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Biomedical subjects

H Isomäki

Publications and source records attributed to H Isomäki.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Cardiovascular mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 500 men and 500 women, aged 40 years and over, together with a control population matched by age and sex were followed up with respect to cause-specific mortality over a 10-year period. The overall mortality was significantly higher in both men and women with RA than in the controls. A statistically significant increase in mortality from all cardiovascular diseases (p less than 0.001) and cardiac diseases (p = 0.004) was observed in men with RA but not in women with RA compared to corresponding controls. No difference in mortality from cerebrovascular diseases was observed between RA patients and controls.

Adult↗

Atlantoaxial laxity in rheumatoid arthritis.

We found that 14 of 162 rheumatoid arthritis patients with chronic occipitocervical pain had anterior atlantoaxial instability in the absence of any corresponding radiographic changes in the joint cartilage or subchondral bone. Our findings suggest that ligamentous instability is a prerequisite for this type of change. At the time of the detection of the instability, the median duration of disease was 12 (6-28) years. Rheumatoid occipitocervical pain may be initially caused by facet-joint arthritis or inflammation in the ligaments, and at a later stage also by irritation of the C2 nerve roots.

Adult↗

[Epidemiology and sociomedical aspects of rheumatoid arthritis].

Despite advances in the management of rheumatoid arthritis and the amelioration of disability due to the disease, it remains an important disease. In Finland rheumatoid arthritis is responsible for 3-4 per cent of all disease-related disability. In many cases, those affected are faced with decades of pain accompanied by social consequences and impairment of life quality. New diagnostic criteria are presented.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Significance of rheumatoid factors in an eight-year longitudinal study on arthritis.

A community-based cohort comprising 150 patients with recent-onset seropositive arthritis or seronegative oligoarthritis or polyarthritis was monitored for 8 years. Of the different rheumatoid factor (RF) tests, the initial positivity in the most sensitive assays (latex slide test and IgM-RF by enzyme immunoassay) was the most reliable factor when distinguishing between the erosive and nonerosive cases. The individual RF isotypes fluctuated in four serial specimens, but each patient tended to preserve his or her reactivity pattern. Seroconversion from positive to negative within the 1st year of follow-up did not indicate a particularly good long-term prognosis.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Diuretics and hyperuricemia in the elderly.

Serum uric acid (SUA) was studied in a rural population of 420 males and 592 females aged 65 years or more. The mean SUA concentration was 0.313 mmol/l in males and 0.316 mmol/l in females. In males, 47 (11.2%) and in females 60 (10.1%) had a SUA level of 0.42 mmol/l or more. Both the mean serum values and the frequency of hyperuricemia were higher than 11 years earlier in another, similar study. The SUA concentration was 0.361 mmol/l in the 435 individuals using diuretics and 0.281 mmol/l in the remaining 578. Of the 107 hyperuricemic individuals, 82% used diuretics, and only 2 out of those 20 where the SUA level was 0.50 mmol/l or more did not use diuretics. Apart from diuretics, only the serum creatinine concentration, the Body Mass Index, body weight and the hematocrit level were significantly associated with hyperuricemia in both sexes.

Aged↗

Effects of long-term aurothiomalate and D-penicillamine treatments on renal function and urinary excretion of prostanoids in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The effects of long-term aurothiomalate and D-penicillamine treatments on renal function and the urinary excretion of prostanoids were studied in 20 patients with classic or definite rheumatoid arthritis. Twelve-hour urine was collected overnight, on the following day blood samples were taken in the morning and 12-hour urine was collected during the following day. Albumin excretion into the urine was determined by a sensitive quantitative method. Beta-2-microglobulin (B2MIGLO) and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG) serum concentrations and excretions into the urine were measured to detect possible tubular or glomerular damage, respectively. The excretions of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha into urine were determined. In the aurothiomalate group, albumin excretion ranged 1-16 mg/12 h, and in the penicillamine group 0.8-31 mg/12 h. In the penicillamine group, but not in the aurothiomalate group, total protein, B2MIGLO and PGE2 excretions were higher (p less than 0.05) during the daytime than during the night. The daytime excretion of PGE2 was higher (p less than 0.01) in the penicillamine than in the aurothiomalate group. In the penicillamine group B2MIGLO excretion into urine correlated (p less than 0.01) with PGE2 excretion in the daytime. According to the results, not even long-term aurothiomalate treatment affects renal prostanoid excretion, while penicillamine increases urinary PGE2 excretion. This could be related either to the cofactor-like activity of penicillamine in the prostanoid synthesis or to damage in tubular cells. The role of prostanoids in maintaining blood flow and filtration may be more important in patients with renal damage than in normal conditions.

Adult↗

The sauna and rheumatic diseases.

Although sauna bathing is a traditional means of treating rheumatism, its effects on rheumatic diseases have not been studied. Animal studies suggest that hyperthermia could have a favourable effect in cases of chronic rheumatic inflammation. More than fifty percent of patients find that sauna bathing alleviates rheumatic pain and improves joint mobility. The effect is similar in both inflammatory and non-inflammatory disorders. Nearly all men experience sauna bathing as helpful, whereas one-fourth of women find it detrimental. Rheumatic pain is exacerbated and joint mobility decreases on the day after a sauna. Exacerbation of pain is more obvious in non-inflammatory diseases, especially in fibromyalgia, than in inflammatory diseases, and more obvious in women than men. It can be prevented by proper cooling.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

Yersinia specific immune complexes in the synovial fluid of patients with yersinia triggered reactive arthritis.

Yersinia specific immune complexes were demonstrated in the synovial fluid of three patients out of 12 with yersinia triggered reactive arthritis. They were not detectable in the synovial fluid of any of the 16 control patients, including nine with reactive arthritis triggered by factors other than yersiniae. Platelet reactive IgG was detectable in the synovial fluid of eight out of the 12 patients with yersinia triggered reactive arthritis and in three of the 16 control patients, all three having rheumatoid arthritis. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and a platelet 125I labelled staphylococcal protein A test were used to measure yersinia specific immune complexes and platelet reactive IgG respectively. The results obtained show for the first time the occurrence of bacterial antigens, derived from the causative strain, in the synovial fluid in yersinia triggered reactive arthritis.

Adolescent↗