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Biomedical subjects

V Berg

Publications and source records attributed to V Berg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Mercury, cadmium, lead, and selenium in fish from a Norwegian fjord and off the coast, the importance of sampling locality.

Hepatic levels of mercury, cadmium, lead, and selenium and levels of mercury and selenium in muscle tissue were analysed in tusk from the Nordfjord in Norway. With the exception of selenium in the muscle tissue, the metal levels were significantly higher in the fjord fish than in fish caught off the coast. No local source is known to explain the difference in levels, and this indicates that the fjord efficiently accumulates atmospheric contaminants. The present results demonstrate the importance of sampling area when determining levels of metals in marine organisms far from point sources. The liver was increasingly used as a storage compartment for mercury and selenium with increasing exposure.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Sentinel node localization in breast cancer patients using intradermal dye injection.

In a series of 161 consecutive breast cancer operations, intradermal injection of Patent Blue was used to localize the sentinel node (SN). The surgical localization rate was 60%. Including the blue lymph nodes found by the pathologist, localization rate was 70%. After the first 103 operations, the surgical procedure was changed, resulting in a localization rate of 83%. Ten surgeons participated, but only one had previous experience with SN dissection. The others experienced a steep learning curve. Metastasis was found in 42 of 97 SNs (43%). In 15 cases (36%) metastasis was recognized only after step-sectioning and immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin. In one case a benign epithelial inclusion was found. The sentinel node was false negative in 9.1% of cases. The consensus from the literature is that the best results are achieved using a combination of dye and isotopic techniques.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[The last bill].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Accounts Payable and Receivable↗
PubMed1999

Organochlorines in deep-sea fish from the Nordfjord.

Hepatic levels of OCs (Organochlorines) were analysed in deep-sea fish from the Nordfjord in Norway. Levels of PCBs in the present study exceed background levels in fish from Norwegian water by a factor of 1.5 to 50, and DDTs by one to two orders of magnitude. DDTs in fish from the Nordfjord have previously been attributed to DDT use in fruit orchards. The present levels of DDTs show that the decline usually found in biota in Scandinavia since the 1970s is not found in the deep-sea fish in Nordfjord. There is no known local PCB source that can explain the elevated levels in the present study. This indicates that the fjord efficiently accumulates atmospheric contaminants. Chlordanes and HCB were less important, and HCHs were not detected.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

A zinc-dependent DNA-binding activity co-operates with cAMP-responsive-element-binding protein to activate the human thyroglobulin enhancer.

Footprinting experiments involving the human thyroglobulin gene enhancer and thyroid nuclear extracts revealed a protected region called X2, containing an incomplete cAMP-responsive element (CRE). Band-shift experiments identified two binding activities recognizing the X2 element: a CRE-binding protein (CREB)/activating transcription factor (ATF) relative that binds the half CRE motif and a second factor that interacts with a G-rich motif located just upstream from the CRE. The first factor appears to be CREB itself, as indicated by the supershifting when using an antibody directed against CREB, and the second DNA-binding activity involved was shown to be zinc-dependent and exhibited an apparent molecular mass of 42-44 kDa in South-Western blotting experiments. This factor may represent a novel entity, which we named CAF, for 'CREB Associated Factor'. Three copies of X2 sequence conferred a strong cAMP-dependent transcriptional activation to a heterologous promoter in transient transfection assay in cAMP-stimulated primary thyrocytes and HeLa cells. Transfection experiments of constructs containing the X2 element mutated in either the CRE or the G-rich site showed that both motifs were required for this transcription activating function. Moreover, the combination of several individual X2 elements mutated in either the CRE or the G-rich motif did not exhibit full transcriptional activity. This suggests that, in the context of the X2 element, CREB requires a close interaction with CAF to achieve both basal and cAMP-dependent transcriptional activation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Identification of a thyroid-specific and cAMP-responsive enhancer in the upstream sequences of the human thyroglobulin promoter.

Functional analysis of remote 5'-flanking sequences from the human thyroglobulin gene in primary cultured dog thyrocytes led to the identification of a partly cAMP-responsive enhancer, located between -3.6 to -2.2 kb from the transcriptional start site. Deletion analysis of the 1.4 kb-long region localised the enhancer activity in a 0.5 kb-long fragment (located between -3.2 and -2.7 kb relative to transcription start), which could be divided into two functional sub-fragments of 0.2 and 0.3 kb. A potential binding site for the CREB/ATF transcription factors was found in the 0.3 kb element. The complete enhancer region had no detectable activity when assayed in Hela cells, suggesting that it constituted a thyroid-specific regulatory element. Accordingly, footprinting experiments revealed the presence of several binding sites for Thyroid Transcription Factor-1 (TTF-1) in both the 0.2 and 0.3 kb elements.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

[Ultrasound screening of hip joints in newborn infants].

The aim of the present study was to assess the efficiency of ultrasonography in the screening of hip joints in newborn babies. In 1987, 2,531 newborns (92.4% of all liveborn babies) were examined clinically and with ultrasound. The coverage of the femoral head by the bony acetabular roof was measured on a longitudinal, coronal scan. The mean head coverage was 57% in boys and 55% in girls (p = 0.0001). Unstable hips, shown by both ultrasound and clinical examination, were found in 27 newborns (1.1%). The mean head coverage of unstable hips was 41%, significantly lower than for stable hips. No late hip dislocations were diagnosed in children with normal findings who were not included in the follow-up routines. In conclusion, the study indicated that ultrasonography measuring the femoral head coverage is an appropriate method of screening in newborns. It is useful for differentiating between a true and a false positive Ortolani sign. Moreover, ultrasound can show hip dysplasia that is not clinically demonstrable at birth.

