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Biomedical subjects

L G Hansen

Publications and source records attributed to L G Hansen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Ultrasonically guided Biopty-biopsy of focal liver processes].

During a period of three years, 51 patients with focal hepatic changes were submitted to 55 ultrasonically guided Biopty-biopsies. Histological diagnoses could be established in 45 patients at the first biopsy which corresponds to a diagnostic certainty of 88.2% Histological diagnoses were established in 49 patients which corresponds to a certainty of 96%. The frequency of complications was 3.9%. Biopty-biopsy is recommended as a good method because it is easy to carry out and provides just as good results as other methods of biopsy. In addition, it can provide more histological information than aspiration biopsies which are, however, somewhat cheaper.

Adult

Effect of an allergy prevention programme on incidence of atopic symptoms in infancy. A prospective study of 159 "high-risk" infants.

A total of 105 "high-risk" infants born in 1988 were studied prospectively from birth to 18 months of age. The infants were recommended breastfeeding and/or hypoallergenic formula (Nutramigen or Profylac) combined with avoidance of solid foods during the first 6 months of life. All mothers had unrestricted diet. Avoidance of daily exposure to tobacco smoke, furred pets and dust-collecting materials in the bedroom were advised. This prevention group was compared with a control group consisting of 54 identically defined "high-risk" infants born in 1985 in the same area. All infants had either severe single atopic predisposition combined with cord blood IgE > or = 0.5 KU/l or biparental atopic predisposition. The control group had unrestricted diet and was not advised about environmental factors. Apart from the prevention programme and year of birth the prevention group and the control group were comparable. The parents were highly motivated and compliance was good. The rate of participation was 97%, and 85% followed the dietary measures strictly. The cumulative prevalence of atopic symptoms was significantly lower at 18 months in the prevention group (32%), as compared with the control group (74%) (p < 0.01), due to reduced prevalence of recurrent wheezing (13% versus 37%; p < 0.01), atopic dermatitis (14% versus 31%; p < 0.01), vomiting/diarrhoea (5% versus 20%; p < 0.01) and infantile colic (9% versus 24%; p < 0.01). The cumulative prevalence of food allergy was significantly lower in the prevention group (6% versus 17%; p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cohort Studies

Cord blood IgE. I. IgE screening in 2814 newborn children.

Screening of total IgE in 2814 cord blood samples was analysed by Phadebas IgE PRIST in 2 1-year birth cohorts (1983-1984 and 1985-1986) in Denmark (n = 1189 + 1625). 48.6% of the sera contained less IgE than the detection limit 0.1 kU/l. Cord blood IgE values greater than or equal to 0.5 kU/l were regarded as elevated. 13.2% of the sera contained at least 0.5 kU/l of IgE, with a significant preponderance in boys. Geometric mean cord blood IgE was 0.13 kU/l and 0.12 kU/l, respectively. Geometric mean cord blood IgE was significantly higher in boys. A significant seasonal variation with lowest IgE values in the autumn was found. No correlation between cord blood IgE and birth weight or gestational age was demonstrated. Only few newborns had cord blood IgA values greater than 0.014 g/l, calculated as geometric mean cord blood IgA + 2 SD among children with no detectable cord blood IgE, indicating infrequent contamination with maternal blood.

Cohort Studies

Cord blood IgE. II. Prediction of atopic disease. A follow-up at the age of 18 months.

Screening of total IgE in 2814 cord blood samples was analysed by Phadebas IgE PRIST in 2 1-year birth cohorts (1983-1984 and 1985-1986) in Denmark (n = 1189 + 1625). For follow-up we chose all infants with cord blood IgE greater than or equal to 0.5 kU/l and a randomly chosen group of the same size with cord blood IgE less than 0.5 kU/l. A total of 762 infants were clinically evaluated at 18 months of age. A diagnosis of definite atopy, probable atopy or no atopy, including both IgE and non-IgE mediated disease was established. Applying different cord blood IgE cut-off values (0.3, 0.5, 0.8, 1.1) we did not find an excess of atopic infants among those with elevated cord blood IgE irrespective of the chosen cut-off value. Atopic predisposition or family history of atopic disease was defined as at least one parent or older sibling with atopic disease. Significantly more infants with a family history developed atopy at 18 months. In the 2 series the positive predictive values of cord blood IgE greater than or equal to 0.5 were 43% and 46% and the sensitivities were 17% and 15%. The predictive values of having a family history were 48% and 44% and the sensitivities were 55% and 58%.

