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Biomedical subjects

M Fredriksson

Publications and source records attributed to M Fredriksson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Expression of the VEGF-related factor gene in pre- and postnatal mouse.

We have previously identified a novel gene closely related to the vasoactive endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene. The human VEGF related factor (VRF) gene was initially isolated using an 11q13 specific cosmid probe (D11S750). Subsequently human VRF was used to isolate the corresponding mouse gene (vrf). Here, we report the spatiotemporal expression pattern of vrf during pre- and postnatal development. Mouse vrf gene expression starts early in fetal development. At day 14 post coitum it is expressed in most cells of the embryo although the heart, spinal cord and the cerebral cortex show significantly higher levels of expression than other tissues. At 17 days post coitum expression is almost exclusively seen in heart, brown fat and spinal cord. This pattern of expression could be consistent with a role of vrf as a growth factor in these tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Age-standardized incidence and prevalence of Parkinson's disease in a Swedish community.

Parkinson's disease (PD) shows a geographical variation. All prescriptions for anti-parkinsonian drugs were recorded for a half-year in a region with low L-dopa consumption. Hospital and outpatient records were studied and physicians were asked to supply details of PD patients in the region, with 147,777 inhabitants. The crude prevalence was 115 PD per 100,000 inhabitants, based on 170 cases. In contrast to other studies we report an age-standardized prevalence, which was 76 per 100,000, using the European Standard Population as reference. The corresponding approximate incidences were 11.0 (crude) and 7.9 (age-standardized) per 100,000 person-years. Male preponderance appeared in all age groups. Mean age at onset was 65.6 years, the highest figure reported. Variation between studies for age at onset, differences in prevalence, and male preponderance suggest environmental risk factors to be of importance for PD.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Do occupational factors influence the risk of colon and rectal cancer in different ways?

BACKGROUND: Occupational exposures and physical activity have been considered as risk factors for the development of colorectal cancer. METHODS: A case-control study on working conditions and the risk of colon and rectal cancer was performed in southeastern Sweden during 1984-86. Involved were 177 patients, 98 with colon cancer and 79 with rectal cancer, and two groups of control subjects, 371 hospital control subjects and 430 population control subjects. RESULTS: A significantly decreased risk of left-sided colon cancer was observed in persons involved in more than 20 years of physically active work and a significantly decreased risk of rectal cancer in persons involved in more than 20 years of sedentary work. A tendency toward increased risk was seen for colon cancer in male railroad workers and in male gas station workers. A reduced risk of rectal cancer was found for drivers, textile workers, and administration workers, whereas an increased risk of rectal cancer appeared among paper workers and assistant nurses. A low risk of both colon and rectal cancer was found among construction workers and forestry workers. Exposure to asbestos carried a slightly increased risk of colon cancer, whereas exposure to solvents slightly decreased the risk of rectal cancer. CONCLUSION: This study confirms earlier findings that physical activity decreases the risk for left-sided colon cancer, but also suggests that occupational factors influence the risk of colon and rectal cancer in different ways.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

Some occupational exposures as risk factors for malignant lymphomas.

BACKGROUND: Malignant lymphomas (Hodgkin disease [HD] and non-Hodgkin lymphoma [NHL]) have been subject to several epidemiologic studies and found to be associated with various environmental exposures, especially solvents, wood, and phenoxy herbicides. METHODS: Various determinants for HD and NHL were evaluated in a case-referent study encompassing 31 cases of HD, 93 cases of NHL, and 204 referents, all alive. Information on these determinants, mainly occupational exposures, was obtained by mailed questionnaires. RESULTS: Crude odds ratios were increased for various occupational exposures, i.e., exposures to solvents, pesticides, metal fumes, welding, and fresh wood, and nursing. Further analyses based on logistic regression indicated exposure to phenoxy herbicides and fresh wood among sawmill workers, lumberjacks, and paper pulp workers to be significant risk factors for HD. Welding, working as a lumberjack, nursing, and ex-smoking were associated with a significantly increased risk for NHL. Radiographic examinations were negatively associated with HD, as was office work for NHL. CONCLUSIONS: The results were mainly in agreement with the findings of earlier studies, but diverging associations also appeared.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Neonatal exposure to paraquat or MPTP induces permanent changes in striatum dopamine and behavior in adult mice.

