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Biomedical subjects

B Eriksson

Publications and source records attributed to B Eriksson.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Plasma chromogranin A + B, neuropeptide Y and catecholamines in pheochromocytoma patients.

Plasma levels of chromogranin A + B, neuropeptide Y and catecholamines were analysed before, during and after surgery in seven patients with pheochromocytoma. The aim of the study was to determine the diagnostic sensitivity of these plasma amines and peptides, and to investigate their peroperative fluctuations. Chromogranin A + B in plasma was increased preoperatively in all patients, showed no significant increase during surgery, and normalized postoperatively. Neuropeptide Y, which alone can induce hypertension, was present in high levels in plasma from three patients preoperatively, increased further in four patients during surgery, and was postoperatively low in all patients. Fractionated plasma catecholamines were increased in five patients before surgery, increased in all patients during tumour dissection, and normalized postoperatively. It may be concluded that plasma chromogranin A + B exhibited as high a sensitivity for pheochromocytoma as fractionated urinary catecholamines in the patients studied.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1991

The topographic distribution of lymphocytic gastritis in gastrectomy specimens.

Forty-eight entire gastrectomy specimens received consecutively at this Department were cut into blocks for histologic examination. Focal or more extended areas of chronic gastritis (i.e. superficial or atrophic with or without intestinal metaplasia) were present in all 48 specimens. In addition, two of the 48 specimens had a large number of lymphocytes in the surface and foveolar epithelium of the mucosa. In the literature the latter is regarded as "lymphocytic gastritis". Lymphocytic gastritis was found in all 156 sections obtained from the two specimens. This lympho-epithelial phenomenon was present even in areas lacking chronic inflammation in the subjacent lamina propria mucosae. From our results it would appear that while chronic gastritis has a focal or a regional topographic distribution, lymphocytic gastritis includes the entire surface-foveolar epithelium of the gastric mucosa.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1: a 10-year prospective screening study in four kindreds.

A total of 80 individuals in 4 kindreds with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) have been subjected to repeated biochemical screening during a 10-yr period with the principal aim being to analyze characteristics of the developing pancreatic lesion. Age at presentation of the MEN 1 trait averaged 18 yr in 7 previously unaffected individuals, and this effect of the screening procedure represented a lowering by almost 2 decades. Pancreatic endocrine involvement was recognized at a mean age of 25 yr and constituted the presenting lesion in a majority of the patients. A standardized meal test and basal values of serum pancreatic polypeptide, insulin, proinsulin, and gastrin were the most efficient markers for the pancreatic lesion and preceded signs of pancreatic tumors upon radiological examinations by a mean of 3.5 yr. A 75% penetrance of the islet cell disease and 90% for primary hyperparathyroidism within the affected individuals equalled the prevalences reported in autopsy studies. Two of the kindreds showed signs of intrafamilial homogeneity with respect to the profile of peptide excess (P less than 0.05) and considerable discrepancy in the malignant potential of the pancreatic lesions. The results of early detection and surgical intervention of the pancreatic tumors in MEN 1 suggested an impact on morbidity, while any effect on the mortality of these individuals remains to be clarified.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Vestibular-oculomotor, opto-oculomotor and visual function in the rat after long-term inhalation exposure to toluene.

Pigmented rats were exposed to toluene (1000 ppm, 21 h/day) for 6 or 11 weeks. The function of the vestibulo- and opto-oculomotor systems was tested one month after the end of the exposure by recording of nystagmus, induced by vestibular or optokinetic stimuli. The eye movements were recorded by a magnetic search coil technique. The optokinetic gain in the exposed animals was reduced compared to a control group. There was also a slight reduction in gain during sinusoidal oscillatory vestibular stimulation. No effect of the toluene exposure on the gain or duration of nystagmus during acceleratory or deceleratory rotatory stimulation was demonstrated, nor was there any change in the duration of the optokinetic after-nystagmus. The function of the visual system was tested 2 to 5 days after exposure by recording the electroretinogram and the visual evoked response. The conduction velocity in peripheral nerve was also measured. No effect of the toluene exposure on these variables was seen. The results indicate that long-term inhalation of toluene causes a long-lasting, possibly permanent, lesion within the vestibulo-cerebellum. They gave no evidence that such exposure affects peripheral vestibular or visual function.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1991

How safe is proguanil? A post-marketing investigation of side-effects.

Side-effects of proguanil reported to the Swedish Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) register from 1981 to 1988 are described and related to sales figures of the drug in Sweden during the same period. One serious reaction, thrombocytopenia, and 7 minor reactions, mainly urticaria and exanthema were believed to be causally related to proguanil intake in an estimated 60,000 users of the drug. Proguanil can be considered a very safe drug but rare hematological side-effects may possibly occur.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Diagnostic criteria of classical carcinoids.

