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Biomedical subjects

E Jensen

Publications and source records attributed to E Jensen.

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

Preoperative evaluation of intubation conditions in patients scheduled for elective surgery.

Prediction of a difficult airway is a continuing problem. Several tests have been developed in order to overcome this problem. It has been proposed that using more than one test could increase the degree of predictability. One hundred patients scheduled for general surgery were successfully evaluated using three methods: 1. The size of the tongue in relation to the oral cavity (Mallampati gradation). 2. The thyromental and the mandibular length. 3. The atlanto-occipital angle. Seven patients had a difficult laryngoscopy and were difficult to intubate. It was possible to predict differenties in all seven patients, but it was found that only the Mallampati gradation and the atlanto-occipital angle contributed significantly to predictability. The cost of predicting further difficulties in all patients with a difficult laryngoscopy was a false positive prediction in a further 13 patients who had no problems with laryngoscopy or intubation. By increasing the specificity of the tests the number of false positive classifications could be reduced to 10 patients, but this would have led to the missing of one patient with a difficult laryngoscopy.

Elective Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1995

[Cancer morbidity among alcoholics].

Data on the association between alcohol abuse and cancer morbidity are scarce in large cohorts of non-hospitalized alcoholic men an women. Of 18,368 alcohol abusers who entered an out-patient clinic in Copenhagen between 1954-1987, 18,307 were followed. Their cancer incidence was compared to that of the total Danish population. The overall morbidity of cancer was significantly increased among alcohol abusers. The men developed 1441 cancer cases (RR = 1.6), and the women 182 cases (RR = 1.5). Significantly increased incidences were found for cancer of the tongue, mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, liver, larynx, lung, pleura, and secondary cancer. The women had a significantly increased risk of cervical cancer (RR = 2.0). The men developed prostatic cancer significantly more frequently than expected (RR = 1.4). The relative risks of cancer of the stomach, pancreas, kidney and endocrine system were only slightly increased. The risk of breast cancer in women was not significantly increased (RR = 1.3).

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1995

Acute meningitis of unknown aetiology: analysis of 219 cases admitted to hospital between 1977 and 1990.

Clinical and biochemical parameters in 219 patients with meningitis of unknown aetiology were analyzed according to their initial CSF leucocyte count. The male/female ratio was 1.1 and the median age 30 years,(males = 22 years/females = 42 years). Pre-admission antibiotic, which may inhibit bacterial growth, was given to 28% patients. On admission symptoms of meningitis were predominant: 96% had fever, 91% neck rigidity and 19% a severely affected mental state. In addition, 10% had a petechial rash. A bacterial aetiology was likely, as 91% had a predominance of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the CSF and in 50% it was frankly purulent. The CSF leucocyte count correlated positively with age, the period of fever and the length of hospitalization, but did not relate to the 10.1% in-patient mortality rate. Mortality was related to advancing age, but not to the antibiotic regimen chosen. Patients admitted directly from their homes had the least complicated disease course and all survived. A low CSF leucocyte count, mainly found in young patients so admitted, could indicate either a non-bacterial self-limiting aetiology or diagnosis at an early stage of the disease. We found, however, that bacterial meningitis cannot be excluded on the basis of the CSF leucocyte count in combination with any clinical and biochemical parameters. Rapid hospital admission, regardless of age, is of major importance for prognosis. Improvement of non-cultural diagnostics tests and adjunctive therapy regimens are essential.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

Liver disease and serum hexosaminidase levels. Studies in a human hepatoma cell-line (Hep G2 cells).

In various forms of liver disease, increased levels of the lysosomal enzyme beta-hexosaminidase (Hex) occur in serum. This may be caused by disturbances of the hepatocytic function, and we therefore studied the intracellular and extracellular isoenzyme pattern of Hex in a human hepatoma cell-line (Hep G2), using an immunoassay method, which separates Hex A and Hex B isoforms. This cell-line synthesizes and secretes Hex. The cumulative release of extracellular activity was about 3-10% of the intracellular activity. B-isoforms comprised one-third of intracellular activity but only 20% of extracellular activity. The proportion of extracellular B-isoforms increased with time, presumably due to instability of A-isoforms at 37 degrees C. Cycloheximide inhibited the release of Hex activity, whereas NH4Cl increased the extracellular fraction of Hex, even at a concentration of 1 mmol/l. We speculate that the increased concentration of NH4+ in patients with liver disease interferes with the distribution pathway of the lysosomal enzymes. This might be one reason for the increased serum Hex activity found in patients with liver disease.

Ammonium Chloride↗
PubMed1994

Effects of testosterone exposure and fighting experience on the aggressive behavior of female and male mice selectively bred for intermale aggression.

