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Biomedical subjects

R Gullberg

Publications and source records attributed to R Gullberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

A study of inpatients with AIDS in Racine County.

Since the first patient with AIDS was reported in 1981, the incidence of this illness has continued to rise. It is estimated that the cost of AIDS-related illnesses will be $15.2 billion by 1995. In this paper, we analyzed the number of admissions for AIDS to St Mary's Medical Center and St Luke's Hospital, both in Racine, Wis. Similar to the national trend, a rising incidence for hospital admissions was noted during the last 2 years. The rate of increase per year in this country was 31%, which is well above the national rate of increase. Twenty-nine admissions for 19 patients occurred during the past 5 years. One third of these patients moved to Racine from other states. Apparently, 10% of the patients contracted their illness through heterosexual contacts.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Effects of prostaglandin E2 on disease activity, gastric secretion and intestinal permeability, and morphology in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The effects of oral natural prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on symptoms, disease activity, and gastrointestinal functions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were studied in an open pilot trial. Twelve patients, six taking and six not taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), received 1 mg natural PGE2 three times a day for six weeks. The treatment was tolerated well and the only side effect noted was slightly looser stools in three patients. Half of the patients reported subjective improvement and none had aggravation of symptoms. The Ritchie articular index and several biochemical inflammation markers decreased and were significantly reduced at the end of the treatment period. The thickness of the small intestinal mucosa increased during the PGE2 treatment. The intestinal permeability pattern, measured by urinary excretion of polyethylene glycols (PEG 400), differed between the patients taking and not taking NSAIDs. The initially high urinary PEG 400 excretion values in the patients taking NSAIDs decreased and the initially low excretion values in patients not taking NSAIDs increased during the PGE2 treatment. The jejunal contents became sterile in 5/6 patients not taking NSAIDs and remained sterile in 1/6 patients taking NSAIDs at the end of the treatment. The treatment period was associated with a reduction of lactobacilli in patients not treated with NSAIDs. Thus the treatment appeared to decrease disease activity and to improve small intestinal functions in patients with RA, findings that need confirmation in a controlled trial.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Gastrin, gastric acid secretion, and gastric microflora in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The relation between the basal and stimulated gastric acid secretion, plasma gastrin, and the gastric microflora was examined in 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Sixteen patients (36%) had basal achlorhydria, and of these, 10 (22%) had achlorhydria or hypochlorhydria after stimulation with pentagastrin. The peak acid output and acidity showed inverse correlation with the disease duration but were not associated with age or with the degree of physical disability. Hypergastrinaemia was found in nine patients (20%), of whom 6 (13%) had significant titres of parietal cell antibody. The acidity of the peak acid output showed negative correlation with plasma gastrin. It was confirmed that the gastric secretory state is a determinant of plasma gastrin levels and in addition influences the growth of micro-organisms in the gastric lumen. The type of microflora in the non-acid stomach was similar to that found in the saliva. A subgroup of eight females was identified who showed low gastric acid secretion rates, positive bacterial cultures, and atlantoaxial subluxation. Gastrin- and insulin-like immunoreactivities were found in joint fluid. The concentrations reflected their plasma levels, suggesting that the peptides are not released at the inflammatory site, but rather that they reach synovial fluid from circulating blood.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Clinical assessment.

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Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed1976

Release of vitamin B12-binding protein from isolated rat liver perfused with a synthetic medium.

The unsaturated vitamin B12-binding capacity (UBBC) of the small molecular size vitamin B12-binding protein (SBP) release and albumin release into the medium and the fluid pressure in the portal vein were studied with respect to their ability to reflect the state of isolated perfused rat liver. The liver was perfused in vitro with a synthetic medium either with or without a gas carrier. Liver damage was induced by hypoxia or noradrenalin. Variations in experimental conditions resulted in different patterns of parameters reflecting different aspects of the liver state. The fluid pressure in the portal vein reflected sensitively the circulatory state but is not always a criterion of the general condition of the isolated liver. The albumin release is a criterion of functional state but did not always reflect liver damage. However, the amount of UBBC of SBP released into the medium is a parameter reflecting sensitively the functional capacity of the liver to produce protein and also seems to indicate liver damage. The use of this parameter provides supplementary information that cannot be obtained by either of the two more conventional parameters.

Albumins↗
PubMed1976

The inhibitory effect of IgM RF on the release of lysosomal substances.

Isolated IgM RF inhibited the IgG-induced release of lysosomal substances, measured as 'large molecular size vitamin B12-binding protein' (LBP) and beta-glucronidase, from separated human granulocytes. The effect was most marked when cytochalasin B was added to the experimental system. The results indicate that the RFs interact with the granulocyte binding region of IgG.

Cytochalasin B↗
PubMed1976

Chloroquine retinopathy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

270 consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had received chloroquine therapy were examined ophthalmologically for toxic retinal lesions. The total annual dose of chloroquine was 70-75 g. The maximum total dose given was 1330 g. The duration of treatment ranged up to 15 years. The primary material was divided into four groups according to total chloroquine dose received: greater than 100 g, 101-300 g, 301-600 g, and less than 600 g. Each dose group was arbitrarily split into two age groups, one with patients under 63 years of age and the other with patients over 63, in order to analyse the effect of age upon the ocular findings. In the present study, slight macular changes were included in the concept of maculopathy and were not thought to contra-indicate chloroquine therapy. Macular changes were found in about 25% of the patients, regardless of age in the lowest dosage group. The frequency of maculopathy increased with increasing total dose only in the older age group. It was also shown that the frequency of maculopathies and other eye diseases also increased with increasing age. This was evident even from the age of 50. The only patient with chloroquine retinopathy was an inadequately controlled 74-year-old woman. Chloroquine treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the absence of any other disease which may cause retinopathy implies negligible risks in adult patients under 50 years of age. These patients could be less frequently checked. Older patients require regular ophthalmological checks. It is important to use the smallest effective dose possible, and never higher than 4 mg of chloroquine phosphate/kg body weight and day for 10 months annually; in elderly patients, preferably even lower doses.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1975

Granulocyte release of vitamin B12-binders in vivo and in vitro in leukaemia and non-neoplastic leucocytosis.

The unsaturated vitamin B12-binding capacities of the 'large molecular size vitamin B12-binding protein' (LBP) and the 'small molecular size vitamin B12-binding protein' (SBP) were determined by a Sephadex G 150 gel filtration method in 9 patients with chronic myelocytic leukaemia (CML), 5 patients with blast cell leukaemia and 12 patients with non-neoplastic leucocytosis. EDTA plasma and serum separated after 20 min and after 120 min were examined. In the 20 min EDTA plasma samples, the mean LBP value was 8,009 pg/ml in CML, 2,468 in blast leukaemia, 175 in non-neoplastic leucocytosis, and 57 in normal controls. The in vitro release of LBP into serum was much smaller in the leukaemias than in non-neoplastic leucocytosis. No correlation was found between the LBP values and the white blood cell counts or lysozyme values, but lysozyme was correlated to white cell count in CML. It is suggested that the plasma LBP levels reflect the fraction of LBP decay taking place at sites, e.g. the spleen, from which the released LBP can enter the circulation.

Adult↗