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Biomedical subjects

L R Petersen

Publications and source records attributed to L R Petersen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected blood donors: epidemiologic, laboratory, and donation characteristics. The HIV Blood Donor Study Group.

Transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) by homologous blood transfusion in the United States (US) is minimized by the deferral of potential donors who are at risk for HIV-1 infection and by the screening of all donations for HIV-1 antibody. HIV-1-seropositive donors at 20 blood centers were studied for information to be used in evaluating the safety of the US blood supply and making recommendations to increase that safety. From June 1988 to August 1989, 829 (0.04%) of 2,192,000 donors were found to be seropositive; 512 were interviewed. Of 388 seropositive men, 56 percent had had sex with men, 10 percent had used drugs intravenously, 8 percent had had sex with intravenous drug users, and 27 percent had no identified risk. Of 124 seropositive women, 58 percent had had sex with men at risk for HIV (81% of whom used drugs intravenously), 5 percent had used drugs intravenously, and 41 percent had no identified risk. Racial and ethnic minorities made up 68 percent of seropositive donors (black, 38%; Hispanic, 30%) and approximately 14 percent of all donors. The 157 persons with no identified risk had demographic characteristics and serologic test results for syphilis and hepatitis B that were more similar to those of HIV-1-seropositive donors with recognized risk than to those of seronegative donors. Three health care worker-blood donors (from an estimated 93,100 health care worker-donors) had infection that was probably acquired occupationally.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected blood donors: behavioral characteristics and reasons for donation. The HIV Blood Donor Study Group.

Between May 1988 and September 1989, 829 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive donors were identified from 3,919,000 units of blood donated at 20 United States (US) blood centers. Of the 829,512 (62%) were interviewed to assess behavioral characteristics of the largest subgroup, men reporting sex with men, use of the confidential unit exclusion (CUE) and reasons for donation among all donors. Among 216 men reporting sex with men, 97 percent had male and 72 percent had female sexual contact since 1978. The majority identified themselves as bisexual (29%) or heterosexual (26%). Although 61 percent of 512 donors were aware of their risk behavior at donation, including 57 percent of those infected through heterosexual transmission, only 5 percent used the CUE. Reasons for donation included failure to read carefully (46%) or comprehend (15%) the deferral materials, pressure to donate (27%), a desire to be tested for HIV-1 (15%), and a reliance on screening to identify infected blood (10%). Reasons given for a perception of being at low risk included no recent risk behaviors, infrequent risk behaviors, or modification of risk behaviors. To reach high-risk donors, centers should assess whether referral materials provide necessary medical information and are clearly written for persons with diverse cultural and language backgrounds. Staff should be encouraged to avoid the use of culturally stigmatized terms and behaviors that may be perceived as high pressure.

Blood Donors↗
PubMed1990

Seroprevalence rates of human immunodeficiency virus infection at sentinel hospitals in the United States. The Sentinel Hospital Surveillance Group.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: To evaluate the epidemiology of infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in selected urban communities in the United States, we instituted active surveillance at sentinel hospitals by anonymous testing of samples of blood specimens for HIV-1 antibody. To reflect better the rates of HIV-1 seroprevalence in the communities served by the sentinel hospitals, we excluded specimens from all patients with diagnoses that are often associated with HIV infection. RESULTS: From January 1988 to June 1989, 89,547 specimens were tested at 26 hospitals in 21 cities. The overall rate of HIV-1 seroprevalence was 1.3 percent, but it ranged from 0.1 to 7.8 percent according to hospital (median, 0.7 percent). The age distribution of persons seropositive for HIV-1 was similar across hospitals and closely paralleled that of persons with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In areas of low seroprevalence, HIV-1 infections were highly concentrated among men. However, the male-to-female ratio (median, 7.0) decreased steadily with an increasing overall rate of seroprevalence (P less than 0.001); at the five hospitals with the highest rates of seroprevalence, the median male-to-female ratio was only 2.9. The median black-to-white ratio of HIV-1 seroprevalence was 1.8, but at hospitals with low rates of seroprevalence the rates in blacks and whites were nearly equal. At two hospitals in the communities with the highest prevalence of AIDS, 1.1 to 3.8 percent of adolescents 15 to 19 years old and 18 to 22 percent of all men 25 to 44 years old were seropositive for HIV-1. CONCLUSIONS: In these sentinel, urban populations there is tremendous variation in the rate of HIV-1 infection (over 70-fold). The very high seroprevalence at some sentinel hospitals indicates the need for routine screening for HIV-1 infection among some groups of patients, regardless of clinical presentation.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1990

Providing HIV counseling and testing services in methadone maintenance programs.

