Biomedical subjects

B Eriksson

Publications and source records attributed to B Eriksson.

305 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

A lesbian execution in Germany, 1721: the trial records.

In 1891, Dr. F. C. Müller of Alexandersbad published in Friedreich's Blätter für gerichtliche Medizin und Sanitätspolizei a transcription from the Prussian State Archives of a trial of two lesbians that took place in Halberstadt in 1721. The records, translated here, describe in lively detail the religious life, wanderings, and lesbian relations of Catherina Margaretha Linck. Linck was tried for committing sodomy with her lover, Catherina Margaretha Mühlhahn. The trial documents also reveal with some particularity the legal questions raised by lesbian relations in the early eighteenth century with regard to moral theology, Saxon law, and physiological theories.

Capital Punishment↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Vestibulo-oculomotor disturbances in humans exposed to styrene.

Several reports indicate that disturbances of the vestibulo-oculomotor ability are a manifestation of the toxic action on the central nervous system exerted by some industrial solvents. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the vestibulo-oculomotor system during exposure to styrene, which is extensively used in the production of plastics. Healthy volunteers were exposed to styrene for one hour. Rotatory and optokinetic nystagmus, visual suppression as well as speed, latency and accuracy of saccades were tested before, during, and one hour after the exposure. The pulmonary uptake and the blood level of the solvent were continuously analysed by gas chromatography. The styrene blood concentration was equivalent to that which may well be reached after serveral hours of hard work in an industrial environment with a concentration of styrene within permitted limits. No spontaneous nystagmus appeared. The rotatory and optokinetic nystagmus was not influenced by styrene. However, the speed of the saccade was significantly enhanced. The visual suppression was disturbed, shown by an increased gain after styrene exposure. The experiments thus indicate that styrene given to healthy test persons induced disturbances, thus consistent with the theory that some organic solvents block the cerebellar inhibition of the vestibulo-oculomotor system.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Electronystagmographic findings in rats exposed to styrene or toluene.

A previously described experimental model for studying the effect of industrial solvents in the vestibular system of rabbits has been applied to rats. To achieve a constant concentration, the solvent was infused intravenously, dissolved in a lipid emulsion. Arterial blood levels were estimated by gas chromatography. The vestibulo-oculomotor behaviour of rats during repeated rotatory acceleration was investigated by electronystagmography. The effect of two solvents-toluene and styrene-on the rotatory induced nystagmus was examined. Both solvents caused an exaggerated reaction at arterial blood levels above 75 ppm. The investigation indicated that the rat will be suitable species for further electronystagmographic investigation of the influence of organic solvents on the vestibular system, for example in screening studies of the toxicity of these solvents.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of toluene on the vestibulo- and opto-oculomotor system in rats. A computerized nystagmographic study.

The short-term effect of exposure to toluene on the vestibulo- and opto-oculomotor system in rats was investigated. Stimulation of the vestibulo- and opto-oculomotor system was either a constant rotatory acceleration, a sinusoidal oscillation, a randomized oscillation or an optokinetic stimulation. Eye movements in response to the different stimulations were recorded by EOG and fed into a computer for analysis. Due to toluene exposure the slow phase velocity gain during constant acceleration increased and the post-acceleratory nystagmus response was prolonged. The optokinetic gain at stimulation velocities above 10 deg/sec decreased during toluene exposure. Toluene also prolonged the duration of optokinetic after- and after-afternystagmus. The findings in this study strongly suggest an effect of toluene on the cerebellum.

Acceleration↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of trichloroethylene on the human vestibulo-oculomotor system.

Ten healthy volunteers were subjected to a vestibulo-oculomotor test battery before, during and 1 hour after trichloroethylene exposure. The concentration of trichloroethylene in inspiratory air was 32-78 ppm (176-429 mg/m3). The concentration of trichloroethylene in venous blood was followed throughout the experiment. The mean pulmonary uptake was estimated. Each test person was also subjected to a control experiment, breathing air free of trichloroethylene. A decreased ability to visually suppress the vestibulo-oculomotor reflex during sinusoidal stimulation was noticed during trichloroethylene exposure. One hour after exposure the test subjects showed a decreased maximum velocity of the voluntary saccade and a decreased ability to follow a sinusoidally moving target.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects on the vestibulo- and opto-oculomotor system in rats by lesions of the commissural vestibular fibres.

