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Biomedical subjects

J Møller-Petersen

Publications and source records attributed to J Møller-Petersen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Diagnostic problems with meningococcal disease in general practice.

Based on general practitioners' referral letters and hospital records, we made a retrospective analysis of a cohort of 177 consecutive cases of meningococcal disease that occurred during a period of 10 years in the County of North Jutland, Denmark. The analysis concerned diagnostic problems in general practice, prognosis, pre-hospital antibiotic treatment and its effect on subsequent cultures, and degree of obligatory notification. The referring doctor suspected meningococcal disease/central nervous infection in 123 patients (69.5%). Neck stiffness and petechiae were related to a correct referral diagnosis, in contrast to the occurrence of a non-petechial rash. The presence of disseminated intravascular coagulation was associated with the mortality rate, which was 0.062. The therapeutic recommendations of the Danish Health Authorities were followed in only 25 of the 98 patients who fulfilled the criteria for pre-hospital parenteral antibiotic treatment. Pre-hospital antibiotic treatment was related to negative culture of spinal fluid or blood. Seven of the 177 patients were not notified according to the rules. Difficulties in pre-hospital diagnosis seem not to influence the lethal course of the disease.

Adolescent↗
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↗
PubMed1990

Plasma prekallikrein as a prognostic indicator in chronic liver insufficiency.

The prognostic value of plasma prekallikrein activity, prothrombin time, and serum albumin with regard to survival in chronic liver insufficiency was evaluated in 21 consecutive patients. Twenty patients had liver cirrhosis, and one patient had malignant liver disease (hepatocellular carcinoma). Eight patients died between 4 and 43 days after the time of blood sampling. These patients had a prekallikrein value less than 0.42. There were no overlapping prekallikrein values between patients who died and patients who survived (overlap index 0; p less than 0.001). Overlap index for prothrombin time was 0.35 (p less than 0.02), and for serum albumin 0.34 (p less than 0.02). In conclusion, plasma prekallikrein seems to indicate whether death is imminent in patients with liver insufficiency due to cirrhosis. Longitudinal studies of prekallikrein activity in different subgroups of patients with chronic and acute liver disease are recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Atherosclerosis in native Greenlanders. An ultrasonographic investigation.

A low frequency of ischemic heart disease in Eskimos (Inuit) has been regarded as an expression of absent or low atherosclerosis. The true extent of atherosclerosis in the Eskimo populations of the World is not known due to low autopsy activity. In order to register atherosclerotic changes in the carotid and femoral arteries 61 Native Greenlanders from two settlements with a traditional Eskimo life style in the Uummannaq district of Northwestern Greenland were examined ultrasonographically with a portable scanner (Aloka) using a 7.5 MHz 4 cm linear array transducer. The results obtained were compared to an age and sex matched urban control group of 122 Danes from Copenhagen. The investigation showed that the Native Greenlanders had almost the same degree and extent of atherosclerosis in the carotid and femoral arteries as the Danes. Thus, the low incidence of ischemic heart disease in Native Greenlanders may not be attributed to lesser atherosclerosis. Further studies, particularly autopsy studies are needed.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Serum beta 2-microglobulin levels in thyroid diseases.

Serum beta 2-microglobulin was measured in 38 patients with thyroid diseases. Serum levels of beta 2-microglobulin were significantly increased in patients with untreated Graves' disease (median: 200 nmol l-1; P less than 0.0002), and in patients with untreated toxic adenomas (222 nmol l-1; P less than 0.0005) compared to 60 healthy control subjects (147 nmol l-1). Following antithyroid treatment of euthyroidism, serum beta 2-microglobulin decreased significantly in both Graves' disease (162 nmol l-1) and toxic adenomas (175 nmol l-1); values which were not significantly different from that of the control group. The level of serum beta 2-microglobulin in 12 patients with hypothyroidism was not different from that of the control group. However, in untreated hypothyroidism serum beta 2-microglobulin was positively correlated with serum thyroxine (T4) (rho = 0.69; P less than 0.05) and free thyroxine index (FT4I) (rho = 0.72; P less than 0.02). It is concluded that elevated levels of serum beta 2-microglobulin may reflect the increased metabolism in patients with thyrotoxicosis. Increased levels in active Graves' disease may also partly be caused by immunological activation.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1989

99mTc-sucralfate scintigraphy in inflammatory bowel disease.

Technetium-99m-labeled albumin-sucralfate was orally administered to 11 patients (Crohn's disease, 8; ulcerative colitis, 3) and 3 healthy volunteers. Serial scintigraphy was performed, and scintigraphic interpretations were compared with radiographic and endoscopic findings in an open study. We were not able in any patient to relate the scintigraphic findings to the localizations of inflammatory bowel disease, nor could we distinguish the scans in the patients from the scans of the healthy volunteers. We conclude that 99mTc-albumin-sucralfate scintigraphy is of no value in the detection of inflammatory bowel disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Serum creatine kinase-B activity in patients with chronic lower-limb ischemia and after leg amputation.

Serum creatine kinase-B (CK-B) activity was measured and electrocardiograms (ECG) recorded before and after operation in two groups of ten orthopedic patients. Group I underwent lower-limb amputation because of severe, chronic ischemia of the leg and group II (controls) had knee prosthesis implantation or knee ligament surgery. In group I the number of patients with CK-B activities exceeding the discrimination value (0.25 muka-tal/l) for acute myocardial infarction preoperatively and 2, 24, 48, 72 hours, and at 7 days postoperatively were, respectively, three, three, five, three, two and nil. In Group II the serum CK-B activity remained below the myocardial infarction discrimination value in all patients at all times. No ECG abnormalities indicating myocardial infarction appeared in any patient of either group. The study indicates that severe, chronic lower-limb ischemia and amputation of the leg may cause elevation of non-cardiac CK-B activity in serum that can interfere with enzymatic recognition of acute myocardial infarction.

Adult↗