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Biomedical subjects

E Salminen

Publications and source records attributed to E Salminen.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

The effects of sorbitol on the gastrointestinal microflora in rats.

The influence of dietary sorbitol on the quantity and quality of faecal microflora was studied in Wistar albino rats. The animals were gradually adapted to 20% dietary sorbitol or sucrose and faecal samples were analyzed for the numbers of major bacteria. No major changes in the numbers of total aerobic or anaerobic bacteria, aerobic streptococci and yeasts were observed after sorbitol feeding but sucrose appeared to decrease the total aerobes and anaerobes in the faeces. However, sorbitol feeding caused a clear shift in the rat faecal microbial population from gram-negative to gram-positive bacteria. All animals were capable of adapting to 20% dietary sorbitol or sucrose and withstood sorbitol treatment without problems.

Animals↗

Urinary excretion of orally administered oxalic acid in saccharin and o-phenylphenol-fed NMRI mice.

Both saccharin and o-phenylphenol have been suggested to be carcinogenic to the urinary bladder in experimental animals, but the mechanism has remained unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary saccharin and o-phenylphenol on the urinary excretion of dietary oxalic acid. Male NMRI mice were gradually adapted to either 3% o-phenylphenol or 5% saccharin in their diet. Having being adapted to these diets for 1 week or after consuming them for 3 months, the animals were fasted for 6 h and given a 2.5-microCi oral dose of U-14C-oxalic acid. Dosed animals were kept in metabolism cages for 48 h to monitor urinary and fecal excretion of the label. Adaptation to dietary o-phenylphenol appeared to increase the urinary excretion of orally administered U-14C-oxalic acid when food and water were available during urinary and fecal collections. Adaptation to dietary saccharin had little effect on urinary oxalate levels when compared to control animals. These results indicate that changes in urinary oxalate levels should be more carefully studied in connection with potential urinary bladder carcinogens to avoid the possibility of bladder irritation by increased urinary oxalate excretion.

Administration, Oral↗

Gut microflora interactions with xylitol in the mouse, rat and man.

The influence of dietary xylitol on the quantity and quality of faecal microflora was studied in Wistar albino rats, CD-1 mice and healthy human volunteers. In animals, the effects of xylitol adaptation and of 4-wk xylitol feeding were examined. No major changes in the numbers of total aerobic or anaerobic bacteria, aerobic streptococci, anaerobic streptococci or yeasts were observed, although there was evidence of a dose-dependent decrease in the numbers of aerobic streptococci in the faeces. However, xylitol feeding caused a clear shift in the rodent faecal microbial population from Gram-negative to Gram-positive bacteria. In human volunteers a similar shift was observed even after a single 30-g oral dose of xylitol. All animals were capable of adapting to 20% dietary xylitol and an accompanying enhancement of the ability of caecal and faecal flora to utilize xylitol was observed.

Adult↗

The effects of xylitol on gastric emptying and secretion of gastric inhibitory polypeptide in the rat.

The effects of xylitol on the rate of gastric emptying and plasma gastric inhibitory polypeptide secretion in the rat were studied to relate xylitol adaptation to these phenomena. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing about 250-270 g, were either gradually adapted to 20% xylitol diets or given a basal diet. The animals were, after a 24-hour fast, given a 1.2 g/kg body weight dose of xylitol or glucose either alone or with a 99mTc-tin colloid marker to study gastric emptying by using a gamma camera. Blood was taken from the tail vein, and plasma was analyzed for immunoreactive gastric inhibitory polypeptide by using a double-antibody radioimmunoassay. Xylitol adaptation did not appear to have any effect on the secretion of gastric inhibitory polypeptide. However, adaptation of rats to 20% dietary xylitol appeared to change the rate of gastric emptying by decreasing it. Therefore, it was concluded that gastric emptying plays a role in the adaptation to high xylitol doses while gastric inhibitory polypeptide appears not to be involved.

Administration, Oral↗

The effects of xylitol on the secretion of insulin and gastric inhibitory polypeptide in man and rats.

Xylitol given by gavage to unadapted rats produced profound diarrhoea and no rise in plasma gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) concentration. In xylitol adapted rats it did not cause diarrhoea but still had no effect upon GIP release in contrast to glucose, which did. In healthy human subjects xylitol taken by mouth in solution as a single 30 g dose produced only a minimal rise in blood glucose and no rise in plasma GIP or insulin concentration. Glucose in similar doses, on the other hand, caused a large rise in all three.

Adult↗

Infections and other illnesses of children in day-care centers in Helsinki. I: Incidences and effects of home and day-care center variables.