Exposure of female mice to testosterone resulted in aggressive behavior as a function of breeding line in two lines of mice selectively bred for high (Turku Aggressive, TA) and low (Turku Nonaggressive, TNA) levels of aggressiveness. Female TA mice that received a single injection of testosterone propionate (TP) (1 mg in 0.05 ml peanut oil) on the second day of life, and starting at 120 days of age received daily injections for seven consecutive days, displayed aggressive behavior on a level comparable to that of socially isolated males of the same line, whereas control TA females (injected with 0.05 ml peanut oil) and TP-exposed TNA females were totally nonaggressive. The level of aggressiveness was assessed by means of dyadic tests against intact male opponents. Early and adult exposure to TP did not lead to increased aggressiveness in male TNA mice. Fighting experience in combination with prolonged TP treatment changed the aggressiveness of the TP-exposed TA females, leading to decreased aggressiveness in defeated animals. The genetically correlated low level of aggressiveness of TNA male and female mice was unaffected by any combination of TP exposure, learning and social isolation. It is concluded that differences in testosterone reactivity of target organs, other than those which are Y chromosome determined, i.e., the testes, are responsible for the aggressiveness in the strains studied.

Aggression↗
PubMed1994

Cancer morbidity in alcohol abusers.

Data on the association between alcohol abuse and cancer morbidity are scarce in large cohorts of non-hospitalised alcoholic men and women. Of 18,368 alcohol abusers who entered an outpatient clinic in Copenhagen during 1954-87, 18,307 were followed and their cancer incidence was compared with that of the total Danish population. On average the 15,214 men were observed for 12.9 years and the 3,093 women for 9.4 years. The overall morbidity of cancer was increased significantly. Of the men, 1,441 developed cancer [relative risk (RR) = 1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.5-1.7], while 182 women did (RR = 1.5; 95% CI 1.3-1.8). Significantly increased incidences were found of cancer in the tongue, mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, liver, larynx, lung and pleura and secondary cancer. The women had significantly increased risk of cervical cancer (RR = 2.0; 95% CI 1.2-3.0). The men developed prostatic cancer significantly more frequently than expected (RR = 1.4; 95% CI 1.2-1.8). The risk of melanomas (RR = 0.5; 95% CI 0.2-0.8) was significantly lower than expected. The relative risks of cancer of the stomach, pancreas, kidney and endocrine system were only slightly increased. The study group did not develop more colonic (RR = 1.0; 95% CI 0.8-1.3) or rectal cancer (RR = 1.0; CI 0.7-1.3) than expected. The risk of breast cancer in women was slightly increased (RR = 1.3; 95% CI 0.9-1.7), but not statistically significant. Thus, the associations between alcohol and cancer of the upper digestive and respiratory tract and the liver are confirmed. In addition, this study indicates an increased occurrence of cancer of the prostate gland, pleura and uterine cervix in alcohol abusers.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Linkage disequilibrium between TAP2 variants and HLA class II alleles; no primary association between TAP2 variants and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The TAP1 and TAP2 genes, located in the HLA class II region, encode subunits of a peptide transporter. Both genes display limited genetic variability; four different nucleotide substitutions have been found in the TAP2 gene. Here studies on linkage disequilibrium between TAP2 variants and HLA class II alleles are reported, in an attempt to evaluate whether TAP2 variants are associated with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). As reported previously, a significant decrease of homozygosity for TAP2 alleles encoding alanine at residue 665 (665 Ala) and glutamine at 687 (687 Gln) paralleled by an increase in homozygosity for TAP2 alleles encoding threonine at residue 665 (665 Thr) and a stop codon at 687 (687 Stop), was found in both Finnish and Norwegian IDDM patients compared to random controls. However, a strong linkage disequilibrium between these TAP2 polymorphisms and given HLA-DR and -DQ genes was observed among healthy controls. The frequent 665 Thr and 687 Stop variants were in linkage disequilibrium both with the DR4-DQ8 and the DR3-DQ2 haplotypes, haplotypes which are strongly associated with IDDM. In contrast, the DR1-DQ5 and DR13-DQ6 (e.g. DQB1*0603) haplotypes, which are decreased among IDDM patients, were associated with the 665 Ala and 687 Gln variants. Thus, when DR- and DQ-matched patients and controls were compared, associations of the investigated TAP2 variants and IDDM were no longer detectable. These data, therefore, indicate that the associations previously found between certain TAP2 variants and IDDM are secondary to a primary association between this disease and particular DQ alpha beta heterodimers.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1993

High-dose gestagens modulate bone resorption and formation and enhance estrogen-induced endosteal bone formation in the ovariectomized mouse.

