PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C F Lindboe

Publications and source records attributed to C F Lindboe.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The frequency of brain lesions in alcoholics. Comparison between the 5-year periods 1975-1979 and 1983-1987.

This is a follow-up study of a previous investigation of brain lesions in alcoholics during the 5-year period from 1975 through 1979 (Torvik et al. 1982). The autopsy material from the 5-year period 1983-1987 was examined in order to see whether improved clinical treatment had resulted in a reduced frequency of alcohol-related brain lesions, particularly of active Wernicke's encephalopathy. The percentage of alcoholics (8.2 vs. 8.7%), the male/female ratio (4.2/1) and their mean age (60.4 vs. 62.2 years) were similar in the two recording periods, as was the frequency of alcoholic cerebellar atrophy (26.8 vs. 27.6%). In both periods the brain weight in male alcoholics aged 40-70 years was significantly lower than in age-matched controls. This difference was not present after 70 years of age. The most important finding was a considerable but not significant reduction of the frequency of active and inactive Wernicke's encephalopathy in alcoholics. Review of the clinical records supports the hypothesis that this reduction reflects better diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the clinical departments. However, even during the last period most cases of active Wernicke's encephalopathy were not recognized clinically and further improvement of the clinical management should therefore be possible.

Adult↗

Reversible and reproducible in vivo staining of motor endplates by use of the acetylthiocholine-iodide method.

In vivo staining of motor endplates was carried out in the anterior tibial muscle of the rat, using the acetylthiocholine-iodide staining method of Koelle and Friedenwald. A strong and distinct endplate staining was obtained after incubation in the staining solution for only one minute if the epimysium had been removed from the muscle. Staining with intact epimysium gave a less satisfactory result if the incubation time was 3 minutes, but it was excellent after incubation for 10 minutes. At re-examination 5 or 30 days later, the initial staining had disappeared in all animals, and a second staining at this time gave just as good results as on the first occasion. The inflammatory reaction in the muscle was more severe with removed epimysium than with intact epimysium, and the staining solution had a slight local toxic effect compared with 0.9% NaCl. Staining with intact epimysium should therefore be preferred if possible.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Atrophy of the cerebellar vermis in ageing. A morphometric and histologic study.

Morphometric analysis of the cerebellar vermis in 67 non-alcoholic men between 36 and 94 years of age showed a significant decline in Purkinje cell densities with increasing age in all parts of the cerebellar vermis. However, the nerve cell loss was much more severe in the superior than in the inferior part. There were large individual variations and one-half of the subjects over 80 years showed densities similar to those in the sixties. By independent evaluation, atrophy of the superior vermis was diagnosed histologically in 16 cases, 13 of whom were over 70 years of age. There was a good correspondence between the histologic diagnoses and the morphometric findings. The atrophy involved all 3 cortical layers and the changes were identical to those seen in alcoholics. The diagnosis of alcoholic cerebellar atrophy must therefore be made with great caution in subjects over 70 years of age. Cases with malignant tumours had significantly lower Purkinje cell densities in the superior vermis than those without tumours but the decline with age was of the same magnitude in the 2 groups. The age-dependent atrophy of the superior vermis seemed to be correlated to age alone and not to other known conditions. It probably was sufficiently severe to be recognized radiologically and clinically in a considerable number of the cases.

Adult↗

Autopsy findings in three family members with a presumably acquired immunodeficiency syndrome of unknown etiology.

This paper presents clinical, immunological and post-mortem findings in three family members (husband, wife and daughter) who all died in 1976 after having had chronic and recurrent opportunistic infections for many years. In all of them a progressive, presumably acquired T-lymphocyte defect associated with B-lymphocyte dysfunction had been diagnosed several years before death. The clinical and immunological findings are compatible with those seen in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by HTLV-III/LAV infection, but examinations of stored blood samples from the three patients were negative with regard to the presence of HTLV-III/LAV antibodies. This immunodeficiency may therefore have been caused by an infectious agent of unknown nature. The most remarkable finding on post-mortem examination was the presence of a granulomatous encephalomyelitis with multinucleated giant cells in the husband and his wife. In addition, the wife's CNS revealed scattered microglial nodules. No infectious agents could be demonstrated, and the etiology of this peculiar CNS affection therefore remains obscure.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Effects of denervation, immobilization and cachexia on fibre size in the anterior tibial muscle of the rat.

