PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H H Rasmussen

Publications and source records attributed to H H Rasmussen.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Bacterial meningitis in elderly patients: clinical picture and course.

We reviewed the case records of 48 patients aged 60 years and older with a diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis made during the period 1976-88. Predisposing conditions were present in 26 patients (54%) and concurrent infections in 24 patients (50%). Streptococcus pneumoniae accounted for 41% of all isolates and 56% were Gram-positive organisms. The most common symptoms were fever (79%), meningism (54%) and change in mental status (69%). Sixty-three per cent of the patients survived. Increased fatality was associated with absence of typical symptoms and signs and was presumably due to a delay in diagnosis. Other clinical and biochemical variables and antimicrobial therapy before admission to hospital and the presence of underlying disease were not associated with outcome.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Overall use of proctoscopy in general practice and possible relation to the stage of rectal cancer.

Data from the Danish National Health Service records on activities of each of 146 general practices in the county of North Jutland, Denmark, were studied to determine whether the use of proctoscopy influenced the stage at which cancer of the rectum was recognized. Information for all patients in the county who received the diagnosis of cancer of the rectum was obtained from the Danish Cancer Registry. Proctoscopy was performed significantly more often in partnership practices (96%) than in single practices (81%). The frequency with which the test was used varied from 1 to 107 proctoscopies per general practitioner per year. In the 95 patients with cancer of the rectum, no relationship was found between the stage (Dukes') at the time of diagnosis and work-load, size and activity of practice, or use of proctoscopy.

Denmark↗
PubMed1992

Connections: heart disease, cellular electrophysiology, and ion channels.

Our purpose in this article is to examine the hypothesis that both myocardial disease and ischemia can alter the electrophysiologic function of the ion channels responsible for the cellular electrical activity of the heart. Changes in the intracellular and extracellular milieus occur during ischemia and can alter the electrophysiology of several species of ionic channels and the cellular electrophysiologic activity of cardiac myocytes. Included are 1) changes in extracellular [K+] and pH and in intracellular [Na+], [Ca2+], and pH; 2) accumulation of noxious metabolic products such as lysophosphatidylcholine; and 3) depletion of intracellular ATP. Finally, ischemia or disease (e.g., hypertrophy) can alter the electrophysiology of at least two types of K+ channels, the A-like channels underlying the transient outward current and the inward rectifier, by mechanisms that apparently do not involve alteration of either the intra- or extracellular milieus. Findings suggest that the expression of cardiac A-like channel function can be altered by hypertrophy and that at least one intrinsic conductance property of the inward rectifier can be altered by ischemia. We speculate that the control of expression, function, and regulation of cardiac ion channels can be affected at the molecular level by heart disease and myocardial ischemia.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1992

Molecular cloning and expression of a novel keratinocyte protein (psoriasis-associated fatty acid-binding protein [PA-FABP]) that is highly up-regulated in psoriatic skin and that shares similarity to fatty acid-binding proteins.

