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Biomedical subjects

S O Larsen

Publications and source records attributed to S O Larsen.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Screening for Down's syndrome using an iso-risk curve based on maternal age and serum alpha-fetoprotein level.

On the basis of the significantly different distributions of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels in 86 pregnancies associated with fetal Down's syndrome and in 2018 unaffected pregnancies, an iso-risk curve for Down's syndrome was constructed. An iso-risk curve shows, for women of all ages, which combinations of maternal age and level of maternal serum AFP result in the same risk of carrying a fetus with Down's syndrome. A 1:400 risk of Down's syndrome, corresponding to the risk of a 35-year-old woman, was chosen as the lowest risk indicating referral for amniocentesis. If all women, irrespective of their age, are offered amniocentesis, when their risk of carrying a Down's syndrome fetus is 1:400 or higher, 53% of the affected fetuses can be detected as compared with 28% of the affected fetuses diagnosed at present in women above 35 years of age.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Modulation of beta-galactosidase activity in peritoneal macrophages from C57B1 mice after exposure to Proprionibacterium acnes.

Peritoneal macrophages (PM luminal diameter) from untreated C57B1 mice contain high levels of beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) and these PM luminal diameter are heterogeneous in their expression of this enzyme. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of saline caused a transient depression in the level of enzyme activity in the PM luminal diameter whereas i.p. injection of Proprionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) gave rise to a marked decrease of beta-gal activity in these cells. This reduction in enzymatic activity persisted for as long as the PM luminal diameter were activated for cytotoxicity towards the L929 tumor cell line, up to 35 days after injection. beta-gal activity was present in the lavage fluid from day 2-21 after injection of P. acnes but none was detected in the lavage fluid after injection of saline. It is proposed that the enzymatic activity in the lavage fluid is derived from monocytes which migrate from the blood into the peritoneal cavity. There was an influx of granulocytes in the P. acnes group which persisted up to 35 days after injection. In contrast none were observed in the saline group after 2 days. PM luminal diameter harvested after 1-35 days were large, highly vacuolized and many contained bacteria; these PM luminal diameter had the typical morphology of activated cells. It is suggested that the processing of P. acnes by granulocytes may play a role in the activation of macrophages in the early inflammatory response, with concurrent loss in beta-gal activity. However, in the later stages, interferon-gamma and other induced lymphokines may be instrumental in causing a decrease in beta-gal activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Indirect haemagglutination test using gonococcal pilus antigen: how useful to diagnose gonorrhoea?

In 1979 an indirect haemagglutination test (gonococcal antibody test) using gonococcal pilus antigen replaced the gonococcal complement fixation test as our routine procedure to show gonococcal antibodies. In the diagnosis of current gonorrhoea the sensitivity of the gonococcal antibody test was far superior to that of the gonococcal complement fixation test (about 55% versus 9% for first episode gonorrhoea). To evaluate the usefulness of the test result the following population groups were studied: 1376 patients undergoing medical examination for gonorrhoea (386 had gonorrhoea), 1384 healthy people aged 15-65, 54 patients with meningococcal disease, 30 children with respiratory tract infection, and 254 patients with evidence of various diseases other than neisserial infections that might be associated with symptoms of arthritis. These investigations showed that (1) non-specific positive gonococcal antibody test results occur rarely, (2) at least half the people who have had gonorrhoea remain seropositive (with titres of 1/40 to 1/160), and (3) a positive test result is more significant the younger the patient and the higher the titre. For younger people a positive test result should always be followed up by bacteriological examination; in all age groups titres of 1/320 or more should indicate medical examination for current gonorrhoea.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Wound infection after cesarean section.

