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Biomedical subjects

T Kristensen

Publications and source records attributed to T Kristensen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Use of fresh frozen plasma in patient treatment. Indications illustrated by a literature review and a study of practice at a university hospital].

We analyzed transfusion data on all patients transfused with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) during two periods of four weeks, before (phase one) and after (phase two) initiation of information and intervention. Information was based on the results of phase one and on information about appropriate use of FFP. The intervention consisted of introducing a new policy: Clinicians had to justify their prescription of FFP to the physician on duty in the blood bank. During phase one, the usage of FFP was 403 units, which decreased to 229 units during phase two (43% reduction). In both phases an unchanged proportion of FFP units (68%) were preceded by coagulation tests. In phase one, only 90 (22.3%) of the instances had documented coagulopathy by laboratory criteria, whereas in phase two the number was 77 (33.6%). A total of 186 (46.4%) FFP units in phase one were considered inappropriately transfused compared to a total of 89 (38.9%) units in phase two. Indications for transfusion were stated for 80 (19.9%) FFP units during phase one increasing to 114 (49.8%) units during phase two. Through information and intervention we were able to reduce the usage of FFP by 43%. The results reveal a need for quality assurance of the use of transfusions with FFP.

Blood Transfusion↗

Complete cDNA sequence of the preproform of human pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A. Evidence for expression in the brain and induction by cAMP.

A cDNA that encodes the prepropeptide of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (preproPAPP-A), a putative metalloproteinase, has been cloned and sequenced. PAPP-A is synthesized in the placenta as a 1627-residue precursor preproprotein with a putative 22-residue signal peptide and a highly basic propeptide of 58 residues. The prepro-PAPP-A-encoding transcript contains a region with an extremely high G+C content and has an unusually long 5' untranslated region with several upstream short ORF. No alternatively spliced products could be identified by means of Northern blotting experiments or with rapid amplification of 5' cDNA ends experiments. A stretch within the 5' untranslated region shows sequence identities to a partial cDNA isolated from brain and a to cAMP-inducible sequence from a choriocarcinoma cell line.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Dairy herd management types assessed from indicators of health, reproduction, replacement, and milk production.

Variables related to health, reproduction, replacement, and milk production in 111 Danish dairy herds were studied with factor analysis. The objectives were to identify management types and to assess the relevance of those types for herd milk production. Median herd size and total milk production were 59 cows and 7100 kg of energy-corrected milk, respectively. Based on cow data, 22 herd variables were defined. A factor analysis identified 10 first-order factors and 5 second-order factors. The latter factors were valid indicators of replacement intensity, variability of milk production, potential for peak milk production, disease, and a complex pattern related to herd size and age, cow size, and live cattle sales. The potential for peak milk production, replacement intensity, and variability of milk production were strong predictors of herd milk production. Interactions with herd size were important. The derived factor scoring coefficients allowed assessment of the management type of a given herd.

Animals↗

[Use of blood products in Denmark in 1993. Regional differences and comparison with other Scandinavian and European countries].

In Denmark approximately 396,000 units of blood were collected during 1993 from among approximately 270,000 voluntary non-renumerated blood donors corresponding to about 76 donations per 100 inhabitants. Almost all units (approx. 99%) were fractionated into blood components in the blood banks. Approximately 16,000 erythrocyte units were rejected due to technical errors or quality control, while around 37,000 erythrocyte units were discarded from stock. Only 190 units were transfused as whole blood. In all 327,108 SAG-M erythrocyte suspensions, 70,971 thrombocyte concentrates, 50,161 units of fresh frozen plasma, FFP, and approximately 1700 kg albumin, 100% were transfused, corresponding to 63, 14 and 10 units and 340 g per 1000 inhabitants. When compared to other Scandinavian and European countries, Denmark has a high consumption of erythrocyte components, FFP and albumin for transfusion. The reason why cannot be clarified by available data, but it is not unlikely that Denmark has a more liberal transfusion policy than the other countries. There are considerable differences within Denmark as regards the clinical use of blood products. Counties/regions with university hospitals and regional and/or national functions tend to have a relatively high consumption. However, no information exists on consumption related to demographic parameters or related to hospitals, departments or diagnoses.

Blood Component Transfusion↗

Three-colour flow cytometric immunophenotyping in HIV-patients; comparison to dual-colour protocols.

