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Biomedical subjects

J Henrichsen

Publications and source records attributed to J Henrichsen.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

In-the-ear hearing aids. The use and benefit in the elderly hearing-impaired.

Preliminary clinical experiences with in-the-ear hearing aids (ITE-HAs) have been promising, and a beneficial effect has been demonstrated in younger hearing-impaired subjects. However, the subjects applying for audiological examination and rehabilitation are predominantly elderly people (i.e. greater than or equal to 70 years). The present questionnaire examination was performed in order to evaluate the use and benefit of ITE-HAs also in the elderly hearing-impaired, and compare with the effect in younger subjects. An extensive questionnaire was sent 6 months after hearing aid fitting to all patients fitted with ITE-HAs. A total number of 693 subjects corresponding to 80% responded to the questionnaire. 70% of the patients are greater than or equal to 70 years and 23% are above the age of 80 years. The results demonstrate that the elderly hearing-impaired use the hearing aids predominantly in situations when listening to television and in small groups; 64% use their hearing aids the whole day and only 6% never use the aids; with increasing age were indicated increasing handling problems, both concerning change of battery, handling of volume control, and insertion of the aid into the ear canal. Only 8% of the patients were dissatisfied with the cosmetic appearance of the hearing aids, the dissatisfaction being more frequent in the young age group below 70 years (16%) than above the age of 70 years (9%). It is concluded that also the elderly hearing-impaired use and benefit from ITE-HAs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Highly sensitive biotin-avidin sandwich ELISA for the rapid detection of pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide antigens.

The immunological detection of soluble pneumococcal polysaccharide antigens in pathological products is of importance in the direct diagnosis of meningitis or pulmonary infections. We have developed a double antibody sandwich ELISA method using a biotin-avidin system using antibodies constituted with a mixture of IgGs from pooled and/or monospecific antipneumococcal sera provided by the Danish Statens Seruminstitut. The sensitivity of this rapid ELISA method was optimized with purified capsular polysaccharides of the 24 main pneumococcal serotypes. With incubation steps of 30 min at 37 degrees C for the antigens and the conjugates, the detection limit was close to 1 ng/ml for 75% of the purified polysaccharides. A retrospective study of 46 CSF samples established the validity of the assay. This type of modified ELISA system represents a specific, sensitive and rapid procedure for the potential detection of capsular soluble antigens of all pneumococcal serotypes.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1987

Vaccination-induced circulation of human B cells secreting type-specific antibodies against pneumococcal polysaccharides.

Indirect plaque-forming cell assays detecting B cells secreting antibodies against capsular pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPS) antigens are described. In healthy adult volunteers the total number of B cells secreting IgM antibodies against the antigens in a polyvalent PPS vaccine reached a maximum in the blood 6 days after in vivo immunization (mean: 552/10(6) mononuclear cells), whereas the highest concentration of IgG and IgA antibody-secreting cells (SC) were detected 7 days after immunization (means: 628 and 1691/10(6]. B cells secreting antibodies to PPS type 3 (PPS3), PPS8, PPS18C and C-polysaccharide (CPS)--a cell wall antigen common to all pneumococci--constituted 9%, 16%, 6% and 5% (means) of the total number of antibody SC respectively. While the majority of the anti-PPS-SC secreted IgA antibodies, the anti-CPS-SC almost exclusively secreted IgG. Pre-vaccination concentrations of anti-PPS were generally low in contrast to antibodies against CPS, which were present in high concentrations in all individuals. The discrepancy in the Ig class of the antibody SC is probably related to the difference in the pre-vaccination immunity against PPS and CPS.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Detection of group A streptococcal antigen from throat swabs by use of a latex agglutination test kit in general practice.

In 11 general practice offices, with a total of 29 general practitioners, throat swabs from 468 patients with acute pharyngotonsillitis were assayed for group A streptococci with a commercial antigen detection test kit (Culturette Brand Ten-Minute Group A Strep ID; Marion Scientific, Div. of Marion Laboratories, Inc., Kansas City, MO 64114, USA). Compared to aerobic cultures carried out in our laboratory, the sensitivity of the antigen detection test was 73%; the specificity, 98%; the positive predictive value, 96%; the negative predictive value, 84%; and the overall agreement with laboratory findings, 88%. The prevalence of group A streptococci was 42%. Tests performed by assistants were significantly less sensitive (52%) than tests carried out by the physicians themselves (77%). The sensitivity of office cultures was 83% for blood agar plates supplemented with bacitracin discs, and 77% for Streptocult. We conclude that antigen detection tests should not presently be substituted for office cultures in the diagnosis of group A streptococcal throat infections.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Cross-reactions between pneumococci and other streptococci due to C polysaccharide and F antigen.

By serological methods, all 83 known types of Streptococcus pneumoniae could be shown to possess C polysaccharide and F antigen. Cross-reactions due to these two antigens between pneumococci and a broad range of most other commonly encountered streptococci were examined. The presence of an antigen closely similar or identical to pneumococcal C polysaccharide was demonstrated in some strains of Streptococcus mitior. Therefore, we conclude that pneumococci cannot be identified serologically from mixed samples without culture. Streptococcal group C antiserum was found to cross-react with pneumococcal F antigen.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1987

Pneumococcal infection in hospitalized patients: a four-year study in Malaysia.