A prospective multicenter study of 1,032 cesarean sections was performed to identify risk factors for postoperative wound infection. The overall rate of wound infection was 6.6% (3.8% in elective cases and 7.5% following nonelective operations), with considerable interhospital variation. Obesity was recognized as a patient-related risk factor, while risk factors inherent to the obstetric situation were duration of ruptured membranes prior to operation, fetal and labor monitoring by intrauterine devices, and omission of the use of plastic draping and redisinfection of the skin before closure. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the influence of these factors on the probability of wound infection. Certain risk factors associated with and over-represented in nonelective operations would explain the increased infection rates in these, and the observed interhospital variations did not differ from the expected rates when the distribution of other risk factors was considered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

The bone marrow histological pattern has independent prognostic value in early stage chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

The initial diagnostic bone marrow specimens from 90 consecutive, untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia were examined for the pattern of lymphocytic infiltration in relation to clinical stage (International Workshop System) and survival. Three non-diffuse (interstitial, nodular, mixed nodular-interstitial) and one diffuse pattern were recognized. Generally, the bone marrow patterns correlated well with clinical stage: a non-diffuse pattern prevailed in early, and a diffuse pattern in later stages. However, with a Cox analysis of the covariate effect of clinical stage and bone marrow pattern on survival, the bone marrow pattern was shown to have independent prognostic significance in the early stage A in which a diffuse pattern carried a fourfold increase in death rate as compared to a non-diffuse pattern. These high risk patients could not be identified by the Rai substages of the International Workshop System.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Ability of rosetting or non-rosetting individual control and inflammatory macrophages to kill Escherichia coli X43 intracellularly.

An autoradiographic method combined with a rosette technique was used to assess the bactericidal activity of individual control and inflammatory peritoneal macrophages (PM phi) in the presence or absence of expression of Fc receptor for IgG (FcR). There was a lack of FcR reactivity in a certain percentage of both categories of PM phi exposed to E. coli X43, a bacterium which is readily phagocytosed in the presence of specific antibody. Both rosetting and non-rosetting PM phi were capable of phagocytosing E. coli X43, but inflammatory PM phi showed a marked reduction in their capacity to ingest these bacteria compared with control PM phi. Once ingested the E. coli X43 were killed equally well by non-rosetting and rosetting control and inflammatory PM phi.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Immunogenetic studies of respiratory anaphylaxis in selectively bred guinea pigs. Inheritance of atopy, linkage to MHC-complex.

The genetic and immunological basis of respiratory anaphylaxis was studied in two strains of guinea pigs selectively bred for either high or low respiratory anaphylactic response to inhalation of ovalbumin. Individuals of the parental strains, F1-hybrids and backcross offspring were examined for class II MHC type and asthmatic response to ovalbumin. Analysis of the results revealed an association of asthma phenotype and MHC class II type. Apart from the gene(s) in the MHC several other genes seem to be involved in the control of guinea pig asthma.

Anaphylaxis↗
PubMed1985

Risk of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia and preleukemia in patients treated with cyclophosphamide for non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Comparison with results obtained in patients treated for Hodgkin's disease and ovarian carcinoma with other alkylating agents.

Of 602 patients treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, 9 developed overt acute nonlymphocytic leukemia or preleukemia with refractory cytopenia and cytogenetic abnormalities of the bone marrow. A Kaplan-Meier estimate of the cumulative probability of leukemic complications was 6.3 +/- 2.6% (mean +/- SE) 7 years after start of treatment. All 9 patients with leukemic complications belong to a major subgroup of 498 patients treated with alkylating agents, predominantly cyclophosphamide. The risk of leukemic complications in this subgroup was compared with the risk in 312 patients treated with other alkylating agents for Hodgkin's disease, and with the risk in 553 patients treated with dihydroxybusulfan for ovarian carcinoma. Cumulative 9-year risks were 8.0 +/- 3.3%, 12.8 +/- 3.5%, and 7.1 +/- 1.9%, respectively. The general risk of secondary leukemia after long-term treatment with alkylating agents ranges from 1% to 1.5% per year from 2 to at least 9 years after start of treatment.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1984

Phagocytosis and killing of Escherichia coli X43 by individual resident mouse peritoneal macrophages assessed by an autoradiographic technique.

