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Biomedical subjects

S Salminen

Publications and source records attributed to S Salminen.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Correlations between traffic, occupational, sports, and home accidents.

The aim of this study was to examine the correlations between accidents in traffic, at work, at home, and during sports and leisure time. The study is based on three independent but similar data sets (in 1980 n = 9598, in 1988 n = 13,762, and in 1993 n = 4275) representative of all Finns over 14 years of age. The subjects were asked in a telephone interview to report all accidents in which they had been involved in the previous 12 months. The correlations between different kinds of accidents were low (the highest r = 0.05) although there were many significant correlations. The highest correlations were found between traffic accidents, accidents at work, and sports injuries.

Accident Proneness↗
PubMed1997

Altered expression of IgG and complement receptors indicates a significant role of phagocytes in atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Strict dietary precautions against allergic sensitization may benefit a group of predisposed children. OBJECTIVE: To develop new strategies for identifying these children, a better understanding of the processes that initiate sensitization and regulate and perpetuate the inflammatory response is needed. METHODS: We measured the expression of the receptors for the constant (Fc) region of IgG (Fc gamma RI, Fc gamma RII, and Fc gamma RIII) and that for the complement fragments C3b and C3bi (CR1 and CR3) in neutrophils and monocytes from 39 children with atopic dermatitis, 17 disease control patients with acute infections, and 17 healthy control subjects. The capacity of phagocytes to produce reactive oxygen species was also determined. To find the best way of discriminating the patients with atopic dermatitis from control subjects, a stepwise logistic binary regression model was made. RESULTS: The stepwise logistic regression analysis was based on differences in individual receptor expression between the study groups. Because acute infections strongly affected receptor expression in both neutrophils and monocytes, to avoid diagnostic bias, children with acute infections were excluded from the analysis. The combination of the receptors CR1 in neutrophils and Fc gamma RI and Fc gamma RII in monocytes was the best indicator of atopic dermatitis. A significant correlation between the expression of CR1 in neutrophils and in monocytes, as well as reactive oxygen species production of phagocytes, and the severity of the eczema was detected. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a distinct receptor profile of phagocytic cells can be characterized in patients with atopic dermatitis, providing a new direction to the search for early identification of children predisposed to allergic sensitization.

Causality↗
PubMed1997

Lactulose, lactic acid bacteria, intestinal microecology and mucosal protection.

During the fermentation of lactulose, short-chain fatty acids are formed with consequent lowering of the colon pH and modification of the microflora. Lactulose promotes the growth of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria and, more specifically, Lactobacillus acidophilus in the colon. Lactulose and lactulose-containing products fermented with lactic acid bacteria lower colonic pH balancing intestinal microecology and normalizing intestinal transit. In animal studies, lactulose promotes a mainly Gram-positive faecal microflora, but large doses of lactulose may be associated with transient diarrhoea. Our studies indicate that lactulose with lactic acid bacteria effectively relieves constipation in human volunteers. Lactulose with lactic acid bacteria in a fermented diary product can balance and prevent radiotherapy-associated diarrhoea and intestinal side effects. Normalizing the intestinal flora and stabilizing mucosal integrity with lactulose has beneficial effects in intestinal disorders. Lactulose and lactic acid bacteria offer a promising ingredient combination for future functional and special dietary foods in treating intestinal disturbances.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Specific features associated with femoral shaft fractures caused by low-energy trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To scrutinize the fracture patterns of femoral shaft fractures caused by low-energy injury mechanism and to delineate the problems associated with the treatment of these fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of a total of 192 consecutive skeletally mature patients with 201 acute fresh femoral shaft fractures admitted during a 10-year period (1985-1994), 50 patients had a fracture caused by low-energy trauma. The fractures were classified in terms of their configuration, site, degree of comminution, and soft-tissue injury. The previous fractures, chronic illnesses, and continuous medications of the patients as well as the injury mechanisms and concomitant injuries were registered. All general and local complications and their consequences were recorded. Forty patients could be followed until the bony union of the fracture was achieved, the mean follow-up time being 14 months. RESULTS: The incidence of these injuries was 2.5 per 100,000 person-years. There were 32 women and 18 men. The mean age of the patients was 65 years (range, 17-92 years). Thirteen patients were younger than 60 years of age. Thirty-two (64%) had at least one local or general factor weakening the mechanical strength of the bone that predisposed them to a fracture. Thirty-two patients sustained a fracture of the left femur (p < 0.05). All fractures were closed. None of the patients had significant concomitant injuries. In 33 cases, the site of the fracture was in the middle third of the femur. The fracture configuration was spiral in 29, transverse in 10, oblique-transverse in 7, and oblique in 4 cases. Postoperative complications, including delayed union, nonunion, and malunion, occurred with 29 patients. Eighteen reoperations among 12 patients were performed because of these complications. CONCLUSIONS: Femoral shaft fractures caused by low-energy violence occur mainly in patients suffering from a chronic disease or a condition causing osteopenia of the femur. The most common fracture pattern was a spiral one in the middle third of the femoral shaft. Despite the low-energy violence, the treatment of these fractures is not devoid of complications. The treatment of these seemingly simple fractures requires careful planning and meticulous operative technique.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Clinical uses of probiotics for stabilizing the gut mucosal barrier: successful strains and future challenges.

