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Biomedical subjects

E Carlsen

Publications and source records attributed to E Carlsen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Evidence for increasing incidence of abnormalities of the human testis: a review.

Recent reports have suggested that the incidence of genitourinary abnormalities in human males has increased during the past 50 years, including congenital abnormalities such as cryptorchidism and hypospadia, which seem to be occurring more commonly. Also, the incidence of testicular cancer has increased 3- to 4-fold since the 1940s. This increase seems to be worldwide including countries with a very high frequency of testicular neoplasia as well as those in which this cancer is rather uncommon. It has also been postulated that semen quality has been decreasing for the last half century. A recent study showed that the average sperm density has decreased significantly from 113 million/mL in 1940 to 66 million/mL in 1990. The mean seminal volume has also declined, indicating that the decrease in the total sperm count is even more pronounced than the fall in sperm density would indicate. The remarkable increase in frequency of testicular abnormalities over a relatively short period of time may be due to environmental rather than genetic factors. There is an epidemiological link between the occurrence of different testicular abnormalities. Therefore, common prenatally acting etiological factors with adverse effects on the fetal male gonad might be suspected. However, postnatal influences may also have a deleterious effect on male fertility. From the reproductive point of view, an increased impact on the human male gonad is of concern.

Cryptorchidism↗
PubMed1992

[Quality assurance in a surgical department].

The quality of a given service in a surgical department depends on many factors. Most important are adequate resources, training of the surgeons and nurses and time for follow-up and clinical research. Quality standards should be defined in accordance with the international literature and results should be continuously surveyed to ensure that the agreed goals are met. This article describes various general rules and routines which have been established in our department, as well as the specific systems used to measure the quality of our surgical service in three special fields: Care of patients with tumour mammae, care of patients with gallstone disease, and prospective registration of complications for all gastroenterological patients in our surgical department.

Norway↗
PubMed1992

Evidence for decreasing quality of semen during past 50 years.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether semen quality has changed during the past 50 years. DESIGN: Review of publications on semen quality in men without a history of infertility selected by means of Cumulated Index Medicus and Current List (1930-1965) and MEDLINE Silver Platter database (1966-August 1991). SUBJECTS: 14,947 men included in a total of 61 papers published between 1938 and 1991. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean sperm density and mean seminal volume. RESULTS: Linear regression of data weighted by number of men in each study showed a significant decrease in mean sperm count from 113 x 10(6)/ml in 1940 to 66 x 10(6)/ml in 1990 (p < 0.0001) and in seminal volume from 3.40 ml to 2.75 ml (p = 0.027), indicating an even more pronounced decrease in sperm production than expressed by the decline in sperm density. CONCLUSIONS: There has been a genuine decline in semen quality over the past 50 years. As male fertility is to some extent correlated with sperm count the results may reflect an overall reduction in male fertility. The biological significance of these changes is emphasised by a concomitant increase in the incidence of genitourinary abnormalities such as testicular cancer and possibly also cryptorchidism and hypospadias, suggesting a growing impact of factors with serious effects on male gonadal function.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

[Angiosarcoma of the colon].

Angiosarcoma is a rare tumour, particularly angiosarcoma in the colon. We report such a case, and demonstrate the need to use other methods to supplement the ordinary morphological examination of the tumour in order to verify the correct diagnosis. This is important, in order to plan the correct treatment and follow-up of the patient.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Allogenic induction of thromboplastin synthesis in monocytes and endothelial cells. Biphasic effect of cyclosporin A.

Monocytes and endothelial cells were stimulated in co-culture with allogeneic lymphocytes to produce thromboplastin (TPL). The induction was biphasic, an early response (8-24 h) was greatly augmented by cyclosporin A (CS) (0.5-5 micrograms/ml) whereas the late response (day 3-4) was inhibited. Prednisolone inhibited both responses. Both drugs inhibited lymphocyte proliferation. Interferon-gamma decreased MLC TPL activity but increased thymidine incorporation. CD4+ cells were instrumental in inducing the early TPL peak in monocytes, whereas CD8+ cells decreased the TPL effect. With endothelial cells both T cell classes were equally effective. Conditioned medium from MLC as well as from co-cultures of endothelial cells and lymphocytes induced early TPL synthesis in endothelial cells. Upon allogeneic stimulation monocytes, but not endothelial cells, produced a significant amount of F-VII, most of which was apparently undercarboxylated.

Cyclosporins↗
PubMed1988

Cytokine-induced procoagulant activity in monocytes and endothelial cells. Further enhancement by cyclosporine.

IL-1, IL-2, and TNF alpha are important biological response modifiers of inflammatory and immunological reactions. Our experiments show that these cytokines are potent inducers of thromboplastin (TPL) activity but that their effects differ with regard to cell type and kinetics in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), monocytes (M), and mononuclear blood cells (MNC). Recombinant IL-1 alpha, rIL-1 beta and rTNF alpha all induced a dose-dependent increase in endothelial cell TPL activity, whereas rIL-2 had essentially no such effect. In the case of M and MNC cultures, IL-1 and IL-2 each induced TPL synthesis, IL-2 somewhat more slowly than IL-1. Special care was taken to exclude the effect of endotoxin present in the IL-1 preparations. Recombinant TNF alpha had a markedly smaller or no effect. When LPS was used to induce TPL synthesis, addition of rTNF alpha further enhanced HUVEC TPL, whereas no effect or a decrease in TPL was seen in MNC and M, especially in the presence of CsA and TNF alpha. Recombinant IL-1 beta also induced the synthesis of clotting factor VII in monocytes, thus allowing the formation of TPL-factor VII complexes, a most powerful trigger of blood clotting. IL-1 alpha, IL-2, and TNF alpha had no effect on the level of factor VII activity. Cyclosporine significantly augmented the level of TPL activity in HUVEC stimulated with rIL-1 alpha, rIL-1 beta, and rTNF alpha and in MNC and M stimulated with rIL-1 alpha, rIL-1 beta, and rIL-2. These actions of cytokines and cyclosporine may contribute significantly to the development of thrombotic reactions and fibrin deposits in transplanted organs, as well as to other pathophysiological pathways where activated clotting factors are involved.

