C-band pattern in lymphocytes of patients with soft tissue sarcomas

The pattern of heteromorphisms in the C-band-positive constitutive heterochromatin of human chromosomes No. 1, 9, and 16 was studied in peripheral lymphocytes of 45 patients with soft tissue sarcomas and 78 control individuals. The parameters of the heterochromatic regions analyzed were relative size, symmetry-asymmetry within homologous pairs, and incidence of inversions. No consistent differences were found in these parameters between controls and sarcoma patients.     

IgM and IgG responses during chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (r-EAE)

During chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (r-EAE) in guinea pigs, serum IgM and IgG concentrations increased markedly early in disease. Serum IgM and IgG increased similarly in control animals immunized with Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT). In the chronic phase of r-EAE but not in control animals, elevated IgM was also found in central nervous system (CNS) extracts, suggesting intrathecal IgM synthesis. IgG antibodies against myelin and myelin basic protein (MBP) were regularly detected in r-EAE sera from day 21 post inoculation (p.i.), reaching maximum levels in the early chronic phase. IgG antibodies against galactocerebroside (GC) and galactose appeared in some r-EAE sera. Oligoclonal IgG bands were demonstrated in all r-EAE guinea pig sera 21-26 days p.i. The bands in serum decreased in number and strength in the chronic phase. They could be traced to antibodies against MT in 4 of 10 animals, but not to antibodies against myelin, MBP, GC or galactose. Oligoclonal IgG bands were also regularly visualized in r-EAE CNS 124 days p.i., suggesting persistent intrathecal IgG synthesis. They varied in number and migration between different regions of individual CNS. Oligoclonal CNS IgG was related to antibodies against MT in only one of 7 animals, and in no case to antibodies against myelin.     

Fine needle aspiration biopsy: A useful tool in tumor cytogenetics with special reference to malignant lymphomas

A method for chromosome analysis of malignant cells by means of fine needle aspiration biopsy has been developed. The method has some obvious advantages compared to conventional surgical biopsy. During a 1-year period 25 consecutive non-Hodgkin, non-Burkitt lymphoma biopsies from 19 patients have been studied. In 14 out of 21 lymph node biopsies chromosome analysis was successful; whereas, four biopsies of subcutaneous lymphomas were unsuccessful.     

Short-term systemic prophylaxis with cefoxitin and doxycycline in colorectal surgery: A prospective,randomized study

The efficacy of cefoxitin or doxycycline as antibiotic prophylaxis in colorectal surgery was compared in 102 elective operations. Both drugs were used perioperatively only. Cefoxitin was used in 55 cases and doxycycline in 47. Ten patients in the cefoxitin group and 4 in the doxycycline group had wound infections. Three intraabdominal abscesses were seen, one after cefoxitin and two after doxycycline prophylaxis. All three were due to anastomotic leakage. Bacteriologic studies revealed no negative ecologic effects of prophylaxis. The short-term prophylaxis used did protect against serious infectious complications. The extended spectrum of cefoxitin provided no added benefit in prophylaxis. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated preoperatively with salicylazosulfapyridine run a greater risk of postoperative infection in spite of the prophylaxis.     

New atraumatic absorbing instrument for keeping viscera aside: DISARP

An adjustable and atraumatic instrument for keeping undesired viscera continuously out of the operative field was tested. It is composed of a metallic rod in the center of a foam plastic pad. Its absorption capacity is great, and it can be squeezed and replaced.     

