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Biomedical subjects

U Flodin

Publications and source records attributed to U Flodin.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Bacteriuria, bacterial virulence and host factors in diabetic patients.

The prevalence of bacteriuria as well as bacterial virulence and host factors were studied in 514 diabetic outpatients and 405 nondiabetic controls. The prevalence of bacteriuria was not significantly higher in diabetic women (15/239, 6.3%) than in age-matched nondiabetic women (8/236, 3.4%). In diabetic and nondiabetic men, the prevalence was also similar but lower than in women. E. coli was found in 55% of urine cultures with significant growth from diabetic patients, while in 91% of positive cultures from nondiabetic controls. Most E. coli strains lacked ability of P-fimbriae-mediated adhesion and aerobactin-mediated iron uptake, indicating low bacterial virulence. Long-term metabolic control (HbA1c), prevalence of retinopathy, neuropathy and previous foot ulcers were similar in bacteriuric and nonbacteriuric diabetic patients, matched according to gender, age, and duration of diabetes. Renal function was also similar, though the frequency of proteinuria and elevated blood pressure tended to be higher in the bacteriuric than in the noninfected group. Eight-three percent of the bacteriuric patients reported previous urinary tract infections but only 61% of nonbacteriuric patients (p = 0.07). As compared to non-diabetic women, diabetic women reported significantly more previous urinary tract infections (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the prevalence of bacteriuria in diabetic outpatients was not significantly higher than in non-diabetic outpatients or healthy volunteers. No studied host factor was clearly associated with bacteriuria in diabetic patients, although proteinuria and hypertension tended to be more common. The infecting E. coli strains were of low virulence.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Multiple sclerosis and exposure to solvents, ionizing radiation and animals.

Earlier studies have indicated an association between multiple sclerosis and environmental factors, especially occupational exposure to solvents. The present study examined such relationships further. From medical files of hospitals in Kalmar and Jönköping, 91 cases of multiple sclerosis, diagnosed in 1983-1988, were identified from population registers corresponding to the catchment areas of the hospitals, and 348 referents were randomly drawn. The cases and referents answered a questionnaire concerning occupational exposure and animal contacts. The men had significantly elevated risks, determined from logistic odds ratios, for solvent exposure, occupational contact with dogs or cats, and leisure-time contact with caged birds. X-ray treatment and previous diseases were risk indicators among the women. For the men and women together, solvent exposure, radiological work, and previous diseases were associated with clearly elevated risks. Although the study concerned rather few subjects, the findings indicate that several exogenous factors might contribute to the development of multiple sclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Neuropsychiatric effects of low exposure to styrene.

Workers exposed to styrene concentrations of about 50 mg/m3 at a plant manufacturing reinforced polyester boats were examined for neuropsychiatric symptoms both in close connection with exposure and also seven months after exposure had ceased. Physical workload is important for the uptake of styrene and was about 50 W at this plant. On the first occasion, after one week with no exposure, the workers reported a high frequency of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as fatigue, irritation, and forgetfulness whereas seven months later the frequency of these symptoms was low. These observations indicate that exposure to styrene at about 50 mg/m3 may induce reversible neuraesthenic symptoms. Even the relatively low Swedish standard (110 mg/m3 = 25 ppm) may, therefore, need revising.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Multiple sclerosis, solvents, and pets. A case-referent study.

The effect of potential risk factors for multiple sclerosis was evaluated in a case-referent study that encompassed 83 cases and 467 randomized referents. Information on exposure was obtained by questionnaires that were mailed to the subjects. Mantel-Haenszel rate ratios were increased for males for occupational exposure to solvents and welding and for females for leisure time contact with dogs and caged birds. For both sexes, x-ray film examination occurred more frequently among cases than referents, possibly as an effect of early symptoms from the disease itself.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Chronic lymphatic leukaemia and engine exhausts, fresh wood, and DDT: a case-referent study.

The effect of potential risk factors for chronic lymphatic leukaemia was evaluated in a case-referent study encompassing 111 cases and 431 randomised referents, all alive. Information on exposure was obtained by questionnaires posted to the subjects. Crude rate ratios were increased for occupational exposure to solvents. DDT, engine exhausts, fresh wood (lumberjacks, paper pulp workers, and sawmill workers, for example) and also in farming. Further analysis of the material by means of the Miettinen confounder score technique reduced the number of rate ratios significantly exceeding unity to encompass only occupational exposure to engine exhaust, fresh wood, DDT, and contact with horses.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Multiple myeloma and engine exhausts, fresh wood, and creosote: a case-referent study.

