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Biomedical subjects

A Pedersen

Publications and source records attributed to A Pedersen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Varicella-zoster virus DNA in recurrent aphthous ulcers.

The present study was undertaken to examine for varicella-zoster virus (VZV) constituents in recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAU). Smears and biopsies of ulcers 0-3 days old were obtained from 20 otherwise healthy minor/major RAU patients and from two patients with Behçet's syndrome. VZV could not be cultivated from any of the biopsies, all smears were negative for VZV antigen, and in situ hybridization on the five samples tested was negative for VZV nucleic acid. DNA extracted from biopsies, however, yielded positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products in all cases with one primer set of the protein kinase 66 (PK66). Ten control biopsies from non-RAU subjects yielded no PCR products apart from the sample from AP, who obtained the biopsies, and from HOM, who performed the PCR, suggesting that the DNA had been passed on from the patients. Other parts of the PK66 gene and of thymidine kinase 36 yielded no products. Although the consistent presence of VZV DNA in RAU might suggest a pathogenetic implication, the potential presence and possible pathogenetic importance of other herpesviruses cannot be excluded.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

The role of phospholipids and the factor VII Gla-domain in the interaction of factor VII with tissue factor.

Whether or not the factor VII Gla-domain is involved in the high-affinity interaction of factor VII and tissue factor via calcium-dependent interactions with surrounding phospholipids is unknown. To investigate this, we have purified the factor VII Gla-peptide (FVII-GP) from digested recombinant human factor VIIa and assessed its effect on factor VII:tissue factor interactions. FVII-GP inhibited the activation of factor X by factor VIIa in the presence of either soluble or cell surface tissue factor half-maximally at 0.5 microM and 2.7 microM, respectively. However, FVII-GP failed to inhibit the specific binding of factor VIIa to cell-surface tissue factor, and did not inhibit the ability of tissue factor to stimulate the amidolytic activity of factor VIIa. Unrelipidated tissue factor apoprotein stimulated the amidolytic activity of factor VIIa to the same extent as relipidated tissue factor apoprotein. These findings suggest that the factor VII Gla-domain does not directly interact with tissue factor, but rather is important for calcium binding and concomitant expression of other factor VII epitopes necessary for tissue factor recognition and binding. To test this hypothesis, we have prepared a monoclonal antibody against a putative factor VII epitope that participates in the interaction of factor VII with cell-surface tissue factor (peptide 195-206) and assessed its ability to bind to factor VII in the presence and absence of calcium. Binding of this monoclonal antibody (PW-4) to intact factor VIIa was calcium-dependent and could be inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by peptide 195-206.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1992

T-lymphocyte subsets in oral mucosa of patients with recurrent aphthous ulceration.

In the present study, the proportion of mononuclear cells and percentages of CD4+ (OKT4+) and CD8+ (OKT8+) were determined in clinically healthy buccal mucosa in patients with recurrent minor aphthous ulceration (RAU) (n = 43) during active and inactive disease as compared with RAU-free controls (n = 15). In lamina propria, the total number of mononuclear cells and subset percentages were determined histologically and immunohistochemically. Mononuclear cell counts in patient specimens were significantly lower than in the control group. CD4+ percentages were not significantly different between controls and patients. CD8+ percentages of the patients were significantly increased during active RAU, but not during inactive RAU as compared with controls. In proportion to the total number of mononuclear cells, CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts per 0.25 mm2 were significantly lower in the patients during both active and inactive disease as compared with controls. Thus, RAU seems characterized by reduced numbers of mononuclear cells, including T-lymphocytopenia in the oral mucosa as such, features that appear more pronounced during active disease than during quiescence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[LongoVital in the prevention of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. 1].

LongoVital (LV) (DK. reg. no. 5178/75) is a herbal based tablet enriched with recommended doses of vitamins. The present study was undertaken to investigate prevention of recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) during daily intake of LV for six months as compared with placebo in a double-blind, randomised clinical, cross-over 1-year study. The population comprised 29 otherwise healthy minor RAU patients (18F, 11M) mean age 36 (18-67), with an estimated average number of recurrences the previous year of 12.8 (3-30). The number of recurrences was significantly reduced on treatment with LV during the latter four of the six months (p less than 0.01) where 31% were totally free of recurrences. Subjective all-over evaluation of treatment period was significantly in favour of LV. LV induced no adverse reactions and is the first harmless systemic treatment which has proved better than placebo in the prevention of RAU.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Immunomodulating effect of LongoVital in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. 2].

LongoVital (LV) (DK. reg. no. 5178/75) is a herbal-based tablet enriched with recommended doses of vitamins. Peripheral lymphocyte subsets: T-helper/CD4 (OKT4+) and T-suppressor/cytotoxic/CD8 (OKT8+) were studied quantitatively in 31 otherwise healthy patients with minor recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) during six months' daily LV intake in a double-blind, randomised, crossover 1-year study. Fourteen had had LV during the first six months (GrA) and 17 LV during the latter six months (GrB). OKT4+ percentages increased significantly during the LV period in both groups (p less than 0.05). OKT8+ percentages increased in both groups, however, only significantly in GrA (P less than 0.05). It is concluded that LV acts as an immunostimulator in patients with RAU and that the increase in T-lymphocyte subsets may account for the previously reported benefit of LV in RAU prevention.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Prognosis in early and late ventricular fibrillation after acute myocardial infarction].