Analysis by means of two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis of the protein patterns of normal and psoriatic unfractionated non-cultured keratinocytes has revealed a few low-molecular-weight proteins that are highly up-regulated in psoriatic skin. These include psoriasin; calgranulin B, also known as MRP 14, L1, or calprotectin; calgranulin A or MRP 8; and cystatin A or stefin A. Here, we have cloned and sequenced the cDNA (clone 1592) encoding a new member of this group of low-molecular-weight proteins [isoelectric focusing (IEF) SSP 3007 in the keratinocyte 2D gel protein database] that we have termed PA-FABP (psoriasis-associated fatty acid-binding protein). The deduced sequence predicted a protein with molecular weight of 15,164 daltons and a calculated pI of 6.96, values that are close to those recorded in the keratinocyte 2D gel protein database. The protein comigrated with PA-FABP as determined by 2D gel analysis of [35S]-methionine-labeled proteins expressed by transformed human amnion (AMA) cells transfected with clone 1592 using the vaccinia virus expression system and reacted with a rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against 2D gel purified PA-FABP. Structural analysis of the amino acid sequence revealed 48%, 52%, and 56% identity to known low-molecular-weight fatty acid-binding proteins belonging to the FABP family. Northern blot analysis showed that PA-FABP mRNA is indeed highly up-regulated in psoriatic keratinocytes. The transcript is present in human cell lines of epithelial and lymphoid (Molt 4) origin but cannot be detected in normal or SV40 transformed MRC-5 fibroblasts. 2D gel protein analysis of normal primary keratinocytes cultured for at least 8 d under conditions that promoted incomplete terminal differentiation [serum-free keratinocyte (SFK) medium supplemented with epidermal growth factor (EGF), pituitary extract, and 10% fetal calf serum] revealed a strong up-regulation of PA-FABP, psoriasin, calgranulins A and B, and a few other proteins that are highly expressed in psoriatic skin. The levels of these proteins exceeded by far those observed in non-cultured normal keratinocytes implying that the cultured cells have followed an altered pattern of differentiation that resembles--at least in part--that of non-cultured psoriatic keratinocytes. The implications of these results for the study of psoriasis are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Primary sclerosing cholangitis in patients with ulcerative colitis.

The prevalence of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) attending the Depts. of Medical and Surgical Gastroenterology, Aalborg Hospital, during a 12-year period, was determined. All patients with an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) value above the normal range were investigated. Of 305 patients with UC, 24 patients had elevated ALP values, and 11 of these (3.6% of the study population), 4 males and 7 females, were found to have PSC by direct cholangiography. In five patients the disease worsened (two patients died of cholangiocarcinoma), in four it was stationary, and in two patients the disease improved during a mean observation period of 6 years. No differences in location of disease, disease activity, or duration of disease were found between patients with UC and PSC and patients with UC without PSC. The ALP values were raised to a mean of 3.7 times the upper normal limit (observed range, 1.5-5.5 times the upper normal limit). Aspartate aminotransferase was moderately elevated in most patients, but no other abnormal biochemical liver test results were observed at onset. The results of our study indicate that PSC is the major cause of raised ALP values in patients with UC; thus cholangiography should be performed in UC patients with unexplained elevated ALP levels. A prognostic indicator is needed to predict the individual prognosis and to determine the optimal timing of liver transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Epidemiology of pain requiring strong analgesics outside hospital in a geographically defined population in Denmark.

Based on obligatory notifications from pharmacies to the National Board of Health about prescription of strong analgesics as well as questionnaires to the prescribing doctors, the occurrence and causes of pain requiring strong analgesics outside hospitals were analysed over a period of one month in Denmark in a limited population (480,000), corresponding to nearly 10% of the Danish population. During one month, strong analgesics were prescribed to 0.2 per cent of the population. The commonest acute conditions were back pain (23%) and trauma (17%). The commonest recurrent acute conditions were headache (25%) and angina pectoris (17%). The commonest chronic non-malignant conditions were back pain (29%) and pancreatitis (7%). The commonest malignant conditions were lung cancer (20%) and colorectal cancer (14%). The commonest conditions indicated under the chronic pain syndrome were headache (33%) and back pain (13%). Conditions requiring strong analgesics reflect to some extent the distribution of painful conditions in the general population.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1991

Human interferon gamma potently induces the synthesis of a 55-kDa protein (gamma 2) highly homologous to rabbit peptide chain release factor and bovine tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase.

