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Biomedical subjects

C Pedersen

Publications and source records attributed to C Pedersen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Double blind placebo controlled trial of pulse treatment with methylprednisolone combined with disease modifying drugs in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether monthly treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone enhances or accelerates the effect of disease modifying drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. DESIGN: A 12 month double blind, placebo controlled, multicentre trial in which patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were randomly allocated to receive pulses of either methylprednisolone or saline every four weeks for six months. At the start of the pulse treatment all patients were started on penicillamine or azathioprine. SETTING: Four rheumatology departments in Denmark. PATIENTS: 97 Patients (71 women, 26 men) aged 23-84 (mean 60) who had active rheumatoid arthritis of at least four weeks' duration despite treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Monthly clinical recording of morning stiffness, number of tender and swollen joints, blinded observers' evaluation of therapeutic effect, and patients' self assessed condition. Concomitant laboratory measurements of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and concentrations of C reactive protein and haemoglobin. Radiography to determine the number of erosions at the start of treatment and after 12 months. RESULTS: 57 Patients completed the trial, taking the same disease modifying drug throughout. Evaluation four weeks after each pulse treatment and at 12 month follow up showed no significant differences between the methylprednisolone and placebo groups in any of the clinical or laboratory variables. Radiography showed the same degree of progression of erosions in both groups. Evaluation of the total data on 97 patients and on the 57 who completed the trial showed the same lack of significance between the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous pulse treatment with steroids can be recommended only for rapid temporary relief of flares of disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The response is short lived. Repeated pulses of methylprednisolone at four week intervals do not improve the results of treatment with drugs that induce remission such as penicillamine and azathioprine.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The efficacy of inosine pranobex in preventing the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. The Scandinavian Isoprinosine Study Group.

We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of inosine pranobex (Isoprinosine) [corrected] in the treatment of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection but without manifest acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A total of 866 patients were enrolled in 21 centers in Denmark and Sweden. The patients were stratified in three groups according to their CD4+ cell count and randomly assigned to receive either inosine pranobex (1 g three times a day) (n = 429) or matching placebo (n = 437) for 24 weeks. Of the 831 patients who could be evaluated, AIDS developed in 17 in the placebo group as compared with 2 in the inosine pranobex group (P less than 0.001; odds ratio, 8.6 [95 percent confidence limits, 2.2 and 52.6]). There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to changes in CD4+ cell count or the development of other HIV-related conditions, with the exception of thrush, which developed in fewer patients in the inosine pranobex group (P = 0.05). No serious side effects were observed. We conclude that treatment with inosine pranobex delays progression to AIDS in patients with HIV infection. The duration of this beneficial effect, the optimal dose, and the mode of action of inosine pranobex remain to be clarified.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Impaired effortful cognition in depression.

Depressed patients have been reported to have deficits in "effortful," but not effortless, cognitive functions compared to healthy volunteers. To test the hypothesis that the effortful cognitive deficits in major depression are not simply a function of psychiatric illness or hospitalization, we administered both effort-demanding and effortless cognitive tasks to 17 inpatients with major affective disorder and 17 hospitalized psychiatric controls. The depressed patients performed significantly more poorly than the controls on the effort-demanding task. The groups did not differ on the effortless task. These findings suggest that depressed patients are impaired in performing effort-demanding cognitive tasks compared to nondepressed psychiatric patients.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1990

Opportunistic infections and malignancies in 231 Danish AIDS patients.

We analysed cumulative disease frequencies in the first 231 adult Danish AIDS patients with life tables. There was a certain hierarchical pattern in the occurrence of complicating diseases. Herpes zoster, Kaposi's sarcoma and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia were early manifestations, whereas diseases caused by cytomegalovirus and atypical mycobacteria tended to occur later in the course of AIDS. Compared with all other AIDS patients, homosexual men were more likely to develop Kaposi's sarcoma, cytomegalovirus chorioretinitis and mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus infection. The proportion of patients who developed particular diseases changed with calendar time. Most striking was a three to fourfold decrease in diseases caused by cytomegalovirus. In conclusion, the study showed that disease frequencies in patients with AIDS may vary with the patients risk behaviour and duration of AIDS, and that the frequencies of particular diseases may change with calendar time.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

T-cell subset alterations and lymphocyte responsiveness to mitogens and antigen during severe primary infection with HIV: a case series of seven consecutive HIV seroconverters.

