0000000000387170
AUTHOR
Yrjö T. Konttinen
showing 6 related works from this author
Pro-inflammatory, Pleiotropic, and Anti-inflammatory TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in Experimental Porcine Intervertebral Disk Degeneration
2009
The aim of this study was to check the balance between tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in well-developed end-stage disk disease in the disk itself as well as in paradiskal spine. In 6 domestic pigs the cranial bony end plate of the L4 vertebra was perforated to the nucleus pulposus. At 3 months the degenerated experimental and contiguous control disks, together with the adjoining bony and cartilaginous vertebral end plates, bone marrow, and spinal ligaments, were excised and used for immunohistochemical analysis. In general, there were more TNF-α and in particular IL-10 positive cells in the degenerated disks than in the control disks, where…
Collagenolytic proteinases in keratoconus.
2006
To study the proteolytic phenomena contributing to the pathogenesis of keratoconus, corneal enzymes with potential to cleave fibrillar collagen were studied.Immunohistochemical labeling was undertaken of conventional and novel mammalian collagenases (MMP-1, -2, -8, -13, and -14) of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family and other collagenolytic proteinases of the serine (human trypsin-2) and cysteine (cathepsin K) endoproteinase families. The results were analyzed using a semiquantitative scoring system.Labeling of MMP-8 was moderate in healthy controls, but weak in keratoconus. Moderate MMP-2 and weak MMP-14 expressions were similar in controls and keratoconus. MMP-1 was slightly overex…
Intraoral electrostimulator for xerostomia relief: a long-term, multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled, clinical trial
2012
Objective A previous sham-controlled multinational study demonstrated the short-term efficacy and safety for xerostomia treatment of an intraoral device that delivers electrostimulation to the lingual nerve. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that those beneficial effects would be sustained over an 11-month period. Study Design The device was tested on a mixed sample of 94 patients with xerostomia in an open-label, uncontrolled, prospective multicenter trial. Statutory outcome assessments were done at 5th, 8th, and 11th months and analyzed by multiple comparisons. Results Improvements achieved at month 5 from baseline were sustained throughout the follow-up period for th…
Elevated Protein Content and Prolyl 4-Hydroxylase Activity in Severely Degenerated Human Annulus Fibrosus
2000
Alterations involved with the intervertebral disc degeneration are partly well described, however, it is not so well known how collagen network is affected by the disease. We analyzed the rate of collagen biosynthesis (estimated by the enzymic activities of prolyl 4-hydroxylase and galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase) and the level of hydroxylysylpyridinoline and lysylpyridinoline crosslinks both in normal (n=7) and degenerated (n=7) human annulus fibrosus. The activity of prolyl 4-hydroxylase was significantly increased in degenerated tissue. However, no significant changes in the collagen content or in the amount of hydroxylysylpyridinoline and lysylpyridinoline collagen crosslinks…
Differential influence of peripheral and systemic sex steroids on skeletal muscle quality in pre- and postmenopausal women
2011
Aging is associated with gradual decline of skeletal muscle strength and mass often leading to diminished muscle quality. This phenomenon is known as sarcopenia and affects about 30% of the over 60-year-old population. Androgens act as anabolic agents regulating muscle mass and improving muscle performance. The role of female sex steroids as well as the ability of skeletal muscle tissue to locally produce sex steroids has been less extensively studied. We show that despite the extensive systemic deficit of sex steroid hormones in postmenopausal compared to premenopausal women, the hormone content of skeletal muscle does not follow the same trend. In contrast to the systemic levels, muscle t…
DIFFERENTIAL INFLUENCE OF PERIPHERAL AND SYSTEMIC SEX STEROIDS ON SKELETAL MUSCLE QUALITY IN PRE- AND POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN.
2011
Aging is associated with gradual decline of skeletal muscle strength and mass often leading to diminished muscle quality. This phenomenon is known as sarcopenia and affects about 30% of the over 60-year-old population. Androgens act as anabolic agents regulating muscle mass and improving muscle performance. The role of female sex steroids as well as the ability of skeletal muscle tissue to locally produce sex steroids has been less extensively studied. We show that despite the extensive systemic deficit of sex steroid hormones in postmenopausal compared to premenopausal women, the hormone content of skeletal muscle does not follow the same trend. In contrast to the systemic levels, muscle t…