Biomedical subjects

S Larsen

Publications and source records attributed to S Larsen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

[The calendar as criterion--duration of sick leave and physicians' work conditions].

This paper addresses physicians' tendency to allot standardized, "rounded off" sick leave. Of the 401 sick leaves reviewed, 64.3% lasted for one or two weeks, one or two months, or to the end of the week or month. The patients' presumed wish for an extended leave, and the practitioners' strained work situation were examined as possible influential factors. A scrutiny of general practitioners' and company practitioners' working conditions, and employees' current inclination to work, does not support these ideas. Dialogue between physician and patient should be improved and we also suggest a change to "vaguer" durations of sick leave.

Humans↗

PubMed1992

[Development and use of a database for gastroenterologic endoscopy].

With no commercially available endoscopy database manager available, a standalone system for gastroenterological endoscopy departments has been developed since 1985 through joint efforts of gastroenterologists and dedicated programmers. The present system was implemented for daily use January 1989 and, to date, approximately 19,000 examinations have been recorded. Nurses and office assistants carry out administrative work, but the physician enters the endoscopic data, partly as free text, partly as structured data via automated menus and a mouse. In addition to the immediate printout of the result, valuable data are stored in the computer for administrative and research purposes. Mean data entering time for the physician was four minutes 17 seconds, and altogether eight minutes 40 seconds was spent on the computer system for each patient served.

Database Management Systems↗

PubMed1992

[Tendency to edema as the initial symptom of hyperthyroidism].

Peripheral oedema which is not of cardiac origin may be an early clinical sign of hyperthyroidism. Measurement of the thyroid parameters is recommended in patients with sudden onset of oedema of the lower limbs and tachycardia without any immediate cause.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Prevalence and causes of albuminuria in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

A prospective study of the prevalence and causes of persistent albuminuria (greater than 300 mg/24 hr) was conducted in non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patients, age less than 66 years, attending a diabetic clinic during 1987. All eligible patients (N = 370) were asked to collect at least one 24-hour urine sample for albumin analysis. Urine collection was obtained in 224 males and 139 females (98%). Fifty patients (7 women) suffered from persistent albuminuria (13.8%). The prevalence of albuminuria was significantly higher in males (19%) than in females (5%). A kidney biopsy was performed in 35 patients (70%). The kidney biopsies revealed diffuse and/or nodular diabetic glomerulosclerosis in 27 patients (77%), while the remaining eight patients (23%) had a variety of non-diabetic glomerulopathies, such as minimal lesion and mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis. Diabetic retinopathy was present in 15 of 27 patients (56%) with diabetic glomerulosclerosis, while none of the eight patients with a non-diabetic glomerulopathy had retinopathy. Our cross sectional study has revealed a high prevalence of albuminuria and of non-diabetic glomerulopathy as a cause of this complication in NIDDM patients. Presence of diabetic retinopathy strongly suggests that a diabetic glomerulopathy is the cause of albuminuria. Albuminuric non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients without retinopathy require further evaluation, that is, kidney biopsy.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in human renal allografts and cultured human tubular cells.

The in vivo distribution of the intercellular adhesion molecule ICAM-1 was investigated in renal tissue specimens obtained from 17 renal allotransplanted patients, nine normal kidneys (controls), seven native kidneys, nine patients with mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, and nine patients with active extracapillary glomerulonephritis. Biopsies from patients with signs of acute rejection showed a significant increase in ICAM-1 expression in the tubular epithelium (P less than 0.05). In normal kidneys (controls) ICAM-1 expression was found in endothelial cells; additional expression in the tubular epithelial cells was induced in patients with extracapillary glomerulonephritis. The in vitro expression of ICAM-1 was examined in cultured human tubular cells after stimulation with gamma-interferon and interleukin-1, treatment with cyclosporin and/or verapamil and coculture with allogenic mononuclear cells. An increased ICAM-1 expression was demonstrated by coculture with allogenic mononuclear cells and after stimulation with gamma-interferon and/or interleukin-1. Cyclosporin or verapamil induced no changes. Our results give support to the hypothesis that ICAM-1 upregulation is important in immune interactions such as allograft rejection. Furthermore, the in vitro model indicates that ICAM-1 expression is regulated by gamma-interferon and interleukin-1 produced by activated T lymphocytes and macrophages.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Single and combined effects of the vitamin D analogue KH1060 and cyclosporin A on mercuric-chloride-induced autoimmune disease in the BN rat.

