Plasma calprotectin: a new prognostic marker of survival in alcohol-induced cirrhosis.

Plasma levels of calprotectin were determined in 84 patients with alcohol-induced cirrhosis. Calprotectin is released from disintegrating neutrophils, and plasma levels seem to reflect activation and turnover of such cells. The purpose of the study was to investigate the degree of activation of neutrophils, which has been indicated to be increased and a cause of neutrophil exhaustion in these patients.

Pulse-width modulation drive technique for high-resolution liquid-crystal gratings.

We report the use of a pulse-width modulation drive technique for high-resolution liquid-crystal gratings and show how the grating diffraction efficiency depends on the duty cycle of the drive signal. We identify a regime in which the diffraction efficiency is linearly proportional to the duty cycle, thereby providing a linear drive characteristic.

Mannan-binding protein and complement dependent opsonization in alcoholic cirrhosis.

Mannan-binding protein is synthesized by the liver and functions in first-line host defence by opsonizing mannose-rich microorganisms due to activation of the classical complement pathway independent of Clq, and by an intrinsic ability to opsonize and mediate phagocytosis. We have investigated whether the increased susceptibility to bacterial infections in patients with cirrhosis could be explained by low plasma concentrations of mannan-binding protein and impaired complement-dependent opsonization. We examined 51 patients with compensated alcoholic cirrhosis, 34 who were decompensated and 16 healthy controls.

Analysis of the capacity to produce IL-3 in murine AIDS.

Adult C57BL/6 mice infected with LP-BM5 murine leukaemia virus represent a model of murine AIDS (MAIDS). In this study we have analysed the capacity of CD4+ T cells from infected mice to produce IL-3 following stimulation with ConA for 24-72 h. In contrast to the position with IL-2, the production of which is markedly impaired during LP-BM5 infection, similar levels of IL-3 were measured in culture supernatants of splenocytes from infected and uninfected mice harvested at 24 h of stimulation.

The role of CD4+ T cells in cell-mediated immunity to LCMV: studies in MHC class I and class II deficient mice.

Parameters of the virus-specific T-cell response were analysed in order to dissect the contribution of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to cell-mediated immunity to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. In MHC class II deficient mice, initial T-cell responsiveness was not impaired, but virus clearance was delayed, and virus-specific Td activity declined more rapidly. Furthermore, class I restricted Tc memory appeared to be impaired in these mice.

[Attitude of hospital personnel to the risk of hepatitis B and vaccination. A questionnaire study].

The aim of the study was to find out why there was a low attendance at a vaccination campaign against hepatitis B carried out amongst hospital staff in Copenhagen (Bispebjerg Hospital). An anonymous questionnaire was sent to 653 employees in June 1991. Subjects were asked to describe occupational percutaneous and mucocutaneous blood exposure and vaccination status, as well as why they had not become vaccinated.

Expression of type 3 complement receptor on activated CD8+ T cells facilitates homing to inflammatory sites.

It has been reported that Ag-primed T cells may express the type 3 complement receptor (CR3; CD11b/CD18, Mac-1), but no clear function has been ascribed to this molecule on T cells. In our study, we have used a nondepleting mAb to CR3 (5C6) to study the relevance of CR3 expression for T-cell extravasation at inflammatory foci. The in vivo administration of 5C6 significantly reduced the severity of the T cell-mediated meningitis induced by intracerebral inoculation of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

Changes in cell adhesion molecule expression on T cells associated with systemic virus infection.

Virus-induced changes in adhesion molecule expression on T cells were investigated to understand how antiviral effector cells migrate into infectious foci. FACS analysis revealed that after systemic infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus a number of cell adhesion molecules, including VLA-4, LFA-1, and ICAM-1, are up-regulated on CD8+ cells, whereas the lymph node homing receptor MEL-14 is down-regulated during the infection; only marginal changes were observed for CD4+ cells. Basically similar but less marked results were obtained in mice infected with Pichinde virus.

Non-MHC genes influence virus clearance through regulation of the antiviral T-cell response: correlation between virus clearance and Tc and Td activity in segregating backcross progeny.

To determine the mechanism by which non-MHC genes control the rate of virus clearance in mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, a segregating backcross population was studied. Thirty BC1 animals were infected with virus, and virus-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) was followed by measurement of footpad swelling. Ten days after virus inoculation, the animals were sacrificed and spleen virus titer together with splenic Tc activity was measured.

[Cerebral dysfunction after prolonged use of opioids].

Cerebral dysfunction due to long-term treatment with opioids is a problem of increasing relevance because of the rapidly growing use of opioids. A review of psychomotor and cognitive test methods is given, including their application in patients on long-term opioid treatment. The findings of the most valid studies on cancer patients in long-term treatment with opioids are an increase in continuous reaction time and subjective sedation score regardless of the routes of administration.

T-cell responsiveness to LCMV segregates as a single locus in crosses between BALB/cA and C.B-17 mice. Evidence for regulation by a gene outside the Igh region.

