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Biomedical subjects

A Ahonen

Publications and source records attributed to A Ahonen.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Mitogen and antigen stimulation of multiple sclerosis cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytes in vitro.

Responses of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood (PB) lymphocytes from 20 MS patients to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), measles, rubella, mumps and herpes simplex virus antigens were followed during periods of from 6 to 13 months. Up to 6 examinations, each with 1-5 stimulants, were performed with a lymphocyte blast transformation test. Most of the patients responded with their CSF cells to PHA (14/19) and at least to some of the viral antigens tested (15/20) during the follow-up. Although the maximal responses of CSF and PB cells to PHA and measles virus antigen were of the same magnitude, non-reactive or weakly responding lymphocytes were more common in CSF than in PB. In 7 of 15 patients having viral antigen responsive CSF cells simultaneous reactivity to several antigens could be shown. The stimulation results of CSF lymphocytes did not correlate with the numbers of CSF leukocytes or the intrathecal IgG synthesis. A negative correlation was observed between the strength of the CSF cellular response to PHA or measles virus antigen and the rate of intrathecal antibody synthesis to measles virus antigen, suggesting that the stimulated cells may at least partially represent suppressor cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Plasma glucagon response during exercise-induced asthma.

Plasma glucagon levels and peak expiratory flow rates (PEF) were determined before and after treadmill exercise test in 5 atopic patients with exercise-induced asthma (EIA) and in 10 non-atopic patients with EIA, and also in 14 controls without exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. In addition, changes in plasma glucagon were determined during an allergen-inhalation challenge test in 5 asthmatics. Plasma glucagon was determined by radioimmunoassay using antiserum and 125I-labelled glucagon. Plasma glucagon level of atopic asthmatics at rest was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) than in non-atopic EIA patients. In the atopic EIA patients the plasma glucagon level increased by 41 per cent 10 minutes after exercise, whereas in the nonatopic EIA patients it decreased by about 19 per cent. In the controls there were only insignificant exercise-induced changes in the plasma glucagon level. The exercise-induced changes of the plasma glucagon in the atopic EIA patients differed significantly from those in the non-atopic EIA patients (P less than 0.05). No change in plasma glucagon was observed in five asthmatics during inhalation challenge tests with a known positive allergen. The results suggest that the rise in glucagon is a defence mechanism against exercise-induced broncho-constriction.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Diagnostic imaging of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver developing during nitrofurantoin therapy.

An asymptomatic palpable liver tumor developed in a six-year-old girl seven months after commencement of prophylactic nitrofurantoin therapy for recurrent urinary tract infections. The tumor was examined by 99mTc colloid radionuclide scan, compound ultrasonography and angiography. Ultrasonography demonstrated a large, solid tumor (5 x 5 x 8 cm) in the right lobe of the liver which had an echogenic central core surrounded by an area giving low-amplitude echoes. Angiography disclosed that the tumor was well demarcated and hypervascular, containing large tortuous arteries. The uptake of radionuclide in the tumor was normal. The tumor was resected and the pathological findings were typical for focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) of the liver. The combination of the findings of these three diagnostic imaging methods is probably specific for uncomplicated FNH, a benign and innocuous tumor of the liver.

Aorta, Abdominal↗
PubMed1982

Cerebrospinal fluid protein findings in cervical syndromes classified by myelography, and in multiple sclerosis.

Determinations of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) albumin, IgG, albumin blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability and local IgG synthesis indexes in CNS were carried out on 85 patients with various neck, shoulder and upper extremity pain syndromes. CSF was obtained by lumbar puncture in 29, and by lateral neck puncture in 56 of the patients. The patients were classified into 3 different groups according to varying severity of degenerative changes, or cavitation verified by myelography. CSF protein patterns in these patients were compared with lumbar CSF findings in 18 patients with multiple sclerosis. CSF protein changes in patients with abnormal myelographic findings were slight. Protein values were clearly more abnormal in lumbar CSF than in cervical CSF, probably due to a retardation of the CSF flow. Only 3 of 62 patients with a narrowing of the cervical spinal canal had pathological values for IgG synthesis or BBB permeability indexes. On the other hand 14 of 18 patients with multiple sclerosis had abnormal, high values for the IgG index. Thus the present results suggest that investigation of the CSF protein pattern has value in differential diagnosis between patients with multiple sclerosis and degenerative diseases of the cervical spine.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

ECG changes in exercise-induced asthma.