Eye movements were recorded from rats with a magnetic search coil system before and after sectioning of the midline commissural pathways in the brain stem at the level of the vestibular nuclei. After lesion, the findings were as follows: 1) During sinusoidal vestibular stimulation the eyes moved in a sinusoidal way similar to the head movement without any regular saccades. There was a reduced gain and a phase lead. 2) During optokinetic stimulation the eyes moved in the stimulus direction to an excentric position and stayed there until stimulation ceased. 3) During acceleratory/deceleratory rotation in the light there was a drift of the eyes in the direction of the expected slow phase movement to an excentric position. In some animals there was a directional asymmetry. The findings may be explained by a failure of the central neural integrator for horizontal eye movements. The results support the hypothesis that vestibular commissural fibres are of crucial importance for the function of this integrator system.

Acceleration↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serum thymidine kinase as a prognostic marker in Hodgkin's disease.

In 72 of 81 consecutively diagnosed patients with Hodgkin's disease pretreatment sera were available for analysis of serum thymidine kinase (S-TK) levels. In relation to clinical parameters, such as stage, histopathology and general symptoms, significant correlations were found with higher (S-TK) levels in advanced disease as well as in patients with B-symptoms. When the prognostic ability was examined, patients in stages IA and IIA could be divided according to S-TK levels into two different groups in relation to disease-free survival. This latter finding makes this serum test interesting as an additional tool in the clinical evaluation and in the therapeutic decision concerning patients with Hodgkin's disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Single-dose etoposide in advanced pancreatic and biliary cancer, a phase II study.

Palliative chemotherapy can add to the duration and quality of life in patients with advanced pancreatic and biliary cancer, albeit in a limited way. Between March 1995 and October 1997, 31 symptomatic patients were treated with etoposide in a phase II trial. Measurements of objective and subjective responses were performed, the latter by the treating physician and with the method of clinical benefit response (CBR). Quality of life was evaluated with the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. A partial response was seen in 2 (6%) patients. Subjective responses/quality of life gains were seen in 6 (19%), 7 (23%) and 9 (29%) patients, respectively, with the different methods. Median survival was 4.5 months. WHO grade 3 and 4 toxicity, alopecia excluded, was seen in 20% of the patients. The clinical activity of etoposide is limited, and in the same low range as other drugs in these diseases.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Uptake of 14C- and 11C-labeled glutamate, glutamine and aspartate in vitro and in vivo.

To explore their potential use as in vivo tracers, the uptake of the amino acids glutamine, glutamate and aspartate, labeled with 11C or 14C, was evaluated in tumor cell aggregates, in vivo in rats and a few pilot studies with positron emission tomography (PET) in patients. The uptake in aggregates increased linearly with time, and was competitively inhibited by the same amino acids. The uptake of 14C-glutamate in carcinoid cells (BON) was inhibited by cystine but not by aspartate, contrary to the result in neuroblastoma (LAN). 6-Diazo-oxy-L-norleucine (a glutamine analogue) and Substance P had different effect on the uptake of glutamate in different cells. The metabolic fate of 14C-glutamate was evaluated with protein separation and with HPLC. The in vivo distribution in rats showed the highest uptake of 11C-glutamine and 11C-glutamate in pancreas and kidney, and of 11C-aspartate in the lung. In the human studies with PET, pancreas had the highest uptake followed by kidney with 11C-glutamate, and followed by spleen with 11C-aspartate. A primary pancreas tumour and metastases in liver were difficult to identify except in one case.

2-Aminoadipic Acid↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Levels of angiogenic peptides in sera from patients with carcinoid tumours during alpha-interferon treatment.

