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| 2. |
- Kristjansson, S., et al.
(author)
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Respiratory syncytial virus and other respiratory viruses during the first 3 months of life promote a local TH2-like response
- 2005
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In: J Allergy Clin Immunol. - : Elsevier BV. - 0091-6749. ; 116:4, s. 805-11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections during infancy are considered to be a risk factor for developing asthma and possibly allergic sensitization. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the cytokines, chemokines, and eosinophil cationic protein in the nasopharyngeal secretions of infants < or = 7 months of age with RSV infections or other respiratory viral infections and healthy infants as controls. Groups were also analyzed according to age, < or = 3 months and >3 months, and the levels were compared within and between groups. RESULTS: Thirty-nine infants with RSV, 9 with influenza or parainfluenza virus infections and 50 controls with no history of infections, were enrolled in the study. The RSV-infected infants had significantly higher levels of IL-4; macrophage inflammatory protein 1beta, a chemoattractant for T cells; and eosinophil cationic protein in nasopharyngeal secretions compared with the control group. The levels of the TH2 cytokine IL-4 were significantly higher in RSV-infected infants < or = months of age compared with RSV-infected infants >3 months of age. In infants < or = 3 months of age, infections with influenza or parainfluenza virus caused TH2-like responses similar to those produced by RSV. CONCLUSION: Infections with RSV as well as with influenza and parainfluenza virus during early infancy preferentially promote a TH2-like response in the nose with local production of IL-4, IL-5, and macrophage inflammatory protein 1beta and infiltration and activation of eosinophils.
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| 3. |
- Alwin, J, et al.
(author)
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Health economic and process evaluation of AT interventions for persons with dementia and their relatives : A suggested assessment model
- 2007
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In: Technology and Disability. - 1055-4181. ; 19:2-3, s. 61-71
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is growing interest in assistive technology (AT) as a means of enabling participation in everyday activities for persons with dementia and their relatives. Health economic assessment of AT in dementia is of importance due to the consequences of the disease for both patients and relatives and to the high societal costs for dementia care. The aim of this article is to outline a model for assessment of AT interventions for persons with dementia. The model expands existing assessment models as it also includes evaluation of the intervention process. Methodological challenges and possibilities in making health economic assessments, including outcomes and costs, as well as process evaluation, are discussed in the article.
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| 6. |
- Fischbach, M., et al.
(author)
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Measurement by magnetic resonance imaging of the peritoneal membrane in contact with dialysate in rats
- 2005
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In: Adv Perit Dial. - 1197-8554. ; 21, s. 17-20
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To be optimal, a peritoneal dialysis prescription should consider the peritoneal surface area recruitment. In fact, as shown by computed tomography imaging, only a fraction of the available anatomic peritoneum is in contact with the dialysate (PDF). Various factors may dynamically affect the recruitment of the wetted membrane: posture, fill volume, PDF composition (biocompatibility), and pharmacologic agents (phospholipids). To precisely determine the peritoneal membrane recruitment capacity, we developed an animal model. In 5/6 bi-nephrectomized rats on peritoneal dialysis, between week 6 and week 8 post surgery, we used MRI to assess the contact area, with the dialysate acting as the contrast medium (fill volume: 10 mL per 100-g rat body weight). The MRI protocol consisted of axially oriented, turbo spin-echo, 3-mm slice, T2 weighted sequences. The contact area was measured using an adapted three-dimensional MRI reconstruction software based on DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) images. The MRI studies (n=10) were successful. They showed that only a fraction of the presumed anatomic area (30% - 40%) was in contact with the PDF Peritoneal MRI in rats is a method that shows potential for assessing peritoneal contact area and its variation under experimental conditions.
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| 8. |
- Fischbach, M., et al.
