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Biomedical subjects

T Möller

Publications and source records attributed to T Möller.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Calcium entry through kainate receptors and resulting potassium-channel blockade in Bergmann glial cells.

Glutamate receptors, the most abundant excitatory transmitter receptors in the brain, are not restricted to neurons; they have also been detected on glial cells. Bergmann glial cells in mouse cerebellar slices revealed a kainate-type glutamate receptor with a sigmoid current-to-voltage relation, as demonstrated with the patch-clamp technique. Calcium was imaged with fura-2, and a kainate-induced increase in intracellular calcium concentration was observed, which was blocked by the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) and by low concentrations of external calcium, indicating that there was an influx of calcium through the kainate receptor itself. The entry of calcium led to a marked reduction in the resting (passive) potassium conductance of the cell. Purkinje cells, which have glutamatergic synapses, are closely associated with Bergmann glial cells and therefore may provide a functionally important stimulus.

Animals↗

Long-term effects of adjuvant tamoxifen and/or radiotherapy. The South Sweden Breast Cancer Trial.

In a multicenter trial of adjuvant therapy in stage II breast cancer, 719 postmenopausal patients were randomized to one of three treatment regimens: radiotherapy only or in combination with adjuvant tamoxifen for one year, or adjuvant tamoxifen without radiotherapy. At twelve years of follow-up (median 9 years), no statistically significant differences in survival or recurrence-free survival were observed. However, the rate of loco-regional recurrency was lower among patients treated with both radiotherapy and tamoxifen. The rate of bilateral breast cancer was reduced in tamoxifen-treated patients whereas the rate of new primary malignancies other than breast cancer was somewhat higher in tamoxifen-treated patients. Adjuvant therapy in breast cancer may influence not only breast cancer recurrences and mortality but also later disease patterns and cause-specific mortality.

Aged↗

Cancer incidence and mortality among Swedish Baltic Sea fishermen.

A 25% lower cancer mortality was found for 1360 Swedish fishermen who fished on the Baltic Sea than for the general population. The fishermen consumed twice as much fish as the population in the same county. In spite of the low overall cancer mortality, increased mortality from myeloma, as well as increased incidences of gastric carcinoma and squamous cell cancer of the skin and lips, was observed in the cohort. The decrease in risk for ischemic heart disease was not significant. Whether the dietary intake of fatty acids and selenium from fish contributed to the decreased risk was difficult to evaluate. Moreover, whether the consumption of fish from the Baltic Sea, contaminated with, for example, polychlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans and other persistent organochlorine substances, contributed to the observed increased specific cancer risks is not known. However, the net health effect of high fish consumption from the Baltic Sea seems to be positive.

Adult↗

Cancer morbidity in nitrate fertilizer workers.

A cohort of 2,131 male nitrate fertilizer workers was evaluated for cancer morbidity from 1963 to 1986. No significant increase in total cancer, stomach cancer (5 actual vs 6.7 expected cases), or lung cancer (13 vs 13 expected) was found. On the other hand, 26 actual cases of prostate cancer were observed vs 16 expected cases (standardized morbidity ratio, SMR = 161; 95%, confidence interval, CI = 107-239). This risk increase however, was, not enhanced by applying at least a 10-year latency period. In a cohort of 1,148 male fertilizer workers who had never been exposed to nitrate, there was an increased incidence of lung cancer (SMR = 151,95% CI = 103-220) but not of stomach cancer or prostate cancer. There was no association between airborne nitrate exposure dose and total cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer or prostate cancer, respectively.

Adult↗

Resources and productivity in radiation oncology in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden during 1987.

Data concerning megavoltage equipment and use of megavoltage external beams in cancer management during 1987 in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden were collected from all 37 centres serving a population of 23 million in these countries. Population per Linear Accelerator Equivalent (LAE) unit ranged from 0.30 million/LAE unit (Denmark) to 0.19 million/LAE unit (Sweden). The number of field treatments were 227,548 (Denmark), 259,917 (Finland), 10,426 (Iceland), 147,960 (Norway) and 490,126 (Sweden). The number of field treatments per million population per year ranged from 35,229 (Norway) to 58,438 (Sweden). The number of field treatments per LAE unit/year ranged from 13,192 (Denmark) to 9,546 (Norway). The fraction of cancer patients receiving megavoltage radiotherapy in 1987 out of all newly diagnosed cancer patients during 1987 was 24% in Denmark, 37% in Iceland, 25% in Norway, and 34% in Finland and Sweden. We conclude that Denmark and Norway probably did not provide adequate levels of radiotherapy for their cancer patients during 1987.

