Biomedical subjects

Christin Andersson

Publications and source records attributed to Christin Andersson.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Differential CSF biomarker levels in APOE-epsilon4-positive and -negative patients with memory impairment.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationships between episodic memory, APOE genotype, CSF markers (total tau, T-tau; phospho-tau, P-tau; beta-amyloid, Abeta42) and longitudinal cognitive decline. METHODS: 124 memory clinic patients were retrospectively divided into 6 groups based on (i) episodic memory function (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, RAVLT): severe, moderate or no impairment (SIM, MIM or NIM), and (ii) APOE genotype (epsilon4+ or epsilon4-). CSF marker levels and cognitive decline were compared across groups. RESULTS: Episodic memory function, according to RAVLT scores, was significantly correlated with CSF marker levels only among epsilon4+ subjects and not among epsilon4- subjects. When comparing the 6 subgroups, SIM epsilon4+ and MIM epsilon4+ groups showed significantly lower Abeta42 levels than the other groups. T-tau and P-tau levels were significantly increased in SIM epsilon4+ when compared to all the other groups, including the SIM epsilon4- group. However, both SIM epsilon4+ and SIM epsilon4- declined cognitively during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: It remains to be determined whether APOE genotype affects the expression of biomarkers in CSF, or whether the different biomarker patterns reflect different types of disease processes in patients with progressive cognitive dysfunction.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗

PubMed2006

Identifying patients at high and low risk of cognitive decline using Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test among middle-aged memory clinic outpatients.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether application of cutoff levels in an episodic memory test (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, RAVLT) is a useful method for identifying patients at high and low risk of cognitive decline and subsequent dementia. METHODS: 224 patients with memory complaints (mean age = 60.7 years, mean MMSE = 28.2) followed-up at a memory clinic over approximately 3 years were assigned retrospectively to one of three memory groups from their baseline results in RAVLT [severe (SIM), moderate (MIM) or no impairment (NIM)]. These groups were investigated regarding cognitive decline. RESULTS: Patients assigned to SIM showed significant cognitive decline and progressed to dementia at a high rate, while a normal performance in RAVLT at baseline (NIM) predicted normal cognition after 3 years. Patients with MIM constituted a heterogeneous group; some patients deteriorated cognitively, while the majority remained stable or improved. CONCLUSIONS: The application of cutoff levels in RAVLT at baseline showed that patients with severely impaired RAVLT performance were at a high risk of cognitive decline and progression to dementia, while patients with normal RAVLT results did not show cognitive decline during 3 years. Furthermore, the initial degree of memory impairment was decisive in the cognitive prognosis 3 years later.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed2006

Achieving directed immunostimulating complexes incorporation.

In recent years, several studies have been reported with the common aim of generating general expression systems for straightforward production and subsequent coupling of expressed antigens to an adjuvant system. Here, we describe a series of such efforts with a common theme of using gene fusion technology for association of recombinant antigens to immunostimulating complexes (iscoms). In the early stages of vaccine development, uniform antigen preparations are crucial to allow the comparison of immune responses to different antigens, or even subdomains thereof, and we believe that the described systems constitute an important development in this context.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

General strategies for efficient adjuvant incorporation of recombinant subunit immunogens.

We have previously reported strategies for Escherichia coli production of recombinant immunogens fused to hydrophobic peptides or lipid tags to improve their capacity to be incorporated into an adjuvant formulation, e.g., immunostimulating complexes (iscoms). Recently, we also explored the strong interaction between biotin and streptavidin to achieve iscom association of recombinant immunogens. Plasmodium falciparum,Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum antigens have served as model immunogens in the different studies. Generated fusion proteins have been found to be successfully incorporated into iscoms and high-titer antigen-specific antibody responses have been obtained upon immunization of mice. We believe that the different concepts presented, utilizing either hydrophobic peptide or lipid tags, or the recently explored biotin-streptavidin principle, offer convenient methods to achieve efficient adjuvant incorporation of recombinant immunogens.

Amino Acid Sequence↗