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Biomedical subjects

S O Markkanen

Publications and source records attributed to S O Markkanen.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Free amino acid levels in oral fluids of normal subjects and patients with periodontal disease.

The content of free amino acids in submandibular, parotid and whole saliva and in gingival fluid was measured by automatic analyser in patients with progressive periodontitis and in controls. The concentration of individual amino acids showed considerable variation in all the fluids. Two amino acids, proline and delta-aminovaleric acid, were never found in gingival fluid or in submandibular and parotid saliva, although detectable in whole saliva. Thus, these amino acids must appear in whole saliva as a result of bacterial metabolism or by degradation of salivary proteins rich in proline. The free amino acid levels in whole saliva did not reflect those of any of the single oral fluids analysed, further stressing the importance of bacterial metabolism as a cause of the wide range of amino acid concentrations. Because of the multifactorial origin of these free amino acids, their determination in oral fluids is of no practical diagnostic value except perhaps in extreme cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Gingival fluid, beta 2-microglobulin and protein levels as indicators of periodontal disease.

beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m), lysozyme and protein concentrations in gingival fluid were analyzed in 19 patients with severe periodontitis and in 19 controls devoid of any clinical signs of inflammation. A significant increase of the total protein and beta 2-m levels was found in periodontal subjects. In contrast, lysozyme concentration did not reflect the inflammatory status of the periodontium. Statistical analyses showed significant correlations between beta 2-m and protein concentrations in both groups. Furthermore, the values obtained by Periotron 600 closely correlated with the protein and beta 2-m contents, indicating that this method is a reliable aid in assessment of the quantity and quality of crevicular exudate and thus the severity of periodontal disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Assessment of labial salivary gland changes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis by subjective and quantitative methods.

Biopsy of the minor salivary glands is an accepted method in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome, the most characteristic feature being the prominent inflammatory cell infiltration. However, difficulties exist in the early diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome. The present study was conducted to analyse by subjective and quantitative methods the morphological changes of the salivary glands in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) frequently complicated by Sjögren's syndrome. The subjects of this study were 71 RA patients (mean age 54 +/- 15 years) and their 45 healthy age-matched controls (mean age 60 +/- 14 years). The histologic parameters evaluated were: inflammatory cell infiltration; acinar atrophy; fibrosis, and fatty infiltration. Statistically significant differences between the RA and the control groups were found in all parameters (p less than 0.001) except the fatty infiltration. This indicates that destruction of the salivary glands including fibrosis and acinar atrophy is associated with RA. Only the fatty infiltration seems to be an age-dependent change. All salivary gland biopsies of the RA patients were photographed and evaluated planimetrically, for the same parameters as in the subjective evaluation. An excellent reproducibility between the two methods was found, thus indicating the applicability of the subjective evaluation in the assessment of early salivary gland changes in RA patients.

Adult↗