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Biomedical subjects

T Eriksson

Publications and source records attributed to T Eriksson.

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

Thalidomide prolonged graft survival in a rat cardiac transplant model but had no inhibitory effect on lymphocyte function in vitro.

The effects of thalidomide on in vitro interleukin 2 (IL-2) production and thymidine uptake by human peripheral blood lymphocytes or rat splenocytes were investigated. Phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated human lymphocytes were incubated in the presence of thalidomide added at culture initiation. No immunosuppressive effect of thalidomide was observed in these experiments. Primary human mixed lymphocyte cultures treated with thalidomide for 6 days were also unaffected. A microsomal rabbit liver homogenate was prepared for metabolizing thalidomide. Stimulated lymphocytes secreted significantly more IL-2 in the presence of microsomal-treated thalidomide than did controls. The effect of thalidomide was then studied either as single therapy or in combination with cyclosporin A (CyA) in a rat allograft cardiac transplantation model. In addition, T cell subsets were analysed by flow cytometry in untransplanted rats treated with thalidomide. Treatment was given as induction therapy from the day of transplantation until day 9. Graft survival in rats treated with thalidomide was significantly prolonged compared to the untreated group. No difference in graft survival was detected between rats treated with thalidomide or CyA only. Graft survival was found to be slightly prolonged in rats given thalidomide and CyA in combination compared to rats treated with CyA alone. In untransplanted rats given thalidomide a decrease of CD4 positive T cells was detected on days 3 and 5. The T helper/cytotoxic-suppressor cell ratio was significantly diminished but, after 1 week of treatment, values for T cell subsets had almost returned to baseline levels. No inhibitory effect was obtained when phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated rat splenocytes were cultured with metabolized thalidomide. In summary, the ability of thalidomide to improve allograft survival in a solid organ transplant model was verified. The occurrence of thalidomide-induced changes in T cell subset ratios was demonstrated. In in vitro studies, however, there was no decrease but an increase in IL-2 production, and no change in thymidine uptake. The mechanism responsible for the immunosuppressive effect of thalidomide remains to be elucidated.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

A questionnaire instrument to assess clinical decision-making in prosthodontics among general practitioners.

There are great variations in dentists' choice of treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate a Patient Paper Case (PPC) technique to investigate such variation, adjusted for prosthodontics. The questionnaire was sent to all 131 general practitioners (GP) in the Public Dental Service in Orebro County and to all 100 GPs in private practice in Skaraborg County, Sweden, with 81% responding. There were three PPC questions, concerning 1) crown therapy or amalgam/composite filling, 2) fixed or removable partial denture, 3) fixed partial denture or single implant restoration. Respondents were asked to assess 13 or 14 items concerning the patient, dental conditions, and own skills. There was great variation in responses. In factor analysis four factors were found to capture between 54% and 60% of the variance of the items. They were interpreted as a time factor, a patient subjective factor, a clinical factor, and finally, for the PPC 1 and 2, a general health factor. The Swedish insurance regulations of single implant therapy, mandatory caries/filling-free, and vital adjacent teeth were reflected in the factor solution of PPC 3. It is concluded that the PPC method is feasible and useful in studies of clinical decision-making in prosthodontics.

Decision Making↗
PubMed1995

Stereospecific determination, chiral inversion in vitro and pharmacokinetics in humans of the enantiomers of thalidomide.

The purposes of this work were (1) to develop a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay for the enantiomers of thalidomide in blood, (2) to study their inversion and degradation in human blood, and (3) to study the pharmacokinetics of (+)-(R)- and (-)-(S)-thalidomide after oral administration of the separate enantiomers or of the racemate to healthy male volunteers. The enantiomers of thalidomide were determined by direct resolution on a tribenzoyl cellulose column. Mean rate constants of chiral inversion of (+)-(R)-thalidomide and (-)-(S)-thalidomide in blood at 37 degrees C were 0.30 and 0.31 h-1, respectively. Rate constants of degradation were 0.17 and 0.18 h-1. There was rapid interconversion in vivo in humans, the (+)-(R)-enantiomer predominating at equilibrium. The pharmacokinetics of (+)-(R)- and (-)-(S)-thalidomide could be characterized by means of two one-compartment models connected by rate constants for chiral inversion. Mean rate constants for in vivo inversion were 0.17 h-1 (R to S) and 0.12 h-1 (S to R) and for elimination 0.079 h-1 (R) and 0.24 h-1 (S), i.e., a considerably faster rate of elimination of the (-)-(S)-enantiomer. Putative differences in therapeutic or adverse effects between (+)-(R)- and (-)-(S)-thalidomide would to a large extent be abolished by rapid interconversion in vivo.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Cost-utility analysis of group living in dementia care.

A cost-utility analysis (CUA) was applied to group living for dementia patients. A Markov-model of an expected life-length of 8 years was used. Forty-six patients in group living were compared to 39 patients living at home by inclusion and 23 institutionalized patients. When the cost per gained quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) was calculated, the group living alternative was the most favorable for the patients, giving a cost per paired QALY of US dollars < 0. In the extensive sensitivity analysis the main result was consistent but methodological problems were indicated.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Effects of amitriptyline on rat plasma and brain content of monoamine precursors and other large neutral amino acids.

