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Biomedical subjects

T Pettersson

Publications and source records attributed to T Pettersson.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Concentration of hyaluronic acid in pleural fluid as a diagnostic aid for malignant mesothelioma.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) was determined with a radiometric assay in the serum and pleural fluid of 85 patients with pleural effusions, including 15 with malignant mesothelioma, 32 with other cancer, 31 with nonmalignant inflammatory diseases, and seven with congestive heart failure. With a cutoff level at 100 mg/L, the pleural fluid concentration of HA was raised in 73 percent of patients (11 of 15) with malignant mesothelioma and in 23 percent with nonmalignant inflammatory diseases, but in none with other cancer and in none with congestive heart failure. The median concentration of pleural fluid HA was significantly higher in patients with mesothelioma than in those with other cancer (p less than 0.005). Determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in pleural fluid further helped to differentiate between mesothelioma and other types of cancer; concentrations of CEA above 10 micrograms/L were found in four of 15 (27 percent) patients with mesothelioma, but in 38 percent of the patients with other cancer. We concluded that in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusions associated with malignant tumors a high concentration of HA in pleural fluid combined with a low concentration of CEA suggests malignant mesothelioma as opposed to other types of cancer.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Adenosine deaminase activity in joint effusions.

The activity of adenosine deaminase (ADA) was determined in serum and synovial fluid of 98 patients with joint effusions of various causes. Compared with osteoarthritis, there were significantly higher mean synovial fluid ADA activities in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (p less than 0.01), chronic seronegative polyarthritis (p less than 0.001), juvenile chronic arthritis (p less than 0.001) and reactive arthritis (p less than 0.001). In inflammatory joint diseases higher mean ADA activities in synovial fluid than in serum were observed, indicating a local release of ADA by cells within the joints. ADA activity in synovial fluid correlated with general disease activity as measured by haemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and may provide an additional measure of the degree of inflammation in joint diseases.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

Neuron-specific enolase in the diagnosis of small-cell lung cancer with pleural effusion: a negative report.

We measured the concentration of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the serum and pleural fluid of 53 patients with pleural effusions, including seven patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). High levels (above 12.5 micrograms.l-1) of NSE in pleural fluid were observed in five patients with SCLC (sensitivity 71%). However, pleural fluid NSE levels were also increased in five patients with other types of cancer and in four patients with non-malignant inflammatory diseases (specificity 80%). We conclude that although SCLC with pleural effusion can be associated with elevated pleural fluid NSE activity, this increase in enzyme levels is not specific for malignancy.

Aged↗

Different types of microheterogeneity of human thyroxine-binding prealbumin.

Human thyroxine-binding prealbumin or transthyretin has been isolated by three different methods. In all cases, the isolated material is microheterogeneous in an isoelectric focusing system, revealing a pattern of at least 10 bands. These subforms represent tetramers. Dissociation of the protein in serum samples and dissociation in the presence of urea or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) reveal eight other forms, differing in isoelectric point and concluded to be monomers. Two different sets of dissociated forms are identified, one from urea treatment and the other from SDS treatment. The latter set is apparently also present in serum. Interpretations are complicated by multiplicities of all forms, atypical electrophoretic migrations, nonidentical effects of urea and SDS, and the absence of dimer under most conditions. However, reassociations of monomers and formation of interspecies hybrid molecules identify dimers and clarify interpretations of the dissociated sets. In at least five of the forms likely to represent monomers, the difference is dependent on the nature of the SH group at Cys-10, which can be oxidized, can be reduced, or can be in a mixed disulfide, probably with glutathione and its degradation products. Amino acid sequence analysis reveals an additional N-terminal heterogeneity (with start at positions 1, 2, and 3) of the three most abundant monomers, but this does not explain the observed differences among monomeric forms. It is concluded that prealbumin exhibits different types of microheterogeneity, the major pattern of which is explained by the status of the subunit SH group and the ability of prealbumin to dissociate into monomers. A relation appears to exist between SH group status on the one hand, and retinol-binding protein interaction, the ability to dissociate into monomers, and possibly also binding of thyroxine on the other. These interactions suggest complex functional relationships for prealbumin in serum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification and partial characterization of thyroid hormone binding proteins in canine serum.

