Amir Moghaddam - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Amir Moghaddam
Tidsskrift for den Norske legeforening, 2008
Chlamydia trachomatis er årsaken til 20-50 % av tilfeller av seksuelt overført infeksiøs urethri.... more Chlamydia trachomatis er årsaken til 20-50 % av tilfeller av seksuelt overført infeksiøs urethri. Data fra siste 10-15 år tyder på at Mycoplasma genitalium kan ha en kausal rolle, men prevalensen av M genitalium i norske populasjoner har hi il ikke vaert publisert.
TIDSSKRIFT- …, 2007
Opportunistisk og systematisk screening blir brukt for å overvåke og forebygge spredningen av Chl... more Opportunistisk og systematisk screening blir brukt for å overvåke og forebygge spredningen av Chlamydia trachomatis-infeksjoner. De fleste screeningprogrammer søker å nå unge mellom 15 og 25 år, fordi forekomsten er høy i denne aldersgruppen. Ny en av tilbud om kommersiell testing over Interne er inntil nå ikke bli evaluert.
PubMed, Oct 15, 1996
Thymidine phosphorylase (TP), also known as platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor, has ... more Thymidine phosphorylase (TP), also known as platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor, has been implicated in bladder cancer angiogenesis. To examine its role more clearly, we have quantified and localized its expression using Western analysis and immunohistochemistry in a series of 105 bladder cancers. We have also assessed the relationship between TP expression and other tumor parameters including quantitative angiogenesis, p53 status, ploidy, and survival. By Western analysis, TP expression was 5-fold higher in tumors than in normal bladder samples (P < 0.02). Expression was 15-fold higher in invasive tumors than in normal bladder (P < 0.001) and 8-fold higher than in superficial tumors (P < 0.005). Immunohistochemistry of the tumors showed TP was present in the neoplastic epithelium in 27% of the tumors, in the inflammatory cells in 72% of the tumors, in stromal cells in 30% of the tumors, and in tumor-associated endothelium in 11% of the tumors. Expression by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry was significantly up-regulated in tumors compared with normal bladder (P < 0.05). Tumor cell TP expression correlated with tumor grade (P < 0.02), but there was no correlation between tumor cell TP expression and tumor stage (P = 0.46), ploidy (P = 0.52), p53 expression (P = 0.9), tumor vascularity (P = 0.8), relapse-free survival (P = 0.57), or overall survival (P = 0.94). TP protein is expressed in bladder cancers, and expression is associated with an aggressive phenotype. Because TP can activate a number of cytotoxic agents, it provides a potential therapeutic target in bladder cancer.
Journal of Hepatology, 1998
Background/Aims: Angiogenesis plays an important role in tumor growth and metastasis. It is regul... more Background/Aims: Angiogenesis plays an important role in tumor growth and metastasis. It is regulated by angiogenic factors. Thymidine phosphorylase (platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor) is one such factor. Although the significance of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor has been studied for several types of tumor, the expression of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor and its correlation with microvessel density or clinicopathological factors in hepatocellular carcinoma are unknown. We evaluated microvessel density and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor expression in hepatocellular carcinoma to determine whether microvessel density and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor expression are correlated with the clinicopathological factors of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods: Using immunohistochemical staining with anti-platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor antibody and the ELISA method, we evaluated the correlation among platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor expression, microvessel density and clinicopathological factors in 84 hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Microvessels were stained with anti-human von Willebrand factor (anti-Factor VIII) and anti-CD34.Results: In the surrounding liver, there was a significant correlation between microvessel density and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor expression (p=0.002), and hepatitis C virus-positive livers had higher microvessel densities than otherwise (p=0.003). However, this correlation was not found for hepatocellular carcinoma, but hepatitis C virus-positive tumors had higher expression of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (p=0.018). Microvessel density in hepatocellular carcinoma obtained by Factor VIII staining inversely affected the recurrence-free survival rate (p=0.0416), but the microvessel density by CD34 staining was not a significant predictor.Conclusion: This study indicates that platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor may not be a major regulator of angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma, but this enzyme may play an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis cooperating with hepatitis C virus. Also, the density, not of sinusoid-like vessels, but of larger vessels in hepatocellular carcinoma could be a prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) i... more Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) inflammatory response in women with nongonococcal lower genital tract infection (LGTI) can be used to optimize criteria for syndromic treatment. Methods. A cross-sectional study of 375 women attending the STI clinic in Oslo. Urethral, cervical, and vaginal specimens underwent microscopy for PMNLs. Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) and other STIs were detected in the cervical/vaginal swabs and urine, using nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). After excluding vulvovaginal candidiasis, genital herpes, and trichomoniasis, we correlated clinical and microscopic signs of inflammation with positive NAAT for Ct, mycoplasma genitalium (Mg), and Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) in a subgroup of 293 women. Results. To predict a positive Ct, the combination of high cut-off urethritis (≥10 PMNLs/HPF) and microscopic cervicitis had a high specificity of 0.93, a PPV of 0.37, and a sensitivity of 0.35. LGTI crite...
