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Biomedical subjects

H Dahl

Publications and source records attributed to H Dahl.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Polymerase chain reaction on cerebrospinal fluid for diagnosis of virus-associated opportunistic diseases of the central nervous system in HIV-infected patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic reliability of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for virus-associated opportunistic diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) in HIV-infected patients. DESIGN: CSF samples from 500 patients with HIV infection and CNS symptoms were examined by PCR. In 219 patients the PCR results were compared with CNS histological findings. METHODS: Nested PCR for detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 or 2, varicella zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), and JC virus (JCV) DNA. Histopathological examination of CNS tissue obtained at autopsy or on brain biopsy. RESULTS: DNA of one or more viruses was found in CSF in 181 out of 500 patients (36%; HSV-1 2%, HSV-2 1%, VZV 3%, CMV 16%, EBV 12%, HHV-6 2%, and JCV 9%). Among the 219 patients with histological CNS examination, HSV-1 or 2 was detected in CSF in all six patients (100%) with HSV infection of the CNS, CMV in 37 out of 45 (82%) with CMV infection of the CNS, EBV in 35 out of 36 (97%) with primary CNS lymphoma, JCV in 28 out of 39 (72%) with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Furthermore, HSV-1 was found in one, VZV in four, CMV in three, EBV in three, HHV-6 in seven, and JCV in one patient without histological evidence of the corresponding CNS disease. CONCLUSIONS: CSF PCR has great relevance for diagnosis of virus-related opportunistic CNS diseases in HIV-infected patients as demonstrated by its high sensitivity, specificity, and the frequency of positive findings.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Diagnosis of pulmonary infections in immunocompromised patients by fiber-optic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and serology.

Fiber-optic bronchoscopy (FOB) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were performed on 67 occasions in 57 immunocompromised patients with symptoms consistent with pulmonary infection. Diagnosis was achieved more often in renal transplant patients than in patients with hematological malignancies (85% versus 28%). Culture (bacteria, virus, fungi), staining and microscopy (bacteria, fungi, Pneumocystis carinii (PC)) and antigen detection by indirect immunofluorescence (cytomegalovirus (CMV), respiratory viruses, PC, Legionella) were used for diagnosis. On 20 occasions transbronchial biopsies with histopathologic examination were performed. In addition, serology comprising the herpes group (HHV-6) and respiratory viruses was done. A microbial diagnosis was obtained on 45% of occasions. The most common pathogens found were CMV (31%) and PC (25%). On 22 (33%) occasions a rapid diagnosis of 1 or more microbial agents was obtained within 24 h by conventional staining or indirect immunofluorescence. The clinical relevance of findings of CMV, HHV-6, and Epstein-Barr virus in BAL by polymerase chain detection on 18, 6 and 3 occasions is discussed. On 4 occasions pathogenic bacteria were found. It was not possible to relate findings of coagulase-negative staphylococci, alpha-streptococci and Candida albicans to the pulmonary infection.

Adolescent↗

Central retinal artery occlusion in a patient with Fabry's disease documented by scanning laser ophthalmoscopy.

Fabry's disease, angiokeratoma corporis diffusum, is an X-linked inborn error of glycosphingolipid metabolism due to lack of activity of the lysosomal enzyme, alpha-galactosidase A, resulting in progressive intracellular deposition of neutral glycosphingolipids in various tissues, including vascular endothelial - and smooth muscle cells. Occlusions of the retinal vessels are rare. We present a case of central retinal artery occlusion in a 25-year-old male with Fabry's disease, documented by fluorescein- and indocyanine green angiography performed by scanning laser opththalmoscopy.

Adult↗

Monitoring the analytic surface.

How do we listen during an analytic hour? Systematic analysis of the speech patterns of one patient (Mrs. C.) strongly suggests that the clustering of shared pronouns (e.g., you/me) represents an important aspect of the analytic surface, preconsciously sensed by the analyst and used by him to determine when to intervene. Sensitivity to these patterns increases over the course of treatment, and in a final block of 10 hours shows a striking degree of contingent responsivity: specific utterances by the patient are consistently echoed by the analyst's interventions.

Association↗

Impact of interpretation on associative freedom.

Seventy hours from the psychoanalytic case of Mrs. C, covering the full course of treatment, were scored for associative freedom, number of interventions, and a variety of clinical phenomena such as clarifications, interpretations, different forms of resistance, transference manifestations, and the like. Associative freedom significantly increased over the course of treatment and was significantly related to the number of analyst interventions per hour. The relationship was particularly strong in the latter stages of treatment. Three specific types of interventions were found to increase associative freedom in the latter stages of treatment. The effect of each type was found to influence both the session containing the interpretation and the next 3 sessions. This carryover effect was specific to the latter stages of the analysis.

Adult↗

Minute Y chromosome derived marker in a child with gonadoblastoma: cytogenetic and DNA studies.

A 12 year old girl referred for chromosome analysis because of short stature was found to have karyotype mos 45,X/46,X,+mar. The marker chromosome was observed in 58% of her blood lymphocytes. It was a small, pale staining, spherical fragment with GTL banding and showed faint differentiation along its length with CBG banding. DNA analysis using Y specific probes showed the absence of the testicular determining region and the presence of some short arm and centromeric Y chromosomal material. In situ hybridisation confirmed that the Y chromosomal material was associated with the marker chromosome. At laparotomy the patient was found to have streak gonads. Gonadectomy was subsequently performed and histological examination showed dysgenetic gonads with a dysgerminoma arising from a gonadoblastoma in the left gonad. This case shows that even very small Y derived marker chromosomes with pericentric material can predispose the phenotypic female to gonadal neoplasia.

