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Biomedical subjects

B Hansen

Publications and source records attributed to B Hansen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Stress echocardiography as a routine examination in coronary heart disease].

The value of stress echocardiography in the routine diagnosis of coronary heart disease was assessed in 100 consecutive patients (22 women, 78 men; mean age 57 [32-83] years) scheduled for coronary angiography because of suspected angina. Exercise consisted of bicycle ergometry (n = 50), on the one hand, simulated exercise with transoesophageal atrial stimulation (n = 16), dipyridamole (n = 33) and dobutamine (n = 33) infusions, on the other. 91 patients were successfully tested by at least one of these procedures, while exercise electrocardiography was successfully employed in only 78 (P < 0.05). Stress echocardiography had a greater sensitivity than exercise electrocardiography (90% vs 78%) and specificity (90% vs 73%). Semiquantitative measurement of wall movement distinguished patients without functionally effective stenosis from those with single or multiple vessel disease (P < 0.001). Stress echocardiography thus makes it possible in most cases to demonstrate or exclude functionally significant coronary artery stenoses.

Adult

[Hematopoietic growth factors in primary and therapy-related bone marrow insufficiency].

This investigation is retrospective and comprises 20 patients with bone-marrow insufficiency. During the period 1.4.1988-1.3.1991, these patients were treated with erythropoietin (Epo), the granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or the granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Thirteen patients had primary bone-marrow insufficiency: six had the myelodysplastic syndrome, three had primary myelofibrosis, two aplastic anemia and two myelomatosis. On account of dominating symptoms of anemia, five patients received Epo while eight received GM-CSF as part of an extensive clinical trial of this preparation. Seven patients with relapse of the haematological malignant disease had bone-marrow insufficiency and pancytopenia secondary to intensive chemotherapy/irradiation: four of these patients received GM-CSF and two received G-CSF with the object of increasing bone-marrow regeneration and to render further chemotherapy possible. One patient received GM-CSF with the object of improving bone-marrow function after autologous bone-marrow transplantation. Treatment with Epo for ten months combined with treatment with interferon for six months resulted in normalization of the haemoglobin concentration in one patient with bone-marrow insufficiency on account of primary myelofibrosis. Treatment with Epo for briefer periods in lower doses was without effect in four other patients with primary bone-marrow insufficiency. Treatment with GM-CSF and G-CSF resulted in neutrophil leukocytosis in 12 out of 15 patients (80%) and, in six out of 14 patients (43%), increased marrow cellularity was demonstrated by means of histological examination of the bone-marrow. One patient showed normal haemoglobin levels during treatment with GM-CSF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Analysis of the incubation period for measles in the epidemic in Greenland in 1951 using a variance components model.

This paper presents a model for analysing the incubation period of highly infectious diseases in populations where almost all susceptibles become infected during an epidemic. The model leads to a simple method for estimating the variance of the duration of the incubation period without any distributional assumptions. Further, the influence of covariates on the duration of the incubation period can be analysed. Data from the epidemic of measles in Greenland in 1951 are analysed and it is found that intersymptom times are correlated within households, suggesting that secondary cases are infected almost simultaneously. This result is inconsistent with a variation in the times of infection of secondary cases within a household which is often assumed when analysing data on measles. Prophylactic treatment did not prevent infection in the epidemic in Greenland, but it is found that the incubation period tended to be shorter for persons not receiving prophylactic treatment.

Analysis of Variance

Salivary gland involvement in autoimmune thyroiditis, with special reference to the degree of association with Sjögren's syndrome.

From a total of 63 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, 19 cases were further investigated to determine the degree of concomitant morphologic and functional salivary gland changes. For comparison, 21 of a total of 28 cases of primary Sjögren's syndrome were also examined. Of the 19 cases of autoimmune thyroiditis, 11 showed various degrees of salivary gland involvement on the basis of an analysis of lower lip salivary gland biopsy specimens, scintigraphy of the parotid, and unstimulated whole sialometry. Six of these cases fulfilled the criteria of primary Sjögren's syndrome. A remarkably high proportion of dark-staining acini was observed in the lower lip biopsy specimens of our patients with thyroiditis (8 of 19, 42%) and less among our patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (5 of 21, 24%). We conclude that significant involvement of salivary glands may occur in cases of autoimmune thyroiditis, which indicates that common mechanisms may frequently be operative in the development of thyroid and salivary gland immune disease.

Adult

Developmental and strain-specific heterogeneity of rat adrenal chromaffin cells recognized by a monoclonal antibody against intact chromogranin B.

