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Biomedical subjects

A Eriksson

Publications and source records attributed to A Eriksson.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

cDNA cloning and expression of the human A-type platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor establishes structural similarity to the B-type PDGF receptor.

The primary structure of the human A-type receptor for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been determined. A 6.5-kilobase (kb) transcript was identified through low-stringency hybridization with a probe derived from the B-type PDGF receptor cDNA. The sequence of a cDNA clone corresponding to the 6.5-kb transcript contains an open reading frame that predicts a 1089-amino acid growth factor receptor-like molecule, which displays 44% overall amino acid similarity with the PDGF B-type receptor. The two receptors have a similar domain organization, with five immunoglobulin-like domains extracellularly and an intracellular split protein tyrosine kinase domain. Transfection of the new cDNA into COS cells led to the expression of a protein specifically recognized by an antiserum previously shown to react with the PDGF A-type receptor. The expressed protein was shown to display high-affinity binding of all three 125I-labeled dimeric forms of PDGF A and B chains in a manner that is characteristic for the PDGF A-type receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Patients at high risk of cardiovascular complications in oestrogen treatment of prostatic cancer.

The aim of this study was to predict cardiovascular complications in patients with prostatic cancer treated with oestrogen. A randomised prospective study of oestrogen therapy versus orchiectomy was performed. Patients with pre-existing cardiovascular morbidity were excluded (16%). Prior to the initiation of therapy, patients were subjected to exercise stress tests, physiological evaluation of peripheral circulation, blood volume estimation, chest X-ray, blood test, including hormones, lipoproteins, and antithrombin III, and a physical examination and history by a cardiologist. The oestrogen treatment and the orchiectomy group did not differ with regard to these pretreatment variables; 25% of the patients given oestrogen therapy had cardiovascular complications during the initial treatment year compared with none in the orchiectomy group. Three statistical discriminating techniques were employed and they allowed us to identify 2 strong discriminating variables for cardiovascular complications if oestrogen therapy is instituted in patients with prostatic cancer but without overt clinical cardiovascular disease. These 2 discriminators were luteinising hormone (LH) and ST-segment depression during exercise. This means that a patient with ST-segment depression during an exercise test and/or a high luteinising hormone concentration should not be treated with oestrogen.

Aged↗

Estrogen-induced gallstone formation in males. Relation to changes in serum and biliary lipids during hormonal treatment of prostatic carcinoma.

To assess if and by which mechanisms pharmacological estrogen treatment induces gallstone disease, we examined patients with recently diagnosed prostatic cancer randomly allocated to estrogen therapy (n = 37) or orchidectomy (n = 35). According to gallbladder ultrasonography, after 1 yr new gallstones had developed in 5 of 28 estrogen-treated patients, compared with 0 of 26 orchidectomized patients (P = 0.03). Estrogen therapy for 3 mo increased the relative concentration of cholesterol and cholesterol saturation of bile by approximately 30% (n = 10). Serum LDL cholesterol was reduced by approximately 40%, and its relative change related inversely to that of bile cholesterol (Rs = -0.77). There were no changes in biliary or serum lipids after orchidectomy (n = 9). Secretion rates of biliary lipids were measured with a duodenal perfusion technique. Patients on chronic estrogen therapy (n = 5) had approximately 40% higher biliary excretion rates of cholesterol than age-matched controls (n = 7). Phospholipid secretion was also higher, but no difference in bile acid secretion was found. We conclude that an increased hepatic secretion of cholesterol results in increased cholesterol saturation of bile and an enhanced rate of gallstone formation during estrogen treatment. The changes in bile cholesterol seem to be related to the induced changes in serum lipoprotein metabolism.

Aged↗

Cadmium concentration in human kidney biopsies.

This study reports the cadmium concentration and histopathology of kidney tissue from 29 patients with clinical findings that motivated a diagnostic percutaneous kidney biopsy and/or a history of possible exposure to cadmium. Cadmium was found in all specimens examined including those from controls. In the patients, the mean cadmium concentration was 12.9 (0.6-45.0) micrograms cadmium per g wet kidney tissue. The highest concentrations (30-45 micrograms/g) were found in three patients with morphological and clinical findings of tubulo-interstitial damage. Patients with signs of tubulo-interstitial disease had higher mean cadmium concentrations than those with glomerular changes, and patients with normal blood pressure had higher concentrations than those with diastolic hypertension. In a control group of 22 autopsies, the mean cadmium concentration was 8.7 (2.9-22.4) micrograms/g. The mean difference between the right and the left kidney was 2.3 (0.9-9.6) micrograms/g. Laboratory findings in patients with cadmium nephropathy were nonspecific. Thus, in patients with interstitial nephritis and cadmium exposure, a biopsy for the analysis of kidney cadmium concentration may be motivated. The combination of morphological and clinical findings of interstitial nephritis and a high concentration of cadmium in biopsied kidney tissue indicates cadmium nephropathy.

