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Biomedical subjects

L Mannonen

Publications and source records attributed to L Mannonen.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

A major role of viruses in convulsive status epilepticus in children: a prospective study of 22 children.

UNLABELLED: A group of 22 previously healthy children with their first convulsive status epilepticus (SE), treated at Kuopio University Hospital, Finland, were prospectively studied. Eleven children had febrile and 11 afebrile SE. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect specific DNA from CSF, enzyme immunoassays and immunofluorescence assays to detect specific antibodies in serum and CSF, viral cultures were obtained from CSF, throat and stool and antigen detection from throat specimens. Viral infection was identified in 10 of 11 children with febrile SE (91%) and in 7 of 11 with afebrile SE (64%). Human herpes virus 6 infection was identified in 12 children (55%), and in at least six of them the infection was primary. Single cases of human herpes virus 7, parainfluenza 3, adenovirus 1, echovirus 22, rota, influenza A and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection were diagnosed. CONCLUSION: Viruses, human herpes virus 6 in particular, seem to be major associated factors in convulsive status epilepticus, both febrile and afebrile. Human herpes virus 7 and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are novel agents associated with status epilepticus.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed2001

Infections of the central nervous system of suspected viral origin: a collaborative study from Finland.

We studied 3231 patients with acute central nervous system (CNS) symptoms of suspected viral origin to elucidate the current etiologic spectrum. In 46% of the cases, a viral finding was observed. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was the main agent associated with encephalitis, as well as meningitis and myelitis. VZV comprised 29% of all confirmed or probable etiologic agents. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and enteroviruses accounted 11% each, and influenza A virus 7%. VZV seems to have achieved a major role in viral infections of CNS. In encephalitis in our population, VZV is clearly more commonly associated with these neurological diseases than HSV. The increase in VZV findings may in part be a pseudophenomenon due to improved diagnostic methods, however, a true increase may have occurred and the pathogenetic mechanisms behind this should be elucidated.

Adenoviridae Infections↗
PubMed2000

Human herpesvirus-6 associated encephalitis with subsequent infantile spasms and cerebellar astrocytoma.

A 14-month-old girl presented after 3 days of fever, floppiness, and diffuse urticarial exanthem. She developed encephalitis and carditis and 1 week later, intractable seizures. Initial CT and MRI showed no changes in the brain parenchyma. On days 14 and 34 after the onset of symptoms, a human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) genome in cerebrospinal fluid was identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Convulsions became more frequent and 11 weeks from the onset, they changed to typical infantile spasms with hypsarrhythmic electroencephalogram. She gradually lost her social contact and ability to walk and sit. Eleven months after the primary infection, a repeated MRI of the brain revealed a cystic tumour of 2 cm in diameter near the vermis. The tumour was surgically removed, and shown to be a pilocytic astrocytoma on histopathological examination. HHV-6 DNA was detected by PCR in new tumour tissue. This is the first reported case of HHV-6 encephalitis associated with carditis, infantile spasms, and a subsequent brain tumour containing the HHV-6 genome.

Astrocytoma↗
PubMed2000

Detection of human herpesvirus 6 and varicella-zoster virus in tear fluid of patients with Bell's palsy by PCR.

Human herpesvirus 6 DNA was detected by PCR in the tear fluid of 7 (35%) of 20 patients with Bell's palsy and of 1 (5%) of 20 healthy controls. Varicella-zoster virus was detected by PCR in the tear fluid of 2 of 20 Bell's palsy patients but in none of the tear fluids from 20 healthy controls. These findings suggest an association between human herpesviruses and Bell's palsy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

In situ hybridization detection of human herpesvirus 6 in brain tissue from fatal encephalitis.

A 23-month-old girl died after 2 days' illness with rash, fever, and convulsions. Neuropathologic findings were consistent with viral hemorrhagic encephalitis in pontine tegmentum and medial thalamic areas. Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) DNA was detected in pontine nuclei by in situ hybridization. In addition, polymerase chain reaction for HHV-6 of serum and paraffin-embedded pontine tissue was positive, and serology indicated an acute primary infection. This is the first case showing HHV-6 DNA in the brain cells of an immunocompetent patient with acute encephalitis.

Brain↗
PubMed1999

Expression of fungal thermotolerant endo-1,4-beta-glucanase in transgenic barley seeds during germination.

The malting quality of two barley cultivars, Kymppi and Golden Promise, was modified to better meet the requirements of the brewing process. The egl1 gene, coding for fungal thermotolerant endo-1,4-beta-glucanase (EGI, cellulase), was transferred to the cultivars using particle bombardment, and transgenic plants were regenerated on bialaphos selection. Integration of the egl1 gene was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization. The transgenic seeds were screened for the expression of the heterologous EGI. Under the high-pI alpha-amylase promoter, the egl1 gene was expressed during germination. The heterologous enzyme was thermotolerant at 65 degrees C for 2 h, thus being suitable for mashing conditions. The amount of heterologous EGI produced by the seeds (ca. 0.025% of soluble seed protein), has been shown to be sufficient to reduce wort viscosity by decreasing the soluble beta-glucan content. A decrease in the soluble beta-glucan content in the wort improves the filtration rate of beer.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1998

Antibodies to varicella zoster virus in the cerebrospinal fluid of neonates with seizures.

