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Biomedical subjects

B Hultberg

Publications and source records attributed to B Hultberg.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Influence of a reticuloendothelial-suppressing agent on liver tumor growth in the rat.

Reticuloendothelial (RE) function was evaluated by measuring the biokinetics of a standardized 99Tcm-sulphur colloid. Methyl palmitate was administered intravenously on two consecutive days. A statistically significant reduction in the colloid uptake rate of the liver was registered after methyl palmitate administration. Histological examination revealed no signs of destruction of RE cells or microembolization. Inoculation of an experimental nitrosoguanidine-induced transplantable adenocarcinoma to the liver was performed in 16 rats one day after methyl palmitate administration and in 16 controls. Tumor size was significantly larger in methyl-palmitate-treated animals at 7 and 14 days after inoculation. Survival was significantly decreased in methyl-palmitate-treated rats. These rats showed signs of fatty vacuolization and necrosis of liver parenchyma earlier than controls. Analyses of beta-hexosaminidase and lactate dehydrogenase revealed no deviation of enzyme levels either before or after tumor inoculation. The results indicate that a temporary suppression of RE function at the time of tumor inoculation may influence subsequent tumor growth.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1984

Kidney function in stainless steel welders.

Seventeen male manual metal-arc stainless steel welders (mean exposure time 20 years) had far higher levels of chromium in urine than individually matched controls (medians 23 vs 1.5 mumol/mol creatinine; 10.5 vs 0.7 microgram/g creatinine). However, there were no signs of kidney damage in tests of function of tubuli (beta-hexosaminidase, lysozyme, and beta 2-microglobuline) or glomeruli (albumine clearance).

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Release of beta-hexosaminidase after administration of different agents affecting the reticuloendothelial system. An experimental study in rats.

Plasma levels of a lysosomal enzyme, beta-hexosaminidase (beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, EC 3.2.1.30) were studied in Wistar rats after administration of 99mTc -sulfur colloid, 198Au colloid, gelatine (Haemaccel), alcohol, methylpalmitate and zymosan. The activity of beta-hexosaminidase was increased 10, 30 and 60 min after the zymosan injection. After 24 and 48 h, enzyme levels had returned to those at outset. The transient release of beta-hexosaminidase probably occurred only during the phagocytosis of zymosan which was evaluated by histological examination of lung, liver and spleen. After the injection of all other agents tested, no significant aberration of beta-hexosaminidase levels was seen. Activity distribution of the radio-labeled colloids revealed differences in organ uptake which were attributed to a difference in colloid particle size. Although the colloids tested have been used extensively for determination of reticuloendothelial function and histological studies suggest phagocytosis of the particles, their administration did not affect plasma beta-hexosaminidase levels. Since lysosomal enzymes are cleared from the blood predominantly by liver macrophages, the primary location of particle phagocytosis may explain the present findings.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Activity of lysosomal hydrolases in plasma at term and post partum.

The activity and isoenzyme pattern in plasma of beta-hexosaminidase (abbreviated Hex) and four other lysosomal hydrolases (alpha-fucosidase, beta-glucuronidase, alpha-hexosaminidase, alpha-mannosidase) were studied in 50 women at term and in 10 women at various intervals during the first 6 days after parturition. All hydrolases had elevated activity at term, compared with controls. After parturition the activity of alpha-mannosidase returned to the normal level within 2 days and that of Hex, beta-glucuronidase, and alpha-hexosaminidase within 6 days; alpha-fucosidase having a slightly elevated activity even at the end of this period. Isoenzyme analysis by isoelectric focusing was informative only in the case of Hex. Thus, the increased activity of Hex at term was mainly due to an increase in the isoenzyme form(s), with pI(s) between 5.6 and 6.8. The enzyme pattern of Hex during pregnancy and post partum observed in this study seems to have certain similarities to the previously noted enzyme pattern of Hex in acute ethanol intoxication and following withdrawal of ethanol. As lysosomal membranes are labilized by elevated levels of steroids, it is of interest to note that high levels of these hormones are found in plasma both at term and in chronic liver disease.

Female↗
PubMed1984

Influence on plasma beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase of reticuloendothelial stimulation and depression: an experimental study in rats.

