PCR for fetal platelet HPA-1 alloantigen typing.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to H Madsen.
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A case of preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) in the 31st week of gestation is reported. Initial cultures from the cervix and urine were without pathogenic microorganisms. After 8 days of prophylactic pivampicillin and metronidazol, culture from the cervix showed profuse growth of Group B Streptococci (GBS) and the patient developed symptoms of chorioamnionitis. Cesarean section was performed and the infant presented GBS-septicemia. In spite of continued treatment with pivampicillin, culture from the cervix on day 6 post partum still showed profuse growth of GBS. Prolonged prophylactic per oral administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics after PPROM may not always protect against infectious complications. Literature is reviewed, and it is discussed whether the applied regimen in some cases even may favour the occurrence of serious infections.
Two cases of maternal-fetal infection with Listeria monocytogenes are reported. Both women were admitted with influenza-like symptoms and preterm labor at 32 and 34 weeks of gestation, respectively. The infants were delivered within a few days of onset of maternal symptoms. One infant was seriously ill with meningitis and subsequently developed hydrocephalus. The other infant suffered from septicemia, but had no sequelae. It is recommended always to consider the diagnosis listeriosis in pregnant women with fever of unknown origin and preterm labor.
Copper occurs in small amounts in certain food items, but toxic exposures in Northern Europe have occurred only in connection with contaminated drinking water. Chronic exposure of small children can result in development of Indian Childhood Cirrhosis. This disease has recently been documented in Germany as a result of drinking water contaminated from corrosion of water pipes made of copper. Continued diarrhoea in small children can also be due to high copper exposure. Copper is not routinely determined in drinking water in Denmark. Further, no central registration is available concerning water with low pH or the types of water pipes used in houses.
As a result of the advent of new drugs and diagnostic techniques, the emphasis in the control of schistosomiasis has changed from snail control to chemotherapy for infected individuals. However, chemotherapy does not prevent reinfection and there remains a need to reduce snail densities in human water supplies. In the past, treatment with molluscicides has proved ineffective, expensive and has had environmental drawbacks. Here, Henry Madsen describes research into alternative methods of snail control. As yet, little is known of the predators and parasites of schistosome intermediate hosts, but such agents could be suitable as biocontrol agents. To date, the most promising results have been obtained from experimental introductions of competitive snail species, but this strategy still has its drawbacks under many environmental conditions and the development of a universal method of biological control for the intermediate hosts of schistosomes is still a long way off.
Two very preterm infants (24 and 25 weeks) were born vaginally in spite of prolapse of the umbilical cord. The prolapses lasted 45 min and 2 h, respectively, but though both babies were at first believed to be lost, they survived, only mild to moderate asphyxia, and both were discharged well. One of the babies later developed slight neurological sequelae. Even a very preterm baby has the possibility of surviving vaginal delivery complicated by cord prolapse.
The present paper discusses the spread of freshwater snails that act as intermediate hosts for various trematodes that cause diseases in man and in cattle. Examples of snail species which have spread across natural barriers are reviewed as well as the mechanisms involved in this transport. Focus is put on the extensive trade in freshwater aquatic plants and aquarium fish, and the need for better control of this trade is emphasized in order to minimize the risk of unintended import of potentially harmful snails.
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Schistosomiasis transmission in some irrigation schemes in Mali, appears to be very focal, and mainly occurs in human water contact sites close to villages. On this background, a strategy of focal snail control based on application of molluscicide to such sites only, was to be implemented in these areas. However, transmission often occurs in larger canals and lakes, and in these habitats focal snail control is obviously very difficult. This paper deals with experiments carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of focal application of 70% Bayluscide wettable powder in such habitats. Bayluscide was applied in two different ways depending on snail distribution within the sites. When snails were found in marginal vegetation, 2-3 ppm was applied along the shore (to various distances from the shore) from 10-40 m upstream from the water contact sites to 10 m downstream. In case snails were found in low submerged vegetation, which was very common in these habitats, the chemical was applied at 2-4 g (a.i.)/m2 directly between the plants. The results indicate that a satisfactory snail-kill can be achieved in the target area by this method of Bayluscide application. However, the method requires a thorough surveillance for snails and due supervision of the application. The time spacing of applications should probably be 4-6 weeks, but special situations may necessitate more frequent applications.
