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Biomedical subjects

E Grahn

Publications and source records attributed to E Grahn.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

A 12-residue-long polyleucine tail is sufficient to anchor synaptobrevin to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane.

Synaptobrevin is a tail-anchored protein with a hydrophobic C-terminal transmembrane segment that inserts into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane independently of the SRP/Sec61p pathway. Here, we show that idealized hydrophobic segments composed of 11-17 leucines and 1 valine function as insertion signals in vitro, whereas shorter segments do not. These results suggest that there are no specific requirements beyond overall hydrophobicity for C-terminal endoplasmic reticulum insertion signals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Effects of active addition of bacterial cultures in fermented milk to patients with chronic bowel discomfort following irradiation.

Radiotherapy is a cornerstone in the treatment of malignancies in the pelvis. Consequently, there is usually exposure of the intestine and especially the lower colon and rectum, with ensuing disturbances in bowel habits at different times following radiotherapy. The main problem is diarrhoea associated with lactose intolerance, bile salt absorption and fat malabsorption. Bacterial contamination has also been described. In the present study we have evaluated the influence of the active administration of specific bacterial cultures in fermented milk, which inhibit the growth of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms, to 40 consecutive patients with chronic alteration in their bowel habits caused by previous radiotherapy of pelvic malignancies. The results suggest that intake of fermented milk products could be of value in decreasing chronic bowel discomfort following radiotherapy of pelvic malignancies. However, a more extensive study is warranted in order to very the significance of the results and to find the optimal product.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effect of milk and fermented milk on iron absorption in ileostomy subjects.

This study was undertaken to determine whether milk with its high calcium content adversely affects the absorption of nonheme iron from the diet as greatly as single-meal studies indicate. Nine ileostomy subjects ate a low-fiber, low-phytate diet for 8 consecutive weeks. During the first and eight weeks they drank a 250-mL soft drink with three main meals and an evening snack each day (0.16 g Ca/d). During the two intervening 3-wk periods, they drank the same amount of low-fat milk or fermented low-fat milk (Verum; Hälsofil, Norrmejerier, Umeä, Sweden) according to a formally randomized crossover design (1.4 g Ca/d). During the last 2 d in each of the four periods, apparent iron absorption (balance) from a test diet together with that period's beverage was measured and the plasma ferritin concentration was determined. There was no decrease in apparent iron absorption during the milk diet periods.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Is penicillin the appropriate treatment for recurrent tonsillopharyngitis? Results from a comparative randomized blind study of cefuroxime axetil and phenoxymethylpenicillin in children. The Swedish Study Group.

The efficacy of cefuroxime axetil compared with phenoxymethylpenicillin (PcV) was studied in group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (GAS) culture-proven tonsillitis in children aged 3-12 years with a history of at least 1 episode of tonsillopharyngitis requiring antibiotic therapy during the previous 3 months. This was a comparative, randomized, investigator-blind, multicentre study. A total of 236 children received either cefuroxime axetil suspension or PcV syrup. Inclusion criteria were a positive, rapid, group A strep test verified by bacteriological culture and clinical signs and symptoms of tonsillopharyngitis. Cefuroxime axetil treatment gave a significantly higher bacteriological eradication rate and clinical cure rate than PcV. At day 2-5 post treatment the eradication rates were 99/114 (87%) for cefuroxime axetil vs 61/109 (56%) for PcV (p < 0.001). The clinical cure rates were 98/114 (86%) and 73/109 (67%) respectively (p < 0.01). Up to 21-28 days post-treatment, 9/114 (8%) cefuroxime axetil patients and 37/109 (34%) PcV patients were treatment failures or had recurrence/reinfection of GAS tonsillopharyngitis (p < 0.001). More than 90% of the patients who experienced bacteriological treatment failure at either the first or second follow-up had the same serotype isolated pre- and post-treatment. During the study period, 21/114 (18%) patients in the cefuroxime axetil group and 50/109 (46%) patients in the PcV group received additional antibiotics (p < 0.001). No serious adverse events were noted and the mild adverse events were equally distributed among the patients in the 2 study groups: 15% for cefuroxime axetil and 14% for PcV.

