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Biomedical subjects

S O Larsen

Publications and source records attributed to S O Larsen.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Reactions after MMR vaccination].

Four months after introducing routine vaccination against measles, mumps and German measles (MMR-vaccination) in Denmark, a questionnaire study of reactions in vaccinated children was carried out. There were significantly fewer reactions in children who had previously developed immunity to measles, either by having had the disease or by vaccination. The reaction frequency after MMR-vaccination of children immune to measles was no greater than that after other vaccinations. Moreover, for all vaccinations, the frequency of reaction was found to decrease significantly with increasing age. The study suggests that a large proportion of the so-called reactions were not caused by vaccination, but were due to common viral infections occurring at random and concurrently with it. The reactions that arose in connection with MMR-vaccination are considered to be of minor importance when compared with often prolonged and more severe course of these diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Whooping cough epidemiology in Denmark prior to and after the introduction of whooping cough vaccination. Protective effect of the vaccine and herd immunity].

The epidemiology of whooping cough in Denmark is described on the basis of the notified cases of the disease. The frequency of whooping cough has decreased to approximately one sixteenth of the previous level in children following the introduction of vaccination for whooping cough in 1961. Following change to a programme with only three vaccinations with a weaker, non-aluminium-adsorbed pure whooping cough vaccine in 1970, whooping cough became again slightly more frequent in the nineteen seventies and eighties. No definite reduction in the proportion of cases of whooping cough among infants could be detected although this was what the 1970 programme was particularly aimed at. Isolated deaths from whooping cough still occurred in the eighties, all of these among unvaccinated infants. The risk of whooping cough in an unvaccinated child is approximately one sixth of the risk prior to introduction of vaccination. In a vaccinated child, the risk, as judged from the notified cases, is one twentieth of the risk during the time prior to introduction of vaccination. In all age groups "herd immunity" is considered to have contributed considerably to the reduced incidence. The incidence in Denmark is, however, high compared with the incidence in some other industrialized countries. A vaccination programme with more numerous whooping cough vaccinations and possibly with a more immunogenic vaccine may be recommended on the basis of the strategy aimed at keeping the incidence of whooping cough, and thus the risk of exposure, as low as possible.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed1990

Maternal serum markers in screening for Down syndrome.

The addition of two new markers in maternal serum, estriol and HCG, to those already known, namely the level of maternal serum alfa-fetoprotein and maternal age, considerably improves the expected results of a screening strategy for Down syndrome. The detection rate is slightly increased from 53.0% to 57.6%, but, more importantly, the false-positive rate decreases from 9.4% to 7.3%. It is our belief that, at least in women aged less than 35 years, a screening strategy based on a combination of maternal age and biochemical markers should be incorporated into antenatal care. For older women, the results of such a maternal serum test may refine counseling for genetic amniocentesis, as a much more explicit risk calculation can be performed than that based on age alone.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed1989

[Discontinuing postoperative wound dressings].

The influence of postoperative dressings on wound healing was investigated. Clean and potentially contaminated operation wounds were subdivided at random into a group with dressings until the sutures were removed or a group with dressings during the first 24 hours after operation only. No significant differences in the incidences of wound infections were observed in the two groups. The majority of the patients treated with dressings for a brief period only did not desire prolonged periods with dressings after possible future operations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Need for surgical wound dressing.

The need for dressings on clean and clean contaminated surgical wounds was investigated. A total of 1202 patients with 1202 clean or clean contaminated surgical wounds were randomized into two groups: 633 wounds were covered by dressings up until the time of suture removal, and 569 wounds were treated without dressings after the first postoperative day. In the group characterized by long dressing time, the rate of postoperative wound infections was 4.9 per cent. The rate was 4.7 per cent in the group represented by short dressing time. Using short dressing time not only reduces the number of nursing hours but also limits the need for costly dressing material. In addition, both wound observation and patients' personal hygiene are made easier.

Bandages↗
PubMed1989

Attitudes towards HIV infection and sexual risk behaviour. A survey among Danish men 16-55 years of age.

