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Biomedical subjects

K Møller

Publications and source records attributed to K Møller.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Effect of traditional Chinese acupuncture on severe tinnitus: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical investigation with open therapeutic control.

This study aims to determine the effect of intensive acupuncture on severe tinnitus. The structure of the study was a randomized, double-blind, clinical investigation with open therapeutic surveillance and included 54 patients. All were subjected to 25 treatment sessions over a period of two months, each treatment lasting 30 minutes. Fifty-two patients completed the study. The variables used for self-registration were based on the visual analogue scale (VAS), where annoyance, loudness and awareness of the tinnitus were assessed. These were recorded twice daily over a four-month period starting one month before the first treatment and ending one month after the last treatment. Questionnaires, interviews and audiometry were carried out repeatedly. No statistically significant differences were found between the acupuncture group and the placebo group.

Acupuncture Therapy↗

Association of Serpulina hyodysenteriae with the colonic mucosa in experimental swine dysentery studied by fluorescent in situ hybridization.

The localization of Serpulina hyodysenteriae in experimental swine dysentery was studied by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using an oligonucleotide probe targeting the 23S rRNA of S. hyodysenteriae. Nine 8-week-old pigs were challenged. Seven of the pigs were intragastrically dosed with 1 x 10(9) cfu S. hyodysenteriae for 3 consecutive days, whereas two pigs were infected by contact. Six non-challenged pigs served as negative controls. The challenged pigs developed clinical swine dysentery from 8 to 14 days postinfection with typical gross lesions. By FISH S. hyodysenteriae cells in huge numbers were found colonizing the mucus layer, the luminal epithelium and the crypts of the large intestinal mucosa. The orientation of the spirochaetes to the epithelium appeared to be random. Spirochaetes in clusters or as single cells were invading the epithelium and were occasionally detected in the adjacent lamina propria. The distribution of spirochaetes in the mucosa provides further evidence that S. hyodysenteriae is intimately associated with the mucus layer and the epithelium in a random pattern. Furthermore, the results demonstrate the applicability of FISH for specific detection of S. hyodysenteriae cells in clusters or as single cells in formalin-fixed tissue samples.

Animals↗

[Fatal hyperthrombotic condition complicating nephrotic syndrome].

A twenty-year old woman was admitted to hospital with impaired consciousness and a left hemiparesis. A cerebral CAT-scanning was reported normal. Convulsions and respiratory insufficiency made intubation and mechanical ventilation necessary. Laboratory examination showed an extremely low concentration of albumin in plasma (109 microM) and gross albuminuria was present. No other signs of renal failure occurred. The patient deteriorated during three days and died with signs of cerebral incarceration, despite efforts to reduce intracranial pressure. Autopsy showed a large thrombus of the sagittal sinus as the presumed cause of death. No thrombus was found in the renal vein. The association between nephrotic syndrome and thrombosis is discussed.

Adult↗

Specific detection of Serpulina hyodysenteriae and potentially pathogenic weakly beta-haemolytic porcine intestinal spirochetes by polymerase chain reaction targeting 23S rDNA.

A 2470-bp section of the 23S ribosomal DNA from Serpulina hyodysenteriae and five biochemically different groups of weakly beta-haemolytic porcine intestinal Serpulina strains was sequenced. The similarity between the sequenced strains was high (96.85% to 99.84%). A phylogenetic tree was estimated by the maximum likelihood method. The sequenced strains formed three groups. Serpulina hyodysenteriae and biochemical group II ('S. intermedius') formed a cluster, but 20 nucleotide positions were different between the two, suggesting that biochemical group II is a separate species. Another cluster consisted of the closely related biochemical group IIIa ('S. murdochii') and IIIb/c (S. innocens) (99.84% similarity), while biochemical group IV (S. pilosicoli) constituted a separate group with a relatively low similarity (96.85% to 97.01%) to the other groups. Three primer pairs were designed for specific PCR detection of the clinically important S. hyodysenteriae and biochemical group II and IV. PCR amplification was accomplished with DNA extracted from bacterial colonies by a simple boiling procedure, and with DNA extracted directly from porcine stool samples using a bead beating extraction procedure. The level of detection for the direct extraction and amplification method was 5 x 10(5) cells added g-1 normal faeces.

Animals↗

Post-anginal sepsis (Lemierre's disease): a persistent challenge. Presentation of 4 cases.

