Wound recurrence from gallbladder cancer after open cholecystectomy.

Background: Reports of port site recurrences from gallbladder cancer after laparoscopic cholecystectomy have raised considerable concern as to whether the laparoscopic technique implies an increased risk of metastatic disease. In a previous study of gallbladder cancer and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, we reported a frequency of 16% port site metastases. The purpose of the present study was to determine the frequency of wound metastases from gallbladder cancer after open cholecystectomy.

The long-term outcome of retropubic urethrocystopexy (sutures and fibrin sealant) and pubococcygeal repair.

Background: To evaluate the results of retropubic urethrocystopexy (with sutures and fibrin sealant) and pubococcygeal repair five to seven years postoperatively.

Materials And Methods: Thirty women with genuine stress urinary incontinence were subjected to retropubic urethrocystopexy (n=30) and 15 women to pubococcygeal repair (n= 15). The preoperative assessment included both subjective and objective methods.

Social and environmental contributants to delirium in the elderly.

Even if the mechanisms and etiology of delirium still require further clarification, this article works on the assumption that delirium is caused by stress factors acting on the brain to such an extent that the brain can no longer cope. Therefore, social and environmental factors involving high levels of stress will cause delirium in the elderly. The influence of these factors is obviously very complex with several potential interacting mechanisms between different factors.

Predictive value of prostate-specific antigen, tumour stage and tumour grade for the outcome of bone scintigraphy in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

Objective: In order to evaluate the negative predictive value of a low prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for a positive bone scan, we performed a retrospective study in a patient material from the Umea region in Northern Sweden. We also evaluated whether different tumour grades could influence this predictive value.

Material And Methods: Four-hundred-and-forty-six patients of newly diagnosed prostate cancer were reviewed.

Port site metastases from gallbladder cancer after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Results of a Swedish survey and review of published reports.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of port site metastases from unsuspected gallbladder cancer after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Design: Retrospective national multicentre study, 1991-94.

Setting: All 8 university and 24 central hospital, Sweden.

Genotoxic exposures of potroom workers.

Objectives: Potroom workers in aluminum reduction plants have increased risks for bladder and lung cancer due to exposure from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). In this study correlations between measures of the external, internal, and biological effective dose have been studied for PAH.

Methods: Venous blood samples were obtained from 98 male potroom workers and 55 unexposed male blue-collar workers, for the analysis of aromatic adducts to DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in lymphocytes, using the 32P-postlabeling technique.

Cytokine levels in synovial fluid from hips with well-functioning or loose prostheses.

We analysed synovial fluid from 88 hips, 38 with osteoarthritis and 12 with well-functioning and 38 with loose hip prostheses. The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta (71 hips) and IL-6 (45 hips) were measured using the ELISA technique. Joints with well-functioning or loose prostheses had significantly increased levels of TNF-alpha compared with those with osteoarthritis.

Hydroxyapatite coating versus cemented fixation of the tibial component in total knee arthroplasty: prospective randomized comparison of hydroxyapatite-coated and cemented tibial components with 5-year follow-up using radiostereometry.

Fifty-three consecutive patients (57 knees; mean age, 69 years) entered a prospective randomized study to compare the fixation of hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated (29 knees) with cemented (28 knees) tibial components in the Tricon II total knee arthroplasty. The quality of the fixation during 5 years postoperatively was evaluated with radiostereometric analysis (RSA). Three HA-coated implants were revised: 2 owing to infection, and 1 owing to early delamination of the coating and clinical loosening.

A population-based study of human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid testing for predicting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Objective: Our purpose was to determine the predictive values of primary or secondary screening for cervical human papillomavirus infection for cytologic detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Study Design: Most of the 254 women referred for colposcopy in Västerbotten County in Sweden during October 1993 through December 1995 and 320 age-matched women from the general population were screened for human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid by nested general-primer polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Ninety-six percent of women with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia had human papillomavirus, compared with 4% of women with normal findings (odds ratio 606; 95% confidence interval 137 to 5607).

Central nervous system and ophthalmic involvement in nephropathia epidemica (European type of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome).

Central nervous system (CNS) - related symptoms occur in haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). To study the CNS and ophthalmic involvement in nephropathia epidemica (NE), the European type of HFRS, we included 26 patients in a prospective study. Most common CNS-related symptoms were headache (96%), insomnia (83%), vertigo (79%), nausea (79%), and vomiting (71%).

Cervicocephalic kinesthetic sensibility, active range of cervical motion, and oculomotor function in patients with whiplash injury.

Objective: To investigate cervicocephalic kinesthetic sensibility, active range of cervical motion, and oculomotor function in patients with whiplash injury.

Design: A 2-year review of consecutive patients admitted to the emergency unit after whiplash injury.

Setting: An otorhinolaryngology department.

Cytokines and adhesion molecules in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica.

Serum levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6, soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble E-selectin were measured in 15 patients with newly diagnosed polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) before and after 3 months of corticosteroid therapy. Both IL-6 and IL-1ra were significantly increased in untreated PMR and remained elevated compared with controls during therapy, although significantly only for sIL-1ra. sICAM-1 was raised in 12/15 (87%) patients at diagnosis and remained high in 10/14 (71%) patients; soluble E-selectin levels were initially raised in 6/15 (40%) patients and decreased with therapy in those with the highest levels.

Prevalence of bronchial hyper-responsiveness in the southern, central and northern parts of Sweden.

