Biomedical subjects
A Jukkara
Publications and source records attributed to A Jukkara.
Lack of clinical exacerbations in adults with chronic asthma after immunization with killed influenza virus.
The effects of immunization with killed influenza virus vaccine were assessed by comparison with placebo in a double-blind study of 318 adult patients with chronic asthma. The patients were randomly allocated to active vaccine and placebo. No difference was observed in peak expiratory flow rate or in clinical symptoms of bronchial obstruction between the groups receiving active vaccine and placebo during the first week after immunization. The data were analyzed separately for age, sex, duration of the disease, hypersensitivity to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), atopic status, patients with a history of attacks of asthma induced by viral infections, patients with a diurnal variation of baseline peak expiratory flow of 20 percent or more, and patients receiving continuous oral steroid medication, but none of these factors seemed to predict any short-term adverse effects of vaccination. Follow-up for eight months after the vaccination revealed no differences in asthmatic symptoms between the patients treated with active vaccine and those receiving placebo. The antiviral antibody response to vaccination was normal. The possible protection provided by the vaccination against exacerbation of asthma induced by influenza could not be evaluated, since the influenza epidemic expected during the season failed to occur in Finland. It is concluded that immunization with killed influenza vaccine is safe and is not associated with any significant side effects in adult patients with chronic asthma.
Theophylline plus hydroxyzine versus theophylline monohydrate in the treatment of asthma.
The efficacy of 281.7 mg of theophylline monohydrate and a combination of theophylline (240 mg) + hydroxyzine (7.5 mg) were compared in a double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study in 15 patients with chronic reversible bronchial asthma. The patients took the drugs tested at 7.00 a.m., 3.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. During the 3-day trial period, the patients measured their peak expiratory flow (PEF) values every day at 7.00 a.m., 10.00 a.m. and 10.00 p.m., and during the last trial day, theophylline serum levels were also determined. Use of theophylline monohydrate resulted in slightly steadier serum theophylline levels than with theophylline + hydroxyzine and morning levels of theophylline were significantly higher (p less than 0.01) during the former treatment. Despite this, only the theophylline + hydroxyzine combination had a significant effect (p less than 0.05 at 7.00 a.m., p less than 0.01 at 10.00 a.m. and 10.00 p.m.) on PEF values at each time of measurement. There was a significant difference (p less than 0.05) in PEF values at 10.00 a.m. between the trial preparations in favour of the theophylline + hydroxyzine combination. Theophylline + hydroxyzine significantly decreased (p less than 0.05) nocturnal dyspnoea and most patients preferred this preparation. The differences in side effects were not statistically significant. The addition of hydroxyzine to theophylline increases the clinical efficacy of the latter.
Further decrease in thyroidal uptake and disappearance of endemic goitre in children after 30 years of iodine prophylaxis in the east of Finland.
Endemic goitre of moderate severity was mainly found in the east of Finland in the 1930's. Studies in the 1950's showed an average daily iodine intake of 65-70 micrograms in the west and 50-65 micrograms in the east of the country. The use of iodized salt was introduced in the late 1940's but added only 15 micrograms of iodine to the daily intake. In the late 1950's iodine prophylaxis was intensified and the use of salt containing 25 mg KI/kg was recommended. In 1978 about 95% of all household salt used in the Savonlinna area was iodized. This region in the east of Finland has been used as an area of surveillance and studies have been carried out there in 1959, 1969 and 1979. During this period the thyroidal uptake decreased from 67 to 23% in non-goitrous subjects and from 62 to 28% in goitre patients the difference between the two last figures being statistically significant. The goitre patients also had significantly higher serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels. During the same period the urinary excretion of stable 127I increased from 45 micrograms to about 250 micrograms a day. Concomitantly the goitre prevalence among school children has decreased. Having been in the early 1950's in most parts 15-30% it is generally now 1-4%. It seems that the iodine intake is now adequate and that the endemia is gradually subsiding.