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Biomedical subjects

T Johansson

Publications and source records attributed to T Johansson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Isozymes of lignin peroxidase and manganese(II) peroxidase from the white-rot basidiomycete Trametes versicolor. I. Isolation of enzyme forms and characterization of physical and catalytic properties.

The basidiomycete Trametes versicolor is a white-rot fungus and a potent degrader of lignin. The development of extracellular enzyme activities in the fungal culture under physiological conditions of secondary metabolism was investigated. Using the culture medium as starting material a large number of peroxidase forms were purified by the use of chromatographic techniques. Sixteen forms of lignin peroxidase and five forms of manganese(II) peroxidase were separated and the majority of these enzymes was characterized with respect to isoelectric point, molecular mass, and specific enzyme activity. The manganese(II) peroxidases showed a lower isoelectric point (pI 3.2-2.9) and a slightly higher molecular mass (44-45 kDa) than the lignin peroxidases (pI 3.7-3.1, and 41-43 kDa). Specific enzyme activities for the forms of lignin peroxidase, using veratryl alcohol as the substrate, were found to differ considerably. Certain differences in the specific enzyme activity were also observed among the forms of manganese(II) peroxidase. A multitude of peroxidase forms has previously been encountered in another white-rot fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The discovery that it also occurs in T. versicolor would suggest that this multiplicity could be a common feature among white-rot fungi and may be essential for the biodegradation of lignin.

Basidiomycota↗

Isozymes of lignin peroxidase and manganese(II) peroxidase from the white-rot basidiomycete Trametes versicolor. II. Partial sequences, peptide maps, and amino acid and carbohydrate compositions.

The basidiomycete Trametes versicolor, a white-rot fungus and potent degrader of lignin, produces multiple forms of extracellular peroxidases. Nine of these forms, six lignin peroxidases and three manganese(II) peroxidases, purified as described in the preceding paper, were characterized by amino-terminal sequencing, amino acid analyses, carbohydrate analyses, or peptide mapping. For two of the lignin peroxidase forms, tryptic peptides were isolated and sequenced to an extent corresponding to about 40 and 30%, respectively, of the primary structure. Eight of the nine peroxidases investigated were found to possess unique amino-terminal regions. A comparison of the sequences shows 57% of the residues to be identical, indicating a common ancestry for the lignin peroxidase and the manganese(II) peroxidase. The degree of identity among the five lignin peroxidases is about 80% and among the three manganese(II) peroxidases about 70%. Pairwise comparisons of the sequences disclosed that some of the lignin peroxidases are very closely related, either identical or differing only in a single amino acid residue of the thirty-five investigated. These close relationships are also supported by peptide mapping and by similarities in amino acid compositions. Tyr is absent in all isozymes. Lignin and manganese(II) peroxidases showed the presence of glucosamine and mannose in an amount corresponding to 3 to 6% of the molecular mass of the proteins. The carbohydrate compositions are compatible with the presence of 1, 2, and 3 sites of N-glycosylation. The results obtained strongly suggest that the complexity in the peroxidase pattern displayed by the fungus (T. Johansson and P.O. Nyman, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 300, 49-56, 1993) can largely be accounted for by a heterogeneity at the gene level, probably in the form of multiple structural genes. Two recently published genes from genomic clones of T. versicolor are identical in sequence to two of the lignin peroxidases characterized here.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Movement of the tibial end in a PTB prosthesis socket: a sagittal X-ray study of the PTB prosthesis.

To investigate the movement of the tibial end in the sagittal plane in the PTB prosthetic socket during a gait cycle, 7 patients with a median age of 72 years were examined using X-ray technique. The gait cycle was reduced to four different static positions: heel contact, midstance, push-off and swing phase. The mean value of tibial movement in the socket in the anteroposterior direction was 2.2 cm, in proximodistal direction 2.8 cm, and the total sagittal movement during the whole gait cycle was 7.5 cm. The results indicate that one factor affecting the magnitude of the movement was the prestretching of soft tissues. All the patients who experienced a good prosthetic fitting had their soft tissues prestretched. The extreme dorsal and proximal positions of the tibial end during the gait cycle was in the swing phase position. The extreme distal position occurred somewhere between mid-stance and push-off. The extreme anterior position of the tibial end was seen during heel contact. This study has shown the magnitude of the movements in a PTB socket during a simulated gait cycle. The study has given hints on factors affecting prosthetic fitting, and further research within this field might provide indications of how to optimise socket shape to give maximal patient comfort.