Journal of Nutritional Science
Rapid selection of a genetic variant that confers continuous life-long lactase production in Euro... more Rapid selection of a genetic variant that confers continuous life-long lactase production in Europeans (LCT-13910 C/T) has been attributed to the advantages of acquiring nutrients from consuming milk without the disadvantages of lactose malabsorption. Individuals with this genetic lactase persistence (LP) variant generally consume more milk and have been shown to have higher levels of serum vitamin D. Vitamin D is the principal regulator of Ca absorption and its synthesis in skin is dependent on UVB exposure. The primary aim of the present study was to compare serum vitamin D concentrations with LP variant and to control for UVB exposure. Data from over 100 000 individuals living in Norway, a country with low UVB exposure, was retrospectively retrieved for comparison of genetic LP variant, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration and the time of year when serum samples were taken. For comparison, a similar analysis was performed with a natural dairy micronutrient, namely vi...
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
International journal of STD & AIDS, 2017
A non-syndromic approach to treatment of people with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) requires ide... more A non-syndromic approach to treatment of people with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) requires identification of pathogens and understanding of the role of those pathogens in causing disease. The most commonly detected and isolated micro-organisms in the male urethral tract are bacteria belonging to the family of Mycoplasmataceae, in particular Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum. To better understand the role of these Ureaplasma species in NGU, we have performed a prospective analysis of male patients voluntarily attending a drop in STI clinic in Oslo. Of 362 male patients who were tested for NGU using microscopy of urethral smears, we found the following sexually transmissible micro-organisms: 16% Chlamydia trachomatis, 5% Mycoplasma genitalium, 14% U. urealyticum, 14% U. parvum and 5% Mycoplasma hominis. We found a high concordance in detecting in turn U. urealyticum and U. parvum using 16s rRNA gene and ureD gene as targets for nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT). ...
American Biotechnology Laboratory, 2001
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Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening, Sep 1, 2007
Free testing, treatment and extensive information campaigns are used to monitor and control the i... more Free testing, treatment and extensive information campaigns are used to monitor and control the incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Norway. Most programmes have 15 to 25 year-olds as their target, because of the high incidence of infection in this age group. The potential role and effect of internet-based commercial testing has not previously been assessed in this context. 1458 urine samples, taken by the patients themselves, were collected from March 2005 to September 2006 according to instructions given on the commercial web site www.testselv.no, and sent to a given address for analysis. Sex, age distribution and prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection were assessed and all costs were paid by the patient buying the service. More men than women used this service, in contrast to the sex distribution seen in public screening programs. The mean age was 28 years, the 25 % percentile and the 75 % percentile was 24 and 32 years, respectively. The prevalence of infection was high; 7.5 % in women and 12.5 % in men. Our study identifies a demographic group with a high incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection that has not been previously been targeted by public screening programmes.
