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Biomedical subjects

J F Lassen

Publications and source records attributed to J F Lassen.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

International normalized ratio for prothrombin times in patients taking oral anticoagulants: critical difference and probability of significant change in consecutive measurements.

To determine when a change in serial measurements of prothrombin time in patients receiving oral anticoagulant therapy (ACT) is a statistically significant biological change necessitating dose adjustment, one must know the size of the "critical difference" in statistical terms (i.e., probabilities). In a cohort of 32 ACT patients at pharmacological steady-state, we studied the within-subject total variation of prothrombin time, expressed as International Normalized Ratio (INR), over 6 months. The total within-subject variation (CV) of INR was 10.1%. The corresponding critical differences required for significance of change in serial INR results was 0.7 at a therapeutic target of 2.5 INR and 1.0 at a therapeutic target of 3.5 INR. The data presented allow generation of objective criteria for monitoring ACT patients and deciding dose adjustments. We recommend that estimations of critical differences for significant change of INR in ACT patients should be based on results obtained in the specific clinic investigated to mirror the routine total variation of INR measurements they obtain.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Hallucinogenic mushroom use by Danish students: pattern of consumption.

A survey among Danish students revealed that 33 (7.2%) of the respondents had experience with hallucinogenic mushrooms (HM). Afterwards these students answered an extended questionnaire about habits and pattern of consumption. It seems that mushroom use is experimental and may be due to risk-seeking behaviour but is mostly recreational and restricted to a few events. Age over 25 years and male sex were statistically related to a higher lifetime consumption rate of HM. The age of first time users was significantly lower for marijuana than for HM. Only 15 of the respondents wanted to continue use. Most of them were males and they had significantly more friends with HM experience than those who would not continue. We recommend that surveys of drug abuse include questions concerning HM to monitor the trends and extent of HM abuse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Consumption of psilocybin-containing hallucinogenic mushrooms by young people].

The aim of this questionnaire survey was to investigate the extent of hallucinogenic mushroom consumption among students from a high school in the county of Aarhus, Denmark and among students at the University of Aarhus and students from the Danish school of journalism in Aarhus, Denmark. 3% of the high school students had used psilocybine-containing mushrooms as a hallucinogen. Only 1% had experience with LSD. Of the students at the University of Aarhus, and students from the Danish school of journalism in Aarhus, 333 persons (83%) returned the anonymous questionnaire. 9% had experience with hallucinogenic psilocybine containing mushrooms while only 2% had LSD experience. The use of hallucinogenic mushrooms was surprisingly high. This suggest that mushrooms are the most commonly used hallucinogenic substance in Denmark and that the use has exceeded that of LSD. Compared to non-users mushrooms users had significant more friends with mushroom experience. Furthermore, the study shows that the intention to use mushroom is commoner in persons who have friends with HPS experience. We find that the use of mushroom takes place in minor groups known to each other. Compared to non-users, mushroom-users are significant more experienced with marijuana and other substances. Unfortunately, our data do not permit us to show whether mushroom users are more inclined to try other drugs or whether persons with a high drug experience use mushrooms as well. Further investigation on the subject is recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Corkscrew esophagus].

"Corkscrew oesophagus" is characterised on the basis of two case reports and attention is drawn to thoracic pain of oesophageal origin. Corkscrew oesophagus is a radiological diagnosis and is characterised by twisted segments in the distal third of the oesophagus. The condition can sometimes be demonstrated endoscopically and it is due to a basic disturbance in the motility of the oesophagus. Painful conditions in the oesophagus are most frequently caused by gastro-oesophageal reflux or disturbances in motility and the latter is frequently complicated by reflux oesophagitis. Pain of oesophageal origin is frequently a diagnosis by exclusion and requires exclusion of ischaemic heart disease. The initial treatment should be directed to the reflux oesophagitis. The diagnosis and information about the origin of the pain and the benign course of the condition will calm the majority of the patients and remove their fear of a possible fatal heart disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Hallucinogenic psilocybine containing mushrooms. Toxins contained in Danish wild mushrooms].

A number of the wild Danish mushrooms contain the hallucinogenic agent psilocybin which resembles LSD in many ways. The commonest of these are the "liberty cap" or "magic mushrooms" (Psilocybe semilanceata). On the basis of experience from USA and western Europa, increase in employment of this mushrooms as a hallucinogenic intoxicant may be anticipated in Denmark. The history, epidemiology, botany and pharmacology of the mushroom are reviewed. Clinical pictures and treatment are described for: 1) Acute poisoning with psilocybin-containing fungi, 2) Late sequelae of consumption of psilocybin-containing fungi and 3) Poisoning with more poisonous fungi on account of incorrect identification. General practitioners, duty roster doctors, doctors in casualty departments and in acute psychiatric departments should be aware of these problems. Intoxication with psilocybin may be confused with panic anxiety or euphoria in persons with mydriasis and other sympathomimetic symptoms. The possibility of more serious mushroom poisoning on account of incorrect identification should be borne in mind.

Denmark↗
PubMed1989

[A non-immobilizing regimen following meniscal suturing].

Vertical lesions in the peripheral third of the meniscus were sutured in 13 patients. The patients were treated with restricted activity postoperatively instead of immobilization. The patients were kept in bed until they could lift the leg with extended knee, which they were allowed up with careful support (and support with crutches) until the sutures were removed on the loth day. After removal of the sutures, patients were permitted to bear weight with the knee extended until limited by pain and were permitted unlimited flexion of the knee. From the 21st day, rehabilitation with weight-bearing with the flexed knee was permitted until they could be discharged with normal mobility and quadriceps power after an average of 6.4 weeks. Re-rupture was demonstrated in one patient. At the time of examination after a period of observation of 25.5 months, the patients had an average score of 78 points on Lysholm's functional scale from 0-100. These results are apparently similar to the results obtained following immobilizating regimens. The authors therefore conclude that it is ethically justifiable to carry out an extensive comparative investigation of the results after immobilizing and nonimmobilizating regimens, respectively, following suture of menisci. An investigation of this type appears to be necessary.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[A new cause of accidents resulting from the use of air-powered tools].

Air-powered tools are employed increasingly frequently in industry and involve new possibilities for occupational accidents. A new mechanism of trauma is described where the cause is failure of the snap connection between the tool and the air pipeline. The pipeline and the connection are hurled away from the tool with great force and can hit persons in the vicinity. During the period 1.1.1984 to 31.12.1986, 33 accidents of this type were registered with the workers' supervision authorities. 63% of these consisted to trauma to the neck, head and eyes. As prophylaxis, the present authors suggest a safety chain between the tool and the pipeline and a valve which interrupts the air supply when the pressure in the system falls.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1989

[Ride-on rotary motor mowers--a new mechanism of injury. Home accidents].

A hand injury caused by a ridding-on rotary motor mower is described. The injury was caused by a piece of wire caught by the rotar of the machine which projected and rotated from under the safety guard. This mechanism of injury is possible on account of the relatively large dimensions of the riding-on rotory motor mower. The user had climbed down from the machine to remove objects lying close to the motor mower and was hit on the dorsum of the left hand. He sustained severe traumatic lesions of the first and third fingers and traumatic amputation of the second finger corresponding to the distal phalynx. The authors suggest that a "dead man's grib" which acts via weight bearing on the driver's seat of the machine should be made legally compulsory in Denmark when the new safety measures for rotory motor mowers are drawn up.

Accidents, Home↗