Plasma levels of the lysosomal enzyme, beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30; 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucoside acetamidodeoxyglucohydrolase ) were estimated 120 minutes after intravenous injection of zymosan in rats. Different groups of animals were investigated according to pretreatment with agents influencing reticuloendothelial activity. Pretreatment for two days with the reticuloendothelial stimulating agent, zymosan, or the reticuloendothelial suppressing agent, methyl palmitate, did not influence the basal plasma levels of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase. In all groups after zymosan injection, plasma beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase activity was increased in comparison with basal levels. The increase of enzyme activity was most pronounced after pretreatment with zymosan and differed significantly from enzyme activity after pretreatment with methyl palmitate. Alcohol administration in combination with zymosan did not cause a further rise of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase activity in normal rats nor in rats pretreated with zymosan. The observations suggest that plasma levels of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase in rats after a standardized zymosan injection are related to the functional status of the reticuloendothelial system (RES).

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1984

Action pattern of serum amylase using p-nitrophenyl-maltoheptaoside as substrate.

Selected serum samples with different isoamylase patterns, as revealed by agarose gel electrophoresis, were analysed by the Phadebas amylase test, and by using p-nitrophenyl-maltoheptaoside as the substrate. The products with the latter substrate were examined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For some samples, different catalytic activities were registered by the two amylase methods. In these cases, electrophoresis showed a double pancreatic band associated with increased pancreatic amylase catalytic activity, or an abnormal, broad salivary band associated with increased salivary enzyme catalytic activity. The stoichiometric factors for most of these samples, calculated from the amount of p-nitrophenol detected after HPLC, differed from the mean values.

Amylases↗
PubMed1984

Testicular tumour markers in tissue correlated to serum levels and clinical stage.

Clinical investigation of 11 patients with testicular tumour included tests for the marker substances AFP (alpha fetoprotein) and HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in serum and in tumour tissue, using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. In one case of pure seminoma, neither AFP nor HCG was detectable in tissue or in serum. In eight of ten patients with non-seminomatous germ cell tumour there was AFP-immunoreactivity in tumour tissue, and seven of them also had elevated serum levels of AFP. Five patients showed HCG-immunoreactivity in tumour tissue and the same number had elevated serum levels of HCG. The findings indicated good correlation between immunoreactivity of tumour tissue, serum level of the tumour markers and clinical stage of the neoplastic disease.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗
PubMed1984

Dapsone in the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma.

Previously we observed clinical and histological regression of Kaposi's sarcoma in the skin in a 38-year-old man with AIDS following treatment with Dapsone. This observation initiated the present study where 6 patients with Kaposi's sarcoma in the skin without clinical signs of systemic spreading were treated with Dapsone 100 mg daily for four months. During this treatment clinical and histological regression of Kaposi's sarcoma was found in three patients. In a further patient only clinical regression was found, while no regression was found in the remaining two patients with Kaposi's sarcoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Pattern of serum amino acids in patients with liver cirrhosis. Influence of shunt surgery and transesophageal sclerotherapy.

The serum amino acid pattern was studied in 30 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, in 15 patients with non-alcoholic cirrhosis, and in nine healthy controls. Patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis had significantly increased serum levels of aspartic acid, proline, methionine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan compared with controls. Valine was significantly decreased. Patients with non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis differed from patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis only in having significantly greater serum levels of glycine. The serum amino acid pattern of nine cirrhotic patients who underwent mesocaval interposition shunt surgery because of bleeding esophageal varices was prospectively compared with that of nine matched patients treated with transesophageal sclerotherapy. A further significant increase in methionine and tyrosine serum levels was noted after shunt surgery. It is concluded that sclerotherapy influences serum amino acids less, which might be an advantage in relation to the development of hepatic encephalopathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Carcinoembryogenic antigen and lysosomal enzymes in gastric juice as an aid in the diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Malignant transformation in cells is accompanied by enzymatic changes that may be useful markers of malignancy. Studies of oncofetal antigens in gastric juice show an increased concentration in patients with gastric carcinoma. The object of the present study was to test if the concentration of lysosomal enzymes and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were altered in patients with gastric carcinoma compared to patients earlier operated with gastric resection--a supposedly premalignant condition. The results show that no differences could be found in CEA and beta-hexosaminidase levels between the patients with gastric carcinoma and those with gastric resection. However, lysozyme content was significantly higher in gastric carcinoma and might prove useful for screening of patients after gastric resection. Both CEA, beta-hexosaminidase, and lysozyme levels were significantly higher in patients with gastric carcinoma than in a control population, and can therefore have a role in screening of asymptomatic patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1983

The influence of total hepatectomy on cerebral energy state, ammonia-related amino acids of the brain and plasma amino acids in the rat.

