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Biomedical subjects

B Larsson

Publications and source records attributed to B Larsson.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

CHD in Sweden: mortality, incidence and risk factors over 20 years in Gothenburg.

Mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) increased among Swedish men between 1968 and 1981, but after that, began to decline. CHD mortality in women decreased slightly, mostly among older women. From 1980, the incidence of non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) started to decrease among men. Among middle-aged women, however, there was a significantly increased incidence. Mortality during the two years following hospital discharge decreased both in men and women between 1968 and 1985 in Gothenburg. Between one-sixth and one-fifth of major CHD events occur among patients with previous MI or angina pectoris. Serum cholesterol and smoking habits increased among middle-aged men from 1963 to 1973, but decreased thereafter. Blood pressure decreased, and the percentage of people on treatment increased. Blood pressure and serum cholesterol decreased among middle-aged women, but smoking and triglycerides increased. These different trends might explain an increasing CHD incidence among younger women but decreasing incidence and mortality among older women.

Age Factors↗

Progestogen regulation of tissue plasminogen activator in a human melanoma cell line.

The influence of progestogens, i.e. medroxyprogesterone, levonorgestrel and norethisterone, was studied in a melanoma cell line producing tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). The cell cultures were exposed to the three progestogens by addition of the steroids dissolved in a weak alcoholic solution to the culture media, in which the released t-PA was assayed by an immunoradiometric method. Ethanol (0.76% w/v) stimulated the t-PA production, while significant inhibitory effect of the present progestogens in the concentration of 1.7 x 10(-6) M was recorded. By tenfold decrease in progestogen concentration significant reduction of t-PA levels was still seen in the cultures exposed to levonorgestrel, while medroxyprogesterone and norethisterone in this dose had no effect on t-PA release. Norethisterone differed from the other two progestogens in having weak toxic effect on melanoma cells. It was concluded that the progestogens studied, in particular norethisterone and levonorgestrel, had an inhibitory effect on the production of t-PA in melanoma cell culture.

Ethanol↗

Importance of MHC antigen expression on solid tumors in the in vitro interaction with autologous blood lymphocytes.

In 54 patients with lung and 14 with ovarian carcinomas the quantitative variations of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-determined class I and class II antigens of the tumor cells were related to their in vitro interaction with blood lymphocytes, to the lymphoid infiltration of the tumors, and to the metastatic state of the disease. The tumor cell-lymphocyte interaction was measured by the proliferative response in mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture and by the cytotoxic activity of the lymphocytes. The results showed that (1) none of the 23 tumors from patients with disseminated disease were lysed; (2) class I-negative tumors were not damaged; (3) lymphoid infiltration was present in a higher proportion of class II-positive tumors; and (4) both MHC-positive and -negative tumors were found among the disseminated tumors. The requirement of class I expression in the lytic interaction substantiates our earlier conclusion concerning the cytotoxic T lymphocyte nature of lymphocyte-mediated auto-tumor lysis. The lack of auto-tumor lysis in patients with metastases suggests impairment of lymphocyte function in advanced stages of the disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Risk factors for type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Thirteen and one-half years of follow-up of the participants in a study of Swedish men born in 1913.

This report presents data on antecedents of Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in a homogeneous sample of randomly selected 54-year-old men from an urban Swedish population with a diabetes incidence of 6.1% during 13.5 years of follow-up. The increased risk leading to diabetes for those in the top quintile compared to the lowest quintile of the distribution of statistically significant risk factors were: body mass index = 21.7, triglycerides = 13.5, waist-to-hip circumference ratio = 9.6, diastolic blood pressure = 6.7, uric acid = 5.8, glutamic pyruvic transaminase = 3.9, bilirubin = 3.2, blood glucose = 2.7, lactate = 2.4 and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase = 2.0. Those with a positive family history of diabetes had 2.4-fold higher risk for developing diabetes than those without such a history. In a multivariate analysis glutamic pyruvic transaminase, blood glucose, body mass index, bilirubin, systolic blood pressure, uric acid and a family history of diabetes were all significantly associated with the development of diabetes. Our study demonstrates the great importance of adiposity and body fat distribution for the risk of diabetes. A number of established risk factors for coronary heart disease are risk factors for diabetes as well. Disturbed liver function and increased levels of lactate are early risk factors for diabetes - presumably indicators of the presence of impaired glucose tolerance and/or hyperinsulinaemia.

