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Biomedical subjects

M Carlsson

Publications and source records attributed to M Carlsson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Coping strategies and quality of life among patients on hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

A consecutive series of hemodialysis (HD) patients (n = 30) was included in a descriptive-comparative design. The aim was to study coping strategies and quality of life compared to a group of patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Coping was measured on the Jalowiec Coping Scale. Quality of life was measured by the Swedish Health-Related Quality of Life Survey (SWED-QUAL). An optimistic coping style was the most widely adopted by men and women in both groups, and this style was also considered to be the most effective in terms of dealing with stressful treatment aspects. The HD sample used more evasive coping strategies than the CAPD sample. Compared to a sample from the general population, HD patients had lower values on all SWED-QUAL subscales. Further, the CAPD women scored lower on general health than did the HD women. Significant gender differences were found in that men in both samples regarded themselves as better able to cope with physical aspects of the illness. Women in both samples scored lower on general health. It seems important to identify patients who use emotive, evasive and palliative coping techniques extensively, because they seem to be less effective at handling their illnesses.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1998

Design and application of a terminology management system.

A Swedish data model for handling terminology, Spriterm, is presented in this paper. A prototype terminology management system, using the Spriterm data model in also described. This prototype is implemented is Microsoft ACCESS. Furthermore, two other applications using this prototype as a base are introduced. One World Wide Web based application, and a data dictionary.

Databases as Topic↗
PubMed1997

Why exercise?: a preliminary investigation of an exercise motivation index among individuals with rheumatic conditions and healthy individuals.

The study was undertaken to investigate the test-retest stability and the criterion-related validity of a modified Swedish version of an exercise motivation index (EMI), and its use with individuals with rheumatic conditions, and with healthy individuals who exercised regularly. The EMI consists of 23 statements divided into three sub-scores for physical, psychological and social motivation. Ninety-five individuals with rheumatic conditions (mean age 60 years, mean symptom duration 15 years, 79% female) and 131 healthy individuals (mean age 52 years, 76% female), all attending exercise classes at least once a week, filled out the EMI. Sub-samples also filled out three visual analogue scales designed to measure physical, psychological and social exercise motivation, and filled out the EMI a second time one week later. The results indicated that psychological and physical exercise motivation was equally important in both samples. Social motivation was less important in both samples, but more pronounced in the rheumatic sample and among older individuals. In the rheumatic sample, physical motivation was more important among women and psychological motivation was more important among younger individuals. Test-retest stability for the EMI was satisfactory in both samples, while criterion-related validity was poor. The results of our preliminary investigation of the EMI suggest that the survey of physical, psychological and social motivation for exercise seems meaningful. Further work on the validity of the EMI is needed.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1997

Parental reports of changes and challenges that result from parenting a child with cancer.

Cancer in a child leads to a more stressful family life, including problems in adjusting to the situation. The aim of this study was to identify the parents' experience of problems related to their child's/adolescent's cancer and the effect of those problems on the parents' life situation. Swedish parents of 15 children and adolescents with varying diagnoses and treatments were interviewed using qualitative methods. The interview data were analyzed by two researchers using a constant comparative method. The results included eight categories of problems influencing the parents' life situation: watching our child suffer; being governed by our child's disease; behaving differently as a family member; experiencing strong feelings and reactions; trying to cope; dealing with the reactions of others; finding support from others; and evaluating the quality of care. Seven of these categories validate previously reported parental concerns, but one, evaluating the quality of care, has not been previously reported. Study findings can be used to help sensitize health care personnel to the problems experienced by parents of children and adolescents with cancer and the capacity parents have to deal with the problems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Development of a tool to measure the life situation of parents of children with cancer.

The aim of this study was to test the validity and reliability of the recently developed Life Situation Scale for Parents (LSS-P) among parents of children with cancer. One hundred and ten parents of seventy-four children and adolescents who visited three paediatric wards in Sweden filled out three instruments: The LSS-P, the Quality of Life Scale and the Family Support Scale. The reliability coefficient, Cronbach's alpha, was found to be 0.82 for the LSS-P. A factor analysis with orthogonal varimax rotation of 37 items of the LSS-P gave twelve factors. A higher order factor analysis reduced the factors to four (Care, Well-being, Social life and Preparedness), explaining the underlying dimensions to 57.9%. The total LSS-P correlated significantly with the Quality of Life Scale, and the higher order factor Care with the Family Support Scale. The LSS-P discriminated, in some aspects, between two-parent visiting the ward for treatment or check-up. The conclusion is that this first version of the LSS-P was valid and reliable (internal consistency) to a certain extent, but that the instrument should be tested on larger samples and during different phases of the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Interleukin-15 + thioredoxin induce DNA synthesis in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells but not in normal B cells.

