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Biomedical subjects

T Rantanen

Publications and source records attributed to T Rantanen.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

An X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidase (pepX) gene from Lactobacillus helveticus.

The X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidase gene (pepX) of an industrially used Lactobacillus helveticus strain has been detected by nucleic acid hybridization, cloned, characterized and sequenced. One ORF of 2379 bp with coding capacity for a 90.6 kDa protein (PepX) was found. The ORF was preceded by a typical prokaryotic promoter region. An inverted repeat structure with delta G of -84.1 kJ mol-1 was found downstream of the coding region. The deduced amino acid sequence of the 90.6 kDa protein showed 49.3, 49.4 and 77.7% homology with the PepX proteins from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lc. lactis subsp. cremoris and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis, respectively. Northern blotting revealed a 2.6 kb transcript and one transcription start site was identified via primer extension analysis using an A.L.F. sequencer. In a bioreactor study, the expression of pepX in Lb. helveticus was studied as a function of growth. Transcription of pepX was typical of exponential growth phase expression. The pepX gene has been cloned into pKK223-3 and expressed at a high level in Escherichia coli JM105. PepX was purified to homogeneity by ion-exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Optimum PepX activity was observed at pH 6.5 and 45 degrees C. According to gel filtration analysis, PepX is a dimer of 165 kDa. The enzyme was inactivated by heavy metal ions such as Cu2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+. EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline did not decrease PepX activity significantly. It was completely inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate and reactivated by adding DTT, and strongly inhibited by PMSF. PepX is thus a metal-independent serine peptidase having functional sulfhydryl groups at or near the active site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of partial and full crowns as retainers in the same bridge.

The purpose of this study was to assess longitudinally the success of partial and full crown abutment pairs in the same bridges. Fifty patients with a mean age of 45 years (range 22-70 years) were examined during spring 1981 (1-5 year follow-up), 33 of whom were examined a second time during spring 1990 (10-15 year follow-up). The status of the partial crowns, full crowns, and their abutment teeth was assessed using standardized questions, and clinical and radiographic examinations. At the first follow-up examination, all partial and full crowns, and consequently all bridges, were still in use. Before the second follow-up examination one of the full crown abutments had become badly decayed, and the bridge, including the partial crown, had been removed. The failure rate was 0.2% per year for the full crown as a unit, and consequently 0.2% per year for the bridge as a unit.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed1995

Adaptation of the troponin T ELISA test to a microplate immunoassay reader.

Troponin T concentration in serum is usually measured by the automated method developed by Boehringer Mannheim for the ES-series of analysers. These instruments need at least 140 microliters of serum and 700 microliters of reagents for a single analysis, which takes 90 min. We describe an alternative procedure, using streptavidin-coated microtitre plates, troponin T reagents of Boehringer Mannheim and an ELISA-reader to measure the concentration of troponin T. The present assay needs only 30 microliters of sample and 200 microliters of reagents, and it takes 75 min; the detection limit is 0.10 microgram/l. We also assessed the microtitre plate method for sensitivity and precision and compared the results with those measured by an ES-300 automatic analyser. Both methods have the same measurement range for troponin T of 0.1 to 15 micrograms/l. For daily routine use of the microtitre plate method we recommend duplicate determinations.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMed1994

Maximal isometric strength and mobility among 75-year-old men and women.

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between maximal isometric strength and mobility among 75-year-old men and women. All those born in 1914 and resident in the city of Jyväskylä in August 1989 comprised the study group (n = 388); 355 persons were interviewed at their homes (92%): 101 men (81% of all male residents) and 186 women (75%) participated in the laboratory strength tests. As part of the home interview the person's mobility at home, on stairs and outdoors was assessed using a four-point scale:--1 able, 2--able with difficulty, 3--needs help, 4--unable. Poor mobility was more common among the drop-outs than among the strength-tested subjects in both sexes. Maximal isometric strength of hand grip, arm flexion, knee extension and trunk flexion and extension were measured using specially constructed dynamometers. The strength results were adjusted for body weight. The study also included a stair-mounting test and measurement of maximal walking speed. The body-weight adjusted maximal forces were consistently significantly associated with mobility. Those who claimed no problems in the mobility interview and performed better in the walking and stair-mounting tests exhibited greater maximal isometric strength. The present results indicate that maximal isometric strength tests provide useful information about physical functional capacity among elderly people. These findings also suggest that the maintenance of adequate strength could be favourable to the mobility of older persons.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

Muscle strength and history of heavy manual work among elderly trained women and randomly chosen sample population.

The association between a history of heavy work and muscle strength was studied among 51 physically active women aged 66-85 years trained in sports and 41 women aged 70-81 years selected randomly from the population register. Maximal isometric muscle strength of hand grip, arm flexion, leg extension and trunk flexion and extension were measured using specially constructed dynamometers. The capacity of the abdominal muscles was evaluated by means of a sit-up test. The study included an interview dealing with the subjects' histories of heavy manual employment. The mean histories of heavy work for the trained and untrained women were 24 and 36 years, respectively. The trained women showed significantly greater maximal isometric muscle strength and abdominal muscle capacity than the untrained women. Among the trained women there was no correlation between the amount of heavy work and muscle performance. Among the untrained women the amount of heavy work correlated positively with maximal isometric trunk extension strength. The results would suggest that among elderly women, whether physically active or not, a history of heavy work has no systematic association with muscle strength.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Quality specifications for glycated hemoglobin A1c.

