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Biomedical subjects

K Nyberg

Publications and source records attributed to K Nyberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

How should midwives discuss smoking behaviour in pregnancy with women of low educational attainment?

OBJECTIVE: To understand how women with low educational attainment perceived the fact of their smoking during pregnancy in order to be able to construct suitable counselling programmes. DESIGN: Qualitative study using tape-recorded interviews. SETTING: Clinic north of Stockholm, Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen women who had given birth during the previous months and who had smoked during pregnancy. FINDINGS: All of the women were aware that smoking presented risks to the fetus. Several had themselves experienced the damaging effects of smoking on the fetus. However, many talked about other women who had smoked and still given birth to healthy babies. Nevertheless, the majority felt guilty because they smoked, partly because it made them feel as though they were 'bad people' and partly out of concern for the baby. Most of the women stated that warnings and moralising from midwives did not make them cut down their smoking; on the contrary, many smoked more. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: None of the women had reached the stage where they felt motivated to stop smoking. Realistically speaking, probably only a few of them would be able to change their smoking habits during pregnancy. The interviews, however, showed the significance of a client/patient-centred methodology, based on the client's/patient's outlook and social situation. A potentially successful strategy could be to co-ordinate client/patient-centred methodology with cognitive behavioural programmes. An important task is also to confirm and strengthen these women in their roles as mothers-to-be and to introduce the subject of smoking in such a way that the women choose to reduce their smoking as much as possible, given the individual's own ability and social situation. These women might benefit from being confirmed in their maternal role despite the fact that they smoke. Group discussions, where they could 'think it over', would also be of significance, considering the influence of social norms.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1996

Isolation and mapping of three new polymorphic markers to chromosomes 3, 20 and 21.

Screening of single human chromosome plasmid libraries using a digoxygenin labelled (AAAT)15 oligonucleotide probe led to the identification of several positive clones. DNA sequence analysis of these was carried out and showed the presence of a number of simple DNA repeats. Oligonucleotide primers were designed from the sequences flanking these repeats and tested in PCR amplification reactions of human genomic DNA. Three of the markers tested were shown to be polymorphic with heterozygosities ranging from 40% to 69%. The markers were assigned to chromosomes using a panel of monochromosomal somatic cell hybrids combined with linkage analysis using DNA from the CEPH panel of families. The markers designated (AAAT)11, (AAAT)12 and (CA)19 were thus assigned to chromosomes 3, 21 and 20 respectively.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Phagolysosomal pH in alveolar macrophages from smokers and non-smokers.

1. Alveolar macrophages efficiently phagocytize particles deposited in the alveolar part of the lung. Phagolysosomal pH in alveolar macrophages from rabbits, dogs, baboons and guinea pigs is around 5 pH units. A low pH is of importance for clearance of inorganic particles and probably also for defence against bacteria and fungi. 2. Phagolysosomal pH in alveolar macrophages from smokers and non-smokers was measured using fluorescein-conjugated amorphous silica particles as a probe. pH was the same in both groups and similar to earlier studies on alveolar macrophages from animals. 3. The morphological picture between alveolar macrophages from smokers and non-smokers differed clearly with a high number of dense inclusions of great variation in size and shape in macrophages from smokers. Ingested test particles were located in all types of inclusions. 4. We conclude that phagolysosomal pH in human alveolar macrophages is similar to that in several animal species and that it is rather insensitive to influence from the environment.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Obstetric medication versus residential area as perinatal risk factors for subsequent adult drug addiction in offspring.

In an attempt to explain pronounced uneven distributions of births of subsequent amphetamine and opiate addicts at seven hospitals in Stockholm, two possible mechanisms for adult drug addiction were weighed against each other: (1) risk factors associated with the obstetric care at the hospitals of birth of the addicts and (2) risk factors associated with the phenomenon of 'contagious' transmission of drug addiction in certain residential areas during adolescence. The subjects comprised 200 amphetamine addicts and 200 opiate addicts born between 1945 and 1966. By loglinear analysis the relative risk for future addiction was determined for eight residential areas as well as for the seven hospitals and four periods of birth. For the opiate addicts only one weak association was found for the residential area, which could not explain fully a clustering of births at any particular hospital. For the amphetamine addicts, hospital of birth was found to be an important risk factor even after controlling for residential area. Hence, the variable residential area has not been able to explain the uneven distribution of births of drug abusers among the studied hospitals.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Socio-economic versus obstetric risk factors for drug addiction in offspring.

Two possible risk factors for drug addiction were weighed against each other: (1) perinatal factors associated with obstetric medication at time of birth; and (2) factors associated with familial socio-economic conditions at time of birth. The subjects comprised 200 amphetamine addicts and 200 opiate addicts born in Stockholm 1945-1966. In a matched case control study, addicts were compared to their siblings with regard to possible obstetric risk factors by means of conditional logistic regression controlling for socio-economic level and civil status. Administration of opiates, barbiturates and nitrous oxide to mothers during labour was associated with drug addiction in offspring, hence confirming results from earlier studies. In a cohort study the risk associated with birth at a given hospital and familial socio-economic level was analysed by means of log-linear analysis using 7100 controls from the general population. For amphetamine addicts, a low socio-economic level at time of birth might be of importance for the infant subsequently becoming an addict. This could not be demonstrated for the opiate addicts. An uneven distribution of births among the hospitals, most pronounced for the amphetamine addicts, is in agreement with the hypothesis that obstetric practices may be risk factors for adult drug addiction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Phagolysosomal pH in alveolar macrophages.

