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Biomedical subjects

A Pakarinen

Publications and source records attributed to A Pakarinen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

The effect of iron treatment on serum ferritin concentrations and bone marrow stainable iron in iron deficient out-patients with gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer.

Serum ferritin concentrations and bone marrow stainable iron were determined in 122 adult out-patients (seventy males) with gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer. Half of the forty-four patients with iron deficiency (serum ferritin level below 20 micrograms/l) received peroral iron therapy (200 mg Fe++ daily). In most of the treated patients serum ferritin levels increased and the amount of bone marrow stainable iron in half of them also increased. Measurement of body iron stores by serum ferritin determinations and restoration of low body iron stores in these patients is of practical importance.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1983

Serum iron, copper, zinc, ferritin, and ceruloplasmin after intense heat exposure.

Twelve voluntary adult subjects twice took a 30-min sauna bath, at a temperature of 80 degrees C with a 30-min rest between each, every 12 h for 1 week. Measurements of serum iron, copper, zinc, ferritin and ceruloplasmin were performed before the experiment, after the first and second 30 min in the sauna and at the end of the week. The first two sauna baths did not significantly change the concentrations of the trace elements measured. After the week the mean serum copper concentration had decreased from 15.0 (SD 1.7) mumol x 1-1 to 13.5 (SD 2.0) mumol x 1-1 (p less than 0.02). The mean zinc concentration decreased from 13.8 (SD 2.4) mumol x 1-1 to 9.8 (SD 1.8) mumol x 1-1 (p less than 0.001) during the week of the experiment. At the beginning of the study period two subjects had zinc concentrations below the reference values and after the week nine subjects had zinc concentrations below the reference values. The concentration of serum ferritin decreased from 142.2 (SD 103) micrograms x 1-1 to 111.3 (SD 89) micrograms x 1-1 (p less than 0.02) whereas the values of ceruloplasmin remained unchanged. Our findings confirm the earlier suggestion that heavy exposure to heat can cause a loss of some trace elements, especially zinc.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Placental transfer and hormonal effects of metoclopramide.

In order to study the transplacental transfer of metoclopramide, and its endocrine effects, measurements were made of its concentration in maternal and fetal blood, and in the amniotic fluid, together with maternal and fetal plasma concentrations of prolactin, TSH and oestradiol, during delivery by selective Caesarean section. The drug, 10 mg, was injected i.m. 12 and 2 h and just before the onset of anaesthesia. Metoclopramide was detectable in all the umbilical arterial and venous and amniotic fluid samples, in mean concentrations of 50, 63 and 75 ng/ml, respectively. The mean ratio between the umbilical venous and maternal plasma concentrations was 0.63. Accurate maternal plasma half-lives could not be established but they must have averaged 2 to 4 h. The high amniotic fluid concentrations and relatively high umbilical venous and arterial concentrations soon after administration suggest that metoclopramide equilibrates relatively rapidly between the mother and fetus. Metoclopramide raised the maternal plasma prolactin levels from 315 +/- 128 ng/ml (SD) before therapy to 357 +/- 112 ng/ml at the time birth. No statistically significant difference in cord arterial or venous plasma prolactin levels was seen between the control and metoclopramide-treated groups. Metoclopramide did not affect maternal plasma TSH or oestradiol levels. The only change was a slight but significant increase in TSH level in cord blood taken from the umbilical artery after metoclopramide treatment.

Anesthesia, Obstetrical↗
PubMed1983

Effect of segmental epidural analgesia on neonatal serum bilirubin concentration and incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Neonatal serum bilirubin levels were determined at the ages of 12 hrs, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days and 5 days in 80 infants. Forty-three mothers had received segmental epidural analgesia at the height of Th 10-12 for pain relief during the first stage of labor. The analgesic agent used was 0.5% bupivacaine. The individual doses were of 4 ml. Thirty-seven mothers served as a control group. The groups were further divided into smaller groups according to whether oxytocin was used for induction or acceleration of labor--or not. The results showed no statistically significant differences in the neonatal serum bilirubin levels at different times between the epidural and the control groups, whether oxytocin was used or not. Nor did the incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia cases differ between the groups.