Seven consecutive patients who presented with a severe acute mononucleosis-like illness associated with HIV seroconversion were evaluated by T-cell subset enumerations and measurements of lymphocyte transformation responses to mitogens and antigen during both their primary illness and a 1-year follow-up period. We observed a characteristic pattern of response to primary HIV infection; initial lymphopenia was followed by CD8 lymphocytosis and inversion of the CD4:CD8 ratio. During follow-up, the CD8 count gradually returned to normal, whereas the CD4:CD8 ratio remained inverted because of a relatively low number of CD4 lymphocytes. Primary infection was followed by prolonged and severe cellular hyporesponsiveness to both mitogens and antigen. At the last follow-up, responses to pokeweed mitogen were still severely impaired, with a median 19% (range 7-50%) of that observed in healthy controls. We conclude that severe primary HIV infection may be followed by sustained lymphocyte hyporesponsiveness, a sustained low percentage of CD4 lymphocytes and sustained inversion of the CD4:CD8 ratio.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Trends in survival of Danish AIDS patients from 1981 to 1989.

Length of survival was analysed in relation to year of diagnosis, AIDS-indicative disease, age, risk behaviour, zidovudine therapy, and CD4 cell count and serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels at the time of diagnosis in a group of 231 consecutive adult Danish AIDS patients reported before 1 January 1988. The cumulative survival rate was 53% (95% confidence interval 47-59%) at 1 year, 29% (22-36%) at 2 years and 18% (10-26%) at 3 years. Length of survival increased significantly (P less than 0.001) over time for patients who were initially diagnosed with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), 17% (3-31%) at 2 years prior to 1986, 32% (16-49%) in 1986 and 52% (34-69%) in 1987, whereas survival remained stable for patients with other AIDS-indicative diseases. Survival was similar for patients who were diagnosed with Kaposi's sarcoma alone and PCP alone. Independent predictors of a shortened survival were a CD4 cell count less than 200 x 10(6)/l, a serum IgA level greater than 4 g/l, and an initial diagnosis with opportunistic infections other than PCP. In addition, the multivariate analysis suggested an improved survival in recent years for patients diagnosed with PCP, independent of other factors examined. We conclude that length of survival in AIDS patients is highly variable. Determinants of progression include CD4 cell count, serum IgA level, and presenting disease. Survival has increased markedly for patients with PCP and median survival now exceeds 24 months.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Reactivation of viral replication in anti-HBe positive chronic HBsAg carriers.

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus replication was investigated in an unselected group of 44 HBV DNA negative, anti-HBe positive chronic HBsAg carriers. Twenty-five patients (54%) were intravenous drug addicts and 7 (16%) were male homosexuals. Sixteen patients had evidence of delta infection and five of the seven male homosexuals had human immunodeficiency virus infection. The patients were followed for 1 to 180 months (median, 24 months) while HBV DNA negative, anti-HBe positive. Reactivation, defined as reappearance of HBV DNA or HBeAg, or both, was detected in six patients corresponding to an annual reactivation rate of 5%. Reactivation in four patients was detected by reversion to HBV DNA positivity only, whereas HBeAg/anti-HBe status remained unchanged. Two patients became both HBV DNA and HBeAg positive. None of the patients developed hepatitis-like symptoms and transaminase elevation was only observed in two patients. Reactivation in two patients was ascribed to human immunodeficiency virus infection and in one patient to chronic lymphatic leukaemia. It is concluded that HBV DNA seems to be superior to HBeAg in the detection of reactivation of HBV replication and that reactivation associated with clinical symptoms leading to progression in chronic liver disease is a rare event in the population studied.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Subclinical hypothyroidism: a review of neuropsychiatric aspects.

The authors review current information about the prevalence, causes, course, and consequences of subclinical hypothyroidism. There is evidence that subclinical hypothyroidism may be associated with cognitive dysfunction, mood disturbance, and diminished response to standard psychiatric treatments. Recommendations are presented for the screening, evaluation and treatment of patients in whom subclinical hypothyroidism may be contributing to neuropsychiatric dysfunction.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

Echocardiographic screening in 24 consecutive AIDS patients.

To assess the prevalence and extent of cardiac abnormalities in patients with newly diagnosed AIDS, 24 consecutive patients admitted for treatment for acute opportunistic infections were examined with echocardiography during hospitalisation. None of the patients had known cardiac disease or were drug abusers. A total of 16 abnormalities were identified in 13 patients (54%). Nine patients had a right ventricular diameter exceeding 26 mm, two patients had a slightly dilated left atrium or left ventricle, respectively, and five had a moderate pericardial effusion (range 2-8 mm). Left ventricular contractility was normal in all patients. Survival rates between AIDS patients with or without cardiac abnormalities were identical. It is concluded that minor cardiac abnormalities are common in AIDS patients with acute opportunistic infection. However, echocardiography in this group of AIDS patients without cardiac complaints gives no important functional or prognostic information as a routine procedure.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma of minor salivary gland: a clinicopathologic and comparative immunohistochemical study.

