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Biomedical subjects

E Hokkanen

Publications and source records attributed to E Hokkanen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Systemic availability of ergotamine tartrate after oral, rectal and intramuscular administration.

Plasma ergotamine levels were measured in 33 volunteers (subgroups 11, 12 and 10) after a single dose of ergotamine administered by various routes. Ergotamine tartrate was given in doses normally used in the treatment of acute migraine--2.0 mg orally, 2.0 mg combined with 100 mg caffeine rectally and 0.5 mg i.m. Plasma ergotamine concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. The highest and longest lasting levels were found after i.m. administration, the peak concentration being 1.94 +/- 0.34 (SEM) ng/ml at 1/2 h. The corresponding maximum concentrations after oral and rectal administration were 0.36 +/- 0.08 ng/ml at 2 h and 0.42 +/- 0.09 ng/ml at 1 h. In most of the subjects the plasma ergotamine level began to rise again at 24 to 48 h. The cause of the elevation is not known but it might favour possible accumulation of the drug. Absorption from suppositories was at least as good as after oral administration and the former route may therefore be advantageous for migraine patients in whom nausea and vomiting during an attack may prevent efficient oral medication.

Administration, Oral↗
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

Brachial plexus and radicular neurography in relation to cortical evoked responses.

An application of somatosensory potential recording suitable for clinical neurodiagnostics is described. Evoked responses were recorded with surface electrodes at four levels between wrist and scalp: Erb's point, seventh cervical spine, inion, and the somatosensory area of the scalp. The normal latency and latency difference values based on 16 healthy subjects are presented as well as those of four examples of pathological cases with lesions at various levels in the nervous system. The method presented offers novel possibilities for solving problems of differential diagnosis, especially at the level of the brachial plexus.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A report of two cases in a single family.

This paper presents two juvenile cases of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. They are the first and fourth child in a family with seven children from the eastern part of Finland. All seven children, as well as the parents, were examined by our group. In the first case the disease showed a rather mild course, while in the second a noticeable progression was observed even during a period of 10 months. The patients come from a rural area with a stable population and low immigration, which may favor an enrichment of certain genes and therefore support the possible hereditary basis for the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Evaluation of the jitter phenomenon in myasthenic patients and their relatives.

Single fiber electromyography with jitter measurements and blocking evaluation was used for investigating 23 myasthenic patients, their 29 healthy relatives, coming from 10 families, and a control group of 10 subjects. Blocking was never seen in the healthy controls, and the jitter averaged some 30 microsec. Blocking was present in the myasthenic patients in 25.4% of the recorded potential pairs and there was a pathological jitter, which often extended over a few hundred microsec. The records of ten healthy relatives of patients were suggestive of slight but unquestionable abnormalities of neuromuscular transmission, viz. blocking and a jitter of over 60 microsec or more. The results demonstrate subclinical derangements of neuromuscular transmission in families of myasthenic patients, which points to a familial factor as involved in the pathomechanism of the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Effect of a slow release preparation of levodopa on Parkinson's disease in combination with a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor.

Plasma concentrations of levodopa were determined after therapeutic oral levodopa-carbidopa doses. The wide fluctuations observed in plasma levodopa levels could be considerably reduced by the addition of a slow release levodopa preparation. This kind of combination medication was given to 15 parkinsonian patients, whose earlier therapy had proved inadequate. With the combination medication, levodopa-carbidopa, on an average 420 mg/42 mg combined with 950 mg of levodopa in slow release form, a statistically significant improvement in parkinsonian signs could be achieved without any worsening of the side effects. The results suggest that parkinsonian patients may tolerate much higher daily levodopa doses if the fluctuations in plasma levels of the drug can be diminished.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Measurement of reference values for certain proteins in cerebrospinal fluid.

Reference values are presented for certain cerebrospinal fluid proteins and related indexes, based on determinations carried out on 46 patients with diffuse lower back pain using radial immunodiffusion and electroimmunoassay. A sex difference was noted in total protein and albumin values. The electroimmunoassay method with its sensitivity enhanced by the use of Coomassie Blue staining and optimal antiserum concentrations enabled a reference value to be determined for IgA in cerebrospinal fluid.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Recurrent multiple cranial neuropathies.

A report of 12 patients with recurrent multiple cranial neuropathy is presented. In most cases the palsies a accompanied a mild respiratory infection. Both motor and sensory cranial nerves were affected, the facial nerve and optic nerve being the most common. The symptoms were self-limited in course and steroid therapy seemed to hasten the recovery in the cases it was used. Only in a few cases a noticeable neurological deficiency remained. Aetiological aspects of the syndrome are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[Ergotamine].

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Animals↗