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Biomedical subjects

S Savolainen

Publications and source records attributed to S Savolainen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Noise attenuation of communication hearing protectors against impulses from assault rifle.

The noise attenuation values of commercial and military versions of earmuffs were measured using a Finnish assault rifle (RK762) as the sound source. The C-weighted peak level at the entrance of the left ear of the shooter was 156 dB (SD 1.0 dB; n = 25 shots). The noise was analyzed both outside and inside ear muffs on military volunteers on an open shooting range. All the earmuffs attenuated the C-weighted peak level to a value of less than 135 dB, which is less than the proposed values recommended by hearing damage criteria. Communication hearing protectors seem to function and attenuate sufficiently against the peak levels of the impulse noises used in this study.

Ear Protective Devices↗
PubMed1997

Accuracy of a registration procedure for brain SPET and MRI: phantom and simulation studies.

Phantom experiments and simulations were performed to evaluate the significance of different error sources in a clinical registration procedure for brain SPET and MRI based on external markers. The results from the phantom experiments were used to adjust the error model for simulations. In the phantom experiments, 13-14 external markers were attached to the surface of a three-dimensional brain phantom for computing registration. Three internal test markers were used to estimate the accuracy of registration. The phantom was imaged with two different SPET and MRI devices. The mean root-mean-squared (RMS) residual of the locations of the test markers after registration using different combinations of four external markers varied from 3.5 +/- 1.0 to 5.2 +/- 1.3 mm depending on the imaging equipment and parameters used. The accuracy improved with an increasing number of external markers, from 3.2 +/- 0.5 to 4.9 +/- 0.5 mm for 6 markers and from 3.1 +/- 0.1 to 4.7 +/- 0.1 mm for 13 markers. In simulations, the external markers had an error comparable to the corresponding error in the phantom experiments. The error in the test markers was varied independently of that of the external markers. When the locating error of the test markers was removed, about 2 mm of the residuals of the test markers were found to come from this source. When an error comparable to the resolution of the original images (7-10 mm for SPET, 2 mm for MRI) was included in the test markers, the largest mean RMS residual after registration was smaller than the resolution error (8.8 +/- 1.1 mm). This was due to the accuracy of localization of the external markers and the fact that the direction of the error was random for each marker. The size of the registration error of an image volume was site-dependent, being minimal near the centre of mass of the external markers. When comparing the error with the spatial resolution of SPET, it was concluded that the accuracy of registration is not the limiting factor in region-of-interest analysis of registered images, provided that the design and attachment of the marker system are appropriate.

Brain↗
PubMed1997

Comparative effectiveness and safety of cefdinir and amoxicillin-clavulanate in treatment of acute community-acquired bacterial sinusitis. Cefdinir Sinusitis Study Group.

Cefdinir is an extended-spectrum oral cephalosporin that is active against pathogens commonly seen in acute community-acquired bacterial sinusitis (ACABS), including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. Two randomized, investigator-blind, multicenter trials (one in the United States and one in Europe) compared two dosage regimens of cefdinir (600 mg once a day for 10 days and 300 mg twice a day for 10 days) to amoxicillin-clavulanate (A-C) (500 mg three times a day for 10 days) for adult and adolescent patients with ACABS. Twelve hundred twenty-nine patients entered the U.S. study, 698 with antral puncture; 569 patients entered the European study, all with antral puncture. Clinical response (cure or improvement) was determined 7 to 14 days and 3 to 5 weeks posttherapy. Microbiologic eradication rates were determined 10 to 30 days posttherapy in a subset of patients who underwent pre- and posttherapy sinus aspirate culture. Rates of adverse events and treatment discontinuations due to adverse events were examined. Cefdinir, given once or twice daily, was as effective clinically (approximately 90% cure rate) as amoxicillin-clavulanate given three times daily in the treatment of ACABS. Microbiologic eradication rates were also similar in the three groups. The major side effect was mild diarrhea, occurring in approximately 20% of each group. Cefdinir caused fewer adverse events requiring treatment discontinuation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Do simple laboratory tests help in etiologic diagnosis in acute maxillary sinusitis?

