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Biomedical subjects

S Berg

Publications and source records attributed to S Berg.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Influence of surgery on serum concentrations of hyaluronan.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in serum hyaluronan concentrations in response to surgery. DESIGN: A prospective case series evaluating serum hyaluronan concentrations before, during, and after surgery. SETTING: Operating room and recovery room of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Twelve consecutive patients undergoing vascular surgery because of arterial insufficiency of the lower extremities. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Serum hyaluronan concentrations were measured before and after induction of anesthesia and before, during, and after surgery. Routine chemical analyses of blood samples were made before and after surgery. Blood loss and fluid volumes infused were registered. Mean serum hyaluronan concentrations increased from baseline 25 +/- 10 (SD) to 36 +/- 15 micrograms/L (p < .05) during surgery, and increased further at 1 hr after the end of surgery to 52 +/- 38 micrograms/L (p < .001 compared with baseline), but had decreased nearly to baseline levels at 2 hrs postoperatively. A positive correlation was seen between peak hyaluronan concentrations and baseline serum hyaluronan levels (r2 = .73; p < .001), but no strong relationship was seen between serum hyaluronan concentrations and other parameters studied. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery is accompanied by a small increase in serum hyaluronan concentrations in humans. The major increase is seen in the postoperative period, and is probably due to increased influx of interstitial hyaluronan when the returning muscular tone activates lymph flow.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Is transcutaneous PO2 monitoring during exercise a reliable alternative to arterial PO2 measurements?

Arterial PO2 measurement during exercise is an important part in the evaluation of pulmonary disease but requires an intra-arterial cannula. However, in clinical work it would be preferable to assess PO2 non-invasively. To evaluate such a technique, simultaneous measurements of transcutaneous PO2 (tcPO2) and arterial PO2 (PaO2), sampled from an indwelling arterial radial cannula, were made before, during and after a fatigue or symptom-limited bicycle exercise test in 16 patients referred to hospital because of dyspnoea. In total 181 paired measurements were made. Mean values (range) of PaO2 and tcPO2 were 11.2 kPa (5-16) and 9.5 (5-13.3), respectively. The correlation coefficient between PaO2 and TcPO2 was only 0.36 (P < 10(-5)). By normalizing the values of tcPO2 and PaO2 to corresponding values at supine rest before exercise, the correlation coefficient increased to 0.80 (P < 10(-6). Using PaO2 as golden standard, tcPO2 described the trend in pO2 during exercise reasonably well in all cases and this information is often sufficient for assessing the degree of pulmonary insufficiency. Thus, transcutaneous blood gas monitoring during exercise is useful for clinical evaluation of pulmonary disease, but a single arterial blood sample at rest before exercise is recommended for baseline correlation.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Stachybotrys atra Growth and Toxin Production in Some Building Materials and Fodder under Different Relative Humidities.

