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Biomedical subjects

G Svensson

Publications and source records attributed to G Svensson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Reliability of articular indices and function tests in a population study of rheumatic disorders.

Reliability and method error were assessed for 25 clinical tests by test-retest on 31 subjects with rheumatic disorder (RD) and on 28 consecutive non-RD of a reference group (REF) from a female population sample. Low systemic differences were found for joint mobility tests in the RD group and correlation coefficients were generally above 0.7. A significant difference in the RD group was found only for climbing stairs, and in the REF group for shoulder external rotation and flexion, wrist extension and grip strength. The relative method error of grip strength was large (17%). A new assessment of activities of daily living could not be fully evaluated because the population studies had limited disability, but the error was acceptable. Articular indices (Lansbury, Ritchie, and American Rheumatism Association) showed large method errors (9-25%), acceptable test-retest correlations (greater than 0.75), and a systematic difference only in the Ritchie index. The analyses showed that a number of clinical tests are adequate for population studies of RD, but the metrical properties of these tests must be considered in the planning of clinical and population studies.

Activities of Daily Living↗

The effects of omeprazole and cimetidine on duodenal ulcer healing and the relief of symptoms.

In a Swedish double-blind multicentre study, omeprazole (30 mg o.m.) was compared with the H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine (400 mg b.d.) in 152 patients. Clinical assessments and laboratory investigations were carried out at 2 and 4 weeks, and again at 6 weeks in unhealed patients. Endoscopy was performed at 2 weeks, and again at 4 and 6 weeks in unhealed patients. The patients in the two groups were well-matched prior to treatment. Omeprazole was superior to cimetidine in ulcer-healing rate after 2, 4 and 6 weeks. After 2 weeks of treatment, 66% of the omeprazole- and 45% of the cimetidine-treated patients were healed (P = 0.02), after 4 weeks 97 and 84% (P = 0.01), and after 6 weeks 100 and 92% (P = 0.02), respectively. There was a more pronounced improvement in the patients' symptoms in the omeprazole group after 2 weeks (P = 0.05). Both drugs were well-tolerated, but there was a high prevalence of patients with adverse events in the cimetidine group (51%, compared to 30% of the omeprazole group; P = 0.02). A total of 125 patients were followed for 6 months after healing. The patients were investigated by endoscopy after 6 months, or whenever symptoms occurred. There was no significant difference in the rate of relapse within 6 months between the two treatment groups: 54% relapsed in the omeprazole group and 52% in the cimetidine group. In conclusion, 30 mg of omeprazole, given once daily, is superior to 400 mg of cimetidine twice daily in duodenal ulcer healing; but ulcer relapse in the two groups appears to be equivalent.

Adolescent↗

Trends in coronary care. A retrospective study of patients with myocardial infarction treated in coronary care units.

Data on the 2,008 patients in the Swedish Co-operative Study from 1969 were compared with 773 consecutive cases with definite myocardial infarction (MI) admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) of Danderyd Hospital in Stockholm 1984-85. We found a significant decrease in hospital mortality from 26.6% to 12.9% despite the admission of older patients to our CCU. Mean age for men was 63.8 vs. 65.6 years and for women, 69.8 vs. 72.3. The incidence of previous hypertension and diabetes was higher and the incidence of heart failure and angina lower in 1984-85. No differences were noted as regards the incidence of ventricular fibrillation, atrial fibrillation and AV-block III in the acute phase despite a much more frequent use of antiarrhythmics in 1969 (33% vs. 4%). A decreased use of cardiac glucosides was also noted (34% vs. 16%). Asystole, however, was noted in 10% of the patients in 1969 compared with 3% in our patients. beta-Adrenergic blockers were not used in 1969 but commonly given in 1984-85 (67%), also in those with heart failure (54%). Delay between onset of symptoms and admission was longer in 1969, 47% being admitted within 6 hours compared with 75% in 1984-85. In conclusion, our study shows a marked change in the use of various cardiac drugs in the treatment of MI. Differences between the populations as regards mortality and different clinical findings are more difficult to evaluate and may also be explained by change in the selection of patients treated in the CCU.

