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Biomedical subjects

H Virtanen

Publications and source records attributed to H Virtanen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Disparate response of wild-type and variant forms of LH to GnRH stimulation in individuals heterozygous for the LHbeta variant allele.

There is a common genetic variant of LH due to two amino acid changes in the LHbeta subunit, Trp(8)Arg and Ile(15)Thr. In order to compare the relative activities of wild type (wt-LH) and variant LHbeta (v-LHbeta) genes in LH production and secretion, we performed gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation tests for healthy females (n = 7) and males (n = 10) heterozygous for the v-LHbeta allele. Blood samples were drawn up to 180 min after injection of GnRH. The serum samples were subjected to two immunofluorometric assays, one detecting wt hormone, the other detecting equally both LH types. The wt/total ratio increased significantly (P < or = 0.016) after GnRH injection in males. This indicates that the proportion of wt-LH increases in the circulation in men but not in women, and that women consequently secrete relatively more v-LH. An in-vitro bioassay was performed on 0 and 60 min samples, and the bio/immunoreactivity (B/I) ratio decreased in both sexes (P = 0.010-0.012). This supports the previously reported lower B/I ratio of wt. than v-LH, since wt-LH is expected to accumulate in circulation because of its longer half-life. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that wt.- and v-LH respond differently to GnRH stimulation in men and women heterozygous for v-LHbeta. These results are in agreement with previously documented differences of the two forms in circulation, as well as with different promoter activities of the two LHbeta alleles.

Adolescent↗

A common polymorphism in the human relaxin-like factor (RLF) gene: no relationship with cryptorchidism.

The incidence of impaired testicular descent (cryptorchidism) is high; 1-2% of boys at the age of 3 mo are diagnosed for this condition in western countries. Recent data on mice with targeted disruption of the Insl3/relaxin-like factor (RLF) gene proposed that this factor plays a role in testicular descent in fetal life. Male RLF-/- mice exhibit bilateral cryptorchidism due to developmental abnormalities of the gubernaculum, associated with abnormal spermatogenesis and infertility. In the present study, we have sequenced the promoter region and both exons of the RLF gene in a cohort of 30 boys, seven of whom presented with a possible familial form of cryptorchidism and 23 with sporadic cryptorchidism. One of the nucleotide substitutions detected, G to A at position 178, predicted amino acid change. The mutation was localized to the C-peptide region, resulting in an alanine to threonine change and therefore classified as a conservative mutation. Four of the 30 cases analyzed were homozygous (13%), and 15 were heterozygous for the mutation (50%). However, the same mutation was also found in a control group of 89 men; 10% of them were homozygous, and 39% were heterozygous. Our results indicate that mutations in the RLF gene are not a common reason for cryptorchidism and that the common G178A polymorphism has no apparent relationship with this condition.

Base Sequence↗

Anorexia nervosa, major depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder in a Down's syndrome patient.

OBJECTIVE: This paper reports a case of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), major depression, and anorexia nervosa in a Down's syndrome patient. RESULTS: Mental retardation and OCD narrowed the patient's available means to control over life. First he became depressed. Perhaps because of insufficient treatment of the depression or in the context of controlling his body and inner life, anorexia nervosa developed. DISCUSSION: His clinical presentation, diagnostics, and successful treatment of psychiatric disorders and anorexia nervosa are presented.

Adult↗

Epidemiology and traumatology of injuries in elite soccer: a prospective study in Finland.

A prospective study of male soccer injuries among 12 teams playing at the highest competition level was carried out in Finland in 1993. Overall, two out of three players were injured during the whole season. The injury incidence per 1000 playing hours among injured players and all players during games was higher than during practice, 14.2 vs. 11.3 and 2.3 vs. 1.8, respectively. The lower extremity was involved in 76% of the injuries. Thigh injuries were most frequent (22%), whereas overuse injuries were scarce (6%). Eighteen per cent of the injured players needed surgery and in most cases (58%) the reason for surgery was a knee injury. Sixteen per cent of all injured players were absent from soccer for more than 1 month after the injury. The mean absence time was 17 days for all and 84 days for operatively treated players.