The influence of total hepatectomy on cerebral energy state, ammonia-related amino acids of the brain tissue and plasma amino acids was studied in anaesthetized rats after total hepatectomy. The hepatectomy was performed with the aid of a microsurgical three-stage procedure. In the first stage, division of the inferior vena cava was performed. In the second stage 4 weeks later a porta-caval anastomosis was constructed, followed after 1 week by a total hepatectomy. The brain energy state, defined as the concentrations of phosphocreatine, ATP, ADP and AMP, was unchanged 4 h after the hepatectomy. Plasma amino acids did not differ significantly between hepatectomized and shunted control rats. On the other hand, clear-cut increases in the concentrations of glutamine, and decreases in the concentrations of glutamate and aspartate, were observed in the fronto-parietal part of the cerebral cortex and the brain stem. These changes might explain the minor manifestations of cerebral dysfunction in the early phase of the hepatectomized state.

Alanine↗
PubMed1983

Plasma and urinary beta-hexosaminidase in juvenile diabetes mellitus.

The activity of beta-hexosaminidase (E C 3.2.1.30) in plasma and urine was determined in 99 patients with juvenile diabetes mellitus and in 40 age-matched controls. Plasma enzyme activities were above normal in plasma from diabetics and showed significant correlations with blood glucose and glycosylated HbA1 (GHbA1) but not with the presence of retinopathy. The urinary excretion of beta-hexosaminidase, which is a sensitive indicator of renal injury, was also excessive in the diabetics and showed a significant correlation with blood GHbA1. The results show that plasma and urinary beta-hexosaminidase correlate with parameters of diabetic control and that urinary beta-hexosaminidase may be more sensitive than urinary albumin as an indicator of early renal damage.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Isoenzyme pattern of serum beta-hexosaminidase in liver disease, alcohol intoxication, and pregnancy.

The isoenzyme distribution of serum beta-hexosaminidase was studied in 11 pregnant women, 18 patients with cirrhosis of the liver, 14 patients with cholestasis, and 9 chronic alcoholics with acute ethanol intoxication. Serum beta-hexosaminidase activity was elevated in sera from all groups. The results of isoenzyme separation by isoelectric focusing demonstrated that the isoenzyme pattern in the different patient groups was similar to pregnancy with a preferential increase of isoenzyme forms with pI's between 5.6 and 6.8.

Alcoholic Intoxication↗
PubMed1983

Uptake of beta-hexosaminidase by nonparenchymal liver cells and peritoneal macrophages.

The uptake of beta-hexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30) in nonparenchymal liver cells (i.e. endothelial and Kupffer's cells) and peritoneal macrophages has been determined by an enzymatic assay. A considerable uptake was noted in nonparenchymal liver cells, whereas no measurable uptake was seen in peritoneal macrophages. The endothelial cells were more active in the uptake of beta-hexosaminidase than were the Kupffer's cells. The uptake of beta-hexosaminidase by nonparenchymal liver cells showed saturation kinetics and was competitively inhibited by mannan. These findings support the concept that a cell surface receptor on nonparenchymal liver cells mediates uptake of beta-hexosaminidase and suggests a difference in the receptor mechanisms on liver and peritoneal macrophages.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Total serum bile acids, gamma-glutamyl transferase, prealbumin, and tyrosine: sensitive serum markers of hepatic dysfunction in alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

Of 33 components analyzed in overnight fasting serum from 30 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and bleeding esophageal varices, total serum bile acids, gamma-glutamyltransferase, prealbumin, and tyrosine were the most frequently abnormal 'liver tests'. Total serum bile acids correlated significantly with bilirubin, immunoglobulin M, threonine, glycine, methionine, and tyrosine. Gamma-glutamyltransferase correlated with aspartate aminotransferase, glutamine, and alanine. Prealbumin correlated with albumin and immunoglobulins G and A. Tyrosine correlated with total bile acids, orosomucoid, and 10 amino acids. The amino acid ratio of valine + isoleucine + leucine to tyrosine + phenylalanine was lowered in all patients. It is concluded that the clinical picture and pattern of serum components in patients with alcoholic liver disease are influenced by many complex pathophysiological mechanisms.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Pattern of serum beta-hexosaminidase in liver cirrhosis.

The activity of the primarily lysosomal hydrolase, beta-hexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30), was studied in serum from 53 patients with bleeding esophageal varices, portal hypertension, and liver cirrhosis (31 alcoholic, 13 cryptogenic, and 9 primary biliary). The serum enzyme activity was determined on 89 occasions and was increased in 93%. There was no difference in the distribution between the three patient groups, but in patients who underwent portal-systemic shunt surgery there was a significant increase after 9-12 months. Serum beta-hexosaminidase activity correlated significantly with other biochemical tests known to be influenced by portal-systemic shunting. It is concluded that determination of this enzyme might become a useful liver test, since it sensitively detects liver disease and also might be specific, since besides liver disease only pregnancy and lysosomal disorders are known to show considerable elevations in serum activity.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices↗