Background and aim: The value of the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) is useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Previous studies on lung function in individuals with severe alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) have shown a variable annual decline in FEV1 (∆FEV1). The aim of this study was to analyze ∆FEV1 and to identify risk factors fo

We investigate the propagation of electromagnetic waves in a cylindrical waveguide with an arbitrary cross section filled with a nonlinear material. The electromagnetic field is expanded in the usual eigenmodes of the waveguide, and the coupling between the modes is quantified. We derive the wave equations governing each mode with special emphasis on the situation with a dominant TE mode. The resu

Objective. To study the impact of the utilization of antibiotics in children at the population level on the frequency of penicillin-nonsusceptible pneumococci (PNSP). Design. Children ages 0 to 6 years with a nasopharyngeal culture of PNSP were registered on place of residency in the 20 municipalities of the former Malmohus County (since 1998 a part of Skane County). Where possible the total numbe

We report a case of congenital absence of the portal vein (CAPV) in an adult male who underwent resection for hepatocellular carcinoma. CAPV is a rare anomaly; only 29 cases, mostly in children, have been presented to date. An association between CAPV and cardiac abnormalities, polysplenia syndrome, skeletal abnormalities and liver tumors has been seen in children. To the best of our knowledge thi

Metallothionein is a protein with affinity for metals and is present in several tumors. We examined its immunohistochemical expression in 37 resected primary liver tumors and 117 colorectal metastases. The reaction was intense in the two fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinomas and in many of the hepatocytes of the pseudotumor case of focal nodular hyperplasia. The reaction was low or moderate in 5

This paper discusses liver resection for intraabdominal leiomyosarcoma metastases as a therapy for carefully selected patients. Of the 83 hepatectomies performed from 1992 to 1996, five were resections for liver metastases due to intraabdominal leiomyosarcoma, in 3 patients. The surgical indication was single liver metastases, without any evidence of extrahepatic disease. No mortality occurred dur

Background/Aims: Preliminary clinical trials have suggested that dearterialization (interruption of arterial blood supply) is beneficial to patients with liver tumours. The aim of this report was to review the outcome of all patients undergoing dearterialization for colorectal liver metastases and to analyze whether refinement of the technique was followed by improvement in outcome. Methods: Retro

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term palliative effect of self-expanding nitinol esophagael stents in patients with malignant dysphagia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients with severe dysphagia secondary to malignant esophageal strictures were treated with self-expanding nitinol stents. The strictures were caused by squamous carcinoma (n = 43), adenocarcinoma (n = 28), anastomotic tumor rec

Background and Objectives: Hepatic resection of noncolorectal metastases appears to be performed with increasing frequency. Reported experience is limited and indications are controversial. Methods: Retrospective review of curative hepatic resection in 32 patients (median age 58 years) during 1970- 1995. The primary tumor was a carcinoid in seven patients, other endocrine tumor in five patients, m

The aim of this study was to compare interstitial laser thermotherapy with excision of a liver tumour. A dimethylhydrazine-induced adenocarcinoma was transplanted (implanted if not stated otherwise) into the left lateral lobe of the rat liver, and treatment was performed 8 days later. In the main experiment, rats were treated with resection of the tumour-bearing robe or underwent interstitial lase

Transient hepatic arterial occlusion causes necrosis in solid hepatic tumors in the rat, but regrowth of tumor cells and capillaries takes place from the tumor periphery. It was therefore considered of interest to combine this treatment with the angiogenesis inhibitor TNP-470 (therapeutic model). Wistar rats with a dimethylhydrazine-induced adenocarcinoma implanted into the liver received one of t

Background/Aims: The aim was to investigate the effect of blood inflow occlusion on lesion size and ultrasonographic findings during interstitial laser thermotherapy of normal liver. Methodology: Pigs were treated with or without hepatic inflow occlusion at a laser power of 3 W or without inflow occlusion at 5 W (target temperature 43°C). The thermotherapy system consisted of an Nd:YAG laser and a

Objective: To examine the effect of different temperatures and exposure times in interstitial laser thermotherapy. Design: Controlled laboratory study. Setting: University hospital, Sweden. Material: 48 male Wistar FU rats with dimethylhydrazine-induced adenocarcinoma transplanted into the liver. Intervention: Treatment was given with an Nd:YAG laser and a feedback system for temperature regulatio

This is a prospective pilot investigation of interstitial laser treatment. Twelve patients were treated at 13 sites: seven patients had metastatic or primary liver cancer (with a total of 21 tumour nodules), two had pancreatic carcinoma and four patients had disease at other sites. Treatments mere performed with an Nd-YAG laser, using a high power (6 or 10 W), short-time (5 min) technique or a fee

The aim of this study was to describe the performance of a closed loop interstitial laser thermotherapy system in processed liver and to demonstrate its suitability for treating a vascularized tumour in vivo. The thermotherapy system consisted of an Nd:YAG laser and a temperature feedback circuit including an automatic thermometry system and thermistor probes. Experiments in processed liver were p

Objective: Evaluation of incidence and outcome of implantation metastases after percutaneous fine-needle biopsy or biliary drainage. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: University hospital, Sweden. Subjects: Eight patients with implantation metastases from gastrointestinal cancers after percutaneous fine-needle biopsy (n = 7) or biliary drainage (n = 1). Main outcome measures: Incidence of impla

A sapphire probe and a bare fibre were compared with respect to temperature control and distribution and light fluence in interstitial laser thermotherapy. Experiments were performed in processed liver using an Nd-YAG laser and output power levels of 1-4 W. The temperature was controlled at a distance of 10 mm using a feedback circuit with an automatic thermometry system and thermistor probes. Wit