Growth of Stachybotrys atra and its toxin production on some building materials and in animal fodder were studied at relative humidities ranging from 78 to 100%. Toxins were detected by biological assays and chemical methods. Strong growth of the fungus and presence of macrocyclic trichothecenes, mainly satratoxins G and H, were detected on wallpaper and gypsum boards and in hay and straw at saturation conditions. On pine panels, S. atra grew well, but neither biological toxicity nor production of macrocyclic trichothecenes was observed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Crystalloid infusion increases plasma hyaluronan.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in plasma hyaluronan concentrations after intravenous infusion of crystalloid solution in healthy subjects. DESIGN: Crossover, controlled study. SETTING: General intensive care unit in a university hospital. SUBJECTS: Twelve healthy medical students. INTERVENTIONS: Infusion of 1000 mL i.v. Ringer's acetate solution during a 40-min period. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Plasma hyaluronan concentrations were measured before, during, and after infusion, and under the same conditions without the infusion in a separate session. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum albumin concentrations were measured before and after infusion. Plasma volume at baseline and the volume of Ringer's acetate retained in the intravascular space after infusion were calculated. Plasma hyaluronan values increased from baseline mean of 12 +/- 5.8 (SD) to 20 +/- 13.1 micrograms/L (p < .01) at 30 mins and 25 +/- 13.0 micrograms/L (p < .001) at 40 mins after start of the infusion. Plasma hyaluronan concentrations peaked at 10 mins after the end of the infusion: 27 +/- 13.9 micrograms/L (p < .001). No changes in plasma hyaluronan concentrations were seen during the control period. A volume of 230 to 250 mL of Ringer's acetate solution was calculated to be retained within the intravascular space. CONCLUSIONS: Infusion of crystalloid solution increases plasma hyaluronan, probably through a washout of interstitial hyaluronan by way of increased lymph flow. The consequences of the interstitial loss of hyaluronan on tissue function are unknown.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Activity of serum angiotensin converting enzyme in septic pigs treated with intrapulmonary corticosteroid.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity (S-ACE) in sepsis, its association with haemodynamics and pulmonary function, and the influence of intrapulmonary corticosteroid on its activity in serum. DESIGN: Randomised, blind, placebo controlled experiment. SETTING: Trauma research laboratory. MATERIAL: Sixteen juvenile pigs. INTERVENTIONS: Mechanical ventilation and continuous light anaesthesia. Brief infusion of live Staphylococcus aureus (4 x 10(10) colony forming units) followed by inhalation of nebulised beclomethasone dipropionate 50 micrograms/kg (n = 8) or placebo (n = 7) 30 and 360 minutes after the start of the septic challenge. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: S-ACE activity, vascular pressures, lung mechanics, arterial oxygen tension, and global oxygen extraction were measured and calculated at regular intervals. One animal was withdrawn because of pulmonary arterial hypertension at the start of the experiment. The 15 remaining pigs were studied for 12 hours. The septic challenge induced a significant but transient increase in S-ACE activity in 13 animals (mean (SEM) +0.19 (0.06) mu kat/l). There were no significant differences in S-ACE between the groups. Terminal S-ACE correlated with oxygen extraction (r = -0.76, p < 0.01), mean arterial pressure (r = 0.69, p < 0.01), arterial oxygen tension (r = 0.59, p < 0.05) and change in lung/thorax compliance (r = 0.63, p < 0.02). CONCLUSION: S-ACE activity increases in response to a Gram positive septic challenge. This is followed by a gradual decline which reflects to some extent the degree of septic lung injury. S-ACE activity is not influenced by intrapulmonarily administered corticosteroid.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1993

Clinical and genetic studies of renal cell carcinomas in a family with a constitutional chromosome 3;8 translocation. Genetics of familial renal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical course and genetic studies of renal carcinoma in members of a family with the constitutional chromosome translocation, t(3;8) (p14;q24). DESIGN: A follow-up study that updates our 1979 report of renal carcinoma in 10 of these relatives. SETTING: A cancer center and university hospital. PATIENTS: Members of the family, including five carriers of the 3;8 translocation who were in remission of renal cancer. MEASUREMENTS: Clinical follow-up of the family and genetic analyses of the renal cancer specimens of three patients. RESULTS: Renal carcinoma recurred in all five patients in the family at 1 to 16 years of follow-up. Three patients have died of renal cancer, and two are in a second remission. The renal cancers from three family members consistently reveal loss of the entire derivative chromosome 8, which bears the chromosome 3p segment spanning band p14 to the telomere. In contrast, no genetic change was detected in the derivative chromosome 3 or in normal chromosomes 3 and 8. CONCLUSIONS: This family illustrates the importance of clinical follow-up of patients with a hereditary cancer that can develop at multiple foci and recur over time. The inherited 3;8 translocation and loss of the translocated distal chromosome 3p in tumor specimens of family members may help localize the gene or genes involved in the pathogenesis of both familial and sporadic renal carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Corticosteroid by aerosol in septic pigs--effects on pulmonary function and oxygen transport.

