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Biomedical subjects

L Mattila

Publications and source records attributed to L Mattila.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Association of Aeromonas spp. with travellers' diarrhoea in Finland.

The association of Aeromonas spp. with travellers' diarrhoea was studied among 978 Finnish tourists travelling to Morocco in winter (n = 398) and autumn (n = 580) in 1989. Fifty-five isolates from diarrhoeal patients with (n = 16) or without (n = 39) a recent travelling history in a developing country were also included. In Morocco, Aeromonas spp. were isolated from 8.7% of patients with diarrhoea and from 1.4% of non-diarrhoeal tourists (p < 0.001). Aeromonas spp. were found as the sole pathogen in 5.5% of patients (p < 0.001). Diarrhoea with multiple pathogens, including Aeromonas spp., was found in 3.1% of patients. Species identification by phenotypic and genotypic methods indicated that A. veronii biotype sobria (hybridisation group HG 8/10) and A. caviae (HG 4) were the most common Aeromonas spp. associated with travellers' diarrhoea. A. hydrophila (HG 1) and A. caviae (HG 4) were common in patients acquiring diarrhoea in Finland. Ribotyping of strains within a species showed that all strains had different ribotypes although the tourists were infected during the same trip. This study suggested that only certain Aeromonas spp. were commonly found in travellers' diarrhoea. However, the causative role of those species is unclear.

Aeromonas↗
PubMed1994

Clinical features and duration of traveler's diarrhea in relation to its etiology.

Clinical features of traveler's diarrhea (TD) were studied among 126 adult Finnish tourists who developed this illness during or shortly after a visit to Morocco. Enteric pathogens were identified in 76 (60%) of cases, whereas the etiology remained unidentified in 50 cases (40%). Patients with an identified pathogen did not differ from those with TD of unknown etiology in terms of the time of onset of illness or the median frequency of unformed stools in the first 24 hours. In contrast, the median frequency of unformed stools between 24 and 48 hours (i.e., on the second day) was 1.0 among patients with no pathogen and 2.0 among those with enteric pathogens identified (P < .001). A similar difference was evident on the third day (1.0 vs. 2.5). Moreover, a lower proportion of patients with no pathogen identified had watery stools (28% vs. 55%). The durations of diarrhea and concomitant symptoms were significantly shorter and the recovery from TD was significantly quicker among the patients without an identified pathogen. Patients with one or more invasive pathogens had disease that was clearly more severe than that of patients with no pathogen identified; the difference in severity of disease was less marked for patients with invasive vs. noninvasive pathogens. Individuals with diarrhea due to Campylobacter species tended to have the most severe disease, whereas diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli seemed milder than that caused by other agents. Unfortunately, the clinician has only a limited opportunity to predict the etiology of TD and thus to assess the need for antimicrobial therapy at the onset of disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Reactive arthritis following an outbreak of Salmonella infection in Finland.

The incidence and clinical features of reactive arthritis (ReA) following an outbreak of enteritis caused by Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovar 4,5,12:b:-were studied in the autumn of 1992. The outbreak occurred in several municipalities and originated from sprouted mung beans. A questionnaire on extra-enteric manifestations such as joint and eye symptoms was mailed 2 to 5 months after the outbreak to all bacteriologically proven cases. Two hundred and forty-six of the 272 (90%) subjects responded to the questionnaire; 224 (91%) reported having had enterocolitis, 22 (9%) were asymptomatic. Sixteen subjects fulfilled the criteria for ReA, and one had irities only. Thus, the incidence of ReA/iritis after S. enterica was 6.9%. Only four of the 155 (3%) subjects aged less than 16 yr developed ReA, as compared with 12 of the 91 (13%) older patients (P < 0.001). The only patient with iritis was also more than 16 yr old. The joint symptoms were oligoarticular in 10 (63%), monoarticular in five (31%) and polyarticular in one (6%). The most frequently affected joints were the wrists, knees and ankles. Joints of upper extremities only were affected in three (19%), of the lower extremities only in six (37%) and of both in seven (44%) subjects. In the majority of the patients ReA was mild. The joint symptoms persisted for less than 1 month in six, 2 to 6 months in five and more than 6 months in five. Thirteen subjects with ReA/iritis were tissue-typed for HLA; four (33%) had HLA-B27.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

IgE-binding components of wheat, rye, barley and oats recognized by immunoblotting analysis with sera from adult atopic dermatitis patients.

