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Biomedical subjects

B G Solheim

Publications and source records attributed to B G Solheim.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Vaccination with mutant ras peptides and induction of T-cell responsiveness in pancreatic carcinoma patients carrying the corresponding RAS mutation.

Mutations in codon 12 of K-RAS are frequently found in pancreatic adenocarcinomas. T-cell responses specific for individual RAS mutations can be elicited in vitro by stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with synthetic peptides. Mutant ras peptides are therefore a candidate vaccine for specific immunotherapy in pancreatic carcinoma patients. When vaccinated with a synthetic ras peptide representing the K-RAS mutation in their tumours, a transient ras-specific T-cell response was induced in two of five patients treated. The vaccination protocol involved multiple infusions of large amounts of peptide-pulsed antigen-presenting-cells obtained by leucapheresis. These results indicate that specific T-cell responses against mutations uniquely harboured in tumour cells can be induced in cancer patients by vaccination.

Adenocarcinoma

[Quality control of leukocyte filtration of blood products].

Quality control of leucocyte depleted blood products has become a problem since the introduction of bedside leucocyte filtration. At our Blood Centre, this problem has been circumvented by testing a sample taken as the filtration is completed by sealing off a 10 cm piece of tubing just under the filter. We have tested four brands of erythrocyte filters, Pall RC100, Erypur Optima b, Sepacell R-200A and Sepacell R-500A(II) using two erythrocyte concentrates for each filter. We have tested two brands of thrombocyte filters, Pall PL100 with 6-8 thrombocyte concentrates, and Sepacell PL-5A with 2-6 concentrates. No transfusion should give more than 5 x 10(6) leucocytes. Pall PL100, Pall RC100 and Sepacell R-500A(II) met the criteria.

Blood Transfusion

[Attitude of blood donors towards cholesterol measurement].

In analyses of cost-effectiveness it is customary to count knowledge of having a high serum cholesterol level as a negative factor. There is little support for this practice in the literature. We have studied the attitude of 305 Norwegian blood donors towards cholesterol testing. 63% stated that they were interested in their serum cholesterol level, and 40% said they knew their own serum cholesterol level. The attitude towards cholesterol testing was clearly positive, both among men and among women, regardless of age. Only one donor stated that she did not want to have her serum cholesterol tested in conjunction with blood donation.

Adult

[Changes in serum cholesterol level in blood donors over a 2-year period].

Serum cholesterol levels were measured in 280 blood donors between November 1988 and May 1989 and again between February and April 1991. In 84 of these persons the cholesterol level was also measured between November 1989 and January 1990. The 122 females showed a 9.6% reduction in mean serum cholesterol from 5.8 mmol/l in the first sample to 5.2 mmol/l in the final sample. The 158 males showed a 7.4% reduction from 5.7 to 5.3 mmol/l. Females with initial values greater than 6 mmol/l showed an average reduction in serum cholesterol of 15.2%. For males with initial values greater than 6 the reduction was 14.0%. There was no difference in reduction between those whose cholesterol was measured at the beginning and the end of the study and those whose cholesterol was also controlled during the course of the study. Our study shows that, in the case of blood donors, a programme involving measuring serum cholesterol and distributing written information can lead to a substantial reduction in serum cholesterol.

Adult

[Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in adults. Results after fractionated whole body irradiation and high dosage cyclophosphamide and use of HLA-compatible sibling donors].

We present short and long-term results of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation after hyper-fractionated total body irradiation and high dose cyclophosphamide in ten patients treated for leukaemia during the period 1985-89. Three patients died from complications connected to the transplantation, while seven are living free from leukaemia 18 to 59 months after transplantation (mean 41 months). Two patients need treatment for chronic graft versus host disease. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is expensive and risky. Close cooperation between clinicians and laboratory specialists is essential. The treatment increases long term survival and probably cures certain patients with leukaemia. Some of these patients will need treatment for chronic graft versus host disease and other late sequelae.

Adult

[The effect of conversion from blood donation to plasma donation on serum ferritin and hemoglobin].

In the present study the effect of a change from whole blood to plasma donation on iron stores is investigated by measuring serum ferritin levels. Paired serum samples from 125 plasma donors showed a significant increase in mean serum ferritin level with plasmapheresis. 76% of the plasma donors showed an increase in serum ferritin. For plasma donors the haemoglobin concentration is not related to serum ferritin level and hence to iron stores, and a change in haemoglobin concentration is not related to a change in serum ferritin. Plasma donation is a good alternative to whole blood donation for fertile women and for blood donors opposed to iron supplements.

Adult

[Cholesterol status of blood donors. Motivation for dietary changes and their effects].