We have previously shown that Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain 1 particles (SAC) + thioredoxin (Trx) + IL-2 may induce B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells to proliferate. In this paper we have examined IL-15, which has activities similar to IL-2, for its ability to stimulate B-CLL cells and compared its activity with that of IL-2. We found that B-CLL cells could be induced to DNA synthesis upon treatment with IL-15 + Trx. The presence of Trx was essential for the IL-15-induced DNA synthesis. This contrasts to the effect of IL-15 + Trx on normal CD5+ and CD5- B cells, where IL-15 + Trx alone only induced limited DNA synthesis. IL-15 was as effective in the induction of DNA synthesis in B-CLL cells as IL-2, but about 100-fold less potent with an EC50 of 200 ng/ml. In addition we found that the IL-15 + Trx-induced proliferation was inhibited by CD40 stimulation. We conclude that IL-15 together with a proper costimulus can induce B-CLL cells to proliferate in vitro.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1997

CD40 ligation inhibits IL-2 and SAC+IL-2 induced proliferation in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells.

This paper reports on differences between B cell-type chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) and normal B cells in their response to IL-2+thioredoxin (Trx), Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain 1 (SAC)+IL-2+Trx, and to CD40 ligation of IL-2+Trx and SAC+IL-2+Trx stimulation. The authors found that Trx acted synergistically with IL-2 and SAC+IL-2 in inducing DNA synthesis in B-CLL cells, but not in the normal B cells. Interestingly, IL-2+Trx alone was found to induce proliferation in B-CLL cells from patients with advanced stages of disease. In addition, we also found that IL-2+Trx and SAC+IL-2+Trx-induced DNA synthesis of B-CLL cells was inhibited by CD40 activation (by soluble anti-CD40 MoAb and anti-CD40 MoAb presented on irradiated CD32L cells). In clear contrast, SAC+IL-2+ Trx-induced DNA synthesis of normal B cells was not inhibited by soluble anti-CD40 MoAb. The authors therefore conclude that B-CLL cells differ from normal B cells in their response to IL-2 (IL-2+Trx) and CD40 ligation.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Symptom distress and life situation in adolescents with cancer.

Having a life-threatening disease like cancer during adolescence poses a number of problems. The purpose of this study was to identify the adolescent's own experience of areas of the life situation affected by the disease and problems related to it. Ten adolescents with varying diagnoses and treatment were interviewed. They also completed a quantitative measurement of problems. The result shows eight domains and 24 subdomains influencing the experience of life situation. Those were disease and treatment (side effects, isolation, medical procedures), identification (others are ill, appearance), feelings and reactions (mood, self-image, meaning, hope), coping (positive thinking, distraction, positive effects), togetherness (family, friends, school), support (family and friends, the youth association, professional support), reactions of the families (parents, siblings), and quality of care (professionalism, information, organization, equipment). The problems mentioned in the interviews are also compared with the quantitative measurement used. The adolescents mentioned 77 problems in the interviews, of which 17 were not on the list of problems. Of those 17, seven dealt with physical problems, and six were problems concerning the quality of care. They ranked wanting and depending on parents as the worst problems for themselves from the list of problems.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

Life situation and problems as reported by children with cancer and their parents.

In recent years, the intensification of treatment for children with cancer has resulted in a considerable increase in the number of those who are cured. The intensive treatment has, however, led to a number of problems for the children and their families. The aim of this study was to identify children's experience of problems related to their cancer and the disease-effect on the child's life situation. Five children with varying diagnoses and treatment plans and five parents were interviewed separately. The qualitative interview data were compared with a quantitative measurement of problems. The interview data were analyzed by two of the authors according to qualitative analysis processes. Six categories regarding influencing factors on the children's life situation were found: (1) medical treatment and side effects, (2) isolation, (3) togetherness and support, (4) being in the center, (5) feelings and reactions, and (6) quality of care. About half of the variables on the list of problems were mentioned in 1 or more of the 10 interviews. Study findings suggest that health care personnel help children with cancer to reduce their fear of painful and frightening procedures by creating a relationship with the child.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

Novel mutations and a mutational hotspot in the MODY3 gene.

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young 3 (MODY3) is a type of NIDDM caused by mutations in the transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha (HNF-1alpha) located on chromosome 12q. We have identified four novel HNF-1alpha missense mutations in MODY3 families. In four additional and unrelated families, we observed an identical insertion mutation that had occurred in a polycytidine tract in exon 4. Among those families, one exhibited a de novo mutation at this location. We propose that instability of this sequence represents a general mutational mechanism in MODY3. We observed no HNF-1alpha mutations among 86 unrelated late-onset diabetic patients with relative insulin deficiency. Hence mutations in this gene appear to be most strongly associated with early-onset diabetes.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12↗
PubMed1997

BCR/ABL-negative chronic myeloid leukemia with ETV6/ABL fusion.

