Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Jacobsson

Publications and source records attributed to L Jacobsson.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Psychological reactions to the medical investigation and surgical treatment of infertility.

The psychological effects of the medical investigation and surgical treatment of infertility were investigated. For 2 years 30 women with a diagnosis of tubal damage and 29 men were followed with repeated interviews. Negative effects on sexual life were recorded in all individuals and were associated with the planning of intercourse. Semen analysis was psychologically difficult to half of the men and feelings of shame and degradation were common. Fear and anxiety were increased before reconstructive tubal surgery and postoperative depression was observed in 10 women. Most couples overestimated their chances of having a child and half of them expected pregnancy to occur within a few months. After 2 years the need for professional support and counseling had increased. The medical procedure has psychological side effects in the infertile couple and may provoke anxiety. The investigation should be comprehensive and short, and psychologically traumatic investigations like basal body temperature records should be used with caution. During the period of somatic investigation and treatment repeated discussions about the marital relationship and sexual life should be initiated and psychosocial counseling should be offered to all couples.

Adult↗

The psychosocial impact of infertility two years after completed surgical treatment.

Twenty-four infertile couples were interviewed prior to and 2 years after the woman's reconstructive tubal operation. Their marital relationship, social and sexual life, mental health, possible solutions to the infertility problem and need of professional psychosocial counselling were studied. Moreover, various mental symptoms were recorded by means of a 'symptom checklist'. The personality characteristics were evaluated by the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI). The partners feelings for each other were worsening 2 years after the operation. There was also a tendency to a deterioration in the participants' opinion about their marital relationship, but no statistically significant change could be found. The women reported deterioration of sexual life and the men experienced an increased negative influence of the infertility problem on the marital relationship. The negative emotional and social effects of infertility were pronounced both before and 2 years after the surgical treatment. The participants' personality characteristics as regards neuroticism and extroversion had not changed. Most of the infertile couples found it difficult to work on their own towards a solution to the crisis of infertility during the 2 years following the surgical treatment.

Adult↗

Sudden death related to advanced coronary atherosclerosis in mini-pigs: influence of some drugs.

Advanced coronary atherosclerosis was produced in 30 mini-pigs by a combination of a hypercholesterolaemic diet and X-irradiation to the precordial region. Within 11-25 weeks after the irradiation, 13 of the 30 animals died a sudden death probably caused by coronary atherosclerosis. The contents of free and ester-bound cholesterol in the right coronary artery were significantly higher in the animals which died spontaneously than in surviving animals. In an untreated group of 12 animals 7 died whereas in a group treated with beta-pyridylcarbinol only 1 out of 5 died. In the coronary arteries, the contents of both free and ester-bound cholesterol were significantly lower in the beta-pyridylcarbinol-treated animals. In a sulfinpyrazone-treated group 3 out of 8, and in a metoprolol-treated group 2 out of 5 animals died. None of these drugs reduced the accumulation of cholesterol in the coronary arteries. The rate of sudden death was 26 +/- 6% (P less than 0.05) lower in the combined group of treated animals than in the untreated ones. By regular ECG recordings, signs which could predict the fatal outcome of the experiment were looked for. Although depressed ST segments were present before death in a few animals, this was not a regular phenomenon. It is concluded that advanced coronary atherosclerosis in mini-pigs often leads to sudden death and that this animal model seems suitable for testing the potential therapeutic effects of drugs.

Animals↗

Lithium therapy and thyroid function tests. A prospective study.

Thyroid function tests including thyroxine (T4), T3 test, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4 index and antithyroid antibodies were studied in 51 patients before the start of long-term lithium therapy and after 4 and 12 months on lithium. After 4 months on lithium, changes occurred in all laboratory parameters - T4 and T3 test levels decreased and TSH increased. After 12 months T4 and T3 test increased to pretreatment levels and TSH remained higher than before the start of lithium. During 1 year of lithium treatment only 1 patient developed clinical signs of hypothyroidism and started levo-thyroxine substitution therapy.

Adult↗

Tumor markers in colorectal carcinoma. An evaluation of carcinoembryonic antigen, tissue polypeptide antigen, placental alkaline phosphatase and pseudouridine.

The biologic markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), placental alkaline phosphatase ( PLAP ) and pseudouridine were analysed in 37 patients with colorectal carcinoma. CEA, TPA and PLAP were derived from the serum and pseudouridine from the urine. The incidence of all four markers increased with advancing stages of the disease. Patients with distant metastases had elevated levels of CEA, TPA, PLAP and pseudouridine in 85, 27, 18 and 33 per cent of the total cases, respectively. When survival was compared, patients with 2 to 4 elevated markers had shorter survival than those with none or only one elevated marker.

Adolescent↗

Evaluation of carcinoembryonic antigen, tissue polypeptide antigen, placental alkaline phosphatase, and modified nucleosides as biological markers in malignant lymphomas.

We have evaluated CEA, TPA, PLAP in sera from patients with three different kinds of malignant lymphomas. Six modified nucleosides, psi, m1A, m1G, m1I, m2G, and m2(2)G were analyzed in the urine from the same group of patients. The histological diagnoses were histiocytic lymphoma (21 patients), lymphocytic lymphoma (19 patients) and Hodgkin's disease (23 patients). The patients were classified into four different clinical stages. Consecutive samples were analyzed before and during ongoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy and during the post-treatment period. Our results showed that TPA and PLAP had limited value as biological markers for patients with malignant lymphomas. For CEA a possible correlation with clinical stage was observed only in patients with Hodgkin's disease. The modified nucleosides, especially psi, showed a correlation with clinical stage for patients with all three diagnoses. Elevated levels of psi in urine were in healthy adults 4%, in patients in clinical stage 1 14%, and in patients with advanced disease 62%. Six cases showed a good correlation between the change in clinical stage upon treatment and the parallel change in the level of psi in the urine. Our results suggest that modified nucleosides, especially psi, are valuable as biological markers for patients with malignant lymphomas.

