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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
PubMed1996

Abnormal EBV immune status in oral lichen planus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate any possible association between oral lichen planus (OLP) and the humoral immune response to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The population consisted of 22 patients with histologically verified OLP and 22 healthy sex- and age-matched controls without any oral mucosal diseases. Specific serum IgG antibodies (Ab) towards EBV early antigen (EA) and nuclear antigen-I (EBNA) and IgM Ab towards EBV EA were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: The optometric density (OD) IgG anti-EA Ab levels were significantly higher in OLP patients than in controls and a significantly negative correlation between duration of symptoms from OLP and IgG anti-EA OD Ab values was demonstrated. IgM anti-EA and IgG anti-EBNA OD Ab levels were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The hypothesis of any possible association between EBV and OLP has never been tested but the present results seem to lend support for an aberration in the humoral response to EBV in OLP patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Redesigning a skills mix in the ICU.

A group of unit-based personnel set about to redesign work in the intensive care unit. Their strategy acknowledged the fiscal reality of the hospital's situation, while maintaining a proactive and positive approach. The implementation process of such a program--establishing a skills mix, redesigning a patient care delivery system and capitalizing on the RNs' career ladder is described.

Career Mobility↗
PubMed1995

Teamwork: bringing order out of chaos.

The staff of one medical/surgical unit defined nine qualities of a winning team, then set about to turn their unit around. The situation faced by the unit nurses, technicians, secretaries and the nurse manager as well as the successful strategies they implemented to enhance teamwork are presented.

Hospital Units↗
PubMed1994

Gamma delta T-cell fraction of peripheral blood is increased in recurrent aphthous ulceration.

Recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) is the most common oral mucosal disease. The etiology is unresolved but several studies have suggested a systemic immunoregulatory imbalance in the patients. The purpose of the present study was to assess possible signs of immunologic deficiency or activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with RAU by flow cytometry using three-color immunofluorescent staining which has not previously been employed in this patient category. The population consisted of 13 and 14 otherwise healthy patients with active and inactive RAU, respectively, and 18 healthy volunteers with a negative RAU history served as controls. The most striking observation was an increased fraction of T-cell receptor (TCR)-gamma delta+ cells in patients with active RAU (median percentage 8.5) compared with controls (median percentage 2.8; P < 0.001) and patients with inactive RAU (median percentage 5.0; P < 0.01). The fraction of peripheral TCR-gamma delta cells has not previously been determined in patients with RAU but the increased figures during active disease might reflect an immunologic stimulation during exacerbation. The nature of the stimulus remains to be established, but recent studies suggest that varicella zoster virus and/or cytomegalovirus may be involved. The potential role of TCR-gamma delta cells in RAU lesions has not yet been investigated but appears to be an obvious issue for future studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Natural killer cell function and number of peripheral blood are not altered in recurrent aphthous ulceration.

Natural killer cell activity against K562 target cells was measured during active disease (within 48 hours after symptom debut, day 0), and in remission stages (days 14 and 28) of 10 patients with recurrent aphthous ulceration. Ten healthy sex- and age-matched persons with a negative history of recurrent aphthous ulceration served as controls. Baseline, interferon-alpha- and interleukin-2-boosted natural killer cell activity was not significantly different between patients and controls at any of the three time periods. Furthermore, the percentages of peripheral CD16+, CD56+, and CD14+ cells were at no time significantly different between patients and controls. This study supports other investigations with respect to a systemic T-cell imbalance in which a decreased CD3+ and CD4+ fraction is encountered among patients with recurrent aphthous ulceration; however, the previously reported increase in the CD8+ subsets was not confirmed in the present study. Although no quantitative or nonspecific functional alterations of circulating peripheral natural killer cells were observed in patients with recurrent aphthous ulceration, this does not preclude NK cell involvement in the lesion sites. Furthermore, with recent studies that suggest a possible implication of varicella zoster virus or cytomegalovirus in recurrent aphthous ulceration, studies of varicella zoster virus and cytomegalovirus specific killer activity in this patient population are hereby encouraged.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Qualities of the excellent head nurse.

Very little research exists regarding qualities that characterize an excellent head nurse (HN). Sixteen nurses were asked to tell the researcher about an excellent HN that they had worked with at some point in their career. The excellent HNs could be characterized as having a humanistic management philosophy and being skilled at negotiating and conflict resolution. These leaders have excellent interpersonal skills and are powerful advocates for nurses and patients. They are viewed as highly credible, innovative and even tempered. Generally, these leaders were able to meet the needs of the nurses--be they clinical, professional, or personal.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Rodenticide-induced coagulopathy in a young child. A case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

PURPOSE: To present the diagnosis and management of superwarfarin ingestion, a cause of serious and prolonged coagulopathy. METHODS: Specific identification of the anticoagulant was made by high-pressure liquid chromatography. RESULTS: A 24 month-old child developed bruises and a prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) after receiving multiple doses of brodifacoum, a superwarfarin rodenticide. The coagulopathy was treated successfully with large doses of parenteral and oral vitamin K1; fresh frozen plasma was administered as a precautionary measure on two occasions. After the first 10 days of the child's hospitalization, the mother was identified as the source of brodifacoum, exemplifying the behavior described as Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Oral vitamin K1 was initiated and continued in an outpatient setting with tapering doses over nine months, using the PT as a guide for therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This report emphasizes the necessity of recognizing rodenticide poisoning and investigating its source. Frequent monitoring of the PT is essential to prevent hemorrhagic complications due to repeat exposure, inadequate vitamin K1 therapy, or noncompliance.

4-Hydroxycoumarins↗
PubMed1993

Recurrent aphthous ulceration: a possible clinical manifestation of reactivation of varicella zoster or cytomegalovirus infection.

The etiology of the most common intraoral mucosal disease, recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU), remains obscure. Here, attempts were made to diagnose reactivation of varicella zoster (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr (EBV) and human hepes virus 6 (HHV-6) infections from paired sera in association with RAU recurrences. The first sample was obtained within 3 days after a new recurrence (1) and the second 10-14 days later (2). The study initially comprised 18 otherwise healthy RAU patients (gr A) and 17 sex- and age-matched healthy non-RAU individuals. Values of specific antibody subclasses (IgM, IgG, IgA) were determined by ELISA (VZV, CMV, EBV) and IFA (HHV-6). Patients and controls exhibited differences in parameters on specific VZV IgM and CMV IgM. In order to substantiate these findings, specific VZV IgM and CMV IgM were subsequently also evaluated in 17 other RAU patients (gr B). Ten patients in gr A and 11 in gr B were IgM seropositive for either VZV and/or CMV in at least one of the serum samples, whereas in the controls only one was VZV IgM positive and none CMV IgM positive. Evaluated as groups, optometric density (OD) antibody levels of VZV IgM were significantly higher in the patients (gr A (1,2) vs controls: p < 0.0001; gr B (1,2) vs controls: p < 0.001). CMV OD IgM antibody values were significantly higher in gr B only (1,2 vs controls: p < 0.01). The study lends support for reactivation of VZV and/or CMV infection associated with RAU recurrences.

Adolescent↗
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↗