Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Olsen

Publications and source records attributed to J Olsen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

A novel intestinal trans-factor (NF-LPH1) interacts with the lactase-phlorizin hydrolase promoter and co-varies with the enzymatic activity.

The promoter of the pig lactase-phlorizin hydrolase was cloned and showed to be functional in the human intestinal cell line Caco2. The proximal promoter was analyzed for binding of nuclear proteins from small intestine and liver. DNase I footprinting and electrophoretic mobility shift assays show, that an intestinal nuclear factor (NF-LPH1) binds to a sequence (-40 to -54) located close to the TATA-box. Enterocytes from newborn pigs with high lactase activity contain high amounts of NF-LPH1, whereas enterocytes from adult pigs with low lactase activity contain low amounts of NF-LPH1. The liver does not contain lactase activity, and NF-LPH1 is not present in liver nuclear extracts in detectable amounts. This indicates that NF-LPH1 is involved in the decline of lactase at weaning and may be of importance for the molecular explanation of hypolactasia in humans. It was demonstrated by transfection of two different promoter-reporter gene constructs into Caco2 cells, that there are additional cis-element(s) in the region -142 to approximately -980, which are important for the transcription of the lactase-phlorizin hydrolase gene.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Description of conidia from submerged cultivation of Thermomyces lanuginosus for use as a uniform inoculum.

Conidia produced by submerged cultivation of the thermophilic fungus Thermomyces lanuginosus were superior to conidia from agar plates when used as inoculum, due to a faster and more synchronous germination. With conidia derived from submerged liquid culture at 40-45 degrees C more than 90% germination was achieved at 50 degrees C within 3 h whereas the same percentage germination was only achieved after 5 h incubation of conidia produced on agar plates. The temperature during conidial formation, and conidial age at the time of harvesting, were factors influencing germination of the conidia.

Culture Media↗
PubMed1992

[Study of the Danish Malformation Registry for the incidence of cleft lip and palate during 1983-1987].

The Danish Register of Congenital Malformations at the National Board of Health is used for surveillance and research. More than 10% of all patients registered have oral cleft diagnoses. This report evaluates the completeness of the Register of Congenital Malformations as regards registration of oral cleft patients born in Denmark in the period 1983-1987. The register is limited to congenital anomalies diagnosed in hospitals in the child's first year of life. The investigation shows, that the register is suitable for surveillance of clefts, because the completeness of registration was constant during the five-year period 1983-1987. The completeness was more than 90% of all known cases, and probably higher for severe clefts and cases with associated anomalies. Identical diagnosis was found in 93% of all patients registered in The Register of Congenital Malformations with at least one other source of ascertainment. In addition, the investigation disclosed misclassification of a small oral-cleft-subgroup and the need for an additional diagnosis in the coding. The register can only be used for surveillance and research in congenital anomalies, which are usually diagnosed in the child's first year of life.

Cleft Lip↗
PubMed1992

Cigarette smoking in pregnancy and fetal growth. Does the type of tobacco play a role?

The effect of nicotine content of cigarettes on fetal growth was studied. From April 1985 to April 1987, 86% of all pregnant women in two well-defined geographical areas responded to a questionnaire on social conditions and lifestyle factors in pregnancy. After excluding multiple births and women who gave birth after elective caesarean section, 10,485 pregnant women were available for the study. Results showed that not only smoking, but also nicotine content in cigarettes was related to reduced fetal growth as measured by birthweight, birth length, and head circumference. The timing of smoking during pregnancy played a role. Smoking before pregnancy or smoking early in pregnancy was not related to fetal growth, nor were the partners' smoking habits. The study corroborates the hypothesis that smoking reduces fetal growth and points to nicotine as one of the potential causal factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Evaluating young children's cognitive capacities through computer versus hand drawings.

Young normal and handicapped children, aged 3 to 6 years, were taught to draw a scene of a house, garden and a sky with a computer drawing program that uses icons and is operated by a mouse. The drawings were rated by a team of experts on a 7-category scale. The children's computer- and hand-produced drawings were compared with one another and with results on cognitive, visual and fine motor tests. The computer drawing program made it possible for the children to accurately draw closed shapes, to get instant feedback on the adequacy of the drawing, and to make corrections with ease. It was hypothesized that these features would compensate for the young children's limitations in such cognitive skills, as memory, concentration, planning and accomplishment, as well as their weak motor skills. In addition, it was hypothesized that traditional cognitive ratings of hand drawings may underestimate young children's intellectual ability, because drawing by hand demands motor skills and memory, concentration and planning skills that are more developed than that actually shown by young children. To test the latter hypothesis, the children completed a training program in using a computer to make drawings. The results show that cognitive processes such as planning, analysis and synthesis can be investigated by means of a computer drawing program in a way not possible using traditional pencil and paper drawings. It can be said that the method used here made it possible to measure cognitive abilities "under the floor" of what is ordinarily possible by means of traditionally hand drawings.

Art↗
PubMed1992

Leukaemia and reproductive outcome among nurses handling antineoplastic drugs.