Coronary Angioplasty and Cancer Risk: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Sweden

Background Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has become the reperfusion method of choice in patients with coronary artery disease. This sometimes complicated and lengthy procedure is performed using fluoroscopy and cineradiography or digital imaging, which may result in considerable exposure to ionizing radiation. Possible cancer risks in PTCA patients have been discussed, but never before examined in a population-based setting.Objective To assess the cancer risks following PTCA.Methods A cohort study was carried out based on nationwide registration of all coronary angioplasty procedures in Sweden between 1989 and 1998. The study encompassed a total of 23,097 PTCA patients followed up for cancer outcomes in the Swedish Cancer Register until December 31, 2000. The mean and median follow-up times were 4.8 and 4.5 years, respectively. The main outcome measures were standardized incidence ratios of cancer.Results Except for a transient excess of lung cancers, observed number of cancers in patients who had undergone coronary angioplasty did not differ from those expected in the general population. If anything, the overall cancer risk was lower in the PTCA group (SIR 0.94; 95% CI 0.88–0.99). In particular, no increased risks were detected for leukemias or thyroid cancer.Conclusion There was no indication of increased risks of leukemia or cancers overall in PTCA patients.     

Risk for invasive and borderline epithelial ovarian neoplasias following use of hormonal contraceptives: the Norwegian-Swedish Women's Lifestyle and Health Cohort Study

The risk of ovarian epithelial neoplasia following use of hormonal contraceptives (HC) was examined in data from the Norwegian-Swedish Women's Lifestyle and Health cohort including 103551 women aged 30-49 years in 1991-92. Follow-up through 2000 produced 214 incident cases of histologically confirmed epithelial ovarian neoplasias (135 invasive and 79 borderline cases). Using the Cox proportional hazard models, ever having used HC was associated with a decreased relative risk of epithelial ovarian cancer of 0.6 (95% CI 0.5-0.8). The effect of duration of HC use was convincing (P for trend <0.0001), and more important than age at start of use or time since first or last use. There was no significant difference between the effects of combined oral contraceptives and progestins-only contraceptives on risk (P=0.98). Similarly, there was no significant difference between the effects of ever use of HC on invasive and borderline ovarian neoplasia (P=0.37). In this cohort, use of HC seems to reduce the risk of epithelial ovarian neoplasia markedly and persistently in relation to the duration of use.     

Economic predictors of admissions to inpatient psychiatric treatment in Sweden

Abstract.Background: The ecological association between contracting labor markets and admissions to inpatient psychiatric treatment has been widely replicated, but little understood, in the United States. Its explanations include the uncovering mechanism that assumes a contracting labor market does not increase the incidence of illness, but rather decreases the ability of chronically ill persons or their families to pay the direct and indirect costs of outpatient care. Without such care, some of these persons supposedly become more ill and eventually require inpatient treatment subsidized by the state. This explanation would not apply to a society with universal access to high quality mental health services. The uncovering mechanism, therefore, would be less compelling if the ecological association were found in such a society. We apply time-series methods to data for the 336 months beginning January 1973 to determine if the association appears in Sweden.Results: Consistent with the findings from the United States, inpatient admissions of Swedish men and women move inversely over time with changes in the number of each employed.Conclusions: The uncovering mechanism cannot explain the Swedish findings. Its rivals, including the argument that economic contraction either increases the incidence of illness or reduces tolerance for the persistently mentally ill, deserve more attention at least in countries with universal access to care. We offer research strategies for discriminating between these remaining rivals.     

Country of birth,instrumental activities of daily living,self-rated health and mortality: a Swedish population-based survey of people aged 55-74

There is scant knowledge of the effects of country of birth on the health of individuals in the years prior to and after retirement. The aim of this study was to consider country of birth in relation to health status, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and all-cause mortality when adjusted for socioeconomic status (SES). Cross-sectional data were collected between 1986 and 1991 on 8959 individuals between the ages of 55 and 74. Self-reported data were analysed using a logistic regression model while the mortality data were analysed by means of a proportional hazard model. In the present study, immigrants from Southern Europe, Eastern Europe and Finland carried significantly increased risks of poor health even after adjustment for SES. Southern Europeans, refugees from Developing countries and Finns exhibited an increased risk of impaired IADL compared to Swedes, even after adjustment for SES. In conclusion, country of birth was associated with poor health status and impaired IADL. This association remained after adjustment for SES. In accordance with pre-study expectations, mortality was predicted by impaired IADL and male gender. Country of birth was not associated with all-cause mortality.