| New articles - Uudet artikkelit 17.9.2007 - ISI Web of Knowledge & PubMed Search Alert |
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Interventions in Relation to Occupational Burnout: The Population-Based Health 2000 Study Ahola, K., Honkonen, T., Virtanen, M., Kivimaki, M., Isometsa, E., Aromaa, A. and Lonnqvist, J. J Occup Environ Med. 2007; 49(9): 943-952. Journal Article. IF 1.942 OBJECTIVE:: To study participation in occupational and individual-focused interventions in relation to burnout. METHODS:: We used data from a questionnaire, structured interview, national register of psychopharmacological prescriptions, and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview in a nationally representative Finnish sample of 3276 employees (30 to 64 years). RESULTS:: When compared with employees free of burnout, the odds ratio of severe burnout for participation in occupational interventions was 0.41 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.26 to 0.65) and in individual-focused interventions 5.36 (95% CI = 3.14 to 9.17). Antidepressant prescriptions were 2.53 (95% CI = 1.04 to 6.15) times more common among those with severe burnout than among those without burnout after adjustment for depressive and anxiety disorders. CONCLUSIONS:: Employees with burnout were less often targets of occupational interventions but participated more in individual-focused interventions when compared with other employees. The use of antidepressants among employees with severe burnout was not fully explained by coexisting depressive or anxiety disorders. The likelihood of diabetes based on the proposed definitions for impaired fasting glucose Gao, W., Dong, Y., Nan, H., Tuomilehto, J. and Qiao, Q. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2007. Journal Article. IF 1.837 The current study aimed to evaluate whether individuals with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of 5.6-6.0mmol/l has a similar risk profiles for diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) to those with FPG of 6.1-6.9mmol/l. A community-based cross-sectional survey in Chinese adults (20-74 years) was conducted during April-July in 2002. Participants without a prior history of diabetes underwent a standardized 2-h 75g oral glucose tolerance test. Positive likelihood ratios were calculated to estimate the odds of having diabetes or IGT for subjects with different FPG levels. Among 1856 participants, prevalence of IFG increased from 12.4 to 28.2% with the cut-off value of FPG lowered from 6.1 to 5.6mmol/l. Individuals with FPG of 6.1-6.9mmol/l were more obese and insulin resistant than those with FPG of 5.6-6.0mmol/l. The positive likelihood ratio for diabetes and IGT were 1.83 (1.28-2.61) and 2.60 (1.96-3.44) in subjects with FPG of 6.1-6.9mmol/l, and 0.54 (0.30-0.95) and 1.47 (1.11-1.95) for those with FPG of 5.6-6.0mmol/l, respectively. In conclusion, the likelihood of diabetes and IGT was lower in subjects with FPG of 5.6-6.0mmol/l than in those with FPG of 6.1-6.9mmol/l. The clinical and social implication of labelling more individuals with impaired fasting glucose needs to be further studied. Gordon, S. B., Kayhty, H., Molyneux, M. E., Haikala, R., Nurkka, A., Musaya, J., Zijlstra, E. E., Lindell, D. and French, N. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2007; 120(1): 208-210. Letter. IF 8.829 Hanninen, O. and Jantunen, M. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 2007; 61(9): 838-838. Letter. IF 2.805 Independent life-style correlates of left vetricular mass in a population sample aged 35 to 64 years Jula, A. and Karanko, H. Journal of Hypertension. 2007; 25: S202-S202. Meeting Abstract. IF 4.021 Kajantie, E., Feldt, K., Raikkonen, K., Phillips, D. I., Osmond, C., Heinonen, K., Pesonen, A. K., Andersson, S., Barker, D. J. and Eriksson, J. G. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007. Journal Article. IF 5.799 Background: Studies in humans and animals have suggested intrauterine programming of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) function as an important mechanism in linking fetal life conditions with adult disease. Objective: Our aim was to assess how body size at birth, a marker of intrauterine conditions, is associated with HPAA response to psychosocial stress in late adulthood. Design and setting: We conducted a clinical study in the Helsinki Birth Cohort. Participants: 287 men and women born between 1934 and 1944 whose birth measurements and gestational age came from hospital records. Measurements: We measured salivary cortisol and, for 215 individuals, plasma cortisol and ACTH concentrations in conjunction with a standardized psychosocial stressor (Trier Social Stress Test). Results: There was a linear relationship between low birthweight and low plasma ACTH but no linear relationship with cortisol. There were, however, quadratic relationships between birthweight and salivary (mixed model p=0.001) and plasma cortisol (p=0.005) but not with plasma ACTH (p=0.1). The lowest peak salivary cortisol concentrations were seen in the lowest third of birth weights (adjusted for gestational age and