Denmark↗

Mortality and cancer morbidity in workers exposed to low levels of vinyl chloride monomer at a polyvinyl chloride processing plant.

To study whether exposure to low levels of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) causes increased risk for cancer morbidity and death from ischemic heart disease, a cohort study was performed among 2,031 male workers at a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) processing plant who had been employed for at least 3 months during the period 1945-1980. An almost significantly increased total mortality (SMR = 116, 95% CI 99-136) was found. Deaths caused by violence or intoxication were significantly increased (SMR = 153, 95% CI 109-213), but not deaths from ischemic heart disease (SMR = 100, 95% CI 73-135). A significant increase in total cancer morbidity was observed (SMR = 128, 95% CI 101-161). Respiratory cancers were significantly increased (SMR = 213, 95% CI 127-346). Furthermore, six brain tumors (vs. 2.6 expected) were observed. This increase, however, was not significant (SMR = 229, 95% CI 84-498). No liver hemangiosarcoma was observed. Applying a latency period of greater than or equal to 10 years from start of employment did not change the risk patterns. There were no significant exposure-response associations between exposure estimates for VCM, asbestos, and plasticizers and cancer morbidity.

Adult↗

Deaths and tumours among rotogravure printers exposed to toluene.

A cohort of 1020 rotogravure printers exposed to toluene and employed for a minimum period of three months in eight plants during 1925-85 was studied. Air levels of toluene were available since 1943 in one plant and since 1969 in most. Based on these measurements and on present concentrations of toluene in blood and subcutaneous fat, the yearly average air levels in each plant were estimated. They reached a maximum of about 450 ppm in the 1940s and 1950s but were only about 30 ppm by the mid-1980s. Exposure to benzene had occurred up to the beginning of the 1960s. Compared with regional rates, total mortality did not increase during the observation period 1952-86 (129 observed deaths v 125 expected; SMR = 1.03). There was no increase in mortality from non-malignant diseases of the lungs, nervous system, or gastrointestinal and urinary tracts. There was no overall excess of tumours 1958-85 (68 v 54, SMR = 1.26; 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.95-1.7). Among the specific cancers, only those of the respiratory tract were significantly increased (16 v 9; SMR = 1.76, CI = 1.03-2.9). Statistical significance was not attained, however, when only subjects with an exposure period of at least five years and a latency period of at least 10 years were considered. Further, there were no dose response relations with cumulated toluene dose (ppm years). There were no significant increases of tumours at other sites, including leukaemias/lymphomas/myelomas.

Adult↗

Validity of breast cancer registration from one hospital into the Swedish National Cancer Registry 1961-1970.

The validity of the Swedish Cancer Registry data on invasive female breast cancer in Malmö 1961-1970 was investigated. A total of 1311 entries in the register were examined, each entry representing an individual tumour, and compared to data from medical records and local registries. In 137 cases (10.5%) registered in the Swedish Cancer Registry, divergencies were found, of which at least 121 were overregistrations (9.2%). Forty-three tumours were identified meriting inclusion but not registered, giving an underregistration of 3.5%. The age distribution among the excluded cases differed somewhat from that of the verified cases.

Adult↗

[Not Available].

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Germany↗

Delaying factors in primary treatment of breast cancer.

An effort has been made to study possible delaying factors in the diagnosis and primary treatment of breast cancer. The data are based on 273 female patients, referred to the Department of Oncology, Lund, constituting 50% of all primary breast carcinomas without a previous malignancy diagnosed in 1986 in a catchment area of 1.2 million. Of these, 68% initially consulted a general or private practitioner, whereas only 21% directly consulted surgical departments. The interval from the initial consultation to operation, analysed multivariately, was correlated to the number of referral-steps (13 vs. 75 days), the category of physician initially consulted (15 vs. 33 days), and the outcome of a combined positive or negative mammography + aspiration cytology (13 vs. 58 days). If one or both of these diagnostic procedures were negative, the delay varied considerably between the four categories of physicians initially consulted. The median time between decision and start of radiotherapy was 38 days, constituting 46% of the time from the initial consultation to start of this treatment modality.

