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Biomedical subjects

L M Pedersen

Publications and source records attributed to L M Pedersen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Microalbuminuria in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess (a) the prevalence of microalbuminuria in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, (b) the association between urinary albumin excretion and disease activity as estimated by the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein (CRP), and (c) the association between urinary albumin excretion and treatment with antirheumatic drugs. METHODS: Sixty five patients with rheumatoid arthritis attending two rheumatology clinics were compared with 51 control subjects matched by age and sex. The controls consisted of 20 healthy subjects, 16 patients with osteoarthritis and 15 with non-articular rheumatism. Patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or evidence of previous renal disease were not included. Urinary albumin was assayed by immunoturbidimetry in random urine samples on two occasions within seven months. The results were expressed as the ratio of urinary albumin to urinary creatinine ratio. Disease activity was assessed by the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP. A drug history for the year before entry to the study was obtained for each patient. RESULTS: Urinary albumin to creatinine ratio in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was significantly greater than in controls (p < 0.01). Microalbuminuria (urinary albumin to creatinine ratio 3-30 mg/mmol in either or both urine samples) was present in 27.7% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 7.8% of the control subjects. A significant relation was noted between urinary albumin to creatinine ratio and CRP, and the duration of disease. The number of patients treated with either gold or penicillamine was significantly greater in patients with microalbuminuria than in patients with normoalbuminuria. CONCLUSIONS: Microalbuminuria is frequently present in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment with gold and penicillamine seems to increase the risk of developing microalbuminuria. Urinary albumin measured by immunochemical methods is a simple and sensitive test to detect early subclinical renal dysfunction and drug induced renal damage in rheumatoid arthritis. Urinary albumin excretion was found to be significantly correlated with CRP and may be a sensitive indicator of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Needles for bone marrow examination].

Over the past decades, numerous new bone biopsy needles have been introduced. Pathological investigation requires sufficiently large and well-preserved specimens. This article reviews the literature concerning the quality of the instruments. Comparison of the various types of needles in controlled studies is not available. Bone-marrow biopsy is discussed in the context of obtaining optimal specimens and choice of biopsy needle.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1994

[Electrostimulation of the pelvic floor muscles in urinary incontinence].

External electrical stimulation is a simple, noninvasive and inexpensive treatment modality, which is useful in the treatment of stress- and/or idiopathic urge incontinence. The mode of action arises from excitation of the pudendal nerves leading to direct and reflex contraction of pelvic floor muscles and a reflex inhibition of the detrusor. Treatment can be applied either as a weak long-term stimulation at home, as a short-term maximal stimulation in clinic, hospital or home treatment. Approximately 50%-75% of incontinent patients are either cured or improved and the adverse effects are sparse. Electrostimulation seems to be valuable in the treatment of incontinence.

Contraindications↗
PubMed1993

Follow-up study of patients with clinically suspected deep venous thrombosis and a normal venogram.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical course in patients with clinically suspected deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the leg and a normal venogram. DESIGN: Prospective study over 15 months with a follow-up of 4-12 (median 8.6) months after a normal venogram. A questionnaire survey was performed at follow-up. Information from general practitioners and medical records was reviewed. An alternative diagnosis was established at presentation and at the time of follow-up. SETTING: The Department of Internal Medicine in a Danish university hospital. SUBJECTS: A total of 133 consecutive out-patients referred with clinical suspicion of DVT and a normal venogram. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The state of symptoms at follow-up. The frequency of referrals to hospitals and contacts with general practitioners or medical specialists in the follow-up period. Clinical diagnoses provided at presentation and at follow-up. RESULTS: The follow-up response rate was 78% (n = 104). The symptoms were still present at follow-up in 53 (51%) patients. More than half of the patients had been referred to medical facilities for the same disorder. Diagnoses could be established in 93 (70%) of the 133 patients at presentation and in 119 (89%) at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients with clinical signs and symptoms of a DVT and a normal venogram may require a follow-up surveillance programme to ensure correct diagnosis and adequate treatment. Further studies are recommended to confirm our results and to assess the cost-effectiveness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Septicaemia caused by an unusual Neisseria meningitidis species following dental extraction.

Dental procedures are frequently followed by transient bacteraemia. Bacteria obtained in the blood cultures are similar to bacteria of the normal mouth flora such as oral streptococci. The potential risk of bacteraemia following dental manipulations is infective endocarditis. We report here a rare case of septicaemia following dental extraction in a 84-year-old woman. Neisseria meningitidis group B type 1P1.9 was cultured from the blood. Postextraction septicaemia caused by meningococci has not been described before. Meningococcaemia as a rare complication of dental extraction is emphasized.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Reflex dystrophy after reconstruction of the axillary artery].