Aged↗

Clinical evaluation of trans-tibial prosthesis sockets: a comparison between CAD CAM and conventionally produced sockets.

This study is an evaluation, from the patient's point of view, of CAD CAM prosthesis sockets compared with conventional sockets. Twenty-two trans-tibial amputees were divided into two groups. One group was provided with a CAD CAM (CAPOD) socket, the other with a conventionally made one. After one month the groups were evaluated with regard to subjective experience, the judgement of a prosthetist and a physiotherapist, social variables and objective gait parameters. Then the groups switched over to the other type of socket, and after another month a new evaluation was performed. The study design was a single-blind study. In total 175 variables were evaluated. No difference was found between the two types of socket, except for a lower number of terry cloth stockings used in the CAD CAM socket. As the standard of conventional prosthetics in Sweden is considered to be high, the results were considered as satisfactory. The quality of the CAD CAM sockets was at least at the same level as conventionally made ones.

Aged↗

Growth of Salmonella and competing flora in five commercial Rappaport-Vassiliadis (RV)-media.

Growth of 18 Salmonella strains belonging to 11 serotypes and the bacterial flora of deep-frozen broiler carcasses was examined in five commercial Rappaport-Vassiliadis (RV) media. Growth was measured by an automated turbidometer (Bioscreen). Significant differences in performance between the media investigated were observed. The unequal performances were ascribed to differences in the concentration of magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and the type of peptone used.

Animals↗

The 17 kDa lipoprotein and encoding gene of Francisella tularensis LVS are conserved in strains of Francisella tularensis.

A T-cell-stimulating 17 kDa protein of the vaccine strain Francisella tularensis LVS has previously been cloned, sequenced and shown to be a lipoprotein. In the present study, it was investigated whether the protein, denoted TUL4, and its gene are present in various strains of the genus Francisella. By Western blot analysis, it was demonstrated that a TUL4-specific monoclonal antibody bound to a protein present in each of the Francisella strains. The immunoreactive proteins had an M(r) of 17 kDa in all F. tularensis strains and in the strain Francisella novicida, whereas the M(r) in strains of Francisella philomiragia was 20 kDa. When genomic preparations were probed with a radioactive DNA fragment of F. tularensis LVS encoding TUL4, hybridization was demonstrated in all strains of Francisella, although the F. philomiragia strains did not hybridize under conditions of high stringency. The hybridizing chromosomal DNA fragment of the F. philomiragia strains was larger than that of the other Francisella strains. No hybridization or Western blot reactivity was seen when various other Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria were probed. In summary, the 17 kDa lipoprotein of F. tularensis LVS appears to be Francisella-specific and present in the species F. tularensis and F. novicida, whereas an immunologically related protein is present in F. philomiragia.

Bacterial Proteins↗

A three-dimensional architecture for a parallel processing photosensing array.

A three-dimensional architecture for a photosensing array has been developed. This silicon based architecture consists of a 10 x 10 array of photosensors with 80 microns diameter, through chip interconnects to the back side of a 500 microns thick silicon wafer. Each photosensor consists of a 300 x 300 microns pn-junction photodiode. The following processes were used to create this photosensing architecture: 1) thermomigration of aluminum pads through an n-type silicon wafer; 2) creation of pn-junction photosensors on one side of the wafer; and 3) creation of aluminum pad ohmic contacts to the thermomigrated, through chip interconnects and the substrate on the back side of the wafer. The electrical and optical characteristics of the three-dimensional architecture indicates that it should be well suited as a photosensing framework around which a "silicon retina" could be built.