Probiotic bacteria are used to treat disturbed intestinal microflora and increased gut permeability which are characteristic to many intestinal disorders. Examples include children with acute rotavirus diarrhoea, subjects with food allergy, subjects with colonic disorders and patients undergoing pelvic radiotherapy and sometimes changes associated with colon cancer development. In all such disease states altered intestinal microflora, impaired gut barrier and different types of intestinal inflammation are present. Successful probiotic bacteria are able to survive gastric conditions and colonize the intestine, at least temporarily, by adhering to the intestinal epithelium. Such probiotic microorganisms appear to be promising candidates for the treatment of clinical conditions with abnormal gut microflora and altered gut mucosal barrier functions. They are also promising ingredients to future functional foods and clinical foods for specific disease states provided that basic requirements for strains and clinical studies are carefully followed.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Human errors in fatal and serious occupational accidents in Finland.

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of human error on industrial accidents. One hundred and seventy-eight fatalities and 99 serious accidents were classified according to Rasmussen's SRK model. Of accidents, 84-94% were due mainly to human error. Most of the errors were skill-based, next came rule-based errors and then knowledge-based errors. The type of error was analyzed by age, work experience and work tasks of the victims. The results showed that the SRK model is suitable for analyzing accidents in industrial work using rather simple technology.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1996

Lactobacilli and bacteremia in southern Finland, 1989-1992.

In order to assess the potential of lactobacilli to cause serious infections, we studied the prevalence of bacteremia due to Lactobacillus species during a 4-year period (1989-1992) in southern Finland, which has a population of about 2.5 million. Among 3,317 blood culture isolates, lactobacilli were identified in eight patients, five of whom had a severe disease predisposing to bacteremic complications. The eight strains isolated were identified to the species level and typed by carbohydrate fermentation tests and by direct sequencing of enzymatically amplified 16S rRNA. The results did not provide evidence that any particular species or subspecies of Lactobacillus was the cause of the infections; no infections caused by isolates similar to the recently introduced dairy probiotic strain, Lactobacillus GG (ATCC 53103), were observed. The data show an infrequent association of lactobacilli with bacteremic infections in spite of the ubiquitous presence of these organisms in the gastrointestinal tract and their widespread consumption in fermented milks; thus, there is strong evidence that their pathogenic potential is very low.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Increased bacterial urease activity in faeces in juvenile chronic arthritis: evidence of altered intestinal microflora?

The intestinal microflora was indirectly evaluated in juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) by analysing enzyme activities--urease, beta-glucosidase and beta-glucuronidase--in faeces. In 18 out of 26 JCA patients, the illness had been diagnosed during the past year. The control group was composed of eight age-matched control patients and 18 family members of JCA patients (3-36 yr). The mean [95% confidence interval (CI)] urease activity, but not the activities of beta-glucosidase and beta-glucuronidase, in faeces from the JCA group differed from that in the control group: 32.3 (26.6-38.1) nmol/min/mg protein vs 24.0 (16.8-31.6), P = 0.07. The difference was more marked in a comparison of JCA patients with family members (P = 0.03). In a subgroup of subjects, the effect of 10 days oral bacteriotherapy with Lactobacillus GG on faecal enzyme activities was then investigated (n = 8 JCA patients, n = 8 control patients). This short-term oral bacteriotherapy reduced the increased urease activity in faeces of JCA patients. Keeping in mind the small number of subjects, it may be inferred from the present results that the increased urease activity in JCA is specific for the disease, suggesting altered intestinal microflora in JCA.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

Alcohol as a risk factor for downhill skiing trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of alcohol in downhill skiing injuries. DESIGN: Comparison of alcohol consumption habits and blood alcohol concentrations of injured skiers to those of randomly selected controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 121 injured skiers and 701 control subjects were interviewed and gave breath samples for the determination of blood alcohol concentration. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Neither mean blood alcohol concentration nor the number of subjects with an intoxicating level of alcohol in blood (> 0.5 g/L; 2.9% of control subjects and 3.3% of the injured patients) differed significantly between the groups. Also, the severity of the injury and the blood alcohol concentration seemed to be independent of each other; all of the most severe traumas occurred in subjects with no detectable alcohol in blood. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol does not seem to be a major etiological factor in skiing-related injuries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Inhibition of adhesion of Clostridium difficile to Caco-2 cells.

