Luminometric Label Array for Counting and Differentiation of Bacteria.

Methods for simple and fast detection and differentiation of bacterial species are required, for instance, in medicine, water quality monitoring, and the food industry. Here, we have developed a novel label array method for the counting and differentiation of bacterial species. This method is based on the nonspecific interactions of multiple unstable lanthanide chelates and selected chemicals within the sample leading to a luminescence signal profile that is unique to the bacterial species.

Nonspecific luminometric assay for monitoring protein adsorption efficiency and coverage on nanoparticles.

Nonspecific assays utilizing time-resolved luminescence resonance energy transfer (TR-LRET) are developed for two applications: to monitor protein adsorption efficiency and to assess the degree of surface coverage on the solid phase. We successfully measure the adsorption efficiency of non-sedimenting nanoparticles since this has been notoriously difficult to determine. Monitoring of the protein adsorption on nanoparticles does not require the nanoparticles with the adsorbed protein to be washed and it is based on the competitive adsorption between the non-adsorbed analyte protein and the acceptor-labeled protein to donor europium(iii) polystyrene nanoparticles.

Luminometric Label Array for Quantification and Identification of Metal Ions.

Quantification and identification of metal ions has gained interest in drinking water and environmental analyses. We have developed a novel label array method for the quantification and identification of metal ions in drinking water. This simple ready-to-go method is based on the nonspecific interactions of multiple unstable lanthanide chelates and nonantenna ligands with sample leading to a luminescence signal profile, unique to the sample components.

Coordinate-based mapping--a new method in health services research.

The Finnish national hospital discharge registers from 1985 and 1988 have been analysed by the National Board of Health. Results are provided for all the 21 Finnish hospital districts and central communal organizations. The small area variation phenomenon in hospital utilization cannot be explained by demographic or epidemiological factors.

Multiple-dose pharmacokinetic study with a slow-release carbamazepine preparation.

The pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and side effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) in the steady-state condition were studied using a slow-release preparation (SR), Neurotol Slow, and a conventional preparation (C), Tegretol. Eighteen adult epileptic patients under CBZ therapy were evaluated in this single-blind, randomized cross-over study. The previous daily CBZ dose was kept unchanged and divided into 2 daily doses during two 2 week study periods.

Efficacy of nimodipine in comparison with pizotifen in the prophylaxis of migraine.

The efficacy of nimodipine in comparison with that of pizotifen was assessed in the prophylaxis of migraine in a double-blind cross-over study, in which a double-dummy technique was also utilized. The study was carried out on 43 migraine patients, of whom 15 had classic and 28 had common migraine. A 4-week run-in placebo period preceded the drug treatments, the drug treatments lasted 12 weeks, and there was a washout placebo period of 4 weeks between nimodipine and pizotifen treatments.

Relevance of prostaglandins in migraine.

Prostaglandins (PG), particularly PGE, may be linked to the pathophysiology of migraine in several important ways. PGE1 may "simulate" a migraine attack in healthy volunteers. PGE may be elevated in patients with migraine.

Efficacy of nimodipine in the prophylaxis of migraine.

The efficacy of nimodipine in the prophylaxis of migraine was assessed in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study carried out on 33 patients, 20 of whom suffered from classic and 13 from common migraine. Four patients dropped out, but not as a result of the side effects of the drug. The duration of drug treatment was 8 weeks.

Ergotamine abuse: results of ergotamine discontinuation, with special reference to the plasma concentrations.

Twenty-three patients suffering from continuous headache linked with habitual daily use of ergotamine tartrate were studied. Their headaches were classified clinically, and possible side effects of ergotamine medication, plasma levels of ergotamine, and occurrence of withdrawal symptoms after discontinuation of drug abuse were recorded. Seventeen of the patients were clinically diagnosed as suffering from "ergotamine headache", and seven of them complained of coldness in the extremities.

Relationship between plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and anticonvulsant levels in epileptics.

Plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is a recognized negative risk factor for coronary heart disease. In this study, therapy with phenytoin alone, carbamazepine alone, and phenytoin in combination with phenobarbital was associated with elevated plasma HDL cholesterol concentrations. The highest HDL cholesterol levels were seen in subjects treated with the combination of phenytoin and phenobarbital.

Cerebrospinal fluid protein findings in cervical syndromes classified by myelography, and in multiple sclerosis.

