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- Hellström, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Expression of the CD44 receptor in the blood vessel system : an experimental study in rat.
- 2005
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Ingår i: Cells Tissues Organs. - : S. Karger AG. - 1422-6405 .- 1422-6421. ; 179:3, s. 102-108
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The CD44 receptor is a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed on a variety of cells like endothelial, epithelial and smooth muscle cells. This molecule has many important functions, e.g. in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and signal transduction. The main ligand for CD44 is hyaluronan (HYA). HYA is a glycosaminoglycan with structural and cell biological properties. The localization of HYA in the vessel wall of arteries and veins in the healthy adult and newborn rat has been described earlier. In this study the occurrence of the CD44 receptor was investigated in the same vessels and compared to the localization of HYA. Both CD44 and its ligand showed an increased expression in the vessel wall of newborn rats compared to that of adult rats. Although HYA is abundant in the adventitia of adult rats, virtually no expression of CD44 was observed. Our results indicate that the CD44 receptor expression is increased during the stage of maturation of the vessel tree whereas the CD44 receptor is less needed by HYA in the healthy vessel wall.
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| 2. |
- Björling, Gunilla, Docent, et al.
(författare)
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Tracheostomy inner cannula care : a randomized crossover study of two decontamination procedures
- 2007
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Ingår i: American Journal of Infection Control. - : Elsevier BV. - 0196-6553 .- 1527-3296. ; 35:9, s. 600-5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Today several methods for decontaminating inner cannulae exist. These methods are not based on scientific data, but often on local clinical tradition. This study compares two different decontamination methods. The aim was to find a practical and safe decontamination method. It is a randomized, single-blinded, comparative crossover study. METHODS: Fifty outpatients with long-term tracheostomy with an inner cannula were consecutively included and randomly allocated to begin with one of two different treatment sequences: detergent and chlorhexidine-alcohol (A) or detergent (B). Samples for bacterial culture were taken before and after decontamination, and the number of bacteria colonies was counted. RESULTS: Before decontamination, the inner cannulae grew high numbers of bacteria, which were parts of the normal flora of the upper respiratory tract and did not differ significantly between the two sequences (AB; BA). The primary variable was the culture count value after chlorhexidine-alcohol/detergent (A) and detergent (B). The effects of both methods were larger than expected, and the results showed a nearly total elimination of organisms. The equivalence criterion, ratio of mean colony counts (A/B) >0.8, was met at a significance level of P<0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Cleaning the tracheostomy inner cannula with detergent and water is sufficient to achieve decontamination.
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| 8. |
- Hellgren, K., et al.
(författare)
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Visual and cerebral sequelae of very low birth weight in adolescents
- 2007
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Ingår i: Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. - : BMJ. - 1359-2998 .- 1468-2052. ; 92:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To describe the visual functions and relate them to MRI findings and the intellectual level in adolescents born with very low birth weight (VLBW). DESIGN: Population-based case-control study. PATIENTS: 59 15-year-old VLBW adolescents and 55 sex and age-matched controls with normal birth weight. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Objective clinical findings (visual acuity, stereo acuity and cycloplegic refraction) were recorded. Structured history taking was used to identify visual difficulties. The intellectual level was assessed with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). All VLBW adolescents underwent MRI of the brain. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the VLBW adolescents and controls regarding visual acuity (median -0.11 and -0.2, respectively; p=0.004), stereo acuity (median 60'' and 30'', respectively; p<0.001), prevalence of astigmatism (11/58 and 0/55, respectively; p<0.001) and in full-scale IQ (mean IQ 85 and 97, respectively; p<0.001) and performance IQ (mean 87 and 99, respectively; p=0.002). The structured history also revealed a borderline significant difference between the groups (mean problems 0.46 and 0.15 respectively; p=0.051). 30% (17/57) of the VLBW adolescents had abnormal MRI findings and performed worse in all tests, compared with both the VLBW adolescents without MRI pathology and the normal controls. CONCLUSION: This study confirms previous observations that VLBW adolescents are at a disadvantage regarding visual outcome compared with those with normal birth weight. In 47%, visual dysfunction was associated with abnormal MRI findings and in 33% with learning disabilities. The adolescents with abnormal MRI findings had more pronounced visual and cognitive dysfunction. The findings indicate a cerebral causative component for the visual dysfunction seen in the present study.
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| 9. |
- Hellgren, K., et al.
(författare)
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Visual fields and optic disc morphology in very low birthweight adolescents examined with magnetic resonance imaging of the brain
- 2009
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Ingår i: Acta Ophthalmologica. - : Wiley. - 1755-3768 .- 1755-375X. ; 87:8, s. 843-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate visual fields (VFs) and optic disc morphology in very low birthweight (VLBW) adolescents compared with age- and gender-matched controls, and to relate the findings to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results. METHODS: Fifty-nine VLBW adolescents and 55 age- and gender-matched controls with normal birthweight were examined. Visual fields were tested using computerized rarebit perimetry (RB). Optic nerve and retinal vessel morphology were evaluated by digital image analysis of fundus photographs. Brain MRI was conducted in the VLBW subjects. RESULTS: Ten of the 57 VLBW subjects (p = 0.022) had subnormal VF results defined as a mean hit rate below the fifth percentile of the controls (i.e. < 89%). All of these also had significantly lower mean hit rates (p = 0.039) in the inferior hemifield. Sixteen of 57 (28%) VLBW subjects had white matter damage of immaturity (WMDI) on MRI. Six of 15 subjects with WMDI (who underwent VF testing) also had subnormal RB results, compared with four of 39 with normal MRI findings (p = 0.02). The mean neural retinal rim area was 9% smaller (p = 0.018) in the VLBW group than in the control group. The VLBW adolescents had a significantly higher index for tortuosity of arterioles than the controls (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, 18% of all VLBW adolescents and 40% of those with WMDI had subnormal RB VF findings. The VLBW group had increased arterial tortuosity and a somewhat smaller (9%) mean neural retinal rim area than the control group. Thus sequels to VLBW appear to persist in adolescence.
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