OBJECTIVE: To assess effects of nebulized corticosteroid on lung function in sepsis. DESIGN: Randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded study in septic pigs. SETTING: A trauma research laboratory. MATERIALS: 16 juvenile pigs, one excluded due to pulmonary hypertension at baseline. INTERVENTIONS: Mechanical ventilation and continuous light anesthesia. Brief infusion of live Staph. aureus (4 x 10(10) cfu) followed by nebulization of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) 50 micrograms/kg (n = 8) or placebo (n = 7) 30 and 360 min after start of septic challenge. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Vascular pressures, cardiac output, lung mechanics, gas exchange and oxygen transport variables were measured at regular intervals. An identical transient rise in mean pulmonary artery pressure was seen in both groups (mean +/- SD: 48 +/- 4 mmHg), followed by a gradual increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, reaching maximum at 4 h but significantly reduced by BDP compared to placebo (p < 0.01, ANOVA). Mean systemic arterial pressure, arterial oxygen tension and lung compliance did not change significantly in the BDP group, but they all declined in the placebo-group (p < 0.01 compared to baseline, p < 0.05-0.01 between the groups). Oxygen delivery decreased significantly in the placebo group at 12 h (p < 0.05). Oxygen extraction increased in both groups (p < 0.01 compared to baseline), being significantly higher in the placebo group at 12 h (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Nebulized corticosteroid protects pulmonary function in sepsis, indicating a therapeutic role in the treatment of septic ARDS.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1993

Local variations in old age care in the welfare state: the case of Sweden.

Swedish local municipalities are responsible for the provision of social welfare, including old age care. Local autonomy is far-reaching, and local inequities are indeed great for all kinds of domestic and institutional care for the elderly. Not only coverage rates differ widely but also costs per citizen and spending per elderly person vary vastly. Numerous parameters of the political, economic and geo-social structure of the municipalities explain only very little of these local variations. It seems that local differences are often of long standing: this may explain why 'rational' indicators of needs and local capacity fail to explain much of the inequities. Yet, one factor of socio-political importance emerges as significant: the system of tax redistribution enforced on largely autonomous municipalities.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

A cross-national self-report measure of depressive symptomatology.

The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D) was administered in Swedish to two representative samples, one aged 84 to 90 (mean = 87), the second aged 29 to 95 (mean = 61). There were both linear and quadratic differences with age: the oldest individuals were highest on depressive symptoms, but younger adults were higher than middle-aged. Dimensions or subscales identified by previous studies were generally replicated, including a sadness and depressed mood factor, a psychomotor retardation and loss of energy factor, and a well-being factor (on which items are reverse-scored to indicate depression). The findings support cross-national use of the CES-D to assess self-reported symptoms of depression in adults and older adults.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

NORA--Nordic research on ageing. Functional capacity of 75-year-old men and women in three Nordic localities.

The aim of this cross-national study was to describe and compare differences in functional capacity of 75-year old people in three Nordic urban localities. As the life-expectancy at the age of 75 differs between the Nordic countries, there is reason to look for similar differences in functional capacity, taking differences in socio-demography, lifestyle, living conditions and health into consideration. In 1989-1991, 400 75-year-old men and women were selected to represent 75-year-olds in a Danish, Finnish and Swedish city. They participated in examinations which focused on functional capacity and health, where identical questionnaires, tests, and equipment were employed. The methods employed were developed from the experience gathered during previous studies of epidemiology of ageing in Glostrup, Gothenburg, and Jyväskylä. Functional capacity is the dependent variable multifactorially related to age, health, living conditions, and life style. The data collection was performed with participation rates in the interviews of 85% in Glostrup, 83% in Gothenburg, and 92% in Jyväskylä. The participation rates in the laboratory examinations were 76%, 67% and 77%, respectively. Examples of differences in socio-demographic background, lifestyle and measures of health and performance in the three localities are given. The Nordic study on physical, psychological and social capacity of 75-year-olds was performed with sufficiently standardised methods to allow a comparison of the results. Similar comprehensive cross-sectional comparative studies of the elderly people have not been performed earlier. Local and cross-national results will be published in each field separately and in combination.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

The oldest old and their children: how strong are the relationships?

Eighty-five-year-old parents (N = 99) and their middle-aged children (N = 58) participated in a study on solidarity in intergenerational relationships in Sweden. The research model utilized evaluated six dimensions of family solidarity: family structures and associational, affectional, consensual, functional and normative solidarity. The finding of close family bonds in most of these areas may be attributed to the fact that the extensive Swedish public home-help system facilitated relationships on more equal terms. While the children were relieved from much responsibility for their parents' needs, most parents did not experience feelings of dependency on their children. It was in fact evident that even very old parents can be a source for help to their children. Children were, however, the main providers for emotional support and this role could not be substituted by formal caregivers.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Anterior mandibular subapical osteotomy: a useful treatment for patients with severely worn mandibular anterior teeth.

