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Biomedical subjects

S Bergstrom

Publications and source records attributed to S Bergstrom.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Intrauterine infection after delivery: a marker of HIV-1 seropositivity among puerperal women in Uganda?

A case controlled study about HIV seroprevalence among women with post-partum endometritis-myometritis (PPEM) matched with two controls. Each was performed in a non-governmental organization hospital in Kampala, Uganda. All participants were offered HIV pre- and post-test counselling. Personal and clinical information was obtained and HIV-1 ELISA tests performed on blood samples and discordant results resolved by Western blot test. HIV-1 seroprevalence was significantly higher among women with PPEM than controls, 26 (42.3%) and 26 (21.3%) respectively (P = 0.002). Women with PPEM were two-and-a-half times more likely to be HIV-positive than controls, odds ratio 2.74 (95% CI 1.34-5.65). Single or cohabiting women and low salaried women were also significantly more among PPEM cases than controls. In conclusion, PPEM cases had significantly higher seroprevalence of HIV-1 infection than controls and this needs further elucidation for purposes of management strategies.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Polymorphism in codons 10 and 25 of the transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1) gene in patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1) has a multifactorial role in the development of cervical cancer. It potently inhibits the growth of epithelial cells that harbour oncogenic human papilloma viruses (HPVs). TGF-beta1 also inhibits the expression of the early viral transforming regions E6 and E7, which appear to be the key oncoproteins. It has been suggested that squamous cell carcinomas are devoid of TGF-beta1, raising the possibility that elevated levels of this growth factor could protect against cervical cancer. It is also recognized that the production and levels of TGF-beta1 are genetically predetermined and individually variable. Two genetic polymorphisms in the DNA encoding the leader sequence of the TGF-beta1 gene have been described and shown to be associated with the production of high or low TGF-beta1 levels in vivo and in vitro. We hypothesized that the inheritance of these polymorphisms could influence the development of invasive cervical cancer. This hypothesis was investigated by studying polymorphism in codons 10 and 25 of the TGF-beta1 gene. We studied 97 patients with invasive cervical cancer and 73 healthy controls and found that the distributions of alleles T (Leu) and/or C (Pro) and alleles G (Arg) and/or C (Pro) in codons 10 and 25, respectively, were similar. There was no significant association between the alleles and the histological degree of cancer differentiation. It appears that the role of this growth factor in cervical oncogenesis is not related to the point mutations that we examined in codons 10 and 25 of the TGF-beta1 gene. We speculate that other factors, including additional polymorphisms of the TGF-beta1 gene, the status of TGF-beta1 receptors, the complex cytokine network, differential responsiveness of cells to the stimuli, and the status of the precancer/cancer genome, may play a role in development of invasive cervical cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Low risk and high risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and cervical cancer in Zimbabwe: epidemiological evidence.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence of detectable low-risk and high-risk, oncogenic HPV types in cervical swabs of women with histologically proven cancer of the cervix. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Harare Central and Parirenyatwa Hospitals. SUBJECTS: 119 women with histologically proven cervical cancer of whom 63 had the degree of differentiation of the tumour reported. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of infection with high and low-risk human papillomaviruses. RESULTS: The presence of HPV DNA was demonstrated in 63% (75/119) of cases. Low risk HPVs were present in 26% (31/119) and high-risk HPVs were demonstrated in 51% (61/119) of samples tested. Co-infection with both low-risk and high-risk HPVs was observed in 14% (17/119) of the specimens. High-risk HPVs were detected in 55% (21/38) of poorly differentiated tumours while 60% (15/25) of moderately and well-differentiated tumours showed the presence of high-risk HPVs. CONCLUSION: High-risk human papillomaviruses are associated with cervical cancer. There was no significant difference in the frequency of high-risk HPV types in women with moderately to well-differentiated tumours and those with poorly-differentiated tumours.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A case-referent study on fetal bacteremia and late fetal death of unknown etiology in Lithuania.