Illnesses among children attending municipal day-care centers (DCCs) were followed in a prospective study in Helsinki during 1985-1986. The study comprised 1,905 follow-up years among children in 29 DCCs. The mean number of illness periods was 4.9 per follow-up year, 7.9 for those under the age of three years and 3.8 for older children. The corresponding average numbers of days of illness were 23, 39 and 17. The most common diagnoses were upper respiratory tract infections (46.0%), diarrhea (17.2%), otitis media (12.9%), eye infections (4.0%), acute tonsillitis (3.2%), and bronchitis (3.0%). The six most common diagnoses, all infections, caused 86% of periods and 79% of days of illness. The ten most common infectious diseases caused 90.9% of absence periods, surgical operations 1.8%, and injuries 0.8%. In children under three years of age, a small area and volume of a DCC, lack of fully mechanized ventilation, and lack of separate facilities were associated with a higher incidence of one or all of the six most common infections. A large number of children at a DCC and small homes were associated with a high incidence of one or all of the most common infections among both younger and older children. The effects of passive smoking, number of siblings, number of household members, and incomes of families were not statistically significant.

Absenteeism↗

Infections and other illnesses of children in day-care centers in Helsinki. II: The economic losses.

The economic consequences of illnesses among children in day-care centers (DCCs) were estimated in Helsinki during a one-year period, 1985-1986. The municipal DCCs took care of altogether 14,882 children at the end of 1985. In terms of money value in 1990, the total loss due to illnesses among all DCC children was $22,485,000 (1 US dollar = 3.80 FIM). Nearly half (46%) of this loss was caused by illnesses among children under three years of age, although these represent only 20% of the children in day care. The losses were $3,535 per child place in use among children under three years of age and $1,012 among older children. Economic losses due to the guardian's absence from work totalled $1,623, deficient utilization of DCCs $1,254, visits to a physician $169, hospitalization $221, paid care of children at home $219 and antibiotic courses $12 per child place in use for those under the age of three years. The corresponding figures for older children were 541, 248, 95, 51, 73 and 4 dollars per child. More than 90% of illnesses and costs were caused by infectious diseases. Because the costs due to illnesses among children under three years of age were more than three times as high as those for older children, preference should be given to home care and family day care for younger children and efforts should be made to find out how to build healthy DCCs for them.

Absenteeism↗

Transformation of carbon tetrachloride under sulfate reducing conditions.

The removal of carbon tetrachloride under sulfate reducing conditions was studied in an anaerobic packed-bed reactor. Carbon tetrachloride, up to a concentration of 30 microM, was completely converted. Chloroform and dichloromethane were the main transformation products, but part of the carbon tetrachloride was also completely dechlorinated to unknown products. Gram-positive sulfate-reducing bacteria were involved in the reductive dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride to chloroform and dichloromethane since both molybdate, an inhibitor of sulfate reduction, and vancomycin, an inhibitor of gram-positive bacteria completely inhibited carbon tetrachloride transformation. Carbon tetrachloride transformation by these bacteria was a cometabolic process and depended on the input of an electron donor and electron acceptor (sulfate). The rate of carbon tetrachloride transformation by sulfate reducing bacteria depended on the type of electron donor present. A transformation rate of 5.1 nmol x ml(-1) x h(-1) was found with ethanol as electron donor. At carbon tetrachloride concentrations higher than 18 microM, sulfate reduction and reductive dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride decreased and complete inhibition was observed at a carbon tetrachloride concentration of 56.6 microM. It is not clear what type of microorganisms were involved in the observed partial complete dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride. Sulfate reducing bacteria probably did not play a role since inhibition of these bacteria with molybdate had no effect on the complete dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride.

Bacteria↗

Age-related survival in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PURPOSE: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) occurs in patients in all age groups and its incidence in Finland has constantly increased since the 1950s. In this study the change in the incidence rate and the effect of age on the survival of NHL patients was investigated. The aim of the study was to determine the relative survival by age during follow-up through a cancer registry. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data base of the Finnish Cancer Registry was used to collect information of all NHL cases registered in Finland in 1960-1992. A total of 2,824 newly diagnosed cases of NHL were included. Of them 1,414 (50%) were diagnosed in men and 1,410 (50%) in women. RESULTS: The age-specific incidence rates in both sexes indicated a significant increase (p < 0.0001) in incidence for patients from 1960 to 1992. The 1- and 5-year relative survival rates were best for patients diagnosed at the age of 40-44 years. During 10 years' survival two peaks were observed, in the age group of 20-24 and 40-44 years. The relative survival rate was found to deteriorate with an increase in the age of the patients. Patients with local NHL lymphoma had a similar survival regardless of their age at diagnosis. Relative survival of patients aged over 65 years with extensive lymphoma was 36% of the survival observed for younger patients. CONCLUSION: There is a trend for an increase in the incidence of NHL. Because NHL is more common in patients over 60 years of age than in the younger age groups, an increasing incidence indicates that more elderly patients will need treatment in the years to come.

Adolescent↗

Palliative chemotherapy in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

GOALS OF WORK: There is a need for an effective and nontoxic chemotherapy for palliative indication in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients who relapse after conventional or high-dose chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of peroral chemotherapy in the palliative treatment of NHL patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventeen NHL patients were treated with peroral trofosfamide (Ixoten) with an initial dose of 50 mg three times daily. The median age of the patients was 62 years (range: 45-78). Most of the patients had received multiple courses of combination chemotherapy. MAIN RESULTS: The overall response rate (complete remission and partial remission) was 53% (95% confidence interval 29-77), and median response duration was 7 months. Cross-resistance was not observed between trofosfamide and chlorambucil. Grade 1-3 hematological toxicity occurred in 16 patients. Other side effects, including mild or moderate nausea, neurotoxicity, alopecia and fatigue, did not require dose adjustments. No fatal complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Trofosfamide as a palliative regimen is feasible and effective in NHL patients even following previous heavy treatment.

