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H Hagen

Publications and source records attributed to H Hagen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Evaluation of chloroform/methanol and dichloromethane/hexane extractable lipids as surrogate measures of sample partition capacity for organochlorines in fish tissues.

Organic contaminant concentration data are often lipid normalized to provide an indication of the chemical fugacity in the sample or to compare the relative equilibrium status of samples from the same environment. This study compared lipid normalized PCB and organochlorine concentration data for tissues of individual fish when lipids were measured using chloroform/methanol (CM) or dichloromethane/hexane (DH) extractions. The CM extraction produced higher lipid yields for dorsal muscle (8-fold difference) and carcass (1.7-fold difference) compared to DH extractions, while both methods yielded comparable lipid contents for liver and adipose tissue. Lipid normalized tissue/carcass PCB and organochlorine concentration ratios were variable across tissue types when lipid contents from the CM technique were used, whereas, tissue/carcass concentration ratios approached the expected value of unity for each tissue when DH-derived lipids were used. These data suggest that the tissue lipid content as derived using the DH extraction provided a better surrogate measure of sample partition capacity than tissue lipids determined using the CM technique.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2000

Vanadium(IV) and -(V) complexes with O,N-chelating aminophenolate and pyridylalkoxide ligands.

Two different monoanionic O,N-chelating ligand systems, i.e., [OC6H2(CH2NMe2)-2-Me2-4,6]- (1) and [OCMe2([2]-Py)]- (2), have been applied in the synthesis of vanadium(V) complexes. The tertiary amine functionality in 1 caused reduction of the vanadium nucleus to the 4+ oxidation state with either [VOCl3], [V(=NR)Cl3], or [V(=NR)(NEt2)3] (R = Ph, (3a, 5a), R = p-Tol (3b, 5b)), and applying 1 as a reducing agent resulted in the synthesis of the vanadium(IV) complexes [VO(OC6H2(CH2NMe2)-2-Me2-4,6)2] (4) and [V(=NPh)(OC6H2(CH2NMe2)-2-Me2-4,6)2] (6). In the case of [V(=N-p-Tol)(NEt2)(OC6H2(CH2NMe2)-2-Me2-4,6)2] (7b), the reduction was sufficiently slow to allow its characterization by 1H NMR and variable-temperature studies showed it to be a five-coordinate species in solution. Although the reaction of 1 with [V(=N-p-Tol)(O-i-Pr)3] (9b) did not result in reduction of the vanadium nucleus, vanadium(V) compounds could not be isolated. Mixtures of the vanadium(V) (mono)phenolate, [V(=N-p-Tol)(O-i-Pr)2(OC6H2(CH2NMe2)-2-Me2-4,6)] (10), and the vanadium(V) (bis)phenolate, [V(=N-p-Tol)(O-i-Pr)(OC6H2(CH2NMe2)-2-Me2-4,6)2] (11), were obtained. With the pyridylalkoxide 2, no reduction was observed and the vanadium(V) compounds [VOCl2(OCMe2([2]-Py))] (12) and [V(=N-p-Tol)Cl2(OCMe2([2]-Py)] (13) were obtained. 51V NMR showed 7b and 12 to be five-coordinate in solution, whereas for 10, 11, and 13 a coordination number of 6 was found. Compounds 12 and 13 showed decreased activity compared to their nonchelated vanadium(V) analogues when applied as catalysts in ethene polymerization. Two polymorphic forms with a difference in the V-N-C angle of 12.5 degrees have been found for 6. Crystal data: 6.Et2O, triclinic, P1, a = 11.1557(6) A, b = 12.5744(12) A, c = 13.1051(14) A, alpha = 64.244(8) degrees, beta = 70.472(7) degrees, gamma = 87.950(6) degrees, V = 1547(3) A3, Z = 2; 6.C6H6, triclinic, P1, a = 8.6034(3) A, b = 13.3614(4) A, c = 15.1044(5) A, alpha = 98.182(3) degrees, beta = 105.618(2) degrees, gamma = 107.130(2) degrees, V = 1551.00(10) A3, Z = 2; 12, orthorhombic, Pbca, a = 11.8576(12) A, b = 12.6710(13) A, c = 14.722(2) A, V = 2211.9(4) A3, Z = 8.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Activation of nuclear transcription factor NF-kappaB by interleukin-1 is accompanied by casein kinase II-mediated phosphorylation of the p65 subunit.