We have raised a monoclonal antibody (MAB-1E10) reactive with the intact forms but not the processing products of the chromaffin cell vesicle protein chromogranin B (CgB). The antibody recognizes rat and human, but not bovine and chick adrenal chromaffin cells. In addition, MAB-1E10 immunoreactivity was detected in rat PC 12 pheochromocytoma cells and in pituitaries. Several other tissues, including pancreas, small intestine and superior cervical ganglia, which are known to contain CgB in endocrine cells or neurons, respectively, were found not to be reactive with MAB-1E10. Using short-term cultures of dissociated adrenal chromaffin cells from Hannover-Wistar rats, we found that the expression of intact CgB is developmentally regulated. Between embryonic day 19 and postnatal day 40, about 80% of adrenal chromaffin cells--identified by their reactivity with an antibody against the enzyme dopamine-beta-hydroxylase--were found to be reactive with MAB-1E10. The proportion of positive cells subsequently decreased to about 5% at postnatal day 90. In the presence of glucocorticoids, this decrease was reduced to about 45% CgB-positive cells at postnatal day 90. In another rat strain, Sprague-Dawley rats, the proportion of MAB-1E10-immunoreactive chromaffin cells (about 50%) remained constant from birth to adulthood. Our results indicate that CgB is differentially expressed and/or processed in different rat tissues, strains and during development, and furthermore, that expression or processing in rat chromaffin cells might be regulated by glucocorticoids. Intact CgB appears to be a marker for a subpopulation of chromaffin cells, but its function(s) remains to be clarified.

Adrenal Medulla

Clinical and metabolic findings in dogs with chronic renal failure fed two diets.

Exogenous creatinine clearance, urinary electrolyte excretions, calcium and phosphorus balance, serum cholesterol concentration, arterial blood pressure, and body weight were evaluated in dogs with chronic renal failure that were fed 2 commercial diets. Nine dogs ranging in age from 1 to 15 years were identified as having mild to moderate chronic renal failure (CRF, exogenous creatinine clearance = 0.5 to 2.13 ml/kg of body weight/min). These dogs and a group of 10 clinically normal controls were fed a diet containing 31% protein for 8 weeks at which time hematologic and biochemical evaluations and clearance studies were performed. All dogs then were fed a phosphorus-restricted diet containing 16% protein and then reevaluated after 8 weeks. The dogs in this study had hematologic and biochemical abnormalities typical of CRF. Urine absolute and fractional excretion of electrolytes was higher in dogs with CRF than in controls and was affected by diet. Serum cholesterol concentration was higher in dogs with CRF and increased in those dogs after feeding the low protein diet. Changes in dietary sodium intake did not affect arterial blood pressure. The phosphorus-restricted diet did not affect serum amino terminal parathyroid hormone concentration in either group. Control dogs lost body weight, whereas dogs with CRF gained weight when fed the low protein diet. We concluded that dogs with mild to moderately severe CRF have the same biochemical abnormalities and response to dietary restriction of protein and phosphorus as has been previously reported in dogs with experimentally induced CRF. Restriction of dietary sodium may not decrease arterial blood pressure in some dogs with CRF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed

Amino acid profiles in dogs with chronic renal failure fed two diets.

Amino acid profiles and serum albumin and serum total protein concentrations were evaluated in dogs with renal disease. Nine dogs ranging in age from 1 to 15 years were identified as having mild to moderate chronic renal failure (CRF; exogenous creatinine clearance, 0.5 to 2.13 ml/kg of body weight/min). These dogs and a group of 10 clinically normal control dogs were fed a diet containing 31% protein for 8 weeks, at which time serum and urine amino acid assays and clearance studies were performed. All dogs then were fed a diet containing 16% protein for 8 weeks and then reevaluated. Chronic renal failure was associated with mild abnormalities in serum concentrations of amino acids. When fed the higher protein diet, dogs with CRF had lower serum concentrations of glutamine, leucine, proline, and serine and higher serum concentrations of cystathionine and 3-methylhistidine than clinically normal control dogs. When fed the low protein diet, dogs with CRF had lower serum serine concentrations and higher serum concentrations of cystathionine, phenylalanine, and 3-methylhistidine. Urine excretion of amino acids in all dogs on both diets was low, and dogs with CRF had lower renal clearances of 3-methylhistidine than control dogs. There were no significant differences in concentrations of serum albumin and total solids between either group, regardless of diet. We concluded that dogs with mild to moderately severe CRF have mild abnormalities of serum free amino acid concentrations, but renal conservation of essential amino acids is not impaired.

