Pancreatic autoantibodies and pancreatic function in Sjögren's syndrome

Abstract. Pancreatic autoantibodies were determined in 49 patients with Sjögren's syndrome and related to functional parameters. Pancreatic duct autoantibodies (PDA) were detected in the sera of three patients, and all showed abnormal exocrine pancreatic function. Islet cell antibodies (ICA) were not detected in the sera of the 49 patients, including two individuals with diabetes mellitus. In conclusion, PDA occur in patients with Sjögren's syndrome, and may be associated with exocrine pancreatic dysfunction.     

Screening of an Elderly Female Population for Hypo- and Hyperthyroidism by Use of a Thyroid Hormone Panel

ABSTRACT. The elderly female population living in a rural primary health care district in the south of Sweden was screened for hypo- and hyperthyroidism. A total of 1 442 (97.3 %) of the 1 482 women 60 years of age or older attended the study. By use of a computer-evaluated thyroid hormone panel, 178 women (12.3%) were identified as probably abnormal. Among them, 8 women (0.55% of total) with previously unknown thyroid disease were detected as overtly hypothyroid. If also 13 women with spontaneous subclinical hypothyroidism were included, the prevalence of earlier unknown hypothyroidism was 21/1 442 (1.5%). The number of subjects with hyperthyroidism discovered by screening was 28/1 442 (1.9%). Although much remains to be elucidated regarding medical, social and economic factors, the high figures obtained for newly discovered abnormal thyroid function suggest that screening for hyper- and hypothyroidism may be worthwhile in such an elderly female population.     

COMPARISON OF VENTILATION AND GAS EXCHANGE IN ANAESTHETIZED INFANTS AND CHILDREN DURING SPONTANEOUS AND ARTIFICIAL VENTILATION

Measurements of minute and alveolar ventilation (VE and VA),respiratory frequency, end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration(E'CO₂), deadspace (VD) and carbon dioxide output (VCO₂) weremade in 22 anaesthetized infants and young children during spontaneous(SV) and intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV).In the children who had been given an opioid premedication,E'CO₂ concentrations were significantly greater during SV thanthe predetermined value set for IPPV. In infants premedicatedwith atropine alone, E'CO₂ during SV was only slightly greaterthan during IPPV, and VA was not changed. A mean tidal volume(VT) of 9.8 ± 2.5 ml kg^–1, and a mean VE of between225 and 250 ml min kg^–1, were required to produce (E'CO₂)4.5% during IPPV. Despite a decrease in respiratory frequency,VD/VT and VD per minute were both decreased by IPPV in infants.VCO₂ was unchanged in both groups. The decrease in wasted ventilationseen during IPPV in infants supports its use in clinical practice. ^*Department of Anaesthesia, St. Georges Hospital, BlackshawRoad, London SW17. ^**Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospital, S-221 85,Lund, Sweden.     

FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS AND PATHOGENETIC CONSIDERATIONS OF THE NEUROPATHY IN THE SPONTANEOUSLY DIABETIC BB-WISTAR RAT

Sima A.A.F. & Hay K. (1981) Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 7, 341–350
Functional aspects and pathogenetic considerations of the neuropathy in the spontaneously diabetic BB-Wistar rat
Electrophysiological features were studied longitudinally in the spontaneously diabetic insulin-dependent, BB-Wistar rat. These were correlated in time with the state of the patency of the protective barriers in peripheral nerves. Motor nerve conduction velocity was significantly slowed only 3 weeks after the onset of the diabetes. When ultrastructural changes began, the maximal conduction velocity was further diminished. The amplitudes of evoked muscle potentials and distal latencies were significantly altered in diabetic rats. No change in the permeability of the blood-nerve barrier could be demonstrated before, during or after the onset of the nerve conduction defect. The possible pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed and a possible mechanism is suggested, namely a reduced availability of energy to axons in diabetes.     

Epidemiologic study of excessive oral melanin pigmentation with special reference to the influence of tobacco habits

Abstract – The prevalence of oral melanin pigmentation was studied in a population of 30 118 adult individuals in Sweden. Among these, 9.9% showed melanin pigmentation in the oral mucosa. The anterior labial gingiva in the mandible was the most frequently pigmented location. The presence of melanin pigmentation was positively correlated to tobacco smoking. Among tobacco smokers 21.5% were pigmented as compared to 3.0% among individuals not using tobacco. The smoking-rdated oral pigmentation, smokers' melanosis, could thus be calculated at a prevalence of 18.5% among smokers and the total frequency of smokers' melanosis was calculated at 6.8%. The prevalence of pigmentation was found to increase promninendy during the first year of smoking but aiso to decrease to the level found among non-tobacco users about 3 years after cessation of smoking. Snuff dipping did not significandy elevate the prevalence of oral melanin pigmentation.     

IMMUNOREACTIVE TRYPSIN SCREENING FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS

ABSTRACT. Immunoreactive cationic trypsin (irCT) was measured in 22 cystic fibrosis (CF) and 132 control infants. IrCT was analysed with radioimmunoassay of dried blood samples collected for PKU screening around the 5th day of life and stored on filter paper. The mean ± 1 SD level of irCT for the control infants was 42±19 μg/l. Sixteen of the 22 CF children had an irCT level above 100 μg/l (mean + 3 SD) while 6 had a level at or below this cut-off limit. A specificity of 99%, which gives a sensitivity of 73%, and an approximative noise: signal ratio of 30: 1, suggests that the irCT test may be unsatisfactory as a neonatal screening method for CF.     

SENSORY NERVE CONDUCTION VELOCITY AS CORRELATED TO FIBRE SIZE IN EXPERIMENTAL UNDERNUTRITION IN THE RAT

The nerve conduction velocity was examined in sensory dorsal roots of pre- and postnatally undernourished and well-nourished control rats after supramaximal stimulation. Altogether forty-eight roots were examined: twenty-four from three undernourished rats 180 days of age, and twenty-four serving as controls from three well-nourished rats of the same age. It was found that the fastest sensory nerve conduction velocity was reduced in proportion to the reduction of the thickest myelinated fibres of the dorsal roots in undernourished rats.