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the results of such simple hematologic tests as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell count (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) could give any useful information about the causative agents in 176 patients with acute maxillary sinusitis (AMS). The great majority of tests (82%) showed values which were within normal limits. This may be due to the fact that 22% of AMS cases were culture negative for bacteria and about 60% of culture positive cases had Haemophilus influenzae as the etiologic agent. Significantly raised test values were seen in connection with Streptococcus pyogenes in the majority of cases, less frequently with Streptococcus pneumoniae and rarely with Haemophilus influenzae. We conclude that none of the evaluated routine blood tests are particularly sensitive indicators of the specific etiology of AMS in general. However, elevated CRP values (> 40 mg/l) associated with AMS should alert the physician to the suspicion of Streptococcus pyogenes or Streptococcus pneumoniae in etiology, since both, if left untreated, may lead to sinus empyema. With CRP or other evaluated tests Haemophilus influenzae- or Branhamella catarrhalis-positive AMS cannot be distinguished from a purely viral disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

An ultrasound device in the diagnosis of acute maxillary sinusitis.

This multicenter study comprised 161 consecutive and unselected patients with suspected acute maxillary sinusitis (AMS). Altogether 322 maxillary sinuses were examined radiologically and by untrasound device (US). Of these, 234 antra were punctured, aspirated and irrigated. The volume of secretion coming out by irrigation was evaluated. The results of US, x-ray and irrigation were compared. For US, the proportion of correct positive results was 82.7% when the secretion volume was heavy, 78.6% when the secretion volume was moderate and 84.3% when the secretion volume was slight. When US finding was compared with the puncture result, the US gave false positive results in 8% of the cases and false negative results in 18.5% of the cases. Out of 187 positive irrigation findings, radiographs revealed fluid retention in 99 cases (score 3-6) (53%). Similarly, 11 radiographs showed fluid retention in 47 cases of negative irrigation findings (23.4%). Statistical calculation shows that both US and radiology were equally reliable in diagnosing fluid retention and sinusitis, when the results are compared with the findings of the sinus puncture. US and radiology gave false positive findings almost equally (p > 0.05). On the other hand, when the volume of secretion was slight (< 1 ml), US gave a fluid echo finding more often than radiology showed fluid retention.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Radiological findings in the maxillary sinuses of symptomless young men.

The maxillary sinuses were examined radiologically by occipitomental projection (Waters' view) in 404 conscripts without any symptoms of sinusitis. Abnormalities were found in 188 (23.3%) of all 808 sinuses, the most common being mucosal thickening of > 6 mm (12.3% of the sinuses), cysts or polyps (7.2%), and completely opacified sinus (3.3%). Normal x-ray findings were more common in the conscripts examined during the summer months and mucosal thickening was more frequently encountered in winter than in summer. Nasal bacteria were studied in 100 cases. Findings of normal bacterial flora and of pathogenic bacteria were equally frequent among subjects with normal sinus x-ray (score 0 and 1) and subjects with severe abnormalities (scores 3-6), but mucosal cysts (score 2) was more often combined with pathogens in the nose. Mucosal thickening was more often observed in non-allergic than in allergic persons; thus allergy did not seem to increase radiological abnormalities. Of young men engaged in outdoor activities, about one fifth seem to have significant chronic mucous membrane abnormalities in the maxillary antra without clinical symptoms. In 1-2% of cases secretion is detected in the maxillary sinus indicating a subclinical sinusitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Impulse noise and acute acoustic trauma in Finnish conscripts. Number of shots fired and safe distances.

This prospective study of acute acoustic trauma (AAT) from exposure to impulse noise during compulsory military service focused on three issues the number of shot or explosion impulses that the conscript was exposed to at the time of AAT, distance of injured ear from causal firearm, and the circumstances under which AAT occurred protected ears. The series includes 449 consecutive, verified cases of AAT seen at the Central Military Hospital in Helsinki, Finland, in the period 1989-1993. AAT usually occurred during combat training (87%) as a result of exposure to impulses from small arms (83%). In 41%. AAT was caused by a single shot or detonation impulse. As many as 92% of all AATs occurred within 2 m of the causal firearm. Fourteen percent were wearing hearing protectors when the accident took place, but every third had badly fitting protectors or had neglected safety regulations and used insufficient protection. Of all AATs caused by one noise impulse in protected ears. 83% were attributable to heavy arms and only 14% to small arms. The results of the study suggest that combined use of earmuffs and earplugs in association with a safe distance of over 5 m from the noise source gives adequate protection against AAT. However, for conscripts using certain heavy arms e.g. hazooka. more effective hearing protection should be developed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Bacterial findings in acute maxillary sinusitis--European study.