Alanine Transaminase↗

The influence of copper intrauterine device on fatty acid composition of cervical mucus lecithin.

Fatty acid composition of lecithin was analysed in midcycle cervical mucus obtained from 19 women using a copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) and 16 controls. In both groups, palmitic (16:0) acid was the predominant fatty acid and oleic (18:1) acid the second largest component. In women using a Cu-IUD, levels of myristic (14:0) acid were significantly lower, while levels of linoleic (18:2) and docosahexaenoic (22:6) acid were significantly higher than in controls. These changes in fatty acid composition could not be related to duration of IUD use and were very similar to those observed in women with primary unexplained infertility, suggesting that the Cu-IUD-induced modification of fatty acid pattern in midcycle mucus lecithin may be part of the contraceptive mechanism of action.

Adolescent↗

Regional obesity as a health hazard in men--prospective studies.

Cross-sectional studies have shown that a central distribution of adipose tissue is associated with increased risk of metabolic complications and cardiovascular morbidity. Four prospective studies in men are reviewed and they consistently indicate that central adipose tissue distribution is a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) and its predictive contribution seems almost to be in the same order as for the major risk factors for CHD. In one study there is an indication of decreasing predictive power of central adipose tissue distribution for CHD with increasing age. Abdominal adipose tissue distribution is also a risk factor for stroke, diabetes and sickness absenteeism, and for all cause mortality. It seems, however, not to be a predictor of degree of well-being in general. The question of causality is not solved but indices of adipose tissue distribution should be included in future observational and experimental studies in this field.

Abdomen↗

Early heart failure in the population. The study of men born in 1913.

A cross-sectional analysis of characteristics possibly associated with congestive heart failure (CHF) was performed among 644 men, all 67 years of age and randomly selected from the general population. A total of 13% had symptoms and signs of overt CHF. Another 10% had early or "latent" CHF. Among overt CHF cases, 46% had hypertension, 55% coronary heart disease and 79% any one of these conditions. Among "latent" CHF cases, the corresponding proportions were 52%, 25% and 65%. Simple indices of left ventricular diastolic function and filling pressure as well as of pulmonary artery pressure were closer related to the CHF stage, than were measures of systolic left ventricular function. Smoking habits, hypertension, blood lipids, weight and other measures of body fat, blood glucose, and serum insulin were all correlated to CHF stage. In a multivariate analysis, smoking habits, hypertension, body weight, and serum insulin were independently and significantly correlated to CHF stage.

Aged↗

The rôle of psychological, health-behaviour and medical factors in adolescent headache.

Seventy adolescents suffering from recurrent tension and migraine headache were compared with headache-free controls on extensive psychosocial, health-behaviour and medical measures, using the students' own reports, parent and teacher assessments and information obtained from school health-records. Headache sufferers reported significantly more somatic symptoms and psychological distress than controls. Differences between the groups' reported anxiety were validated by similar outcomes from parent and teacher assessments. As expected, recurrent headache suffers were more often absent from school and used the school health-service more than controls. Furthermore, the parents of students with headache were more often divorced and those of students with migraine, in particular, suffered more frequently from headache and abdominal pain. Multivariate analyses indicated that six variables could accurately classify 85 per cent of students as headache suffers or controls.

Adolescent↗

The lymphoepithelial phenomenon of the stomach. A case report.

A large number of lymphocytes each surrounded by a clear halo were found in the foveolar epithelium of the fundic region and the antrum in a gastric biopsy from a patient with epigastric complaints. Electron microscopical studies demonstrated the presence of intraepithelial "in-halo" lymphocytes both underneath, between two contiguous, and within foveolar gastric cells. Normal numbers of lymphocytes (without haloes) were found in the lamina propria, suggesting that this epithelial lymphocytosis may be unrelated to "classical" chronic gastritis. The possibility of an autoimmune phenomenon at the foveolar cell level was discussed. The absence of intraepithelial lymphocytes in the glandular epithelium suggests that this phenomenon may be unrelated to the type of autoimmunity found in pernicious anaemia.

