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Biomedical subjects

N G Westberg

Publications and source records attributed to N G Westberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Volunteers under threat: AIDS hospice volunteers compared to volunteers in a traditional hospice.

We studied volunteers in one of the world's first AIDS-dedicated hospices and compared them on demographic, experiential, and personality related dimensions to volunteers in a traditional hospice. Eighty percent of the active volunteers at each facility participated. Eight of 16 demographic and 4 of 11 personality related variables differentiated the two groups. AIDS hospice volunteers were on all measures a more heterogeneous group--largely gay or bisexual, younger, more likely to have had prior personal experience with AIDS. In addition, they perceived themselves to be functioning under a significantly higher degree of threat caused by their volunteer work. We performed a post hoc analysis controlling for sexual orientation and matching heterosexual volunteers for gender. Threats to health, social world, employment, and total threat significantly differentiated the two heterosexual groups of volunteers.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1984

Oral mucosal lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus--a clinical, histopathological and immunopathological study.

The oral mucosa was investigated in 51 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Lesions were seen in 23 patients (45%). Most lesions were of discoid type or erythemas; only 3 were seen in 23 patients (45%). Most lesions were of discoid type or erythemas; only 3 were ulcerations. The hard palate, buccal mucosa and vermilion border were the most frequent sites of involvement. The overall prevalence was not related to disease activity, but discoid lesions and ulcerations were only seen in patients with active disease. Histopathological investigation showed liquefactive degeneration in 6 biopsies of 10 lesions. Immunofluorescence examination was positive in all cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

A platelet aggregation inhibitor--ticlopidine--in diabetic nephropathy: a randomized double blind study.

A randomized double blind trial was performed to investigate the effect of the platelet aggregation inhibitor ticlopidine on the rate of decline in renal function in diabetic nephropathy. Twenty-two patients with insulin dependent diabetes complicated by nephropathy completed the trial--11 on ticlopidine, and 11 on placebo for one year. Ticlopidine effectively reduced platelet aggregation in vitro. Renal clearance of 51Cr-EDTA declined from 39 +/- 10 to 30 +/- 13 ml/min per 1.73 m2 body surface in the ticlopidine group and from 42 +/- 9 to 39 +/- 13 in the placebo group. The difference in decline between the two groups was not significant. In the ticlopidine group renal function expressed as the slope coefficient for 1/S-creatinine per month remained the same as before the trial. It is concluded that although there is much evidence to suggest a role of platelets in the development or progression of diabetic nephropathy treatment with ticlopidine could not prevent this process.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Lupus band test in uninvolved oral mucosa in systemic lupus erythematosus.

In 42 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, clinically normal oral mucosa was investigated with direct immunofluorescence technique for the presence of immunoglobulins G, A and M and complement factor C3 in the mucosal basement membrane zone (the lupus band test, LBT). Punch biopsies were performed in the posterior part of the hard palate (n = 39) or the lower labial mucosa (n = 3). The immunopathological observations were compared with clinical and serological data. The LBT was positive for IgM in 45% of the patients and trace amounts of IgM were found in another 19%. In 7 cases (17%) either IgG, IgA or C3 were found in addition to IgM and these patients all had a severe form of the disease, while the presence of IgM only was not correlated to clinical parameters.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Computed tomography in von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Computed tomography of thirteen individuals from two families affected by von Hippel-Lindau disease yielded a total of 9 abnormal findings in 4 patients in the abdomen, and one in the head. For the diagnosis and follow-up, both of affected patients and asymptomatic family members, the high precision and noninvasive nature makes CT the method of choice in this disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Increased incidence of cervical atypia in women with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with chemotherapy.

In a retrospective study we found that 19 of 80 women with systemic lupus erythematosus had atypical cervical smears as compared to only 9 of 80 age-matched women without the disease. This increased incidence occurred mainly among women receiving cytotoxic drugs. Cervical atypia in women with lupus was not morphologically different from cervical atypia in general. Possible mechanisms responsible for the increased incidence are discussed. It is concluded that women with lupus who receive chemotherapy should have cervical smears taken regularly.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Mesangial IgA glomerulonephritis in adults. Clinical and histopathological observations.

This report evaluates 29 patients with IgA glomerulonephritis. Patients with the least intensity of immunofluorescent staining for IgA had the highest glomerular filtration rate. The pattern or intensity of the staining gave little or no indication of the severity of the morphological changes or of the short-term prognosis. Histological changes with increased amounts of adherences were found in a significantly higher proportion of kidneys with decreased function. Older patients had a longer history and a higher incidence of low renal function, and they showed more glomerular adherences and global fibrosis than younger patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Diabetic nephropathy. Pathogenesis and prevention.

Already at the time of diagnosis of juvenile onset diabetes mellitus, there are morphological and functional changes in the kidney. The kidneys and the individual glomeruli are considerably enlarged, and the glomerular filtration increased. In experimental diabetes mellitus the metabolism of the glomerular basement membrane is increased. These abnormalities are reversible by meticulous metabolic control. Their relationship to the diabetic glomerulosclerosis that causes uremia twenty to thirty years later is not clear. Carefully analyzed extensive clinical experience confirms that good metabolic control delays the onset of symptomatic diabetic renal disease, as expected from experimental studies. Normalization of even a slightly elevated blood pressure may be important to slow the progression of the renal insufficiency. Better methods for the management of the diabetic state and better education of the patients may be important to postpone the heroic endeavours of renal or pancreatic transplantation or dialysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Recessive X-linked hyperuricemia with gout and renal damage, normal activity of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase and resistance to azaguanine.

A family is reported where four males have developed hyperuricemia, renal damage and, except for the youngest person affected, gout at an early age. The disease appears to be inherited as an X-linked recessive metabolic error. Clinically the patients have developed classical, tophaceous gout before the age of 25 and have suffered repeated attacks of renal colic. Renal tubular damage with decreased ability to concentrate and acidify urine was seen in a family member of only 16 years of age. Progressive renal failure seems to develop slowly. None in the family has shown neurologic symptoms, and two of the four affected men are apparently of at least average intelligence, two slightly below average. One female carrier has repeatedly passed uric acid stones. Studies of the red blood cell lysate have shown a normal activity of enzyme hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase, and an increased level of adenine phosphoribosyltransferase. Skin fibroblasts from affected family members grew normally in the presence of 8-azaguanine. Administration of azathioprine to the patients did not decrease their serum uric acid levels. This is the first family described with this type of disorder of the purine metabolism.

Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase↗
PubMed1977

Systemic lupus erythematosus within the first two decades of life.

Forty-nine patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during childhood and adolescence presenting over a period of 17 years were followed during treatment with prednisone and azathioprine. The average period of follow-up was 5.7 years. Detailed analyses of clinical parameters of renal function and sequential changes in glomerular abnormalities by percutaneous renal biopsy are reported. Therapy was directed towards normalizing the results of urinalysis and renal function, eliminating proteinuria and maintaining normal serology (normal serum complement and negative antiDNA titers). The 10 year survival of the entire group was 86 per cent. A survival of 73 per cent and 87 per cent over this interval in patients with diffuse and focal proliferative lupus nephritis, respectively, was achieved. The major cause of mortality in this series was infection. It appears that intensive observation and monitoring of serologic parameters in SLE, along with aggressive steroid and immunosuppressive therapy, lead to a prognosis in SLE more favorable than previously reported.

Adolescent↗