Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Myrvang

Publications and source records attributed to B Myrvang.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Risk of toxoplasmic encephalitis in AIDS patients: indications for prophylaxis.

To establish the indications for primary prophylaxis against toxoplasmic encephalitis in the Norwegian HIV-positive population, we estimated the incidence of toxoplasmic encephalitis, and related the degree of immunodeficiency and the presence of IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) to the development of toxoplasmic encephalitis. This retrospective study includes all HIV-positive patients at our hospital from April 1983 to October 1994 (n = 705). A total of 238 patients had AIDS, which represents almost 90% of all AIDS patients in Oslo. Autopsy was done in over 70% of the patients who died during this period; 19 patients developed toxoplasmic encephalitis (8.0%). The median CD4 cell count was 75 x 10(6) cell/I (range 0-280) at the time of diagnosis of toxoplasmic encephalitis. T. gondii serology was studied in 698 (99.0%) of the patients, and was found positive for 17.8%. Of the patients with toxoplasmic encephalitis 18/19 had IgG antibodies against T. gondii and of the 40 AIDS patients who had anti-T. gondii IgG, 18 (45%) developed toxoplasmic encephalitis. We conclude that there is indication for prophylactic treatment of HIV positive patients who have IgG antibodies against T. gondii and who have fewer than 200 x 10(6) CD4 cells/I.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1996

Prevalence of hepatitis C genotypes among patients with chronic hepatitis C in Norway. Construct Group.

Among 116 patients with biopsy-confirmed chronic hepatitis C (Riba 2 or Riba 3 positive) in a multicenter study in southern Norway on interferon, we determined hepatitis C virus genotype by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the 5' NCR. The RFLP method was supplemented by and compared with a serological typing method based on the detection of type-specific antibody to peptide from the NS-4 region. A total of 102/106 (96%) patient sera showed detectable type-specific antibody to NS-4 peptides and corresponded in all cases, except two, to the genotype detected by polymerase chain reaction. Combining the results from RFLP genotyping and serotyping, genotype 1 was found in 40 (35%) (27 with 1a and 10 with 1b, 3 subtypes not determined), genotype 2 in 15 (13%) (subtype 2b in 14 and 1 subtype not determined), and genotype 3 in 58 (50%) of patients. The low mean age of the patients (34 years), the low prevalence of cirrhosis (3.5%), the short duration of the disease, and a high prevalence of intravenous-drug abusers may account for the low prevalence of infection with genotype 1b (9%). The epidemiological features of hepatitis C patients are markedly different from patient groups described in southern Europe in terms of risk factors, age, and genotype distribution.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Mycobacterial infections in Norway.

Tuberculosis was a major health problem in Norway in the first part of the century, but since the thirties there has been a dramatic and steady decline in incidence. However, for various reasons, including tuberculosis in foreign-born residents, there has been no definite decrease in notified cases during the last decade. The emergence of drug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis has up to now not been a problem of any significance. Leprosy reached its peak incidence in the 19th century. Nowadays the few imported cases seen, on average less than one a year, may represent a diagnostic challenge. Therapeutically, we have adopted a modification of the multidrug regime introduced and recommended by WHO a decade ago. Available figures indicate that diseases due to other mycobacteria, so-called atypical mycobacteria, may be an increasing problem. A small part of the observed increase is due to infections with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex in AIDS patients.

Humans↗
PubMed1993

Total reaction time: a new approach in early HIV encephalopathy?

In an attempt to develop better methods for diagnosis, screening and serial assessment of HIV-1-associated cognitive/motor complex, we have added a motor component to tests of reaction time, defining the new parameter as total reaction time. Thirty-four non-drug-using, HIV-positive men underwent four different tests of total reaction time. All four tests reached a level of statistical significance, both for a group of patients with early disease and for a group of patients with symptoms, compared with a control group. Total reaction time had a better discriminatory ability than standard reaction time, particularly for patients with early disease. It is suggested that neuropsychological studies of HIV-1-associated cognitive/motor complex should include tests of total reaction time.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1992

Five different tests of reaction time evaluated in HIV seropositive men.

In an attempt to develop a short neuropsychological test battery five different tests of reaction time were assessed according to their ability to discriminate between HIV seropositive men and healthy controls. In all tests a patient group with clinical symptoms was slower than the control group. In the complex reaction time test, which has a large cognitive aspect, even a clinically "asymptomatic" group was slower than the control group. The movement test, a new test with a large motor component, identified most slow responders, defining approximately half of the patients with clinical symptoms and one third of the "asymptomatic" patients as such. A test battery consisting of three tests is suggested for serial assessment and screening.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1991

[Antibiotic prevention in permanent pacemaker implantation in Norway].

In Norway 33 hospitals perform permanent pacemaker implantations. 21 hospitals do not use prophylactic antibiotics as a routine. These hospitals implant approximately 600 pacemakers per year. 12 hospitals use prophylactic antibiotics. These hospitals implant approximately 400 pacemakers per year. None of the hospitals using antibiotics follow the same regime.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1991

Calprotectin in cerebrospinal fluid of the HIV infected: a diagnostic marker of opportunistic central nervous system infection?

The calprotectin level in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 15 HIV positive patients with symptoms from the central nervous system (CNS) was measured. All 5 patients with opportunistic infections had levels above the reference range and all 10 patients with HIV associated encephalopathy had levels within the reference range. Thus, the calprotectin level in CSF can be of diagnostic value in differentiating between HIV associated encephalopathy and opportunistic infection in the HIV positive patient with symptoms from the CNS.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1982

Immunoglobulin class specific antibodies to M. leprae in leprosy patients, including the indeterminate group and healthy contacts as a step in the development of methods for sero-diagnosis of leprosy.

IgA, IgM and IgG anti-M. leprae antibody activity was quantitated by solid phase radioimmunoassay in groups of untreated leprosy patients throughout the spectrum, in lepromatous leprosy patients treated for more than 10 years, in an indeterminate leprosy group, and in a non-leprosy control group. IgA, IgM and IgG anti-M. leprae antibody activity increased from the group of healthy individuals exposed to M. leprae but without clinical signs of leprosy to tuberculoid (BT and BT/TT) and further to lepromatous (BL to LL) leprosy. There was a considerable overlap in IgA antibody activity, while the overlap between controls and tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy was less than 20% in the IgM and IgG assays. After more than 10 years of treatment, the IgG anti-M. leprae activity had decreased markedly, whereas there was less effect in the IgA assay and no significant change in the IgM assay. In contrast to earlier findings, the group of 'strictly indeterminate leprosy' showed signs of an active humoral immune response against M. leprae. The IgM anti-M. leprae activity was higher in indeterminate leprosy than in the control group with virtually no overlap. IgA anti-M. leprae was higher in indeterminate leprosy, but with considerable overlap with the controls. No difference between these two groups was found in the IgG assay. The results are discussed in relation to the value of the various immunoglobulin specific anti-M. leprae assays for different purposes, including development of techniques for sero-diagnosis of leprosy.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