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Biomedical subjects

K Berglund

Publications and source records attributed to K Berglund.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Prostatic cancer screening by rectal palpation can be organized with consideration to cost effectiveness].

Of 9,008 males, aged 50-69 years, 1,494 were randomly selected and invited to participate in a screening programme for carcinoma of the prostate; 1,163 (78 per cent) accepted. Rectal examination was performed independently by a GP and by a urologist at the GP's surgery. Carcinoma of the prostate was suspected by one or both physicians in 45 cases, and subsequently confirmed by cytological investigation in 13 cases. Ten patients underwent radical prostatectomy, one received radiation treatment, one case was too advanced for curative treatment, and one was scheduled for subsequent reassessment. Screening for early diagnosis of carcinoma of the prostate either by a urologist or by a GP, using digital rectal examination, would thus appear to be a cost-effective procedure, though the question remains whether it will promote prolongation of survival.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Alkylating cytostatic treatment in renal amyloidosis secondary to rheumatic disease.

Fourteen consecutive patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease and reactive renal amyloidosis were treated with alkylating cytostatics in 22 separate periods varying in duration between six and 30 months. Chlorambucil alone was given in 14 treatment periods, cyclophosphamide alone in six, and both alternately in two. The dosage was adjusted to attain a major suppression of the rheumatic inflammation and a blood lymphocyte level below 1.0 X 10(9)/l. Renal function improved in 12 treatment periods, renal deterioration was arrested in three periods, and in another four periods the rate of functional decline slowed down. In the remaining three treatment periods, associated with further deterioration in renal function, treatment was inadequate owing to blood dyscrasia and failure to control hypertension. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was followed more closely in 10 treatment periods, in all of which the falling trend was arrested or reduced. The survival rate at five years was 93%. Three patients who dropped out of the treatment programme are so far the only ones not still alive. Nine are still being followed up after 6-17 years, and the other two remaining live patients have had renal transplants for five years.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Maternal smoking during pregnancy and risk of childhood cancer.

In a case-control study of childhood cancer a dose-response relationship was found between the number of cigarettes smoked per day by the mother during pregnancy and cancer risk in the offspring. When all tumour sites were considered the cancer risk was 50% higher for the most exposed group than for the controls. The risk was doubled for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and Wilms' tumour. These findings provide further evidence for the harmful effects of cigarette smoke on the growing fetus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

C1 activation, with C1q in excess of functional C1 in synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Free Clq, in functionally active form was present in increased amounts in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The presence of free Clq was associated with low concentrations of hemolytic C1, low C4 and raised amounts of C3dg/d fragments in the synovial fluid. The findings suggested intra-articular C1 activation with dissociation of C1 into free C1q and complexes containing C1r, C1s, and C1 inactivator. However, the immunochemical properties of synovial fluid C1r-C1s-C1 inactivator complexes appeared to differ from those of the complexes formed in serum, which hampered quantification with the assay used. Control patients with osteoarthritis or spondylarthritic syndromes did not show evidence of intra-articular complement activation, even though 1 patient with Reiter's disease had unexplained low concentrations of synovial fluid C4 and C3. The concentrations of circulating complement components were largely normal in the patients. Slightly increased concentrations of free C1q and C1r-C1s-C1 inactivator complexes in serum and C3dg/d fragments in EDTA plasma were observed, particularly in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Upper extremity function in hemiplegia. A cross-validation study of two assessment methods.

The methods devised by DeSouza et al. and by Fugl-Meyer et al. for description of upper extremity function after stroke were compared by parallel assessments in a consecutive series of 50 patients with hemimotor deficit. Very close positive associations between both methods indicated a high degree of cross-validity. As both methods appear to be externally valid, have good inter-rater reliability and as the time needed for assessing the arm function of a hemiplegic or hemiparetic patient rarely exceeds 10 min, it appears that the two methods possess about equal descriptive power.

Arm↗
PubMed1985

Effects on bone marrow cells of oral treatment with podophyllotoxin derivatives in rheumatoid arthritis.

SPG 827, a mixture of podophyllotoxin derivatives, has been thought to alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by arresting cell division in metaphase (i.e. resulting in an increase of the mitotic index) of rapidly proliferating cells of the immune apparatus. In contrast, the present study produced evidence that peroral SPG treatment of RA patients reduced the mitotic index of bone marrow cells, mainly in erythropoiesis. At the same time, slight megaloblastic changes appeared in the erythroblasts. These observations suggest that SPG treatment induced an interphase block in the G2 phase of the cell cycle, analogous to the cell action of the newer podophyllotoxin derivatives teniposide and etoposide. It may be that part of the clinical effect of SPG in rheumatoid arthritis is due to the described interphase-blocking activity.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1981

Incidence of Down's syndrome in Sweden during the years 1968-1977.