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a complex syndrome of pain, trophic changes and vasomotor instability affecting the limbs. Numerous theories have been suggested to explain the pathophysiology. None is universely accepted. In most of the patients reported, an antecedant event such as trauma or surgery is implicated in the initiation of symptoms. We describe a case of reflex sympathetic dystrophy developing after reconstruction of a. axillaris. To our knowledge there have only been a few previous descriptions of reflex dystrophy following vascular surgery. The mechanism of reflex sympathetic dystrophy secondary to vascular trauma is discussed. Presumely, damage to the arterial wall by trauma may initiate abnormal reflex activity and lead to RSD. We suggest that vascular surgery should be considered as a potential risk factor for the development of RSD.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗
PubMed1992

[Angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman disease)].

Angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's disease) is a relatively rare disease of differential diagnostic interest in patients with lymphadenopathy. The etiology and pathogenesis are still not elucidated. The disease is classified into localized and systemic types. The localized form is divided histologically into hyaline-vascular type and plasma cell types. The former is usually demonstrated incidentally as a widening of the mediastinum in otherwise asymptomatic patients. The plasma cell type usually presents in the abdominal lymph nodes and is accompanied by fever, loss of weight, anemia and hypergammaglobulinemia. Surgical treatment is curative in the localized disease. The systemic disease involves multiple lymph nodes, and multiple organs are affected. The prognosis is dubious, and frequently the patients rapidly die from septicemia or other infectious complications. Some patients develop malignancies. Treatment with glucocorticosteroids and chemotherapy has only demonstrated a limited effect. The diagnosis requires both a characteristic histopathology and typical clinical symptoms. A current illustrative case report is presented.

Castleman Disease↗
PubMed1992

Non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma in the nails in the course of a chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

We describe a 70-year-old woman with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia without nodal involvement, who developed non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma in the toe-nails. Clinically, the affected nails looked like a typical mycotic infection, but later small tumours developed which affected the nails, and biopsy established the diagnosis. Treatment with chlorambucil (Leukeran) and prednisolone had a striking effect. Malignant infiltration of B lymphocytes in the nails is very rare, but should be considered in patients with malignant haematologic disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Screening methods for microalbuminuria in diabetes mellitus].

Persistent microalbuminuria indicates early development of nephropathy, cardiovascular disease and death in patients with diabetes mellitus. In this study morning urines from 189 diabetic patients were investigated with conventional dip sticks, microbumintest and quantitative measurements obtained by immunturbidimetry. Microbumintest has both a higher specificity and sensitivity compared to urinary dip sticks. The immune chemical method is less expensive and alternations in albumin excretion rate can be followed. Quantitative measurement with an immunchemical method is therefore recommended as screening method for microalbuminuria.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Rheumatic disease, heavy-metal pigments, and the Great Masters.

The painters Rubens, Renoir, and Dufy suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and Klee from scleroderma. Analysis of the areas of various colours in randomly selected paintings by these four artists and by eight "controls" (contemporary painters without rheumatic disease) suggests that Rubens, Renoir, Dufy, and Klee used significantly more bright and clear colours based on toxic heavy metals and fewer earth colours containing harmless iron and carbon compounds. These four painters may have been heavily exposed to mercury sulphide, cadmium sulphide, arsenic sulphide, lead, antimony, tin, cobalt, manganese, and chromium, the metals of the bright and clear colours, and exposure to these metals may be of importance in the development of inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Artists today are not so exposed, but heavy metal contamination in food and drinking water exists and experience from the occupational exposure of old masters is still relevant.

Art↗
PubMed1987

Further evaluation of the kinetics of white spirit in human volunteers.

This paper gives supplementary informations on the kinetics of aliphatic white spirit in humans. Eight volunteers were exposed to 600 mg/m3 (100 p.p.m.) white spirit during 3 hrs. Calculated pulmonary uptake (dose) was 392 +/- 38 mg, residence time 47.5 hrs, volume of distribution 749 1, and total body clearance 263 ml/min. Then 7 volunteers were exposed to 600 mg/m3 white spirit 6 hrs daily in 5 consecutive days. Calculated pulmonary uptake was 3464 +/- 329 mg. A mathematic model is presented which uses the blood concentrations to calculate the tissue concentrations during repeated doses administered over an extended period. By means of this model and the measured concentrations in blood and fat, the partition coefficient fat: blood for white spirit was calculated to 47. Estimated redistribution phase of white spirit in adipose tissue was approximately 20 hrs for the first 5 exposures, and half-life in adipose tissue after redistribution 46-48 hrs. During exposure to 600 mg/m3 white spirit 6 hrs daily, 5 days a week, calculated maximum steady state concentrations were 55 mg/kg fat and 5 mg/kg brain, minimum steady state concentrations 35 mg/kg fat and 0.6 mg/kg brain. These values for half-life and steady-state concentrations are considered more correct than our previously reported values, which did not take into account the existence of a redistribution phase.

Adipose Tissue↗