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Biomedical subjects

K J Berg

Publications and source records attributed to K J Berg.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Calcitonin and CGRP block bombesin- and substance P-induced increases in airway tone.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and calcitonin (C) are two peptides that are cocontained and probably coreleased with the potent bronchocontrictors, bombesin (B) and substance P (SP), within the lung. Although CGRP and C have a wide intrapulmonary distribution, their actions have not been well defined. By the use of a computerized lung mechanics analyzer, changes in response to 10-min infusions of these agents were measured in spontaneously breathing, anesthetized guinea pigs. Infusion of 0.3 nmol.kg-1.min-1 CGRP and 2 nmol.kg-1.min-1 C caused little change in lung mechanics. Infusion of 0.06 nmol.kg-1.min-1 B and 0.3 nmol.kg-1.min-1 SP caused a marked increase in inspiratory, expiratory, and total pulmonary resistance (RT), from base-line values (P less than 0.02), with a maximal effect at 10 min postinfusion (PI) [RT = 326 +/- 20% (SE) (B), 490 +/- 73% (SP)]. Coinfusion of C or CGRP with B or SP at the above concentrations caused a marked reduction in SP - [RT = 189 +/- 28% (C), 142 +/- 16% (CGRP) at 10 min PI] and B - [RT = 157 +/- 18% (C), 158 +/- 10% (CGRP) at 10 min PI] induced changes in resistance (P less than 0.015). The mode of action of C and CGRP is unknown, but these peptides may antagonize the effects of B and SP via autonomic pathways by interfering with B- or SP-induced changes in intracellular calcium concentrations or by increasing intracellular cAMP levels by binding to specific cellular receptors linked to adenylate cyclase.

Airway Resistance↗
PubMed1989

Renal effects of trimethoprim in ciclosporin- and azathioprine-treated kidney-allografted patients.

Sixteen stable renal transplant patients on chronic ciclosporin (CS, n = 8) or azathioprine (AZA, n = 8) treatment were given trimethoprim (TMP) 160 mg twice a day for 7 days. This TMP dose did not affect glomerular filtration, as 99mTc-DTPA clearance was unchanged in both groups. TMP did, however, increase serum creatinine and reduce creatinine clearance in all patients. This effect was most pronounced in CS-treated patients. We conclude that even at the moderate dosage, as employed presently, TMP blocks tubular secretion of creatinine. This route for creatinine excretion is quite important as the clearance ratio between creatinine and DTPA averaged 1.21 in CS-treated patients and 1.05 in AZA-treated patients before TMP treatment. During TMP the ratio was reduced to 0.95 and 0.99, respectively, suggesting a complete cessation of tubular creatinine secretion by TMP. TMP did not, however, significantly affect other markers of renal tubular function.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Renal side effects of high and low cyclosporin A doses in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Thirty-nine patients with classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) entered a randomized double-blind placebo controlled study with low dose cyclosporin A (CyA) (mean whole blood CyA level after 26 weeks 282 +/- 33 micrograms/l) or placebo treatment for 48 weeks. The placebo treatment had to be withdrawn before 48 weeks in 9 out of 19 patients because of a deterioration of their arthritis symptoms. All 20 patients in the CyA group completed 26 weeks of treatment. Fourteen of them were followed up for 48 weeks of treatment on CyA and then 12 weeks after CyA treatment was withdrawn. The side effects in the CyA group were compared with the results from another study with high CyA doses (mean whole blood CyA level 419 +/- 71 micrograms/l) for 26 weeks in 11 other patients with RA. Serum creatinine increased 19.7% (p less than 0.01) in the low CyA dose group after 26 weeks as compared with 59.5% in the high CyA dose group. Creatinine clearance was reduced by 17.9% (low dose) (p less than 0.01) and 26.2% (high dose), respectively. Twelve weeks after withdrawal of the low dose CyA treatment, serum creatinine values were still higher than before treatment (p less than 0.05), but creatinine clearance had normalized. Eight of the 20 patients treated with low CyA doses also started with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) after 20-36 weeks of CyA treatment. Serum creatinine was 16.6% above baseline 4 weeks before NSAIDs compared with an increase of 40.4% (p less than 0.05) 4 weeks after start of NSAID treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Renal replacement therapy in elderly patients.

