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Biomedical subjects

J Brox

Publications and source records attributed to J Brox.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Blood lipids, fatty acids, diet and lifestyle parameters in adolescents from a region in northern Norway with a high mortality from coronary heart disease.

INTRODUCTION: Students aged 13 and 14 y, in a region in northern Norway with high blood cholesterol levels and high mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) in the adult population, were studied with respect to lifestyle, dietary habits, nutritional intake and blood lipids including fatty acids in serum. The students came from a coastal community with seawater fish as an important part of the traditional diet, and an inland community with meat from reindeer as a major constituent of the diet. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the traditional diet was maintained among the adolescents and to evaluate the lifestyle and blood lipids. The study was followed up after 1 y. RESULTS: The adolescents from the coastal region did not maintain the traditional diet. In the inland region the students had a high intake of meat, probably reflecting the traditional food culture. The inland boys had higher mean body mass index (BMI) than the coastal boys, and 12% had BMI>28, as compared to none of the coastal boys. Other findings showed that the students had higher levels of blood cholesterol than in the south of Norway and several other countries (about 25% had total cholesterol >5.2 mmol/l), higher intake of dietary sugar and fat than the national recommendations and little intake of seawater fish with corresponding low levels of n-3 fatty acids. This did not change after 1 y of follow up. Some 10-20% reported daily smoking and 8-13% reported that they rarely or never did physical exercise. About 30% of the students presented no factors negatively related to development of cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate, in the majority of students at the age of 13 and 14 y, the appearance of factors contributing to development of cardiovascular disease (CHD). SPONSORSHIP: This study was supported by the program 'Medisinsk forskning i Finnmark, University of Tromsø'.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Cellular activation responses in blood in relation to lipid pattern: healthy men and women in families with myocardial infarction or cancer.

High cholesterol is a well-established risk factor of myocardial infarction (MI). Since monocytes play a pivotal role in the development of atherosclerosis, one might anticipate that their functional properties are very important in relation to MI. In the present study, we have explored how the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced reactivity of monocytes in whole blood in vitro relates to the serum lipid profile of healthy subjects with a history of MI or cancer in their close family. Twenty of the 54 subjects (of the total 266 test subjects) in the MI families had moderately high cholesterol (7.1-10.2 mmol/l), whereas 34 had normal cholesterol. Nineteen of the normocholesterol individuals had hyperactive monocytes (high responders), whereas 15 had monocytes responding normally. Two of the 20 subjects in the high cholesterol group had hyperactive monocytes. LPS-induced tissue factor, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 were on the average three to four times higher in the normocholesterol group compared with the moderately hypercholesterol group, and hence no positive correlation was found between hyperactive monocytes and cholesterol. The 42 subjects in the families with cancer had normal cholesterol, and two of these subjects had very high LPS-induced tissue factor, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6, whereas eight of the 170 subjects without MI or cancer in their family were high responders. This further substantiates the notion that moderately high cholesterol is not associated with enhanced monocyte activation in whole blood. Hyperactive peripheral blood monocytes are suggested to be associated with a significant risk factor in developing coronary heart disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

A long-term seal- and cod-liver-oil supplementation in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

