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Biomedical subjects

J Wikström

Publications and source records attributed to J Wikström.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Genetic susceptibility to multiple sclerosis linked to myelin basic protein gene.

Genetic factors have been implicated in the aetiology of multiple sclerosis (MS), but the genes conferring susceptibility to MS have not been identified. We carried out genetic linkage and association analyses by studying polymorphism of the myelin basic protein (MBP) gene on chromosome 18, a candidate gene for MS, in 21 MS families, 51 additional unrelated patients with definite MS, and 85 controls. All subjects were Finnish, and 14 of the families were from an area with an exceptional familial clustering of MS. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to examine subclinical disease in symptom-free family members. In the association analysis, the allele frequencies between MS patients and controls differed significantly, p = 0.000049), the difference being attributable mainly to a higher frequency of a 1.27 kb allele among patients. In the linkage analysis, based on an autosomal dominant model and penetrance 0.05, a maximum LOD score of 3.42 (theta = 0.00) was obtained when patients with optic neuritis and their symptom-free siblings with abnormal MRI findings were classified as "affected". When these subjects were classified as "unknown" the maximum LOD scores ranged from 2.99 to 3.25 (theta = 0.00). The results suggest that in this population genetic predisposition to MS is closely linked to the MBP gene and that polymorphism at the MBP locus or an adjacent locus has a role in the aetiology of MS.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Familial multiple sclerosis: MRI findings in clinically affected and unaffected siblings.

Subclinical demyelinating lesions may occur in the brains of asymptomatic individuals, and the first-degree relatives of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are at particular risk. Clinical and MRI examinations were performed in nine sibships from families with two or more cases of MS. These included 14 patients with clinically definite MS, three patients with clinically probable MS, and 27 asymptomatic siblings. Systematic criteria were applied to MRI interpretations to increase their specificity for MS. Thirteen (76%) of the 17 patients with MS showed lesions suggesting MS. Lesions were also found in six (38%) of the 16 asymptomatic siblings under age 50 and in eight (73%) of the 11 over age 50. Judged by stringent criteria, the lesions of only three (11%) of the 27 asymptomatic siblings were considered to be due to demyelination. The results demonstrate the occurrence of subclinical demyelination in asymptomatic siblings of MS patients and stress the importance of clinical follow up and MRI studies of the first-degree relatives when classifying them as healthy in family studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Clinical data and the identification of special forms of multiple sclerosis in 1271 cases studied with a standardized documentation system.

In a multicenter study the clinical data of 1271 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were recorded in a standardized manner and analysed by a computer program. Some of the retrospective data are compared with previous reports. The frequency of optic nerve involvement in the present series was close to the Japanese figures. The development of signs and symptoms during the course of MS was given for the 1271 patients and differences in the reversibility of symptoms are presented. In this study, one of the chief purposes was the selection of groups of MS patients with particular symptomatology and course of the disease for prospective, detailed study. The following groups were selected and are under further investigation: 109 patients with an exclusively spinal symptomatology throughout the course of their disease; 441 patients with optic neuritis as initial symptom; 110 patients with early brain-stem involvement; 64 benign cases (duration of the disease more than 14 years and disability not more than 3 according to Kurtzke), 35 malignant cases (duration of the disease under 5 years and disability grade of 7 or more); 83 families with more than one member with MS; 289 females with a history of pregnancy, childbirth and/or use of oral contraceptives. In 339 patients a lumbar puncture was performed at the present examination. The parameters determined constitute a pathognomonic pattern highly indicative of the diagnosis of MS.

Brain Stem↗
PubMed1979

Effect of birthplace on the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. A study among Finnish war evacuees.

After World War II the southeastern part of Finland was ceded to the Soviet Union and its entire population evacuated to other areas of the country. The prevalences of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) were studied among the evacuees and compared to the corresponding data among the nonevacuated population. The prevalence of ALS among the war evacuees was two times higher than among the nonevacuated population (18.0 and 8.8 per 100,000, respectively). The prevalence of MS among the evacuees was only half of that found among the nonevacuated population, 38.3 and 73.0 per 100,000, respectively. The findings for ALS indicate that birthplace may have an effect on the later development of the disease and that there may have existed some environmental factor(s) which have made the evacuees more liable to contract the disease later in their lives. The low figure of MS for evacuees supports our previous results of an uneven geographic distribution of MS in Finland with the high-risk areas in the western and southwestern parts of the country. No accumulation of MS was found among the evacuees living in the high-risk areas.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗
PubMed1978

Multiple sclerosis and malignant neoplasms in the central nervous system: a clinical anatomical report of three cases.

