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Biomedical subjects

C Rasmussen

Publications and source records attributed to C Rasmussen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Falloposcopy in conjunction with laparoscopy: possibilities and limitations.

Falloposcopy is a transvaginal microendoscopic technique to explore the human Fallopian tube from the uterotubal ostium to the fimbrial end. Falloposcopy provides a unique possibility to visualize endotubal disease and may be used therapeutically for removal of debris and for cutting down filmy intraluminal adhesions. To assess the clinical performance of falloposcopy as part of an infertility investigation, a total of 43 women scheduled for laparoscopy as part of an investigation of infertility had a falloposcopy performed in conjunction with the laparoscopy. All women were investigated at Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm and Akademiska Hospital, Uppsala, during 1995 and 1996. Images from the endosalpinx were obtained in 26 of 43 women (60.5%). In 10 women (23.3%), it was possible to obtain images from both tubes. No images were of sufficient quality to describe the entire tubal mucosa in detail. Falloposcopy represents a unique tool for visualization of endotubal disease and may provide a valuable instrument for in-vivo exploration of tubal physiology. However, certain technical problems limit the usefulness of this method in routine clinical practice. These technical problems have to be solved before falloposcopy can achieve a central position in investigation and treatment of tubal disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Combined use of a true-bipolar sensing implantable cardioverter defibrillator in a patient having a prior implantable spinal cord stimulator for intractable pain.

Reported is a case involving a patient with a previously implanted spinal cord stimulator (SCS) who presented for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The SCS device was located in the left lower abdominal quadrant with a stimulation electrode array placed on the dorsal aspect of the spinal cord at the T-11 thoracic level. Interaction testing demonstrated that the biopolar sensing transvenous ICD system (Medtronic 7221 Cx PCD) did not detect the stimulator's output at burst rates ranging from 20-130 pulses/s, even with the ICD set to its maximum sensitivity of 0.15 m V and the stimulator programmed to the highest patient tolerated output combinations of 5 V, 0.45 ms in the bipolar configuration and 3 V, 0.45 ms in the unipolar (i.e., case-electrode) configuration.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Cell cycle inhibitory effects of HIV and SIV Vpr and Vpx in the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

The Vpr gene of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and type 2 (HIV-1, HIV-2) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) encodes a small nuclear protein which is virion-associated and assists nuclear transport of the preintegration complex. Expression of HIV-1 Vpr has been shown to induce differentiation and prevent proliferation of human cells. HIV-1 Vpr has also been shown to arrest cell growth and cause morphological defects in yeast. In contrast, the Vpx gene of HIV-2 and SIV, which shares sequence homology with Vpr, does not seem to inhibit proliferation of human cells. It has been suggested that the cell cycle arrest effect of Vpr and Vpx is species and cell-type dependent. In this study, we have taken advantage of a conditional expression system to characterize the growth inhibitory effects of Vpr and Vpx of HIV-1, HIV-2, and SIV in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Our results show that both Vpr and/or Vpx of HIV-1, HIV-2, and SIV arrest cell growth in S. pombe, and HIV-1 Vpr is more cytotoxic than HIV-2 or SIV Vpr or Vpx. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that yeast cells cease proliferating with DNA contents indicative of arrest in G1 and G2, with some cells showing signs of overreplication of DNA. While the observed cell cycle arrest phenotype was not identical to that observed in mammalian cells, there were similarities of growth arrest phenotype caused by Vpr and Vpx in yeast and mammalian cells. Specifically, the observation that yeast and mammalians cell both arrest in G2 with reduced p34/cdc2 kinase activity indicates that Vpr and Vpx interact with conserved target(s) in yeast and mammalian cells. The ability to use genetic analysis to elucidate the mechanisms involved makes S. pombe an excellent model system in which to study the effects of Vpr and Vpx on cellular function.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Significance and management of early graft failure after coronary artery bypass grafting: feasibility and results of acute angiography and re-re-vascularization.

