sterols (P < 0.05) was observed on HFD compared with LFD with the Nib regimen. CONCLUSIONS: An HFD decreased insulin secretion measured as a decreased excretion of C-peptide in urine and as decreased plasma insulin peaks at the end of the day during a Nib regimen. The smoother glycaemic responses at the end of the day during a Nib regimen may be a consequence of a second meal phenomenon, possibly related to the nature of dietary fibre complex.

Adult↗

Large-cell medulloblastoma in Aicardi syndrome. Case report and literature review.

An eight-year-old girl with Aicardi syndrome (AIC) developed signs of increased intracranial pressure. A clinical and radiological investigation revealed a tumor in the posterior fossa, which was resected. The histopathological diagnosis was large-cell medulloblastoma. Eight months later, she died of a local recurrence, despite treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy according to a PNET protocol. In addition to the growth of a large-cell medulloblastoma at the location of the primary tumor and the meningeal spread of the tumor, the autopsy revealed major cortical and subcortical malformations of the brain. Various benign (e.g., plexus papillomas) and malignant tumors (angiosarcoma, embryonic carcinoma, and hepatoblastoma) have been reported in connection with Aicardi syndrome. A genetic analysis of AIC suggests that the mutation is localized on the distal part of the short arm of the X chromosome, an area that may be of importance for tumor development. This is the first report of a primary malignant brain tumor -- large-cell medulloblastoma -- in a patient with Aicardi syndrome.

Agenesis of Corpus Callosum↗

SURF1 gene mutations in three cases with Leigh syndrome and cytochrome c oxidase deficiency.

Leigh syndrome (LS) is one of the most frequent forms of mitochondrial disease in infancy and childhood. Mutations in SURF1 have been shown to be an important cause of LS with cytochrome c oxidase (COX) deficiency. The authors have identified four pathogenic mutations including a novel, in-frame, 15-bp tandem duplication (806-820) in exon 8 and a novel 751+1G>A splice site mutation in SURF1 in three cases of LS with COX deficiency.

Blotting, Western↗

Randomised controlled short-term intervention pilot study on rye bran bread in prostate cancer.

The short-term effects of rye bran bread intake in prostate cancer were investigated. Ten men with conservatively treated prostate cancer were randomised to a daily supplement of 295 g of rye bran bread and eight men to 275 g of wheat bread (control) with similar fibre content for three weeks. Blood samples, ultrasound-guided core biopsies of the prostate, and urine samples were taken. In the rye group, there was a significant increase in plasma enterolactone, and the apoptotic index increased significantly from 2.1% (SD 1.3) to 5.9% (SD 1.8), P<0.005 as measured by a TUNEL index in four cases in the rye group and seven cases in the control group. Besides a significant decrease in weight in both groups, only small changes were observed in plasma concentrations of prostate specific antigen (PSA), circulating sex hormones, excreted oestrogens, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, and in the endothelial fibrinolytical system. High intake of rye bran bread is suggested to increase apoptosis in prostate tumours.

Aged↗

Prognostic implications of BCL6 rearrangement in uniformly treated patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma--a Nordic Lymphoma Group study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic implications of BCL6 rearrangement in a uniformly treated population of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and to characterise the relationship between BCL6 rearrangement and prognostic factors. A total of 269 patients with DLBCL entered a randomised trial comparing the chemotherapy regimen CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) to the MACOP-B (methotrexate, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, bleomycin) regimen. In 44 cases, frozen tissue was available for assessment of BCL6 status by Southern blot analysis. BCL6 was rearranged in six of 43 evaluable cases (14%), and was associated with elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and a higher patient age. No association between BCL6 status and expression of BCL2, Ki-67 or TP53 was found. Patients presenting with BCL6 rearrangement displayed a weak trend towards better overall and failure-free survival (67 and 67% at 5 years), compared to patients with germline BCL6 (63 and 52%), but the difference was not statistically significant. In accordance with previously published series, the presence of BCL6 rearrangement does not define a prognostically distinct subgroup of DLBCL. Assessment of BCL6 status may, however, be of clinical interest when related to other prognostic variables.

Adolescent↗

Cytogenetic and molecular genetic analyses of liposarcoma and its soft tissue simulators: recognition of new variants and differential diagnosis.

Liposarcoma is one of the most common sarcomas of adults. Its differential diagnosis and accurate subclassification are often problematic; the latter is also important with regard to appropriate treatment and prognosis. We studied a series of 23 liposarcomas that had unusual or previously undescribed features and 10 liposarcoma simulators and correlated the morphologic, cytogenetic, and molecular genetic findings. We found that use of cytogenetic-molecular genetic techniques aids in the distinction between myxoid-round cell liposarcoma and their simulators, chondroid lipoma, myxoid spindle cell-pleomorphic lipoma, cellular intramuscular myxoma, and myxofibrosarcoma. Poorly differentiated forms of round cell liposarcoma lacking morphologic evidence of lipogenesis can also be diagnosed using these techniques; however, the techniques do not aid in distinguishing low-grade myxoid from high-grade round cell liposarcomas. This study also shows that retroperitoneal liposarcomas with myxoid liposarcoma-like zones are part of the morphologic spectrum of well-differentiated-dedifferentiated liposarcoma rather than true myxoid liposarcomas. Perhaps most importantly, our results provide the first molecular genetic evidence that true mixed liposarcomas (mixed well-differentiated and myxoid liposarcoma) do indeed exist. They also unequivocally demonstrate the existence of small, round cell variants of pleomorphic liposarcoma that closely simulate myxoid-round cell liposarcoma.

Adult↗

Comparison of starch branching enzyme I and II from potato.