Mercuric chloride induces in BN rats a self-limiting systemic autoimmune disease characterized by proliferation of autoreactive CD4+ T lymphocytes, polyclonal activation of B lymphocytes, and the development of an anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis with concomitant nephrotic range proteinuria. We have used this model of autoimmune disease to test the immunosuppressive ability of a novel vitamin D3 analogue KH1060. This compound prevents autoimmune manifestations including proteinuria, serum IgE, and serum anti-laminin antibodies in a dose-dependent manner, as does cyclosporin A (CyA). When dosages of KH1060 capable of partial reduction of proteinuria without causing significant hypercalcaemia are combined with small dosages of CyA also capable of partial prevention of proteinuria, an additive effect is seen, leading to complete prevention of proteinuria and substantial reductions in serum IgE and anti-laminin levels. Possible mechanisms of action are discussed and it is suggested that KH1060 could prove useful as an immunosuppressive agent in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Malignant Warthin's tumour: a case study.

Malignant transformation of a benign Warthin's tumour (adenolymphoma) is extremely rare. The light microscopic and ultrastructural features of an adenocarcinoma arising in a Warthin's tumour in the parotid gland are described. Light microscopy demonstrated a transition zone from the benign to the malignant component, and the malignant cells revealed oncocytic features by both light- and electronmicroscopy.

Adenolymphoma↗

PubMed1992

Influence of ripeness of banana on the blood glucose and insulin response in type 2 diabetic subjects.

Banana is a popular and tasty fruit which often is restricted in the diet prescribed for diabetic patients owing to the high content of free sugars. However, in under-ripe bananas starch constitutes 80-90% of the carbohydrate content, which as the banana ripens changes into free sugars. To study the effect of ripening on the postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses to banana, 10 type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic subjects consumed three meals, consisting of 120 g under-ripe banana, 120 g over-ripe banana or 40 g white bread on separate days. The mean postprandial blood glucose response area to white bread (181 +/- 45 mmol l-1 x 240 min) was significantly higher compared with under-ripe banana (62 +/- 17 mmol l-1 x 240 min: p < 0.01) and over-ripe banana (106 +/- 17 mmol l-1 x 240 min: p < 0.01). Glycaemic indices of the under-ripe and over-ripe bananas differed (43 +/- 10 and 74 +/- 9: p < 0.01). The mean insulin response areas to the three meals were similar: 6618 +/- 1398 pmol l-1 x 240 min (white bread), 7464 +/- 1800 pmol l-1 x 240 min (under-ripe banana) and 8292 +/- 2406 pmol l-1 x 240 min (over-ripe banana). The low glycaemic response of under-ripe compared with over-ripe bananas may be ascribed to the high starch content, which has previously been found to be only hydrolysed slowly by alfa-amylase in humans.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Glucose↗

PubMed1992

Northern and Southern blot analysis of human RNA and DNA in autopsy material.

Fresh biopsy material for molecular biological investigations is not obtainable from all relevant normal human tissues. We studied the feasibility of using RNA and DNA from autopsies for Northern and Southern blot analysis. Tissue samples from seven organs were obtained from 10 autopsies performed 21-118 h postmortem. Extracted RNA and DNA were examined by Northern and Southern blot analysis using oligo-labelled human DNA probes recognizing gene transcripts of 2-5 kb. The results indicated that, in general, Northern blot analysis was feasible with the applied probes when the tissue was obtained less than two days postmortem. Histological examination showing slight or no autolysis and the presence of ribosomal bands after gel electrophoresis were both indicative parameters of RNA preservation. DNA was appropriate for Southern blotting when the tissue was obtained less than three to five days postmortem, depending on the organ from which the DNA was extracted.

Adrenal Glands↗

PubMed1992

Survival, function, morphology and serological aspects of rat renal allografts. Effect of short-term treatment with cyclosporine A, anti-CD4 and anti-interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibodies.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of short-term treatment with cyclosporine A (CyA) combined with anti-CD4 (OX-38) and anti-interleukin-2 receptor (OX-39) monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) on graft survival, graft function, morphology, and anti-donor antibody levels in a BN-to-LEW rat kidney transplantation model. Spontaneous rejection occurred at 9.3 days (range 9-10 d). Administration of CyA (12.5 mg/kg/d) for 14 days prolonged graft survival to 33 days (range 23-40 d, P less than 0.02). Supplementing with OX-38 and OX-39 100 micrograms/kg/d, given i.p. from days 0 to 7, further prolonged graft survival to 70 days (range 38- greater than 100 d, P less than 0.02 vs controls and CyA group). One of seven recipients had good graft function for more than 100 days. A three-fold increase of the MAb dosage did not improve mean graft survival (53.5 d), but three of eight recipients had well functioning grafts for greater than 100 days. Kidney function was characterized by reduced creatinine clearance, also in the recipients with long-term graft survival, and a defect in concentrating urine creatinine with subsequent pronounced increase in urinary output. Graft histology showed a complex pattern of interstitial alterations including mononuclear cell infiltration, fibrosis, tubular atrophy and vascular damage with intimal/endothelial cell hyperplasia and perivascular inflammation. In nine of 10 MAb-treated recipients with graft survival greater than 60 days, granular deposits of immunoglobulins and C3 were found by immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM). The deposits were localized in the glomerular capillaries and mesangium. IFM in MAb-treated control animals could not demonstrate any deposits. Flow cytometric evaluation of posttransplant serum samples against donor target cells showed increasing amounts of anti-donor antibodies until the time of rejection, while recipients with long-term graft function had moderately positive cross-matches up to two months after transplantation. Hereafter antibody titres decreased and cross-matches at the time of sacrifice were again negative. The morphological findings and the flow cytometric cross-match results seem to indicate a postponed antibody-mediated type of rejection. The reason why some kidney recipients showed decreasing antibody titres and stable long-term graft function is unclear.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Influence of a supplemental carbon source on anaerobic dechlorination of pentachlorophenol in granular sludge.