The allergen extracts of wheat, rye, barley and oats flours were characterized by IgE-immunoblotting with serum samples from 40 adult patients; 35 patients with atopic dermatitis, one with rhinitis and four with urticaria. All these patients had been positive when skin-prick testing was carried out with one or more of the four flour extracts or displayed one or more positive cereal RAST results. Four non-atopic sera were used as negative controls. Acidic and neutral protein extracts of wheat, rye, barley and oats flours were processed for the immunoblotting experiments and 35 patients appeared positive in IgE immunoblotting with wheat and rye, 32 with barley and 33 with oats. The IgE immunoblots showed polyspecific binding patterns; wheat exhibited 36 IgE stained bands, rye 35, barley 33 and oats 10. Eighteen of the IgE stained bands could be classified as intermediate allergens for wheat, 23 for rye and 15 for barley. The 66 kDa protein in oats was visualized by 28 out of 33 sera (84%), however, there was evident non-specific binding to this region and thus it may also represent lectin-like binding. The most frequent staining with wheat extract was seen in the 26 kDa protein region (15/35, 43%), with rye in the 40 kDa (16/35, 46%) and with barley in the 26 and 46 kDa protein bands (14/32, 44%). Simultaneous staining with wheat, rye and barley extracts were observed with 16 bands suggesting crossreactivity between these cereals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Hafnia alvei in stool specimens from patients with diarrhea and healthy controls.

We found an epidemiological association of Hafnia alvei with diarrhea, because the organism was isolated from 12 of 77 (16%) adult Finnish tourists to Morocco who developed diarrhea and from 0 of 321 tourists without diarrhea (P < 0.001). From another group of 112 adult Finnish diarrheal patients, only 2 (2%) yielded H. alvei. In contrast to some Bangladeshi strains of H. alvei, the Finnish strains were negative for the attachment-effacement lesion by an in vitro fluorescent acting staining test and also did not show homology to the Escherichia coli attachment-effacement gene (eaeA) by PCR. These results suggest that a mechanism or mechanisms other than the attachment-effacement lesion may also be involved in the association of H. alvei with diarrhea.

Actins↗
PubMed1993

Effect of measles virus infection on MHC class II expression and antigen presentation in human monocytes.

We studied the effect of measles virus (MV) infection on the expression of MHC class II molecules and on the antigen-presenting function in human peripheral blood monocytes in vitro. The expression of HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP molecules was up to 10-fold higher in MV-infected than that in uninfected monocytes. This effect did not change upon stimulation of monocytes with LPS, and was not mediated by IFN-gamma. In contrast to results obtained with peripheral monocytes, MV infection in a human monocytic cell line, THP-1, did not enhance the basic MHC class II expression, but strongly inhibited the IFN-gamma-induced expression. High levels of MHC class II expression in MV-infected monocytes were associated with capacity to present MV antigens, but the capacity to present unrelated antigens was strongly reduced. These results indicate how MV infection in monocytes may suppress the antigen-mediated T cell proliferation, still allowing the expansion of MV-specific T cell clones.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗
PubMed1993

Short-term treatment of traveler's diarrhea with norfloxacin: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study during two seasons.