Rehabilitation of patients with severe dental wear is a complex diagnostic and restorative problem. As wear occurs, space for restorative materials is lost, and unique treatment techniques are needed to provide good esthetics and function. Use of orthognathic surgery to reposition mandibular anterior teeth and supporting alveolar bone can create a more ideal environment for restorative procedures.

Alveolectomy↗
PubMed1992

Teeth in the fracture line.

The department of maxillo-facial surgery in Cologne University has, for some 15 years, routinely treated patients with mandibular fractures, in which a tooth lies in the fracture line, by means of Champy miniplates. A review of such cases was conducted to determine the viability of such teeth not electively extracted at the time of fracture reduction. It was found that only rarely did the "salvaged" tooth subsequently require extraction and we believe our results should encourage the clinician to attempt to retain "fracture line" teeth unless there is an absolute contraindication.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Binding and internalization of hyaluronate by human cutaneous fibroblasts.

Hyaluronate is a ubiquitous component of mammalian extracellular matrix. It influences numerous cellular processes and accumulates in fibrotic connective tissue disorders. Recently, hyaluronate catabolism has assumed additional importance because of the introduction into clinical practice of therapeutic procedures which deposit high concentrations of hyaluronate directly into tissues. Relatively little is known about the local metabolism, fate, or long-term effects of either endogenous or exogenous hyaluronate at deposition sites. A capacity for degrading hyaluronate within connective tissues, presumably by fibroblasts, has been inferred but remains controversial because direct proof that human fibroblasts endocytose and degrade hyaluronate has been lacking. In the present study, fibroblasts from normal and fibrotic skin were incubated with [3H]-hyaluronate. Binding and internalization of radiolabeled substrate were then measured: Binding assays revealed a saturable, dose-dependent increase in cell surface-associated [3H]-hyaluronate which was enhanced by pretreatment with hyaluronidase. Similar binding curves were obtained for all cells tested. All the cell lines internalized hyaluronate; however, fibroblasts in confluent cultures internalized 3.5- to 4.2-fold more radioactivity per cell than did fibroblasts from corresponding subconfluent cultures (p less than or equal to 0.002). Normal scar fibroblasts showed greater capacity for generating hyaluronate-derived partial degradation products. This work provides clear evidence that human cutaneous fibroblasts are capable of both binding and internalizing hyaluronate, possibly as a prerequisite for degradation.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1992

Changes in cognitive functioning of the oldest old.

Cognitive changes during a 2-year interval in a representative sample of the oldest old were investigated. Respondents were 324 people aged 84 to 90 at baseline who were selected from census records in the Jönköping region of Sweden. Following a 2-year interval, it was possible to reinterview 213 people, or 94% of individuals, still alive. Performance on a battery of five cognitive tests showed a small decline in mean scores, and a 10% increase in the number of people meeting criteria for significant cognitive impairment. Respondents with better functioning at baseline tended to have stable performance over this period.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Pulmonary granulocyte accumulation is reduced by nebulized corticosteroid in septic pigs.

Nebulized beclomethasone dipropionate was administered to 14 anesthetized and artificially ventilated pigs at 6-hourly intervals after infusion of live S. aureus (BDP group). Changes in pulmonary activity from autologous granulocytes labeled with In-111 was detected externally for 12 (n = 8) to 44 h (n = 6). The changes were compared with those in ten pigs (12 h n = 7, 44 h n = 3) subjected to the same insults but given no corticosteroid (placebo group). Serial measurements of blood radioactivity, and cardiac output were performed in animals observed for 12 h. Corticosteroid-treated pigs showed a gradual decline in decay-corrected pulmonary In-111 activity. The placebo group displayed a more varied reaction, but most animals had an increased activity compared to the corticosteroid group. The difference between the groups was significant at 8 h (BDP-group 92% (88-98), placebo-group 107% (97-121), median (lower-upper quartiles), baseline = 100%. P < 0.01, U-test). Blood radioactivity and cardiac output did not differ significantly between the two groups. Nebulized corticosteroid thus diminished pulmonary granulocyte accumulation, which may be of value in the treatment of septic respiratory distress.

Aerosols↗