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Contribution of Burnout to the Association Between Job Strain
and Depression: the Health 2000 Study
Ahola, K., Honkonen, T., Kivimaki, M., Virtanen, M.,
Isometsa, E., Aromaa, A. and Lonnqvist, J.
J Occup Environ Med. 2006; 48(10): 1023-1030. Journal article.
IF 1.886
OBJECTIVE:: The objective of this study was to investigate the
contribution of burnout to the association between job strain and
depression.
METHODS:: A representative sample of 3270 Finnish employees aged 30
to 64 years responded to the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General
Survey and the Beck Depression Inventory and participated in the
Composite International Diagnostic Interview.
RESULTS:: High strain compared with low strain was associated with
7.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.6-9.7) times higher odds of
burnout, 3.8 (95% CI = 2.8-5.1) times higher odds of depressive
symptoms, and 1.7 (95% CI = 1.1-2.6) times higher odds of
depressive disorders. The risk for depressive symptoms and for
depressive disorders of high strain was reduced by 69% or more
after adjusting for burnout.
CONCLUSION:: Burnout is strongly related to job strain and may in
part mediate the association between job strain and depression.
Inherited auditory-cortical dysfunction in twin pairs discordant
for schizophrenia
Ahveninen, J., Jaaskelainen, I. P., Osipova, D., Huttunen, M.
O., Ilmoniemi, R. J., Kaprio, J., Lonnqvist, J., Manninen, M.,
Pakarinen, S., Therman, S., Naatanen, R. and Cannon, T. D.
Biological Psychiatry. 2006; 60(6): 612-620. Article. IF
6.779
Background-Information on the inheritance of neurophysiological
abnormalities might help elucidate the molecular genetic basis of
schizophrenia. We used magnetoencephalography (MEG) and
electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate the inheritance of
auditory-cortical deficiencies in twin pairs discordant for
schizophrenia.
Methods: Auditory EEG/MEG responses to frequent standard and
occasional deviant tones were measured in mono- and dizygotic (MZ
and DZ) twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia and demographically
matched healthy twin pairs, recruited from a total population
cohort. The MEG/EEG results were regressed against the genetic
resemblance to patients with schizophrenia across the patients'
unaffected MZ/DZ co-twins and control subjects (with genetic
correlations of 1, .5, and 0 to schizophrenia patients,
respectively).
Results. The EEG responses P50, N100, and mismatch negativity
(MMN), as well as the MEG response P50m, were reduced in the
schizophrenic patients. P50 and N100 were significantly decreased
also in their unaffected co-twins, as compared with the control
subjects. Importantly, the P50 and N100 decrease correlated with
the unaffected subjects' genetic resemblance to schizophrenia
patients.
Conclusions: Our results suggest inherited abnormalities in
cortical auditory processing in schizophrenia, reflected by the
decreased P50/P50m and N100 amplitudes, whereas the MMN
abnormalities might reflect predominantly state-dependent
neurodegeneration.
A prospective study of anthropometric and clinical measurements
associated with insulin resistance syndrome and colorectal cancer
in male smokers
Bowers, K., Albanes, D., Limburg, P., Pietinen, P., Taylor,
P. R., Virtamo, J. and Stolzenberg-Solomon, R.
American Journal of Epidemiology. 2006; 164(7): 652-664.
Article. IF 5.068
Type 2 diabetes mellitus shares risk factors for and has shown a
positive association with colorectal cancer. Anthropometric
measures (height, weight, and body mass index (weight (kg)/height
(m)(2)) and metabolic abnormalities associated with insulin
resistance syndrome (IRS) (abnormalities in measured blood
pressure, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and total
cholesterol) were prospectively evaluated for associations with
incident colon (n = 227), rectal (n = 183), and colorectal (n =
410) cancers diagnosed between 1985 and 2002 in 28,983 Finnish male
smokers from the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention
Study. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate
hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. In comparison with the
lowest quintile, the highest quintile of body mass index was
significantly associated with colorectal cancer (hazard ratio (HR)
= 1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 2.85; p-trend = 0.01),
particularly colon cancer. Subjects with a cluster of three
IRS-related conditions (hypertension, body mass index >= 25
kg/m(2), and HDL cholesterol level < 40 mg/dl (< 1.55
mmol/liter)), compared with those with fewer conditions, had a
significantly increased risk of colorectal cancer (HR = 1.40, 95%
CI: 1.12, 1.74), particularly colon cancer (HR = 1.58, 95% CI:
1.18, 2.10), but not rectal cancer. These results support the
hypothesis that the significant association observed between
IRS-defining metabolic abnormalities and colorectal cancer is
determined primarily by adiposity.