Studies have suggested that there is a higher prevalence of asthma in northern Sweden than in southern Sweden. Bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) has been shown to be associated with asthma. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of bronchical hyper-responsiveness in different parts of Sweden.

A tactile sensor for detection of physical properties of human skin in vivo.

A spring loaded tactile sensor with displacement sensing has been evaluated for non-invasive assessment of physical properties, stiffness and elasticity, of human skin in vivo. The tactile sensor consists of a peizoelectric vibrator (61 kHz) with a vibration pickup, electronics and PC with software for measurement of the change in frequency when the sensor is attached to an object. Integrated with the tactile sensor is a displacement sensor that shows the compression of the spring that loads the sensor element against the object during measurement.

Deltoid muscle in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica.

Objective: To investigate muscle tissue in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Methods: Deltoid muscle biopsies obtained from 10 female patients with PMR before corticosteroid therapy and from 5 healthy female controls of similar age were studied using light microscopy. Serial cryosections were stained for the activity of myofibrillar ATPases at various pH and for oxidative and glycolytic enzymes.

Serum amyloid P component scintigraphy in familial amyloid polyneuropathy: regression of visceral amyloid following liver transplantation.

Familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) associated with transthyretin (TTR) mutations is the commonest type of hereditary amyloidosis. Plasma TTR is produced almost exclusively in the liver and orthotopic liver transplantation is the only available treatment, although the clinical outcome varies. Serum amyloid P component (SAP) scintigraphy is a method for identifying and quantitatively monitoring amyloid deposits in vivo, but it has not previously been used to study the outcome of visceral amyloid deposits in FAP following liver transplantation.

Heavy-load eccentric calf muscle training for the treatment of chronic Achilles tendinosis.

We prospectively studied the effect of heavy-load eccentric calf muscle training in 15 recreational athletes (12 men and 3 women; mean age, 44.3 +/- 7.0 years) who had the diagnosis of chronic Achilles tendinosis (degenerative changes) with a long duration of symptoms despite conventional nonsurgical treatment.

Nasal cavity lining fluid ascorbic acid concentration increases in healthy human volunteers following short term exposure to diesel exhaust.

To determine if diesel exhaust (DE) exposure modifies the antioxidant defense network within the respiratory tract lining fluids, a randomized, single blinded, crossover control study using nasal lavage and flexible video bronchoscopy with bronchial and bronchoalveolar lavage was performed. Fifteen healthy, non-smoking, asymptomatic subjects were exposed to filtered air or diluted diesel exhaust (300mg m(-3) particulates, 1.6ppm nitrogen dioxide) for one hour on 2 separate occasions, at least three weeks apart.

Adrenal responsivity in normal aging and mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Enhanced levels of cortisol have been found in moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in major depression, while recent studies have suggested decreased levels of serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS) in patients with dementia. In this study the responsivity of the adrenal cortex to stimulation with a new low dose adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) test was investigated in patients with AD and in normal aging.

Methods: Thirteen patients with mild to moderate AD, 12 healthy old controls, and 15 young controls (78.

Prevalence and incidence of asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis in Swedish teenagers.

In 1987, we studied the prevalence of asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis in 1112 grade-eight students in the town of Umeå, northern Sweden. The present study is based on the same cohort, reinvestigated in 1991. We aimed to estimate the changes in the prevalence of asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis and to examine some presumed risk factors of asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis.

Thermal injury during TUMT.

A 71-year-old man was treated with transurethral microwave thermotherapy because of symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The treatment session was performed without any abnormal complaints from the patient. Two hours post-treatment the patient felt pain in his penile shaft and noticed a wound.

Nutrient intake and weight development in children during chemotherapy for malignant disease.

The aim of the study was to assess the actual daily oral intake of energy, protein, fat and carbohydrate in relation to current recommendations in children with malignant disease during chemotherapy and to follow their weight development. Dietary information was collected for 21 consecutive days via 7-day recording in 14 children, aged 5-16 years. The number of days with loss of appetite, vomiting, and the number of days on anti-emetic drugs were also recorded.

Dosimetry of fractionated experimental radioimmunotargeting with idiotypic and anti-idiotypic anticytokeratin antibodies.

Background: Repeated injections of iodine-125 (125I)-labeled tumor targeting anticytokeratin monoclonal antibody (TS1) and a nonlabeled antiidiotypic monoclonal antibody against TS1 (alphaTS1) were compared with a single injection of the radiolabeled TS1 in experimental radioimmunotargeting. Anti-TS1 was used to remove nontargeting TS1.

Methods: Nude mice were inoculated with HeLa Hep2 cells.

Radioimmunoscintigraphy with a novel monoclonal antiprostate antibody (E4): an experimental study in nude mice.

Background: Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death among men, despite achievements in diagnosis and therapy. Radioimmunolocalization and radioimmunotherapy of malignant tumors have demonstrated increasing potential and may become useful tools in the management of prostate cancer.

Methods: Nude mice were inoculated subcutaneously with cells from the poorly differentiated human prostate cancer cell line DU-145.

The influence of zymosan and indomethacin on liver and kidney tumor growth. An experimental study in rats.

Zymosan, a non-specific macrophage-stimulating agent, modifies favourably tumour growth in the liver but has minor effect on renal tumours. The mechanism accounting for variation is still to be clarified. The effect of zymosan on liver cancer may be mediated by the macrophage-monocyte system.