Counseling about AIDS and optional confidential testing for antibody to HIV-1 have been available in state-supported methadone maintenance programs in Connecticut since 1 January 1987. In the first 2 years of the program, 2118 people received pre-test counseling. Overall, 1521 people agreed to anti-HIV-1-antibody testing and 1010 received post-test counseling. Other than the pre- and post-test counseling sessions, a total of 1600 HIV counseling sessions were conducted. This is the first statewide program for providing HIV counseling and testing in methadone maintenance programs in the United States. Our experience suggests that the prevention of both drug use and HIV-1 transmission can be integrated in drug treatment centers.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1990

Premarital screening for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in the United States. The Premarital Screening Study Group.

To evaluate premarital human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening as an approach to AIDS prevention in the United States, we determined the HIV antibody seroprevalence in marriage license applicants in eight areas by blinded testing of blood specimens routinely collected for syphilis serology. The seroprevalences were 0.0-0.4 percent in women and 0.0-1.1 percent in men. We also examined the impact of mandatory premarital HIV screening on marriage rates in Louisiana and Illinois. In 1988, after screening began, 9 percent and 16 percent fewer marriage licenses than in the previous two years were issued in Louisiana and Illinois, respectively. We estimated that mandatory premarital screening, if adopted nationally, would cost $167,230,000. We conclude that compared with other HIV prevention programs mandatory premarital screening would be expensive and would probably have a minor impact on the HIV epidemic.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1989

An outbreak of ehrlichiosis in members of an Army Reserve unit exposed to ticks.

An outbreak of unexplained illness occurred in members of an army reserve unit after field training in an area of New Jersey endemic for Lyme disease. Nine (12%) of the 74 who attended the exercise had serological evidence of Ehrlichia infection, defined as a single rise in titer of antibody to Ehrlichia canis greater than or equal to 1:160 four weeks after training. Two reservists with early serum samples had documented seroconversion, defined by a four-fold or greater increase in titer of antibody to E. canis, with a peak titer of greater than or equal to 1:160. Reservists with serological evidence of Ehrlichia infection were more than three times as likely to report arthralgia, myalgia, headache, appetite loss, nausea, eye pain, and abdominal pain than the other reservists. No reservist with serological evidence of Ehrlichia infection was hospitalized and most had minimal or no symptoms. This outbreak of ehrlichiosis suggests that the usual symptoms of Ehrlichia infection are milder than previously reported and that ehrlichiosis must be considered in symptomatic persons with recent tick exposure.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

A large Clostridium perfringens foodborne outbreak with an unusual attack rate pattern.

On November 7, 1985, a Clostridium perfringens gastroenteritis outbreak occurred in approximately 44% of the 1,362 employees at a Connecticut factory. Although the same foods were served to all three shifts at an employee banquet on November 6, the attack rate was almost twice as high for those who ate on the day shift (attack rate = 50%) than for those on the evening shift (attack rate = 20%) or night shift (attack rate = 29%). Among employees of the day shift, attack rates were highest for those who ate during the first 30 minutes of the 2.5-hour day shift serving period and decreased throughout the serving period. The one-hour evening shift serving period had a similar trend toward higher attack rates earlier in the serving period. Four main-course foods were significantly associated with illness, and over 95% of the employees had eaten each of them. Stratified analysis indicated that gravy was the responsible food and, furthermore, that the decreasing attack rate pattern within serving periods occurred only for those who ate gravy. The gravy had been prepared 12-24 hours in advance of banquet service. After it was prepared, the gravy was improperly cooled and was reheated shortly before and throughout the serving periods. Persons who ate gravy that had been reheated for the longest period of time had the lowest attack rate, probably because they were exposed to a lower concentration of organisms. This outbreak underscores the need for properly reheating food to prevent C. perfringens gastroenteritis and suggests that analysis of attack rate trends may provide important epidemiologic clues to understanding the causes of foodborne disease outbreaks.

Clostridium Infections↗
PubMed1988

Community health effects of a municipal water supply hyperfluoridation accident.

For 12 hours, excess hydrofluorosilicic acid was diverted to a 127-home community water supply. Fluoride levels peaked at 51 parts per million (ppm). Water acidification caused copper to leach from the domestic plumbing; raising copper levels to 25-41 ppm. Fifty-two (33 per cent) of those who drank hyperfluoridated water developed mild gastroenteritis. Vomiting was uncommon and symptom onsets usually occurred greater than 30 minutes after drinking water; suggesting that fluoride, rather than copper, caused illness. Skin contact with hyperfluoridated water caused itching and skin rashes.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1988

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and secondary school students: their knowledge is limited and they want to learn more.