(author)
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The influence of peritoneal surface area on dialysis adequacy
- 2005
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In: Perit Dial Int. - 0896-8608. ; 25 Suppl 3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In children, the prescription of peritoneal dialysis is based mainly on the choice of the peritoneal dialysis fluid, the intraperitoneal fill volume (mL/m2 body surface area (BSA)], and the contact time. The working mode of the peritoneal membrane as a dialysis membrane is more related to a dynamic complex structure than to a static hemodialyzer. Thus, the peritoneal surface area impacts on dialysis adequacy. In fact, the peritoneal surface area may be viewed as composed of three exchange entities: the anatomic area, the contact area, and the vascular area. First, in infants, the anatomic area appears to be two-fold larger than in adults when expressed per kilogram body weight. On the other hand, the anatomic area becomes independent of age when expressed per square meter BSA. Therefore, scaling of the intraperitoneal fill volume by BSA (m2) is necessary to prevent a too low ratio of fill volume to exchange area, which would result in a functional "hyperpermeable" peritoneal exchange. Second, the contact area, also called the wetted membrane, is only a portion of the anatomic area, representing 30% to 60% of this area in humans, as measured by computed tomography. Both posture and fill volume may affect the extent of recruitment of contact area. Finally, the vascular area is influenced by the availability of both the anatomic area and the recruited contact area. This surface is governed essentially by both peritonealvascular perfusion, represented by the mesenteric vascular flow and, hence, by the number of perfused capillaries available for exchange. This vascular area is dynamically affected by different factors, such as composition of the peritoneal fluid, the fill volume, and the production of inflammatory agents. Peritoneal dialysis fluids that will be developed in the future for children should allow an optimization of the fill volume owing to a better tolerance in terms of lower achieved intraperitoneal pressure for a given fill volume. Moreover, future peritoneal dialysis fluids should protect the peritoneal membrane from hyperperfusion (lower glucose degradation products).
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| 9. |
- Granqvist, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Podocyte proteoglycan synthesis is involved in the development of nephrotic syndrome
- 2006
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In: Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. - : American Physiological Society. - 0363-6127 .- 1931-857X .- 1522-1466. ; 291
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Proteoglycans (PG) are important for the glomerular barrier, for cell signaling and for the anchorage of cells to the glomerular basement membrane. They are, however, complex macromolecules, and their production has not yet been thoroughly investigated for podocytes. In the present study, we have studied the biosynthesis of proteoglycans by highly differentiated human podocytes and in rats. The cells were treated with puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN, a nephrosis inducing agent), steroids (used as primary treatment for nephrotic syndrome) or both. Analysis was made by Taqman(R)real-time PCR, Western blot and by metabolic labeling with (35)S and (3)H. We found that podocytes produce versican, syndecan-1, decorin and biglycan together with the previously known PGs syndecan-4, glypican and perlecan. PAN treatment down-regulated the mRNA and the protein expression of both versican (by 24+/-6%, p<0.01, for mRNA and by 50% for protein) and perlecan (by 14+/-5%, p<0.05, for mRNA and by 50% for protein). The decreased expression was confirmed by studying the glomerular gene expression in rats treated with PAN during a time course study. In addition, puromycin decreased the expression of enzymes involved in the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) biosynthesis. Steroid treatment decreased perlecan (by 24+/-3%, p<0.01) and syndecan-1 expression (by 30+/-4%, p<0.01), but increased the expression of decorin 2.5-fold. The observed alterations of proteoglycan synthesis induced by PAN may lead to decreased glomerular anionic charge and disturbed podocyte morphology, factors that are important for the development of a nephrotic syndrome.
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| 10. |
- Granqvist, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Primary human glomerular endothelial cells produce proteoglycans, and puromycin affects their posttranslational modification
- 2005
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In: Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. - : American Physiological Society. - 0363-6127 .- 1931-857X .- 1522-1466. ; 288:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This article describes the possible role of the endothelial cell-surface coat, containing proteoglycans (PGs) with connected glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), in maintaining glomerular permselectivity. Primary human glomerular endothelial cells (HGEC) in culture were treated with the nephrosis-inducing agent puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN). Analysis was made by TaqMan real-time PCR, Western blot analysis, and by metabolic labeling with [(35)S]sulfate. The HGECs express several PGs: syndecan, versican, glypican, perlecan, decorin, and biglycan, which may contribute to the glomerular charge barrier. PAN treatment downregulated both the protein expression (by 25%) and the mRNA expression (by 37 +/- 6%, P < 0.001, n = 8) of versican compared with control. Transferases important for chondroitin and heparan sulfate biosynthesis were also significantly downregulated by PAN, resulting in less sulfate groups, shorter GAG chains, and reduced PG net-negative charge. Moreover, analysis of the cell media after PAN treatment revealed a reduced content of [(35)S]sulfate-labeled PGs (40% of control). We conclude that PAN may cause proteinuria by affecting the endothelial cell-surface layer and not only by disrupting the foot process arrangement of the podocytes. Thus the endothelium may be a more important component of the glomerular barrier than hitherto acknowledged.
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