To determine if gestagens of two separate classes have differing skeletal actions, we studied the effects of pharmacologic doses of norethisterone acetate (NETA), a 19-nortestosterone, and megestrol acetate (MA), a 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, on bone formation and resorption in intact and in ovariectomized mice. In the same set of experiments, we also attempted to determine if these gestagens can alter the skeletal activity of 17 beta-estradiol (E2). Experimentally, the skeletons of 78 female BALB/c mice were prelabeled with [3H]tetracycline (3H-T). The animals were randomized to 13 groups of 6 mice each 3 days after the final 3H-T injection. Ovariectomies (OVX) were performed on 8 groups and sham operations (SO) on 5 groups. To study the skeletal effects of the gestagens, 4 groups each of the OVX and SO mice were treated with controlled-release pellet implants calculated to deliver 80 or 250 micrograms of NETA or MA per day. To study gestagen interactions with E2, 3 groups of OVX mice were treated with either 40 micrograms/day of E2 or 40 micrograms/day of E2 plus 250 micrograms/day of NETA or MA. One group of OVX and one group of SO animals received placebo pellets. Fluorochrome labels were administered 10 and 11 and 3 and 4 days before sacrifice to allow histomorphometric evaluation of bone formation. At the end of the 60 day protocol, tibiae and thoracic vertebrae were removed and processed for quantitating the levels of bone resorption based on the amounts of 3H-T retained in the bones. The femora were fixed and embedded for comparison of diaphyseal bone histomorphometry, and the humeri and lumbar vertebrae were prepared for bone density determinations. Reflecting an increase in bone resorption, 3H-T levels in tibiae and vertebrae were decreased in placebo-treated OVX animals compared to the placebo-treated SO group (p < 0.01). Treatment of both SO and OVX mice with NETA decreased bone resorption in a dose-dependent manner, but MA had no significant effects on vertebral bone resorption and increased bone resorption in the tibiae (p < 0.01). E2 treatment of OVX mice reduced bone resorption, but there were no significant interactions between the E2 and gestagen treatments on resorptive activity. Based on bone histomorphometry of in vivo fluorochrome labels, both gestagens increased periosteal bone formation rates but had no effect on endosteal bone formation (BFRe). In contrast, E2 treatment of the OVX mice stimulated bone formation at the endosteal surface.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1993

Mivacurium-induced neuromuscular blockade in patients with atypical plasma cholinesterase.

The duration of action of mivacurium was evaluated during a modified neurolept anaesthesia in 17 patients heterozygous for the usual and the atypical plasma cholinesterase (pChe) gene (E1uE1a) and in five patients homozygous for the atypical gene (E1aE1a). The response to train-of-four nerve stimulation was recorded using a Myograph 2000. Five heterozygous patients were given a small dose of mivacurium 0.03 mg kg bw-1 intravenously (Group 1). The mean (range) suppression of the first twitch in the train-of-four response (T1) was 91% (69-100%). The time to 90% T1 recovery was 23.9 min (14.0-31.3 min). Twelve other heterozygous patients (Group 2) received mivacurium 0.2 mg kg bw-1 (2.5 x ED95). In these patients the time to 100% T1 suppression was 1.4 min (1.1-2.0 min). The time to reappearance of the T1 response, to 90% T1 recovery, and the recovery index (25.3 min (14.5-34.5), 45.5 min (30.9-59.2), and 9.8 min (6.8-19.6), respectively) were significantly longer than reported in phenotypically normal patients. Five patients homozygous for the atypical gene (Group 3) were given 0.03 mg kg bw-1 mivacurium. The time to reappearance of T1 response following this low dose of mivacurium ranged from 26-128 min. In all five patients the neuromuscular block was successfully antagonized with neostigmine preceded by atropine. In conclusion, mivacurium-induced neuromuscular blockade was moderately prolonged in patients heterozygous for the usual and the atypical gene for plasma cholinesterase. Patients homozygous for the atypical plasma cholinesterase gene appear to be markedly sensitive to mivacurium.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Hydrolysis and reconjugation of gibberellin A20 glucosyl ester by seedlings of Zea mays L.

The [6-2H]glucosyl ester of [17-13C,3H]gibberellin A20 (GA20) was injected into light-grown 14-day-old seedlings of normal, dwarf-1, and dwarf-5 maize (Zea mays L.). The plant material was extracted 24 h later, and the extracts were purified by solvent partitioning, column chromatography, and HPLC. 13C-labeled metabolites were identified from the purified extracts by full-scan gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and selected ion current monitoring in conjunction with Kovats retention indices. The metabolites, [13C]GA20, [13C]GA29, [13C]GA20-13-O-glucoside, and [13C]GA29-2-O-glucoside, were identified from normal, dwarf-1, and dwarf-5 seedlings. [13C]GA8 and [13C]GA8-2-O-glucoside were also identified from normal and dwarf-5 seedlings but not from dwarf-1 seedlings. The data provide definitive evidence for the endogenous hydrolysis by the seedlings of the introduced conjugate and its reconjugation to three glucosides.