Anesthesia, Epidural↗
PubMed1982

Acute phase proteins, humoral and cell mediated immunity in environmentally-induced hyperthermia in man.

The effects of repeated hyperthermia, caused by a Finnish sauna bath over 1 week, on the serum levels of some acute phase reactant proteins and on both humoral and cell-mediated immunity on twelve healthy young volunteers are presented. The mean rise in rectal temperature during each 30-min period in the bath was about 1.3 degrees C. Heat exposure caused significant increases in the serum concentrations of two of the acute phase reactant proteins, alpha1-antitrypsin (from a mean value of 1.8 (0.1) to 1.9 (0.2) g X l-1, p less than 0.01) and transferrin (from a mean value of 36.9 (3.4) to 38.3 (4.4) mumol X l-1, p less than 0.05), but no changes occurred in immunoglobulins or cell-mediated immunity. These findings suggest that environmentally induced hyperthermia can initiate the acute phase reaction associated with fever.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Pituitary-adrenal and testicular function in preterm infants after prenatal dexamethasone treatment.

Pituitary-adrenal and testicular function was monitored by plasma ACTH and testosterone (T) measurements in preterm newborns (gestational age below 36 weeks), exposed in utero to dexamethasone treatment for prevention of respiratory distress syndrome. A group of age-matched premature newborns and full-term infants served as controls. The cord-blood ACTH level was high in each group (logarithmic means 65-75 ng/l), but decreased within the first 2 days of life to mean levels between 20-30 ng/l on days 3 to 10 inclusive. Dexamethasone treatment had no effect on the postnatal ACTH concentrations when compared with preterm or full-term controls. Similarly, no difference in plasma ACTH were found between untreated preterm and full-term infants during the first 10 days of life. T levels in mixed cord blood were on average 2-3 nmol/l in the preterm male infants. An increase to a mean level of 10 nmol/l was seen in 1 h and 1 d samples. Thereafter, the concentration of T decreased to 2-3 nmol/l on days 3-10 postnatally. No effect of dexamethasone treatment was seen on the postnatal pattern of plasma T. When preterm male and full-term male infants were compared, no difference was seen in the T peak in the first day of life. However, the 1-3, and 60-90 days concentrations of T were 2-fold (p less than 0.01-0.05) higher in the preterm group. It is concluded that prenatal dexamethasone treatment of the mother does not influence the postnatal pituitary-adrenal function as monitored by ACTH measurements. Likewise, no effect of this treatment was observed on the postnatal testicular activity of preterm male infants. The immediate postnatal peak in plasma T levels persisted longer in the preterm than in the full-term male infants.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1982

Hormonal and metabolic effects of intravenous infusion of prostacyclin in healthy women.

To study the hormonal and metabolic effects of prostacyclin (PGI2), 6 healthy women were infused iv with PGI2 (1, 2, 4, and 8 ng/kg/min. each for 20 min) dissolved in glycine buffer, or with glycine buffer only. Serial blood samples collected before, during and after the infusion were assayed for FSH, LH, prolactin, growth hormone, thyrotrophin, oestradiol, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, renin, aldosterone, glucose, insulin, glucagon, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, bilirubin, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, inorganic phosphorous, creatinine and uric acid. PGI2 infusions were accompanied by increased levels of prolactin, growth hormone and cortisol, probably due to the stressful side-effects during PGI2 infusion. In addition, plasma renin activity, glucagon and blood glucose increased, whereas the other variables measured did not change. These PGI2-effects should be kept in mind, when PGI2 is used in clinical practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Fetal adrenocorticotropic hormone and prolactin at delivery.

The concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and prolactin in fetal scalp and umbilical cord blood were measured in 49 full-term fetuses, 25 of whom were delivered spontaneously, 10 of whom underwent induced vaginal delivery, and 14 of whom underwent elective cesarean section. Serial fetal scalp blood samples taken during the 35 vaginal deliveries showed no change in concentration of these hormones. The mean (+/- SD) plasma level of ACTH in cord artery blood after vaginal delivery (315 +/- 249 ng/liter) was significantly higher (P less than .05) than after cesarean section (184 +/- 201 ng/liter), indicating that the fetal anterior pituitary is capable of responding to partal stress.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1981

Serum and urinary vanadium of workers processing vanadium pentoxide.

Serum and urinary vanadium concentrations were investigated in eight men exposed to vanadium pentoxide dust. The creatinine-adjusted urinary vanadium concentrations were found to correlate with serum vanadium concentrations (r = 0.81), but not with the vanadium contents of factory air. The urinary vanadium excretion decreased significantly with the time the workers spent out of exposure. At the beginning of their summer holidays the serum vanadium concentration of the workers was 393 +/- 223 (S.D.) nmol/l and the urinary excretion of vanadium 73 +/- 50 nmol/mmol of creatinine. Three days after exposure the urinary excretion of vanadium was 46 +/- 24 nmol/mmol of creatinine. On the 16th day of their holidays vanadium could be detected in the serum (225 +/- 83 nmol/l) and in the urine (48 +/- 26 nmol/mmol of creatinine) of the workers. Eight family members of the exposed had less vanadium in urine (32 +/- 17 nmol/mmol of creatinine). These results suggest that most of the absorbed vanadium is excreted in the urine within one day after a long-term moderate exposure to vanadium dust.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Maternal, fetal and aminiotic fluid ACTH, cortisol and prolactin in association with medical beta-adrenergic stimulation.

In view of observations indicating accelerated fetal pulmonary maturation after tocolytic therapy with beta-adrenergic agonists, this study was undertaken to determine whether the phenomenon is related to enhanced maternal or fetal ACTH, cortisol or prolactin secretion. The concentrations of ACTH, cortisol and prolactin in maternal venous blood, umbilical arterial and venous blood, and amniotic fluid were similar after short-term maternal intravenous infusion of isoxsuprine, fenoterol or isotonic saline, and they did not increase in the maternal venous blood during these treatments or during long-term treatment with intravenous ritodrine. These results suggest that the accelerated fetal pulmonary maturation induced by beta-adrenergic stimulation is not mediated by ACTH, cortisol or prolactin.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1980

Clomipramine and doxepin in depressive neurosis. Plasma levels and therapeutic response.

The therapeutic efficacy, plasma levels, and psychomotor effects of tryptophan (L-tryptophan), clomipramine hydrochloride, and doxepin were investigate in "neurotically" depressed outpatients. The tricyclic antidepressants were significantly more efficacious than tryptophan in inducing remission. The alleviation of depression was preceded by an improvement of the initially slow information-processing rates in the depressed patients. The plasma levels of the tricyclics that were associated with a therapeutic response were significantly lower than those reported in "endogenously" depressed inpatients.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Cardiovascular function and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in long-distance runners during various training periods.

Blood pressure, heart rate, heart volume, electrocardiogram, plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma angiotensin II and aldosterone concentrations were followed up in sixteen male long-distance runners during various training periods from January to September. During the most intense training period, the "track-running' period, the athletes had significant increases in all measured parameters of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (R-A-A) system when compared to the seven control subjects. In the middle of this period the PRA and angiotensin II concentrations of the athletes had increased 1.9- and 1.5-fold, respectively, from the initial values. The plasma aldosterone concentration increased both in the athletes and in the control group. The systolic blood pressure of the athletes was slightly but significantly increased at the same period as the most marked changes in the R-A-A system were found. In the athletes, positive correlations were found between the relative heart volumes in the roentgenograms and the electrocardiographic signs for both right and left ventricular size. This study demonstrates that during intense training runners may have long-lasting temporary increases in systolic blood pressure level with parallel changes in the components of the R-A-A system. However, the reason for this slight increase in the systolic blood pressure remains unclear.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

The effect of segmental epidural analgesia on maternal prolactin during labour.