An autoradiographic technique for the determination of viable bacteria in individual cells is described, based on the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into the DNA of viable Escherichia coli X43, following phagocytosis by resident mouse peritoneal macrophages. The results of the autoradiographic technique were in overall agreement with viable colony counts. Investigation of the killing of E. coli X43 with the autoradiographic technique showed that the percentage viable bacteria tended to be the same irrespective of the number of bacteria ingested per macrophage, although there was a definite correlation between the numbers phagocytosed and the percentage killed in some of the experiments.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

A survey of helminths in stray cats from Copenhagen with ecological aspects.

At autopsy of 230 adult stray cats, 120 from backyards and 110 from gardens, the intestinal tract was scrutinized for helminths. The prevalence of Toxocara cati, Taenia taeniaeformis and Dipylidium caninum was found to be 79%, 11% and 14%, respectively. Comparisons were made with the results of previous Danish investigations. The prevalence of Toxocara cati was found to be independent of time of collection and the sex and habitat of the cats and identical in cats with or without Taenia. This indicates that paratenic hosts do not play an important epizootiological role in the transmission of T. cati. The intensity of Toxocara per cat followed a negative binomial pattern. The high prevalence of T. cati combined with most cats having a low wormload shows that the cat population generally possesses a high degree of resistance against superimposed infections. The intensity of male Toxocara increases with the size of the worm population. This we consider to be an expression of increasing susceptibility of the cats. The prevalence of T. taeniaeformis was significantly higher in garden cats, due to their greater opportunity for catching mice. D. caninum, however, was significantly more frequent in backyard cats, probably owing to better living condition for the flea larvae in backyards. For both T. taeniaeformis and D. caninum a higher frequency was found in female cats, which is thought to be associated with their care for the kittens.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

APL programs for outcome probabilities and confidence limits in sequential binomial trials.

For closed sequential binomial sampling plans (including plans for multistage sampling), the probability of reaching each terminal point is calculated. These probabilities are cumulated from "each side" of the plan. Thus, the power function obtainable by defining any (reasonable) acceptance region can be studied. Corresponding to a given outcome of the trial confidence limits can be calculated by an auxiliary program.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1984

A study of certain functional parameters of monocytes from patients with multiple myeloma: comparison with monocytes from healthy individuals.

Selected functions (i.e. phagocytosis and chemotaxis of circulating blood monocytes were studied on cells obtained from 20 patients with untreated multiple myeloma (MM) and the results were compared with those obtained on cells from 60 healthy persons. The mean number of circulating monocytes was only slightly increased over the normal value although a marked monocytosis was demonstrated in all of the 4 patients with M-components of the lambda light chain type. Plasma cells isolated from peripheral blood and from bone marrow of patients with MM were found to possess a strong alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase activity. No differences were observed in the phagocytic activity of monocytes from patients compared with those of the controls, whereas the chemotactic responsiveness of the monocytes from the patients was slightly increased.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Human blood monocyte function in relation to age.

The human blood monocyte function in relation to age has been studied in 60 healthy persons (age range 24-94 years). No differences between females and males were seen. The number of phagocytized Candida albicans per monocyte decreased with ageing (greater than 70 years). Peripheral blood monocyte count, pinocytosis, phagocytosis of latex beads, chemotactic responsiveness and intracellular killing of Candida albicans were independent of age.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Intracranial metastases in small cell carcinoma of the lung. Prognostic aspects.

Two hundred-twelve consecutive patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung were studied in order to correlate the risk of developing intracranial metastases to the initial stage of the disease (locoregional versus extensive) and to evaluate the prognostic significance of developing intracranial dissemination of the disease. Clinically detected intracranial metastases were observed in four percent at the time of primary diagnosis, and an additional 18 percent developed metastases during treatment. As regards clinically observed metastases during treatment, no difference was found between the two initial staging groups. Intracranial metastases without clinical evidence of progressive disease elsewhere were demonstrated in 10 out of 205 patients (5%). The median survival time after clinical presentation of intracranial metastases was 85 days for patients with locoregional disease versus 60 days for patients with extensive disease. A significantly shorter survival time was observed for patients with intracranial metastases at 0, 100, 200 and 300 days after start of treatment compared to patients still alive without metastases at those times. Brain autopsy was performed in 82 patients and was positive in 42 (51%). No statistical difference in the frequency of brain metastases was demonstrated when compared to the initial stage of the disease. No difference was observed between the two initial staging groups of patients with regard to risk of developing brain metastases. Autopsy substantiated that there was no difference between patients with and without brain metastases as regards survival. However, clinical intracranial metastases were followed by a short survival time, and only a small fraction of the patients developed clinically isolated intracranial relapse.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Bacteraemia in surgical patients with intravenous devices: a European multicentre incidence study. The European Working Party on Control of Hospital Infections.

