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Biomedical subjects

K Kouvalainen

Publications and source records attributed to K Kouvalainen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Elevated erythrocyte adenosine deaminase activity in Down's syndrome.

Erythrocyte ADA activity was measured in 29 cases of Down's syndrome and in 29 age- and sex-matched controls subjects. The mean activity (+/- S.D.) of ADA in Down's syndrome was 1883 +/- 463 mU/g Hb (37 degrees C) and 1361 +/- 294 mU/g Hb in the controls. The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.001). The purine metabolism of Down's syndrome patients is discussed.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed1981

Immunodeficiency associated with a deletion in the short arm of the X-chromosome.

The immunocapacity of a 28-year-old mentally retarded proband and her clinically normal mother and sister, all having a deletion of the short arm of one of the X-chromosomes [46, X, del (X) (pter to 22: :p11 to qter)], was evaluated. The concentrations of immunoglobulin IgA (0 . 4 g/l), IgG (4 . 4 g/l) and IgM (0 . 2 g/l) were low in the proband. The serum IgA (0 . 9 g/l) concentration of her mother was also at the lower normal limit. The serum concentration of complement component C4 was low both in the proband (0 . 17g/l) and in her mother (0 . 18 g/l). Phagocytosis and killing of bacteria by granulocytes were normal in all of them. However, the chemotactic response of granulocytes was at the lower normal level in the patient. The in vitro responses of peripheral blood lymphocytes to the polyclonal T-clonal mitogens, PHA and Con A, were about half normal in the patient and were also decreased in her mother. The response was also decreased against PWM, to about one-sixth of the normal value in the patient and to one-half in her mother. The Con A response was decreased in the sister, while her PHA and PWM responses were normal. In contrast to these findings, the responses against the antigen-specific stimulators, PPD and oidiomycin, were normal in all subjects. Natural killer cell activity against the K-562 cell line was decreased in the patient but normal in her mother and sister. The number of B cells was at the normal limit in all subjects. The amount of E rosette-forming T lymphocytes was normal but the amount of ANAE-positive cells was decreased, especially in the proband (31%). Our results describe a new human immunodeficiency state, probably associated with X-chromosome deletion. We suggest that the short arm of the X-chromosome exerts its effect on regulatory T cells. Whether the humoral defect is connected with suppressor T cells remains to be established.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

HLA genetics of insulin-dependent juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus in northern Finland.

HLA--A, B and C antigens were determined from 63 cases of juvenile-onset, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in northern Finland. There was a very strong association between IDDM and HLA--B8 and B15 antigens in this area where the incidence of IDDM is also high. Relative risks for B8 and B15 were 4.8 and 3.8, respectively. In a small group of subjects typed for HLA--D antigens Dw3 and Dw4 appeared to be stronger risk factors than associated B antigens, whereas Dw2 was almost totally absent in the patients. The effect of combinations of B8 and B15 antigens in unrelated patients and in diabetic families was analyzed. B8, B15 was found in 11 out of 63 unrelated diabetics; however, this did not differ significantly from the expected value. In diabetic families there was no increased rate of intra-HLA recombinations.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗
PubMed1980

DTP and DTP-inactivated polio vaccines: comparison of adverse reactions and IGG, IGM and IGA antibody responses to DTP.

Adverse reactions and anti-DTP antibody responses were compared between DTP- or DTP-inactivated-polio-vaccinated children. The material consisted of 380 children whose adverse reactions were registered by detailed questionnaires given to the parents. IgG-, IgM- and IgA-anti-DTP antibodies of 42 children were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fever, restlessness and local reactions were the most frequent adverse reactions observed. DTP-polio vaccine induced significantly more restlessness than DTP. This was the only significant difference in adverse reactions between the vaccines. An enhancement of IgG-anti-DTP antibody responses at the age of 6 months was observed in the DTP-polio group. The enhancement was transient in antitoxin responses but still present in pertussis antibodies at 8 months of age. Very low and mostly undetectable levels of IgM- and IgA-anti-DTP antibodies were observed in both groups.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1980

An arthropathic form of osteogenesis imperfecta.