In fibroblasts and hepatoma cells, interleukin-1 (IL-1) treatment results in the rapid nuclear accumulation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB, present largely as p65 (RelA)/p50 heterodimers. It is well established that this process is dependent in large part upon the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of the cytosolic inhibitor IkappaB. We looked for other IL-1-induced modifications of NF-kappaB components and found that, in both cell types, IL-1 stimulation led, within minutes, to phosphorylation of both NF-kappaB p65 and p50. Phosphorylation of p65 was sustained for at least 30 min after addition of the cytokine and occurred principally upon serine residues. Immunoprecipitates of NF-kappaB complexes contained an associated protein kinase, the biochemical characteristics of which were indistinguishable from casein kinase II (CKII). Purified CKII efficiently phosphorylated p65 in vitro, apparently on the same major sites that became phosphorylated in intact IL-1-treated cells. Although IL-1 treatment caused little apparent stimulation of total cellular CKII activity, the fraction that was specifically associated with NF-kappaB complexes was markedly elevated by the cytokine. The association of CKII with NF-kappaB occurred in the cytoplasm, suggesting that this phosphorylation might be involved either in control of translocation of the activated complex or in modulation of its DNA binding properties.

Casein Kinase II↗
PubMed1997

Poxvirus genomes encode a secreted, soluble protein that preferentially inhibits beta chemokine activity yet lacks sequence homology to known chemokine receptors.

Poxvirus genomes encode several proteins which inhibit specific elements of the host immune response. We show the "35K" virulence gene in variola and cowpox viruses, whose vaccinia and Shope fibroma virus equivalents are strongly conserved in sequence, actually encodes a secreted soluble protein with high-affinity binding to virtually all known beta chemokines, but only weak or no affinity to the alpha and gamma classes. The viral protein completely inhibits the biological activity of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) by competitive inhibition of chemokine binding to cellular receptors. As all beta chemokines are also shown to cross-compete with MCP1 binding to the viral protein, we conclude that this viral chemokine inhibitor (vCCI) not only interacts through a common binding site, but is likely a potent general inhibitor of beta chemokine activity. Unlike many poxvirus virulence genes to date, which are clearly altered forms of acquired cellular genes of the vertebrate immune system, this viral chemokine inhibitor (vCCI) shares no sequence homology with known proteins, including known cellular chemokine receptors, all of which are multiple membrane-spanning proteins. Thus, vCCI presumably has no cellular analogue and instead may be the product of unrelenting sequence variations which gave rise to a completely new protein with similar binding properties to native chemokine receptors. The proposed function of vCCI is inhibition of the proinflammatory (antiviral) activities of beta chemokines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Tumor board formats: "fascinating case" versus "working conference".

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: To test the hypothesis that a "working conference" (WC; tumor board format in which any case requiring multispecialty input is presented for discussion) was preferable to a "fascinating case" (FC; only "interesting" or "unusual" cases presented) format, tumor board format at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center was changed from FC to WC. RESULTS: The number of cases presented in tumor board reflected this change. For example, for the period from 1990 to 1991 (prior to the change), 63 of 557 registered cases (11%) were presented in tumor board. By 1992-1993, 206 of 547 registered cases (38%) were presented. This increase was highly significant (p < 0.001). Three years after the format change, the authors surveyed 22 regular participants of the tumor board, many of whom had been participants prior to the change. Of those surveyed, 77% preferred the WC to the FC format, and 18% preferred a combined format. Most of those surveyed felt that the WC format was more helpful to the provider and to patient care (86% and 100%, respectively). Eighty percent felt that the WC format facilitated protocol enrollment, and 100% of the respondents were satisfied with the quality of case discussion that resulted from the WC format. CONCLUSIONS: The change to a "working case" format increased provider satisfaction with tumor board quality compared with the previous "fascinating case" format.

