PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Jonsson

Publications and source records attributed to H Jonsson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Streptococcal protein MAG--a protein with broad albumin binding specificity.

Protein MAG is a cell surface protein from Streptococcus dysgalactiae which binds alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M), serum albumin and immunoglobulin G (IgG). In this work protein MAG was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and analysed for its albumin-binding specificity. The binding of protein MAG to serum albumins of different species origin was studied in a dot-blot assay and compared with the binding of streptococcal protein G, so far the best studied bacterial albumin receptor. The albumin-binding of protein MAG was also characterized using real-time biospecific interaction analysis (BIA), and the ka, kd and the Kaff values for different albumins were determined. Amino acid sequence alignment revealed homology between the albumin-binding domain of protein MAG and earlier described streptococcal albumin receptors including protein G. However, the MAG protein was reactive with serum albumin from bovine, dog, goat, horse, human, mouse, pig, rat and sheep origin and therefore displays a broader albumin-binding profile than protein G concerning the albumins tested in this work. Comparison of the albumin-binding spectrum of protein MAG with the earlier described albumin receptors of various S. dysgalactiae strains and other streptococci, suggests that protein MAG is a new type of albumin receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Work capacity and central hemodynamics thirteen to twenty-six years after repair of tetralogy of Fallot.

Exercise tests and cardiac catheterization were performed in 53 patients, 13 to 26 years after intracardiac repair of tetralogy of Fallot. At the time of repair, the median age was 7 years, and 60% of patients with cyanosis had had a previous palliative procedure. The right ventriculotomy was closed without a patch in 21 patients (40%), a patch restricted to the right ventricle was inserted in 18 patients (34%), and in 14 (26%) the patch extended across the pulmonary anulus. At follow-up, 94% of the patients were free of symptoms. Symptom-limited work capacity was 87% of the predicted value (95% confidence limits, 82% to 94%). Work capacity was inversely related to age at follow-up, to right ventricular systolic pressure at rest, and to presence of moderate or severe pulmonary valve regurgitation. Cardiac output in relation to oxygen uptake was reduced in 74% of patients during exercise. In 12 patients (23%), systolic pressure at rest in the right ventricle was 50 mm Hg or higher. Systolic pressure during exercise in the right ventricle was lower in patients without a patch than in those with a patch and was abnormally high in all groups compared with healthy subjects. The ratio of right to left ventricular pressure was significantly lower than measurements taken immediately after repair. An intracardiac left-to-right shunt was present in 6 patients (11%). Three patients required invasive treatment as a result of our follow-up. We conclude that work capacity was moderately reduced 13 to 26 years after repair of tetralogy of Fallot and was adversely influenced by right ventricular hypertension and pulmonary valve regurgitation. Intermittent lifelong surveillance is advocated, because patients without symptoms may have hemodynamic abnormalities that necessitate intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

A protein G-related cell surface protein in Streptococcus zooepidemicus.

This work describes the cloning and sequencing of a gene encoding a plasma protein receptor from Streptococcus zooepidemicus. This receptor, termed protein ZAG, is a 45-kDa protein that binds alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M), serum albumin, and immunoglobulin G (IgG). The IgG-binding activity is located in the C-terminal part of the molecule and is mediated by two repeated domains highly homologous to each other as well as to the corresponding domains in streptococcal type III Fc receptors. The IgG-binding profile of protein ZAG is similar to that previously reported for S. zooepidemicus. Binding to serum albumin is mediated by a short amino acid sequence in the middle of the molecule. This domain shows homology to previously described albumin-binding proteins from streptococci, and the albumin-binding profile of protein ZAG is similar to that of streptococcal protein G. The N-terminal part of protein ZAG, which mediates binding to the plasma proteinase inhibitor alpha 2M, is composed of a unique stretch of amino acids. Protein ZAG competes for the same, or nearby, binding site(s) in alpha 2M as do two recently described Streptococcus dysgalactiae receptors, although the sequences of the alpha 2M-binding domains in these three receptors show only minor sequence similarities.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

MAG, a novel plasma protein receptor from Streptococcus dysgalactiae.

The gene encoding a plasma protein receptor from Streptococcus dysgalactiae has been cloned and sequenced. The gene product, with a predicted molecular mass of approx. 44 kDa, binds alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2 M), serum albumin and immunoglobulin G (IgG). By subcloning and expressing various parts of the gene as fusion proteins, we found that the three binding activities reside in discrete domains of the protein. The single IgG-binding domain, localized in the C-terminal part of the molecule, shows high homology to streptococcal type-III Fc receptors. In the middle of the molecule, there is a stretch of 50 amino acids (aa) mediating albumin binding. This region has partial homology with the albumin-binding domains of streptococcal protein G. The alpha 2 M-binding domain is located in the N terminus of the molecule and is composed of a unique aa sequence. We call this trifunctional plasma protein receptor, MAG (binds alpha 2 M, albumin and IgG).

