Complement activation and interleukin response in major abdominal surgery.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether major abdominal surgery leads to complement activation and interleukin response and whether the kind of anaesthesia influence complement activation and the release of inflammatory interleukins. The study design was prospective and randomised. Fifty patients undergoing open major colorectal surgery due to cancer disease or inflammatory bowel disease were studied.

Patient-specific alpha-particle dosimetry.

Alpha-particle therapy has received increased attention during the last few years because of the development of new targeting constructs and new labeling techniques and the availability of suitable α-particle - emitting radionuclides. This work provides an overview of methods that have been used in clinical trials in estimating the absorbed dose to tumors and healthy tissue in patients following such α-particle therapy. Similarities and differences compared to conventional therapies using β¯-particle emitters are presented.

Mapping the Mayo-Portland adaptability inventory to the international classification of functioning, disability and health.

Objective: To examine the contents of the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory (MPAI-4) by mapping it to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

Methods: Each of the 30 scoreable items in the MPAI-4 was mapped to the most precise ICF categories.

Results: All 30 items could be mapped to components and categories in the ICF.

Five-year clinical course and outcome of schizophrenia in Ethiopia.

Background: Findings from the WHO sponsored multicenter studies done a few decades ago, which reported favorable outcome of schizophrenia in developing countries both in 2 and 5 year follow-up studies, dominated the world view until recently. Emerging evidence from Low and Middle Income countries (LAMIC) started to challenge this long held view, also called 'dogma' by some authors. We reported the short-term follow-up which showed unfavorable outcome.

In vivo distribution of avidin-conjugated MX35 and (211)At-labeled, biotinylated poly-L-lysine for pretargeted intraperitoneal α-radioimmunotherapy.

Purpose: Avidin-coupled monoclonal antibody MX35 (avidin-MX35) and astatine-211-labeled, biotinylated, succinylated poly-l-lysine ((211)At-B-PL(suc)) were administered in mice to assess potential efficacy as an intraperitoneal (i.p.) therapy for microscopic tumors.

Five-year mortality in a cohort of people with schizophrenia in Ethiopia.

Background: Schizophrenia is associated with a two to three fold excess mortality. Both natural and unnatural causes were reported. However, there is dearth of evidence from low and middle income (LAMIC) countries, particularly in Africa.

Early menopause is an independent predictor of rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: As rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurs more often in women than in men, it has been suggested that reproductive hormones may play an important role in the pathogenesis.

Methods: Between 1991 and 1996, 30 447 subjects (18 326 women) were included in a community-based health survey. Information on female hormonal changes and stress-related factors was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire.

Comparison of therapeutic efficacy and biodistribution of 213Bi- and 211At-labeled monoclonal antibody MX35 in an ovarian cancer model.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the therapeutic efficacy and biodistribution of the monoclonal antibody MX35 labeled with either (213)Bi or (211)At, both α-emitters, in an ovarian cancer model.

Methods: One hundred female nude BALB/c (nu/nu) mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with human ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR-3). Two weeks later, 40 of these mice were injected intraperitoneally with ~2.

Khat chewing in persons with severe mental illness in Ethiopia: a qualitative study exploring perspectives of patients and caregivers.

People with severe mental illness (SMI) in Ethiopia chew khat despite advice from their physicians to desist. We wanted to better understand their reasons for khat chewing, including any benefits that they might gain. A qualitative study was conducted involving patients with SMI and their caregivers in Butajira.

Treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors and the risk of acute coronary syndromes in early rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease, in both early and established RA. Data on the risk of ischemic heart disease in relation to therapy with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists (anti-TNF) are conflicting in patients with established RA and essentially lacking in those with early RA. In established RA, the risk of myocardial infarction has been linked to the response to anti-TNF therapies.

Pulmonary dysfunction, smoking, socioeconomic status and the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Environmental risk factors are of potential interest for both prevention and treatment of RA. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of pulmonary function, smoking and socio-economic status on the future risk of RA.

Methods: Between 1974 and 1992, 22 444 men and 10 902 women were included in the Malmö Preventive Medicine Program (MPMP).

Hazardous drinking and drinking patterns among the reindeer-herding Sami population in Sweden.

The objective of this study was to investigate hazardous drinking among reindeer-herding Sami in Sweden. A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in 2007, which included the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. A total of 319 reindeer-herding Sami were compared with urban and rural reference populations of 1,393 persons.

Sick leave in patients with ankylosing spondylitis before and after anti-TNF therapy: a population-based cohort study.

Objective: To study levels of sick leave and disability pension before and after TNF-antagonist therapy in AS patients.

Methods: Using the population-based South Swedish Arthritis Treatment Group register, we identified 139 AS patients (aged 18-58 years, 78% men), who between January 2002 and December 2008 started their first treatment with adalimumab, etanercept or infliximab. We linked data to the payment register by the Swedish Social Insurance Agency and calculated the proportion on sick leave in 30-day intervals from 12 months before treatment start until 12 months after.

