PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Henriksson

Publications and source records attributed to R Henriksson.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Sex steroids in human brain tumors and breast cancer.

The concentrations of three sex steroids, estradiol, progesterone and testosterone, were analyzed by radioimmunoassay after celite chromatography in brain tumor and breast cancer tissues. The concentrations in malignant gliomas and breast cancers showed interindividual variations, especially evident with regard to estradiol. High estradiol concentrations were recorded in two patients with malignant astrocytoma. The concentrations of 1.00 pg/mg and 3.32 pg/mg were 10 to 30 times as high as in normal female brain. In five of ten astrocytomas the estradiol concentration was higher than the lowest breast cancer value. The distribution of progesterone seemed more even, and the level was significantly lower in brain tumors and breast cancers as compared with female brain, perhaps indicating an increased metabolism. Testosterone levels were somewhat higher in brain tumors, as compared with breast cancers, but not different from values in brain tissue. There were no significant age or sex correlation or differences in the concentrations of steroids in the brain tumors. The results suggest that manipulation of sex steroid metabolism in malignant brain tumors can be of beneficial therapeutic value as has been shown for breast cancer and prostatic carcinoma.

Adolescent↗

Different effects of chlorpromazine on bleomycin- and epirubicin induced cytotoxicity.

The effect of the antiemetic chlorpromazine on bleomycin- and epirubicin cytotoxicity was tested in vitro. Chlorpromazine (0.1 or 0.01 mg/l) enhanced epirubicin-induced toxicity to cultured Chinese fibroblasts whereas 0.01 mg/l chlorpromazine inhibited the cytotoxicity of bleomycin. The results encourage further studies on the effects of commonly used antiemetics on the cytotoxicity and antitumoral effects of anticancer chemotherapeutics.

Bleomycin↗

A non-invasive method for fractionated stereotactic irradiation of brain tumors with linear accelerator.

A new technique for fractionated stereotactic irradiation of intracranial lesions is described. The treatment is based on a versatile, non-invasive interface for stereotactic localization of the brain target imaged by computed tomography (CT), angiography or magnetic resonance tomography (MRT), and subsequent repetitive stereotactic irradiation of the target using a linear accelerator. The fractionation of the stereotactic irradiation was intended to meet the requirements of the basic principles of radiobiology. The radiophysical evaluation using phantoms, and the clinical results in a small number of patients, demonstrated a good reproducibility between repeated positionings of the target in the isocenter of the accelerator, and a high degree of accuracy in the treatment of brain lesions.

Adult↗

Hyaluronan reflects the pre-fibrotic inflammation in irradiated rat lung: concomitant analysis of parenchymal tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage.

The pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis is a complicated chain of interactions between cells and molecules. During recent years bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in patients with various interstitial lung disorders has increased our knowledge of the fibrosis process and focused on new interesting interactions. Here we present an animal model which makes it possible to apply both morphological and immunohistochemical tissue staining to perform bronchoalveolar lavage in the same animal. Irradiation is an established method for experimentally evoking lung fibrosis in animals. Rats received irradiation (30 Gy) to the lower parts of both lungs. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in the right lung. The biochemical determination of lavage concentration of hyaluronan (HA) and cellular differential counts were compared with interstitial morphology. Animals were sacrificed and analysed 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after irradiation. After 6 weeks a massive increase in connective tissue mast cells was seen in the peribronchial and alveolar-interstitial tissue. This mastocytosis was closely related to a marked increase in HA. It became obvious that, in this model, cellular analysis of BAL fluid did not correctly reflect the cellular changes in the lung interstitium. While BAL revealed a pronounced increase of neutrophils with no--or only very few--mast cells, a concomitant increase in mononuclear cells and mast cells was seen in the lung interstitium. In contrast an increase in HA in BAL correlated well with an increase in HA-deposition in the lung interstitium, indicating that measurement of a non-cellular component, such as HA, may better reflect the tissue inflammation.

Animals↗

Secretory effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine following neonatal sympathectomy in rat parotid gland.

