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- Andersson, Irene, 1978, et al.
(författare)
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Endothelial dysfunction in growth hormone transgenic mice
- 2006
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Ingår i: Clinical Science. - 0143-5221 .- 1470-8736. ; 110:2, s. 217-25
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Acromegaly [overproduction of GH (growth hormone)] is associated with cardiovascular disease. Transgenic mice overexpressing bGH (bovine GH) develop hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia and could be a model for cardiovascular disease in acromegaly. The aims of the present study were to investigate the effects of excess GH on vascular function and to test whether oxidative stress affects endothelial function in bGH transgenic mice. We studied the ACh (acetylcholine)-induced relaxation response in aortic and carotid rings of young (9-11 weeks) and aged (22-24 weeks) female bGH transgenic mice and littermate control mice, without and with the addition of a free radical scavenger {MnTBAP [Mn(III)tetrakis(4-benzoic acid)porphyrin chloride]}. We also measured mRNA levels of eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) and EC-SOD (extracellular superoxide dismutase). Intracellular superoxide anion production in the vascular wall was estimated using a dihydroethidium probe. Carotid arteries from bGH transgenic mice had an impaired ACh-induced relaxation response (young, 46 +/- 7% compared with 69 +/- 8%; aged, 52 +/- 5% compared with 80 +/- 3%; P < 0.05), whereas endothelial function in aorta was intact in young but impaired in aged bGH transgenic mice. Endothelial dysfunction was corrected by addition of MnTBAP in carotid arteries from young mice and in aortas from aged mice; however, MnTBAP did not correct endothelial dysfunction in carotid arteries from aged bGH transgenic mice. There was no difference in intracellular superoxide anion production between bGH transgenic mice and control mice, whereas mRNA expression of EC-SOD and eNOS was increased in aortas from young bGH transgenic mice compared with control mice (P < 0.05). We interpret these data to suggest that bGH overexpression is associated with a time- and vessel-specific deterioration in endothelial function, initially caused by increased oxidative stress and later by other alterations in vascular function.
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| 3. |
- Johansson, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Perceptions of how sleep is influenced by rest, activity and health in patients with coronary heart disease : A phenomenographical study
- 2007
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. - : Wiley. - 0283-9318 .- 1471-6712. ; 21:4, s. 467-475
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A framework is needed for identifying internal and external factors essential for the nursing management of psychological supportive health care and education for patients' self-care in sleep. In order to generate more knowledge from the patient's perspective, the aim of this study was to describe how patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) perceive that their sleep is influenced by rest, activity and health in outpatient care. Qualitative interviews were performed with 33 outpatients. The data were analysed using a phenomenographic method. Three descriptive categories of the phenomenon were described: my lifestyle is reflected in my sleep behaviour, handling the practices around tiredness and sleep, and feelings of negative and positive efficacy. Feelings of tiredness, fatigue and sleepiness were different pre-sleep stages, but were also related to the patient's adaptation and recovery. Creating one's own personal time and feelings of efficacy gave an inner sense of strength which is indicated as being particularly important in managing stress and the demands of everyday life in a satisfactory manner. From a contextual, holistic perspective on health, it is important to identify the patient's needs, symptoms and intentional or unintentional self-care management strategies regarding sleep and lifestyle. To promote a positive health outcome it is essential to identify sleeplessness behaviour and perceived self-efficacy for self-care in sleep. © 2007 Nordic College of Caring Science.
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| 4. |
- Johansson, Catharina, et al.
(författare)
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Elevated Peripheral Allergen-Specific T Cell Response Is Crucial for a Positive Atopy Patch Test Reaction
- 2009
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Ingår i: International Archives of Allergy and Immunology. - : S. Karger AG. - 1018-2438 .- 1423-0097. ; 150:1, s. 51-58
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Atopic eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin disease in which several subgroups of cases can be identified. Atopy patch testing (APT) reveals allergen sensitization also in atopic eczema patients devoid of detectable allergen-specific IgE, suggesting the importance of factors other than IgE in the reaction. Here we investigate the relationship between APT reactions and allergen-specific peripheral IgE and T cell reactivity in atopic eczema patients. Methods: Adult patients with atopic eczema (n = 64) and healthy controls (n = 24) were analyzed for reactivity to Malassezia sympodialis extract by APT, measurement of specific plasma IgE and in vitro determination of the frequency of allergen-reactive peripheral blood mononuclear cells producing interleukin-4 and interleukin-5 using the ELISpot method. Results: When combining the results of the APT, IgE measurements and the ELISpot analyses, reactivity to M. sympodialis was found in a majority of the atopic eczema patients (69%), whereas the healthy controls were negative throughout. T cell reactivity to M. sympodialis, manifested by production of both interleukins 4 and 5, was highly predictive for a positive APT reaction and displayed a strongly positive correlation with the APT score. In contrast, the allergen-specific IgE levels did not predict the APT outcome, and no correlation could be found between the IgE levels and the APT score. Conclusion: Peripheral allergen-specific T helper 2 cell-mediated reactivity appears to be required for a positive APT reaction to M. sympodialis. The diagnostic potential of measuring peripheral allergen-specific T cell responses should be considered in atopic eczema.
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| 5. |
- Küller, Rikard, et al.