Maternal plasma prolactin (PRL) concentrations were determined during the course of induced labours in 18 normal parturients. Every second mother was given segmental epidural analgesia for pain relief during the first stage of labour and the remaining parturients served as controls. The maternal PRL level declined during labour in both groups, which contrasts with the increased output seen in nonpregnant patients subjected to stress. The lowest levels were reached during the first stage of labour. The reduction in PRL levels was statistically significant in the control group but not in the epidural group of patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Maternal, fetal and neonatal effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation in connection with cesarean section.

To investigate the combined metabolic effects of beta-mimetic therapy and general anesthesia on maternal and fetal/neonatal metabolism, 14 patients were treated with isotonic saline, 11 with intravenous fenoterol (3 microgram/min) and 9 with intravenous isoxsuprine (150 microgram/min) for 30 minutes prior to cesarean section. The maternal heart rate and blood pressure as well as the maternal and fetal acid-base balance were followed. The neonatal glucose level was monitored for 36 hours after delivery. The heart rate and the diastolic and systolic blood pressure values increased during the operation in each group, without any marked differences between the groups. At delivery, the mean maternal BD (base-deficit) value was higher in the fenoterol patients than in the control patients, indicating a trend towards metabolic acidosis. The other values of acid-base balance in the maternal and umbilical arterial and venous blood did not reveal any differences between the groups. The neonatal glucose level at 2 hours after delivery was higher in the fenoterol group than in the control group. The other values recorded during 36 hours revealed no differences between the groups. Beta-mimetic treatment preceding general anesthesia in cesarean section does not have unfavorable effects on the mother, the fetus or the newborn. Such therapy thus does not seem contraindicated when uterine contractions should be rapidly suppressed in cases of fetal distress before operation.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed1980

Serum ferritin as a measure of iron stores during and after normal pregnancy with and without iron supplements.

The iron stores of 32 healthy pregnant women were evaluated longitudinally during pregnancy and 6 months post partum by serum ferritin assay and by bone marrow iron content. Half of the women were receiving oral iron while the others were not given iron supplementation. Women receiving iron could maintain their iron stores throughout the pregnancy. By contrast, women without iron therapy had low serum ferritin values, pointing to the absence of iron stores during the last trimester, and 6 of these 16 women developed anemia. This was confirmed by estimation of the quantity of stainable iron in the bone marrow. In addition serum iron, transferrin and red cell MCV values indicated iron deficient erythropoesis. During a 6-month period after pregnancy the women receiving supplemental iron during pregnancy had a significant increase in their serum ferritin concentrations, indicating restoration of iron stores. Women not receiving iron during pregnancy had exhausted iron stores at term and serum ferritin values stayed low even at 6 months after delivery. If iron therapy was instituted after parturition, serum ferritin assays indicated restoration of iron stores within the ensuing 6 month. To prevent iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy supplemental iron is advisable for all pregnant women in our country.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Serum ferritin in the diagnosis of anemia during pregnancy.

Measurements of serum ferritin were correlated with bone marrow iron content and other laboratory hematological indices in 44 anemic (B-Hb < 110 g/l) pregnant women. Seventy-two % of patients classified as iron deficient by the absence of bone marrow iron had diagnostically low serum ferritin concentrations, which percentage is about double compared with those revealed by measurements of serum transferrin, TIBC, transferrin saturation, serum iron, blood hemoglobin and red cell indices. It is also important that serum ferritin was the only one of these measurements which was able to differentiate between iron deficiency, and anemia due to infection. Seven out of 8 patients with anemia due to infection had elevated serum ferritin levels. In 17% of patients no reason for the fall of blood hemoglobin could be shown. A plausible explanation for the low blood hemoglobin is extensive hemodilution.

Adult↗