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Biomedical subjects

J Puranen

Publications and source records attributed to J Puranen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Neuroradiological findings (MRS, MRI, SPECT) in infantile neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis (infantile CLN1) at different stages of the disease.

Infantile neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis (infantile CLN1) is a progressive and uniformly fatal lysosomal storage disease of the nervous system. The purpose of this study was to compare the findings of various radiological examinations of the brain in the course of infantile CLN1 in order to evaluate the relative usefulness of the methods and their potential for monitoring therapeutic interventions. We examined eight infantile CLN1 patients, 51 studies, in various stages of the disease--preclinical to late stage--with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), MRI, and perfusion SPECT, and in addition three benzodiazepine (BZ) receptor ligand SPECT studies. Both 1H-MRS and MRI showed abnormal findings before clinical manifestations of the disease. Cortical hypoperfusion and loss of cortical BZ receptors revealed by SPECT appeared simultaneously with clinical signs. After the age of 4 years MRI and SPECT alterations progressed minimally, whereas 1H-MRS showed progressive deterioration of neurometabolism. Of the four methods used in this study, MRI proved to be the most practicable for diagnosing infantile CLN1; the final diagnosis of infantile CLN1 is confirmed by the characteristic clinical picture and DNA or PPT enzyme analysis. The combination of 1H- MRS and MRI could be most useful for monitoring therapeutic interventions.

Aspartic Acid↗

Acute bilateral exercise-induced medial compartment syndrome of the thigh. Correlation of repeated MRI with clinicopathological findings.

We present a case report of acute bilateral excercise-induced compartment syndrome in the adductor longus muscles, which was treated with bilateral medial fasciotomies. Postoperatively, the healing process of the adductor muscles was followed up by repeated MR imagings over six months. Myonecrosis was found in peroperative muscle biopsies. Pain and muscle swelling subsided soon after the fasciotomy, correlating with the early postoperative MR findings. Four months postoperatively, the signal intensity of the adductor muscles was normal in T1- and T2-weighted images, but the normal fibre structure of the adductor muscles could only be seen 6 months postoperatively. At six month's control checkup there was no subjective weakness of the adductors, and hyperesthesia had disappeared and the patient was capable of normal activities.

Adult↗

Delayed classic and protracted phenotypes of compound heterozygous juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the phenotypes with the genotypes of 10 Finnish juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL; late-onset Batten disease) patients who all are compound heterozygotes for the major 1.02-kb deletion in the CLN3 gene. METHODS: The mutations on the non-1.02-kb deletion chromosomes were screened in 6 patients; in the other 4 patients the mutations were known (one affecting a splice site, two missense mutations, and one deletion of exons 10 through 13). Clinical features were examined, and MRI, MRS, somatosensory evoked magnetic field (SEF), and overnight polysomnography (PSG) studies were performed. RESULTS: A novel deletion of exons 10 through 13 was found in 6 patients belonging to three families. In the patients carrying the deletions of exons 10 through 13 the clinical course of the disease was fairly similar. Variation was greatest in the time course to blindness. In these patients the mental and motor decline was slower than in classic JNCL, but more severe than in the two patients with missense mutations in exons 11 and 13. MRI showed brain atrophy in 4 patients. One patient had hyperintense periventricular white matter, otherwise brain signal intensities were normal. SEFs were enhanced in patients older than 14 years, whereas in PSG all but the youngest 6-year-old patient showed epileptiform activity in slow-wave sleep. CONCLUSIONS: JNCL can manifest as at least three different phenotypes: classic, delayed classic, and protracted JNCL with predominantly ocular symptoms. Finnish compound heterozygotes have the delayed classic or the protracted form of JNCL.

Adolescent↗

Extensive cerebral white matter abnormality without clinical symptoms: a new hereditary condition?

A 30-year-old father and his 2 sons with slight hyperkinesia and mildly dysmorphic features and their close relatives were examined clinically and with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Neurophysiological and biochemical examinations were normal; however, brain MRI of the father and sons revealed extensive cerebral white matter changes. No radiological progression could be detected at a 13-year follow-up examination of the father, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the father at the age of 30 years was normal. MRI findings in the relatives were normal, suggesting an autosomal dominant syndrome due to a new mutation in the father.

