[Priority setting in organ transplantation].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F Nilsson.
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a new nicotine inhaler system for smoking cessation. DESIGN: A 1-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. SETTING: Medical outpatient clinic with physicians experienced in smoking cessation assistance. SUBJECTS: A total of 286 volunteers who smoked at least 10 cigarettes daily recruited through a local newspaper. INTERVENTION: Subjects were randomly allocated to nicotine inhalers (n = 145) or placebo (n = 141) to be used for 3 months followed by tapering for 3 months in the context of minimal levels of advice and support. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Continuous smoking abstinence at weeks 6, 12, 24, and 52, verified by measurements of carbon monoxide in expired air. RESULTS: Continuous smoking abstinence was significantly higher for the active nicotine inhaler group compared with the placebo inhaler group. The respective success rates were 28% and 12% after 6 weeks, 21% and 9% after 12 weeks, 17% and 8% after 6 months, and 15% and 5% after 1 year (P = .02 to .001). The mean nicotine substitution based on cotinine determinations after 2 weeks was 43% (SD, 45%) of smoking levels. The treatment was well tolerated, and no serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: In this setting the nicotine inhaler appeared safe to use and increased success rates of smoking cessation attempts.
University of Wisconsin (UW) solution was compared with modified St. Thomas cardioplegic solution for 6-hour preservation of isolated working rat hearts. The hearts (9 in each group) were arrested with the respective solution and stored, still cannulated, for 6 hours at 4 degrees C. After retrograde reperfusion for 30 minutes, antegrade perfusion was begun at constant left atrial and aortic pressures. Following 25 minutes of antegrade perfusion the hemodynamic recovery of the UW-preserved hearts was superior to that of the other hearts (cardiac output 46.0 +/- 4.8% of the preischemic control values in the UW group and 10.0 +/- 6.0% in the St. Thomas group, p < 0.01). The adenosine triphosphate content was significantly higher in the UW-preserved hearts (18.8 +/- 0.9 vs. 14.7 +/- 1.6 mumol/g dry weight, p < 0.05). No significant intergroup difference was found in aspartate aminotransferase leak or tissue glycogen. The study demonstrated both better function and enhancement of high-energy phosphates with UW solution vs. modified St. Thomas solution in isolated rat hearts, although without difference in enzyme leakage or tissue glycogen, after 6-hour preservation.
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Mass balance pharmacokinetics, with simultaneous blood sampling from an artery and the internal jugular vein, was used to characterize the cerebral uptake of ketamine, norketamine, and midazolam in normoventilated pigs. Intravenous injections of ketamine or midazolam decreased the cerebral blood flow (CBF) by one third, as measured by intermittent 133Xe washout. By means of pharmacodynamic models, the effects on the CBF could be predicted from the arterial drug concentrations. The high-resolution CBF vs. time curves thus generated allowed the calculation of cerebral drug levels from arterio-venous concentration gradients in spite of a continuously changing regional blood flow. By their effects on the CBF, ketamine and midazolam decrease their own rate of transport to the brain, the immediate 30-35% drops in CBF giving similar reductions in initial net influx of drug. Physiological pharmacokinetic models assuming a constant regional blood flow are therefore not appropriate. Under clinical conditions, the CBF is determined mainly by the effects of the anesthetics and by the arterial CO2 tension. CBF changes in either direction influence the transport of drugs to the brain and may consequently result in impaired or exaggerated drug effects.
A constructed Synechocystis 6803 mutant with a deletion of the three psbA genes was subjected to ultrastructural and biochemical characterization. This D1-depleted mutant also lacks the D2 protein and the chlorophyll a-binding protein CP-47. A general ultrastructural comparison between the wild type and the mutant did not reveal any major changes in cell appearance. We found by freeze-fracture analysis that approximately 60% of the endoplasmic face particles found in the wild-type thylakoids were missing in the mutant. A corresponding increase in protoplasmic face particles in the mutant thylakoids may represent a subcomplex of those photosystem II (PS II) polypeptides which accumulate in the absence of the D1 protein. Correlation of the PS I:PS II ratio with freeze-fracture data indicates that there is only one reaction center in each PS II freeze-fracture particle. Fluorescence measurements show that the CP-43 polypeptide in the mutant binds chlorophyll and that it may be connected to the phycobilisomes. Excitation energy can be transferred from the phycobilisomes to photosystem I in the absence of the photosystem II reaction center heterodimer and CP-47. This suggests that exciton transfer to photosystem I is mediated either directly by a terminal phycobilisome transmitter or via CP-43.