To describe attitudes towards HIV infection in relation to sexual risk behaviour and sociodemographic factors in a representative sample of Danish men 16-55 years of age, a self-administered anonymous questionnaire was distributed in connection with a personal health interview and returned by prepaid mail. The response rate was 55%, corresponding to 1,155 participants. In contrast to the official AIDS prevention strategy, 28% of the participants stated that HIV infected persons should be forbidden to have sexual relationships, and 44% that they should be registered by the authorities. 33% of the participants had had sexual behaviour which may be associated with increased risk of HIV infection: more than one female partner during the previous 12 months, sexual contact with prostitutes or sex with other men. Despite good basic knowledge of AIDS, only 41-59% of these men perceived themselves at risk, and only 47%-54% of men perceiving themselves at risk had adopted risk-reducing sexual behaviour. The results indicate a need for innovative health education of the general public about AIDS prevention at community and individual level. In the absence of effective treatment and without prospect of a vaccine in the near future the prevention of AIDS must focus on modifying behaviour associated with increased risk of HIV infection, in particular sexual behaviour.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation and quality control of a monoclonal antibody based enzyme antigen immunoassay of acetylcholinesterase in amniotic fluid.

We have evaluated a new monoclonal antibody based enzyme antigen immunoassay (EAIA) for acetylcholinesterase in amniotic fluid, intended for the detection of open fetal abnormalities, especially open neural tube defects. With a sample volume of 50 microliters, the detection limit is 0.7 nkat/l and linearity is found up to an amount 200-times the detection limit. CV's are less than or equal to 6.6% within assays and less than or equal to 10.3% between assays; recoveries averaged 103%. The upper limit of the reference range for amniotic fluids from non-affected pregnancies is 8.5 nkat/l for clear specimens and 25.0 nkat/l for haemolysed specimens. Amniotic fluid specimens from 1473 patients (1388 normal and 85 pathological pregnancies) were examined with both the new EAIA and the original procedure using a polyclonal rabbit antiserum. The two procedures showed identical sensitivities and specificities of about 100%, except for amniotic fluid samples containing haemolysed blood. For the latter the new EAIA showed a specificity of 100% compared to 55.6% for the original procedure. We conclude that the new EAIA is accurate and reproducible and shows, compared with the original procedure, an increased specificity in the analysis of amniotic fluid samples containing haemolysed blood.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1989

Occurrence of sexual behaviour related to the risk of HIV-infection. A survey among Danish men, 16-55 years of age.

To describe the occurrence of sexual behaviour involving increased risk of HIV-infection in a representative sample of Danish men, 16-55 years of age, a self-administered anonymous questionnaire was distributed in connection with a personal health interview and returned by mail. The response rate was 55% corresponding to 1,155 participants. The sexual behaviour of 33% of the men was potentially risky, with a chance of HIV-infection. Homosexual experience was reported as 3% and sexual contact with female prostitutes as 14%. During the previous twelve months, 1% had had homosexual contact, 2% had had contact with prostitutes, and 22% had more than one female partner; most of these men had "one night stands" and used condoms infrequently. Consequently, a significant minority of the participants engaged in sexual behaviour which might facilitate the dissemination of HIV-infection. Although the prevalence of HIV among heterosexuals in Denmark is low, intense health education will be needed in order to prevent heterosexual spread of HIV in the future.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

A comparison of the effects of preoperative whole-body bathing with detergent alone and with detergent containing chlorhexidine gluconate on the frequency of wound infections after clean surgery. The European Working Party on Control of Hospital Infections.

In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 27 surgical units in six European countries, the effect of preoperative whole-body bathing on two occasions with a detergent containing chlorhexidine (CHX+) on the incidence of wound infection in elective, clean surgery was compared with two bathings with a detergent without chlorhexidine (CHX-). In the CHX+ group 2.62% of 1413 patients and in the CHX- group 2.36% of 1400 patients subsequently became infected. The infection rate in the CHX+ group was 1.11 times that in the CHX- group with 95% confidence limits ranging between 0.69 and 1.82. Consequently, bathing patients twice preoperatively with chlorhexidine-detergent did not reduce the incidence of infection of clean wounds.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Hydatidiform mole and HLA. II. Compatibility between patient and conceptus.

In 52 conceptuses with known genomic origin, the HLA types expressed on whole villi and/or stromal cell cultures were compared with the HLA types of the patients. No preference for either HLA compatibility or incompatibility was found for androgenetic and paternally derived triploid conceptuses as a whole. Heterozygous, androgenetic, conceptuses, however, showed a trend towards preferential incompatibility, which may be of importance for their apparent greater risk for trophoblastic tumour. HLA antibodies were found in 19.2% of the women, i.e. in the range reported for molar as well as non-molar pregnancies. Non-HLA antibodies reacting with lymphocytes of the spouse and/or cells from the conceptus were observed.

Cytotoxicity, Immunologic↗
PubMed1988

Hydatidiform mole and HLA. III. HLA-antigen expression related to genomic origin.

