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Biomedical subjects

H Olsen

Publications and source records attributed to H Olsen.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1972

The association of viral hepatitis and acute pancreatitis.

The histological features of 24 pancreases obtained from patients who died of causes other than hepatitis, pancreatitis or pancreatic tumors, included a variable degree of autolysis, rare foci of inflammatory reaction but no hemorrhagic fat necrosis or destruction of elastic tissue in vessel walls (elastolysis). Assays of elastase in extracts of these pancreases showed no free enzyme, but varying amounts of proelastase.A review of autopsy findings in 33 patients with fatal liver necrosis attributed to halothane anesthesia, demonstrated changes of acute pancreatitis only in two. On the other hand, a review of 16 cases of fulminant viral hepatitis revealed changes characteristic of acute pancreatitis in seven - interstitial edema, hemorrhagic fat necrosis, inflammatory reaction and frequently elastolysis in vessel walls. Determination of elastase in extracts of one pancreas showed the bulk of the enzyme in free form. Furthermore, assays of urinary amylase in 44 patients with viral hepatitis showed increased levels of this enzyme (2583 +/- 398 mean value +/- standard error, Somogyi units per 100 ml in 13, or 29.5 percent). The evidence suggests that acute pancreatitis may at times complicate viral hepatitis. Although direct proof of viral pancreatic involvement is not feasible at present, a rational hypothesis is advanced which underlines similar mechanisms of tissue involvement in both liver and pancreas that may be brought about by the hepatitis viruses.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ethanol does not increase lethality due to propoxyphene in rats.

Male Wistar rats (210-330 g) were used as test animals. Propoxyphene (175 mg/kg) and ethanol (2 g/kg) were administered by gastric intubation, naloxone (2 mg/kg) by subcutaneous injection. Four groups, each consisting of 19 rats received either of the following drug treatments: Propoxyphene; ethanol + propoxyphene; naloxone + propoxyphene; and naloxone + ethanol + propoxyphene. The drugs were given in the sequence mentioned at the beginning of the experiment. Naloxone was also given 45 and 90 min later. Mortality was reduced to 42% in the group that received ethanol and propoxyphene as compared to 73% in the group that received propoxyphene only. Naloxone protected against lethality in both groups. A rise in the propoxyphene/norpropoxyphene (P/N) ratio due to an increase in the absolute concentrations of propoxyphene and a decrease in the absolute levels of norpropoxyphene in blood, brain and heart tissues was observed in the ethanol + propoxyphene group, compared to the propoxyphene group. Although these pharmacokinetic data indicate impaired propoxyphene metabolism in the presence of ethanol, ethanol did not enhance propoxyphene induced lethality. This is also contrary to suggestions from previous studies. Our results demonstrate that at least in one species and at one dose ratio (ethanol/propoxyphene) ethanol might reduce the lethality caused by propoxyphene alone. This suggests antagonism between the two drugs, probably in the central nervous system.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Drug-related information generates placebo and nocebo responses that modify the drug response.

OBJECTIVE: Administration of the muscle relaxant carisoprodol and placebo was crossed with information that was agonistic or antagonistic to the effect of carisoprodol. It was investigated whether information alone induced physiological and psychological responses, and whether information modified the response to the drug. METHODS: Half of the subjects received capsules containing 525 mg carisoprodol together with information that the drug acted in a specific way (Groups Relaxant/C, Stimulant/C, and No Information/C). The other half of the subjects received lactose (Groups Relaxant/L, Stimulant/L, and No Information/L). Dependent variables were blink reflexes and skin conductance responses, subjective measures of tension and sleepiness, and serum carisoprodol and meprobamate concentrations. Recordings were made between 15 and 130 minutes after administration of the capsules. RESULTS: The Stimulant/L group reported more tension compared with the other two groups, and carisoprodol increased tension even more in the Stimulant/C group. The Relaxant/C group displayed higher levels of carisoprodol serum concentration compared with the other groups that received carisoprodol. CONCLUSIONS: Reported tension was modulated in the direction suggested by the stimulant information. The effect of carisoprodol on tension was also modulated by stimulant information. Increased carisoprodol absorption in the group that received relaxant information could be a mechanism in the placebo response.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increased plasma concentration of serum amyloid P component in centenarians with impaired cognitive performance.

Serum amyloid P component (SAP) binds to all amyloid fibrils including those in the plaques and tangles of Alzheimer patients. To investigate whether the plasma SAP concentration correlated to cognitive impairment, we measured SAP levels in blood samples from 41 centenarians and compared these to the cognitive performance evaluated by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). We observed a significantly (p < 0.001) increased SAP concentration (48.3+/-16.9 microg/ml; mean +/- SD) in the centenarians compared to gender-matched controls (32.8+/-11.4 microg/ml). Six severely demented centenarians had an even higher SAP concentration (60.2 microg/ml), while the subgroup of cognitive intact centenarians (MMSE score >24) showed a normal SAP concentration (38.4+/-9.3 microg/ml). No dehydration or hepatic dysfunction was demonstrable in the centenarians. We conclude that the centenarians with impaired cognitive performance had significantly increased plasma concentrations of SAP, while the values for cognitive intact centenarians were within the normal range.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mechanical stability of the cornea after radial keratotomy and photorefractive keratectomy.

BACKGROUND: Corneal refractive surgical procedures alter the shape and structure of the tissue, possibly compromising its mechanical stability. METHODS: One or both eyes of 87 subjects were studied: 26 of these 87 had been treated for myopia by excimer laser ablation and 36 by radial keratotomy; 25 without previous corneal surgery functioned as controls. Corneal topography was evaluated by TMS-1 videophotokeratography before and after 180 degrees tilting of the patient, and the pressure-induced ring-wise changes in spherical equivalent power (axial power) were calculated. Changes in corneal shape also were evaluated by computing the instantaneous radius of curvature. The intraocular pressure was measured before and after tilting by a hand-held applanation tonometer. RESULTS: The mean intraocular pressure increased from 13.9 +/- 2.3 mm Hg before tilting to 30.0 +/- 3.8 mm Hg during tilting. In the control eyes, the mean power of the central cornea during tilting decreased 0.187 +/- 0.045 diopters (D) (p < .05); in the excimer-laser-ablated eyes, 0.038 +/- 0.056 D (not statistically significant); and in those treated with radial keratotomy, 0.523 +/- 0.054 D (p < .01). After radial keratotomy, the cornea steepened outside the clear zone in response to pressure loading, whereas it did not change significantly in the laser-ablated or control eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Pressure-induced deformation of normal and excimer laser-ablated human cornea is small, whereas radially incised corneas have significantly decreased mechanical stability.

Adult↗