sex); 12.9 nmol/L (95% CI of mean 11.2-15.0), compared with 17.1 nmol/L (14.8-19.8) in the middle and 14.1 nmol/L (12.6-15.7) in the highest third or birth weights. Corresponding figures for plasma cortisol were 246 nmol/L (221-273), 271 nmol/L (244-302) and 166 nmol/L (227-289), and for plasma ACTH 4.02 pmol/L (3.51-4.61), 4.78 pmol/L (4.24-5.38) and 4.89 (4.30-5.57), respectively. Results for areas-under-the-curve were similar. Conclusions: We found an inverse U-shaped relationship between birth weight and cortisol concentrations during psychosocial stress. The lowest cortisol and ACTH concentrations were seen in subjects with the lowest birth weights. These results support the hypothesis that both hyper- and hypocortisolism may be programmed during the fetal period. Staphylococcus aureus colonization among nursing home residents in a large Finnish nursing home Kerttula, A. M., Lyytikainen, O., Virolainen, A., Finne-Soveri, H., Agthe, N. and Vuopio-Varkila, J. Scand J Infect Dis. 2007: 1-6. Journal Article. IF 1.560 We studied colonization with methicillin-resistant and -sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, MSSA) in the second largest nursing home in Finland, in which the residents volunteered had their nostrils, throats, perineums, skin lesions, and catheter exit sites swabbed, and catheter urines cultured. The specimens were cultured onto non-selective and selective agar, with or without enrichment in salt-containing trypticase soy broth (TSB). S. aureus was identified by routine methods, methicillin resistance was detected by oxacillin and cefoxitin disk diffusion and MIC E-tests, and GenoType MRSA(R) -test was used for mecA gene confirmation. A total of 663 cultures were obtained from 213 residents. Of those, 165 specimens (25%) from 94 residents (44%) were positive for S. aureus, and 3 specimens (0.4%) from 2 (0.9%) residents were positive for MRSA. Of the 165 S. aureus isolates, 31 (19%) from 25 (27%) residents were found only from sites other than nostrils (30 MSSA and 1 MRSA). TSB enrichment detected additional 33 (5%) S. aureus isolates (32 MSSA and 1 MRSA), resulting in 8 (5%) additional residents. None of the MRSA strains would have been found if only nostrils and throat had been screened, and no enrichment broth had been used. Eating styles, overweight and obesity in young adult twins Keski-Rahkonen, A., Bulik, C. M., Pietilainen, K. H., Rose, R. J., Kaprio, J. and Rissanen, A. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2007; 61(7): 822-829. Journal Article. IF 2.116 Objective: To explore the association of eating styles with overweight and obesity in young adults, controlling for identical genetic background in monozygotic twins. Design: Prospective twin cohort study. Setting: Finland, 1991-2002. Subjects: Two-hundred and thirty-three women and 2060 men from the FinnTwin16 study, aged 16 years at baseline (T1), and ranging from 22 to 27 years at the time of the nutritional assessment (T4). Methods: Eating styles (Restrictive/overeating, health-conscious, snacking, emotional and externally induced), self-reported at T4, were contrasted with body mass indices (BMIs) at T1 and T4. Results: At T4, obesity (BMI >= 30Kg/m(2)) was significantly cross-sectionally associated with restrictive eating, frequent snacks, eating in the evening, avoiding fatty foods and failure to maintain healthy eating patterns. These associations were independent of BMI at T1. Obese women self-reported more vulnerability to external eating cues and comfort eating than normal-weight women. However, in a multivariable model, only restrictive/overeating and health-conscious eating styles were significant correlates of obesity at T4, independent of gender and BMI at T1. When we controlled for genetic background restricting the analysis to the 39 female and 45 male monozygotic twin pairs discordant for obesity or overweight (BMI >= 25Kg/m(2)), restrictive/ overeating eating style was still statistically significantly associated with excess weight. Conclusions: The eating styles of obese young adults differ from their normal-weight counterparts: restrictive eating, overeating and fewer healthy food choices are associated with obesity. Different eating styles may partially explain weight differences in individuals with identical genetic background. Serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein and cognitive function in elderly women Komulainen, P., Lakka, T. A., Kivipelto, M., Hassinen, M., Penttila, I. M., Helkala, E. L., Gylling, H., Nissinen, A. and Rauramaa, R. Age and Ageing. 