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Biomedical subjects

C Backman

Publications and source records attributed to C Backman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cold-induced arterial spasm after digital amputation.

The incidence and intensity of cold-induced digital vasospasm was investigated in 18 patients with digital amputation injuries. Nine patients had undergone replantation surgery, while in the remaining nine cases the injury had been treated by stump revision and closure. The vascularity of the injured digits and of uninjured fingers in both hands, was studied. The results confirm that cold-induced vasospasm is no more conspicuous in replanted fingers than in amputation stumps. Pathological vascular reactions to cold were also common in uninjured fingers in both hands.

Adolescent

Replantation of the completely avulsed thumb using long arterial and venous grafts.

Long arterial and venous grafts (10-15 cm. in length) were used in the replantation of thumbs amputated by avulsion. All replanted parts survived and thrombosis requiring anastomotic revision did not occur in any of the cases. Based upon a consideration of different factors that may lead to the formation of thrombus in reconstructed vessels, a method is recommended for routine use in replantation of the thumb, with specific reference to avulsion injuries.

Adult

Effects of cold exposure on the circulation of replanted fingers during the early postoperative period.

The replanted finger after a complete amputation is an excellent model for the study of many aspects of vascular physiology. In the present clinical study, 10 patients were investigated to evaluate the incidence of cold-induced vasospasm in replanted digits during the early postoperative period. The results indicate that cold-induced vasospasm is not a risk factor in the early postoperative phase after digital-replantation surgery. It is concluded that cold-induced spasm of the digital arteries is primarily a central, nerve-mediated reflex.

Adult

Digital amputation, replantation, and cold intolerance.

In a controlled, retrospective, clinical study, the relationships between traumatic digital amputation, digital replantation, and cold intolerance were investigated. The results of the investigation indicate that cold intolerance is a major reason for disability after digital amputation. They also indicate that the cold intolerance experienced after digital replantation is due to the original injury, and that it is not aggravated by the reconstructive surgery. Cold intolerance, in and of itself, is not a contraindication to digital replantation, regardless of whether the patient lives or works in high- or low-temperature environments.

Adolescent

Is HLA B27 antigen a predictor of cardiac or pulmonary disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis?

Pericarditis was a frequent echocardiographic finding in 20 HLA B27 positive patients with erosive, seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in 20 B27 negative RA controls (35% and 30% respectively). There was no significant difference in echocardiographic 2-D or M-mode measurements between the groups. A 48 hour continuous electrocardiographic monitoring, showed that ventricular extrasystoles were more frequent (p less than 0.01) in the B27 negative patients. Pulmonary diffusion capacity was reduced in 25% of the patients in both groups. There were no association between clinical or laboratory data and the cardiac or pulmonary findings except for the finding of a higher frequency of treatment with corticosteroids in patients with pericarditis.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Blood flow in chronic Achilles tendinosis. Radioactive microsphere study in rabbits.

Cerium-labeled microspheres were used for blood-flow measurements in 7 New Zealand white rabbits with exercise-induced chronic Achilles paratenonitis and tendinosis. The blood flow increased 1.9 times more on the exercised side as compared with the contralateral, unexercised (control) side with respect to both the tendon and the paratenon. The blood flow of the tendon of the exercised leg showed a strong correlation with the blood flow in the paratenon of the ipsilateral side (r = 0.81). We concluded that the relative contribution of blood from the paratenon to the tendon remained unaltered in the exercised tendon and that degeneration of the tendon cannot be primarily explained by chronic circulatory impairment.

Achilles Tendon

Reaction of patients with effort angina to cold exposure during exercise.

An attempt has been made to characterize so-called "responders" to cold among patients with effort angina. Forty-nine such patients, unselected with regard to their history of reactions to cold, who showed ST depressions during and after exercise, were examined. They worked on a bicycle ergometer close to their maximum capacity, Wmax, at room temperature (about 23 degrees C) and in a cold room (-15 degrees C). ECG was recorded and a rating scale was used to estimate the perceived exertion during exercise (RPE). The presence of angina pectoris during exercise and its duration after exercise was recorded by an EA score. An EA/W index was used to estimate the severity of the effort angina. In the whole group, the mean Wmax decreased and the mean ST depressions, RPE, and EA/W index (but not EA score) increased on exposure to cold. The changes in these variables due to exposure to cold were all associated (but not the EA score). Criteria requiring a decrease in Wmax or increase in ST depression, RPE or EA/W index on cold exposure identified 53 to 63 percent of the patients. By combining the criteria, the number of patients, who were identified, decreased. If all the criteria were applied, about 30 percent of the patients were identified as "responders" to cold and they showed the most marked responses. Thus several exercise ECG test parameters may be used to reliably define "responders" to cold exposure. This may enhance future studies of the response reaction.

