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Biomedical subjects

S Jonsson

Publications and source records attributed to S Jonsson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Mastitis today: incidence, prevention and treatment.

The study concerned 664 women of South-West Finland, and they were studied 5-12 weeks after delivery. The total frequency of mastitis in this population was much higher than generally reported in literature, 24% as opposed to 3%. The frequency of mastitis was similar among nulli- and multiparous women. The diagnosis was based on the judgement of midwives of physicians. If a multiparous woman has had mastitis during a previous puerperium, the probability of mastitis during a subsequent puerperium is threefold. The type of skin, its reaction of the sun, allergies, rashes, getting cold and oxytocin medication during delivery did nto affect the incidence of mastitis. Mothers under 21 and over 35 years of age had a decreased incidence (P = 0.034) of mastitis. If the women had sore nipples, the frequency increased (P = 0.003). Prophylaxis, by means of physical training, neither decreased nor increased the frequency of puerperal mastitis. The treatment advised by midwives and physicians was primarily conservative, but 38% received antibiotics; some of the antibiotics were not effective against staphylococcal infection.

Adolescent↗

Elderly patients' responses to preoperative autologous blood collection.

OBJECTIVE: To follow the haematological response in elderly patients to preoperative autologous blood collection. DESIGN: A prospective, randomised study. SETTING: Malmö General Hospital, Sweden. PATIENTS: Sixty patients with a mean age of 71 years (range, 60-82 years) who were to undergo total hip replacement were randomly divided into four groups of 15. One group served as control. Three units of blood were collected from patients in the other three groups, the first unit at least 30 days before the planned operation, with an average interval of 10 days between collections. Iron supplementation was given to one group as a substitution remedy, another group was given iron and folic acid and the third group was without supplementation during the collection period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Haematological and biochemical tests were performed on blood samples taken at the time of each collection, on the morning of the hip replacement operation, and ten days after and six weeks after the operation. RESULTS: No major complication was encountered with blood collection. The patients tolerated the procedure very well including the substitution remedies. Haematological and biochemical parameters remained within the normal range during the collection period and after the operation. No patient in the autologous groups needed homologous blood during the operation; three units of homologous blood were used after the operation in these patients. CONCLUSION: Preoperative blood collection from the elderly is safe and well tolerated. The procedure should be encouraged in elective orthopaedic operations regardless of age.

Aged↗

Reduced concentrations of galanin, arginine vasopressin, neuropeptide Y and peptide YY in the temporal cortex but not in the hypothalamus of brains from schizophrenics.

Postmortem investigations were performed in brains from 14 schizophrenic patients and 21 controls matched for age and autopsy latency. Concentrations of galanin, delta-sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP), corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), arginine vasopressin (AVP), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and peptide YY (PYY) were determined in the hypothalamus and grey matter from the temporal cortex. A significant positive correlation between age and the concentrations of galanin and CRF was found in the controls. No sex differences were found except a higher mean of CRF in the hypothalamus of the women. In the temporal cortex of the schizophrenic brains, galanin, AVP, NPY and PYY were significantly reduced. DSIP reduction only bordered on significance. CRF was not reduced. Comparing neuroleptic-treated vs non-treated schizophrenics, the treatment factor could not explain the reduced concentrations of neuropeptides in the temporal lobe. A comparison of controls with schizophrenics showed no significant differences in hypothalamic neuropeptide concentrations.

Age Factors↗

Predonation autologous blood in hip arthroplasty.

In a prospective randomized study of elderly patients, a total of 130 units of blood were donated by 45 patients prior to a total hip arthroplasty. Fifteen patients served as controls (no phlebotomy). The average age was 71 (60-82) years. No major complication occurred with phlebotomy. All the patients were able to maintain their hematologic and chemical parameters within the normal range throughout the donation period. The autologous blood covered all the peroperative transfusion needs and 97 percent of the total transfusion requirements. There was less postoperative blood loss, as well as total blood loss, in the autologous groups compared with the control group. There was no difference in the rate of postoperative complications between the groups. The use of predeposited autologous blood in elective orthopedics, regardless of patient age, is feasible, cost effective, and avoids the risks associated with homologous blood transfusion.