Bacteriology of acute maxillary sinusitis was studied in 569 patients in 16 centers of 6 countries located throughout Europe during 1992-1994 by ENT specialists. Patients with symptoms of acute sinusitis lasting less than 3 weeks with ongoing purulent nasal discharge were included. Diagnosis was verified by sinus x-ray or ultrasonography and a positive aspiration finding in maxillary sinus puncture. One or more pathogens were isolated from the maxillary sinus aspirates of 375 (66%) patients. Fifty-six percent of patients harboured 1 pathogen and 10% multiple pathogenic organisms, respectively. Haemophilus influenzae was the most common pathogen isolated (148 isolates), occurring as a single pathogen in 14% of the patients. The occurrence of H. influenzae was highest in Finnish military hospital patients (43-48%), as compared with the non-military Finnish patients (9-11%) or to patients from other European centers (mean 13%). H. influenzae was more frequently beta-lactamase positive in other European centers (22%) than in Finnish centers (7%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common pathogen isolated in other European centers (20%) but second most common in Finnish centers (13%). Moraxella catarrhalis occurred at quite similar frequency among Finnish centers (9-14%), but clearly less often in other centers (mean 4%). S. aureus, which in acute maxillary sinusitis is regarded as a contaminant from the nasal cavity, was more prevalent in other European centers (12%) than in Finnish centers (4%). In patients with acute maxillary sinusitis reliable bacteriological samples should be taken by antral aspiration directly from the diseased sinus.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Indium-111 bleomycin complex for radiochemotherapy of head and neck cancer--dosimetric and biokinetic aspects.

Bleomycin (BLM) is used for the treatment of head and neck cancer. In order to improve the effectiveness of this chemotherapeutic drug, BLM was combined with indium-111. A complex of these agents (111In-BLMC), formed at low pH, was injected intravenously into ten head and neck cancer patients in escalating activities of 75, 175 and 375 MBq. The internally delivered dose to the tumours varied from 0.20 to 2.73 mGy at 75 MBq, from 0.33 to 2.51 mGy at 175 MBq, and from 0.87 to 31.3 mGy at the 375 MBq activity level. Uptake of radioactivity was 0.45+/-0.24x10(-3)% ID/g in primary tumours and 0. 52+/-0.20x10(-3)% ID/g in metastases (at 48 h). Tumour volumes varied from 0.51 to 49.0 cm3. The radioactivity half-lives in the tumours were 30+/-7 h. The activity distribution and penetration into tumour tissue were not affected by increasing the injected activity. There was a positive correlation between BLMC uptake and Ki-67/Mib activity as well as number of mitoses in tumour tissue. These data indicate that 111In-BLMC has potential as a radiochemotherapeutic agent in head and neck cancer and that adjuvant Auger-electron therapy is possible using 114mIn-labelled BLMC.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Distribution of hyaluronan in articular cartilage as probed by a biotinylated binding region of aggrecan.

The proportion of total tissue hyaluronan involved in interactions with aggrecan and link protein was estimated from extracts of canine knee articular cartilages using a biotinylated hyaluronan binding region-link protein complex (bHABC) of proteoglycan aggregate as a probe in an ELISA-like assay. Microscopic sections were stained with bHABC to reveal free hyaluronan in various sites and zones of the cartilages. Articular cartilage, cut into 20 microns-thick sections, was extracted with 4 M guanidinium chloride (GuCl). Aliquots of the extract (after removing GuCl) were assayed for hyaluronan, before and after papain digestion. The GuCl extraction residues were analyzed after solubilization by papain. It was found that 47-51% of total hyaluronan remained in the GuCl extraction residue, in contrast to the 8-15% of total proteoglycans. Analysis of the extract revealed that 24-50% of its hyaluronan was directly detectable with the probe, while 50-76% became available only after protease digestion. The extracellular matrix in cartilage sections was stained with the bHABC probe only in the superficial zone and the periphery of the articular surfaces, both sites known to have a relatively low proteoglycan concentration. Trypsin pretreatment of the sections enhanced the staining of the intermediate and deep zones, presumably by removing the steric obstruction caused by the chondroitin sulfate binding region of aggrecans. Enhanced matrix staining in these zones was also obtained by a limited digestion with chondroitinase ABC. The results indicate that a part of cartilage hyaluronan is free from endogenous binding proteins, such as aggrecan and link protein, but that the chondroitin sulfate-rich region of aggrecan inhibits its probing in intact tissue sections. Therefore, hyaluronan staining was more intense in cartilage areas with lower aggrecan content. A large proportion of hyaluronan resists GuCl extraction, even from 20-micrograms-thick tissue sections.