Four cases of lemierre's disease, or post-anginal (anaerobic) sepsis, are presented. All of the patients had polymicrobial infections. Two of the patients had serologically confirmed infectious mononucleosis. All patients required intubation and mechanical ventilation due to severe respiratory insufficiency. Two patients died after the development of severe septic shock with multiple organ dysfunction. The pathogenesis and clinical manifestations as well as the management of post-anginal sepsis are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Actinobacillus minor sp. nov., Actinobacillus porcinus sp. nov., and Actinobacillus indolicus sp. nov., three new V factor-dependent species from the respiratory tract of pigs.

The results of DNA-DNA relatedness experiments and comparisons of sequences of genes coding for 16S rRNA were used to determine the genetic relationships of selected V factor-dependent species belonging to the family Pasteurellaceae and obtained from the porcine respiratory tract. These results showed that the Minor group and taxa C, D plus E, and F are distinct phylogenetic groups that are separate from each other and from other members of the family Pasteurellaceae. On the basis of these results, three new species, corresponding to the Minor group, taxa D plus E, and taxon F, are proposed; the names of these new species are Actinobacillus minor (type strain, NM305), Actinobacillus porcinus (type strain, NM319), and Actinobacillus indolicus (type strain, 46KC2), respectively.

Actinobacillus↗

Optimalization of the detection of NAD dependent Pasteurellaceae from the respiratory tract of slaughterhouse pigs.

NAD dependent members of the family Pasteurellaceae were cultured from the nasal cavity, surface and cut surface of the tonsils, and from the apical and caudal lobes of the lungs of 303 slaughterhouse pigs from 5 different herds in order to obtain information on the ecology of these bacteria. The specimens were plated on two different selective agar media using a special dilution technique that resulted in a good separation of individual colonies. Bacteriological results were compared with serological and pathological findings. The bacteriological examination demonstrated that NAD dependent Pasteurellaceae belonging to the taxa previously described could be isolated from the surface and cut surface of the tonsils, and from lungs with and without gross pathologic lesions. Haemophilus parasuis was detected mainly from the nasal cavity, and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae mainly from the surface and cut surface of the tonsils (42%). From two herds, 19% and 24% respectively of the animals without antibodies against A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 1 and 2 harboured the bacteria mainly in the tonsils. This may reflect a very recent infection or may suggest that A. pleuropneumoniae can colonize the tonsils without inducing a serologic reaction. Serological and bacteriological evidence of more than one serotype in the same herd indicates that natural infection with one serotype does not necessarily protect against another.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae↗

Prediction of allergy from family history and cord blood IgE levels. A follow-up at the age of 5 years. Cord blood IgE. IV.

Screening of total IgE in 1189 cord blood samples was conducted by Phadebas IgE PRIST in a one-year birth cohort 1983-1984 in Viborg, Denmark. 113 children with cord blood IgE levels > or = 0.5 kU/l and 138 children chosen at random among those with cord blood IgE levels < 0.5 kU/l were seen at a follow-up at 5 years of age. Based upon history and physical examination a diagnosis of definite atopy or no atopy was established. Allergy (IgE mediated) was defined as atopic disease combined with increased total IgE levels at 5 years of age. The cumulative prevalence of atopic disease was not influenced by cord blood IgE levels or atopic predisposition. Cord blood IgE levels had a low sensitivity as a predictor of atopic disease. A statistically significant correlation between serum levels of IgE at birth and at 5 years was however found (p < 0.001), and a significantly greater number of children with elevated cord blood IgE levels developed allergic disease before 5 years of age (p < 0.01). A cut-off limit of 0.3 kU/l was superior to the originally suggested limit of 0.5 kU/l. A total IgE level > 63 kU/l (geometric mean + 1 SD) at the age of 5 years can be regarded as being an elevated level. A cord blood IgE level > or = 0.3 kU/l in combination with atopic predisposition was predictive of allergic disease, especially allergic bronchial asthma. With regard to allergic disease, the positive predictive value was 26%, the sensitivity 33% and the rate ratio for development of allergic disease 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

An epidemiologic and economic study of respiratory diseases in two conventional Danish swine herds. I: Prevalence of respiratory lesions at slaughter and their effects on growth.