Adolescent↗

[Recurrent cough].

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Carbamazepine↗

Effect of abrasion of teat orifice epithelium on development of bovine staphylococcal mastitis.

The predisposing effect of teat damage on mastitis caused by staphylococci and the pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus hyicus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis were investigated with an experimental model. The study included three experiments in which the teat canal orifice of 5 cows was slightly abraded. Experimental and control quarters were challenged with a staphylococcal suspension, and the status of the quarters was monitored. Virulence of the staphylococcal strains was studied using a protein-binding test with 125I-labeled proteins (fibronectin, fibrinogen, vitronectin, collagen type I and II, and IgG). Abrasion on the teat orifice epithelium was a predisposing factor for staphylococcal infections. Teat canal infection or colonization developed in 93% of experimental quarters and in 53% of control quarters; IMI developed in 73% of experimental quarters, but in none of the control quarters. Quarter IMI developed more consistently when the contaminating agent was S. aureus. Staphylococcus hyicus was very effective in causing teat canal infections, but S. epidermidis appeared to be less infectious. The S. aureus strain had strong binding sites for most of the proteins tested. The S. hyicus and S. epidermidis strains showed no binding, or only very weak binding, which correlated with lower infection rates.

Animals↗

Urinary tract fistulas following abdominal hysterectomy.

Sixteen patients with urinary tract fistulas (14 vesicovaginal and two ureterovaginal) following simple abdominal hysterectomy were treated over a period of 17 years. Most vesicovaginal fistulas were treated by a transvesical technique, which proved to be a comfortable and successful method in our hands. Closure of the fistula followed usually more than four weeks after diagnosis. Earlier repair, which has been forwarded as an alternative therapy, might give equally good results and would save the patient from the severe hygienic problem of continuous urinary leakage. Conservative treatment with an indwelling urinary catheter led to spontaneous closure of the fistula in one patient. Two ureterovaginal fistulas were corrected by an anti-reflux ureteroneocystostomy.

Catheters, Indwelling↗

Outcome of thirty patients who underwent repair of posthysterectomy prolapse of the vaginal vault with abdominal sacral colpopexy.

Thirty women experiencing posthysterectomy prolapse of the vaginal vault were treated with abdominal sacral colpopexy between 1984 and 1991. Lyodura (lyophilized cerebral dura mater allograft transplant) was used as the suspensory material in 81 percent and Gore-Tex (reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene) in 16 percent of the operations. There were no perioperative or postoperative complications. At the follow-up examination (mean, three years), good vaginal vault support was observed in 85 percent of the patients. Significant cystocele were seen in 18 percent, and vault prolapse, enterocele, rectocele and chronic perineal laceration each in 15 percent of the patients. At follow-up study, 22 percent of the patients experienced dyspareunia and 41 percent had decreased sexual interest and coital events. Development of stress urinary incontinence in 18 percent of patients was noted. Concomitant Burch colposuspension will cure and prevent stress incontinence and anterior vaginal relaxation. Abdominal sacral colpopexy appears to be a safe and effective method in the treatment of posthysterectomy prolapse of the vaginal vault. In our experience, it seems that coexistent cystocele and rectocele should be corrected in the connection with sacral colpopexy.

Abdomen↗

Effects of abdominal hysterectomy on urinary and sexual symptoms.

A prospective study of 102 women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy for benign conditions was performed in order to evaluate pre- and post-operative urinary and sexual symptoms. The mean age of the patients was 44.9 years (range 30-65). Urinary disorders such as urgency, dysuria, frequency, nocturia, slow bladder emptying, sensation of residual urine as well as stress and urge incontinence were observed pre-operatively and 2, 6 and 12 months post-operatively. Dyspareunia, libido and the number of orgasms were evaluated as disorders affecting sexual life. At follow-up 12 months post-operatively a statistically significant decrease in stress incontinence, frequency and nocturia was observed. Dyspareunia was also significantly less frequent and increased libido was experienced. It was concluded that abdominal hysterectomy does not provoke adverse urinary or sexual symptoms and that it can have beneficial effects.