In this long-term study, we wanted to explore the effect of dietary supplementation of seal oil (SO) as compared cod-liver oil (CLO) on subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia. The test parameters included fatty acid composition in serum, blood lipids, platelet aggregation, and the activity of blood monocytes. After a run-in period of 6 mon, 120 clinically healthy hypercholesterolemic (7.0-9.5 mmol/L; 270-366 mg/dL) subjects were randomly selected to consume either 15 mL of SO or CLO daily for 14 mon followed by a 4-mon wash-out period. A third group was not given any dietary supplement (control). Consumption of marine oils (SO and CLO) changed the fatty acid composition of serum significantly. Maximal levels were achieved after 10 mon. No further changes were seen after 14 mon. A wash-out period of 4 mon hardly altered the level of n-3 fatty acids in serum. Addition of SO gave 30% higher level of eicosapentaenoic acid, as compared to CLO. Subjects taking SO or CLO had lower whole-blood platelet aggregation than the control group. Neither SO nor CLO had any effects on the levels of serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, postprandial triacylglycerol, apolipoproteins Al and B100, lipoprotein (a), monocyte function expressed as monocyte-derived tissue factor expression, and tumor necrosis factor.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Effects of atorvastatin and omega-3 fatty acids on LDL subfractions and postprandial hyperlipemia in patients with combined hyperlipemia.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The aim of the present study was to see whether a moderate dose of omega-3 fatty acids (FA) potentiates the beneficial effects of statins on the high risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with combined hyperlipemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the present double-blind parallel study, 42 patients with combined hyperlipemia with serum triglycerides 2-15 mmol/L-1 and serum total cholesterol > 5.3 mmol/L-1 at the end of a three-month dietary run-in period were treated with 10 mg/d atorvastatin for 10 or more weeks. During the last 5 weeks they were randomized into two groups that received either 1.68 g/d omega-3 FA as ethylesters of eicosapentaenoic (45%) and docosahexaenoic acids (39%), or placebo (corn oil). As expected, atorvastatin significantly reduced serum total LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides and apolipoproteins B, E, CII and CIII, whereas HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) was increased. Addition of omega-3 FA further increased HDL-C (p < 0.03), and reduced systolic blood pressure (< 0.03), while the small dense LDL-particles (LDL III) (p < 0.05) and postprandial hypertriglyceridemia (p < 0.01) were reduced compared with the baseline, though there were no significant differences to the placebo group. This may be related to the large individual variation in these parameters and the small number of patients. No significant effects on basic or postheparin activities of lipoprotein lipase or hepatic lipase were observed after atorvastatin with or without addition of omega-3 FA. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that addition of a low dose of omega-3 FA may further improve the risk profile for CHD in patients with combined hyperlipemia treated with atorvastatin. The effect is related to reduction of postprandial hyperlipemia and redistribution of LDL subfractions.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Haemostatic parameters related to lipids and adhesion molecules.

Several components of blood, e.g. lipids, coagulation and fibrinolytic factors, are thought to be important risk factors in cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to correlate these risk factors and the soluble adhesion proteins, soluble P-selection (sP-selectin) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1), in healthy men and women as well as to unravel any effects of smoking. One hundred and forty-two fasting men (median age 36 years) including 39 smokers, and 124 women (median age 34 years) including 35 smokers, were tested between 0800 h and 1000 h. Fibrinogen correlated positively with white blood cells (WBC) (r = 0.25), prothrombin fragment 1.2 (F1.2) (r = 0.21), cholesterol (r = 0.27), beta-thromboglobulin (r = 0.29), Factor VII clotting activity (FVIIc) (r = 0.27) (all P < 0.0001), tissue plasminogen activator antigen (t-PAag) (r = 0.22, P < 0.0005), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen (PAI-1ag) (r= 0.20) and VCAM-1 (r= 0.19) (both P< 0.002). Cholesterol and triacylglycerol (TG) correlated positively with t-PA antigen (t-PAag) (r = 0.36 and r = 0.38), PAI-1 antigen (PAI-1ag) (r = 0.35 and r = 0.50), P-selectin (r = 0.26 and r = 0.27) (all P < 0.0001) and WBC (r = 0.17, P < 0.007 and r = 0.18, P < 0.004). Cholesterol correlated also with F1.2 (r = 0.29) and TG (r= 0.44) (P< 0.0001). In addition to cholesterol and TG, sP-selectin correlated postively with PAI-1ag (r= 0.39), t-PAag (r= 0.27) and WBC (r = 0.25) (all P < 0.0001). Comparing the various test parameters in men and women, it was found that women had significantly higher levels of F 1.2 and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol than men, whereas men had higher levels of t-PAag, PAI-lag and P-selectin than women. Smoking was associated with a rise in several of the test parameters. It can be concluded that there are correlations between several risk factors. Of particular interest is the positive correlation between sP-selectin and a number of established risk factors of cardiovascular diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Self-reported ethnic status of delivering women, newborn body mass index, blood or urine concentrations of toxic metals, and essential elements in sera of Norwegian and Russian Arctic populations.