A total of 578 slaughter pigs from 2 Danish conventional farrow-to-finish operations (Herds A and B) were followed from an age of 14 days to slaughter. Pigs were weighted at 3 weeks intervals and at slaughter and an extended post mortem examination of the plucks was done. Comparison of growth rates in pigs with and without specific types of lesions by the t-test and those with multiple lesions with regression models demonstrated that Mycoplasma-like pneumonia, complicated pneumonia, anterio-ventral pleuritis, fissures and atrophic rhinitis significantly reduced mean daily gain and increased the time required to reach slaughter weight. The total impact of the lesions in Herd A was an estimated reduction in mean daily gain of 27 grams and a 2 day increase in the interval from 14 days of age until slaughter (MDG14). Decreases in MDG14 in Herd B were more substantial, 98 grams and 16.7 days. Reductions in mean daily gains during the interval from the fourth weighing until slaughter were 31 grams in Herd A and 137 grams in Herd B. Chronic dorso-caudal and parietal pleuritis, without other lesions present, had no significant adverse effects on growth rates in either herd. Interactions between lesions did not significantly alter the estimates. The R2 values obtained for the regression models showed that the presence, absence or extent of lesions at slaughter explained only 13-27% of the variations in growth rates in the 2 herds.

Abattoirs↗

An epidemiologic and economic study of respiratory diseases in two conventional Danish swine herds. II: Associations between lesions present at slaughter and mean daily gains during specific intervals of the growth period.

A total of 578 slaughter pigs from 2 Danish conventional farrow-to-finish operations (Herds a and B) were followed from an age of 14 days to slaughter. Pigs were weighted at 3 weeks intervals and at slaughter and extended post mortem examination of the plucks was done. Regression models with second and third order interaction terms demonstrated that Mycoplasma-like pneumonia, complicated pneumonia, anterior-ventral pleuritis, pericarditis, fissures and atrophic rhinitis, separately and through interactions with other lesions, significantly reduced mean daily gains during specific intervals of the growth period in 2 conventional swine herds. It is likely that the periods of reduced growth reflect the times when the diseases were in the acute and early recovery stages. Maximum estimated reductions in daily gains associated with the combined lesions were 82 grams and 283 grams during the interval 120-140 days in Herds A and B, respectively. Although dorso-caudal pleuritis and parietal pleuritis had minor negative effects during 2 intervals neither had a significant adverse effect on total growth rate in either herd (Paisley et al. 1993). R2 values for the regression models were less than 0.27 showing that the lesions present at slaughter explained less than 27% of the variation in herd mean daily gains during any interval.

Abattoirs↗

Auditory brain stem responses in patients after radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The study evaluated the incidence and severity of brain stem myelopathy occurring after radiation exposure in a cohort of patients who received external radiation exposure for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: Brain stem function was investigated by auditory brain stem responses (ABR). RESULTS: Four of 21 patients who could be examined had aberrations in ABR. Three patients showed highly abnormal ABR, with no distinctive patterns or peaks. Two of these patients also showed clinical symptoms of brain stem dysfunction, including multiple palsies in cranial and peripheral nerves, whereas the third patient had no clinical signs of brain stem disorders. The fourth patient had minor conduction delays in ABR. The remaining group of 17 patients who could be examined had ABR latency and transmission times similar to those of the control group. None of these patients had neurologic symptoms. Dose-response analysis showed that patients who received radiation doses of 59 Gy or less to the brain stem had normal ABR, whereas four of six patients who received a dose of 68 Gy had manifest or subclinical brain stem dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: The results emphasize the importance of protecting the brain stem from high-dose radiation when possible. The results also demonstrate the usefulness of ABR as a supplement to the clinical examination of patients with possible myelopathy occurring after radiation exposure.

Adult↗

Clonal analysis of the Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae population in a geographically restricted area by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis.

The genetic diversity among 250 isolates of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae from lungs of pigs with pleuropneumonia and from tonsils of apparently healthy pigs at slaughter was estimated by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. The Danish strains were derived from both specific-pathogen-free and conventional herds. Sixty-six percent of the isolates belonged to three electrophoretic types (ETs) of a total of 37 ETs detected. While five biotype 2 isolates constituted a separate ET closely related to biotype 1 isolates, the type strain of the species (Shope 4074) belonged to its own ET, with a genetic distance of 0.30 from its nearest neighbor. Isolates of serotypes traditionally considered to have less pathogenic potential (serotypes 6, 10, and 12) from herds with acute outbreaks of pleuropneumonia belonged to the same ETs as isolates from apparently healthy pigs, suggesting that factors such as cross immunity and management may lead to divergent clinical results. Isolates from four herds harboring more than one serotype showed distinct profiles between the serotypes, indicating no or only limited chromosomal recombination among clones. Isolates from tonsils belonged to the same ET as isolates from lungs. The same ET was isolated from widely different parts of the world. Evidence from this study indicates that multilocus enzyme electrophoresis may be a valuable tool for the epidemiological analysis of A. pleuropneumoniae.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae↗

Isolation and characterization of a newly identified Haemophilus species from cats: "Haemophilus felis".