Adult↗

Deaths and tumors among workers grinding stainless steel.

This study examined a cohort of 1,164 males who, during the period 1927-1981, had been employed for 3 months or more in an industry that produced objects from stainless steel. These workers were exposed to the dust of grinding materials, grinding agents, and stainless steel. From 1975 to 1980, measurements of the total dust in the workroom air have shown levels of about one mg/m3 (consisting of chromium at about 0.1 mg/m3 and nickel at about 0.05 mg/m3) during grinding and several mg/m3 (chromium at about 0.01 mg/m3 and nickel at about 0.005 mg/m3) during polishing. Before 1950, the concentrations were probably considerably higher. Compared to a local reference population, a decrease in mortality (63 observed deaths, standardized mortality (SMR) = 0.79, 95% confidence limits CL = 0.61, 1.01) took place during the 1951-1983 observation period among 318 subjects who had been employed for at least five years, allowing a latency period of at least 20 years. Mortality from cancer of the colon/rectum increased (observed deaths = 6, SMR = 2.47, CL = 0.97, 5.58). The mortality from nonmalignant pulmonary disease did not increase (SMR = 0.29, CL = 0.01, 1.81). During the observation period (1958-1983), there was no significant overall excess of tumors (observed cases = 33, standardized morbidity [SMR] = 1.09, CL = 0.76, 1.54). However, tumor morbidity of the colon/rectum (observed 11, SMR = 2.83, CL = 1.47, 5.19) significantly increased. There were no cases of respiratory cancer (expected 4.7, CL = 0, 0.21). Thus, the results indicate an increased risk of intestinal cancer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chromium↗

Influence of formic acid on fungal flora of barley and on aflatoxin production in Aspergillus flavus link.

In recent years Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin production have been noted on several occasions in grain preserved with formic acid. Samples of mouldy barley treated with formic acid and stored in an open bin were investigated for the presence of fungi. In the lower part of the bin there was a clear dominance of Fusarium sporotrichioides, and deoxynivalenol and neosolaniol were detected. A. flavus and A. fumigatus were also present. Paecilomyces variotii occurred, almost as a pure culture, in the upper part of the bin, but no patulin was found. Cultivation of four fungal isolates from these genera on laboratory substrates containing formic acid showed P. variotii to be the most tolerant to formic acid, withstanding 150 mM, but still without patulin production. F. sporotrichioides and A. fumigatus tolerated only 6 mM formic acid. The growth of A. flavus was reduced and atypical at 60 mM formic acid. Pretreatment of A. flavus spores with formic acid increased aflatoxin production about 800 times.

Aflatoxins↗

[Duodenal bile acid output in gastroenterologic diseases].

The biliary secretion of bile acids was measured with the modified secretin-pancreozymin test in 50 patients with various gastroenterological diseases and in a control group. In the control group the highest bile acid output and the lowest G/T quotient was estimated. In comparison to the control group, the bile acid output in the patients with gastroenterological disorders was reduced significantly to a varying degree. Except in postcholecystectomy patients, it was proved that the G/T quotient was significantly increased compared to that in the control group. The estimation of bile acid output and the G/T quotient presented here shows an easier extension of the validity of the secretin-pancreozymin test which does not indice any additional burden to the patients.

Adult↗

Prognostic significance of estrogen and progesterone receptors in stage II breast cancer.

Estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PgR) were evaluated in samples from primary tumors in 539 patients with stage II breast cancer participating in a randomized multicenter controlled clinical trial on adjuvant therapy. At the cut-off points of 10 fmol ER/mg protein and 30 fmol PgR/mg protein, no significant difference in recurrence-free survival (RFS) existed between premenopausal patients with receptor-positive and negative tumors, respectively. After recurrence, premenopausal patients with receptor-positive tumors had a significant longer survival than patients with receptor-negative tumors. In postmenopausal patients not treated with adjuvant tamoxifen, no correlations between RFS and receptor status were found. Patients with ER+ tumors survived longer than patients with ER-tumors. In postmenopausal patients treated with adjuvant tamoxifen, highly significant differences in RFS and in survival were observed when receptor-positive patients were compared with receptor-negative patients. No differences in survival after recurrence were registered among these patients.

Breast Neoplasms↗