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Biomedical subjects

M Hannuksela

Publications and source records attributed to M Hannuksela.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Evaluation of plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity as a marker of alcoholism.

Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity was measured in 52 alcoholics and 38 controls and compared with conventional laboratory markers of alcoholism. Mean daily alcohol intake was 180 g/day among the alcoholics and 10 g/day among the controls. Plasma CETP activity was 26% lower in the alcoholics (P < 0.001) and was inversely correlated with daily alcohol intake (r = -0.288, P < 0.05). CETP activity detected 63% of the alcoholics, and its specificity was 82% if the cut-off point was set at the mean CETP activity of the controls -1 SD. The mean -2 SD gave a very low sensitivity for CETP (8%) and cannot be used as its cut-off point. The sensitivities and specificities of gamma glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, mean corpuscular volume and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were similar to those of CETP activity when the cut-off point for CETP was mean -1 SD. The results thus indicate that plasma CETP activity is not sufficient as a single marker of alcoholism but could be used as an additional method to detect alcohol misuse, although its wide variation in normal population and the elaborate analysis limit its usefulness.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Reduction in the concentration and activity of plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein by alcohol.

Plasma cholesteryl esters, synthesized within high density lipoproteins (HDL), may be transferred from HDL particles to other lipoproteins by plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP). Alcohol consumption is associated with increased HDL cholesterol concentration and reduced plasma CETP activity. The alcohol-induced decrease in CETP activity may be due to a low concentration of CETP in plasma or the inhibition of CETP by specific inhibitor proteins or alterations in the composition of plasma lipoproteins. The first two possibilities are studied further in this paper using data on 47 alcohol abusers and 31 control subjects. The activity of CETP was measured as the rate of cholesteryl ester transfer between radio-labeled low density lipoproteins and unlabeled HDL using an in vitro method independent of endogenous plasma lipoproteins. Plasma CETP concentration was determined by a Triton-based radioimmunoassay. The alcohol abusers consuming alcohol (on average 154 g/day) had 28% higher HDL cholesterol (P less than 0.01), 27% lower plasma CETP concentration (P less than 0.001), and 22% lower plasma CETP activity (P less than 0.001) than the controls. Plasma CETP concentration showed a negative correlation with HDL cholesterol among all the subjects (r = -0.317, P less than 0.01) but not among the alcohol abusers alone (r = -0.102, N. S.). During 2 weeks of alcohol withdrawal, plasma CETP concentration and activity of 8 subjects increased, whereas HDL cholesterol decreased by 42% (P less than 0.02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Specific IgE to reindeer epithelium in Finnish reindeer herders.

Reindeer herding is a major source of living for more than 4200 inhabitants in northern Finland. To determine the prevalence of allergic symptoms among reindeer herders clinical examinations and skin prick tests (SPT) with nine inhalant allergens were performed in 211 randomly selected men from 21 to 69 (mean 45) years. Specific IgE antibodies to reindeer epithelium (RE) and total serum IgE were evaluated in 99 herders, five persons who handled reindeer leather indoors, 21 atopic patients with cow allergy and another 20 subjects with specific IgE to other inhalant allergens. Positive SPT to RE was detected in one and specific IgE by using enzyme allergosorbent test (EAST) (greater than or equal to 0.8 PRU/ml) in seven herders. Specific IgE to RE was also demonstrated in one control. Using RAST inhibition a patient with cow allergy did not show cross-reactivity between cow and RE while another patient did. Thus, RE should be included in the allergy test panel when hypersensitivity to RE is suspected.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Epicutaneous testing.

The patch test and chamber test are the ordinary methods for detecting delayed type contact allergies. The method, test substances and criteria of positive reactions are already well standardized. Open testing is also used for problematic chemicals such as strong topical medicaments, emulsifiers and propylene glycol. The many problems of standardization are still unresolved in photocutaneous testing. Some chemicals are applied to the skin without occlusion, though the chamber test or patch test methods are used with most of them. The composition of the vehicle and occlusion time vary greatly from one photosensitizing substance to another. A xenon arc is recommended for screening any photosensitizers but fluorescent black light tubes are sufficient for routine clinical use. Type I contact allergies are far more common than was previously believed, especially among people allergic to birch pollen. This type of reaction and other forms of contact urticaria can be examined using the scratch chamber or scarification chamber techniques as well as with an open test on diseased or scratched (scarified) skin.

Allergens↗
PubMed1979

Primary irritant dermatitis from topical clioquinol.

During the 2-year period 1976--1977, seven patients were studied with primary irritant dermatitis from topical preparations containing clioquinol. During the same period contact hypersensitivity to the compound was recorded in 35 eczema patients. Six of the seven patients with clioquinol irritancy had used creams containing 3% large crystal clioquinol and fluorinated steroids. One patient had used 6% small crystal clioquinol cream. Challenge tests with 3% small crystal and large crystal clioquinol creams showed that crystal size did not affect the appearance of irritant dermatitis.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1979

Local photochemotherapy in nodular prurigo.

