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T Mattila

Publications and source records attributed to T Mattila.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Cost-effectiveness of screening for familial abdominal aortic aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Screening for familial abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is widely recommended. To analyze cost-effectiveness of screening for familial AAAs incremental cost-effectiveness (C/E) analysis based on an ultrasound screening among relatives and a decision model of screening program was compared to a baseline situation without systematic screening. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 74% (238/322) of first-degree relatives of 150 consecutive AAA patients were screened at HUCH (Helsinki University Central Hospital). Effectiveness and costs of treatment were assessed using the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register and from survival analysis of 1130 AAA patients who underwent elective or emergency surgery in HUCH. To form incremental C/E-ratios the existing clinical practice was compared to a screening program for male siblings. Hypothetical screened and control cohorts of 1000 male relatives were used to create the decision model. Parameters in C/E-analyses were derived from our own data except for growth and rupture rates. A sensitivity analysis was carried out. RESULTS: The incremental effectiveness in life-years gained by the screening of male siblings was 92 years with incremental C/E-ratio of FIM 33,000 ($6200). According to sensitivity analysis the C/E-ratios were robust for all variables tested. CONCLUSIONS: Screening of male siblings of AAA patients produces incremental life-years at low cost thus screening of male siblings is highly recommended.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Effects of season and processing on oil content and fatty acids of baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras).

Fatty acid composition, oil content, free fatty acid content, and peroxide value of Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras) and two processed products (fried fillets and fish burgers) were investigated. The highest oil content of the fillets was found in autumn (10%), at the time when the free fatty acids had their minimum (1.4%). The main fatty acids were oleic (18-23%), palmitic (17%), palmitoleic (8-12%), and docosahexaeneoic (8-10%) acids. The proportion of saturated fatty acids was a constant 23% all year around, whereas mono- and polyunsaturated acids varied from 34 to 39% and 33 to 37%, respectively. During processing the oil content doubled and the fatty acid composition changed to the pattern of the rapeseed oil used for frying. Oleic acid was a major fatty acid in the products comprising over 40% of the total fatty acids. The proportion of n-3 acids decreased during processing but the total amount of polyunsaturated acids remained fairly constant.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

A three-dimensional stomatal CO2 exchange model including gaseous phase and leaf mesophyll separated by irregular interface

A three-dimensional model was constructed for studying the diffusion of CO2 molecules from air into stomatal air spaces and further into leaf mesophyll cells. The model covers two different phases, mesophyll and air, with appropriate boundary conditions. Sinks for CO2 molecules were obtained from a well-known biochemical photosynthesis model parametrized for Scots pine. The effects of the varying stomatal geometry on the CO2 flux and intercellular-air-space (IAS) and mesophyll concentrations were examined. The net CO2 flux is sensitive to the size of the IAS-mesophyll interface when the mesophyll transport coefficient is low, equalling the diffusivity of CO2 in water. The simulations have revealed an optimum between the volume of the assimilating mesophyll and the air-mesophyll interface. The solubility of CO2 molecules into water in the cell surfaces, which depends on temperature and pH, had a clear effect on the flux. Increasing pH from the value indicated by the physical solubility (pH reverse similar6) leads to an increase in the temperature maximum for CO2 flux into higher temperatures and to unrealistically high CO2 concentrates in the mesophyll. Copyright 1999 Academic Press