We studied phagolysosomal pH in alveolar macrophages (AM) using fluorescein-labeled yeast (FYP) and silica particles (FSP) as probes. Fluorescence intensities from the ingested test particles were measured on populations of AM using fluorescence spectrometry and on individual phagolysosomes using fluorescence microscopy. Measurements were performed on rabbit AM, which had been incubated with FYP or FSP (in vitro procedure). We also instilled FYP or FSP via the trachea into rabbit lungs and after 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months lavaged the lungs and measured the pH in AM (in vivo procedure). Phagolysosomal pH was independent of the number and size of the fluorescent particles. Measurements of populations of AM with fluorescence spectrometry and of individual phagolysosomes with fluorescence microscopy gave similar average pH. For the FYP, pH decreased during the first day after lavage both in the in vitro and the in vivo procedures. For the FSP, pH was unchanged during the same period. After 1 day pH was similar for both particles. Electron microscopy showed a larger number of lysosomes in contact with phagosomes and a higher percentage of vacuolated phagosomes for FYP than for FSP. In the in vivo procedure, pH was unchanged at least up to 1 month, and this pH was lower than that in the in vitro procedure. The difference was probably due to conditions at the time of phagocytosis. Particles retained in the lung parenchyma were within AM, and their location within the AM appeared unchanged from 1 week up to 3 months.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Pharmacological management of cancer pain. A guide for the health care professional.

Cancer pain continues to remain a significant problem for oncology patients treated in both the university and the community setting. Nursing knowledge regarding pain management has advanced significantly in recent years. This article provides health care professionals with current factual information on cancer pain management. The information focuses on the emotional aspects of cancer pain, specific principles of analgesic management, opioid equianalgesics, multiple approaches to opioid administration, management of unwanted side effects, and a description of inappropriate drug therapies.

Analgesia, Patient-Controlled↗
PubMed1991

Phagolysosomal pH and location of particles in alveolar macrophages.

Fluorescein-labeled silica particles (FSP) were instilled into the tracheae of rabbits. Groups of four rabbits were killed after 24 hr, 1 week, 1 month, or 3 months and their lungs were lavaged. Phagolysosomal pH in the alveolar macrophages (AM) was measured using microscope fluorometry with FSP as a probe. Due to the marked decline of the fluorescence intensities from the FSP between 1 and 3 months after instillation, it was not possible to measure pH at 3 months, but the values from 24 hr, 1 week, and 1 month were quite similar, with group means of 4.8 and 4.9, respectively. Phagolysosomal pH in AM which phagocytized the FSP in vitro showed values about half a pH unit higher. AM from rabbits lavaged at 1 week had more lysosomes in contact with the FSP-containing phagolysosomes and a higher degree of vacuolization between the FSP and the phagolysosomal membrane than AM lavaged at 1 day. The location of the FSP in the AM appeared to be similar in rabbits lavaged after 1 week and 3 months. In histologic sections from the lungs the large majority of the FSP were within cells at all time points.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Opiate addiction in adult offspring through possible imprinting after obstetric treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that opiate addiction in adults might stem partly from an imprinting process during birth when certain drugs are given to the mother. DESIGN: Retrospective study by logistic regression of opiate addicts with siblings as controls. SETTING: Stockholm, Sweden. SUBJECTS: 200 Opiate addicts born in Stockholm during 1945-66, comprising 41 identified during interviews of probands for an earlier study; 75 patients whose death from opiate addiction had been confirmed during 1978-88; and 84 accepted for the methadone programme. 262 Siblings (controls) born in Stockholm during the same period, 24 of whom were excluded for drug addiction or being brought up outside the family. Birth records were unavailable for eight, leaving 230 siblings and 139 corresponding probands. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Administration of opiates, barbiturates, and nitrous oxide (for greater than 1 h) to mothers of all subjects during labour within 10 hours before birth as a risk factor for adult opiate addiction. RESULTS: In subjects who had subsequently become addicts a significant proportion of mothers had received opiates or barbiturates, or both, compared with unmatched siblings (25% v 16%, chi 2 = 5.83, df = 1, p = 0.02), and these mothers had received nitrous oxide for longer and more often. After controlling for hospital of birth, order of birth, duration of labour, presentation other than vertex, surgical intervention, asphyxia, meconium stained amniotic fluid, and birth weight the relative risk for offspring subsequently becoming an adult opiate addict increased with the number of administrations of any of the three drugs. When the addicts were matched with their own siblings the estimated relative risk was 4.7 (95% confidence interval 1.8 to 12.4, p for trend = 0.002) for three administrations compared with when no drug was given. CONCLUSIONS: The results are compatible with the imprinting hypothesis. Therefore, for obstetric pain relief methods are preferable that do not permit substantial passage of drugs through the placenta.

Analgesia, Obstetrical↗
PubMed1989

Energetics of complementary side-chain packing in a protein hydrophobic core.

The energetics of complementary packing of nonpolar side chains in the hydrophobic core of a protein were analyzed by protein engineering experiments. We have made the mutations Ile----Val, Ile----Ala, and Leu----Ala in a region of the small bacterial ribonuclease barnase where the major alpha-helix packs onto the central beta-sheet. The destabilization resulting from the creation of cavities was determined by measuring the decrease in free energy of folding from reversible denaturation induced by urea, guanidinium chloride, or heat. The different methods give consistent and reproducible results. The loss in free energy of folding for the mutant proteins is 1.0-1.6 kcal/mol per methylene group removed. This exceeds by severalfold the values obtained from model experiments of the partitioning of relevant side chains between aqueous and nonpolar solvents. Much of this discrepancy arises because two surfaces are buried when a protein folds--both the amino acid side chain in question and the portions of the protein into which it packs. These experiments directly demonstrate that the interior packing of a protein is crucial in stabilizing its three-dimensional structure: the conversion of leucine or isoleucine to alanine in the hydrophobic core loses half the net free energy of folding of barnase with a concomitant decrease in yield of the expressed recombinant protein.

Amino Acids↗