[Disorders caused by video display terminals and hypersensitivity to electricity--the affected persons experience a cruel reality].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Eriksson.
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The human trapezius muscle has an origin that is more extensive than that of any other body muscle; it has a complex macroscopic structure with fibers running in different directions. Histochemical analysis of multiple samples, obtained from different parts of the trapezius muscle from five males, showed marked differences in the distribution and the cross-sectional fiber area of the fiber types among different parts of the muscle as well as among individuals. As revealed by the mATPase activity, after different levels of alkaline and acidic preincubations, the lower third of the descending portion, the transverse, and the ascending portions of the muscle had a predominance of type I fibers (low mATPase activity at pH 9.4), whereas the most superior parts of pars descendens had a higher frequency of type II fibers (high mATPase activity at pH 9.4). The fibers of the most superior parts of the muscle were considerably smaller compared with those in all the other parts. In sections stained for NADH-TR, moth-eaten fibers were observed within parts of the descending portion. Their location and their larger fiber area, compared with that of ordinary type I fibers, may be related to frequent and/or continuous use of these fibers. In conclusion, the differences in fiber type composition between the different parts of the muscle probably reflect different functional demands on the trapezius muscle in various head, neck, and shoulder movements. We suggest that the interindividual differences in muscle fiber composition are due, at least in part, to genetic factors.
A retrospective investigation was made to determine the incidence of early onset group B streptococcal (GBS) septicemia in Sweden in relation to perinatal data. During the period 1973-1985 the yearly incidence of GBS septicemia increased from 0.1 to around 0.5 cases per 1,000 live births. In 416 cases verified by blood culture, the overall mortality was 15% 62/416). In babies with a birth weight of greater than 2,500 g this figure was 9.6% (29/303). In babies with a birth weight of less than 2,500 g the mortality was 29.2% (33/113). Males had a worse prognosis than females and were also more often affected. Thirty-six percent of the verified cases were premature, the gestational age being 36 weeks or less. An increased incidence among twins was also noted.
Human masticatory muscles, originating from the first branchial arch and innervated by the trigeminal nerve, have a fibre composition distinct from that of limb and trunk muscles. The zygomatic muscles, originating from the second branchial arch and innervated by the facial nerve, differ in fibre composition from either the masticatory or the limb and trunk muscles. To elucidate further the structural basis for function, and the influence of embryological origin and innervation on oro-facial muscles, the buccinator and orbicularis oris muscles, which originate from the second branchial arch and are innervated by the facial nerve, were investigated. Like the masticatory and zygomatic muscles, they have a large representation in the cerebral cortex. Both muscles were composed of type I, type IIA and a few type IIC fibres of about equal diameter. However, the type I fibres had a different myofibrillar ATPase reaction from those in masticatory, zygomatic, limb and trunk muscles; this was a moderate to strong staining at pH 9.4, indicating a special isomyosin composition. Whereas the buccinator was composed of 53% type I fibres, the orbicularis oris had a 71% predominance of type II fibres. In both muscles, the mean fibre diameter and its marked intramuscular variability were similar to earlier findings in the zygomatic muscles. No muscle spindles were found. The large number of type I fibres in the buccinator implies a capacity for endurance during continuous work at relatively low levels of force. The predominance of type II fibres in the orbicularis oris indicates that it is built up of fast-twitch motor units, related to properties such as rapid acceleration and high speed during intermittent oro-facial movements. The similarities and differences in fibre-type composition between the facial, masticatory and limb muscles imply that specific functional demands are of greater importance for muscle differentiation than embryological origin and nerve supply.
Serum levels of testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were determined in 80 apparently healthy men aged 25-85 years and in 23 patients with prostatic carcinoma (CAP) aged 60-75 years before and 6 months after orchidectomy. Serum levels of testosterone and SHBG were correlated positively in healthy men, in all subjects overall as well as within different age groups, and in CAP patients before, but not after, orchidectomy. These data are not consistent with the classical theory regarding SHBG regulation and also speak against an influence of SHBG binding on testosterone metabolism as a mechanism behind the observed positive association between testosterone levels and SHBG.
Patients with prostatic carcinoma on oral oestrogen therapy have an altered coagulation system and suffer cardiovascular side effects. Oestrogens--especially oral oestrogens--are potent inducers of liver synthesised proteins, including coagulation factors. We have assessed the effect of non-oral oestrogen on the coagulation system in patients with prostatic carcinoma. Twelve patients were given monthly intramuscular injections of 320 mg polyoestradiol phosphate (PEP). No additional oestrogens were given. No change was found in any of the coagulation factors, including factor VII, with the exception of a significant decrease in antithrombin III. No patient, including 38 patients treated with PEP, had any cardiovascular complications after a mean follow-up period of 12.9 +/- 0.7 months; 76% of the patients responded to treatment. Parenteral administration of oestrogen caused a less marked change in the coagulation system than oral administration and should be the treatment of choice for prostatic carcinoma.