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Heart transplantation in Finland 1985-1995.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Since improved immunosuppression in the 1980's, heart transplantation is a well established procedure to treat patients with end-stage heart failure. The first heart transplantation in Finland was performed in 1985. Since then the activity has gradually increased to a level of about 25 annual transplants. The aim of this report is to sum up the clinical experience during the first 11 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 1985 till the end of 1995, 190 heart transplantations were performed in our institution. There were 176 males and 14 females ranging from 15 to 62 (mean 42.2) years of age. End-stage preoperative cardiac disease was dilating cardiomyopathy in 108 cases, coronary artery disease in 65 cases, valvular disease in 12 cases and congenital heart disease in five cases. RESULTS: The 30-day hospital mortality was 29 out of 190 (15.2%). The actuarial survival was 77% at one year, 75% at two years and 73% at 10 years. The most common causes of death were rejection (11 cases), graft failure (11 cases), abdominal complications (six cases) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (four cases). A total of 87 rejection episodes occurred in 53 patients consisting 28 per cent of patients. 44 rejections occurred within three months post transplantation. Significant infections were noted in 198 instances in 97 patients. These were of bacterial origin in 92, viral in 48, fungal in 12 and protozoal in 10 cases, and 36 such infections which responded to antibiotics favourably but in which the microbe remained unidentified. 138 infections (i.e. 80%) occurred within 6 months post transplantation. In viral infections cytomegalovirus (CMV) predominated (29 out of 48). The CMV infection was significantly milder in patients who were seropositive preoperatively than in preoperatively seronegative patients with seropositive donors. CMV infection was associated with increased risk of post-transplant coronary artery disease. Three years after transplantation some restoration of sympathetic nervous response was observed at orthostatic test in heart rate and blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that 1) if a patient survives the three immediate postoperative months, his prognosis is good for the forthcoming years, 2) clinically significant rejections occur in less than one third of the patients, 3) cytomegalovirus is the most harmful agent post transplantation and a risk factor for post-transplant coronary artery disease and that 4) some restoration of sympathetic nervous control of the heart occurs within three years after transplantation.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Rheumatoid arthritis as a cause of cardiac compression. Favourable long-term outcome of pericardiectomy.

In order to clarify the significance of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a cause of cardiac compression, we scrutinized pericardiectomy files of 47 patients over a ten-year period at two university hospitals in Finland. Five patients with RA were found. All the patients with RA were men with seropositive disease and subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules. Two of the patients had pulmonary fibrosis, one had cutaneous vasculitis and three had had rheumatoid pleurisy. There was a mean delay of 10 months from the first cardiac symptom to the diagnosis of cardiac compression, the most common misdiagnosis being primarily a liver disease. On the basis of clinical and operative data, four out of the five patients had constrictive pericarditis and one had an effusive-constrictive form of the disease. The histopathological findings in all cases were consistent with chronic fibrosing pericarditis. A follow-up of seven to seventeen years of four patients has not revealed any signs of recurrent pericardial disease. Our results demonstrate that RA is an important aetiological factor for cardiac compression. The long-term outcome of this manifestation seems to be good after pericardiectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Dose ranging study: cetirizine in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in adults.

One hundred seventy-eight adults with atopic dermatitis were included in this double-blind, parallel, randomized study where the effects of placebo, and cetirizine, 10, 20, and 40 mg administered daily during 4 weeks were measured. Local rescue therapy, which consisted of emollients and 1% hydrocortisone, was permitted and patients in all four groups used it in the same regular way. Severity of atopic dermatitis was measured via the following parameters: pruritus (visual analog scales used by both the investigator and patients), four point scale (absent, slight, moderate and serious) symptom scores for erythema, vesicles, excoriation, and lichenification in 14 body areas and a final visit assessment of the patient's general condition. The patient's quality of sleep was also measured along with standard blood chemistry tests. Adverse events during the study were recorded as well. In total 127 patients were assessed for efficacy. A statistically significant (P < or = .05) improvement was observed in all therapeutic groups for the following parameters: erythema, excoriation, lichenification, total symptom score, area involved, and pruritus. Cetirizine showed a dose-related improvement in the following parameters measured: erythema, lichenification, total symptom score, area involved, final assessment, and pruritus (measured by the patient at each visit). At 40 mg, cetirizine was significantly (P < or = .05) more effective than placebo for these parameters. At 20 mg, this was true only for pruritus (measured by the patient at each visit).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1990

Effect of cleaning-in-place disinfectants on wild bacterial strains isolated from a milking line.

Two cleaning-in-place disinfectant systems (alkaline-acid, alkaline-Cl2) were tested on wild bacteria isolated from a milking line. Most of the isolated strains were Gram-negative and capsule-positive. The effect of milk and cream on the resistance of the wild strains to the cleaning systems was tested. Suspension tests did not show the resistance of bacteria whereas the surface test showed high resistance towards all cleaning-agents. Milk had a protective effect only on the surfaces whereas cream showed mild protection in suspension and complete protection on the surfaces. It was concluded that the growth pattern of contaminants on surfaces needs further attention and the laboratory suspension tests do not correlate with the practical situation. Disinfectant tests based on bacterial growth on the surface are of importance.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Sequestration of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase in somatic cells during experimental bovine mastitis induced by endotoxin, Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus agalactiae.

