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Biomedical subjects

Jussi Jero

Publications and source records attributed to Jussi Jero.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Acute mastoiditis caused by Moraxella catarrhalis.

Acute mastoiditis is the most frequent intratemporal complication of otitis media. The bacteriology of acute otitis media is changing continuously and it differs markedly from the bacteriology of acute mastoiditis. Moraxella catarrhalis (M. catarrhalis) is the third most common bacteria found in acute otitis media, and in recent years its importance as an etiological factor of acute otitis media has markedly increased in certain geographic areas. However, there are no reports of acute mastoiditis caused solely by M. catarrhalis. This report describes a case of a 2-year-old girl with acute mastoiditis and M. catarrhalis in the bacterial culture of middle ear effusion.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

Durability of the binding inhibition of albumin coating on tympanostomy tubes.

OBJECTIVE: Occlusion and prolonged otorrhea are typical problems associated with the use of middle-ear ventilation tubes. Albumin coating of ventilation tubes has been introduced to prevent tube occlusions by granulation tissue, blood clot, or pus. In this study, the durability of the binding inhibition (BI) of fibronectin was examined on the tube surface in albumin-coated tubes in different environments during an 8-month trial. METHODS: Human serum albumin (HSA) was used to coat silicone tympanostomy tubes. Fibronectin, a typical adhesive protein in serum and exudates, was used as a model representative of exudates of the ear. The durability of BI of this glue protein on the tube surface was tested in different time periods with radiolabelled fibronectin. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed on the tubes. RESULTS: The BI of fibronectin, achieved with the albumin coating, was still strong after 8 months of storage at +4 degrees C. A slight decline in BI was noted between the first and third months of storage at +37 degrees C. A significant difference between HSA-coated and uncoated tympanostomy tubes was noted in SEM. The uncoated surface generally appeared to be rougher than that of HSA-coated tubes when either titanium or silicone tubes were tested. CONCLUSIONS: Albumin coating markedly inhibits the binding of fibronectin on tube surfaces in vitro. A clear BI achieved by albumin coating on tube surfaces was shown to persist throughout an 8-month trial, although some reduction of the BI was seen over time. The result emphasizes the role of albumin coating in preventing the adherence of foreign material on tympanostomy tubes. No advantage was achieved by using a cross-linking chemical in the albumin coating.

Albumins↗
PubMed2002

The clinical role of Alloiococcus otitidis in otitis media with effusion.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of Alloiococcus otitidis (A. otitidis) in MEEs from patients with otitis media with effusion (OME) using PCR and to correlate the findings with the clinical picture of children with OME for assessing the clinical role of A. otitidis in OME. METHODS: Bacterial culture and PCR were used to detect A. otitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis in MEE samples from 123 patients with OME. The culture and PCR results and the clinical picture of the patients were compared. RESULTS: Bacteria were cultured in 55 (45%) of the 123 MEEs, and major pathogens (S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis) were found in 40 (33%); A. otitidis was not found in culture. PCR of the MEEs yielded positive results for one or more of the four tested pathogens in 108 (88%) of the samples and 25 (20%) were positive for A. otitidis. The effusions that persisted 3 months or longer had a higher prevalence of A. otitidis than those with shorter durations (P=0.03). A. otitidis was found to be more often positive in PCR in mucoid MEEs than in mucoserous MEEs (30 vs. 9%; P=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: While A. otitidis is extremely difficult to detect with bacterial culture, PCR provides a sensitive and specific means for detecting it. A. otitidis is associated with a more prolonged course and mucoid MEEs in OME. Thus, its existence seems to be related to a more chronic stage of OME, but its pathogenic potential should be the subject of further investigation.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed2002

Aquaporin-2 expression in the mammalian cochlea and investigation of its role in Meniere's disease.

The expression pattern of aquaporin-2 (AQP2), a vasopressin regulated member of the aquaporin gene family, in the cochlea and its potential role in Meniere's disease was investigated. RT-PCR screen of multiple rat tissues identified AQP2 transcripts in the cochlea, testis and kidney and an absence of tissue-specific splice variants. The level of AQP2 transcript in the cochlea was 10-fold lower relative to its expression in the testis and kidney. Western blot analysis demonstrated a single, 29 kDa band in the membrane fractions from cochlea, testis and the kidney. In the rat and mouse cochlea, AQP2 was expressed in the structures bordering the endolymph, including Reissner's membrane, the organ of Corti, inner and outer sulcus cells and the spiral limbus. A mutation screen of AQP2 in 12 individuals with Meniere's disease did not identify any sequence alterations or mutations within the four coding exons of AQP2 and their intron-exon junctions. The physiological role of AQP2 in water transport and its expression pattern in the cochlea suggests an important role for AQP2 in fluid homeostasis of the inner ear; however, its role in the pathogenesis in Meniere's disease remains to be established.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Current issues in cochlear gene transfer.

Cochlear gene therapy represents a potential experimental and therapeutic tool to understand and treat deafness. In designing cochlear gene transfer studies, the chosen route of delivery of vector and the choice of gene therapy vector have to be given careful consideration. Several different routes of delivery have been tested in our laboratory including infusion with osmotic minipump, direct microinjection into the cochlea and application of vector-transgene complex-soaked Gelfoam((R)) into the direct contact with the round window membrane. In our experience, the latter is an easy, safe and atraumatic technique to deliver gene into the cochlea. A number of different gene transfer vectors have been investigated in vivo for their efficacy, utility and safety in intracochlear gene transfer. Vectors successfully studied include cationic liposomes, adeno-associated virus, adenovirus, lentivirus, herpes simplex virus and vaccinia virus. While the viral vectors offer clear experimental advantages, human gene therapy in the future will likely utilize nonviral vectors to maximize safety. Finally, safety issues regarding dissemination of gene transfer vectors beyond the target cochlea will need to be adequately addressed.

Animals↗