Age Factors↗

IgG subclass response and opsonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae after vaccination of healthy adults.

Studies relating opsonization and IgG antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae have yielded contradictory results. This study compared changes in opsonization with IgG subclass response after vaccinating healthy subjects with a 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine. Total IgG and IgG subclass antibodies to pneumococcal polysaccharide types 8, 9, and 19 were measured by ELISA. Opsonic activity was assayed using 3H-labeled bacteria and polymorphonuclear leukocytes in different serum concentrations (5%-40%). A substantial postvaccination increase in total and subclass IgG antibody was observed in most subjects, although variations were seen. Postvaccination sera generally gave rise to enhanced opsonization, and a correlation was found between increases in antibody levels and opsonization. This correlation was closest for IgG1 and IgG4 and generally strongest at the lowest serum concentration, but weak or absent at the highest concentration. Thus, vaccination against S. pneumoniae stimulates a variable increase in specific opsonic activity in health persons that is best demonstrated when serum is a limiting factor in the opsonin assay.

Adult↗

Phagocytosis and killing of Haemophilus influenzae by alveolar macrophages: no difference between smokers and non-smokers.

The susceptibility of smokers to pneumonia caused by Haemophilus influenzae may result from impairment of phagocytic or bactericidal function of pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM). We compared ingestion and killing of non-typable H. influenzae and H. influenzae type B by alveolar macrophages from asymptomatic smokers and non-smokers. Three times as many cells were recovered from bronchoalveolar lavage of smokers. Non-typable H. influenzae (NTHI) were phagocytosed and killed readily by PAM from both groups of subjects, while H. influenzae type B were resistant to phagocytosis. No difference in uptake of bacteria was detected between PAM of smokers and non-smokers. PAM from smokers had a slightly greater bactericidal activity than PAM from non-smokers. These results suggest that other host factors, such as impaired tracheobronchial clearance or the presence of conditions that favor bacterial growth rather than damage to alveolar macrophages, are responsible for the susceptibility of smokers to Haemophilus infections.

Adult↗

Natural and vaccine-related immunity to Streptococcus pneumoniae.

To investigate the protective effects of pneumococcal vaccine, we assayed serum from healthy adults and from elderly bronchitics for antibody and opsonic activity against nine serotypes of S. pneumoniae. Before vaccination, there was no relation between opsonization and the level of antibody measured by RIA. Some serotypes were well opsonized in the absence of detectable antibody to capsular polysaccharide; others were not, despite modest levels of antibody. These in vitro studies did not support the concept that a certain level of antibody (e.g., greater than or equal to 250 ng of antibody nitrogen/ml) was specifically associated with the capacity to opsonize pneumococci. Nearly all postvaccination sera had increased antibody and opsonic activity against all serotypes, but the lack of correlation in any individual serum persisted. RIA showed that pre- and postvaccination levels of antibody in elderly adults with chronic lung disease were similar to those of younger adults. In elderly bronchitics, opsonizing activity for six of the nine serotypes was lower after vaccination, a result of suggesting a possible explanation for the failure of pneumococcal vaccine to be fully protective in these subjects. Elderly subjects had higher levels of antibody to phosphocholine, but when isolated, this antibody did not opsonize any of the vaccine strains of pneumococci. These results suggest that alternative strategies are needed to maximize the protective effect of pneumococcal vaccine in the population at greatest risk.

Adult↗

Human alveolar lining material and antibacterial defenses.

To investigate the possible antibacterial properties of human alveolar lining material (ALM), we obtained ALM and pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) by bronchoalveolar lavage of healthy nonsmokers. Alveolar lining material was isolated by centrifugation or micropore filtration; electron microscopy revealed lamellar bodies, and lipid analysis showed that 98% of the lipid fraction was phospholipid. No free fatty acids were detected. Streptococcus pneumoniae and non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) died spontaneously in PBS at a mean rate of log10 0.75 and 0.95 in 90 min, respectively; the addition of ALM appeared to exert a slight protective effect, and at higher concentrations supported replication of NTHI. There was no difference in the uptake of the bacteria by PAM when ALM was present. Phagocytosed NTHI were killed rapidly and completely within 60 min by PAM with or without ALM. A greater proportion of S. aureus were killed by PAM alone than in the presence of ALM. Alveolar lining material from healthy humans thus appears to have no demonstrable effect on host defense against these bacteria. The differences between our results and those of earlier studies using ALM from rats may relate to interspecies differences in the composition of ALM.