Clinical efficacy of norfloxacin for treatment of traveler's diarrhea in 106 Finnish tourists vacationing in Morocco was evaluated during two different seasons. When the criteria for diagnosis of traveler's diarrhea were fulfilled, norfloxacin (400 mg) or a placebo was given orally, twice daily for 3 days. All symptoms and signs subsided sooner in the norfloxacin group. The clearest difference was observed in the duration of diarrhea: 1.2 days in the norfloxacin group vs. 3.3 days in the placebo group (P < .001). The duration of diarrhea due to particular species was as follows for the two groups: in cases due to Salmonella enterica, 1.1 vs 4.1 days (P < .01); in cases due to Campylobacter jejuni, 1.8 vs. 5.0 days (P < .01); and in cases due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, 1.0 day vs. 3.1 days (P < .01). The rate of full recovery during administration of norfloxacin or a placebo was also greater among the norfloxacin recipients: 84% vs. 47% (P < .001). No significant adverse effects were reported. Norfloxacin proved to be safe and effective in therapy for traveler's diarrhea.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Seasonal variation in etiology of travelers' diarrhea. Finnish-Moroccan Study Group.

The etiology of travelers' diarrhea was studied in 579 adult Finnish tourists participating in two packaged tours to Morocco in the winter (n = 233) and fall (n = 346) of 1989. A research team accompanied the travelers, and a laboratory for enteric pathogens was established in Agadir. At least one pathogen was found in 62% of the 60 diarrhea cases in winter and in 58% of the 111 diarrhea cases in fall. Multiple pathogens were found less often in winter (8%) than in fall (21%, P less than .05). Campylobacter strains were the leading cause of travelers' diarrhea in winter, found alone or with other pathogens in 28% of the cases (but in only 7% in fall), whereas enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) was the most common pathogen in fall, present in 32% of the cases (8% in winter). Both differences are highly significant (P less than .001). Salmonella enterica was almost as common as ETEC in fall (25% of diarrhea cases) but rare in winter (10%, P less than .05). Thus, the etiology of travelers' diarrhea varied according to the season in the same tourist destination. This finding has relevance to both antimicrobial treatment and prophylaxis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Prevention of travellers' diarrhoea by oral B-subunit/whole-cell cholera vaccine.

B-subunit/whole-cell cholera vaccine (BS-WC) has been shown to give Bangladeshi mothers and children only 3 months' protection against severe diarrhoea due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). Since a long-lasting effect is not necessary for protection against travellers' diarrhoea, a prospective double-blind study was conducted among tourists who went to Morocco from Finland. 307 tourists received two oral doses of BS-WC, whereas 308 controls received a placebo before departure. A research team went out with tourists and a laboratory for enteric pathogens was set up on location. A faecal specimen was taken from 100 randomly selected subjects before departure, from all travellers with diarrhoea, and routinely after return. Enteropathogenic bacteria were not isolated from any of the pre-departure specimens but were present during or after the holiday in 47% of tourists with travellers' diarrhoea, and in 14% of those without diarrhoea. BS-WC induced a 52% protection (p = 0.013) against diarrhoea caused by ETEC. The protection was better for mixed infections (65%, p = 0.016). The protective efficacy against a combination of ETEC and any other pathogen was 71% (p = 0.02), and that against ETEC plus Salmonella enterica even better at 82% (p = 0.01). Partial protection against travellers' diarrhoea is thus obtainable by active immunisation with BS-WC.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1988

Serum IgE in non-atopic adults and in dermatitis patients.

Total serum IgE was determined with the PRIST technique, and specific reaginic antibodies against 10 allergens were measured in 163 healthy adults with no personal or family history of symptoms indicative of atopy (Group A). 103 non-atopic adults with a family history of atopic diseases were similarly investigated (Group B). When all subjects who at the second interview presented with a history of atopic symptoms and those with positive RAST results were excluded, the geometric mean serum IgE value for Group A was 14.5 (SD = 2) - 94.4 U/ml and for Group B 14.4 (SD = 2) - 130.2 U/ml. There was no significant difference in the IgE values between men and women. Subjects under 40 years of age had significantly higher IgE values than subjects over 40 years. In the series of 276 dermatitis patients the geometric mean IgE value for the men was significantly higher (46.8) than for the women (28.8 U/ml). There was a highly significant difference in the mean serum IgE levels between the patients with a personal history of atopic diseases and the other patients. Patients with present atopic disease had significantly higher mean IgE values than those with past atopic disease while no significant difference was discernible in the mean IgE levels between the non-atopic patients from atopic families and those with no personal and family atopy. Three years later, total serum IgE was controlled in subjects with initial IgE levels greater than 100 U/ml. During this time, eight subjects had developed an atopic disease. In most cases, there were only slight variations in the IgE values.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Evening primrose oil in the treatment of atopic eczema: effect on clinical status, plasma phospholipid fatty acids and circulating blood prostaglandins.