Cancer Research, Oct 1, 2000
Tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment produce a variety of factors that promote tumo... more Tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment produce a variety of factors that promote tumor growth and metastasis. We recently identified a nuclear factor, termed com1, that is up-regulated in human breast carcinoma cells on formation of experimental metastatic tumors and is assumed to act as a growth-promoting factor in breast cancer. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3 [1,25(OH) 2 D 3 ] is a potent inhibitor of growth in breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo. We compared the growth-regulatory mechanisms of nontumorigenic and estrogen-dependent MCF-7 cells with those of the tumorigenic and tamoxifen-resistant subline MCF7/ LCC2 in the presence of 1,25(OH) 2 D 3. Proliferation of MCF7/LCC2 cells, which revealed constitutive com1 expression, was inhibited by 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 (10 ؊7 M). This was strongly associated with cell cycle arrest in G 1 phase, consistent with accumulation of the hypophosphorylated form of the retinoblastoma protein as well as the induction of the cyclindependent kinase inhibitor p21. These cell cycle events were preceded by a transient up-regulation (5-8-fold) of com1 mRNA. Furthermore, clonal growth of the MCF7/LCC2 cells was also inhibited by 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 (10 ؊7 M), and when the com1-negative MCF-7 cells were stably transfected with com1, the resulting MCF7/com1 cells showed a significant decrease in colony formation. These results seem to indicate that rather than promoting growth, com1 may participate in the regulatory pathway involved in cellular growth inhibition when recruited by inhibitory signals.
The Journal of Pathology, Jun 1, 1995
Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række, Jan 4, 2008
C. trachomatis is the underlying cause of 20?-?50 % of sexually transmitted urethritis cases. Dat... more C. trachomatis is the underlying cause of 20?-?50 % of sexually transmitted urethritis cases. Data from the last 10?-?15 years indicate that M. genitalium may be a cause, but the prevalence of M. genitalium in Norwegian patients has not previously been assessed or published. Male patients at the Olafia Clinic in Oslo were examined for non-gonococcal urethritis. First void urine was collected and tested for presence of C. trachomatis and M. genitalium DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Presence of C. trachomatis or M. genitalium was correlated with microscopic signs of urethritis, quantified by counting polymorphonuclear leucocytes in urethral smears. Both C. trachomatis and M.gentialium were found more frequently in patients with microscopic signs of urethritis than in patients without (21.9 % vs 0.7 %, OR = 40, CI = 6?-?295; 8.7 % vs 0.7 %, OR = 14, CI = 1.8?-?102; respectively). The increase in prevalence correlated with the severity of urethritis, as assessed by the number o...
Sexually transmitted infections, 2009
To examine the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium in a large number of female patients attending... more To examine the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium in a large number of female patients attending a sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinic and to determine if there is an association with signs or symptoms of lower genital tract inflammation (LGTI). Altogether, 7646 female patients who had symptoms or microscopic signs of LGTI or were perceived to be at high risk of exposure to an STI were tested for both M genitalium and Chlamydia trachomatis. Urethral and cervical smears were examined quantitatively for polymorphic mononuclear leucocytes (PMNLs). The prevalence of C trachomatis and M genitalium was 10.1% and 4.5%, respectively. We found a clear association between detecting M genitalium in first void urine (FVU) of patients and signs of urethral inflammation. The strongest association was between detecting M genitalium in FVU and number of PMNLs in urethral smears (n = 6790; OR 2.1; 95 % CI 1.5 to 2.9). The association was less significant between detecting M genitalium in c...
Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række, Jan 29, 2007
Lactose intolerance afflicts 5-10% of the population in western Europe, but is very common (up to... more Lactose intolerance afflicts 5-10% of the population in western Europe, but is very common (up to 90%) in the southern hemisphere. Traditional analysis methods are based on lactose intake followed by determination of blood glucose concentration or exhaled H 2 and CH 4 . In many diagnostic laboratories, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis on C/T-13910 has been introduced as a replacement for the traditional lactose intolerance testing. Homozygozity for the C-allele of this SNP results in very low or absent lactase enzyme activity. We have compared our present routine test (blood glucose measurements) to genetic SNP testing for C/T-13910. Blood glucose measurements (after intake of lactose) and genotyping of C/T-13910 were performed on 137 adult participants after they had given informed consent. The maximal difference from fasting blood glucose was compared with real-time PCR analysis of C/T-13910. Lactose intolerance using blood glucose was positive for 20.4% of those test...
Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række, Jan 23, 2007
Free testing, treatment and extensive information campaigns are used to monitor and control the i... more Free testing, treatment and extensive information campaigns are used to monitor and control the incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Norway. Most programmes have 15 to 25 year-olds as their target, because of the high incidence of infection in this age group. The potential role and effect of internet-based commercial testing has not previously been assessed in this context. 1458 urine samples, taken by the patients themselves, were collected from March 2005 to September 2006 according to instructions given on the commercial web site www.testselv.no, and sent to a given address for analysis. Sex, age distribution and prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection were assessed and all costs were paid by the patient buying the service. More men than women used this service, in contrast to the sex distribution seen in public screening programs. The mean age was 28 years, the 25 % percentile and the 75 % percentile was 24 and 32 years, respectively. The prevalence of infectio...
