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Biomedical subjects

K Berg

Publications and source records attributed to K Berg.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Predicting zygosity in Norwegian twin pairs born 1915-1960.

Present addresses of 12,752 like-sexed twin pairs born in the period 1915-1960 were identified. A questionnaire, concerning the similarity of pair members, was sent to all individuals. Responses were obtained from 83.7% of the subjects. The zygosity of 207 pairs was established by examination of genetic markers. By using discriminant analysis on the responses from this subgroup, functions were obtained for prediction of zygosity from questionnaire data. It was estimated that 2.4% of the pairs would be misclassified if the questionnaire responses from both pair members were used, and 3.9% if only the response from one of the twins was used. Accordingly, zygosity could be predicted with satisfactory reliability also for twin pairs where only one of the twins had responded. The predicted percentage of monozygotic (MZ) pairs among pairs where one or both twins had responded, was 39.4 (4,402/11,175). The percentage of MZ pairs was significantly lower (34.5) in death-discordant pairs than in pairs in which both twins were alive (39.6). The zygosity questionnaire data are sufficient to adequately score twin pairs for zygosity in the great majority of cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Treatment of dysplasia of the cervical epithelium with an interferon gel.

Human leukocyte interferon was incorporated into a hydrophilic gel and applied to the cervix of six patients suffering from moderate to severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ of the cervix. Only patients showing no spontaneous regression during at least 27 consecutive weeks were admitted to the trial. The diagnoses were established by Papanicolaou smears and biopsy specimens of the cervix. The gel was applied directly on the cervix twice weekly for six weeks, and only minor clinical improvements were seen. However, after an additional six weeks, six of six patients responded positively; three of them regressed completely. No side effects were noted.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1982

HLA antigens, psoriasis and acute anterior uveitis in Bechterew's syndrome (ankylosing spondylitis).

One hundred and twenty-two consecutively hospitalized patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) were reexamined. Ninety-two per cent were HLA B27 positive. Of the HLA B27 negative patients, 60% were found to have psoriasis, as opposed to 11% of the HLA B27 positive patients. Acute anterior uveitis (AAU) was found only in HLA B27 positive patients, and more frequently in males than in females. The genetic and clinical heterogeneity of AS, together with the overlapping clinical criteria for AS and psoriatic spondylitis, may make the term "Bechterew's syndrome" preferable. Based on these findings and previous reports, we conclude that (i) AAU is a manifestation of Bechterew's syndrome in HLA B27 positive patients, (ii) HLA B27 negative patients without any obvious accompanying manifestations may suffer from psoriatic spondylitis, and (iii) genetic predisposition to psoriasis in persons who are HLA B13, B17 and B37 negative, may interact with the genetic predisposition to Bechterew's syndrome in HLA B27 positive persons and produce Bechterew's syndrome with psoriasis or psoriasis-like skin eruptions.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The distribution of clinical findings in Bechterew's syndrome (ankylosing spondylitis) suggests distinct genetic subgroups.

One hundred and twenty-two consecutive patients hospitalized for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) were reexamined. The frequency of clinical signs and results of tests for associations are presented. Psoriasis was associated with a distal pattern of peripheral arthropathy. Spinal rigidity was predominantly seen in males. Males with phalangeal arthropathy exhibited preserved spinal mobility. This was the case also when HLA B27 positives and patients who did not have psoriasis were considered separately. HLA B27 positive patients in this group had frequently experienced acute anterior uveitis. It seems possible that the disease in such males is the result of combined predisposition to ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthropathy. Hip arthropathy was frequently present in males with spinal rigidity. The associations observed confirm that AS is a heterogenous group of diseases. The term "syndrome" may be suitable for such a heterogenous group, and we prefer the term "Bechterew's syndrome" as the name of this group. When these new findings are added to the previous observations that acute anterior uveitis probably is a clinical, sex-influenced characteristic of HLA B27 positive Bechterew's syndrome, that HLA B27 negative patients with Bechterew's syndrome frequently had psoriasis and were HLA B13 and B17 negative, and that psoriasis was frequent in HLA B27 positive patients as well, we tentatively conclude that different and interacting genetic mechanisms may be involved in the etiology of Bechterew's syndrome.

Female↗
PubMed1982

The genetics of the hyperlipidemias and coronary artery disease.

The body of evidence incriminating genetic factors in the etiology of CHD includes familial clustering of cases, with or without major hyperlipidemia; genetic influence on serum lipids levels in the general population; effect of genes belonging to normal polymorphisms on serum lipid levels and their variability; atherogenic effect of the genetically determined Lp(a) lipoprotein; and genetic influence on HDL apoproteins. Recent findings concerning the inherited apoE variation and genetic control of LDL cell membrane receptor activity in the general population are potentially of considerable interest. An improved understanding of the interaction between the products of "susceptibility genes" and environmental/dietary factors is important for attempts to prevent or delay the manifestations of atherosclerosis.

Apolipoproteins↗
PubMed1981

Increased expression of beta 2-microglobulin and histocompatibility antigens on human lymphoid cells induced by interferon.

Normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes were incubated in the presence of different concentrations of interferon for various incubation periods. Subsequently, the amount of beta 2-Microglobulin and HLA-A, B and C surface antigens was estimated by means of quantitative immunofluorescence (flow cytofluorometry) and by a radioimmunoassay for beta 2-Microglobulin. It was found that the amounts of these MHC antigens increased in a dose and time-dependent way after interferon treatment. Furthermore, the influence of different temperatures on this IFN-induced increase in beta 2-Microglobulin was gradually enhanced after incubation at 37 degrees C to 39 degrees C incubation mostly suppressed the beta 2-Microglobulin increase observed at 39 degrees C. The total amount of membrane associated beta 2-Microglobulin was estimated by a radioimmunoassay. After interferon treatment a beta 2-Microglobulin increase was observed ranging from 39% to 122% in different experiments. It is shown that interferon is the substance responsible for the effects on lymphocytes reported here, because completely pure interferon-proteins had the same activity as has been shown for partially purified interferon preparations.

Beta-Globulins↗
PubMed1981

Apparent influence of marker genotypes on variation in serum cholesterol in monozygotic twins.

Ninety-seven monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs were grouped by marker system genotypes, and mean intrapair differences in serum total cholesterol level were compared between groups. Significant differences were found when the MNs and the Kidd blood group systems were considered. The results appear to suggest a restrictive effect of certain normal marker genes on environmentally caused variation in serum cholesterol level.

Adult↗