Adult↗

Risk factors and antiplatelet therapy in TIA and stroke patients.

Antiplatelet treatment is well established in the secondary prevention of ischemic cerebrovascular events. The reasons for the occurrence of stroke, even though the patient receives drug treatment, have remained unclear. We performed a subgroup analysis of the European Stroke Prevention Study (ESPS 1) to investigate the efficacy of treatment in patients with different cardiovascular risk factors. The ESPS 1 recruited 1306 patients with TIA, RIND or stroke in one single center of Kuopio in Finland. The patients were treated with aspirin 990 mg/day+dipyridamole 225 mg/day or placebo for 2 years or until an endpoint. The endpoints were stroke or death from any cause. The risk factors for endpoints were analyzed by Cox univariate regression analyses. The effect of a single risk factor on the efficacy of antiplatelet therapy was analyzed by Cox proportional hazards model in subgroups according to the significant risk factors found in the univariate analysis. The efficacy of treatment was statistically significant in all subgroups except diabetics and current smokers for the stroke endpoint. When the combined endpoint of stroke or death was used, the treatment failed also to show statistical significance in patients with coronary heart disease. This lack of efficacy might be due to the small sample size. The efficacy of treatment was significantly better in TIA patients than in stroke patients when analyzed with stroke as an end point. This study provides strong evidence that the effectiveness of antiplatelet treatment in ischemic stroke and TIA patients is independent of most cardiovascular risk factors. Furthermore, all patients with TIA and ischemic stroke should receive secondary prevention regardless of whether or not there are risk factors.

Aspirin↗

Efficacy of antiplatelet treatment in hypertensive patients with TIA or stroke.

We performed a subgroup analysis of the first European Stroke Prevention Study including 1,306 patients recruited in a single center, Kuopio, Finland, to investigate whether or not antiplatelet therapy is effective in the secondary prevention of stroke in hypertensive patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke. The patients were treated with aspirin, 990 mg/day, plus dipyridamole, 225 mg/day, or placebo for 2 years. The patients with high systolic blood pressure (> or = 140 mm Hg; n = 1.105) or high diastolic blood pressure (> or = 85 mm Hg; n = 1,120) at entry, were classified into subgroups by blood pressure level. The effect of treatment was statistically significant in all subgroups with high systolic (end-point reduction, 55.2-68.2%) and diastolic blood pressure (end-point reduction, 47.3-82.1%). Risk reduction was, however, greatest in patients with the highest diastolic blood pressure. One possible explanation is that platelets are more activated in these patients, and this can be effectively prevented by antiplatelet therapy. Further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Aspirin↗

Outcome and prognostic factors of achilles rupture repair using a new scoring method.

A new clinical scoring system, including subjective assessment of symptoms and evaluation of ankle range of motion and isokinetic measurement of ankle plantar flexion and dorsiflexion strengths, is presented in 101 patients (86 men, 15 women) who had repair of a closed Achilles tendon rupture. Twenty-one patients were competitive athletes and 70 were recreational athletes. Eighty-one percent of the ruptures were related to sports, and 32% occurred while playing volleyball. Twenty-six patients had previous Achilles tendon symptoms. At followup, an average of 3.1 years after repair, the overall result scores were excellent in 34 cases, good in 46, fair in 17, and poor in four. Only age was a predictor of overall results. The isokinetic strength scores were excellent or good in 72 cases, fair in 18, and poor in 11. Presence of systemic diseases, activity level, previous Achilles tendon symptoms, and later return to physical exercise were predictors of strength results. Gender, body weight, height, period between rupture and operation, surgeon, rupture site, operative method, complications, and thickness, width, and area of the Achilles tendon at followup were not related significantly to the outcome.

Achilles Tendon↗

Incidence of Achilles tendon rupture.

We determined the incidence of a total Achilles tendon rupture in the city of Oulu and changes over the 16-year period 1979-1994. During this time, 110 ruptures occurred. The incidence increased from 2 ruptures/10(5) inhabitants in 1979-1986 to 12 in 1987-1994, with a mean of 7. The peak annual incidence, 18, was recorded in 1994. The incidence was highest in the age group 30-39 years. Male dominance was 5.5:1, and 81% of the ruptures were related to sports, with 88% occurring in ball games. The mean age was significantly lower for the sports injuries.