Amino Acids

[Minicholecystectomy].

Mini-cholecystomectomy was performed in 24 unselected patients with symptomatic gallbladder stones with pain control by intra- and postoperative epidural analgesia. Twenty three patients were discharged on the second postoperative day, while one patient who required re-laparotomy for haemostasis had recovered completely on the third day postoperatively. Median pain score (VAS) was 0 at rest, during coughing and mobilisation. Pulmonary function was not influenced significantly and postoperative fatigue normalized after 48 hours. These preliminary, uncontrolled observations suggest that mini-cholecystectomy is advantageous compared to conventional cholecystectomy, and may represent an alternative to laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Adult

Larval exoantigens from ascarid nematodes are potent inducers of histamine release from human blood basophils.

Histamine release (HR) from washed human blood cells after challenge with the excretory-secretory antigens (ES) of the parasitic nematodes Toxocara canis and Ascaris suum was studied, employing a recently developed microfibre-based assay combined with hyperosmolar release media for maximal sensitivity. Blood samples were obtained from 30 patients suspected of parasite infection and 11 healthy volunteers serving as controls. Specific antibodies of IgE, IgG1 and IgG4 subclasses were determined by ELISA. Virtually no HR could be provoked by ES in the 11 controls. In contrast, HR was seen in 16 patients after challenge with T. canis ES and in 11 patients with A. suum ES. In the majority of these, HR was detectable after challenge with ES protein concentrations of less than 1 ng/ml, and the maximal HR obtained with ES was greater than that seen with optimal concentrations of anti-IgE. The HR after ES antigen challenge correlated with the amount of specific IgE in patient plasma, and coincided with the presence of specific IgG1 and IgG4.

Animals

Screening for familial hypercholesterolaemia by measurement of apolipoproteins in capillary blood.

A total of 3025 families with schoolchildren aged 6-8 years were offered pilot screening for familial hypercholesterolaemia by measurement of the concentrations of apolipoproteins A-1 and B in the children's capillary blood and by analysis of their family histories of early ischaemic heart disease. The concentrations of the apolipoproteins were determined by double rocket immunoelectrophoresis of an eluate of blood spotted on filter paper. Results were available from 2085 children. Because their B:A-1 ratio was above the 97.5 centile and their concentration of B was above the 99th centile, 54 children (2.6%) were selected to have their apolipoprotein concentrations reassessed. The 17 children (0.8%) whose values were persistently above the chosen cut off points, and all of their available first and second degree relatives, had fasting determinations of serum lipid concentrations carried out. Raised serum concentrations of low density lipoprotein cholesterol and an autosomal dominant pattern of hypercholesterolaemia were found in 12 children and 10 families, respectively, suggesting a higher incidence of familial hypercholesterolaemia than the reported 1:500. Further investigations among family members disclosed hypercholesterolaemia in 29 relatives. A family history of early ischaemic heart disease was elicited by questionnaire, and was positive in only five of the 12 schoolchildren with hypercholesterolaemia. We conclude that analysis of apolipoproteins from capillary blood spotted on filter paper is suitable for screening for familial hypercholesterolaemia, and that this method is more efficient than screening based on family history.

Apolipoproteins A

Prophylaxis of deep venous thrombosis after acute abdominal operation.

Two hundred and forty-five patients who underwent acute extensive abdominal operations were randomized into three regimens to achieve optimal prophylaxis of postoperative thromboembolic complications. All of the patients were screened by the 125I-fibrinogen uptake test for seven days and if the phlebographic findings were positive. Of 81 patients receiving low dose heparin, 12 had thromboembolism. Of 79 receiving a combination of low dose heparin and graded compression stockings, two had thromboembolism, and of 85 receiving a combination of dextran and graded compression stockings, 13 had this complication. This difference is significant in favor of the second treatment (p = 0.013). It is concluded that the combination of low dose heparin and graded compression stockings is an effective way to prevent thromboembolism after acute abdominal operations.

Adult

[Myeloid hemopoietic growth factors. Therapeutic possibilities and clinical experiences].

