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Biomedical subjects

M Leino

Publications and source records attributed to M Leino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Influence of parental occupation on coronary heart disease risk factors in children. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

BACKGROUND: The influence of parental occupation on selected coronary heart disease risk factors was studied in a cohort of Finnish children aged 9, 12 and 15 years (n = 1211) as part of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study in 1986. METHODS: The relationships of parental occupation to serum lipid and apolipoprotein concentrations, blood pressure, obesity, smoking, physical activity, diet and birthweight were examined. The occupation of the parents was obtained by a questionnaire and classified as I: upper non-manual (22%), II: lower non-manual (26%), III: upper manual (32%), IV: lower manual (5%) and F: farmers (15%). RESULTS: Highest serum total and how density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were found in classes IV and F. Boys from class IV had 7.1% higher total cholesterol concentrations compared to class I (4.98 mmol/l versus 4.65 mmol/l, P = 0.0033), whereas farmers' girls had 10.4% higher concentrations than girls from class III (5.31 mmol/l versus 4.81 mmol/l, P = 0.0057). Blood pressure was related to parental occupation only in boys, and the values were highest in class F. Boys from class IV smoked most often, and they also had lowest values for physical activity index and highest obesity indices. Farmers' children consumed significantly more saturated fat and cholesterol than children from other classes. In boys, the percentage of subjects with a low birthweight (< or = 10th percentile) was smallest in class I and greatest in class IV (7.1% versus 20.7%, P = 0.0330). CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic status based on parental occupation is associated with several coronary heart disease risk factors already present in children. These differences should be taken into account in prevention programmes aimed at children at an increased risk for developing coronary heart disease as adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Patterns of intense physical activity among 15- to 30-year-old Finns. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Previous studies have reported increasing trends in physical activity in the Finnish population. These reports have not, however, included the perspective of cardiorespiratory stress in adolescent and young adults. We examined the present patterns of physical activity among Finnish adolescents and young adults in 1992. We specifically assessed whether the young people experience the volume of physical activity that is believed to stress the cardiorespiratory system appropriately in order to increase the level of fitness. The subjects in the present study were participants of a large multicenter study of atherosclerosis precursors in children and young adults. Physical activity was measured with a self-administered questionnaire in 2255 adolescents and young adults (1015 males and 1240 females). The proportion of subjects undertaking the volume of physical activity believed to benefit the cardiorespiratory system appropriately was 19%. The proportion was higher in males than in females (26 vs 13%). The proportion of active subjects became smaller in older age groups in both sexes. Half the study population (51% of the males; 48% of the females) reported frequent leisure-time physical activity less than once a month. In conclusion, Finnish adolescents and young adults have low levels of physical activity on the average, and many young Finns seldom undertake the volume of physical activity believed to benefit the cardiopulmonary system. Young males seem to be physically more active than females.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Clustering of risk habits in young adults. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

The authors studied the occurrence of common lifestyle risk factors, namely, nonprudent diet, smoking, physical inactivity, and frequent inebriation by alcohol in a cohort of young adults aged 18, 21, and 24 years (n = 484) as part of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study in 1986. Risk habits showed significant clustering; the number of subjects was greater than expected in groups with zero and three of four risk habits and less than expected in the group with only one or two risk habits. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to find independent determinants for this clustering from a set of socioeconomic, demographic, and behavioral (type A components) determinants. The logistic model suggested several independent risk factors for risk habit clustering. These included male sex, aggressiveness, and past unemployment. Paying a lot of attention to health habits, higher education (being a student), good self-perceived health, and a high sense of responsibility seemed to be protective factors against risk habit clustering. The accumulation of risk habits was also associated with an atherogenic lipid and blood pressure profile (clustering of high density lipoprotein cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio, triglycerides, and diastolic blood pressure in their extreme tertiles). These findings show that common risk habits cluster among young adults. Knowledge about the determinants of this clustering will aid in the planning of future preventive strategies against cardiovascular diseases in young people.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

The effect of some treatment variables on long-term results of argon laser trabeculoplasty.

Eighty-five eyes of 75 patients were retrospectively followed up for 5 years after argon laser trabeculoplasty. The effects of some treatment and patients variables on the results of trabeculoplasty were assessed. The laser power level or visible burn effect on the chamber angle did not have any statistically significant impact on the success rate or degree of intra-ocular pressure (IOP) decrease. A statistically significant level was reached by the degree of chamber angle pigmentation and the number of pre-operative antiglaucomatous medication. In eyes where trabeculoplasty was given as primary therapy, the IOP decrease was greatest.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

A double-blind group comparative study of ophthalmic sodium cromoglycate, 2% four times daily and 4% twice daily, in the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

In a multicenter, double-blind, single-dummy, group-comparative study, 169 patients received ophthalmic sodium cromoglycate 2% four times daily, and 170 patients received 4% ophthalmic sodium cromoglycate twice daily, together with placebo eye-drops twice daily, for the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) to birch pollen. The treatment period was 4 weeks during the birch pollen season. Daily pollen counts were used to identify the peak 14-d period. Clinical examinations were made before the start of treatment, after 1 week of treatment, and at the end of the treatment period. Patients kept daily diary record cards of eye symptom severity and concomitant therapy. Symptoms were generally mild and, except for chemosis (week 4) and soreness (weeks 2 and 3), which were less in the 4% group (P < or = 0.05), no significant treatment differences were seen for symptoms or for antihistamine rescue therapy. Both treatments were considered to be very or moderately effective by more than 90% of patients, and no treatment differences occurred in either clinicians' or patients' opinions of efficacy. The results indicate that the use of 4% sodium cromoglycate eye-drops twice daily is as effective and well tolerated as 2% sodium cromoglycate four times daily in the treatment of birch-pollen conjunctivitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Lens opacity in patients with hypercholesterolemia and ischaemic heart disease. Electronic lens opacity measurements.