The classical (mid-gut) carcinoids of the intestinal tract display a characteristic light microscopic morphology. However, sometimes intestinal tumours are seen resembling carcinoids and differential diagnostic difficulties arise. In the present study silver stains and immunoreactivities to chromogranin A + B, cytokeratins and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) were evaluated as diagnostic adjuncts in six classical carcinoids and six intestinal carcinomas with carcinoid-like features. All classical carcinoids were argentaffin and argyrophil and contained a majority cell population with chromogranin immunoreactivity while only one carcinoid-like carcinoma was chromogranin-immunoreactive and the stained cells in that case represented a minority of the tumour cell population. The cytokeratins were shown to be non-discriminatory. However, EMA expression occurred in five intestinal carcinomas and in the majority of the tumour cells of four of these cases, while only one classical carcinoid displayed a few EMA positive cells. Thus, silver stains in combination with chromogranin A + B and EMA appears to be of value to discriminate between classical carcinoids and carcinoid-like intestinal carcinomas. Further when intestinal carcinoids and carcinoid-like carcinomas are diagnosed with the aid of various tumour markers both qualitative and quantitative considerations must be made.

Carcinoid Tumor↗
PubMed1991

Peptide hormones as tumor markers in neuroendocrine gastrointestinal tumors.

Since the development of the radioimmunoassay, the determination of serum or plasma levels of peptides has improved the diagnostic possibilities in neuroendocrine gastrointestinal and pancreatic tumors. Once the diagnosis of a carcinoid or an endocrine pancreatic tumor has been established the analyses of various peptides can help to characterize the tumor. Up till now there has been no 'screening' marker for the early detection of these tumors. The development of radioimmunoassay for analyses of chromogranins in plasma might imply such possibilities. In the management of the patients it is also important to have tumor markers that can give prognostic information. Recent findings might indicate that CA-50 could be an indicator of malignant disease and possibly also correlate with survival.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗
PubMed1991

The role of interferons in the management of carcinoid tumors.

Malignant carcinoid tumors with the carcinoid syndrome has over the years presented a therapeutic challenge. Surgery is 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 benefit, whereas a new somatostatin analogue octreotide gives a good control of clinical symptoms but not of tumor progression. Interferon treatment was introduced in 1982 by our group and we are now presenting results of medical treatment in 130 patients with histologically verified malignant carcinoid tumors and liver metastases. One hundred and eleven patients were treated with alpha-interferon, whereas 19 patients received conventional chemotherapy. Forty-seven out of 111 patients (42%) treated with alpha-interferon demonstrated a significant biochemical response and 15% also more than 50% reduction of tumor size. In another 43 (39%) patients stabilization of the carcinoid disease was noted whereas 21 (19%) showed progressive disease. The median duration of response was 34 months. Subjective response with improvement of diarrheas, flush and/or bronchoconstriction was noticed in 76 patients (68%). Among the 19 patients treated with conventional chemotherapy only 2 showed biochemical response and it lasted only for 3-5 months. The patients treated with chemotherapy had a median survival of only 8 months compared with 80+ months in the group treated with alpha-interferon. The adverse reactions of alpha-interferon are manageable and consist mainly of fatigue, weight reduction and reduction of blood cell counts. Neutralizing interferon antibodies might occur in patients treated with recombinant alpha-interferons (5-15%).

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Assessment of health policy in Costa Rica--some preliminary remarks.

Costa Rica is one of the world's success stories in primary health care. During the past 20 years the country has experienced a demographic and epidemiological transition. However, during the 80's the economic recession severely affected the country. The social, economic, political and geographic contexts are important for the assessment of health policy. The longstanding democracy, investments in public education and health all contribute to the peace and stability. Assessment of health policy needs both a quantitative and qualitative approach. The policy-making process--how policies are made, translated into action and evaluated--is a research challenge. The national health policy 1986-1990 includes commitment to Health for All strategy; development of the National Health Care System; strengthening of the health care infrastructure; consolidation of health achievements and undertaking of new problems and approaches on integral care for the population; community participation in all health care system activities; and health care priorities. Important research issues are the relationship between the needs of the population and health policy development and the impacts of health policy on the health of the population. A comprehensive study of policy-making includes studies of policy content, process, output and evaluation of impacts (including economy of health policy), and analysis for policy, i.e. information for policy making, process and policy advocacy. Recent successful health policy issues are child health and HIV/AIDS, while water pollution and traffic accidents have been more problematic policy issues.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1990

Interferon-induced enhancement of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase in mid-gut carcinoid tumours.

Freshly explanted tumour cells from 22 patients with mid-gut carcinoid were used for in-vitro analysis of the capacity of recombinant interferon (rIFN) to induce the enzyme 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2',5'-A synthetase). 21 samples (95%) could be evaluated. IFN achieved a clinical response, by predetermined criteria, in 9 of the 21 patients (43%). There was a significant association between induction of 2',5'-A synthetase and clinical response: if the in-vitro intracellular concentrations of the enzyme increased by less than a factor of 3, remission did not occur (9 of 9; 100%), whereas remission was observed in 9 of 12 patients (75%) in whom in-vitro intracellular 2',5'-A synthetase concentrations at least trebled. Anti-IFN antibodies developed in 6 of 12 patients treated with rIFN-alpha 2a but in 0 of 10 who received rIFN-alpha 2b. This in-vitro test may help to identify patients with carcinoid tumours who are unlikely to benefit from IFN therapy, so that other forms of treatment can be started early and the side-effects of IFN are not suffered unnecessarily. Adaptations of this test may be possible for other tumours that may respond to treatment by IFN or similar compounds.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗
PubMed1990

Effects of interferon on tumor tissue content in liver metastases of human carcinoid tumors.

