PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Oosterhuis

Publications and source records attributed to A Oosterhuis.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

PCR for the detection of Streptobacillus moniliformis.

Streptobacillus moniliformis is a Gram-negative bacterium found in various laboratory animal species and is the cause of rat bite fever and Haverhill fever in man. In order to evaluate a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of this zoonotic bacterium in animal tissues a set of primers was designed based on the DNA base sequence of part of the 16S rRNA gene from 11 S. moniliformis strains. The PCR detected as few as 2-6 copies of S. moniliformis DNA. A 296 bp DNA fragment was amplified from S. moniliformis strains from rodents, humans and turkeys. Amplicons of about the same size were obtained from Fusobacterium necrogenes and Sebaldella (Bacteroides) termitidis but Bfa I treatment of these amplicons did not result in the S. moniliformis specific 130 bp DNA fragment. The in silico evaluation of 14 additional Fusobacterium spp. and 12 unculturable phytoplasmas indicated that none is likely to give rise to confusing amplicons or DNA fragments. The PCR detected S. moniliformis infection in all four orally- and four intravenously-infected C57BL/6 mice and the bacterium was cultured from all but one mouse. The PCR detected S. moniliformis infection in all 12 orally-infected WU rats, and in five of eight rats exposed to natural infection. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and PCR were equally successful in detecting infection in rats but S. moniliformis was not detected by using culture.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Coping with epilepsy: the effect of coping styles on self-perceived seizure severity and psychological complaints.

Having a chronic condition like epilepsy imposes a serious burden for the sufferer. This is reflected in a higher level of psychological complaints. The way in which one copes with epilepsy is an important determinant in this level of complaints and in the self-perceived severity of the seizures. In this paper the relation between coping styles and self-perceived seizure severity as well as psychological complaints, is studied. A group of epilepsy patients was asked to fill out a number of questionnaires on coping styles, self-perceived seizure severity and psychological complaints. The patients with epilepsy were seen to have coping styles different from the general population: in general they tended to use less active strategies in coping with their problems. A less active coping style was found to be related to a higher self-perceived seizure severity. Other epilepsy-related variables, like seizure frequency, showed no relation with self-perceived seizure severity. This could mean that stimulating patients to use active coping styles results in a decrease in self-perceived seizure severity.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

The treatment of insomnia through mass media, the results of a televised behavioral training programme.

An important trend in behavioral medicine is a psycho-educational approach to health problems. A training course aimed at the treatment of sleep disorders has been developed using the following basic principles: (1) a symptomatic approach, (2) emphasis on information on sleep and sleep disorders, (3) self-management, and (4) interventions based on behaviour therapeutic principles that are further developed for the treatment of sleep disorders. Because the results of courses used in primary health care were encouraging, a similar training course of eight programmes was broadcasted by the Dutch educational radio and television station Teleac. About 200,000 people viewed the course, 23,000 of whom ordered the course material. The results of the training course were assessed from a sample (N = 325) by means of a sleep diary in a pre-test, post-test and a follow-up condition. In addition, several questionnaires were used to collect information on personality factors and on physical and psychological complaints. The training produced an estimated decrease in sleep latency of 25 minutes. The duration of sleep increased by nearly 40 minutes. Of the people using hypnotic drugs 40% ceased their use after the course. The training course broadcasted by Teleac is found to be an effective means of improving sleeping behaviour. The results of the course are comparable with interventions that use direct therapist-client contact, suggesting that the presence of a therapist in this approach may not be of crucial importance. The decrease in the use of hypnotics makes the approach cost-effective.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Sleep in the elderly. Effects of a behavior therapeutic sleeping course].

Insomnia is a frequently occurring complaint. The role of the educational approach in the behavioral treatment of insomnia is of increasing importance. In this article the results of an in 1987-1988 televised behaviour-therapeutic course, 'Sleeping can be learned', are presented. Special attention is given to the results of older subjects. Data were collected by means of a sleep diary in a precourse, postcourse and a follow-up measurement. In addition a number of questionnaires were used to collect information on personality factors and on physical and psychological complaints. The self-estimated duration of sleep of the group over sixty years of age was significantly less when compared with the younger group. The results of the course were encouraging. Sleep latency decreased on the average with more than 25 minutes per night and the duration of sleep increased with nearly 40 minutes per night. The use of sleep-medication decreased. These changes did not differ between the group over 60 years old and the younger group. No support was found for the idea that insomnia in the elderly is caused by an increasing number of problems. A factor that could influence the prevalence of insomnia in the elderly can be the more irrational beliefs on sleep and sleep disorders the older group of subjects appeared to have. Strategies directed at these cognitions should therefore be a part of the treatment of insomnia.

Adolescent↗