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Biomedical subjects

P Saikku

Publications and source records attributed to P Saikku.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

The epidemiology and significance of Chlamydia pneumoniae.

Chlamydia pneumoniae has recently been found to be a new chlamydial species transmitted directly from man to man, obviously through the respiratory tract. It is the commonest chlamydia of mankind but fortunately the overwhelming majority of infections are mild, it has been estimated that 10% of all pneumonias are caused by this species. Since the most important chlamydial infections are chronic in nature, the question of possible chronic C. pneumoniae infections is of paramount importance. Apart from being associated with chronic inflammatory processes of the respiratory system, a quite unexpected connection to coronary heart disease has now been suggested.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1992

The prevalence and regional distribution of antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae (strain TWAR) in Finland in 1958.

The occurrence of nonavian 'ornithosis' was reported in Scandinavia at the end of the 1950s. In order to find out whether Chlamydia pneumoniae had been present in Finland, we examined the IgG antibody prevalence to C pneumoniae in samples representing the whole rural population of Finland in 1958. The total number of sera studied using micro-immunofluorescence was 2000. Trend-surface analysis was used to examine the regional patterns of antibody prevalence. C pneumoniae antibodies were present throughout the country. The mean antibody prevalence was 56% among adults and 27% among children. Thus the possible role of C pneumoniae in nonavian 'ornithosis' in Finland between 1958 and 1960 cannot be excluded.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[The ultrastructure of a new species of Chlamydia--Chlamydia pneumoniae].

The dynamic study of a new Chlamydia species, C. pneumoniae (strain TWAR, isolate TW-480), inoculated into the monolayer culture of cells L-929 was made 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after inoculation. When compared with C. trachomatis and C. psittaci, C. pneumoniae were found to stand between these two species with respect to the morphology of their intracytoplasmic microcolonies (inclusions): they were round, almost bubble-like, but more densely packed with chlamydiae, surrounded by an undulate membrane, preserving its integrity until the late stages of their development cycle. In cells L-929 C. pneumoniae had a typical development cycle accompanied by the formation of vegetative and spore-like cells, reticular and elementary bodies, as well as intermediate cells, though this process was slower than in C. trachomatis and C. psittaci. Besides normal elementary bodies, many altered ones were formed in the process of the development of C. pneumoniae in cells L-929. Most of these alterations were similar to the process of bacterial L-transformation and could be regarded as the manifestation of chlamydial pathology related to the adaptation to new host cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Chlamydia trachomatis in acute salpingitis.

In a study to evaluate the possible role of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in acute salpingitis, 26% of 106 patients with severe symptoms had positive culture results for C. trachomatis; 43% of the 72 patients from whom paired sera were obtained had either positive culture results for or seroconversion in the single antigen immunofluorescence test to C. trachomatis. Twenty-six per cent of patients harboured N. gohorrhoeae and 14% had gonococcal complement-fixing antibody titres greater than or equal to 8. Intrauterine devices were used by 48% of patients, no difference being found in the frequency of use between patients harbouring C. trachomatis or N. gonorrhoeae. The possible role of C. trachomatis should be considered in the treatment of acute salpingitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

Infertility and cervical Chlamydia trachomatis infections.

Of the 51 women examined for infertility, 19.6 per cent were found Chl. trachomatis culture-positive. This differs, although not significantly, from the 9 per cent isolation rate among our general gynecological outpatients. The results suggest that Chl. trachomatis should be considered in women with unexplained infertility.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections in patients with cervical atypia.

Of 177 gynecologic outpatients with cervical dysplasia studied, 29 (16%) were found to excrete Chlamydia trachomatis from their urogenital tract. Sera collected from 93 of these patients were significantly more often positive for and showed higher levels of antichlamydial micro-complement fixation (CF) and immunofluorescence (IF) antibodies than sera obtained from the controls. However, when the sera were tested for anti-herpesvirus type II (HSV-II) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies, no difference between the cases and the controls were encountered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Erythromycin and lymecycline treatment in chlamydia-positive and Chlamydia-negative non-gonococcal urethritis--a partner-controlled study.

A group of 213 men with non-gonococcal urethritis and their sexual partners were treated either with erythromycin stearate 500 mgx2 for 15 days or with lymecycline 300 mgx2 for 10 or 20 days. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 40% of the men, from 26% of their female partners and from 56% of the partners of men with chlamydia-positive urethritis. One hundred and eighty-one men were available for evaluation of therapy. There were no significant differences between the treatment schedules. The cure rate was 86-90% in men with chlamydia-positive and 89-100% in men with chlamydia-negative urethritis. Four of the 17 chlamydia-positive females treated with erythromycin and 2 of the 20 chlamydia-positive females treated with lymecycline for 10 days still had chlamydia at re-examination.

Chlamydia Infections↗
PubMed1978

Single-antigen immunofluorescence test for chlamydial antibodies.