Fifteen patients with nodular prurigo were treated with a trioxsalen bath (50 mg/150 l of water) and UVA given in an ordinary PUVA cabin. Good results were observed in 8 and moderate in 7 patients in the initial phase. The result was good or excellent in 13 of the 15 patients during maintenance treatment. The good results are promising in the treatment of this chronic and otherwise therapy-resistant disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Trioxsalen bath plus UVA effective and safe in the treatment of psoriasis.

Seventy-four patients with psoriasis were treated using a trioxsalen bath (50 mg/150 l of water) and long wave ultraviolet light (UVA) given in an ordinary PUVA-cabin. Good or excellent results were observed in 92% of the patients in the initial phase and in 63% during the maintenance treatment. Because of local side-effects the therapy was discontinued in two patients. One of them developed contact hypersensitivity to trioxsalen and the other developed blisters with such low doses of UVA that it was difficult to maintain the proper dose. The therapy was started with 0.28 J/cm2 of UVA and after an average of 18 treatments, when the average dose was 1.70 J/cm2, the patients were moved to maintenance treatment which took place at 1--4 week intervals. The therapy was well tolerated and cosmetically very acceptable. The final tan was even on all but the face, which remained untanned.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Hypersensitivity to apple and carrot can be reliably detected with fresh material.

Hypersensitivity to birch pollen was linked with allergy to apple and carrot, apple seeds and carrot seeds and also with their fractions. Skin reactions among other atopics were rare, and non-atopic patients showed no reactions to fresh fruits and vegetables. Apple and carrot as well as apple seeds and carrot seeds were fractionated using column chromatography. Two major fractions were obtained, one with sugar and proteins, and one with proteins, the latter giving skin reactions more often than the former. The correlation between clinical symptoms and skin test results with the fractionated material was somewhat lower than that obtained with the non-fractionated fresh material. The allergens of fruits and vegetables might be proteins (enzymes).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Reactions to peroral propylene glycol.

A peroral challenge test with 2--15 ml of propylene glycol (PG) was made in 38 patients with allergic-type epicutaneous test reactions to PG. Eight of 10 patients with a positive epicutaneous reaction to 2 % PG and seven of the other 28 patients with a positive epicutaneous reaction to 100-100 % PG developed an exanthem 3--16 h after ingestion of the drug. In all but one case the rash disappeared within 24--48 h without any medication. In one case the exanthem was treated with prednisone for 4 days, and the symptoms disappeared gradually in 6 days. None of the 20 control patients had skin symptoms. Nausea, vertigo and a curious sensation were recorded in four PG-sensitive patients and in three control patients. These symptoms were apparently due to the general pharmacodynamic effects of PG and they were regarded as non-allergic in nature. It was concluded that PG is a potential allergen and it must be added to the list of causes of drug exanthems.

Drug Hypersensitivity↗
PubMed1978

Studies in sarcoidosis: intradermal Mycoplasma test.

Mycoplasma strain 215-M, closely related to Mycoplasma orale type 1, was grown in human macrophage monolayers in vitro. Sonicated homogenates of macrophages diluted in saline solution were used for intradermal skin tests in 19 patients with sarcoidosis and in 25 patients with a variety of other diseases. Positive skin-test reactions to this newly developed Mycoplasma test material were observed significantly more often in the patients with sarcoidosis than in the other patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

The liver in sarcoidosis.

Neddle biopsies of the liver were performed in 121 cases of sarcoidosis. Granulomas compatible with sarcoidosis were seen in 24 percent of the cases. Liver function tests (serum alkaline phosphatase, serum aspartate aminotransferase, serum alanine aminotransferase, and bromsulphthalein clearance test) were performed on 325 patients with sarcoidosis and on 132 with non-sarcoid erythema nodosum (EN). Pathological findings were seen especially in patients with extensive EN, without any correlation with the disease responsible for the eruption. Hepatic granulomas were found more often in patients with sarcoid changes in lung parenchyma than in those with bilateral hilar adenitis only. There were no other definite correlations between hepatic granulomas and other clinical and laboratory findings. The incidence of pathological results in this study was clearly lower than, e.g., in the USA, thus reflecting the good prognosis of sarcoidosis in the Scandinavian countries.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1977

Immediate reactions to fruits and vegetables.

Common fruits and vegetables were tested as such with the "scratch-chamber" method in 388 patients with various atopic disorders. Of the patients with hypersensitivity to birch pollen, 36% showed immediate positive responses to these natural, fresh materials. Apple, carrot, parsnip and potato elicited reactions more often than, e.g. swede, tomato, onion and parsley. On the basis of clinical data, the relevancy of the results of the skin tests was 80-90%. Both "false positive" and "false negative" responses were seen. Itching and tingling with or without oedema of the lips, mouth and tongue were the most common complaints after eating raw fruits and vegetables. In addition, laryngeal and abdominal disturbances, rhinitis and hand dermatitis were recorded. Among patients without allergy to birch pollen, reactions to fruits and vegetables were rare. The nature of the allergens could not be determined.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Hypersensitivity reactions to Gerovital.

Procaine chloride, which was a common cause of allergic reactions in earlier years, has lost importance as a contact allergen because its use for local anesthesia has ceased. Recently, we have seen hypersensitivity reactions in three patients after the use of Gerovital, which is known to contain procaine chloride. A word of warning is warranted against indiscriminate use of Gerovital, particularly of its topical preparations.

Administration, Topical↗