Aggrecans↗
PubMed1996

Pericoronitis and tonsillitis: clinical and darkfield microscopy findings.

OBJECTIVE: Upper respiratory tract infections and tonsillitis and pharyngitis in particular increase the risk of lower third molar pericoronitis. The study was made to investigate clinical and microbiologic associations between pericoronitis and tonsillitis. STUDY DESIGN: The subjects were 20-year-old Finnish male conscripts. Thirty-eight patients had tonsillitis without and 33 patients had tonsillitis with a symptom-free erupting lower third molar; 27 patients had pericoronitis but healthy tonsils. All subjects were examined clinically. Bacterial samples were taken from healthy and diseased tonsils and from healthy and diseased third molar pericoronal pockets. The microbes were classified morphologically with the use of a darkfield microscope. RESULTS: Eighty-two percent of infected tonsils had deep crypts and 52% of them exudated pus compared with 36% (p < 0.001) and 0% (p < 0.001) in healthy tonsils, respectively. Infected lower third molars were less than half erupted and had on average 8.8 mm deep pericoronal pockets compared with pockets 5.5 mm deep recorded in symptom-free cases (p < 0.001). Spirochetes were more common in infected pockets than in symptom-free cases comprising 8.2% versus 3.0% of the total bacterial count (p = 0.044). Rods were more common in infected tonsils than healthy ones (8.9% versus 4.8%, p = 0.041). CONCLUSION: There were similarities in morphologic microbiota of pericoronitis and tonsillitis. However, clinical findings of tonsils did not appear to link with the findings of third molars.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Detection of pseudomyxoma peritonei by radioimmunohistochemistry and radioimmunoscintigraphy.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PP) is a local slowly progressing disease with typical abdominal swelling. Treatment is uneffective and the long-term prognosis is poor. Conventional radiology provides usually only a delineation of low density area relating gelatinous masses accumulating in the peritoneal cavity. In this study, immunohistochemistry based on digital quantitative autoradiography utilizing radiolabelled monoclonal antibody B72.3 (MoAb) recognizing TAG-72 antigen on epithelial carcinomas was used for diagnosis of pseudomyxoma (7 patients). The PP patients were studied with radioiodinated I-131-labeled MoAb after intravenous (2 patients) and intraperitoneal (7 patients) injections. Radioactivities of MoAbs varied considerably in the tumors. Both intra- and extracellular staining pattern was observed by immunohistochemistry. Gamma imaging at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after i.v. injection (2 patients) revealed targeting of all known lesions. The intraperitoneally injected MoAb (7 patients) retained long time in the peritoneal cavity, specific tumour targeting was seen up to 16 days by an antibody-SPECT, while maximum blood radioactivity was measured between 8-12 hrs. Radiolabelled B72.3 MoAb recognizing TAG-72 antigen is also present within pseudomyxoma cells. It can be used for radioimmunohistochemistry of PP. Accurate imaging of PP is possible by MoAb suggesting earlier diagnosis and more accurate location of residual disease after operations, and evaluating treatment response. Estimated tumour dose for intraperitoneal tumour (MIRD formalism) was 13 mGy/MBq. This indicates that the radioiodinated B72.3 antibody can be used for in vivo targeting and therapeutic applications of intraperitoneal pseudomyxoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Bacteriologic findings in tonsillitis and pericoronitis.

Bacteriologic samples from 31 young men were cultured quantitatively for aerobes and anaerobes; these samples included 31 specimens of tonsils (16 infected and 15 healthy), 16 specimens from pericoronal pockets of lower third molars (11 infected and 5 symptom-free), and 6 postoperative specimens from lower-third-molar extraction sockets. Anaerobes were isolated more often from infected third molars than from infected tonsils (14.5 isolates vs. 8.4 isolates, respectively; P < .001). Infected tonsil samples contained significantly more anaerobic species if an adjacent partly erupted lower third molar was present rather than absent (10.3 isolates vs. 6.9 isolates, respectively; P < .05). Eubacterium aerofaciens, Clostridium species, Peptostreptococcus micros, and Prevotella oris were frequently isolated. Streptococcus salivarius was found more frequently in tonsillar specimens, whereas Corynebacterium species, Prevotella denticola, Capnocytophaga species, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, and Lactobacillus species were more common in pericoronal pocket samples. Thus, partial eruption of lower third molars increases the number of anaerobic bacterial species on tonsils and many species can be isolated simultaneously from both tonsils and lower third molars.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Hearing protection in acute acoustic trauma in Finnish conscripts.