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The effect of Helisoma duryi or uninfected Biomphalaria alexandrina conditioning of water, as well as the effect of direct competition with these, on the total cercarial production, growth and survival of Schistosoma mansoni-infected B. alexandrina was investigated. The total cercarial production varied considerably between experimental groups. No differences were found between groups maintained in water-conditioned by H. duryi or by uninfected B. alexandrina with regard to the total cercarial production, growth and survival. The cercarial production was correlated with snail size, but showed no differences between the two treatments. Direct competition with H. duryi resulted in reduced cercarial production and growth of infected B. alexandrina as compared with snails in competition with uninfected conspecifics.
At autopsy of 230 adult stray cats, 120 from backyards and 110 from gardens, the intestinal tract was scrutinized for helminths. The prevalence of Toxocara cati, Taenia taeniaeformis and Dipylidium caninum was found to be 79%, 11% and 14%, respectively. Comparisons were made with the results of previous Danish investigations. The prevalence of Toxocara cati was found to be independent of time of collection and the sex and habitat of the cats and identical in cats with or without Taenia. This indicates that paratenic hosts do not play an important epizootiological role in the transmission of T. cati. The intensity of Toxocara per cat followed a negative binomial pattern. The high prevalence of T. cati combined with most cats having a low wormload shows that the cat population generally possesses a high degree of resistance against superimposed infections. The intensity of male Toxocara increases with the size of the worm population. This we consider to be an expression of increasing susceptibility of the cats. The prevalence of T. taeniaeformis was significantly higher in garden cats, due to their greater opportunity for catching mice. D. caninum, however, was significantly more frequent in backyard cats, probably owing to better living condition for the flea larvae in backyards. For both T. taeniaeformis and D. caninum a higher frequency was found in female cats, which is thought to be associated with their care for the kittens.
Factors involved in blood-oxygen transport were studied in 46 pregnant women during the first trimester. All had type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes and comparisons were made with similar measurements from 19 non-diabetic pregnant women, also in the first trimester. The concentration of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was significantly increased (7.6% versus 4.4%, p less than 0.01) and arterial oxygen saturation was decreased (0.95 versus 0.98 mol/mol, p less than 0.01) in the pregnant diabetics compared with the non-diabetics. The hemoglobin concentration was significantly elevated in the diabetic women (12.9 versus 12.1 g/100 ml, p less than 0.01). Even though the red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate content was the same in the two groups, and pH was significantly lower in the diabetic women, hemoglobin-oxygen affinity was slightly increased in the diabetic patients (P50 at actual pH: 26.2 versus 26.7 mmHg, p less than 0.05; P50 at pH 7.40: 27.0 versus 28.0 mmHg, p less than 0.01). The study has demonstrated certain modifications in the blood oxygen transport system in the first trimester of pregnancy of diabetic women that are possibly related to the presence of excess amounts of glycosylated hemoglobin with increased oxygen affinity. This disturbance in maternal oxygen transport, particularly when associated with diabetic vascular disease, may lead to episodes of fetal hypoxia. Such fetal hypoxia may be a pathogenetic factor for the development of congenital malformations in the outcome of diabetic pregnancy.
In order to investigate the effect of smoking on the red cell oxygen transport and release in pregnant diabetic women, 23 smokers and 23 non-smokers were studied in the third trimester. The two groups were comparable with regard to blood glucose regulation, as the median concentration of blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb A1c) did not differ. Red cell 2, 3-diphosphoglycerate (2, 3-DPG) levels were significantly lower in the smokers than in the non-smokers (16.5 vs 17.8 mumol/gHb, p less than 0.01). P50 of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve at actual pH and at pH 7.40 was also significantly lower in the smokers (25.9 vs 26.9 mmHg, p less than 0.01, and 26.5 vs 27.8 mmHg, p less than 0.01 respectively). Red cell 2, 3-DPG was significantly correlated with P50 at pH 7.40 (r = 0.73, p less than 0.001). Arterial oxygen saturation was reduced to the same degree in smokers and in non-smokers, as compared with healthy non-smoking pregnant women and no adaptive increase in the hemoglobin concentration occurred in the pregnant diabetic smokers. The study suggests that smoking in pregnant diabetic women impairs the adaptive increase in 2, 3-DPG associated with diabetes-induced hypoxia.