Cohort Studies

Cord blood IgE. III. Prediction of IgE high-response and allergy. A follow-up at the age of 18 months.

Screening of total IgE in 2814 cord blood samples was analysed by Phadebas IgE PRIST in 2 1-year birth cohorts (1983-1984 and 1985-1986) in Denmark (n = 1189 + 1625). For follow-up we chose all infants with cord blood IgE greater than or equal to 0.5 kU/l and a randomly chosen group of the same size with cord blood IgE less than 0.5 kU/l. A total group of 762 infants were clinically evaluated at 18 months of age, and in 688 of these we evaluated total and specific IgE. A diagnosis of definite atopy, probable atopy or no atopy was established. In the present study we defined allergic disease as atopic disease combined with elevated total IgE. We found a statistically significant correlation between cord blood IgE and IgE at 18 months of age. Significantly more infants with elevated cord blood IgE had developed allergic disease at 18 months. A cut-off value of 0.3 kU/l for cord blood IgE was superior to the originally suggested 0.5 kU/l. Significantly more infants with elevated cord blood IgE had developed specific IgE antibodies at 18 months. The most frequent specific IgE antibody was towards cow's milk. Specific IgE antibodies were very rarely found when total IgE was not elevated. A total IgE at the age of 18 months greater than 26 kU/l could be regarded as elevated. With regard to allergic disease the positive predictive values of cord blood IgE greater than or equal to 0.3 kU/l in the 2 series were 21% and the corresponding sensitivities 67% and 46%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Prognosis in postoperative discitis. A retrospective study of 111 cases.

111 cases of postoperative discitis during 1968-1986 were analyzed retrospectively. The diagnosis was confirmed by lumbar tomography. Low back pain appeared at an average of 16 days postoperatively. Laboratory findings were of minor value in the diagnosis since elevated ESR, white blood cell count, and body temperature were inconstant findings. Compared with a matched control group, there was a higher incidence of chronic low back pain and vocational handicap in the discitis patients. There was no difference in the consumption of analgetics, the subjective evaluation of the final outcome, spinal mobility or neurologic findings.

Adult

A scientific basis for proposed quality assurance of a new screening method for tumor-like growths in the planarian, Dugesia dorotocephala.

Various abnormal growths appear on planarians, Dugesia dorotocephala, during and after exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) 28, 110, and 126; Aroclor 1254; cadmium sulfate; and L-buthionine-(R,S)-sulfoximine (BSO). Daily observations under magnification were used to describe the location, development, and morphology of three different types of tumor-like growths ("tumors"). "Post-head tumors" were found to be highly invasive, progressive, and lethal to the animal depending on concentrations and combinations of the compounds used. Survivors from post-head tumors exhibited aberrant morphogenesis, but developmental abnormalities were eventually shed. Post-head tumors occurred within 2 weeks of initial exposure, while "round tail tip tumors" appeared after 2-3 weeks. The rate of progression and invasiveness was greater for the round tail tip tumors. "Pigmented rose thorn tail tumors" occurred in low incidence (4-20%) and appeared to be harmless and noninvasive, requiring months to develop from the first appearance of pigmentation. The aggressive, proliferative, and invasive characteristics of post-head and round tail tip tumors are analogous to those of malignant tumors, while pigmented rose thorn tumors were benign. High dose of cadmium alone were sufficient to initiate the post-head and round tail tip tumors. PCBs potentiated the tumorigenicity of low cadmium doses and enhanced the very low spontaneous incidence of pigmented rose thorn tumors. PCBs also impaired motor activity, causing the graceful gliding locomotion to be replaced by a twisting serpentine movement accompanied by muscular dystrophy. In addition, high (50 micrograms) doses of PCB 110 depressed activity, while lower (5 micrograms) doses and 50 micrograms Aroclor 1254 induced restlessness and enhanced locomotion. These data provide the basis for quality assurance.