Concentrations of dopamine (DA), its metabolites 3-methoxytyramine and homovanillic acid (HVA), noradrenaline (NA), its metabolites normetanephrine (NM) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin), and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured in 14 brain regions and in CSF from the third ventricle of 27 human autopsy cases. In addition, in six cases, lumbar CSF was obtained. Monoamine concentrations were determined by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Ventricular/lumbar CSF ratios indicated persistence of rostrocaudal gradients for HVA and 5-HIAA post mortem. Ventricular CSF concentrations of DA and HVA correlated positively with striatal DA and HVA. CSF NA correlated positively with NA in hypothalamus, and CSF MHPG with levels of MHPG in hypothalamus, temporal cortex, and pons, whereas CSF NM concentration showed positive correlations with NM in striatum, pons, cingulate cortex, and olfactory tubercle. CSF 5-HT concentrations correlated positively with 5-HT in caudate nucleus, whereas the concentration of CSF 5-HIAA correlated to 5-HIAA levels in thalamus, hypothalamus, and the cortical areas. These data suggest a specific topographic origin for monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites in human ventricular CSF and support the contention that CSF measurements are useful indices of central monoaminergic activity in man.
Seven young patients (mean age 19 years 8 months) with congenital myotonic dystrophy and with defined symptoms at birth were investigated by electrocardiography and echocardiography. None had cardiovascular symptoms. Electrocardiograms or echocardiograms or both were abnormal in all patients. Atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction defects were the most common electrocardiographic abnormalities and were seen in five patients. The echocardiographic examinations showed impaired left ventricular systolic function in one patient. Other echocardiographic findings were a small left ventricle and atrium, minor valve defects, and mitral valve prolapse. This study shows that the heart is often affected in young patients with congenital myotonic dystrophy. The specialised conduction system is often affected and so too is the myocardium, causing impaired systolic function.
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The forensic examinations to determine cause of death allow study of the natural development of untreated diseases. In this study we retrospectively analysed malignant and/or intracranial tumours in a consecutive series of 7020 autopsies in northern Sweden. We found cancer in 171 cases in all, where sudden death was caused by previously undiscovered tumours in 41.
The gene for the human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) A type receptor was assigned to the proximal long arm of chromosome 4 by using in situ hybridization. Of 141 labeled metaphase cells, 74 had grains over chromosome 4, with a distinct peak at bands q11-q12. The presence of the gene on chromosome 4 was also confirmed by hybridization to chromosome specific libraries. This places the PDGFA receptor gene in the same region of chromosome 4 as the KIT oncogene, another member of the PDGF growth factor receptor subfamily. The two other members of this gene family, the PDGFB receptor and the colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF1) receptor, are closely linked on the distal half of the long arm of chromosome 5.
The effects of orchidectomy, combined oral/parenteral estrogen, and single-drug parenteral estrogen therapy on the serum levels of testosterone (T), 4-androstene-3,17-dione (A-4), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and its sulfate (DHAS), sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and albumin were studied in 48 patients with prostatic cancer. Both estrogen treatment regimens were as effective as orchidectomy in reducing circulating levels of T and A-4. Orchidectomy caused a slight decrease in DHAS levels. Oral estrogens profoundly decreased the serum levels of DHAS and, to a lesser extent, levels of DHA and of albumin, while parenteral estrogens had no effect in this respect. SHBG serum levels were highly increased by oral estrogens, slightly increased by parenteral estrogens, and unaffected by orchidectomy. The more pronounced effects of oral estrogens on circulating adrenal androgens may reflect an altered liver metabolism associated with this route of administration.
Treatment of 17 patients with prostatic cancer with 320 mg polyestradiol phosphate (PEP) as intramuscular injections every fourth week suppressed serum testosterone (T) values to orchidectomy levels within 1 month, and serum estradiol-17 beta (E2) rose to a mean level of 2,456 pmol/liter after 6 months. Following 6 months of treatment, the PEP dose was reduced to 80 mg/4 weeks in 9 and 160 mg/4 weeks in eight patients. Mean T levels, increased significantly after dose reduction in both groups and were above the upper orchidectomy limit at 1 month after dose reduction in the 80 mg group. Mean T levels, however, remained below this level at 5 months in the 160 mg group. Dose reduction caused a rise in gonadotropin levels in the 80 mg but not in the 160 mg group. While 320 mg/4 weeks may be a suitable initial dosage, doses less than or equal to 160 mg/4 weeks are insufficient as maintenance dosages if orchidectomy values of T are required.