Age Factors↗

The transfer factor (diffusing capacity) as a predictor of hypoxaemia during exercise in restrictive and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Thirty patients (17 with restrictive, eight with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and five with combined pulmonary changes) were studied. Ordinary pulmonary function tests were made and in addition the transfer factor (diffusion capacity) was measured at rest and compared to the arterial oxygen tension at rest and during maximal exercise. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.89) between the transfer factor at rest and the oxygen tension during maximal exercise in both the patients with restrictive and those with obstructive lung disease, but no correlation was found between the transfer factor and the resting oxygen tension. Exercise induced hypoxaemia (PO2 less than 8-8.5 kPa) occurred in some patients and this could be predicted with an excellent sensitivity and specificity if a discrimination point for the transfer factor of 50 per cent of predicted or less was chosen. Determination of the transfer factor at rest is thus a good screening test for exertional hypoxaemia and can be used to select patients for exercise testing when the purpose is to detect hypoxaemia.

Adult↗

X-ray crystal structure of galabiose, O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1---4)-D-galactopyranose.

O-alpha-D-Galactopyranosyl-(1---4)-D-galactopyranose, C12H22O11, Mr = 342.30, crystallises in the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), and has alpha = 5.826(1), b = 13.904(3), c = 17.772(4) A, Z = 4, and Dx = 1.579 g.cm-3. Intensity data were collected with a CAD4 diffractometer. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R = 0.063 and Rw = 0.084 for 2758 independent reflections. The glycosidic linkage is of the type 1-axial-4-axial with torsion angles phi O-5' (O-5'-C-1'-O-1'-C-4) = 98.1(2) degrees, psi C-3 (C-3-C-4-O-1'-C-1') = -81.9(3) degrees, phi H (H-1'-C-1'-O-1'-C-4) = -18 degrees, and psi H (H-4-C-4-O-1'-C-1') = 35 degrees. The conformation is stabilised by an O-3 . . . O-5' intramolecular hydrogen-bond with length 2.787(3) A and O-3-H . . . O-5' = 162 degrees. The glycosidic linkage causes a folding of the molecule with an angle of 117 degrees between the least-square planes through the pyranosidic rings. The crystal investigated contained 56(1)% of alpha- and 44(1)% of beta-galabiose as well as approximately 70% of the gauche-trans and approximately 30% of the trans-gauche conformers about the exocyclic C-5'-C-6' and C-5-C-6 bonds. The crystal packing is governed by hydrogen bonding that engages all oxygen atoms except the intramolecular acceptor O-5' and the glycosidic O-1' oxygen atoms.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Short-term haemodynamic effects of dopexamine in patients with chronic congestive heart failure.

Dopexamine (FPL 60278) is a new dopamine analogue which possesses a combination of dopamine receptor and beta-2-adrenoreceptor agonist properties. The aim of our study was to evaluate the short-term haemodynamic effects of dopexamine administered by intravenous infusion at different dosage rates. Eight patients with chronic congestive heart failure were studied. A dose of 1 microgram kg-1 min-1 produced a 27% decrease in systemic vascular resistance index (32.6 to 23.9 res. units m2, P less than 0.001 and a significant increase in cardiac index (2.7 to 3.6 l min-1 m-2, P less than 0.001). Stroke volume index and heart rate increased significantly by 22% and 7%, respectively. An increase in left ventricular stroke work index was also seen at the dose level inducing the maximum cardiac output. Left ventricular filling pressures and arterial blood pressures were not affected. We conclude that administration of dopexamine to patients with congestive heart failure augments cardiac performance at rest.

Adrenergic Agonists↗

Measuring health in rheumatic disorders by means of a Swedish version of the sickness impact profile. Results from a population study.

A technique for assessing the overall consequences of disease is introduced, comprising a Swedish version of a behaviour-based measure, the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP). Measurement characteristics of the profile are defined in an epidemiological study of 147 women with rheumatic disorders. The drop-out rate was 7.5%. Cross-cultural evidence of the validity of the SIP was obtained in this study. Test-retest reliability was substantial. A high level of validity of the Swedish version was demonstrated, as assessed by hypothesized significant relationships with selected functional, psychological, and social correlates. The profile was able to describe the various sickness impacts in a specific and sensitive manner. In the epidemiological setting, the subscales representing Ambulation, Body care and movement, Emotional behaviour, Social interaction, Sleep and rest, Home management and Recreation and pastimes, all showed discriminatory capacity. The categories Mobility, Alertness behaviour, Communication, Work, and Eating discriminated less well. The response pattern was recognizably related to rheumatic complaints, emphasizing a broader applicability of this scale in rheumatology.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Foreign bodies in the tracheobronchial tree. Special references to experience in 97 children.

