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Biomedical subjects

L Abrahamsson

Publications and source records attributed to L Abrahamsson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

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↗
PubMed1992

Vitamin B12 in CSF: reduced CSF/serum B12 ratio in demented men.

Vitamin B12 concentrations were determined in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 32 controls and 102 patients with dementia. The dementias were classified as Alzheimer's disease (AD), senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT) and multi-infarct dementia (MID). A substantial number of patients (n = 42) could not be assigned to any of these diagnostic groups, as their dementias were of non-AD/SDAT and non-MID types. They were instead assigned to a group called non ultra descriptum (NUD). CSF B12 correlated significantly with serum B12. There were no statistically significant differences in serum B12 levels between the groups. Although with considerable overlap, CSF B12 concentrations and CSF/serum B12 ratios were significantly lower in the NUD group than in the control group. The NUD group had significantly lower CSF/serum B12 ratios than the group of patients with AD/SDAT. There was significant male predominance in the group of demented patients that had low CSF/serum B12 ratios outside the bivariate reference region. CSF and serum B12 levels appear insufficient as measures of the true brain vitamin B12 status. It may be a more dynamic approach to use the CSF/serum B12 ratio as an indication of transport function across the blood brain barrier, and possibly also across the CSF brain cell barrier.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Congenital malformations and maternal consumption of benzodiazepines: a case-control study.

This study assessed potential teratogenic properties of benzodiazepine (BZD) intake during early pregnancy. Four neonatal diagnoses of congenital malformations (embryopathy and fetopathy, unspecified; unspecified congenital malformations of the nervous system; cleft palate and cleft lip; congenital malformations of the urinary tract) were selected. The authors' previous clinical experience had shown these diagnoses to be characteristic of infants born to mothers with excessive intake of BZD in early pregnancy. The selected diagnoses were present in 25 of 10,646 liveborn infants (2.3 per 1000) delivered by mothers living in the city of Gothenburg in 1985 and 1986. In 18 of these cases, it was possible to analyse maternal plasma, and eight samples (44 per cent) were found to be BZD-positive. Of 60 controls, two maternal blood samples (3 per cent) were positive for BZD. The difference is highly significant and suggests an association between these congenital malformations and BZD consumed during early gestation.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed1985

12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate-induced differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells is not accompanied by an increase in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP.

Cultured human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells could be induced to differentiate morphologically and biochemically followed by growth inhibition, by treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). The cells showed a limited differentiation when treated with substances known to increase the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP. When these substances were combined with TPA, morphological differentiation and growth inhibition of the cells were potentiated. In contrast, these substances inhibited the TPA-induced increase in noradrenaline concentration and the relative activity of neuron-specific enolase. Both the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP and the cytosolic level of cyclic AMP-binding components were similar in control and TPA-treated cells. It is suggested that cyclic AMP has a limited and non-regulatory role in the initiation of differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells. The effect of cyclic AMP is probably coupled mainly to the polymerization of microtubules, thus enhancing the morphological differentiation of the cells.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed1985

Fat cell metabolism in different regions in women. Effect of menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and lactation.

Adipose tissue lipolysis and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity were studied in biopsies from the femoral and abdominal depots in healthy women during early or late menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and the lactation period. When the differences in cell size were taken into account, basal lipolysis was similar in both regions in nonpregnant women. During lactation, however, lipolysis was significantly higher in the femoral region. The lipolytic effect of noradrenaline (10(-6) M) was significantly less in the femoral region in the nonpregnant women and during early pregnancy. However, the lipolytic response was the same in both regions in lactating women. LPL activity was higher in the femoral than in the abdominal region except during lactation when a marked decrease in the LPL activity was seen in the femoral region. The LPL activity in the abdominal region remained unchanged in all patient groups. The results imply that in both nonpregnant and pregnant women lipid assimilation is favored in the femoral depot. During lactation, however, the metabolic pattern changes; the LPL activity decreases and lipid mobilization increases in this depot. These changes are much less pronounced in the abdominal region. Thus, fat cells from different regions show a differential response during pregnancy and lactation. These results suggest that the adipose tissue in different regions may have specialized functions.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1984

Retinoic acid-induced differentiation of cultured human neuroblastoma cells: a comparison with phorbolester-induced differentiation.

Cultured human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells differentiated in the presence of retinoic acid (RA) or 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). In both cases, the cells acquired long cell processes and the cell growth was partially inhibited. Treatment with RA or TPA resulted in an increased neuron-specific enolase activity, relative to the total cellular enolase activity. At the optimal concentration, TPA induced a 200-fold increase in the concentration of noradrenalin, whereas in RA-treated cells the corresponding increase was only fourfold. Cells treated with a combination of RA and TPA were morphologically differentiated and growth inhibited and had a high relative activity of neuron-specific enolase. The increase in the concentration of noradrenalin induced by TPA was inhibited by RA in a concentration-dependent fashion. However, despite this result there seemed to be no general antagonistic effect of RA on the TPA-induced differentiation. The phenotypes of the cells treated by RA, TPA, or the combination of RA and TPA, did, on the other hand, differ from each other. Our results suggest that RA and TPA induce the SH-SY5Y cells to differentiate along different pathways.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMed1983

[Non-virilizing hormonal therapy in women with secondary disorders of sexual responsiveness].

