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Biomedical subjects

B Sundberg

Publications and source records attributed to B Sundberg.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Oat beta-glucan increases bile acid excretion and a fiber-rich barley fraction increases cholesterol excretion in ileostomy subjects.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether oat beta-glucan is responsible for the increased bile acid excretion previously observed with oat-fiber diets. The excretion patterns in ileostomy subjects given diets containing oat-bran bread with and without added beta-glucanase, a beta-glucan-degrading enzyme, were compared. The effect of a beta-glucan-rich barley fraction on sterol excretion was also investigated. Nine ileostomy subjects were served four diets in random order, each diet for 2 consecutive days. Four different kinds of bread, mainly made from oat bran (OB diet, 12.5 g beta-glucan/d), oat bran with beta-glucanase (OBE diet, 3.8 g beta-glucan/d), barley (B diet, 13.0 g beta-glucan/d), or wheat flour (W diet, 1.2 g beta-glucan/d) were added to a basal diet. The 24-h excretion of bile acids was 53% higher in the OB diet period than in the OBE diet period (P < 0.05) and also was significantly higher than in the B and W diet periods (P < 0.05). Median (range) bile acid excretion was 851 (232-1550), 463 (123-1414), 755 (133-1187), and 606 (101-980) mg/d in the OB, OBE, B, and W diet periods, respectively. The excretion of cholesterol was significantly higher in the B diet period than in the OBE and W diet periods (P < 0.05), but the mechanism behind this effect of barley fiber is unknown. In oat bran, however, beta-glucan mediates an increase in bile acid excretion, which most probably explains the effect of oat fiber in lowering serum lipids.

Adult↗

Quality of rolled barley flakes as affected by batch of grain and processing technique.

Rolled barely flakes were prepared from three different batches of grain by pearling, steaming and rolling. Autoclaved and malted barleys from the three batches were also processed in the same way. Analysis of the nine products showed that both batch of barley and process had significant effects on chemical composition and viscosity. Puddings were prepared from the products and mechanical consistency, juiciness and grain consistency were graded on both newly prepared and heated puddings by a sensory taste panel. Batch of barley had no effect on mechanical consistency but significant effects on juiciness and grain consistency. Type of processing had significant effect on all three parameters for both newly prepared and heated puddings.

Dietary Carbohydrates↗

The relationship between crown size and ring width in Pinus sylvestris L. stems: dependence on indole-3-acetic acid, carbohydrates and nitrogen in the cambial region.

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), carbohydrates, total nitrogen and amino acids in the cambial region and bark were measured at the top (10-year-old internode) and bottom (1.3 m) of the main stem of 50-year-old Pinus sylvestris L. trees, having different rates and longitudinal gradients of annual ring width formation. The trees were sampled during the most active period of wood production (June 23, July 15) and at the end of this period (August 23). Trees with a small crown and relatively slow growth rate (S-trees) were compared with trees in the same stand that had a large crown and fast growth rate (F-trees) as a result of thinning and fertilization. The effect of bottom pruning fast-growing trees (pruned F-trees) was also investigated. The F-trees had greater wood production than the S-trees at both the stem top and bottom. The difference was larger at the stem bottom, thus the relative decrease in ring width down the stem was steeper in the S-trees. The amount of sucrose and IAA per cm(2) in cambial region tissues was higher in F-trees than in S-trees. However, the differences in annual ring width between treatments and within trees were not reflected in the concentrations (expressed per gram fresh weight) of these substances, measured either in differentiating xylem, the cambium plus phloem, or in the cambial region as a whole. The concentrations of total nitrogen and amino acids were slightly higher in the F-trees than in the S-trees. Pruning the F-trees reduced wood production, particularly at the stem bottom, inhibited the springtime increase in starch, and decreased the amounts of sucrose and IAA per cm(2) in the cambial region. However, it was evident that the concentrations of sucrose, IAA, amino acid and nitrogen in the cambial region were not related to ring width. During June and July, the concentrations of these substances were generally higher at the stem bottom in the pruned F-trees than in the F-trees. The results provide evidence that it is the activity of the cambium rather than the availability of carbohydrates that determines the allocation of wood production along the tree stem. The results also indicate that tracheid production is not directly related to the IAA concentration in the cambial region.