Albumins↗
PubMed1994

The type-III Fc receptor from Streptococcus dysgalactiae is also an alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor.

We have cloned and sequenced the gene for a type-III Fc receptor from a Streptococcus dysgalactiae strain isolated from bovine mastitis and report here the complete sequence of the gene. The 1992-nucleotides-long open reading frame codes for a protein of 664 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 72 kDa (including the signal peptide). The C-terminal part of the protein is very similar to other streptococcal type-III receptors but contains five homologous IgG-binding domains compared to two or three in earlier reported Fc receptors of this type. Upstream of the IgG-binding domains, there is a unique sequence containing short repeated motifs. Subcloning different parts of the gene and expressing them as maltose-binding fusion proteins revealed that the upstream part is mediating binding to the plasma proteinase inhibitor alpha 2-macroglobulin after its complex formation with proteases. In contrast to earlier described type-III Fc receptors, this molecule does not bind human serum albumin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Three-dimensional knee joint movements during a step-up: evaluation after anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

The three-dimensional motions of the knee were analysed during closed kinetic chain knee extension in 13 patients with unilateral chronic injury of the anterior cruciate ligament. The patients ascended a platform, and serial stereophotogrammetric roentgenograms were exposed from about 100 degrees of flexion to full extension. From a position of about 100 degrees of knee flexion and 20 degrees of internal rotation, the tibia rotated externally during the extension. Almost no tibial adduction or abduction was observed. The tibial intercondylar eminence translated laterally, distally, and anteriorly relative to the femur. In knees with absence of the anterior cruciate ligament, the intercondylar eminence had a more posterior position compared with the contralateral normal knees. The proximal tibia was used as a fixed reference segment to evaluate the anteroposterior translations of a central point in the femoral condyles. The femoral point was more anteriorly displaced in the injured than in the contralateral knees. This difference might reflect increased activity of the hamstrings in the injured knees, because it was most pronounced at 80 degrees of flexion and decreased with increasing extension. In the sagittal plane, the mean helical axis was positioned close to the femoral insertion of the ligament at 80 degrees of flexion and was displaced distally and anteriorly during extension. In the frontal plane, the axis had a transverse direction at 80 degrees of flexion. At close to full extension, the axis was positioned distally in the lateral condyle and proximally in the medial condyle. In the horizontal plane, the helical axes ran slightly more anteriorly in the medial than in the lateral femoral condyle but changed inclination at close to full extension and became almost parallel to the transverse axis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Kinematics of successful knee prostheses during weight-bearing: three-dimensional movements and positions of screw axes in the Tricon-M and Miller-Galante designs.

Using roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis we recorded the three-dimensional movements in six knees with implanted Tricon-M prostheses and ten knees with Miller-Galante prostheses as the patients ascended a platform. Fourteen patients with normal knees were used as controls. The two prosthetic designs displayed decreased internal tibial rotation and the Tricon-M increased valgus rotation. A central point on the tibial articular surface had a more lateral position in the Tricon-M design and a more distal one in the Miller-Galante design compared to normal knees. Increased posterior displacement with increasing flexion was observed in both designs. When the normal knees were extended at full weight-bearing the helical axes mainly shifted inclination in the frontal plane. In the prosthetic knees there was a tendency to anterior-posterior displacement of the axes as extension proceeded, especially in the Miller-Galante design. Translations along the helical axes were larger than normal in the Miller-Galante and smaller in the Tricon-M knees, reflecting differences in constraint of the two designs.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Pap smear screening and changes in cervical cancer mortality in Sweden.

OBJECTIVES: Age-adjusted incidence of cervical carcinoma has fallen dramatically in Sweden in recent decades. This investigation is an attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of the gynecologic Pap smear screening program in terms of reduction of mortality from cervical cancer. METHODS: Cervical cancer mortality trends in relation to age, calendar period, county and degree of screening activities in the population were analyzed. Multiplicative Poisson regression models were utilized. The reduction of mortality was attributed to the activities of cervical screening. RESULTS: The analysis gave a calculated 53% reduction in cervical cancer mortality (95% confidence limits 23-72%), attributable to screening. CONCLUSIONS: The study supports the hypothesis that gynecological Pap smear screening has had an important impact on the reduction in cervical cancer mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Patient age as a prognostic factor in prostate cancer.

