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Biomedical subjects

B Norberg

Publications and source records attributed to B Norberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Medical intelligence in Sweden. Vitamin B12: oral compared with parenteral?

BACKGROUND: Sweden is the only country in which oral high dose vitamin B12 has gained widespread use in the treatment of deficiency states. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to describe prescribing patterns and sales statistics of vitamin B12 tablets and injections in Sweden 1990-2000.Design, setting, and sources: Official statistics of cobalamin prescriptions and sales were used. RESULTS: The use of vitamin B12 increased in Sweden 1990-2000, mainly because of an increase in the use of oral high dose vitamin B12 therapy. The experience, in statistical terms a "total investigation", comprised 1,000,000 patient years for tablets and 750,000 patient years for injections. During 2000, 13% of residents aged 70 and over were treated with vitamin B12, two of three with the tablet preparation. Most patients in Sweden requiring vitamin B12 therapy have transferred from parenteral to oral high dose vitamin B12 since 1964, when the oral preparation was introduced. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that many patients in other post-industrial societies may also be suitable for oral vitamin B12 treatment.

Administration, Oral↗

Survival after treatment for breast cancer in a geographically defined population.

BACKGROUND: South East Sweden with 976 000 inhabitants is served by nine hospitals with specialized breast surgeons. Population-based mammographic screening was introduced in 1986 for women aged 40-74 years. Patients with primary breast cancer were treated according to a joint management programme. METHODS: All patients were reported to a regional cancer registry from which breast cancer incidence, treatment and survival in this defined population were reported. RESULTS: A total of 7892 women had their first invasive breast cancer diagnosed between 1986 and 1999. The median tumour size was 17 mm and 29.9 per cent had axillary metastases. Some 49.8 per cent of these women had a modified radical mastectomy and 31.9 per cent had a segmental resection with axillary clearance. Postoperative radiotherapy was given to 40.3 per cent of the women after mastectomy and to 87.1 per cent after breast-conserving surgery. Tamoxifen and chemotherapy were used as adjuvant treatment except in low-risk patients. Breast cancer-specific survival rate for all stages was 83.5 per cent at 5 years and 74.0 per cent at 10 years. Respective values were 95.8 and 90.9 per cent for patients with stage T1 N0 M0 tumours, and 77.7 and 62.4 per cent for those with T1-2 N1 M0 tumours. CONCLUSION: Breast specialists treating women with breast cancer according to a joint management programme have achieved very good survival rates.

Adult↗

Kinetics and fates of ammonia, urea, and uric acid during oocyte maturation and ontogeny of the Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.).

Considering that amino acids constitute an important energy fuel during early life of the Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.), it is of interest to understand how the nitrogenous end products are handled. In this study we focused on the kinetics and fates of ammonia, urea and uric acid. The results showed that ammonia (T(Amm): NH(3)+NH(4)(+)), and urea-N contents increased during final oocyte maturation. Urea-N excretion dominated the total nitrogenous end product formation in early embryos. Later, yolk T(Amm) levels increased in embryos and ammonia excretion was low. In the last part of the embryonic stage T(Amm) accumulation dominated, and was apparently due to yolk storage. Around hatching, the larval body tissues (larva with yolk-sac removed) accounted for 68% of whole animal urea-N accumulation, while T(Amm) levels increased predominately by yolk accumulation. Afterwards, ammonia excretion dominated and uric acid accumulation accounted for less than 1%. Urea, synthesised either through the ornithine-urea cycle, argininolysis or uricolysis, accounted for approximately 8% of total nitrogenous end product formation in yolk-sac larvae. The results suggested that a sequence occurred regarding which nitrogenous end products dominated and how they were handled. Urea excretion dominated in early embryos (<7 dPF), followed by yolk ammonia accumulation (7-12 dPF), and finally, ammonia excretion dominated in later embryonic and yolk-sac larval stages (>12 dPF).

Ammonia↗

Pyrazolidine-3,5-dione angiotensin-II receptor antagonists.

The crystal structures of three angiotensin-II receptor antagonists involving different spacer groups (CO, CONH and NHCO) between the aryl rings are presented, namely 2-[4-[(3-butyl-1,4-dioxo-2,3-diazaspiro[4.4]non-2-yl)methyl]benzoyl]benzoic acid, C(26)H(28)N(2)O(5), (I), 2-[4-[(3-butyl-1,4-dioxo-2,3-diazaspiro[4.4]non-2-yl)methyl]benzamido]benzoic acid, C(26)H(29)N(3)O(5), (II), and 2-[4-[(3-butyl-1,4-dioxo-2,3-diazaspiro[4.4]non-2-yl)methyl]anilinocarbonyl]benzoic acid monohydrate, C(26)H(29)N(3)O(5) x H(2)O, (III). The aryl rings of (II) are almost coplanar, in contrast with compounds (I) and (III). The conformation of (II) is induced by an intramolecular N-H.O hydrogen bond between the amide and carboxylic acid groups.

Angiotensin II↗

Vitamin B12 in primary health care and geriatrics--attitudes, knowledge and competence.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to test attitudes, knowledge and competence of Swedish general practitioners and geriatricians concerning B12-associated problems in 1998. METHODS: Postal questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 485 GPs and a total sample of 613 geriatricians. The response rates were 70% in the GP group and 69% in the geriatrician group. The questionnaire contained 24 statements to be evaluated by a visuo-analogue scale. RESULTS: There were small numerical differences between the two physician groups. The geriatricians were more aware of risk groups for B12 deficiency. GPs were less categorical concerning low hit rate in the laboratory testing of clinical conclusions. There were statistical differences in both directions for statements on pitfalls in laboratory diagnostics. GPs were somewhat less prone to give risk groups prophylactic B12 therapy. CONCLUSIONS: GPs and geriatricians appeared to be familiar with the current debate on B12-associated problems, suggesting that health care quality will be unaffected by patient transfer from hospital care to primary health care.