Anaerobic dechlorination of pentachlorophenol (PCP) was studied in two upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors. One reactor received glucose (0.9 g liter-1) as an additional carbon source; the other one served as a control. The concentration of PCP in the medium was 4.5 and 3.0 mg liter-1 in the experimental and control reactors, respectively. The reactors were inoculated with granular sludge previously grown on sugar-containing wastewater. After 10 months of continuous operation, the removal of PCP was 99% in the glucose-amended reactor, whereas the removal in the control reactor varied between 32 and 77%. Furthermore, 94% of the PCP was completely dechlorinated in the glucose reactor compared with a maximum of 20% in the control reactor. In the same period, the amount of biomass in the glucose reactor had increased by approximately 150% compared with that in the control reactor, where no growth of the sludge bed occurred. Batch culture activity tests showed that the addition of glucose had a stimulatory effect on the dechlorination rate of PCP per gram of volatile solids. This indicated that the better performance of the glucose-amended reactor was due to a higher concentration of biomass and a direct stimulatory effect of glucose on the dechlorination rate. The pattern of dechlorination of PCP showed that an initial para cleavage was followed by two ortho cleavages.

Anaerobiosis↗

PubMed1992

Reliability of in situ measurements of colorectal polyps.

A reliable and sensitive in situ method for measuring polyp size is fundamental for growth studies of colonic polyps. A measuring probe inserted through a colonoscope can give a visual assessment of polyp diameter, and from a picture of the polyp the area of the polyp on the picture can be calculated by computerized analysis. To test the reliability and sensitivity of these two in situ measurements, 43 colonic polyps (mean diameter, 8.5 mm; range, 4-20 mm) removed by snare diathermy resection were examined. The maximal diameter was measured, and two Polaroid pictures taken of each polyp. After polypectomy each polyp was subjected to extracorporeal reassessment of diameter and measurement of weight and volume. By computerized analysis of the pictures the following variables were estimated: 1) area of the polyp on the picture; 2) largest diameter; 3) maximum width 90 degrees on the largest diameter; 4) maximum distance from centre of gravity; and 5) minimum distance from centre of gravity. Results showed good correlation between diameter measured in situ and after removal (r = 0.93), diameter raised to the 3rd power and weight (r = 0.93), and also to volume (r = 0.77). Area analysis compared with weight was less good (r = 0.72). A very high correlation was demonstrated between weight and volume (r = 0.99). We conclude that the measurement of diameter in situ with a measuring probe is sensitive and somewhat more reliable than computerized analysis of size. The present 3-year follow-up and intervention study will show which of the two methods is preferable for evaluation of polyp growth.

Colonic Polyps↗

PubMed1992

Nutrient intake and nutritional status in children with juvenile chronic arthritis.

