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Biomedical subjects

B S Nilsson

Publications and source records attributed to B S Nilsson.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Evaluation of methods for recording adverse drug reactions in clinical trials.

Four methods used for obtaining information from patients on adverse drug reactions are reviewed on the basis of personal experience. In the development of new therapeutic drugs the method which records all events experienced by a patient during drug treatment is to be preferred as it increases the possibility of detecting unanticipated or previously unreported adverse reactions. Disadvantage of this method is that a high number of events not related to drug treatment may be recorded, causing problems in analysis of the data.

Anti-Infective Agents

Acute phase of sarcoidosis with splenomegaly and hypercalcemia. Description of a case, including a report about splenectomy and the preparation and testing of a Kveim antigen from the spleen.

A young man had a mild, slightly progressive pulmonary sarcoidosis. After 4 years he developed an acute disease with splenomegaly, anemia, marked elevation of ESR, hypercalcemia and mild renal insufficiency. The anemia and ESR elevation disappeared after splenectomy, whereas the hypercalcemia still needs corticosteroid treatment. Attempts to withdraw this treatment resulted in recurrence of the hypercalcemia, but no other abnormalities. In contrast to other organs examined, the sarcoid tissue in the spleen revealed necrosis formation, consistent with a recent process. A Kveim antigen preparation from the spleen was less potent than antigen from mediastinal lymph nodes. It is suggested that the acute phase of the disease involved mainly the spleen. Speculations about the possible role of infectious agent(s) are put forward.

Acute Disease

Fibrinogen, fibrin(ogen) degradation products and fibrinopeptide A in pleural effusions. High turnover of fibrinogen in pleurisy.

Fibrinogen, fibrin(ogen) degradation products (FDP) and fibrinopeptide A (FPA) were analysed in pleural fluids from 20 consecutive patients with major effusions of various aetiology. FPA is a short-lived polypeptide which is split off from fibrinogen, whereafter fibrin is formed. FDP are formed through lysis of fibrin or fibrinogen. In 18 patients no fibrinogen could be detected in pleural fluid, whereas two (both having malignant tumours) had detectable but low concentrations. High FPA concentrations, interpreted as reflecting very recent fibrin formation, were found in all pleural fluids except for one case of empyema and one transudate. Plasma concentrations were low in most cases. The same pattern was found with regard to FDP, i.e. exudates showed high concentrations, whereas plasma concentrations were low. The only patient with a transudate showed absence of fibrinogen and low concentrations of FDP and FPA. We interpret our findings as indicative of a high rate of fibrin formation and degradation in pleural exudates and have not found any differences between various types of pleural exudates. Consequently, the findings may illustrate the close association between the coagulation system and inflammatory reactions which may be common to most pleural diseases.

Adult

Nonspecific stimulation of lymphocytes by tuberculin.

Lymphocytes from uninfected, nonimmune mice can be stimulated to proliferate and produce antibody to diverse antigens in culture when exposed to the purified protein derivative of tuberculin or unheated tuberculin culture filtrate. Lymphocytes from numerous inbred strains of mice respond to tuberculin, but no true low responder strain has been found as yet. The evidence presented suggests that a subpopulation of B cells, which are distinct from those activated by lipopolysaccharide endotoxin, respond to tuberculin. The results of digestion experiments with insolubilized enzymes suggest that the nonspecific activating principles in tuberculin are protein.

Animals

Immunological function in patients operated on with small intestinal shunts for morbid obesity.

Obese individuals, operated on with intestinal shunts, have been investigated with regard to immunological functions. After operation strong increases in skin reactions of immediate and delayed type were observed. Analysis of total WBC and differential counts, percentage T lymphocytes, immunoglobulin concentrations, and lymphocyte reactivity yielded no explanation of the findings.

Humans