UNLABELLED: As part of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), we assessed pregnancy outcome among Sami and Norwegian populations of Finnmark County in Norway and Russians living in the Kola Peninsula of Russia using body mass index of the newborn child (BMIC) as the main indicator; concentrations of essential and toxic elements in biological fluids of delivering women and their children served as additional sources of information. At the hospitals of Hammerfest and Kirkenes in the period November 1993-June 1994 a total of 107 consecutive women gave birth to a child, of whom 15 regarded themselves as Sami. The Russian group (N = 151) delivered their children in the same period. The Sami women were significantly older than the Russian group (28.5 versus 25.1 years, p = 0.04). The mean birth weight was significantly lower in the Sami group compared to non-Sami Norwegians (p = 0.01), but was of comparable magnitude to that recorded in Russia (p = 0.4). For BMIC, the Sami and non-Sami Norwegian results were similar (p = 0.2); both were significantly higher than in Russia (p < 0.001). The essential elements copper, zinc, selenium and iron (as ferritin) in serum showed no differences between the groups, although relatively low levels of serum zinc were documented in all populations studied. Blood cadmium concentrations were strongly related to smoking frequency. Blood lead and urinary nickel levels were significantly higher for the Russian mothers, but did not reach levels of medical concern. CONCLUSION: No ethnic differences in concentrations of essential elements in biological fluids, nor of cadmium and mercury, were observed. However, national differences for lead and nickel were evident. Because of small sample size, these conclusions need confirmation. The similar BMIC values observed for the non-Sami Norwegian and Sami newborns, compared to the Russian group, suggest that BMIC may serve as a good indicator of the nutritional status and possibly also the general health condition of neonates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Concentrations of essential trace elements in maternal serum and the effect on birth weight and newborn body mass index in sub-arctic and arctic populations of Norway and Russia.

BACKGROUND: This project is part of an assessment of the impact of environmental factors on human health in the Kola Peninsula of Russia and the neighboring arctic area of Norway. Pregnant women and their newborns were studied to explore a relationship between maternal status of essential metals and birth weight. METHODS: Life-style information and serum specimens were collected from at least 50 consecutive mother-infant pairs from hospital delivery departments in three Russian and three Norwegian communities (N=151 and 167, respectively). Pregnancy outcomes were verified by consulting medical records. Copper, selenium and zinc in serum were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and ferritin by an automated analyzer method. RESULTS: Mean birth weight and child's body mass index (BMIC) were significantly lower in the Russian group (p<0.001), with or without adjustment for gestational age. Copper, iron (as ferritin) and selenium serum concentrations were in the normal range, while zinc levels in both countries were mostly below the lower limit (10.8 micromol/L) of reported reference intervals. A positive correlation between zinc and birth weight or BMIC was only observed for concentrations exceeding 10.8 micromol/L. Analysis by quartiles showed that maternal urinary creatinine and birth weight were negatively correlated (p=0.001). The influence of the different elements on BMIC, grouped by quartiles, was significantly positive only for selenium (p=0.03) and ferritin (p=0.02), while there was no significant relationship for copper or zinc. Adjustment of birth weight and BMIC for gestational age did not alter substantially the various associations indicated. CONCLUSIONS: With the exception of zinc, the mineral status of delivering women in arctic and sub-arctic regions of Norway and western Russia appears to be adequate. The significantly lower BMIC for the Russian group suggests the likely occurrence of nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy in Russia. However, the significant contribution of a country factor in the predictive model implies that the maternal serum trace-element concentrations explored in this study are incomplete indicators of fetal undernourishment.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Effects of dietary marine oils and olive oil on fatty acid composition, platelet membrane fluidity, platelet responses, and serum lipids in healthy humans.

The influence of various dietary marine oils and olive oil on fatty acid composition of serum and platelets and effects on platelets and serum lipids were investigated as part of an extensive study of the effects of these oils on parameters associated with cardiovascular/thrombotic diseases. Healthy volunteers (266) consumed 15 mL/d of cod liver oil (CLO); whale blubber oil (refined or unrefined); mixtures of seal blubber oil and CLO; or olive oil/CLO for 12 wk. In the CLO, seal oil/CLO, and whale oil groups, serum levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were increased. In platelets, EPA was increased in the CLO, seal/CLO, and olive oil/CLO groups. The localization of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the triacylglycerols did not seem to influence their absorption. Intake of oleic acid is poorly reflected in serum and platelets. No significant differences in triacylglycerols (TG), total cholesterol, or high density lipoprotein cholesterol were observed, even though TG were reduced in the CLO, CLO/seal oil, and whale oil groups. Mean platelet volume increased significantly in both whale oil groups and the CLO/olive oil group. Platelet count was significantly reduced in the refined whale oil group only. Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated blood tended to generate less thromboxane B2 in CLO, CLO/seal, and CLO/olive groups. The whale oils tended to reduce in vivo release of beta-thromboglobulin. In conclusion, intake of various marine oils causes changes in platelet membranes that are favorably antithrombotic. The combination of CLO and olive oil may produce better effects than these oils given separately. The changes in platelet function are directly associated with alterations of fatty acid composition in platelet membranes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Membrane fluidity and fatty acid metabolism in kidney cells from rats fed purified eicosapentaenoic acid or purified docosahexaenoic acid.