Changes in ECG during and after exercise were analyzed in 17 patients with exercise-induced asthma (EIA) and in 12 control patients (asthmatic patients without exercise-induced bronchial obstruction). The changes in ECG were compared with those in peak expiratory flow (PEF) rate and in arterial PCO2, PO2 and pH. It was found that in EIA the amplitude of the P wave increased in the inferior leads and decreased in the aVL lead during and after exercise. In addition, the amplitude of the R wave diminished and the amplitude of the S wave increased in the anterior precordial leads during bronchoconstriction. The changes in the ECG of the control patients were small and were already beginning to return to normal 4 min after exercise, whereas the changes in EIA patients persisted for 4-10 min after exercise. In EIA, a significant negative correlation was found between the PEF rate and the amplitude of the P wave in leads II, III and aVF. In addition, the PEF rate and the amplitude of the S wave in the V3 lead showed significant negative correlation. Almost no changes were observed in PO2 or PCO2 in the EIA or in the control patients. The pH decreased significantly in both groups during exercise. The PEF rate did not correlate with arterial PO2, PCO2 or pH after exercise in EIA.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

99mTc-DTPA--a useful clinical tool for the measurement of glomerular filtration rate.

The single injection 99mTc-DTPA clearance was compared with the inulin clearance performed with the constant infusion technique in 22 subjects. There was a good correlation between these two methods (r = 0.968, p less than 0.001). Although the single injection technique calculated by one compartment model is not accurate enough for research purposes, it seems to work well in routine clinical practice for the measurement of glomerular filtration rate using 99mTc-DTPA as a tracer substance. The performance is simple, it needs only a few blood samples, nor does it need any urine collection, the radiation dose is low and it seems to be more accurate than the endogenous creatinine clearance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Comparison of ketotifen, disodium cromoglycate and placebo in the treatment of adult patients with mild extrinsic asthma.

Sixty-four patients with mild of moderate extrinsic asthma were treated with placebo for 1 month and thereafter with ketotifen (1 mg twice daily, orally), disodium cromoglycate (inhalation of 20 mg, four times daily), or placebo for 2 subsequent months. The trial was performed at four different centres and the treatments were compared using double-blind technique. We found no difference between the effect of ketotifen, disodium cromoglycate and placebo on the patients' daily measurements of evening peak expiratory flow, daily score values or respiratory symptoms of the number of salbutamol puffs required to control symptoms. There was no difference between the treatment groups with regard to the patients' estimates of changes in airway sensitivity to different non-specific stimuli: fumes, tobacco smoke, cold air, and exercise. The only significant effect of DSCG was a minor (4%) increase in the mean morning value for peak expiratory flow. The findings suggest that the addition of ketotifen or disodium cromoglycate to the regimen is unlikely to give further benefit in asthmatic patients, whose symptoms are reasonably well controlled by small doses of bronchodilating drugs.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Elimination of extracranial blood flow during dynamic cerebral perfusion studies using diffusible and non-diffusible radioisotope.

The extracranial blood flow seriously complicates the interpretation of dynamic cerebral studies. To eliminate this, we used a blood pressure cuff placed around the head in 50 patients with no evidence of cerebrovascular disease. The pressure in the headband was increased to 30 mmHg above the patient's systolic pressure, and the first 60 sec static scintigram was taken exactly 3 min after the injection of 99mTc-pertechnetate. A second 60 sec static scintigram was taken without pressure in the headband at 6 min after injection. After correction for diffusion of tracer into extravascular compartments we could still show 13% reduction in counting rates over the hemispheric regions and 30% over the convexity regions during application of the pressure headband. With the Xenon method, the application of the headband appears to have insignificant influence on the results of cerebral perfusion. We thus recommend that a headband should be used for dynamic 99mTc-isotope cerebral circulation studies.

Cerebrovascular Circulation↗
PubMed1980

Evaluation of cerebral infarctions of the carotid area by an intravenous 133Xenon and 99mTechnetium method.

Quantitative determinations of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBFf, rCBFm) and volume (rCBV), transfer time (rCTT) and fast compartmental weight (Wf) were performed in 34 patients with infarctions of the carotid area by a 133Xe and 99mTc intravenous injection method. The results were compared with clinical signs and electroencephalographic (EEG) findings. A significant difference was found between the lesion side and the control side in all the parameters except rCBV. This difference increased with the severity of the infarction and age of the patients. The difference between the two sides was especially great in the patients with totally occluded internal carotid artery. A slight diaschisis could be observed in the present infarction group. An almost significant reduction on the "normal side" was seen in Wf. In order to assess the reciprocal influence of all the different blood flow parameters, the difference index (DI): Formula: (see text) was calculated, where delta i = the difference between the two sides in one parameter expressed in percent. This proved to be abnormal in 80% of the patients. The atraumatic isotope technique employed offers a good opportunity for the quantitative evaluation of hemodynamics in cerebral infarction and serves as an aid in the diagnosis of infarction.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Comparison of three methods of measuring liver blood flow.

Liver blood flow was measured by dynamic 99Tcm-sulfur colloid accumulation and indocyanine green disappearance in 5 subjects, and by 99Tcm-sulfur colloid accumulation and 133Xe-wash-out in 7 subjects. Results obtained by the 99Tcm-sulfur colloid and indocyanine green methods were closely comparable, whereas the flow values estimated by the two isotope methods did not correlate well.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Mortality and autopsy rate from urogenital diseases in Finland in 1955-1973.