26 women with secondary disturbance of sexual responsiveness were treated mainly with dehydroepiandrosterone preparations. The sexual tonus was tested before and after treatment by a sexual score system previously described. Urinary 17-ketosteroid and plasma testosterone fractions were controlled in 17 patients; these values were, in general, below the normal range before treatment. Treatment was considered to be successful in 17 patients, while in the remaining 9, who mainly belonged to the group of younger patients, no success was achieved. However, the results point out that therapeutic success with hormones of low biological activity can be expected only after numerous months of treatment. The pattern obtained on determination of hormonal parameters usually corresponded to the results of treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Effects of antiandrogenic treatment with cyproterone acetate on the sexual tonus in virilized women].

Sexual responsiveness was assessed in 46 virilized women during cyproterone acetate treatment over a period of several years according to a sexual score previously described. In general, sexual tonus was depressed by intensive cyproterone acetate medication of several months' duration without concurrent oestrogen. By changing to sequential therapy according to Hammerstein, however, sexual tonus returned to initial levels in the group with normal pre-medication responsiveness. Furthermore, in another group with diminished sexual tonus before treatment, sexual responsiveness, in particular the capacity for orgasm, was stimulated to the level of the first group. The endocrinological basis for this observation is discussed with aid of results of the plasma testosterone/sex hormone binding globulin complex.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Simultaneous determination of ketobemidone and its N-demethylated metabolite in patient plasma samples by gas chromatography mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring.

An analytical procedure has been developed for the simultaneous determination of ketobemidone and its N-demethylated metabolite, norketobemidone. After isolation from plasma and re-extraction to acidic aqueous phase, the two aminophenols were extracted as ions pairs with tetrabutylammonium to dichloromethane, where derivatization with ethyl chloroformate took place. Determination was performed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring. Ketobemidone and norketobemidone could be detected in plasma in a concentration of 1 ng ml-1 and 3 ng ml-1, respectively. Determinations were performed down to 5 ng ml-1. The relative standard deviation of the method in the analysis of 10 ng ml-1 of ketobemidone and norketobemidone, respectively, was 8% and 9% (n=10). The absolute recovery of unconjugated ketobemidone and norketobemidone through the method at the 100 ng ml-1 level was 91% and 85%, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of ketobemidone and norketobemidone in plasma from patients given ketobemidone. The concentrations of unconjugated norketobemidone was too small to be detected.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed1983

Pharmacokinetics of triazolam in geriatric patients.

Serum triazolam levels were determined in eight geriatric patients (average age 80 years) on Days 1 and 7 of administration of triazolam 0.25 mg once daily, 1 h after a standard breakfast. Triazolam was rapidly absorbed reaching average peak concentrations of 2.0 and 2.04 ng/ml, 1.5 and 1.38 h after administration on Days 1 and 7, respectively. The mean apparent elimination half-life was 1.41 h (range 0.73-4.13 h) on Day 1 and 1.37 h (range 0.69-3.36 h) on Day 7. There was no significant difference between mean serum triazolam concentrations or pharmacokinetic parameters on Days 1 and 7 of the treatment. Serum samples were also assayed for alpha-hydroxytriazolam, an active metabolite of triazolam, but none could be detected in any of the samples from Days 1 or 7, assay sensitivity 0.09 ng/2 ml serum. The range of half-lives of triazolam in the patients in the present study is in close agreement with that previously reported in elderly subjects. The study provides further evidence of the lack of change in pharmacokinetic parameters on multiple dosing and that drug accumulation did not occur.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Effects of a continuous estrogen-progestogen therapy for climacteric symptoms on circulating sex steroids and gonadotrophins.

Twenty-six peri- and postmenopausal women with climacteric symptoms were given each day for 1 year a tablet containing 2 mg 17-beta-estradiol, 1 mg estriol and 1 mg norethisterone acetate. Blood samples were collected before, after 3 months and after 12 months of treatment and were analysed for their gonadotrophins, estradiol, estrone, testosterone, androstenedione content and for their SHBG binding capacity. Serum levels of estrone and androstenedione before treatment were found to be higher in the perimenopausal than in the postmenopausal group. An increase of serum estrogens concomitant with a decrease of gonadotrophins was noted. The estrone/estradiol ratios after 3 and 12 months of treatment were 5.3 and 4.7, respectively. A decrease in the serum concentration of testosterone and androstenedione was recorded during treatment. The reduction of gonadotrophins, especially LH, might have been responsible for the reduction in circulating androgens. The reduction of serum levels of androgens during the present long-term replacement therapy could be of metabolic importance.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Kinetics and concentration effects of TPA-induced differentiation of cultured human neuroblastoma cells.

SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells differentiate morphologically and biochemically in the presence of 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). The degree of differentiation, as demonstrated by the appearance of cell surface projections, growth inhibition and increase in noradrenalin concentration, was dependent on the TPA concentration and had an optimum at 1.6 X 10(-8) M of TPA. At that concentration neuron specific enolase (NSE) increased to a maximum level after 10 days of culture with no further changes in the NSE level during additional culture for 10 days. In contrast, the noradrenalin concentration reached a maximum after 4 days of TPA treatment and decreased during longer exposures to TPA. Based on the facts that the phorbolester induced differentiation shows stereo specificity and was optimal at the same concentration range as common polypeptide hormones, a putative TPA-hormone receptor interaction is discussed. An opposite effect of TPA on the SH-SY5Y cells, antagonizing the differentiation effect, is further suggested to explain the decrease in differentiation observed at TPA concentrations higher than 1.6 X 10(-8) M.

Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins↗
PubMed1982

Quantitative analysis of plasma nicotine using selected ion monitoring at high resolution.

A highly sensitive and specific method for the quantitative determination of nicotine in plasma is described. Using simple one-step work-up technique and (5',5'-2H2) nicotine as internal standard, the analytical procedure is based on combined capillary column gas chromatography and high resolution selected ion monitoring. Incorporation of a specially designed gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer interface allowing introduction of the eluent by a fused silica capillary via the direct inlet port into the ion source brings the detection level for nicotine in an alcoholic solution down to below 100 fg. The discriminatory nature of the method also makes it well suited for studying ambiguities of instrumental nicotine assay and some of these are discussed.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry↗
PubMed1981

[Long-term treatment of virilized women with cyproterone acetate (author's transl)].

76 women with virilizing features (68 women suffering from hirsutism and 8 from acne) were treated on average for 25 months according to different models of Androcur medication. Success of treatment was clinically assessed as good in 3/4 of the cases and slight in the remaining 1/4. However, treatment is more successful in cases of adrenal hirsutism than in idiopathic hirsutism. Moreover, success of treatment seems to be better in women below 35 than over 35 years of age. Side effects, mostly bleeding anomalies and fatigue, were found in 31 women; these must be attributed to the gestagenic component of cyproterone acetate. By contrast, 12 women showed positive side effects such as weight reduction, improvement in depression states and reversal of hair loss, which must be attributed to the antiandrogenic component. The selected continuation rate in all subjects was 86% and the unselected 72%, over a treatment period of 4.5 years. Furthermore, hormonal controls were carried out under treatment. These showed, on average, a depression of plasma androstendione of 17%, of total plasma testosterone of 47%, as well as an inhibition of the testosterone/sex hormone-binding globulin quotient of 58%. These inhibition effects speak in favour of alterations taking place in steroid metabolism. However, by inhibition of androgenic serum levels, the mechanism of cyproterone acetate is only assisted, while the main mechanism is based on peripheral receptor inhibition. Furthermore, as additional component in this action a slight increase in plasma binding capacity was found during combined cyproterone-oestrogen treatment.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1981

Catabolic effects and the influence on hormonal variables under treatment with Gynodian-Depot or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) oenanthate.

53 patients from a mainly climacteric population were treated monthly with 200 mg dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) oenanthate or with 1 ampoule Gynodian-Depot. Pronounced adiposity was present in 15 of these cases. Hormonal variables were determined before the treatment and during the depot effect of the preparations in order to study the principle which supports the oestrogenic influence and any weight-reducing influence under administration of DHEA. The elimination of low-polar oestrogens increased considerably in 4 out of 13 post-menopausal cases treated with DHEA. This effect is probably indirect and presupposes intact ovaries. The incorporation of exogenous DHEA into the excretion of 17-ketosteroids and of 17-ketogenic steroids, such as those of androsterone + aethio-cholanolone, depends on the size of the initial pool inasmuch as it is higher in small initial pools than in saturated pools- the size of the pool being age-dependent. An average weight loss of greater than 1 kg/mth was observed under DHEA treatment in 7 out of 15 adipose cases. In comparison to the other 8 adipose cases, these 7 were younger and therefore also displayed higher values for 17-ketosteroids and their individual fractions. These circumstances appeared to explain why the administration of DHEA resulted in higher levels of free plasma DHEA which, in contrast to the cases without loss of weight, also resulted in an increase of renal DHEA-sulphate clearance. It was concluded from the findings that this is the explanation for the catabolic effect of exogenous DHEA. Post-menopausally increased FSH and LH fractions were markedly suppressed in about half of the determinations after Gynodian-Depot administration, the findings indicating that DHEA is probably involved in suppression of the LH fraction.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids↗