University of Turku

About: University of Turku is a education organization based out in Turku, Finland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Galaxy. The organization has 16296 authors who have published 45124 publications receiving 1505428 citations. The organization is also known as: Turun yliopisto & Åbo universitet.

A supersensitive immunofluorometric assay for rat luteinizing hormone

Abstract: We have developed an immunofluorometric assay (IFMA) for rat (r) LH, which is based on two monoclonal antibodies, one to bovine and the other to human LH Signal detection occurs by time-resolved fluorescence evoked by a europium label (Delfia, Wallac) The method is fast in comparison to the standard RIA with the NIDDK reagents (4 h vs 3 days) The sensitivity of the IFMA assay (075 pg/tube; NIDDK rLH RP-2) is over 30-fold higher than that of the NIDDK RIA (usual detection limit, 20-30 pg/tube) Using 25-microliters serum samples, the sensitivity of IFMA is 003 micrograms/liter; with 100-microliters samples, it is 00075 micrograms/liter The cross-reactivity of the IFMA assay is 03% with rFSH, 3% with rTSH, and less than 005% with rGH, rPRL, and the rat alpha-subunit A linear correlation between IFMA and RIA values is seen at serum levels above 04 micrograms/liter Below this level, only IFMA is able to detect concentration differences between samples In practice, this means that only IFMA is able to provide meaningful measurements of suppressed levels of serum LH The correlation coefficient between IFMA and the mouse interstitial cell in vitro bioassay for LH in randomly selected rat pituitary homogenates was 093 (n = 47) The serum concentration of LH determined by IFMA is 057 +/- 010 micrograms/liter in intact adult male rats (mean +/- SEM; n = 12) and 041 +/- 010 micrograms/liter (n = 10) in randomly cycling females The level in hypophysectomized rat serum is 0035 +/- 00033 micrograms/liter (n = 8), if the limit of sensitivity (003 microgram/liter) is assigned to unmeasurable levels One-week treatment of male rats with 2-cm Silastic implants containing testosterone suppressed serum LH, measured by IFMA, from 056 +/- 0057 to 0086 +/- 0057 micrograms/liter (P < 001) The suppression of LH measured in the same samples by RIA was lower, from 073 +/- 0057 to 044 +/- 0048 micrograms/liter (P < 001) A 5-day starvation of intact male rats suppressed serum LH from 057 +/- 010 to 030 +/- 005 microgram/liter by IFMA (P < 001), whereas the decrease determined by RIA was not significant (080 +/- 007 vs 066 +/- 013 micrograms/liter)(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Prospective randomized comparison of endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy and external dacryocystorhinostomy

Abstract: Objectives and Study Design: The advent of the rigid endonasal endoscope and the development of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) technique have awakened interest in an endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EESC-DCR) in treating nasolacrimal obstruction. This prospective, randomized study compares EESC-DCR with traditional external dacryocystorhinostomy (EXT-DCR) for their success rates, surgical duration, and postoperative symptoms. Patients and Methods: Sixty-four cases in 60 patients with primary acquired nasolacrimal sac or duct obstruction were divided into two subgroups by symptoms (simple epiphora/ chronic dacryocystitis). These patients were randomized within both subgroups into two operation groups. Altogether 32 EESC-DCRs and 32 EXT-DCRs were performed. The final follow-up visit was at 1 year. The patency of the lacrimal passage was investigated by irrigation and patients were questioned about their symptoms. Results : The success rate at 1 year after surgery was 75% for EESC-DCR and 91% for EXT-DCR after primary surgery. The difference was not statistically significant (P = .18). The success rate after secondary surgery with a follow-up time of 1 year was 97% in both study groups. The average duration for EESC-DCR was 38 minutes, and 78 minutes for EXT-DCR, (P <.001). Conclusions: EXT-DCR, when compared with EESC-DCR, appears to give a higher, although not statistically significant, primary success rate, but the secondary success rates are equal, indicating that these two different DCR techniques are acceptable alternatives.

BODIL: a molecular modeling environment for structure-function analysis and drug design

Abstract: BODIL is a molecular modeling environment geared to help the user to quickly identify key features of proteins critical to molecular recognition, especially (1) in drug discovery applications, and (2) to understand the structural basis for function. The program incorporates state-of-the-art graphics, sequence and structural alignment methods, among other capabilities needed in modern structure-function-drug target research. BODIL has a flexible design that allows on-the-fly incorporation of new modules, has intelligent memory management, and fast multi-view graphics. A beta version of BODIL and an accompanying tutorial are available at http://www.abo.fi/fak/mnf/bkf/research/johnson/bodil.html.