Adult↗

Labetalol attenuates the negative effects of deliberate hypotension induced by isoflurane.

The effect of labetalol on deliberate hypotension was studied in 24 adult patients undergoing middle-ear surgery. Hypotension was induced in Group I (12 patients) with isoflurane 3.0 vol% in inspiratory gas, and in Group II (12 patients) with labetalol 0.5 mg.kg-1 i.v., in addition to isoflurane. The induction time of hypotension was 4.9 +/- 1.0 (s.e.mean) min in Group I, and 1.8 +/- 0.2 min in Group II (P less than 0.01). The mean isoflurane concentration in inspiratory gas for the maintenance of hypotension was 1.4 +/- 0.2 vol% in Group I, and 0.7 +/- 0.1 vol% in Group II (P less than 0.01). There were no differences in urine flow rates (UF) between the groups during any phase, though UF decreased in Group I from the prehypotensive value 0.58 +/- 0.12 ml.min-1 to 0.07 +/- 0.02 ml.min-1 during hypotension (P less than 0.01) and increased to 1.28 +/- 0.17 ml.min-1 after anaesthesia (P less than 0.05). UF in Group II were 0.56 +/- 0.17, 0.25 +/- 0.10 and 0.56 +/- 0.06 ml.min-1, respectively. Creatinine clearances per 1.73 m2 body surface area (CCreat) in Group I were 78 +/- 14 ml.min-1, and in Group II 78 +/- 11 ml.min-1 before hypotension. During hypotension, CCreat were lower in Group I (8 +/- 1 ml.min-1) than in Group II (33 +/- 8 ml.min-1) (P less than 0.01). After anaesthesia, there was no difference in CCreat between the groups (Group I: 110 +/- 17 ml.min-1 and Group II: 120 +/- 17 ml.min-1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Deliberate hypotension induced by labetalol with halothane, enflurane or isoflurane for middle-ear surgery.

The feasibility of using labetalol, an alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocking agent, as a hypotensive agent in combination with inhalation anaesthetics (halothane, enflurane or isoflurane) was studied in 23 adult patients undergoing middle-ear surgery. The mean arterial pressure was decreased from 86 +/- 5 (s.e. mean) mmHg to 52 +/- 1 mmHg (11.5 +/- 0.7 to 6.9 +/- 0.1 kPa) for 98 +/- 10 min in the halothane (H) group, from 79 +/- 5 to 53 +/- 1 mmHg (10.5 +/- 0.7 to 7.1 +/- 0.1 kPa) for 129 +/- 11 min in the enflurane (E) group, and from 80 +/- 4 to 49 +/- 1 mmHg (10.7 +/- 0.5 to 6.5 +/- 0.1 kPa) for 135 +/- 15 min in the isoflurane (I) group. The mean H concentration during hypotension in the inspiratory gas was 0.7 +/- 0.1 vol%, the mean E concentration 1.6 +/- 0.2 vol%, and the mean I concentration 1.0 +/- 0.1 vol%. In addition, the patients received fentanyl and d-tubocurarine. The initial dose of labetalol for lowering blood pressure was similar, 0.52-0.59 mg/kg, in all the groups. During hypotension, the heart rate was stable without tachy- or bradycardia. The operating conditions regarding bleeding were estimated in a double-blind manner, and did not differ significantly between the groups. During hypotension, the serum creatinine concentration rose significantly in all groups from the values before hypotension and returned postoperatively to the initial level in the other groups, except the isoflurane group. After hypotension there was no rebound phenomenon in either blood pressure or heart rate. These results indicate that labetalol induces easily adjustable hypotension without compensatory tachycardia and rebound hypertension.

Adult↗

Observations about family interaction and the effect of therapy: interviews with families eight years after the onset of schizophrenia.