Whether patient age per se is a prognostic factor of significance in prostate cancer is controversial. To investigate this issue age-specific relative survival was analyzed, and the number of years lost due to this disease was calculated in a large and unselected cohort of 6,890 prostate cancer patients diagnosed between 1971 and 1987 in the northern region of Sweden. The tumor grade was derived from filed notification forms, which showed 26.4% well (grade 1), 40.0% moderately (grade 2) and 17.7% poorly (grade 3) differentiated tumors. There was an overrepresentation of grade 3 tumors among the youngest patients. The age-specific relative survival rate did not differ significantly among different age groups and slight differences almost vanished when adjusting for tumor grade. This finding does not support the view that tumors appearing in younger patients are more aggressive per se. However, loss of life expectancy differed significantly among all age classes and in all 3 grades. In patients with grade 1 tumors the years lost due to prostate cancer ranged from 11.0 to 1.2 in the youngest and oldest age strata, even though the relative survival was approximately 0.70 in all age classes. It was concluded that even if relative survival is constant with patient age, the absolute impact of prostate cancer at different ages varied substantially as indicated by loss of life expectancy. This finding might indicate that younger prostate cancer patients should be given more aggressive treatment than older patients.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1994

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a retrospective study of 122 cases.

During the period 1978-1982 in the three northernmost countries of Sweden all 143 patients with a registered diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were retrospectively analyzed. After re-evaluation, 122 cases remained in the study. The mean age was 71 years and the male/female ratio was 2.2:1. Sixty-one patients were Binet stage A, 29 stage B and 32 stage C. The diagnosis CLL was made after routine check-up for other diseases in most of the patients and they had no symptoms from the CLL. The median survival was 51 months and there were no differences in crude survival according to stage or other prognostic factors such as hemoglobin, lymphocytes or thrombocytes in peripheral blood. Analysis of CLL as a cause of specific mortality showed the stage of CLL to have a slight prognostic significance. This could be due to the fact that many of the patients suffered from other serious diseases, allowing the detection of early stage or advanced CLL with no symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Coping style in relation to the consumption of factor concentrate in HIV-infected hemophiliacs during the years after their infection became known.

A psychosocial investigation offered to all HIV-infected men with moderately severe or severe hemophilia in Sweden was made in 1986. Most of these men had been infected in the years 1980-1984 and told about their own infection in 1985. A noninfected group of hemophiliacs was used as a reference group in the psychosocial investigation. A psychosocial prognosis was made on the basis of the coping style observed by means of the Coping Wheel. Among subjects who showed evidence of a passive-pessimistic copying style, there was a significant decrease in the number of factor concentrate units received in 1987 and 1988. Among subjects in the group with a more active-optimistic coping style, there was a tendency of increasing the use of factor concentrate during the years after the HIV-infection became known. This result indicates that awareness of HIV-infection may influence specific hemophilia behavior among subjects with passive-depressed copying style.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

Psychosocial self-prognosis in relation to mortality and morbidity in hemophiliacs with HIV infection.

HIV-infected hemophiliacs participated in a psychosocial prognosis study. The Coping Wheel was filled out 1-2 years after the subjects had been told that they were HIV-infected and between 1 and 7 years after they had become infected. The number of significant signs of disease as well as mortality were recorded during the years following the psychosocial measurements. These measures were related to three measures of anticipated future activities derived from the Coping Wheel, namely 'number of activities for oneself', 'number of activities with others' and a combined measure 'number of activities for oneself in relation to number of activities with others'. The results indicated that the subject's own psychosocial prognosis added to the prediction of mortality. The most important psychosocial factor was the combined measure: those with few anticipated activities for oneself in relation to activities with others had a greater likelihood of dying soon during follow-up. The latter prediction was true even after adjustment for age and condition of the immune system (CD4 count) at the start of follow-up. The conclusion is that the Coping Wheel, applied as in the present examination, may be of help in prognosis and in identifying psychosocial needs in patients with HIV infection.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

Effects of dietary intervention on serum lipids in factory workers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of workplace-oriented dietary intervention on serum lipids. DESIGN: A cohort study. Screening for blood lipids and subsequent dietary intervention performed at a ferro-alloy factory where all the workers have at least one meal per working day served by the factory kitchen. SETTING: Employees at Grundartangi ferro-alloy factory, Iceland. SUBJECTS: From 1 June 1989 to 1 June 1991, 155 workers participated in the screening and prevention programme. INTERVENTION: Changing the food served by the kitchen to 200 workers by lowering the total number of calories and increasing the content of fibre and unsaturated fats in the diet. RESULTS: The mean serum cholesterol was lowered from 6.64 to 6.09 mmol/l or by -8.28% for the whole group (p < 0.001) after two years of intervention. In the subgroups studied, serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) increased (p < 0.001), whereas serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) decreased. Cholesterol/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios were reduced. General dietary habits seemed to change in a favourable way. No significant change occurred in body mass index or smoking habits, and there was little effect on exercise habits. CONCLUSION: Workplace dietary intervention seems to be effective in reducing cardiovascular risk factors. Information provided to the kitchen staff is of importance, as well as information given to the employees, in order to obtain beneficial results from dietary change.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Prostate cancer in northern Sweden. Incidence, survival and mortality in relation to tumour grade.

