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Biomedical subjects

B Norberg

Publications and source records attributed to B Norberg.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Distribution and scatter of yeast cell phagocytosis by human monocytes in an improved glass surface assay.

The assessment of yeast cell phagocytosis by glass-adherent monocytes was improved by ultrasonication of yeast cells prior to the experiments in order to prevent aggregation, restriction of measurements to completed engulfment regardless of the number of peptides ingested, and stopping of phagocytosis before counting by maintained cooling and the addition of EDTA. The modifications provided a reduced dispersion of individual values, increased engulfment of yeast cells, and decreased numbers of yeast cells only adherent to the monocyte membrane. The improvement made the method more convenient for the study of engulfment by monocytes.

Glass↗
PubMed1989

Effect of therapeutic concentrations of anthracyclines on monocyte phagocytosis of yeast cells.

The effect of therapeutic concentrations of doxorubicin, epirubicin, and mitoxanthrone on mature leukocyte function has been examined by measuring phagocytosis of yeast cells by surface-bound monocytes, using a fluorescence-quenching method. There was a 10% inhibition of monocyte phagocytosis by doxorubicin, but epirubicin and mitoxanthrone had no effect on monocyte phagocytosis. Anthracyclines may have a major immunosuppressive effect due to bone marrow depression. The lack of interference with mature monocyte function by epirubicin and mitoxanthrone provides a potential advantage in comparison with the parent compounds.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed1989

Changes in plasma vitellogenin, sex steroids, calcitonin, and thyroid hormones related to sexual maturation in female brown trout (Salmo trutta).

Female brown trout (Salmo trutta) from a wild strain (Baltic sea trout) and a cultured strain were sampled individually for blood plasma at regular intervals during the period around final sexual maturation. The plasma samples were analyzed for vitellogenin (VTG), estradiol-17 beta, testosterone, 17 alpha, 20 beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20 beta-P), calcitonin, tri-iodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and total and free plasma calcium. In the wild fish, VTG, estradiol-17 beta, and testosterone peaked 30 days before ovulation, while 17,20 beta-P had a sharp peak at ovulation. Both T3 and T4 declined at the beginning of the sampling period, reached minimal levels 30 days before ovulation, and rose sharply at the time of ovulation. Calcitonin levels were elevated during final maturation. Total plasma calcium correlated with plasma VTG levels. In the cultured strain, sampling was started 2 weeks before ovulation. The levels of VTG, estradiol-17 beta, and testosterone decreased throughout the sampling period. 17,20 beta-P and calcitonin concentrations were high during the period close to ovulation. Plasma thyroxine remained at basal levels in cultured trout. The discrepancies observed between wild and cultured females may be due to differences in stress susceptibility, environmental conditions, life cycles, or to genetic divergence between the strains.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The effect of CPH 82 on the growth of human lymphocytes in vitro. Definition of cytobiological action.

A drug composed of two semisynthetic podophylline derivatives, CPH 82, has recently been launched for the treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis. The present in vitro study of PHA-stimulated human T-lymphocytes showed that CPH 82 arrested cell division in a metaphase-like configuration. The cell cycle effects of CPH 82 were indistinguishable from the cell cycle effects of the classical microtubule depolymerizers, Colcemid (a colchicine derivative) and podophyllotoxin. A CPH 82 concentration of 1 microgram/ml, which is close to therapeutic serum concentrations, had an almost maximal effect on cell division. It is suggested that at least part of the anti-inflammatory effect of CPH 82 is due to a colchicine-like activity on, for example, proliferating lymphocytes.

Glycosides↗
PubMed1988

Estramustine inhibits monocyte phagocytosis.

Estramustine phosphate (EMP) influence on human monocyte phagocytosis of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled yeast cells was measured in vitro. The method used, a modification of Hed's technique (FEMS Microbiol Lett 1:357, 1977), can differentiate between yeast cell engulfment and adherence to the phagocytotic cell surface. EMP is now accepted in the treatment of advanced prostatic carcinoma. In concentrations corresponding to the clinical situation (20-40 micrograms/ml), it dramatically inhibited the process of phagocytosis. The engulfment phase was inhibited, whereas cell adherence was less affected. This might be due to direct interaction with the microtubule system. The effects were totally reversible. In contrast, the metabolites estradiol and normustine did not affect engulfment of yeast cells, either as single agents or combined. The results demonstrate that the EMP complex caused an impaired phagocytosis, which could be of pathophysiological significance in the compromised cancer patients.

