Adipose tissue and circulating endothelial cell specific molecule-1 in human obesity.

Adipocytes produce the endothelial-cell specific molecule-1 (ESM-1), which inhibits leukocyte adhesion and migration through the endothelium. This study investigates ESM-1 expression and regulation in human adipose tissue. Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue was obtained from seventy postmenopausal women.

Assessment and evaluation of individual prerequisites for dental education.

Since 2001 the School of Dentistry of Malmo University in Sweden has used an alternative admissions procedure based on results of an investigation supported by the Swedish Council for the Renewal of Undergraduate Education. The investigation concerned possibilities of predicting dental school performance on the basis of an interview, as well as tests of general intelligence, spatial ability, manual dexterity, empathy and social competence. Two groups of incoming students were followed from start to completion of their training.

Regulation of 11beta-HSD genes in human adipose tissue: influence of central obesity and weight loss.

Objectives: The activity of adipose 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) 1 is increased in obese subjects, and animal data suggest that increased cortisol formation in adipose tissue contributes to the development of the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to determine whether up-regulation of human adipose 11beta-HSD1 in obesity can also be found at the gene expression level.

Research Methods And Procedures: 11beta-HSD gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies of 70 postmenopausal women was studied by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Association between adiponectin and mediators of inflammation in obese women.

Low plasma levels of the anti-inflammatory factor adiponectin characterize obesity and insulin resistance. To elucidate the relationship between plasma levels of adiponectin, adiponectin gene expression in adipose tissue, and markers of inflammation, we obtained blood samples, anthropometric measures, and subcutaneous adipose tissue samples from 65 postmenopausal healthy women. Adiponectin plasma levels and adipose-tissue gene expression were significantly lower in obese subjects and inversely correlated with obesity-associated variables, including high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).

High glucose concentrations increase endothelial cell permeability via activation of protein kinase C alpha.

Endothelial cell permeability is impaired in diabetes mellitus and may be increased by high extracellular glucose concentrations. High glucose activates protein kinase C (PKC), a family of kinases vital to intracellular signaling. We tested the hypothesis that high glucose concentration activates PKC in endothelial cells and leads to an increase in endothelial cell permeability via distinct PKC isoforms.

Secretion rate and buffer effect of resting and stimulated whole saliva in relation to general health.

The aim of this investigation was to study the possible relationship between general health and the salivary secretion rate and buffer effect. Based on the results of duplicate salivary tests, 92 consecutive dental patients with a very low secretion rate and/or buffer effect of resting and/or stimulated whole saliva were referred for a medical examination, which included blood and urine analyses. Various medical findings were made for 39 per cent of these patients.

Buffer effect, secretion rate, pH and electrolytes of stimulated whole saliva in relation to the renin-aldosterone system.

The aim of this investigation was to study the relationship between the activity of the renin-aldosterone system and the buffer effect, secretion rate and electrolyte concentration of stimulated saliva in healthy subjects. Based on the results of previous salivary tests, 10 subjects with "low" (group A) and 10 subjects with "high" (group B) buffer effect and secretion rate of stimulated whole saliva were studied. Samples of stimulated whole saliva, blood and urine were collected on three occasions with one week intervals.

Short term fasting and lactovegetarian diet does not affect human saliva.

Forty-two adults, visiting a Swedish health home, participated in the investigation, which included a 6-day period of fasting, followed by a 6-day period with a lactovegetarian diet. The results obtained indicated only a minor and mostly not significant influence on secretion rate, buffer effect, concentration of various electrolytes, and number of lactobacilli and S. mutans of whole saliva.

Secretion rate, buffer effect and number of lactobacilli and Streptococcus mutans of whole saliva of cigarette smokers and nonsmokers.

Secretion rate and buffer effect of resting and stimulated whole saliva, and number of lactobacilli and S. mutans in stimulated whole saliva were determined for 182 subjects, of whom 109 were cigarette smokers. For secretion rate, no difference between smokers and non-smokers was observed.

Methylation of mercury from dental amalgam and mercuric chloride by oral streptococci in vitro.

The capacity of the oral bacteria Streptococcus mitior, S. mutans and S. sanguis to methylate mercury was investigated in vitro.

Secretion rate and buffer effect of resting and stimulated whole saliva as a function of age and sex.

Duplicate determinations of secretion rate and buffer effect of resting and stimulated whole saliva were made in 629 adults (286 males and 343 females) within an interval of 1-2 weeks. The subjects were arbitrarily classified into four separate age-groups. For all variables studied, a highly significant correlation was obtained between the duplicate tests.