A survey of the incidence of bacteraemia and the use of intravenous (IV) devices among 10,616 surgical patients was performed in 42 hospitals in eight countries. It was found that 63 per cent of the patients surveyed had an IV device inserted at some time during their hospital stay, with national variations between 40 and 99 per cent. The incidence of device-related thrombophlebitis was 10.3 per cent, with national variations between 7.8 and 28.4. Among the surgical patients not given IV therapy, 1.5/1000 had a bacteraemia, 0.5/1000 of them hospital-acquired. The corresponding figures for patients with a peripheral but no central IV device were 6.9 and 3.7, and for patients with a central venous catheter (CVC) 59.0 and 44.8, respectively. Even though there was a strong correlation between the incidence of bacteraemia and certain diagnoses there was also an independent correlation between it and CVCs or peripheral IV lines. No correlation was demonstrated between the number of catheter days per site for patients with a peripheral IV device, and hospital-acquired bacteraemia. This may be due to the low mean number of catheter days per site that was observed. There was a large and not easily explained national variation in the incidence of bacteraemia in patients with CVCs of between 16 and 108/1000.

Catheterization↗
PubMed1983

Fractionation of untreated and inflammatory murine peritoneal macrophages on discontinuous Percoll density gradients.

Peritoneal cells from C57/BL/6J mice untreated or injected with saline, proteose-peptone or Corynebacterium parvum intraperitoneally or Sauton medium or BCG intravenously were fractionated on discontinuous Percoll gradients. Six subsets of macrophages were obtained in all the groups. Injection of BCG and proteose-peptone increased the percentage of heavy density macrophages whereas C. parvum caused an increase in macrophages in the lighter density fractions. The macrophages in all the subsets were tested for their ability to kill L929 target cells and cytochemically for expression of beta-galactosidase. The highest degree of cytotoxicity was found in the higher density subsets, although the other subsets in the C. parvum group were also cytotoxic. There was a marked reduction in beta-galactosidase in macrophages obtained after injection of C. parvum and to a varying degree after injection of BCG, proteose-peptone or saline. Cells which were devoid of enzyme were evenly distributed throughout the subsets. These studies indicate that a certain degree of separation of cytotoxic macrophages can be achieved by density centrifugation, but not of cells containing different amounts of beta-galactosidase.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Incidence of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, preleukemia, and acute myeloproliferative syndrome up to 10 years after treatment of Hodgkin's disease.

During the period from 1970 to 1981, 391 nonselected patients with Hodgkin's disease were staged and treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both at the Finsen Institute, Copenhagen. Secondary acute nonlymphocytic leukemia or its earlier stages--preleukemia or an acute myeloproliferative syndrome with cytopenia and specific cytogenetic abnormalities of the bone marrow--were observed in 17 patients. A Kaplan-Meier estimate of the cumulative probability of leukemic complications was 3.9 +/- 1.3 per cent (mean +/- S.E.M.) five years after the start of treatment, and 9.9 +/- 2.9 per cent at nine years. All 17 cases of leukemic complications occurred among the 312 patients treated with chemotherapy or combined-modality therapy, whereas no case was observed among 79 patients treated exclusively with radiotherapy (P = 0.003). A significantly increased risk of leukemic complications was observed in chemotherapy-treated patients 40 years old or older (P = 0.001). Despite the observed relatively high risk of secondary leukemia, the rate of death from progressive Hodgkin's disease, nonleukemic complications, and unrelated causes still far exceeds the rate of leukemia-related deaths in these patients.

Acute Disease↗