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Biomedical subjects

R Ohman

Publications and source records attributed to R Ohman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Enzymatic and antigenic analyses of strains of Mycobacterium bovis, M. bovis BCG, and M. tuberculosis.

Strains of Mycobacterium bovis, M. bovis BCG, and M. tuberculosis, including a so-called Canetti strain, were analyzed by means of two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis (2D-IE), 2D-IE combined with enzyme staining, and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MEE). The results demonstrated a close antigenic and enzymatic resemblance among all the strains tested, even though the BCG strains could be divided into two groups based on the presence of one precipitinogen. Eight of the precipitinogens were shown to correspond to enzymes in M. bovis BCG and 10 in M. tuberculosis. Thus, catalase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, peroxidase, and several others were identified. By means of MEE the strains of M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, and M. bovis BCG could be differentiated. The analyses further indicated that the M. tuberculosis strain Canetti was more closely related to M. bovis than to M. tuberculosis.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1992

Senile dementia of the Alzheimer type in the Lundby Study. II. An attempt to identify possible risk factors.

In recent years research on senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) has made progress within the field of pathology and to a certain extent in that of heredity. Within epidemiology, the search for risk factors is intensifying but the findings are still inconclusive. The present study of possible risk factors concentrates on environmental and personality factors. The total population of 2612 persons from a geographically delimited area, Lundby, two neighbouring parishes in southern Sweden, was examined in 1957 by one psychiatrist (Hagnell). A follow-up study of the same population, irrespective of domicile, was performed 15 years later, in 1972. Various precipitating as well as protective personality background factors were found to be significant for the outcome of SDAT, but no environmental factors appeared to be statistically significant in this cohort.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

HPA-related CSF neuropeptides in suicide attempters.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), somatostatin (SOM), delta-sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), beta-endorphin (beta-END), and vasopressin (AVP), which are regarded as being involved in the HPA-regulation were investigated in lumbar CSF of 44 suicide attempters. The patients were diagnosed according to the DSM-III-R, and rated with the MADRS. The neuropeptides were compared with the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in CSF and with post-dexamethasone plasma cortisol. We found strong correlations between CRH and the peptides SOM and beta-END. The latter also correlated positively with SOM. There were no differences between men and women. Patients with major depressive disorders had significantly lower SOM, CRH, and DSIP than other patients. Both SOM and beta-END correlated negatively with post dexamethasone plasma cortisol in all patients. We found no significant relationships between neuropeptides and CSF 5-HIAA. Patients who had made previous suicide attempts had significantly lower CRH than those who had not. No other significant associations between neuropeptides and suicidal subgroups of patients appeared, and there was no indication of specific neuropeptide patterns in patients who later completed suicide. Intercorrelations of some neuropeptides and low SOM and DSIP in major depressed patients are findings in line with those by others.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Vascular dementia in the Lundby study. 1. A prospective, epidemiological study of incidence and risk from 1957 to 1972.

In this study, a total population, the 1957 Lundby cohort, was investigated with regard to the incidence of vascular dementia over a 15-year period, and to provide a succeeding study with basic data concerning the background factors for vascular dementia. The 1957 cohort comprises 2,612 persons who were registered in the geographically delimited Lundby area on July 1, 1957. The lifetime risk of developing vascular dementia was found to be 34.5% in men and 19.4% in women when all degrees of impairment were taken into account, the preponderance for the male sex being very obvious.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Prediction of suicidal behavior from biologic tests.

Biochemical studies related with suicidal behavior have mainly dealt with monoaminergic and corticosteroidal measures. We used some of these measures in a study of 61 suicide attempters who, except for occasional doses of benzodiazepines, had been medication free for a mean of 16 days. The monoamine metabolites 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, homovanillic acid, and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol were measured in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We found that violent suicide attempters (N = 18) had 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentrations below the median of all patients, whereas the concentrations of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol were mainly above the median. We found no significant differences between violent and nonviolent (N = 43) attempters concerning CSF homovanillic acid, 24-hour urinary norepinephrine-epinephrine and cortisol, activity of monoamine oxidase in platelets, or post-dexamethasone plasma cortisol. Four patients completed suicide, and 3 of them had CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentrations at or below the median. All completed suicides had CSF 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol concentrations above the median. Urinary measures and platelet monoamine oxidase activity of completed suicides were in the higher concentration ranges. Patients who repeated suicidal behavior after the index investigation had low 24-hour urinary cortisol levels more often than those who did not repeat. Because our subgroups of patients are small, we cannot draw any firm conclusions about the value of our CSF and urinary biochemical findings predicting suicidal behavior. However, our CSF findings in violent suicide attempters are similar to those observed in other studies.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Senile dementia of the Alzheimer type in the Lundby Study. I. A prospective, epidemiological study of incidence and risk during the 15 years 1957-1972.

