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Biomedical subjects

M Puukka

Publications and source records attributed to M Puukka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

New method for the determination of pancreatic amylase evaluated.

We have carried out a multicenter evaluation of a new reagent carrier for Reflotron, specific for pancreatic amylase where the salivary isoenzyme is inhibited by two specific monoclonal antibodies. This new procedure combines easy handling with low imprecision (median CV less than 3%) in control material, serum, heparinized blood, and plasma) and close correlation (r = 0.991 to 0.999) with established manual and automated methods. The same close correlation was found with values obtained from either venous or capillary finger-stick blood. Salivary amylase up to 54 kU/L (37 degrees C) was inhibited to about 97%. Endogenous interference by hemoglobin, bilirubin, triglycerides, cholesterol, or hematocrit was found to be negligible within a wide range of interferent concentrations. Out of a panel of 28 commonly used drugs it was shown that only two (ascorbic acid and paracetamol), and then only at toxic concentrations, caused a deviation in amylase activity of greater than 10%. From the results of this study we conclude that this new method is suitable for highly precise and accurate measurements of pancreatic amylase in emergency and routine laboratories.

Amylases↗
PubMed1989

Spice allergy: results of skin prick tests and RAST with spice extracts.

Skin prick tests (SPT) with freeze-dried spices and 5% (w/v) spice extracts were performed on 50 patients with 2+ or stronger SPT reactions to spices per se, and RAST were performed on 10 of them. Freeze-dried extracts produced mostly equal or stronger SPT reactions than corresponding whole spices, but 5% (w/v) extracts produced weaker reactions and also remained totally negative in some patients. Positive RAST results were seen in all 10 patients tested. The correlation between the RAST and SPT results was good for mustard and paprika, but poor for cayenne, coriander, caraway and white pepper. Five patients with positive SPT and RAST for spices contracted rhinitis from powdered spices in their working environments, and one patient suffered from gastrointestinal pains caused by spiced food. The others had noticed no clinical symptoms caused by spices. The present results thus indicate that both SPT and RAST should include purified spice extracts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The effect of bupivacaine paracervical block on the neurobehavioural responses of newborn infants.

The effects of maternal bupivacaine paracervical block on neonatal neurobehavioural responses were studied at the ages of 3 h, 1 day, 2 days and 4-5 days. Subjects were healthy, term neonates born vaginally to 10 mothers with paracervical block and to 12 mothers without analgesia. No statistically significant differences were found in the responses between the groups. It is concluded that paracervical block with a small dose of bupivacaine, applied by experienced obstetricians to non-risk parturients with healthy foetuses, has no detrimental effects on newborn behaviour or neurological recovery.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Postnatal decrease in insulin binding to erythrocytes in infants of diabetic mothers.

To clarify the role of insulin receptors in the macrosomia and the tendency to hypoglycemia in infants of mothers with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (IDM) we studied insulin binding in erythrocytes from mixed umbilical blood and from peripheral venous blood collected when the infants were 3-14 days old. Normal infants were matched for gestational and postnatal age. The IDM infants were macrosomic, with significantly higher birth weights relative to gestational age than the control infants. Plasma free insulin concentrations in cord blood were 15-fold higher in the IDM than in the normal infants and more than 3-fold higher in the peripheral venous blood at the median age of 4 days. Hypoglycemia occurred in 12 of the 17 IDM and in none of the normal infants. In umbilical blood insulin binding to erythrocytes was similar in the IDM and normal infants. In both groups insulin binding decreased during the first postnatal weeks, but the decrease was significantly greater in the IDM than in the normal infants. The decrease in insulin binding to erythrocytes was a consequence of decreased receptor affinity as well as decreased receptor concentration in the IDM infants, but was mainly due to decreased receptor concentration in the normal infants. We conclude that insulin binding to its erythrocyte receptor in cord blood in IDM infants is similar to that in normal infants in spite of the simultaneous gross hyperinsulinemia in the IDM infants. The resulting increase in insulin action would then contribute to the tendency toward hypoglycemia and may be partly responsible for the macrosomia in IDM infants. The marked postnatal decrease in insulin binding in IDM infants is a possible explanation for their diminishing risk of hypoglycemia after the first few days of life in spite of persisting hyperinsulinemia.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1987

The effect of segmental epidural analgesia on the neurobehavioural responses of newborn infants.

The effects of maternal segmental epidural analgesia on neonatal neurobehavioural responses were studied at the ages of 3 h, 1 day, 2 days and 4-5 days. Subjects were healthy, term neonates born vaginally to 14 mothers with an epidural block and to 15 mothers without analgesia. The only statistically significant differences were found at the age of 1 day, when the epidural group infants habituated and oriented better to inanimate auditory stimuli. It is concluded that segmental epidural analgesia with a low dose of bupivacaine can be regarded as being a safe obstetric analgesic method as regards neonatal behavioural responses.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1986

Levels of some purine metabolizing enzymes in lymphocytes from patients with Down's syndrome.