Colony stimulating factors (CSF) for white blood cells are formed in the bone-marrow and regulate proliferation and differentiation of the myeloid cells. Several of these hormones are cloned and manufactured by a recombinant technique for clinical use. The granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and the granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) both belong to this group. Trials are still at the commencing stage. In vitro investigations, animal experiments and human experiments have rendered promising results. After intensive chemotherapy followed by treatment with GM-CSF and G-CSF, it has been demonstrated that the period of neutropenia following bone-marrow suppression is abbreviated. Accelerated bone-marrow regeneration and reduced tendencies to infection have been demonstrated compared with so-called control patients. In patients with the myelodysplastic syndrome, marked increase in the neutrophile granulocytes in the peripheral blood has been observed during treatment with growth factors. Long-term treatment with G-CSF has proved particularly effective in chronic idiopathic and cyclic neutropenia. On the other hand, the growth factors can scarcely improve the prognosis in severe aplastic anaemia. Animal experiments and a single human trial suggest that G-CSF and GM-CSF treatment are indicated in bone-marrow insufficiency secondary to radioactive irradiation accidents. GM-CSF has normalized the leucocyte counts in AIDS patients with leucopenia without any marked alteration in the tendency to infection. Future studies will show whether simultaneous treatment with growth factors and anti-viral and anti-leukaemic treatments, respectively, can improve the therapeutic results.

Bone Marrow

Regulation of HIV replication in infected monocytes by IFN-alpha. Mechanisms for viral restriction.

In a survey of 15 different virus isolates, no IFN-alpha or IFN-beta activity was detected in culture fluids of HIV-infected T cells or monocytes. Exogenous rIFN-alpha added to T lymphoblast or monocyte cultures induced restriction in replication of the amphotropic HIV that infect both cell types. With IFN-treated HIV-infected T cells, levels of reverse transcriptase (RT) activity in culture fluids were half those in control cultures, but the frequency of infected cells or the levels of p24 Ag released in culture fluids were unchanged. In contrast to the modest effect of IFN on HIV-infected T cells, IFN-induced antiviral activity in monocytes was quite dramatic. Monocytes treated with IFN at the time of virus challenge showed no evidence of HIV infection: no p24 Ag or RT activity, no viral mRNA, and no proviral DNA. In this system, IFN interrupts one or more early event(s) in the virus replication cycle before formation of proviral DNA. Monocyte cultures infected with HIV 7 days before IFN treatment showed a gradual decrease in levels of p24 Ag and RT activity to baseline by 3 wk. HIV-induced cytopathic changes were markedly reduced, and the frequency of productively infected cells was less than or equal to 1% of total cells. Virus particles released 24 h after IFN treatment were 100- to 1000-fold less infectious than equal numbers of control virions. But, monocytes treated with IFN 7 days after HIV infection were not free of the retroviral pathogen: levels of proviral DNA in the IFN-treated and control HIV-infected cells were indistinguishable. The presence of large quantities of proviral DNA in cells with little or no evidence for active transcription documents a situation approaching true microbiological latency.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes

[Primary assessment of X-ray images in a casualty department].

During a period of three months, the primary diagnoses made by the duty officer in the casualty department on x-rays taken on patients with orthopaedic conditions were compared with the definitive diagnoses made after a conference with the radiological department. The consequences of possible erroneous diagnoses were also recorded. A total of 634 regions were examined in 555 patients. Incorrect diagnoses were made in 55 regions (8.5%). In 21 of these, alterations in the primary treatment were required. All of the treatments could be corrected by telephone (7) or an additional visit by the patient (14). X-rays of the cranium and the spine are known to be difficult to evaluate by inexperienced doctors. This was also found to be the case in the present investigation.

Clinical Competence

High-performance liquid chromatography of rat and mouse islet polypeptides: potential risk of oxidation of methionine residues during sample preparation.

After preparative high-performance liquid chromatography of mouse islet culture medium, concentrated on disposable C18 cartridges (Sep-Pak), an unexpected insulin immunoreactive peak eluting earlier than mouse insulin I and II was detected. Molecular mass determination by mass spectrometry supported its suspected identity as methionine sulphoxide insulin II. We have examined the formation of Met-O derivatives of insulin II, glucagon and pancreatic polypeptide during sample preparation (Sep-Pak and Speed-Vac concentrating). The oxidation of methionine residues was found to depend very much on the buffer, the organic modifier and the procedure. In particular the use of methanol-trifluoroacetic acid resulted in extensive oxidation. The oxidation could be minimized by adding 2 mM dithiothreitol to the buffer and by degassing and/or nitrogen-bubbling of the buffer. Minimal formation of Met-O derivatives is important for the quantitation of methionine-containing polypeptides.

Animals

[Isolated sphenoid sinusitis].

A case of isolated sphenoid sinusitis following an influenza-like illness in a woman aged 34 years is presented. The importance of the diagnosis and treatment is emphasized.

Adult