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Biomedical subjects

B Eriksson

Publications and source records attributed to B Eriksson.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Quality of life for children with disabilities.

Studies on children with special needs mainly concentrate on disease-oriented health problems and neglect the positive aspects of quality of life. In this study the quality of life of children with Cystic Fibrosis and Myelomeningocele, 951 children in all, in the five Nordic countries is compared to that of a random sample of 10,290 children. The aim of the study was to see how the issue of equity, a main objective of the WHO health for all policy, has been met in the Nordic countries. Quality of life is defined as one of the essential resources of a population in terms of external, inter-personal and personal conditions. The study shows that children with disabilities have, and perceive that they live in good material and socio-economic conditions. However, the personal psychological conditions are less favourable, which indicates that this is a priority area for future health policies.

Activities of Daily Living↗

5-HT2 and D2 dopamine receptor occupancy in the living human brain. A PET study with risperidone.

It has been suggested that a combined blockade of 5-HT2 and D2 dopamine receptors may be superior to D2 dopamine antagonists alone in the treatment of schizophrenia. Risperidone, which has a high affinity for 5-HT2 and D2 dopamine receptors in vitro, is a new antipsychotic drug that has been developed according to this hypothesis. The aim of this study was to examine if risperidone indeed induces 5-HT2 and D2 dopamine receptor occupancy in vivo in humans. Central receptor occupancy was examined by positron emission tomography (PET) in three healthy men after oral administration of 1 mg risperidone. [11C]N-methylspiperone ([11C]NMSP) was used as a radioligand for determination of 5-HT2 receptor occupancy in the neocortex. Both an equilibrium ratio analysis and a kinetic three-compartmental analysis indicated a 5-HT2 receptor occupancy about 60%. [11C]raclopride was used as a radioligand for determination of D2 dopamine receptor occupancy in the striatum and the calculated occupancy was about 50%. This is the first quantitative determination of 5-HT2 receptor occupancy induced by an antipsychotic drug in the living human brain. The results indicate that 5-HT2 receptor occupancy should be very high at the dose level of 4-10 mg risperidone daily, as suggested for clinical use. Risperidone is thus an appropriate compound for clinical evaluation of the benefit of combined 5-HT2 and D2 dopamine receptor blockade in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Adult↗

Six-year results of a prospective, randomized trial of selective proximal vagotomy with and without pyloroplasty in the treatment of duodenal, pyloric, and prepyloric ulcers.

In a consecutive series of patients with uncomplicated prepyloric, pyloric, or duodenal ulcer, 39 patients were randomly allocated to selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty, and 40 patients to selective proximal vagotomy alone with no operative mortality. Before surgery, all patients had undergone H2-receptor antagonist treatment. No patient was lost for follow-up. At an average follow-up of 6 years, recurrent ulcer was recorded in 15% and 20%, respectively, after selective proximal vagotomy with and without pyloroplasty. Three of 14 recurrent ulcers were asymptomatic. Epigastric pain with or without ulcer was significantly less common after selective proximal vagotomy with (13%) than without pyloroplasty (40%). Mild diarrhea or mild dumping was recorded in a few patients. The overall results were very good or good (Visick I or II) in 77% and 55% (significant difference) after vagotomy with and without pyloroplasty, respectively, and in 82% and 58%, if asymptomatic ulcers were graded as Visick I or II results. Of the 27 patients with Visick III or IV results, three patients needed no treatment (asymptomatic ulcers), and 10 patients had no symptoms during medical treatment. Two patients with vagotomy and pyloroplasty and nine with vagotomy alone were reoperated. There were no deaths, and the results were graded as Visick I or II in 10 patients and as Visick III in one patient. The authors conclude that selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty is superior to vagotomy alone for the treatment of prepyloric-pyloric and duodenal ulcer. Recurrent ulcer after vagotomy has a benign course and responds well to ranitidine treatment.

