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Biomedical subjects

G Karlsson

Publications and source records attributed to G Karlsson.

159 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Individual mercury exposure of chloralkali workers and its relation to blood and urinary mercury levels.

On two occasions, chloralkali workers were investigated with regard to personal air mercury exposure, blood mercury and urinary mercury. The first investigation (13 workers, 2 weeks) was made at an exposure above the threshold limit value (64 microgram/m3, range 36--112), the second (16 workers, 8 weeks) at a lower exposure (23 microgram/m3, range 15--43). At the higher level of exposure, good correlations were found between air exposure and blood or urinary mercury for the group, but not for individuals. At the lower level, the correlations were less pronounced for the group. For individuals, the best correlation was found between mean air exposure during one week and blood mercury about half a week later. Other individuals, mainly the least exposed, showed no such correlation. Corresponding correlations were not found for urinary mercury. The urinary excretion rate was determined only for the last few hours of the workday, but the results agree with earlier investigations of 24-h excretion on a group basis. The threshold limit value for mercury in air (50 microgram/m3) corresponds to 150--175 nmol Hg/1 blood (= 30--35 microgram/1) for the group, with large individual variation.

Adult↗

New chromogenic peptide substrates for factor X.

The factor Xa-sensitive substrate BZ-Ile-Glu-Gly-Arg-p-nitroanilide has been made more sensitive by making ester and amide derivatives of the gamma-carboxyl group of the glutamyl residue. The morpholinyl and piperidyl amides react 2.5 times more rapidly with factor Xa.

Factor X↗

Aneurysmal bone cyst of the femur in a child with celiac disease.

A case of aneurysmal bone cyst of the femur in a 2-year-old boy with celiac disease is described. The bone cyst presented with a pathological fracture while the boy was undergoing gluten challenge. The definite diagnosis of celiac disease according to the criteria formulated by the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition was established. A hypothetical association between the two disorders is discussed.

Bone Cysts↗

Nondisplaced and minimally displaced fractures of the lateral humeral condyle in children: a prospective radiographic investigation of fracture stability.

Subsequent displacement of nondisplaced or minimally displaced fractures of the lateral humeral condyle while immobilized in plaster may contribute to severe complications. The possibility of assessing the stability of such fractures may be a help in planning the initial treatment. Our prospective investigation of 112 children aged 1-11 years aimed at describing radiographic criteria for prognosticating the stability of the fractures. According to the radiographic findings, the fractures were allocated to one of three groups representing stable fractures, fractures with undefinable risk, and fractures with high risk of later displacement. All children were treated with splinting only. Sixty-five fractures were classified as stable and turned out to be so without exception. Displacement occurred in six of 35 (17%) of the fractures judged uncertain and in five of 12 (42%) of those judged unstable. The subsequent displacement was 1 or 2 mm, and in one case, 3 mm. The defined criteria were found to be efficient in separating the stable and the high-risk fractures with acceptable confidence. The group of fractures with undecided risk of subsequent displacement was fairly large--one third of the total material. The implication the findings may bear to the treatment strategy of fractures is analyzed in a work in progress.

Child↗

The nasal mucosa in immunodeficiency. Surface morphology, mucociliary function and bacteriological findings in adult patients with common variable immunodeficiency or selective IgA deficiency.

Twenty-two adult patients suffering from common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and sixteen patients with selective IgA deficiency were examined with regard to the mucocilliary function of the nose. The surface structures of the nasal mucosa, e.g. cell distribution and degree of destruction and metaplasia, were judged from scanning electron microscopy of nasal biopsies. Bacteria were isolated from nasopharyngeal swabs. The results of the clinical and morphological investigations were analysed with regard to the duration of the disease and possible benefit of adequate prophylaxis with immunoglobulin. It was found that patients with CVID had a slower mucociliary transport rate and more extensive mucosal damages than patients with selective IgA deficiency. Most likely these alterations were due to repeated infections as patients who had had few infections or adequate immunoglobulin prophylaxis (CVID patients) had better mucociliary function and showed less extensive mucosal changes. Potentially pathogenic bacteria in the nasopharynx were found in equal numbers in both patient groups.

Adolescent↗

Methods for detecting residues of cleaning agents during cleaning validation.

Cleaning validation procedures are carried out in order to assure that residues of cleaning agents are within acceptable limits after the cleaning process. Cleaning agents often consist of a mixture of various surfactants which are in a highly diluted state after the water rinsing procedure has been completed. This makes it difficult to find appropriate analytical methods that are sensitive enough to detect the cleaning agents. In addition, it is advantageous for the analytical methods to be simple to perform and to give results quickly. In this study, four different analytical methods are compared: visual detection of foam, pH, conductivity measurements, and analysis of total organic carbon (TOC). TOC was used as a reference method when evaluating the other three potential methods. The analyses were performed on different dilutions of the cleaning agents Vips Neutral, RBS-25, Debisan and Perform. The results demonstrated that the most sensitive method for analysis of Vips Neutral, Debisan and Perform is visual detection of foam, by which it is possible to detect concentrations of cleaning agents down to 10 micrograms/mL. RBS-25 was not detected below 200 micrograms/mL, probably because it is formulated with low-foaming surfactants. TOC analysis is less sensitive but has the advantage of being a quantitative analysis, while visual detection of foam is a semi-quantitative method. Visual detection of foam is easy to perform, gives a quick result, and requires no expensive instrumentation. The sensitivity of each method was found to be dependent upon the type of cleaning agent that was analyzed.

Carbon↗

Blood transfusion and recurrence of colorectal cancer.

Because perioperative blood transfusions have been shown to have an impaired effect on survival in patients with colorectal cancer, we examined retrospectively the records of 882 patients who had undergone curative operations: 170 patients had distant metastases at the time of operation. Of the 499 patients with colonic cancer 332 (67%) had received perioperative blood transfusions. The corresponding figure for the 213 patients with rectal cancer was 190 (89%). Colonic tumors recurred in 45% of the patients who received blood transfusions and in 39% of those who did not. Corresponding figures for tumors in the rectum were 54% and 55%. When dividing the patients with colonic cancer into different subgroups according to Dukes' grade we found differences in survival rates. The poorer survival for transfused patients was, however, only significant for those with Dukes' A tumors (p less than 0.05). This difference disappeared when the influence of age was eliminated. The estimated risk ratio of recurrence and death was 1.23 with the 95% confidence interval (0.99, 1.53) when taking Dukes' grade, current age and localization into account. Blood transfusion should be avoided if possible until adequate prospective studies have been carried out.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