Achilles Tendon↗

ABO blood group and Achilles tendon rupture.

The association between ABO blood groups and Achilles tendon (AT) ruptures was studied in 215 consecutive AT rupture patients treated at Oulu University Hospital during the 16-year period from 1979 to 1994 as compared with control material consisting of earlier blood group determinations performed on an unselected sample of 5,536 young Finnish male adults. There was no blood group O dominance or other statistical differences in ABO blood groups between the patients with AT rupture and the control population (chi 2 3.79, P = 0.28), the A/O ratio being 1.82 in the rupture group and 1.42 in the controls. We found no blood group O dominance in competitive athletes, recreational athletes or non-athletes, in patients with sports-related AT ruptures or non-sports-related ruptures and in younger (< 45 years) or older (> or = 45--years) patients. In conclusion, our results do not confirm early findings of blood group O dominance in patients with AT rupture.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Responses of type I and type III collagen synthesis after replacement of the hip joint.

Liberation of the carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and the amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) into body fluids reflects synthesis of the respective collagen types. Here, we followed PICP and PIIINP in serum with specific radioimmunoassays after hip surgery. Preoperative median of S-PICP was 112 micrograms/liter (range 87 to 154, n = 9), the 1-day median being 58 micrograms/liter (33 to 79). The corresponding medians for S-PIIINP were 4.4 micrograms/liter (3.5 to 7.0) and 3.3 micrograms/liter (2.0 to 3.5). The medians reached their maximums 14 days after surgery, 172 micrograms/liter (122 to 440) for S-PICP and 12.4 micrograms/liter (8.0 to 15.4) for S-PIIINP, after which the preoperative values were slowly approached over several months. Comparable results were found in a greater sample (n = 50). Our results indicate that the synthesis of structural collagen is inhibited immediately after surgery, but the inhibition is soon overcome by active collagen synthesis at the site of trauma. Collagen metabolism remains activated for several months after surgery.

Collagen↗

Operative treatment of partial rupture of the patellar ligament. A study of 138 cases.

One hundred and thirty eight knees of 124 patients with partial rupture of the patellar ligament were treated surgically after failure to heal them by conservative means. Ultrasonography was used to confirm the diagnosis in 45 knees, and when positive it had a good correlation with the operative findings. During surgery excision of the devitalized tissue in the patellar tendon was performed. Histologic examination of the removed tissue revealed degenerated, fibrotic tissue with neo-vascularization, and slight to moderate inflammation resembling devitalized tissue. The patients were re-examined 18.6 +/- 15.0 months post-operatively. Ninety-seven patients (111 knees = 80.4%) benefitted from the operation with excellent or good results. Thirteen knees had to be re-operated with more radical excision due to renewed symptoms. In conclusion, surgical excision of the devitalized tissues gives a good functional result in most of the cases in which non-operative treatment with rest and physical treatment has failed, helping the athlete to return to his pre-injury activities.

Adolescent↗

Total hip arthroplasty using isoelastic femoral stems. A seven- to nine-year follow-up in 108 patients.

From 1983 to 1985 we performed 114 primary hip replacements in 108 consecutive osteoarthritic patients using a non-cemented RM isoelastic femoral stem. After a mean follow-up of 8.2 years, ten patients had died, 11 hips had been revised, six patients had been lost to follow-up and two had been excluded due to severe general illnesses. Of 85 arthroplasties (in 79 patients) 14 could not be assessed because of other illness or disability. The 71 remaining were reviewed by questionnaire and radiography; an excellent or good overall functional result was found in 31, 16 were fair and 24 were poor. Radiographically, 21 of 71 stems were judged to be loose and ten showed osteolytic foci, six of these without obvious loosening. We conclude that the isoelastic RM stem shows a high rate of loosening, but that this is not always associated with a poor subjective result. Regular radiographic review is necessary. The results are worse than those reported for other uncemented stems and for cemented stems.

Aged↗

Effect of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac, on haemostasis in patients undergoing total hip replacement.