UNLABELLED: Perioperative ischaemia and infarction after CABG are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To study causes of perioperative ischaemia and infarction by acute re-angiography and to treat incomplete re-vascularization caused by graft failure or any other cause. METHODS: Between 1990 and 1995, 2003 patients underwent an isolated CABG operation. Myocardial ischaemia was suspected if one or more of the following criteria were present: New changes in the ST-segment in the ECG; a CKMB value greater than 80 U/L; new Q-waves in the ECG; recurrent episodes of, or sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia; ventricular fibrillation; haemodynamic deterioration and left ventricular failure. Acute coronary angiography was performed in stable patients, while haemodynamically severely compromised patients were rushed to the operating room. RESULTS: A total of 71 (3.5%) patients of all CABGs with suspected graft failure were identified and included in the study. Patients were grouped according to whether they had an acute re-angiography (n = 59; group 1) or an immediate re-operation (n = 12; group 2) performed. In group 1, the acute re-angiography demonstrated graft failure/incomplete re-vascularization in 43 patients (73%). The angiographic findings were: Occluded vein graft(s) in 19 (32%); poor distal run-off to the grafted coronary artery in ten (17%); internal mammary artery stenosis in four (7%); internal mammary artery occlusion in three (5%); vein graft stenoses in three (5%); left mammary artery subclavian artery steal in two (3%); and the wrong coronary artery grafted in one (2%). Based on the angiography findings, 27 patients were re-operated and re-grafted. At the time of re-operation, 18 patients (67%) had evolving infarction documented by ECG or CKMB. Two patients (3%) experienced stroke in immediate relation to the re-angiography. The 30-day mortality was three (7%). In group 2, graft occlusions were found in 11 patients (92%). The 30-day mortality was six (50%). CONCLUSION: An acute re-angiography demonstrated graft failure or incomplete re-vascularization in the majority of patients with myocardial ischaemia early after CABG. Re-operation for re-re-vascularization was performed with low risk. Few patients with circulatory collapse could be saved by an immediate re-operation without preceding angiography.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Antibody levels against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b in a population of splenectomized individuals with varying vaccination status.

In order to determine antibody levels against Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in a population of splenectomized subjects, 561 persons in a Danish county, splenectomized between 1984 and 1993 were identified. Two hundred and thirty-five were alive and 149 participated in the study. Each person donated a blood sample for antibody determination by ELISA. Though vaccine coverage among the 149 persons was 91% only 52% had 'protective' levels of pneumococcal antibodies. Despite recommendations for regular follow-up on pneumococcal antibody levels this had only been carried out in 4% of the subjects. Splenectomized subjects who needed pneumococcal revaccination were significantly more likely to have received their initial vaccination less than 14 days before or after splenectomy, as recommended, than those not requiring revaccination. Therefore, the timing of initial pneumococcal vaccination in relation to splenectomy seems to be important. All persons had Hib antibody levels higher than 0.15 microgram/ml and 60% had levels higher than 1 microgram/ml, which are the levels thought to provide short term and long term protection, respectively. In total, 37% of the 149 persons tested had pneumococcal and Hib antibody levels thought to correlate with protection from serious infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

A mechanism for negative gene regulation in Autographa californica multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus.

The Autographa californica multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) ie-1 gene product (IE-1) is thought to play a central role in stimulating early viral transcription. IE-1 has been demonstrated to activate several early viral gene promoters and to negatively regulate the promoters of two other AcMNPV regulatory genes, ie-0 and ie-2. Our results indicate that IE-1 negatively regulates the expression of certain genes by binding directly, or as part of a complex, to promoter regions containing a specific IE-1-binding motif (5'-ACBYGTAA-3') near their mRNA start sites. The IE-1 binding motif was also found within the palindromic sequences of AcMNPV homologous repeat (hr) regions that have been shown to bind IE-1. The role of this IE-1 binding motif in the regulation of the ie-2 and pe-38 promoters was examined by introducing mutations in these promoters in which the central 6 bp were replaced with BglII sites. GUS reporter constructs containing ie-2 and pe-38 promoter fragments with and without these specific mutations were cotransfected into Sf9 cells with various amounts of an ie-1-containing plasmid (pIe-1). Comparisons of GUS expression produced by the mutant and wild-type constructs demonstrated that the IE-1 binding motif mediated a significant decrease in expression from the ie-2 and pe-38 promoters in response to increasing pIe-1 concentrations. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with pIe-1-transfected cell extracts and supershift assays with IE-1-specific antiserum demonstrated that IE-1 binds to promoter fragments containing the IE-1 binding motif but does not bind to promoter fragments lacking this motif.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

What psychology students know and believe about Charles Darwin.