In a double-blind trial patients with atopic eczema received either oral evening primrose oil (EPO) (n = 14) or placebo (n = 11) for 12 weeks. In the EPO group a statistically significant improvement was observed in the overall severity and grade of inflammation and in the percentage of the body surface involved by eczema as well as in dryness and itch. Patients in the placebo group showed a significant reduction in inflammation. The patients receiving EPO showed a significantly greater reduction in inflammation than those receiving placebo. Evening primrose oil caused a significant rise in the amount of dihomogammalinolenic acid in the plasma phospholipid fatty acids. Plasma levels of TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE1, and the amount of TXB2 released into serum during clotting were not altered by evening primrose oil.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1984

Serum total and unbound testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in female acne patients treated with two different oral contraceptives.

Serum total an unbound testosterone (T) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels were studied in fifty-four female acne patients before treatment and during the treatment by two different oral contraceptives, the other containing 0.150 mg desogestrel plus 0.03 mg EE and the other 0.150 mg levonorgestrel plus 0.03 mg EE. Pretreatment values were abnormal in 57% of the patients. A borderline significant correlation between the severity of acne and SHBG was found. Ater six months' treatment a 250% increase in SHBG was seen in desogestrel/EE group and no significant change in SHBG in levonorgestrel/EE group. However, at the same time serum free testosterone fell 60% in both treatment groups. SHBG cannot be the only regulator of serum free testosterone. Acne improved significantly in both treatment groups. It is likely that the improvement was in connection with the free testosterone decrease and the improvement was better in the desogestrel/EE group where also SHBG elevation was seen.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1982

[An iatrogenic epidemic of ophthalmia neonatorum (author's transl)].

Report on an epidemic of five cases of ophthalmia neonatorum caused by pseudomonas aeruginosa. The patients represented about 8% of the infants born and treated in one department during a period of six weeks. In four cases the ON was protracted in two patients it was complicated by dacryostenosis. At first all the patients were treated with locally administered chloramphenicol, to which pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistant. The three cases the serous secretion ended after opening of the lacrimal ducts together with local treatment with polymyxin, neomycin and gramicidin. In one case the pseudomonas aerginosa, together with S. aureus found in the secretion in vitro, was found to be sensitive to a combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, given perorally, which terminated the secretion. The epidemic was evidently caused by the use of contaminated water in the nursery room.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1982

Chlamydial immunofluorescence serology in anterior uveitis.

Chlamydial immunofluorescence (IF) serology was determined in 118 patients with acute anterior uveitis (AAU), half of whom had anti-chlamydia antibodies. Men and women were equally affected. The chlamydial IF antibody titre was generally 1/16-64, but a few higher values were also measured. The age distribution, ocular pathology, and duration of AAU were identical in the chlamydial seropositive and seronegative patient groups. In the seropositive group there were 3 men with Reiter's syndrome. The prevalence of anti-chlamydia antibodies (50%) was higher than in other patients studied in the same laboratory. Further population studies are in progress to see whether our AAU patients represent an accumulation of chlamydial-positive persons.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Acute anterior uveitis after yersinia infection.

Twenty-eight cases of acute anterior uveitis in which raised antibody titres indicated yersinia infection as a possible causative factor in the disease were studied retrospectively. In most cases the antibodies belonged to the IgA class; in only 6 patients did the presence of IgM class antibodies indicate recent infection. In half the cases also antibody titres against Chlamydia were raised. The clinical features and course of the disease did not differ from those of acute anterior uveitis due to other causes.

Acute Disease↗