Adolescent↗

Depth localization of thrombi and dynamic studies of postoperative thrombosis using the 125I-fibrinogen-sum-coincidence method.

Forty-one patients subjected to gynecologic surgery were investigated by means of the 125I-fibrinogen-sum-coincidence (FSC) method, which allows depth determination as well as absolute activity measurements of the thrombi. In 14 patients with postoperative deep venous thrombosis there was a good correlation between the depths of thrombi measured on phlebograms and those determined by the FSC test. The new technique allows differentiation between superficial thrombophlebitis and deep venous thrombosis, thereby eliminating the main disadvantage that has limited the use of the original fibrinogen uptake test. The FSC test makes it possible to calculate the absolute net activity of 125I-fibrinogen in a thrombus and to measure its elimination rate. The courses of individual thrombi could be followed up for as long as 1 month after surgery.

Female↗

Determination of plasmin-alpha 2-antiplasmin complex in plasma samples by means of a radioimmunoassay.

Immunization of a goat with partially reduced and S-carboxymethylated plasmin B-chain-alpha 2-antiplasmin complex resulted in a large population of antibodies with rather high specificity towards the complex. These antibodies do not react with plasminogen or plasmin in complex with other inhibitors than alpha 2-antiplasmin. However, they react fully with native alpha 2-antiplasmin, but a 200-fold higher concentration, as compared to plasmin-alpha 2-antiplasmin complex, is needed to obtain a similar displacement curve in a double-antibody radioimmunoassay. The results indicate a conformational change in the vicinity of the reactive site in alpha 2-antiplasmin, as a result of complex formation with plasmin. A method for determination of plasmin-alpha 2-antiplasmin complex in plasma has been elaborated using the described radioimmunoassay. About 1.5 mg plasmin-alpha 2-antiplasmin complex/l can be detected, which equals the condition when about 1% of the alpha 2-antiplasmin in plasma is in complex with plasmin. In normal individuals plasmin-alpha 2-antiplasmin complex could be detected only rarely. However, patient with acute processes, as evidenced by high fibrinogen levels, surgical patients postoperatively or patients with malignancy have often detectable levels.

Antifibrinolytic Agents↗

A method for the calculation of renal clearance based on a single plasma sample.

A formula has been derived for the calculation of renal clearance with the use of a single plasma sample. The formula is based on a one-compartment model. A small correction for non-immediate mixing and non-uniform distribution of the tracer was calculated from empirical data. The accuracy in the calculation method depends on how exactly the distribution volume is known and at what time the blood sample is taken. The expected standard deviation in the clearance value was calculated from data of mean value and spread for the distribution volume of 99Tcm-DTPA. In an investigation of 39 subjects with 99Tcm-DTPA, a standard deviation of 5 to 6 ml/min was obtained in comparison with a standard method for clearance calculation. This value is in good agreement with the expected one.

Humans↗

Tumor markers in bronchogenic carcinoma. An evaluation of carcinoembryonic antigen, tissue polypeptide antigen, placental alkaline phosphatase and pseudouridine.

From 62 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) in serum and pseudouridine, a modified nucleoside, were analysed in urine. About 60 per cent of the patients had squamous cell carcinoma, and 20 per cent had small cell carcinoma. The patients were allocated into 3 different clinical stages based upon tumor burden, and the markers were analysed before treatment and thereafter. TPA and PLAP had limited value as biologic markers. For both CEA and pseudouridine the frequency of elevated values increased parallel to clinical stage. Elevated levels of these 2 markers were also correlated to shorter survival.

Adult↗

Experimental atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic mini-pigs. Regression of cholesterol ester accumulation in aorta and coronary arteries after treatment with clofibrate, beta-pyridylcarbinol or a normo-lipidemic diet.

Studies have been performed on groups of mini-pigs 21-23 months of age, which after 18 months of hypercholesterolemia (approximately 10 mmol) had developed raised atherosclerotic lesions with high levels of cholesterol esters, especially in the abdominal aorta and the coronary arteries. If the hypercholesterolemia was continued for 18 months, no significant change in the cholesterol ester content in the aorta occurred; in the coronary arteries there was a significant decrease in these older pigs. If the hypercholesterolemic pigs also were treated with beta-pyridylcarbinol the findings were very similar to the first. When hypercholesterolemic pigs were treated with clofibrate, or when the hypercholesterolemic diet was replaced with the basal food for 18 months, the plasma cholesterol level was normalized (approximately 2 mmol) within 1-2 months. The cholesterol ester content in the thoracic aorta was reduced in both groups but not that in the abdominal aorta. Clofibrate decreased the cholesterol ester level in the coronary arteries when compared to the hypercholesterolemic group; the drug also reduced the free cholesterol level when compared to the basal group. We suggest that an increased plasma cholesterol level initiated the development of the atherosclerotic lesions; their later development was only partly dependent on the plasma cholesterol level.

Animals↗