Long-term outcome of percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: a Scandinavian multicenter study.

Background: Single-center reports on percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy have shown considerable differences in outcome.

Methods And Results: We report the long-term outcome of 313 PTSMA procedures performed in 279 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy aged 59±14 years from 1999 to 2010 in 4 Scandinavian centers. Sixty-nine percent of patients had ≥1 comorbidity at baseline.

Pregnancy and fetal outcome in women with primary Sjogren's syndrome compared with women in the general population: a nested case-control study.

Objective: To study pregnancy and fetal outcome in women with primary SS (pSS) compared with women in the general population.

Methods: In a nested case-control setting, variables related to pregnancy and fetal outcomes were compared. Cases (n = 16) were identified through registry linkage (Malmö pSS registry and a database entailing information of all pregnancies and deliveries in Malmö from 1990 through 2006).

Decrease in the incidence of total hip arthroplasties in patients with rheumatoid arthritis--results from a well defined population in south Sweden.

Introduction: One aim of modern pharmacologic treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is to prevent joint destruction and reduce the need for surgery. Our purpose was to investigate secular trends in the incidence of primary total hip and knee arthroplasties in a well defined sample of patients with RA.

Methods: Prevalent cases with RA in 1997 and incident cases from 1997 to 2007 in a community based register in Malmö, south Sweden, were included.

Sense of coherence and disability and the relationship with life satisfaction 6-15 years after traumatic brain injury in northern Sweden.

The objective of the study was to assess sense of coherence (SOC) many years after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and explore the relationship between SOC and self-rated life satisfaction (LS) as well as measures of functioning and disability, sex, age at injury, injury severity and time post-injury. Sixty-six individuals (aged 18-65 years) who were 6-15 years post-injury were interviewed. Data on SOC (SOC-13 item scale), measures of functioning and disability (Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory, MPAI-4), LS (Satisfaction with Life Scale, SWLS), and sex, age at injury, injury severity and time post-injury were analysed with hierarchical multiple regression analyses.

Prevalence of spondyloarthritis and its subtypes in southern Sweden.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of spondyloarthritis and its subtypes.

Methods: The Swedish healthcare organisation comprises a system where all inpatient and outpatient care is registered by a personal identifier. For the calendar years 2003-7, all residents aged ≥ 15 years in the southernmost county of Sweden (1.

Ten years with biologics: to whom do data on effectiveness and safety apply?

Objectives: During the past decade, the position of biologics in the therapeutic armamentarium, the number of approved indications and the number of available biologics have changed. Available data on (long-term) safety might thus pertain to patient populations not comparable with contemporary patients. The aim of this study was to assess the extent to which contemporary patients who start or switch biologic therapies are comparable with those patients who gave rise to the currently available data on effectiveness and safety.

Increased cartilage turnover and circulating autoantibodies in different subsets before the clinical onset of rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Previous studies have indicated that autoantibodies may be detected years before the clinical onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Cartilage biomarkers, such as cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), have not been studied previously in samples collected before the diagnosis of RA.

Methods: Between 1991 and 1996, 30 447 subjects were included in the Malmö Diet Cancer Study (MDCS).

Generalisability of clinical registers used for drug safety and comparative effectiveness research: coverage of the Swedish Biologics Register.

Objective: To determine coverage and generalisability of data in the Swedish Biologics Register ARTIS.

Methods: Patients with adult onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were identified in the National Patient Register and the Swedish Rheumatology Quality Register, including the ARTIS cohort of patients exposed to biological agents. Exposure to etanercept and adalimumab between 2006 and 2008 was determined by register linkage to the Prescribed Drug Register which contains patient-level data on >99% of all etanercept and adalimumab use in Sweden.

Knee cartilage quality assessed with dGEMRIC in rheumatoid arthritis patients before and after treatment with a TNF inhibitor.

Background: TNF-α inhibitors are potent anti-inflammatory drugs that have revolutionized the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) is a non-invasive method to study cartilage quality, in particular the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content.

Purpose: To evaluate knee cartilage quality before and after treatment with a TNF-α inhibitor (infliximab) in patients with RA using dGEMRIC and to study clinical parameters and serum cartilage oligomeric protein (COMP) after the same treatment.

The presence of rheumatoid nodules at early rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis is a sign of extra-articular disease and predicts radiographic progression of joint destruction over 5 years.

Objective: Radiographic damage is an important outcome in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The disease course varies considerably, and there is a need for simple and reliable prognostic markers. The aim of the study was to determine the utility of early signs of extra-articular disease, manifested as rheumatoid nodules (RN), in predicting radiographic outcome.

Changes in body composition after 2 years with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Possible predictors for CVD are early changes in body composition. We therefore evaluated changes in lean body mass (LBM), lean mass of arms and legs (LMAL), total body fat mass (BFM), and truncal fat distribution (FD) after 2 years with RA and possible predictors.