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Biomedical subjects

I Orstavik

Publications and source records attributed to I Orstavik.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Acute bronchiolitis in infancy. The relationship to later recurrent obstructive airways disease.

Fifty-one infants admitted to hospital because of acute bronchiolitis were followed until 2 years of age. Sixty per cent had three or more attacks of bronchopulmonary obstruction, and the remainder two or less attacks. The children with three or more attacks also had more respiratory infections. They had younger parents and their close relatives more often had respiratory atopic illness. The children with three or more attacks wheezed for a longer time after the bronchiolitis. No difference was found for breast-feeding, neonatal respiratory complications, crowded homes, parental smoking and other social factors. To detect children at risk of recurrent obstructive airways disease after bronchiolitis, a discriminant analysis was performed. The discriminant function classified 28 of the 31 children with recurrent obstructive episodes as belonging to the risk group, and 18 of the 20 children with two or less episodes to the non-risk group.

Airway Obstruction↗
PubMed1986

Neutralizing activity in human milk fractions against respiratory syncytial virus.

Neutralizing activity against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was measured in milk samples from 17 healthy women whose infants had an acute infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and from 27 women with healthy infants. All milk samples were obtained 2-8 months post partum. Neutralizing activity was detected in 36 samples. No major difference in neutralizing titers was observed between the two groups, and the titers were low. RSV-specific IgA was found in two samples, and RSV-specific IgG in one sample. RSV-specific IgM was not detected. In gel filtration studies, the neutralizing activity was eluted with an apparent molecular weight above 400,000. The neutralizing activity remained after removal of IgA by affinity chromatography. These findings suggest that both immunoglobulin and non-immunoglobulin components in human milk can neutralize RSV.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1985

Primary cytomegalovirus infection following open heart surgery.

Among 674 patients undergoing open heart surgery in 1981-82, 86 (13%) were cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody-negative when tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay prior to operation. At follow-up, 54 (67%) of 80 patients restudied had seroconverted after the operation, and 35 of the 54 seroconvertants had been ill with fever and elevated liver enzymes. Among the latter 35 patients, 26 demonstrated a significant rise in CMV antibody titre, most often detected in the third week following the onset of illness. The older patients were more susceptible to illness and seroconversion, and there was a positive correlation between age and the number of blood units given. Thus, at least one third of the seronegative patients developed symptomatic CMV illness after open heart surgery. This is a much higher incidence than earlier reported.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Identification of patients at risk of symptomatic cytomegalovirus infection after open-heart surgery.

In a prospective study, 58 consecutive patients submitted to open-heart surgery were followed from the preoperative period up to 3 months postoperatively with regard to clinical status, cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies and signs of enzymatic liver damage. Forty-eight patients (83%) were seropositive prior to operation. Of the ten (17%) preoperatively seronegative patients, five became CMV-seropositive during follow-up. Of the 48 initially seropositive patients, nine showed heightened CMV-antibody titers after the operation. Significant symptomatic CMV illness with protracted fever developed in four patients, all from the group of five with seroconversion. All five of these patients had enzymatic liver damage. The incidence of symptomatic CMV infection after open-heart surgery in CMV-negative patients probably is higher than previously assumed, while CMV-positive patients seem to have complete protection against CMV morbidity.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1984

Antibodies to cytomegalovirus-induced pre-early nuclear antigen in the anticomplement-immunofluorescent test in comparison to IgG and IgM antibodies in the indirect and direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in diagnosing cytomegalovirus infections.

