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Biomedical subjects

R Luukkainen

Publications and source records attributed to R Luukkainen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Prolonged arthritis associated with sindbis-related (Pogosta) virus infection.

OBJECTIVE: A follow-up study of musculoskeletal symptoms after Pogosta virus infection. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with earlier serologically confirmed Pogosta disease were examined. Ultrasonography of affected joints was performed in patients who had chronic musculoskeletal symptoms. Serum antibodies against Sindbis virus were determined. The patients were typed for HLA-DR and B27. Efforts were made using the polymerase chain reaction to demonstrate the virus. RESULTS: Only 50% of the patients were symptomless 2.5 yr after onset of Pogosta disease. Three patients had fibromyalgia, six had occasional arthralgia and two had chronic arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiology of Pogosta disease is changing and practitioners should be better aware of it. Pogosta virus infection may lead to chronic musculoskeletal discomfort and arthritis.

Adolescent↗

Immunogenetic differences between patients with familial and non-familial rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To search for possible immunogenetic differencies between the patients with familial and non-familial rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The study compared 129 familial RA patients with 217 non-familial patients for the frequencies of HLA-DR antigens including DR4 subtypes, DR4-DQB1*0301 and DR4-DQB1*0302 haplotypes and HLA-B27 antigen as well as the age of disease onset and existence of rheumatoid factor or joint erosions. RESULTS: Two major differences between familial and non-familial groups were found: firstly, familial RA patients had increased frequency of HLA-DR4 as compared with the non-familial RA group (68.2 v. 54.8%; p = 0.019). Secondly, the mean age at onset of RA was significantly lower in the familial than in the sporadic RA patients (42.0 v. 46.5 years; p = 0.0020) and the difference still remained when the DR4 positive and negative subgroups were compared separately. CONCLUSION: These results confirm the more prominent association with HLA-DR4 in familial than in the non-familial cases and suggest that accumulation of HLA risk genes may, at least partly, explain the familial occurrence of the disease. Other susceptibility genes may also be concentrated in multiplex case families as suggested by an earlier age at the onset of RA in both HLA-DR4 positive and negative familial patients.

Adolescent↗

Effect of a three month course of ciprofloxacin on the outcome of reactive arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of reactive arthritis (ReA) with antibiotics has so far remained controversial. Eradication of the causative microbe appears logical, but short term antibiotic treatment has no beneficial effect on the outcome of ReA. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a three month course of ciprofloxacin on ReA. METHODS: In a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial, between December 1992 and February 1996, 71 patients with acute ReA triggered by a gastrointestinal or a urogenital infection were randomly assigned to receive ciprofloxacin 500 mg or placebo twice daily for three months. Patients were assessed at study entry, at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Sixty two patients were valid for the efficacy analysis. The primary outcome measures were erythrocyte sedimentation rate, number of swollen joints, patients self assessment, and complete recovery. RESULTS: Adverse events were mostly mild and occurred in both treatment groups. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the primary or secondary efficacy variables between the study groups at baseline or during the 12 month follow up. All primary outcome measures indicated that the condition of the patients improved during the study. CONCLUSION: Both groups tended to recover. Ciprofloxacin, given as a three month course, had no advantage over placebo treatment.

Adult↗

Comparison of combination therapy with single-drug therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised trial. FIN-RACo trial group.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis should aim at clinical remission. This multicentre, randomised trial with 2-year follow-up sought evidence on the efficacy and tolerability of combination therapy (sulphasalazine, methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, and prednisolone) compared with treatment with a single disease-modifying antirheumatic drug, with or without prednisolone, in the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: 199 patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. 195 started the treatment (97 received combination and 98 single drug therapy). Single-drug therapy in all patients started with sulphasalazine; in 51 patients methotrexate was later substituted. Oral prednisolone was required by 63 patients. The primary outcome measure was induction of remission. Analyses were intention to treat. FINDINGS: 87 patients in the combination group and 91 in the single-therapy group completed the trial. After a year, remission was achieved in 24 of 97 patients with combination therapy, and 11 of 98 with single-drug therapy (p=0.011). The remission frequencies at 2 years were 36 of 97 and 18 of 98 (p=0.003). Clinical improvement (American College of Rheumatology criteria of 50% clinical response) was achieved after 1 year in 68 (75%) patients with combination therapy, and in 56 (60%) using single-drug therapy (p=0.028), while at the 2-year visit 69 and 57 respectively (71% vs 58%, p=0.058) had clinically improved. The frequencies of adverse events were similar in both treatment groups. INTERPRETATION: Combination therapy was better and not more hazardous than single treatment in induction of remission in early rheumatoid arthritis. The combination strategy as an initial therapy seems to increase the efficacy of the treatment in at least a proportion of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