The activities of a number of purine metabolizing enzymes of erythrocytes and lymphocytes were determined in 18 subjects with Down's syndrome and in 18 age- and sex-matched control subjects. An increase of adenosine deaminase activity (adenosine or deoxyadenosine as substrates) was found in erythrocytes (P less than 0.001) as well as in lymphocytes (P less than 0.001) of Down's syndrome subjects compared to controls. The purine nucleoside phosphorylase activities in lymphocytes and plasma urate concentrations were also significantly higher in Down's syndrome subjects than in controls (P less than 0.001 and less than 0.02, respectively). Adenine phosphoribosyltransferase activities and hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase activities in lymphocytes were identical in the two groups. In all subjects studied there were positive correlations between the erythrocyte adenosine deaminase activities, lymphocyte adenosine deaminase or deoxyadenosine activities, and plasma urate concentrations (P less than 0.05 in all cases), and between lymphocyte nucleoside phosphorylase and lymphocyte adenosine deaminase or deoxyadenosine deaminase activities (P less than 0.01 and less than 0.05, respectively). The results suggest that increased activities of some purine metabolizing enzymes found in both erythrocytes and lymphocytes may contribute to increased purine degradation and hyperuricemia in subjects with Down's syndrome. In addition, the increased adenosine deaminase and nucleoside phosphorylase activities may be related to the immunological dysfunction found in subjects with Down's syndrome.

Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase↗
PubMed1986

Erythrocyte insulin binding in preterm newborn infants.

To characterize the erythrocyte insulin receptor in newborn infants we studied the binding of 125I-insulin to the erythrocytes from 42 preterm infants (14 at birth, 14 aged 2-7 days, and 14 aged 8-16 days) with a mean gestational age of 34.1 wk, and from 32 term infants (16 at birth and 16 aged 2-7 days). The insulin binding to cord blood erythrocytes from preterm infants was significantly higher than that of cord blood cells from term infants and to postnatal cells from preterm as well as term infants. The erythrocytes from preterm infants aged 2-7 days bound more insulin than cells from preterm infants aged 8-16 days. The maximum insulin binding (specific insulin binding at tracer concentration of insulin) correlated negatively with the gestational age both at birth and over the 1st postnatal wk. In the preterm infants there was a strong negative correlation between the maximum insulin binding and postnatal age. The enhanced insulin binding to cord blood erythrocytes from preterm infants was due to both an increased receptor concentration and a high affinity for insulin. The increased affinity persisted over the 1st wk of life. In preterm infants older than 1 wk the insulin binding characteristics were basically similar to those in term newborn infants. In all infants studied the receptor concentration seemed to be postnatal age dependent while the receptor affinity was gestational age dependent. No correlation was found between the insulin binding data and the plasma concentrations of immunoreactive insulin or C-peptide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1984

Maternal and fetal effects of low-dosage bupivacaine paracervical block.

Vasoconstriction of the uterine arteries, hypertonus of the uterus, and the direct toxic effects of a local anesthetic on the fetus or a combination of the above have been presented as etiological factors of fetal bradycardia following paracervical block. The reduce fetal side-effects a superficial and lowdosage technique of PCB have been advocated. We have studied the effects of 25 mg of bupivacaine PCB using the above technique on fetal heart rate pattern (FHR), fetal acid-base balance, uterine activity, placental blood flow and maternal and fetal plasma levels of bupivacaine in 38 patients. The analgesic effect of a single 25 mg of bupivacaine PCB was good in 76%, moderate in 12% and poor in 12% of the cases. No changes in maternal heart rate or in blood pressure were noted. Fetal bradycardia defined as a decrease of mean fetal heart rate of at least 20 bpm or an absolute rate less than 100 bpm and a duration greater than two minutes occurred in 12% of the cases. The mean amplitude of the baseline fetal heart rate variability decreased significantly after PCB and a silent pattern (an amplitude less than 5 bpm) was observed in 20% of the cases. The most frequent (27%) pathological finding in our study was the disappearance of FHR accelerations after PCB. Similarly early and late decelerations of FHR occurred more often after PCB than during the control period before the block. The fetal pH from scalp blood samples did not, on average, decrease after PCB, but did so in cases with fetal bradycardia. Intervillous blood flow as measured by the 133Xe washout method did not change when measured before and after PCB. In addition in three cases with fetal bradycardia the changes in the intervillous blood flow were minimal. No significant changes in the mean uterine tone, amplitude and frequency of contractions were observed after PCB. However, an obvious uterine hypertonus was observed after PCB was observed in three cases of fetal bradycardia but not in two other cases of bradycardia or in the 8 cases of silent FHR pattern. Mean maternal bupivacaine concentration 20 minutes after PCB was 0.14 +/- 0.06 microgram/ml and 0.07 +/- 0.04 microgram/ml at birth. Simultaneous fetal and umbilical venous and arterial concentrations were correspondingly 0.04 +/- 0.02 microgram/ml, 0.03 +/- 0.01 microgram/ml and 0.03 +/- 0.01 microgram/ml, and they were significantly lower than respective maternal concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

The effect of caffeine on placental and fetal blood flow in human pregnancy.