Adult

Chronic achilles paratenonitis with tendinosis: an experimental model in the rabbit.

An experimental model for inducing chronic Achilles paratenonitis with tendinosis in the rabbit is presented. Thirteen rabbits were exercised in a kicking machine producing passive flexions and extensions of the ankle joint. Active contractions of the triceps surae muscles were induced by electric stimulation via surface electrodes. The animals were exercised for 5 to 6 weeks, with a rate of 150 flexions and extensions per minute for 2 h, three times a week. Light microscopic examination showed degenerative changes of the tendon, and increased number of capillaries, infiltrates of inflammatory cells, edema, and fibrosis in the paratenon. We conclude that chronic Achilles paratenonitis with tendinosis can be experimentally induced in a standardized manner in rabbits.

Achilles Tendon

Impairment of estramustine phosphate absorption by concurrent intake of milk and food.

The effect of milk and food on the pharmacokinetics of estramustine phosphate was investigated in six patients with prostatic cancer. In a randomized three-way cross-over study, the patients were given single doses of the drug together with low calcium water, low calcium food and milk. The evaluation was based upon the plasma concentration of two metabolites, estromustine and estrone, as parent drug could not be detected in plasma. The tmax and lag time of estromustine were significantly increased by milk and food intake and Cmax and AUC were significantly decreased. In comparison with water, the AUC of estromustine was 41% when the drug was taken with milk and 67% after simultaneous intake of standardized food. Corresponding figures for the peak values were 32 and 57%, respectively. The effect of milk and food intake on the pharmacokinetics of estrone was similar. Studies in vitro demonstrated that the dissolution of estramustine phosphate disodium was markedly impaired in the presence of calcium. It was concluded that the rate and extent of absorption of estramustine phosphate were decreased when the drug was taken with milk or food due to the formation of a poorly absorbable calcium complex. To obtain high and reproducible absorption of Estracyt, the drug should not be taken together with milk, milk products or other calcium-rich food or drugs.

Aged

Pre- and postoperative evaluation of renal function with five different tests in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Renal function was investigated immediately before and 1 year following parathyroidectomy in 19 patients with moderate hypercalcaemia. On both occasions, all patients underwent five different tests of glomerular and tubular function: plasma creatinine, creatinine clearance, 51Cr-EDTA-clearance, beta 2-microglobulin excretion and the desmopressin test. Glomerular filtration rate, as assessed by plasma creatinine and clearance of both creatinine and 51Cr-EDTA, was normal in most patients, and was little affected by restoration of normocalcaemia. Renal concentrating capacity, as determined by the desmopressin test, was abnormally low in 14 of 19 patients, but increased significantly after surgery. It is concluded that serious renal damage is seldom encountered in present-day HPT patients, but that a treatable decrease in renal concentrating capacity often exists.

Adult

Pulmonary-artery cineangiocardiography and echocardiography for detection of cardiac sources of cerebral embolism.

Sixty-two patients with ischemic stroke possibly due to embolism of cardiac origin were investigated by pulmonary artery-cineangiography (PACAC) and echocardiography (UCG) to detect intracardiac thrombi. The proportion of intracardiac thrombi found by PACAC was 31% and by UCG 15%. The presence or absence of atrial fibrillation correlated well with PACAC findings of an intraventricular clot but poorly with UCG. Similarly, there was a significant association between ischemic heart disease and intraventricular thrombi detected by PACAC investigations but not with the results obtained by UCG. PACAC seems superior to UCG in the detection of intracardiac thrombi after possible embolic stroke.

Adult

Technetium-99m pyrophosphate single-photon emission computed tomography of the heart in familial amyloid polyneuropathy.

A patient with familial amyloid polyneuropathy and congestive heart failure underwent myocardial imaging using technetium-99m pyrophosphate. Planar scintigraphy showed an intense, diffuse biventricular uptake of the radiotracer. Single-photon emission computed tomography demonstrated an unevenly distributed uptake of the isotope. The greatest activity corresponded to regions with marked echocardiographic changes. Emission tomography may aid in assessing the degree and distribution of the infiltrative lesions in cardiac amyloidosis.

Aged

Differentiation of cardiac amyloidosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A comparison of familial amyloidosis with polyneuropathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by electrocardiography and echocardiography.