Adult↗

Expression of soluble human signaling lymphocytic activation molecule in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) is a novel glycoprotein expressed on activated T and B cells. Ligation of cell surface SLAM, either by anti-SLAM mAbs or the recombinant soluble form of SLAM (sSLAM), enhanced the proliferation of T and B cells in vitro. In addition, the engagement of SLAM on T cells preferentially induced IFN-gamma production even by allergen-specific TH2 clones. OBJECTIVE: In this study we investigated the expression of sSLAM in vivo in healthy individuals and in disease conditions that are associated with increased TH1 - or TH2 -cell responses. METHODS: The expression of mRNA encoding sSLAM in peripheral blood and synovial fluid (SF) lymphocytes was studied by using reverse transcriptase-PCR, and the presence of sSLAM protein in serum and SF samples was investigated by using a specific ELISA. RESULTS: Lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy individuals consistently expressed mRNA encoding sSLAM. In addition, sSLAM protein was present in 38% of serum and 54% of SF samples from patients with RA and in 47% of serum samples from healthy individuals. The levels of sSLAM in positive serum and SF samples from patients with RA and in positive serum samples from healthy individuals were not significantly different. In contrast, the levels of sSLAM were significantly lower in patients with reactive arthritis or in patients with elevated IgE levels than in patients with RA. Similarly, the frequency of positive SF samples was significantly lower in reactive arthritis (28%) than in RA (54%). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that sSLAM is present in serum and SF, further suggesting that sSLAM regulates T- and B-cell function in vivo. Moreover, these data suggest an association between low sSLAM production and the occurrence of TH2 responses in vivo.

Antigens, CD↗

Synovial fluid T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis are refractory to the T helper type 2 differentiation-inducing effects of interleukin-4.

The balance between T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokines is thought to be important in the initiation and outcome of autoimmune diseases. The goal of the present study was to compare the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) by synovial fluid (SF) and peripheral blood (PB) CD4+ and CD8+ cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using three-colour immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry, and to investigate the capacity of IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12 to modify the cytokine production profile of SF T cells. The frequency of IFN-gamma-producing CD4+ and CD8+ cells was significantly increased in SF when compared with PB. In contrast to IFN-gamma, the expression of IL-4 in SF and PB T cells was comparable. The majority of IL-4-producing cells in SF belonged to Th0/T cytotoxic (Tc) type 0 phenotype, whereas there were significantly more Th2/Tc2 cells in PB than in SF. Interestingly, IL-4 was unable to induce differentiation of non-adherent SF mononuclear cells (SFMC) into Th2 cells, whereas PB mononuclear cells (PBMC) under similar culture conditions differentiated into cells producing high levels of IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13. In contrast, there were no major differences in the effects of IL-10 and IL-12 on the cytokine production profile of SFMC when compared with PBMC. Taken together, the present results suggest that SF T cells from patients with RA are terminally differentiated into Th1/Tc1-like phenotype, and Th2/Tc2 differentiation-inducing agents, such as IL-4, may not be able to reverse the inflammatory process occurring in the joints.

Adult↗

Somatic serogroups, capsular types, and species of fecal Klebsiella in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

The purpose of the present study was to find out whether patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) carry fecal Klebsiella strains that belong to serotypes or species specific for AS. Somatic serotypes (O groups), capsular (K) serotypes, and biochemically identified species were determined for fecal klebsiellae isolated from 187 AS patients and 195 control patients. The controls were patients with fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis. The 638 isolates of Klebsiella that were obtained represented 161 strains; 81 from AS patients and 80 from the controls. The average number of Klebsiella strains per patient was 1.7 for the AS group and 1.5 for the control group. The most common O group was O1, which was observed for isolates from 23 of 187 AS patients and 24 of 195 control patients. Next in frequency was group O2, which was observed for isolates from 17 AS patients and 15 control patients. Regarding the K serotypes, 59 different types were identified, revealing a heterogeneous representation of Klebsiella strains, without a predominance of any serotype. By biochemical identification, Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most frequently occurring species, being found in 45 AS patients and 45 control patients. Next in the frequency was K. oxytoca, which was observed in 26 AS patients and in 29 control patients. K. planticola and K. terrigena occurred in only a minority of patients. Altogether, when analyzed either separately or simultaneously according to O groups, K serotypes, and biochemically identified species, no evidence of the existence of AS-specific Klebsiella strains was obtained. These findings do not indicate participation of Klebsiella in the etiopathogenesis of AS.

