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Biomedical subjects

E Nilsson

Publications and source records attributed to E Nilsson.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Comparison of four non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs in the suppression of the oculocardiac reflex during strabismus surgery in children.

Eighty children (aged 2-12 yr) undergoing strabismus surgery were randomly assigned to receive tubocurarine, alcuronium, pancuronium or vecuronium during anaesthesia with thiopentone, fentanyl and nitrous oxide in oxygen. Heart rate and rhythm were recorded before and after the induction of anaesthesia and before and during traction on an extraocular muscle. End-tidal carbon dioxide concentration and the degree of neuromuscular blockade were monitored. Alcuronium seemed to give more protection against the oculocardiac reflex (defined as a 20% decrease in heart rate) than did tubocurarine, pancuronium or vecuronium.

Alcuronium↗

One-month versus six-month therapy with oral anticoagulants after symptomatic deep vein thrombosis.

The length of time for which deep vein thrombosis (DVT) should be treated with oral anticoagulants (OA) is controversial. In this study, 135 patients with symptomatic first period DVT (83% with proximal DVT) were randomly allocated to OA for one or six months. The diagnosis of initial and recurrent DVT was confirmed by phlebography or plethysmography and thermography, or by a combination of all these methods. Pulmonary emboli were confirmed by lung scans or at autopsy. The patients were followed for at least one year. One patient had to discontinue OA prematurely because of haemorrhage. Seventeen patients left the project for other reasons, ten during and seven after therapy; in one of these DVT recurred. The recurrence rate during the first year was high (17% symptomatic recurrences) irrespective of whether OA had been given for one or six months.

Adult↗

Uptake and anterograde axonal transport of Aleuria lectin in retinal ganglion cells of the rabbit.

A fucose-specific lectin from Aleuria aurantia was used to study the dynamics of neuronal membrane glycoproteins. Albino rabbits received vitreal injections of affinity-purified 125I-Aleuria lectin. The radioactive probe was internalized by adsorptive endocytosis into retinal ganglion cells, and transported intact down to the nerve terminals in the contralateral geniculate bodies and superior colliculi. We found that the radiolabeled lectin was transported with at least two distinct rates (I, approximately 205 mm/day; II, approximately 45 mm/day) corresponding to the two rapid phases of anterograde transport of endogenous polypeptides described earlier in this system. This is the first evidence that an exogenous macromolecule may be transported along the axon at more than one velocity.

Animals↗

Atopy, occupation and domestic work as risk factors for hand eczema in hospital workers.

By means of a multivariate regression analysis, we have studied the importance of atopy, "wet" and "dry" occupations, and domestic work as risk factors for hand eczema. Hand eczema was identified by questionnaire. The studied cohort consisted of 2452 newly employed hospital workers with a median follow-up time of 20 months. Of the total cohort studied, 86% were female. The total occurrence of hand eczema in the 4 occupational groups studied were: nursing staff 41%, kitchen workers/cleaners 37%, office workers 25% and caretakers/craftsmen 17%. Atopic dermatitis increased the odds of developing hand eczema by 3 times in wet as well as in dry work. Subjects with atopic dermatitis developed a more severe hand eczema than subjects with atopic mucosal symptoms and non-atopics. Wet hospital work increased the odds by a factor of 2 compared to dry office work. 2 anamnestically available parameters of domestic work, namely "nursing of children younger than 4 years" and "absence of dish-washing machine" were found to significantly increase the risk of developing hand eczema. Wet work in combination with unfavourable domestic factors increased the odds by a factor of 4. The caretakers/craftsmen group, which was dominated by men, showed the lowest figure for hand eczema.

Adult↗

Contact sensitivity and urticaria in "wet" work.

A selected group of 142 hospital "wet" workers with hand eczema was studied. 91% were female. Atopy (58%), metal dermatitis (41%), and hand eczema prior to the current wet work (67%) were more common than in the total cohort to which these patients belonged. Patch tests were carried out on 120 patients and prick tests on 41 with a history of contact urticaria. Water, cleaning agents, hand disinfectants, the wearing of gloves and other trivial irritant factors were claimed to have elicited the current episodes of hand eczema in 92.3% of cases. In 35%, a considerable part of the exposure to irritant factors took place at home or during leisure time. Delayed contact sensitivity was found in 45 patients, nickel, cobalt, balsam of Peru and rubber chemicals being the most common allergens. Nickel and/or cobalt allergy was found in approximately half of the patients with contact allergy. Positive prick tests relevant for contact urticaria were found in 22 patients, and were most often obtained with various foods or rubber gloves. Although contact sensitivity and contact urticaria were common, they seemed to play a minor rôle in the etiology of the current hand eczema compared to endogenous factors and trivial irritants.

Adult↗

Combinations of interferon-gamma and retinoic acid or 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol induce differentiation of the human monoblast leukemia cell line U-937.