Development of antibody to pre-early nuclear antigen (anti-PENA) in persons with primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was tested in serial serum specimens of four renal transplant patients and four patients undergoing open heart surgery using the anticomplement-immunofluorescent test (ACIF). In patients undergoing open heart surgery seroconversion of anti-PENA was mostly concomitant with the rise of IgG or IgM antibodies determined in the indirect or direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) whereas in all renal transplant patients developing anti-PENA a delayed rise of this antibody compared to IgG and IgM antibodies was observed. Significant rise of anti-PENA accompanied by an increase of IgG and IgM antibodies in indirect and direct ELISA was also found in three patients undergoing open heart surgery with recurrent CMV-infection. Anti-PENA was shown to persist longer than IgM antibody. Moreover, anti-PENA was present in the serum of nearly two-thirds of 30 persons with IgG antibody but without IgM antibody. It is concluded that antibody determination to PENA can serve as an additional means of diagnosing primary and recurrent CMV infections. Because of its long persistence only seroconversion or significant rise of this antibody may be considered evidence of infection. In some patients a delayed development of anti-PENA must be taken into consideration.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Respiratory virus infections and aeroallergens in acute bronchial asthma.

Two hundred and fifty six attacks of acute bronchial asthma occurring in 169 children aged over 2 years were studied during a two year period. More attacks occurred during spring and autumn than at other times of the year. In 73 patients (29%) a respiratory virus infection was diagnosed, with the same seasonal variation as the asthmatic attacks. Most of the virus infections were caused by rhinovirus (45%) and respiratory syncytial virus (19%). There was no significant correlation between asthmatic attacks in patients with birch pollen, grass pollen, or Cladosporium herbarum allergy and counts of the respective pollen or spores in the air. More seasonal attacks occurred in patients with cladosporium allergy than in patients without cladosporium allergy but there was no seasonal variation among birch or grass pollen allergic patients. Information about exposure to animals was obtained in only 12% of attacks occurring in 121 patients with allergy to animal dander. The single precipitating factor most frequently associated with acute asthma was respiratory virus infection.

Allergens↗
PubMed1984

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and rubella virus infection during pregnancy. A study of CMV and rubella virus antibodies in 2014 pregnant women and follow-up studies of infants at risk for intrauterine CMV infections.

Two blood samples, one in the first and one in the third trimester, were collected from 2014 pregnant women. Serological tests for CMV and rubella antibodies were performed in the paired samples. Seroconversion by the CF test for CMV antibodies was demonstrated in 15 women. However, seroconversion also by the IF test was found in only one of these. A rise in titer during pregnancy by the CF test was found in 16 woman. None of these specimens contained specific IgM. High CMV-CF antibody titer (greater than 128) in the first serum sample was found in 28 women, but none of the sera contained specific IgM. It is concluded that no single serological test can serve at present as a screening test for the diagnosis of CMV infection during pregnancy. In children thought to be at risk contracting congenital CMV infection, no case with CNS malfunction that could be attributed to a congenital CMV infection could be demonstrated at the age of 7-8 years. One case of seroconversion in the examination for rubella antibodies was found. The infant of this mother showed no clinical signs of rubella infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Bronchopulmonary obstruction in children with respiratory virus infections.

Among 873 children hospitalized with confirmed respiratory viral infections, 492 suffered from bronchopulmonary obstruction. Respiratory syncytial virus infections were dominant among the patients with bronchopulmonary obstruction (80%). The majority of patients with rhinovirus infections suffered from bronchopulmonary obstruction (57%). Two main groups of children at risk from developing bronchopulmonary obstruction during respiratory virus infections were found: 1) infants, suffering from bronchiolitis, mainly due to respiratory syncytial virus, and 2) children of all ages with bronchial asthma, among whom acute attacks were precipitated by virus infections, mainly rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus infections. The pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary obstruction during respiratory virus infections is discussed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Viral diagnoses using the rapid immunofluorescence technique and epidemiological implications of acute respiratory infections among children in different European countries.

From November 1978 to October 1981, a total of 7716 specimens of nasopharyngeal secretions were examined by the rapid immunofluorescence technique to determine the frequency of infections caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus A, and parainfluenza viruses 1 and 3. The tests were carried out in six different virus laboratories located in Newcastle upon Tyne (England), Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Turku (Finland), and Vienna; laboratories in Lisbon and Paris participated in the study for shorter periods. The specimens were collected from infants and children less than 6 years of age who had been admitted to hospital with an acute respiratory infection. Standardized techniques and quality controlled reagents were used. At least one of the above viruses was detected in 1927 (25%) of the specimens: RSV in 1475, influenza virus A in 123, parainfluenza virus 1 in 110, and parainfluenza virus 3 in 237 specimens. Respiratory syncytial virus dominated in all centres, but in some Scandinavian centres distinct outbreaks due to this virus occurred only once or twice during the 3 years' study period. Three outbreaks of RSV were observed in Newcastle, but here an unprecedented delay of the first winter's epidemic occurred. The delay was associated with prolonged school closures in the area, and with a very early outbreak of influenza. Parainfluenza virus 3, which was predominantly a summer virus in Newcastle, was most frequently encountered during the colder months of the year in the other centres.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

