PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Formgren

Publications and source records attributed to H Formgren.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Can asthma deaths in young people be predicted and prevented?].

UNLABELLED: In spite of increased asthma prevalence, the mortality in the disease has decreased during the last two decades in Sweden and in some other countries. However, in the age group 15-24 years an increased death rate was noted at the end of the 1980s. Therefore we started a prospective study from 1994 with the aim of trying to analyse the precipitating factors of all deaths in the ages 1-34 years in which the death certificate alleged asthma or anaphylaxis as the main or contributing cause of death. We conducted a confidential telephone enquiry of the next of kin of the deceased using a modified questionnaire developed by the British Thoracic Association. When available, patient records and post mortem protocols were obtained. RESULTS: The mortality in asthma in the ages 1-34 years has decreased from around 5 per million/year to 0.5/million/year over the period 1987-1998. The main preventable factors found in this analysis are undertreatment, non-compliance, psychosocial factors including alcohol/drug abuse, food allergy and inhalation allergy. Lacking awareness of the risks and underestimation of the severity of the asthma both by the physician and the patient seem to be dominating factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Terbutaline in COPD comparison between Turbuhaler and chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) inhaler.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often subjectively benefit from inhaled beta 2-agonists in spite of little or no demonstrable effect in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1.0). A comparison between the effects of terbutaline administered via a dry powder inhaler (Turbuhaler) and via a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) inhaler in conjunction with a spacer device (Nebuhaler) was performed in patients with regard to FEV1.0, forced expiratory capacity (FVC), residual volume (RV), and specific conductance (s-Gaw). Fifteen hospitalised patients (11 male) with COPD were studied, each of whom had a diurnal variation in peak expiratory flow (PEF) not exceeding 15% and with a demonstrated volume response to inhaled beta 2-agonists in FVC and/or RV of at least 15%. Patients were administered each of the following five treatments on a single occasion in a randomized order (latin square) in intervals of at least 2 days: placebo, terbutaline via Turbuhaler (1.0 and 2.5 mg) and terbutaline via a CFC inhaler (1.0 mg without and 2.5 mg with Nebuhaler). Inhalation of terbutaline in different doses and from different devices induced a decrease in RV, an increase in FVC, and s-Gaw and a less pronounced increase in FEV1.0. No statistically significant differences between the four terbutaline treatments were seen, but all were significantly different from the placebo. These findings indicate that while patients with COPD may benefit from inhaled terbutaline through decreased hyperinflation, the choice of inhalation device seems to be of little importance for its efficacy.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1991

Blood eosinophil number and activity in relation to lung function in patients with asthma and with eosinophilia.

Blood eosinophil count, serum concentrations of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), eosinophil protein X (EPX), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) rate were studied in 23 patients with severe labile asthma characterized by eosinophilia at the start and end of a treatment period of 5 weeks. The mean blood eosinophil count was 808 x 10(6)/L at the start of the treatment period. Serum ECP and EPX were significantly raised compared with that of the references, whereas the mean serum MPO level was normal. The mean PEF was significantly and negatively correlated to both blood eosinophil count and serum ECP and EPX, but the predominant correlation was that between blood eosinophil count and PEF. At the end of the treatment period, PEF had increased and the blood eosinophil count and serum ECP and EPX were reduced when these values were compared with the values at the start of the treatment period. There was a significant and negative correlation of mean PEF to serum ECP but not to the blood eosinophil count. In individual subjects, the decreases in the blood eosinophil counts and serum EPX were significantly correlated to the individual increases of mean PEF. In conclusion, the present investigation indicates that in patients with asthma and pronounced eosinophilia, the lung function of the patients was principally related to the number of circulating eosinophils, whereas, when their eosinophilia was reduced to moderate levels, the patient's lung function was closer related to the activity of the eosinophils.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Increased chemokinetic and chemotactic responses of eosinophils in asthmatic patients.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the migratory responses of eosinophil and neutrophil granulocytes from asthmatic patients compared with granulocytes from healthy individuals. Twenty-three patients with unstable and severe asthma and blood eosinophilia (greater than 400 x 10(6) cells/l) were selected for the study. Eosinophil and neutrophil chemotactic and chemokinetic responses were tested twice, at the beginning and end of a 5 week treatment period. Lung function was followed by daily measurements of PEF. The eosinophils of the asthmatics demonstrated increased chemokinetic responses to albumin, autologous serum, and normal human serum (NHS), and an increased chemotactic response to NHS at the beginning of the treatment period compared with eosinophils from the references. At the end of the period the eosinophil chemokinetic responses to albumin, autologous serum and NHS were still increased and so was the chemotactic response to zymosan-activated serum (ZAS). The neutrophil migratory responses were not increased compared with those of the references, except for the chemokinetic response to autologous serum, which was increased both at the beginning and end of the treatment period. Patients in whom the eosinophil migratory responses, to most of the agents used, decreased over the treatment period, demonstrated a significantly greater improvement of their lung function at the end of the period compared with patients in whom the eosinophil migratory responses increased. However, no direct relationship between eosinophil migratory responses and lung function of the patients was found. In conclusion, the present investigation demonstrated increased migratory responses of eosinophils from asthmatic patients. This enhanced responsiveness is proposed to be due to priming of the eosinophils in vivo, and might be one mechanism behind the selective recruitment of eosinophils to the lungs of asthmatics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

The use of a reference allergenic extract in the evaluation of allergen products.