Adult↗

The value of synovial fluid analysis in the assessment of knee joint destruction in arthritis in a three year follow up study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the predictive significance of synovial fluid (SF) analysis for progressive radiological knee joint destruction in arthritis. METHODS: Altogether 55 patients with arthritis and knee joint effusion were included in the study. The diagnosis was rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for 44 of them, chronic seronegative spondylarthropathy for seven and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis for four. The mean age of the patients was 51.8 (SD 14.9, range 19-82) years, and the mean duration of disease 10.9 (SD 9.2, range 0.5-37) years. In addition to the routine laboratory tests, different markers of collagen synthesis and breakdown in serum and SF were assessed. The radiological grade of the knee joint was assessed by Larsen's method at the baseline and after a three year follow up. RESULTS: During the follow up, Larsen's grade deteriorated in 22 (40%) patients. These patients had a significantly higher median level of cross linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) in SF at entry than those who had a stable index (p = 0.035). Serum ICTP did not have any predictive value for a specific joint. The median levels of total SF leucocytes (p = 0.012) and the subgroup of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (p = 0.018) were higher in the patients with a stable Larsen's index. However, the relation of SF leucocyte level to radiological progression could not be confirmed in the RA group. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that SF analysis may help in the identification of patients with inflammatory arthritis who are at risk for progressive destruction in a particular joint. A high total SF leucocyte level is not necessarily associated with a poor prognosis. Instead, a high SF ICTP level seems to reflect accelerated bone degradation.

Adult↗

Persistence of Yersinia antigens in peripheral blood cells from patients with Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 infection with or without reactive arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the persistence of bacterial antigens in peripheral blood cells from patients with Yersinia enterocolitica O:3-triggered reactive arthritis (ReA). METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 20 patients with Y. enterocolitica O:3 infection (11 with ReA and 9 without). These samples were studied by immunochemical techniques for the presence of Yersinia antigens at the beginning of infection and up to 4 years thereafter. Synovial fluid samples from 6 of the 11 ReA patients were also studied. RESULTS: The Yersinia antigens lipopolysaccharide and heat-shock protein (HSP) were detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear phagocytes from all patients studied at the early phase of the disease. They were also found in the synovial fluid cells of patients with Yersinia-triggered ReA. At 4 years after the onset of infection, these bacterial antigens were still detected in the peripheral blood cells of most of the ReA patients studied. CONCLUSION: This study has, for the first time, directly demonstrated that bacterial antigens persist for a long time in patients who develop ReA after Y. enterocolitica O:3 infection. The finding of bacterial HSP in synovial fluid cells could provide a link to the pathogenesis of ReA, since T cell responses of synovial cells have been shown to be directed against that structure. A close similarity between the bacterial and host HSP might contribute to the development of the relatively common, chronic form of this complication.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Increased expression of signaling lymphocytic activation molecule in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its role in the regulation of cytokine production in rheumatoid synovium.

In the present study the expression and function of signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) in lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were investigated. The expression levels of SLAM were significantly up-regulated on synovial fluid and synovial tissue T cells from patients with RA compared with peripheral blood T cells from the same patients or from healthy volunteers. In addition, the expression of SLAM on peripheral blood B cells from patients with RA was elevated compared with that in healthy volunteers. SLAM+ T cells in synovial fluid coexpressed CD45RO and demonstrated decreased expression of CD27, indicative of a primed phenotype. In addition, the activation state of SLAM+ T cells was enhanced, as judged by increased expression of CD25, CD28, CD69, and CD95 on these cells. Interestingly, SLAM expression on activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from both patients and healthy individuals could be down-regulated by IL-10, which has been previously shown to function as an anti-inflammatory molecule in rheumatoid synovium. Furthermore, anti-SLAM mAbs increased the production of IL-10, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha by in vitro activated synovial fluid mononuclear cells, supporting the idea that signaling through SLAM may play a role in the regulation of synovial inflammation in patients with RA. Given the fact that SLAM was recently shown to be a high affinity self ligand, our data suggest that synovial T cells may stimulate their own cytokine production through homophilic SLAM-SLAM interactions.

Adult↗

Ligase chain reaction in detection of Chlamydia DNA in synovial fluid cells.