In spite of the great impact of senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) on society, far too little is known about its epidemiology. In this study of a total, normal population from a geographically delimited area in Sweden, Lundby, 2612 persons were examined in 1957 by one psychiatrist (Hagnell). In 1972 the same population was reexamined irrespective of domicile. The incidence and risk of contracting SDAT during the 15 years were calculated. No cases of SDAT were diagnosed before the age of 60 years. The lifetime risk was for men 25.7% and for women 26.2%. When only the very severely impaired were taken into account, the figures were 14.5% in men and 14.6% in women.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1991

Peripheral serotonergic markers in patients with suicidal behavior.

Peripheral serotonergic parameters were studied in 17 patients with a history of suicidal behavior and in 17 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Serotonin2 receptor function in platelets, measured as serotonin-induced [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis, was significantly higher in patients than in age- and sex-matched controls. Increased serotonin2 receptor transduction was not correlated to psychiatric diagnosis, drug treatment or a history of violent suicide attempt. Monoamine oxidase activity was lower in platelets from patients with a history of suicidal behavior than in controls. In addition, whole blood serotonin was analyzed but no significant alterations were found in blood from patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Epidemiology of cycloid psychosis.

The incidence and risk of cycloid psychosis were investigated in the 1947 cohort of the Lundby Study. No male cases were found. For women the incidence rate (per 100 observation years) was 0.016%. The cumulative probability, i.e. risk up to 60 years of age, was 0.7%. These figures are about half of those for schizophrenia in women in the same population. It is concluded that cycloid psychosis constitutes a substantial part of psychotic disorders among women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

A prospective study of first-incidence depression. The Lundby study, 1957-72.

The present study is based on the so-called 1957 Lundby cohort, a geographically defined normal Swedish population of 2612 individuals who were evaluated for mental disorders in 1957 and 1972. The annual age-standardised first incidence of depression, with or without other psychiatric symptoms, all degrees of impairment included, was found to be 4.3 per 1000 person years in men and 7.6 per 1000 person years in women. Up until 70 years of age, the cumulative probability of suffering a first episode of depression was 27% in men and 45% in women.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

A simple technique for increased sensitivity in immunoelectrophoresis by the use of antiserum against IgG.

Precipitates in two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis (2D-IE) plates can be amplified by the application of an antiserum against IgG after the second dimension run. Thereby, the sensitivity of the IE method is increased; faint precipitates and antigen-antibody reactions close to but below the level of forming recognizable precipitates are made visible. The advantage of the method was demonstrated for a multilinear Mycobacterium phlei system.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Characterization of mycobacterial immunoprecipitates by selective staining of enzymes.

Immune precipitation patterns of Mycobacterium intracellulare, M. phlei and M. smegmatis were analysed by selective enzyme staining procedures in order to characterize individual mycobacterial antigens. Enzyme activity was shown in eight precipitinogens of M. intracellulare, seven of M. phlei, and six of M. smegmatis. The identification of mycobacterial precipitinogens as enzymes is important since only a few mycobacterial antigens have been functionally characterized.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1987

Methods for the detection of a specific Mycobacterium leprae antigen in the urine of leprosy patients.

Two methods for detecting the phenolic glycolipid, PGL-1, a Mycobacterium leprae-specific molecule, in the urine of leprosy patients are described. Both methods rely on the 100-fold preconcentration of the urine, which can be accomplished by a single-step ultrafiltration procedure. The equivalent of approximately 2.5 micrograms of PGL-1/ml was detected in the urine of LL patients with an inhibition ELISA. The second method, a direct dot-blot assay on nitrocellulose paper, was much simpler and more sensitive. As little as 3 ng of antigen was detected by the dot-blot technique. PGL-1 was detected in the urine of LL patients.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1987

Individualized measures of outcome versus standardized rating scales in evaluation of in-hospital psychiatric treatment. A methodological study.