An interferon gamma (IFN-gamma)-inducible protein, gamma 2, was identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of transformed human amnion (AMA) cell proteins. cDNA clones coding for this protein have been isolated and characterized as encoding a polypeptide with a predicted molecular weight of 53,165 and a pI of 6.16. Both values are in good agreement with those observed in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The gamma 2 protein is found to be highly induced by IFN-gamma, whereas no induction was seen after addition of IFN-alpha to AMA cells. A gamma 2-specific 2.7-kilobase mRNA was likewise seen to accumulate selectively in response to IFN-gamma in these cells. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequence of gamma 2 to proteins in GenBank data bases revealed that gamma 2 is highly homologous to rabbit peptide chain release factor [Lee, C. C., Craigen, W. J., Muzny, D. M., Harlow, E. & Caskey, C. T. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87, 3508-3512] and bovine tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase [M. Garret, V. Trezeguet, B. Pajot, J. C. Gandar, M. Merle, M. Guegiev, J. P. Benedetto, C. Sarger, J. Alteriot, J. La Bouessec, J. Labouesse, and J. Bonnet (1990), GenBank accession no. X52113]. Amino acid sequence similarities of 94% and 97%, respectively, are found, which in general would indicate that gamma 2 represents the human equivalent to either of these two mammalian genes. Based on these sequence similarities, the current data raise the possibility that tryptophanyl-tRNA charging and peptide chain release are carried out by the same enzyme. The gamma 2 protein is shown to possess tryptophan-dependent aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activity and thus constitutes an enzymatic activity involved in the biological activity of IFN-gamma.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

[Epicrises from a department of medical gastroenterology].

The content of discharge letters is important to general practice in order to give an optimal physical, psychiatric and social treatment in view of ideal utilization of the resources in the primary health service. The content of 91 discharge letters from a medical department of gastroenterology was judged by the general practitioner. Most often medication on discharge (25%) and reason for referral (15%) were missing. Dissatisfaction was expressed about late receipt of discharge letters (median: 13 days), the lack of information given to the patients, medicine on discharge, as well as reasons for possible changes in medication. The quality and content of the discharge letter were evaluated as good on the whole (80%). It is concluded that the discharge letter should have a higher priority and, for example, training is necessary. Further investigations are needed to solve these problems.

Continuity of Patient Care↗
PubMed1991

[Primary sclerosing cholangitis].

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is an uncommon disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by chronic inflammation and fibrosis of the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts. PSC is commonly associated with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, especially ulcerative colitis, and often in younger men with an extensive colitis. The diagnosis is made by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. The characteristic findings are multiple strictures and dilatations of the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts. Patients with PSC usually have a cholestatic biochemical profile. The liver biopsy findings are often non-specific. Different survivals in these patients have been described. However, asymptomatic patients seems to have a more favorable prognosis. The only curative treatment is liver transplantation.

Cholangitis, Sclerosing↗
PubMed1991

Neuronal protein gene product 9.5 (IEF SSP 6104) is expressed in cultured human MRC-5 fibroblasts of normal origin and is strongly down-regulated in their SV40 transformed counterparts.

Neuronal protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) most likely identical to ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase isozyme L1 (UCH-L1) has been reported to be expressed almost exclusively in neuronal and neuroendocrine tissues. By two-dimensional (2D) immunoblotting, comigration and microsequencing of proteins recovered from 2D gels we have identified PGP 9.5 UCH-L1 as polypeptide IEF SSP 6104 (Mr = 27,000, pI = 5.49) in the comprehensive 2D gel cellular protein database of human embryonal lung MRC-5 fibroblasts [(1989) Electrophoresis 10, 76 115; (1990) Electrophoresis 11, 1072 1113]. This protein is expressed at high levels in quiescent and proliferating cultured normal fibroblasts and is strongly down-regulated (about 10 times) in their transformed counterparts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

The master two-dimensional gel database of human AMA cell proteins: towards linking protein and genome sequence and mapping information (update 1991).

The master two-dimensional gel database of human AMA cells currently lists 3801 cellular and secreted proteins, of which 371 cellular polypeptides (306 IEF; 65 NEPHGE) were added to the master images during the last 10 months. These include: (i) very basic and acidic proteins that do not focus under normal running conditions and (ii) low-abundant proteins that can only be detected after prolonged gel exposure. Annotation categories updated in this version include "protein name", "antibody against protein", "cellular localization", and "microsequenced proteins". New entries include "human autoantigens" and "cDNAs". For convenience we have included an alphabetical list of all known proteins recorded in this database. In the long run, the main goal of this database is to link protein and DNA sequencing and mapping information (Human Genome Program) and to provide an integrated picture of the expression levels and properties of the thousands of proteins that orchestrate various cellular functions both under physiological and abnormal conditions.