There is some evidence that the incidence of malignant neoplasms in the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is more infrequent than amoung the general population. The examination of 3 MS cases with different type of neoplasms in the central nervous system revealed mainly inactive demyelinated plaques. These plaques and the neoplastic lesions were dispersed diffusely and coincidentally all over the brain and spinal cord. The benign course of MS in all three cases is discussed in relation to the malignant diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Clinical features of the spinal form of multiple sclerosis.

Out of a data pool of 1271 patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) a total of 109 cases are selected having a sole spinal symptomatology throughout the course of the disease. This group differs in three particular features from the non-spinal forms of MS: In this group there is a higher percentage of females, the age at onset of the disease is higher, and the course of the disease is more often chronic progressive from the beginning. After the mean duration of 11 years, the spinal and the non-spinal cases show the same grade of disability. The ability to work is slightly better for spinal cases; office workers are able to keep their jobs longer after the onset to the disease than patients with any other occupation. The spinal form of MS is discussed in respect to its relationship to the classical form of MS and as a differential diagnosis to other spinal processes.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Determination of k/l immunoglobulin light chain ratios in CSF from patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases.

Using antisera against Bence-Jones protein, the concentration of light chains type k and l can be determined in CSF. The calculation of the ratio of type k to type I light chains in CSF represents a sensitive measure for the evaluation of immunological processes involving the CNS. Our results demonstrate that an increase k/l ratio is encountered in 48% of CSF specimen from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, but also in 50% from patients with other inflammatory diseases involving the CNS, in contrast to only 18% from other neurological diseases. In none of the MS or inflammatory cases is the altered k/l ratio the only indicator of a CNS inflammation, most commonly it is accompanied by an overproportional CSF-IgG elevation (increased QG ratio), an increased cell count or both. For these reasons determination of CSF k/l ratios is helpful in the differentiation of MS and other neurological diseases, but not for the differentiation of other inflammatory CNS diseases from MS.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗
PubMed1977

Malignant diseases among patients with multiple sclerosis.

The frequency of malignant diseases among 1866 living and 340 deceased multiple sclerosis (MS) patients was investigated in Finland. The study revealed a low prevalence (0.64%) and mortality (0.07%) rate of cancer among MS patients. The difference between MS patients and general population was significant. The highest rate was found in the group from 40 to 49 years while in the general population the rate of cancer among MS patients tended to fall after the age of 50. The possible role of selenium, one of the antioxidants in the pathogenesis of MS and cancer, is discussed because recent data have shown a very high negative correlation between selenium and cancer death rates.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Serological response of multiple sclerosis patients and controls to 6/94-parainfluenza virus.

The serological responses of 195 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 251 controls were tested against 6/94-parainfluenza virus, which was previously isolated from brain tissue of two patients with MS. The hemagglutination-inhibition titers of greater than or equal to 1: 128 were found more frequently in MS patients (21.5%) than in controls (14.0%). However, the geometric mean titers did not differ between these two groups. The present study concludes that a causal relationship of 6/94-virus to MS, based on a specific immune response, is improbable, although it does not exclude the possibility of a pathogenetic significance of the agent in the cases from which the autopsy material was derived.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Protein profile of cerebrospinal fluid in multiple sclerosis with special reference to the function of the blood brain barrier.

The leucocyte count, total protein, albumin, IgG, IgA and IgM content of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 103 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients was determined. In 54 cases a simultaneous analysis of serum was also carried out. As a sign of an intact blood brain barrier the albumin concentration was normal in 76.7%. Taking into account the relative IgG quotient in CSF and serum, and the albumin and IgG concentration gradients between CSF and serum, it was possible to reveal an elevation of IgG content in CSF of MS patients in 75 and 83%, respectively. Without a simultaneous analysis of serum this was the case only in 51.5%. In MS cases with an intact blood brain barrier the values for IgA and/or IgM were slightly elevated in 11.7%. This study demonstrates analytic methods, which support the hypothesis of IgG synthesis by cells accumulating within the CNS in MS. A correlation of the laboratory results and clinical manifestation of MS was tried.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Selenium, vitamin E and copper in multiple sclerosis.

There has been accumulation of the nutritional muscular dystrophy of the cattle in a certain western district of Finland where the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) is also highest. This animal disease is due to lack of selenium (Se) and vitamin E. The Se content of whole blood was low (52.6 +/- 11.3 ng/ml) in MS patients from this high-risk area compared to the controls (68.8 +/- 11.0). The data for serum failed to confirm this tendency. All Se values appeared to be lower than international values suggested. The values for both vitamin E and copper were within the international normal range.

Copper↗