This study focused on the development of and changes in the interaction within a family after the onset of schizophrenia in a family member. Special attention is given to the possible effects of various treatments on the interaction. Our method was a circular interview of all family members in a joint session 8 years after the onset of schizophrenia. We observed that changes in family interaction usually had taken place during the first year of the illness. Thereafter, family conditions and interactions seem to have remained relatively unchanged. On the other hand, in addition to actual family-centered therapy, all other treatment modes--individual therapy, medication, hospitalization--seemed to have acted as systemic interventions on the family level. Our observation that family interactions and models of therapy often had a surprisingly strong resemblance led us to consider the idea of their coevolution over the years and the possible significance of this. This article aims at calling the reader's attention to the manifold influences that the onset of schizophrenia and its various treatments seem to have had on family system.

Family↗

Acute and latent mastoiditis in children.

During the period from 1974 to 1981, surgery for acute mastoiditis was performed on 12 ears, giving an annual incidence of 0.004 per cent among cases of acute otitis media. All ears made a full long-term recovery. The low incidence is ascribed to the world-wide early use of antibiotics. During the same period 52 ears with secretory otitis media (SOM) underwent mastoidectomy. Histologically extensive mastoid inflammation was found in 96 per cent. The changes appeared as formation of secretory cells and cysts, resorption of bone, and infiltration of soft tissues with both mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear leucocytes. The number of SOM patients undergoing mastoid operations account for 1.4 per cent of the patients admitted to hospital because of SOM. Thirty-four ears (65 per cent) have healed during the follow-up period (mean 2.9 years), while the tympanostomy tube is still in place in 18 ears (35 per cent). In the latter group, factors causing oedema in the pharyngeal end of the Eustachian tube are apparently still present.

Acute Disease↗

Sonotubometry in chronic ear disease.

Aeration of the tympanic cavity was studied after 81 operations were performed on ears with cholesteatoma, in which sonometry was used preoperatively to measure the eustachian tube (ET) function. Twenty-nine of the 44 ears in which all or part of the tympanic mucosa could be preserved had positive sonometric test results, and 25 ears (86%) retained satisfactory aeration. Eight (53%) of the 15 ears with negative test results showed good postoperative aeration while adhesive changes developed in seven ears (47%). In 37 ears after the removal of all tympanic mucosa, aeration was satisfactory in eight (55%) of the 15 ears with positive sonometric test results, whereas only three (14%) of the 22 ears with negative test results developed an aerated tympanum. A positive sonometric test result can be regarded as a fair prognostic indicator of normal ET function. In extensive tympanic disease, there is a clear correlation (86%) between a negative test result and postoperative adhesion.

Adolescent↗

Eustachian tube function in children with secretory otitis media.

Eustachian tube function was determined in 84 children (131 ears) with secretory otitis media (SOM) by means of sonotubometry. Determinations were made prior to myringotomy and insertion of ventilation tubes in conjunction with follow-up testing during the course of SOM. Despite the SOM, 14% of the ears showed normal sound passage through the tube before surgery, and towards the completion of this study tubal function was considered to be normal in 50% of the ears. Although sonotubometry gave a more reliable picture of tubal function in children with SOM, no difference in tubal function could be found among children of various age groups. Because of the large fluctuations in tubal function during the course of SOM, the ventilation tube should not be removed even in cases of apparently normal tubal function at the time of examination.

Adolescent↗

Pneumococcal polysaccharide capsular antigens in chronic secretory otitis media.

In a series of 163 ears with chronic, mucoid effusion, free or immune complex bound pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide antigens were demonstrated with Omniserum and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) in 37 ears (23%). In crushed adenoid tissue this figure was 39% (42/107). Using type- or group-specific sera pneumococcus type 6 was found to be most frequent (56%) followed by type 19 (17%). A similar trend was also seen in adenoid suspensions. The results suggest that development of secretory otitis media is much more linked with the pneumococcal serotypes than has been thought hitherto, and that type 6 occurs significantly more often bound in immune complexes than any other subtype.

Adenoids↗