Population dynamics of Bordetella pertussis in Finland and Sweden,
neighbouring countries with different vaccination
histories
Elomaa, A., Advani, A., Donnelly, D., Antila, M., Mertsola,
J., He, Q. and Hallander, H.
Vaccine. 2006. Journal article. IF 2.822
Pertussis is an infectious disease of the respiratory tract in
humans caused by Bordetella pertussis. Despite extensive
vaccinations, pertussis has remained endemic and re-emerged. In
Finland, a whole-cell pertussis vaccine has been used since 1952
with high coverage. In Sweden, whole-cell vaccinations were
introduced in 1953 but ceased in 1979, and pertussis vaccinations
with acellular vaccines were introduced in 1996. Two epidemic peaks
occurred in Sweden in 1999 and 2002 and in Finland in 1999 and
2003. We compared Finnish (N=193) and Swedish (N=455) B. pertussis
isolates circulating in 1998-2003 together with vaccine strains
used in these neighbouring countries with different vaccination
histories. The isolates were analysed by serotyping, genotyping of
pertussis toxin S1 subunit and pertactin, and pulsed-field gel
electrophoresis. The results suggest that the sequential epidemics
were caused by clonal expansion of a certain B. pertussis strain
possibly transmitted from Sweden to Finland. The roles of antigenic
variation in immunity-driven evolution of B. pertussis in both
countries are discussed.
Survival of Campylobacter jejuni in potable water biofilms: a
comparative study with different detection methods
Lehtola, M. J., Pitkanen, T., Miebach, L. and Miettinen, I.
T.
Water Sci Technol. 2006; 54(3): 57-61. Journal Article. IF
0.875
Campylobacteria are important foodborne pathogens. C. jejuni
bacteria have caused several drinking water-related epidemics in
Finland. Normally, C. jejuni is not able to multiply in drinking
water or in biofilms although it may survive in biofilms. The
survival of C. jejuni in biofilms was studied using the Propella
biofilm reactor. The number of bacteria was analysed with
traditional culture methods and with fluorescence in situ
hybridisation (FISH). By culture methods C. jejuni was detectable
for only 1 d after spiking whereas bacteria were found from
biofilms for at least 1 week after spiking and from outlet water of
the reactor for 3 weeks when using FISH. These results suggested
that C. jejuni may survive in biofilms and culture methods probably
seriously underestimate the real number in water and in
biofilms.
Surveillance of listeriosis in Finland during
1995-2004
Lyytikainen, O., Nakari, U. M., Lukinmaa, S., Kela, E.,
Nguyen Tran Minh, N. and Siitonen, A.
Euro Surveill. 2006; 11(6): 82-5. Journal Article. Full text
We analysed the surveillance data from listeriosis cases
notified to the Finnish National Infectious Diseases Register
between 1995 and 2004 and describe our recent experience in
investigating clusters of listeriosis cases. The number of annual
cases varied between 18 and 53 but no trends in incidence were
identified (average annual incidence was 7 cases per million
inhabitants). Only a few cases affected pregnant women or newborns.
Most of the patients were elderly people with non-malignant
underlying illnesses; 25% of them died from their infections. By
routine sero- and genotyping of the listeria isolates, we detected
several clusters; the vehicle for infection was only identified for
two outbreaks. At least one quarter of listeriosis cases (78/315)
was caused by a certain sero-genotype or closely related genotypes,
which have also been found from vacuum-packed cold-smoked or
cold-salted fish products. During 2000-2003, Finnish consumers were
repeatedly informed about food precautions for risk groups. The
information was also given to attending physicians and prenatal
clinics.
Validity of a food frequency questionnaire varied by age and
body mass index
Paalanen, L., Mannisto, S., Virtanen, M. J., Knekt, P.,
Rasanen, L., Montonen, J. and Pietinen, P.
J Clin Epidemiol. 2006; 59(9): 994-1001. Journal Article.
Validation Studies. IF 2.538
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The validity of food frequency
questionnaires (FFQs) in measuring food consumption and nutrient
intake has to be assessed. The objective of this study was to
assess the validity of a 128-item FFQ in specific subgroups of
Finnish adults.
METHODS: The study included 294 subjects (137 men and 157 women). A
3-day food record was used as the reference method.
RESULTS: The mean intake of all nutrients except alcohol was higher
measured with the FFQ than with the food records. In general, the
Pearson correlations for energy adjusted nutrients between the FFQ
and the food records were higher in women than in men. The
correlations ranged from 0.14 (retinol) to 0.66 (fiber and alcohol)
in men, and from 0.20 (long-chain n-3 fatty acids) to 0.70
(alcohol) in women. The results in subgroups showed that measuring
nutrient intakes is more difficult among younger (30-50 years)
women and overweight men and women than among others.
CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that the FFQ is a useful tool in
epidemiologic studies in measuring the diet of Finnish adults given
that the problems among specific subgroups are taken into account
in interpretation.
HLA-B maternal-fetal genotype matching increases risk of
schizophrenia
Palmer, C. G. S., Hsieh, H. J., Reed, E. F., Lonnqvist, J.,
Peltonen, L., Woodward, J. A. and Sinsheimer, J. S.
American Journal of Human Genetics. 2006; 79(4): 710-715.
Article. IF 12.649
Schizophrenia and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching between
couples or between mothers and offspring have independently been
associated with prenatal/obstetric complications, including
preeclampsia and low birth weight. Here, we report the results of a
family-based candidate-gene study that brings together these two
disparate lines of research by assessing maternal-fetal genotype
matching at HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 as a risk factor of schizophrenia.
We used a conditional-likelihood modeling approach with a sample of
274 families that had at least one offspring with schizophrenia or
a related spectrum disorder. A statistically significant HLA-B
maternal-fetal genotype-matching effect on schizophrenia was
demonstrated for female offspring (P = .01; parameter estimate 1.7
[95% confidence interval 1.22-2.49]). Because the matching effect
could be associated with pregnancy complications rather than with
schizophrenia per se, these findings are consistent with the
neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia and with
accumulating evidence that the prenatal period is involved in the
origins of this disease. Our approach demonstrates how genetic
markers can be used to characterize the biology of prenatal risk
factors of schizophrenia.
Sweet and sour coronary heart disease: results from the China Heart
Survey
Salomaa, V.
Eur Heart J. 2006. Journal article. IF 7.341
Determinants of psychiatric hospitalization after attempted
suicide
Suominen, K. and Lonnqvist, J.
General Hospital Psychiatry. 2006; 28(5): 424-430. Article. IF
2.248
Objective: This study investigated the characteristics of
suicide attempters referred to psychiatric hospitals and the
factors affecting such referral.
Method: All 1198 consecutive suicide attempters treated in general
hospital emergency rooms in Helsinki during a 12-month period were
identified. Data on all health care contacts 1 year before the
index attempt and on referrals to psychiatric hospitals after the
attempt were gathered.
Results: We found that a quarter of patients were referred to
psychiatric hospitals as inpatients after index suicide attempts.
Factors predicting referral to psychiatric hospitals, compared to
nonreferral, were older age, psychotic disorder, mood disorder,
lack of alcohol consumption preceding the attempt, somatic illness,
suicide attempt on a weekday, previous psychiatric treatment,
psychiatric consultation and the hospital treating the suicide
attempt.
Conclusion: Although the clinical characteristics of patients
attempting suicide are a major determinant of whether they are
subsequently referred to psychiatric hospitals, the treatment
practices of emergency room hospitals also influence treatment
decisions. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Experimental PVC material challenge in subjects with
occupational PVC exposure
Tuomainen, A., Stark, H., Seuri, M., Hirvonen, M. R.,
Linnainmaa, M., Sieppi, A. and Tukiainen, H.
Environmental Health Perspectives. 2006; 114(9): 1409-1413.
Article. IF 5.342
BACKGROUND: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials have been linked
to asthma in several epidemiologic studies, but the possible causal
factors remain unknown.
PARTICIPANTS: We challenged 10 subjects experimentally to degraded
PVC products under controlled conditions. All of the subjects had
previously experienced respiratory symptoms suspected to be caused
by this kind of exposure in their work place. Five subjects had
doctor-diagnosed asthma.
METHODS: The subjects were exposed to degraded PVC material in an
exposure chamber; a challenge with ceramic tile was used as the
control test. We followed exhaled nitric oxide, nasal NO, lung
functions, cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha),
interleukin-4 (11-4), IL-6, and IL-12] and NO in nasal lavage fluid
(NAL) during and after the exposures. We also measured
2-ethylhexanol in exhaled breath samples and NAL.
RESULTS: On the morning after the PVC exposure, subjects reported
respiratory tract symptoms significantly more often than they did
after the control test (50% vs. 0%, respectively; p = 0.029; n =
10). We did not detect any changes in lung functions or levels of
exhaled NO, nasal NO, or NO in NAL after PVC challenge compared
with the control test. Cytokine levels increased after both
exposures, with no statistically significant difference between
situations. All of the exhaled breath samples collected during the
PVC exposure contained 2-ethythexanol.
CONCLUSIONS: PVC flooring challenge can evoke respiratory tract
symptoms in exposed subjects. Our results do not support the
hypothesis that PVC materials themselves evoke immediate asthmatic
reactions. The chamber test used is well suited to this type of
exposure study.
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