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Biomedical subjects

E Rasmussen

Publications and source records attributed to E Rasmussen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Incidence and diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonias requiring admission to hospital].

A prospective investigation of patients admitted to the local hospital during a period of one year was undertaken. A total of 107 patients participated. 50% of the cases of pneumonia were found by Streptococcus pneumoniae. The diagnosis was established partly by demonstration of antigens and increase in antibody titre and also employing the traditional methods: Blood culture, microscopic examination and culture of the expectorate or tracheal secretion. 70% of the patients were over the age of 60 years. The mortality was found to be 17%. The difficulties in etiological investigations of infections in the lower respiratory tract are discussed.

Adult

[Systemic lupus erythematosus. 2. Factors of predictive significance for survival].

Sixty-one of 173 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus followed for a mean of 13.9 years had severe infections which influenced their survival more than could be accounted for by the mortality (20 per cent) caused by the infections. Patients with infections had more SLE manifestations than patients without infections, and they died of lupus manifestations more often than patients without infections. Patients who went into a permanent remission and patients who died of lupus differed most markedly by the rates of infection. The rate of infection was increased more than tenfold in patients treated with high dosages of glucocorticoid compared with patients who received low dosages. Treatment with cytostatics influenced the rate of infections to a moderate degree. Nephropathy also influenced survival but half of the patients with nephropathy maintained a normal plasma creatinine in spite of the long observation period. 16 per cent of the patients with nephropathy died of kidney failure or are receiving chronic hemodialysis.

Adult

Bone disorder in men with chronic alcoholism: a reversible disease?

Disturbances in bone metabolism and histology have been recognized in chronic alcoholism. It has not been established whether they are reversible and the cause remains unclear. We studied various serum and urine variables (including serum PTH, calcium, D-vitamins, and osteocalcin concentrations), bone mineral content, and bone histomorphometrics in men who at present abused alcohol and compared the results to those from men who previously had abused alcohol but who had abstained from alcohol for at least 2 yr and from normal men. No significant differences were found in bone mineral content at the two measuring sites (distal forearm, lumbar spine) between drinkers, abstainers, and controls though a considerable proportion of both current drinkers and abstainers had subnormal values. Bone formation rate and turnover (expressed by the activation frequency) was significantly reduced in the current drinkers who also had lower serum PTH, 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, and osteocalcin concentrations. Men who had abstained from alcohol consumption for at least 2 yr had results similar to those from normal men, suggesting that the disturbances in bone metabolism in men abusing alcohol are reversible. The decrease in bone turnover in the drinkers may be explained by the observed reduction in plasma PTH concentration or a direct toxic effect of ethanol on bone tissue leading to a deficient recruitment of osteogenic cells.

Alcoholism

Comparison of sorbent preparations used in the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test.

The physico-chemical and immunological properties of six different sorbent preparations used in the FTA-ABS test were studied. Three of the sorbent preparations contained one heat-stable Reiter treponemal antigen when analysed in immunoelectrophoresis against polyspecific rabbit anti-Reiter Ig and human syphilitic serum. Marked differences were also observed in the osmolarity (1,340-2,434 milliosmol) and protein concentration (6.5-43 mg/ml) of the sorbent products. However, there was no difference in the performance of the six preparations in the FTA-ABS test, suggesting that the effect of sorbent is based on an unspecific inhibition of the reaction between anti-treponemal antibodies and Treponema pallidum.

Fluorescent Antibody Technique

Traumatic amputation of the upper limb: the use of body-powered prostheses and employment consequences.

Forty three patients with unilateral traumatic amputations were reviewed as to the use of prostheses and employment consequences of the amputation. Seventeen of 19 below-elbow amputees, and 12 of 24 above-elbow amputees used their prostheses. Non-users compared to users of prostheses were characterized by: 1) Higher level of amputation 2) Non-dominant arm amputation and 3) Younger age at the time of amputation. However non-users usually did well on the labour market for various reasons.

Adult

[Madura foot].

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Female

Tetracycline versus silver nitrate pleurodesis in spontaneous pneumothorax.

Silver nitrate pleurodesis as prevention against recurrence in primary spontaneous pneumothorax was started in our department on an empiric basis. In a controlled trial in 1981 the method was found to be as good as earlier stated, but the method has a high number of side effects and has never been widely accepted. In a prospective, controlled trial comparing silver nitrate pleurodesis with tetracycline pleurodesis, we found no differences in recurrence frequency, but the time of hospitalization was significantly longer in the silver nitrate group (p less than 0.05). Furthermore, we found a decrease of exudation and a decreased use of analgetics in the tetracycline group. As a consequence of the investigation, we have abandoned the silver nitrate method and now recommend tetracycline pleurodesis as the treatment of choice in primary spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with only tiny blebs on the surface of the lung.

Adolescent

Hiatus hernia. Report of three cases requiring immediate surgical intervention.

Three cases of hiatus hernias all necessitating emergency surgery are presented. The cases represent all three types, viz. sliding, paraoesophageal and combined hernias. It is stressed that hiatal hernias usually have a well-defined symptomatology, but sometimes do imitate symptoms from neighbouring organs or regions. In the event of acute obstruction immediate surgical intervention is mandatory, as in any other part of the gastrointestinal tract.

Acute Disease

Silver nitrate pleurodesis in spontaneous pneumothorax.

Pleurodesis provoked by instillation of silver nitrate as prevention against recurrence in primary spontaneous pneumothorax has been used for many years in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen. The treatment was originally instituted on a theoretical empiric basis. In a prospective, controlled investigation of pleurodesis versus simple drainage the empiric observations have been confirmed. With simple drainage we found ipsilateral recurrence of pneumothorax in 45%, while no recurrences in the pleurodesis group were found during an observation period of 5-19 months. The difference was statistically significant. The therapeutical gain using pleurodesis was 45% +/- 30%. Silver nitrate pleurodesis results in a longer hospitalization, raises the number of pleurocentesis because of increased pleural effusion and results in more pain than simple drainage. It is, however, our experience that the considerable therapeutical gain more than compensates for these negative effects. We recommend pleurodesis as the treatment of choice in primary spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with only tiny blebs on the surface of the lungs.

Adolescent

Acute Corynebacterium endocarditis causing aortic valve destruction. Successful treatment with antibiotics and valve replacement.

A case of acute infective endocarditis caused by diphtheroids in a healthy young male is described. The pathogenic role of the diphtheroids was verified by recognition of the same bacterium in 6 consecutive blood cultures and simultaneous rise of specific antibody titers. The infection was effectively controlled by antibiotic treatment, but destruction of the aortic valve led to progressive heart failure irresponsive to medical treatment. The affected valve was successfully replaced by a prosthetic valve, and the patient made a complete recovery. Neither congenital or acquired cardiac defects, nor signs of immunological deficiency could be detected.

Adult