204 introductory and 154 advanced students in psychology were asked about their knowledge of Charles Darwin and endorsement of belief statements about the status of evolutionary theory. Advanced students had higher scores than introductory students on three of six multiple-choice knowledge items and differed from them on all six statements of belief as assessed by chi 2. Advanced students appear to know more about evolutionary theory but may be less inclined to endorse its relevancy to psychology.

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed1997

Quality assurance in endoscopic surgery.

A number of operative procedures in gynecology are now being performed with the help of endoscopy, a development that was not based upon appropriate clinical trials. Quality assurance is today's challenge in gynecological endoscopic surgery. Although as a rule data from quality registers cannot be used for comparative purposes, they may guarantee a basic standard of documentation of surgical results. Quality assurance is a continuous process and a means to improve quality in general. Quality indicators are specific criteria that denote quality change and play a key role in quality programs. It is important to realize that quality in this sense may be viewed not only from the medical aspect but from a variety of perspectives including education, training and medical care.

Female↗
PubMed1997

Non-parametric classification of esophagus motility by means of neural networks.

Automatic long-term recording of esophageal pressures by means of intraluminal transducers is used increasingly for evaluation of esophageal function. Most automatic analysis techniques are based on detection of derived parameters from the time series by means of arbitrary rule-based criterions. The aim of the present work has been to test the ability of neural networks to identify abnormal contraction patterns in patients with non-obstructive dysphagia (NOBD). Nineteen volunteers and 22 patients with NOBD underwent simultaneous recordings of four pressures in the esophagus for at least 23 hours. Data from 21 subjects were selected for training. The performances of two trained networks were subsequently verified on reference data from 20 subjects. The results show that non-parametric classification by means of neural networks has good potentials. Back propagation shows good performance with a sensitivity of 1.0 and a specificity of 0.8.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Structure-function analysis of the Autographa californica multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus homologous region palindromes.

Homologous regions (hrs), which are present at eight dispersed locations on the Autographa californica multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus genome, are composed of repeated imperfect palindromes within directly repeated sequences. Hrs act as transcriptional enhancers of RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription and as origins of DNA replication when incorporated into plasmids and tested in transient replication assays. To characterize the physical structure of these elements and to determine the role that mismatched nucleotides may play in hr function, oligonucleotides containing a consensus mismatched "imperfect" palindrome and a closely related "perfect" palindrome were synthesized. These sequences were cloned into individual plasmids and tested for their ability to form cruciform structures using nuclease P1 assays and two-dimensional (2-D) gel analyses of topoisomers. The perfect palindrome formed a cruciform structure and the energy requirement for its formation was predicted to occur under physiological conditions. In contrast, the construct containing an imperfect palindrome did not form a cruciform under these conditions. Both hr constructs were found to bind IE-1 in electrophoresis mobility shift assays and act as enhancers when cis-linked to the baculovirus 39K early gene promoter. However, a single oligonucleotide containing the palindrome sequence did not bind IE-1 when annealed under conditions conducive to hairpin formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Lumbar disc herniation: social and demographic factors determining duration of disease.

The study was set up to show whether certain social and demographic characteristics play any significant role in determining the duration of disease in patients with lumbar disc herniation. The study included 171 consecutive patients operated upon for the first time for lumbar disc herniation over a 1-year period. Records were made of each patient's age, sex, domicile (town, rural area), social group and employment status. For each patient, four dates were also recorded: onset of symptoms, referral to hospital, operation and recovery. On this basis six periods could be calculated. Statistical analysis was used to identify the relation between the social and demographic factors and the various time periods between the onset of symptoms and recovery. Being employed, especially in a higher social group, cuts down the period from onset of symptoms to recovery. This shortening in the total duration mainly takes place between onset of symptoms and referral to hospital. The influences of domicile, age and sex were of no statistical significance. The median of the total period from onset of symptoms to recovery was 224 days. Among patients operated upon for the first time for lumbar disc herniation, employment denoted faster referral to hospital and thus faster operation and recovery. Among those employed, the patients from higher social groups were referred quickest.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Acute surgical treatment of complicated peptic ulcers with special reference to the elderly.