We present a physiologically stable porcine model designed for sequential assessments of pharmacological effects on mean hemispheric cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (CMRO2) at sustained normocapnia. The dynamic influence of continuously administered fentanyl (0.040 mg.kg-1.h-1 i.v.), nitrous oxide (70%) and pancuronium (0.30 mg.kg-1.h-1 i.v.) on these variables was studied in eight normoventilated pigs. CBF was reliably assessable at 10-min intervals by clearance of intra-arterially injected 133Xe, monitored by an extracranial scintillation detector. CMRO2 was calculated from CBF and the simultaneously measured cerebral arteriovenous difference in blood oxygen content. The intracerebral distribution of a contrast medium injected into the external and internal carotid arteries was studied by angiography, and the cerebral venous outflow was investigated by measurements of the distribution of an intra-arterially administered non-diffusible tracer, [99mTc]pertechnetate, to the internal and external jugular veins. After a 3-h equilibration period, CBF and CMRO2 were determined on six occasions over a study period lasting 1 h 40 min. The mean ranges of these variables were 56-60 and 1.9-2.0 ml.100 g-1.min-1, respectively. We conclude that the model enables repeated assessments of CBF and CMRO2 under stable physiological background conditions and thus valid cerebral pharmacodynamic investigations of drugs given for anaesthesia.
Infusion of insulin-glucose-potassium is used to support the failing heart after cardiac operations. Although the effects on myocardial uptake of carbohydrates and lipids have been described, the effects on myocardial extraction of amino acids are unknown. This study was undertaken to clarify the effect of insulin-glucose-potassium on the pattern of amino acid uptake/release in myocardial and skeletal muscle after coronary operations. The amino acid uptake/release of the heart and of the leg was studied in 18 patients 1 hour after coronary bypass operations. The patients were randomized to treatment with 25 U of fast-acting insulin as a bolus injection followed by a continuous infusion of 1 U/kg body weight for 1 hour, or to serve as control patients. The hyperinsulinemic "clamp" technique was used to keep blood glucose unchanged during the study. In the insulin-treated group, the arterial concentration of 17 of 22 individual amino acids, including the three branched chain amino acids, decreased, the remainder being unchanged. The amino acid uptake/release of the leg was unchanged. The net myocardial uptake of leucine and isoleucine shifted to a no-uptake/no-release in the insulin-treated group, whereas the no-uptake/no-release of tyrosine and phenylalanine turned into a significant release. A positive correlation was observed between arterial concentration and myocardial uptake/release of the three branched chain amino acids. It is suggested that insulin, by lowering the arterial concentration of leucine and isoleucine, inhibited the myocardial uptake of these amino acids. This may have a negative effect on postoperative myocardial protein balance suggested by the release of tyrosine and phenylalanine.
A case of small bowel leiomyosarcoma in a 75-year-old woman is reviewed. The patient had an unexplained anaemia with occult blood in the faeces for at least 15 years. The value of different radiological investigations in patients with suspected gastrointestinal bleeding is discussed. The possible significance of calcifications visible on plain abdominal films is emphasized.
Photosystem II (PSII) composition was studied in a mutant of the cyanobacterium Synechosystis 6803 in which synthesis of the reaction center polypeptide D1 has been inactivated. The mutant thylakoids had lost also the other reaction center polypeptide D2 and the chlorophyll alpha-binding protein CP47. Cytochrome b559 and the chlorophyll alpha-binding protein CP43 accumulated to almost wild-type amounts in mutant thylakoids. Also the 33 kDa polypeptide involved in water oxidation was present and membrane-bound in mutant thylakoids. The intrinsic 22 kDa polypeptide, so far known only from plants, was detected both in wild-type and mutant thylakoids.
Flux of plasma amino acids was measured across the heart and the leg (reflecting mainly skeletal muscle) in 18 patients 1 hour after completion of aorto-coronary bypass surgery. There was a net loss of amino acids from the leg (-324.9 +/- 39 nmol/min/100 ml tissue) while amino acid flux across the heart was not statistically different from zero. There were however positive intertissue correlations between leg and myocardial flux of tyrosine and most other amino acids, suggesting that protein metabolism of both tissues were affected in the same catabolic direction by the trauma response. Alanine and glutamine accounted for 50% of the amino acid release from the leg, which is in accordance with observations in association with other types of trauma. Alanine and glutamine also dominated amino acid release from the heart. Glutamate and aspartate were taken up by both tissues. The principal difference between the tissues was a myocardial uptake of leucine and isoleucine, in contrast to a leg release.