Case Management↗
PubMed1996

[The African ostrich--a "useful animal" in Germany?].

Farming of the ostrich--a non domesticated species--cannot be done species-conforming; it is even a cruelty to the animals. Keeping in captivity leads to a steady rank order stress; the biology of their reproduction is heavily impaired and their typical moving requirements can only be poorly satisfied. The specific habit of food intake cannot be performed accordingly, and the early deprivation, caused by the absence of parents during the weanling period, creates extremely abnormal behaviour. Summing up, all these deficiencies constitute the fact of cruelty to animals according to the German Animal Protection Act.

Africa↗
PubMed1995

An epidemiological study of eating disorders in Norwegian psychiatric institutions.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to establish the prevalence of eating disorders in psychiatric patients. METHOD: The total inpatient (n = 8,942) and outpatient (n = 10,125) Norwegian psychiatric population was investigated with a staff-report questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of eating disorders in the inpatient population was 3.8% for women and 1.6% for men. In the outpatient population, the differentiated diagnoses anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and the comorbidity of AN+BN was 5.7%, 7.3%, and 1.6% for women, and 0.8%, 0.7%, and 0.3% for men (this could be reduced to AN and BN prevalences of 7.3% and 8.9% for women and 1.0% and 1.0% for men). DISCUSSION: The level of the prevalence figures is in the expected area, thus the present study confirms earlier studies with smaller psychiatric populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Antibacterial peptides in insect vectors of tropical parasitic disease.

The induction and characterization of immune peptides in two groups of medically important insects, the mosquitoes and blackflies, is currently an important research area. Mosquitoes transmit a variety of viral and parasitic diseases including yellow fever, dengue, malaria and lymphatic filariasis. Simuliid black flies are vectors of river blindness. The diseases are together responsible for death and morbidity in millions of people each year. The relationship between inducible peptides and bacterial and parasitic infections in these insects is proving to be a complex one. The identification of an insect defensin (4 kDa) in Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito, has proved to be the first peptide characterized in a vector of human disease. This inducible molecule appears in the haemolymph in response to bacterial and to a lesser extent filarial infection. The characterization of inducible blackfly peptides has revealed potent inducible anti-Gram-positive as well as anti-Gram-negative activity. In addition, non-self recognition molecules such as phenoloxidase may play a part in differentiating one species of eukaryotic pathogen from another of the same genus. The interactions between the peptides and these other proteins are likely to be important in the establishment of a successful immune response against a parasitic pathogen, particularly as we now know these peptides to have anti-eukaryotic activity (against a range of parasite species). As well as being of fundamental interest in our understanding of host-parasite relationships, the indication that antibacterial peptides are toxic to parasitic organisms has implications for their possible use in the disease vector control strategies of the future. It may also mean that a revision in our understanding of their mode of action, loose as it is, has to take place.

Aedes↗
PubMed1989

Comparison between the chromate inhibition test and a cytochemical method for the determination of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in erythrocytes.

The sensitivity and specificity of the chromate inhibition test for the determination of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in erythrocytes were compared with a cytochemical staining method. Fifty blood samples were used in a double blind study. The samples were selected from 600 blood samples on the basis of two biochemical criteria, viz. either G6PD activity less than 4.8 IU/g Hb as analysed spectrophotometrically and/or G6PD activity less than glutathione reductase (GSSG-R) activity. The cytochemical assay was taken as reference because it has been proved to be sensitive and specific for the detection of heterozygous and homo/hemizygous forms of deficiency. Cytochemically, one hemizygously deficient patient, 19 heterozygotes and 30 normals were detected. When applying the chromate inhibition test a somewhat different result was obtained with the same samples: one of the 30 normals was classified as heterozygously deficient (3% false positives) and 5 of the 19 heterozygously deficient patients were classified as normal (26% false negatives). It is concluded that the chromate inhibition test is a more sensitive biochemical test than the fluorescence spot test or spectrophotometric assays. However, it is less reliable than the cytochemical test for the detection of heterozygously G6PD deficient patients.