Amitriptyline caused decreased concentrations in rat plasma of the amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan, which are precursors to monoaminergic neurotransmitters, and also of those other large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) (valine, phenylalanine, leucine and isoleucine) with which tyrosine and tryptophan compete for the carrier-mediated transport from plasma into the brain. The various LNAAs were, however, not decreased to the same extent. Thus, the relative concentrations, calculated as the ratio of each one of them to the total concentration of LNAAs, were also influenced by amitriptyline. The relative concentrations of tryptophan were decreased while the relative concentrations of phenylalanine and leucine were increased. Those of tyrosine, valine and isoleucine were not influenced by amitriptyline. The relative concentrations of the LNAAs in plasma are considered to be of importance to how much of each of them that will be transported into the brain. Based on this assumption one would have expected that the amitriptyline-induced changes in the relationships between different LNAAs would have caused changes in their brain concentrations in accordance with their relative concentrations in plasma. However, amitriptyline caused decreased concentrations of all LNAAs in rat whole brain. This finding cannot be explained by altered relationships between the LNAAs but must be explained by other mechanisms. Nevertheless, this effect of amitriptyline on brain LNAA concentrations might be of importance to monoamine function.

Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors↗
PubMed1995

Quality of intraoral radiographs used for prosthodontic treatment planning by general dentists in the public dental health service.

The image quality of intraoral radiographs used by general public health dentists in prosthodontic treatment planning was evaluated on 763 radiographs from 72 consecutive cases. It was found that 349 (45.7%) radiographs were without any type error and that 414 radiographs had a total of 577 errors. The most common errors were projection and film density errors. The number of submitted radiographs ranged from 2 to 22. Three prosthodontists evaluated if the radiographs gave "satisfactory" or "not satisfactory" information for approval or not of the proposed treatment. Of the 72 cases did 34 (47%) not meet the criteria for acceptance. For the cases where the prosthodontists found the radiographic documentation "satisfactory", the mean number of periapical radiographs was 10.8, while for cases found "not satisfactory" the mean number was 7.1. This difference was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.01). It was shown that nearly every seventh tooth planned to be used as an abutment was radiographically not properly documented. The poor radiographic quality found in this study and in other similar studies should be taken into serious consideration, especially as prosthodontic treatment accounts for a substantial part of the total costs for dental insurance in Sweden.

Dental Abutments↗
PubMed1994

Image quality of intraoral radiographs used by general practitioners in prosthodontic treatment planning.

A number of studies have shown a low standard of radiographic image quality in general dental practices. Image quality was evaluated on 1094 radiographs from 100 consecutive cases submitted to a dental insurance office for approval of planned prosthodontic treatment. It was found that only 404 radiographs were without any type of error and that 690 radiographs had a total of 959 errors. The most common errors were projection and film density errors. The number of submitted radiographs ranged from one to 40. Nearly every fourth tooth proposed for treatment was not properly documented. The results also showed that 43 of 100 cases did not meet the criteria for acceptance for assessment of the proposed prosthodontic treatment. This means that they were incompletely documented radiographically so that the treatment plan could not be evaluated. This study suggests that new or additional radiographic documentation ought to be requested frequently before approval of proposed treatment plans.

Denture, Partial, Fixed↗
PubMed1993

[Released Bosnian prisoners of war. High risk of posttraumatic symptoms].

Psychiatric reactions after traumatic experiences have been acknowledged during the last decades. 149 male survivors from "ethnic cleansing" camps in Bosnia during 1992 have been examined within two weeks from arriving to Sweden as refugees. They have an extremely traumatic background. 76 per cent have a history of physical abuse, 17 per cent systematical physical torture and 89 per cent psychic torture. We found few serious somatic problems. 36 per cent was recommended physical follow up by a general practitioner. 32 per cent was recommended a psychiatric contact in the community where they will stay permanently, because of high probability of developing symptoms of PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorders. The most important factor for their present well-being is if the family and other relatives are reunited and if they know what has happened to other members of their family. By early identification of high risk for developing PTSD and by focusing the general risk that everyone in this group faces to develop this symptomatology a relevant contact can be established before severe symptoms develop.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Moclobemide overdose.

Moclobemide is a recently introduced short-acting, selective and reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor, type A, with few and mild side-effects at therapeutic doses. Fifteen reported cases of moclobemide overdose were studied in detail and are presented here. While pure mechanism overdosage seems benign, a combination with tricyclic antidepressants may result in serious poisoning even when the moclobemide overdose is modest.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Similar effects of ethanol and tert-butanol on amino acid concentrations in rat serum and liver.

