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Biomedical subjects

K Thestrup-Pedersen

Publications and source records attributed to K Thestrup-Pedersen.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

The influence of topical steroid application on tuberculin skin reactions in healthy persons.

Thirty-seven healthy persons were studied in order to evaluate the influence of topical steroid application on tuberculin skin reactions. Four areas measuring 4 cm in diameter were each treated with 50 micrograms of hydrocortisone cream 1%, or 50% micrograms of halcinonide (Halog) cream 0.1%, or 50 micrograms of unguentum cetacei simplex (cold cream), or not treated. The creams were applied once daily for 3 days before and one day after a tuberculin skin test. After 24 and 48 hours the area of induration were measured. We observed that application of unguentum cetacei simplex increased the size of the induration at the 24-hour reading, but not after 48 hours. Hydrocortisone cream 1% gave the same effect, whereas halcinonide cream (Halog) 0.1% caused ischaemia of the skin and reduced the induration of the skin test after 24 hours, but not after 48 hours. In 12 persons we found that simple rubbing of the skin with halcinonide cream base did not affect the size of the tuberculin skin reaction. In the present study we found that even very potent local steroid application on intact skin could only delay the development of tuberculin skin reactions, but could not diminish their size.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1982

E-rosette formation of lymphocytes from patients with atopic dermatitis.

The total number of circulating T lymphocytes in 47 patients with atopic dermatitis was a significantly lower than in 98 healthy persons. However, when the T lymphocytes were investigated for their affinity to sheep erythrocytes (E-rosette formation), no difference was found between patients and healthy persons, when using several different techniques varying in length of incubation of sheep erythrocytes and lymphocytes, presence of fetal calf serum, glassware, media, increased mechanical force at resuspension, and different observers. Our findings are discussed with reference to earlier publications of a reduced percentage of E-rosette forming lymphocytes in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Transfer factor therapy in mycosis fungoides: a double-blind study.

Sixteen patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) were given either active transfer factor (TF) or heat-inactivated TF as additional therapy to topical nitrogen mustard or PUVA. The TF was prepared from non-selected healthy blood donors. The clinical evaluation after 2 years of therapy showed that among 8 patients treated with active TF, none went into complete remission of their disease 4 patients had partial remission, one was unchanged, 2 progressed, and one died of active MF. In the placebo-treated group, 5 patients achieved complete remission and 2 partial remission. One patient died early in the trial due to cardiac disease. Immunological studies during the first year of therapy revealed cutaneous anergy towards tuberculin in most patients. This anergy did not change during TF therapy and differed from normal lymphocyte reactivity in vitro after tuberculin stimulation. At the start of treatment the patients had diminished levels of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood. A temporary increase was observed in the total number of T lymphocytes in patients after one month of treatment with active TF. After one year the T lymphopenia had disappeared in both groups. The mitogen reactivity of lymphocytes was found to be normal (PHA, PWM) or somewhat reduced (Con A). It is concluded that under the conditions employed in this trial, TF was not able to prevent progression of early mycosis fungoides, when viewed over a period of 2 years.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1982

Treatment of Kaposi's varicelliform eruption wit adenine arabinoside (Vira-A) and transfer factor.

Kaposi's varicelliform eruptions, or Eczema herpeticum, are the result of a herpes virus infection. This paper reports on a patient who was treated with parenteral infusion of a new anti-viral drug, adenine arabinoside (Vira-A), and transfer factor in an attempt to halt the spread and alleviate the severity of the disease. It is our opinion that adenine arabinoside can have a beneficial effect on the course of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Ketoconazole in a case of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis.

An 8-year-old girl with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis was treated with Ketoconazole 100 mg daily for 6 weeks. Oral thrush disappeared after a week, while cutaneous lesions cleared within a month. Her nail dystrophy disappeared during the following months. Repeated cultures were negative for Candida albicans. The patient has remained in remission for an 8-month period. Our findings thus support previous reports indicating that Ketoconazole is an effective agent against this disease.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1982

Oral retinoid in combination with bleomycin, cyclophosphamide, prednisone and transfer factor in mycosis fungoides.