In 52 conceptuses with known genomic origin, HLA determination was performed on whole villi and/or stromal cell cultures. In 26 androgenetic, diploid conceptuses, one or two paternal HLA-A,B haplotypes were found; twenty-four triploid conceptuses with two paternal and one maternal chromosome sets showed either one maternal and one paternal haplotype or one/two paternal HLA-A,B haplotypes. Consequently, androgenesis could not be demonstrated by lack of maternal antigens alone. Concomitant expression of three HLA haplotypes was not seen. HLA-A2 was passed on to the conceptus, both in the genetic subgroups and in the entire series, more frequently than expected.

Female↗
PubMed1988

In vitro cytotoxic effect of alpha-hemolytic Escherichia coli on human blood granulocytes. Correlation with size of alpha-hemolysin production.

The correlation of the in vitro cytotoxic effect of 107 alpha-hemolytic strains of Escherichia coli with various other bacterial characteristics was investigated. Damage to human blood granulocytes in the presence of fresh or heated autologous plasma was quantified by measuring the release of chromium-51 from labelled cells. 95 strains had a cytotoxic effect which was equal in the presence of fresh or heated plasma, whereas 12 strains showed an effect which was reduced in fresh compared with heated plasma. The cytotoxic effect increased as the number of bacteria per granulocyte was increased. The average size of the alpha-hemolysin production of the strains was 185 HU50/ml ranging from 3-2519HU50/ml. The cytotoxic effect of the strains was directly correlated with the size of the alpha-hemolysin production. The cytotoxic effect was not correlated with the O-antigen serotype or the type of infection from which the strains were derived. These results indicate that the ability to produce alpha-hemolysin is the bacterial characteristic which is of decisive importance for the cytotoxicity of alpha-hemolytic E. coli towards human blood granulocytes.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1988

Seroepidemiological study of Legionella infection in Denmark. A 28-month retrospective survey.

An indirect immunofluorescence (IF) test for Legionella antibodies has been used since 1978 at Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen. An increasing annual number of blood specimens from all parts of the country has been tested by IF and the number of Legionella antigens in the test was increased from 4 over 10 to 13, resulting in an ever growing number of seropositive patients over the years. We investigated the occurrence of serologically diagnosed Legionella infections from November 1982 through February 1985, a period of 28 months during which the same 13 Legionella antigens were applied in the IF test. We used CDC's criteria for the serological diagnosis of a current Legionella infection: a greater than or equal to 4-fold rise in antibody titre to greater than or equal to 128 in the IF test. In a test of more than 5,000 blood specimens from 3,374 patients, 69 were found to have diagnostic titre rises. When analysed according to serological reactions with three groups of antigens, seroconversion to a L. pneumophila antigen was found to be more frequent in patients 30-59 years old than seroconversion to a non-L. pneumophila Legionella antigen, while in the age group 60-69 this relation was reversed. Thirteen of the 69 patients had acquired their infection abroad. Twelve of these were below the age of 60, and they had all seroconverted to a L. pneumophila antigen. Clinical data were in accordance with the assumption that Legionella may have been the aetiological agent of the disease in our patients selected by serological criteria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Risk of therapy-related leukaemia and preleukaemia after Hodgkin's disease. Relation to age, cumulative dose of alkylating agents, and time from chemotherapy.

391 patients treated intensively for Hodgkin's disease were followed for up to 15 years to evaluate the risk of therapy-related acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia (t-ANLL) and preleukaemia. Only two independent factors, patient age and cumulative dose of alkylating agents, were related to the risk of t-ANLL. The hazard rate of t-ANLL was roughly proportional to the square of patient age and to the total cumulative dose of alkylating agents. In 320 patients treated with alkylating agents the cumulative risk of t-ANLL increased steadily from 1 year after the start of treatment and reached 13.0% (SE 3.0) at 10 years after which time there were no further cases. Calculated from cessation of therapy with alkylating agents, however, the cumulative risk curve increased steeply during the first 1-2 years then gradually levelled out and no new cases were observed beyond 7 years. With a 15-year follow-up the general risk of solid tumours was not increased.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Antigen sharing in couples in a two-locus ABO-like system.

The probabilities with which the two members of a couple share no, one or two antigens on each of two loci in ABO-like systems are derived. As an example, expected values concerning the HLA-A,B system are compared with observed frequencies in a material of 690 couples. A FORTRAN program for calculation of the gene-sharing probabilities is available.

ABO Blood-Group System↗