Thyroxine-binding prealbumin (TBPA) and thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) were isolated from canine serum and partially characterized. TBPA was isolated by retinol-binding protein (RBP) affinity chromatography and further purified by preparative agarose gel electrophoresis or FPLC ion exchange chromatography. TBG was purified by thyroxine (T4)-Sepharose chromatography followed by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300 and preparative electrofocusing in a granulated dextran gel. Molecular weights were estimated by SDS-polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Canine TBPA had a tetramer molecular weight of 56,000, an extinction coefficient of 12.8 cm2cg.1, an isoelectric point of 5.26-5.70 and a microheterogeneity pattern similar to that of human TBPA. Partial immunochemical identity with human TBPA was also found. Plasma concentrations of TBPA were measured by rocket immunoelectrophoresis in 43 normal and 35 hypothyroid dogs. Reference levels for TBPA ranged between 205 and 474 mg/l. Hypothyroid dogs had a mean TBPA level of 315.0 mg/l (SD: 91.1 mg/l). TBG had a molecular weight of 75,000 and an isoelectric point of 5.0. No immunochemical identity with human TBG was found. Gel filtration of serum on Sephacryl S-200, identification of T4-binding proteins with 125I-T4, and protein- and lipoprotein staining of fractions was performed. Thyroxine-binding was found to TBG in the beta-globulin region, TBPA in the alpha 2-region, albumin, and to the high density lipoprotein (HDL2) in the alpha 1-region and the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) in the pre-beta region. A corresponding band to the latter protein in serum was masked by TBG and TBPA, and T4-binding in the alpha 1-region was not always seen in serum. Many similarities were found between man and dog regarding TBPA, but not TBG. The differences in structure of TBG may in part be responsible for the low serum T4 levels and rapid T4 metabolism seen in dogs.

Animals↗

Phosphate binding by a myeloma protein.

A patient with IgG kappa myeloma had markedly elevated serum phosphate concentrations but no clinical features of hyperphosphataemia. The hyperphosphataemia was due to a high phosphate per protein unit than normal IgG.

Aged↗

Lymphocyte subpopulations, activation phenotypes, and spontaneous proliferation in tuberculous pleural effusions.

The state of lymphocyte activation in tuberculous pleural effusions was studied. The proportion of cells at and beyond the G1 phase of the cell cycle displaying interleukin-2 receptor, transferrin receptor or gp 40/80 glycoprotein in avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) staining was 6 +/- 2 percent, 8 +/- 3 percent, and 14 +/- 4 percent of all pleural fluid mononuclear cells, respectively. These findings imply that only a fraction of pleural fluid lymphocytes is activated in tuberculosis. The proportion of autoradiographically visualized 3H-thymidine incorporating blasts at the S phase of the cell cycle was 1.2 +/- 0.3 percent. This phenomenon further confirms the impression that, in spite of activation, most of the pleural fluid mononuclear cells are resting cells. The T4/T8 ratio in the functionally active blast cell population determined by a double labeling method combining ABC staining with autoradiography was similar to the total T4/T8 ratio (2.3 +/- 0.7 vs 2.7 +/- 0.8, p greater than 0.05) calculated for all pleural fluid mononuclear cells.

Humans↗

AA amyloidosis in systemic lupus erythematosus.

A 37-year-old woman with longstanding systemic lupus erythematosus developed cardiac insufficiency, nephrotic syndrome, and azotemia. The findings at echocardiography and cardiac scintigraphy suggested amyloidosis, which was confirmed by rectal biopsy and fine needle biopsy of subcutaneous abdominal fat. Postmortem examination revealed systemic amyloidosis with massive deposits in the heart, spleen and kidneys. She had persistently increased concentration of serum amyloid A protein during the last 4 years of her life, and her amyloidosis was of the secondary (AA) type, as shown by immunohistochemical studies.

Adult↗

Thyroxine-binding globulin in spontaneous abortion.

Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), thyroxine-binding prealbumin (TBPA), thyroxine (T4), free T4, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were studied in 144 apparently healthy, euthyroid pregnant women displaying miscarriages. In an additional group of 18 aborting women a frozen blood sample drawn in early pregnancy was similarly analyzed for the thyroid components as well as for human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). The values were compared to those of normal pregnancies (n = 228) at corresponding intervals. Significantly lower values of TBG were found in the spontaneously aborting group. A significantly lower value of TBG was found to be more predictive concerning spontaneous abortion than that of HCG.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