Euro surveillance : bulletin Européen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin, 2007
Cancer research, 2000
Tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment produce a variety of factors that promote tumo... more Tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment produce a variety of factors that promote tumor growth and metastasis. We recently identified a nuclear factor, termed com1, that is up-regulated in human breast carcinoma cells on formation of experimental metastatic tumors and is assumed to act as a growth-promoting factor in breast cancer. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] is a potent inhibitor of growth in breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo. We compared the growth-regulatory mechanisms of nontumorigenic and estrogen-dependent MCF-7 cells with those of the tumorigenic and tamoxifen-resistant subline MCF7/ LCC2 in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3. Proliferation of MCF7/LCC2 cells, which revealed constitutive com1 expression, was inhibited by 1,25(OH)2D3 (10(-7) M). This was strongly associated with cell cycle arrest in G1 phase, consistent with accumulation of the hypophosphorylated form of the retinoblastoma protein as well as the induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inh...
Journal of virology, 1998
Lymphocryptoviruses (LCVs) naturally infecting Old World nonhuman primates are closely related to... more Lymphocryptoviruses (LCVs) naturally infecting Old World nonhuman primates are closely related to the human LCV, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and share similar genome organization and sequences, biologic properties, epidemiology, and pathogenesis. LCVs can efficiently immortalize B lymphocytes from the autologous species, but the ability of a given LCV to immortalize B cells from other Old World primate species is variable. We found that LCV from rhesus monkeys did not immortalize human B cells, and EBV did not immortalize rhesus monkey B cells. In this study, baboon LCV could not immortalize human peripheral blood B cells but could readily immortalize rhesus monkey B cells. Thus, efficient LCV-induced B-cell immortalization across distant Old World primate species appears to be restricted by a species-specific block. To further characterize this species restriction, we first cloned the rhesus monkey LCV major membrane glycoprotein and discovered that the binding epitope for the EBV re...
Tidsskrift for den Norske legeforening, 2008
Chlamydia trachomatis er årsaken til 20-50 % av tilfeller av seksuelt overført infeksiøs urethri.... more Chlamydia trachomatis er årsaken til 20-50 % av tilfeller av seksuelt overført infeksiøs urethri. Data fra siste 10-15 år tyder på at Mycoplasma genitalium kan ha en kausal rolle, men prevalensen av M genitalium i norske populasjoner har hi il ikke vaert publisert.
TIDSSKRIFT- …, 2007
Opportunistisk og systematisk screening blir brukt for å overvåke og forebygge spredningen av Chl... more Opportunistisk og systematisk screening blir brukt for å overvåke og forebygge spredningen av Chlamydia trachomatis-infeksjoner. De fleste screeningprogrammer søker å nå unge mellom 15 og 25 år, fordi forekomsten er høy i denne aldersgruppen. Ny en av tilbud om kommersiell testing over Interne er inntil nå ikke bli evaluert.
PubMed, Oct 15, 1996
Thymidine phosphorylase (TP), also known as platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor, has ... more Thymidine phosphorylase (TP), also known as platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor, has been implicated in bladder cancer angiogenesis. To examine its role more clearly, we have quantified and localized its expression using Western analysis and immunohistochemistry in a series of 105 bladder cancers. We have also assessed the relationship between TP expression and other tumor parameters including quantitative angiogenesis, p53 status, ploidy, and survival. By Western analysis, TP expression was 5-fold higher in tumors than in normal bladder samples (P < 0.02). Expression was 15-fold higher in invasive tumors than in normal bladder (P < 0.001) and 8-fold higher than in superficial tumors (P < 0.005). Immunohistochemistry of the tumors showed TP was present in the neoplastic epithelium in 27% of the tumors, in the inflammatory cells in 72% of the tumors, in stromal cells in 30% of the tumors, and in tumor-associated endothelium in 11% of the tumors. Expression by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry was significantly up-regulated in tumors compared with normal bladder (P < 0.05). Tumor cell TP expression correlated with tumor grade (P < 0.02), but there was no correlation between tumor cell TP expression and tumor stage (P = 0.46), ploidy (P = 0.52), p53 expression (P = 0.9), tumor vascularity (P = 0.8), relapse-free survival (P = 0.57), or overall survival (P = 0.94). TP protein is expressed in bladder cancers, and expression is associated with an aggressive phenotype. Because TP can activate a number of cytotoxic agents, it provides a potential therapeutic target in bladder cancer.