A total of 90 cases of pneumococcal infections were identified at a major referral hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during a study period of four years. Pneumonia was the most common clinical presentation (41 cases) followed by meningitis (19 cases). Of 48 patients who were followed-up during the microbiology consultation round, 11 died, 9 were children below two years old. Capsular typing was carried out on 57 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from blood and body fluids of 43 children and 14 adults. 38 strains isolated from pharyngeal specimens were also typed. Types 6A (11 strains), 6B (7 strains), 14 (8 strains) and 19A (8 strains) predominated in children. The strains from older patients comprised 3 isolates from cerebrospinal fluid (types 18B, 6B and 14), five from blood (4 strains, type 1 and 1 strain, type 4) and six from pus (1 strain, type 14, 3 strains type 23F and 2 strains type 34). The isolates from pharyngeal specimens belonged to capsular type similar to those implicated in infections. 90% of the types reported in this study are included in the 23 valent pneumococcal vaccines. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of penicillin, cefuroxime, chloramphenicol and rifampicin were determined for selected strains. 4.1% of isolates were resistant to penicillin (3/74), 4.5% to cefuroxime (2/44), 6.5% to chloramphenicol (3/46) and 14.6% to rifampicin (6/41).

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

Autologous tissue seal in myringoplasty.

A prospective, controlled study on the efficacy of autologous tissue seal in myringoplasty was performed. In 29 patients with dry perforations, temporalis fascia was glued with tissue seal. In 30 patients the fascia was fixed with Gelfoam balls. No significant differences in take-rate was found between these two methods.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1986

Identification and characterization of Streptococcus suis.

A total of 188 Streptococcus suis strains isolated from pigs with various lesions, mainly bronchopneumonia, were identified using classical biochemical methods and using the API 20 STREP system. The serological classification was performed by precipitation reactions after Lancefield extraction, slide-coagglutinations and capsular reaction tests. Fifty-nine strains belonged to Types 1, 1/2 or 2, 78 strains to Types 3-8 and 51 strains were non-typable. The results of the different tests and the biochemical differences between the different serotypes are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Commercial kits are not equally sensitive in detecting the group antigen of group A streptococcus.

The relative sensitivities of four commercially available kits for the demonstration of the group antigen of group A streptococcus were estimated in laboratory experiments. Two kits gave positive reactions with swabs charged with approximately 10(5) colony-forming units of group A hemolytic streptococci of five common T-types. The two other kits required inocula ten times higher. Application of the antigen detection reagents from each kit to antigen extracts prepared by extraction reagents from the other kits revealed that the differences in sensitivity were largely attributable to differences in the extraction abilities. The four kits did not differ appreciably in their ability to demonstrate group A antigen in human pus mixed with group A streptococci; the minimum inoculum detectable was approximately 10(6) colony-forming units per 0.04 ml of pus.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1986

An alternative approach to typing of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains by coagglutination.

The coagglutination test, which uses staphylococcal protein A for typing strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae was extended to include typing within 13 groups. Typing was performed using the factors remaining in group antisera after absorption with a strain of a type within the group. 93 of 99 strains of S. pneumoniae, which belonged to one of the 13 groups included in the 23 valent vaccine formulation were correctly identified when compared to the capsular reaction test.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1986

Comparison of antibody levels and protective efficacy against pneumococci in two immunoglobulin preparations for intravenous use.

Passive immunization with modern intravenous immunoglobulin preparations might be used prophylactically in individuals at extreme risk of contracting postsplenectomy sepsis or therapeutically in established infections. Since pneumococci are the predominant causative organisms, we determined antibodies against 14 pneumococcal serotypes in two commercially available immunoglobulin preparations (two batches of each) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The four batches were remarkably similar in antibody content. Low levels against some clinically important serotypes, i.e. types 3, 8 and 18C were recorded. The protective effect of one batch of each preparation against type 1 pneumococci was documented in splenectomized rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Effect of gamma globulin infusion on type-specific pneumococcal antibody levels in splenectomized adults.

Using an ELISA technique, changes in specific antibody levels against pneumococcal serotypes 1, 4, 7F, 14, 18C and 23F were studied in 8 adults healthy at the time of investigation but splenectomized previously because of hematological disease following infusion of 200 mg/kg body weight of a commercially available immunoglobulin preparation for intravenous use (Sandoglobulin). Among the 4 patients with initially low serum levels of antipneumococcal antibodies, significantly raised antibody levels were demonstrated against type 14 for 8 weeks. On the other hand, the infusion did not lead to increased antibody levels in 3 patients with high preinfusion values for antipneumococcal antibodies. In contrast, a significantly lower antibody value for type 7F was recorded 3 weeks after infusion. Efficacy of immunoglobulin prophylaxis is, therefore, probably doubtful in certain splenectomized patients, and if contemplated should be preceded by analysis of antibody levels against common pathogens.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid in Sweden.

215 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid at 3 different laboratories in Sweden were serotyped by coagglutination and subtyped by the capsular reaction test. 78% of the strains belonged to serotypes which are included in or completely cross-immunogenic with serotypes included in the 14-valent vaccine while serotypes included in the 23-valent vaccine covered 89% of the isolates. Types 7F, 14 and 33F, which cannot be detected by counterimmunoelectrophoresis constituted 19% of all strains.

Adolescent↗