Cholesterol↗

Recurrent Nocardia pneumonia in an adult with chronic granulomatous disease.

The diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease was made for the first time in a young adult when he presented with Nocardia asteroides pneumonia. Treatment with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for 10 wk brought about an apparent cure of the infection. Two and one half years later N. asteroides pneumonia recurred and resulted in death from respiratory failure. Antibiotic susceptibility studies suggested that both episodes were caused by the same organism. This suggestion was supported by endonuclease restriction analysis, which showed that the plasmids from both Nocardia isolates were identical. Late recurrence of pneumonia caused by N. asteroides occurs only rarely. In this patient, recurrent infection appeared to be related to persistence of colonizing organisms in the host.

Adult↗

Development of bactericidal antibody during Branhamella catarrhalis infection.

The recent observation that Branhamella catarrhalis may cause a variety of infections in humans has stimulated interest in human host defenses against this organism. We encountered 21 patients with B. catarrhalis infection: seven with pneumonia, 13 with a purulent exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, and one with purulent sinusitis. Normal human serum (NHS) demonstrated no bactericidal activity against 20 of the 21 isolates. In contrast, 7 of 19 acute and 18 of 20 convalescent sera demonstrated significant bactericidal effects against the corresponding B. catarrhalis isolate. Heating convalescent sera to 56 C for 30 min abolished bactericidal activity. This activity was restored by NHS but not by complement-rich guinea pig serum. Selective blockage of the classic complement pathway eliminated bactericidal activity, whereas selective blockage of the alternative pathway did not. IgG isolated from convalescent serum plus NHS was bactericidal for the corresponding B. catarrhalis isolate. These results suggest that most patients with pulmonary infections due to B. catarrhalis develop a convalescent IgG antibody response that mediates serum bactericidal activity by the classic complement pathway.

Acute Disease↗

Phagocytosis and killing of common bacterial pathogens of the lung by human alveolar macrophages.

To investigate factors that determine susceptibility of the lungs to infection with common respiratory pathogens, we studied phagocytosis and killing of nontypable Haemophilus influenzae, H. influenzae type b, Streptococcus pneumoniae types III, VI, and XIV, an unencapsulated variant of S. pneumoniae type III, and Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I, by using human alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage of healthy nonsmokers. After opsonization with 10% pooled human serum, mean uptake (+/- standard deviation) of nontypable H. influenzae (67.5% +/- 15.0%), unencapsulated S. pneumoniae type III (71.2% +/- 4.8%) and S. aureus (79.1% +/- 10.2%) was significantly greater (P less than .01) than that of H. influenzae type b (40.1% +/- 15.0%), and S. pneumoniae types III (4.4% +/- 3.1%), VI (11.8% +/- 9.6%), or XIV (8.7% +/- 7.0%). Nontypable H. influenzae was ingested after opsonization with much less pooled human serum than was H. influenzae type b, and uptake of encapsulated S. pneumoniae was not enhanced by as much as 80% pooled human serum. Intracellular killing of unencapsulated S. pneumoniae type III and nontypable H. influenzae was rapid and complete and corresponded to the degree of phagocytosis, but despite a high uptake, S. aureus were killed slowly and incompletely. The virulence of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae as lung pathogens is thus determined jointly by encapsulation and the inadequate opsonizing effect of normal human serum, whereas that of S. aureus may be related to the organism's relative resistance to intracellular killing by alveolar macrophages.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Tumour regression after extracorporeal affinity chromatography of blood plasma across agarose beads containing staphylococcal protein A.