Journal Article↗

Increased risk of relapse in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia given T-cell depleted marrow compared to methotrexate combined with cyclosporin or monotherapy for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease.

Fifty-two patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT) at Huddinge Hospital were analyzed retrospectively regarding type of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis. With T-cell depletion (TCD) (n = 13) the incidence of grade II-IV acute GvHD was 8% compared to 27% among patients given short course methotrexate (MTX) + cyclosporin (CSA) (n = 23) (ns) and 60% in patients who received MTX or CSA alone (n = 16) (p = 0.006 vs TCD and 0.03 vs MTX + CSA). The incidence of chronic GvHD was 56%, 31% and 75%, in the three groups, respectively (p = 0.02 combination vs monotherapy). Probability of relapse differed significantly, with most relapses in the TCD group, 62% compared to 20% in the MTX + CSA group (p = 0.02) and no relapse in the monotherapy group (p = 0.01 TCD vs monotherapy). Patient survival at 6 years was 54%, 59% and 38%, in the three groups, respectively (ns). Relapse-free survival was 23% in the TCD group, 55% in the combination group (p = 0.06) and 38% in the monotherapy group (ns). We conclude that TCD in patients with CML is correlated with an increased risk of relapse and a tendency towards a decreased long-term relapse-free survival compared to patients receiving other kind of GvHD prophylaxis.

Adolescent↗

Randomized double-blind study of liposomal amphotericin B (Ambisome) prophylaxis of invasive fungal infections in bone marrow transplant recipients.

Invasive fungal infection is a problem in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT). To determine if a liposomal formulation of amphotericin B (Ambisome) is safe and can prevent fungal infection we performed a placebo controlled double-blind randomized prophylactic trial. Study drug was administered from when neutrophil count had decreased to < 0.5 x 10(9)/l and was continued until neutrophils recovered to this level or an infection or toxicity end-point was reached. Thirty-six patients received 1 mg/kg/day of ambisome and 40 patients received placebo daily. There were no statistical differences in characteristics or clinical course between the two groups. Fungal colonization decreased in the ambisome group while it increased in the placebo group. By the end of prophylaxis 8 of 24 (33%) patients receiving ambisome were colonized compared with 18 of 29 (62%) placebo patients (p = 0.05). Five and 7 patients on ambisome or placebo, respectively, were withdrawn due to a presumed fungal infection (NS). There was no statistical reduction of autopsy-proven fungal infection. Proven fungal infection occurred in one patient receiving ambisome (C. guillermondi) compared with three patients receiving placebo (C. guillermondi, 2; C. albicans, 1). Ambisome was well tolerated at the dose of 1 mg/kg/day but in three patients allergic reactions were observed.

Adolescent↗

Blood transfusion in marrow graft recipients.

Of 182 consecutive patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), the relative numbers of those who received red blood cells (RBC), platelets (PLT), and granulocytes were 82%, 96%, and 26%, respectively. The transfused patients received an average of 1.26 (SD +/- 2.0) RBC units, 9.41 (SD +/- 13.2) PLT transfusions, and 0.33 (SD +/- 1.1) granulocyte concentrates per week per 50 kg body wt. in the period starting on the day of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) up to 60 days post BMT. The total number of units per transfused patient was 7.7 (range 1-63) RBC, 55.2 (range 2-394) PLT and 6.2 (range 1-36) granulocytes in the same period. Patients with grades II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) needed more RBC and PLT (p less than 0.001) than patients with grades 0-I acute GVHD. Patients with late engraftment required more granulocyte and PLT transfusion than those with early engraftment (p less than 0.05). Patients with high-risk malignancy had greater need for RBC and PLT than "low-risk patients" (p less than 0.02 and p less than 0.01), respectively). Patients with major ABO-incompatible donors showed a greater need for RBC than patients with minor ABO incompatibility (p = 0.02) or ABO identical donors (p = 0.01). Patients with relatively poor estimated survival required the most RBC and PLT.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Transgenic Tobacco Plants Coexpressing the Agrobacterium tumefaciens iaaM and iaaH Genes Display Altered Growth and Indoleacetic Acid Metabolism.

Transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) SR1 plants expressing the Agrobacterium tumefaciens nopaline transferred DNA iaaH gene were transformed with a 35S-iaaM construct. The transformants displayed several morphological aberrations, such as adventitious root formation on stem and leaves, dwarfism, epinastic leaf growth, increased apical dominance, and an overall retardation in development. In addition, xylem lignification was higher than in wild type. Free and conjugated indoleacetic acid (IAA) levels were quantified by gas chromatography-multiple ion monitoring-mass spectrometry in leaves and internodes of wild-type plants and two transformed lines with different phenotypes. Both transformed lines contained elevated levels of free and conjugated IAA, which was associated with increased transcription of the iaaM gene. The line with the highest IAA level also had the most altered pattern of growth and development. These IAA-overproducing plants will provide a model system for studies on IAA metabolism, IAA interactions with other phytohormones, and IAA roles in regulating plant growth and development.

Journal Article↗

Cyclosporine A in fat emulsion carrier: immunosuppressive effect in vitro.

We have recently shown in a rat model that the acute decrease in glomerular filtration rate caused by intravenous Sandimmun can be avoided if Cyclosporine A (CyA) is given in a fat emulsion carrier instead. The present study was undertaken to determine the immunosuppressive effect in vitro of this new formulation. The inhibitory effect on the lymphocyte responsiveness of CyA in fat emulsion carrier was compared with that of CyA dissolved in alcohol, using mitogens as well as alloantigens as stimuli. In the mixed lymphocyte culture and cell-mediated lympholysis tests and in the interleukin-2 assay, both formulations seemed equally effective. CyA in fat emulsion was somewhat less effective than CyA in alcohol in the mitogen tests. In clinical practice the fat emulsion would be rapidly metabolized, and to further evaluate our new formulation, studies in experimental organ transplantation are needed.

Cyclosporine↗

Decreased incidence of graft-versus-host disease and improved survival with methotrexate combined with cyclosporin compared with monotherapy in recipients of bone marrow from donors other than HLA identical siblings.

Recipients receiving marrow from donors other than HLA identical siblings (alternative donors) treated by monotherapy with either methotrexate (MTX, n = 5) or cyclosporin A (CSA, n = 10) were compared with 28 recipients of alternative donor marrow receiving MTX + CSA. The former group had a cumulative incidence of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of 73% compared with 34% in the latter group (p = 0.009). The incidence of chronic GVHD was 75% and 41% in the two groups respectively, a difference that was not statistically significant. Death caused by GVHD was 47% in recipients of alternative bone marrow treated with monotherapy vs 12% in those treated with MTX + CSA (p = 0.008). The actuarial 4-year patient survival was 7% and 46% in the two groups, respectively (p = 0.04). Compared with HLA identical siblings the recipients of alternative marrow treated with monotherapy had an increased risk of grade II-IV acute GVHD (p less than 0.0001), an increased death rate by GVHD (p = 0.0001) and a decreased survival (p less than 0.0001). When MTX was combined with CSA the recipients of alternative marrow had an increased risk of grade II-IV acute GVHD (p = 0.005), but death by GVHD (12 vs 6%) and 4-year patient survival (46 vs 45%) did not differ.

Adolescent↗

Free and Conjugated Indoleacetic Acid (IAA) Contents in Transgenic Tobacco Plants Expressing the iaaM and iaaH IAA Biosynthesis Genes from Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

The Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-DNA gene iaaM was introduced by leaf-disc transformation into transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants expressing the iaaH gene. Regenerated calli were screened for the presence of indole-3-acetamide (IAM), by gas chromatography-multiple ion monitoring-mass spectrometry, and IAM-containing calli were further analyzed for free and conjugated indoleacetic acid (IAA). It was found that transgenic calli on average contained twice as much free IAA and three times more conjugated IAA than calli from wild-type plants. About 40% of the transformed calli could be regenerated to plants. The distribution of free and conjugated IAA was measured in transformed plants with a normal phenotype and compared with equivalent wild-type plants. The IAA content of transgenic plants was only slightly increased, whereas IAA-conjugate levels were enhanced significantly. These data suggest that conjugation of IAA may serve as a regulatory mechanism, contributing to maintenance of steady-state IAA pool sizes during tobacco growth and development.

Journal Article↗