Administration, Oral↗

Modeling of anaerobic degradation of solid slaughterhouse waste: inhibition effects of long-chain fatty acids or ammonia.

The anaerobic bioconversion of solid poultry slaughterhouse wastes was kinetically investigated. The modified version of simulation model was applied for description of experimental data in mesophilic laboratory digester and assays. Additionally, stages of formation and consumption of long chain fatty acids (LCFA) were included in the model. Batch data on volatile solids, ammonium, acetate, butyrate, propionate, LCFA concentrations, pH level, cumulative volume, and methane partial pressure were used for model calibration. As a reference, the model was used to describe digestion of solid sorted household waste. Simulation results showed that an inhibition of polymer hydrolysis by volatile fatty acids and acetogenesis by NH3 or LCFA could be responsible for the complex system dynamics during degradation of lipid- and protein-rich wastes.

Abattoirs↗

Early effects of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy on serum hormones, proteins and lipids.

Tamoxifen is widely used as an adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. To correctly interpret laboratory test results during tamoxifen treatment, clinicians should be aware of the possible effects of the drug on laboratory tests. This study investigated the effects on serum hormones, proteins, lipids and common biochemistry in seven postmenopausal women with breast cancer during 3 months after initiating the therapy. Statistically significant decreases occurred in serum gonadotropins, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, total protein, prealbumin, orosomucoid, haptoglobin, immunoglobin M and total cholesterol whilst significant increases occurred in serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), cortisol, parathyroid hormone, aspartate aminotransferase, urate, alpha-1-antitrypsin and ceruloplasmin. The alterations could result from tamoxifen therapy, radiation or changes in lifestyle. All the changes, apart from serum urate, remained within the reference limits. In addition, only serum gonadotropins, SHBG, urate and cholesterol showed clinically significant changes. Alterations in the other laboratory tests are unlikely to disturb diagnoses based on laboratory test results during tamoxifen therapy.

Aged↗

Docetaxel and autonomic cardiovascular control in anthracycline treated breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Taxoids are new chemotherapeutic agents effective in the treatment of breast cancer. Paclitaxel treatment has been reported to cause some cardiac side effects and both paclitaxel and docetaxel to cause mild, mainly sensory, peripheral neuropathy. Autonomic function tests are sensitive measures of autonomic neuropathy and cardiac regulation. The purpose of this study was to find out whether docetaxel changes neural cardiovascular regulation in breast cancer patients previously treated with anthracyclines. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine women treated for metastatic breast cancer with docetaxel were studied prior to the docetaxel treatment and after the third or fourth course. Autonomic cardiovascular function tests were performed and heart rate and blood pressure variability were assessed with power spectrum analysis. RESULTS: Heart rate variability or the heart rate responses to the autonomic function tests did not change after docetaxel treatment. The blood pressure response to standing was enhanced and systolic blood pressure variability decreased after three to four cycles of docetaxel. CONCLUSIONS: Docetaxel treatment did not deteriorate vagal cardiac control in breast cancer patients after exposure to epirubicin. The observed changes in blood pressure responses suggest that docetaxel changes sympathetic vascular control. However, these changes seem to be related to altered cardiovascular homeostasis rather than peripheral sympathetic neuropathy.

Adult↗

Docetaxel, a promising novel chemotherapeutic agent in advanced breast cancer.

UNLABELLED: Clinical practice in chemotherapy of breast cancer is undergoing changes. This study investigated the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel, a novel chemotherapeutic agent in metastatic breast cancer. Focus was on the effect of the cumulative dose of previous anthracycline treatment on response rate, toxicity and survival in our own patients; published data were reviewed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-one women, (median age 52 years, range 40-65) treated for metastatic breast cancer with docetaxel were included. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 48%, with 3 complete and 11 partial responses (95% CI 29-66). The duration of response was 7 months (range 2 to 16 months), the median overall survival after docetaxel 13.7 months for responding patients, 14.3 months in no-change patients and 6.5 months in patients with progressive disease. The mean cumulative anthracycline dose prior to docetaxel was 860 mg (range 200-1760 mg); in the case of responders, the previous cumulative total epirubicin doses were 200-1575 mg (median 766 mg.). Total dose or schedule of previous epirubicin treatment had no impact on docetaxel response rate, toxicity or survival. The response seen in this study is within the published range (24 to 60%) observed for docetaxel in anthracycline-treated patients. CONCLUSION: We conclude that docetaxel is active in metastatic breast cancer even as third- line treatment. Previous treatment with, or response to, epirubicin does not influence the response to docetaxel and this promising new drug is currently being tested for adjuvant use in breast cancer.

Adult↗