The effects of denervation, immobilization and cachexia on the size of the various histochemical fibre types were studied in the anterior tibial muscle of male Wistar rats aged 60-100 days. Denervation was induced by unilateral sectioning of the sciatic nerve, immobilization by a plaster cast on one hindlimb and cachexia by restriction of food intake. In the anterior tibial muscle of the normal rat, three fibre types can be identified by myofibrillar ATPase stain after alkaline preincubation. These fibres were called dark (D-fibres), intermediate (I-fibres) and light fibres (L-fibres), respectively. The I-fibres correspond to the fast-twitch type 2 fibres and the L-fibres to the slow-twitch type 1 fibres. The D-fibres have intermediate characteristics, but they probably belong to the type 2 group. The three fibre types reacted differently to denervation, immobilization and cachexia. Denervation caused progressive atrophy of the D- and I-fibres and almost no change of the L-fibres. Immobilization caused minor reduction in size of the D- and I-fibres during the first days and no change thereafter, whereas the L-fibres showed transitory hypertrophy. Cachexia, on the other hand, resulted in progressive atrophy of all three fibre types but a predominant affection of the D- and I-fibres. The different susceptibilities of the various fibre types suggest different mechanisms for atrophy of muscle in these three conditions.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Morphological changes in continuously stretched skeletal muscles in sheep.

The effects of continuous elongation of skeletal muscles were studied on six sheep who underwent a lengthening osteotomy of the right tibia. Open muscle biopsies were taken from the biceps femoris muscle preoperatively (Group A), after 5 weeks of bone distraction (Group B) and after another 5 weeks without further distraction (Group C). The size and distribution of type 1 (slow-twitch) and type 2 (fast-twitch) muscle fibres were determined from sections stained for myofibrillar ATPase activity. All sections were also evaluated by light microscopy, especially with regard to myopathic changes. The type 2 fibres showed a significant decrease in size from group A to B and from group B to C. The reduction in fibre size from group A to C was 44.2%. The type 1 fibres, on the other hand, showed no significant differences in mean fibre size between the groups. However, there were considerable individual variations in type 1 fibre size between the groups. The distribution of both fibre types was similar in groups A and B (appr. 17% type 1 fibres) whereas the relative number of type 1 fibres was reduced to 12.4% in group C (P less than 0.01). Myopathic changes, i.e. muscle fibre necroses, were not seen in any of the groups. It is concluded that the type 2 fibre atrophy is mainly caused by muscular inactivity during the postoperative period, but an additional effect of continuous stretching of the muscle cannot be excluded.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Generalized amyloidosis in cystic fibrosis.

A boy suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF) complicated by generalized amyloidosis is reported. His condition was fairly good during the first 10 years of life, but after this time he had repeated pulmonary infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. From the age of 14, he developed increasing hepato- and splenomegaly and a liver biopsy revealed massive amyloidosis. At the age of 16 he died of respiratory and cardiac failure. Post-mortem examination revealed wide-spread amyloidosis in addition to pulmonary and pancreatic findings characteristic of CF.

Adolescent↗

Are young female gymnasts malnourished? An anthropometric, electrophysiological, and histological study.