Flow cytometric measurement of circulating CD4+ lymphocytes is important in the evaluation of disease progression in HIV-infected patients. Development of dyes that can be exited at 488 nm and have emission maximum in the far red area has made three-colour protocols, together with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and R-phycoerythrin (PE), possible in most clinical flow cytometers. We report here the comparison of a two-tube, three-colour protocol (including CD45/CD4/ CD3 and CD8/CD4/CD3) with our conventional dual-colour protocol. No significant differences were found between percentage of CD3+ lymphocytic cells determined with three different antibody combinations. When the CD8/CD4/CD3 combination was used a systematic overestimation of CD3+ CD4+% cells was found. This turned out to be caused by the formation of 'CD8-escapees'. These are clumps of CD8+ cells that fall outside the lymphocyte gating region, principally because of high side scatter. The problem can be overcome by rigorous vortexing to loosen aggregates. The lymphocyte gating principle used in this protocol (gating on a side scatter/CD45 dot plot) is readily applicable to other antibody combinations. This was demonstrated by measuring CD5+ B lymphocytes, a subset receiving increasing attention in the study of HIV-induced immune deviations. We conclude that our three-colour protocol for CD4+ T-lymphocyte determinations offers significant advantages to the conventional dual-colour method, and we suggest that when possible anti-CD45 be added to dual-colour combinations in order to improve lymphocyte gating.

Antigens, CD↗

Isolation and characterization of circulating complex between human pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A and proform of eosinophil major basic protein.

The plasma protein previously known as pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and believed to contain only one kind of polypeptide chain has recently been shown to be a complex containing two different chains in equimolar amounts. One of the chains is now defined as the PAPP-A subunit, and the other has been identified as the proform of eosinophil major basic protein (proMBP) (Oxvig et al. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 12243-12246). A procedure for large scale preparation of the circulating complex (PAPP-A/proMBP) from pooled pregnancy serum is described. The amino acid and carbohydrate compositions of the isolated reduced and carboxymethylated PAPP-A (199 kDa) and proMBP subunits (38 kDa), and of the intact PAPP-A/proMBP have been determined. The PAPP-A and proMBP subunits contain 13.4% (w/w) and 38.6% (w/w) carbohydrate, respectively, and the intact complex contains 17.4% (w/w) carbohydrate. The PAPP-A subunit contains N-bound carbohydrate groups. In contrast, the proMBP subunit contains both N- and O-bound groups as well as glycosaminoglycan, previously found among plasma proteins only in inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor and pre-alpha-trypsin inhibitor. It is shown that PAPP-A/proMBP can competitively inhibit human leucocyte elastase (KI = (5-10) x 10(-9) M) at an ionic strength of 0.075, but the inhibition is negligible at ionic strengths greater than 0.15. Human cathepsin G is also competitively inhibited (KI approx. 1 x 10(-6) M). The inhibition of both enzymes is most likely due to interactions with the glycosaminoglycan moiety of PAPP-A/proMBP. It is concluded that PAPP-A/proMBP is neither a potent nor a specific inhibitor of human leucocyte elastase.

Amino Acids↗

Amino acid sequence of human pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A derived from cloned cDNA.

The amino acid sequence of human pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), a component of the circulating complex with the proform of eosinophil major basic protein (proMBP), has been determined from partial protein sequencing and from sequencing of cloned cDNA. The PAPP-A monomer contains 1547 amino acid residues, but is derived from a larger precursor of placental origin. PAPP-A contains 82 Cys residues, which are all bridged, 14 putative sites for N-glycosylation, and 7 putative sites for attachment of glycosaminoglycan groups. The C-terminal part of PAPP-A contains 5 approximately 60-residue motifs related to the short consensus repeats of complement proteins and selectins. The SCRs presently known can be grouped into three classes: complement-type, class I; selectin-type, class II; PAPP-A-type, class III. PAPP-A further contains three approximately 26-residue motifs, related to the lin-notch motifs of proteins regulating early tissue differentiation, and, in addition, a putative Zn2+ binding site similar to that found in many metalloproteinases has been identified. Apart from these features, the PAPP-A sequence is not related to other known protein sequences.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Tyrosinemia type 1--complex splicing defects and a missense mutation in the fumarylacetoacetase gene.

Two mutations are reported in six tyrosinemia type 1 patients from northern Europe. In four patients, a G to A transition at nucleotide position 1009 (G1009-->A) of the fumarylacetoacetase (FAH) coding sequence caused aberrant splicing by introducing an acceptor splice site within exon 12, thereby deleting the first 50 nucleotides of this exon. The following exon-intron boundary was frequently missed, and a cryptic donor splice site within intron 12 caused a partial intron 12 retention of 105 bp. This point mutation alternatively gave a glycine 337 to serine substitution in instances of correct splicing. The mutation is rapidly detected by PvuII digestion of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified genomic DNA. Another mutation, g+5-->a in the intron 12 donor splice site consensus sequence (IVS12 g+5-->a), was found in five of the patients. This caused alternative splicing with retention of the first 105 nucleotides of intron 12, exon 12 skipping, and a combined deletion of exons 12 and 13. Rapid detection of this mutation is achieved by restriction digestion of PCR-amplified genomic DNA; a mismatch primer combined with the point mutation creates a Tru9I restriction site. One patient who was homozygous for the G1009-->A mutation had a chronic form of tyrosinemia. Three patients were combined heterozygotes for G1009-->A and IVS12 g+5-->a. Their clinical phenotypes varied from acute to chronic, indicating the impact of background genes and/or external factors on the presentation of tyrosinemia type 1.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Overexpression of human thymidine kinase mRNA without corresponding enzymatic activity in patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia.