Journal of Hepatology, 1998
Background/Aims: Angiogenesis plays an important role in tumor growth and metastasis. It is regul... more Background/Aims: Angiogenesis plays an important role in tumor growth and metastasis. It is regulated by angiogenic factors. Thymidine phosphorylase (platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor) is one such factor. Although the significance of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor has been studied for several types of tumor, the expression of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor and its correlation with microvessel density or clinicopathological factors in hepatocellular carcinoma are unknown. We evaluated microvessel density and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor expression in hepatocellular carcinoma to determine whether microvessel density and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor expression are correlated with the clinicopathological factors of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods: Using immunohistochemical staining with anti-platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor antibody and the ELISA method, we evaluated the correlation among platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor expression, microvessel density and clinicopathological factors in 84 hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Microvessels were stained with anti-human von Willebrand factor (anti-Factor VIII) and anti-CD34.Results: In the surrounding liver, there was a significant correlation between microvessel density and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor expression (p=0.002), and hepatitis C virus-positive livers had higher microvessel densities than otherwise (p=0.003). However, this correlation was not found for hepatocellular carcinoma, but hepatitis C virus-positive tumors had higher expression of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (p=0.018). Microvessel density in hepatocellular carcinoma obtained by Factor VIII staining inversely affected the recurrence-free survival rate (p=0.0416), but the microvessel density by CD34 staining was not a significant predictor.Conclusion: This study indicates that platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor may not be a major regulator of angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma, but this enzyme may play an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis cooperating with hepatitis C virus. Also, the density, not of sinusoid-like vessels, but of larger vessels in hepatocellular carcinoma could be a prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) i... more Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) inflammatory response in women with nongonococcal lower genital tract infection (LGTI) can be used to optimize criteria for syndromic treatment. Methods. A cross-sectional study of 375 women attending the STI clinic in Oslo. Urethral, cervical, and vaginal specimens underwent microscopy for PMNLs. Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) and other STIs were detected in the cervical/vaginal swabs and urine, using nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). After excluding vulvovaginal candidiasis, genital herpes, and trichomoniasis, we correlated clinical and microscopic signs of inflammation with positive NAAT for Ct, mycoplasma genitalium (Mg), and Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) in a subgroup of 293 women. Results. To predict a positive Ct, the combination of high cut-off urethritis (≥10 PMNLs/HPF) and microscopic cervicitis had a high specificity of 0.93, a PPV of 0.37, and a sensitivity of 0.35. LGTI crite...
Journal of Nutritional Science
Rapid selection of a genetic variant that confers continuous life-long lactase production in Euro... more Rapid selection of a genetic variant that confers continuous life-long lactase production in Europeans (LCT-13910 C/T) has been attributed to the advantages of acquiring nutrients from consuming milk without the disadvantages of lactose malabsorption. Individuals with this genetic lactase persistence (LP) variant generally consume more milk and have been shown to have higher levels of serum vitamin D. Vitamin D is the principal regulator of Ca absorption and its synthesis in skin is dependent on UVB exposure. The primary aim of the present study was to compare serum vitamin D concentrations with LP variant and to control for UVB exposure. Data from over 100 000 individuals living in Norway, a country with low UVB exposure, was retrospectively retrieved for comparison of genetic LP variant, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration and the time of year when serum samples were taken. For comparison, a similar analysis was performed with a natural dairy micronutrient, namely vi...
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
International journal of STD & AIDS, 2017
A non-syndromic approach to treatment of people with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) requires ide... more A non-syndromic approach to treatment of people with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) requires identification of pathogens and understanding of the role of those pathogens in causing disease. The most commonly detected and isolated micro-organisms in the male urethral tract are bacteria belonging to the family of Mycoplasmataceae, in particular Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum. To better understand the role of these Ureaplasma species in NGU, we have performed a prospective analysis of male patients voluntarily attending a drop in STI clinic in Oslo. Of 362 male patients who were tested for NGU using microscopy of urethral smears, we found the following sexually transmissible micro-organisms: 16% Chlamydia trachomatis, 5% Mycoplasma genitalium, 14% U. urealyticum, 14% U. parvum and 5% Mycoplasma hominis. We found a high concordance in detecting in turn U. urealyticum and U. parvum using 16s rRNA gene and ureD gene as targets for nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT). ...
