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Biomedical subjects

N M Jensen

Publications and source records attributed to N M Jensen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Studies of genetic variability of the glucose transporter 2 promoter in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

This study was performed to test the hypothesis that genetic variation in the promoter of the glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) might predispose to prediabetic phenotypes or type 2 diabetes. A total of 1611 bp comprising the minimal promoter region of the GLUT2 gene were examined by combined single-strand conformational polymorphism and heteroduplex analysis followed by direct sequencing of identified variants on genomic DNA from 96 randomly recruited Danish type 2 diabetic patients. We identified 4 nucleotide variants, -447g-->a, -149c-->a, -122t-->c, and -44g-->a. None of the variants were positioned in known or presumed transcription factor binding sites, TATA-box, or transcriptional start site. Association studies of the -149c-->a, -122t-->c, and -44g-->a variants revealed that the variants were as prevalent in 320 type 2 diabetic patients [11.0% (95% confidence interval, 8.4-13.6), 9.8% (7.4-12.2), and 29.0% (24.4-33.6), respectively] as in 241 age-matched glucose-tolerant subjects [13.1% (9.8-16.4), 11.2% (8.3-14.1), and 33.4% (28.8-38.0), respectively]. The -447g-->a mutation was only identified in a single diabetic patient and did not show cosegregation with diabetes in the family of the proband. The three common variants showed in a primary genotype-phenotype study comprising 241 glucose-tolerant middle-aged subjects association to increased plasma glucose levels during an oral glucose tolerance test. However, this result could not be replicated in a second sample of 298 60-yr-old glucose-tolerant subjects. In conclusion, we found no evidence supporting the hypothesis that genetic variability in the minimal promoter of the GLUT2 is associated with type 2 diabetes or prediabetic phenotypes in the Danish population.

Adult↗

Low-dose oral iron absorption test in anaemic patients with and without iron deficiency determined by bone marrow iron content.

The low-dose oral iron absorption test (OIAT) was performed in 85 consecutive anaemic patients referred for bone marrow examination in order to investigate the ability of the test to predict bone marrow iron stores and to differentiate between different categories of anaemia. Eight patients were excluded for technical reasons. Test results from 77 patients are presented as Cmax (micromol/l): the maximum increase in S-iron measured during a 3 h period after administration of 10 mg oral iron sulfate. Iron deficiency was defined as the absence of stainable iron in bone marrow aspirates. Cmax was higher in 46 iron deficient patients [3 (median); 0 and 13 (1st and 3rd quartiles); 0-40 (range)] than in 31 non-iron-deficient patients (0; 0 and 2; 0-4) (P<0.01). 27 patients had primary bone marrow disease, 25 patients had absent bone marrow iron stores accompanied by inflammation, 17 patients had anaemia of chronic disease (ACD) and 8 patients had uncomplicated iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). Patients with IDA had higher Cmax (15; 13 and 28; 6-40) than patients with ACD (1; 0 and 2; 0-3), and than the 69 non-IDA patients (1; 0 and 3; 0-19) (P<0.001). Cmax values above 5 micromol/l always indicated absent bone marrow iron stores.

Adult↗

[Hepatitis C virus transmission between two brothers].

We present a case where a 30 year-old male by accident probably infected his older brother with hepatitis C-virus. After two months this older brother suffered from acute hepatitis C, and within 16 months he showed progression to chronic hepatitis C.

Accidents↗

Low-dose oral iron absorption test: establishment of a reference interval.

The low-dose oral iron absorption test (OIAT), a possible test for iron deficiency, is based on the fact that intestinal iron absorption is higher in iron-deficient subjects than in those with normal or increased iron stores. The aims of this study were to establish a reference interval for the OIAT, to evaluate five different ways of presenting the results, and to advocate for the use of one of these methods. OIAT was performed in 122 healthy volunteers, 3 of whom were excluded as a result of technical difficulties. The volunteers were given 10 mg of oral iron sulphate at 0900 h on an empty stomach. S-iron was measured just before iron consumption, and after 1, 2 and 3 h. The maximum increase in S-iron during the test, presented as Cmax (micromol l(-1)), was higher in females (5 [median]; 3 and 7 [1st and 3rd quartiles]; 0-34 [range]) than in males (3; 1 and 5; 0-13) (p<0.001 Mann Whitney U-test). Furthermore, Cmax was significantly higher in females aged 22 44 years than in all other age groups (males and females), but did not fluctuate significantly with age in males. Cmax was higher in premenopausal than in postmenopausal females (6; 5 and 10; 0-34 and 4; 2 and 5; 0-12, respectively) (p <0.01 Mann Whitney U-test). In conclusion, iron absorption assessed by the OIAT was higher in premenopausal females than in postmenopausal females and males. We suggest reference intervals of 0-34 micromol l(-1) in premenopausal females, and 0-11 micromol l(-1) in all other persons, i.e. males and postmenopausal females.