The level of cytosolic thymidine kinase (TK1) mRNA in lymphocytes from six healthy people and in lymphocytes from five patients with untreated chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) was determined with competitive polymerase chain reaction (competitive PCR). Using this procedure we have shown that in patients with CLL, there is an overexpression of TK1 mRNA without corresponding enzymatic activity. The TK1 mRNA level is approximately 100-fold higher in lymphocytes from CLL patients than in lymphocytes from healthy persons. A high level of TK1 mRNA without corresponding enzyme activity may indicate a defect in the processing of the enzyme. This may disturb the cells' normal feedback system and thereby influence the development of malignant conditions.

Blotting, Northern↗

An antibody screening test based on the antiglobulin gel technique, pooled test cells, and plasma.

The recently introduced gel technique offers significantly advances compared to traditional tube tests. The purpose of the present study was to design an antibody screening test based on the gel technique, pooled cells, and plasma and to evaluate this test by comparison with a conventional spin-tube indirect antiglobulin test (IAT) combined with a two-stage papain technique. Pilot studies were performed to establish optimal parameters during the design phase, and finally 5,446 consecutive samples were screened for irregular antibodies by the gel technique in parallel with routine techniques. Irregular erythrocyte antibodies were detected in 151 samples, and the gel technique proved equal or superior to the tube test in the detection of all antibodies except 'enzyme-only' anti-E and anti-Lea. We conclude from this study that screening for unexpected antibodies using the gel IAT in our set-up, which includes: (1) omission of enzyme technique; (2) the use of stabilized (EDTA) plasma instead of serum as test material in order to facilitate automation; and (3) pooling 2 by 2 of 4 test cells (to make the gel technique price competitive), is a fast, reliable and sensitive procedure that maintains transfusion safety and compares favourably with our previous routine of saline IAT combined with a two-stage papain technique.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Localization of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A and colocalization of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A messenger ribonucleic acid and eosinophil granule major basic protein messenger ribonucleic acid in placenta.

BACKGROUND: The human eosinophil granule major basic protein (MBP), a 13.8 kilodalton cationic polypeptide constituting the core of the eosinophil granule, is cytotoxic to parasites and numerous mammalian cells. Concentrations of a molecule immunochemically similar to eosinophil granule MBP are present in maternal plasma, and MBP mRNA has been localized to placental X cells by in situ hybridization. Eosinophil granule MBP is initially translated as a nontoxic precursor (proMBP), containing a 9.9 kilodalton acidic pro-portion that is believed to neutralize MBP toxicity. Recent analyses of sera from pregnant women have revealed that pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), previously thought to be a homotetramer of PAPP-A subunits, is actually composed of PAPP-A subunits bound by disulfide bonds to equimolar amounts of proMBP molecules to form a complex, PAPP-A/proMBP. In addition, the PAPP-A subunit nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence have been determined from cloned cDNA. The PAPP-A monomer found in plasma contains 1547 amino acid residues. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Because of the new evidence that PAPP-A is complexed with proMBP, previous studies on the localization of PAPP-A using antibodies to PAPP-A must be questioned. To determine the localization of the PAPP-A subunit, immunofluorescence was performed on normal placental tissues using proMBP absorbed anti-PAPP-A antibody. Furthermore, the expression of PAPP-A mRNA was investigated by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Immunofluorescence staining with proMBP absorbed anti-PAPP-A antibody showed that PAPP-A is localized to placental septa, anchoring villi, and the syncytia of chorionic villi, whereas MBP is localized only to septa and anchoring villi. By in situ hybridization, PAPP-A mRNA is detected in placental X cells and syncytiotrophoblasts, but MBP mRNA is localized only to placental X cells. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of PAPP-A mRNA and PAPP-A subunit protein in placental X cells and syncytiotrophoblasts indicates that both X cells and syncytiotrophoblasts synthesize the PAPP-A subunit, whereas only X cells synthesize proMBP.

Blood Proteins↗