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Biomedical subjects

A Johanson

Publications and source records attributed to A Johanson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Brain function in spider phobia.

Measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were performed in 16 women suffering from spider phobia. The non-invasive 133Xe inhalation method, giving information about the blood flow of superficial areas, was used. The subjects were studied under three conditions: during resting, when exposed to a videotape showing nature scenery, and finally when watching a video with living spiders. During the rCBF measurements the subjects' behaviour was registered systematically and respiration, blood pressure, Pco2, and heart rate were monitored. Eight subjects who showed and reported severe panic during the spider exposure had marked rCBF decreases in frontal areas, especially in the right hemisphere. The remaining eight subjects displayed a more efficient control of their emotions and became frightened, but not panic-stricken, during the spider exposure. These showed a consistent rCBF increase in the right frontal area compared to neutral stimulation. Thus, results revealed significant functional changes in the frontal cortex in subjects with spider phobia during phobogenic exposure. It seems likely that these frontal changes are related to the experience and control of phobic anxiety.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

A PCR-based method to distinguish fungi of the rice sheath-blight complex, Rhizoctonia solani, R. oryzae and R. oryzae-sativae.

Identification of Rhizoctonia solani, R. oryzae and R. oryzae-sativae, components of the rice sheath disease complex, is extremely difficult and often inaccurate and as a result may hinder the success of extensive breeding programmes throughout Asia. In this study, primers designed from unique regions within the rDNA internal transcribed spacers have been used to develop a rapid PCR-based diagnostic test to provide an accurate identification of the species on rice. Tests on the specificity of the primers concerned showed that they provide the means for accurate identification of the Rhizoctonia species responsible for sheath diseases in rice.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Adult height in growth hormone (GH)-deficient children treated with biosynthetic GH. The Genentech Growth Study Group.

Near-adult height (AH) was determined in 121 children (72 males and 49 females) with GH deficiency (GHD) who were prepubertal when they began treatment with recombinant DNA-derived preparations of human GH. AH as a SD score was -0.7 +/- 1.2 (mean +/- SD), significantly greater than the pretreatment height SD score (-3.1 +/- 1.2), the predicted AH SD score (-2.2 +/- 1.2; Bayley-Pinneau method), and the height SD score at the start of puberty (-1.9 +/- 1.3). In contrast to studies of GH treatment outcome, which used pituitary-derived GH (pit-GH) in lower doses, we found that males did not have a higher AH SD score than females, spontaneous puberty did not diminish AH, and AH was significantly greater than that predicted at the start of GH treatment. In a multiple regression equation, the statistically significant variables (all P < 0.0001) related to AH (r2 = 0.70) were the following: duration of treatment with GH, sex (males were taller than females, as expected for the normal population), age (younger children had a greater AH) and height at the start of GH, and growth rate during first year of GH. For the AH SD score (r2 = 0.47), pretreatment predicted AH, duration of GH, and bone age delay were significant (P < 0.0002) explanatory variables. Bone age delay (chronological age-bone age) had a negative impact on the AH SD score. Target height, etiology of GHD, previous treatment with pituitary GH, and the presence or absence of spontaneous puberty did not significantly improve the prediction of AH. Early diagnosis of GHD and continuous treatment with larger doses of GH to near AH should improve the outcome in children with short stature due to GHD.

Body Height↗
PubMed1996

Brain tumor recurrence in children treated with growth hormone: the National Cooperative Growth Study experience.

As of October 1993 the National Cooperative Growth Study included 1262 children with brain tumor who were treated with growth hormone. The type of brain tumor was specified in 947 (75%) of these children. The most common types were glioma, medulloblastoma, and craniopharyngioma, accounting for 91.3% of all those for which type was specified. Brain tumor recurred in 83 (6.6%) of the 1262 children over a total of 6115 patient-years at risk. The frequencies of tumor recurrence in children with low-grade glioma (18.1%), medulloblastoma (7.2%), and craniopharyngioma (6.4%) are lower than those in published reports of tumor recurrence in the general pediatric population with the same types of tumors. The analysis cannot conclusively show that no increased risk of tumor recurrence exists, however, because of the potential incompleteness of data reporting in the National Cooperative Growth Study. Nevertheless the findings are reassuring that children with the more common types of brain tumor who are treated with growth hormone do not seem to be at excessive risk for tumor recurrence.

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems↗
PubMed1996

Neuropsychological assessment of dementia: state of the art.