Synovial fluid cells from 12 patients with reactive arthritis (ReA) triggered by Chlamydia trachomatis were studied for the presence of Chlamydia DNA using the ligase chain reaction (LCR) LCx (Abbott) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Amplicor (Roche). In addition, peripheral blood leucocytes from 11 of these patients were analysed by LCR. As controls, seven patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were included. Chlamydia trachomatis DNA was detectable by LCR in samples of synovial fluid cells from 4/12 patients with C. trachomatis-triggered ReA, and in none by PCR. Chlamydia trachomatis DNA was not detectable in the synovial fluid cells of the seven RA patients by either method, neither was C. trachomatis DNA detectable in the peripheral blood leucocytes of the ReA patients (0/11) or controls (0/6) by LCR. The LCR technique may be useful in the demonstration of Chlamydia DNA in synovial fluid cells.

Adolescent↗

Detection of rubella, mumps, and measles virus genomic RNA in cells from synovial fluid and peripheral blood in early rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine, by studying patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), whether rubella virus (rubella), mumps virus (mumps), or measles virus (measles) plays a role in the pathogenesis of RA. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction combined with reverse transcription was used to detect viral RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or synovial fluid (SF) cells. The patients with RA had newly diagnosed disease (duration < or = 1 year). The controls were patients with other arthropathies. RESULTS: Rubella genomic RNA was not detected in SF cells from patients with early RA or from controls, or in PBMC from patients with RA. It was found in PBMC of one of 46 patients with other arthropathies. Mumps or measles genomic RNA was detected in PBMC samples from 1.8% (1/54) and 9.3% (5/54) of RA, respectively, and from 4.3% (2/46) and 6.5% (3/46) of control patients. The SF cell samples harbored mumps or measles RNA in 4.8% (2/42) and 7.1% (3/42) of patients with RA, respectively; the corresponding value was 6.5% (2/31) for control patients, for both mumps and measles. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest rubella, mumps, or measles do not play a role in the etiopathogenesis of RA.

Adult↗

Interleukin-10 functions as an antiinflammatory cytokine in rheumatoid synovium.

OBJECTIVE: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an antiinflammatory cytokine that has been shown to play a role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We therefore investigated the effects of IL-10 on the function and phenotype of synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMC) derived from patients with RA. In addition, we studied the production of IL-10 in rheumatoid joints, and the role of endogenous IL-10 in the regulation of SFMC function. METHODS: The presence of IL-10 in rheumatoid joints was studied using IL-10-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques. The effects of recombinant human IL-10 or neutralizing anti-IL-10 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) on both cytokine production and phenotype of SFMC were evaluated using cytokine-specific ELISAs and flow cytometry. The effect of IL-10 on proliferation of SFMC was determined by incorporation of tritiated thymidine. RESULTS: IL-10 was detected by ELISA in 22 of 23 SF samples, and was spontaneously produced by cultured SFMC. IL-10 messenger RNA was detectable in all 8 SFMC samples, as determined by RT-PCR. Neutralization of endogenously produced IL-10 by anti- IL-10 MAbs resulted in increased production of IL-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), and granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by SFMC, and in enhanced proliferation of SFMC. In particular, the production of TNFalpha was dramatically increased by anti-IL-10 MAbs. Moreover, the expression of HLA-DR molecules by SF macrophages was increased, and the expression of CD16 was decreased by anti-IL-10 MAbs. In contrast, addition of recombinant IL-10 significantly decreased the production of IL-1 beta, TNF alpha, and GM-CSF by SFMC, and decreased spontaneous and IL-2-induced proliferation of SFMC. Finally, IL-10 decreased HLA-DR expression and increased the expression of the Fc gamma receptors, CD16 and CD64, by SF macrophages. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that endogenously produced IL-10 functions as an immunoregulatory molecule in rheumatoid synovium. Importantly, exogenous IL-10 has potent antiinflammatory effects on SFMC, suggesting that IL-10 may be useful in the treatment of patients with RA.