We have recently reported that environmental toxicants, such as DDT, PCBs, pyrethroids, and nicotine can induce permanent functional and neurochemical changes in adult mice when given to neonatal mice during the peak of rapid brain growth. In the present investigation the neurotoxic effects following neonatal exposure to paraquat (N,N'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridylium), a broad-spectrum herbicide with structural similarity to the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridium ion (MPP+), the active metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) which can induce Parkinson's syndrome, and MPTP were studied. Five groups of mice were given paraquat or MPTP orally: group 1, vehicle; groups 2 and 3, MPTP 0.3 and 20 mg/kg; groups 4 and 5, paraquat 0.07 and 0.36 mg/kg when 10 and 11 days old. Neonatal spontaneous motor activity was tested on Day 18 in mice given paraquat 0.36 mg/kg body wt. Adult spontaneous motor activity testing was performed at ages 60 and 120 days. On Day 125 the mice were decapitated and the contents of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and metabolites in striatum were analyzed. The results may be summarized as follows: (1) No signs of acute toxicity or differences in weight gain were observed in any of the groups. Nor was any respiratory distress or motor performance dysfunction evident on Day 18 in mice given paraquat 0.36 mg/kg body wt. (2) The behavioral tests at 60 days of age showed a marked hypoactive condition in the mice given paraquat (at both doses) and MPTP (at both doses). (3) At the age of 120 days the hypoactive behavior persisted and appeared even more pronounced. (4) The high doses of MPTP and paraquat--and to a less extent the low doses--reduced the striatal content of DA and metabolites without affecting 5-HT. The altered behavior, together with the dose-dependent reduction of DA and metabolites in neostriata in this study, further demonstrates the susceptibility to low-dose exposure to environmental pollutants during the neonatal period.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Levels of selenium in plasma and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes and the risk of breast cancer. A case-control study.

Plasma selenium and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes were analyzed in a case-control study encompassing 441 cases with breast cancer and 191 controls with benign breast disease. No difference in mean serum selenium level between cases and controls on supplementary selenium intake was seen. If only individuals without supplementary intake, 278 cases and 135 controls, were considered a preventive effect was found increasing with selenium level. This finding was significant among women 50 years old or more with Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio = 0.16 for individuals with serum selenium > 1.21 mumol/L. Also for subjects with serum selenium in the range 1.00-1.21 mumol/L a significant preventive effect was seen with odds ratio = 0.38. For women under 50 years of age a nonsignificant preventive effect was seen. Glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes did not correlate well with serum selenium and was not a marker for the risk of breast cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Cereal fiber, calcium, and colorectal cancer.

Food intake during the preceding 15 years was evaluated in detail in 41 patients treated for colorectal cancer and an equal number of matched control subjects by means of a dietary history technique that permitted quantitation of nutrients. Dietary habits of the control group could be compared against two larger groups of 371 hospital control and 430 population control subjects. Patients with cancer, who were interviewed after complete recovery from surgery, consumed more fat, protein, and carbohydrates, and thus more energy, than control subjects although these differences were not statistically significant. Per unit energy, the habitual diet of patients with cancer contained less cereal fiber (P less than 0.001), less riboflavin (P less than 0.05), less calcium (P less than 0.05), and less phosphorus (P less than 0.05) than the diet of the control subjects. A high intake of either cereal fiber, total fiber, calcium, and phosphorus in relation to energy intake was found to be associated with a reduced risk ratio of colorectal cancer. For colon cancer separately, a high intake of calcium and cereal fiber was associated with a reduced risk ratio. For rectal cancer, a high intake of total fiber and cereal fiber was associated with a reduced risk ratio. High alcohol consumption correlated with an increased risk ratio. These data are compatible with previous Scandinavian studies relating food consumption to the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Occupational risks of thyroid cancer: data from the Swedish Cancer-Environment Register, 1961-1979.

Using data from a record-linkage between the Swedish population census of 1960 and the Swedish Cancer Registry, we performed an explorative, hypothesis-generating analysis of the incidence of thyroid cancer in 208 occupations and 231 industries. Relative risks were computed with adjustment for age, period of follow-up, and geographic region. A total of 1,230 male and 2,937 female cases of thyroid cancer were reported during 1961-1979 among individuals aged 20-69 years in 1960. As a group, male blue-collar workers had a lower reported incidence than other men. Significantly elevated risks were seen among drivers, pharmacists, workers in the canning and preserving industry, workers in the petroleum industry, and among X-ray operators and laboratory assistants. Horticulture workers, painters in the construction industry, and unskilled manual workers showed decreased risks.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Colon cancer, physical activity, and occupational exposures. A case-control study.