Adult↗

Positron emission tomography (PET) in neuroendocrine gastrointestinal tumors.

Positron emission tomography (PET) makes it possible to study effects of medical treatment in vivo. Carcinoid tumors with liver metastases, especially those of midgut origin, produce serotonin via the precursors tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and this overproduction contributes to the clinical symptoms of the carcinoid syndrome. Seven patients with histopathologically verified neuroendocrine tumors and liver metastases, five of whom with ileal carcinoids, one a lung carcinoid and one an endocrine pancreatic tumor, were included in the study. All patients had elevation of urinary 5-HIAA with the exception of one patient with a solitary liver metastasis of midgut origin. After an intravenous injection of 11C-5-HTP, PET was performed and the uptake of radioactivity in tumor tissue, normal liver and plasma were compared. All patients with elevated urinary 5-HIAA and also the patient with a solitary liver metastasis and normal urinary 5-HIAA had high accumulation and signs of a high rate of binding of 5-HTP in the liver metastases. The uptake was relatively homogeneous in midgut carcinoid liver metastases but in large necrotic metastases the radioactivity was localized to the periphery. In three patients PET examination was repeated after 3 months of interferon treatment and in agreement with circulating tumor markers and ultrasonography the uptake of 5-HTP was unchanged. Another patient who received the somatostatin analog somatuline progressed on treatment and accordingly the uptake of 5-HTP also increased. The experience with PET in neuroendocrine gastrointestinal tumors is very limited. Our results so far indicate that 5-HTP can be used to visualize serotonin-producing neuroendocrine tumors and furthermore it might prove to be of value to monitor the effects of treatment, possibly also as an early predictive test of the outcome of treatment.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗

An update of the medical treatment of malignant endocrine pancreatic tumors.

In the present study, we have updated our results with chemotherapy, alpha-interferon, octreotide and combinations of treatment modalities in patients with malignant endocrine pancreatic tumor (EPT). In our patient material of 134 EPT, 92 subjects had malignant tumors as evidenced by the presence of metastases or growth into adjacent organs. Seventy-eight patients had liver metastases. Streptozotocin plus 5-fluorouracil produced objective responses in 17/31 (54%) patients with a median duration of response of 23 months. The use of 5-HT3-antagonists as antiemetics has dramatically improved the quality of life during treatment by reducing the frequency of nausea to only 12.5%. The objective response rate to alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) treatment, given as first-line treatment in 29 patients and after chemotherapy in 28 patients, was 51% (29/57) with a median duration of response of 20 months. Octreotide, which is still used as third-line treatment in most patients, produced significant biochemical responses in 6/19 (31%) patients with a median duration of 16 months. Combinations of alpha-IFN plus chemotherapy and a alpha-IFN plus octreotide in a small number of patients might indicate additive or synergistic effects. The median survival from start of treatment in the 92 malignant cases was 56.5 months, and for those with liver metastases (n = 78) at start of treatment 50 months. In conclusion, there are at least three effective therapies for malignant EPT and by combining them simultaneously or consecutively, a median survival of more than four years can be obtained.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

Ultrasound-guided biopsies of neuroendocrine metastases. Comparison of 0.9 and 1.2 mm biopsy-gun needle biopsies.

Twenty-five patients with known neuroendocrine tumour disease were biopsied with 1.2 mm and 0.9 mm biopsy-gun needles to evaluate the respective diagnostic accuracy of the 2 needle sizes. The influence of treatment-related fibrosis on the histopathological diagnosis was also evaluated. The overall diagnostic accuracy with the 0.9 mm needle was 69% as compared to 92% with the 1.2 mm needle. This difference, however, seems more related to needle guiding difficulties with the 0.9 mm needle than to insufficient tissue yield. When the tumour was hit with both the 0.9 and the 1.2 mm needle the tissue yield was inferior with the 0.9 mm needle in only one of 16 cases. The increased amount of fibrous tissue due to interferon treatment did not seem to negatively influence the diagnostic accuracy.

