Biomedical subjects

E Ostergaard

Publications and source records attributed to E Ostergaard.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Attitudes of general dental practitioners in Europe to the microbial risk associated with dental unit water systems.

UNLABELLED: Dental Unit Water Systems (DUWS) are used in dental practices to provide water for cooling of dental equipment and irrigation of the oral cavity. However, they have been demonstrated to be contaminated with micro-organisms. There are currently no European Union (EU) Commission guidelines for the microbial quality of water discharged by DUWS. This study was part of an EU research programme to investigate the microbial contamination of DUWS in general dental practice (GDP) in the UK, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Ireland, Greece and Spain. OBJECTIVE: To undertake a questionnaire survey on the type of DUWS in use and determine the attitude of GDPs to the risk of microbial infection from DUWS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The questionnaire was written and translated into the language of each country before being posted to each participating dentist. Dentists were asked to complete the questionnaire survey and return it by post. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The major findings were that the majority of dentists did not clean, disinfect or determine the microbial load of their DUWS, and that dentists would welcome regular monitoring and advice on maintaining their DUWS; the introduction of guidelines; and recommendations on controlling the microbial load of DUWS.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2004

Gc globulin (vitamin D-binding protein) levels: an inhibition ELISA assay for determination of the total concentration of Gc globulin in plasma and serum.

Gc globulin, also called vitamin D-binding protein, is a plasma protein involved in the actin-scavenger system. In this study, the total Gc globulin concentration in serum or plasma samples was determined using a new, fast, solid-phase inhibition assay. Included in the study were 228 healthy volunteers (131 M, 97 F), 22 pregnant women, 90 cancer patients and 9 patients with chronic liver disease. Moreover, the degree of complexing with actin was determined in selected samples using crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The Gc globulin level in healthy controls was in the range 176-623 mg/L, showing no age dependency. The median level was found to be significantly higher in women than in men. Gc globulin concentrations were raised during pregnancy, showing a median value of 541 mg/L in the first trimester, and slightly raised to 574 mg/L in the second trimester. Cancer patients showed no changes in Gc globulin level, and there was no sign of increased amounts of complexing with actin. Chronic liver patients showed increased levels of Gc globulin following transplantation, but no signs of complexing with actin. This new solid-phase inhibition assay is fast, it is a good complement to the existing quantification methods, and it is especially suitable for determination of the Gc globulin status in acute liver patients before and during treatment.

Actins↗

PubMed2003

Sporadic hemiplegic migraine is an aetiologically heterogeneous disorder.

In order to better understand sporadic hemiplegic migraine (SHM) and particularly its relation to familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM), migraine without aura (MO) and typical migraine with aura (typical MA), we investigated the occurrence of MO and typical MA among probands with SHM and their first-degree relatives. The pattern of familial aggregation of MO and typical MA was assessed by population relative risk calculations. A total of 105 SHM probands and 483 first-degree relatives were identified in the Danish population. Compared with the general population, SHM probands had no increased risk of MO, but a highly increased risk of typical MA. First-degree relatives of all SHM probands had an increased risk of both MO and typical MA, whereas first-degree relatives of probands with exclusively SHM had no increased risk of MO but an increased risk of typical MA. Our data suggest that SHM is a genetically heterogeneous disorder.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

An epidemiological survey of hemiplegic migraine.

The objective of the present study was to use systematic nation-wide case-finding methods to establish the prevalence and sex ratio of hemiplegic migraine (HM) in the entire Danish population of 5.2 million inhabitants. Affected patients were identified from three different recruitment sources: the National Patient Register, case records from private practising neurologists and advertisements. Based on the observed number of affected patients from each case-finding method, it was attempted to estimate the total number of affected patients by means of the statistical method known as capture-recapture. Two hundred and ninety-one affected patients were identified; 147 were familial HM from 44 different families, 105 were sporadic HM and 39 were unclassifiable HM. The HM sex ratio (M:F) was 1:3. Based on the identified number of affected patients the prevalence of HM at the end of 1999 was estimated to be 0.01% in Denmark, where the familial and sporadic form were equally frequent.