Experimental mastitis was induced in cows by intramammary infusion of endotoxin, Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus agalactiae. The inflammatory response was monitored by somatic cell counting and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase). NAGase activity was analysed in fresh milk samples in parallel with samples treated by a cycle of freezing and thawing combined with detergent treatment to release the cell-bound NAGase. Before the udder reacted by inflammation, the total NAGase activity consisted of free extracellular activity. Later on when the inflammation was established, much of the milk NAGase remained sequestered intracellularly. S agalactiae was linked with a high degree of cellular NAGase sequestration indicating a blockage of the lysosomal release function from the phagocytes. S aureus delayed the inflammatory response.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1989

Preincubation time and the use of oxygen indicators in determining the microbiological quality of aseptically packed pea and tomato soup.

In order to get accurate information about the preincubation time needed for viscous aseptic products, the growth characteristics of three food poisoning organisms Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus in pea soup, and one spoilage organism, Lactobacillus plantarum, in tomato soup, were followed during a preincubation period at 30 degrees C for 14 days. The sterile food packs were sealed into polyamidepolyethylene laminate bags containing different headspace gas concentrations (21% oxygen + 80% nitrogen, 5% oxygen + 95% nitrogen and 100% nitrogen). Bacterial growth was followed every second day by counting the number of colony forming units and following the headspace oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations. The bacterial strains differed in their growth characteristics, especially in their ability to consume oxygen from the headspace, and also in their ability to produce carbon dioxide. The headspace oxygen concentration was also followed by oxygen indicators in order to determine the correlation with the oxygen concentration of the headspace and the growth of bacteria. The bacterial growth followed more closely the concentration of carbon dioxide than the concentration of oxygen. It was concluded that further studies are needed to determine the preincubation period for viscous aseptic products in order to furnish accurate data on the growth characteristics of low numbers of bacteria in aseptic foods at different headspace gas compositions.

Bacillus cereus↗
PubMed1989

Bacterial growth in mastitic whey in relation to bacterial association with mastitis.

The growth of mastitis pathogens (eight strains) and non-pathogenic bacteria (eight strains) was studied using microturbidometry. All bacteria grew well in whey originating from uninflamed quarters. However, the growth of bacteria which are not considered to be mastitis pathogens (Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus lactis and Pseudomonas fluorescens) became suppressed by whey from mastitic quarters. On the contrary, the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was generally better in mastitic samples. Streptococcus agalactiae showed inconsistent results.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Non-oxidative antibacterial activity of bovine neutrophil granule proteins towards mastitis pathogens.

Acid extracts of bovine neutrophil granules displayed potent antibacterial activity towards a number of mastitis pathogens in vitro. Killing of pathogens by acid extractable granule protein was dependent on incubation time, protein concentration, bacterial cell load, pH and ionic strength. Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms showed variable sensitivity to granule extract. Strains of Staphylococcus aureus were the most resistant of tested organisms to granule extract. Gram-negative organisms were neither consistently more nor less sensitive than Gram-positive organisms. Maximal killing of Gram-positive pathogens, after 30 minutes exposure to granule extract at 37 degrees C, occurred between pH 7.0 and 8.0. The Gram-negative organism Escherichia coli B117 was more sensitive to neutrophil granule extract at pH 5.0.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Pathological changes in the mammary gland and biochemical changes in milk of the goat following oral dosing with leaf of the avocado (Persea americana).

Two varieties of avocado leaves (Persea americana var Guatemalan and var Mexican) were administered to lactating goats. The Mexican variety was without effect. The Guatemalan variety in doses exceeding 20 g fresh leaf per kg bodyweight, produced damage to the mammary gland with decreased milk production. The lesions were characterised by oedema and reddening, with clots in the large ducts. Microscopically, there was widespread degeneration and necrosis of the secretory epithelium, the necrotic cells sloughing into the lumen. There was no significant cellular inflammatory response. Concentrations of antitrypsin in the milk, indicating changes in vascular permeability, increased rapidly 15 h after a single high dose, coinciding with palpable oedema. Concentrations of NAGase, indicating cell damage, increased after 24 h. Goats given multiple doses followed a similar pattern but the initial response was delayed. The toxic principle, and its mode of action in selectively damaging mammary secretory cells, remains to be determined.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