The therapeutic effect of absorbing plasma from tumour patients with immobilized staphylococcal protein A was tested. Plasma prepared by centrifugation was passed over protein A-Sepharose and then reinfused into the patient. Five patients were thus treated. One with malignant melanoma and one with renal adenocarcinoma showed measurable regression of metastatic lesions. In another with malignant melanoma a subcutaneous metastasis showed histopathological changes compatible with a therapeutic effect. In two patients, one with malignant melanoma and one with renal adenocarcinoma, no signs of regression were found. No severe adverse effects of the treatment were observed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Changes in circulating immune complexes in tumour patient serum after in vitro or ex vivo affinity chromatography of blood plasma or whole blood over immunoglobulin-binding staphylococcal protein A-Sepharose.

Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were determined in tumour patient sera using three methods. One is based on PEG-precipitation, one on C1q-reactivity, and one on protein A-reactivity. About 25-30% of the sera were positive in at least one of the tests. Incubation of serum with protein A-Sepharose in vitro removed PEG-precipitable CIC from most sera, whereas C1q-reactive CICs had a much lower affinity to protein A. The protein A-reactive complexes showed considerable variation in their binding to protein A-Sepharose, and in some sera the amount of these CICs was actually increased. Similar changes in protein A-reactive CIC were also found during ex vivo treatment of tumour patients with immune adsorption. It is proposed that the binding of immune complexes to protein A can result in remodelling of protein A itself. Results from ultracentrifugation and fractionated PEG-precipitation support this hypothesis.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Acute cocaine poisoning. Importance of treating seizures and acidosis.

Cocaine poisoning has increased recently, and survival is rare because of its sudden onset and rapidly fatal course. A patient is described in whom cocaine poisoning developed. This condition was manifest by the findings of acute agitation, diaphoresis, and tachycardia, and was complicated by grand mal seizures, severe respiratory and metabolic acidosis, apnea, and accelerated idioventricular rhythm. After control of the seizures with diazepam and treatment of the acidosis with ventilation and bicarbonate, the ventricular dysrhythmia abated, and the patient made a quick recovery. Recently reported experiments suggest that seizures are a major determinant of lethality in cocaine poisoning. Treatment of the seizures is of prime importance, and correction of the acidosis can normalize cardiac rhythm and function in these critically ill patients.

Acidosis↗

Necrotizing pneumonia and empyema caused by Bacillus cereus and Clostridium bifermentans.

A patient with no known immune compromise presented with necrotizing pneumonia and a pleural effusion. Thoracentesis yielded a sanguinopurulent, foul smelling exudate that showed sheets of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and many gram-positive bacilli. A tube thoracostomy was performed and treatment with intravenous penicillin G was begun. Twenty-four hours later a Bacillus species later identified as Bacillus cereus was identified from aerobic cultures. Because the organism was resistant to penicillin, the patient was switched to intravenous chloramphenicol. A second organism was noted to grow slowly under anaerobic conditions and was later identified as Clostridium bifermentans. Despite initial clinical improvement, fever and empyema persisted resulting in a thoracotomy with resection of the infected lung and extensive decortication. Specimens from the lung tissue obtained at surgery also grew both Bacillus cereus and Clostridium bifermentans. Subsequent review of the original pleural fluid smears revealed a degree of pleomorphism that was not initially appreciated. Prompt surgical intervention combined with appropriate antibiotics resulted in a cure of this unusual aerobic/anaerobic infection.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Mode of inheritance of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Iceland. Echocardiographic study.

We used an abnormally thick interventricular septum (greater than or equal to 1.3 cm) as an echocardiographic marker to find the inheritance pattern of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy among relatives of eight patients who had that disease at necropsy. Forty normal subjects served as a control group. Fifty-eight family members were examined and 18 (41%) of the 44 first degree relatives had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The overall inheritance pattern was consistent with an autosomal dominant genetic disorder and in one family a recessive trait could be excluded. The diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be difficult clinically as only 13% of our patients had serious symptoms and only 30% had abnormal auscultatory findings. The electrocardiogram is a useful screening test among relatives as it was abnormal in 20 (87%) of those who had an abnormally thick septum. Symmetric septal hypertrophy was found in 30% of patients with cardiomyopathy in this study and only 17% had clinical evidence of obstruction.

Adolescent↗