2007; 36(4): 443-448. Journal Article. IF 1.919 Background: inflammation has been linked to cognitive impairment. However, limited data are available on the association between inflammatory markers and cognitive function. Objectives: we tested the hypothesis that elevated serum concentration of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), an established marker of low-grade inflammation, predicts cognitive impairment in elderly women. Design: a 12-year population-based follow-up study. Participants: a total of 97 women between 60 and 70 years of age at baseline. Methods: serum hs-CRP concentration was measured by a high sensitivity assay. Global cognitive function was measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and memory and cognitive speed were measured with a detailed cognitive test battery. Results: higher baseline hs-CRIP was associated with poorer memory at 12-year follow-up without adjustment and after adjustment for age, education and depression (standardised regression coefficient beta -0.842, 95% confidence interval -1.602 to -0.083, P = 0.030), and further adjustment for the use of hormone replacement therapy, smoking, serum LDL cholesterol and body mass index (standardised regression coefficient beta-0.817, 95% confidence interval -1.630 to -0.004, P = 0.049). Memory at 12-year follow-up worsened linearly with increasing hs-CRP at baseline (P = 0.048 for linear trend). There was no association between hs-CRP at baseline and cognitive speed or MMSE score at 12-year follow-up. Conclusions: high serum hs-CRIP concentration predicts poorer memory 12 years later in elderly women. Hs-CRP may be a useful biornarker to identify individuals at an increased risk for cognitive decline. Fifteen-year changes in body mass index and waist circumference in Finnish adults Lahti-Koski, M., Harald, K., Mannisto, S., Laatikainen, T. and Jousilahti, P. European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation. 2007; 14(3): 398-404. Journal Article. IF 1.979 Background Obesity is an increasing health problem. Data on long-term obesity trends are most often based on the measurement of body mass index (BMI). Abdominal obesity, assessed by waist circumference may, however, be more closely related to health risks than overall obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate 15-year changes in general and abdominal obesity among adults in Finland, and furthermore, to assess whether obesity trends differ between educational groups. Design Four cross-sectional population surveys conducted at 5-year intervals between 1987 and 2002. Methods Altogether, 9025 men and 9950 women aged 25-64 years participated in these surveys. The weight, height, and waist circumferences of the participants were measured using a standardized protocol. Results Mean waist circumference increased by 2.7 cm in men and 4.3 cm in women in 15 years. Whereas the distribution of BMI values did not change much, a remarkable shift towards higher waist circumference values was observed in 15 years. In both sexes, mean and high values of waist circumference increased in all educational groups. However, the values remained highest among the subjects with the lowest education. Conclusions These results indicate that adverse changes in body shape have taken place from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. Given that one in five Finnish adults is defined as obese based on BMI, there is an even larger group of individuals at risk of obesity-related metabolic disorders because of abdominal obesity, particularly among low-educated individuals. Lyly, A., von Schantz, C., Salonen, T., Kopra, O., Saarela, J., Jauhiainen, M., Kyttala, A. and Jalanko, A. BMC Cell Biol. 2007; 8: 22. Journal Article. IF 2.742 BACKGROUND: Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are collectively the most common type of recessively inherited childhood encephalopathies. The most severe form of NCL, infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL), is caused by mutations in the CLN1 gene, resulting in a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme, palmitoyl protein thioesterase 1 (PPT1). The deficiency of PPT1 causes a specific death of neocortical neurons by a mechanism, which is currently unclear. To understand the function of PPT1 in more detail, we have further analyzed the basic properties of the protein, especially focusing on possible differences in non-neuronal and neuronal cells. RESULTS: Our study shows that the N-glycosylation of N197 and N232, but not N212, is essential for PPT1's activity and intracellular transport. Deglycosylation of overexpressed PPT1 produced in neurons and fibroblasts demonstrates differentially modified PPT1 in different cell types. Furthermore, antibody internalization assays showed differences in PPT1 transport when compared with a thoroughly characterized lysosomal enzyme aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA), an important observation potentially influencing therapeutic strategies. PPT1 was also demonstrated to form oligomers by size-exclusion chromatography and co-immunoprecipitation assays. Finally, the consequences of disease mutations were analyzed in the perspective of our new results, suggesting that the mutations increase both the degree of glycosylation of PPT1 and its ability to form complexes. CONCLUSION: Our current study describes novel properties for PPT1. We observe differences in PPT1 processing and trafficking in neuronal and non-neuronal cells, and describe for the first time the ability of PPT1 to form complexes. Understanding the basic characteristics of PPT1 is fundamental in order to clarify the molecular pathogenesis behind neurodegeneration in INCL. Niiranen, T., Jula, A., Kantola, I., Kahonen, M. and Reunanen, A. Journal of Hypertension. 