PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Mäki

Publications and source records attributed to J Mäki.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Immunochemical analysis of the extracellular slime substance of Staphylococcus epidermidis.

To analyze immunochemically the extracellular slime substance of Staphylococcus epidermidis, rabbits were repeatedly immunized with the crude slime extract isolated from an adherent, slime-producing clinical Staphylococcus epidermidis strain. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that the target antigens of the resulting antibodies were located in the extracellular slime-like layer of bacterial cells. When these target antigens were characterized by immunoblotting, a variety of antigens were detected, including many with molecular masses higher than 80 kilodaltons and also a predominant one with a molecular mass of 30 kilodaltons. No characteristic differences were observed between the tube adherence test positive and negative Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates. Although there was variation in the number and intensity of high molecular mass antigens, such variations did not correlate with the tube adherence test. Of the 110 Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates studied, 106 (96%) expressed the 30-kilodalton antigen. This component was found in no other Staphylococcus spp. examined in the study. The bacterial component was not only easily detached from bacterial cells but also water-soluble, characteristics implicating a slime-like nature. Further studies are needed to definitively establish the origin and nature of the 30-kilodalton Staphylococcus epidermidis-specific component, and determine its potential benefit as a diagnostic tool.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1990

New ergometric reference values for clinical exercise tests.

A group of 301 apparently healthy men and women were studied using bicycle ergometry in order to obtain generally applicable reference values for clinical exercise testing. The subjects, aged 30-67 years, were derived from a comprehensive health survey carried out on a population sample representative of adult Finns. The exercise test was a standardized heart rate conducted programme in which workload was regulated so as to increase heart rate by 5 beats/min every min up to subjective maximum. Three indicators of exercise capacity are presented: maximal workload (Wmax), mean workload attained during the last 4 min of the test (Wlast4') and hypothetical maximal workload sustainable for 6 min (Wmax6'). All showed wide inter-individual variation even when related to age and body weight. The ergometric results depended significantly on age and height in men and on age and weight in women. We present formulas for the calculation of expected values of Wlast4' and Wmax6' on the basis of sex, age, height and weight. We suggest that the measured values be given in percentages of those expected.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Long-term nopharmacological treatment for mild to moderate hypertension.

Ninety-one middle-aged men and women with untreated mild hypertension were allocated to a nopharmacological treatment group or to a control group. Members of the treatment group were instructed to reduce daily sodium intake to less than 70 mmol, to reduce the intake of saturated fat, to lose weight if necessary and to perform regular physical exercise and relaxation training. Adherence to and effects of the programme on blood pressure and serum lipids were monitored for 12 months. In the treatment group, daily sodium excretion decreased to and remained at 50% of its original level (P less than 0.001), and there was a significant reduction in saturated fat intake. The average weight reduction was modest. Adherence to physical exercise and relaxation training regimens was poor. The net decreases (difference in changes between treatment and control group) in blood pressure were greatest during the first 3 months: in men the decrease in systolic blood pressure was 11.3 mmHg (P less than 0.001) and in diastolic blood pressure 8.3 mmHg (P less than 0.001); in women the decrease in systolic blood pressure was 10.8 mmHg (P less than 0.01) and in diastolic blood pressure 6.4 mmHg (P less than 0.01). However, this decrease diminished during the last 3 months to approximately one half owing to blood pressure reduction in controls. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased significantly in treated men and women.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Health-based reference values of the Mini-Finland Health Survey: 1. Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase.

The reference values for gamma-glutamyltransferase (GT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alkaline phosphatase (AFOS) activities in serum have been produced on the basis of measurements done in the Mini-Finland Health Survey. A representative sample of all Finns aged 30 years or over comprised 8000 persons, of whom 99.2% participated in the actual health survey. Every effort was made to obtain reference values for the healthy ambulatory population. Three separate health-derived selection criteria were used to obtain such reference values for the above-mentioned enzymes: those based on the available literature, with minor modifications, the recommendations published by the Committee on Reference Values of the Scandinavian Society for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Physiology, criteria that were obtained after subgroup comparisons of the obtained data, where all the factors affecting the enzyme levels were identified. The recommendations of the Expert Panel on Theory of Reference Values (1987) were strictly adhered to in the statistical analyses. The distribution of the serum activity of GT was very skewed. The overall intervals for men and women were 5.1-1460 and 4.7-748 U/l, respectively. The frequency distributions could be transformed to the normal ones logarithmically. The 95% inner reference intervals for GT in the three groups were 7-76, 7-65, and 8-57 U/l for men and 6-35, 6-30 and 6-32 U/l for women, respectively. For ASAT the full intervals of the enzyme levels in serum were 2.6-770 U/l for men and 8.3-172 U/l for women. After logarithmic transformation the respective reference intervals in the three selection groups were 14-42, 14-40 and 13-39 U/l for men and 13-33, 12-31 and 13-33 U/l for women. The full intervals of AFOS were 47.5-2755 and 5.4-816 U/l for men and women, respectively; after the logarithmic transformation the reference intervals of the three selection groups were 98-267, 97-254 and 97-264 U/l for men and 77-265, 75-231 and 75-250 U/l for women, respectively.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Beta-blockers, diuretics and physical fitness as determinants of serum lipids in myocardial infarction patients.