Aged↗

Effects of photoperiod on sexual maturation and somatic growth in male Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.).

A major obstacle in modern, intensive aquaculture is the precocious maturation of male fish, leading to decreased somatic growth and reduced filet quality. Effects of photoperiod on sexual maturation and growth in male Atlantic halibut were therefore examined. In June 1996, 1300 1+ fish of both sexes were distributed in two indoor tanks supplied with continuous light (LL) or a simulated natural photoperiod (SNP). In December 1996 and June 1997, 200 individuals were exchanged between the tanks creating six experimental groups that were followed until June 1998. LL stimulated growth and accelerated timing of first maturation by approximately 3 months. LL also appeared to interrupt circannual rhythmicity in sexual maturation. Sexual maturation led to reduced growth from 3 months pre-spawning and throughout the spawning season. Males that did not mature during the experiment attained the highest final body weight. All males reared on LL from June 1997 reached sexual maturity the following season. In contrast, only 26% of the males matured in the group transferred from LL to SNP in June 1997, and this group also had the highest final body weight. The results indicate a possible route for reducing the problem of precocious maturation in male halibut.

Animals↗

Shifts in B12 opinions in primary health care of Sweden.

AIMS: The diagnosis and management of vitamin B12 deficiency varies between countries and within countries. The aim of the study was to map current attitudes and values behind clinical decision-making in Swedish primary health care, which has a unique B12 tradition: two patients out of three are treated with oral high-dose cyanocobalamin. Most patients with B12-associated problems are managed in primary health care by general practitioners (GPs). METHODS: The study was designed to elucidate possible opinion shifts among GPs during the period 1996-1998. GPs (n=499), stratified and randomized, received a questionnaire with 24 statements on B12-associated clinical and laboratory problems, to be evaluated by a visuo-analogue scale. RESULTS: The majority of GPs in primary health care in Sweden accepted homocysteine and methylmalonic acid (MMA) as markers for functional deficiency of vitamin B12. The evaluation of classical markers of B12 deficiency was wary and balanced. There was a consensus of the need for B12 therapy to risk groups such as patients with atrophic gastritis or previous gastric surgery. The answers also appeared to reflect an improvement of professional knowledge and competence concerning B12-associated problems among Swedish GPs between 1996 and 1998. CONCLUSIONS: The overriding conclusion was that B12-associated opinions of Swedish GPs were stable within the period studied, with marginal improvements of knowledge and competence.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Detection and basic properties of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase III during teleost ontogeny: a case study in the Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.).

The presence of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase III (CPSase III), catalyzing the first step of the urea cycle in fish, in Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) yolk-sac larvae and adult white muscle has been established using gel filtration chromatography to separate the CPSase III from the pyrimidine-pathway related CPSase II. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that teleostean fish express urea cycle enzymes during early development and with recent observations of low levels of CPSase III in muscle tissue. The presence of CPSase III in crude extracts could not be established using sensitive assay conditions to discriminate between CPSase III and CPSase II. However, kinetic characterization after chromatographic separation identified each as typical CPSase II and CPSase III activities, respectively. The CPSase III was less sensitive to activation by N-acetyl-L-glutamate and had a higher Km for ammonia than CPSase III found in other species. These results suggest that precise quantitation of low levels of CPSase III in the presence of CPSase II by assaying crude extracts may be difficult unless the enzymes are first separated and the kinetic properties of CPSase III are determined; the results indicate that assaying larval extracts of Atlantic halibut in the presence of uridine triphosphate results in CPSase activity that reflects mostly CPSase III and can, therefore, be used to measure changes in CPSase III activity.

Animals↗

Terbogrel, a dual-acting agent for thromboxane receptor antagonism and thromboxane synthase inhibition.

Terbogrel, (E)-6-[4-(3-tert-butyl-2-cyanoguanidino)phenyl]-6-(3-pyridyl)hex-5 -enoic acid, C(23)H(27)N(5)O(2), a mixed thromboxane A(2) receptor antagonist and thromboxane A(2) synthase inhibitor, shows a hairpin-like conformation stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond. A structural feature characteristic of the thromboxane A(2) synthase inhibitor mode is observed: a distance of 8.4257 (19) A between the pyridine N atom and the carboxyl group.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗

Molecular analysis of the beta-polymorphic form of trielaidin: crystal structure at low temperature

This work reports on the structure of trielaidin [EEE, 1,2,3-tri(trans-9-octadecenoyl)glycerol], a trans unsaturated triglyceride present in many refined fatty materials (margarines, chocolate products etc.). Firstly, the polymorphism, i.e. the existence of different crystalline forms at various temperature ranges, was defined. Secondly, the crystal growth was examined. By developing a particular growing system, monocrystals of the most stable polymorphic form, i.e. the beta-form, were obtained. To reduce thermal vibrations the X-ray data were collected at low temperature (173 K) and the structure was solved using direct methods. The structure was then analyzed in terms of conformation and crystal packing and compared with those of the other known triglycerides.

Journal Article↗