2007; 25: S4-S4. Meeting Abstract. IF 4.021 Depression and its association with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and birth weight Paile-Hyvarinen, M., Raikkonen, K., Forsen, T., Kajantie, E., Yliharsila, H., Salonen, M. K., Osmond, C. and Eriksson, J. G. Ann Med. 2007: 1-7. Journal Article. IF 4.594 Background. Diabetes increases the risk for depression. Aim. To study the independent effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) on the prevalence of depression and to examine low birth weight as a possible common explanatory factor. Methods. 2003 subjects from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and filled out the Beck Depression Inventory. Results. Depressive symptoms were more prevalent among subjects with diabetes (23.5%) than among those with normal glucose tolerance (16.6%) (P<0.001). A history of CVD also markedly increased the odds of having depressive symptoms (odds ratio (OR) = 2.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.70-3.32, P<0.001). The association between DM and depressive symptoms was, however, rendered non-significant when adjusting for the presence of CVD. Being born with a low birth weight doubled the risk for having depressive symptoms (OR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.42-4.91, P = 0.002) and magnified the association between CVD/DM and depression. Conclusion. Diabetes has only a minor independent effect on concurrent occurrence of depressive symptoms, while cardiovascular disease seems to be a more important underlying factor. The association between disease and depression is in particular characteristic to individuals born with a low birth weight. Paile-Hyvarinen, M., Wahlbeck, K. and Eriksson, J. G. Bmc Family Practice. 2007; 8. Journal Article. Background: Depression is prevalent in people with type 2 diabetes and affects both glycaemic control and overall quality of life. The aim of this investigator-initiated trial was to evaluate the effect of the antidepressant paroxetine on quality of life, metabolic control, and mental well-being in mildly depressed diabetics aged 50-70 years. Methods: We randomised 49 mildly depressed primary care outpatients with non-optimally controlled diabetes to a 6-month double-blind treatment with either paroxetine 20 mg per day or matching placebo. Primary efficacy measurements were quality of life and glycaemic control. The primary global outcome of the study was defined as a 10 points improvement in the SF-36 quality of life score. The primary metabolic outcome of the study was defined as a 0.8%-units decrease in glycosylated haemoglobin A(1c)(GHbA(1c)). Psychiatric symptoms were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: Six patients withdrew their consent before starting medication and six dropped out later in the study. We performed analysis of covariance with the baseline value as a covariate. Quality of life and glycaemic control as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety improved in both groups over the 6-month study period. After three months of treatment we found a statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups in GHbA1c ( mean difference = 0.59%-units, p = 0.018) and in SF-36 score ( mean difference = 11.0 points, p = 0.039). However, at the end of the study, no statistically significant differences between the treatment groups were observed. No severe adverse events occurred. Conclusion: This pragmatic study of primary care patients did not confirm earlier preliminary findings indicating a beneficial effect of paroxetine on glycaemic control. The study indicates that in pragmatic circumstances any possible benefit from administration of paroxetine in diabetic patients with sub-threshold depression is likely to be modest and of short duration. Routine antidepressant prescription for patients with diabetes and sub-threshold depressive symptoms is not indicated. Palosuo, T., Lehto, M., Kotovuori, A., Kalkkinen, N., Blanco, C., Poza, P., Carrillo, T., Hamilton, R. G., Alenius, H., Reunala, T. and Turjanmaa, K. Clin Exp Allergy. 2007. Journal Article. IF 3.668 Background Hevea brasiliensis (Hev b) 2 and Hev b 13 have recently been identified as major latex allergens by detecting specific IgE antibodies in >50% of sera from Hev b latex-allergic individuals. Objective We assessed the prevalence rates for sensitization to extensively purified latex allergens in patients from three diverse geographical areas. Methods Native Hev b 2, Hev b 5, Hev b 6.01 and Hev b 13 were purified by non-denaturating chromatography and were used in ELISAs to assess sera from 215 latex-allergic patients and 172 atopic non-sensitized controls from Finland, Spain and the United States to detect allergen-specific IgE antibodies. Results Unexpectedly, even highly purified Hev b 13 contained epitope(s) to which Hev b 6-specific human IgE antibodies bound effectively. Further purification, however, reduced the prevalence of IgE antibody reactivity to low levels: 15%, 5% and 11% for