The differentiating power of two individually related measures of outcome, target complaints and psychiatrists' evaluation of individually defined treatment objectives, were studied in two models of treatment planning, one with and one without active patient participation. Target complaints were measured at admission, after 5 days and at discharge. Treatment objectives were initially defined in written treatment contracts and evaluated at discharge. These measures were compared with patients' self-reported symptoms as well as with independently rated clinical symptoms at admission and discharge. Both target complaints and psychiatrists' evaluations measured improvement during treatment. The differentiating power between the two experimental conditions was, however, much weaker than that of the symptom rating scales. The psychiatrists' evaluations were strongly influenced by state at discharge and only to a minor extent by changes during treatment. It is concluded that symptom rating scales are superior to individualized measures of outcome in studies on a general psychiatric ward, possibly because the patients are fairly homogenous concerning anxiety.

Goals↗
PubMed1987

Patterns of response to neuroleptic treatment: factors influencing the amelioration of individual symptoms in psychotic patients.

Fifty-three patients with acute psychotic disorders (diagnosed according to DSM-III) were treated with thioridazine alone and observed during periods of up to 2 months. The amelioration of paranoid ideas and hallucinations (target symptoms) and of concentration difficulties, disorientation, reduced appetite, and reduced sleep (additional symptoms) was studied by repeated psychopathology ratings (CPRS). The patients were classified as "fast, slow or partial responders" according to the therapeutic effect registered on each target symptom. Paranoid ideas disappeared completely after less than 3 weeks of treatment in 28% of the patients (fast responders) and after more than 3 weeks in 32% (slow responders). Hallucinations disappeared significantly faster than paranoid ideas; 47% of the patients were completely free from hallucinations after less than 2 weeks of treatment (fast responders) and 38% after more than 2 weeks (slow responders). The following factors were significantly correlated to positive treatment effects of thioridazine: 1) diagnosis involving a brief history of psychotic symptoms before admission; 2) a low CPRS score for paranoid ideas on admission; 3) presence of disorientation on admission; 4) normal appetite on admission, and 5) rapidly reached optimal serum concentration of the drug.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Predictors of alcoholism in the Lundby Study. I. Material and methods.

In this prospective longitudinal study over 15 years (1957 to 1972) the background factors for those who became alcoholics and those who did not were registered before anybody knew what the outcome would be. The population (2,612 inhabitants) lived in 1957 in a delimited area in the South of Sweden, Lundby. In 1957 nearby everyone (98%) was examined by a single psychiatrist, and again in 1972, irrespective of domicile, by two psychiatrists. Among the men who at the outset did not misuse alcohol, 58 became alcoholics. These alcoholics were compared with the non-alcoholics regarding e.g. personality traits, social factors and interactions between factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Predictors of alcoholism in the Lundby Study. II. Personality traits as risk factors for alcoholism.

In 1957 all inhabitants (2,612) in a delimited geographical area, Lundby, were examined by a psychiatrist. Personality traits were scored for each individual. During the following 15 years 58 men became alcoholics (44 who had been 15 years or over in 1957). Among the men who in 1957 were scored 'subsolid in combination with symptom neurosis' the risk of becoming an alcoholic was increased 13.5 to 15.8 times. Protective against alcoholism was 'subvalidity in combination with psychosomatic symptoms'. The men with this combination had their risk decreased 12 times. The prediction of alcoholism depended on which factors and which combinations were used. With a sensitivity of 50% a specificity of almost 90% was reached; with a sensitivity of 60% specificities between 70% and 80% were reached.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Predictors of alcoholism in the Lundby Study. III. Social risk factors for alcoholism.

In 1957 all inhabitants (2,612) in a delimited geographical area, Lundby, were examined by a psychiatrist, and social factors were evaluated for each individual. During the following 15 years 58 men became alcoholics. Among the men who in 1957 were in the age group 0-14 years and belonged to a 'gang', the risk of becoming an alcoholic was 100-fold increased. 'Gang' was also an important factor in the age group 15-24 years. 'Crisis' was an important factor among those over 14, and 'disintegrated environment' in the age group 25-59 years. In the latter age group occupations such as 'entrepreneur', became important as a precipitating factor. 'Married' was the only protective factor found.

Adolescent↗