BACKGROUND: The objectives were to test the hypothesis that certain strains of microorganisms are present in fetal blood in a significant proportion of parturient women suffering unexplained third trimester fetal death, and to examine the correlation between fetal bacteremia and histologic chorioamnionitis and vasculitis. METHODS: A case-referent study was carried out on 58 pregnant women with fetal death of unknown etiology (cases) and 116 pregnant women at term (referents) with live fetuses. Cultures from maternal endocervix, amniotic fluid, placental homogenate, external ear and blood of newborns were performed in both groups. Histological examination of placentas and fetal membranes was carried out in order to identify chorioamnionitis and chorionic vasculitis. RESULTS: Intrauterine fetal bacteremia was observed in 36% of cases and in 0% of referents (p= 0.001). Escherichia coli was the most common strain, isolated in 21% of fetal blood samples in cases. Extensive histologic chorioamnionitis was observed in 50% of cases with the presence of Escherichia coli in blood of stillborns. Chorionic vasculitis was found in 67% of such cases. Positive significant correlations between isolation of the Escherichia coli from maternal endocervix, amniotic fluid, placenta, fetal ear and blood in stillborns and histological chorioamnionitis and chorionic vasculitis were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Escherichia coli bacteremia was detected in a significant proportion of stillborns suffering a third trimester prelabor death. Fetal bacteremia significantly correlated with histologic signs of inflammation in placenta and membranes. Ascending subclinical intrauterine infection may play an important role in the etiology of otherwise unexplained late prelabor fetal death.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Maternal risk factors for preterm birth and low birthweight in Cape Verde.

BACKGROUND: Fifteen years after the implementation of an antenatal risk screening program in Cape Verde, the first assessment of an association between maternal obstetric characteristics and preterm birth or low birthweight (LBW) infants was undertaken. METHODS: A cohort of 353 systematically selected antenatal clinic attenders in the county of Praia, Cape Verde, was studied prospectively during the period October 1991 through December 1992. The cohort was followed past the perinatal period and information was obtained according to a pretested structured questionnaire. In the analysis of preterm birth and LBW, multiple logistic regression was listed to estimate the relative risks of ll background variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of preterm birth (<37 gestational weeks) was 12%, and the prevalence of LBW infants was 8%. Low birthweight (<2500 grams) was significantly associated with low maternal age (< or = 19 years, RR=3.7); nulliparity (RR=5.2) and obstetric history of previous LBW infant (RR-6.5). The risk of preterm birth was significantly increased if the woman had an obstetric history of hypertension or convulsions (RR=2.6). CONCLUSIONS: In the setting studied, teenage women and women with previous pregnancy hypertension should be given selective attention in antenatal care to achieve improved pregnancy outcome. Primary prevention is needed to lower the prevalence of teenage pregnancies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Uterine evacuation by vaginal misoprostol after second trimester pregnancy interruption.

BACKGROUND: The purpose was to study the capacity of vaginal misoprostol in combination with methylergometrine to achieve complete evacuation of the uterus without ensuing surgical evacuation of the uterine cavity. METHODS: We performed this trial on 228 women seeking pregnancy interruption. Vaginal misoprostol was given in a dosage of 800 micrograms in early second trimester. All women received concomitant treatment with peroral methlyergometrine from the moment of misoprostol application every 8 hours until uterine evacuation. Follow-up was continued until the first menstruation after interruption. RESULTS: Complete uterine evacuation was achieved in 173/228 cases (76%) [group 1]. The remaining 55 women [group 2] underwent manual evacuation of placental remnants trapped in the cervix. In seven of these women a conventional curettage was carried out due either to ultrasound evidence of placental remnants or due to uterine bleeding. The interval between misoprostol application and fetal expulsion averaged 14.9 hours (s.d. 9.6) in group 1 and 21.0 hours (s.d. 14.5) in group 2 (p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Misoprostol, in combination with methylergometrine, is a remarkably efficient drug in achieving uterine evacuation also in the absence of surgical evacuation of the uterine cavity. The present study provides justification for a more expectant attitude after vaginal misoprostol treatment for pregnancy interruption. The avoidance of close to 80% of otherwise conventional curettages would seem to represent a major advantage, particularly in settings where manpower and material resources are scarce.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1995

A balance of tastes. Chefs & dietitians roundtable discussion.