Both metabolic and nonmetabolic mechanisms have been proposed to the plasma amino acid decreasing effect of an acute ethanol load. We used tert-butanol, an alcohol that is only minimally metabolized, as a tool to explain the mechanism behind the amino acid decreasing effect of ethanol. Acute administration of tert-butanol was found to exert a decreasing effect on rat serum amino acid concentrations similar to that of ethanol, indicating that the mechanism of the amino acid decreasing effect of ethanol is primarily due to ethanol itself and not to its oxidation. Ethanol and tert-butanol also had similar effects on liver amino acid concentrations, including an increase in the glycine concentration and decrease in the concentrations of glutamate, alanine, leucine, and tyrosine.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1993

Dementia day care and its effects on symptoms and institutionalization--a controlled Swedish study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of Day Care (DC) on demented patients. DESIGN: A prospective non-randomized concurrent-control study. PARTICIPANTS: 55 demented patients in DC and 44 controls. SETTING: Sundsvall, an industrial community in northern Sweden. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Cognition, ADL-functions, behaviour and institutionalization. RESULTS: Measurements of cognition, ADL-functions, and behaviour showed no or only small differences between the groups. After one year, 24% of the patients in the DC-group were institutionalized, compared with 44% of the controls. In the control group, the exhaustion of spouse and supervision need were highly correlated to institutionalization (p < 0.001), while high physical nursing load was correlated to institutionalization in the DC-group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: DC postpones institutionalization, probably because of less exhaustion of spouses and decreased supervision need.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

[Methodical nursing care with a written nursing care plan as basis].

A written nursing care plan enables quality nursing care. It is essential for primary nursing. As nurses we are on different levels of expert knowledge and we have different ways of being committed to our work. If a nurse doesn't recognize her basic task it is not possible to recognize it meaningful to provide a written nursing care plan. The development of written nursing care plan needs professional discussion and evaluation. The skill for written nursing care plan needs practising, self-evaluation and feedback. The study of written nursing care plans used earlier on the ward reveals professional development. The documented needs and problems are now more individual. The problems are solved using means of nursing more creatively. Some nursing care plans reveals the need for training to obtain more knowledge.

Documentation↗
PubMed1992

Determination of thalidomide in plasma and blood by high-performance liquid chromatography: avoiding hydrolytic degradation.

Thalidomide was determined in plasma and blood by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The coefficient of variation of the assay was 1-2% over the 0.25-4.0 micrograms/ml concentration range. Hydrolysis of thalidomide during storage and work-up of the samples was avoided by the addition of an equal volume of citrate buffer, pH 1.5. The assay could be applied to the determination of blood concentrations of thalidomide in rats for at least 28 h after a single oral dose, with multiple blood sampling from the same animal.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Chronopharmacology of isoprenaline: the effects on rat plasma concentrations of large neutral amino acids depend on time of day for administration.

This investigation was undertaken in order to test our hypothesis, that the endogenous circadian rhythms in large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) in plasma are partly regulated by beta-adrenergic mechanisms. The beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline, which is known to decrease the concentrations of rat plasma LNAAs, was given at several time-points over a full 24-h period intraperitoneally to rats, which were killed 1 h later. Isoprenaline, administered in the evening, decreased the plasma amino acid concentrations more than it did in the same doses given in the morning. Also the potency of isoprenaline was in this respect higher in the evening than in the morning. This finding, of a time-of-day dependent relationship between the effects of a beta-adrenoceptor agonist and plasma LNAA concentrations, supports our hypothesis, that beta-adrenergic mechanisms are involved in the endogenous regulation of the plasma LNAA rhythms. We suggest that the known endogenous circadian variation in sympathetic activity, which gives rise to a reciprocal rhythm in beta-adrenoceptor responsiveness, could be one factor explaining that part of the circadian rhythm in plasma LNAA concentrations, which is not due to variations in food intake.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1992

Is rat brain content of large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) a reflection of plasma LNAA concentrations?

Competition between the large neutral amino acids (LNAAs), including the monoamine precursors tyrosine and tryptophan, for the carrier-mediated transport from plasma into the brain is considered the major regulator of brain LNAA content. The plasma ratio of each LNAA to the sum of all LNAAs, previously, in standardized experiments, has proved an excellent predictor of brain LNAA content. To investigate how diurnal variations in plasma LNAAs are reflected in the brain, we have killed rats, in groups of six, every 1 h throughout one 24 h period. The concentration of each LNAA in both plasma and brain varied with time-of-day. Also the total concentration of LNAAs in brain was shown to vary diurnally. Obviously, variations in total brain LNAA concentration cannot be explained by changes in plasma LNAA ratios. Consequently, other factors, contributing to the regulation of the diurnal rhythm in brain LNAA content, must be considered.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1992

Diurnal rhythms in rat brain large neutral amino acids (LNAAs), monoamines and monoamine metabolites.

To obtain reliable information on the diurnal rhythms in rat brain large neutral amino acid (LNAA) concentrations, animals were killed, in groups of six, every one h throughout one 24 h period. By using such short sampling intervals, it was possible to detect a statistically significant diurnal variation in the whole brain concentration of each LNAA and to give a more detailed description of these diurnal variations than previously presented. Furthermore, the diurnal variations in whole brain concentrations of the precursor amino acids, tyrosine and tryptophan, were compared with corresponding variations in the respective monoamines and their main metabolites. Similar diurnal patterns were demonstrated for tryptophan, serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. No such correspondence was detected for tyrosine, dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid.

Amino Acids↗