A case-control study on colon cancer was conducted encompassing 329 cases and 658 controls. Occupations and various exposures were assessed by questionnaires. A decreased risk was found in persons with physically active occupations. This effect was most pronounced in colon descendens and sigmoideum with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.49 whereas no reduced risk was found for right-sided colon cancer. Regarding specific jobs, reduced ORs were found for agricultural, forestry, and saw mill workers and increased OR for railway employees. High-grade exposure to asbestos or to organic solvents gave a two-fold increased risk. Regarding exposure to trichloroethylene in general, a slightly increased risk was found whereas such exposure among dry cleaners gave a seven-fold increase of the risk.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

Malignant lymphomas and occupational exposures.

The effects of potential risk factors for Hodgkin's disease (HD) and for non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) were evaluated in a case-referent study encompassing 54 cases of HD, 106 cases of NHL, and 275 referents, all alive. Exposure information was obtained by questionnaires posted to the subjects. Crude rate ratios were increased for various occupational exposures including solvents, welding, wood preservatives, phenoxy acids, and fresh wood (sawmill workers, lumberjacks, paper pulp workers). After further analyses based on logistic regression occupational exposures to welding and creosote remained as significant risk factors for HD. For NHL, occupational exposures to solvents, phenoxy acids, and creosote but also work as carpenter or cabinet maker and contacts with pets (other than dogs, cats, and birds) were associated with significantly increased risks.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Precision of computerized measurement of marginal alveolar bone height from bite-wing radiographs.

The digitizer technique has previously shown good precision when applied to measurements of alveolar marginal bone height on unstandardized periapical radiographs of adults. In this study the precision of the digitizer technique was evaluated for direct measurement of alveolar bone height on unstandardized bite-wing radiographs of young subjects with intact cemento-enamel junctions. Measurements of the distance between the cemento-enamel junction and the alveolar crest at 432 sites gave an agreement of 96.5% within a margin of error of 0.3 mm. The T-test showed no significant difference between repeated measurements of the same site. Regression analysis showed that the order of magnitude of the distance between the landmarks did not influence the results. The mean difference between repeated readings of the same site was 0.09 mm at a confidence limit of 99.9%. The study confirms that the digitizer technique is a reliable method for measurement of alveolar bone height on unstandardized bite-wing radiographs of young subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Multiple sclerosis, solvents, and pets. A case-referent study.

The effect of potential risk factors for multiple sclerosis was evaluated in a case-referent study that encompassed 83 cases and 467 randomized referents. Information on exposure was obtained by questionnaires that were mailed to the subjects. Mantel-Haenszel rate ratios were increased for males for occupational exposure to solvents and welding and for females for leisure time contact with dogs and caged birds. For both sexes, x-ray film examination occurred more frequently among cases than referents, possibly as an effect of early symptoms from the disease itself.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Symptoms of bronchial hyperreactivity and asthma in relation to environmental factors.

A questionnaire study regarding airway morbidity in children and environmental factors was performed in April 1985. The parents of 5301 children, aged 6 months to 16 years, from different rural areas in mid Sweden were sent a validated questionnaire and 4990 (94%) responded. The cumulative prevalence of bronchial hyperreactivity was 9.7% and of allergic asthma 5.2%. Children living near a paper pulp plant more often had symptoms suggesting bronchial hyperreactivity (124 (13.0%), relative risk 1.3) and allergic asthma (68 (7.1%), relative risk 1.3). In children living in a damp house problem bronchial hyperreactivity was found in 76 (19.0%) (relative risk 1.9) and allergic asthma in 35 (8.7%) of the children (relative risk 1.9). Children living in a damp house with parents who smoked had the highest figures: bronchial hyperreactivity was found in 44 (23.5%) (relative risk 2.8) and allergic asthma in 22 (11.6%) (relative risk 2.5). The results indicate that various moderate environmental pollutants may act synergistically to increase bronchial hyperreactivity and allergy especially in children with a family history of allergy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Chronic lymphatic leukaemia and engine exhausts, fresh wood, and DDT: a case-referent study.

The effect of potential risk factors for chronic lymphatic leukaemia was evaluated in a case-referent study encompassing 111 cases and 431 randomised referents, all alive. Information on exposure was obtained by questionnaires posted to the subjects. Crude rate ratios were increased for occupational exposure to solvents. DDT, engine exhausts, fresh wood (lumberjacks, paper pulp workers, and sawmill workers, for example) and also in farming. Further analysis of the material by means of the Miettinen confounder score technique reduced the number of rate ratios significantly exceeding unity to encompass only occupational exposure to engine exhaust, fresh wood, DDT, and contact with horses.

Adult↗