A comprehensive neuropsychological examination includes an assessment of both cognitive functions and personality characteristics. In order to evaluate dementia, the patient's present as well as the premorbid functioning has to be assessed, which is performed by means of tests, behavioral observations, rating scales, and inquiries. These methods are used for diagnostic purposes, for differential diagnostics, follow-up studies, and for evaluation of treatment effects. Recent research has shown that neuropsychological methods have a high sensitivity and specificity in detection of dementia, utilizing measures of episodic memory. For staging of dementia, episodic memory as well as other cognitive functions are necessary. The effectiveness of dementia differentiation by means of neuropsychological methods varies from quite good regarding frontal lobe degeneration to less good regarding cerebrovascular dementias, probably due to the variation in site, extent, number, and temporal characteristics of the lesion. Future development is required regarding methods for evaluation of premorbid functioning, instruments for assessment of executive functions, and personality characteristics in dementia. Furthermore, brain-behavior studies are needed to learn more about the relation between neuropsychological measures vs neuropathology, neurochemistry, and neuroimaging.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Outcome of a four-year randomized study of daily versus three times weekly somatropin treatment in prepubertal naive growth hormone-deficient children. Genentech Study Group.

A comparison was made of the growth responses of prepubertal naive GH-deficient children who were randomly assigned to receive 0.3 mg/kg.week recombinant human GH administered either daily (QD) or three times weekly (TIW) over 4 yr. The effects of the two regimens on annual growth velocity, change in height SD score, bone maturation, and age at onset of puberty are presented as the mean +/- SD. During each of the 4 yr, the annual growth velocity was significantly greater in the QD vs. TIW group. At 48 months, the mean total gain in height was 9.7 cm greater in the QD group (38.4 +/- 5.5) than that in the TIW group 28.7 +/- 3.2; P = 0.0002). The mean height SD score at the end of each year was significantly greater in the QD group. After 4 yr, the total gain in height SD score was 3.2 +/- 1.2 in the QD group compared to 1.5 +/- 0.5 in the TIW group (P = 0.0003). The height SD score at 4 yr was 0.2 in the QD group (pretreatment, -2.9) compared to -1.4 in the TIW group (pretreatment, -2.9). After 4 yr of rhGH treatment, the increment in bone age was similar in the QD (4.9 +/- 1.0 yr) and TIW (4.8 +/- 1.1 yr) groups. The change in height age minus the change in bone age was more favorable in the QD (1.2 +/- 0.8 yr) than in the TIW (0.0 +/- 0.9 yr) group (P = 0.003). The mean age at onset of puberty in boys was the same in the QD (13.2 yr) and TIW (13.0 yr) groups (P = 0.71), and the mean bone age at the start of puberty was also similar (11.5 in QD and 11.3 in TIW groups; P = 0.66). The advantages of QD rhGH treatment in prepubertal GH-deficient children after 4 yr were additional gains of 1.7 height SD score and 9.7 cm in height over those treated with the TIW regimen (P = 0.0002).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Lack of increased risk for extracranial, nonleukemic neoplasms in recipients of recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid growth hormone.

This report describes cases of new extracranial nonleukemic neoplasms in recombinant human GH (rhGH) recipients. The data are largely from the National Cooperative Growth Study (NCGS), with over 51,000 patient-years at risk from 12,209 patients treated with Protropin rhGH. In addition to case reports of extracranial tumors from the NCGS enrollees, there have been reports from non-NCGS patients. Ten cases of new extracranial neoplasms have been reported from this total study population, and there have been eight cases whose second neoplasms were extracranial in nature. For the new cases, the number of observed cases is compared with the number of expected cases, as derived from incidence rates published by the National Cancer Institute's SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) Program. The standard morbidity ratio (SMR), defined as the number of observed cases/expected cases, is calculated for males and females separately, with further subgroup analysis based upon age. For the NCGS population, the SMRs were not statistically distinguishable from unity (i.e. 1). When the number of non-NCGS Protropin patients is estimated and SMRs are calculated for the total Protropin-treated group, the SMRs remain statistically indistinguishable from one. At present, these data suggest that rhGH does not increase the risk for developing nonleukemic extracranial neoplasms. Because a small number of additional cases could significantly alter the SMR calculations, meticulous reporting and continued surveillance must continue.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Factors predicting the response to growth hormone (GH) therapy in prepubertal children with GH deficiency.