The demands from foodservice customers for healthier foods that also taste good have compelled chefs & dietitians to break off their traditional separation of powers & begin forming working partnerships. These new partnerships are producing menus that strike a balance just as new--a balance between the preferences & priorities of both professions. It means a combining of two different but not incompatible perspectives that magnifies both the pleasure & the benefit of the good food they serve. In recognition of these new partnerships, FM convened the first roundtable with chefs & dietitians, all of whom are on the leading edge of this emerging trend. Excerpts of their discussion reflect striking similarities in opinion--as well as differences still to be reconciled.

Diet, Vegetarian↗
PubMed1994

Pancytopenia in allogeneic marrow transplant recipients: role of cytomegalovirus.

We describe the clinical course of three cytomegalovirus-antibody-positive allogeneic marrow graft recipients who developed progressive pancytopenia during the third month post-transplant. Bone marrow biopsy cores were hypocellular without evidence of disease recurrence. Haemopoietic progenitor assays demonstrated a decrease of all assayable progenitors. Cytomegalovirus was identified from the blood and urine of all three patients. However, none of the patients developed other manifestations of cytomegalovirus infection such as pneumonitis, hepatitis and enteritis. The therapeutic use of ganciclovir and intravenous immunoglobulins resulted in prompt resolution of both viraemia and viruria in all three patients, and of pancytopenia in two patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Bioavailability and patient acceptance of cyclosporine soft gelatin capsules in renal allograft recipients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relative bioavailability and patient acceptance of cyclosporine (CSA) soft gelatin capsule versus oral solution in renal allograft recipients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: The bioavailability of CSA capsules was compared with that of CSA solution with crossover study design in the outpatient clinic setting. Nine renal allograft recipients with stable renal function participated in this study. METHODS: CSA dose was switched from solution to capsule in each patient for seven days. At steady-state, nine blood samples were obtained over a 12-hour period from each patient on day 7 for CSA solution and on day 14 for CSA capsules. CSA blood samples were analyzed by HPLC and fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) methods. Time to peak concentration (Tmax), peak concentration (Cmax), and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated on days 7 and 14, and compared using the matched Student's t-test. Patient acceptance was evaluated by patient preference on the questionnaire. RESULTS: For CSA blood concentrations measured by HPLC assay, the Tmax, Cmax, and AUC were 3.4 +/- 1.3 h, 569 +/- 240 nmol/L, and 4659 +/- 2144 h.nmol/L (mean +/- SD), respectively, with solution and 4.2 +/- 2.1 h, 560 +/- 257 nmol/L, and 4765 +/- 1799 h.nmol/L (mean +/- SD), respectively, with capsules. These differences were not significant (p greater than 0.1). The bioavailability was not significantly different between capsules and solutions when it was measured by PFIA assay (p greater than 0.1). The mean (+/- SD) relative bioavailability of capsules compared with solution was 109 +/- 29 percent AUC (0-12 h) measured by HPLC and 111 +/- 27 percent AUC (0-12 h) measured by FPIA. All patients expressed preference for capsules over the solution. CONCLUSIONS: CSA oral soft gelatin capsule is bioequivalent to CSA oral solution and most patients preferred the capsule to the oral solution.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

Pilin expression and processing in pilus mutants of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: critical role of Gly-1 in assembly.

Spontaneous mutants of Neisseria gonorrheae failing to express pili or having diminished levels of piliation were studied with regard to pilin expression. All mutants displayed altered pilin processing detectable as the release of soluble, truncated pilin molecules (S-pilin). Of particular interest was the finding, in one mutant, that substitution of serine for glycine at position -1 of propilin, a highly conserved residue among N-metPhe and related pilins, abolished pilus expression but not S-pilin release. The degree of S-pilin processing and the levels of membrane-associated pilin varied among the different classes of mutants, suggesting that each was blocked at a distinct step of pilus biogenesis. The data support a model in which increased S-pilin processing is a result of a decreased rate of pilus polymerization.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Gene conversion accounts for pilin structural changes and for reversible piliation "phase" changes in gonococci.

