The haemodynamic effect of transcranial Doppler-guided high-dose nimodipine treatment in established vasospasm after subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Eleven patients (7 females) with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and transcranial Doppler (TCD) signs of vasospasm during prophylactic intravenous nimodipine treatment (2 mg/h) were treated with TCD-guided high-dose (4 mg/h) intravenous nimodipine. The patients were followed clinically and with serial TCD investigations. Increasing nimodipine to high-dose treatment led to a reduction of the abnormally elevated mean flow velocities (FV) in all patients.

A subtle disturbance in the feedback regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the early phase of Alzheimer's disease.

In an attempt to find if a disturbance in the function of the feedback regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is an early feature in Alzheimer's disease (AD), 35 outpatients (mean age 76.8 years) with a mild to moderate AD were compared to 20 controls (mean age 73.8 years) in their response to different doses of dexamethasone.

Abnormalities in adrenal androgens, but not of glucocorticoids, in early Alzheimer's disease.

In an attempt to evaluate possible adrenal abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease (AD), prestimulus levels and ACTH-stimulated serum levels of steroid hormones, corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were measured in 18 patients with early AD (8 men, 10 women; 74.6 +/- 6.5 years, mean +/- SD) and 19 healthy controls (10 men, 9 women; 74.

Impression technique for the assessment of oedema: comparison with a new tactile sensor that measures physical properties of tissue.

To measure tissue oedema, the impression technique and a new tactile sensor technique are compared and evaluated in a silicone rubber model and in an in vivo rat testis model. The principles of the two techniques differ in that the impression technique evaluates interstitial fluid flow FT and peak force F(O) when tissue is compressed, whereas the tactile sensor evaluates the hardness/softness or change in resonance frequency delta f when a vibrating rod is attached to tissue. Both techniques can detect changes in silicone hardness/softness or in hormone-induced changes of testis interstitial fluid.

Impairment of cerebral perfusion during obstructive sleep apneas.

Cerebral circulation was studied in six patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by transcranial Doppler. Cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV), pulsatility index (Pi), intra-arterial radial blood pressure, transcutaneous blood gases, and respiration were recorded during sleep with or without apneas. There was a concomitant increase of mean arterial pressure (Pa) and CBFV by 11 +/- 6% (p < 0.

Prevalence of positive skin prick tests, allergic asthma, and rhinoconjunctivitis in teenagers in northern Sweden.

The prevalence of positive skin prick tests (SPT) for common allergens and symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis or asthma was investigated in Umeå in northern Sweden in 1987. Skin prick tests with 10 allergens common in Sweden and a questionnaire were used to examine 1112 teenagers. All subjects with a positive skin prick test or symptoms were interviewed, and they were further investigated by a serum specific IgE test, a ventilatory lung function test, and a physical examination.

Three-dimensional knee joint movements during a step-up: evaluation after anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

The three-dimensional motions of the knee were analysed during closed kinetic chain knee extension in 13 patients with unilateral chronic injury of the anterior cruciate ligament. The patients ascended a platform, and serial stereophotogrammetric roentgenograms were exposed from about 100 degrees of flexion to full extension. From a position of about 100 degrees of knee flexion and 20 degrees of internal rotation, the tibia rotated externally during the extension.

MRI and neurology in acute whiplash trauma. No correlation in prospective examination of 39 cases.

39 consecutive cases of whiplash injury of the neck were examined clinically and with MRI at a mean of 11 days after trauma. 26 of these showed changes on MRI with disc lesions in 25, 10 of which were classified as disc herniations, and a muscle lesion in 1 case. All had neck pain or headache.

Hemodynamic changes during dipyridamole stress in patients with aortic stenosis.

Dipyridamole is a potent vasodilator used in pharmacologic stress testing. Patients with severe aortic stenosis are not suitable for exercise, and are usually not subjected to testing with vasodilator substances. The aim of the present study was to investigate hemodynamic changes during dipyridamole stress test in patients with aortic stenosis and to see if these changes where reversible by theophylline, an aminophylline derivative.

Personality characteristics of stress incontinent women: a pilot study.

Personality traits were assessed by means of the Karolinska Scale of Personality (KSP) and the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) in 45 genuine stress incontinent women and compared with a reference group of continent women in order to investigate the possible impact of this chronic condition on the personality. Women with stress incontinence of long duration scored significantly higher than controls on the KSP scales somatic anxiety, psychic anxiety, psychasthenia and suspicion and on the EPI lie-scale. These findings point to the importance of personality factors in chronic conditions such as urinary incontinence.

CSF concentration gradients of monoamine metabolites in patients with hydrocephalus.

Concentration gradients of homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), were assessed in 762 successive CSF fractions (2 ml lumbar CSF) from 15 patients with the adult hydrocephalus syndrome (AHS) and 11 patients with hydrocephalus of other causes (mixed group). A mean volume of 49.6 (SD 11.

Differences in bronchoalveolar cell response to nitrogen dioxide exposure between smokers and nonsmokers.