Adult↗

The presence of interleukin-13 in rheumatoid synovium and its antiinflammatory effects on synovial fluid macrophages from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the production of interleukin-13 (IL-13) in rheumatoid synovium and the effects of recombinant IL-13 on the phenotype and function of synovial fluid (SF) macrophages and T cells derived from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The presence of IL-13 in SF was studied using an IL-13-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the production of IL-13 was studied in SF mononuclear cells (SFMC) by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The effects of recombinant IL-13 on cytokine production by and phenotype of SFMC were evaluated using cytokine-specific ELISAs and flow cytometry, respectively. The effect of IL-13 on the proliferation of SFMC was determined by 3H-thymidine incorporation. The production and the effects of IL-13 were compared with those of IL-4. RESULTS: IL-13 was present in 27 of 28 SF samples, and IL-13 messenger RNA (mRNA) was detectable in SFMC. Importantly, IL-13 levels were significantly higher than those of IL-4, and IL-13 protein and mRNA were expressed in several samples, although IL-4 synthesis was undetectable. Recombinant IL-13 significantly reduced the production of IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha and the expression of CD16 and CD64 by SF macrophages, whereas the expression of HLA-DR and CD23 was increased. These effects on SF macrophages were similar to those observed with IL-4, but in contrast to IL-4, IL-13 had no growth-promoting effect on SF T cells. CONCLUSION: IL-13 is consistently present in rheumatoid synovium. The ability of exogenous IL-13 to decrease the production of proinflammatory cytokines by SFMC suggests that it may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of patients with RA.

Adult↗

Expression of bcl-2 in rheumatoid arthritis.

Since defective apoptosis has been suggested to play a role in the development of autoimmune diseases, we have investigated the expression of the proto-oncogene bcl-2 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The expression of bcl-2 was studied in peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) lymphocytes and synovial tissues (ST) from patients with RA using immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and nucleic acid hybridization. Patients with reactive arthritis (ReA) or osteoarthritis (OA) and healthy individuals were used as controls. The expression of bcl-2 protein in PB lymphocytes and the expression of bcl-2 mRNA in PB mononuclear cells (PBMC) was similar in healthy controls and patients with RA. However, bcl-2 protein expression was significantly reduced in SF lymphocytes when compared to PB lymphocytes. Similar results were observed with lymphocytes from patients with ReA, and irrespective of whether total lymphocytes, T cells or different T-cell subsets were studied. In the synovial sections, the expression of bcl-2 was restricted to lymphocytes, and bcl-2+ cells were observed in the majority of samples from patients with RA, OA and ReA. These data indicate that the expression of bcl-2 is not increased in the lymphocytes or ST derived from patients with RA. Instead, decreased expression of bcl-2 protein in SF lymphocytes compared to PB lymphocytes was demonstrated. We suggest that bcl-2 does not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of RA.

Adult↗

Pathogen antigen- and superantigen-reactive synovial fluid T cells in reactive arthritis.

Analysis of pathogen-reactive T cell clones (CD3+4+8-TCR alpha beta +), isolated from the synovial fluid of 2 HLA-B27-positive patients with Yersinia enterocolitica-triggered reactive arthritis, has provided important information about the cellular immune response to this disease-inciting pathogen. This study demonstrates that the proteins secreted by Y. enterocolitica, including a protein with tyrosine phosphatase activity (YopH), are potent immunogens stimulating CD4+ cells within the inflamed joint. The pathogen-reactive T cell clones preferentially utilized a limited set of T cell receptor variable region gene segments. A purified Yersinia superantigen triggered a proliferative response in most of the antigen-reactive T cell clones tested. These results suggest that the activity of this pathogen's superantigen influences the cellular immune response to its antigens.

Adult↗

Application of markers of collagen metabolism in serum and synovial fluid for assessment of disease process in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential of markers of collagen metabolism to reflect disease processes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Serum (S) and synovial fluid (SF) from 59 patients with RA, and a knee joint effusion and serum from 90 control subjects were studied with radioimmunoassays for the aminoterminal propeptides of type I and type III procollagens (PINP and PIIINP, respectively). The breakdown of type I collagen was quantified with a radioimmunoassay for the cross linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP). RESULTS: About 50% of the patients had increased S-ICTP and S-PIIINP values, whereas S-PINP was increased in only 20% of the patients. The mean SF:S ratios of these markers varied between 4 (for ICTP) and 340 (for PIIINP), indicating that markers of collagen metabolism are formed locally and then released into the circulation. SF-PINP and SF-PIIINP correlated with each other (rs = 0.86, p < 0.001) and with SF-ICTP (rs = 0.69, p < 0.001, and rs = 0.65, p < 0.001, respectively). SF-ICTP was clearly related to radiographic findings in the corresponding knee joint, patients with gross bone deformation having the greatest SF-ICTP concentrations. S-ICTP and S-PIIINP also correlated with conventional markers of disease activity, such as C reactive protein and joint swelling score. CONCLUSION: Markers of collagen metabolism both in serum and synovial fluid can be measured to provide an assessment of disease process in patients with RA. ICTP and PIIINP are the most informative.

Adult↗