Viral infections of the respiratory tract in hospitalized children. A study from Oslo during a 90 months' period.

A diagnosis of 979 respiratory viral infections was made in hospitalized children. Respiratory syncytial virus greatly out-numbered the other viruses: it caused 58% of the total virus infections and occurred in winter epidemics. Influenza A and B virus occurred during late winter and spring, rhinovirus had a seasonal distribution towards spring and autumn, whereas adenovirus types 1, 2 and 5 had no distinct seasonal distribution. Whereas respiratory syncytial virus were mainly associated with bronchiolitis and adenovirus type 7 with pneumonia, rhinovirus infections were most often found in children with episodes of acute bronchial asthma. The influenza A and B and adenovirus types 1, 2 and 5 infections often occurred with extrarespiratory symptoms, especially febrile convulsions.

Adenovirus Infections, Human↗
PubMed1983

A rotavirus staphylococcal co-agglutination test.

A simple and rapid staphylococcal co-agglutination (SA) test for detection of rotavirus in human faecal specimens is described. A suspension of protein A-containing staphylococci coated with a rabbit hyperimmune serum against the rotavirus strain of calf diarrhoeae virus was used as reagent. Before the SA test, the faecal specimens were absorbed with a suspension of uncoated staphylococci. 34 of 36 rotavirus immune electron microscopy (IEM) positive samples showed a positive SA test, whereas none of 41 IEM negative specimens agglutinated the staphylococcal reagent. The SA test was as sensitive as an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Rotazyme) and in our hands more sensitive than a latex agglutination test (Rotalex).

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1982

Chlamydial secretory IgA antibodies in human milk.

Colostrum from 10 of 30 randomly chosen women contained IgA antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis as shown by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a single-antigen immunofluorescence test. Specific colostral IgA was present only in seropositive women. In addition, Chlamydial-specific IgA was also detected in milk from 5 of 6 women who were shown to harbour C. trachomatis in the lower genital tract during delivery. There was a close correlation between chlamydial-specific IgA and the chlamydial secretory immunoglobulin titres in colostrum and milk samples but not between chlamydial IgA titres and the total secretory IgA content. No agreement was observed between the specific IgA antibodies in milk and corresponding serum samples. It is suggested that chlamydial-specific IgA in milk is induced by genital infections.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Virus antibodies in the serum of patients with liver disease.

Two hundred and twenty-six patients suspected of having liver disease were examined clinically, by a liver biopsy and laboratory test, according to a prospective scheme. Blood samples obtained just before the liver biopsy were coded and subsequently examined blindly, using the complement fixation test (CFT). The antigens were influenza A and B viruses, parainfluenza 1, 2, and 3, respiratory syncytial viruses, varicella, morbilli, cytomegalo and herpes simplex viruses. The sera were also examined by the CFT against Mycoplasma pneumoniae antigen. Antibodies against rubella virus were determined in a haemolysis-in-gel test. HBsAg and HBsAb were determined by a staphylococcal radioimmunoassay, and sera from patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) and chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) were also examined for antibodies against hepatitis A virus by radioimmunoassay. Highly significant antibody titres against morbilli virus were found in patients with CAH and CPH. Patients with CPH or liver cirrhosis also had significantly higher titres against rubella virus than other groups. Some patients with liver granulomas had high titres against rubella virus. Only in one patient with CAH was a positive test for HBsAg found, and in one a positive test for HBsAb. Seven patients in the CAH and CPH groups had very high titres against both rubella and morbilli viruses.

Adolescent↗