Artificial Organs↗

Immunogenicity and toxicity of lipopolysaccharide from Francisella tularensis LVS.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the live vaccine strain of Francisella tularensis (F. tularensis LVS) was isolated and purified. The LPS did not stimulate lymphocytes from previously tularaemia-vaccinated individuals or lymphocytes from non-primed individuals. However, serum antibodies from tularaemia vaccinees reacted with the LPS whereas virtually no reactivity was found with antibodies from individuals not exposed to F. tularensis LVS. Antibodies of immunoglobulin class M displayed the antibody reactivity predominantly. The LPS failed to induce the mononuclear cell-derived cytokine interleukin-1 and only low levels of tumour necrosis factor were detected. Furthermore, no LPS endotoxin properties were found in galactosamine-treated mice or in the Limulus amoebocyte lysate assay. From these results it can be concluded that F. tularensis LVS possesses a lipopolysaccharide-like molecule, which does not exhibit properties of a classical endotoxin.

Animals↗

The use of ink jets in ultrasound registrations.

The continuous ink jet method developed by Professor Hellmuth Hertz, Lund Institute of Technology, Sweden, is today used in printers that print digitally stored high-quality images rapidly and at low cost. The development started in the late 1950s when there was a need for a direct registration method for ultrasound echocardiograms. The development steps are described from the early ultrasound registrations to the true halftone printing of digital images today. Images from ultrasonic color Doppler examinations have been printed by an ink jet printer at our laboratory. The color capabilities of the printer are further illustrated by the printing of pseudo-colored gray-scale images and an image where color is used to highlight differences between two gray-scale images. The results show that the printer based on continuous ink jets is an interesting alternative to the existing hard-copy devices for medical images.

Echocardiography, Doppler↗

Surface polymers of the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora.

The nematophagous fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora captures nematodes using adhesive polymers present on special hyphae (traps) which form a three-dimensional network. To understand further the adhesion mechanisms, A. oligospora surface polymers were visualized by transmission electron microscopy and characterized by chemical methods. Both traps and hyphae were surrounded by a fibrillar layer of extracellular polymers which stained with ruthenium red. The polymer layer was resistant to most of the chemicals and enzymes tested. However, part of the layer was removed by sonication in a Tris-buffer or by extraction in a chaotropic salt solution (LiCl), and the structure of the polymers was modified by treatment with Pronase E. Chemical analysis showed that the crude extracts of surface polymers removed by sonication or LiCl solution contained neutral sugars, uronic acids and proteins. Gel chromatography of the extracts revealed that the major carbohydrate-containing polymer(s) had a molecular mass of at least 100 kDa, containing neutral sugars (75% by weight, including glucose, mannose and galactose), uronic acids (6%) and proteins (19%). There was more polymer in mycelium containing trap-bearing cells than in vegetative hyphae. SDS-PAGE of the extracted polymers showed that the trap-forming cells contained at least one protein, with a molecular mass of approx. 32 kDa, not present on vegetative hyphae. Examining the capture of nematodes by traps of A. oligospora in which the layer of surface polymers was modified, or removed by chemical or enzymic treatments, showed that both proteins and carbohydrate surface polymers were involved in the adhesion process.

Animals↗

Splenectomy for haematological diseases.

Two hundred patients with various haematological diseases underwent splenectomy between 1974 and 1986. The diagnoses were: Hodgkin's disease (n = 76), hairy cell leukaemia (n = 25), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (n = 20), chronic lymphatic leukaemia (n = 19), haemolytic anaemia (n = 18), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 16), myelofibrosis (n = 10), chronic myeloid leukaemia (n = 6), spherocytosis (n = 4), and miscellaneous (n = 6). Many of the patients were treated with corticosteroids and in poor general condition, partly as a result of chemotherapy. There were 37 postoperative complications in 29 patients (14.5%); two died, both of septicaemia. Pneumonia, bleeding, and wound infection were the most common complications, occurring in 9, 8, and 6 patients, respectively. Twelve patients required reoperation, eight for bleeding, two for intra-abdominal abscesses, and one each for pancreatitis and bowel perforation. There was no association between the diagnosis and the type of postoperative complication, but patients whose spleens weighed more than 2 kg had an increased incidence of postoperative complications (30%). We conclude that elective splenectomy is a safe treatment for haematological diseases, even in high risk patients.

Adolescent↗