BACKGROUND: Alpha-interferon, a known inhibitor of angiogenesis and cell proliferation, is used in the standard treatment of patients with carcinoid tumors. We studied the levels of two angiogenic peptides (bFGF and VEGF) in sera from patients with carcinoid tumours before and during treatment with alpha-interferon. The aim was to investigate if the antitumoral effect of alpha-interferon in these patients could be at least in part explained by a reduction in the measured angiogenetic peptides. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sera from 29 patients with carcinoid tumours were collected before and during alpha-interferon treatment and analyzed using commercially available ELISA-kits. RESULTS: Interferon alpha treatment did not cause reduction of bFGF and VEGF levels in serum from patients with carcinoid tumours. In fact there was no correlation between changes in bFGF or VEGF levels and treatment effect. CONCLUSION: The action of alpha-interferon does not seem to be mediated by bFGF or VEGF in patients with carcinoid tumours. If alpha-interferon has an anti-angiogenic effect in this patient group, it is probably mediated by angiogenic peptides other than bFGF and VEGF.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The influence of visual and somatosensory input on the vestibulo-oculomotor reflex of pigmented rats.

Eye movements were recorded in the pigmented rat during vestibular, optokinetic and combined visual-vestibular stimulation. The dominant time constant in pigmented rats, tested during angular vestibular stimulation in darkness, is about two times longer than the cupular time constant. The gain and the duration of nystagmus, achieved by angular vestibular stimulation, can be enhanced by visual impulses. This is most evident during an optokinetic temporonasal stimulation, but is also seen with a nasotemporal stimulation. A mere optokinetic monocular stimulation without a synchronous vestibular excitation causes nystagmus only when the stimuli has a temporonasal direction. The duration of nystagmus, achieved by angular vestibular stimulation, is prolonged by disturbances of the neck proprioceptive system. This is more evident during a simultaneous visual input than in darkness. The ability to cancel nystagmus during conflicting vestibular and optokinetic impulses is well developed in the pigmented rat.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Angiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography in detection of liver metastases from endocrine gastrointestinal tumours.

Twenty-five patients with endocrine tumours (13 with endocrine pancreatic tumours and 12 with carcinoids) were examined with angiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography. Seventeen patients had liver metastases and were followed between 3 and 66 months with serial examinations during treatment with chemotherapeutic agents and interferon. The efficiency of the various techniques to detect metastases was investigated. Analysis of changes in tumour size during treatment was made to see if treatment effects could be monitored with radiologic examinations. Ultrasonography was the best non-invasive method for detection of metastases and is recommended as standard method for imaging in this group of patients. Angiography was even better showing extremely small metastases, less than 5 mm, and is recommended in selected cases. With one exception, no significant change in tumour size was noted in spite of clear laboratory and clinical signs of therapy effect indicating that tumour size determination is not useful for therapy monitoring in this type of disease.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of interferon on T1 relaxation times of liver metastases from endocrine gastrointestinal tumours.

Eight patients with liver metastases from endocrine gastrointestinal tumours were examined with magnetic resonance imaging of the liver before and during treatment with interferon. T1, T2 and tumour size were measured and compared with tumour marker levels and symptomatic improvement or deterioration. Before therapy all tumours showed a long T1 and T2, in comparison to normal liver and fat, and during therapy they all showed a decrease in T1. As no change in liver T1 and fat T1 occurred, the decreased tumour T1 is considered to be a therapy effect. This cannot be fully explained but is possibly due to a reduction in tumour growth rate during interferon treatment. There was no certain correlation between tumour T1 and tumour marker levels or symptomatic changes.

Carcinoid Tumor↗

PubMedDate not supplied

False popliteal aneurysm caused by exostosis of the femur.

A 45-year-old woman with a false aneurysm of the left popliteal artery caused by an exostosis of the femur is described. The patient had a tender swelling in the distal part of the thigh and a soft-tissue tumor was initially suspected. Diagnosis was made by ultrasonography, plain X-ray and angiography. The aneurysm and exostosis were resected. The literature regarding this condition is reviewed. Surgical treatment of popliteal aneurysm is recommended mainly because of the risk of occlusion of distal vessels by peripheral embolism.