Determinations of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) albumin, IgG, albumin blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability and local IgG synthesis indexes in CNS were carried out on 85 patients with various neck, shoulder and upper extremity pain syndromes. CSF was obtained by lumbar puncture in 29, and by lateral neck puncture in 56 of the patients. The patients were classified into 3 different groups according to varying severity of degenerative changes, or cavitation verified by myelography.

Non-invasive external regional measurement of cerebral circulation time changes in supratentorial infarctions using pertechnetate.

A method for measuring regional cerebral circulation time (rCCT) between the hemispheres using intravenous pertechnetate and a multidetector system is presented. Interhemispheric differences of rCCT instead of absolute values were selected because of the variation of pertechnetate bolus dispersion due to changes in the systemic circulation and injection technique inter-and intraindividually. Time activity curves over one minute were analyzed by a modified gamma function fitting method.

Serial measurements of quantitative EEG and cerebral blood flow and circulation time after brain infarction.

The quantitative EEG (QEEG), regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and circulation time of 17 patients were examined semisimultaneously thrice during the first 3 months after a cerebral supratentorial infarction. The EEG was quantified according to normalized slope descriptor technique in nine patients and by means of a combined period and amplitude analysis in eight patients. Intravenously injected isotopes 133Xenon and 99TcmO4 were used for blood flow and circulation time measurements.

Neuropsychologic outcome after open-heart surgery.

A neuropsychologic (NP) study was carried out on 49 patients who had had cardiac valvular replacement to investigate the determinants of postoperative outcome. The results were assessed together with operative data and with neurologic and quantitative EEG (QEEG) findings. Of the operative variables, perfusion time and unexpected intraoperative events were the most important factors leading to postoperative NP impairment.

Evaluation of cerebral infarctions of the carotid area by an intravenous 133Xenon and 99mTechnetium method.

Quantitative determinations of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBFf, rCBFm) and volume (rCBV), transfer time (rCTT) and fast compartmental weight (Wf) were performed in 34 patients with infarctions of the carotid area by a 133Xe and 99mTc intravenous injection method. The results were compared with clinical signs and electroencephalographic (EEG) findings. A significant difference was found between the lesion side and the control side in all the parameters except rCBV.

Plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in epileptics treated with various anticonvulsants.

Plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in 97 epileptics on long-term anticonvulsant therapy was investigated. Therapy with phenytoin alone or in combination with carbamazepine or phenobarbital was associated with elevated plasma HDL cholesterol levels as compared with controls. HDL cholesterol in patients treated with carbamazepine did not diverge from control values.

Systemic availability of ergotamine tartrate in healthy subjects after single and repeated oral doses.

The studies presented indicate that ergotamine tartrate taken orally in single or repeated 2 mg doses is biologically available in most of the subjects examined. The peak plasma concentration of the drug in the ng/ml range is attained at 1-2 hours. It seems probable that there is a second rise in the plasma concentrations of the drug, possibly indicating an accumulation of ergotamine or some of its immunoreactive metabolites, and this needs further evaluation.

Systemic availability of ergotamine tartrate in continuous medication.

There seems to be great individual differences in the bioavailability of ergotamine in continuous use. The great tolerance to ergotamine in some patients using the drug on a daily basis, even in high doses, may be due to the low-bioavailability of ergotamine in these subjects. This may also explain the infrequency of serious complications among migraine patients.

Brachial plexus and radicular neurography in relation to cortical evoked responses.

An application of somatosensory potential recording suitable for clinical neurodiagnostics is described. Evoked responses were recorded with surface electrodes at four levels between wrist and scalp: Erb's point, seventh cervical spine, inion, and the somatosensory area of the scalp. The normal latency and latency difference values based on 16 healthy subjects are presented as well as those of four examples of pathological cases with lesions at various levels in the nervous system.

Juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A report of two cases in a single family.

This paper presents two juvenile cases of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. They are the first and fourth child in a family with seven children from the eastern part of Finland. All seven children, as well as the parents, were examined by our group.

Cerebrospinal fluid protein findings in various lower back pain syndromes.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) total protein, albumin and IgG concentrations were measured in 53 patients with lower back pain syndromes. In the majority of the patients (81 %) the protein values were within normal ranges, a finding contrary to previous studies. In six of 28 patients with acute lumbar disc prolapse and in two of four cases with spinal stenosis, a clearly abnormal protein pattern was observed, while patients who had been earlier operated on for disc prolapse showed normal values.