Cell Line, Transformed↗
PubMed1991

A comprehensive two-dimensional gel protein database of noncultured unfractionated normal human epidermal keratinocytes: towards an integrated approach to the study of cell proliferation, differentiation and skin diseases.

A two-dimensional (2-D) gel database of cellular proteins from noncultured, unfractionated normal human epidermal keratinocytes has been established. A total of 2651 [35S]methionine-labeled cellular proteins (1868 isoelectric focusing, 783 nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis) were resolved and recorded using computer-aided 2-D gel electrophoresis. The protein numbers in this database differ from those reported in an earlier version due to changes in the scanning hardware (Celis et al., Electrophoresis 1990, 11, 242-254). Annotation categories reported include: "protein name" (listing 207 known proteins in alphabetical order), "basal cell markers", "differentiation markers", "proteins highly up-regulated in psoriatic skin", "microsequenced proteins" and "human autoantigens". For reference, we have also included 2-D gel (isoelectric focusing) patterns of cultured normal and psoriatic keratinocytes, melanocytes, fibroblasts, dermal microvascular endothelial cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and sweat duct cells. The keratinocyte 2-D gel protein database will be updated yearly in the November issue of Electrophoresis.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1991

Microsequencing of proteins recorded in human two-dimensional gel protein databases.

Sixty-six human proteins recorded in the master transformed human epithelial amnion cells (AMA) (55) and keratinocyte (11) two-dimensional gel protein databases have been microsequenced since the last publication of the AMA database (Electrophoresis 1990, 12, 989-1071). Coomassie Brilliant Blue stained protein spots cut from several (up to 40) dry gels were concentrated by elution-concentration gel electrophoresis, electroblotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride membranes and in situ digested with trypsin. The eluting peptides were separated by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), collected individually and sequenced. Computer searches using the FASTA and TFASTA programs from the Genetics Computer Group indicated that 29 of the analyzed polypeptides correspond to hitherto unknown proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Human cellular protein patterns and their link to genome DNA sequence data: usefulness of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and microsequencing.

Analysis of cellular protein patterns by computer-aided 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis together with recent advances in protein sequence analysis have made possible the establishment of comprehensive 2-dimensional gel protein databases that may link protein and DNA information and that offer a global approach to the study of the cell. Using the integrated approach offered by 2-dimensional gel protein databases it is now possible to reveal phenotype specific protein (or proteins), to microsequence them, to search for homology with previously identified proteins, to clone the cDNAs, to assign partial protein sequence to genes for which the full DNA sequence and the chromosome location is known, and to study the regulatory properties and function of groups of proteins that are coordinately expressed in a given biological process. Human 2-dimensional gel protein databases are becoming increasingly important in view of the concerted effort to map and sequence the entire genome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Molecular cloning, occurrence, and expression of a novel partially secreted protein "psoriasin" that is highly up-regulated in psoriatic skin.