Oral retinoids seem to have been of great benefit in a non-randomized study on advanced mycosis fungoides using two different chemotherapy regimens, one with retinoid, the other without. Both groups also received a 3-drug chemotherapy with bleomycin, cyclophosphamide and prednisone. Complete remission including all signs of lymph-node involvement was found in 8 of 10 patients of the retinoid treated group, while none went into complete remission in the control group. All in the control group died between 3 and 12 months after therapy, whereas all but one in the retinoid treated group are alive. Other treatment differences between the groups were related to the use of transfer factor, topical treatment, and steroid administration. These differences make a final evaluation of the use of retinoids in mycosis fungoides difficult at the present stage. Further studies are needed.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1982

Galactose tolerance test and methotrexate-induced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with psoriasis.

A total of 151 galactose tolerance tests (GTT) and liver biopsies were performed in a consecutive study of 45 psoriatic patients with methotrexate-induced liver fibrosis; of these, 23 had cirrhosis. Most patients with an abnormal liver histology had a normal GTT. We conclude that an oral GTT is not sensitive enough to reveal methotrexate-induced liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. The results indicate that the histological changes in methotrexate-induced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis may be of a rather non-aggressive nature.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1982

The immunological profile of mycosis fungoides.

The immune reactivity of 25 patients with mycosis fungoides was studied twice with a 6 month interval using a panel of T lymphocyte surface markers and functional tests. Patients with clinically inactive disease (stage I + II) had normal T lymphocyte biology. Patients with clinically active disease (stage II-IV) had T lymphopenia, alterations in T cell subpopulations (T gamma and T mu) and a reduced lymphocyte reactivity in vitro following mitogen (PHA, Con A, PWM) and antigen (PPD) stimulation. They also had a reduced secretion of immunoglobulin in vitro after PWM stimulation, apparently due to the alterations in their T lymphocyte subpopulations. The observed changes in the peripheral blood T lymphocyte population and the in vitro function of lymphocytes were not shared by lymphocytes from histologically affected lymph nodes. The natural killer cell activity in blood lymphocytes was found to be normal in all patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Dialyzable leukocyte extract stimulates cAMP in T gamma lymphocytes.

Dialyzable leukocyte extract (DLE) from human blood leukocytes gave a 3- to 8-fold increase in the cAMP concentration after addition to purified lymphocytes. No significant change in cGMP was observed. When purified lymphocytes were separated into T cells and non-T cells by an E-AET rosette technique the cAMP response was most pronounced in T cells. When further separating T lymphocytes into T cells with Fc receptors for IgG and T cells with Fc receptors for IgM (T gamma and T mu lymphocytes), the increase in cAMP following stimulation was specifically conferred to T gamma lymphocytes. Our findings may support the concept that DLE activates T gamma lymphocytes, leading to an increase in suppressor cell function.

Cell Separation↗
PubMed1981

Subpopulations of T lymphocytes and non-specific suppressor cell activity in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Thirty-five adult persons with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis and increased levels of IgE in serum were studied for the presence of Fc-IgG (T gamma) and Fc-IgM (T mu) receptor-carrying T lymphocytes in peripheral blood. When T lymphocytes from the patient were kept in vitro cultures a reduced expansion of the Fc-IgG receptors was found after 24 hr of incubation, but not after 48 hr of incubation. No difference was observed concerning Fc-IgM-carrying T lymphocytes. In 19 patients we studied Con A-induced suppressor activity of blood lymphocytes using autologous PHA-stimulated lymphocytes as target cells. Following stimulation with Con A, 1 microgram/ml, for 2 and 4 days, lymphocytes from atopic patients had a reduced non-specific suppressor activity in vitro. If however, the concentration of Con A was increased to 10 microgram/ml, then lymphocytes from atopic patients exhibited a normal suppressor activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Epstein-Barr-virus-induced lymphoproliferative disorder converting to fatal Burkitt-like lymphoma in a boy with interferon-inducible chromosomal defect.