Four neonates with convulsions had IgG antibodies in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to varicella zoster virus (VZV). These antibodies were found in the sera of two of these patients after the age of 6 months. Antibodies to 16 different microbes were studied from the serum and CSF of 201 neonates with neurological problems. The presence of DNA specific to HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV in the CSF was also investigated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibodies to VZV were detected in the CSF of four neonates. Antibody indices suggested production of VZV specific antibodies in the central nervous system. These findings suggest that intrathecal production of antibodies to VZV can appear in neonates with neurological problems, which suggests that intrauterine VZV infection can be acquired without cutaneous symptoms in the mother.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1997

Luminometric microplate hybridization for detection of varicella-zoster virus PCR product from cerebrospinal fluid.

We modified and optimized a new microplate hybridization assay to detect the varciella-zoster virus (VZV) PCR product, and studied cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of 287 patients with meningitis, encephalitis or other neurological diseases or symptoms. Specific antibodies to VZV and reference antigens were determined by enzyme immunoassay from serum and CSF, they were then compared with clinical findings and with the results obtained by VZV-PCR using different detection methods for VZV-specific amplified DNA. VZV DNA was found in the CSF of 25 patients using the microplate hybridization assay and chemiluminescence detection for amplified DNA. All 25 CSF samples were also positive in Southern blotting. Among the patients, 10 had chickenpox, 4 had shingles, and 11 had no rash at all. The detection rate of VZV-specific DNA by microplate hybridization was 30% higher than that obtained by conventional agarose gel electrophoresis. In most patients the diagnosis was confirmed by demonstrating specific intrathecal antibody production to VZV but not to other viruses. These results indicate the presence of VZV in the central nervous system (CNS) in many patients with chickenpox or shingles, and even in patients without a rash. The microplate hybridization assay based on chemiluminescence detection improves considerably the detection rate of the VZV-PCR product compared to agarose gel electrophoresis and will add to the list of recognized VZV infections in the CNS. It is especially useful in cases where there is no cutaneous manifestation.

Chickenpox↗
PubMed1997

Chlamydia trachomatis detected in human placenta.

AIMS: To evaluate the relation between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and stillbirth, placental tissue was studied for the presence of C trachomatis. METHODS: Paraffin wax embedded placental tissue of a stillbirth fetus, born at the 36th week of gestation to a 21 year old mother with high serum antibody titres to C trachomatis immunotypes during pregnancy and who was culture positive to C trachomatis three years previously, was studied by in situ hybridisation, polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry for the presence of C trachomatis. RESULTS: C trachomatis was detected in placental specimens by in situ hybridisation and alkaline phosphatase antialkaline phosphatase staining in several sections, whereas control tissues were uniformly negative, indicating the presence of C trachomatis nucleic acid and antigen in the placenta. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case in which C trachomatis has been demonstrated in the human placenta.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Herpes encephalitis is a disease of middle aged and elderly people: polymerase chain reaction for detection of herpes simplex virus in the CSF of 516 patients with encephalitis. The Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic potential of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis. METHODS: Samples of CSF from 516 patients with encephalitis were studied for HSV-DNA by PCR. RESULTS: Samples taken one to 29 days from the onset of symptoms from 38 patients (7.4%) were positive, 32 (6.2%) for HSV-1 and six (1.2%) for HSV-2. At follow up, eight of 28 patients studied were still HSV-PCR positive. A diagnostic serum:CSF antibody ratio to HSV but not to other viruses was detected in 25 of the 38 HSV-PCR positive patients thus supporting the initial PCR findings. Patients positive by HSV-PCR were concentrated in the age group > or = 40 years, and especially in patients aged 60-64 years, of whom nine of 24 (37.5%) were positive. The HSV-PCR was negative in all other patients with encephalitis of known or unknown aetiology. This group included 34 patients with a diagnostic serum:CSF antibody ratio to other viruses. A dual infection, HSV and another microbe, was considered possible in seven patients. CONCLUSIONS: The HSV-PCR is a rapid and useful diagnostic method during the early phase of encephalitis. It may be useful in monitoring the efficacy of treatment and allowing the recognition of new features in the appearance of herpes encephalitis. The HSV-PCR test and antibody determinations from serum and CSF are complementary methods, which should both be applied in pursuit of clinical laboratory diagnosis of these conditions.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1994

Fertile transgenic barley to particle bombardment of immature embryos.

Transgenic, fertile barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) from the Finnish elite cultivar Kymppi was obtained by particle bombardment of immature embryos. Immature embryos were bombarded to the embryonic axis side and grown to plants without selection. Neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPTII) activity was screened in small plantlets. One out of a total of 227 plants expressed the transferred nptII gene. This plant has until now produced 98 fertile spikes (T0), and four of the 90 T0 spikes analyzed to date contained the nptII gene. These shoots were further analyzed and they expressed the transferred gene. From green grains, embryos were isolated and grown to plantlets (T1). The four transgenic shoots of Toivo (the T0 plant) produced 25 plantlets as T1 progeny. Altogether fifteen of these T1 plants carried the transferred nptII gene as detected with the PCR technique, fourteen of which expressed the nptII gene. The integration and inheritance of the transferred nptII gene was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization. Although present as several copies, the transferred gene was inherited as a single Mendelian locus into the T2 progeny.

Base Sequence↗