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Biomedical subjects

P Berdal

Publications and source records attributed to P Berdal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Irradiation, chemotherapy and surgery in esophageal cancer: a randomized clinical study. The first Scandinavian trial in esophageal cancer.

In a randomized trial, irradiation alone (35 Gy) or irradiation (30 Gy) and bleomycin was given as preoperative treatment of esophageal cancer. In inoperable patients, a split course of irradiation alone (63 Gy) or irradiation (55 Gy) and bleomycin was given. Bleomycin doses were 5 mg i.m. 1/2-1 h before each irradiation dose. No benefit was obtained by addition of bleomycin to irradiation concerning survival or palliation of dysphagia. No benefit of bleomycin was seen either in any subgroup of patients according to different primary tumour classifications, histopathological gradings or localizations of tumour. In patients with advanced/metastatic disease, bleomycin and adriamycin treatment gave a significantly longer survival than bleomycin alone. It was shown that the presence of T1 tumours was a significant prognostic factor for long-term survival and that performing a radical operation was a significant advantage for a longer survival. Female patients treated with irradiation with or without bleomycin survived significantly longer than males, but in operable patients there was no significant difference between the two sexes with regard to survival.

Aged↗

Immunoglobulin-producing cells in clinically normal, hyperplastic and inflamed human palatine tonsils.

Patients suffering from recurrent tonsillitis (RT), hyperplastic tonsillitis (HT), or idopathic tonsillar hyperplasia (ITH) were compared in immunological studies with subjects showing clinically normal tonsils. Serum concentration of immunoglobulins, particularly IgG, were found to be increased in association with tonsillitis. Conversely, the number of IgG-, IgA- and IgM-producing immunocytes per tissue unit was reduced in the germinal centres of lymphoid follicles, in the extrafollicular areas, and in the reticular parts of the crypt epithelium. The overall percentage distribution of these cells was normally 65:30:3.5:1.2 for the IgG, IgA, IgM and IgD classes, respectively. In RT these figures were 53:39:4.7:4.4; in HT, 67:25:4.0:4.5; and in IHT, 50 : 33 : 7.2 : 10. Thus, there were only small alterations in the immunocyte class proportions, except for a significant relative increase in IgD-producing cells. The results indicate that there is a functional defect of the tonsils in association with disease. The relative accumulation of IgD cells is probably explained by an inadequate local maturational process in B-cell system, altough some influence of low age cannot be excluded in the HT and ITH groups.

Adolescent↗

Immunoglobulin systems of human tonsils. II. Patients with chronic tonsillitis or tonsillar hyperplasia: quantification of Ig-producing cells, tonsillar morphometry and serum Ig concentrations.

Patients suffering from recurrent tonsillitis (RT), hyperplastic tonsillitis (HT) or idiopathic tonsillar hyperplasia (ITH) were compared in immunological studies with subjects showing clinically normal palatine tonsils. Serum concentrations of immunoglobulins, particularly IgG, were increased in association with tonsillitis. Conversely, the number of IgG-, IgA- and IgM-producing immunocytes was reduced per tonsillar tissue unit. The density of such cells was decreased in the germinal centres of the lymphoid follicles, in the extrafollicular areas and in the reticular parts of the crypt epithelium. However, only small changes in immunocyte class ratios were observed, excepting a significantly raised proportion of IgD-producing cells. The immunohistochemical results indicated a defect in the tonsillar immunological function associated with disease, perhaps as a result of inadequate stimulatory signals for local maturation of B-cell clones. An influence of low age on this result in the HT and ITH groups could not be excluded. In the RT group there was a significant negative correlation between the tonsillar density of IgA-producing cells and the rate of synthesis of serum IgA. This may indicate that compensatory mechanisms are reflected in inversely related levels of local and systemic IgA synthesis.

Adolescent↗

[Surgical correction of vocal cord synechia (author's transl)].

Anterior webs of the larynx, whether congenital or traumatic in origin, are conventionally treated by excision and subsequent interposition of a stent between the raw surfaces of the defect to prevent regrowth of the web. The present paper describes a new technique which does not require interposition of a stent. The web is divided through a laryngofissure and adjacent connective tissue is removed. The cut raw surfaces of the vocal cords are covered by the adjacent mucosa, which is carefully mobilized, adapted and sutured with interrupted silk sutures. The method described has been used in eight patients, with a good result obtained in seven of the patients. In the eighth patient, post-tranumatic scars with web formation were removed so that the condition was improved but not completely corrected.

Humans↗

Viral infection as a cause of acute peripheral facial palsy.

Among 51 patients with acute peripheral facial palsy, varicella-zoster virus was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in one case, and Herpesvirus hominis from the nasopharynx in two cases. In 12 other cases, complement-fixing antibody or hemagglutination inhibition tests indicated a recent viral infection (varicella-zoster, seven; herpes simplex, one; cytomegalovirus, one; influenza type B virus, two; and mumps virus, one). One additional patient had clinical signs of herpes zoster oticus. About one third of these 16 virus-positive patients, but also one third of the remaining group, had increased levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin, orosomucoid, haptoglobin, and immunoglobulins. Evidently, an inflammatory reaction preceded or coincided with the facial palsy in both groups. In CSF, an increase of total proteins and gamma-globulins was frequently found among all 20 patients examined (eight were virus-positive).

Acute Disease↗

J chain in malignant human IgG immunocytes.

J chain was demonstrated directly by immunofluorescence in the cytoplasm of malignant IgG-producing human tumor cells. This was in contrast to IgG immunocytes accumulating in foci of chronic inflammation, which generally were devoid of J chain.

Aged↗

Simultaneous intermittent bleomycin and radiological treatment of laryngeal cancer.

Bleomycin has been shown to have a significant effect on squamous cell carcinomas, particularly on highly differentiated types. Applying combined bleomycin and x-rays simultaneously in an intermittent schedule, a synergistic effect was obtained. It was possible to lower the dosage of each and still achieve remarkable therapeutic responses. At the same time the side effects were reduced. The total dosages have been bleomycin 180 mg and x-rays 4.200 r skin dose, tumor dose approximately 2.500 r. Eighty-two laryngeal cases received such treatment. Altogether a complete regression was achieved in 62 per cent. Glottic tumors showed complete regression in 85 per cent. In six out of 10 inoperable cases, the tumor became surgically accessible by laryngectomy. In successfully treated patients characteristic histological changes were found, consisting in unusually large amounts of fully keratinized cells.

Aged↗