Nutrient intake and nutritional status were assessed in 15 children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) and in 17 healthy controls. Anthropometric measurements were similar in children with pauciarticular JCA and in controls, whereas weight (p = 0.05) and upper arm muscle area (UAMA) (p less than 0.01) were reduced in children with polyarticular JCA. Compared with healthy controls the concentrations of hemoglobin, serum iron and serum zinc were reduced in the children with polyarticular JCA (p less than 0.01) and serum copper was increased (p less than 0.01). In the patients the concentrations of hemoglobin, serum iron and serum zinc correlated negatively with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), whereas serum copper correlated positively. Impaired nutritional status was found in the children with polyarticular JCA in spite of increased energy and protein intake. In this group of patients the dietary intake of calcium was also found to be reduced.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Histopathological changes in exocrine glands of murine transplantation chimeras. I: The development of Sjögren's syndrome-like changes secondary to GVH induced lupus syndrome.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a connective tissue disease characterized by general affection of exocrine glands. The three main components of SS are: dry eyes, dry mouth, and other connective tissue disease. When only two of these, dry eyes and dry mouth, are present, the disease is designated primary SS. In the presence of the third component, most commonly SLE or RA, with one or both of the two first components the disease is designated secondary SS. In murine transplantation chimeras, we have demonstrated the development of both primary and secondary SS depending upon the mouse strains used. We transferred large numbers of viable leucocytes from homozygotic donors to heterozygotic recipients. When DBA/2 mice were used as donors, a full-developed SLE-syndrome, with autoantibodies against native DNA, nuclear antigens, and red blood cells was observed. We found immune deposits in skin ("lupus band") and kidneys, immune complex glomerulonephritis (ICGN), proteinuria, ascites, and hepatosplenomegaly. In later stages, we found a generalized dacryoadenitis. In the kidneys we found interstitial nephritis, and occasionally "half-moon" nephritis. In skin, immune deposits were demonstrated in intercellular spaces. These findings are similar to those found in patients with Sjögren's syndrome secondary to SLE. The murine transplantation chimera is therefore an experimental model for spontaneous autoimmune diseases.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Histopathological changes in exocrine glands of murine transplantation chimeras. II: Sjögren's syndrome-like exocrinopathy in mice without lupus nephritis. A model of primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Autoimmune reactions are evoked in hybrid mice after induction of a chronic graft-versus-host reaction by transfer of viable leucocytes from one of the parental strains to non-irradiated F1 recipients. We have previously demonstrated an SLE-like syndrome early in the reaction, with an additional Sjögren's syndrome-like glandular affection occurring later. In this study, we used Balb/c mice as donors and Balb/cxCBA/H-T6 F1 hybrids as recipients. We found serum autoantibodies characteristic of SLE after 9 weeks but not after 20 weeks. No clinical signs of disease were seen at any time. After prolonged studies (5 months), we found heavy inflammation in Harderian, salivary, and tear glands. All animals survived the entire length of the experiment without signs of renal failure. The pathological manifestations: lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, and enlargement of lymph nodes, are similar to those seen in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. This murine transplantation chimera may be a useful experimental model for primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Subcutaneous avulsion of the breast caused by a seat belt injury. Report on a case requiring emergency mastectomy.

A 60-year-old female car driver wearing a combined three-point lap-shoulder seat belt was involved in a head-on-collision. The entire right breast was separated from the chest wall, whereas the overlying skin remained intact. The injury resulted in a rapid development of a monstrous haematoma in the retromammary space, and required emergency mastectomy. Seat belt lesions of the female breast are seldom referred in the literature.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed1992

Growth of colorectal polyps: design of a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled intervention study in patients with colorectal polyps.

One hundred and sixteen patients were included, during 18 months, in a double-blind placebo-controlled intervention study, with calcium, vitamins A, C, E and selenium (in a cocktail) or placebo against growth of colonic polyps. Patients were randomized within three arms, according to diameter of the largest polyp, < 5 mm, 5-9 mm or > 9 mm. Polyps > 9 mm were resected, the others were left to be measured annually before resection after 3 years. The protocol (performed in all of the patients) included registration of demographic data, family and personal history, measurement of polyps, collection of blood specimens, stools and biopsy samples. Registration of nutritional status, diet history and 5-day prospective food consumption, was performed in 108 patients. The patient compliance was registered every third month by the hospital pharmacist, with concomitant delivery of new boxes of capsules. Additionally, stool collections were performed from all of the patients for the measurement of faecal calcium, bile salts and fat. Inclusion rate of 37, 41 and 38 patients in each of the three 6-month periods was uniform. The group with the largest polyps measuring 5-9 mm comprised 44% of the material. The sex ratio corresponded to that in overall referrals for colonoscopy. The age relationship of size and multiplicity of polyps and the distribution of polyps in the large bowel corresponded to previous experience in polyp-bearing individuals of the same age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

PubMed1992

Glycaemic and insulinaemic responses to orange and apple compared with white bread in non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects.

To study the postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses to exchangeable amounts of simple and complex carbohydrates, eight non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects consumed 227 g apple, 280 g orange or 50 g white bread on three separate days. The mean postprandial blood glucose response area to white bread (404 +/- 95 mM x 240 min) was significantly higher compared with orange (131 +/- 34 mM x 240 min; P less than 0.05) and apple (157 +/- 57 mM x 240 min; P less than 0.05). Thr glycaemic indices of the fruits were identical: 44 +/- 13 (orange) and 40 +/- 11 (apple). The low glycaemic response to orange and apple may be ascribed to the high content of fructose which is rapidly cleared and metabolized by the liver, without elevating the blood glucose.

Blood Glucose↗