ELISA examination for IgG-ANCA in sera submitted for the 1st international workshop on ANCA.
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Autoantibodies↗
Biomedical subjects
N Rasmussen
Publications and source records attributed to N Rasmussen.
[Sensory integration problems. Occurrence in consecutive child psychiatric material].
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Child↗
Anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies 1988.
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Antibodies↗
Spontaneous and induced immunoglobulin synthesis and anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies in Wegener's granulomatosis: relation to leukocyte subpopulations in blood and active lesions.
Using a reverse plaque forming cell (PFC) assay the production of immunoglobulin (Ig) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) in vitro was studied in 12 patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). Spontaneous IgG production was increased in two of six untreated patients. The IgG response of MNCs from eight untreated patients to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) stimulation was significantly depressed. The IgM and IgA production followed the individual pattern of IgG. Blood B-cell and T-cell subset concentrations were normal before therapy, whereas the monocyte concentration was increased in four of six patients. Titers of anti-neutrophil cytoplasm autoantibodies (ANCAs) did not correlate with spontaneous or induced Ig production nor with blood leukocyte subset concentrations. Biopsy specimens from upper respiratory tract lesions in seven untreated patients showed numerous macrophages, activated T lymphocytes, and plasma cells, suggesting a pathogenetic role of these cells in the development of lesions and local production of ANCAs.
Antibodies↗
Independent effects of liver disease and chronic alcoholism on thyroid function and size: the possibility of a toxic effect of alcohol on the thyroid gland.
In an autopsy study we found thyroid volume significantly decreased in alcoholics with liver cirrhosis as compared to matched controls: 15 mL (range, 7 to 37 mL) v 25 mL (range, 13 to 90 mL) (P less than .01). At the same time the amount of fibrosis of the thyroid glands was higher in the alcoholics as compared to the matched controls: 20% (range, 6% to 40%) v 12% (range, 6% to 23%) (P less than .01). In order to evaluate the relative importance of alcohol consumption and liver disease on thyroid function and ultrasonically determined size, three groups of patients and matched controls (sex, age, weight, and smoking habits) were investigated: group 1, 18 patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis; group 2, 21 consecutive chronic alcoholics (greater than 100 g of alcohol daily for greater than 5 years) without liver cirrhosis (all had biopsy proven fatty change or normal liver); group 3, 31 nonalcoholic patients with chronic nonhepatic, nonrenal disease. In group 1 median thyroid volume and serum FT4I, FT3I, and TSH levels were unchanged compared with the controls. In group 2 median thyroid volume was 13 mL (range, 9 to 32 mL) compared with 27 mL (range, 12 to 44 mL) in the controls (P less than .005). Serum T3 and FT3I levels were reduced, while T4, FT4I, and TSH levels were unaltered. In group 3 serum T3 and FT3I levels were reduced while serum FT4I and TSH levels and thyroid volume were unaltered compared with the controls. It is suggested that alcohol may have a toxic effect on the thyroid gland independent of the degree of liver damage.
Adult↗
Neurological sequelae and fatality as prognostic measures in 875 cases of bacterial meningitis.
Based on a review of medical records, we have analysed the outcome after bacterial meningitis among 875 patients admitted during the period 1966-1976. The outcome was evaluated not only by fatality during admission or within 4 weeks after discharge, but also by neurological sequelae at the time of discharge. These two types of outcome were determined and compared in subgroups of patients categorised according to a number of features of prognostic significance. This has allowed us to quantify the clinical conditions and features with regard to the severity of the prognosis. In most subgroups of patients, the frequencies of fatality and sequelae followed the same patterns: High frequencies were associated with pneumococcal meningitis, rare bacterial aetiologies, increasing age, affected consciousness on admission, pneumonia on admission, convulsions during admission, and respiratory problems during admission. For some prognostic features, a correlation could be established with high sequelae rates, but not with high fatality rates. This was the case with increased duration of disease symptoms before admission, with alcoholism and with previous head trauma. Thus, this correlation revealed the importance of early hospitalisation. We find that the analysis of sequelae not only supports, but also adds important prognostic information to the results obtained by an analysis of fatality itself in this large retrospective clinical study.
Adolescent↗
A new model of developmental constraints as applied to the Drosophila system.