Retrospective review of seven cases of polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) revealed that the original histologic diagnosis in five instances was mixed tumor (four benign and one malignant). Comparison of PLGA tumors with eleven representative cases of benign pleomorphic adenoma of minor salivary gland (BPA) showed marked similarity in cytologic features. PLGA and BPA also exhibited similar mucohyaline and/or fibromyxoid stromal components. In contrast, tumor margins of the two neoplasms were quite different; margins of PLGA were consistently infiltrative, whereas those of BPA were generally well circumscribed and encapsulated. Immunophenotypic comparison confirmed the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positivity in BPA reported by others, whereas cases of PLGA were uniformly nonreactive with this antibody. Although previous reports have emphasized the histologic similarities of PLGA and adenoid cystic carcinoma, our findings indicate that differentiation of PLGA from BPA may represent a more common diagnostic problem. Awareness of comparative histologic features is important in the differential diagnosis of these minor salivary gland neoplasms. Also, monoclonal GFAP may be useful in distinguishing cases of PLGA from BPA where histologic features are otherwise similar.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

Clinical course of primary HIV infection: consequences for subsequent course of infection.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of the clinical course of the primary HIV infection on the subsequent course of the infection. DESIGN: Prospective documenting of seroconversion, follow up at six month intervals, and analysis of disease progression by life tables. PATIENTS: 86 Men in whom seroconversion occurred within 12 months. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Progression of HIV infection, defined as CD4 lymphocyte count less than 0.5 X 10(9)/l, recurrence of HIV antigenaemia, or progression to Centers for Disease Control group IV. MAIN RESULTS: Median follow up was 670 (range 45-1506) days. An acute illness like glandular fever occurred in 46 (53%) subjects. Three year progression rates to Centers for Disease Control group IV was 78% at three years for those who had longlasting illnesses (duration greater than or equal to 14 days) during seroconversion as compared with 10% for those who were free of symptoms or had mild illness. All six patients who developed AIDS had had longlasting primary illnesses. Three year progression rates to a CD4 lymphocyte count less than 0.5 X 10(9)/l and to recurrence of HIV antigenaemia were significantly higher for those who had longlasting primary illnesses than those who had no symptoms or mild illness (75% v 42% and 55% v 14%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The course of primary infection may determine the subsequent course of the infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

HIV-induced immunodeficiency. Relatively preserved phytohemagglutinin as opposed to decreased pokeweed mitogen responses may be due to possibly preserved responses via CD2/phytohemagglutinin pathway.

We studied the proliferative response of PBL to the mitogens PHA and PWM and Candida albicans Ag in 301 HIV seropositive homosexual men, of whom 55 had AIDS. The responses to PHA were reduced only in the clinically ill HIV seropositive subjects. In contrast, the responses to PWM were profoundly reduced in most HIV seropositive subjects including the asymptomatic group. Further analysis of 16 HIV seropositive subjects showed that the proliferative responses were reduced in both CD4 and CD8 T cell subsets. A total of 15 HIV seropositive individuals with low responses to PWM, of whom seven had AIDS and eight controls were chosen for the following studies. Expression of T3, Ti, delta receptors, and CD2 was investigated and showed an increased percentage of CD2 receptors positive cells in HIV seropositive subjects without AIDS. The proliferative responses of PBL to stimulation with PHA, PWM, antibodies to CD3, or antibodies to CD2 were investigated and showed significant correlation in controls, whereas in contrast, only the responses to PHA and CD2ab correlated in patients with AIDS. The proliferative responses to CD2ab and CD3ab in controls were larger than the responses to both PHA and PWM. In patients, these responses were less suppressed than the responses to PWM indicating that stimulation with mitogens is more complex than a simple stimulation of Ti/T3 and CD2 receptors. Further investigations were done on resting T cells, i.e., lymphocytes depleted of macrophages and pre-activated cells. Addition of PHA to these cells resulted in preactivation with expression of IL-2R (CD25) but not in proliferation. In contrast, addition of PHA plus SRBC, which bind to the CD2 receptors caused IL-2R expression, IL-2 production, and proliferation. Addition of PWM + SRBC did not result in proliferation. A comparison of the responses to PHA + SRBC of resting T cells from 26 HIV seropositive individuals, of whom seven had AIDS and 12 seronegative controls, showed that these responses were normal or only slightly decreased in the 19 seropositive men without AIDS whereas it was decreased in AIDS patients. Nevertheless, all AIDS patients showed clear-cut responses in this assay. Thus, the discrepancy between responses to PHA and PWM may be explained by an at least partially preserved function of the PHA/CD2-dependent pathway. We suggest that the defect induced by the HIV infection primarily concerns T3/Ti-induced responses.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