Serum lipid levels were followed in myocardial infarction patients for one year after the infarction and related to their drug use and physical performance. Serum triglyceride concentrations were significantly elevated in patients using diuretics or diuretics and beta-blockers together both 3 and 12 months after the infarction when compared to patients not having drugs. The beta-blockers alone did not change triglycerides. No differences were found in total cholesterol concentration between any of the drug groups. The HDL cholesterol levels were significantly lower in all the drug groups 12 months after the infarction in comparison with the group using no drugs, but 3 months after the infarction these differences were not present. Total work in the exercise stress test correlated negatively with serum triglycerides and total cholesterol and positively with HDL/total cholesterol ratio in the group using no drugs 12 months after the infarction. In beta-blocker users, total work correlated negatively with triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations. In all drug groups no correlation between total work and HDL/total cholesterol ratio could be found. These data suggest that despite differences in the physical working capacity between the groups, the drugs themselves are major determinants of differences in serum lipids.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1986

Lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in the elderly.

The lipoprotein components were studied in connection with a population study concerning the state of health and living habits of the elderly people in Turku, Finland. Serum levels of total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A1 (apo A1) and apolipoprotein B (apo B) of the 347 elderly people (aged 65 years or over) were measured and those of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were calculated. The levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and apo B were significantly higher in females than in males, and the concentrations decreased with advancing age. The concentrations of HDL cholesterol and apo A1 were significantly higher in females than in males but age had no effect. Serum triglycerides behaved differently in males and females; in females age had a significant increasing effect whereas in males no age effect was observed. The apo A1/apo B ratio did not differ between males and females. Reference values of serum lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins of the elderly are suggested.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

Scanning electron microscopic appearance of viral-antigen-coated polystyrene balls.

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) was recently developed for the detection of antiviral IgG and IgM class-specific antibodies using antigen-coated polystyrene balls as the RIA solid-phase. In this communication the attachment and distribution of herpes simplex virus (HSV) capsid and envelope antigens and rubella viruses on the surface of the balls was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In SEM the surface of the untreated 'clear frosted' polystyrene balls appeared very uneven with innumerable pits and grooves. The viral particles were haphazardly distributed both in the grooves and on the exposed surface of the balls. The strength of adsorption of the viral antigens onto the balls seemed to be remarkably resistant to outside mechanical forces. HSV antigens frequently appeared in clusters, whereas rubella viruses were mostly found as single particles.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1978

Cardiovascular risk factor changes in a three-year follow-up of a cohort in connection with a community programme (the North Karelia Project).

A re-examination after 3 years was done in 1975 in a 20% random subsample (n = 1683) of the representative population sample (males and females, 25-59 years) that was examined in 1972 in North Karelia (NK), and a matched reference county as the baseline survey for the community programme in NK. The changes in smoking habits, serum cholesterol, dietary fat consumption and systolic BP were more favourable among the subjects in the NK sample than among the reference sample, although the differences were generally small. Results from multivariable analyses are presented to show the variables that predict a favourable risk factor change in the individual. Living in NK is associated in the analysis with a favourable change in each of the three risk factors. The limitation of this method in the evaluation of a community programme is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Scanning electron microscopy of the spreading of barium sulfate suspensions on the gastric mucosa of the rat. Effect of wetting agents, bile salt and lecithine.

Scanning electron microscopy was performed on the rat stomach mucosa after application of BaSO4 and three barium-containing commercial contrast media. The degree of flocculation was assessed; flocculation could be prevented by using synthetic wetting agents and by physiologic, natural emulsifiers, sodium taurocholate and lecithine.

Animals↗