American Biotechnology Laboratory, 2001
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Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening, Sep 1, 2007
Free testing, treatment and extensive information campaigns are used to monitor and control the i... more Free testing, treatment and extensive information campaigns are used to monitor and control the incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Norway. Most programmes have 15 to 25 year-olds as their target, because of the high incidence of infection in this age group. The potential role and effect of internet-based commercial testing has not previously been assessed in this context. 1458 urine samples, taken by the patients themselves, were collected from March 2005 to September 2006 according to instructions given on the commercial web site www.testselv.no, and sent to a given address for analysis. Sex, age distribution and prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection were assessed and all costs were paid by the patient buying the service. More men than women used this service, in contrast to the sex distribution seen in public screening programs. The mean age was 28 years, the 25 % percentile and the 75 % percentile was 24 and 32 years, respectively. The prevalence of infection was high; 7.5 % in women and 12.5 % in men. Our study identifies a demographic group with a high incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection that has not been previously been targeted by public screening programmes.
Cancer Research, Oct 1, 2000
Tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment produce a variety of factors that promote tumo... more Tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment produce a variety of factors that promote tumor growth and metastasis. We recently identified a nuclear factor, termed com1, that is up-regulated in human breast carcinoma cells on formation of experimental metastatic tumors and is assumed to act as a growth-promoting factor in breast cancer. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3 [1,25(OH) 2 D 3 ] is a potent inhibitor of growth in breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo. We compared the growth-regulatory mechanisms of nontumorigenic and estrogen-dependent MCF-7 cells with those of the tumorigenic and tamoxifen-resistant subline MCF7/ LCC2 in the presence of 1,25(OH) 2 D 3. Proliferation of MCF7/LCC2 cells, which revealed constitutive com1 expression, was inhibited by 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 (10 ؊7 M). This was strongly associated with cell cycle arrest in G 1 phase, consistent with accumulation of the hypophosphorylated form of the retinoblastoma protein as well as the induction of the cyclindependent kinase inhibitor p21. These cell cycle events were preceded by a transient up-regulation (5-8-fold) of com1 mRNA. Furthermore, clonal growth of the MCF7/LCC2 cells was also inhibited by 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 (10 ؊7 M), and when the com1-negative MCF-7 cells were stably transfected with com1, the resulting MCF7/com1 cells showed a significant decrease in colony formation. These results seem to indicate that rather than promoting growth, com1 may participate in the regulatory pathway involved in cellular growth inhibition when recruited by inhibitory signals.
The Journal of Pathology, Jun 1, 1995
Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række, Jan 4, 2008
C. trachomatis is the underlying cause of 20?-?50 % of sexually transmitted urethritis cases. Dat... more C. trachomatis is the underlying cause of 20?-?50 % of sexually transmitted urethritis cases. Data from the last 10?-?15 years indicate that M. genitalium may be a cause, but the prevalence of M. genitalium in Norwegian patients has not previously been assessed or published. Male patients at the Olafia Clinic in Oslo were examined for non-gonococcal urethritis. First void urine was collected and tested for presence of C. trachomatis and M. genitalium DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Presence of C. trachomatis or M. genitalium was correlated with microscopic signs of urethritis, quantified by counting polymorphonuclear leucocytes in urethral smears. Both C. trachomatis and M.gentialium were found more frequently in patients with microscopic signs of urethritis than in patients without (21.9 % vs 0.7 %, OR = 40, CI = 6?-?295; 8.7 % vs 0.7 %, OR = 14, CI = 1.8?-?102; respectively). The increase in prevalence correlated with the severity of urethritis, as assessed by the number o...