A gram-negative coccobacillus was isolated from the lower respiratory tract of a cat with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The isolate required CO2 and V factor for growth and was initially identified as Haemophilus paraphrophilus on the basis of its nutritional requirements, colony morphology, and some biochemical tests. Because of the host specificity of Haemophilus species and discrepancies in catalase, oxidase, and hemolytic activities, additional testing was done. Extensive biochemical testing, G+C content, and DNA reassociation studies indicated that the organism was distinct from other Haemophilus species. Therefore, the organism was identified as a previously unrecognized Haemophilus species and was tentatively named "Haemophilus felis." Bacteria identical to the original isolate were isolated from the nasopharynxes of 6 of 28 apparently normal cats, indicating that H. felis or H. felis-like organisms may be common members of the feline upper respiratory tract flora.

Animals↗

Sensori-neural hearing loss in patients treated with irradiation for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The present investigation has been carried out to evaluate the sensitivity of the inner ear to irradiation. Cochlear function was tested in a cohort of 22 patients before and 7-84 months after receiving external irradiation for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The pre-irradiation sensori-neural hearing threshold at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz was used as a baseline for the individual patient, and the observed sensori-neural hearing loss (SNHL) was calculated as the difference between pre- and post-irradiation values. The pre-irradiation hearing level or patient age was not correlated with the actual SNHL. In contrast, there was a significant correlation between the total radiation dose to the inner ear and the observed hearing impairment. SNHL was most pronounced in the high frequencies, with values up to 35 dB (4000 Hz) and 25 dB (2000 Hz) in some patients. The latent period for the complication appeared to be 12 months or more. The deleterious effect of irradiation on the hearing should be kept in mind both in treatment planning and in the follow-up after radiotherapy.

Adult↗

V factor-dependent members of the family Pasteurellaceae in the porcine upper respiratory tract.

A study was performed to obtain a better understanding of the diversity and ecology of members of the family Pasteurellaceae in the porcine respiratory tract. A collection of 132 V factor-dependent strains of Pasteurellaceae selected from porcine field isolates mainly from the respiratory tract were subjected to detailed characterization. In addition to the three hitherto recognized species Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Haemophilus parasuis, and Haemophilus taxon "minor group," three distinct taxa were observed. Some of these taxa, which are provisionally designated taxa D, E, and F, would by traditional criteria be mistaken for H. parasuis but differed by several biochemical characteristics. To study the ecology of the V factor-dependent species, swabs from the nasal and oral cavities of 29 pigs were cultivated on selective and nonselective media. By studying approximately 30 isolates from each sample, the distribution and relative proportion of the individual taxa were determined. A. pleuropneumoniae was detected in samples from the tonsil areas of only two acutely ill animals. H. parasuis was isolated from the nasal cavities of four out of nine healthy pigs but from the oral cavities of only two animals. In contrast, taxon "minor group" and taxa D, E, and F were present in the oral cavities of the majority of pigs but were not detected in samples from their nasal cavities. The results indicate that all the observed V factor-dependent species of Pasteurellaceae except A. pleuropneumoniae, are members of the resident microflora of various mucosal surfaces of the porcine upper respiratory tract.

Animals↗

Goblet cell density in nasal polyps.

The goblet cell density was determined in 29 nasal polyps from 22 patients by use of the periodic acid Schiff-alcian blue whole-mount method. The distribution of goblet cells was found to be extremely irregular, ranging from areas completely devoid of goblet cells to areas with a relatively high density. The median density varied from 280 cells/mm2 to 10,000 cells/mm2. The total median density for all 15 polyps located anteriorly in the nose was 3,450 cells/mm2, compared with 6,050 cells/mm2 for 14 posteriorly located polyps. The density was highest in pseudostratified, cylindric epithelium, although great variations occurred among the different areas with this type of epithelium. The goblet cell density may be influenced by several factors, such as the airflow, type and thickness of the epithelium, and whether the genesis of the nasal polyps is infectious or allergic, in addition to polyp growth, size, and age.

Basement Membrane↗