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Biomedical subjects

Aino Nevalainen

Publications and source records attributed to Aino Nevalainen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Quantitative measurement of streptomycetes using real-time PCR.

A quantitative real-time PCR method was developed and used for determination of streptomycetes in indoor dust samples of five homes collected during three years. The specificity of the method was tested with 14 Streptomyces and ten non-streptomycetous species, revealing a high specificity for mesophilic streptomycetes. Thermophilic species and S. albus were not efficiently detected. The method gave reproducible results in replicate analyses of the same dust DNA as well as of duplicate DNA isolations. The amount of streptomycetes in house dust was lowest in winter, followed by summer, and highest in spring and fall. The greatest variation in Streptomyces-concentrations was observed in the spring and fall samples.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed2006

Personal and microenvironmental concentrations of particles and microbial aerosol in relation to health symptoms among teachers.

A total of 81 randomly selected elementary school teachers participated in two sampling campaigns conducted 2 weeks apart during the winter. A 24-h sample collection was performed using personal and microenvironmental sampling from homes, and an 8-h sample collection was performed from workplaces of the studied subjects. Filters were analyzed for particle mass, absorption coefficient of the filter, and for both total and viable microorganisms. Comprehensive questionnaire responses were collected from the teachers concerning weekly occurred symptoms during the previous 12-month period, and they filled in symptom diaries immediately after each sampling campaign concerning symptoms during the previous 24-h and 7-day periods. The effect of different recall periods on agreement between questionnaire responses was assessed. Factor analysis was used in order to identify factors explaining the pattern of correlations within the personal, home, and work measurements. Moreover, associations between personal, home, and work measurements of pollutants and symptoms were analyzed using general estimation equations. The recall period of 7 days seemed to provide the most reliable data for the health effect assessment. Information from the factor analysis may allow reduction of variables related to the exposure assessment, and better interpretation of results. Both personal exposure and concentrations of pollutants at home were more frequently associated with health symptoms than concentrations at work. In multipollutant analyses, absorbance coefficient was positively associated with eye symptoms, and total bacteria with both cough and blocked nose.

Absorption↗
PubMed2006

Simkania negevensis and newly diagnosed asthma: a case-control study in 1- to 6-year-old children.

BACKGROUND: Simkania negevensis is an intracellular bacterium, sharing many characteristics with Chlamydophila and Chlamydia species. S. negevensis infection has been associated with bronchiolitis in infants and with pneumonia and exacerbations of COPD in adults. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate, in a case-control setting, whether S. negevensis serology had any association with the onset of asthma in children. METHODS: S. negevensis-specific IgM, IgA and IgG antibodies were measured by microimmunofluorescence in 104 children below school-age with newly diagnosed asthma, and in 122 control children. RESULTS: S. negevensis-specific IgM was detected in two (2%) cases and in nine (8%) of the controls. IgG was detected in 12 (12%) cases and 12 (10%) of the controls. IgA antibodies were absent in all children. The age distribution of the 35 children with S. negevensis-specific antibodies was even, the positivity rate being 11% in the 12- to 23-month-old group and 20-23% in the children aged between 2 and 5 years. CONCLUSION: Although S. negevensis appears to cause infections in the Finnish preschool-aged population, there was no association with asthma.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed2006

Skin test reactivity to molds in pre-school children with newly diagnosed asthma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of sensitization to molds and to house dust mites (HDM) in pre-school children with newly-diagnosed asthma. METHODS: From 1996 to 2000, 122 children 1 to 6 years of age with fresh asthma treated in the Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland, were recruited in the study; 94% attended. Skin prick tests were performed to common inhalant allergens and to 10 molds. The homes were surveyed for moisture damage. RESULTS: A majority of the houses had signs of dampness and moisture. One-third of the children reacted to inhalant allergens. There were 11 positive reactions to molds in five children who all reacted to at least one animal dander or seasonal pollen. Aspergillus fumigatus, Botrytis cinerea, and Cladosporium herbarum were the most common mold allergens. There were only two children with positive reactions to HDM, and none of them reacted to molds. No associations were found between the presence or degree of moisture problems at home and mold or HDM allergy. CONCLUSION: Sensitization to molds seems to play only a minor role in pre-school children with newly-diagnosed asthma in a northern climate where the incidences of mold and HDM allergies are rather low.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

Mycobacteria and fungi in moisture-damaged building materials.

