NIPH annals最新文献

Arguments are presented which indicate or show that: (1) Diagnostic precision and severity level of systemic meningococcal disease (MCd) both seem to rise exponentially with the developmental stage of the disease at referral. Lowering of the clinical admission threshold improves early coverage of vaguely suspected cases and should probably be implemented in Norway. (2) Fear that cell wall active bactericidal antibiotics could trigger important endotoxin release may cause unnecessary treatment delays. (3) Although risk of death due to meningococcal septicemia is the main indication for early treatment of MCd, the risk of sequelae may also become a major cause for very early treatment of MCd. (4) Treatment delays for MCd cases could have been substantially reduced by implementing reasonable guidelines. (5) In the relations between the public and the health service both organizational and psychological factors are operating. (6) Increased awareness among professionals and lay people of some key symptoms and signs may facilitate earlier diagnosis of MCd. (7) Earlier treatment of meningococcal disease is now feasible and does seldom preclude the possibility of etiological diagnosis. (8) More relevant studies and information on the early phases and rapid management of MCd are highly desirable. Rapid diagnosis and treatment of MCd are very important to reduce death, sequelae and community costs and should be more advocated in training of health personnel and in public information.

The microbial flora of the outer ear canal was determined for 77 healthy individuals (M = 44, F = 33). No growth of any microbe was found in 5% of males and 15% of females. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, dominated by Staphylococcus epidermidis, were the commonest microbe group found (83% of persons sampled). Staphylococcus aureus was found in 7% males and no females. Diptheroids were cultured from 32% of the samples. The only Gram-negative rod found was Hafnia alvei in 4% of individuals. No Vibrio spp. or anaerobic Gram-negative organisms were found. A variety of yeasts and moulds were seen, significantly (p = 0.02) more often in males. In a separate experiment, Malassezia furfur was found in 4/9 males and 0/10 females sampled. Various sampling techniques (dry swab, second dry swab, moist swab) that were compared showed broadly similar results. The normal flora of the outer ear canal is predominantly Gram-positive and the use of a dry swab seems to be a satisfactory method for sample-taking from this area.

Specimens of Chlamydia trachomatis were treated either by five different detergents, by ultrasound sonication or by four different buffers before cultivation in cycloheximide-treated McCoy cells. The chlamydial yield by cultivation and the variance of the yield were compared to a standard method using 0.2 molar sucrose in phosphate buffered saline (2SP) without application of detergents or sonication. 2SP was superior to the other buffers. None of the detergents increased the chlamydial yield. Sonication at energy-levels above approximately 1200 Ws/ml reduced the chlamydial yield significantly. Sonication just below this threshold doubled the yield. None of the methods reduced the variance of the yield.

The purpose of the present study was to identify predictors of sexual promiscuity and use of condoms. The empirical data stem from a postal survey of a representative sample of persons aged 19-24 in a medium-sized Norwegian town (n = 565). Four selected predictors explained 28.1% and 17.8% of the variance in promiscuity among men and women, respectively. The strongest predictors of sexual promiscuity of men were "la dolce vita" (i.e. alcohol consumption and visits to discoteque/cinema) and marital status. For women the strongest predictors of sexual promiscuity were marital status and age at first intercourse. Knowledge of HIV/AIDS had no significant effect upon either female nor male promiscuity. Six predictors, including promiscuity and knowledge of HIV/AIDS, did not explain a substantial proportion of the variance of condom use neither among men nor women. Age at first intercourse was the only significant predictor upon use of condoms for both men and women.

We report the electron-microscopic appearances of tissues from an immunocompromised patient who died of chickenpox. We observed structures consistent with some of the reported appearances of Varicella-Zoster virus in cultured cells, and tubular structures that have not to our knowledge been previously described.

Sera from 74 patients from the Oslo area and 21 from Northern Norway with compylobacteriosis were analysed for antibodies against an antigen mixture comprising seven Campylobacter jejuni/coli strains including a PEN 0:6,7 isolate representing the most common serotype in Northern Norway. Seventy-seven per cent of the campylobacter patients from the Oslo area and 86% from Northern Norway had elevated antibody levels. Thirty-seven out of 57 (65%) seropositive patients from Oslo and 12 out of 18 (67%) from Northern Norway were positive in more than one immunoglobulin class. None of the patients, all from Northern Norway (N = 56), with inflammatory bowel disease i.e. Mb. Crohn or ulcerative colitis diagnosed for the first time, had elevated antibody levels in two immunoglobulin classes. Apparently campylobacteriosis is not associated with the precipitation of these diseases. Two sets of blood donor sera, from Oslo (N = 28) and Tromsø (N = 37) respectively, served as reference. The IgG antibody levels against C. jejuni/coli antigens in the blood donor group from Tromsø were higher than in the Oslo group.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) detection was performed by a rapid ELISA antigen detection method in a small field trial, and the results were compared to the results of ordinary cell culture isolation. Swabs from 54 patients, suffering from clinically suspected genital HSV infection, were examined by both methods. In 49 samples the results were identical. Three samples were negative by ELISA, but HSV was isolated by culture, while two samples were positive by ELISA, but negative by culture. Compared to the culture results, the ELISA method had 87.5% sensitivity and 93.3% specificity. Most culture positive samples were identified within two (54%) or three (75%) days, and all within six days after inoculation. The ELISA method turned out as a good and easy method for rapid detection of genital HSV infections.

Routine anti-HIV screening of 36,053 sera from pregnant women in South-Eastern Norway yielded four (0.011%) true positive individuals. Three of these were known to be HIV-infected before pregnancy. In addition 23 women (0.064%) gave false positive results. Fifty (0.14%) women actively refused anti-HIV test. Anonymous testing of the sera from these women probably yielded one single true anti-HIV positive (2%). The prevalence of HIV-infection among pregnant Norwegian women is very low. Nevertheless, this screening programme could be instrumental in the future for the indirect monitoring of the incidence and prevalence of HIV-infection among the sexually active section of the population. False positive results were rare and caused no real diagnostic problem.