Rats were given a supplement (1.5 ml/day) of purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5,n-3), purified docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6,n-3)), or corn oil for 10 days. Membrane fluidity, measured as the steady-state fluorescence polarization of diphenylhexatriene (DPH), was approximately 20% lower in kidney cells from rats fed purified EPA than in cells from the DHA-fed or corn-oil fed animals. The level of 20:5(n-3) in kidney phospholipids was 18 times higher in rats fed EPA, and four times higher in those fed DHA as compared to the corn-oil group. The level of arachidonic acid (20:4,n-6) was concomitantly decreased, while linoleic acid (18:2,n-6) was increased in kidney-phospholipids in the n-3 fatty acid fed rats. The proportion of 22:6(n-3) in kidney phospholipids was not affected by EPA supplementation, while the DHA diet slightly increased the level of this fatty acid. The distribution of phospholipid subclasses was significantly altered in that phosphatidylcholine was increased and phosphatidylethanolamine was concomitantly decreased. It is suggested that the decrease in 20:4(n-6) is relatively more important in the regulation of fluidity than a concomitant increase in 20:5(n-3). It is also suggested that the compensatory modifications of the phospholipid subclass distribution as a response to decreased 20:4(n-6)/20:5(n-3) ratio was not sufficient to maintain fluidity when the ratio was as low as in the present study. The incorporation of labelled linolenic acid (18:3,n-3) in phospholipids was decreased in cells from the n-3 supplemented rats. Since endogenous 22:5(n-3) in phospholipids was only increased in the EPA group, 22:6(n-3) only in the DHA group, and 20:5(n-3) in both, it is suggested that the decreased incorporation of labelled 18:3(n-3) into phospholipids of the DHA-fed rats in particular is correlated to the increased level of 22:6(n-3) in the membrane phospholipids. The incorporation of fatty acids into phopholipids may thus show substrate specificity, in that 22:6(n-3) is less exchangable with labelled 18:3(n-3) than is 20:5(n-3). These results demonstrate that increasing levels of n-3 fatty acids in membranes affect the uptake and intracellular metabolism of fatty acids as well as membrane fluidity in the kidney.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Preliminary report of trace elements in mothers and newborns living in the Kola Peninsula and Arkhangelsk region of Russia compared to Norwegian populations.

Recently, considerable attention has been allotted to the possible health effects of the industrial pollution in the regions adjoining the Norwegian-Russian border. As a measure of general health, the status of trace elements and some clinical-chemical parameters in serum and blood that reflect general health was assessed for 50 consecutive obstetric patients presenting at delivery departments of local hospitals in the Kola Peninsula, Arkhangelsk and selected centres in Norway. A written questionnaire and consent form were completed by each participant. Specimens of maternal and cord blood were collected. Corresponding samples were analyzed for copper, zinc, selenium, iron and ferritin. We found a lower birth weight in the Russian centres. The measurement of trace elements showed a higher iron status for the Russian females and relatively low serum zinc levels were observed in both the Russian and the Norwegian communities. It may be concluded that with the exception of zinc, the mineral status in the Norwegian and Russian arctic centres considered appears to be satisfactory.

Arctic Regions↗
PubMed1995

Effect of marine oils supplementation on coagulation and cellular activation in whole blood.

A study was performed to explore the effects of supplemental intake of various marine oils known to be part of the Eskimo diet. Healthy men and women (134) were randomly selected to consume 15 mL/d of oil from blubber of seal, cod liver, seal/cod liver, blubber of Minke whale, or no oil for ten weeks. Total cholesterol was unchanged in the oil groups, whereas high density lipoprotein cholesterol increased 7% in the seal/cod liver oil (CLO) group (P < 0.05) and 11% in the whale oil group (P < 0.005). Triacylglycerol was significantly reduced in the CLO group only. The concentration of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 was reduced 25% (P < 0.05) after whale oil supplementation. No change in fibrinogen or factor VIIc was detected. Tumor necrosis factor generation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated blood was 30% reduced after whale oil (P < 0.05), but was unaffected by intake of seal or CLO. The LPS-induced tissue factor activity in monocytes was reduced to a significant degree only in the seal/CLO group (34%) and whale oil group (35%) (P < 0.05). The most dramatic change in thromboxane B2 in LPS-stimulated blood was seen after whale oil intake with 44% reduction (P < 0.01). Supplementation of a regular diet with a combination of seal oil and CLO and especially with whale oil seems to have beneficial effects on several products thought to be associated with cardiovascular and thrombotic diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[What decides whether physicians remain at a local hospital? A questionnaire study from the Hammerfest hospital].