Cell Adhesion↗
PubMed1988

Thrombocytosis in active rheumatoid arthritis. Relation to other parameters of inflammatory activity and confounding effect of automated cell counting.

The magnitude of thrombocytosis and the possible confounding effect of platelet clumping, an in vitro artifact resulting in spuriously low platelet counts, in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was evaluated by a prospective survey of 57 consecutive patients, 60% of whom had thrombocytosis. Five cases (9%) of platelet clumping, assessed by H6000 pictures, were found. A low-grade platelet loss in many of the samples anticoagulated by EDTA was suggested by comparison with platelet counts obtained in parallel blood samples anticoagulated by citrate. Thus, the possibility of spuriously low platelet counts due to laboratory artifacts must always be taken into consideration in RA patients. The relation between thrombocytosis and other estimates of disease activity was also studied. The platelet count in citrated blood in active RA was significantly correlated with ESR, acute phase plasma proteins, and neutrophil, basophil and monocyte counts. In a multivariate regression model, however, only the correlation with haptoglobin (p = 0.06) approached significance.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1988

A cytostatic drug (taxol) which does not inhibit monocyte phagocytosis.

Taxol is a new cytotoxic agent which arrests cell division in the G2 and the M phases, due to its unique property of inhibiting microtubule function by stabilization. In contrast to other microtubule antagonists except griseofulvin, taxol did not inhibit monocyte phagocytosis. It is suggested that lack of interference with the function of mature leukocytes may reduce the immunosuppression induced by a cytotoxic agent.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1988

Therapeutic concentrations of melphalan do not affect yeast cell phagocytosis by monocytes.

The effect of melphalan on monocyte phagocytosis was assessed by studying the uptake of fluorescent yeast cells by glass-adherent monocytes (a fluorescence-quenching technique). In contrast to several other cytotoxic agents, melphalan did not inhibit monocyte phagocytosis. Although the main immunosuppressive side effect of most cytotoxic drugs appears to be due to bone marrow depression with reduction of leukocyte counts, it is reasonable to assume that lack of interference with the function of mature leukocytes is a favourable feature of an antineoplastic drug.

Humans↗
PubMed1988

The swollen leg.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Food refusal amongst nursing home patients as conceptualized by nurses' aids and enrolled nurses: an interview study.

One hundred and forty-three nurses' aids and 48 enrolled nurses at nursing homes in Sweden were interviewed about food refusal among patients. It became evident that their concepts of 'food refusal' and 'forced feeding' were very vague. This could partly be explained by the lack of knowledge among staff of how to interpret the frequent ambiguous eating behaviours among demented patients. It has been suggested that concept clarification and ethical analysis might reduce anxiety among staff caring for patients with severe eating problems.

Ethics, Nursing↗
PubMed1987

Feeding difficulties in long-stay patients at nursing homes. Caregiver turnover and caregivers' assessments of duration and difficulty of assisted feeding and amount of food received by the patient.

The caregivers from 21 out of 24 nursing homes in the county of Västerbotten, Sweden, recorded the behaviour at feedings of the patients who were totally dependent on assisted feeding during a 4-week period. The observations were conducted on 214 patients. These patients had a median age of 82 yr. The eating difficulty was predominantly associated with the diagnosis of dementia (n = 110), cerebrovascular disease (n = 30) and Parkinsonism (n = 16). Each patient had different feeders at different meals, with a median of 16-20 feeders for one patient during a 4-week period. Of all assisted feedings, 94% were finished within 20 min. The incidence of feeding refusal was 2%. The degree of feeding difficulty and the amount of food ingested were assessed by the caregivers as fairly constant for each patient. It is reasonable to assume that a patient assignment system for the nurses could improve the eating ability of these patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

The adherence of polymorphonuclear leucocytes to an albumin-coated glass surface. Effects of therapeutic concentrations of the Catharantus derivatives vincristine, vinblastine and vindesine.

The Catharantus derivatives are microtubule antagonists employed in immunosuppression and chemotherapy of neoplasms. The role of cytoplasmic microtubules in polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) adherence was studied by means of therapeutic concentrations of the Catharantus derivatives vincristine, vinblastine and vindesine. PMN adherence was measured as retention on an albumin-coated glass surface. PMN adherence was reduced by 4-54% by the Catharantus derivatives, as compared with control values. The suppression of adherence was statistically significant. Since the Catharantus derivatives are microtubule antagonists, it is reasonable to assume that PMN adherence is a partially microtubule-dependent process. It is suggested that reduction of PMN adherence could account for at least part of the immunosuppressive properties of the Catharantus derivatives.