Of 413 patients with in-hospital ventricular fibrillation complicating acute myocardial infarction 281 had early (less than 48 hours post infarction) ventricular fibrillation and 132 had late ventricular fibrillation. In-hospital and longterm prognoses were not influenced by time of ventricular fibrillation, but advanced age and signs of reduced left ventricular function were found to be independent significant risk factors for short and longterm prognoses.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Sudden cardiac arrest outside the hospital--value of defibrillators in ambulances.

In a region with a population of 250,000 people, all emergency calls for cardiac arrest were prospectively registered during a period of 6 years. Timing of events were carefully registered as were treatment and the participation of 3 ambulances equipped with defibrillators. When time until initial treatment of cardiac arrest was below 5 min, 12% could be resuscitated and discharged alive. This figure decreased to 2% in the period between 5 and 10 min and was zero to above 10 min. Similarly, a reasonable 12% of patients experiencing ventricular fibrillation at a public place could be resuscitated and discharged alive whereas only 5% of ventricular fibrillation occurring at the patients home could be successfully resuscitated. Asystolia was rarely treated successfully. Faster treatment improved results much and 63% of patients having ventricular fibrillation in the emergency room left hospital alive. Results of cardioversion in ambulances did not depend on time from initiation of cardiac arrest, but all patients receiving cardioversion later than 10 min died without regaining consciousness. The results were compared with other more effective programs. The study region apparently had much fewer cardiac arrest than a similar region in Seattle, U.S.A. In those cases where treatment could be initiated within 5 min, results were comparable.

Ambulances↗
PubMed1991

Are recurrent oral aphthous ulcers of viral etiology?

The etiology of recurrent oral aphthous ulcers (RAU) remains unsolved. The present article relates previous immunopathologic findings in RAU to a possible viral etiopathogenesis with special reference to the herpes virus family. It is concluded that RAU might be of viral etiology, and it is furthermore speculated that the aphthous ulcers may be the clinical manifestation of 'latent' varicella-zoster virus reactivation (reinfection).

Herpes Zoster↗
PubMed1991

Ankle fractures and alcoholism. The influence of alcoholism on morbidity after malleolar fractures.

The postoperative morbidity after osteosynthesis of malleolar fractures was investigated retrospectively by comparing 90 alcohol abusers with 90 controls. The two groups were selected from 626 male patients and were matched regarding trauma, treatment for cardiovascular, pulmonary and endocrine diseases, age, weight, smoking habits, anaesthesia and duration of surgery. The alcohol abusers developed significantly more early complications, especially infections, after surgery. Follow-up at six, nine and 12 weeks after surgery also revealed a significantly higher morbidity among the alcoholics.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1991

Peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations in recurrent aphthous ulceration.

Peripheral lymphocyte subsets--T-helper (CD4+), T-suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8+), and naive/virgin T cells/natural killer cells (CD45RA)--were studied quantitatively in 30 patients with recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) and 29 sex- and age-matched RAU-free control donors. The CD4+ percentage was significantly lower in the patients than in the control group (P less than 0.0001), whereas CD8+ and CD4/CD8 ratio figures did not differ significantly between patients and controls. The CD45RA+ counts were significantly higher in the patient group (P less than 0.01). The study supports previous investigations with regard to the demonstration of immunologic disturbances in RAU patients. Whether the imbalance is primary or secondary with regard to the basic etiology remains to be resolved.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Prognosis of late versus early ventricular fibrillation in acute myocardial infarction.

To determine the prognosis of late ventricular fibrillation (VF) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the length of the monitoring period after AMI was extended. All patients in this series were continuously monitored in a coronary care unit to ensure observation of all VF within 18 days of AMI. From 1977 to 1985, 4,269 patients were admitted with AMI and 413 (9.6%) had in-hospital VF. Of these 281 (6.8%) had early VF (less than 48 hours after AMI) and 132 (3.2%) had late VF (greater than or equal to 48 hours after AMI). In-hospital mortality was 50 and 54% for early and late VF, respectively (p = 0.31). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed better survival after discharge for patients with early versus late VF (p = 0.009) but this difference was fully explained by the presence of heart failure. Survival analysis showed the same prognosis after 1, 3 and 5 years for early and late VF, when VF was not associated with heart failure. When VF was associated with heart failure (secondary VF) early VF had a greater mortality than late VF after 2 and 5 years. Logistic regression analysis showed that heart failure (relative risk 1.9 [1.1 to 3.1]) and cardiogenic shock (relative risk 3.9 [1.8 to 8.5]) were significant risk factors for in-hospital death. Late VF compared to early VF had no prognostic implication (relative risk 1.0 [0.6 to 1.6]). For patients discharged from the hospital, risk factors were heart failure (1.8 [1.1 to 2.8]) and previous AMI (1.6 [1.3 to 2.1]).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Effect of doxapram on postoperative pulmonary complications after upper abdominal surgery in high-risk patients.

In a double-blind randomised trial an infusion of doxapram, 2 mg per min for 6 h immediately after surgery and repeated on the first postoperative day, or the same volume of saline, was given to 39 patients who underwent upper abdominal surgery and who were at high risk of postoperative day, or the same volume of saline, was given to 39 patients who underwent upper abdominal surgery and who were at high risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. The patients were assessed pre-operatively and during the first 5 postoperative days by physical examination, spirometry, blood-gas analysis, and chest radiography. Postoperative pulmonary complications were defined as temperature over 38 degrees C for 2 days, abnormal auscultation, pathological radiography, and/or productive cough. Data from 16 patients per group were analysed. Significantly more patients in the placebo group had three criteria of postoperative pulmonary complication compared with the doxapram group (63% vs 19%). The doxapram group also had higher PaO2 postoperatively.

Abdomen↗