Analysis of the protein patterns of normal and psoriatic noncultured unfractionated keratinocytes has revealed several low-molecular-weight proteins that are highly up-regulated in psoriatic epidermis. Here, we have cloned and sequenced the cDNA (clone 1085) for one of these proteins that we have termed psoriasin. The deduced sequence predicted a protein of molecular weight of 11,457 daltons and a pI of 6.77. The protein co-migrated with psoriasin as determined by two-dimensional (2D) gel analysis of [35S]-methionine-labeled proteins expressed by RK13 cells transfected with clone 1085 using the vaccinia virus expression system. Analysis of the predicted sequence revealed a potential calcium-binding sequence of the EF-hand type, as well as the absence of a signal sequence at its amino terminal. Psoriasin is not related to other proteins that migrate closely in 2D gels (MRP 14, also known as calgranulin B, L1 and calprotectin; MRP 8, or calgranulin A and cystatin A or stefin A), and bears no significant sequence homology with any other protein of known primary structure. Increased expression of psoriasin mRNA in psoriatic keratinocytes was confirmed by Northern blotting and in situ hybridization. Psoriasin showed a restricted occurrence in fetal human tissues as determined by 2D gel electrophoresis. Of 21 tissues analyzed, only ear, skin, and tongue showed significant levels of this protein. Psoriasin was not detected in normal human fibroblasts, lymphocytes, endothelial cells and transformed epithelial cells of keratinocyte origin. Granulocyte extracts contained this protein suggesting that its overexpression by psoriatic keratinocytes may be linked to the inflammatory stimuli.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Sodium-hydrogen exchange in guinea-pig ventricular muscle during exposure to hyperosmolar solutions.

1. The effect on intracellular pH (pHi) and intracellular Na+ activity (aNai) of exposure to hyperosmolar solutions was investigated in guinea-pig ventricular muscle using ion-sensitive microelectrodes. 2. Exposure of tissue to solution made hyperosmolar by the addition of 100 mM-sucrose produced an intracellular alkalinization of 0.10 pH units and hyperpolarization of the membrane potential. 3. When extracellular Na+ was reduced to 15 mM by substitution of NaCl with choline chloride, exposure to hyperosmolar solutions caused a decrease in pHi. Identical experiments using LiCl as the sodium substitute resulted in an increase in pHi of a magnitude similar to that seen at physiological Na+ levels. 4. In the presence of 50 microM-5-(N,N-dimethyl)amiloride (DMA), an inhibitor of Na(+)-H+ exchange, pHi decreased upon exposure to hyperosmolar solution. 5. The recovery of pHi from an intracellular acidosis (induced by brief exposure to NH4Cl) was enhanced in hyperosmolar solution when compared to recovery in isosmolar solution. This enhancement was observed even when aNai was markedly elevated (greater than 25 mM) by inhibition of the Na(+)-K+ pump. 6. There was an increase in aNai during exposure to hyperosmolar solutions. When the Na(+)-K+ pump was inhibited with dihydro-ouabain a component of this increase in aNai was sensitive to DMA. 7. We conclude that exposure of cardiac tissue to hyperosmolar solutions results in an intracellular alkalosis due to activation of the sarcolemmal Na(+)-H+ exchanger. Such changes should be considered when exposure to hyperosmolar solutions is used in the study of excitation-contraction coupling and cardiac muscle mechanics.

Acidosis↗
PubMed1991

Availability of mesalazine (5-aminosalicylic acid) from enemas and suppositories during steady-state conditions.

The local and systemic bioavailability of a mesalazine enema (Pentasa, Ferring A/S, Denmark) and a mesalazine suppository (Pentasa, Ferring) was assessed during steady-state conditions. Eleven healthy subjects took 1 g of the enema or the suppository twice daily for 1 week, with a drug-free period of at least 1 week in between. At the end of each treatment period the urine and faeces were collected for 48 h, and the concentrations of mesalazine and the metabolite acetyl-mesalazine were measured. Plasma concentrations of drug and metabolite were measured hourly during a 12-h dose interval. The faecal water concentration of mesalazine was significantly higher after suppository treatment (55.7 mmol/l) compared with enema treatment (31.7 mmol/l) (p less than 0.01). The systemic absorption was low; 15% of daily mesalazine dose was recovered in urine after enema treatment and 10% after suppositores (p less than 0.01). Plasma concentrations were low, and no accumulation of either mesalazine or acetyl-mesalazine occurred. In conclusion, the enema and the suppository can be continuously administered as 1 g of mesalazine twice daily, respectively, giving high faecal water concentrations of mesalazine and a low systemic absorption.

Administration, Rectal↗