Biomedical subjects

P A Pedersen

Publications and source records attributed to P A Pedersen.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Amoxicillin in treatment of acute uncomplicated exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. A double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre study in general practice.

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether a broad-spectrum penicillin, amoxicillin, was superior to placebo in resolving symptoms of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis in patients from general practice. 131 general practitioners included 278 patients over a period of 30 months. The patients were randomly assigned to treatment with amoxicillin 750 mg b.i.d. or corresponding placebo for 7 days. Patients with pneumonia, a temperature above 38.5 degrees C or heart rate over 100 were excluded for safety reasons. The main effect parameter--the doctors' overall evaluation of the treatment--did not demonstrate any statistically significant difference between amoxicillin or placebo, 63% versus 64% of the patients. Resolution of symptoms was obtained by 19% (25/132) of the patients in the amoxicillin group compared with 10% (13/136) of the patients in the placebo group, P = 0.03. The present findings do not favour routine use of antibiotics in an attempt to improve the course of acute exacerbations as defined in this study in patients with chronic bronchitis.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1992

[Occurrence of asthma and non-infectious rhinitis in Denmark].

Population surveys of asthma have shown total asthma prevalence rates of 3.8 (2-5) and 3.2 (3-4) in 1978-1979 and 1987. These figures do not fit with the general statements of an increased asthma prevalence during recent decades. Hospitalization has increased from 1 per 1,000 to 1.6 per 1,000 inhabitants from 1979 to 1987. The annual mortality from asthma has doubled during the last ten years, and is now 3 per 100,000 inhabitants. All epidemiological data about asthma are blurred because of uncertain definitions of asthma. Allergic and vasomotor rhinitis occurs among 10 per cent of the adult population and seems to be recorded by 50 per cent more in 1987 than in 1978-1979, especially among the younger population. Also in rhinitis diagnostic criteria seem to vary in a way that makes estimates of variation over a longer period of time uncertain.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Increasing asthma mortality in Denmark 1969-88 not a result of a changed coding practice.

We have studied asthma mortality in Denmark from 1969 to 1988. Age standardized mortality rates calculated in three age groups, 10-34, 35-59, and greater than or equal to 60 years, disclosed similar trends. Increasing mortality from asthma in the mid-1970s to 1988 was seen in all three age groups with higher mortality in 1979-88 as compared with 1969-78 of 95%, 55%, and 69%, respectively. Since the eighth revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD8) was used in Denmark over the entire 20-year period, changes in coding practice due to change of classification system cannot explain the findings.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Deletion and duplication of specific sequences in the K88ab fimbrial subunit protein from porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Small, defined in-frame deletions and in-frame duplications of specific sequences were made within the faeG gene encoding the K88ab fimbrial subunit protein from porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. The cellular localization and proteolytic stability of the different mutated fimbrial subunit proteins were determined, and compared with those of the wild-type protein. Based upon these results, we predict a functional role of specific structures in the K88ab fimbrial subunit protein in subunit-subunit interactions as well as in interactions between FaeG and the other proteins encoded by the K88ab operon. The results obtained were further compared with results obtained from operon deletions, linker insertion mutagenesis and the current model for biogenesis of K88 fimbriae. One of the mutated fimbrial subunit genes was used to construct a secreted in-frame fusion between FaeG and a characterized epitope (lacking cysteine) from the Hepatitis B pre-S2 protein. Such fusion proteins might be useful in the design of recombinant vaccines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Structure-function analysis of the K88ab fimbrial subunit protein from porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Several in-frame linker insertions have been made in various positions in the faeG gene encoding the K88ab fimbrial subunit protein from porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. The effects of the linker insertions have been investigated with regard to the ability of the mutated fimbrial subunits to be exported to the surface of the bacterial cell and assembled into a fimbrial structure. The structure/function relationship of the subunit protein is discussed in the light of the phenotypes of the mutations constructed, secondary structure predictions, and hydrophilicity plots.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1979