Biological Factors↗
PubMed1988

Activation of monocytes--more than one process. Differential effect of cytokines on monocytes.

Monocytes and macrophages respond to a number of exogenous agents by alterations in metabolism and gene expression in a process loosely called 'activation'. The question arises whether these alterations in cellular activity are the pleiotropic effects of one programmed activation process or result from separately programmed activation pathways. We report that certain cytokines (interleukin 1 (IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta) and interleukin 2 (IL-2] which all activate monocytes, induce the synthesis of thromboplastin (TPL) and (IL-1 beta only) factor VII. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) do not induce monocyte procoagulant activity, although they both activate monocytes in several respects. Our data thus show that different states of activation are induced. Similar observations have been made by others using different systems.

Biological Products↗
PubMed1987

Beta-adrenoceptor blockade in the treatment of postoperative adynamic ileus.

Abdominal trauma, such as surgery and peritonitis, leads to inhibition of intestinal motility, partly mediated by alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors. To investigate the effect of nonselective beta-blockade on adynamic ileus, propranolol was compared with placebo in the postoperative course after elective colonic surgery in a double-blind randomized study. Ten patients received 4 mg propranolol intravenously twice daily, and ten received 10 mg intravenously twice daily. Nineteen patients received placebo. The time to first passage of stool was 110 +/- 9 h in the placebo group and 82 +/- 11 h in the 4-mg propranolol group. In the 10-mg propranolol group, the time was 79 +/- 8 h. The difference between the placebo-treated group and the propranolol-treated groups was significant (p less than 0.01). The effect of propranolol was most marked in older patients and after surgery on the distal colon. In patients older than 60 years the time to first stool in the placebo group was 127 +/- 13 h (n = 8), compared with 73 +/- 8 h (n = 11) in the propranolol group (p less than 0.01). In patients who had undergone surgery on the distal colon the time to first stool was 125 +/- 13 h (n = 8) in the placebo group and 76 +/- 8 h (n = 11) for propranolol (p less than 0.01). Adverse effects on the respiratory or cardiovascular system were not seen during medication. It is concluded that propranolol shortens the period of adynamic ileus after colonic surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Differential effect of alpha-interferon and gamma-interferon on thromboplastin response in monocytes and endothelial cells.

Recombinant gamma-interferon (r gamma-IFN) has contrasting effects on thromboplastin (TPL) synthesis induced in monocytes (M) and endothelial cells by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phorbol ester (TPA), and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) the induced thromboplastin response was significantly augmented by r gamma-IFN whereas the monocyte response was inhibited. Recombinant alpha-interferon (r alpha-IFN) had no effect on thromboplastin induction in endothelial cells but had a significant inhibitory effect on the TPL response in monocytes when LPS or LPS and cyclosporin A (CS) were used as inducing agents. Cyclosporin A, previously shown to enhance thromboplastin synthesis induced in monocytes, also contributes to a higher level of thromboplastin activity in endothelial cells. Its effect on monocytes was in most cases fully inhibited by r gamma-IFN (and also by r alpha-IFN when tested). gamma-Interferon and alpha-interferon alone had a weak stimulatory effect or none on thromboplastin synthesis in both cell types.

Cyclosporins↗
PubMed1985

Effect of cyclosporine A on procoagulant activity in mononuclear blood cells and monocytes in vitro.

Monocytes and macrophages synthesize thromboplastin when induced by a number of compounds. Our experiments show that cyclosporine A (CyA) enhances the synthesis of procoagulant activity in monocytes and in whole mononuclear cells (MNC) about two-fold when phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) is the stimulant. The enhancement is inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide. CyA alone had no effect, but in the presence of PHA or phorbol ester CyA induces or enhances the synthesis of a vitamin K-dependent procoagulant in the MNC cultures. This procoagulant acts synergistically with thromboplastin synthesized in the same cultures.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1983

The effect of phospholipase C in sheep.

Based on earlier studies in rats, phospholipase C (PLC) seemed to be a very promising prophylactic agent for certain types of thrombo-embolic disease. Recent studies in rabbits have, however, demonstrated that phospholipase C is more toxic than expected from the previous data. To gain more knowledge about its toxicity in larger animals we have studied its effect in sheep. Estimated LD50 for the enzyme in sheep was between 0.4 and 0.2 mg PLC/kg given as a 23 min infusion and below 0.2 mg/kg given as a bolus. Cellular necrosis was a common feature in several tissues of sheep dying from PLC. This explained the pulmonary oedema, decreased oxygen tension and renal failure with haematuria, proteinuria and glucosuria which occurred. PLC was probably filtered out in the glomeruli and totally reabsorbed in the tubuli until they were destroyed by PLC. An increase in different plasma enzymes suggested that PLC exerted a toxic effect on both muscle cells and hepatocytes. The blood glucose level remained about 20% lower in the PLC-treated animals than in the controls for more than 2 weeks. Pulmonary oedema and renal failure were the probable causes of death.

Animals↗