Lens opacity studies were performed using an electronic Lens Opacity Meter (Interzeag Opacity Lensmeter 701) in a population (n = 321) with ischaemic heart disease. These patients are participating in a trial targetting at the reduction of mortality and incidence of myocardial infarction using a cholesterol-lowering drug, simvastatin. A separate study to evaluate the reliability of the method showed good reproducibility. Repeated measurements after a short time-interval (2-10 days) gave statistically lower opacity values either due to a change in lens transparency or perhaps a change in pigment and cell dispersion in the aqueous caused by repeated mydriasis. Lens opacity values showed a highly significant positive correlation to age. Serum cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and smoking habits showed no significant correlations to the levels of lens opacity when adjustments for age were made.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Double-blind group comparative study of 2% nedocromil sodium eye drops with 2% sodium cromoglycate and placebo eye drops in the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

A 4 week, multicentre, double-blind, double dummy, placebo controlled group comparative study was carried out during the birch pollen season to compare the efficacy and tolerability of 2% nedocromil sodium eye drops (twice daily) and 2% sodium cromoglycate eye drops (four times daily). Participants with a history of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) were randomized to receive nedocromil sodium (60), sodium cromoglycate (61) or placebo (64). Clinical assessment of SAC showed improvement with both active treatments compared to placebo but symptomatology was low and only changes in photophobia and grittiness reached significance (P < 0.05). Patient diaries showed significant control of itching by both active treatments, compared to placebo, with no differences between the active preparations. Patients' opinions indicated a marked placebo effect: 73% of this group reported full or moderate control of symptoms, compared with 75% in sodium cromoglycate and 80% in the nedocromil sodium group. Unusual symptoms were most common (27 patients) with nedocromil sodium eye drops: P < 0.05 vs. placebo (15 patients). There were no serious adverse events. Nedocromil sodium eye drops (b.d.) and sodium cromoglycate eye drops (q.i.d.) were both considered clinically more effective than placebo in controlling symptoms of SAC due to birch pollen.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The effect of sodium cromoglycate eyedrops compared to the effect of terfenadine on acute symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

A multicentre, group comparative open study was carried out on 68 patients to compare the effects of 2% sodium cromoglycate eyedrops and an oral antihistamine, terfenadine, on acute symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. The study was continued for one week after the onset of acute symptoms. Both medications were equally efficient in reducing symptoms during the first hour of observation. During the one-week follow-up both medications reduced symptoms to a low level, and both medications were equally effective for allergic symptoms, except that terfenadine was more effective in reducing the watering of eyes.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

Low affinity binding to glutamate receptor sites correlates with depolarizing responses induced by glutamate and quisqualate in striatal synaptoneurosomes.

In the present study, binding affinity of glutamate and quisqualate to striatal synaptoneurosome membranes in the guinea-pig was compared with concentration-dependence of depolarizing responses induced by these agents. The displacement of radioactive glutamate from receptor binding site by unlabelled glutamate and quisqualate revealed a nonhomogeneous population of binding sites. A high affinity component of binding was observed with an inhibition constant of 0.04 microM for glutamate and 0.45 microM for quisqualate, as well as a low affinity component with an inhibition constant of 10 microM for glutamate and 87 microM for quisqualate. Changes of the membrane potential in striatal synaptoneurosomes induced by glutamate and quisqualate were detected by measuring the absorbance of a potential sensitive cyanine dye. Glutamate and quisqualate induced constantly a depolarization in synaptoneurosome particles. Concentration-response curves showed that half-maximal depolarization was obtained with 10 microM glutamate and 100 microM quisqualate. The comparison of the displacement data with the changes in the membrane potential in the present investigation indicate that in vitro glutamate and quisqualate depolarize striatal synaptoneurosome particles through low affinity binding to receptor site for glutamate.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Double-blind group comparative study of 2% nedocromil sodium eye drops with placebo eye drops in the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

A multicenter double-blind group comparative study was carried out in 126 patients, 64 of whom received 2% nedocromil sodium eye drops, and 62 placebo eyedrops twice each day for the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis to birch pollen. The patients were evaluated at 2 week intervals for clinical signs of conjunctivitis and kept daily diary records of eye symptoms (0-4 severity scales) and concomitant therapy. Diary trends favored active treatment, and reached significance for excessive lacrimation (P less than .05) during peak pollen challenge. Clinic assessments showed the same directional trend and final opinions of treatment efficacy were significantly in favor of nedocromil sodium (P = .003, patients; P = .006, clinicians). In addition, the placebo group used significantly more topical (P less than .05) and oral (P less than .01) concomitant antihistamine therapy. Nedocromil sodium and placebo treatments were equally acceptable and well tolerated. The results show that 2% nedocromil sodium used topically twice each day is an effective therapy for seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1988

[3H]imipramine binding in the retinas of chickens and pigs.