Esters↗
PubMed1992

Purification and crystallization of insecticidal delta-endotoxin CryIIIB2 from Bacillus thuringiensis.

CryIIIB2, an insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis has been crystallized from 0.6 M NaBr and HEPES buffer at pH 7.0 and X-ray diffraction data collected on a native crystal to 2.4 A. The insecticidal protein was obtained from a Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strain EG7231. Crystals of the endotoxin are orthorhombic, space group C2221, with unit cell dimensions of a = 122.44, b = 131.81, and c = 105.37 A. A unit cell contains one molecule of the 67,000 Da endotoxin per asymmetric unit.

Bacillus thuringiensis↗
PubMed1992

Analysis of Indole-3-Acetic Acid Metabolites from Dalbergia dolichopetala by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

A mixture of [2-(14)C(1)] and [(13)C(6)]indole-3-acetic acid was applied to the cotyledons of 6-day-germinated seeds of "jacarandá do cerrado" (Dalbergia dolichopetala) and after 8 hours the seeds were extracted. Analysis of the fractionated extract by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography-radiocounting revealed the presence of five radiolabeled metabolite peaks (I-V). After further purification, the individual peaks of radioactivity were analyzed by combined high performance liquid chromatography-steel filter-fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry. The metabolite fraction V was found to contain [(14)C(1), (13)C(6)]indole-3-acetylas-partic acid and unlabeled indole-3-acetylglutamic acid. Analysis of the metabolite fraction II revealed the presence of dioxindole-3-acetylaspartic acid and putative dioxindole-3-acetylglutamic acid as well as putative benzene ring-hydroxylated derivatives of oxindole-3-acetylaspartic acid and oxindole-3-acetylglutamic acid. There was no evidence of significant incorporation of label from [2'-(14)C(1)] or [(13)C(6)]indole-3-acetic acid into any of these conjugated indoles.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

Influence of plasma cholinesterase activity on recovery from mivacurium-induced neuromuscular blockade in phenotypically normal patients.

The significance of plasma cholinesterase (pChe) activity for the duration of action of mivacurium in phenotypically normal patients was evaluated in 35 patients during neurolept anaesthesia. The response to train-of-four nerve stimulation was recorded using a Myograph 2000. Ten patients with normal pChe (Group I) and five patients with decreased pChe activity (Group 2) were given a small test dose of mivacurium 0.03 mg kg-1. Mivacurium 0.1 mg kg-1 was administered following spontaneous recovery from the first dose. The mean suppression of the height of the first (T1) of the train-of-four responses following mivacurium 0.03 mg kg-1 patients with normal and decreased enzyme activity was 40% and 56%, respectively, and the mean T1 suppression after mivacurium 0.1 mg kg-1 was 100% in both groups. The times to different levels of twitch height recovery following the 0.1 mg kg-1 dose did not differ between the two groups of patients. Another 20 patients with normal or decreased pChe activity (Group 3) were given mivacurium 0.2 mg kg-1. In this group the time to maximum block was 1.4 min (1.0-4.0) mean (range) and the time to reappearance of the T1 response was 15.0 min (7.4-22.7) (range). An inverse relationship was found between the patients' pChe activity and the time to first response. It is concluded that mivacurium is short-acting in patients with normal pChe phenotype and normal to low-normal pChe activity. No patient with very low pChe activity was included in the study. A prolonged response to mivacurium may, however, be expected in these patients.

Anesthesia Recovery Period↗
PubMed1992

Long-term Antabuse treatment: tolerance and reasons for withdrawal.

We studied 210 alcoholics, who were re-admitted to a disulfiram treatment programme after having voluntarily discontinued disulfiram therapy, primarily to ascertain whether illness, hospitalization, or serious adverse effects were the cause of the withdrawal. A simple 9-item questionnaire was used. About 70% of the patients gave either "a wish to drink again" or "no need for further treatment" as the reason. Withdrawal in the remaining patients was in no case related to adverse effects of disulfiram. The low incidence of adverse effects was confirmed in another group comprising 93 patients treated under supervision with disulfiram 600-800 mg twice a week for at least a year (i.e. total dose at least 70 g disulfiram). They were monitored by standard laboratory blood and urine tests. There were no clinically significant changes in the measures used. Indeed, many of the patients improved during the year of abstinence. These two studies add weight to the evidence that disulfiram is not a drug with a high incidence of adverse effects.

Alcoholism↗