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Biomedical subjects

R Jensen

Publications and source records attributed to R Jensen.

262 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hemivertebra resection in congenital scoliosis -- early correction in young children].

BACKGROUND: Congenital scoliosis due to hemivertebrae usually progresses during further growth and leads to severe deformities. Early correction in young children is therefore required. PATIENTS: Thirty-six hemivertebrae in 33 children aged 1 to 6 years (average 3 years 5 months) underwent surgical intervention. Mean follow-up was 4.5 years (2 months to 13 years). METHODS: The hemivertebra was resected by a posterior approach. The gap after resection was closed by compression via a transpedicular instrumentation, thus correcting the scoliotic deformity. RESULTS: Mean Cobb angle of the main curve was 45.9 degrees preoperatively, 11.9 degrees postoperatively, and 9.9 degrees at latest follow-up. The compensatory cranial curve improved spontaneously from 18.4 degrees preoperatively to 5.0 degrees postoperatively and 3.7 degrees at latest follow-up. The compensatory caudal curve improved from 21.3 degrees to 6.7 and 5.4 degrees. The angle of kyphosis was 22.8 degrees preoperatively, 8.9 degrees postoperatively, and 6.8 degrees at latest follow-up. There was one infection, 2 pedicle fractures, and 3 implant failures. In 3 patients additional operations were performed due to new developing deformities. CONCLUSION: Correction surgery of congenital scoliosis should be performed early before the development of severe local deformities and secondary structural changes. Posterior resection of the hemivertebrae with transpedicular instrumentation allows for early intervention in very young children. Excellent correction in both the frontal and sagittal planes, and a short segment of fusion allow for normal growth in the unaffected parts of the spine.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Public attitudes toward epilepsy in Denmark.

Social acceptance of persons with epilepsy very often constitutes a considerable problem for patients and their relatives. Nationwide opinion pools on the knowledge of and public attitude toward epilepsy have been taken in several countries, but never in Denmark. We report a Gallup survey of the general knowledge of and attitude toward epilepsy. A representative population of 1,500 persons aged greater than or equal to 15 years was selected in a four-state proportional sampling procedure. Ninety-seven percent of respondents had heard or read about epilepsy, 60% of these knew a person with epilepsy, and 50% had seen an epileptic seizure. The attitudes toward social acceptance and employment of persons with epilepsy were generally favorable, but 7% had objections to social contact between their children and persons with epilepsy in the playground and at school and 7% had objections to equal employment. Familiarity with persons with epilepsy was correlated to questions about attitudes and general knowledge of epilepsy. Such knowledge and public attitude in Denmark are mainly positive, but we believe that a continuous information campaign about epilepsy is essential, especially among youth.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Resistance to activated protein C: a major cause of inherited thrombophilia.

Blood coagulation proteins play a major role in the development of pathological venous and arterial thrombosis. Inherited disorders of thrombosis are due to deficiencies of the anticoagulant proteins antithrombin, protein C, and protein S in 10% to 15% of individuals that present with venous thrombosis. A recently described cause of venous thrombosis is characterized by a poor response to activated protein C. In 90% of cases the activated protein C resistance is attributable to a mutation in the factor V gene (factor V Leiden). Activated protein C resistance is found in up to 7% of the Caucasian population but essentially unseen in other races. Activated protein C resistance is associated with a 5 to 10X increased risk of venous thrombosis in individuals that are heterozygous for the defect and a 50 to 100X increased risk in those individuals that are homozygous for factor V Leiden. Activated protein C resistance can be detected in the laboratory by modifications of the activated partial thromboplastin time assay. This assay is easy to perform and can be automated for a variety of instruments. Confirmation of the mutation of the factor V gene is accomplished through polymerase chain reactions that require DNA extraction from the patient's blood sample. Global assays that reflect the functionality of the protein C pathway have recently been introduced to the marketplace.

Blood Coagulation Disorders↗