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Biomedical subjects

U Jansson

Publications and source records attributed to U Jansson.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Restricting dislocation movement in transition metal carbides by phase stability tuning.

A mechanism to enhance hardness in multilayer coatings is proposed. Using the technologically important hard transition metal carbides as prototypes, although the principle is transferable also to other systems, we demonstrate, from first-principles calculations, that by suitable alloying the energy difference between several competing structures in the transition metal carbides is small or tunable. This creates multiphase/polytypic compounds with a random or controllable layer stacking sequence, systems in which the propagation of dislocations can be strongly suppressed by a large number of interfaces between structures with different glide systems, accordingly allowing the possibility of a greatly enhanced hardness. With modern thin-film technologies, it should therefore be possible to deposit such materials that will express multilayer characteristics with only minor changes in the chemical constitution of the material, which is in contrast to conventional superlattices.

Journal Article↗

[Feedback on prescribing profiles at a primary health center. Important element in quality assurance of drug prescription].

DU90%--the number of drugs that account for 90% of DDDs--and adherence to guidelines in this segment were proposed by the Swedish Medical Quality Council (MKR) as indicators for assessing the quality of drug prescribing. We tested these indicators at a primary health care (PHC) center in Stockholm. Bar-coded prescriptions purchased at pharmacies were compared with the guidelines issued by the regional drug committee. The data were presented and discussed at the PHC center. Although the DU90% method neither examines the appropriateness of use nor provides outcome data, it was shown to be an inexpensive, flexible and simple method for assessing the general quality of drug prescribing.

Community Health Centers↗

Changes in prevalence and severity of asthma among schoolchildren in a Swedish district between 1985 and 1995.

The same questionnaire and study design was used in two surveys of asthma among all the children attending the 9-y compulsory school in Sundsvall in 1985 (n = 10527) and 1995 (n = 9165). A detailed questionnaire was distributed by post to the parents of all children who had answered in the affirmative to a simple screening question on asthmatic symptoms at the beginning of the autumn term. The questionnaire contained detailed questions on symptoms and asthma management. Our findings indicated a moderate increase in reported asthma-like symptoms and physician-diagnosed asthma between 1985 and 1995. The severity of symptoms was unchanged, despite a large community-based asthma campaign and a tenfold increase in the number of children receiving inhaled steroids. A validation analysis included an interview by a physician, a skin prick test, determination of specific IgE antibodies and spirometry. The oral interviews suggested that undertreatment was common. Many children had adequate medication at home, but this medication was not used properly. Finally, all 13-14-y-old children also replied to written and video questionnaires from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). It is likely that differences in study design explained the much higher prevalence of wheezing in this part of the study.

Adolescent↗

Experimental haemorrhage and blood component transfusion in humans: no change in plasma concentration of thrombin-antithrombin complex and plasmin-antiplasmin complex.

The influence of haemorrhage and blood transfusion on primary haemostasis, coagulation and fibrinolysis was investigated in ten healthy male volunteers. Acute loss of 10% of the blood volume did not give any significant alteration in thrombin- antithrombin III (TAT) complex and plasmin-alpha 2-antiplasmin (PAP) complex levels compared with a control series. The skin bleeding time with the Simplate II device was not altered after the 10% blood loss. Acute loss of 10% of blood volume followed by transfusion of packed red cells or stored plasma did not resulted in any significant change in bleeding time, TAT and PAP complex levels. It could be concluded that a controlled haemorrhage does not give any detectable changes of the platelet dependent primary haemostasis, blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. Transfusion of one unit of packed red cells or stored plasma does not seem to adversely affect the haemostasis.

Adult↗

Down syndrome and celiac disease.

Down syndrome is associated with immune-related disorders such as hypothyroidism, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and celiac disease. In this study we determined antigliadin antibodies (AGA) in 54 patients with Down syndrome; 22 had AGA values above the cutoff limit. Nineteen patients underwent intestinal biopsy, and total or subtotal villous atrophy was found in nine. There was a total of 65 patients with Down syndrome in our area of southern Sweden; two were already known to have celiac disease. The minimum prevalence of celiac disease in Down syndrome in this area in southern Sweden was 11 of 65 or 16.9%.