Animals

The long-term effect of high-frequency chest compression therapy on pulmonary complications of cystic fibrosis.

A high-frequency chest compression (HFCC) device for clearance of mucous secretions from airways was tested in 16 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with significant improvement in pulmonary function for the HFCC period, which averaged 22 months per patient. The device consists of a variable air pulse delivery system and a non-stretch inflatable vest worn by the patient to cover the entire torso. The patients perform 30 minute therapy sessions divided into 5 minute periods at each of six frequencies. Individual patient therapy time per day ranged from 30 to 240 minutes. Frequencies used by each patient were determined by measuring air flow at the mouth and calculated volume expired per chest compression during tidal breathing while receiving HFCC at frequencies between 5 and 22 Hz at 1 Hz increments. The frequencies that produced the three highest flows and the three largest volumes were selected for each patient's therapy. Ninety-four percent of patients' regression line slopes for percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) became more positive during self-administered HFCC therapy as compared to slopes before HFCC therapy, when manual chest physical therapy was used. Two-sided t-test showed that the mean slopes were more positive for FVC and FEV1 during HFCC therapy than for the manual chest physical therapy period before HFCC therapy. The significance level for both FVC and FEV1 was at P less than 0.001.

Adolescent

Recurrent wheezing in relation to environmental risk factors in infancy. A prospective study of 276 infants.

Clinical course and environmental factors were recorded in a prospective study of 276 unselected infants followed from birth to the age of 18 months. The study was performed with a questionnaire at the age of 6 and 12 months and a physical examination at 18 months. Fifty-nine (21%) of the children had greater than or equal to 2 episodes of wheezing before they were 18 months old. A total of 58 (21%) of the children belonged to the lowest social class V, 182 (66%) were daily exposed to passive tobacco smoking at home and/or in daycare, 164 (59%) were breastfed greater than or equal to 3 months, 192 (70%) were in daycare, 62 (22%) lived in flats and 167 (61%) were in daily contact with furred pets at home and/or in daycare. In social class V a preponderance of children were exposed to passive tobacco smoking, a majority were living in flats and a minority were breastfed greater than or equal to 3 months. Linear logistic regression analysis was used for the purpose of assessing the causal effect of environmental risk factors on the risk of recurrent episodes of wheezing before the age of 18 months. The study demonstrated that male sex and daily exposure to passive tobacco smoking were significant risk factors with estimated odds ratios 1.9 and 2.4, respectively. Maternal tobacco smoking seemed to be associated with the highest risk. There was a tendency--though not significant--indicating that breastfeeding greater than or equal to 3 months had a protective effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cohort Studies

Cocarcinogenesis between cadmium and Aroclor 1254 in planarians is enhanced by inhibition of glutathione synthesis.

Asexual Dugesia dorotocephala planaria continuously exposed to 50 micrograms/beaker of Aroclor 1254 (A1254) and cadmium (Cd) developed tumors after 11 days of continuous exposure to 0.65 or 1.3 mg/liter Cd and after 23 days to 0.13 mg/liter Cd. The tumor rate at 14 days averaged 53% for the survivors in both 0.65 and 1.3 mg/liter Cd + A1254 and 40% at 0.13 mg/liter Cd + A1254. Other groups were either preexposed or coexposed to L-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of glutathione synthesis. In the presence of A1254 (50 micrograms/beaker), animals continuously exposed to BSO and 0.13 mg/liter Cd first developed tumors at 18 days, with a tumor yield equal to 41% of the survivors. Tumors developed by 6 days at 0.65 mg/liter Cd, with a yield equal to 75% of survivors. At 1.3 mg/liter Cd, BSO did not change the rate or frequency of planarian tumor production. Continuous BSO always produced high mortality over 20 days. In contrast, a 24-h preexposure to BSO caused little mortality. In these groups, tumor yields increased with cadmium concentration (0.13, 0.25, 0.65 mg/liter), and the large cocarcinogenic effect of A1254 was clearly evident. No tumors developed in animals exposed only to 50 micrograms/beaker of Aroclor 1254 or continuously only to 1 mM BSO.

Animals