Adult↗

Meta-analysis of randomized control trials addressing brief interventions in heavy alcohol drinkers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of brief interventions in heavy drinkers by analyzing the outcome data and methodologic quality. DESIGN: (1) Qualitative analysis of randomized control trials (RCTs) using criteria from Chalmers' scoring system; (2) calculating and combining odds ratios (ORs) of RCTs using the One-Step (Peto) and the Mantel-Haenszel methods. STUDY SELECTION AND ANALYSIS: A MEDLINE and PsycLIT search identified RCTs testing brief interventions in heavy alcohol drinkers. Brief interventions were less than 1 hour and incorporated simple motivational counseling techniques much like outpatient smoking cessation programs. By a single-reviewer, nonblinded format, eligible studies were selected for adult subjects, sample sizes greater than 30, a randomized control design, and incorporation of brief alcohol interventions. Methodologic quality was assessed using an established scoring system developed by Chalmers and colleagues. Outcome data were combined by the One-Step (Peto) method; confidence limits and chi 2 test for heterogeneity were calculated. RESULTS: Twelve RCTs met all inclusion criteria, with an average quality score of 0.49 + or - 0.17. This was comparable to published average scores in other areas of research (0.42 + or - 0.16). Outcome data from RCTs were pooled, and a combined OR was close to 2 (1.91; 95% confidence interval 1.61-2.27) in favor of brief alcohol interventions over no intervention. This was consistent across gender, intensity of intervention, type of clinical setting, and higher-quality clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS: Heavy drinkers who received a brief intervention were twice as likely to moderate their drinking 6 to 12 months after an intervention when compared with heavy drinkers who received no intervention. Brief intervention is a low-cost, effective preventive measure for heavy drinkers in outpatient settings.

Adult↗

Screening sigmoidoscopy. Factors associated with utilization.

Although screening sigmoidoscopy (SS) reduces colorectal cancer mortality, surveys indicate that fewer than half of primary care physicians routinely recommend SS and less than 10% of eligible patients receive this test. The purpose of this study was to explore barriers to compliance with SS through a cross-sectional survey of general medicine patients. Clinician advice, perceived benefit of the test, and having a family member who has had the test are associated with SS, while perceived pain is a barrier to compliance and can negate the positive effects of clinician advice. These factors can be targeted as part of efforts to improve compliance with SS.

Aged↗

An inventory to improve clinical teaching in the general internal medicine clinic.

The increasing occurrence of outpatient medical care has led to the need for more and better medical education in the clinic. the Wisconsin Inventory of Clinic Teaching (WICT) was developed to improve the teaching of attending doctors in a general internal medicine clinic. The items on the inventory were derived from interviews with residents and attending doctors. The inventory was shown to have validity, and to be reliable with internal consistency correlations. We found an interesting disparity between attending doctors' and residents' expectations concerning clinical teaching. The instrument is in use as part of a teaching improvement programme for attending doctors in a general internal medicine clinic.

Clinical Competence↗

[Cervical dilatation with Lamicel in gravida I women applying for termination of pregnancy].

Thirty primigravidae referred for termination of pregnancy in the first trimester participated in a prospective randomised investigation. The object of this investigation was to determine the extent of cervical dilatation obtainable employing a new osmotic cervical dilator, Lamicel. In fifteen patients, a 3 mm Lamicel rod was introduced four hours prior to abortion by suction and fifteen patients functioned as the control group. In the treated group, dilatation of the cervix was commenced with a cervical diameter of 7 mm compared with 3 mm in the control group (p less than 0.01). Four patients stated that they experienced transient pain on introduction of Lamicel. No differences in the nature and frequencies of complications were observed between the groups. Employment of Lamicel provides gentle and effective dilatation of the cervical canal and the method is thus considered as suitable for termination of pregnancy.