A BCR/ABL-negative chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with t(12;14) (p12;q11-13) as the sole chromosomal abnormality was investigated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), which disclosed a cryptic insertion of ETV6 (previously called TEL), located at 12p12, into ABL at chromosome band 9q34. ETV6/ABL fusion was confirmed by RT-PCR, revealing that the first five exons of ETV6 were fused in frame with ABL at exon 2. Wild-type ETV6 was expressed, in accordance with the FISH results showing no deletion of the second ETV6 allele. ETV6/ABL chimeric transcripts have previously been reported in acute leukemias, but never before in CML. The present case suggests that ETV6/ABL positivity may constitute a new genetic subgroup of BCR-negative CML.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Effects of fused tryptophan rich peptides to a recombinant protein. A domain on the partitioning in polyethylene glycol-dextran and Ucon-dextran aqueous two-phase systems.

Genetic engineering has been used to construct fusion proteins with tryptophan containing peptides. The peptides and the fusion proteins have been partitioned in aqueous two-phase systems of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-dextran and Ucon-dextran. The studied model protein was ZZT0, where Z is an engineered domain of domain B of staphylococcal protein A. The specially designed hydrophobic peptides, Ala-Trp-Trp-Pro (T1) and (Ala-Trp-Trp-Pro)2 (T2), have been inserted into ZZT0, to give the peptide-protein fusions ZZT1 and ZZT2. In the experimental studies it was found that T1 and T2 preferred the PEG phase and even more the Ucon phase over the dextran phase. For T2 the partitioning was more one sided than for T1. For the fusion proteins, ZZT1 and ZZT2, the partitioning was enhanced into the PEG or Ucon rich phase as compared to ZZT0. The effects were lower than expected from independent contributions to the partition coefficient from the protein and the peptides. A heterogeneous lattice model was used to calculate theoretical peptide and protein partition coefficients. The calculations could reproduce the qualitative features of the experimental data. The model results suggest that a part of these experimentally observed effects is due to a depletion zone, i.e. a zone of reduced polymer concentration around the protein. The experimental results indicate a further reduction of the partition coefficient, beyond that predicted by the lattice calculations. A possible folding of the inserted peptide is discussed as a plausible mechanism for this further reduction in the partition coefficient.

Dextrans↗
PubMed1996

[Pleomorphic adenoma of the trachea].

A case report of a 43 year-old man with an extremely rare pleomorphic adenoma arising from the trachea is presented. Management was successful by bronchoscopic laser resection, which is a relatively harmless procedure compared to open tracheotomy. Tracheal tumors are often overlooked as a cause of pulmonary symptoms, until they give airway obstruction. This case was initially misdiagnosed as asthma.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗
PubMed1996

Measurement of quality of life in women with breast cancer. Development of a Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LSQ-32) and a comparison with the EORTC QLQ-C30.

The purpose was to develop and validate a new instrument suitable for measuring perceived quality of life in women with breast cancer. The instrument is to be used within conventional cancer therapy as well as in complementary care, and is called the LSQ-32 (Life Satisfaction Questionnaire). The subjects were 362 women with breast cancer in all cancer stages. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of the LSQ was 0.89. The construct validity was estimated by a principal component analysis. Six orthogonal factors were identified: (1) 'Quality of family relation', (2) 'Physical symptoms', (3) 'Socioeconomic situation', (4) 'Quality of daily activities', (5) 'Sickness impact' and (6) 'Quality of close friend relation'. The criterion-related validity was estimated by comparing the LSQ-32 and the EORTC QLQ-C30. The scales/items of the EORTC QLQ-C30 were represented in the LSQ-32, but the factors 'Quality of family relation' and 'Quality of close friend relation' were not found in the EORTC QLQ-C30. It was concluded that the LSQ-32 as well as the EORTC QLQ-C30 are valuable tools in the measurement of quality of life in women with breast cancer. The LSQ-32, however, also contains an existential factor.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia at a county hospital in southern Sweden.

We have studied retrospectively patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), at Ryhov, Jönköping, Sweden during a 10-year-period. This unselected cohort (n = 59) from a well-defined geographical area is suitable for describing the natural course of the disease. The CLL was diagnosed incidentally in the majority of cases. Median-age at diagnosis was 71 years and the male:female ratio was 1.3:1. The diagnosis was based on morphology in 66% and in 33% immunophenotyping specified the diagnosis of B- or T-CLL. At diagnosis 66% were in Rai-stage O/I or Binet-stage A. There were 36% untreated patients and their median-survival was 108 months compared with 84 months for the whole cohort and 72 months for the treated patients. Malignancies were seen in 31% and infections in 83%. Intercurrent diseases played an important role in the survival. During the observation time, only 54% of the deceased patients had died due to the CLL.

Aged↗