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Biomedical subjects

N Stjernberg

Publications and source records attributed to N Stjernberg.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Haptoglobin groups and lung cancer.

Haptoglobin groups were investigated in 309 patients with primary lung cancer divided by sex, smoking habits and tumor type. Patients with squamous epithelial cancer and oat-cell cancer showed no significant difference from normal controls. Among patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma the frequency of the Hp 2-2 type was significantly (p less than 0.05) lower compared to the controls, with a corresponding increase of the Hp 1-1 and Hp 2-1 types. This difference was more pronounced (p less than 0.025) among females with pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1986

Chronic bronchitis in northern Sweden; a seven year follow-up.

In 1974 a prevalence survey of chronic bronchitis was performed in the Hörnefors community on individuals in the age group 20-65 years. Chronic bronchitis was diagnosed in 44 individuals giving a prevalence of 2.2% (3.4% in men and 0.9% in women). Of the individuals with chronic bronchitis 79% were men, 85% above 40 years of age, 80% smokers or ex-smokers and 75% were or had been employed at a nearby sulphite pulp factory. Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency phenotypes (MZ, MS, MF) were present in 11 (25% of the individuals). Spirometric obstruction was found in 12 (27%) of the individuals with chronic bronchitis. At a seven-year follow-up four of the 12 individuals with obstructive chronic bronchitis had died from chronic respiratory insufficiency, the remaining individuals still having obstructive chronic bronchitis (no information present in one individual). In individuals with simple chronic bronchitis two had developed obstruction and 12 (38%) had improved now having no respiratory symptoms. The improvement in most of them was due to termination of smoking or change of work.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Kveim test and mitochondrial antibodies in the differential diagnosis between primary biliary cirrhosis and sarcoidosis.

Intracutaneous Kveim test and measurement of serum mitochondrial antibodies were performed in a group of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and in a group of patients with sarcoidosis. There were 14 patients, 1 man and 13 women, age range 39-64 years, with clinical picture, laboratory tests and liver biopsy consistent with PBC. In the sarcoidosis group there were 38 patients, 18 men and 20 women, age range 22-76 years, with clinical, radiological and histopathological findings typical for sarcoidosis. In this group chest x-ray showed stage 0 in 3 patients, stage I in 7, stage II in 18 and 10 patients were in stage III. Kveim test was positive in 24 (63.2%) of the sarcoid patients and negative in all 14 patients with PBC. Mitochondrial antibodies were present in 13 of the PBC-patients but in none of the 38 examined sarcoid patients. Kveim test and analysis of mitochondrial antibodies seems to be of great value in the differential diagnosis between primary biliary cirrhosis and sarcoidosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Scalene lymph node biopsy. A diagnostic method in sarcoidosis.

Right-sided scalene lymph node biopsy was performed on 167 patients with sarcoidosis. The surgical technique is described in detail. There were no complications, apart from two cases of minor postoperative haemorrhage. The diagnostic yield in sarcoidosis was 84% (140/167 patients). Scalene lymph node biopsy, performed by trained surgeons, is concluded to be a good alternative to other biopsy methods in sarcoidosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Prevalence of bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis in a community in northern Sweden; relation to environmental and occupational exposure to sulphur dioxide.

The prevalence of chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma has been studied in a community in northern Sweden, where the major air pollutant is sulphur dioxide (SO2) from a sulphite pulp factory. In the town the annual mean winter concentration of SO2 during the years 1975-1979 was 20-40 micrograms SO2/m3 air. A questionnaire concerning respiratory symptoms was distributed to all individuals (2374) within the age group 16-72 years, and was answered by 2203 individuals (93%). Bronchial asthma was found in 78 (3.5%) individuals, chronic bronchitis in 57 (2.6%) and both diagnoses in 3 individuals (0.1%). There was a statistically significant relationship between presence of chronic bronchitis and sex, age, smoking and employment at the sulphite pulp factory. Sulphur dioxide exposure at the factory apparently acted synergistically with smoking in increasing the relative risk for chronic bronchitis in smoking employees compared to non-smoking non-employees. However, our results indicate no excess risk of chronic bronchitis in a population with long-term environmental exposure to SO2 in concentrations between 20-40 micrograms, when the concentration of other air pollutants is low.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Pulmonary function in patients with endobronchial sarcoidosis.