(författare)
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Brain and Environment: The Use of Brain Wave Analysis in Environmental Psychology
- 2008
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Ingår i: IAPS 20 Conference Proceedings on CD-Rom.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In neuroscience a number of new techniques have been developed by means of which it has become possible to study the activity of the living human brain. By means of these techniques we are beginning to understand the neurophysiology behind environmental attitudes and preferences. In addition to an introduction to cognitive neuroscience, this invited symposium contains a number of presentations, where brain wave analysis has been employed in Environmental Psychology.
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| 6. |
- Rahm, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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The Psychological Factors Underlying Participation in Nature Conservation Projects: Wetland restoration and forest preservation examined through the framework of the Value-Belief-Norm theory
- 2008
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Ingår i: IAPS 20 Conference Proceedings on CD-Rom.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The conservation of biological diversity is a matter of uttermost importance and its significance is stressed in the environmental goals of the Swedish government. Among the environmental goals there are several distinctly defined goals related to biological diversity which are to be accomplished within a set amount of time. In order to succeed with these goals it is important to understand what influences people to participate in conservation projects. The present study casts light on the psychological factors behind the participation in nature conservation projects aiming to promote biodiversity. Two projects, wetland restoration and forest preservation, are examined through the framework of the VBN (Value-Belief-Norm) theory. A survey was conducted among 120 farmland owners and 160 forest owners in southern Sweden. Results point to the importance of knowledge and commitment for the awareness of threats to biodiversity, ascription of a personal responsibility and the activation of personal norms. The importance of the interplay between psychological and contextual factors for explaining the participation is also highlighted.
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| 9. |
- Almqvist, Sofia, 1980, et al.
(författare)
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In Vitro Effect of Amelogenin on Selected Cell Mediators from Human Monocytes
- 2008
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Ingår i: 8th World Biomaterials Congress, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Inflammation is an integral part of the normal wound healing response. Besides clearing the wound of invading microbes and debris, inflammatory cells are believed to be crucial coordinators of the repair process, acting both as phagocytes and as a major source of growth factors and other signals [1]. In non-healing skin ulcers the repair process is stuck in the inflammation phase [2]. Excessive inflammation can reflect an imbalance in the transformation of phenotype between the classically activated, inflammatory macrophage and the alternatively activated macrophage involved in immunosuppression and tissue repair [3]. Amelogenin is a hydrophobic extracellular matrix protein that under physiological conditions will self assemble into nanospheres which in turn may form larger aggregates. Treatment with amelogenin has shown enhanced skin wound healing in an in vivo study in rabbits [4]. In addition, amelogenin has been proposed to have anti-inflammatory properties by attenuation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and peptidoglucan-induced production of selected pro-inflammatory cytokines by human blood cells [5]. The present study was initiated to determine the effects of amelogenin on human monocyte secretion of factors which modulate both inflammation and tissue repair. Materials and Methods: Lyophilized amelogenin from Biora AB (Malmö, Sweden) was dissolved in 17 mM acetic acid. Human monocytes were obtained from six healthy blood donors by isolation using the separation gradient PercollTM in two steps according to Pertoft et al. [6]. The isolated monocytes were cultured for 24 h at 37ºC with 5% CO2 and 95% humidity. Thereafter the supernatants and non-adherent cells were removed. Fresh medium (RPMI, 5% foetal bovine serum, antibiotics) containing amelogenin, 0, 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/ml, and with or without addition of LPS, was added to the wells in triplicates. The plates were again incubated for 24 h. The supernatants were analyzed with commercial human ELISA assays for tumour necrosis factor- (TNF-), interleukin-10 (IL-10), macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Results: Amelogenin treatment markedly altered the expression of factors by human monocytes. Amelogenin significantly reduced LPS-induced TNF- secretion, whereas the IL-10 expression was increased. Monocyte secretion of the two inflammatory chemokines MIP-1 and MCP-1 (Figure; mean ± SEM, n=6) was also affected by amelogenin treatment. Furthermore, amelogenin significantly increased monocyte secretion of VEGF (Figure; mean ± SEM, n=6) and IGF-1, although to a lesser extent, after 24 h culture. Conclusions: The amelogenin effects correlate to protein concentration, however not in a dose dependent manner, but instead the cell responses may reflect a concentration related difference in self assembly of the amelogenin protein. The observed changes in cytokine and chemokine expression are markedly affected by simultaneous LPS-induced inflammation activation, revealing possible anti-inflammatory properties of the amelogenin protein. In addition, the several-fold increase in VEGF-levels by monocytes provides a possible mechanism for the observed pro-angiogenic effect in vivo [4]. These in vitro results indicate that the extracellular matrix protein amelogenin by virtue of its interaction with human monocytes may modulate inflammation and tissue repair. Acknowledgements: The support from the Swedish Research Council (grant K2006-73X-09495-16-3), Mölnlycke Health Care Group AB and the VINNOVA VinnVäxt Program Biomedical Development in Western Sweden, is gratefully acknowledged. References: 1. Martin, P., et al. Trends Cell Biol., 15, 599, 2005. 2. Ågren, M.S., et al. Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh). 210, 3, 2000. 3. Duffield, J.S. Clin Sci (Lond), 104, 27, 2003 4. Mirastschijski, U., et al. Wound Repair Regen., 12, 100, 2004. 5. Myhre, A.E., et al. J Periodontal Res., 41, 208, 2006. 6. Pertoft, H., et al. J Immunol Methods., 33, 221, 1980.
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