In contrast to the growth of fungi, the growth of mycobacteria in moisture-damaged building materials has rarely been studied. Environmental mycobacteria were isolated from 23% of samples of moisture-damaged materials (n = 88). The occurrence of mycobacteria increased with increasing concentrations of fungi. Mycobacteria may contribute to indoor exposure and associated adverse health effects.

Construction Materials↗
PubMed2006

Effects of amoebae on the growth of microbes isolated from moisture-damaged buildings.

Dampness, moisture, and mold in buildings are associated with adverse health outcomes. In addition to fungi and bacteria, amoebae have been found in moisture-damaged building materials. Amoebae and a growing list of bacteria have been shown to have mutual effects on each other's growth, but the interactions between amoebae and microbes common in moisture-damaged buildings have not been reported. We co-cultivated the amoeba Acanthamoeba polyphaga with bacteria and fungi isolated from moisture-damaged buildings in laboratory conditions for up to 28 days. The microbes selected were the bacteria Streptomyces californicus, Bacillus cereus, and Pseudomonas fluorescens, and the fungi Stachybotrys chartarum, Aspergillus versicolor, and Penicillium spinulosum. Fungi and bacteria generally benefited from the presence of the amoebae, whereas the growth of amoebae was hindered by Streptomyces californicus, Stachybotrys chartarum, and Bacillus cereus. Pseudomonas fluorescens slightly enhanced amoebae viability. Amoebae were indifferent to the presence of Aspergillus versicolor and Penicillium spinulosum. Thus, our results show that amoebae can alter the survival and growth of some microbes in moisture-damaged buildings.

Acanthamoeba↗
PubMed2005

Effects of microbial cocultivation on inflammatory and cytotoxic potential of spores.

Microbial growth on moisture-damaged building materials is commonly associated with adverse health effects in the occupants. In moisture damage situations, the environmental conditions as well as the dominant microbial species will vary, leading to a diversity of microbes and continual changes in the different microbial populations. Currently, very little is known about the effects of microbial cocultures on the potential harmfulness of the microbial population. In this study we have investigated the effects of cocultivation of certain indoor air microbes on the inflammatory and cytotoxic potential of their spores. We grew various microbial combinations made from strains of Streptomyces californicus, Stachybotrys chartarum, Aspergillus versicolor, and Penicillium spinulosum on wetted plasterboard. After 5 or 10 wk of growth, the spores were collected from the plasterboards, mouse RAW264.7 macrophages were exposed to the spores, and after 24 h the induced inflammatory and cytotoxic responses were analyzed. Among all the tested microbes and their combinations, the spores of Str. californicus proved to be the most potent inducer of cytotoxicity and inflammatory responses. These results indicate also that microbial coculture may support the growth of certain microbes with high immunotoxic potency such as Str.californicus. Furthermore, coculture containing S. chartarum and A. versicolor caused a synergistic increase in cytotoxicity compared to the sum response induced by the pure cultures, but no effect on inflammatory responses was detected. Generally, spore-induced cytotoxicity and production of inflammatory markers increased during the growth period from 5 to 10 wk, suggesting that the immunotoxic potency of spores increases with time.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed2005