Adult↗

Determination of clenbuterol and mabuterol in equine plasma by ion-pair liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Chromatographic and electrochemical characteristics.

A method for the routine determination of the beta-adrenergic drugs clenbuterol and mabuterol in equine plasma has been developed. The drugs were isolated from alkalinized plasma by liquid-liquid extraction. The organic phase was evaporated to dryness and the residue was dissolved in the mobile phase prior to injection. The recoveries were 98% and 95% for clenbuterol and mabuterol, respectively. The drugs were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and quantitated by a use of a coulometric detector set at +0.75 V vs. the internal reference electrode. The influence of pH and amounts of organic modifier and ion-pairing agent on the retention times was investigated. The relationship between peak current and concentration was linear up to 1 microgram/ml for both compounds. The limits of detection were 0.5 ng/ml for clenbuterol and 2 ng/ml for mabuterol with a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. A brief discussion of the electrochemistry of the compounds is given.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Prognostic value of serum hormone concentrations in prostatic cancer.

Seventy-eight patients with cytologically and/or histologically confirmed prostatic cancer were randomly allocated to orchidectomy (ORX, n = 37) or combined intramuscular and oral estrogen treatment (ESTR, n = 41). Serum levels of testosterone (T), 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, total estrone (tE1; sum of unconjugated and conjugated estrone, greater than or equal to 85% estrone sulfate), cortisol, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, growth hormone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and albumin were determined prior to treatment and 12, 24, and 36 months after initiation of treatment. Fifty patients responded to treatment or had stable disease, and 28 did not respond (12 in the ORX and 16 in the ESTR group). There was no association between pretreatment hormone or protein levels and outcome of the treatment, neither in the total material nor within either of the two treatment subgroups. Significantly higher pretreatment levels of cortisol and prolactin and significantly lower levels of T, tE1, and albumin and a significantly lower T/SHBG-ratio (index on biologically active T) were found in patients with metastatic disease, compared with the patients without metastases. There was no association between testicular or adrenal androgens, SHBG, T/SHBG, and albumin values during treatment and the clinical outcome. The differences found between metastatic and nonmetastatic disease probably simply reflect the more stressful and catabolic condition and generally poorer health in patients with disseminated malignant disease. Furthermore, the study does not lend any support to the hypothesis that indicates an important role of adrenal "rest androgen" in prostatic cancer tumor growth.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗

Cardiovascular follow-up of patients with prostatic cancer treated with single-drug polyestradiol phosphate.

Thirty-eight patients with cancer of the prostate were treated with strict parenteral estrogen in the form of monthly polyestradiol phosphate injections--160 mg, 240 mg, and 320 mg--in this nonrandomized study. In contrast to studies with oral estrogens, there have been no cardiovascular complications at a mean follow-up of 12.9 +/- 0.7 months (SEM). Twenty-nine of the 38 patients (76%) have responded to therapy.

Aged↗

Neoplastic disease in a medicolegal autopsy material. A retrospective study in northern Sweden.

Only a small fraction of sudden unexpected deaths are caused by neoplastic disease and thus subject ot medicolegal autopsy. The medicolegal autopsy forms an opportunity to study not only medically diagnosed and treated neoplasms, but also the natural evolution of untreated disease. In a series of 7,020 consecutive medicolegal autopsies in northern Sweden, we found 171 cases with malignant and/or intracranial neoplasms. In 41 cases, sudden death was caused by previously unknown tumors. The most common mechanisms of death in this group were disseminated cancer, intracranial tumors, pulmonary thromboembolism, hemoptysis, and aspiration of blood, and the most common locations were the bronchi and the lung. In some of these cases, the mechanism was sometimes dramatic, raising a question of violent death or intoxication. In 30 cases, sudden unexpected death was caused by previously known tumors, and also in this group disseminated cancer was the most common cause of death, and the most common locations were the bronchi and the lung. In 22 cases, tumors were found suicidal cases; in 14 of these, the tumor was considered to be a major causative factor to the suicide, while in eight cases the tumor was considered to be an incidental finding. The expected number of cancers in the 1,060 suicides investigated in this series was 27, according to the official cancer prevalence data. Thus, a possible over-representation of suicides among persons with cancer seems doubtful and needs further exploration.

Adult↗

Distribution of intermediate filament proteins in developing and adult salivary glands in man.

Adult and developing salivary glands were investigated using five monoclonal antibodies against cytokeratins (CKs) and vimentin. Acinar cells displayed mainly CK 18 whereas CKs 7, 17 and 19 were only detected in duct and myoepithelial cells. All epithelial and myoepithelial cells were unreactive for one vimentin antibody (Vim 9) whereas with the other (Vim 24), myoepithelial cells and basal cells of excretory ducts were stained. Fetal cells showed the CK pattern of duct cells. At gestational week 18, a reaction for both vimentin antibodies could be found in basal cells of terminal tubules. Although vim 9 reactivity has been shown for a number of salivary neoplasms, it has not been detected in any adult epithelial salivary tissue. The finding of this reactivity in the fetal gland indicates that the expression of this intermediate filament protein in certain salivary neoplasms may be a sign of dedifferentiation resulting in the expression of a filament pattern found in an earlier stage of gland development.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Health problems among operators of plastic welding machines and exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.