Pilus+ "wild-type" gonococci (Gc) frequently display gene conversion of their expressed complete pilin gene (CPG); a copy of DNA derived from one of the Gc genome's multiple silent partial pilin genes (PPG) is recombinationally-inserted into the CPG's central and 3' portions with formation of a new, chimeric CPG. Expression of that new CPG leads to either 1) retention of pilus+ phenotype but change in pilin primary structure/antigenicity, or 2) phase change to pilus- phenotype capable of reverting. This study utilizes pilus revertants of P-rp +/- Gc and P+ colony morphotype variants spawned by P++ Gc to examine pilin gene conversion in strain MS11mk Gc in greater detail. Each revertant's and variant's expressed pilin gene's sequence (as pilin mRNA) was defined to learn whether their differences are due to gene conversion by different PPGs, or by varying stretches from the same PPG, or both. Gene conversion by PPG pilS1 copy 2 has been documented in Gc recovered from a human volunteer's urethra previously inoculated with pilus Gc (strain MS11). The pilus+ Gc isolated expressed structurally/antigenically distinct pilins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prospective identification of anomalous origin of left coronary artery from the right sinus of valsalva using transthoracic echocardiography: importance of color Doppler flow mapping.

Four cases are discussed in which anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva was identified prospectively by transthoracic echocardiography when the anomalous coronary passed between the great arteries. Color Doppler flow mapping was a critical component in identifying the anomalous coronary, particularly when the proximal course of the left main coronary was intramural.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Identification of scrapie prion protein-specific mRNA in scrapie-infected and uninfected brain.

To date no nucleic acid has been found in the purified infectious agent which causes the spongiform encephalopathy known as scrapie. In an attempt to identify a unique scrapie virus-associated messenger RNA in tissues of infected animals, we have synthesized an oligonucleotide probe complementary to the mRNA sequence corresponding to the amino-acid sequence of the prion protein, PrP27-30 (ref. 1). We report here that, with this probe, a complementary DNA clone representing PrP27-30 was obtained from scrapie-infected mouse brain; the DNA sequence of this clone could be translated into a protein that matches exactly the published sequence of PrP27-30. The cDNA clone hybridized to a single 2.4-2.5-kilobase (kb) mRNA from both normal and scrapie-infected brain. Thus, the PrP27-30 mRNA is not uniquely associated with scrapie infectivity, suggesting that PrP27-30 may be a normal component of mouse and hamster brain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Polymorphism at the -308-promoter position of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene and cervical cancer.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the hypothesis that the genetically programmed ability to produce low, medium, or high levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), as determined by TNF-alpha promoter polymorphism at position 308, influenced the development of cancer of the uterine cervix. The population was recruited from patients attending gynecological clinics at two teaching hospitals in Harare, Zimbabwe. Laboratory tests were performed in the Departments of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, Medical School, University of Zimbabwe. One hundred and three patients with invasive cancer of the uterine cervix and 101 healthy women were included in the study. All patients and healthy controls were from the Shona ethnic groups that inhabit northern Zimbabwe. DNA was purified from cervical cytobrush samples obtained from women with cervical cancer. In random cases a second DNA sample was extracted from patient blood. Control DNA was extracted from urine or peripheral blood samples from the healthy women. Detection of allele A and /or G at the 308 position in the promoter region of the TNF-alpha gene was carried out using the amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) technique. Polymorphism in the amplified products was detected by gel electrophoresis. There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of the low (G) or high (A) producer alleles at position 308 of the TNF-alpha gene between patients with cervical cancer and healthy women. The high producer haplotype AA was identified in only one patient with cervical cancer and two healthy women. These data suggest that the genetically acquired ability to produce higher levels of TNF-alpha is present in a minority of women with or without cervical cancer in the Zimbabwean population. Homozygosity for allele 308A is very rare. High-producer allele 308A as well as high-producer haplotypes AA is significantly less common in a Zimbabwean population than in a European population.

Adult↗