To identify factors influencing the response to GH therapy, we used a multiple regression model to analyze data from 632 naive prepubertal children with GH deficiency (GHD). There were 523 children with idiopathic and 109 children with organic GHD. They were treated with the same preparation of biosynthetic methionyl GH (somatrem, Protropin) for at least 1 yr. In children with idiopathic GHD, six variables predicted 40% of the response to treatment. They were (listed in relative importance, all P < 0.0001): age, log maximum GH, weight adjusted for height, dosing schedule, dose, and midparental height. Three variables, pretreatment growth rate, log maximum GH, and age, predicted 20% of the GH response in children with organic GHD. When data for all children were analyzed using analysis of covariance, children with idiopathic GHD grew better than those with organic GHD (mean +/- SD, 9.2 +/- 2.4 vs. 8.8 +/- 2.6 cm/yr; P < 0.0001). The children (both organic and idiopathic GHD) who did not respond well to treatment were younger and thinner than those who did. Early diagnosis and initiation of therapy should be beneficial to ultimate height attainment. The best response to GH therapy should be in young children with severe idiopathic GHD who receive daily weight-adjusted doses. The use of GH daily in higher doses would be expected to be most beneficial in older children with acquired and/or less severe GHD or in children who are underweight for height.

Aging↗
PubMed1992

[Local recurrence of breast cancer after breast preserving surgery. Experiences with a triple test as a routine control].

Patients treated for breast cancer with breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy were followed up by physical examination, mammography, and fine needle aspiration ("triple test") at The Norwegian Radium Hospital. Local recurrence was found in six cases. Two recurrences were detected by physical examination only, one by physical examination and mammography, and three by mammography only. Fine needle aspiration is useful when recurrence of cancer is suspected at mammographic or physical examination. Follow-up after breast-conserving treatment requires considerable experience in the field. Follow-up using the "triple test" should take place at regional centres.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Urinary growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I. Effects of growth-hormone injection schedule.

Urinary growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) excretion profiles were compared in children receiving biosynthetic GH. Group 1 included 18 healthy controls. Group 2 included nine children given biosynthetic GH three times a week. Group 3 included 14 children given daily GH injections. Overnight urine samples were collected for three consecutive nights in all groups. No significant day-to-day variation in urinary GH output was observed in group 1. In group 2, urinary GH output was significantly higher on day one following injection than on days two and three. Urine GH outputs in group 2 were significantly lower on days two and three than the values observed on all days in group 3. Throughout the three-day study, subjects in group 3 excreted similar amounts of GH significantly higher than those of controls. Urinary IGF-I output (nmol/kg) was similar on all three study days in groups 1 and 3. Group 2 had significantly lower urinary IGF-I output on day three compared with day one. Urinary IGF-I output on day three was also significantly lower in group 2 than in group 3. We conclude that urinary GH and IGF-I outputs are influenced by the frequency of GH administration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Diagnostic significance of urinary growth hormone measurements in children with growth failure: correlation between serum and urine growth hormone.

Twelve-h overnight urine and serum samples obtained simultaneously at 20-min intervals were assayed for growth hormone (GH). Ninety-one children, 5 to 16 y (Tanner stage 1 to 3) participated; group 1 were healthy children, group 2 were children with organic GH deficiency, and group 3 had idiopathic growth failure and normal GH stimulation tests. Serum pool GH concentrations in group 1 were similar to those in group 3 (3.3 +/- 0.3 versus 3.4 +/- 0.2 micrograms/L); group 2 had significantly lower GH concentrations (1.6 +/- 0.2 micrograms/L). Plasma IGF-I levels were significantly greater in groups 1 (14.2 +/- 2.6 nmol/L, p less than 0.001) than in groups 2 and 3 (2.6 +/- 0.5 and 5.5 +/- 0.7 nmol/L, respectively). Urinary GH (mean +/- SEM) standardized for body weight (micrograms/kg) in group 1 (0.31 +/- 0.02) was significantly greater than in group 2 (0.14 +/- 0.01) and group 3 (0.20 +/- 0.01). However, when expressed as microgram/mol creatinine, the output of GH was similar in group 1 (4.0 +/- 0.3) and group 3 (3.4 +/- 0.3); both groups had significantly greater output compared to group 2 (1.3 +/- 0.2). Urinary IGF-I (nmol/kg) in group 1 (0.22 +/- 0.02) was significantly greater than in group 2 (0.12 +/- 0.01) or group 3 (0.07 +/- 0.01). Urinary GH correlated with serum pool GH concentration (r = 0.64, p less than 0.001). Although urinary GH output reflects endogenous GH secretion, the overlap between groups 1 and 3 precludes using urinary GH measurements as a diagnostic test for GH deficiency in children with idiopathic growth failure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Contrast mammography in spontaneous bloody secretion from the nipple].

