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Biomedical subjects

P Wahlberg

Publications and source records attributed to P Wahlberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Incidence of tick-bite in man in Aland Islands: reference to the spread of Lyme borreliosis.

The common tick Ixodes ricinus is a vector both for the virus of tick-borne viral encephalitis (Kumlinge disease, KD) and of Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme borreliosis, LB). Bites of the tick are believed to be common in Aland, an island province of Finland in the Baltic Sea. KD has been seen there for many years, and cases of LB have been diagnosed lately. The purpose of this study was to find the incidence of tick-bite among the population with possible implications for the spread of LB. A questionnaire was sent to 561 persons greater than 8 years of age out of a total of 21,281 in order to record tick-bites and erythema chronicum migrans (ECM). The number of answers was 519 (92.5%). 441 persons (85%) had been bitten by ticks, 146 greater than 10 times. 14 probands had had ECM, 73 other rashes around the tick-bite. It is concluded that tick-bites are very common among the population, and thus conditions are favourable for the spread of any tick-borne infection such as LB. The number of patients with secondary or tertiary LB diagnosed in the area is presently 17. It is likely that there are many undetected cases in the area.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

A relationship between retinol and cellular retinol-binding protein concentrations in human squamous cell carcinomas.

The retinol and retinyl ester concentrations in human xenografted squamous cell carcinomas, with various concentrations of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP), were studied, as well as the in vivo uptake and esterification in these tumours of labelled retinol, presented as a complex with plasma RBP. The mean retinol concentration in the different tumours was in the range 3.7-6.2 nmol/g protein, and the mean CRBP concentration was between 16 and 69 nmol/g protein. There was a statistically significant correlation between the retinol and the CRBP concentrations in the same tumour (P less than 0.001; r = 0.622). Calculation of the maximal extent of retinol-saturation of CRBP showed low values (range: 9-26%). Retinyl palmitate, the predominant retinyl ester, comprised approx. 70% of the retinyl esters in the tumours. There was no correlation between the concentration of CRBP and that of retinyl palmitate. The uptake of [3H]retinol from intravenously injected retinol-RBP complex was similar in the four human squamous cell carcinomas studied, and not related to their CRBP concentration. 20% of the radioactivity in tumour specimens was lipid soluble, as compared to 96% in liver specimens, showing that in the former a higher fraction metabolised to polar compounds. Taken together, our results suggest that in these squamous carcinoma cells, factors other than cellular CRBP content are the major determinants of net cellular uptake and esterification of retinol. The cellular retinol concentration, on the other hand, appears proportional to CRBP content.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1989

Tick-borne viral encephalitis in Finland. The clinical features of Kumlinge disease during 1959-1987.

During 1959-1987, 126 patients in Aland Islands and main Finland had serologically verified infections with the virus of tick-borne encephalitis (Kumlinge disease). The most useful test for specific virological diagnosis was haemagglutination inhibition-IgM (HI-IgM). Most cases were from Aland Islands and nearby south-western main Finland. Two of the infections were imported. There were three laboratory infections and two transfusion infections. The disease occurred mainly from July to September. Detailed hospital records of 108 of the patients could be obtained. Ninety-five per cent of the patients had headaches, 82% had lymphocytosis of the cerebrospinal fluid, and 81% had high fever. Forty-four per cent had a confirmed biphasic course of disease. Seventeen per cent were severely ill. There were no deaths. The sequels were psychic irritability and fatigue for up to 1 year. There were eight cases of paresis, two of which became permanent.

Encephalitis Viruses↗
PubMed1989

[Hypothyroidism in the elderly--a concealed disease].

Hypothyroidism in the elderly seldom corresponds to the text-book picture of this disorder. Symptoms and signs develop insidiously, and may easily be taken for the result of arteriosclerotic disease. Screening for hypothyroidism in elderly people is advocated, and serum-TSH is recommended as the primary investigation for such screening. Substitution with thyroxine must be started cautiously and with very small doses. Healthy people with subclinical hypothyroidism should be observed for the possible occurrence of symptoms and signs.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

Quantitation and localization of cellular retinol-binding protein in squamous-cell carcinomas of the cervix uteri and of the oral cavity.

The concentration of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) was determined by radioimmunoassay in biopsies of normal mucosa and squamous-cell carcinomas of cervix uteri from 30 women. The tumour tissues contained significantly higher concentrations of CRBP (median = 120 micrograms/g protein) than normal mucosa (median = 32 micrograms/g protein). The distribution of CRBP in normal mucosa and squamous-cell carcinomas from cervix uteri and from oral cavity was evaluated by immunohistochemical techniques. In tissue sections of normal epithelium from the cervix uteri and the oral cavity, the maturing keratinocytes in the prickle-cell layers were moderately or strongly stained when antiserum against CRBP was used, while the proliferating cells in the basal-cell layer were stained only lightly if at all. Squamous-cell carcinomas of the cervix uteri and the oral cavity presented much the same picture. The observed difference in CRBP concentration between squamous-cell carcinomas and normal squamous-cell mucosa may therefore be more quantitative than qualitative.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Studies of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) in squamous-cell carcinomas of the head and neck region.

Cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay in biopsies from normal mucosa and squamous-cell cancers of the head and neck region in 26 patients. The plasma concentrations of retinol, retinol-binding protein (RBP), prealbumin, albumin, orosomucoid and alfa1-antitrypsin were also determined. In all patients the tumours contained significantly higher concentrations of CRBP (median = 185 micrograms/g tissue protein; range: 27-1,017 micrograms/g) than normal mucosa (median = 14 micrograms/g tissue protein; range 6-97 micrograms/g). CRBP could not be detected in patient plasma. The tumor/normal mucosa CRBP concentration ratio showed a significant inverse correlation to a histopathological malignancy grade score evaluating the tumour-host relationship, suggesting that tumours with high CRBP relative to normal mucosa are biologically less aggressive. Tumour CRBP showed no correlation either to CRBP concentration in normal mucosa, or to plasma retinol or plasma retinol-binding protein concentration. CRBP concentration in normal mucosa, however, showed a significant correlation to plasma retinol-binding protein concentration. Most of the patients had low levels of plasma retinol and retinol-binding protein compared to matched controls. Whether this has any relationship to the development of the tumour, or whether the active inflammation induced by the cancer leads to a low plasma retinol concentration, is unknown.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Treatment of hyperthyroidism with standard doses of radioiodine aiming at ablation.

Sixty patients with hyperthyroidism were treated with standard doses of 131I during 1969-83 in our department. The doses were 10-25 mCi (370-920 MBq), mostly 15 mCi (550 MBq). 38 of the patients have become hypothyroid, mostly within one year after treatment. There were 3 early relapses of hyperthyroidism; these patients became hypothyroid within one year after an additional dose of radioiodine. All hypothyroid patients had early substitution with l-thyroxine before overt clinical symptoms and signs had developed. There were no late relapses of hyperthyroidism. 15 patients had died during the follow-up; all were euthyroid or hypothyroid with adequate substitution. 28 of the 60 patients have been followed for 5-14 years, 14 for 2-5 years, 7 for 1-2 years and 10 for less than one year. Standard dose 131I treatment offers certain advantages compared with attempted individualized treatment. Late hypothyroidism after individualized dosage may be difficult to anticipate and detect, whereas early hypothyroidism after ablative standard dose treatment is easy to detect and control. Generally speaking, hypothyroidism is not to be regarded as a complication of radioiodine treatment for hyperthyroidism, but as its natural end result. The fixed dose schedule is especially well suited for regions where hyperthyroidism with no goitre or a small goitre is common.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

25 year follow-up of the Aland thyroid study of 1956. Thyroid status and incidence of rheumatoid arthritis.

In 1956, a study of the iodine metabolism in endemic goitre was made on a group of inhabitants of the Aland Islands, an autonomous province of Finland. The number of Alanders studied was 130. In a follow-up study 25 years later, 101 still living subjects from the original study could be traced. 17 of them had become hyperthyroid, 7 had been operated on for non-toxic goitre, and 4 had become hypothyroid. There was no correlation between thyroid hormone excretion values in 1956 and subsequent hyperthyroidism. Rheumatoid arthritis was overrepresented in the goitre group compared with the group without goitres, as well as compared with statistical figures on the frequency of rheumatic disease among the population in general of Aland and of Finland as a whole.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Recent investigations of the first bleeder family in Aland (Finland) described by von Willebrand.

The still living members of the original bleeder family on the Aland Islands described by von Willebrand in 1926 have been reinvestigated by using modern laboratory techniques for the measurement of the Factor VIII complex and with regard to platelet aggregation. The low level of F VIII : C activity demonstrated in 1957 could be confirmed in some of the family members, who however all had only mild bleeding symptoms. More consistently, in 6 out of 10, a low F VIIIR : Ag was found; all of those also had a low F VIII : RCoF. In none of the members were excessively low values for any of the parameters found. However, the spectrum of the whole F VIII complex indicates that the original family described by von Willebrand belongs to von Willebrand's disease, type I.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Lack of acute effect of triiodothyronine on noradrenaline responses of isolated sympathectomized cat hearts.

The effect of 3-5-3'-triiodothyronine (T3) on chronotropic and inotropic responses to noradrenaline (NA) was studied on isolated heart preparations of cats sympathectomized with 6-OH-dopamine. Heart rates, left ventricular isovolumic pressure (P) and dP/dt were recorded, and concentration dose-response curves to NA were constructed. In the test series, T3 (0.01 and 0.1 microng per ml) was added to the perfusion medium. T3 did not affect the form nor the position of these curves. The results indicate that T3 does not have an acute effect on NA responses of symtropic effects of its own in these experimental conditions.

Animals↗