The concentration of red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), hemoglobin-oxygen affinity and other oxygen transport variables were determined during first, second and third trimester of normal pregnancy as well as 3 months post partum in 18 healthy women. The median concentration of red cell 2,3-DPG increased significantly from the first to the third trimester (16.1 to 17.0 mumol/gHb, p less than 0.01), whereas 2,3-DPG decreased significantly post partum (p less than 0.01). Normal pregnancy was also associated with relative anemia, a significant increase in arterial pH, hypocapnia and hypophosphatemia. The difference in hemoglobin concentration from the first trimester to 3 months post partum was correlated inversely with the difference in red cell 2,3-DPG content (r = -0.52, p less than 0.05). In spite of the variations in red cell 2,3-DPG, hemoglobin-oxygen affinity expressed as P50 at actual pH remained unchanged during pregnancy and post partum. The study suggests that the increased level of 2,3-DPG during pregnancy may in part represent compensation for physiologic anemia and also compensate for a factor leading to increased hemoglobin-oxygen affinity during pregnancy.
Factors involved in blood oxygen transport were measured serially in the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy in 23 insulin-dependent diabetic women. Twenty-six non-pregnant diabetic patients served as a reference group. Diabetic pregnancy was associated with relative anemia, a significant increase in arterial pH, and hypocapnia. The concentration of red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate was significantly higher in the first trimester of diabetic pregnancy compared with non-pregnant diabetics (median value 16.4 vs. 15.0 mumol/g hemoglobin, p less than 0.02) and increased gradually from the first to the third trimester (16.4 to 17.2 mumol/g hemoglobin, p less than 0.01). The hemoglobin A1c concentration decreased simultaneously from 8.1% to 7.3% (p less than 0.01). The level of hemoglobin A1c in the first trimester was significantly lower than that in the non-pregnant diabetic patients (8.1 vs. 9.3%, p less than 0.01). In spite of the increase in red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate content and the decrease in hemoglobin A1c, factors known to reduce hemoglobin-oxygen affinity, the position of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve remained unchanged during diabetic pregnancy: P50 at actual pH in the first trimester, was 26.0 mmHg; in the second trimester, 26.9 mmHg, and in the third trimester, 26.8 mmHg (NS). These values of P50 at actual pH were identical with the value in the non-pregnant group (26.6 mmHg). Other factors influencing hemoglobin-oxygen affinity, such as hemoglobin concentration, hydrogen ion concentration and arterial oxygen saturation remained unchanged during diabetic pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The effect of smoking and of carbon monoxide on the platelet-vessel wall interaction was investigated. After smoking two high-nicotine content cigarettes (2.6 mg nicotine/cigarette) the mean bleeding time decreased 1.6 min (P less than 0.05) in five habitual smokers whereas the platelet aggregability was only moderately inhibited. After inhibiting the platelet cyclooxygenase by ingesting acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) 2 days prior to the study, smoking caused a markedly and significantly shortened bleeding time (-3.8 min; P less than 0.05). The bleeding time was unaffected by smoking when both the platelet cyclooxygenase and the vessel wall prostaglandin was inhibited by ASA 1 h prior to the study. When smoking two cigarettes with a low content of nicotine (0.25 mg nicotine/cigarette) no changes in the haemostatic mechanism were observed. Inhalation of carbon monoxide in high amounts in five non-smokers had a significant short-lasting effect on the bleeding time (-1.2 min, P less than 0.05). No changes in the bleeding time were observed after carbon monoxide inhalation when the platelet cyclooxygenase or when both the platelet cyclooxygenase and the vessel wall prostaglandin production were blocked. Based on the results it is concluded that the effect of smoking on the haemostasis is mainly mediated through an inhibitory effect on the prostacyclin production in the vessel wall by nicotine and that carbon monoxide only plays a minor role.