Haemostasis was studied in patients receiving diclofenac for postoperative pain relief. Intravenous diclofenac 75 mg over 60 min, followed first by an infusion of 5 mg/h for 15 h and then by 50 mg every 8 h orally was administered to 20 patients undergoing total hip replacement. Eighteen patients receiving a placebo infusion and dextropropoxyfen per os served as controls. The results showed no statistically significant differences between the groups in blood loss, bleeding time (IVY), partial activated thromboplastin time and prothrombin complex assay or in platelet count. The measurements were performed preoperatively, 3 h postoperatively and on the fourth and tenth postoperative days. Plasma concentrations were also determined in ten patients undergoing knee arthroscopy. An i.v. diclofenac infusion of 75 mg over a period of 15 min was administered either once (to half of the patients) or twice. The mean diclofenac concentrations were 28 +/- 5 nmol/ml (+/- s.d.) after 15 min and 36 +/- 12 nmol/ml after the second infusion. The bleeding time in the arthroscopy patients receiving one or two bolus infusions of 75 mg diclofenac remained at the control level. It is concluded that diclofenac given as an intravenous infusion of 75 mg in 60 min, then 5 mg/h for 15 h, followed by 50 mg every 8 h orally, is a safe as dextropropoxyfen for pain relief in patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery as far as coagulation data are concerned.

Adult↗

Combined CT-guided biopsy and cytology in diagnosis of bony lesions.

The results of 44 trephine (OD 1.4-4 mm) biopsies and 39 fine needle (0.7-0.9 mm) aspirations of skeletal, mainly vertebral, lesions performed under CT-guidance in 54 patients were evaluated. The fine needle sample was aspirated through the trephine as a complementary procedure in 29 patients and a fine needle aspiration only was performed in 10 patients. Trephine biopsy only was performed in 15 patients. Sufficient material for histologic and cytologic analyses was obtained in 93% (41/44) and 97% (38/39) and a correct benign or malignant diagnosis was obtained in 84% (37/44) and 90% (35/39), respectively. Among the combined examinations the fine needle aspiration alone was diagnostic in 2 cases while the trephine specimen alone provided diagnostic material in 2 cases. In 24 cases both the cytologic and histologic samples were adequate for diagnostic purposes. In one case both methods gave false-negative results. The combined use of cytologic and histologic samples in CT-guided bone biopsies increased diagnostic accuracy. The aorta was perforated once with a 1.4-mm needle but without sequelae. CT-guided bone biopsy was found to be a safe, reliable and cost-efficient method.

Adult↗

Effect of immobilization on carbonic anhydrase III and myoglobin content in human leg muscle.

Carbonic anhydrase III and myoglobin concentrations were measured from vastus medialis muscle samples before and 6 weeks after postoperative leg immobilization following knee ligament reconstruction. Seven patients were immobilized with conventional cast so that the knee joint was fixed at 20 degrees flexion. Seven other patients used braces allowing a motion of 30-70 degrees. The atrophy of the medial part of musculus quadriceps was estimated by computer tomography. No difference in carbonic anhydrase III and myoglobin concentrations or muscle atrophy between the cast and brace groups was observed. The cross-sectional area of the medial part of musculus quadriceps decreased 38% during immobilization. The specific concentrations of carbonic anhydrase III and myoglobin remained unaltered. Due to the remarkable postoperative atrophy of the muscle the total carbonic anhydrase III and myoglobin contents, however, decreased significantly (37% and 31%, respectively). The results suggest that the net breakdown of carbonic anhydrase III and myoglobin during disuse atrophy occur at the same rate as the average net degradation of mixed muscle proteins and that the process is independent of the immobilization procedure.

Adult↗

The hamstring syndrome--a new gluteal sciatica.

The condition in which pain is felt over the area at the ischial tuberosity and radiating down the back of the thigh is labelled the hamstring syndrome. The pain is typically incurred by assuming a sitting position, stretching the affected leg or/and running fast. The symptoms are caused by tight, tendinous structures of the hamstring muscle at the area of its insertion into the ischial tuberosity. Following division of these structures, complete relief is obtained.

Adolescent↗

The medial tibial syndrome.

The medial tibial syndrome is the most common overuse injury, which occurs at the inner border of the shin, mostly in the lowest and middle thirds. It is characteristically a chronic compartmental syndrome and its treatment is fasciotomy if conservative management to allow healing fails.

Adult↗