Sixty-four patients with clinically, radiologically and histopathologically established sarcoidosis were studied by bronchoscopy and static and dynamic spirometry. Sarcoid bronchostenosis was established by bronchoscopy in nine patients. Twenty-one had bronchial sarcoidosis without stenosis and 34 had no evidence of bronchial sarcoidosis. Patients with sarcoid bronchostenosis showed a marked impairment of lung function, mostly with an obstructive pattern. There was no improvement in lung function after bronchodilatation in these patients. Obstructive spirometry pattern was also found in three patients with bronchial sarcoidosis stage II without stenosis. None of the patients without bronchial sarcoidosis had an obstructive pattern. All six patients with restrictive spirometry pattern in the two groups without bronchostenosis had stage II sarcoidosis. At follow-up, lung function had improved in five patients, four with sarcoid bronchostenosis and one patient with stage II without bronchial sarcoidosis. Four of these patients were treated with oral corticosteroids. When clinical signs of airway obstruction are present in patients with sarcoidosis, bronchial sarcoidosis with or without bronchostenosis should be suspected. When bronchial sarcoidosis is present, oral corticosteroid treatment should be tried.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Cardiopulmonary function in sarcoidosis.

Hemodynamics, angiocardiographic findings and lung function were evaluated in 10 patients with clinically, radiologically and histopathologically established sarcoidosis. All 10 patients had cardiac symptoms and/or abnormal ECG. Right and left heart catheterization, angiocardiography, spirometry and diffusion capacity were performed in all patients. Pulmonary hypertension was present in the two patients with stage III sarcoidosis and in 7 of 8 patients with stages I and II. Right ventricular end-diastolic pressure was elevated in 6 patients. Seven patients had findings compatible with a failing left ventricle with elevated end-diastolic pressure and/or elevated pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. None of the patients had entirely normal hemodynamic findings. Angiocardiography showed a low ejection fraction in 6 patients but no wall asynergy. Right ventricular angiography and coronary angiography were normal in all patients. Findings compatible with failure of the left and right ventricle of the heart was common in our sarcoid patients with cardiac symptoms and/or abnormal ECG. Impairment of the pulmonary function does not seem to be the only reason for the hemodynamic findings, thus indicating the possibility of myocardial sarcoidosis.

Angiocardiography↗
PubMed1984

Chromosomal aberrations and cancer risk.

Chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes were studied in patients with untreated cancers of the lung and skin (basal cell carcinoma) and in controls matched for sex, age, and smoking habits. Patients with skin cancer were found to have a significantly increased rate of chromosome type aberrations. Among the patients with lung cancer, there was a tendency towards an increased rate of aberrations which, however, did not reach statistical significance. The results suggest that an increased rate of chromosomal aberrations in cultured lymphocytes is an indicator of genetic damage which may increase the cancer risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Alpha-1-antitrypsin types and pulmonary disease among employees at a sulphite pulp factory in northern Sweden.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) phenotypes and serum levels were measured in 518 employees at a sulphite pulp factory. There were 439 men and 79 women with the mean age of 42 years (range 18-65 years). Mean time of employment at the factory was 17.5 years and 216 (42%) individuals had been employed for more than 20 years. Chronic bronchitis was present in 47 (9.1%) individuals. alpha 1-AT rare types (MZ, MS, MF) were present in 12.8% of the individuals with chronic bronchitis compared to 8.4% in employees with no respiratory symptoms, the difference being not statistically significant. Individuals with chronic bronchitis and rare types were evenly distributed with regard to work place at the factory. Serum levels of alpha 1-AT were somewhat higher in smokers compared to non-smokers, but the difference was not statistically significant. Exposure to SO2 and chlorine did not seem to affect the serum levels of alpha 1-AT in M type individuals. In the present study, individuals heterozygous for alpha 1-AT deficiency phenotypes (MZ, MS, MF) did not seem to have an increased rate of chronic bronchitis. However, the rate of chronic bronchitis in factory employees was significantly increased compared to that among non-employees in the surrounding community. This increase appears to be due to a higher rate of smoking and to occupational exposure (SO2 and chlorine) among the sulphite pulp factory workers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Comparison of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy and scalene lymph node biopsy in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