In a controlled, randomized study the myocardial uptake/release of individual free fatty acids, glucose, lactate, pyruvate, alanine, and glycerol was studied 1 hour after completion of coronary operations. The effects of insulin were evaluated by means of a hyperinsulinemic "clamp" technique. No significant uptake of free fatty acids was found despite markedly elevated arterial concentrations (mean +/- standard error of the mean, 2.01 +/- 0.19 mmol.L-1), oleic acid, together with palmitic and linoleic acid, constituting 80% of the total plasma free fatty acid level. Insulin treatment (1 unit.kg bw-1.hr-1) prevented a further increase of the plasma free fatty acid level, observed concomitantly in the control group. Insulin affected all individual free fatty acids similarly. Changes in plasma free fatty acid levels occurring during the study and the corresponding myocardial uptake correlated (rS = 0.50 to 0.81). No significant uptake or release of glucose, lactate pyruvate, and glycerol occurred, whereas a myocardial release of alanine was seen. The heart and the concomitant leg uptake/release of glucose (rS = 0.40, p less than 0.05) and lactate (rS = 0.67, p less than 0.01) correlated. A substantial uptake of glucose was achieved and a more positive myocardial balance was obtained for alanine, lactate, and pyruvate with insulin. The changes in heart and the concomitant leg uptake/release correlated (glucose, rS = 0.62, p less than 0.01; lactate, rS = 0.64, p less than 0.01; pyruvate, rS = 0.71, p less than 0.01). It is concluded that the myocardial uptake of substrates during the first hours after coronary surgery is markedly abnormal with no uptake of free fatty acids or carbohydrates. These changes can be explained to some extent by the insulin resistance of trauma metabolism and can be modified by insulin treatment.
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The article reviews the responsibilities of the Special Inspection for Electrical Medical Equipment, STEM, with emphasis on investigations of accidents and near-accidents in connection with the use of technical equipment. It stresses the obligation to report to STEM immediately. The reported accidents for the period 1980-1988 are given in table 1, and are discussed. Norwegian statistics are compared with both American and Scandinavian data and reference is made to the international standardization on technical medical equipment.
In a randomized trial between 1974 and 1980, parietal cell vagotomy (PCV) was compared with truncal vagotomy (TV) in the treatment of duodenal ulcer in 106 patients. After a mean period of 3.9 years no significant differences were found between PCV and TV patients with respect to Visick grading and recurrence rates. Nor did the preoperative location of the ulcer-prepyloric or duodenal-significantly influence the recurrences. The latter follow-up reported in 1981, showed that PCV was not superior to TV. The present paper describes a re-analysis of the same material in 1985. After a mean observation time of 8.7 years no significant differences in the ulcer recurrence rate were found between PCV and TV. Equal patient satisfaction with the two procedures was found. In patients with prepyloric ulcers, preoperatively, there was a higher recurrence rate among those who had undergone PCV than TV.
To study the vasodilating effect of insulin after termination of ECC in aortocoronary bypass surgery, 21 patients were randomized to treatment with 7.5 U of fast-acting insulin/kg b.w. as a bolus injection followed by continuous infusion of 15 U/kg b.w. for 1 hour, or to serve as controls. Insulin administration was begun when the last proximal anastomosis had been completed. Cardiac output and central pressures were monitored for 1 hour after termination of ECC. Systemic vascular resistance in both groups was lower at the end of ECC than before surgery (reduction 39% in the controls, 51% in the insulin-treated group). During the following hour the peripheral resistance increased significantly in the controls (from 20 +/- 2 to 29 +/- 2 mmHg X min X m2/l), but no change was found in the insulin group. It is concluded that insulin can maintain a low vascular resistance after aortocoronary bypass surgery.
Glucose and lactate balances in leg (representing mainly skeletal muscle) and heart were studied 1 hour after aortocoronary bypass surgery and insulin treatment. Seventeen men were randomized to receive 25 U fast-acting insulin as a bolus injection, followed by continuous infusion of 1 U/kg b.w. for 1 hour, or to serve as controls. In the leg a small glucose uptake was found while the lactate balance was negative. During the study period the lactate release increased further in the control group. In the myocardium no significant extraction of glucose or lactate could be demonstrated. Insulin treatment resulted in a fivefold increment of leg glucose uptake and in significant myocardial glucose uptake. Myocardial lactate balance was also improved by insulin treatment, with fractional extraction increased from 6 to 21%. It is concluded that myocardial carbohydrate metabolism is restricted in the early period after cardiac surgery, and that this seems to result from insulin resistance induced by the surgical trauma.