Advertising↗

PubMed2001

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis toxoids combined with inactivated polio vaccine, when administered concomitantly with or as a diluent for a Hib conjugate vaccine.

In an open trial, 400 infants were randomized to vaccination with a combined diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-inactivated polio vaccine (DTaP-IPV) either mixed with a Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) tetanus toxoid conjugate immediately before injection (DTaP-IPV/Hib (mix)) or given concurrently with the Hib conjugate at separate injection sites (DTaP-IPV+Hib (sep)). The pertussis component consisted of pertussis toxoid alone. The vaccines were given intramuscularly at 3, 5 and 12 months of age. No vaccine-related serious adverse events occurred. Local reactions were evaluated from diary cards completed by the parents. Infants who received DTaP-IPV/Hib (mix) experienced fewer local reactions. Sera were obtained 28-45 days after the second and third vaccinations. Total Hib capsular antibodies were similar in the two groups after the second injection but lower in the group receiving DTaP-IPV/Hib (mix) than in the group receiving DTaP-IPV+Hib (sep) after the third injection (geometric mean 6.1 vs 10.4 microg/ml). Mixing of the vaccines also led to somewhat lower diphtheria toxin antibodies (5.9 vs. 7.7 IU/ml after the third injection) while tetanus antibodies were higher (3.9 vs. 2.5 IU/ml after the third injection). Antibodies against pertussis toxin and the three polio virus types were similar in the two groups. The moderate impairment of the Hib antibody response caused by mixing of the Hib conjugate with aluminium adsorbed DTaP may be due to physicochemical interference but is probably of little clinical importance because of the ability of the Hib conjugates to induce an immunologic memory.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed1999

Vaccination of infants with a four-dose and a three-dose vaccination schedule.

Swedish infants were vaccinated with diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis toxoids, inactivated poliovirus vaccine and a Haemophilus influenzae type b - tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine at 2, 4, 6 and 15 months (US vaccination program, 'US arm', n=118) or at 3, 5 and 12 months of age (Swedish vaccination program, 'Swedish arm', n=103). The antigen amounts in the diphtheria and tetanus vaccines were higher in the Swedish than in the US arm while the amounts in the other vaccines were the same in both arms. There were no serious side effects. Local reactions increased with the numbers of doses but did not differ significantly between the groups. Serum was obtained at 2, 7, 15 and 16 months in the US arm and at 3, 6, 12 and 13 months of age in the Swedish arm. A fifth serum was obtained in both groups at 4 yr of age. For vaccines with the same antigen amount the following was observed: a. three doses at 2, 4 and 6 months were more immunogenic than two doses at 3 and 5 months; b. the third dose in the Swedish arm was more immunogenic than the third dose in the US arm; c. the fourth dose in the US arm induced higher antibodies than the third dose in the Swedish arm (except for pertussis toxin antibodies that were similar in both groups) and the differences tended to remain at the age of 4 yr. Children in the Swedish arm received a higher diphtheria toxoid dose (25 Lf) than in the US arm (15 Lf) which led to higher diphtheria toxin antibodies in the Swedish arm at comparable ages. Children in the Swedish arm received a higher tetanus toxoid dose (7 Lf) than in the US arm (6 Lf). Tetanus antibodies were similar at comparable ages. In conclusion, the immunogenicity of vaccines in infancy can be improved by increasing the number of doses, by prolonging the intervals between doses and by increasing the antigen amount in the vaccine.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed1997

Infant botulism. The first culture-confirmed Danish case.

Infant botulism is caused by intestinal colonization by Clostridium botulinum, C. barati or C. butyricum. Infant botulism has only rarely been reported outside the USA. A 3-month-old boy developed constipation, lethargy, feeding difficulties and descending, severe, symmetric weakness. He was breastfed but had also been fed honey. Supportive care led to complete recovery. The serum was positive for C. botulinum toxin type A-F (mouse toxin neutralization assay). A strain of C. botulinum producing toxin type A and E was identified in the stool. C. botulinum was identified in a jar of honey of the same brand as the honey fed to the patient.

