Biomedical subjects

H Hagen

Publications and source records attributed to H Hagen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1994

Antibacterial peptides in insect vectors of tropical parasitic disease.

The induction and characterization of immune peptides in two groups of medically important insects, the mosquitoes and blackflies, is currently an important research area. Mosquitoes transmit a variety of viral and parasitic diseases including yellow fever, dengue, malaria and lymphatic filariasis. Simuliid black flies are vectors of river blindness. The diseases are together responsible for death and morbidity in millions of people each year. The relationship between inducible peptides and bacterial and parasitic infections in these insects is proving to be a complex one. The identification of an insect defensin (4 kDa) in Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito, has proved to be the first peptide characterized in a vector of human disease. This inducible molecule appears in the haemolymph in response to bacterial and to a lesser extent filarial infection. The characterization of inducible blackfly peptides has revealed potent inducible anti-Gram-positive as well as anti-Gram-negative activity. In addition, non-self recognition molecules such as phenoloxidase may play a part in differentiating one species of eukaryotic pathogen from another of the same genus. The interactions between the peptides and these other proteins are likely to be important in the establishment of a successful immune response against a parasitic pathogen, particularly as we now know these peptides to have anti-eukaryotic activity (against a range of parasite species). As well as being of fundamental interest in our understanding of host-parasite relationships, the indication that antibacterial peptides are toxic to parasitic organisms has implications for their possible use in the disease vector control strategies of the future. It may also mean that a revision in our understanding of their mode of action, loose as it is, has to take place.

Aedes↗

PubMed1989

Comparison between the chromate inhibition test and a cytochemical method for the determination of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in erythrocytes.

The sensitivity and specificity of the chromate inhibition test for the determination of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in erythrocytes were compared with a cytochemical staining method. Fifty blood samples were used in a double blind study. The samples were selected from 600 blood samples on the basis of two biochemical criteria, viz. either G6PD activity less than 4.8 IU/g Hb as analysed spectrophotometrically and/or G6PD activity less than glutathione reductase (GSSG-R) activity. The cytochemical assay was taken as reference because it has been proved to be sensitive and specific for the detection of heterozygous and homo/hemizygous forms of deficiency. Cytochemically, one hemizygously deficient patient, 19 heterozygotes and 30 normals were detected. When applying the chromate inhibition test a somewhat different result was obtained with the same samples: one of the 30 normals was classified as heterozygously deficient (3% false positives) and 5 of the 19 heterozygously deficient patients were classified as normal (26% false negatives). It is concluded that the chromate inhibition test is a more sensitive biochemical test than the fluorescence spot test or spectrophotometric assays. However, it is less reliable than the cytochemical test for the detection of heterozygously G6PD deficient patients.

Chromates↗

PubMed1989

[Is regionalization disadvantageous for patients? A registration study based on ambulance transports in Oslo].

The number of transferrals between Oslo hospitals has been doubled since the hospital system was regionalized in 1982. Essentially, this development may be explained by the increased need to refer patients to the highly specialized hospitals because of recent years advances in medical technology. During a two month period in 1988, 4,841 admissions to hospitals in Oslo were registered, and 917 transferrals between hospitals. We found that patient-transport was adequate in 92% of the cases. However, ambulance personnel reported 389 cases (8%) of delayed admissions and unnecessary transferrals between the hospitals. In most cases, the real cause of the problems was a too rigid attitude among health workers. The inflexibility of the present system seems to be a major threat to the principle of regionalization. We propose a simple set of rules which will protect the principle and also the requests of the patients.

Ambulances↗

PubMed1989

[Has regionalization fulfilled administrative expectations? Work load, utilization and therapeutic costs at somatic hospitals in Oslo].

Regionalization of the health system in Oslo has equalized pressure of work in the hospitals and improved utilization of available hospital beds. The Local Authorities have succeeded in restricting the increase in hospital costs through improved economic control. The study documents a considerable overcapacity of acute care beds and large differences between the hospitals in regard to waiting lists for surgical operations. Health care planners are recommended to give priority to the home care services and nursing homes, and at the same time reduce the number of acute care beds.

Hospitals, Municipal↗

PubMed1989

[Use of beds in somatic hospitals in Oslo in 1986].

There are more hospital beds available in somatic hospitals in Oslo than in any other county in Norway. Nevertheless, the number of patients discharged from Oslo hospitals is not substantially higher than expected when we consider the demographic composition of the region. The beds in Oslo hospitals are allocated three times more often than hospital beds in other parts of the country to elderly patients needing nursing. Thus the Oslo hospitals seem to take over functions which are normally taken care of elsewhere in Norway at lower levels of treatment. As a result, the annual number of discharged patients per bed is lower in Oslo hospitals than in corresponding Norwegian hospitals elsewhere.

Hospital Bed Capacity↗

PubMed1989

[Attitudes of the population and patients to regionalization in Oslo].

A representative sample of the population of Oslo was interviewed, and a sample of patients discharged from Oslo-hospitals were surveyed using a standardized questionnaire which focused on their attitudes towards the regionalization of the health services in Oslo. The results clearly demonstrate that the patients and the population at large both have full confidence in Oslo's hospitals. In general, the patients felt secure that their regional hospital had both the capacity and expertise to take proper care of them. Only a small minority would have changed hospital if this had been possible. The majority were in favour of the present regionalization principle, and prefer this to an arrangement where they could choose a hospital themselves.

Attitude↗

PubMed1989

[Should hospitals be allowed to transfer surplus patients? A study of the patient load situation at medical and surgical wards in regionalized hospitals in Oslo].

The regionalization arrangements in Oslo are based on each regional hospital having a clearly defined geographical catchment area. This paper considers the patient load in these four regional hospitals during the course of a year and discusses whether a cooperative arrangement should be introduced so that overloaded hospitals are permitted to transfer surplus patients to other hospitals. This arrangement is not considered advisable for the following reasons: Firstly, there is rarely enough space; secondly, peak loads usually occur at the same time; and finally, such an arrangement would tend to undermine the advantages of each regional hospital having its own defined sphere of responsibility.

Hospitals, Municipal↗

PubMed1988