The incidence of Down's syndrome has been studied among children born in Sweden during the years 1968-1977. The risk for mothers of different ages of bearing such a child did not change during these years. This does not exclude that a change in incidence might have occurred in smaller areas of the country but escaped detection for statistical reasons. A higher than expected number of children with Down's syndrome were born in a few communities, which most likely is a chance event. No correlation could be detected between the incidence of Down's syndrome and a number of socioeconomic variables. The correlation with maternal age was studied in detail. There was a significant excess of males among both the newborn children with Down's syndrome and fetuses with trisomy 21 aborted after prenatal diagnosis. A similar tendency was found among the cases with a chromosome mosaicism but not among those with a translocation. Two hypotheses are put forward to explain the excess of males with trisomy 21.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Studies on the distribution of abnormal cells in cytologic preparations. III. Making the smear with a plastic spatula.

A model system of 15% exfoliated tumor (Ehrlich ascites) cells and 85% exfoliated cervicovaginal human squamous cells and acellular viscous mucuslike material was used to investigate the distribution of tumor cells on smear preparations. The smears were taken by the same individual, with plastic spatulas, using traditional smearing motions. The presence or absence of normal squamous cervicovaginal cells and tumor cells was recorded in 400 randomly distributed areas. Smears done with circular motions contained the largest number of tumor cells and those done with back-and-forth strokes, the least. Circular motions apparently should be preferred if the purpose is to transfer to slides the largest possible number of tumor cells. Independently of the motion employed, the largest total number of tumor cells was found in ring 9 and the lowest, in ring 5. When the various motions were taken into account, the largest number of tumor cells was found in ring 9 for smears done with zigzag strokes; the lowest, in ring 5 with clockwise circular motions. Despite these differences, comparative studies indicate that plastic spatuls may induce a more even distribution of tumor cells onto slides than wooden spatulas or cotton swab applicators. We have been unable to confirm that plastic spatuals induce better cytologic preparations than do wooden spatulas or cotton swab applicators.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1980

Liver function in some common rheumatic disorders.

Liver function was studied primarily by determination of serum gamma glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase. In subsamples of patients the investigation was extended by determination of serum amino-transferases, isoenzyme analysis of alkaline phosphatase, 99mtechnetium scintigraphy, and liver biopsy. In 183 in-patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the serum gamma glutamyl transferase level was elevated in 47% and serum alkaline phosphatase (of liver origin) in 24%. A concomitant increase in serum aminotransferases was found in 15% of patients with elevated gamma glutamyl transferase level. A closely similar pattern was found in 45 patients with non-rheumatoid arthritis (ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, and undefined arthritis), and in 5 patients with polymyalgia rheumatica. In 23 patients with non-rheumatic inflammation (pneumonia), liver dysfunction was common, though the pattern of serum enzyme changes was different. In rheumatoid arthritis, liver scanning showed irregular or low uptake, but biopsy only indicated reactive hepatitis. Hepatotoxicity could not be traced to any single drug or combination of drugs given. On the contrary, chloroquine appeared to reduce serum gamma glutamyl transferase, and corticosteroids had a similar effect on serum alkaline phosphatase. In patients not treated with corticosteroids, both serum gamma glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase were weakly to moderately correlated with laboratory indices of disease activity (ESR and serum orosomucoid). The frequently occurring isolated increase of serum gamma glutamyl transferase and/or serum alkaline phosphatase in arthritis may be an unspecific reaction to inflammation.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1980

Complement activation, circulating C1q binding substances and inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis: relations and changes on suppression of inflammation.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis were treated with podophyllotoxin derivatives (PTD) or with cyclophosphamide. Increased concentrations of C1r-C1s-C1 inactivator complexes (C1r-C1s-C1 IA) in serum provided evidence for C1 activation, which was most pronounced before treatment. During treatment the levels of C1r-C1s-C1 IA clearly decreased, while the levels of C4 increased. This rise in C4 was contrasted to the decrease in other acute phase reactants as C-reactive protein. Circulating immune complexes were assessed by the C1q deviation test (C1q DV) and the C1 binding assay (C1q BA). Discrepancies were noted in the outcome of the two assays. Of parameters reflecting C1 inactivation C1r-C1s-C1 IA complexes were positively and C4 negatively correlated with the inflammatory activity as measured by synovitis index (SI). The values in C1q DV correlated with the C1r-C1s-C1 IA values and with SI. In contrast, C1q BA correlated with CRP but not with C1r-C1s-C1 IA or SI. The study gave evidence for a relationship between C1 activation as detected in serum and the extent of synovial inflammation in RA. The possibility is discussed that substances other than immune complexes may be involved in C1 activation and contribute to the synovial inflammation.

Adult↗