Adult↗

A chromogranin peptide is co-stored with insulin in the human pancreatic islet B-cell granules.

The immunoreaction of a rabbit chromogranin A and B antiserum was studied in normal human pancreatic islets. By examination of consecutive light microscopical sections, it was revealed that, at high antiserum concentrations (1:2000 or less), the whole islet area was heavily labelled, although the peripheral glucagon (A)-cells were the most intense in their immunoreaction. At low antiserum concentrations (1:4000 or more) the A-cells still showed the same intense labelling reaction, but the central B-cells were weakly labelled. Electron microscopically, reactivity towards the chromogranin A and B antiserum and the monoclonal insulin antibodies was present in the same central electron-dense core of the B-cell secretory granules, as demonstrated after application of the immunogold technique at different antibody dilutions. In the A-cells, the chromogranin immunoreactivity was concentrated at the peripheral mantle of the secretory granules. The D-cell granules showed a weak immunolabelling. Examination of human islets with the monoclonal chromogranin A antibody LK2H10 revealed immunogold labelling only in the peripheral mantle of the A-cell granules, while the B-cell granules were unlabelled. The present results show that a chromogranin peptide is co-stored with insulin the in normal human B-cell secretory granules. Although the exact composition of this B-cell chromogranin is unknown, it is not identical to that of the chromogranin A present in the A-cell granules.

Adult↗

Virulence properties of erysipelas-associated group A streptococci.

Group A streptococcal isolates (n = 53) recovered from 38 erysipelas patients in 1988 and 1990 in Sweden were analysed with respect to serotype, erythrogenic toxin production and polymorphism in the emm gene region. Serotype determination showed a dominance of type T1M1 (28.6% of the strains), but T type 8 was also prevalent (14.3%). In the majority of the strains only a low production of erythrogenic toxin A was demonstrated, while both toxin B and C production were high. Polymorphism was detected in the emm gene region of T1M1 strains at a frequency of 64%. These erysipelas associated group A streptococci were more heterogenic with respect to serotype distribution and polymorphism in the emm gene region compared to previously studied group A streptococci isolated during an outbreak of serious streptococcal infections in Sweden in 1988/1989. The material included isolates from two cases of recurrence, and typing of the isolates indicated that the patients had been infected by the same serotype as in the primary infection.

Adult↗

Twelve-year follow-up of a prospective, randomized trial of selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty and selective proximal vagotomy with and without pyloroplasty for the treatment of duodenal, pyloric, and prepyloric ulcers.

Between 1973 and 1981, 161 patients with prepyloric, pyloric, or duodenal ulcers were randomly allocated to selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty, selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty, or selective proximal vagotomy alone. No significant differences in clinical results were found 3 years after surgery by Emås and Fernström (Am J Surg 1985; 149: 236-42). There was one postoperative death, and one patient lost to follow-up. Of 159 patients, 52 underwent selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty, 55 selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty, and 52 selective proximal vagotomy alone. Fifteen patients did not undergo endoscopy, but they had no epigastric complaints. From 1 to 16 years after surgery, recurrent ulcer was detected in 13%, 18%, and 23%, respectively, after selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty, selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty, or selective proximal vagotomy without pyloroplasty. Twenty-eight percent of the patients with recurrent ulcer had no symptoms and received no treatment. Sixteen patients died within 8 years after surgery of causes unrelated to the ulcer disease. At their final examination, 14 of the 16 patients had Visick I or II (modified Visick scale) results, and the disease that caused their deaths obscured evaluation in 2 patients. The remaining 143 patients were followed up for 8 to 16 years (average: 12 years). Epigastric pain with or without ulcer was recorded more often (significant) after selective proximal vagotomy alone (40%) than after selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty (17%) or selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty (14%). Bowel habits were unchanged in 96% of patients who underwent selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty or selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty and 100% of patients who had selective proximal vagotomy alone. Mild dumping tended to be more common after vagotomy with pyloroplasty but was a minor nuisance in only a few patients. Very good or good results (Visick I or II) were recorded in 75% of the patients after selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty or selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty or selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty and in 54% after selective proximal vagotomy alone (significant difference). Seventeen patients underwent reoperation with antrectomy and gastrojejunostomy Roux-en-Y (13 patients) or gastroduodenostomy (4 patients) with no mortality. The results of the reoperations were graded as Visick I or II results in all but one patient. The final grading, including the reoperations, were Visick I or II in 85% of patients after selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty and selective proximal vagotomy with pyloroplasty and in 55% after selective proximal vagotomy alone (significant difference).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Duodenal Ulcer↗