Female↗
PubMed1993

[Self-regulated intake of food and drinks after abdominal surgery].

106 consecutive patients who had undergone laparotomy were allowed to drink freely from the first and to eat from the second day after operation. Only patients with an operated oesophagus were excluded. Nasogastric suction was not used. Our study shows that if patients are allowed to choose, they like to drink and to eat soon after the operation. They prefer water, juice and soup during the early days. Most of them soon drank more than 1,500 ml of liquids per day. They often start to drink and to eat before the passage of first flatus. Only five patients (4.7%) needed to have a nasogastric tube inserted. We found no major complications associated with our regimen. All our patients are now allowed to drink and eat according to their own wishes.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Plasma estradiol levels and duration of lactation amenorrhea].

In Temuco, Chile, 114 women in fully nursing, were studied, according to their length of lactational amenorrhea and their relation with estradiol levels at 3th postpartum month. Sixty six (58%) recovery their menses before the 6th postpartum month. The length of lactational amenorrhea was 100.7-5.2 and 277 +/- 10.6 days, for those mothers who were with menses and amenorrhea, respectively. The estradiol levels were 88 pmol/l higher in the woman with short length of lactational amenorrhea. This study corroborate, that short length of lactational amenorrhea is a condition highly frequent in Chilean population. The difference in the estradiol levels may be a indicators of the early recovery of the postpartum fertility.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[General and ethnic factors associated with the duration of lactation amenorrhea].

114 women in fully nursing, were studied, according to the length of lactational amenorrhea and their relation with general characteristics and ethnic group. Of the 114 mothers, 66 (58%) recovery their menses before the 6th postpartum month. The length of lactation was 100.7 +/- 5.2 and 277.9 +/- 10.5 days, for those mothers who were with menses and amenorrhea until the 6th postpartum month, respectively. A group of Mapuche women had a higher length of lactational amenorrhea and we found differences in the frequency of suckling episodes at night. This study corroborate, that short length of lactational amenorrhea is a condition highly frequent in Chilean population and it does not have a relation the nursing pattern in general population. However, the difference in the length of lactational amenorrhea in specific ethnic group, can include some general or behavioral factors of breast-feeding.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Linen in the hospital bed: effects on patients' well-being.

The aim of the study was to determine if using linen in hospital beds affects patients' well-being. An experimental group consisting of 52 patients (mean age: 64.4 years) at a medical ward used linen in the bottom sheet, the protective sheet, the pillow-case and the patient gown for 4 weeks. A control group consisting of 40 patients (mean age: 67.5 years) at the same ward was observed for 4 weeks using the conventional material (cotton, cotton/polyester). Marginal positive effects on patients' well-being were noted when linen was used. It was discussed that the relative importance of the bed material to patients' well-being may be low, compared to medical treatment, nursing, etc. Given the high cost of linen, about 15 times more than the conventional material, it was suggested that the health care system should refrain from large-scale use of linen in hospital beds.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Influence of basal and post-feeding prolactin levels on amenorrhea during breast feeding].

Forty five women, with exclusive breastfeeding were studied, (the objective was) to explore the relationship between: basal plasma prolactin (PRL) levels and post-suckling with the duration of postpartum amenorrhea. Blood samples for measurements of PRL were taken at the third month postpartum, before an episode of suckling and 30 minutes after the suckling was initiated. The average level of basal PRL was 1,033 +/- 113 mIU/L (mean +/- SE). Women who presented long periods of amenorrhea, had an increase of the basal PRL in 632 mIU/L (X), compare to those women who had their menses before 180 days postpartum (p = 0.036) women with longer amenorrhea (p = 0.06). However there were no relationship between the menses at the sixth month postpartum and the increase of post-suckling PRL (delta PRL). In this study it was found that the levels of basal PRL had correlation with the duration of the amenorrhea, in women with exclusive breastfeeding.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Hip rotation and in-toeing gait. A study of normal subjects from four years until adult age.

In a selected population, from four years old up to adult age, the function of 1522 hips of 761 apparently normal subjects of both genders were studied to define: (1) the lower and upper limits of normal hip rotation; and (2) the frequency of in-toeing gait related to age and gender. Internal and external rotation were measured with the subject lying prone with flexed knees. Presence of in-toeing gait was noted. A significant reduction of internal rotation with age was found in both females and males. In all age groups, females had significantly higher range of internal rotation than males. External rotation did not show the same age and gender dependency. Sixteen percent of all subjects had an in-toeing gait. The frequency decreased from 30% in the four-year-old group to 4% in adults. The subjects with in-toeing had a significantly increased internal rotation and decreased external rotation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Ultrasound for hip assessment in the newborn.

The hips of 1000 newborn babies were examined clinically and by ultrasonography. The ultrasound assessment was based on measurements of the coverage of the femoral head by the bony acetabular roof, and this parameter was called the Bony Rim Percentage (BRP). The mean BRP was 55.3% in girls and 57.2% in boys, a significant difference. Clinical instability occurred in 0.7% of the newborn babies, and all of the unstable hips had a BRP below the lower limit of normal. All infants with normal clinical findings and suspected abnormal hips based on ultrasound were followed up; in all but two the hips became normal spontaneously. We conclude that ultrasonography, using the measurements of femoral head coverage, is appropriate for screening the newborn, is reliable in differentiating between a true and a false positive Ortolani sign, and that hip dysplasia which is not clinically demonstrable at birth can be detected by ultrasound. Ultrasound should replace radiography as the routine method of following up high-risk infants and those with suspicious signs.

Auscultation↗