The monoblastlike leukemia cell line, U-937, is induced to differentiate into monocytelike cells by incubation with 200-500 U/ml of recombinant human immune interferon (IFN-gamma) judging from capacity to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium. At least an additive differentiation-inducing effect was found between IFN-gamma and 1-100 nM retinoic acid (RA). A marked synergistic differentiation-inducing effect was found between IFN-gamma and 0.1-1.0 nM 1 alpha,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25[OH]2D3). It is also shown that U-937 can be primed for differentiation by treatment for approximately one day with 1,25(OH)2D3 followed by exposure to IFN-gamma. Priming of these cells does not depend on the normal rate of RNA synthesis, as it occurs even better in the presence of cordycepin, suggesting that a decrease in RNA synthesis favors IFN-induced differentiation. Actually, the addition of cordycepin during initial incubation with IFN increased the subsequent response to IFN-gamma (and also to RA and 1,25[OH]2D3). These results, indicating that combinations of IFN-gamma and either RA or 1,25(OH)2D3 induce differentiation of U-937, may be of importance in combination biotherapy of leukemia.

Calcitriol↗

Characterization of the cells in myeloid leukemia that produce leukemia associated inhibitor (LAI) and demonstration of LAI-producing cells in normal bone marrow.

LAI (leukemia associated inhibitor) is a high mol. wt glycoprotein that reversibly reduces the proliferative rate of normal granulopoietic stem cells but not of clonogenic cells in leukemia. LAI was originally found to be produced and released by cells in acute and chronic leukemia and may play a role in the suppression of normal hematopoiesis in these diseases. We now report the physical and functional characteristics of LAI-producing cells in myeloid leukemia; they have a medium density with peaks in the range of 1.075-1.080 g/ml in continuous Percoll gradients, they are large cells with a sedimentation velocity of about 13-15 mm/h and they are non-phagocytic, non-adherent, non-T, non-B, Fc-receptor positive cells and about equally distributed among C'-receptor positive and negative cells. Normal bone marrow was shown to contain LAI-producing cells present in the non-phagocytic Fc-receptor positive compartment of cells within the density range 1.075-1.080 g/ml. Presented data suggest that LAI-producing cells comprise a subpopulation of cells that may be involved in the regulation of normal granulopoiesis as well as in the suppression of normal hematopoiesis in leukemia. These data also show that LAI-producing cells are different from the cells producing another inhibitor (LIA) recently identified as acidic isoferritins.

Bone Marrow↗

Long-term monitoring of arterial pO2 in burned patients.

Five patients, who were treated in a special ward for burns were followed by continuous intra-arterial pO2 monitoring for a total of 1612 h (range 13-604 h). The pao2 catheter electrodes used were surface-heparinized, and inserted either in the radial or the femoral artery. Some electrodes were accidentally withdrawn. Recalibration was performed for two of the 10 electrodes used. These electrodes presented a changed sensitivity after heavy stretching of the sensor during the nursing. The sensitivity of one of these electrodes was altered downwards and the other one upwards. After recalibration the pao2 electrodes presented accurate values for the rest of the monitoring period. Without compensation for drift, the pao2 electrode readout was compared to the results of traditional blood-gas analysis, which served as a reference. The regression function found was y = -0.62 + 1.04 chi (r = 0.93, SD = 1.40, n = 60). The blood flow velocity around some of the pao2 electrodes was studied by the pulsed Doppler technique. There was no influence of the surface-heparinized pao2 electrode on the femoral artery blood flow velocity as compared to the contralateral, non-catheterized femoral artery. The blood flow velocity proximal to a traditional radial artery catheter was compared to the flow velocity in the contralateral radial artery containing a surface-heparinized pao2 electrode. The surface-heparinized electrode did not decrease the mean flow velocity in contrast with the traditional radial artery catheter, which had to be withdrawn after 8 days because of clotting. The surface-heparinized catheter electrode was still monitoring pao2 accurately after 25 days in the artery, which was the longest period studied for a particular sensor.

Adult↗

A comparison between the metabolism of delta 1-tetrahydrocannabinol by perfused lung and liver of rat and guinea-pig.

The metabolism of delta 1-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 1-THC) by lung and liver of rat and guinea-pig have been studied by isolated perfused-organ techniques. Metabolites were identified by t.l.c. and mass fragmentography. Biotransformation in lungs showed a different quantitative pattern to the livers in both species. 4"-Hydroxy-delta 1-THC was a major metabolite in both rat and guinea-pig lung. 7-Hydroxy-delta 1-THC was another major metabolite in guinea-pig lung, but a minor one in rat lung. 6 alpha-Hydroxy-delta 1-THC and 6,7-dihydroxy-delta 1-THC were formed in small quantities in both species. Small amounts of 6 beta-hydroxy-delta 1-THC were detected in guinea-pig lung in addition to the metabolites mentioned. Livers of rat and guinea-pig formed 7-hydroxy-delta 1-THC as the most abundant metabolite together with minor amounts of 6 alpha-hydroxy- and 6,7-dihydroxy-delta 1-THC. 6 beta-Hydroxy-delta 1-THC was a minor liver metabolite in guinea-pig, and was found in rat only in trace amounts, together with delta 1-THC-6-one. No side-chain hydroxylated metabolites were detected in rat liver, while guinea-pig liver formed trace amounts of 3"-hydroxy- and 4"-hydroxy-delta 1-THC.