A 14-year-old girl gradually developed severe osteoporosis and destructive generalized joint disease, resulting in joint stiffness and anchyloses. She also had moderate hydroxyprolinemia and hydroxyprolinuria. Rheumatoid arthritis was highly unlikely. Anamnestic data revealed two long bone fractures. Collagen biosynthesis was studied in fibroblasts cultured from the patient's skin. Chromatograms of 3H-labelled culture media proteins on ion exchange celluloses revealed an increased ratio of type III collagen to type I collagen when compared with the chromatograms of age-matched control fibroblasts. This finding is typical of certain cell strains in osteogenesis imperfecta. The patient might thus express a new variety of osteogenesis imperfecta with chronic arthropathy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Oral antipyretic therapy: evaluation of the N-aryl-anthranilic acid derivatives mefenamic acid, tolfenamic acid and flufenamic acid.

The antipyretic activity of three N-aryl-anthranilic acid derivatives, mefenamic acid, tolfenamic acid and flufenamic acid, was compared and their optimal antipyretic dose determined in a trial in 87 children (aged 5 months to 15 years), who suffered from infections and fever exceeding 38.5 degrees C. Tolfenamic acid proved to be the most potent antipyretic agent of the three drugs; it was eight times more powerful than mefenamic acid and three times more powerful than flufenamic acid. The optimal antipyretic doses were: mefenamic acid 4 mg/kg, tolfenamic acid 0.5 mg/kg and flufenamic acid 1.5 mg/kg. It is evident that the antipyretic activity of these anthranilic acid derivatives is even greater than their antirheumatic effect, the difference being most noticeable in the case of tolfenamic acid.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

HLA-Dw2 as a marker of resistance against juvenile diabetes mellitus.

Juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus (JDM) is one of the human diseases shown to be associated with histocompatibility antigens. The occurrence of serologically defined HLA antigens B8 Bw15, B18 and Cw3 is increased among these patients (Singal & Blajchman 1973, Nerup et al. 1974, Cudworth & Woodrow 1975). However, lymphocyte defined HLA-D antigens Dw3 and Dw4 (LD 8a and LD w15a), positively associated with these serologically defined antigens, seem to be even stronger markers of susceptibility to this disease (Thomsen et al. 1975).

Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic↗
PubMed1978

Effect of sport stress on lymphocyte transformation and antibody formation.

The effect of a heavy (marathon, 2.5 hr) and moderate (35 min of running) sport stress on the number and function of lymphocytes, and on the plasma cortisol and leucocyte levels was investigated. Marathon running had a profound effect on the lymphocytes. Though the total number of lymphocytes did not change, their responsiveness to PHA and Con A, especially to PPD, was clearly depressed. The suppression of lymphocyte transformation was transient, the recovery occurring in 24 hr. The marathon running had no effect on antibody-forming capacity when the antigen was given immediately after the performance of the marathon, i.e. at the time when the response of lymphocytes to PHA, Con A and PPD stimulation was impaired. A clear-cut granulocytosis and elevation of plasma cortisol was seen in all the marathon runners. The 35 min of running also resulted in granulocytosis and an increase of plasma cortisol, but it did not cause any impairment of the lymphocyte function.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Antipyretic therapy. Comparison of rectal and oral paracetamol.

The absorption of paracetamol from syrup, tablet and two different suppository bases was compared in six adult volunteers using urinary excretion measurements. The total amount of paracetamol and its metabolites excreted and the peak excretion rates were lower from the suppository bases than from the oral dosage forms. Absorption was a little better from a polyethylene glycol suppository base than from a triglyceride base. The antipyretic efficacy of a paracetamol syrup and suppository at a dose of 10 mg/kg was compared in 30 children between the age of 4 months and 12 years, who had infections and a rectal temperature above 38.5 degrees C. Both dosage forms produced a significant decrease in temperature, the greatest fall being about 2 hours earlier with the oral dosage form. The syrup also seemed to be significantly (p less than 0.05) more effective (maximum fall of temperature 1.58 degrees C) in reducing fever than the suppository, which produced its greatest fall of temperature (1.24 degrees C) six hours after insertion of the suppository. From the practical point of view both forms can be regarded as safe and effective antipyretics.

Acetaminophen↗