Botulinum Toxins↗

PubMed1996

Intensive chemotherapy in childhood myelodysplastic syndrome. A comparison with results in acute myeloid leukemia.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in children is often considered as a variant of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and frequently treated as such. However, there are very few reported data on the outcome following AML treatment. We analyzed 20 consecutive cases of de novo MDS treated in Denmark according to the NOPHO AML protocols. The results were compared with those obtained in 31 children with de novo AML treated with the same protocols, and with the outcome in 10 children with MDS who received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) without prior AML therapy. Distinction between MDS and AML was made morphologically according to the FAB criteria. All children were followed for at least 37 months. The proportion of complete remission in MDS and AML was 35 percent vs 74 percent. (P = 0.005), resistant disease 25 percent vs 10 percent (P = 0.14), death in cytopenia 40 percent vs 16 percent (P= 0.06), and 3-year survival 15 percent vs 35 percent. (P = 0.11), respectively. Duration of treatment-related cytopenia was similar in MDS and AML, except for a longer period of leukopenia in MDS following the second course of induction. Seven of 10 MDS children receiving BMT without prior chemotherapy are long-term survivors. Our data suggest that conventional AML regimens are associated with a low rate of complete remission, a high risk of death in cytopenia, and a limited curative potential in childhood MDS. Allogeneic BMT was in contrast associated with a high survival rate. BMT may, at least in some patients, be performed successfully without prior induction chemotherapy. The different response to therapy in MDS and AML may reflect fundamental biological differences between the two conditions.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1995

Transient pancytopenia preceding acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pre-ALL).

Pancytopenia followed by a period of spontaneous recovery may precede the diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pre-ALL). Although both pre-ALL and myelodysplastic syndromes are preleukemic in a strictly temporal sense, there are several marked differences between the two conditions. We present eight children with pre-ALL who represented 2% of all cases of childhood ALL. The bone marrow was normo- or hypocellular with increased reticulin fibrosis during the pre-ALL phase. No cytogenetic abnormalities were found at the pre-ALL phase, but had developed at the time of overt leukemia in four of the six children examined. Based on the findings in our patients and on cases reported in the literature, we argue that pre-ALL is likely to represent a paraneoplastic syndrome early in the leukemic development that might be mediated via inhibitory properties related to clonally expanding but still cytogenetically normal cells. The findings may indicate a multistep pathogenesis of ALL.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

The effects of wound infiltration with bupivacaine versus saline on postoperative pain and opioid requirements after herniorrhaphy.

In a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, twenty-eight healthy, male patients, aged 20-69 years, scheduled for unilateral elective inguinal herniorrhaphy ad modum Bassini were randomized to receive postoperative infiltration of the surgical wound with either bupivacaine 0.25%, or isotonic saline. General anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone 3-5 mg.kg-1 and alfentanyl 10 micrograms.kg-1, and maintained with alfentanyl 5 micrograms.kg-1 15 min and N2O/O2. After herniorrhaphy, the internal fascia was infiltrated with bupivacaine 0.25% or saline, 10 ml. After closure of the external fascia, the subcutaneous tissue was infiltrated with bupivacaine 0.25% or saline, 15 ml on both sides of the surgical wound. Pain at rest, during mobilisation and during cough was significantly decreased in patients receiving bupivacaine compared to placebo. Median time to first request for morphine was increased from 25 min to 135 min, and the consumption of supplementary morphine during the 24 h study period reduced from four to two doses of 0.1 mg.kg-1 iv or 0.125 mg.kg-1 im, in patients who received bupivacaine compared to placebo.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Evaluation of the antimicrobial effects of sodium benzoate and dichlorobenzyl alcohol against dental plaque microorganisms. An in vitro study.