Animals↗

Carcinoma of the colon and rectum. Results of treatment in 284 cases.

Survival among 284 patients treated for colorectal cancer in the period 1971-1975 is reviewed. Surgery was performed in 93% of the total series, with curative intent in 55%. The crude and the corrected 5-year survival rates were 28 and 36% for all the patients and 51 and 64%, respectively, in the group with curative surgery. Dukes' classification (A, B, C) gave corrected 5-year survival rates of 92, 71 and 35%. No patient who underwent no or only palliative surgery, or whose tumour was non-classifiable according to Dukes, survived for five years. For patients admitted on emergency indications the crude 5-year survival was significantly lower than for those electively admitted (18 v. 33%). The recurrence rate among the patients treated with curative intent was 36% at the end of five years (24% in colonic and 49% in rectal cancer). The postoperative mortality (within 30 days of surgery) was 11% for all the patients and 6% in the curative surgery group.

Colonic Neoplasms↗

Carcinoma of the colon and rectum--growth rate.

Twenty-seven carcinomas of the colon or rectum are presented which could retrospectively be measured on radiographs at two separate occasions. The mean diameter of the tumors at first and second investigations was 35 mm (10-90 mm) and 65 mm (30-110 mm), respectively, and the median interval between these examinations was 11 months (4-91 months). The median linear growth rate was 0.083 mm/day (0.008-0.262 mm/day). The median time for doubling of tumor volume was 130 days (53-1570 days), assuming a three-dimensional pattern of tumor growth. A significant correlation between poor differentiation and high linear growth rate (greater than or equal to 0.1 mm/day) was found. It is suggested that the high growth rate observed in this investigation in comparison with some previous studies may be due to the large size of the tumors and, hence, to their great risk of being malignant already at the first examination.

Adult↗

Can 4-aminopyridine be used to reverse anaesthesia and muscle relaxation?

4-aminopyridine has earlier been shown to antagonize neuromuscular block and to release transmitters in CNS. In a study in man the drug was given intravenously at the end of anaesthesia in order to counteract muscle relaxation and possibly also anaesthesia. The effects were followed by clinical observations, intraarterial blood pressure recording, ECG, repetitive muscle nerve stimulation and EEG. It was shown that the drug could reverse the neuromuscular block in lightly curarized patients, but was not as efficient as synstigmine methylsulphate (Neostigmine). In two cases the drug produced a slowing of EEG activity, which was normalized by naloxone. No toxic effects of the drug were observed.

4-Aminopyridine↗

Hemodynamic responses to physostigmine in patients with a drug overdose.

Hemodynamic responses to physostigmine were evaluated in eight patients with coma due to overdose with mainly anticholinergic drugs (AC) and in five patients with coma due to overdose with nonanticholinergic drugs (NAC). After correction of hypovolemia, but before administration of physostigmine, AC patients had significantly lower systemic vascular resistances, slightly higher cardiac outputs, and lower mean arterial pressures than NAC patients. Physostigmine produced negligible hemodynamic and, as expected, negligible neurological changes in NAC patients. In AC patients physostigmine produced, also as expected, improved consciousness and in addition significantly increased mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, and cardiac work without significantly affecting systemic vascular resistance.

Adult↗

Continuous pH monitoring with monocrystalline antimony electrodes: toxicity considerations from studies on heparinized human plasma.

Monocrystalline antimony electrodes can be used as pH sensors for continuous monitoring in vivo. The electric potential of the electrodes stems from a corrosion reaction in which antimony metal dissolution constitutes the anodic reaction. In this study the amount of antimony which leaves a monocrystalline antimony sensor, when monitoring pH in thermostatically controlled sterile human heparinized plasma, was determined by neutron activation analyses. From these results the toxicity hazard of using such electrodes in vivo is assessed. It is concluded that the amount of antimony released from a monocrystalline pH sensor, when used in a biological medium, is small compared with the amount of antimony accepted for administration as a medical therapeutic. Thus it should be safe from the toxicological point of view to use monocrystalline antimony electrodes for in vivo pH monitoring.

Antimony↗

Subcutaneous administration of heparin. A randomised comparison with intravenous administration of heparin to patients with deep-vein thrombosis.

One-hundred and forty-one patients with clinical signs of acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the legs were randomly allocated to receive heparin either as two daily subcutaneous injections (s.c.) or as continuous intravenous infusion (i.v.). The thrombi extended into the popliteal or femoral veins in 83% of the patients. Verification of diagnosis and evaluation of therapy was performed by phlebography, plethysmography and thermography. The results showed that heparin administered s.c. twice daily was as efficient as continuous i.v. infusion in preventing extension of the thrombus. In two patients the s.c. administration was stopped due to local haematomas at the injection sites. Retroperitoneal or intramuscular bleedings occurred in four patients, two in each group. Two major, non-fatal pulmonary emboli occurred, one in each group.

Adult↗