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Biomedical subjects

K Hjelt

Publications and source records attributed to K Hjelt.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Detection by ELISA of immunoglobulin G subclass-specific antibody responses in rotavirus infections in children.

IgG subclass-specific antibody responses to a human subgroup 2 rotavirus were studied in 26 children by ELISA by use of monoclonal antibodies specific to the four human IgG subclasses. One hundred twenty-nine serum samples were obtained before, during, and after an episode of rotavirus-induced diarrhoea in these patients. When these sera were investigated, an increase in IgG1 and IgG3 subclass-specific antibodies was detected in all 26 patients. IgG3 antibodies reached a peak concentration 1 week after rotavirus was detected in faecal samples and then progressively declined over the following months, whereas the peak concentration of IgG1 subclass antibodies was found 2 months later and seemed to persist thereafter. IgG2 rotavirus-specific subclass antibodies were never found and IgG4 subclass antibodies were detected only in sera from seven of the 26 patients.

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMed1986

Antibody response in serum and intestine in children up to six months after a naturally acquired rotavirus gastroenteritis.

The aim of this study was to provide detailed information about the local and systemic antibody response and their relationship following a rotavirus gastroenteritis. Rotavirus-specific immunoglobulins were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The study included 49 children referred to hospital with rotavirus gastroenteritis and 16 children with nonrotavirus gastroenteritis. The concentrations of rotavirus immunoglobulin A (IgA) in serum increased within the first 2 weeks and those of rotavirus IgG within the first month after the onset of diarrhea. Thereafter, they remained unchanged during the 6-month observation period. Rotavirus ScIg (i.e., antirotavirus immunoglobulin-containing secretory component) appeared in serum almost exclusively within 7-14 days after onset (i.e., 85% of the samples). After the first 2 weeks, rotavirus IgA could be detected in the majority of fecal samples, even up to 6 months after the disease. However, rotavirus ScIg was absent in the majority of fecal samples. The severity of illness correlated only with the increase of rotavirus IgG in serum. Conclusively, there is a longstanding immune response after a naturally acquired rotavirus gastroenteritis. Moreover, with the present methods, measurements of rotavirus IgA and IgG in serum can be safely used for serodiagnosis, even when samples are taken with 6-month interval. It is suggested that trials with rotavirus vaccines include measurements of rotavirus IgA and ScIg in serum and rotavirus IgA in feces.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Intestinal and serum immune response to a naturally acquired rotavirus gastroenteritis in children.

Seventeen children (mean age: 2.0 years, range: 36 days-8 years) hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis were investigated. Thirteen children had a rotavirus infection while four did not. Rotavirus serum IgA as well as ScIg, i.e., antirotavirus immunoglobulin containing secretory component, increased rapidly after rotavirus infection. While rotavirus IgA persisted in serum for at least 6 months, rotavirus ScIg disappeared from serum in less than 4 months. Rotavirus IgG could be detected in serum during the early stage of the infection and was still high after 6 months. The patients with nonrotavirus acute gastroenteritis did not show any of the above-mentioned serological hallmarks of those with rotavirus infection. The amounts of rotavirus ScIg found in serum about 1 week after the infection correlated to the amounts of rotavirus ScIg in duodenal fluid. Six months after the infection, rotavirus IgA was found in the feces of the majority of the patients while rotavirus ScIg could be detected only in one patient. The amounts of rotavirus IgA in sera and intestinal secretions showed identical patterns in the acute phase of the disease as well as after recovery. The same applied to rotavirus ScIg. These findings could be useful in future evaluations of vaccines and immunity against rotavirus infections.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1985

Rotavirus antibodies in the mother and her breast-fed infant.

The transfer of rotavirus antibodies from 25 healthy mothers to their breast-fed infants was investigated during the period of lactation (mean, 3.9 months; range, 1-9 months). Furthermore, the destiny of these antibodies in the infants' gastrointestinal tract and serum was examined. Rotavirus-specific immunoglobulins were analyzed by the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) technique. All the mothers had rotavirus IgA and IgG in serum. About 80% of the mothers had low concentrations of rotavirus ScIg (i.e., antirotavirus immunoglobulin containing secretory component) in serum at the beginning of the lactation period declining to about 45% at the end of the period. From a few days after delivery to about 2 weeks later, the concentrations of rotavirus IgA and ScIg in milk declined. Thereafter, they remained unchanged. There was a positive correlation among the concentrations of rotavirus IgA in serum and rotavirus IgA as well as ScIg in milk. Rotavirus IgG in the infants' serum correlated with that of the mothers. Few samples of the infants' duodenal fluid contained rotavirus IgA or ScIg. On the other hand, about 80% of the infants' fecal samples contained rotavirus ScIg and IgA. Rotavirus IgA and ScIg disappeared from the infants' feces after cessation of lactation. Hence, it may be concluded that infants receive rotavirus IgG through the placenta, and rotavirus ScIg and IgA in constant amounts via milk throughout the period of lactation. The small intestine is flushed with rotavirus ScIg and IgA at each breast-meal, and these antibodies survive proteolysis in the gut. A possible protectional effect of rotavirus ScIg or IgA requires frequent breast-meals, and the effect is limited to the period of lactation.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Nosocomial acute gastroenteritis in a paediatric department, with special reference to rotavirus infections.