The effects of maternal ingestion of two cups of coffee were investigated in 20 pregnancies during the last trimester. Maternal serum caffeine and epinephrine concentrations after 30 minutes were significantly elevated as compared with the fasting values (p less than 0.01). The intervillous placental blood flow decreased almost significantly (p less than 0.05). The fetal umbilical vein blood flow was unchanged. In patients with hypertensive pregnancy in the series there was reduced intervillous blood flow initially, and these values did not change after the maternal caffeine intake. The decrease of placental blood supply and increased maternal serum epinephrine levels associated with maternal coffee ingestion may be potential perinatologic risks, and more investigation about caffeine effects in human pregnancy is needed.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1983

Exclusion of exogenous 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine from DNA in human leukemic cells. A study with [2(-14)C]- and [methyl-14C]5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine.

Modification of DNA-cytosine by a 5-methyl group is thought to be an important mechanism which regulates the expression of eukaryotic genes. This modification takes place after semiconservative replication. There is very little evidence, if any, that 5MeCyt could be naturally incorporated into mammalian DNA in semiconservative replication. We have clarified the possibility of incorporating 5MedCyd pharmacologically into human leukemic cells in vitro. To this end, we developed a novel small-scale synthesis method for 14C-labeled 5MedCyd starting from commercially available [14C]dThd derivatives. Particular attention was focused upon possible incorporation of radioactive 5MedCyd derivatives into the acid-soluble cellular fraction as well as into nucleic acids and protein in human cells. The results showed that [2(-14)C]- and [methyl-14C]5MedCyd were incorporated into human leukemic cells to a similar extent. The radioactivity originating from these compounds was incorporated mainly into the acid-soluble pool and nucleic acids. The exact nature of the intracellular radioactive molecules in RNA is not known, but the radioactive label in DNA hydrolyzate co-chromatographed exclusively with thymine. Hence, 5MedCyd is deaminated to thymidine before incorporating into DNA. This deamination had taken place already (partially) in the culture medium. Human leukemic cells do effectively protect their DNA from incorporation of exogenous 5MedCyd.

5-Methylcytosine↗
PubMed1983

Erythrocyte insulin binding in normal infants, children and adults.

To establish normal insulin binding criteria, we studied the binding of insulin to erythrocytes from normal subjects of different ages. Insulin binding to cord erythrocytes and to erythrocytes from infants aged 2-7 days was significantly higher at tracer and physiological insulin concentrations than was binding to cells from children aged 1-15 years and adults. In infants aged 1-12 months the maximum insulin binding to erythrocytes was significantly higher than that to erythrocytes from children, and in addition, it correlated negatively with age. An increase in receptor concentration was found in cord erythrocytes whereas an increased receptor affinity for insulin was found in erythrocytes from infants. Insulin binding characteristics in erythrocytes from prepubertal and pubertal children were basically similar to those in women. Erythrocytes from men bound significantly higher amounts of insulin than did those from women. This difference was associated with changes in receptor affinity for insulin. There was no correlation between the insulin binding characteristics and the circulating concentration of insulin or C-peptide. The increased erythrocyte insulin binding at birth persisted over the neonatal period. There was an overall negative correlation between the maximum insulin binding and age in the subjects studied, but the major decrease in erythrocytes insulin binding occurred during the first year of life past the neonatal period. These observations stress the importance of using age-matched controls in studies on erythrocyte insulin binding in disease states.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Basal insulin secretion and erythrocyte insulin binding in preterm and term newborn infants.

To study the ontogeny of the insulin secretion and the erythrocyte insulin receptor we measured plasma immunoreactive insulin and C-peptide concentrations and the binding of [125I]-insulin to the erythrocytes in cord blood from 16 preterm and 16 term infants. 20 normal-weight adults were also studied. The C-peptide concentrations and the molar ratio of C-peptide to insulin were lower in the newborn infants than in the adults. The immunoreactive insulin correlated positively with birth weight in the term infants. The insulin binding to erythrocytes from the newborn infants was increased when compared to the adults. Erythrocytes from the preterm infants bound more insulin than the cells from the term infants. There was a strong negative correlation between insulin binding and gestational age. In the term infants, plasma C-peptide correlated negatively with the insulin binding. The increased binding to erythrocytes from the term infants was due to an increase in the receptor concentration. The high insulin binding in the preterm infants was a result of both an increased receptor concentration and affinity. These data suggest that the basal insulin secretion is similar in preterm and term infants and that the clearance of insulin is decreased in newborn infants. The increased insulin binding in newborn infants may be a mechanism by which the growth stimulatory effect of insulin in fetal life is mediated.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Propionic acidaemia. First case in the Finnish population.