Mortality from various urogenital diseases including the malignant neoplasms of the genito-urinary system and the breast in Finland in 1955-1973 was studied. Only minor changes were found in the total death rate of all these diseases between 1955 and 1973. However, the age-specific death rates of the nephritis-nephrosis group decreased both among males and females. Also mortality from all other urogenital diseases than malignant neoplasms decreased among elderly and middle-aged people. Mortality from malignant neoplasms of the breast increased slightly among elderly women and that of the prostate among elderly men. The autopsy rate of the deaths due to all other urogenital diseases (33.5% in 1973) than malignant neoplasms (27.4%) was of the same order as that recorded for all natural deaths (33.2%) in Finland between 1963 and 1973. Many types of malignant urogenital neoplasms remained significantly under-autopsied. The highest autopsy rates of the single urogenital diseases were recorded for acute nephritis and unqualified nephritis; the respective national rates were 90 and 71%, in 1973. These rates exceeded highly significantly the mean national autopsy rate of all deaths which was 38.2%.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1979

Cerebrospinal fluid protein findings in various lower back pain syndromes.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) total protein, albumin and IgG concentrations were measured in 53 patients with lower back pain syndromes. In the majority of the patients (81 %) the protein values were within normal ranges, a finding contrary to previous studies. In six of 28 patients with acute lumbar disc prolapse and in two of four cases with spinal stenosis, a clearly abnormal protein pattern was observed, while patients who had been earlier operated on for disc prolapse showed normal values. The calculated permeability indexes suggest that the elevation of various proteins is linked with increased permeability across the blood-brain barrier and that the local immunoglobulin synthesis in CNS is lacking. In only one of the cases with an abnormal CSF protein pattern could no evidence of the cause of the pathological finding be observed in subsequent examinations.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Analysis of the changes in ECG during status asthmaticus.

An analysis was made of the changes in ECG in 61 random patients during status asthmaticus. It was found that a statistically significant increase occurred in the amplitude of the P wave in the inferior leads. P. pulmonale was noticed in lead II in 26%, in lead III in 18%, and in lead aVF in 25% during status asthmaticus, whereas corresponding values in the controls were 5%, 5% and 3%. A tendency to rS was also seen in the precordial leads, as were a small clockwise rotation, a small rotation of the frontal QRS axis to the right, and slight changes in the ST segment and T wave.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

Mortality and autopsy rate for gastrointestinal diseases in Finland in 1955--1973.

Gastrointestinal diseases accounted for about 10% of all natural deaths in Finland in 1955--1973. Total mortality for these diseases decreased slightly amongst young and middle-aged people in 1955--1973. This was mainly because mortality for ulcerative diseases of the stomach and the small intestine decreased continuously in practically all are groups, and also because the death rates of men and women from malignant neoplasms of the stomach decreased slightly but linearly at all ages. The autopsy rates increased highly significantly in all major categories of deaths between 1963 and 1973. In 1973 the autopsy rate for diseases of the digestive system (the ninth ICD main group) was 67%. This rate exceeded highly significantly the mean autopsy rate recorded for all (38%) and all natural deaths (33%). The autopsy rate for gastrointestinal malignancies was 26%, which in turn was highly significantly lower than the average rate for all and all natural deaths. The highest single autopsy rates in 1973 were recorded for ulcer of the duodenum (87%), diseases of the pancreas (78%), cholelithiasis (77%), and chronic enteritis and ulcerative colitis (76%). The present results suggest that the mortality statistics of Finland are obviously more reliable for the gastrointestinal diseases as a cause of death than in most other major categories of diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Mortality and autopsy rate for respiratory diseases in Finland in 1955--1973.

Mortality from respiratory diseases in Finland in 1955--1973 was investigated using the official statistics and original death certificates. Total mortality from respiratory diseases in men was significantly higher than in women. Total respiratory mortality in men has increased slightly since 1963, whereas in women it decreased between 1955 and 1963 but has since remained almost constant. Mortality from lung cancer increased in men constantly in the years 1955--1973, but this was not found in women. Mortality from obstructive lung diseases in men increased slightly between 1955 and 1969 but not since. This increase was recorded only for the elderly whereas the opposite trend was found in younger people. The number of deaths from pneumonia decreased between 1955 and 1963. After 1963 these deaths increased again but only in the older age groups. Mortality from pulmonary tuberculosis showed a steady decrease. In 1973 the autopsy rate was 80.6% in pneumococcal pneumonia, 65.6% in pulmonary embolism, 48.1% in bronchiectasis, and 47.0% in pulmonary tuberculosis, exceeding significantly the mean national autopsy rate which was 38.3%. This might mean that at least some of these respiratory diseases are underdiagnosed clinically as the performance of an autopsy seems to increase their relative proportion in mortality statistics.

Age Factors↗