In order to study changes in incidence, survival and mortality of prostate cancer in relation to morphological grade, we analysed all incident cases of prostate cancer in Northern Sweden during three 2-year periods (1974-1975, 1980-1981 and 1986-1987). The age-adjusted incidence increased by 35% from 1974-1975 to 1986-1987, but there was only a minor increase in the mortality rates. The increase in incidence was mainly due to well-differentiated (G1) and moderately differentiated (G2) tumours, whereas the incidence of poorly differentiated (G3) tumours remained stable. The 5-year relative survival rate increased significantly from 1974-1975 to 1986-1987. The relative survival rate for each tumour grade was, however, almost stable over the studied time period. After adjustment for tumour grade the differences in relative survival rate diminished. We believe that the most likely explanation for these changes in incidence, survival and mortality is enhanced detection of tumours with more favourable histology as a result of a more frequent use of the diagnostic tools available.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Pulmonary function thirteen to twenty-six years after repair of tetralogy of Fallot.

Lung function was evaluated in 68 patients 13 to 26 (median 19) years after repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Age at repair was 7 years (9 months to 42 years) and 51% had a palliative shunt. An outflow patch was inserted in 56%. Median vital capacity was 84% of predicted, forced expiratory volume in 1 second 83%, maximal voluntary ventilation at 40 breaths/min 70%, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide 77% of predicted. Scintigraphy demonstrated abnormal pulmonary perfusion in 86%. Average right lung perfusion was 57% (predicted 52%). Regional hypoperfusion could in some patients be explained by previous palliative shunt, pulmonary artery obstruction, or presence of aortopulmonary collaterals. Median symptom-limited work capacity was 82% (95% confidence limits 78% to 90%) of predicted. Twenty-eight physically active patients had high values for symptom-limited work capacity, vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and maximal voluntary ventilation at 40 breaths/min compared with those of inactive patients. Lung function variables were related to physical exercise and previous palliative shunt. Moderate or severe pulmonary valve incompetence had negative but not significant influence on lung function. There was no significant influence of acyanosis before repair, use of transannular patch, duration of follow-up, or smoking. We found moderately reduced work capacity and lung function late after repair of tetralogy of Fallot that did not cause symptoms. Lung function variables were high in young active male patients and low in patients with previous palliative shunt. A better lung function in active patients indicates that physical activity should be encouraged after repair of tetralogy of Fallot.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Molecular characterization and expression of a gene encoding a Staphylococcus aureus collagen adhesin.

Some strains of Staphylococcus aureus bind collagen with a high degree of specificity and affinity. This interaction can represent a mechanism of substrate adhesion and may be an important step in the pathogenesis of osteomyelitis and infectious arthritis. We now report on the cloning, sequencing, and expression of a gene name cna, encoding a S. aureus collagen adhesin. The cna gene was isolated from a lambda GT11 S. aureus genomic library and encodes an 1185 amino acid polypeptide. The deduced amino acid sequence reveals several structural characteristics similar to previously described Gram-positive bacterial cell surface proteins. Antibodies raised against the native collagen adhesin from S. aureus recognize the recombinant collagen adhesin. Collagen binding activity can be detected in a lysate obtained from Escherichia coli cells, which harbor the cloned cna gene on an expression plasmid. Collagen-binding proteins can be detected in the lysate when analyzed by a Western blot type assay in which the membrane-transferred proteins are probed with radioactively labeled collagen. Finally, the bacterial lysate containing the recombinant adhesin can effectively inhibit the binding of soluble collagen to cells of S. aureus.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed1992

Lengthening of anterior cruciate ligament graft. Roentgen stereophotogrammetry of 32 cases 2 years after repair.

32 patients with old anterior cruciate ligament injuries were operated on with patellar tendon-prepatellar tissue-quadriceps tendon graft over the top without and with augmentation (Kennedy-LAD). The anteroposterior (AP) laxity was assessed preoperatively, and at 6, 12, and 24 months after the operation with roentgen stereophotogrammetry. 6 months postoperatively the instability had decreased 5.4 mm in the nonaugmented and 1.9 mm in the augmented group, but not to normal values. During the following 18 months the AP laxity increased and returned to the preoperative level. At 2 years, 28 of the 32 patients were considered good or excellent, according to the Lysholm score. There was a lack of correlation between AP laxity and functional tests.

Adult↗