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Biomedical subjects

G Bjornson

Publications and source records attributed to G Bjornson.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Controlled trial of Haemophilus influenzae type B diphtheria toxoid conjugate combined with diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccines, in 18-month-old children, including comparison of arm versus thigh injection.

A randomized, controlled comparison was made in 175 healthy 18-month-old children given either diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine, adsorbed (DTP) and haemophilus b diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine (PRP/D) concurrently at separate sites (66 children) or a new vaccine combining these products (109 children). Rates of local or systemic adverse effects postimmunization and antibody responses to each component did not differ significantly between groups. DTP-containing vaccines were better tolerated when given in the thigh than in the arm. The combination DTP-PRP/D vaccine performed satisfactorily at 18 months of age, avoiding the inconvenience of two injections.

Arm↗
PubMed1991

Comparison of adverse reactions to whole-virion and split-virion influenza vaccines in hospital personnel.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the adverse effects, particularly generalized aching, of a trivalent, inactivated whole-virion vaccine (WVV) and split-virion vaccine (SVV) for influenza in hospital personnel. DESIGN: Recipient-blinded study; first-time vaccinees were randomly assigned to receive either of the vaccines from one manufacturer in the 1989-90 influenza season. Subjects were asked to complete a symptom questionnaire during the 48 hours after immunization. SETTING: Annual influenza program for staff of a tertiary care children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Volunteers were sought among approximately 2200 members of the hospital staff. Of the 358 vaccinated for the first time, 333 (93%) returned the questionnaire. RESULTS: During the 48 hours after vaccination 13% of the SVV recipients reported generalized aching, as compared with 26% of the WVV recipients (p less than 0.01). Also, the SVV group reported fewer visible local reactions and more transient arm soreness, but the actual differences between the two groups were small. The occurrence of mild symptoms was equally common in the two groups (local reactions in at least 70% of cases, systemic reactions in at least 33%). In each group 1% of the subjects reported missing work because of the vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: The use of SVV reduces the rate of the most objectionable of the common adverse effects of influenza vaccination. Therefore, as with children, it might be more acceptable to health care workers than the current use of WVV.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1990

Evaluation of adverse events after influenza vaccination in hospital personnel.

Reactogenicity of trivalent influenza vaccine prepared for the 1988-89 season was assessed as part of a first-time voluntary influenza prevention program among hospital staff. Of approximately 500 full-time workers in areas with the highest concentrations of patients at high risk for influenza complications offered the vaccine 288 accepted. Of these, 266 (92%) returned a questionnaire regarding any symptoms experienced within 48 hours after vaccination; 238 (90%) of the respondents reported adverse effects. Soreness at the injection site was described by 229 subjects, 58 (25%) of whom had constant aching and 123 (54%) soreness with arm movement. Symptoms resolved in 1 to 2 days, and only 21 (9%) of those who reported symptoms said they took analgesic medication. Systemic adverse effects were described by 130 subjects (49%). Intercurrent illness accounted for some of these complaints, but 65 people (24%) described at least two of the following symptoms: generalized aching, tiredness, nausea, chills or onset of fever within 12 hours after vaccination (a symptom complex previously attributed to influenza vaccine). Systemic symptoms resolved within 0.5 to 2 days. Thirteen subjects (5%) reported missing work because of arm soreness (1 subject) or systemic symptoms (12). Adverse effects were encountered more often than expected, probably because most of the workers were young and lacked immunity to influenza. Acceptability of the program could likely be improved by using a split-virus vaccine.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1987

Rapid postmortem gut autolysis in infant rats: a potential problem for investigators.

Experiments were designed to determine the rate and nature of postmortem autolysis in the gut of neonatal rats, as necessary baseline information for developing a model of human neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. We studied 60 animals, including 33 Wistar rats, 18 Sprague-Dawley rats and nine CD-1 mice. The variables examined included age of the animals (2 or 14 days) and length of delay and holding temperature (20 degrees C or 37 degrees C) after sacrifice. At necropsy, bowel was rapidly removed and fixed for histopathological examination. In all instances, bowel removed immediately after sacrifice was normal whereas after delays as short as 30 minutes it was abnormal (P less than 0.001), becoming markedly so after 60 minutes. The prominent features were detachment and lysis of mucosal epithelial cells. The rate of autolysis was not altered in 14 day old animals or in carcasses held at 20 degrees C or 37 degrees C. Investigators of bowel injury syndromes in young rats should be aware that histopathological studies will be valid only if specimens held at room temperature are fixed within 15 minutes of death.

Animals↗