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- Boerma, M, et al.
(författare)
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A genetic polymorphism in connexin 37 as a prognostic marker for atherosclerotic plaque development
- 1999
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Ingår i: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 1365-2796 .- 0954-6820. ; 246:2, s. 211-218
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease, in part characterized by chronic inflammatory changes in the vessel wall and loss of normal physical and biochemical interactions between endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. Previous studies [Hu J., Cotgreave IA. J Clin Invest; 99: 1-5] have provided molecular links between inflammation and myoendothelial communication via gap junctions, suggesting that these structures may be important in the development of the atherosclerotic vessel phenotype. In order to strengthen this premise, the aim of the present work was to probe for structural polymorphisms in connexin 37, a gap junctional protein uniquely expressed in endothelial cells, and to assess for potential genotypic segregation in individuals displaying atherosclerotic plaque. METHODS AND RESULTS: Computer-based comparisons of Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) predicted a polymorphism in the human gap junctional protein connexin 37 (cx37). The C1019-T mutation results in a proline to serine shift at codon 319 (cx37*1-cx37*2). A Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) assay, involving the insertion of a novel Drd I cleavage site in the proline variant revealed a statistically significant over-representation of the cx37*1 allele in association with atherosclerotic plaque-bearing individuals (Odds-ratio for the homozygote = 2.38, Chi2 = 7.693, P = 0.006), in comparison to individuals lacking plaque, irrespective of a history of hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the C1019-T polymorphism in cx37 may provide 'single gene marker', which could be useful in assessing atherosclerotic plaque development, particularly in cardiovascular risk groups such as those with borderline hypertension.
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| 4. |
- Theorell, T, et al.
(författare)
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Treatment of patients with chronic somatic symptoms by means of art psychotherapy: a process description
- 1998
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Ingår i: Psychotherapy and psychosomatics. - : S. Karger AG. - 0033-3190 .- 1423-0348. ; 67:1, s. 50-56
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- <b>Background: </b>Inability to express emotions is common in patients with long-lasting somatic symptoms associated with incapacitation and impaired quality of life. One method for treating this inability is art psychotherapy. In this study the typical course in such treatments is described. Patients were followed longitudinally before therapy and every 4th to 6th month during the treatment. <b>Methods:</b> Patients with long-lasting psychosomatic conditions resulting in partial or total loss of working capacity for at least 1 year have been treated in the programme. All of them had chronic pain. The majority of the patients that were referred to us were offered treatment. Three-fourths of those who started treatment stayed in treatment as long as the therapist considered it optimal. Twenty-four patients (22 women and 2 men) in the present study had their treatment started on average 2 years (range 13–42 months) before the end of the treatment period. In addition these 24 patients were contacted 6–48 months after the end of the therapy (average 23 months) and a short post-evaluation was made by telephone. <b>Results:</b> The first year of treatment was characterized by emotional turmoil paralleled by increased energy level reflected in temporary elevation of serum uric acid. Significant improvement was observed with regard to anxiety-depression after one year of treatment. A tendency towards decreased levels of psychosomatic symptoms in general was observed after two years of treatment. One-fourth of the 20 non-working or parttime working patients increased their working activity. <b>Conclusions:</b> A slow partial recovery was observed. Art psychotherapy may have contributed to this.
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- Thulin, T, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term effects of diltiazem and atenolol on blood glucose, serum lipids, and serum urate in hypertensive patients. Swedish-Finnish Study Group
- 1999
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Ingår i: International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. - 0946-1965. ; 37:1, s. 28-33
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this long-term treatment study was to evaluate health-related quality of life by comparing the effects of diltiazem and atenolol on some important metabolic parameters. SUBJECTS, MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a Swedish-Finnish long-term multicenter study 256 patients with mild to moderate hypertension were randomized to treatment with diltiazem retard (D) (n = 127) or atenolol (A) (n = 129). Doses could be increased and additional captopril medication be given to achieve adequate blood pressure (BP) reduction. The treatment in group D lasted for two years while group A was treated for 1 year and then was given D for another 2 years. RESULTS: After 1 year BP was significantly reduced in both groups and to a similar degree. The BP reduction was maintained during the rest of the study. After 1 and 2 years, HDL had increased significantly (p < 0.001) in group D. There was a corresponding significant reduction of the LDL/HDL ratio. In group A there were no changes after 1 year regarding lipoprotein levels. After the switch to D, group A showed similar improvements regarding HDL and the LDL/HDL ratio as the original D group. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that D and A are equally effective in lowering BP. However, long-term treatment with D, but not with A, has a favorable effect on HDL concentrations and the LDL/HDL ratio. According to these findings D affects the risk factor profile in hypertension.
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| 6. |
- Thulin, T, et al.
(författare)
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Neuropeptide Y and hypertension
- 1995
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Ingår i: Nutrition. - 1873-1244. ; 11:Suppl. 5, s. 495-497
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neuropeptide Y is a cotransmitter in the sympathetic nervous system with potent contractile effects on blood vessels. The plasma levels of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in patients with severe hypertension (> 120 mmHg) were increased compared with the levels in control subjects and were still elevated after long-term pharmacologic treatment of normotension. Neuropeptide Y stimulated DNA synthesis, total cell number, and total protein production in human vascular smooth muscle cells through a Y1-receptor. A Gi/G(o)-coupled second messenger mechanism seems to be involved, because pretreatment with pertussis toxin abolished the mitogenic effect. Neuropeptide Y potentiated the mitogenic effect of noradrenaline, and together with adenosine 5'-triphosphate, the sympathetic cotransmitters reached a mitogenic effect of approximately 20% of fetal calf serum. We have shown that neuropeptide Y, noradrenaline, and adenosine 5'-triphosphate, apart from their effects on vascular tone, are stimulators of vascular smooth muscle cell growth. The receptors that mediate the mitogenic effect have been examined. The circulating plasma levels are increased in patients with severe hypertension. These findings indicate that the sympathetic cotransmitter neuropeptide Y may be of importance in sympathetic vascular regulation and involved in pathophysiologic conditions.
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