The course of systemic infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) was studied in BALB/cA and C.B-17 mouse strains differing in the immunoglobulin heavy chain region (Igh). Susceptibility to intracerebral infection and the ability to clear the virus differed significantly between these presumably congenic strains, suggesting that a gene in the Igh region might influence the course of this infection.

[Buprenorphine for postoperative analgesia after total hip alloplasty].

Three different post-operative pain relief schedules were investigated in a double blind study after total hip replacement. Group BS received a priming dose of buprenorphine i.m.

Thalamic infarcts: Effects on cerebral blood flow, metabolism, and neuropsychological function.

In four patients with thalamic infarcts causing severe neuropsychological deficits, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured by single-photon emission computed tomography using (99m)Tc-d,l,-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime as tracer. In one of these patients, cerebral glucose metabolism was measured by positron emission tomography using (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose as tracer. Three patients had left paramedian thalamic infarcts, in one case combined with an infarction of the right cerebellar hemisphere, and one had bilateral paramedian and left anterior thalamic infarcts.

[Preventive hepatitis B vaccination of hospital staff].

Unlabelled: In March 1990, a vaccination campaign against hepatitis B was organized in a municipal hospital in Copenhagen (Bispebjerg Hospital). The hospital staff (830 subjects) at risk of infection with hepatitis B were offered vaccination with Engerix B. The vaccination was given as Engerix B (recombinant DNA vaccine) in muscle deltoid after 0, 1 and 6 months.

[Spontaneous esophageal rupture during the 3rd trimester].

A 30-year-old woman, 35 weeks pregnant, developed spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus following severe vomiting, probably caused by treatment with Ritodrin (Utopar). The symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous oesophageal rupture are discussed.

Prognosis in glomerulonephritis. III. A longitudinal analysis of changes in serum creatinine and proteinuria during the course of disease: effect of immunosuppressive treatment. Report from Copenhagen Study Group of Renal Diseases.

A total of 395 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven glomerulonephritis were followed up for 14 years. At the time of entry to the study the patients were classified as having one of nine states of kidney disease according to serum creatinine levels and proteinuria. The transitions of the patients between the nine states were analysed.

[Screening for neuroblastoma in infants aged 6 months. A method of testing].

In a number of cases, neuroblastoma (NB) may be diagnosed by routine screening of the urine for vanillinic-mandelic acid (VMA) and homovanillinic acid (HVA) in symptomfree infants at the age of six months. Early diagnosis of this disease may possibly improve the prognosis. The object of this project was to establish a method of measuring VMA and HVA concentrations in urine collected on filter paper and to assess participation by the parents as regards three different methods of collecting urine with the object of establishing a population screening programme for NB in Denmark.

Multipoint linkage analysis in X-linked Alport syndrome.

In order to localize the gene for the X-linked form of Alport syndrome (ATS) more precisely, we performed restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis with nine different X-chromosomal DNA markers in 107 members of twelve Danish families segregating for classic ATS or progressive hereditary nephritis without deafness. Two-point linkage analysis confirmed close linkage to the markers DXS17(S21) (zeta max = 4.44 at theta = 0.

[Occupational accidents among slaughterhouse workers. A review from a casualty department].

A total of 110 accidents in slaughterhouse workers treated in the casualty department of Sønderborg Hospital during a period of one year was analysed as regards the nature of the injury, the mechanism of injury, employment of prophylactic measures, employment and the loss of income in connection with the sick leave involved. Cuts and stab lesions caused by ordinary knives constituted 72.7% and 93.

Comparison of intravenous and topical lidocaine as a suppressant of coughing after bronchoscopy during general anesthesia.

Twenty-four consecutive patients scheduled for fiberbronchoscopy were randomized to receive double-blind either intravenous (1.5 mg/kg) or laryngotracheal (3 mg/kg) lidocaine to evaluate the influence on post-bronchoscopic laryngospasm, pain in the throat and coughing. Plasma lidocaine concentrations were analyzed 5, 15, 30 and 60 min after administration.

Breakdown of blood-brain barrier function in the murine lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection mediated by virus-specific CD8+ T cells.

Intracerebral inoculation of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) generally results in a fatal T cell-mediated meningitis. In a previous study we have demonstrated a compromised blood-brain barrier (BBB) under such conditions. Using semi-quantitative radiography and the low molecular tracer 2-amino-[1-14C]isobutyric acid we now demonstrate an uncompromised BBB in i.

Increased cell adherence of group B streptococci from preterm infants with neonatal sepsis.

Most women with group B streptococcus cervical colonization have uncomplicated pregnancies, but about 1% experience preterm premature rupture of membranes (PROM) followed by neonatal group B streptococcal sepsis. In such cases, streptococcal adherence to and penetration of the membranes may be an important step in the pathogenesis. In the present study, chorionic epithelial cells were incubated with group B streptococci isolated from either children developing sepsis after preterm PROM (complicated pregnancies) or from uncomplicated pregnancies.