To study possible medical effects of high radiofrequency radiation (RF), 113 Swedish men and women were studied by means of a structured interview and rating of subjective symptoms. A test session was included in order to examine coordination and muscular function of the hands. A neurological test concerning two-point discrimination (2-PD) was also done. As referents, 23 women, sewing machine operators and assembly workers, were chosen, interviewed and likewise tested. Exposure measurements were taken of the RF fields around the welding machines. The present Swedish ceiling value of 250 W/m2 for the equivalent power density was exceeded in more than 50% of the machines. The highest leakage fields, both for electric and magnetic fields, were found near machines used in factories for ready-made clothing, which gave a high exposure to the hands. Irritative eye symptoms were reported by 23% of the men and 40% of the women. A group of 27 persons was selected for a clinical eye examination and checked by photographs, and nine persons had modest conjunctivitis. A high prevalence of numbness in hands, especially among women, was found. A significantly impaired 2-PD was found in the exposed women as compared to the referent group. The pregnancy outcome for 305 female plastic welders during 1974-1984 did not show any significant differences with the Swedish average concerning malformation or prenatal mortality.

Adult↗

Genome of the European elk papillomavirus (EEPV).

The genome of the European elk papillomavirus (EEPV) was found to be 8,095 base pairs (bp) long and its genetic organization was similar to that of other papillomaviruses. Ten open reading frames (ORFs), designated E1-E7 and L1-L3, were identified in the genome, all located on one strand. The presence of the L3 ORF is rare among the papillomaviruses and to date has only been identified in the genomes of EEPV, the deer papillomavirus (DPV) and the Cottontail papillomavirus (CRPV). The ORF is well conserved between DPV and EEPV with regard to both length and sequence. Potential promoter regions were identified at the 5'-end of the E6 ORF, at the 3'-end of the E1 ORF and downstream of the L1 ORF. Furthermore, two potential polyadenylation signals were found, one located in the long control region (LCR), downstream of the L1 ORF, and another preceding the L2 ORF. The EEVP genome is closely related to the genome of the DPV, the most highly conserved regions being ORFs E1 (70%), E5 (69%), and L1 (74%).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Death by lightning.

Deaths from lightning injuries are infrequent, amounting to 0.2-0.8 per million people per year, and are associated with climatologic conditions. The victims are mostly young, active people who are struck during various outdoor activities during the summer months. Even though many people can be struck by the same bolt of lightning, multiple casualties are uncommon. Among the fatalities, various types of skin burns are regularly present, often at an entry site on or near the head, and at an inferiorly located exit site. These skin injuries often consist of superficial burns and singed hair; deep burns and charring are uncommon. Arborescent skin marks seem to occur less frequently. Internal findings at autopsy are nonspecific.

Adolescent↗

Suicide by driving an awl into the brain.

In this report, we describe an unusual method of suicide. A 35-year-old man with a history of manic-depressive psychosis and alcohol abuse killed himself by driving an awl into his brain. A theory of the reason for using this bizarre method is discussed, and the well-known question of homicide versus suicide in crime scene investigation is illustrated.

Adult↗

cDNA cloning and expression of a human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor specific for B-chain-containing PDGF molecules.

The structure of the human receptor for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been deduced through cDNA cloning. A 5.45-kilobase-pair cDNA clone predicts a 1,106-amino-acid polypeptide, including the cleavable signal sequence. The overall amino acid sequence similarity with the murine PDGF receptor is 85%. After transcription of the cDNA and translation in vitro, a PDGF receptor antiserum was used to immunoprecipitate a product of predicted size, which also could be phosphorylated in vitro. Stable introduction of the cDNA into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells led to the expression of a 190-kilodalton component, which was immunoprecipitated by the PDGF receptor antiserum; this most probably represents the mature PDGF receptor. Binding assays with different 125I-labeled dimeric forms of PDGF A and B chains showed that the PDGF receptor expressed in CHO cells bound PDGF-BB and, to a lesser extent, PDGF-AB, but not PDGF-AA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Snowy roofs--a potential hazard.

An accumulation of injuries and fatal accidents associated with shovelling snow from roofs was observed in the beginning of 1986 in Northern Sweden. Injury mechanisms and injury panorama are analyzed and preventive measures are suggested. Slipping on roofs or ladders, often caused by sliding snow, was a common cause of accident. Five subjects died of suffocation after having been buried under sliding snow. We would like to emphasize the importance of a co-worker when shovelling snow off roofs, of being well anchored by a safety-line and, if using a ladder, taking care that the ladder is well anchored and that the shovelling is not done on an ascent. Special snow conditions should also be noticed.

Accidents, Home↗