High-affinity [3H]imipramine binding sites detected in the brain are associated with the neural uptake mechanism for serotonin. In this study [3H]imipramine binding in the retinal synaptosomal P2-fraction, which contains the serotonin-accumulating nerve terminals, was characterized using two different animal species, chicken and pig, and with a wide range of imipramine concentrations. The specific binding of imipramine was saturable. When homogenates were prepared from fresh retinas, a high-affinity binding site in the nanomolar range and a low-affinity binding site in the micromolar range were always found. In the pig retina only a high-affinity binding site was found after freezing. The Bmax-value of the high-affinity binding was about 10 times greater in the retinas of pigs than in those of chickens; Bmax-values for fresh homogenates were 1711- and 235 fmol mg-1 protein and those for frozen homogenates were 2066- and 146 fmol mg-1 protein in pig and chicken retinas, respectively. Our results confirm the complexity of imipramine binding described for different regions of the brain. The great difference in the Bmax-values of the high-affinity binding in chicken and pig retinas might indicate differences between species in the serotonergic system.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Optic nerve injury after sudden traumatic rotation of the eye. A case report.

Optic nerve injury is regularly accompanied by signs of local facial or ocular injury, fractures or unconsciousness. The energy of the blow is thought to be delivered to the optic nerve directly by stretching and tearing and by shock wave forces and secondarily as sequelae of contusion. A case is described in which optic nerve injury is caused by a sudden traumatic duction of the eyeball, with all signs of local or systemic contusion missing. During observation the primarily healthy optic nerve head developed subtotal optic atrophy. This case strengthens the belief that the optic nerve is particularly vulnerable to stretching, tearing and torsion.

Blindness↗
PubMed1985

Methoxyindoles of the retina.

Melatonin and other 5-methoxyindoles are compounds usually associated with the pineal gland. Research is expanding from studies of pineal melatonin to studies of extrapineal organs and of other 5-methoxyindoles besides melatonin. Research in recent years has shown that the retina also contains and synthetises 5-methoxyindoles. The biochemical modes of action are still unclear. Nevertheless, they seem to have physiological roles in the pineal gland and the retina. These compounds are thought to participate in the regulation of the cyclic metabolism of the retina. Melatonin and other 5-methoxyindoles are often classified as neuromodulators.

5-Methoxytryptamine↗
PubMed1984

Effects of melatonin and 6-methoxy-tetrahydro-beta-carboline in light induced retinal damage: a computerized morphometric method.

The effects of melatonin and a related 5-methoxy-indole, 6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (6-MeO-THBC) were investigated in rats on the development of retinal degeneration in presence of high intensity illumination (HII). A morphometric method is used in which the degree of degeneration was evaluated by a computer-coupled graphical analyzer. Instead of measuring individual thicknesses of different retinal layers at various loci we measured large areas of retinal light microscopic sections. Thus the influence of sporadic artefactual and other fluctuations in the thickness of various layers of the retina can be essentially reduced. Continuous light produced significant degeneration of the retina and the degree of degeneration was further increased by both studied compounds and even more by 6-MeO-THBC. The role of melatonin and 6-MeO-THBC in retinal physiology is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

6-Methoxy-tetrahydro-beta-carboline and melatonin in the human retina.

The presence of two 5-methoxyindoles, 6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (6-MeO- THBC ) and melatonin was demonstrated in human retinae using a highly specific gas chromatographic mass spectrometric method from eyes affected with various ocular diseases. Both compounds were found to occur in similar quantities. 6-MeO- THBC is a newly-identified endogenously-occurring retinal compound possibly acting as a neuromodulator. The importance of 6-MeO- THBC and other beta-carbolines especially compared to other 5-methoxyindoles is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Distribution of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline and 6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline in mice.

The distribution of radioactivity after intravenous injection of 14C-labelled 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (THBC) and 6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (6-MeO-THBC) was studied on mice by whole-body autoradiography and by liquid scintillation counting (LSC). Following intravenous injection they rapidly distributed into different organs and were excreted into urine and the gut contents. A considerable uptake of the compounds was seen in the lungs, kidney, liver, bone marrow, urinary bladder, gastrointestinal tract and in various glands e.g. adrenal, Harderian and salivary glands. THBC moderately penetrated the blood-brain barrier and the placenta but 6-MeO-THBC seemed to penetrate poorly both. At early stages of the experiment the values of tissue radioactivity in LSC were generally much higher in the THBC group but 24 hours following injections the reverse was true with higher activities in the 6-MeO-THBC group. The initial excretion of 6-MeO-THBC seemed to be more rapid judged by the superfluous accumulation of activity in the bladder and a high accumulation of activity into the gut contents.

Animals↗