Aneurysm↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Biological characteristics of adrenocortical carcinoma: a study of p53, IGF, EGF-r, Ki-67 and PCNA in 17 adrenocortical carcinomas.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare neoplasm with a poor prognosis. Prognostic factors are needed to identify patients who should be treated aggressively and those for which a less aggressive approach is warranted. As a result of advances within the field of immunohistochemistry, investigations of Ki-67, PCNA, IGF, EGF-r and p53 were performed in 17 ACC. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of Ki-67, PCNA, EGF-r, IGF and p53 in correlation to tumour behaviour and outcome. This retrospective study includes 16 patients, 10 women and 6 men, with a median age of 46 years. Nine tumours were hormonally functioning and 7 were non-functioning. The results obtained revealed that all tumours expressed PCNA and Ki-67 with median values of 59% and 14%, respectively, while p53 was negative in 88%, IGF negative in 82% and EGF-r positive in 94% of the tumours. No correlation was found between p53, IGF, EGF-r and survival rate. There was no interdependence between PCNA and Ki-67, or between PCNA, Ki-67 and the survival rate.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON) on human carcinoid tumor cell aggregates.

The induction of glutamine starvation has been suggested as a potential target for antitumoral treatment using inhibitors of amidotransferase, an enzyme which mediates the conversion of glutamate to glutamine. Using multicellular aggregates from tumor cell lines, the effect of treatment with a suggested glutamine antagonist, 6-diazo-5-axo-L-norleucine (DON), was investigated. As indicators of treatment response, three different parameters were measured: aggregate size, uptake of 14C-methionine and secretion of Chromogranin A. Of six cell types evaluated (carcinoid, glioma, neuroblastoma pancreas and bladder cancer), the largest inhibition of 14Cmethionine uptake, amounting to 60%, was found in the carcinoid cell line BON. In this cell line the maximum effect was reached already at 10 microM concentration. DON induced marked growth inhibition in the BON aggregates which lasted 3-4 weeks after which regrowth started. During this period the secretion of chromogranin and methionine uptake was also inhibited. These studies suggest that the neuroendocrine cell line BON is especially vulnerable to treatment by DON and show that strong inhibitory effects are found at concentrations lower than that achieved in patient blood in previous clinical trials.

2-Aminoadipic Acid↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Interferon-alpha induces bcl-2 proto-oncogene in patients with neuroendocrine gut tumor responding to its antitumor action.

We have studied the expression of apoptosis regulating genes bcl-2 and bax in neuroendocrine gut tumors. The expression pattern of these genes was compared with the clinical response (changes in the tumor markers and changes of the tumor size determined by radiology) after treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha, n = 13), somatostatin analog (octreotide, n = 3; lanreotide, n = 2) or a combination of both (n = 5). Immunohistochemistry and in situ RT-PCR were performed and expressions were scored from 0 (no staining) to 6 (strong and wide-spread staining). With regard to clinical outcome, the scores (mean +/- SEM) of immunohistochemical staining of bcl-2 and bax were 1.77 +/- 0.25 and 4 +/- 0.22 for patients with stable disease and, 0.54 +/- 0.28 and 4.68 +/- 0.21 for patients with progressive disease. The scores of bcl-2 and bax staining for IFN-alpha-treated patients were 1.96 +/- 0.35 and 4.12 +/- 0.31 and for untreated patients were 0.5 +/- 0.25 and 4.5 +/- 0.21, respectively. Expression of bcl-2 was observed in all IFN-alpha-treated patients who responded to the drug but not in nonresponsive patients (p = 0.0027). In contrast, bax, a promotor of apoptosis was expressed in all patients with higher degree of expression seen in patients with progressive disease (p = 0.0364). We have also detected bcl-2 expression by western blot analysis in neuroendocrine tumor tissue grown in nude mice, which were treated with IFN-alpha for 28 days. Our results indicate that, IFN-alpha can induce bcl-2. Thus, we, propose that bcl-2 may be used as a prognostic marker for IFN-alpha sensitivity of neuroendocrine tumors.

Animals↗