Microbial exposure, symptoms and inflammatory mediators in nasal lavage fluid of kitchen and clerical personnel in schools.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate how the microbial conditions of kitchen facilities differ from those in other school facilities. The health status of the personnel was also studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The microbial investigations were conducted in six moisture-damaged schools and two reference schools. The symptoms of the kitchen personnel were surveyed with questionnaires and inflammatory responses in nasal lavage (NAL) fluid were measured. RESULTS: The total concentrations of airborne microbes were lower in kitchens than in other facilities of the schools. However, the occurrence of moisture damage increased the airborne microbial concentrations both in kitchens, and in other facilities. Bacterial concentrations were high on surfaces in the damaged kitchens. Gram-negative bacteria predominated, but also thermophilic bacteria and mycobacteria were detected. Respiratory and general symptoms were prevalent both among kitchen workers and clerical personnel in the moisture-damaged environments. Reported allergies and repeated respiratory infections were connected with high IL-4 concentrations in NAL fluid. Median concentrations of studied inflammatory mediators (NO, IL-4, IL-6 and TNF-alpha) were slightly higher in NAL samples of kitchen workers than among the clerical personnel. CONCLUSIONS: Kitchen facilites differ from other facilities of the school building for their moisture conditions and microbial contamination. Thus, they represent a specific type of environment that may affect the health status of the personnel.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2004

Viable fungi and bacteria in personal exposure samples in relation to microenvironments.

Personal exposures to viable fungi and bacteria were compared with the concentrations being assessed by stationary samplers in home and workplace microenvironments. A random sample of 81 elementary school teachers in eastern Finland performed two 24-hour measurement periods in wintertime. Concentrations and prevalences of viable fungi and bacteria on the collection filters were determined by cultivation method. The geometric mean concentration was 3-12 cfu m(-3) for total viable fungi, 0.6-3.7 cfu m(-3) for Penicillium and mainly under 1 cfu m(-3) for other fungi. The samples with higher fungal concentrations also had higher diversity of fungi than samples with lower concentrations. The total number of fungal genera recovered was 39 for personal, 34 for home and 23 for work samples. The variation in concentration of Penicillium explained even 25-95% of the variations of total fungal concentration in personal exposure, home and workplace environments. There was an association between personal exposure and home concentration of viable fungi and between personal exposure and home and work concentrations of viable bacteria. Personal exposure and home concentrations of fungi were higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Our results also indicate that presence of a certain fungus in a microenvironment does not necessarily mean similar findings in personal exposure samples.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed2004

Amoebae and other protozoa in material samples from moisture-damaged buildings.

Mold growth in buildings has been shown to be associated with adverse health effects. The fungal and bacterial growth on moistened building materials has been studied, but little attention has been paid to the other organisms spawning in the damaged materials. We examined moist building materials for protozoa, concentrating on amoebae. Material samples (n = 124) from moisture-damaged buildings were analyzed for amoebae, fungi, and bacteria. Amoebae were detected in 22% of the samples, and they were found to favor cooccurrence with bacteria and the fungi Acremonium spp., Aspergillus versicolor, Chaetomium spp., and Trichoderma spp. In addition, 11 seriously damaged samples were screened for other protozoa. Ciliates and flagellates were found in almost every sample analyzed. Amoebae are known to host pathogenic bacteria, such as chlamydiae, legionellae, and mycobacteria and they may have a role in the complex of exposure that contributes to the health effects associated with moisture damage in buildings.

Amoeba↗
PubMed2004

Estimating effects of moisture damage repairs on students' health-a long-term intervention study.

Health symptom questionnaire responses were collected from upper secondary and high school students (n=245) before comprehensive repairs of moisture damage in the school. The questionnaire study was repeated 1 year (n=227), 3 years (n=256), and 5 years (n=233) after the repairs. The data were analyzed both in cross-sectional design including all respondents, and longitudinally including paired observations of those individuals who had responded both before and after the repairs. In addition, the effect of intervention on health symptoms was analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEEs), taking into account within-subject correlation between repeated measurements. Compared to the situation before the repairs, the situation after the repairs was significantly improved in most of the 20 symptoms studied among the cross-sectional study populations. However, improvement was not so clear in the paired analysis and GEE analysis among the students who responded to three repeated questionnaires. The results indicate that the repairs succeeded in the sense that new cases of symptomatic students were no longer expected. However, the reversibility of symptoms among the group of exposed individuals may need to be considered separately.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Effects of mould remediation on school teachers' health.