The diagnostic accuracy achieved by taking bronchial mucosal and lung biopsies through flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopes was compared with scalene lymph node biopsy in 55 patients with sarcoidosis. The diagnostic yield with flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy was 62 per cent in the whole material and increased to 76 per cent in patients with stage II sarcoidosis. Scalene lymph node biopsy was positive in 80 per cent. Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a useful method for obtaining biopsy material in sarcoidosis, especially in stage II sarcoidosis. We consider flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy and scalene lymph node biopsy the methods of choice in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

ECG abnormalities in patients with sarcoidosis.

The frequency and type of some abnormal ECG findings in 86 consecutive patients with intrathoracic sarcoidosis were studied and compared with 86 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. All ECGs from the patients and controls were mixed and evaluated blindly by one of the investigators. Ectopic beats were seen in 6 patients in the sarcoidosis group and in 3 individuals in the control group. Patients with stage III sarcoidosis had more conduction defects compared with stage I and II patients and with the controls. Repolarization disturbances were found in 17 patients and 6 controls. These disturbances were more common in patients with stage I and II than in those with stage III sarcoidosis. The total number of patients with some ECG abnormality was 27 compared to 12 controls.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Postoperative pulmonary ventilation after cholecystectomy with and without peritoneal drain.

Postoperative lung function, chest X-ray and diaphragmatic movements were measured in 38 patients operated on with elective cholecystectomy with and without drain. 21 patients were drained and 17 were not drained. The results showed that there was a marked decrease of vital capacity (VC), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and diaphragmatic movements postoperatively in all patients. There was no statistically significant difference between patients with and without intraperitoneal drain. Postoperative chest X-ray changes were found in seven patients with drain and in two patients without drain. Patients with postoperative chest X-ray changes showed a much slower recovery of the measured variables. The difference in VC and PEF between patients with and without postoperative pulmonary complications was statistically significant from the third day postoperatively. It is postulated that pre- and postoperative monitoring of simple lung function tests can be helpful in early detection of postoperative pulmonary complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Musculo-skeletal symptoms in early sarcoidosis. Twenty-four newly diagnosed patients and a two-year follow-up.

Musculo-skeletal symptoms were screened in 24 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed sarcoidosis and followed up two years later. Ten patients had joint involvement. Symptoms were most frequently found in ankle joints, followed by hand and knee joints. Arthritis was found in seven (29%) patients, two of whom suffered from monoarthritis of foot and wrist joint, respectively. Three patients had tenosynovitis. Muscle symptoms such as myalgia were present in six patients. Open biopsy of the gastrocnemius muscle showed epithelioid cell granulomatosis in nine of 20 patients. Only three of these nine patients had symptoms of myalgia, although not in the biopsied muscle. At follow-up, musculo-skeletal symptoms were found in only three patients, all of whom initially had Löfgren's syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The prevalence of bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis in an industrialized community in Northern Sweden.

The population living within a small area around a sulphite pulp factory in Northern Sweden was studied with regard to chronic obstructive lung disease. In persons in the age group 20-64 years the prevalence of bronchial asthma was found to be 3.0% for males and 3.2% for females. These figures correspond closely with previous studies in the Central and Southern Sweden. In the same age group the prevalence of chronic bronchitis was 2.8% for males and 1.0% for females, i.e. not differing much from that of other parts of Sweden. These findings, however, were far removed from the high prevalence of chronic bronchitis reported from Northern Finland, viz. 28.2% in males and 5.8% in females. The difference is probably attributable to differences in diagnostic criteria. In this study, those sulphite pulp factory workers who smoke seemed to constitute a population running a high risk of contracting chronic bronchitis.

Adult↗