Hev b 2, and 18%, 30% and 27% for Hev b 13 among latex-allergic Finnish, Spanish and American patients, respectively. Interestingly, Finnish patients had a lower prevalence of Hev b 5-specific IgE antibody (28%) as compared with Spanish (49%) and American (71%) patients. The prevalence of Hev b 6.01-specific IgE reactivity was uniformly >50% in all three populations. Conclusion Neither Hev b 2 nor Hev b 13 appear to be major latex allergens when evaluated in serological assays using highly purified allergens. The reason(s) for the observed differences in published sensitization rates in various geographic regions requires further study. The purity of the allergen preparations has a marked impact on the accuracy of latex-specific IgE antibody detection in epidemiological studies and in the serological diagnosis of latex allergy. Use of secondary preventive medications after the first attack of acute coronary syndrome Salomaa, V., Paakkonen, R., Hamalainen, H., Niemi, M. and Klaukka, T. European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation. 2007; 14(3): 386-391. Journal Article. IF 1.979 Background It is not well-known to what extent evidence-based medications, such as P-blockers, hypolipidemic medications, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, are prescribed after an attack of acute coronary syndrome in the general healthcare setting and what is the compliance of patients with these prescriptions. Design We conducted a countrywide record linkage study. Methods We used record linkage of the National Hospital Discharge Register, Causes of Death Register, and Social Insurance Institution's drug reimbursement records to identify drug purchases of patients aged 35-74 years hospitalized for the first nonfatal acute coronary syndrome in Finland during 1995-2003 (n = 53 353). Results In 2003 about 28 and 15% of the patients did not receive hypolipidemic medications or P-blockers, respectively, after their acute coronary syndrome and a further 6 and 10% discontinued the use about 3 months later. Patients aged 65-74 years were less likely to receive hypolipidemic medications [odds ratio (OR) 0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.53-0.581 and P-blockers (OR 0.77; 95% CI, 0.74-0.81) than younger patients. Diabetic patients received less hypolipidemic medications (OR 0.82; 95% CI, 0.78-0.86) and were more likely to discontinue the medication (OR 1.15; 95% CI, 1.05-1.26) than nondiabetic patients. In proportional hazards regression analyses the regular use of hypolipidemic medication or P-blockers was associated with lower risk of cardiovascular death: adjusted hazard ratios 0.47 (95% CI, 0.41-0.53) and 0.54 (95% CI, 0.49-0.60), respectively. Conclusions Our study showed that the evidence-based use of medications after acute coronary syndrome was suboptimal in Finland, particularly in elderly and diabetic patients. Consistent use of these medications, however, was associated with a better prognosis. Tolonen, H., Salomaa, V., Torppa, J., Sivenius, J., Immonen-Raiha, P. and Lehtonen, A. European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation. 2007; 14(3): 380-385. Journal Article. IF 1.979 Background and purpose Administrative registers, like hospital discharge registers and causes of death registers are used for the monitoring of disease incidences and in the follow-up studies. Obtaining reliable results requires that the diagnoses in these registers are correct and the coverage of the registers is high. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of the Finnish hospital discharge registers and causes of death registers stroke diagnoses against the population-based FINSTROKE register. Methods All first stroke events from the hospital discharge registers and causes of death registers from the areas covered by the FINSTROKE register were obtained for years 1993-1998 and linked to the FINSTROKE register. The sensitivity and positive predictive values were calculated. Results A total of 3633 stroke events, 767 fatal and 2866 non-fatal strokes, were included in the registers. The sensitivity for all first stroke events was 85%, for fatal strokes 86% and for non-fatal strokes 85%. The positive predictive values for all first strokes was 86%, for fatal strokes 92% and for non-fatal strokes 85%. The sensitivity as well as the positive predictive values for subarachnoid haemorrhage and intracerebral haemorrhage was higher than for cerebral infarctions. There were no marked differences in the sensitivity or positive predictive values between men and women. Conclusions The sensitivity and the positive predictive values of the Finnish hospital discharge registers and causes of death registers are fairly good. Finnish administrative registers can be used for the monitoring of stroke incidence, but the number of cerebral infarctions should be interpreted with caution. Comparison of two bacteremic Asaia bogorensis isolates from Europe Tuuminen, T., Roggenkamp, A. and Vuopio-Varkila, J. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. 2007; 26(7): 523-524. Editorial Material. IF 2.330 Varhimo, E., Savijoki, K., Jalava, J., Kuipers, O. P. and Varmanen, P. Journal of Bacteriology. 