The follow-up study of the health of teachers (n = 56) of three mould damage schools were done with self-administered symptom questionnaire before and 1 year after the remediation of school buildings. Technical and microbiological investigations were done parallel at the same time. In the beginning of the study symptoms of allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, conjunctivitis and fatigue were high compared to normal population and 1 year after the intervention a decrease in fatigue (OR = 0.4) and headache (OR = 0.2) was observed. An association between female gender and sinusitis was found before the remediation (OR = 8.1). Age over 40 years was a risk factor for voice problems and more than 10 working years at the same school were associated with increased risk for conjunctivitis (OR = 8.5) and headache (OR = 5.4). Other exposure situations such as mould problems at home and mould exposure during leisure time also have an effect on teachers' health. Significant reduction was found in symptoms of fatigue and headache after the cessation of exposure, while respiratory symptoms need much longer time to relieve after the remediation. Age, female gender, atopy, long-term exposure time and other exposure situations might be the risk factors for prolonged symptoms among mould exposed teachers.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Potentially pathogenic, slow-growing mycobacteria released into workplace air during the remediation of buildings.

Construction workers' exposure to airborne viable mycobacteria was studied during the remediation of three moldy and two nonmoldy buildings. Furthermore, the concentrations of airborne fungal and actinobacterial spores were determined. The samples for the microbial analyses were collected using a six-stage impactor and an all-glass impinger sampler, and by filter sampling. Specific mycobacteria media and nonselective media were used for the cultures. The samples were cultured for the total numbers of rapidly growing and slow-growing mycobacteria, and the isolates obtained were identified to the genus or species level. Mycobacteria were recovered from the air during the remediation of two of the moldy buildings and one nondamaged building. Concentrations of mycobacteria up to 160 cfu/m3 were detected. A total of 43 mycobacterial isolates was recovered. Most of the isolates were slow-growers, only two rapid-growing strains being detected. The 38 identified isolates belonged to potentially pathogenic species, including Mycobacterium avium complex, M. scrofulaceum, and M. fortuitum, and to saprophytic species, including M. nonchromogenicum and M. terrae. Mycobacteria were the most often detected in samples taken with a six-stage impactor. They were found in buildings with both high and low concentrations of fungi. In conclusion, mycobacteria, both potentially pathogenic and saprophytic species, may be released into the indoor air during the remediation of buildings.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed2004

Chlamydia pneumoniae and newly diagnosed asthma: a case-control study in 1 to 6-year-old children.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae and the onset of asthma in children. METHODOLOGY: In 1996-2000, 122 children aged 1-6 years, who were treated for new asthma as inpatients or outpatients in our hospital, were recruited. For each patient, two controls, matched by age, sex and municipality, were randomly selected from the same population. In 2000, 104 serum samples were available from patients (85%) and 120 from controls (49%) for microimmunofluorescence (MIF) assay for C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis antibodies, and for enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for C. pneumoniae antibodies. RESULTS: In EIA, the median IgG concentrations were 20 EIU (EIA units) in the patients, and 16 EIU in the controls. IgG was positive (> 30 EIU) in 37 (36%) patients and in 36 (31%) controls. IgA was positive (> 12 EIU) in four (4%) patients and in eight (7%) controls. In MIF, four (4%) patients and seven (6%) controls were IgG positive, and seven were also IgA positive. IgM antibodies were detected in four children by EIA, and in none by MIF. CONCLUSION: IgG antibodies to C. pneumoniae, though common in 1 to 6-year-old children as detected by EIA, did not differ between newly diagnosed asthma patients and controls in this case-control study.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed2003

Mold-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies in a child population.