Aged↗

Effects of some calcium antagonists on aggregation by adrenalin and serotonin and on alpha-adrenoceptor radioligand binding in human platelets.

The inhibitory effects of verapamil, nifedipine and diltiazem, representatives of different classes of calcium antagonists, were studied on aggregation of human platelets induced by adrenalin and serotonin (5-HT). For references, the alpha-adrenoceptor-antagonists phentolamine (alpha 1 and alpha 2) and rauwolscine (alpha 2), and the 5-HT 2-receptor-antagonist ketanserin were included. Verapamil in the concentration range 10(-6) 10(-4) M inhibited both adrenalin- and serotonin-induced aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas nifedipine and diltiazem had little or no effect. Phentolamine and rauwolscine were clearly weaker than verapamil as antagonists of serotonin, and ketanserin lacked effect on adrenalin-induced aggregation. Binding studies with [3H]dihydro-alpha-ergocryptine and [3H]rauwolscine on human platelet membranes showed equal numbers of binding sites, suggesting that only alpha 2-adrenoceptors were present. In the same concentration range as inhibition of aggregation was obtained, verapamil inhibited binding of either radioligand. Nifedipine, diltiazem and 5-HT were all poor inhibitors of radioligand binding. The results suggest that verapamil at high concentrations not only has alpha-adrenoceptor antagonistic properties but also exerts 5-HT-receptor blocking effects. This was not found with the other calcium channel blockers examined (nifedipine, diltiazem).

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Retropubic urethrocystopexy with fibrin sealant: a long-term follow-up.

Transabdominal urethrocystopexy by using a two-component fibrin sealant as a substitute for sutures was performed in 99 women suffering from proved urinary stress incontinence. All were assessed preoperatively, both clinically and by urodynamic tests. This report deals with the results after a follow-up period not shorter than 1 year and up to 4 years. We found it essential not to report postoperative results concerning observation periods shorter than 1 year, as most relapses are observed more than 1 year after operation. Success was defined as absence of objective urine loss at coughing or straining with full bladder in upright position. The results imply that this simple technique is worthy of trial in correcting urinary stress incontinence in women.

Adult↗

The Gotland house: family relations through four generations in rural Sweden.

In discussing the opportunities for development in the local space, one should not go astray in theoretical speculations since development springs from the hearts of the people and their societies. In this story, we follow a family on an old farm on the Baltic island of Gotland through four generations--from Jaken, born in 1866 to the great-great-grandchild, born in 1973. It is a story of silence between husband and wife, of bitterness and rape in marriage, of the woman's dread of a new pregnancy. But also of how life on the farm has changed with the new age, and of love and fellowship between the young, who bring their child into the world together. Hence it provides not only a moving account of hitherto little-known aspects of human life in the rural areas of Sweden over the last hundred years, but also a unique insight into the developments that have taken place on a deeply personal level during this period. Berit Larsson has been a district nurse and a midwife on the island of Gotland for more than 30 years. The story appears here as told by her to Hanna Olsson. It was rendered into English by Alan Blair. The illustrations are by a Gotland artist, Ingrid Hamrell-Mårtensson.

Family↗

Quality of life in early heart failure. The study of men born in 1913.

To see whether well-being and quality-of-life are affected in congestive heart failure (CHF), a number of health variables, self-assessed and objectively measured, were estimated among 67-year-old men sampled from the general population of Gothenburg, Sweden. Based on history, physical examination and drug treatment, 407 men were studied and grouped into 4 stages of CHF, ranging from no signs or symptoms of CHF to advanced CHF. Men with CHF had more of other cardiovascular disease manifestations, utilized more health care, and reported less well-being and a higher rate of self-assessed disability than men with no CHF. These quality-of-life changes were found not only in the overt cases but also in early CHF. Regardless of CHF stage, quality-of-life seemed more affected in men on drug treatment, compared with those not treated.

Clinical Protocols↗