Cefuroxime↗
PubMed1995

Effects of low-fat milk and fermented low-fat milk on cholesterol absorption and excretion in ileostomy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To study small bowel cholesterol absorption and sterol excretion in order to explain possible serum cholesterol-lowering mechanisms of low-fat milk products. DESIGN: Two 24-h sterol balance studies with 1 litre of low-fat milk or one litre of fermented milk, in random order, added to a controlled diet. [3H]Cholesterol absorption was measured during each period. The results were compared to those on two 24-h periods with isocaloric amounts of lemonade given to the same basic diet, before and after the study. One litre of the two milk products was also consumed in addition to their normal diets in a cross-over design of 3 weeks and with run-in and run-out periods of 2 weeks each with 1000 ml of lemonade preceding the balance studies: SETTING: Outpatient clinic, where the subjects were eating their meals during the day and ileostomy bags collected. SUBJECTS: Nine ileostomy subjects, who have earlier participated in similar studies, volunteered for the study. All subjects completed the study. RESULTS: Cholesterol absorption was highest (66%) in the lemonade period, intermediate in the low-fat milk period (61%) and lowest in the fermented low-fat period (55%) (P < 0.05 for differences). Net cholesterol excretion (excretion minus intake) and calculated endogenous cholesterol excretion were significantly (P < 0.05 for differences) higher in the low-fat milk period than in the lemonade period and the fermented low-fat milk period. No significant change in serum cholesterol was, however, seen after 3 weeks on each milk regimen. CONCLUSION: Assimilation of cholesterol by microorganisms could possibly explain the reduced uptake of cholesterol with fermented milk. The mechanism behind the increased endogenous cholesterol excretion, induced by low-fat milk, is unclear.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Interfering alpha-streptococci as a protection against recurrent streptococcal tonsillitis in children.

Recurrent streptococcal tonsillitis/pharyngitis is a great problem, especially in certain epidemiological situations. Patients treated with antibiotics often have a disturbed normal throat flora and may lack, e.g., alpha-streptococci known in vitro to have an interfering activity against group A streptococci. Thirty-one patients with recurrent streptococcal tonsillitis were given antibiotics for 10 days. At the end of this treatment they were sprayed in their mouths with four selected alpha-streptococcal strains known to have strong growth inhibiting activity in vitro against most beta-streptococci group A. The follow-up period after this colonization was 3 months. After alpha-streptococcal treatment, none of the patients attracted a new tonsillitis during the follow-up period while 8% of the controls had a second tonsillitis. Treatment of streptococcal tonsillitis/pharyngitis with antibiotics followed by recolonization with alpha-streptococci seems to hinder further recurrences.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Alpha-streptococci as supplementary treatment of recurrent streptococcal tonsillitis: a randomized placebo-controlled study.

Recurrences are a common finding after antibiotic treatment of acute group A streptococcal tonsillitis. This has been attributed to several factors, among others a disturbed normal throat flora and especially a lack of alpha-streptococci. It thus seems logical in patients with recurrent streptococcal tonsillitis, to restore the normal alpha-streptococcal flora by reimplantation of alpha-streptococci. This was performed in a double blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study. 36 patients with recurrent streptococcal group A tonsillitis were treated with antibiotics followed by either placebo (19 patients) or a pool of 4 selected alpha-streptococcal strains (17 patients) with good interfering activity against clinical isolates of beta-streptococci. No patient recurred during the first 2 months of follow-up in the alpha-treated group, but 7 in those treated with antibiotics and placebo. After 3 months 1 in the patient group treated with antibiotics and alpha-streptococci and 11 in the placebo-treated group recurred. These results are statistically highly significant and show that recolonisation with alpha-streptococci seems to offer a new way to lower the rate of recurrence in streptococcal throat infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Influence of phenoxymethylpenicillin on the vaginal ecosystem.

The effects of phenoxymethylpenicillin on the bacterial flora of the vagina were investigated in 6 women who fulfilled the criteria of 'normality': predominance of lactobacilli, and absence of Enterobacteriaceae and fungi. Fourteen healthy women were enrolled and followed longitudinally; 8 of these were subsequently excluded because of divergence from normality. Following penicillin treatment, Gram-negative rods appeared in 4 of the remaining 6 women, and in 1 subject heavy growth of Candida albicans resulted. In 5 of the women there was no change in the lactobacillus count and a rise in pH was found in 4 subjects. In 1 woman, lactobacilli disappeared completely and were replaced by Escherichia coli. Concomitantly, high concentrations of endotoxins were found in the vaginal fluid. Treatment with penicillin may interfere with the normal vaginal bacterial flora and provide an environment favorable for Enterobacteriaceae and fungi.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1987

The effect of penicillin on bacterial interference in vivo.

The study was designed to analyse the effect of penicillin on interference between alfa-streptococci and group A streptococci in vivo. Tissue cages were implanted subcutaneously in 9 rabbits and inoculated with 10(5) cfu of alfa- and beta-streptococci together as well as separately. Both streptococci were recovered 96 h after the inoculation in the untreated rabbits. Alfa-streptococci inhibiting the growth of beta-streptococci in vitro retained this capacity under the experimental in vivo conditions. Higher penicillin concentration did not increase the killing rate of beta-streptococci grown separately while a faster killing was observed with low penicillin levels in the presence of inhibiting alfa-streptococci, indicating synergistic effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Penicillin tolerance in beta-streptococci isolated from patients with tonsillitis.

