Biomedical subjects

E Terho

Publications and source records attributed to E Terho.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Wood stove heating, asthma and allergies.

In two German studies household wood or coal stove use was negatively associated with atopic sensitization and allergic rhinitis in childhood. Wood stove heating is strongly related to 'traditional lifestyle and therefore subjected to confounding factors possibly yet not known. The study was conducted to study these factors and the independent impact of early exposure to wood stove heating on subsequent asthma and atopic disease. In a questionnaire survey among 10667 Finnish university students aged 18-25 years, we investigated the association between wood stove heating at age 0-6 years and asthma and allergies up to young adulthood. Adjustment was made for factors related to the heating system and atopic disorders by using multivariate regression. Unadjusted lifetime prevalence rates for physician-diagnosed asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis and self-reported wheezing were lower among subjects with wood stove heating compared to other heating systems. There was a significant negative association between childhood wood stove heating and allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis in the univariate model (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.61-0.91), but not for the other diseases. The significant association disappeared in the multivariate analysis after adjusting for various family indoor and outdoor (adjusted OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.77-1.20) factors. The association between wood stove heating and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis was mainly confounded by childhood residential environment, especially the farm environment. Farm environment was found to be the main confounding factor related to association between wood stove heating and asthma, and atopic diseases.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Pulmonary imaging and function in the common cold.

The common cold is generally considered to be an upper respiratory tract infection. We studied the lower respiratory tract in 76 otherwise healthy young adults with the common cold. Viral infection was diagnosed in 56 (74%) of the 76 subjects. Rhinovirus was detected in 42 (55%) subjects. Chest radiography (CR) and high-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) were carried out in 40 subjects on day 7, and pulmonary function testing with bronchodilator challenge was carried out in 36 patients on days 7 and 21 of the study. Clinical examinations were carried out on days 1, 7 and 21. The subjects recorded their symptoms on a diary card for 20 d. The mean duration of cough was 8.4 (SD 6.5) d and that of sputum production 5.9 (SD 6.4) d. No abnormal findings were detected in the lungs on auscultation. CR and HRCT showed no pulmonary changes associated with the common cold. No clinically remarkable increases were seen in peak expiratory flow, forced expiration volume in 1 s or forced vital capacity after bronchodilator challenge on either days 7 or 21. All patients made a clinical recovery without antimicrobial therapy within 21 d. We conclude that the common cold in young otherwise healthy adults is an upper respiratory tract infection and that clinically important abnormalities in the lower respiratory tract are rare.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Simultaneous detection of IFN-gamma and IL-4 mRNAs using RT-PCR and time-resolved fluorometry.

Time-resolved fluorometry was applied in the detection of RT-PCR amplified mRNAs for the Th1 and Th2 cell-derived cytokines interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin (IL-)4, respectively. RNA stimulated cells was reverse transcribed and the cDNAs for the cytokine mRNAs and the constantly expressed beta-actin (beta-ACT) mRNA were simultaneously amplified in one multiplex PCR reaction. The PCR conditions were optimized to minimize mutual inhibition of individual amplifications. One of the PCR primers in each primer pair was biotinylated, and the PCR products were captured onto streptavidin-coated microtitre plates. The three PCR products were detected with three different lanthanide labelled target-specific probes in solution hybridization. IFN-gamma, IL-4 and beta-ACT were detected with europium (Eu), terbium (Tb) and samarium (Sm) labelled probes, respectively, using time-resolved fluorometry. Small cell numbers used in microtitre plate cultures were sufficient to detect cytokine messages after mitogen stimulation. This sequence-based method provides a sensitive, specific, fast and nonisotopic alternative to conventional blotting and hybridisation with radioactive probes. In addition, the multiplex fluorogenic dye detection facilitates relative quantification of target mRNAs.

Actins↗

PubMed1998

The bronchoprotective efficacy of salbutamol inhaled from a new metered-dose powder inhaler compared with a conventional pressurized metered-dose inhaler connected to a spacer.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of 100 micrograms of salbutamol inhaled from a new metered-dose powder inhaler (MDPI, Leiras Taifun, Finland) with that of a same dose of salbutamol inhaled from a conventional pressurized metered-dose inhaler with a large volume spacer (pMDI + S) in protecting against methacholine (Mch) induced bronchoconstriction. This was a 3 day, randomized, cross-over, partly blinded, placebo-controlled multicentre study where the pMDI + S was used as an open control. Twenty-six asthmatic outpatients with a baseline FEV1 > or = 60% of predicted and with bronchial hyperreactivity (PD20 FEV1 < or = 890 micrograms of Mch) were studied. On each study day the patients underwent an Mch provocation 30 min after inhaling placebo from the MDPI or a dose of 100 micrograms of salbutamol from the MDPI and from the pMDI + S. PD20 FEV1 and dose-response slope [DRS; maximal change in FEV1 (%)/dose of Mch (mumol)] were used to evaluate efficacy. The median values of PD20 FEV1 were 250, 622 and 1737 micrograms after placebo MDPI, salbutamol pMDI + S and salbutamol MDPI, respectively. The corresponding DRS values were -11.0%, -4.5% and -2.0% mumol-1. With both parameters, all differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). In conclusion, 100 micrograms of salbutamol inhaled from Leiras Taifun MDPI offers better protection against Mch-induced bronchoconstriction than 100 micrograms of salbutamol from a pMDI connected to a large volume spacer device.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Type III allergy skin testing. Position statement for EAACI Subcommittee on Skin Tests and Allergen Standardization.

Immune-complex-mediated hypersensitivity has been implicated in a small number of allergic respiratory conditions. These include EAA and ABPA. In addition, there is some evidence of type IV hypersensitivity in EAA and BFL, together with activation of complement via the alternative pathway (4, 8, 26). Positive immediate skin tests are now usually regarded as an essential criterion for the diagnosis of ABPA. These reflect the presence of antigen-specific IgE, but this test is not specific for ABPA, as other atopic subjects may also be sensitized to A. fumigatus without any evidence of the parenchymal features that are required to diagnose ABPA. For FL, skin tests with currently available antigens show poor discrimination between affected patients and exposed but healthy individuals. There is little evidence that vascular deposition of immune complexes in the skin contributes to the delayed skin responses in EAA, and skin tests in FL are not specific for type III hypersensitivity. Further refinement of methodology and antigen extracts may improve the specificity of skin tests in FL, but in many cases the aetiology of EAA is multifactorial and the true causative antigens may not have been identified. Therefore, the diagnosis of EAA remains based on history and clinical findings, supported by the presence of precipitins, and sometimes by bronchial biopsy and lavage appearances (25).

Allergens↗

PubMed1986

Comparison of twice-daily and four-times daily administration of beclomethasone dipropionate in patients with severe chronic bronchial asthma.

Twice-daily and four-times daily treatment with beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol were compared in a double dummy crossover study in patients with severe chronic bronchial asthma. The trial consisted of two two-month treatment periods preceded by a two-week baseline period. No significant difference was found in the morning or evening PEF, in symptom scores for wheeze, cough, sputum, sleep disturbance, limitation of daily activity, rhinitis, daily usage of bronchodilator aerosol or requirement for additional oral corticosteroids. The study has confirmed that in management of severe bronchial asthma, a twice-daily regimen of beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol is as effective as four-times daily treatment, if the total daily dose of beclomethasone dipropionate is kept unchanged.

Adult↗