Two commercially available mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris (Av] pollen extracts Av-ALK and Av-PS were compared with a dialysed reference mugwort pollen extract (Av-REF) by means of crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), crossed radio immunoelectrophoresis (CRIE), RAST-inhibition, RAST-screening and skin prick test. Av-ALK and Av-PS both contained approximately half the number of precipitation arcs detectable in Av-REF, and Av-PS seemed to lack two intermediate allergens and two minor allergens, while Av-ALK seemed to lack one minor allergen. The RAST-inhibition curve obtained for Av-PS did not parallel the curves obtained for Av-ALK and Av-REF, indicating that the allergen composition of Av-PS differs from that of the others. Further, RAST-screening experiments support the CIE observation that Av-PS seemed to lack two of the intermediate allergens. The HEP values determined for Av-ALK and Av-PS diverge considerably from those stated by the manufacturers. The results obtained demonstrate that the outcome of a comparison between a reference allergenic extract and allergenic products depends very much on the method employed.

Allergens↗
PubMed1985

Immunochemical and biological characterization of a mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) pollen extract.

A reference extract of mugwort pollen (Artemisia vulgaris) was characterized by crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), crossed radio immunoelectrophoresis (CRIE) and quantitative skin prick test (QSPT). CIE revealed that the extract contained at least 42 distinct antigens of which 24 migrated towards the anode and 18 towards the cathode at pH 8.6. A CRIE analysis of the crude mugwort pollen extract, performed with sera from 29 mugwort-allergic patients, showed that 10 antigens may be considered allergens; one was classified as a major allergen, five as intermediate allergens, and four as minor allergens. The QSPT performed on the same 29 allergic patients established that 17.4 micrograms lyophilised reference mugwort pollen extract per ml had a biological potency of 1 HEP (histamine equivalent by prick test).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Food hypersensitivity in patients with pollen allergy.

Six hundred patients with pollen allergy answered a questionnaire about food hypersensitivity. Hypersensitivity to various nuts, fruits and roots was reported more often by patients with birch pollen allergy (70%) than by patients without birch pollen allergy (19%). The stronger the skin test reaction to birch pollen, the higher was the incidence of food hypersensitivity. A negative correlation was found between grass pollen allergy and food hypersensitivity. In the diagnosis of springtime hayfever, the presence of hypersensitivity to nuts, fruits and roots supports a diagnosis of birch pollen allergy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Methodological aspects on clinical trials with inhaled corticosteroids: results of two comparisons between two steroid aerosols in patients with asthma.

The efficacy of beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol (BDA) 100 micrograms q.i.d. was compared with that of budesonide aerosol 10 micrograms q.i.d. in 17 patients. The efficacy of inhaled BDA 100 micrograms q.i.d. was also compared with that of budesonide 50 micrograms q.i.d. with and without an extension tube (Inhalet) attached to the actuator in 23 patients. Both studies included placebo periods. The trials were performed with the cross-over technique in patients with stable asthma. Each treatment was randomized and given in periods of two weeks starting with a run-in period. The patients recorded peak expiratory flow rates (PEF) twice daily and filled in diary cards for cough, wheeze, breathing difficulties and use of beta 2-receptor stimulant aerosol. In the first study the patients came to the hospital twice weekly throughout the trial for spirometry and interview. In the second study they came every second week. Budesonide and BDA were superior to placebo. Budesonide in doses of 100 micrograms and 50 micrograms were as efficacious as BDA 100 micrograms q.i.d., while budesonide 50 micrograms q.i.d. with Inhalet was slightly more effective. Treatment for two weeks was found to be sufficient. For each parameter the average of the last four days of each period was found to be relevant in the comparison. The placebo period should preferably not be placed at random in the trial, but as the last treatment period.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1975

Effects of practolol in combination with terbutaline in the treatment of hypertension and arrhythmias in asthmatic patients.

After a run-in period practolol was given in the dose of 100 mg twice daily to 29 patients with chronic bronchial asthma on the indication hypertension (12) and supraventricular arrhythmia (17). During the run-in period, as well as during the practolol period, a long-acting beta2-stimulator, terbutaline, was given in the dose of 5 mg three times daily. Peak expiratory flow (PEF), heart rate and blood pressure were measured under standardized conditions. No change of the lung function was observed during practolol therapy. Systolic as well as diastolic blood pressure fell significantly. The heart rhythm was normalized in 15 of the arrhythmic subjects. No subjective worsening of the asthmatic symptoms or any other side effects were noted. It is suggested that practolol can be safely used in patients prone to bronchospasm, provided a long-acting beta2-stimulating drug is given concomitantly on the usual indications for beta blockers in acute situations.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

The therapeutic value of oral long-term treatment with terbutaline (Bricanyl) in asthma. A follow-up study of its efficacy and side effects.

A follow-up study comprising 51 patients with chronic intrinsic asthma requiring regular daily peroral bronchodilating drugs and isoprinaline aerosol is presented. Forty-three of the patients required long-term steroid therapy as well. Patients were controlled regularly both before and during peroral treatment with terbutaline. The study was concluded after continuous terbutaline therapy for an average period of 32 months. A subjective improvement was seen in 46 patients. Out of 43 patients requiring long-term steroid treatment, 24 were able to decrease their daily dose of prednisolone and four patients could discontinue steroid therapy. Thirty-five patients decreased their isoprenaline aerosol use and four abandoned the aerosol completely. The need for hospital care was reduced by two-thirds and the total sick leave from work was decreased by two-thirds. In order to test how the bronchi responded after continuous use of terbutaline, spirometry was carried out before and after a subcutaneous injection of terbutaline at the end of the study. No indication of resistance to the drug was found. Tremor occurred occasionally in 16 patients. No toxic effects of the drug have been found.

Administration, Oral↗