Randomization by group in studying the effect of drug information in primary care.

Drug information is a technology which is rarely evaluated. Practical and ethical considerations limit the use of a classical experimental method (a randomized controlled trial) in studying the effect of drug information in primary care. An alternative approach, randomization by group, is preferable for several reasons: it avoids contamination of the control group; the effect of information can be evaluated in the natural working environment; and the impact of information is increased via diffusion. This article describes the selection of a control group, the Hawthorne effect and 'blindness' in information experiments. Sample size tables and power calculations are presented when randomization by group is used. The study power is influenced by the number of health centres and the variance between them. The number of doctors per health centre plays a less important role, and the number of patients is relatively unimportant. There is also a need to use qualitative methods to prepare information and to understand factors influencing change of behaviour among prescribers.

Drug Information Services↗

Islet amyloid polypeptide-producing pancreatic islet cell tumor. A clinical and biochemical characterization.

Islet amyloid peptide (IAPP) or amylin is a recently discovered polypeptide without settled physiology in man. We present a patient with an endocrine pancreatic tumor secreting huge amounts of IAPP-like immunoreactivity (20,000 mol/l) and a concomitant development of diabetes mellitus. The release of insulin and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) was totally absent after an oral glucose load and a mixed meal, respectively. Tumor secretion of IAPP-like immunoreactivity seemed to be influenced by cholinergic mechanisms and by nutrients. The observed effects on insulin and PP secretion by high circulating levels of IAPP-like immunoreactivity may be of beneficial value for further studies of the physiology of IAPP in man.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

Balloon dilation of stenotic aortic valve in children. An intraoperative study.

Ten children in the age range of 3 to 17 years with moderate to severe aortic valve stenosis (gradients of 55 to 109 mm Hg) underwent cardiac operations. At the time of the operation, during bypass, balloon dilation of the stenotic valve was performed and the results were visually assessed by the surgeon. Of the 10 consecutive cases, only three showed dilation results that were comparable to what seems optimal from a surgical point of view. The adverse effects in the remaining seven patients and the corrective measures taken were as follows: (1) too extensive a rupture requiring stabilizing sutures in one patient; (2) too short a rupture, requiring additional commissurotomy in three patients; (3) rupture into the valve leaflet, requiring valve suture and corrective comissurotomy in another three patients. This last, rather serious complication occurred in patients having functionally bicuspid valves with slightly thickened free valve edges, whereas valves with severely thickened edges ruptured in the commissure line but often to an insufficient degree. Because of the high incidence of suboptimal separation of the stenotic aortic valves with balloon dilation, we recommend that further evaluation of long-term results and identification of unsuitable cases should precede widespread use of the technique.

Adolescent↗

Ductus arteriosus aneurysm imaging using modern diagnostic methods.

An aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus carries a high risk of rupture. The radiologic findings are described, based on a review of the literature, and on our experience of 5 patients, successfully diagnosed and treated. A left-sided mediastinal mass is always present, obscured only if the aneurysm has already ruptured. Although the lesion seems to be congenital, conventional radiology sometimes demonstrates wall calcifications. Ultrasonography is well suited to demonstrate the vascular nature of the mass, but interpretation may be difficult because of intervening air-containing lung parenchyma. CT, especially using dynamic scanning with contrast enhancement, is an excellent noninvasive diagnostic method. Angiography is frequently necessary to demonstrate patency or occlusion of the aortic and pulmonary ends of the ductus. The differential diagnosis must include a large number of mediastinal tumors. A temporary widening of the ductus in the newborn is common and must be differentiated from a true aneurysm. Surgical treatment today is usually successful.

Aneurysm↗

In situ hybridization study of chromogranin A and B mRNA in carcinoid tumors.

The distribution of the mRNAs for chromogranin A and B was analyzed by in situ hybridization with 35S-labeled oligonucleotide probes in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded carcinoid tumor tissues. All the 15 mid-gut carcinoid tumors examined contained both mRNAs for chromogranin A and B at high level in tumor cells. Sixteen of 18 bronchial carcinoid tumors but only 2 of 5 rectal carcinoid tumors expressed one or both species of chromogranin mRNAs. The same tendency was seen with the argyrophil reaction according to Grimelius where most of the mid-gut tumor cells were uniformly stained, while considerable variation in reactivity was seen in some of the bronchial and rectal carcinoid tumor cells. The sequential sections were stained with a monoclonal antibody against chromogranin A and a polyclonal antiserum which reacts with both chromogranins. The expression of the mRNA for chromogranin A on the carcinoid tumors was almost concordant with that of chromogranin B as well as with the chromogranin A protein, whereas almost all tumors stained positively with the polyclonal antibodies. Analyses of mRNA expression of chromogranin A before and after interferon therapy on 4 patients with mid-gut carcinoids indicated an inhibition at pre-translational level. In conclusion, the mRNAs for chromogranin A and B are good markers for the carcinoid tumors, especially of mid-gut origin. Fore-gut, mid-gut and rectal carcinoid tumors are different in their endocrine properties regarding the expression of the chromogranins.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

The role of interferons in the management of carcinoid tumours.

Malignant carcinoid tumours with the carcinoid syndrome has over the years presented a therapeutic challenge. The patients might not only die from tumour progression but also from symptoms relating to hormone overproduction and the specific cardiac disease, e.g. right heart fibrosis and failure. Surgery has been the treatment of choice in local disease, but when liver metastases have developed other treatment procedures must be considered. Conventional chemotherapy has been of little beneficial value, with response rates of only 10-30%, whereas a new somatostatin analogue, octreotid, is effective in controlling clinical symptoms but not tumour progression. Interferon treatment was introduced in 1982 by our group, and we are now presenting treatment results of 130 patients with histologically verified malignant carcinoid tumours and liver metastases. One hundred and eleven patients were treated with a median dose of 6 mega units (MU) of interferon alpha, five times weekly (dose range 3-9 MU), whereas 29 patients received conventional chemotherapy. Forty-seven out of 111 patients (42%) treated with interferon alpha demonstrated a significant biochemical response and 15% demonstrated more than 50% reduction in tumour size. In another 43 (39%) patients stabilization of the carcinoid disease have been noted, whereas 21 (19%) showed progressive disease. The median duration of response was 34 months. Subjective responses with improvement of diarrhoea, flush and/or bronchoconstriction were noticed in 76 patients (68%). The 19 patients treated with chemotherapy demonstrated only 10% biochemical response, lasting for only 3-5 months. The survival analysis demonstrates a median survival of only 8 months in the group of patients treated with chemotherapy, compared to 80+ months (P less than 0.001) in the groups treated with interferon alpha. Interferon adverse reactions of fatigue, weight loss and anaemia were manageable. Neutralizing interferon antibodies were documented in 5-15% of the patients. Interferon alphas are active in patients with malignant carcinoid tumours. Clinical symptoms are significantly reduced following reduction of circulating hormones. Interferon might also have an impact on survival in this group of patients. The side-effects are moderate and managed by dose adjustments.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