Propionic acidaemia is a defect of propionyl-CoA-carboxylase activity characterized by urinary excretion of propionic acid, its metabolites and hyperglycinaemia. The clinical picture of this autosomally, recessively inherited disorder, which has been reported in the literature in 63 patients varies from overwhelming metabolic crisis in the neonate to an almost asymptomatic disease responding to protein restriction and biotin supplementation. The first Finnish patient with propionic acidaemia had a severe type of disease with neonatal onset simulating nonketotic hyperglycinaemia. In spite of protein restriction and biotin supplementation this infant developed progressive psychomotor retardation and died of intercurrent infection at the age of 8.5 months. The definite, correct diagnosis was not reached until a severe infection occurred, during which the pathognomonic organic aciduria manifested. This delay in the diagnosis illustrates the importance of performing the analysis of urinary excretion of organic acids during stress situations, such as infections, since the metabolic block may be undetectable under normal conditions.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗
PubMed1982

Erythrocyte adenosine deaminase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase and phosphoribosyltransferase activity in patients with Down's syndrome.

The erythrocyte adenosine deaminase, nucleoside phosphorylase, hypoxanthineguanine phosphoribosyltransferase and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase activities and plasma urate concentrations were measured in 20 cases of Down's syndrome and in 20 age- and sex-matched control subjects. The mean erythrocyte adenosine deaminase and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase activities and plasma urate concentrations were significantly higher in Down's syndrome subjects than in controls (p less than 0.001, p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.001, respectively). In all subjects studied there was a positive correlation between the erythrocyte adenosine deaminase activity and plasma urate concentration (r = 0.488, p less than 0.005). The concentrations of the erythrocyte adenine nucleotides, AMP, ADP and ATP, did not differ in Down's syndrome (n = 10) from those of control subjects (n = 10). The results suggest that the increase of plasma urate concentrations is a consequence of the increase in adenosine deaminase activity in Down's syndrome patients.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1981

Elevated erythrocyte adenosine deaminase activity in Down's syndrome.

Erythrocyte ADA activity was measured in 29 cases of Down's syndrome and in 29 age- and sex-matched controls subjects. The mean activity (+/- S.D.) of ADA in Down's syndrome was 1883 +/- 463 mU/g Hb (37 degrees C) and 1361 +/- 294 mU/g Hb in the controls. The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.001). The purine metabolism of Down's syndrome patients is discussed.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed1980

A rapid and simple gas-liquid chromatographic determination of valproic acid (alpha-propyl-valeric acid) in serum.

A simple and rapid gas-liquid chromatographic method for the determination of valproic acid in serum is described. Valproic acid is extracted from acidified serum into chloroform and analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography using an FFAP column. The sensitivity of the method is 5 mumol/l and the within-run and day-to-day precisions (CV) are 4.5% or better. Analytical recovery is estimated to exceed 98% and no interference from other drugs or constituents of serum has been observed. The method was used to study the half-life of valproic acid in five healthy persons receiving a single oral dose of the drug, and the technique is well adapted to the routine monitoring of epileptic patients. In routine analysis, the determination of 50 serum samples may be performed by one technician during a normal working day.

Epilepsy↗
PubMed1979

Effect of dexamethasone on prolactin secretion in late pregnancy.

It is established that PRL secretion is regulated by estrogens. Glucocorticoids, on the other hand, suppress estrogen secretion during pregnancy and may also inhibit PRL by direct hypothalamopituitary action. In this study PRL and estradiol were determined with specific radioimmunoassays in 14 women during gestational weeks 28 to 34 prior to, during, and following short-term intramuscular dexamethasone administration (12, 8, and 4 mg on three consecutive days) used for prophylaxis of RDS in preterm infants. There were no significant alterations in PRL serum concentrations; estradiol showed a significant drop (P less than 0.001) during all 3 days of treatment, returning to the pretreatment level on posttreatment day 1. The PRL and TSH responses to 200 micrograms of intravenous TRH on day 2 or 3 of dexamethasone treatment in six women during late pregnancy were not inhibited. Short-term dexamethasone treatment with pharmacologic doses does not suppress the physiologic secretion and release of PRL or the release induced by TRH during late pregnancy.

Adolescent↗