The case records of 110 patients (97 children and 13 grown-ups) with foreign bodies in the tracheobronchial tree during a period of 14 years (1970-1983) are reviewed. Atypical histories, misleading clinical and radiological findings and delayed diagnoses due to misinterpretations by the patients or their physicians were seen from time to time. Other findings in this survey were that organic material prevailed, with the majority of the objects in the right bronchial tree; there was a male predominance and the most common age for inhalation of a foreign body was about two years. Bronchoscopic extraction was the routine and only in one boy had the object to be removed by the transthoracic route. The venturi technique with oxygenation through the bronchoscope was applied at the extraction procedures. This principle for ventilation during general anaesthesia creates excellent working conditions for the endoscopist. The hazard at the removal of a foreign body is thereby reduced.

Adolescent↗

Antagonism of fentanyl and alfentanil by intravenous plus subcutaneous naloxone. Pattern of ventilatory depression after a short procedure.

Twenty patients undergoing microlaryngoscopy were anaesthetized with thiopentone. Half received fentanyl supplementation (about 8.5 micrograms/kg) and the other half alfentanil (about 65 micrograms/kg). Both groups were given naloxone 0.4 mg intravenously plus 0.4 mg subcutaneously shortly after the procedure which lasted some 12 minutes. The degree of ventilatory depression was assessed by a CO2 rebreathing test. The ventilation at an end-tidal PCO2 of 8.0 kPa (V8.0) was noted, and the findings related to a control value obtained on the day before anaesthesia. In the fentanyl group, V8.0 was significantly (p less than 0.05) less one hour after naloxone than 15 minutes after, and remained significantly below the control value for the first 8 hours after microlaryngoscopy. A second peak in plasma fentanyl concentration was observed four hours postoperatively in three patients. Respiratory depression in the alfentanil group was less pronounced and of shorter duration than in the fentanyl group. Postoperative plasma alfentanyl concentration decreased progressively with time in every patient.

Aged↗

Vascular effects of phenylpropanolamine on human nasal mucosa.

The duration of the decongestant effect of phenylpropanolamine 2.5% as nose drops as well as the effect of the drug on nasal mucosal blood flow was studied in man. The nasal patency was significantly improved for up to three hours in patients with nasal congestion, while no effect on nasal mucosal blood flow was achieved. These results were discussed in relation to other more long-lasting nose-drops with blood flow-reducing effects.

Adolescent↗

[Transbronchial fine needle biopsy in the diagnosis of parabronchial tumors].

Transbronchial fine needle biopsy was performed in 52 patients with hilar enlargement on chest radiography or pulmonary carcinoma at bronchoscopy. The diagnostic success was high. Most (85%) of the specimens were adequate for cytological examination and malignant cells were found in 17 aspirates. One further patient with mediastinal metastasis was revealed by mediastinoscopy. No complications followed the fine needle biopsy.

Adult↗

Comparative investigation of the antiarrhythmic effect of propafenone (Rytmonorm) and lidocaine in patients with ventricular arrhythmias during acute myocardial infarction.

Propafenone, a new class I antiarrhythmic drug, given as a bolus injection followed by oral medication, or lidocaine were given to 20 consecutive patients admitted with chest pain suggesting acute myocardial infarction and showing high grades, i.e. multiform, pairs or R-on-T premature ventricular complexes or short runs of ventricular tachycardia. Before institution of therapy the mean number (+/- 1 SD) of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) per hour was 169 +/- 123 in the lidocaine group and 324 +/- 440 in the propafenone group. During the next 24 hours lidocaine reduced the numbers of PVCs by 73% and propafenone by 75%. The mean number (+/- 1 SD) of 5-minute periods with high grade PVCs was 4.3 +/- 2.9 in the lidocaine group and 5.8 +/- 4.5 in the propafenone group. During therapy this number was equally reduced in both groups to 2.4. One patient in the lidocaine group developed ventricular fibrillation and three patients in the propafenone group were excluded because of increasing numbers of PVCs. One patient in the propafenone group showed a torsade-de-pointes ventricular tachycardia.

Aged↗