The survey showed that a good professional environment and good opportunities for postgraduate education are factors that determine whether specialists and less senior doctors remain at a local hospital. It is also important to provide opportunities for medical research. Good quality treatment depends on a high level of professional skills and stability of personnel. The article discusses smaller hospitals, professional skills, stability of senior physicians and surgeons, and quality of care.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Laboratory tests for pneumonia in general practice: the diagnostic values depend on the duration of illness.

The usefulness in the diagnosis of pneumonia of temperature and the laboratory tests: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), leucocyte count, and C-reactive protein (CRP) was evaluated against a radiographic reference standard in 402 adult patients with respiratory tract infection in general practice. Radiographic pneumonia was diagnosed in 20 patients. CRP and ESR were the most useful tests. CRP greater than 50 mg/l had lower sensitivity and likelihood ratio (LR), 0.50 and 4.8, respectively, compared with previous studies of selected patient populations. Among patients whose duration of illness exceeded six days the corresponding LR was 11.3, due to a higher specificity in this subgroup of patients. ESR and oral temperature were also more useful in this subgroup than in patients with a shorter duration of illness. A highly significant diagnostic contribution of adding ESR and CRP to history and physical examination, particularly when the illness had lasted one week or more, was demonstrated by logistic regression.

Blood Sedimentation↗
PubMed1988

Catecholamine binding and concentrations in acute phase plasma after surgery.

The present study was undertaken to decide whether the bound fractions and/or total concentrations of catecholamines were determinative for the variability of biologically active concentrations in human plasma. The binding and concentrations of noradrenaline (NA) and adrenalin (Adr) were determined in acute phase plasma after major hip surgery in five subjects. The bound fractions before surgery were 23.0% and 18.4% for NA and Adr, respectively. The binding of catecholamines increased in the post-operative period. Five days after surgery the binding of NA and Adr was 30.9% and 24.0%, respectively. The surgical trauma induced an acute phase reaction in plasma with a decrease of albumin (HSA) concentrations whereas the concentrations of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AAG) increased. The catecholamine concentrations showed a considerable inter- and intraindividual variability. However, the present work shows that the variability of the biologically active catecholamine concentrations is mainly dependent on the total plasma concentrations and not the plasma protein binding.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed1988

The diagnosis of adult pneumonia in general practice. The diagnostic value of history, physical examination and some blood tests.

Because of lower respiratory infection that was treated with antibiotics on the suspicion of pneumonia, 71 patients aged 15 years or more were referred to the study by general practitioners. Using a positive chest X-ray as a "gold standard", 15% had pneumonia. The diagnostic value of variables from history, physical examination and blood tests was evaluated by calculating the likelihood ratio (LR). A duration of illness less than 24 hours before consulting the general practitioner was the variable from the history with the highest LR, 13.5. The white blood cell count and particularly the C-reactive protein analysis had a high diagnostic value, CRP greater than 50 mg/l had an LR of 37. In this selected material pulmonary symptoms and lung findings were of minor value in differentiating patients with and without pneumonia, with no LR exceeding 2.3. This can be explained to some extent by selection bias.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Effects of postprandial plasma and chylomicrons on endothelial cells. Differences between dietary cream and cod liver oil.

The acute effects of fatty meals (900 kcal) rich in saturated (cream) or n-3 polyunsaturated (cod liver oil, CLO) fatty acids on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECM) and platelet behavior were studied. The ECM were incubated for 24 hours at 37 degrees C with either plasma or chylomicrons (CM) obtained 3 hours after the meals. The ability of the ECM to inhibit platelet aggregation (PIA) and the release of prostaglandin I2 measured as 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) were measured after 24 hours of incubation, after stimulation and after freezing and thawing. Similar studies were done with CM from a patient with type V hyperlipoproteinemia. The release of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was increased by postprandial plasma and by CM obtained after both meals. Plasma collected after CLO, but not after cream, increased PIA, whereas CM derived from all sources studied stimulated the PIA of ECM. No consistent correlation could be established between the release of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PIA. Increased platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma was always observed during postprandial hyperlipidemia.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