Cell Adhesion↗
PubMed1987

Platelet clumping in Ph-negative myeloproliferative syndromes.

A retrospective analysis of evidence of platelet clumping, an in vitro phenomenon in blood samples anticoagulated by EDTA, was performed in 49 patients with myeloproliferative diseases other than chronic myeloid leukaemia. Evidence of platelet clumping was provided by the H6000 picture, which in the presence of platelet aggregates yields a characteristic "whisk" in a defined region. Out of the 49 patients, 17 (35%) had evidence of platelet clumping which, however, occurred in an unpredictable manner from time to time. Platelet clumping thus provides a confounding factor when automated platelet counts are used to monitor effects of cytotoxic treatment in this type of disorders. In a prospective study, it was shown that the problem can be overcome by optimizing the hospital routine to secure minimum delay between sampling and analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Therapeutic concentrations of griseofulvin do not affect yeast cell phagocytosis by monocytes.

The effect of griseofulvin on monocyte phagocytosis was assessed by studying the uptake of fluorescent yeast cells by glass-adherent monocytes (a fluorescence-quenching technique). In contrast to other microtubule antagonists, griseofulvin did not inhibit monocyte phagocytosis. It is suggested that the lack of griseofulvin interference with essential leukocyte functions is a possible explanation for the fact that the microtubule antagonist griseofulvin serves as a comparatively safe and harmless drug.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed1987

Doxycycline effects on the adherence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to an albumin-coated glass surface.

The effect of doxycycline on polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) adherence to albumin-coated glass surfaces was studied in the absence and presence of the chemotactic peptide FMLP. Three concentrations of doxycycline were studied, one subtherapeutic (0.1 micrograms/ml), one therapeutic (1.0 micrograms/ml) and one supertherapeutic (10 micrograms/ml). PMN adherence was maximal after incubation for 5 min. FMLP did not affect PMN adherence in the present assay system and at the concentration studied (10(-7)M). PMN adherence remained stable and unaffected in the tested doxycycline concentrations. Thus, the present study could not confirm the reported and challenged doxycycline inhibition of PMN adherence.

Albumins↗
PubMed1987

Imipenem/cilastatin versus amikacin plus piperacillin in the treatment of infections in neutropenic patients: a prospective, randomized multi-clinic study.

In this open, controlled, randomized multi-clinic trial, monotherapy with imipenem/cilastatin was compared to amikacin plus piperacillin as empiric antibacterial therapy in 210 neutropenic cancer patients. Of patients randomized, 53 (25%) had bacteriologically documented infections and of those 30 had septicemia. A further 80 patients (38%) were evaluable for clinical efficacy but did not have documented infections. Seventy-seven patients (37%) were non-evaluable due to effective antibiotic treatment before the trial, early institution of other antibiotics during the trial, verified non-bacterial infections, no neutropenia or other reasons. There were no significant differences in terms of efficacy between imipenem/cilastatin and amikacin plus piperacillin but a consistent trend towards higher rates of clinical cure or improvement and of elimination of causative pathogens was noted in the imipenem/cilastatin group. In patients who were severely neutropenic (less than 0.1 x 10(9) granulocytes/l), similar cure rates were obtained in the two treatment groups--again with a tendency towards better results in the imipenem/cilastatin group. Among evaluable patients with septicemia, one patient in the imipenem/cilastatin group had persistent Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia during treatment. Five patients in the amikacin plus piperacillin group had persistent bacteremia during treatment; all but one (a Pseudomonas aeruginosa) caused by strains resistant to amikacin or piperacillin. Clinical and laboratory adverse effects were mild in the imipenem/cilastatin group although nausea was significantly more common than in the amikacin plus piperacillin group. Among patients on amikacin plus piperacillin, one died in renal failure, possibly related to treatment. Drug-related serious adverse events were reported in two additional amikacin plus piperacillin patients; one with drug fever and one with hearing loss. Microbiological adverse effects occurred in similar frequencies in the two groups. It is concluded that imipenem/cilastatin is a promising candidate for monotherapy of bacterial infections in neutropenic cancer patients.

Adolescent↗