Berne has suggested that a change in the measured value (in per cent) of GHbA1c that is smaller than 1.0% does not lead to any therapeutic action from the clinician. Since the meeting of the "Friibergh Herrgård Seminar", April 23-24, 1990 on the "Medical Need for Quality Specifications in Laboratory Medicine" we have discussed this with our specialists at the Kuopio University Hospital and they share Berne's opinion. Keeping this in mind we have standardized our method so that the total analytical variation of the GHbA1c is small as compared to the measured biological variation of GHbA1c in nondiabetic and diabetic subjects. In this report we describe how we have succeeded in keeping the coefficient of variation of our routine method for GHbA1c analyses small enough for clinical purposes.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1992

Muscle strength according to level of physical exercise and educational background in middle-aged women in Finland.

The aim of this study was to examine the role of socio-economic status and the practice of physical exercise in explaining variation in muscle strength in 50 to 60-year-old women. Consequently, four study groups combining education and physical activity were formed: (1) university education, physically active; (2) university education, sedentary; (3) vocational or lower level of education, physically active; (4) vocational or lower level of education, sedentary. Maximal isometric strength of hand grip, arm flexion, body flexion and extension as well as dynamic power of the abdominal muscles were measured in 112 women. The results of the maximal isometric strength measurements were standardised by body mass index. The means of the maximal isometric strength results and sit-up tests were compared between the groups using two-way analysis of variance. The physically active women performed better than the sedentary in both the isometric and dynamic tests. Greater muscle strength was also found among the more highly educated compared with the less educated. The less educated sedentary women showed the poorest performance in the strength tests.

Body Height↗
PubMed1991

Bone mineral density and physical activity in 50-60-year-old women.

The bone mineral density (BMD) of the calcaneus was measured utilizing a single energy photon absorption method in 108 women, aged 50-60 years. The women who participated in vigorous exercise two or more times a week or whose total physical activity amounted to 4 h a week had significantly higher BMD values than those who exercised less than two times a week or did less than 4 h physical activity a week. The physically active women also showed higher values for leg extension force and maximal oxygen uptake. BMD and leg extension force were positively correlated, whereas correlations between BMD and body mass, and the width of the calcaneus were negative. When other life-style variables were taken into account, such as smoking and drinking, a significant difference in BMD was found between physically active and sedentary women, but not between the smokers and non-smokers, or the drinkers and non-drinkers.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1991

Allergy and toxicodermia from shiitake mushrooms.

Skin and respiratory symptoms developed within 2 months of exposure in a patient involved in the commercial production of shiitake mushrooms. A diagnosis of contact urticaria and allergic contact dermatitis from shiitake mushrooms was confirmed by prick and patch tests. The respiratory symptoms, their timing, the presence of precipitating IgG antibodies to shiitake spores and increased amounts of inflammatory cells and T lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage indicated allergic alveolitis (mushroom worker's disease). A generalized exanthem developed in a second patient after eating raw shiitake mushrooms. Reactions to prick and patch tests with shiitake mushrooms were negative. The skin eruption in this patient corresponded to the previously reported shiitake-induced toxicodermia.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Resin bond to electrolytically etched cobalt-chromium alloys.

Disks of four cobalt-chromium alloys were electrolytically etched and bonded together using a microfilled restorative resin. The bonds of the resin to two of the tested alloys, Bondi-loy and Vitallium, showed tensile strengths of approximately 18 MPa. The bonds were significantly stronger than those obtained using the other two alloys, Dentitan and Novarex. The tensile bond strengths of etched Dentitan and Novarex were 5.3 and 7.5 MPa respectively. The etched and debonded surfaces were studied in SEM.

Acid Etching, Dental↗
PubMed1986

Inaccuracies and defects in frameworks for removable partial dentures.

We studied the accuracy of 167 removable partial denture frameworks made in five commercial dental laboratories according to detailed instructions given by dental students, under the supervision of experienced teachers. Fewer than one half of the frameworks proved to be perfect. Some of the faults were accepted in the clinic, but 42% had to be corrected: 26% in the clinic, and 16% in the laboratory. Laboratory problems could be blamed for two-thirds of the faults, and one-third seemed to be attributable to the clinic. The advantages of, for example, new impression materials seemed to disappear under other factors.

Denture Design↗
PubMed1985

Demonstration of antibodies to mosquito antigens in man by immunodiffusion and ELISA.

Cutaneous reactions to mosquito bites are believed to be immunologically mediated, but knowledge of the underlying mechanisms is very limited. In the present work, comprising 598 subjects, we show that precipitating and ELISA-reactive IgG-class antibodies occur frequently in the adult population. The operating antigen(s) were found in whole-body extracts of Aedes mosquitoes and also in a continuous mosquito cell line culture. The appearance of antimosquito antibodies seems to be correlated with the exposure to mosquito bites; however, massive exposure at an early age may result in a suppressed response.

Aedes↗