Sexually transmitted infections, 2009
To examine the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium in a large number of female patients attending... more To examine the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium in a large number of female patients attending a sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinic and to determine if there is an association with signs or symptoms of lower genital tract inflammation (LGTI). Altogether, 7646 female patients who had symptoms or microscopic signs of LGTI or were perceived to be at high risk of exposure to an STI were tested for both M genitalium and Chlamydia trachomatis. Urethral and cervical smears were examined quantitatively for polymorphic mononuclear leucocytes (PMNLs). The prevalence of C trachomatis and M genitalium was 10.1% and 4.5%, respectively. We found a clear association between detecting M genitalium in first void urine (FVU) of patients and signs of urethral inflammation. The strongest association was between detecting M genitalium in FVU and number of PMNLs in urethral smears (n = 6790; OR 2.1; 95 % CI 1.5 to 2.9). The association was less significant between detecting M genitalium in c...
Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række, Jan 29, 2007
Lactose intolerance afflicts 5-10% of the population in western Europe, but is very common (up to... more Lactose intolerance afflicts 5-10% of the population in western Europe, but is very common (up to 90%) in the southern hemisphere. Traditional analysis methods are based on lactose intake followed by determination of blood glucose concentration or exhaled H 2 and CH 4 . In many diagnostic laboratories, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis on C/T-13910 has been introduced as a replacement for the traditional lactose intolerance testing. Homozygozity for the C-allele of this SNP results in very low or absent lactase enzyme activity. We have compared our present routine test (blood glucose measurements) to genetic SNP testing for C/T-13910. Blood glucose measurements (after intake of lactose) and genotyping of C/T-13910 were performed on 137 adult participants after they had given informed consent. The maximal difference from fasting blood glucose was compared with real-time PCR analysis of C/T-13910. Lactose intolerance using blood glucose was positive for 20.4% of those test...
Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række, Jan 23, 2007
Free testing, treatment and extensive information campaigns are used to monitor and control the i... more Free testing, treatment and extensive information campaigns are used to monitor and control the incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Norway. Most programmes have 15 to 25 year-olds as their target, because of the high incidence of infection in this age group. The potential role and effect of internet-based commercial testing has not previously been assessed in this context. 1458 urine samples, taken by the patients themselves, were collected from March 2005 to September 2006 according to instructions given on the commercial web site www.testselv.no, and sent to a given address for analysis. Sex, age distribution and prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection were assessed and all costs were paid by the patient buying the service. More men than women used this service, in contrast to the sex distribution seen in public screening programs. The mean age was 28 years, the 25 % percentile and the 75 % percentile was 24 and 32 years, respectively. The prevalence of infectio...
Euro surveillance : bulletin Européen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin, 2007
Cancer research, 2000
Tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment produce a variety of factors that promote tumo... more Tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment produce a variety of factors that promote tumor growth and metastasis. We recently identified a nuclear factor, termed com1, that is up-regulated in human breast carcinoma cells on formation of experimental metastatic tumors and is assumed to act as a growth-promoting factor in breast cancer. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] is a potent inhibitor of growth in breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo. We compared the growth-regulatory mechanisms of nontumorigenic and estrogen-dependent MCF-7 cells with those of the tumorigenic and tamoxifen-resistant subline MCF7/ LCC2 in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3. Proliferation of MCF7/LCC2 cells, which revealed constitutive com1 expression, was inhibited by 1,25(OH)2D3 (10(-7) M). This was strongly associated with cell cycle arrest in G1 phase, consistent with accumulation of the hypophosphorylated form of the retinoblastoma protein as well as the induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inh...
Journal of virology, 1998
Lymphocryptoviruses (LCVs) naturally infecting Old World nonhuman primates are closely related to... more Lymphocryptoviruses (LCVs) naturally infecting Old World nonhuman primates are closely related to the human LCV, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and share similar genome organization and sequences, biologic properties, epidemiology, and pathogenesis. LCVs can efficiently immortalize B lymphocytes from the autologous species, but the ability of a given LCV to immortalize B cells from other Old World primate species is variable. We found that LCV from rhesus monkeys did not immortalize human B cells, and EBV did not immortalize rhesus monkey B cells. In this study, baboon LCV could not immortalize human peripheral blood B cells but could readily immortalize rhesus monkey B cells. Thus, efficient LCV-induced B-cell immortalization across distant Old World primate species appears to be restricted by a species-specific block. To further characterize this species restriction, we first cloned the rhesus monkey LCV major membrane glycoprotein and discovered that the binding epitope for the EBV re...