Evaluation of antimicrobial agents is based on in vivo and in vitro studies. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of sodium benzoate and dichlorobenzyl alcohol to 115 strains of plaque microorganisms were determined by a broth-dilution method. Sodium benzoate did not inhibit growth of any gram-positive cocci (MIC > 106,590 microM). MICs for Porphyromonas gingivalis and two strains of Treponema socranskii were 26,650 microM. The MIC of dichlorobenzyl alcohol to the reference strain of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans was 723 microM and to P. gingivalis, two strains of T. socranskii, and Candida albicans 1,446 microM. MICs for other organisms were 2,892 to 5,784 microM. Saliva samples from 10 volunteers, collected at various times after toothbrushing with a dentifrice containing 10% sodium benzoate and 0.3% dichlorobenzyl alcohol, were analyzed gas-chromatographically. Immediately after toothbrushing mean levels of sodium benzoate and dichlorobenzyl alcohol were 372,626 microM and 7,529 microM, respectively. After 5 min mean levels were 38,700 microM and 734 microM. In conclusion, the concentrations of both antimicrobials dropped rapidly during the first 30 min, but for 5-10 min they were high enough to inhibit growth of potential periodontal pathogens.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

A neutrophil-derived proteolytic inactive elastase homologue (hHBP) mediates reversible contraction of fibroblasts and endothelial cell monolayers and stimulates monocyte survival and thrombospondin secretion.

Human heparin-binding protein (hHBP) is a recently discovered proteolytically inactive neutrophil elastase homologue with sequence identity to azurocidin and CAP37. The protein has antibacterial properties and chemotactic activity toward monocytes. In the present work, we show that monocytes, cultured under serum-free conditions, developed morphological changes and formed multicellular aggregates 4 h after the addition of hHBP at a concentration of 10 micrograms/ml. However, after prolonged incubation (11 days) with unchanged medium, the cells spread again. The hHBP-treated cells had a two- to threefold increase in survival compared to control cells, measured using trypan blue as an indicator of living cells. Differentiation of the alive cells to macrophages was detected by changes in morphology, a threefold increase in protein content, and a three- to fourfold increase in acid phosphatase activity. When monocytes in parallel experiments were labelled with [35S]methionine de novo synthesis and secretion of thrombospondin in a dose-dependent manner was observed after 16 h, with half-maximal secretion at 2 micrograms hHBP/ml and a maximal 12-fold increase in secretion with respect to controls at 16 micrograms/ml. Supplementary labeling with [35S]sulfate revealed that the same monocytes down-regulated the secretion of a large proteoglycan (300-400 kd), apparently also with a half-maximal decrease rate at 2 micrograms/ml hHBP. Exposure of confluent fibroblast and endothelial cell monolayers to hHBP (10 micrograms/ml) in the absence of fetal calf serum resulted in cell contraction leaving gaps between cells, the phenomenon being recognizable within 4 h after addition of hHBP. Addition of fetal calf serum to a concentration of 10% completely restored the monolayers. A unique role of hHBP in host defense involving recruitment of monocytes and a key function of hHBP in neutrophil extravasation in response to inflammatory chemotactic signals such as leukotriene B4, complement peptide C5a, and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine are suggested.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Comparison of the effects of methoxysuccinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-chloromethyl ketone-inhibited neutrophil elastase with the effects of its naturally occurring mutationally inactivated homologue (HBP) on fibroblasts and monocytes in vitro.

The mature neutrophils in the circulation contain, besides the different proteases known for a long time, a recently discovered proteolytically inactive elastase homologue (HBP/CAP37/azurocidin). This homologue, which we have named HBP due to its strong affinity to heparin, is a chemoattractant for monocytes and has been shown to induce reversible detachment and contraction when added to monolayers of endothelial cells or fibroblasts. HBP may therefore play a pivotal role in leukocyte migration in response to inflammation. In this report a comparison of CH3O-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-CH2Cl-inhibited elastase with HBP, its naturally occurring homologue selectively mutated in active serine and histidine, reveals that homotypic aggregation of monocytes and contraction of fibroblasts is specific for HBP. HBP induces thrombospondin secretion from monocytes four times as efficiently as the inhibited elastase, and the same molecule was found unable to compete for a specific saturable binding of HBP to monocytes with an apparent KD of 3 x 10(-8)M.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗

PubMed1991

Covalent structure of two novel neutrophile leucocyte-derived proteins of porcine and human origin. Neutrophile elastase homologues with strong monocyte and fibroblast chemotactic activities.