For many microorganisms, including Clostridium difficile, mucosal association is an important factor influencing intestinal colonisation and subsequent infection. Inhibition of adhesion of C. difficile to intestinal mucosa could be a new promising strategy for prevention and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. We investigated the possibilities of influencing the adhesion of C. difficile by xylitol and bovine colostrum whey. Caco-2 cells and C. difficile cells were incubated with 1%, 5% and 10% solutions of xylitol and colostrum. Our study revealed that both xylitol and colostrum inhibited the adhesion of C. difficile to Caco-2 cells. Inhibition by xylitol was dose-dependent. When compared to the control, the count of adherent C. difficile decreased 3.4 times when treated with 1% xylitol, 12 times when 5% xylitol was applied, and 18.7 times when treated with 10% xylitol. The inhibition of adherence by colostrum was partially dose-dependent: 3.1 times in the case of 1%, and 5.5 times in the cases of 5% and 10% colostrum. Further experimental and clinical studies are needed for the application of xylitol and colostrum in the treatment and prophylaxis of pseudomembraneous colitis.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Fecal recovery following oral administration of Lactobacillus strain GG (ATCC 53103) in gelatine capsules to healthy volunteers.

Recovery of the suggested probiotic strain Lactobacillus GG in feces was studied after oral administration. Lactobacillus GG was given to 20 healthy human volunteers for 7 days in gelatine capsules with daily doses of 1.6 x 10(8) cfu and 1.2 x 10(10) cfu. All the volunteers in the higher dose group had detectable numbers of Lactobacillus GG in their feces during the test period. The strain was detected in feces of all the volunteers after 3 days of administration. No effect was observed on the total number of fecal lactobacilli. Fecal detection of the strain may facilitate dose-response studies and provide a useful tool in dietary studies utilizing the strain in foods or food-type products.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1995

Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG (ATCC 53103) on the growth of Streptococcus sobrinus in vitro.

Lactobacillus GG, a recently characterized L. rhamnosus GG strain (ATCC 53103), has been shown to exert inhibitory activity against a variety of bacterial species, including streptococci. We isolated and studied the effect of the inhibitory substance of Lactobacillus GG on some oral streptococci. The inhibitory activity of the isolated substance was weak, but some growth inhibition was observed in Streptococcus sobrinus pretreated with the substance in comparison with untreated controls. Zones of growth inhibition on agar plates were apparent only at pH values below 5, indicating that the inhibitory activity was restricted to a low pH range. Growth curve experiments showed a statistically significant inhibition between series with and without the isolated substance (P < 0.05). The ultrastructure of S. sobrinus was not affected when treated with the inhibitory substance. The Lactobacillus GG itself did not ferment sucrose. The results offer interesting perspectives for future research focusing on the protective function of normal flora and in the attempt to replace harmful bacterial species in oral microflora with less harmful ones.

Antibiosis↗
PubMed1995

Gut flora in normal and disordered states.

Infections of the gastrointestinal tract are a major health problem for both adults and children worldwide. Changes in the normal human gut microflora result in the development of intestinal disorders. Pathogenic bacteria alter the intestinal microecology and intestinal colonization resistance. A healthy gastrointestinal microflora forms a barrier against invading organisms. Normal intestinal microbes and some probiotic bacteria can enhance the host's defence mechanisms against pathogens. They can also improve intestinal immunity by adhering to intestinal mucosa and stimulating local immune responses. Thus the maintenance of a balanced intestinal microecology improves the ability to preserve intestinal integrity.

Antibiosis↗
PubMed1995

Does pressure from the work community increase risk taking?

Based on the zero-risk theory, it was assumed that the pressure created by the work community is an "extra motive" for increased risk taking. The pressure from the work community was operationalized as the influence of coworkers, foremen, and customers. A risk-taking scale was constructed based on the interviews of 72 victims of serious occupational accidents. Analysis did not confirm the hypothesis because there was no significant difference between risk takers and risk avoiders in the influence of coworkers, foremen, and customers. The pressure of the work community may not be such an "extra motive" as the zero-risk theory assumes.

Accidents, Occupational↗