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- Berg, Thomas, 1975-
(författare)
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Medical Treatment and Grading of Bell's Palsy
- 2009
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The main aim of this thesis was to evaluate the effect of prednisolone and valaciclovir in a large number of Bell's palsy patients. The incidence and intensity of pain around the ear, in the face or in the neck during the first two months of palsy, and its prognostic value, was also assessed. We also investigated how study design and choice of analysis method affect the rate of facial recovery. Furthermore, the agreement between the Sunnybrook, House-Brackmann and Yanagihara facial grading systems was evaluated. From May 2001 to September 2007, a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial with 12-month follow-up was performed in patients with Bell's palsy. Of 839 randomised patients, 829 were included in the intention-to-treat analysis; 206 received placebo plus placebo, 210 prednisolone plus placebo, 207 valaciclovir plus placebo, and 206 prednisolone plus valaciclovir. Time to recovery was significantly shorter in the 416 patients who received prednisolone compared with the 413 who did not (p<0.0001). At 12 months, 300 of 416 patients (72%) in the prednisolone group had recovered compared with 237 of 413 patients (57%) in the no prednisolone group (p<0.0001). Valaciclovir was not found to affect time to facial recovery or outcome at 12 months. Prednisolone and/or valaciclovir did not affect the incidence or intensity of pain. Presence of pain at day 11 to 17 indicated a worse prognosis for facial recovery at 12 months. We also found that recovery rates in a Bell's palsy trial are substantially affected by the choice of analysis method and definition of facial recovery. We used weighted Kappa statistics in 100 examinations of patients with facial palsy to assess the agreement between the Sunnybrook, House-Brackmann and Yanagihara scales. The highest agreement was found between the regional Sunnybrook and Yanagihara scales. An evaluative difference between the Sunnybrook and House-Brackmann systems was observed.
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| 3. |
- Berg, Thomas, et al.
(författare)
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The Course of Pain in Bell's Palsy : Treatment With Prednisolone and Valacyclovir
- 2009
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Ingår i: Otology and Neurotology. - 1531-7129 .- 1537-4505. ; 30:6, s. 842-846
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To evaluate the effect of prednisolone and valacyclovir on ipsilateral pain around the ear and in the face or neck in Bell's palsy. The incidence and intensity of pain during the first 2 months of palsy and its prognostic value were also assessed. Study Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Setting: Sixteen tertiary referral centers in Sweden and 1 in Finland. Patients: Data are part of the Scandinavian Bell's palsy study; 829 patients aged 18 to 75 years with onset of palsy within 72 hours were included. Follow-up time was 12 months. Intervention: Patients were assigned to 1 of 4 treatment arms in a factorial fashion: placebo plus placebo; prednisolone 60 mg daily for 5 days, then tapering for 5 days, plus placebo; valacyclovir 1,000 mg 3 times daily for 7 days plus placebo; or prednisolone plus valacyclovir. Main Outcome Measures: Pain was registered on a visual analog scale within 72 hours, at Days 11 to 17, 1 month, and 2 months. Facial function was assessed with the Sunnybrook and House-Brackmann systems. Results: Prednisolone and/or valacyclovir did not significantly affect the incidence or intensity of pain during the first 2 months. Pain was registered in 542 (65%) of 829 patients. At 2 months, 53 (8%) of 637 patients still reported pain. Subjects with pain at Days 11 to 17 had lower facial recovery rates at 12 months than those with no pain (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Prednisolone and/or valacyclovir did not affect the incidence or intensity of ipsilateral pain in Bell's palsy. The incidence of pain was similar during the first 2 weeks and then decreased. Presence of pain at Days 11 to 17 indicated a worse prognosis for facial recovery.
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| 4. |
- Berg, Thomas, et al.
(författare)
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The Effect of Study Design and Analysis Methods on Recovery Rates in Bell's Palsy
- 2009
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Ingår i: The Laryngoscope. - : Wiley. - 0023-852X .- 1531-4995. ; 119:10, s. 2046-2050
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives/Hypothesis: We investigated how study design affects the rate of recovery in Bell's palsy. Study Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Methods: Data were extracted from the Scandinavian Bell's palsy study, which included 829 patients. The study design was factorial; 416 patients given prednisolone, 413 not given prednisolone, 413 patients given valacyclovir, 416 not given valacyclovir. Data were analyzed with intention-to-treat principle and complete-case analysis methods and recovery was defined as Sunnybrook score 100, House-Brackmann grade I or <= grade II at 12 months. Results: With the intention-to-treat principle and last-observation-carried-forward method (n = 829) and recovery defined as Sunnybrook 100, 300 of the 416 patients (72%) receiving prednisolone had recovered compared with 237 of the 413 (57%) who did not receive prednisolone (P < .0001). With recovery defined as House-Brackmann grade 1, the corresponding recovery rates were 324 of 416 (78%) and 266 of 413 (64%) (P < .0001). With complete-case analysis and recovery defined House-Brackmann grade I (n = 782), 335 of 389 patients (86%) given prednisolone recovered compared with 277 of 393 (70%) in the group not given prednisolone (P < .0001). With recovery defined as House-Brackmann <= grade II (n = 797), the corresponding recovery rates were 380 of 396 (96%) and 353 of 401 (88%) (P < .0001). The analysis method affected the recovery rates in the valacyclovir and no-valacyclovir groups in a similar way as in the prednisolone and no-prednisolone groups. Conclusions: Recovery rates in a Bell's palsy study are substantially affected by the choice of analysis method and definition of recovery.