The in vitro activities of purified potato starch branching enzyme (SBE) I and II expressed in Escherichia coli were compared using several assay methods. With the starch-iodine method, it was found that SBE I was more active than SBE II on an amylose substrate, whereas SBE II was more active than SBE I on an amylopectin substrate. Both enzymes were stimulated by the presence of phosphate. On a substrate consisting of linear dextrins (chain length 8-200 glucose residues), no significant net increase in molecular mass was seen on gel-permeation chromatography after incubation with the enzymes. This indicates intrachain branching of the substrate. After debranching of the products, the majority of dextrins with a degree of polymerization (dp) greater than 60 were absent for SBE I and those with a dp greater than 70 for SBE II. To study the shorter chains, the debranched samples were also analysed by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography. The products of SBE I showed distinct populations at dp 11-12 and dp 29-30, whereas SBE II products had one, broader, population with a peak at dp 13-14. An accumulation of dp 6-7 chains was seen with both isoforms.

1,4-alpha-Glucan Branching Enzyme↗

Expression of the IL-6 family cytokines in human brain tumors.

In our RT-PCR screen for cytokine expression in human brain tumors we discovered increased levels of oncostatin M (OSM), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), all belonging to the interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine family, in most of the tumors. The expression of these cytokines in normal adult brain tissue was found to be very low or below detection limit. OSM expression was elevated in most of the tumors and immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the tumor cells contained OSM in their cytoplasm, suggesting they produce this factor. Overexpression of OSM has not previously been reported in primary human brain tumors. The IL-6 cytokine family acts through a common gp130 receptor subunit that activates the JAK/STAT signaling pathway and therefore they have been suggested to have overlapping effects. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) and MMP-3 and IL-6 have been reported to be regulated by OSM. IL-6 was low or absent in the tumors. TIMP-1, MMP-1 and MMP-3 was expressed in most tumors but with no strict correlation to OSM levels.

Astrocytoma↗

Rye bran and soy protein delay growth and increase apoptosis of human LNCaP prostate adenocarcinoma in nude mice.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we investigated whether dietary intervention could inhibit tumor growth of an androgen-sensitive human prostatic cancer. METHODS: LNCaP cells were transplanted subcutaneously in nude-mice. The animals were then put on different diets and tumor take, tumor growth and prostate specific antigen (PSA) secretion were studied during 9 weeks. RESULTS: Palpable tumors developed in 75% of the tumor-cell injected sites in animals fed a control diet (corn starch, sucrose, etc.) whereas, for animals given rye bran (RB), ethyl acetate extraction from rye bran supplemented cellulose based diets (CCEE), palpable tumors were seen in only 30% and for soy protein based diets (SCC) 50% of the transplantation sites, respectively. The tumors that grew to palpable size in the rye (RB) and soy (SCC) groups were smaller and secreted less PSA than those in the control group. In the rye and soy groups tumor cell apoptosis was increased, but cell proliferation was unaffected. Addition of fat to the rye diet reduced its effect on prostate cancer growth. CONCLUSIONS: Factors in rye bran and soy protein may inhibit prostate cancer growth. The effect is more apparent for rye than for soy. Further studies are needed to identify the effective substances and to explore the mechanism of action.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Molecular weight, structure, and shape of oat (1-->3),(1-->4)-beta-D-glucan fractions obtained by enzymatic degradation with lichenase.

Oat beta-glucan was partially degraded by lichenase for different periods of time. Weight-average molecular weights were obtained from SEC-RI-RALLS-Visc and ranged from 5300 to 257,200. Weight-average intrinsic viscosities ranged from 7 to 160 mL/g. The determined viscosity equation, [eta] = 5.47 x 10(-3) M 0.82, indicated an extended coil conformation. When the coil was modeled as a wormlike chain a persistent length of 2.30 nm was obtained. 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy were used to identify the structural units in the partially degraded beta-glucan. The identification of the disaccharide laminaribiose in the hydrolysates may suggest the presence of a new structural feature in cereal beta-glucan.

Avena↗

HPLC method for analysis of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside in flaxseeds.

A method was developed for the analysis of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) in flaxseeds. The analytical method involves extraction of defatted flaxseed flour with dioxane/ethanol, aqueous base-hydrolysis, solid-phase purification of an SDG-containing fraction, and quantitative analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Pure SDG was isolated from flaxseed using different column chromatographic methods and used, as external standard, for the calibration of the method and for quantification. The method was then applied to study the variation in SDG content in flaxseeds from 14 cultivars grown in Sweden and 15 cultivars grown in Denmark. The SDG content varied between 11.7 and 24.1 mg/g in defatted flaxseed flour and between 6.1 and 13.3 mg/g in whole flaxseeds.

Butylene Glycols↗

Fusion of the EWS-related gene TAF2N to TEC in extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma.

Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcomas (EMCs) are characterized by a recurrent t(9;22)(q22;q12) translocation, resulting in the fusion of the EWS gene in 22q12 and the TEC gene in 9q22. Here we report that a third member of the EWS, TLS/FUS gene family, TAF2N, can replace EWS as a fusion partner to TEC in EMC. Two tumors, one with a novel t(9;17)(q22;q11) variant translocation and one with an apparently normal karyotype, expressed TAF2N-TEC fusion transcripts. In both cases, the chimeric transcripts were shown to contain exon 6 of TAF2N fused to the entire coding region of TEC. This transcript is structurally and functionally very similar to the EWS-TEC fusions. The exchange of the EWS NH2-terminal part with the TAF2N NH2-terminal part in EMC further underscores the oncogenic potential of these protein domains as partners in fusion genes.

Aged↗