Unilateral sympathetic denervation of rat parotid glands was performed within 4 h after birth. Nine weeks later the glands were used for in-vitro studies of amylase secretion, and 86Rb+ was used as a marker for potassium efflux. The non-denervated contralateral glands served as controls. The tissue concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid were also measured. 5-Hydroxytryptamine caused a significant dose-dependent increase in amylase secretion, which was inhibited by methysergide. There was no difference between controls and denervated glands. 5-Hydroxytryptamine was without effect on potassium efflux from either denervated or control glands. The sympathectomy caused increased levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid as compared with contralateral controls. The results suggest that 5-hydroxytryptamine influences the two main secretory processes in rat parotid gland differently. A significant amylase discharge was seen following 5-hydroxytryptamine stimulation, whereas no effect was seen on 86Rb+ efflux. Although it is also proposed that there are no 5-hydroxytryptamine-associated nerves in the superior cervical ganglion innervating parotid tissue, it seems that there is a complex connection between the sympathetic pathway and the serotoninergic system.

Amylases↗

Quantitative ultrastructural studies of gall bladder epithelium in gall stone free subjects and patients with gall stones.

The present study aimed at a further evaluation of the role of glycoproteins in the formation of cholesterol gall stones in man. An electron microscopic morphometric study of the gall bladder epithelium was performed in six gall stone free subjects and 12 gall stone patients. Six of the gall stone patients were treated with ursodeoxycholic acid three weeks before cholecystectomy. The number and the volume density of the mucin containing secretory granules, were not significantly increased in gall stone patients compared with gall stone free subjects. Treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid did not affect the number or volume density of the secretory granules. Thus, these results do not give evidence for that the degree of cholesterol saturation influences mucin content in the gall bladder wall of man. A major new finding was that gall stone patients had a markedly reduced total lysosome area and volume density of lysosomes compared with gall stone free subjects, a finding which may be related to a decreased intracellular degradation of protein and/or mucin.

Adult↗

A mast cell secretagogue, compound 48/80, prevents the accumulation of hyaluronan in lung tissue injured by ionizing irradiation.

Irradiation with a single dose of 30 Grey on the basal regions of the lungs of Sprague-Dawley rats induced a peribronchial and alveolar inflammation. Infiltration of mast cells in the edematous alveolar interstitial tissue and also in the peribronchial tissue were characteristic features of the lesion. The appearance of mast cells was already seen 4 wk after irradiation and by weeks 6 to 8 there was a heavy infiltration. The staining properties suggested that they were connective tissue-type mast cells. The infiltration of mast cells was paralleled by an accumulation of hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) in the alveolar interstitial tissue 6 and 8 wk after irradiation. The recovery of hyaluronan (HA) during bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of the lungs also increased at this time. Treatment with a mast cell secretagogue, compound 48/80, induced a distinct reduction of granulated mast cells in the alveolar tissue. Regular treatment with compound 48/80 from the time of irradiation considerably reduced the HA recovery during BAL and the HA accumulation in the interstitial tissue but did not affect the interstitial infiltration of mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. By contrast, an accumulation of HA in the alveolar interstitial space was induced when compound 48/80 was given not until mast cell infiltration of the lung had started. The effects of compound 48/80 indicate that the connective tissue response after lung irradiation is dependent on whether or not mast cell degranulation is induced before or after the mast cell infiltration of the alveolar tissue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Interactions between antibiotics and antineoplastic drugs on antibacterial activity in vitro.

The effects of various combinations of antibacterial (ampicillin, cephadroxil, doxycycline, imipenem, trimethoprimsulfadiazine) and antineoplastic (cisplatin, epirubicin, mitoxantrone) drugs were evaluated in vitro with regard to antibacterial activity on five clinical isolates from cancer patients of respectively Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis. With one exception no significant effects on the bacterial growth were observed in the presence of the antitumor drug alone. In contrast, all five strains of Strept. faecalis grew better when mitoxantrone was included in a concentration of 0.1 mg/l. A synergistic action between imipenem and mitoxantrone was seen for single strains of Staph. aureus and E. coli. Furthermore, a dose-effect related inhibition by cisplatin on the growth of Strept. faecalis in the presence of sub MIC levels of trimethoprimsulfadiazine was observed. The study indicates that interaction between antibacterial and antineoplastic drugs is an erratic phenomenon, which has to be dealt with separately for each combination of drugs as well as for each bacterial strain.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Pharmacological interaction with quinoid antitumor drugs.