Oral estrogen therapy for prostatic cancer is clinically effective but also accompanied by severe cardiovascular side effects. Hypertension, venous thromboembolism, and other cardiovascular disorders are associated with alterations in liver metabolism. The impact of exogenous estrogens on the liver is dependent on the route of administration and the type and dose of estrogen. Oral administration of synthetic estrogens has profound effects on liver-derived plasma proteins, coagulation factors, lipoproteins, and triglycerides, whereas parenteral administration of native estradiol has very little influence on these aspects of liver function.
Twenty patients with prostatic carcinoma were randomized to therapy with either oestrogens (n = 10) or orchidectomy (n = 10). Activators and inhibitors of coagulation were studied before treatment, 1.5 months and 6 months after the start of treatment. We found that the patients in the oestrogen group had already increased their factor VII level after 1.5 months (P less than 0.001) and this increased level persisted after 6 months. Factor X tended to increase after 1.5 months and this increase reached significance after 6 months (P less than 0.01). In the orchidectomy groups there was a significant increase in factor X at 6 months (P less than 0.01) and, in addition, antithrombin III (AT III) was increased at this time. Furthermore, there was a parallelism between the increase in factor VII and electrocardiographic evidence of increased coronary insufficiency (r = 0.60; P less than 0.025; n = 15). We found a significant increase of thromboxane as evidenced by the major urinary metabolite 2,3-dinorthromboxane B2 in the oestrogen group as compared to the orchidectomy group. In summary, patients with prostatic cancer during long-term oestrogen treatment were found to have increased levels of factor VII, factor VIII:C and fibrinogen. In addition these patients showed increased formation of thromboxane. The changes imply a hypercoaguable state and platelet activation. No such signs were found after orchidectomy. The findings in the oestrogen group might explain the continuously increased risk of cardiovascular complications during long-term oestrogen therapy.
All 58 deaths caused by nonvenomous animals in Sweden 1975-1984 were scrutinized. In 38 cases horses were involved, in 16 cattle and in one case each a moose, a lion, a dog and a ram. In the horse-related fatalities, the most common cause of accident was that the horse bolted or reared, causing the rider to fall off the horse or the cart or sulky. Falls were thus associated with 22 horse-related deaths. In cattle-related accidents, all fatalities where the cause of accident was known occurred due to aggressive behaviour of the animal. In horse-related accidents, head injuries dominated, while in cattle-related accidents head and chest injuries were equally common. It is suggested that wearing a proper helmet is the most important safety measure in horse-related activities. In cattle-related activities, the herding of untethered bulls together with cows is particularly dangerous and should be avoided.
1. Translational control is the regulation of protein synthesis as an alteration in the efficiency of mRNA translation and is a common mechanism by which cells regulate gene expression. 2. Alternations of total protein synthesis are often the responses of cells to various stress stimuli including starvation, viral infection, and heat shock. 3. Numerous specific genes including ferritin heavy chain, tubulin, vimentin and the lck proto-oncogene have also been shown to be under translational control. 4. Unlike cultured cells or intact organisms, the investigation of translational control in the human brain requires the measurement of components of protein synthesis, especially polysomes. Therefore, we have purified and characterized polysomes from human postmortem brain tissues and compared them to polysomes purified from the adult rat brain. 5. The yield (as A260 units per gram brain tissue), size (as number of ribosomes per message), translational efficiency (as amount protein synthesized per A260 unit), and ability to reinitiate (as amount of protein synthesis prevented by initiation inhibitors) were all significantly lower as exhibited by the human polysomes compared with the rat polysomes. However, the human and rat polysomes synthesized similar polypeptides. 6. Thus, the human polysomes differed from the rat polysomes principally in the efficiency of mRNA translation which is likely due to the greatly reduced ability of the human polysomes to initiate protein synthesis.
The accuracy of duplex-scanning and angiography in detecting ulceration in the carotid arteries was evaluated. Sixty-nine patients underwent duplex-scanning and carotid arteriography, and the findings were blindly compared to the operative specimens. Duplex-scanning had a significantly higher sensitivity (90 vs 48%, P less than 0.001) and accuracy (88 vs 59%, P less than 0.001) than angiography. There was no difference in specificity (84 vs 89%, P = 0.28). Comparison was also made between conventional arch angiography and selective carotid angiography in detecting ulceration. There was no significant difference between the methods (sensitivity 47 vs 50%, specificity 82 vs 100%). Finally, interobserver variability in detecting ulceration with duplex-scanning was evaluated in double-blind evaluation of the duplex-scans. The interobserver agreement was 84%. Duplex-scanning seems to be superior to angiography in detecting ulcerations in the extracranial carotid artery.