We present the results of serum-cholesterol measurements in 956 blood donors and an evaluation of their motivation for dietary changes based on answers to a questionnaire. The mean serum-cholesterol level was 5.5 mmol/l for women and 5.7 mmol/l for men, with an increase in serum-cholesterol with age. Motivation for dietary changes was food, since 85% answered that they would change their diet if their serum-cholesterol was high. 65% of those who knew their serum-cholesterol to be high before this study had changed their diet. 38% of the smokers answered that they would stop smoking if their serum-cholesterol was high. Eight to 14 months later, serum-cholesterol measurements in 201 of the blood donors showed that 72.4% of those with serum-cholesterol greater than 6 mmol/l had changed their diet and that these had reduced their serum-cholesterol by an average 10.6%.

Adult

[The effect of plasmapheresis on IgG and albumin].

Since 1986, we have performed 26,500 plasma donations at the Red Cross and National Hospital Blood Centre. In conjunction with these donations, 4,000 serum samples from 3,400 donors have been tested for IgG and albumin level. 125 donors who donated plasma regularly were studied further. In this group we found a mean reduction in IgG of 0.3 g/l, but no significant reduction in albumin. Even for donors who donate regularly the mean time interval between donations was more than 40 days. Today's recommendation of regular IgG and albumin control is a result of experiences from twice weekly plasma donations in the USA. We conclude that such testing is unnecessary in Norway.

Adult

[Iron status in blood donors evaluated by serum ferritin].

In the present study we have examined serum ferritin in experienced male and female blood donors and in women who had never donated blood before, but had registered at the Blood Centre as future donors. There was no coincidence between low haemoglobin and low s-ferritin when haemoglobin was within normal range. Iron stores (s-ferritin less than 20 micrograms/l) were reduced in 40% of the female blood donors and in 21% the iron stores (s-ferritin less than 10 micrograms/l were completely empty. 10% of the male donors had iron stores, while in 3% the iron stores were empty. Among the females who had not donated blood, 30% had s-ferritin values below 20 micrograms/l and 6% had values below 10 micrograms/l. We conclude that measuring s-ferritin is a better method of identifying individuals at risk for iron depletion than measuring hemoglobins. A combination of longer intervals between donations and iron therapy may prevent depletion of iron stores in blood donors.

Adult

[Use of leukocyte-filtered, cytomegalovirus-antibody negative and irradiated cellular blood products].

This paper presents both quality requirements and indications for use of leucocyte-filtered, cytomegalovirus antibody negative and irradiated cellular blood products at Rikshospitalet. Emphasis is placed on the use of standardized buffycoat depleted red cells or platelet concentrates for filtration, and the selection of leucocyte filters with high capacity and ease of bedside application. Leucocyte counts as low as 1-2 10(5) per unit are recommended after filtration in order to avoid HLA-antibody production. For bedside filtration, our choice was RC100 and PL100 (Pall) for red cells and platelets respectively. For laboratory use we prefer, for economic reasons, to use Sepacell R500 (Asahi) and Imugard IG500 (Terumo) for red cells and platelets respectively. Leucocyte-filtered blood products are considered indicated in all pre-transplant transfusions, in post-transplant HLA-sensitized patients, in other patients with febrile transfusion reactions, and in patients with an expected protracted platelet requirement. CMV antibody negative products are recommended for all immuno-deficient patients and pregnant women negative for CMV antibody. Irradiated blood products are used in the treatment of immuno-deficient patients receiving large amounts of blood, and in all severely immuno-compromised patients. In emergency situations where CMV antibody negative and/or irradiated blood products cannot be supplied, leucocyte filtration is suggested.

Antibodies, Viral

Quantitation of immunoglobulins produced by donor lymphocytes in transplant patients and the possible identification of donor cell-produced antiviral antibodies by imprint immunofixation.

In the present study two patients were studied in detail to estimate the quantity of IgG of donor lymphocyte origin. Using IgG subclass quantitation and Gm haemagglutination inhibition titre, we estimated that up to 3% of IgG found after transplantation may be of donor lymphocyte origin. Analysis of viral antibody patterns by imprint immunofixation suggested polyclonal production of donor-derived antibodies.

Adult

[Cytomegalovirus. Presence of antibodies in married couples].

Sera from 142 Norwegian couples were assayed for the presence of antibody to Cytomegalovirus. Sixty-four percent were seropositive and the yearly conversion rate was approximately 1.65%. The couples included significantly more seropositive women than men. This may indicate that seropositive men infect seronegative women, while seropositive women seldom infect seronegative men.

Adult