With increasing age, the incidence of neoplastic disease and the likelihood of receiving multiple prescriptions increases. Antineoplastic drugs generally have a narrow therapeutic index and are delivered at doses close to toxic. Thus, a slight increase of the biological activity caused by an interaction with simultaneously delivered drugs could be deleterious for the patient. This article summarizes the known pharmacological interactions with quinoid anticancer drugs of some during antitumor therapy commonly used drugs. The effect of antiemetics (chlorpromazine, dixyrazin, droperidol, metoclopramide), and antimicrobial agents (piperacillin, sulfamethoxazole, benzylpenicillin, amphotericin B), and adrenoceptor antagonists (propranolol, metoprolol, phentolamine) on epirubicin-induced fibroblast toxicity as studied by clonogenic survival and DNA-precipitation assay is described.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

Beneficial effects of sucralphate in radiation induced diarrhea. An open randomized study in gynecological cancer patients.

In an open randomized study including 51 consecutive patients with gynaecological malignancies sucralphate was daily administered to patients receiving pelvic irradiation. Sucralphate, an aluminium hydroxide complex of sulphated sucrose used in the treatment of gastric ulcer, seems to be of value in preventing radiation-induced bowel discomfort. The most objective parameter, frequency of diarrhoea was almost 50% less in the sucralphate groups as compared to the controls. The patients receiving sucralphate in general displayed only minor alterations in bowel habits even at the end of the radiation treatment. The number of patients requiring symptomatic therapy with loperamide were markedly lower in the sucralphate group. Subjective discomfort such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite were also less common. A reduction in acute reactions to irradiation increases the possibility of carrying through planned treatment and avoids unfavourable intermissions, and thus curing the patient with cancer in the pelvis by means of radiotherapy.

Diarrhea↗

[The effect of diet on the treatment of malignant diseases].

The importance of dietary factors for the incidence of cancer has been discussed to an increasing extent in recent years while less attention has been devoted to the effect of food on the treatment of an established oncological disease. Carcinoma per se gives rise to reduced food consumption, and different treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy contribute further to disturbances of nutrition. This article summarises current knowledge of the potential significance of diet and its various components for optimal cancer therapy. There may well be profit to be gained as regards anti-cancer therapy and generally supportive measures.

Energy Intake↗

[Interactions between cytostatic agents and other drugs].

Drug interactions are increasingly common, since the clinical practice is getting more complex with the flood of new drugs. Simultaneously, the increased life expectancy of the population increases the number of individuals likely to receive multiple prescriptions. Cytotoxic drugs generally have a narrow therapeutic index, and are delivered at doses close to toxic levels. Consequently, a slight increase of the biological activity caused by an interaction with other concomitantly administered drugs could be deleterious for the patient. Interactions between drugs can sometimes also be used in a positive way, i.e. to increase the therapeutic ratio. Interactions between different cancer treatment modalities have attracted considerable interest. However, much less interest has been denoted to interactions between anticancer drugs and other pharmaceuticals. The purpose of this review is to summarize data about the interactions between anticancer drugs and other clinically used drugs with regard to effects on tumor and toxicity.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Epirubicin cytotoxicity but not oxygen radical formation is enhanced by four different antiemetics.

The anthracycline epirubicin (0.1-1.0 mg l.-1) caused a dose-dependent inhibition of the clonogenic survival of Chinese hamster fibroblasts. Four antiemetics (dixyrazin, metoclopramide, chlorpromazine and droperidol) augmented the inhibition by epirubicin. Furthermore, by using oxygen consumption as an index, epirubicin-induced free oxygen radical formation was not potentiated by the tested antiemetics. The results justify further studies on the antineoplastic and adverse effects pertaining to interaction between anthracyclines and antiemetics. Finally, the results suggest that interference of antiemetics on fibroblast toxicity does not directly involve the generation of free oxygen radicals.

Animals↗

CCK- and VIP-induced glycoprotein secretion from mouse gallbladder epithelium following vagotomy: a quantitative electron microscopic study.

The glycoprotein secretion from the mouse gallbladder epithelium induced by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and cholecystokinin (CCK) was investigated by electron microscopic morphometry. Both VIP and CCK caused a decrease in the volume density of the glycoprotein-containing granules of the principal cells. The effect on the gallbladder epithelium of a left-sided vagotomy was examined. Three and six weeks postvagotomy, slight decreases in cell and nuclear profile area and secretory granule volume density were noted. CCK induced a secretion of glycoprotein granules, whereas no such secretory effect due to VIP could be detected in animals 3 and 6 weeks after vagotomy. The results demonstrate that VIP, like CCK, is involved in glycoprotein secretion from the mouse gallbladder epithelium, but the secretory effect of VIP would appear to be dependent on an intact vagal innervation. The results are of interest in relation to the hypothesis that glycoprotein release may be a precipitating factor in the production of gallstones.

Animals↗