A 6-year-old boy presenting with swelling of cervical and axillary lymph-nodes was diagnosed as having an Epstein-Barr virus infection because of EBV-nuclear-antigen-positive B-lymphocytes in blood and lymph nodes and high antibody titres to EBV antigens. The natural killer activity of blood-lymphocytes was low, and so was the percentage of T-lymphocytes with Fc receptors for IgG (T-gamma cells). Chromosomal studies revealed a defect in the long arms of one of the chromosomes in pair no. 16 (16q22). The defect only appeared after addition of interferon to the lymphocyte cultures and preferentially in T-gamma lymphocytes. The disease progressed despite attempts to restore the patient's immune reactivity by interferon, transfer factor, and blood transfusions. Necropsy showed that the severe hyperplasia of lymph nodes found during life had become a Burkitt-like lymphoma. The possible connection between an interferon-induced chromosomal defect (break at 16q22) and reduced level of natural killer activity, reduced T-gamma lymphocytes, and proliferation of EBV-positive B-lymphocytes is discussed.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗
PubMed1980

Histological and immunopathological studies in a case of chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection terminating in a Burkitt-like lymphoma.

A 6-year-old boy suffered from a severe lymphadenopathy, characterized histologically by a fulminant polyclonal immunoblast proliferation simulating malignant lymphoma with many immunoblasts resembling Reed-Sternberg cells. He had no history of infectious mononucleosis but Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection was evident from serological findings, and EBV-associated nuclear antigen (EBNA) was demonstrated in a high percentage of lymphocytes of blood and lymph nodes. An adequate humoral response to EBV ruled out the possibility of an X-linked recessive lymphoproliferative syndrome as the underlying cause of chronic EBV infection. A chromosomal defect in a subpopulation of lymphocytes was induced by interferon and might somehow be associated with a subtle immunodeficiency of our patient. After exacerbation of the disease chemotherapy was included in the treatment but the patient died 9 months after the onset of the disease. At autopsy the lymphoblastic cell proliferation had changed from that of immunoblasts to cells resembling the Burkitt's lymphoma cells. A change of the proliferating cell type was supported by means of cytochemical and immunological cell markers. The presence of EBV in these cells was demonstrated with the EBNA technique. It is concluded that our case may well support the hypothesis, that EBV may induce lymphoma-like polyclonal immunoblast proliferation in immunodeficient individuals, and that occasionally a monoclonal proliferation of the Burkitt's lymphoma type may supervene.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1980

Transfer factor in mycosis fungoides: three years experience.

13 patients with clinically and histologically verified mycosis fungoides were treated with transfer factor as additional therapy to the hitherto conventional treatment after this had failed. After approximately 3 years, complete remission was present in 3 patients, 4 patients were significantly improved and registered as being in partial remission, while the condition was registered as no change in 3 patients. 1 patient was found worse, 1 patient had died after discontinuation of therapy and 1 patient was out of the study. In this case treatment was withdrawn because of the development of contact urticaria to nitrogen mustard, her basic therapy. The number of T lymphocytes, which was low prior to treatment, increased to normal values during the therapeutic period. During the first year a decrease in serum IgE was noted. The results of the clinical evaluation seem to indicate that transfer factor may be of value as an additional therapeutic agent in mycosis fungoides. Controlled investigations are needed and are in progress.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Cryptococcal meningitis: complications due to intrathecal treatment.

A 50-year-old woman with cryptococcal meningitis was treated with amphotericin B intrathecally through a Rickham reservoir and intravenously, together with flucytosine orally. After 4 months of treatment cryptococci and cryptococcal antigen were still present in cerebrospinal fluid from time to time. After removal of the Rickham reservoir the patient recovered completely within 6 weeks. The persistent infection was thus found to be due to the presence of the Rickham reservoir, a complication to intrathecal therapy which has not been reported before.

Amphotericin B↗