Nosocomial acute gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus as well as by non-rotavirus gastroenteritis was registered during a 12-month period in the paediatric department of a district hospital. The number of patients in the two groups amounted to 27% (rotavirus) and 7% (non-rotavirus) of the total number of patients hospitalised with the corresponding type of acute gastroenteritis. The seasonal and age distributions for the two types of nosocomial acute gastroenteritis followed the pattern of the respective types of hospitalised community-acquired acute gastroenteritis. Nosocomial non-rotavirus gastroenteritis was found to occur scattered with regard to time and locality within the department. The same applied to one half of the cases with nosocomial rotavirus gastroenteritis, whereas the other half occurred during an epidemic outbreak in the general infant/toddler ward. Vomiting and diarrhoea were less significant in nosocomial rotavirus gastroenteritis as compared with community-acquired rotavirus gastroenteritis. As to the other manifestations no difference was found between the two groups. Nosocomial rotavirus gastroenteritis prolonged the stay in hospital with on the average 3.8 days. Guidelines are suggested for isolation of patients with acute gastroenteritis in order to reduce particularly the frequency of nosocomial rotavirus infections.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Clinical features in hospitalised children with acute gastroenteritis. Does the rotavirus syndrome exist?

In a prospective study of children referred to hospital, rotavirus was identified in 37% of 128 patients with acute gastroenteritis. As compared with patients with non-rotavirus gastroenteritis, those with rotavirus gastroenteritis showed the following clinical characteristics: Age between 5 months and 4 years. Occurrence of the rotavirus infection almost exclusively during the winter season. Severe vomiting. Absence of gross blood in the stools. However, these signs did not form a safe basis for the clinical diagnosis of rotavirus gastroenteritis. One or more signs of upper respiratory illness were observed in 36% of the patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis and in 35% of those with non-rotavirus gastroenteritis. Consequently, the existence of a rotavirus syndrome is questioned. It is argued that upper respiratory illnesses in patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis could be due to a separate infection occurring coincidentally.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Oral contraceptives and the cobalamin (vitamin B12) metabolism.

The mean concentrations of serum (S)-cobalamin (vitamin B12) and S-unsaturated B12 binding capacity (UBBC) were significantly decreased in 101 women (mean age: 30.4 years) taking oral contraceptives (OC) of the combination type, compared to 113 controls. OC users more frequently showed decreased concentrations of S-cobalamin (less than 200 pmol/l) than did their controls. However, the incidence of particularly low concentrations (less than 150 pmol/l) in OC users was not increased. To study a possible dose-dependent effect, 27 women (mean age: 50.5 years) given high-dose estrogen preparations (1-4 mg estrogen) were compared with 31 controls. The two groups showed no difference with regard to S-cobalamin, but the mean S- and plasma-UBBC levels were significantly decreased in the high-dose estrogen group. 12 OC users with decreased S-cobalamin (less than 200 pmol/l), 9 OC users with normal S-cobalamin and 10 controls were studied more intensively. The mean hemoglobin concentration was significantly decreased in those OC users having decreased S-cobalamin. On the contrary, the absorption and excretion of radiolabeled cobalamin and the concentrations of erythrocyte-folate, S-iron and -transferrin did not show any difference between the groups, and all results were normal, by and large. No characteristic changes in plasma volume were found. It is concluded that routine measurement of S-cobalamin in women taking OC is not justified.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Normal cultivable microflora in upper jejunal fluid in children without gastrointestinal disorders.

Bacteriological studies of uncontaminated upper jejunal fluid were performed in 51 Danish children without gastrointestinal disorders. Thirty-seven percent of the samples were sterile [less than 10(1) colony-forming units (CFU)/ml]. In 25% of the cases, the total number of microorganisms exceeded 10(5) CFU/ml. The microorganisms isolated most frequently were: Streptococcus, sp. ("Viridans group"), Veillonella parvula, Hemophilus parainfluenzae, Lactobacillus, sp., Corynebacterium, sp., Actinomyces, sp., Bacteroides, sp., and Hemophilus influenzae, each found in more than 10% of the children. The upper range for the number of microorganisms isolated exceeded 10(5) CFU/ml for most of the species isolated of which the vast majority belonged to an "oral type" of flora. Enterococci were isolated in small numbers in three children, and Enterobacteriaceae were not found.

Actinomyces↗
PubMed1983

Pediatric tube system for collection of uncontaminated jejunal juice.

A tube system for collection of uncontaminated jejunal juice in children is described. It consists of an outer tube, the distal end of which is closed with a membrane, and an inner aspiration tube. When the outer tube is positioned at the site of aspiration, the membrane is perforated by applying air pressure through the outer tube. The tube was tested in 72 Danish children. With only one intubation having to be repeated, aspiration was achieved in all the children (95% confidence limits, 92.60-99.97%). The median intubation time was 10 min (range, 2-35 min). Mean time for aspiration of 1 ml of jejunal juice varied from 1 to 30 min (median, 5 min). The site of aspiration in the jejunum--expressed as the position of the tip of the inner tube--was from 0 to 6 cm distal to the ligament of Treitz (median, 3 cm). There were no complications.

Adolescent↗