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| 5. |
- Bergqvist, David, et al.
(författare)
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Tumörer i glomus caroticum : en multidisciplinär angelägenhet
- 2009
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Ingår i: Läkartidningen. - 0023-7205 .- 1652-7518. ; 106:20, s. 1362-1363
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Carotid Body Tumours (CBT) are rare. In Sweden 1997-2006 only 28 operations were registered in the National Inpatient Registry, 2.8/year. Especially large tumours constitute a surgical challenge. This paper reports on the Uppsala experience of treating these tumours. Principles for diagnosis and treatment are discussed. A centralization is suggested.
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| 7. |
- Boström, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
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Design proposal of electrical system for linear generator wave power plants
- 2009
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Ingår i: 35TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF IEEE INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS. - : IEEE. - 9781424446483 - 9781424446506 ; , s. 4180-4185
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper describes an electrical system layout for a wave power plant connecting linear generators to the grid. The electrical power out from the wave energy converters must be converted before they can be connected to the grid. The conversion is carried out in marine substations that will be placed on the seabed.The paper presents experimental power data from a wave energy converter that has been in operation at the Lysekil research site since March 2006. Moreover, results and analyses from experiments and simulations from tests with the generator connected to a rectifier and filter are presented. A simulation is made to show the difference between having the generator connected to a linear load and a nonlinear load, which would be the case when the generator is connected to the grid.
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| 8. |
- Botling, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of thawing on RNA integrity and gene expression analysis in fresh frozen tissue
- 2009
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Ingår i: Diagnostic molecular pathology (Print). - 1052-9551 .- 1533-4066. ; 18:1, s. 44-52
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Biobanks of fresh, unfixed human tissue represent a valuable source for gene expression analysis in translational research and molecular pathology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of thawing on RNA integrity and gene expression in fresh frozen tissue specimens. Portions of snap frozen tonsil tissue, unfixed or immersed in RNAlater, were thawed at room temperature for 0 minute, 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours, 6 hours, and 16 hours before RNA extraction. Additionally, tonsil tissue underwent repetitive freezing and thawing cycles. RNA integrity was analyzed by microchip gel electrophoresis and gene expression by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for selected genes (FOS, TGFB1, HIF1A, BCL2, and PCNA). Minimal RNA degradation was detected after 30 minutes of thawing in unfixed samples. This degradation was accompanied by relevant changes in gene expression for FOS and BCL2 at 45 minutes. Modified primer design or the use of different housekeeping genes could not rectify the changes for FOS. Repetitive thawing cycles had similar effects on RNA integrity. The incubation of the tissue in RNAlater efficiently prevented RNA degradation. In conclusion, degradation of RNA in frozen tissue occurs first after several minutes of thawing. Already minimal decrease in RNA quality may result in significant changes in gene expression patterns in clinical tissue samples.
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| 10. |
- Cederblad, Lena, et al.
(författare)
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Cancer of the parotid gland; long-term follow-up : A single centre experience on recurrence and survival
- 2009
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Ingår i: Acta Oncologica. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0284-186X .- 1651-226X. ; 48:4, s. 549-555
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to investigate the results of treatment of malignant parotid gland tumours at a single centre during a 56 year period, focusing on tumour control and survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: At Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden, 144 patients (73 male and 71 female) with parotid cancer were treated between 1948 and 2004. The mean and median ages were 62 and 65 years, respectively (range 16-89 years). Surgery was the primary treatment in 113 (78%) patients followed by radiotherapy in 81. Postoperative radiotherapy in doses of 64-66 Gy, where the intention was curative and delivered with either split course or not, was administered to a majority of patients after 1970. The split-course mode was practised between 1970 and 1989. The median follow-up time was 8.3 years for patients still alive. There were 57 (40%) relapses, of which 40 were local recurrences with 26 inside the treatment volume. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival was 53%. The majority of tumour-related deaths appeared in the first 3-5 years after diagnosis. Age, co-morbidity, the presence of lymph node metastases, adenoid cystic carcinoma and extent of disease were important for outcome; gender, however, was not. We found no difference in the survival between patients following split course therapy versus continuous fractionation. No difference could be seen in the survival of patients treated in the 1970s versus the 1990s. CONCLUSIONS: Age, nodal engagement, a higher T-stage, adenoid cystic carcinoma histopathology, facial palsy and intercurrent disease worsen the outcome of patients, whereas gender does not. Treatment principles at our hospital have been surgery followed by radiotherapy since the early 1970s even though a split course technique was practised during a part of this period. Survival has not improved markedly. Thus, there is scope for improvement for this group of patients.
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