Chromates↗
PubMed1989

[Is regionalization disadvantageous for patients? A registration study based on ambulance transports in Oslo].

The number of transferrals between Oslo hospitals has been doubled since the hospital system was regionalized in 1982. Essentially, this development may be explained by the increased need to refer patients to the highly specialized hospitals because of recent years advances in medical technology. During a two month period in 1988, 4,841 admissions to hospitals in Oslo were registered, and 917 transferrals between hospitals. We found that patient-transport was adequate in 92% of the cases. However, ambulance personnel reported 389 cases (8%) of delayed admissions and unnecessary transferrals between the hospitals. In most cases, the real cause of the problems was a too rigid attitude among health workers. The inflexibility of the present system seems to be a major threat to the principle of regionalization. We propose a simple set of rules which will protect the principle and also the requests of the patients.

Ambulances↗
PubMed1989

[Has regionalization fulfilled administrative expectations? Work load, utilization and therapeutic costs at somatic hospitals in Oslo].

Regionalization of the health system in Oslo has equalized pressure of work in the hospitals and improved utilization of available hospital beds. The Local Authorities have succeeded in restricting the increase in hospital costs through improved economic control. The study documents a considerable overcapacity of acute care beds and large differences between the hospitals in regard to waiting lists for surgical operations. Health care planners are recommended to give priority to the home care services and nursing homes, and at the same time reduce the number of acute care beds.

Hospitals, Municipal↗
PubMed1989

[Use of beds in somatic hospitals in Oslo in 1986].

There are more hospital beds available in somatic hospitals in Oslo than in any other county in Norway. Nevertheless, the number of patients discharged from Oslo hospitals is not substantially higher than expected when we consider the demographic composition of the region. The beds in Oslo hospitals are allocated three times more often than hospital beds in other parts of the country to elderly patients needing nursing. Thus the Oslo hospitals seem to take over functions which are normally taken care of elsewhere in Norway at lower levels of treatment. As a result, the annual number of discharged patients per bed is lower in Oslo hospitals than in corresponding Norwegian hospitals elsewhere.

Hospital Bed Capacity↗
PubMed1989

[Attitudes of the population and patients to regionalization in Oslo].

A representative sample of the population of Oslo was interviewed, and a sample of patients discharged from Oslo-hospitals were surveyed using a standardized questionnaire which focused on their attitudes towards the regionalization of the health services in Oslo. The results clearly demonstrate that the patients and the population at large both have full confidence in Oslo's hospitals. In general, the patients felt secure that their regional hospital had both the capacity and expertise to take proper care of them. Only a small minority would have changed hospital if this had been possible. The majority were in favour of the present regionalization principle, and prefer this to an arrangement where they could choose a hospital themselves.

Attitude↗
PubMed1989

[Should hospitals be allowed to transfer surplus patients? A study of the patient load situation at medical and surgical wards in regionalized hospitals in Oslo].

The regionalization arrangements in Oslo are based on each regional hospital having a clearly defined geographical catchment area. This paper considers the patient load in these four regional hospitals during the course of a year and discusses whether a cooperative arrangement should be introduced so that overloaded hospitals are permitted to transfer surplus patients to other hospitals. This arrangement is not considered advisable for the following reasons: Firstly, there is rarely enough space; secondly, peak loads usually occur at the same time; and finally, such an arrangement would tend to undermine the advantages of each regional hospital having its own defined sphere of responsibility.

Hospitals, Municipal↗