43 women with spontaneous bloody nipple discharge were examined by galactography performed with water soluble contrast medium. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of galactography in these patients, to localize the cause of this particular type of discharge and to register the therapeutic consequences of the findings. Surgical resection was carried out in all cases where galactography showed intraductal pathology. The remaining patients (except for four who also underwent surgery) were observed without treatment. No sign of carcinoma was found in a follow-up examination of the non-operated patients after two to four years. The results show that galactography can be suitably used to demonstrate and localize intraductal pathology, and may therefore be of importance in the preoperative investigation of spontaneous blood-stained secretion.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Psychometric characteristics in patients with frontal lobe degeneration of non-Alzheimer type.

Twenty patients, selected from a longitudinal study of patients with presenile and senile dementia, underwent psychometric assessment including semi-structured observations of behaviour in the test situation and examination for dysphasia. The patients were chosen on the basis of post-mortem investigation and showed frontal lobe degeneration (FLD) of non-Alzheimer type in 16 cases and Pick's disease in four cases. The patients are described with reference to cognition, language function, behaviour and emotional reactions in the test situation. The test results were analyzed and compared with psychometric results from other groups of demented patients, above all with Alzheimer's disease. The cognitive dysfunction was less severe in patients with onset of dementia below the age of 56 years as compared to patients with later onset, i.e., 56 years or older. Dysfunction of expressive speech was the most consistent finding in the patients with frontal lobe degeneration, while receptive speech functions were relatively less frequently affected.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

H-Y intermediate phenotype in male pseudohermaphroditism.

A child with ambiguous genitalia was born after an uncomplicated pregnancy. Laparotomy revealed intraabdominal hypoplastic testes containing normal appearing Leydig cells; germ cells were present in the left gonad, not in the right. The karyotype was 46,XY in blood leukocytes and in fibroblasts cultured from the gonads; there was no evidence of mosaicism. Endocrinologic study revealed no disorder of steroidogenesis. Androgen receptors were not studied. Serologic evaluation of blood leukocytes revealed the presence of H-Y antigen, but there are reasons to believe that less H-Y antigen was present in the cells of the patient than was present in corresponding cells from normal males. Gonadectomy and clitoral recession were performed at 3 weeks of age, and the patient was reared as a girl. We speculate that reduced expression of H-Y may have induced aberrant development of the gonads.

Cosyntropin↗
PubMed1982

Somatotroph hyperplasia. Successful treatment of acromegaly by removal of a pancreatic islet tumor secreting a growth hormone-releasing factor.

A 21-yr-old woman with Turner's syndrome presented with signs and symptoms of acromegaly. The serum growth hormone (GH) (95+/-9.4 ng/ml; mean+/-SEM) and somatomedin C (11 U/ml) levels were elevated, and an increase in GH levels after glucose instead of normal suppression, increase after thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) administration instead of no change, and decrease after dopamine administration instead of stimulation were observed. The pituitary fossa volume was greater than normal (1,440 mm(3)) and the presence of a pituitary tumor was assumed. After tissue removal at transsphenoidal surgery, histological study revealed somatotroph hyperplasia rather than a discrete adenoma. Postoperatively, she remained clinically acromegalic and continued to show increased GH and somatomedin levels. A search was made for ectopic source of a growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF). Computer tomographic scan revealed a 5-cm Diam tumor in the tail of the pancreas. Following removal of this tumor, serum GH fell from 70 to 3 ng/ml over 2 h, and remained low for the subsequent 5 mo. Serum somatomedin C levels fell from 7.2 to normal by 6 wk postoperatively. There were no longer paradoxical GH responses to glucose, TRH, and dopamine. Both the medium that held the tumor cells at surgery and extracts of the tumor contained a peptide with GRF activity. The GRF contained in the tumor extract coeluted on Sephadex G-50 chromatography with rat hypothalamic GH-releasing activity. Stimulation of GH from rat somatotrophs in vitro was achieved at the nanomolar range, using the tumor extract. The patient's course demonstrates the importance of careful interpretation of pituitary histology. Elevated serum GH and somatomedin C levels in a patient with an enlarged sella turcica and the characteristic responses seen in acromegaly to TRH, dopamine, and glucose do not occur exclusively in patients with discrete pituitary tumors and acromegaly. This condition can also occur with somatotroph hyperplasia and then revert to normal after removal of the GRF source. Thus, in patients with acromegaly a consideration of ectopic GRF secretion should be made, and therefore, careful pituitary histology is mandatory. Consideration for chest and abdominal computer tomographic scans before pituitary surgery, in spite of their low yield, may be justified.

Acromegaly↗