Coverage for meningococcal disease in the Norwegian morbidity and mortality statistics. With reference to incidence and fatality trends.

The case coverage for meningococcal (MC) disease in the old notification system (ending 1974) in Norway was estimated at 52%. In contrast, an estimate for the new system (MSIS) is 76%. The latter is considered to verify the 72% found earlier.

Meningococcal disease in the Norwegian Armed Forces 1967-1979. Some epidemiological aspects.

The epidemiology of meningococcal disease in the Norwegian Armed Forces has been studied for the years 1974-79 and compared with the situation in the years 1967-73. The clustering of cases was examined with special reference to vaccination. The annual incidence rate increased from 24 to 43 cases per 100,000 men.

Genetic linkage relation to the pepsinogen Pg5 locus.

Linkage relations between pepsinogen Pg5 and 28 genetic marker loci have been analyzed in Norwegian families. No strong hint of linkage was found. Linkage to Pg5 in males has been ruled out below 25% recombination for HLA and GPT, below 20% recombination for Rh, PGM1, ACP, Gc, MNSs, PGM3, and Gm and Pi, below 15% recombination for Hp, below 10% recombination for Fy, ABO, C3 and Jk and below 4% for Kell, Tf, C6, Km and Le(Se).

Association between the electrophoretically-determined C4M haplotype product and partial inhibition of anti-Cha.

C4-coated Ch(a+) red blood cells (RBC) were used as indicator cells in a serum inhibition reaction of anti-Ch(a), for the determination of the Ch group of serum. This serological study, combined with electrophoretic studies of C4 in a family material, showed that the C4M haplotype product was associated with partial inhibition of anti-Ch(a).

Genetics of pepsinogen I.

A study of 948 Norwegians including 118 matings with 429 children provided evidence that the Pg I group of pepsinogens must be coded for by more than one gene locus. At the Pg5 locus the alleles Pg5N, Pg5F and Pg5S with frequencies 0.644, 0.

Frequency of simultaneous carriage of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis.

Gonococci were found by culture in 112 of 442 patients suspected of having gonorrhoea. Meningococci were cultured from the pharynx more than twice as often in patients harbouring gonococci (26%) than in patients from whom gonococci could not be cultured (11%). These results could indicate an individual susceptibility to Neisseria organisms or they could be caused by a difference in the behaviour of patients with and without gonorrhoea, the conduct of the former making them not only more likely to be infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae but possibly more exposed to Neisseria meningitidis as well.

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex and mottled pigmentation: a new dominant syndrome. I. Clinical and histological features.

A family is reported in which 11 members presented epidermolysis bullosa simplex with some unusual features, and 10 of whom had congenital mottled hyper- and hypopigmentation of the skin. Both anomalies are inherited together in an autosomal dominant fashion, although dominant X-linkage cannot be excluded. The epidermolysis without dyspigmentation in the 11th individual suggests that the syndrome in the other 10 members is due to genetic linkage of two independent genes and not to pleiotropism of a single mutant gene.

Genetic linkage relations of the sixth component of complement (C6).

Linkage relations between the C6 and 33 other genetic marker loci have been analyzed in Norwegian pedigrees, including 114 matings with 388 informative children, by use of the MOSM computer program. No suggestion of linkage was found. Very close or close linkage (theta less than 0.

The C4 system: formal and population genetics.

The present study shows that the C4 system as investigated by high voltage agarose gel electrophoresis is highly polymorphic. In a series of unrelated Norwegian adults, where C4 types have been ascertained through segregation in families, six different haplotypes have been found to occur with a frequency exceeding 1%. The genotype frequencies in the population fit expected Hardy-Weinberg distribution.

Genetic polymorphism of the second component of human complement (C2): presentation of a modified typing technique and data on C2 phenotype distribution, linkage genetics, and haplotype associations a Norwegian family material.

Proteins were separated by prolonged isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels, whereupon C2 bands were detected by a specific hemolytic assay. This was performed by treating the gel with iodine to increase C2 activity, and then developing C2 bands with an agarose gel overlay containing sensitized sheep cells and diluted human serum as a complement source deficient in functional C2. The gene frequencies observed in a material of 122 unrelated adults were: C2(1): 0.

The genetic polymorphism of the fourth component of human complement: methodological aspects and a presentation of linkage and association data relevant to its localization in the HLA region.

The C4 polymorphism in man has been studied by immunofixation electrophoresis, crossed immunoelectrophoresis, and functional detection after agarose gel electrophoresis. It has so far not been possible to reveal this polymorphism by isoelectric focusing and functional detection of C4 bands. Three common alleles and one less frequently occuring allele have been identified.

Nonlinkage between C6 and chromosome 6 markers.

C6 typing was performed in a family material by two different techniques: serum or plasma samples were subjected either to high-voltage agarose gel electrophoresis or to isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel slabs. Proteins with C6 activity were then visualized by a specific, hemolytic assay. In 81 unrelated adults within the family material the following allele frequencies were found: C6A:0.

The role of human skin collagenase in epidermolysis bullosa.

Human skin collagenase was quantitated by radioimmunoassay in 40 patients with various forms of epidermolysis bullosa to compare levels of the enzyme in blistered and clinically unaffected skin. Immunoreactive human skin collagenase was significantly elevated in the blistered skin of patients with both recessive and dominant forms of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB). In addition, patients with generalized recessive DEB manifested a 4-fold increase in collagenase protein in normal-appearing skin, and patients with localized recessive DEB or epidermolysis bullosa letalis showed a 3-t to 3.

Ultrastructural studies in epidermolysis bullosa hereditaria. IV. Recessive dystrophic types with junctional blistering. (Infantile or Herlitz-Pearson type and adult type).

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa with junctional blisters includes both the classical epidermolysis bullosa hereditaria letalis Herlitz (Herlitz-Pearson type) and a recently separated more benign adult type. Ultrastructural examination was performed of 13 skin specimens from 3 cases of the Herlitz-Pearson-type and one case of the adult type. Principal ultrastructural changes in involved, intact and experimentally frictioned skin regions, common to all patients, are as follows: In nonseparated areas hypoplasia of the hemi-desmosomes and mild decrease of the tonofibrils are found.

Factor VIII (AHG) levels in 1016 regular blood donors. The effects of age, sex, and ABO blood groups.

Factor VIII (AHG) activity was assayed in the plasma specimens from 1016 regular and controlled blood donors. Age and ABO blood groups had highly significant effects on factor VIII concentrations, whereas the effect of sex was not significant. The median in the donors of blood group O rose from 87% at the age of 20 to 119% at the age of 60 years, and the median in blood groups A and B+AB of corresponding ages rose from 108 to 147%.

Ultrastructural studies in epidermolysis bullosa hereditaria. III. Recessive dystrophic types with dermolytic blistering (Hallopeau-Siemens types and inverse type).

Ultrastructural examination was performed in 42 biopsy specimens from 22 patients with the Hallopeau-Siemens types or with the inverse type of epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica recessiva. The patient group consists of 8 cases of the localized Hallopeua-Siemens type, 9 of the generalized Hallopeau-Siemens type and 5 of the inverse type. The origins of the biopsy specimens are involved, intact and experimentally frictioned skin from blister-predilected sites, as well as clinically normal skin from nonpredilection sites.