A prospective study was performed in all Finnish conscripts who were referred to the Central Military Hospital for acute acoustic trauma (AAT) in 1989-93. The study was designed to provide information on hearing protection at the time of AAT and also on the general habits of using hearing protection at shooting drills and combat training in the field. Altogether 449 conscripts with verified AAT were included. According to their statements, all conscripts always used hearing protectors at shooting drills on the range and 97% always or nearly always during combat training in the field. At the moment when AAT occurred, hearing protectors were not used in 83% of cases. Accidental shots or explosions (25.6%), unforeseen exposure to impulse noise, e.g. during combat training (17.5%), and loss of applied protectors (14.9%) were the most common reasons for absence of hearing protection. AATs can be avoided by improving instruction in handling firearms, planning combat training more carefully and making sure that application of earplugs is properly taught and mastered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Respiratory tract infections and concomitant pericoronitis of the wisdom teeth.

OBJECTIVE: To discover if there is an association between respiratory tract infections and pericoronitis of erupting third molars in young adults. DESIGN: Data from male military conscripts' medical records were collected over five years and the incidence of respiratory tract infection before and after acute pericoronitis (191 cases) and before and after standard (722 cases) and operative (741) extractions compared with that in controls (n = 703) who had no infections in the third molar regions. SUBJECTS: 14,500 male military conscripts aged 20. SETTING: Garrisons in Valkeala and Kouvola, Finland. RESULTS: The incidence of respiratory tract infection was significantly higher during the two weeks before acute pericoronitis was diagnosed compared with that in controls. The highest incidence was observed in the three days before pericoronitis (odds ratio 6.8; 95% confidence interval 3.0 to 15.0). The incidence was also increased in the first week after pericoronitis (odds ratio 3.7; 1.6 to 8.4) and three days before (odds ratio 2.6; 0.9 to 7.5) and during the first week after extraction of third molars (odds ratio 2.6; 1.3 to 5.3). CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory tract infection may precipitate and occur concomitantly with acute pericoronitis. Third molar surgery for pericoronitis, on the other hand, may trigger respiratory tract infection.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

Analysis of 10B by PIGE with factor analytical gamma-ray peak identification.

Studying the biodistribution of boronated compounds for B neutron capture therapy (BNCT) requires the accurate detection of low levels of boron (10B) in biological samples. Proton induced gamma-ray emission analysis (PIGE) of 10B was found to be viable in a study of low density lipoprotein (LDL), in tissue and blood samples. However, the method is sensitive to Na present in the samples and can therefore not be used for accurate measurements of 10B concentrations below 5 ppm in samples containing Na. PIGE can be considered to be an appropriate reference method for chemical B analysis. The factor analytical method presented here is the most objective way to separate Na and B peaks from each other, and the factorizing method can be applied in different forms of spectral analysis.

Boron↗
PubMed1995

Accumulation of 99mTc-low-density lipoprotein in human malignant glioma.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake in gliomas was studied to find out if LDL has potential as a drug carrier of boron, especially for boron neutron capture therapy. Single photon emission tomography (SPET) was performed 2 h and 20 h after intravenous injection of autologous 99mTc-labelled LDL in four patients with untreated and five patients with recurrent glioma. 99mTc-LDL uptake was compared with the uptake of 99mTc-labelled human serum albumin (HSA), an established blood pool marker. The intra- and peritumoral distributions of radioactivity in the SPET images were not identical for radiolabelled LDL and HSA. The mean LDL tumour to brain ratio, determined from transversal SPET slices at 20 h post injection, was 1.5 in untreated and 2.2 in recurrent gliomas; the corresponding ratios for HSA were 1.6 and 3.4. The brain to blood ratio remained constant at 2 h and 20 h in both types of tumours. These data are not consistent with highly selective, homogeneous uptake of LDL in gliomas. However, the different tumoral distribution and rate of uptake of 99mTc-LDL, as compared with 99mTc-HSA, indicate that the uptake of LDL is different from that of HSA and that further studies on the mechanism of LDL uptake in glioma are warranted.

Adult↗