The covalent structures of two, novel, neutrophile, leucocyte-derived, strongly basic proteins of porcine and human origin have been determined by microsequencing in combination with time-of-flight plasma desorption mass spectrometry. The porcine protein primary structure of 219 amino acid residues was shown to contain 6 cysteine residues, 2 putative carbohydrate sites and 14% basic residues. The human protein contained 221 amino acid residues of which 8 were cysteine, 4 putative carbohydrate sites and 12% basic. A 47% direct sequence similarity to human neutrophile elastase was found, but due to mutations of two of the three amino acids in the catalytic triad, proteolytic activity is absent. Modelling and alignment studies unveil a close relationship of both proteins to the serine protease family, the greatest similarity being to those serine proteases present in granules from peripheral blood cells. Both proteins have been shown to be chemotactically active for monocytes and fibroblasts in vitro.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1990

Cystic mesothelioma of peritoneum: occurrence in a man.

We report a case of cystic mesothelioma of the peritoneum in a 54-year-old man in whom cystic masses were removed twice by surgery at an interval of 2 years. The patient died of cardiac arrest shortly after the second operation for a concurrent unresectable colonic cancer. The pathogenesis of the disease is uncertain, but we consider it neoplastic of low grade malignancy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1990

Hepatosplenic candidiasis in children with cancer. Three cases in leukemic children and a literature review.

Three children with acute leukemia presented with prolonged fever and neutropenia after cytostatic therapy, which was followed by abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, and hepatic dysfunction with raised serum alkaline phosphatase. Abdominal CT scan and ultrasound demonstrated multiple small lesions compatible with the hepatosplenic candidiasis syndrome. Liver biopsies showed microabscesses with a granulomatous appearance, but evidence of yeasts and pseudohyphae was present in 1 case only. Cultures were negative. Treatment with amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine was successful in two children. At autopsy, one child had signs of active infection. We reviewed the literature on 27 children with hepatosplenic candidiasis. Abdominal symptomatology and prolonged fever, despite antibiotic therapy, in a patient with previous or present neutropenia after cytotoxic exposure, should lead to a careful evaluation, including noninvasive imaging studies, open liver biopsy, and prompt aggressive antifungal treatment, the response to which requires close follow-up.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Volvulus of the caecum. An evaluation of various surgical procedures.

To evaluate the various operations for caecal volvulus we reviewed 48 patients who were treated between 1948 and 1989. Six were treated conservatively (the volvulus resolved before operation), and the remaining 42 patients (43 operations) were treated by untwisting (n = 14, 2 early deaths); caecopexy (n = 13, no deaths); caecostomy (n = 3, 2 early deaths); or resection (n = 13, one early death). At follow up a mean of 11.8 years later (range 0.4 to 34) the numbers of patients who had remained free of symptoms were 6, 5, 1 and 9, respectively. We conclude that resection gives the best long term results with acceptable mortality and morbidity and should be the treatment of choice for caecal volvulus.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Adenosine induction of rapid catabolism of adenine ribonucleotides and independent elevation of the ATP content in quiescent mouse fibroblasts.

The influence of adenosine on the ribonucleotide metabolism in quiescent BALB/c 3T3 cells was studied. The cellular adenine ribonucleotides were labelled by pretreating the cells with [2-3H]-adenine. After addition of adenosine to the cell cultures, the amount and radioactivity of the cellular purine ribonucleotides and the radioactivity of the purine compounds in the medium were determined. It appeared that adenosine gave rise both to rapid catabolism of adenine ribonucleotides with inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) as an intermediate and to expansion of the cellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) pool. The maximal rates and the apparent activation constants for the two processes have been determined. Experiments with varying concentrations of coformycin (an inhibitor of adenosine 5'-monophosphate [AMP] deaminase and adenosine deaminase) and of 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine (an inhibitor of adenosine kinase), respectively, showed that each compound may almost completely inhibit the adenosine-induced catabolism. This effect can be obtained under conditions where there was little or no effect by the two inhibitors on the rate of expansion of the cellular ATP pool. These results may best be explained by assuming that the process of expansion of the ATP pool is independent of the induced catabolism of adenine ribonucleotides, even though both processes seem to depend on the phosphorylation of adenosine to AMP. The total increase in the pool size of ATP and of guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP), both caused by adenosine, seems not to have regulatory effect on adenine ribonucleotide catabolism.

Adenosine↗