2007; 189(14): 5210-5222. Journal Article. IF 3.993 Streptococci have been considered to lack the classical SOS response, defined by increased mutation after UV exposure and regulation by LexA. Here we report the identification of a potential self-regulated SOS mutagenesis gene cassette in the Streptococcaceae family. Exposure to UV light was found to increase mutations to antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus uberis cultures. The mutational spectra revealed mainly G:C -> A:T transitions, and Northern analyses demonstrated increased expression of a Y-family DNA polymerase resembling UmuC under DNA-damaging conditions. In the absence of the Y-family polymerase, S. uberis cells were sensitive to UV light and to mitomycin C. Furthermore, the UV-induced mutagenesis was almost completely abolished in cells deficient in the Y-family polymerase. The gene encoding the Y-family polymerase was localized in a four-gene operon including two hypothetical genes and a gene encoding a HdiR homolog. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that S. uberis HdiR binds specifically to an inverted repeat sequence in the promoter region of the four-gene operon. Database searches revealed conservation of the gene cassette in several Streptococcus species, including at least one genome each of Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Streptococcus thermophilus strains. In addition, the umuC operon was localized in several mobile DNA elements of Streptococcus and Lactococcus species. We conclude that the hdiR-umuC-ORF3-OPF4 operon represents a novel gene cassette capable of mediating SOS mutagenesis among members of the Streptococcaceae. Visual impairment in persons with psychotic disorder Viertio, S., Laitinen, A., Perala, J., Saarni, S. I., Koskinen, S., Lonnqvist, J. and Suvisaari, J. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2007. Journal Article. IF 1.577 BACKGROUND: Persons with psychotic disorder may have poorer visual acuity (VA). The aim of the study is to investigate in a general population the prevalence of impaired habitual VA and self-reported difficulties in vision among persons with different psychotic disorders. METHOD: A nationally representative sample of 6,663 persons aged 30 or older whose binocular VA for distance and for near vision was measured with current spectacles, if any. Diagnostic assessment of DSM-IV psychotic disorders used both SCID interview and case note data. Life-time ever diagnoses of psychotic disorders were classified into schizophrenia, other non-affective psychotic disorders and affective psychoses. RESULTS: After adjusting for age and sex, schizophrenia was associated with significantly increased odds of having visual impairment for distance (OR 5.04, P < 0.0001) and for near vision (OR 6.22, P < 0.0001), while other psychotic disorders were not. Self-reported problems in VA were more common in persons with schizophrenia and other non-affective psychotic disorders than in the remaining study sample. Only 43.9% of persons with schizophrenia, compared with 69.7% in the total sample (chi(2) = 13.79, d.f. 1, P = 0.0002), had had their vision examined during the 5 years before the VA measurement. CONCLUSIONS: Because persons with schizophrenia attend vision examinations substantially less frequently than others, and their vision is notably weaker, regular ocular evaluations should be included in physical health monitoring in psychotic disorders. Wikman, H., Ruosaari, S., Nymark, P., Sarhadi, V., Saharinen, J., Vanhala, E., Karjalainen, A., Hollmen, J., Knuutila, S. and Anttila, S. Oncogene. 2007; 26(32): 4730-4737. Journal Article. IF 6.582 Asbestos is a pulmonary carcinogen known to give rise to DNA and chromosomal damage, but the exact carcinogenic mechanisms are still largely unknown. In this study, gene expression arrays were performed on lung tumor samples from 14 heavily asbestos-exposed and 14 non-exposed patients matched for other characteristics. Using a two-step statistical analysis, 47 genes were revealed that could differentiate the tumors of asbestos-exposed from those of non-exposed patients. To identify asbestos-associated regions with DNA copy number and expressional changes, the gene expression data were combined with comparative genomic hybridization microarray data. As a result, a combinatory pro. le of DNA copy number aberrations and expressional changes significantly associated with asbestos exposure was obtained. Asbestos-related areas were detected in 2p21-p16.3, 3p21.31, 5q35.2-q35.3, 16p13.3, 19p13.3-p13.1 and 22q12.3-q13.1. The most prominent of these, 19p13, was further characterized by microsatellite analysis in 62 patients for the differences in allelic imbalance (AI) between the two groups of lung tumors. 79% of the exposed and 45% of the non-exposed patients (P = 0.008) were found to be carriers of AI in their lung tumors. In the exposed group, AI in 19p was prevalent regardless of the histological tumor type. In adenocarcinomas, AI in 19p appeared to occur independently of the asbestos exposure. |