Von Baer's laws of development observe that an embryo, in the course of its ontogeny, progresses through a series of forms which diverge increasingly from the embryonic forms of related species, and in an evolutionary interpretation, from those of its phylogenetic ancestors. This observation on the relation of phylogeny to ontogeny is explained by Wimsatt's (1986) "Developmental Lock" model of complex generative systems, which proposes that evolution is constrained to alter developmental programs in a manner that usually modifies or adds new complexity to pre-existent developmental functions at positions relatively "downstream" in the causal structure. If the Developmental Lock model is correct, (1) evolution should have resulted in hierarchically ordered developmental programs, and (2) the most important developmental functions in the hierarchy should be ancient. Wimsatt also suggests that developmental functions be analyzed according to a degree property called "generative entrenchment", which replaces the temporal analysis in the traditional formulation of von Baer's laws. Herein, a substantial body of data on Drosophila ontogeny is analyzed according to generative entrenchment, in order to try the effectiveness of this form of analysis, and also to empirically test these two main predictions of the Developmental Lock model. The novel analytic approach proves to be fruitful, both in generating experimental hypotheses and in ordering existing data. Moreover, data concerning the developmental functions discussed here indicate that the order of the Drosophila developmental program conforms to the predictions of Wimsatt's model with few deviations. Explanations of the anomalies are offered, along with proposals for experiments to test some of those explanations.
Animals↗
Seasonal variation in thyroid size in healthy males.
Thyroid volume, measured ultrasonically, and serum levels of T4, T3 and TSH were determined every season during one year in 13 healthy males. A mean variation in thyroid volume of approximately 23% between minimum values (15.8 +/- 1.7 ml, summer) and maximum values (19.5 +/- 1.9 ml, winter) was found (P less than 0.01), although no significant differences in the other thyroid variables could be demonstrated. This seasonal variation in thyroid size should be taken into account when goitre frequency, goitrogenic action of drugs, and goitre treatment effects are evaluated.
Adolescent↗
Complications of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.
This article deals with fatality rate, causes of death, bleeding, and appropriate measures to prevent or treat such complications. Immunologic disturbances, consequences of tissue trauma, and recurrences after surgery are discussed.
Adenoidectomy↗
Evidence of cyclic alterations of thyroid size during the menstrual cycle in healthy women.
Serum levels of thyroxine, triiodothyronine, triiodothyronine resin uptake, thyroxine-binding globulin, thyrotropin, and ultrasonically determined thyroid gland volume were investigated weekly in 11 healthy women during a normal menstrual cycle, and in five healthy men once a week for 5 consecutive weeks. In the men the thyroid volume was unaltered. In the women, however, a mean variation in thyroid volume of approximately 50% between minimum values (15.4 +/- 3.1 ml, day 9) and maximum values (24.4 +/- 4.8 ml, day 23) was found (p less than 0.01), although no significant differences in the other thyroid variables could be demonstrated. The menstrual cycle seems to be associated with cyclic alterations of thyroid size in healthy women unexplained by alterations in thyroid function variables. This information should be taken into account when goiter frequency, goitrogenic action of drugs, and goiter treatment effects are evaluated.
Adolescent↗
Behçet's disease (a severe case from Greenland).
Behçet's syndrome has to our knowledge not been described hitherto in Greenland Eskimos. A life-threatening case of Behçet's syndrome is described in a 22-year-old female Eskimo. Ulceration and scar formation in the oral and hypopharyngeal cavity were the main clinical manifestations. Treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics and high-dose prednisone appeared effective.
Adult↗
Smell and nasal findings in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.
As part of a clinical trial of the effect of Efamol on primary Sjögren's Syndrome (SS), 36 patients were interviewed about nasal symptoms and examined for sense of smell and nasal mucociliary clearance. The sense of smell was examined by quantitative olfactometry using coffee as a stimulant while mucociliary clearance was evaluated by the saccharin test. The findings were compared with those of an age and sex matched control group. 39% of the patients complained of dryness of the nose and 44% of nasal crust formation whereas none of the healthy controls had such complaints. In contrast no differences in sense of smell (subjectively as well as objectively) and mucociliary clearance could be demonstrated. Neither was there any correlation between mucociliary clearance and crust formation or dryness of the nose. Also the mucociliary clearance was not correlated to the "break up time" of the tear-film determined by the ophthalmologist. The present findings indicate that examination of the sense of smell and nasal mucociliary clearance is of little diagnostic value in primary SS and cannot be used for monitoration of disease activity.
Cilia↗
Autoantibodies against neutrophils and monocytes: tool for diagnosis and marker of disease activity in Wegener's granulomatosis.
Immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies against extranuclear components of polymorphonuclear granulocytes were detected in 25 of 27 serum samples from patients with active Wegener's granulomatosis and in only 4 of 32 samples from patients without signs of disease activity. In a prospective study of 19 patients these antibodies proved to be better markers of disease activity than several other laboratory measurements used previously. The autoantibodies were disease specific and the titres were related to the results of an in-vitro granulocyte phagocytosis test, in which 7S IgG antibodies were internalised after specific binding to the cell, resulting in gradual formation of ring-like cytoplasmic structures. This autoantibody may have a pathogenetic role in Wegener's granulomatosis. The detection of this antibody is valuable for diagnosis and estimation of disease activity.
Adult↗
Pneumococcal meningitis: an evaluation of prognostic factors in 164 cases based on mortality and on a study of lasting sequelae.
During the period 1966-76, 164 patients with pneumococcal meningitis were admitted to the University Hospital, Copenhagen. Of 111 survivors 94 underwent a series of clinical examinations. The findings in each patient were assessed for their aetiological relationship to meningitis. Of these patients 54% had neurological sequelae, 42% had neuropsychological sequelae, 25% had otological sequelae and 16% had sequelae as judged by computer-assisted tomography of the brain. On the basis of the general clinical condition, each patient was evaluated for the presence of sequelae of meningitis by means of a rating of nil, mild, moderate or severe. These ratings and mortality rates were used to evaluate the prognostic significance of various features present during the acute illness. A fatal outcome was significantly associated with increasing age, concomitant pneumonia, altered consciousness on admission, transfer from another hospital and development of complications while in hospital. There was a statistically significant association between lasting sequelae and the female sex, the age group of 16-50 years, patients who had not received any pre-admission antibiotic therapy and those with positive bacterial cultures of specimens from sites other than blood or cerebrospinal fluid.
Adolescent↗
An in vivo assay for chemoattractant activity.
We have devised an implantable device for the study of leukocyte chemoattraction. The device consists of a 0.25-mm thick patch of Dacron fabric coupled to a disc of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer. Such polymers can release biologically active molecules at a constant rate for at least 18 days. Attracted cells invade and are trapped within the Dacron fabric. Upon removal from the host, the fabric patches are sectioned and stained to reveal the distribution of attracted cells. Distinct patterns of cellular accumulation can be seen for different chemoattractant molecules. These include the attraction of eosinophils by histamine, monocytes by tuftsin, and mast cells by glycyl-histidyl-lysine. Maximal accumulation of specific cell types occurs at postimplantation days 1 to 2 for neutrophils, days 3 to 5 for monocytes, and days 5 to 6 for macrophages and eosinophils. Control polymers fail to cause significant leukocyte accumulation, indicating that neither the polymer nor the Dacron fabric provokes an inflammatory response.
Alprostadil↗
Pneumococcal meningitis. Late neurologic sequelae and features of prognostic impact.
We interviewed and neurologically reexamined 94 patients who had previous pneumococcal meningitis. The findings were allocated into groups with and without a causal relationship to the meningitis. The main sequelae after meningitis were dizziness (23%), tiredness (22%), mild memory deficits (21%), and gait ataxia (18%), whereas other focal neurologic signs were rare. By a rating (0 to 5) of the presence and severity of sequelae after meningitis, 54% of the patients were found to have sequelae. The clinical condition at the time of acute illness was studied in subgroups of patients who had different neurologic sequelae or high sequelae ratings. Gait ataxia was associated with a state of agitation and confusion when the patient was admitted for meningitis. High sequelae ratings on reexamination were associated with an affected consciousness at the acute stage of the disease and with high numbers of WBCs in the CSF at the time of hospitalization.
Adolescent↗
Implications of DNA characterization of human acoustic neuromas.
Based on in vitro detection of cell-mediated immunity against human acoustic neuroma extract, a malignant potential of acoustic neuromas could be surmised, as malignant DNA patterns have been demonstrated in benign pituitary tumours. Flow-cytofluorometric characterization of the DNA content in 10 human acoustic neuromas, however, only revealed diploid cell lines and normal distributions of cells in different cell cycle phases. All acoustic neuromas were histopathology benign. The percentage of cells in S-phase (range: 1.8-8.3%, median: 3.6%) reflected a slow growth rate correlated neither to age, size of tumour, nor length of case history at time of surgery. These findings may in part be due to the analytical variation in the determinations of the S-phases. The investigation has not offered any explanation for the observed cell-mediated immunity against acoustic neuromas, and confirms that acoustic neuromas are benign tuours.
DNA↗