The determination of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to molds has been used as an objective evidence of significant mold exposure. Until present, no data have been published on antibody responses to molds in healthy children living in normal housing conditions. The microbe-specific IgG antibody concentrations of 21 molds and 3 actinobacteria were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 103 1- to 6-year-old children (12.4% of the population of that age), and in 111 7- to 14-year-old school children (12.1%). The international standard sera were available, and the IgG concentrations of the test sera could be expressed in mg/l. On average, IgG concentrations increased in relation to age until the age of 6-7 years. At school age the increase still continued but more slowly. Actinobacteria were the only exceptions; all three tested strains Sreptomyces albus, S. griseus and S. halstedii resulted in rather high concentrations until 3 years of age. If the children lived in a farm, mold-specific IgG concentrations increased at an earlier age than in other children. The results between farmers' children and other children differed significantly before school age for 20 of the 24 microbes tested, the four exceptions being the 3 actinobacteria and the mold Aspergillus versicolor. The reference values must be age related, and separate references are needed for farmers' children before school age.

Actinobacteria↗
PubMed2003

Inflammatory and cytotoxic potential of the airborne particle material assessed by nasal lavage and cell exposure methods.

Exposure to bioaerosols in moisture-damaged indoor environments has been shown to be a potential health risk. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the inflammatory and cytotoxic potential of airborne particle material using both the nasal lavage (NAL) method and a cell exposure study. A 24-h sample collection for airborne particles was performed using personal sampling and microenvironmental measurements in homes and an 8-h sample collection in the working places of the studied subjects. At the end of the sampling period, the production of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-4, and IL-6 was analyzed in the NAL samples of the subjects. The same mediators, excluding IL-4, were measured in the cell culture medium of mouse RAW264.7 macrophages, which were exposed to the pooled filter extracts representing personal, home, and workplace exposure of each individual during the 24 h before the NAL. Samplings were repeated after 2 wk. The subjects were divided into groups of "low exposure" and "high exposure" according to the concentrations of viable fungi, viable bacteria, or total microbial amount in the pooled extract. Cytokine levels in the NAL samples of subjects with high microbial exposure were slightly increased compared to the corresponding values of the subjects with low exposure. Filter samples collected from the subjects with high microbial exposure induced a significant increase in the production of cytokines in the RAW264.7 macrophages, as compared to those from the subjects with low exposure. The within-subject variation was low in all of the cytokine measurements, but the correlation between the studied methods was poor. In conclusion, both of the methods discriminate at the group level between subjects with high and low microbial exposure. Sampling of airborne particle material and exposure of the mammalian cells to the obtained samples seems to be highly applicable in the environmental monitoring, whereas examination of the exposed subjects directly, for example by using the NAL method, is essential when association between exposure and health effects is evaluated.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Nasal lavage method in the monitoring of upper airway inflammation: seasonal and individual variation.

A noninvasive and reliable method is needed to investigate causal relationship between exposure to bioaerosols in occupational and indoor environments and adverse health effects. As an essential part of the method development, the individual variation as well as seasonal and gender differences in the concentrations of inflammatory mediators in nasal lavage (NAL) fluid were studied. NAL was performed in 10 healthy volunteers every other week for a year. Concentrations of nitric oxide, assessed as nitrite, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) in NAL fluid were measured. The NAL sampling was minimally invasive and well tolerated and no side effects were observed among the studied subjects. Low concentrations of nitrite, TNFalpha, IL-1 beta, IL-4, and IL-6 were detected in the NAL samples of the studied subjects. Within-subject variation in the concentrations of inflammatory mediators in the NAL fluid was at its lowest during the wintertime. Moreover, differences between individuals and genders were statistically significant. In summary, the individual variation in the basal levels of measured inflammatory markers is low, whereas differences between individuals are considerable. Thus, in the studies evaluating upper airway effects of occupational or environmental exposure, the method is most suitable in settings where comparison can be made using test subjects as their own controls.

Adult↗