Competitive rhythmic sportive gymnastics have been accused of promoting an unphysiologic weight reduction which may progress to manifest anorexia nervosa. In this study, eight young female gymnasts who represented Norway in the European Championships in Rhythmic Sportive Gymnastics 1982 were examined for evidence of malnutrition. Ten girls, matched for age and height, served as controls. The examination included registration of anthropometric data (height, weight, and body-mass index), motor and sensory neurography and biopsies of the vastus lateralis muscle with exact measurements of muscle fibre areas on sections stained for myofibrillar ATPase activity. The mean body weight of the gymnasts did not differ from that of the control group or of a large series of age matched Norwegian females. This finding excludes the possibility of general malnutrition among the examined gymnasts. Muscle fibres of both types 1 and 2 were found to be smaller in the gymnasts than in the controls, with values of 3,404 microns2 vs 3,811 microns2 for type-1 fibres and 2,985 microns2 vs 3,942 microns2 for type-2 fibres respectively. Although contradictory to most previous reports, this finding suggests that the reduction in fibre size among the gymnasts might be an effect of physical training. There were some differences in neurographic parameters between the groups, but the mean values were all within normal ranges. The motor nerve conduction velocity in the proximal segments of the median and ulnar nerves was significantly slower in the gymnasts and, as a possible consequence of smaller muscle fibres, the motor responses were generally less in this group.

Adolescent↗

Effect of immobilization of short duration on the muscle fibre size.

In 10 patients with unilateral knee joint lesions, the injured leg was immobilized for 72 h by a plaster cast reaching from the hip to the ankle. At removal of the casts, open muscle biopsies were taken from the vastus medialis muscle on both sides. The muscle specimens were stained for myofibrillar ATPase activity and muscle fibre areas were measured on transverse sections. The differences in fibre size between the two sides were registered and statistically evaluated. The reduction in fibre size on the immobilized side was 14.4% for the type 1 fibres and 17.3% for the type 2 fibres, respectively. However, these differences were not significant because of considerable variations from case to case, with an increase in fibre size on the immobilized side in three cases. It is concluded that short time post-traumatic immobilization may have variable effects on the muscle fibre size and that one single biopsy might be insufficient to disclose early disuse atrophy whereas the method may be useful in cases of longer duration.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

The effect of phospholipase C in sheep.

Based on earlier studies in rats, phospholipase C (PLC) seemed to be a very promising prophylactic agent for certain types of thrombo-embolic disease. Recent studies in rabbits have, however, demonstrated that phospholipase C is more toxic than expected from the previous data. To gain more knowledge about its toxicity in larger animals we have studied its effect in sheep. Estimated LD50 for the enzyme in sheep was between 0.4 and 0.2 mg PLC/kg given as a 23 min infusion and below 0.2 mg/kg given as a bolus. Cellular necrosis was a common feature in several tissues of sheep dying from PLC. This explained the pulmonary oedema, decreased oxygen tension and renal failure with haematuria, proteinuria and glucosuria which occurred. PLC was probably filtered out in the glomeruli and totally reabsorbed in the tubuli until they were destroyed by PLC. An increase in different plasma enzymes suggested that PLC exerted a toxic effect on both muscle cells and hepatocytes. The blood glucose level remained about 20% lower in the PLC-treated animals than in the controls for more than 2 weeks. Pulmonary oedema and renal failure were the probable causes of death.

Animals↗

The effects of ageing, cachexia and neoplasms on striated muscle. Quantitative histological and histochemical observations on an autopsy material.

The effects of ageing, cachexia and neoplasms on striated muscle were examined in histological sections of an autopsy material. Paraffin sections were examined from four separate muscles of 30 previously healthy subjects who died suddenly, from eight cases with cachexia and from 16 cases with cachexia and neoplasms. In addition, ATP-ase stained cryostat sections were examined from two muscles from most of the cases. All the sections were evaluated with regard to atrophy, myopathic changes and fibre type grouping. Furthermore, the exact size of 100 fibres of each type was determined in the enzyme stained sections. Myopathic changes were found in a few muscles, mainly in the normal cases. They were considered incidental findings without clinical significance. Fibre type grouping could not be evaluated in the anterior tibial muscle because large clusters of the same fibre type occur normally in this muscle. In the biceps brachii only two normal cases and none of the cachectic cases showed fibre type grouping. A moderate small grouped muscle fibre atrophy was found in normal cases with increasing age. The cases with cachexia showed a marked small grouped atrophy which involved both fibre types. There were only small and uncertain differences between cases with cachexia and tumours and those with cachexia alone. Thus, no changes were observed which could be ascribed to tumours alone. The small grouped atrophy in ageing and cachexia resembled that seen in denervation atrophy but the exact mechanism of the changes remains obscure.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Disuse atrophy of human skeletal muscle. An enzyme histochemical study.

