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Biomedical subjects

G O Fossan

Publications and source records attributed to G O Fossan.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Reduced performance in tests of memory and visual abstraction in seamen exposed to industrial solvents.

Eighty-five seamen exposed to a variety of organic solvents and hydrocarbon compounds during their work on chemical tankers were compared with 59 unexposed seamen. Visual memory, auditory memory and visual abstraction were examined 14 days or more after the last solvent exposure. Multivariate analyses were performed to control the effects of confounding factors such as age, alcohol consumption, smoking, cerebral concussions and educational level. Significant correlations were found between increasing solvent exposure and poor results in tests of auditory memory and visual abstraction. These results indicate adverse psychological effects caused by chronic organic solvent exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Cerebellar lesion, polyneuropathy and mental dysfunction in a seaman working on chemical tankers.

A seaman with symptoms and signs from the nervous system was examined. He had symptoms and signs of affection of his mental status, cerebellum and peripheral nerves. He had been working on tankers for 31 years, and had regularly been exposed to different organic solvents during loading, unloading and cleaning of the tanks. As no other disease was present in this patient, the existence of a chronic organic solvent intoxication syndrome was suggested.

Cerebellum↗
PubMed1979

Variation of immunoglobulin G and total protein concentrations during lumbar cerebrospinal fluid collection.

In successive lumbar samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), each consisting of 5 ml, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and total protein were determined. Variation was studied by comparing the values in the initial sample with values in succeeding samples. In 13 out of 17 patients, IgG was reduced in sample 2. There was no reduction in the following samples. The concentration of IgG in sample 2 was below 50% of the concentration in sample 1 in 2 patients and below 70% in 9 patients. IgG was also reduced if the concentration in each sample was given as percent of the total protein concentration. The total protein concentration was not significantly reduced during collection of 25 ml of CSF. IgG was increased in sample 2 in 3 out of the 4 patients with neurological diseases since childhood. In 1 patient there was a considerable rise in the total protein concentration after collection of the first 5 ml, without a corresponding rise of IgG concentration. In clinical practice, the portion to which the CSF sample belongs should be noted, and comparison of values from various patients should be made between equivalent samples.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Immunoglobulin G in serum and cerebrospinal fluid from epileptic patients treated with phenytoin.

Concentrations of IgG and titres of IgG antibodies to rabbit erythrocytes were studied in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 21 phenytoin-treated patients; 11 of these had reduced serum IgA. The CSF IgG concentration was not reduced in any patient. A reduction of CSF IgG has been found earlier in phenytoin-treated patients, when other antisera to IgG were used for the determination of IgG concentration. The present findings therefore indicate that an alteration of the composition or quality of the CSF IgG is present in phenytoin-treated patients. 1 patient had a phenytoin-induced low serum concentration of IgG and IgA. In this patient the ratios CSF:serum were normal both for IgG concentration and for IgG antibodies to rabbit erythrocytes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

The transfer of IgG from serum to CSF, evaluated by means of a naturally occurring antibody.

Titres in CSF of natural IgG antibodies (AB) to rabbit erythrocytes (RRBC) correlated well with titres in serum in normal individuals, indication a passive transfer of the Ab. The ratio of CSF Ab to serum Ab mostly found was 1:400. The ratios of total IgG were slightly lower than the ratios of Ab to RRBC in normal individuals and in the majority of the diseases, except in multiple sclerosis and in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) where the ratios of total IgG were markedly elevated, indicating production of IgG in the central nervous system. In SSPE the ratio of measles Ab was even more elevated, suggesting that these antibodies contribute to the local IgG production. The ratios of Ab to RRBC in the two diseases were not elevated, or only slightly elevated. In normal and pathological CSF and in the Ab to RRBC all subclasses of IgG were found. In conclusion, the Ab to RRBC are considered convenient markers of serum IgG in the CSF.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1977

Modified antibody response in rabbits treated with diphenylhydantoin.

Rabbits immunized subcutaneously with a mixture of normal human serum, Freund's complete adjuvant and a soluble diphenylhydantoin preparation, produced antibodies that differed qualitatively and quantitatively from the controls, as revealed by immunoelectrophoresis and passive haemagglutination. Antibodies in human IgG were greatly increased, whereas antibodies to human albumin were not influenced, and antibodies to some alpha- and beta-globulins were reduced.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Effect of phenytoin on the immune response in rabbits.

Rabbits treated with phenytoin in various ways, were immunized with human serum or with sheep erythrocytes. The antibody response in rabbits injected with the antigen mixed with phenytoin differed distinctly from the response obtained in animals having received the antigen alone or mixed with diluent. The effect of phenytoin on the antibody response depended on the nature of the antigen. The response to some antigens was suppressed, to some potentiated, and to some potentiated in the early phase and then suppressed. The effect comprised both IgM and IgG responses. Skin hypersensitivity tests did not reveal any effect on the cellular immune response. These findings may explain why particularly IgA is affected in patients taking phenytoin by the oral route, and why either reduction or elevation of IgA may occur.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Reduced CSF IgG in patients treated with phenytoin (diphenylhydantoin).

In the CSF's from 13 out of 30 phenytoin-treated patients the IgG concentrations were lower than the lowest amont 20 controls, while only 3 out of 37 patients with brain lesions without epilepsy had so low IgG value. Titers of IgG antibodies to rabbit erythrocytes were similar in the three groups. It should be kept in mind, when evaluating results of IgG determinations in clinical neurology, that reduced IgG may be a consequence of phenytoin treatment. Reduced IgG concentrations without reduction of an antibody belonging to the IgG class indicate that the suppression of immunoglobulin synthesis by phenytoin may be selective.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Natural antibodies in human cerebrospinal fluid to rabbit erythrocytes.

With an indirect agglutination technique using rabbit antisera to human immunoglobulin, IgG antibodies to rabbit erythrocytes were detected in 211 of 221 unconcentrated cerebrospinal fluids from patients with diseases of the nervous system and controls. The titres varied from 0.25 to 128. The highest titre in the control group was 4, the geometric mean 1.5. The titres were highest in the groups with elevated total protein, for instance inflammatory diseases with mean titre of 9.25. The titre divided by total protein concentration did not vary much in the different groups, but tended to be higher than controls in multiple sclerosis, inflammatory diseases and vascular brain lesions, and lower in the other groups. It did not increase parallel to IgG in multiple sclerosis and inflammatory diseases.

Animals↗