We have previously reported on the bronchoalveolar inflammatory effects of the common air pollutant NO2 in nonsmokers. In this study, we have investigated these effects in tobacco smokers. Eight young nonbronchitic smokers and, as a reference group, eight healthy life-time nonsmokers were exposed to 3.

Computer-assisted evaluation of dipyridamole thallium-201 SPECT in patients with aortic stenosis.

Unlabelled: Dipyridamole SPECT detects significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients without aortic stenosis. This study was done to establish normal 201Tl distribution limits in patients with aortic stenosis and to apply these normal limits to patients with aortic stenosis and angiographically significant CAD (> or = 75% area reduction).

Methods: Fifty-two patients (mean age 68 yr; mean valve area 0.

Grip strength of the human hand--measurements on normal subjects with a new hand strength analysis system (Hastras).

This study describes a method of acquiring data from healthy and non-injured men that can be used as reference data when measuring the grip strength of the human hand using newly developed, PC-based hand strength analysis equipment--'Hastras'. Hastras can be used for continuous measurement and recording of force when the subject grips a sensor with maximum power. Computerized analysis of the force signal gives information about maximum force, fatigue, area and rise (force/s).

Elevated levels of total and Puumala virus-specific immunoglobulin E in the Scandinavian type of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

In a previous study, it was reported that the total immunoglobulin E (IgE) level was increased in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether specific IgE is synthesized during the course of the disease. For this purpose, an epsilon-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed.

Lateral catheter insertion together with three purse-string sutures reduces the risk for leakage during peritoneal dialysis.

Insertion of a catheter is needed to perform peritoneal dialysis. Techniques for insertion vary and have different drawbacks with regard to risk for leakage, secondary peritonitis, and catheter dysfunction. This study includes 85 consecutive patients who underwent a total of 114 insertions; peritoneal dialysis catheters (Tenckhoff, double-cuffed) were inserted under local anesthesia and using a lateral technique--through the rectus muscle--plus 3 purse-string sutures.

Early detection of major complications after abdominal aortic surgery: predictive value of sigmoid colon and gastric intramucosal pH monitoring.

The early detection and reversal of gastrointestinal ischaemia is thought to play a key role in minimizing the incidence of complications after abdominal aortic surgery. In an open prospective non-selective study intramucosal pH (pHi) was monitored in 27 patients undergoing elective aortic surgery and in seven submitted to emergency procedures. The pHi was monitored in the sigmoid colon in all 34 patients and in the stomach in 26.

Comparative evaluation of nine kits for rapid diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis and Epstein-Barr virus-specific serology.

Rapid diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated infectious mononucleosis was compared by using nine kits and EBV-specific serology. Specific antibodies indicative of primary EBV infection were detected in 46 of 108 (43%) serum samples of infectious mononucleosis patients. The sensitivities and specificities of the rapid kits varied from 63 to 84% and 84 to 100%, respectively.

Evaluation of an exposure setup for studying effects of diesel exhaust in humans.

Diesel exhaust is a common air pollutant and work exposure has been reported to cause discomfort and affect lung function. The aim of this study was to develop an experimental setup which would allow investigation of acute effects on symptoms and lung function in humans exposed to diluted diesel exhaust. Diluted diesel exhaust was fed from an idling lorry through heated tubes into an exposure chamber.

Arterial spasticity and cold intolerance in relation to time after digital replantation.

Cold induced arterial vasospasm was studied in ten patients with single digit replantation, by measuring finger systolic pressure at different finger temperatures. Each patient was examined three times; within 2 weeks of surgery, after 1 year and after 3 years. The replantations were performed using long arterial and venous grafts.

Laxity after cruciate ligament injury in 94 knees. The KT-1000 arthrometer versus roentgen stereophotogrammetry.

We examined 94 knees with chronic anterior cruciate ligament injuries, 55 of which had been operated with ligament reconstruction, using the KT-1000 arthrometer (89 N anterior force) and roentgen stereophotogrammetry (RSA, 150 N anterior, 80 N posterior force). In intact knees the tibial displacement did not differ between the methods. In injured knees, operated or not, the KT-1000 recorded smaller AP translations and side-differences than RSA.

Time course and duration of bronchodilatation with formoterol dry powder in patients with stable asthma.

Background: Formoterol, a new beta 2 agonist, is long and fast acting when given as an aerosol. The aim was to determine the onset and duration of bronchodilatation with formoterol as a dry powder compared with salbutamol dry powder and with placebo.

Methods: Fifteen patients with stable asthma with a reversibility of 15% or more participated in a double blind, within patient study.

Urodynamics in women with stress incontinence before and after surgery.

Pad test, cystometry and analysis of micturition were performed in 36 women with stress incontinence before and a year after operation with either retropubic urethrocystopexy (n = 22) or pubococcygeal repair (n = 14). There was no difference in the subjective cure rate between the two groups of women (77% and 79%, respectively). The pad test 1 year after operation showed that 59% of the women in the urethrocystopexy group and 43% of the women in the pubococcygeal repair group had stopped leaking urine.