The effect of inactivity was examined in muscle biopsies from ten patients who were operated upon for unilateral knee joint lesions of long duration. Biopsies were taken from the vastus medialis on both sides, and transverse frozen sections were stained for myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase). Fibre type counting and exact measurements of muscle fibre size were performed and compared on the two sides. The muscle fibres on the affected side showed a definite reduction in size and, on the average, both types of fibres were about equally affected (27.6% vs. 25.0% reduction for types 1 and 2). However, there were considerable and unpredictable variations from case to case with predominant affection of type 1 in some and type 2 in others. The numerical distribution of fibre types did not change. It is concluded that both fibre types are affected in disuse atrophy, but it seems impossible to predict which of the fibre types will show the most severe atrophy. Thus, enzyme histochemical staining methods are of little help in the diagnosis of disuse atrophy.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Changes in skeletal muscles of young women with anorexia nervosa. An enzyme histochemical study.

Biopsies from four young women with advanced anorexia nervosa were examined to investigate the effect of malnutrition on skeletal muscles. None of the patients showed signs of neuromuscular disease and all were physically active at the time of examination. Cryostat sections from the vastus lateralis muscle were stained with hematoxylin-azophloxin-safran and with stains for myofibrillar ATP-ase activity. In addition to routine examination of the sections, the size and distribution of the type 1 and type 2 fibres were calculated by means of a Kontron Digiplan MOP 02. Routine stained sections showed a small grouped atrophy in three cases and a more diffuse atrophy in the fourth. Enzyme histochemical stains revealed a distinct type 2 atrophy, a finding which should serve to distinguish the changes of pure malnutrition from those of conventional denervation. Exact measurements confirmed the predominant type 2 atrophy but showed definite atrophy also of the type 1 fibres. Compared with normal controls the type 1 fibres were reduced by 46% and the type 2 fibres by 75%. These findings are largely in agreement with the recent observations by Essén et al. (1981) on anorexia nervosa. However, in contrast to Essén et al. we did not find any change in the numerical distribution of the fibre types, especially no increase in type 1 fibres. Thus, we could not confirm the hypotheses of a conversion of the fibre types in cachexia.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Brain lesions in alcoholics. A neuropathological study with clinical correlations.

Among 8735 autopsies performed during a 5-year period at Ullevål Hospital in Oslo there were 70 cases of Wernicke's encephalopathy (0.8%) and 152 cases of alcoholic cerebellar atrophy (1.7%). Cerebellar atrophy was found in 26.8% of all examined alcoholics. Twenty-two of the cases with Wernicke's encephalopathy were active (acute and subacute) and 48 were inactive (chronic). Examination of the clinical records showed that stupor and coma were the dominating symptoms in active cases. A pure Korsakoff's psychosis with a selective memory defect was present in about one-third of the cases with inactive encephalopathy while the remaining had more or less pronounced global dementia ("alcoholic dementia"). It is suggested that inactive Wernicke's encephalopathy is the main underlying lesion both in Korsakoff's psychosis and "alcoholic dementia" but that additional lesions are present in the latter group. The brain weight in 545 male alcoholics was compared with that of 586 controls. Cases with non-alcoholic brain lesions were excluded from both groups. In alcoholics the brain weight was significantly lower than in controls in all age groups below 70 years. The mean weight difference was 31 g. The study thus confirmed the existence of a generalized alcoholic brain atrophy.

Aged↗