Adolescent↗

Side effects of iron supplements in blood donors: superior tolerance of heme iron.

Regular blood donors were enrolled in a double-blind, parallel group study to evaluate the side effects of two iron supplements, one containing both heme iron and non-heme iron (Hemofer, 2 tablets = 18 mg iron/day), the other non-heme iron only (Erco-Fer; 1 tablet = 60 mg iron/day). No differences were found between the two alternatives in regaining predonation iron status as measured by serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels. Despite this therapeutic equivalence, participants' symptom diaries showed substantial differences in the side effects for the two treatments. The frequency of constipation (p < 0.05) and the total incidence of all side effects (p < 0.01) were significantly higher for non-heme iron when compared with the heme iron-non-heme iron combination and a placebo. The study demonstrates that a low-dose iron supplement containing both heme iron and non-heme iron (Hemofer) has fewer side effects when compared with an equipotent, traditional non-heme iron supplement.

Adult↗

Coeliac disease in children of short stature without gastrointestinal symptoms.

Eighty-seven children with short stature (height more than 2 SD below the mean for age and sex) were investigated by small intestinal biopsy. There was no obvious reason for their growth retardation found by routine examination and they had no gastrointestinal symptoms. Coeliac disease was found in two children and probable coeliac disease in two children. Although the prevalence of coeliac disease was comparatively low in this study of Swedish children with short stature, it emphasizes the fact that coeliac disease must be considered in a child with short stature even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Adolescent↗

Serum IgA and IgG gliadin antibodies and small intestinal mucosal damage in children.

Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A and IgG gliadin antibodies were determined with a simple, rapid, and inexpensive method--diffusion-in-gel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DIG-ELISA)--and the results were related to small intestinal mucosal morphology in 234 children suspected of having malabsorption. Fifty-six of 58 children with flat intestinal mucosa had increased IgA and/or IgG gliadin antibody levels (sensitivity 97%). Fifty-four of the 58 children had celiac disease (CD) (n = 25) or probable CD (n = 29). Four children with flat mucosa had cow's milk protein and/or soy protein intolerance and three of these had increased gliadin antibody levels. Seventeen percent of 132 children with normal intestinal mucosa had increased IgA and/or IgG gliadin antibody levels. IgA and IgG gliadin antibody levels decreased significantly in the celiac children on a gluten-free diet and increased significantly after gluten challenge. Determination of serum IgA and IgG gliadin antibodies by means of DIG-ELISA is a sensitive test for small intestinal mucosal damage in children. When malabsorption is suspected, we suggest that this assay be used to select children for a small intestinal biopsy. It is also very useful for the follow-up of adherence to a gluten-free diet and to determine the effect of gluten challenge in celiac children.

Adolescent↗

[Lethal side effects from ACTH-therapy in infantile spasm (author's transl)].

ACTH in high doses and over long periods of time is the treatment of choice in infantile spasm. Serious side effects can occur, but are not so often described. Two cases are published with hypertonia and immunosuppression. Control of blood pressure and electrolytes is mandatory. The importance of rather careful control of infections is stressed, as symptoms during ACTH-therapy are somewhat altered.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

The incidence of childhood celiac disease in Sweden.

Within a defined population in southeast Sweden, celiac disease was diagnosed in 167 children born between 1970 and 1982. The diagnosis was based on the criteria of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. Another six children had an initial flat small intestinal mucosa but do not yet fulfill the criteria for the diagnosis of celiac disease. The incidence of celiac disease was 1.27/1,000 live births for the years 1970-1976 and 1.43/1,000 for 1977-1982. In contrast to our findings, a decline in the disorder during the late 1970s was reported from other countries. We discuss the observation that the incidences of celiac disease in children are moving discrepantly in different populations.

Adolescent↗