Abortion, Induced↗

[Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta].

A man aged 19 years sustained multiple injuries on account of deceleration. Radiography of the thorax revealed increase in width of the mediastinum. Aortography after 1 1/2 days revealed pseudocoarctation of the aorta corresponding to rupture of the aortic isthmus. This investigation should be undertaken on broad indications in patients with relevant injuries and increase in width of the mediastinum.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Disposition kinetics of disopyramide in human healthy volunteers described by an open three compartment model.

Disposition kinetics of disopyramide was examined in an open randomised cross-over study in 8 healthy volunteers. Disopyramide was randomly administered as a single bolus injection (150 mg) over a period of 5 min. and as an infusion (28.2) mg/h to steady state. Disposition kinetics of disopyramide were most precisely described by an open three compartment model according to Akaike's information criteria. Significant positive correlations (0.909 +/- 0.04, P less than 0.05 (injection study); 0.787 +/- 0.11, P less than 0.05 (infusion study] were observed between total serum concentrations of disopyramide and renal clearance while no significant correlation could be demonstrated between free serum concentrations and renal clearance. This implies a constant value of unbound renal clearance. The results are consistent with non linear kinetics (mainly caused by the variable free fraction of the drug), when based on total serum concentrations. The disposition of unbound disopyramide, however seems to be linear (i.e. the kinetic parameters are independent of dose) in the bolus injection study. Total elimination clearance (free and total), volume of distribution and elimination half-life were significantly higher in the steady state experiment than in the bolus injection study.

Adult↗

Elimination kinetics and urinary excretion of disopyramide in human healthy volunteers.

Elimination kinetics and the renal handling of disopyramide was examined in 8 healthy volunteers. Approximately 50% of the administered disopyramide undergoes hepatic metabolism (metabolic clearance = 116.1 +/- 42.2 ml/min.), while the rest is excreted by the kidneys (renal clearance = 101.9 +/- 21.6 ml/min.). Total renal excretion rate of disopyramide was 0.676 +/- 0.188 mumol/min. and 0.258 +/- 0.029 mumol/min. was excreted by glomerular filtration leaving a net tubular secretion of 60% of the total renal elimination. A significant positive correlation was observed between total serum concentrations and renal clearance values of disopyramide while no significant correlation could be obtained between serum concentrations of the unbound drug and renal clearance values of disopyramide, implying a constant value of unbound renal clearance. Hepatic blood flow was significantly (P less than 0.005) decreased following disopyramide infusion.

Adult↗

Transhiatal esophagectomy without thoracotomy.

Twenty patients with cancer of the esophagus and/or cardia underwent transmediastinal esophagectomy by blunt dissection without thoracotomy. Resection and reconstruction with gastroesophageal anastomosis was performed in a single stage in 13 cases. The tumor was nonresectable in seven cases, and instead a substernal bypass was performed. The technical maneuvers are described, and the results and possible advantages and disadvantages of the transhiatal method are discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Displacement of lidocaine from human plasma proteins by disopyramide.

Displacement from human plasma proteins of lidocaine by disopyramide was investigated in serum from nine patients receiving lidocaine treatment because of severe ventricular arrhythmias. From each patient disopyramide in concentrations of 5.9 and 14.7 mumol/l was added to three different serum concentrations of lidocaine and the displacement was examined. At a serum concentration of disopyramide of 14.7 mumol/l the percentage of unbound lidocaine increased from 30.4 +/- 0.2 to 36.3 +/- 0.2% (mean +/- S.E.M., P less than 0.001) at an average total serum concentration of lidocaine of 22.7 mumol/l. The study implies a stronger binding affinity of disopyramide than lidocaine to alpha-1-acid glycoprotein. We recommend caution when using disopyramide immediately after an infusion of lidocaine. With the dosage regimen used serum concentrations considerably above the suggested therapeutic level were achieved in the majority of patients.

Aged↗

Innominate artery rupture. A fatal complication of tracheostomy.

Tracheo-innominate artery fistula is an uncommon but frequently fatal complication of tracheostomy. The case histories of three patients with tracheo-innominate artery fistula are presented, and one is a longterm survivor. The haemorrhage can be controlled by hyperinflation of the cuff of the tracheostomy tube or by direct digital compression of the artery. The damaged segment of the eroded artery should be resected and the ends oversewn. Measures to prevent this complication are described.

Adult↗