Information was gathered from 657 junior high school and senior high school students in two Connecticut school districts regarding their knowledge of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Although many students had some factual knowledge about the virus that causes AIDS, many students were misinformed about methods of viral transmission, high-risk groups for acquiring AIDS, and methods to avoid acquisition of the virus. Most students did not recognize the existence of a carrier state. Responses from students of different grades, ages, sexes, races, and school districts differed rarely and without apparent pattern. Students reported that they had learned about AIDS mostly from television or radio (57%) or magazines or newspapers (16%); few had learned from persons with whom they had frequent contact, such as parents (6%) or teachers (4%). Seventy-four percent of students said they wanted to learn more about AIDS, and 49% said they wanted to learn it in school. Results of this study indicated that students' knowledge about AIDS is not adequate, students wish to learn more, and information about AIDS should be presented in public schools.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1983

Unusual manifestations of secondary syphilis occurring after orthotopic liver transplantation.

A 48-year-old actively homosexual man who had undergone liver transplantation for cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis B infection six years previously presented with a syndrome of diffuse pain, cholestasis, and low-grade fever. The development of thrombocytopenia and persistent hypoprothrombinemia precluded liver biopsy. Subsequently, a skin eruption and VDRL result of 1:128 indicated that most of the findings could be explained by a diagnosis of secondary syphilis with luetic hepatitis and periostitis. This impression was confirmed by a complete response to penicillin therapy. The relation of thrombocytopenia to lues in this case remains uncertain.

Hepatitis↗
PubMed1979

A characteristic effect of hallucinogens on investigatory responding in rats.

The disruption of the temporal distribution of investigatory responses by rats in a novel hole-board following lysergic acid diethylamide-25 (LSD), as described in a companion paper (Geyer and Light, 1979), was found to be a characteristic effect of a variety of hallucinogens. Similar effects were produced by indoleamine hallucinogens, such as LSD, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and psilocin, and by phenylethylamine hallucinogens, such as mescaline or 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM). Congeners of DOM that are inactive in humans had no significant effects. Furthermore, of a variety of other psychoactive drugs tested, only apomorphine produced an effect similar to that of the hallucinogens. These results suggest that a simple behavioral measure of exploration in a hole-board may provide a useful animal model with which to examine the common effects of hallucinogens.

DOM 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Methylamphetamine↗
PubMed1979

Mescaline increases startle responding equally in normal and raphe-lesioned rats.

To test the possible involvement of serotonin-containing cells of the midbrain in mediating the effects of mescaline on startle responding, electrolytic lesions were made in either the dorsal or median raphe nucleus in rats. Decreases in either striatal or hippocampal tryptophan hydroxylase activity confirmed the effectiveness of the lesions. One week later, startle was measured in response to 30 air-puff stimuli for each rat. Median, but not dorsal, raphe lesions increased startle magnitudes throughout the test session. The following day each group was divided into matched halves and were given 60 trials, 30 minutes after intraperitoneal injection of either saline or 10 mg/kg mescaline. Despite the large differences in baseline startle among the groups, mescaline produced comparable 25% increases in startle magnitudes in both sham- and raphe-lesioned animals. This result fails to support the hypothesis that increased startle responding produced by mescaline is mediated by the midbrain raphe nuclei.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

The effects of lysergic acid diethylamide and mescaline-derived hallucinogens on sensory-integrative function: tactile startle.

Tactile startle responding by male Sprague-Dawley rats given 60 presentations of air-puff stimuli (37.5 psi) was measured after the intraperitoneal administration of graded doses of hallucinogens and other psychoactive drugs. Among the drugs tested were the indoleamine-derived compounds, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), N,N-dimethyltryptamine and psilocin, and the phenylethylamine-derived compounds, mescaline, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine and a series of active and inactive congeners of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine. All of the active phenylethylamines increased startle response magnitudes throughout the test session. This pattern of augmented startle suggests that these drugs increase reactivity. However, none of the indoleamine hallucinogens increased startle responding. Of the nonhallucinogenic drugs tested, only apomorphine increased startle responding, while clonidine significantly decreased it, and amphetamine, chlorimipramine, scopolamine and methysergide had no effect. In additional studies with LSD, it was found that LSD increased the response to only the first stimulus when more intense air-puffs were used (50 psi). Furthermore, when the number of stimuli was increased from 60 to 240 (1 hr) so that appreciable habituation was evident in controls, LSD impaired this habituation. Whereas the response magnitudes of the control group decreased by 70% across the session, the responses of LSD-treated rats decreased by only 32%. These results suggest that LSD and phenylethylamine-derived hallucinogens may differ in their effects on tactile startle responding.

Animals↗