The effect of potential risk factors for multiple myeloma was evaluated in a case-referent study encompassing 131 cases and 431 randomized referents, all alive. Information on exposure was obtained with questionnaires mailed to the subjects. An analysis of the material by means of the Miettinen confounder score technique resulted in a few rate ratios significantly exceeding unity--namely, occupational exposure to engine exhausts, creosote, and fresh wood. In view of other studies that suggest ionizing radiation as a risk factor, it was somewhat surprising that low-level gamma radiation from background exposure was less common among the cases than the referents.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Cancer mortality among leather tanners.

Workers were studied at a tannery that operated from 1873 to 1960, once one of the biggest in Scandinavia. The results show a slight numerical increase of deaths from cancer of the stomach and a significant, threefold excess mortality from cancer of the pancreas. Even in view of critical questions about validity it seems likely that this excess might be related to exposure to chemicals in tannery work.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Clinical studies of psychoorganic syndromes among workers with exposure to solvents.

Exposure to organic solvents is common in industry. In Sweden, patients being evaluated for suspected solvent-related diseases now constitute the largest group of patients seen at many clinics of occupational medicine, largely replacing classical occupational disorders. The findings in 128 consecutive patients with solvent exposure have been reviewed for the period 1978-1981. The duration of exposure was 9 years or more for those with a diagnosis of psychoorganic syndrome (POS). "Incipient" POS was seen after a minimum exposure of 3 years duration. Patients with POS also had an increased frequency of polyneuropathy in comparison to those without any signs of POS. It was not possible to link these abnormalities with particular solvent exposure. Clinical chemistry tests were normal except for liver function tests in a few patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

A comment on the reference series with regard to multiple exposure evaluations in a case-referent study.

Case-referent (case-control) studies permit multiple exposures to be considered within the same series of cases and referents (controls) with regard to the etiologic contribution to a certain disease. Specific aspects of validity should be considered however, one being the utilization of an adequate reference series. Should the exposure cause, prevent, or otherwise have a certain relationship to disorders other than the one being studied, individuals with such other disorders cannot be uncritically included in the reference series if obtained from a hospital register, a register of causes of deaths, or some other source of subjects with relations to the individuals' health status. If a general population register is utilized, this problem is avoided since individuals obtained from such a register would adequately reflect the exposure frequency of the source population of the cases. These aspects are well illustrated by a consideration of the use of drugs among cases and, on one hand, referents with some sort of disorder as compared to referents (whether healthy or not) obtained from a population register on the other hand. Studies of industrial exposures seem to be somewhat less sensitive to bias of this type however, since industrial exposures are not primarily disorder-related, whereas drug exposures are.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Effects of low-dose radiation - a correlation study.

The effects of low-dose radiation have been a matter of controversy over the years, and the epidemiologic results have been conflicting. A couple of recent studies have indicated a possible impact on lung cancer mortality from exposure to indoor levels of radon and radon daughters. In this study, selected mortality rates, ie, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer (females only), leukemia, and multiple myeloma were correlated for the counties of Sweden with estimates of average background radiation exposure in these areas. Significant correlations were obtained for lung cancer (males, r = 0.46; females r = 0.55) and pancreatic cancer (males, r = 0.59; females, r = 0.40) , and there was a borderline correlation (r = 0.36; p = 0.04) for leukemia in males. In all, there were positive correlations for eight out of the nine computations made. Since background radiation correlates with urbanization and therefore with smoking, air pollution, etc, the correlations might be spurious due to confounding; on the other hand confounding is a reciprocal phenomenon which suggests that background radiation should to be taken into consideration when widespread risk factors like smoking, coffee drinking, general air pollution, etc, are studied.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Background radiation, electrical work, and some other exposures associated with acute myeloid leukemia in a case-referent study.

The effect of potential risk factors for acute myeloid leukemia was evaluated in a case-referent study encompassing 59 cases and 354 referents, all of whom were alive. Information on exposure was obtained through a questionnaire mailed to the subjects. The possible effect of background radiation was evaluated by means of a gamma radiation index, which accounted for the differences between cases and referents in this respect, i.e., in time spent in concrete buildings both at home and at work places. In the 20-54 yr old age group, there was an association between leukemia morbidity and index of background radiation. X-ray treatment and electrical work were also associated with increased rate ratios. With regard to solvents, only styrene appeared as a risk factor, but the number of exposed subjects was small. Other exposures were less clearly associated with increased risks.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acute myeloid leukemia and background radiation in an expanded case-referent study.

A case-referent study that investigated possible associations between environmental and occupational exposures and acute myeloid leukemia was performed on 86 cases and 172 referents, all of whom were living. Exposure information was obtained through a questionnaire mailed to each subject. An association was found between time spent in concrete buildings at home and work and leukemia morbidity. In addition, extensive x-ray examinations that occurred more than 5 y prior to diagnosis were more common among cases than referents.

Acute Disease↗