The results of 136 consecutive patients treated surgically for the acute complications of peptic ulcers between 1990 and 1993 are reviewed. All patients required emergency operation. Among 136 patients, 91 had perforations, 42 hemorrhage, and 3 a penetrated peptic ulcer. The median age was 77 years; 65% were women; and 83% were more than 60 years old. Concurrent disease requiring medical treatment were present in 92 patients; 79 patients (58%) were currently or recently taking antiinflammatory drugs at the time of admission; 66% of the patients had duodenal ulcer. Only 46 patients (34%) had no postoperative complications; pneumonia, arrhythmia, bleeding, and septic complications were the most frequent. The overall mortality was 30%. Sepsis and multiple organ failure was the leading cause of death in most of the patients. It was concluded that elderly individuals using two or more antiinflammatory drugs should be considered potential peptic ulcer patients and should be treated prophylactically with ulcer-healing drugs.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1995

[Fatal cases of poisonings among drug addicts in the county of Funen in 1993].

This study includes death from poisoning among drug addicts in 1993 in the county of Funen, in all 24. The development during the last five years shows an increase, especially in the largest city in the county. The drug addicts have several problems, and several of them were well-known in the social welfare system or by the police. Half of the drug addicts had received treatment for their abuse and three persons were receiving treatment at the time of their death. A few--primarily among the youngest--had only used drugs for a short time while one third had abused drugs for several years. The greater part of the deaths were caused by heroin, which is found in different concentrations in the illegal market. Five of the dead persons had just been released from prison and three people had just left 24-hour care centres when they were found dead. Co-operation between the various, treating authorities has to be given a high priority.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Regulation of calcineurin gene expression in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Dependence on the ste11 transcription factor.

Calmodulin and its target enzymes are important regulators of numerous cellular processes, including reversible protein phosphorylation. The calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase (calcineurin) has been suggested to play roles in activation of T cells and in the mating response of yeast. Recently, studies have shown it to be the target of immunosuppressant drugs such as cyclosporin and FK-506. In this study, we have cloned the gene for the catalytic subunit of calcineurin, CnA, from the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The gene (named ppb1+) has been mapped to chromosome II by analysis of the hybridization of a genomic DNA probe to an ordered library. The gene produces a single mRNA species of 2.5 kilobases, which varies during the cell cycle in exponentially growing cells. In addition, expression of ppb1+ mRA is induced by nitrogen starvation, a condition that favors mating in S. pombe. The ppb1+ gene promoter contains a cis-acting element for the ste11 transcription factor, and we have shown that induction of the ppb1+ mRNA during nitrogen starvation is dependent on the ste11 gene product. Together with earlier studies showing that disruption of the ppb1+ gene in S. pombe results in sterility (Yoshida, T., Toda, T., and Yanagida, M. (1994) J. Cell Sci., 107, 1725-1735), our studies suggest that the ppb1+ gene plays a role in the gene expression cascade that is essential for mating and sporulation in S. pombe.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

The Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus homologous region 1a: identical sequences are essential for DNA replication activity and transcriptional enhancer function.

Hr1a consists of two 30-bp imperfect palindrome sequences separated by 58 bp and each palindrome contains a naturally occurring EcoRI site at its core. Plasmid subclones of the hr1a-containing AcMNPV HindIII-N fragment were examined for their ability to replicate in virus-infected (Spodoptera frugiperda) Sf9 cells, and to stimulate transcription when linked in cis with a 39K gene promoter-beta-glucuronidase fusion and cotransfected into cells along with a plasmid (ple-1) containing the gene encoding the trans-acting factor IE-1. Only those plasmids containing hr1a underwent infection-dependent replication and were able to stimulate transcription. Sequences mapping to the left of hr1a were required for maximal levels of replication. A single palindrome from hr1a was sufficient for supporting plasmid replication and for stimulating transcription, although both activities were more efficient when both palindromes were present. Plasmids containing only one-half of a palindrome or disruptions of the central EcoRI core either did not replicate, or replicated very poorly, and did not exhibit enhanced transcriptional activity from the 39K gene promoter. Gel retardation experiments showed that labeled hr1a-containing DNA fragments had retarded migration after incubation with extracts from cells transfected with ple-1. Supershift experiments using polyclonal antibodies to IE-1 indicated that IE-1 is a component of the protein complex bound to hr1a. Fragments containing disruptions of the EcoRI-core still bound IE-1, as shown by gel retardation assays, indicating that IE-1 binding alone is not sufficient to allow replication and transcriptional enhancement.

Animals↗