During the past decades conclusive evidence has accumulated that alkylating antineoplastic drugs (ADs) can cause cancer, most notably acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia, and that most ADs are reprotoxic. Studies on health workers handling ADs have shown significantly increased risks for miscarriages (two studies) and malformations (two studies). The present study monitored the risk for cancer and adverse reproductive outcome among Danish nurses handling ADs. No increased risks were found for miscarriages, malformations, low birth weight, or preterm birth among the offspring of nurses handling ADs during pregnancy. The sex ratio was normal. The relative risk (RR) for leukaemia was significantly increased (10.65) but based on only two cases, one of acute myeloblastic and one of chronic myeloid leukaemia. From the available exposure data occupational exposures to ADs were apparently higher in the studies that have reported increased risks for miscarriages and malformations than in the present one. Regarding reproductive outcome the study gives some confidence that the safety measures which were implemented in the oncology departments around 1980 can protect the health personnel against adverse effects of ADs on reproduction. As the study is as yet the only negative one in a well protected setting, it should be followed up by other studies of well protected health personnel handling ADs. The findings concerning the leukaemia risk, although based on small numbers, encourage larger studies.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed1992

Immunoscintigraphy performed with In-111-labeled CYT-103 in the management of colorectal cancer: comparison with CT.

Immunoscintigraphy performed after intravenous administration of indium-111-labeled CYT-103, an immunoconjugate of monoclonal antibody B72.3, was evaluated in patients with suspected primary or recurrent colorectal cancer at 25 centers in the United States. Gamma camera imaging, computed tomography (CT), and confirmatory surgical exploration were completed in 169 of 227 patients who received single infusions of In-111 CYT-103. Eight patients (3.5%) had reversible, nonserious adverse reactions, and 39% developed antimurine antibodies. Surgery revealed that 155 of 169 patients had colorectal carcinoma. In these 155 patients, immunoscintigraphy and CT demonstrated similar sensitivity (69% and 68%, respectively) and specificity (77%). However, immunoscintigraphy had greater sensitivity in detection of pelvic tumors (74% vs 57%, P = .035) and extrahepatic abdominal tumors (66% vs 34%, P less than .001); CT enabled detection of a greater proportion of liver metastases (84% vs 41%, P less than .001). These results indicate that In-111 CYT-103 can be administered safely and that immunoscintigraphy performed with this agent frequently enables identification of extrahepatic abdominal sites of disease not visualized with CT.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

An update on knowledge and sexual behaviour among students in Greenland. Monitoring of the stop-AIDS campaign.

Greenland is a considered high risk area for a self-sustained heterosexual HIV-epidemic due to rather relaxed sexual norms in larger segments of the population and a high incidence of sexual transmitted diseases. However, the prevalence of HIV-positives is still low. As part of a monitoring programme longitudinal studies of young peoples' knowledge and sexual behaviour has been established. This paper presents results from the second survey among all students in vocational training and all 10th grade students in the public schools. Previous studies were performed in 1988 and 1989. The present study which took place in April 1991 involved a total of 1201 students, or about 85% of all students in the target groups (95% among students present on the day of surveying). Data collection was based upon standardized self-administered questionnaires. The study showed better knowledge than previously but no marked change in sexual habits. The age of sexual début even appeared to be decreasing. More than half reported a sexual début before the age of 15. More than 20% reported 10 sexual partners or more within the last year. HIV has still not reached the young population in Greenland but when it happens the present sexual behaviour carries a high risk of a self-sustained epidemic.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Causes of death during the first 5 years of a randomized trial of mass screening for colorectal cancer with fecal occult blood test.

The main purpose of population screening for colorectal cancer is to reduce mortality from the disease. The criteria of death from colorectal cancer are defined in the present randomized trial of 61,938 persons between 45 and 74 years old, and the need for an impartial death review committee was demonstrated. Causes of death within the first 5 years are described within subgroups of the test group and compared with those in the control group. Death rates were higher among non-responders to screening than among controls and among those in whom Hemoccult-II had been performed at least once. Persons with negative Hemoccult-II had a lower death rate than controls. The overall autopsy rate was 32%. Lethal complications from treatment of colorectal neoplasia were evaluated per se. Death from colorectal cancer occurred in 74 persons in the total screening group and in 91 among controls. Sources of bias are discussed. A method of evaluating possible benefit to those being screened is suggested. Final results cannot be expected before 1996.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Selection bias in genetic-epidemiological studies of cleft lip and palate.

The possible impact of selection bias in genetic and epidemiological studies of cleft lip and palate was studied, using three nationwide ascertainment sources and an autopsy study in a 10% sample of the Danish population. A total of 670 cases were identified. Two national record systems, when used together, were found suitable for ascertaining facial cleft in live births. More than 95% ascertainment was obtained by means of surgical files for cleft lip (with or without cleft palate) without associated malformations/syndromes. However, surgical files could be a poor source for studying isolated cleft palate (CP) (only a 60% and biased ascertainment), and they cannot be used to study the prevalence of associated malformations or syndromes in facial cleft cases. The male:female ratio was 0.88 in surgically treated cases of CP and was 1.5 in nonoperated CP cases, making the overall sex ratio for CP 1.1 (95% confidence limits 0.86-1.4) The sex ratio for CP without associated malformation was 1.1 (95% confidence limits 0.84-1.6). One of the major test criteria in CP multifactorial threshold models (higher CP liability among male CP relatives) must be reconsidered, if other investigations confirm that a CP sex-ratio reversal to male predominance occurs when high ascertainment is achieved.

Cleft Lip↗
PubMed1992

Student evaluation of sex education programs advocating abstinence.

This research examined the attitudes of students who were enrolled in three different sex education programs that emphasize abstinence. Data were examined to determine whether secondary school students responded positively to the programs. The programs examined were Values and Choices, Teen Aid, and Sex Respect. Results of the study indicated that all three programs were rated positively, with female, younger (junior high school age), and virgin-naive students rating the programs more highly.

Adolescent↗