The clinical and echocardiographic features of cardiac amyloidosis may closely resemble those of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and the disorders may thus be mixed up. The present study was undertaken in an attempt to identify features separating the two conditions by analysis of electro- and echocardiographic findings in patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Twenty-nine patients with familial amyloidosis and 22 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were studied. Particular attention was given to the sum of the S wave in V1 and R wave in V5 or V6, the echocardiographic left ventricular mass and cross-sectional area, the presence or absence of asymmetrical septal thickening, granular and sparkling myocardial appearance, thickened heart valves, systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve, and pericardial effusion. A granular and sparkling appearance of the myocardium and thickened heart valves were found to be the best predictors of cardiac amyloidosis, while low QRS amplitudes in relation to echocardiographic left ventricular mass and a pericardial effusion seemed less important. The presence of systolic anterior movement of the mitral valve, a large left ventricular mass and a sum of S in V1 and R in V5 or V6 greater than 35 mm indicated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. When the four strongest predictors (left ventricular mass, thickened heart valves, a granular sparkling myocardial appearance, and systolic anterior movement of the mitral valve) were used to reclassify the present patients, 28 of 29 amyloidosis patients and 21 of 22 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were correctly categorized. Noninvasive methods may thus be useful for detecting the myocardial infiltrative process, and cardiac amyloidosis may be confidently diagnosed by typical noninvasive findings together with histopathological documentation of amyloid in an organ other than the heart.

Adult

Pulmonary function in patients with sarcoidosis. A three year follow-up.

During a 3 year period, 101 patients were consecutively diagnosed as having sarcoidosis. During the 3 year follow-up 9 patients died, 6 of them directly or indirectly due to their sarcoidosis. In 78 patients bronchoscopy and spirometry were performed at the primary investigation, and after 3 years a new spirometry was performed. A positive bronchial mucosal biopsy, bronchial sarcoidosis, was found in 31 (40%) of the 78 patients. Mean values of vital capacity, total lung capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second were normal in both patients with bronchial sarcoidosis and those without. Abnormal spirometry was found in 16 (21%) patients at the initial examination and in 11 (14%) at the follow-up. There were 10 (32%) patients with and 6 (13%) without bronchial sarcoidosis who had an abnormal spirometry. At follow-up a normalized lung function was found in 8 (50%) of the 16 patients with abnormal spirometry. Only 3 (4.8%) patients with initially normal lung function had abnormal lung function at follow-up. Our findings indicate a very little risk of developing abnormal lung function if there are normal findings at the primary investigation. Corticosteroids seem to have some effect, especially in patients with endobronchial sarcoidosis.

Adult

Highly refractile myocardial echoes in familial amyloidosis with polyneuropathy. A correlative echocardiographic and histopathological study.

Two-dimensional echocardiography in systemic amyloidosis has in most cases shown highly refractile myocardial echoes. The morphological basis for this finding has so far been little examined. In the present study, echocardiographic examinations were performed in vitro on autopsied hearts from ten patients with familial amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (FAP). An ultrasonically visible needle was used to localize the abnormal echoes, and samples were taken for histological analysis of the region of the echocardiographic abnormality. Our results indicate that the highly refractile myocardial echoes in FAP are due to nodules composed of collagen and amyloid.

Adult

Clearance of triglycerides from the circulation and its relationship to serum lipoproteins: influence of age and sex.

In this study of a randomly selected population from 20 to 70 years of age, the clearance of triglycerides from the blood was studied after i.v. injection of an artificial triglyceride emulsion Intralipid. In women, the triglyceride clearance from the blood decreases with increasing age, but for men there was no change with age. Women had faster fractional removal rates of i.v. injected triglycerides than men in all age-groups. The triglyceride clearance showed a negative correlation to Broca index (obesity), serum triglyceride, serum cholesterol, triglycerides in very low density lipoproteins, and to cholesterol in very low density lipoproteins and in low density lipoproteins, but showed a strong positive correlation to cholesterol in high density lipoproteins.

Adult

Decreased removal of triglycerides from the blood--a mechanism for the hypertriglyceridemia in male patients with coronary artery disease.

We determined serum apolipoprotein A I and A II concentrations and triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations in serum lipoprotein density classes in 28 male patients with severe ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and with angiographically verified coronary artery disease (CAD) and in age-matched controls. Both triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations in very low density lipoproteins and in low density lipoproteins were higher in IHD-patients than in the controls. The triglyceride but not the cholesterol concentration in serum was higher in IHD-patients than in the controls. The cholesterol in high density lipoproteins and the serum apolipoprotein A I concentration were lower in IHD-patients than in the controls. At least in part the higher triglyceride concentration in very low density lipoproteins could be attributed to a decreased removal of triglycerides from the blood since the fractional removal rate of an i.v. injected artificial triglyceride emulsion (Intralipid) was slower in IHD-patients than in the controls.

Adult