Base Sequence↗

Herpesvirus serology, aberrant specific immunoglobulin G2 and G3 subclass patterns and Gm allotypes in individuals with low levels of IgG3.

One objective of this study was to determine whether IgG3-deficient individuals have an increased frequency of reactivated herpesvirus infections. Serum titres to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpesvirus-6 were examined in 10 healthy and in 10 symptomatic persons with serum IgG3 < 0.1 g/l. Atypical titres were found in 16% of the IgG3-deficient individuals. Reactivations of these viruses thus do not seem common in IgG3 deficiency. Antigen-specific IgG responses were also determined. A lowered frequency of IgG3 to an EBV-derived peptide was found only in symptomatic, IgG3-deficient individuals. Levels of IgG2 to a bacterial polysaccharide were lowered in the same group, despite normal serum levels of total IgG2. A functional IgG2 deficiency may contribute to symptoms in IgG3 deficiency. The G3(g) allotype, known to be associated with low total IgG3, dominated in IgG3-deficient persons (13/17) independently of presence or absence of symptoms. A linkage of G3(g) to the G2(n) negative allotype, associated with low IgG2, was equally common irrespective of symptoms. G3(g) and absence of G2(n) seem to be one prerequisite for most of IgG3 deficiency combined with low specific IgG2.

Antibodies, Viral↗

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IgG antibodies to human herpes virus 6.

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with human herpes virus 6 (HHV6) membrane antigen was compared with indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for measurement of HHV6 IgG antibodies. Five hundred serum samples from 403 Swedish patients with suspected symptomatic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections were examined. The specificity of the ELISA compared with IFA was 98.7% and the sensitivity was 98.4%. In 90% of the patients, IgG antibodies to HHV6 were detected with both assays. The highest HHV6 IgG titers were found mainly in patients with EBV or CMV infections, but HHV6 mononucleosis was not diagnosed. The same HHV6 antigen was assessed for IgM ELISA but was found to be of limited value due to high IgM reactivity with the control antigen. The HHV6 IgM ELISA requires further investigation. The IgG ELISA described is a reliable alternative to IFA for measurement of HHV6 IgG antibodies and for large scale epidemiological studies.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Effect of primary Epstein-Barr virus infection on human herpesvirus 6, cytomegalovirus, and measles virus immunoglobulin G titers.

Immunoglobulin G antibody titers to human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), measles virus, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) were examined in serum samples from 31 patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced infectious mononucleosis (IM). Sera were drawn sequentially from the same patients less than or equal to 7 days until 3 years after onset of IM. In seropositive patients, there was a significant decrease with time after IM of the immunoglobulin G titers to the three viruses in the majority of patients; HHV-6 IgG titers decreased in 80%, measles virus IgG titers decreased in 75%, and CMV IgG titers decreased in 67%. Four patients contracted CMV infection during the observation period after IM. In these, HHV-6 IgG titers increased, while EBV and measles virus IgG titers remained essentially stationary. Polyclonal B-cell stimulation during IM is suggested to augment antiviral titers in general, but the increases of HHV-6 IgG titers during EBV and CMV infections may also be due to selective stimulation of memory B cells by related antigens or to reactivation of HHV-6 during infection with these herpesviruses.

Adolescent↗

IgG antibodies to human herpesvirus-6 in children and adults and in primary Epstein-Barr virus infections and cytomegalovirus infections [corrected].

Antibody titers against human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) were determined in 80 healthy adults and 100 children and teenagers from Sweden to gain information on the role of the virus and its epidemiology. Based on a positive immunofluorescence titer of 1:10 and above, about 85% of the adults and children were seropositive with 60% seropositivity of children below age one year. Titers were generally higher in patients with simultaneous EBV or CMV infection, yet crossreactivity appeared essentially no problem. HHV-6 thus is ubiquitous like other herpesviruses. Primary infection seems to occur early in life, and reactivation or delayed primary infection may be associated with a variety of disorders.

Adolescent↗

The microstructure of free association.

The author's purpose is threefold: first, to demonstrate the redundancy in the events of the complex life of a patient as told to a psychoanalyst; second, to show two novel ways to represent those events simply; and third, to suggest that the field of psychoanalysis, under assault from philosophers of science and hermeneuticists alike for either not being or for trying to be a science, can in principle be reclaimed for science. It can be done by abandoning a widely held belief that human behavior is simply too complex, too malleable, too rooted in ineffable experience to permit of systematic scientific capture.

Free Association↗

Hydrogen ion concentration of tear fluid in newborn infants.

Tear pH was measured in 173 newborn infants by immersing the tip of a microcombination glass pH probe in the tear fluid lateral in the closed lower conjunctival sac. The median tear pH value was 6.8 with 95% interpercentile range 6.2 to 7.2. The mean tear pH value was 6.74 +/- 0.26 (SD). The pH value was not related to age within the first 12 days and not influenced by the mode of delivery or local application of 0.67% argenti nitratis. This method is an easy, reliable examination to record the pH values of tear fluid, and may widen the knowledge of tear function in normal and pathological conditions.

Female↗

Lexical differences between working and resistance sessions in psychoanalysis.

Divided 25 psychoanalytic sessions with a single patient into 10 working sessions, 5 neutral sessions, and 10 resistance sessions on the basis of ratings by psychoanalysts. Using the Regressive Imagery Dictionary on keypunched transcripts of these sessions, significantly more primary process content and less secondary process content was found in the patient's working-session speech, as opposed to resistance-session speech. Lexical diversity was also higher during working sessions. Results are compared with those obtained with other types of verbal material and are discussed in terms of psychoanalytic views on the process of psychotherapy.

Humans↗