Beta-streptococci isolated from patients with acute tonsillitis were tested for penicillin tolerance defined as an MBC/MIC ratio greater than or equal to 16. 11/18 strains recovered from patients with clinical treatment failure were tolerant to penicillin in comparison with 0/15 strains from successfully treated patients. The MBC/MIC ratio was less than 16 for all strains versus cefadroxil but above that ratio for many strains versus clindamycin, doxycycline and erythromycin. We suggest that penicillin tolerance may be one reason to treatment failures in individuals with streptococcal tonsillitis and that other antibiotics could be used to treat these patients since penicillin tolerance is not correlated to a general increase in antibiotic resistance.

Cefadroxil↗
PubMed1987

Penicillin concentration in saliva and its influence on bacterial interference.

The aim of the investigation was to study the influence of various penicillin levels on the interference between alfa- and beta-streptococci based on antibiotic levels registered after oral intake of penicillin tablets. It was found that penicillin was released from ordinary sugar coated tablets already in the mouth resulting in concentrations in saliva above the MIC of most penicillin sensitive microorganisms during the first 2 min. This was followed by a decrease of the alfa-streptococcal flora. It was also shown that penicillin levels above the MIC of alfa-streptococci resulted in prolonged survival of beta-streptococci as compared to that noted at penicillin levels above the MIC of beta-streptococci but below that of the alfa-strains. At this latter level a synergistic effect between penicillin and interfering alfa-streptococcal strains could be demonstrated.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1986

Pharmacokinetics of phenoxymethylpenicillin in tonsils.

The pharmacokinetics of phenoxymethylpenicillin in tonsillar tissue was studied in 33 patients who underwent tonsillectomy, mainly because of repeated tonsillitis or peritonsillitis. The patients were operated on 30-240 min after an oral penicillin dose of 12.5 mg/kg body weight. The mean serum concentration was 2.8 micrograms/ml for 10 patients operated upon 80-95 min after drug administration. The mean tissue concentration for these patients at the same time was 0.6 micrograms/g. The mean concentration of penicillin in tissue after 240 min was 0.05 micrograms/g. 19% of the serum concentration was recovered in the tonsillar tissue. No significant difference between penicillin concentration in the centre or surface of the tonsils was found. The tissue concentration was calculated to be above 0.03 micrograms/ml for at least 4-5 h. 30% of the patients harboured penicillinase producing bacteria on their tonsils, mainly Staphylococcus aureus. These patients had a lower tissue concentration than those lacking the bacteria, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.095).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Evaluation of beta-lactamase activity and microbial interference in treatment failures of acute streptococcal tonsillitis.

Out of 169 patients with streptococcal tonsillitis treated with phenoxymethylpenicillin, 13 (8%) developed a new clinical infection with the same streptococcal strain within 2 weeks of completing the therapy (clinical treatment failure) and 24 (14%) were clinically healthy but harboured the same streptococcal strain after treatment (bacterial treatment failure). Patients with clinical treatment failure showed beta-lactamase activity in their saliva pellet significantly more often than patients with bacterial treatment failure, healed streptococcal tonsillitis or non-streptococcal tonsillitis as well as healthy controls. In an interference study, clinical treatment failures were compared with healthy streptococcal carriers, i.e. persons living in the same household and harbouring the same beta-streptococcal strain. 11/12 healthy carriers had alpha-streptococci with interfering activity against their own beta-streptococcal strain, while the corresponding figure for the clinical treatment failures was 2/13. Furthermore, 6/12 healthy carriers had beta-streptococci inhibiting their own alpha-strains, while the streptococci in 11/13 clinical treatment failures had this ability. The beta-lactamase activity and the interference between alpha- and beta-streptococci may be a contributory cause to treatment failure in streptococcal tonsillitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Bacterial interference in the throat flora during a streptococcal tonsillitis outbreak in an apartment house area.

During an outbreak of streptococcal tonsillitis in an apartment house area the interfering capacity of alpha-hemolytic streptococci isolated from the inhabitants' throat flora on the beta-hemolytic streptococcal strains recovered during the outbreak was investigated. Strains of alpha-streptococci with an inhibiting capacity on beta-streptococci were isolated mainly from individuals seemingly resistant to streptococcal tonsillitis while patients with repeated tonsillitis often had beta-streptococcal strains inhibiting the growth of the patients own alpha-streptococcal flora. Inhibiting alpha-streptococcal strains were isolated in high frequency in healthy patients that had recently recovered from tonsillitis.

Adolescent↗