In 21 patients ultrasound-guided cutting biopsies, from carcinoid metastases of the liver, were taken before and after therapy with alpha-interferon. Each biopsy was examined under light microscopy and the amount of tumor tissue and connective tissue was quantified and then correlated to objective response to interferon therapy. A significant reduction of the amount of tumor tissue, in spite of unaltered metastatic size and a corresponding increase in connective tissue, was seen after interferon therapy. A more pronounced reduction of tumor tissue occurred after long-term interferon therapy. A positive correlation between objective therapy response and tumor tissue reduction was also present. Patients responding poorly, or not at all, to therapy did not show any significant decrease in tumor tissue. Since treatment with immune response modifiers is expected to increase in the near future, it is important to choose the right investigations for therapy monitoring, and since all patients in this investigation had unchanged tumor size on repeated radiological examinations, it is obvious that microscopic examination of core biopsies is a better method for evaluating effects of long-term therapy than tumor size measurement with radiological techniques. Further, the results may indicate that interferon exerts a cytotoxic effect on carcinoid tumor cells in vivo.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Medical treatment and long-term survival in a prospective study of 84 patients with endocrine pancreatic tumors.

A prospective study was performed on 84 patients with neuroendocrine pancreatic tumors. Fifty-nine (70%) had malignant tumors and received causal medical treatment. Streptozotocin in combination with 5-fluorouracil or doxorubicin was used as first-line treatment and produced overall objective responses in 20 of 44 (45%) patients with a median duration of response of 27.5 months. Thirty-two patients who failed on chemotherapy subsequently received interferon treatment and 20 (63%) responded objectively with a median duration of 20.5 months. Octreotide, third-line treatment in 14 patients, produced objective responses in four patients (28%) (median duration of response, 16 months). The median survival from diagnosis in malignant cases was 6.7 years. Even if none of the current medical therapies are curative for patients with malignant endocrine pancreatic tumors, a prolonged survival would be observed during the last decade. Since the age at diagnosis has not been dramatically reduced despite improvements in diagnostic methods, the prolonged survival might be attributed to causal medical treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Staphylococcus saprophyticus found to be a common contaminant of food.

The mode of transmission of Staphylococcus saprophyticus, a urinary tract pathogen, was investigated in three related studies. The presence of this organism was sought, during a period of 1 year, in 1331 specimens of various foods, in 920 beef and pork carcasses and on 107 cultures which had been inoculated directly from abattoir workers' protective gloves. Staphylococcus saprophyticus was found to contaminate 16.4% of the various food samples with a high prevalence of 34% in raw beef and pork. It was common in both domestic and imported raw meat products. There was no seasonal variation in the presence of S. saprophyticus in the samples obtained from carcasses. The bacterium was found in 69% of all cultures from the workers' protective gloves. We conclude that S. saprophyticus, originating from slaughtered animals, contaminates food and eventually colonizes the human intestinal tract.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1990

Anthropometric characteristics, passive hip flexion, and spinal mobility in relation to back pain in athletes.

Anthropometric characteristics, passive hip flexion, and spinal mobility were examined and back pain was registered in 116 top Swedish male athletes representing four different sports (wrestling, gymnastics, soccer, tennis). Differences in stature, body weight, passive hip flexion, mobility of the spine in forward flexion, and asymmetry of the back were found when each group of athletes was compared with the rest of the athletes. These differences could be explained by a natural selection of individuals with the physical constitution required for the sport concerned, but they may also be a long-term effect of training. A small sacral inclination, defined as the sacrohorizontal angle, correlated significantly with back pain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Neuroendocrine pancreatic tumours: clinical presentation, biochemical and histopathological findings in 84 patients.

A prospective study has been performed on 84 patients with endocrine pancreatic tumours evaluated at the Medical Department in Uppsala. Available information concerning the patients' presenting symptoms, age at diagnosis, clinical syndrome, tumour location, location of metastases, diagnostic radiology, biochemical and histopathological findings has been analysed. Our results indicate that most patients initially show rather vague and non-specific symptoms, with dyspepsia and pain being the most frequent presenting features. The median delay between appearance of the first symptom and diagnosis was 2 years; the delay was 35 months in sporadic cases and 14.5 months in familial cases. In spite of improvements in diagnostic methods, the median age at diagnosis (53 years) has not been reduced, and most patients are encountered when the tumour has reached an advanced stage. There is a need for a method of screening patients with still uncharacteristic abdominal symptoms for a neuroendocrine tumour. The presence of elevated levels of plasma chromogranin in all patients with a proven tumour suggests that such possibilities exist, and the use of this biochemical marker in the future might reduce the age at diagnosis and thus improve the likelihood of cure and survival of patients with endocrine pancreatic tumours.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