A simple method is presented for producing large numbers of inclusions of Chlamydia trachomatis serotype L2 in cell cultures on slides for immunofluorescence antibody staining. Preliminary results with a total of 1,241 human sera from different groups were consistent with findings by earlier methods: 82% of chlamydia-positive men with nongonococcal urethritis had antibodies at titers of greater than or equal to 8, with a geometric mean titer (GMT) of 44.9; 68.5% of chlamydia-negative men with nongonococcal urethritis had titers of greater than or equal to 8, with a GMT of 38.6; 27% of male blood donors had titers of greater than or equal to 8, with a GMT of 19.6; 95.0% of chlamydia-positive women had titers of greater than or equal to 8, with a GMT of 80.3; 67.0% of chlamydia-negative partners of men with nongonococcal urethritis had titers of greater than or equal to 8, with a GMT of 47.0; 50.2% of control women had titers of greater than or equal to 8, with a GMT of 27.7% and 8.1% of children (aged 1 to 15 years) had titers of greater than or equal to 8, with a GMT of 17.8.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Genital chlamydial infections in patients attending a gynaecological outpatient clinic.

Investigation for genital chlamydial infections was carried out on 160 patients of fertile age attending a gynaecological outpatient clinic. Thirteen (9%) of the 144 patients with valid specimens were found to be Chlamydia-positive. Seven (54%) of them had antichlamydial antibodies by the complement-fixation test, and 11 (85%) antichlamydial antibodies by a single-antigen immunofluorescence test compared with 21 (16%) and 70 (53%), respectively, of the 131 Chlamydia-negative patients. Patients with overt genital chlamydial infection often complained of ocular and urethral symptoms. Usually there was clinical evidence of cervical infection as well as of inflammation on cervicovaginal smears. Colposcopical and histological examinations did not show any specific alterations.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1978

Early diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) by demonstration of specific IgM antibodies.

The demonstration of specific IgM antibodies after separation of immunoglobulins was used for the early diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The separation was done by sucrose-gradient density ultracentrifugation and IgM antibodies were demonstrated with the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test. IgM antibodies were found in 9/11 sera taken within 3 days after onset of clinical symptoms and in all sera (37/37) taken 4--15 days after onset of the disease. Most sera (22/24) were still IgM positive 3--6 weeks after onset of the disease. After this period of time IgM antibodies could no longer be defected. The demonstration of IgM antibodies also proved valuable in confirming the diagnosis in several cases where no antibody rise was found neither by the complement-fixation (cf), nor by the HI test.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1975

Mosquito-borne viruses in Finland.

Inkoo virus, the Finnish representative of the California group, was isolated from a pool of Aedes communis/punctor. It is distinguishable from Tahyna, California encephalitis, Trivittatus and Melao viruses, but seems to be antigenically related to the Jamestown Canyon virus. The prevalence of Inkoo antibodies increases towards the north in both human beings (16% to 69%) and cows (37% to 88%). Inkoo antibodies are common also in other mammals of large size (reindeer, moose, foxes), less frequent in snow hares, rare in hazel grouse and not detected in other birds and small mammals. Some show hare serum samples react with Inkoo virus only in the hemmaglutination inhibition test suggesting the existence of another California group virus in Finland. In addition, antibodies against some other mosquito-borne viruses have been found in Finland. A Batai virus epizootic among cows may have occured in the early 1960's in southern coastal Finland, and some serological data point to the existence of alphaviruses in Finland. The overwintering mechanism of the Finnish mosquito-borne viruses is still unsolved.

Aedes↗
PubMed1975

Tick-borne viruses in Finland.

Ixodes ricinus is the only one of six tick species reported from Finland found to carry viruses. It transmits tick-borne encephalitis and Uukuniemi viruses, and transmission of a Kemerovo group virus is suggested by antibody findings. Tick-borne encephalitis is common only in the SW-archipelago; it is also found near the SE-boarder but is very rare elsewhere. In contrast, Uukuniemi virus is common throughout the distribution area of I. ricinus, being commoner on the mainland than in the archipelago. Medium, large and small mammals participate in the cycle of tick-borne encephalitis virus, though birds are not excluded and apparently they act as host to the Uukuniemi virus. The encephalitis virus causes clinical illness in man, with cases limited mostly to the SW-archipelago; the disease is a relatively mild form of tick-borne encephalitis, with biphasic and meningeal symptoms dominating.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Examination of men with nongonococcal urethritis and their sexual partners for Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum.

Chlamydia trachomatis was recovered from 39 (52%) of 75 men who had nongonococcal urethritis and from 28 (37%) of their sexual partners. Of the partners of men with Chlamydia-positive nongonococcal urethritis, 64% excreted Chlamydia, compared with 8% of the partners of men with Chlamydia-negative nongonococcal urethritis. In contrast, an apparently sexual mode of transmission was not observed with Ureaplasma urealyticum. Rates of recovery of U. urealyticum from men with nongonococcal urethritis whose cultures were Chlamydia-positive and those whose cultures were Chlamydia-negative were the same. Significant seroconversion was detected bythe single-antigen immunofluorescence test in about 50% of patients who had Chlamydia-postive cultures.

Adult↗