Biomedical subjects

P M Mäkelä

Publications and source records attributed to P M Mäkelä.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1994

Characteristics of plasma protein binding of tacrine hydrochloride: a new drug for Alzheimer's disease.

The aim of this study was to characterise the plasma protein binding of tacrine hydrochloride (THA) in vitro. Binding was assessed in the plasma of 11 healthy individuals aged 20 to 27 years using ultrafiltration followed by HPLC assay. At THA concentrations from 10 to 100 ng/ml protein binding ranged from 78.6 to 71.0%. Binding to commercially available human albumin ranged from 41.7 to 38.3% and to human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein from 23.1 to 12.4% over the THA concentrations from 25 to 100 ng/ml. THA binding and total plasma protein, plasma albumin and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein were measured in healthy young subjects (n = 13), healthy elderly individuals (n = 12) and patients hospitalised with acute illnesses (n = 8). There were significant differences between the groups in total plasma protein, plasma albumin and in alpha 1-acid glycoprotein but no differences in the protein binding of THA which remained constant at about 75%. There was no correlation between THA binding and any plasma protein concentration. The THA binding was not high enough to be of major significance clinically or to reduce the validity of total plasma THA measurement in therapeutic monitoring.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

The ability of the ropy slime-producing lactic acid bacteria to form ropy colonies on different culture media and at different incubation temperatures and atmospheres.

The ability of the ropy slime-producing lactic acid bacteria to form ropy colonies aerobically and anaerobically on APT, MRS, MRS-S and Rogosa SL agars at 15, 20 and 30 degrees C was tested. Wide variation was observed in the proportion of ropy colonies produced with different culture methods and different test periods. The percentage of viscous colonies was usually highest at 15 degrees C. No suitable uniform method for all strains was found; and the results varied according to the bacterial strain studied. For testing purposes, use of the method producing the highest proportion of ropy colonies for each bacterial strain is recommended.

Culture Media↗

PubMed1992

Ropy slime-producing lactic acid bacteria contamination at meat processing plants.

At three Finnish meat processing plants the processing rooms, meat trimmings and carcasses were examined for the presence of ropy slime-producing lactic acid bacteria. Bacterial isolates similar to ropy slime-producing lactobacilli strains able to produce ropy slime on meat products, were recovered from the processing rooms and meat trimmings, indicating that these rooms and raw materials are a source of contamination for ropy bacteria. The ability to produce ropy slime would appear to be a common characteristic of lactobacilli, since altogether 10 different ropy lactobacilli groups were isolated in this study.

Air Microbiology↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Assessment of the value of therapeutic monitoring of tacrine in Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to validate the lower end of the putative therapeutic range of serum tacrine concentrations of 7-20 ng ml(-1) in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: The relationship between dose, steady-state serum tacrine concentrations and change in MMSE score (a measure of cognitive function) was examined in 106 Alzheimer's disease patients who had been treated with the drug for 12 weeks. RESULTS: In all, 72% of patients showed some response, but there was no relationship between dose and the chance of a favourable outcome. The proportion of patients with serum concentrations above 7 ng x ml(-1) who improved (79%) was significantly greater than that of those with serum concentrations below this level (47%) (P < 0.02). Also, a significantly greater proportion of patients with serum concentrations above both 5 ng x ml(-1) and 9 ng x ml(-1) showed improvement in comparison to those with concentrations below these levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that therapeutic monitoring of serum tacrine concentrations might increase the possibility of responding to tacrine by some 68%. This represents an important contribution to the management of Alzheimer's disease patients with this drug, and may also be relevant to the use of the newer generation of cholinesterase inhibitors.

Aged↗