The results of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in elderly patients in Norway were evaluated. During the 5-year period between 1981 and 1985, 368 patients at least 60 years of age (mean, 66.7 years) at the start of RRT were included and followed until 15 February 1987. Transplantation was planned for 249 patients; of these 127 were not grafted. The actuarial survival in this group was 64%, 44%, and 7% at 6, 12, and 48 months, respectively. Survival in 122 grafted patients was 93%, 87%, and 62%, respectively, and the corresponding graft survival was 70%, 67%, and 48%. The remaining 119 patients were allocated to long-term dialysis, with a survival of 63%, 48%, and 13%, respectively. Our results describe the outcome of a treatment program available to the entire elderly population accepted for RRT. In two-thirds of the patients transplantation was planned, and one-third of all patients were actually grafted, with good patient and graft survival. The results suggest that transplantation is the treatment of choice for most elderly patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Gastrointestinal absorption and urinary excretion of aluminium in patients with predialysis chronic renal failure.

In a randomized cross-over study, serum and urinary aluminum (A1) was measured in 8 patients with predialysis chronic renal failure. Samples were taken after ingestion of an A1-containing phosphate binder (ACPB) with either water or 7% citric acid, and A1 was analyzed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Both serum levels and urinary excretion of A1 increased markedly after ingestion of ACPB with citric acid. Only urinary A1 excretion increased significantly after ACPB with water. Citric acid alone caused no change in serum concentration or urinary excretion of A1. The serum A1 increase after ACPB with citric acid indicates that absorption of A1 is taking place in both upper and lower intestines. Marked individual variations in gastrointestinal A1 absorption, independent of kidney function, were seen after intake of ACPB with citric acid. These variations could not be predicted from changes in serum concentrations or from urinary excretion of A1 after intake of ACPB with water. Intake of ACPB caused a significant decrease in serum phosphate.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

An open, controlled, randomized comparison of cyclosporine and azathioprine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a preliminary report.

Cyclosporine (10 mg/kg/day) and azathioprine (2.5-3 mg/kg/day) were compared for 26 weeks in an open, controlled, randomized study of 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Each treatment group consisted of 12 patients. Those patients who took cyclosporine improved significantly in the 50-foot walk time, circumferences of proximal interphalangeal joints, Ritchie articular index, global assessment by investigator, and grip strength, when compared with baseline findings. In the azathioprine group, there was improvement only in grip strength.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1987

Pharmacologic effects of iopentol after intravenous injection in healthy volunteers. Preliminary report.

The effects of the first injections in humans of iopentol, a new non-ionic contrast medium, are briefly reported. Detailed descriptions will be published elsewhere. Iopentol was well tolerated when injected intravenously into 24 healthy male volunteers in doses of 300 to 1,200 mg I/kg body weight and was excreted almost entirely in the urine in unchanged form. The results indicate that iopentol may be used in clinical trials in patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Long-term blood pressure and renal function in kidney donors.

We have reexamined 68 (92%) of 74 donors accepted at this center nine to 15 years ago. There was a moderate but significant increase in BP, and ten donors (15%) were hypertensive at the follow-up. Twenty-six donors (38%) had albumin excretion over 10 micrograms/min or excretion of total protein over 185 mg/24 hr. In four of 16 with increased excretion of total protein, this exceeded 400 mg/24 hr, and in three donors this could be due to an intercurrent disease. Ccr averaged 78.4% of preoperative values, and was less than 50% (range 32 to 49%) in eight donors. The compensatory increase (median 30.5 mliter/min/1.73m2) was inversely correlated with age and BP. Aspects of tubular function were assessed by the diluting capacity during water diuresis and by urinary excretion of beta 2-microglobulin and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase. No consistent abnormalities were observed. A subgroup of donors (N = 32) was compared with a matched control group. Urinary albumin excretion among the donors was significantly higher compared to the controls, both in absolute terms (5.4 vs. 3.3 micrograms/min, P less than 0.002) and as percent of total protein excretion (7.6 vs. 5.7%, P less than 0.05). Otherwise no consistent differences were observed. The development of BP over time warrants further observations, but there is no evidence that uninephrectomy represents a long-term risk to the donors' health.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