2.10.2006

Bogers, R. P., Hoogenveen, R. T., Boshuizen, H., Woodward, M., Knekt, P., Van Dam, R. M., Hu, F. B., Visscher, T. L. S., Menotti, A., Thorpe, R. J., Jamrozik, K. and Bemelmans, W. J. E.

European Journal of Epidemiology. 2006; 21: 107-107. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.361

North-to-South gradient in lipid peroxidation in Europe

Grau, M., Guxens, M., Fito, M., Covas, M. I., Schroeder, H., Subirana, I., Jacquemin, B., Sunyer, J., Timo, T., Forastiere, F., Bellander, T., Katsouyanni, K., Peters, A. and Marrugat, J.

European Journal of Epidemiology. 2006; 21: 98-98. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.361

Antidepressants and the risk of suicide, attempted suicide and overall mortality in a nation-wide cohort

Haukka, J. K., Tiihonen, J., Wahlbeck, K., Klaukka, T. and Lonnqvist, J.

European Journal of Epidemiology. 2006; 21: 105-105. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.361

Joint spatial variation of acute myocardial infarctions and ischemic stroke in Finland, 1991-2003

Havulinna, A. S., Paakkonen, R., Salomaa, V. and Karvonen, M.

European Journal of Epidemiology. 2006; 21: 52-52. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.361

Association between high-sensitive measurement of C-reactive protein and metabolic syndrome as defined by International Diabetes Federation, National Cholesterol Education Program, and World Health Organization criteria in a population-based cohort of 55-year-old Finnish individuals

Hirsso, P. K., Timonen, M. J., Jokelainen, J. J., Hiltunen, L. A., Laakso, M. A., Hedberg, P. S. M., Ruokonen, A. O., Koskela, P., Harkonen, P. K., Keinanen-Kiukaanniemi, S. M. and Rajala, U. M.

Diabetes Care. 2006; 29(9): 2177-2178. Letter. IF 7.844

The effect of diabetes and stroke at baseline and during follow-up on stroke mortality

Hu, G., Jousilahti, P., Sarti, C., Antikainen, R. and Tuomilehto, J.

Diabetologia. 2006; 49(10): 2309-2316. Article. IF 5.337

Aims/hypothesis The aim of this study was to compare the magnitude of the effect of diabetes and stroke at baseline and during follow-up on risk of stroke mortality.

Materials and methods Study cohorts included 25,155 Finnish men and 26,423 women aged 25-74 years. Data on diabetes and stroke history at baseline, their incidence during follow-up, and stroke death were obtained from national registers.

Results During a mean follow-up of 18.9 years, 838 stroke deaths were recorded. In the baseline study, hazard ratios (HRs) for stroke mortality were 5.26 for men with prior diabetes only, 4.76 for men with prior stroke only, and 13.4 for men with both prior diabetes and stroke compared with men without diabetes and stroke at baseline and during follow-up. In women, the corresponding hazard ratios were 7.29, 5.27 and 5.52, respectively. When only diabetes and stroke status during the follow-up were considered, the hazard ratios for stroke mortality were 1.41 for men and 1.56 for women with incident diabetes only, 5.62 for men and 5.58 for women with incident stroke only, and 5.59 for men and 4.48 for women with both incident diabetes and stroke compared with men and women without diabetes and stroke at baseline and during follow-up.

Conclusions/interpretation Diabetes and stroke, present either at baseline or during follow-up, markedly increase the risk of stroke death. Prior stroke at baseline carries a similar risk of stroke mortality as prior diabetes. There is a greater risk of stroke mortality associated with incident stroke during follow-up than with incident diabetes.

The relationship of neuroticism and extraversion to symptoms of anxiety and depression in the general population

Jylha, P. and Isometsa, E.

Depression and Anxiety. 2006; 23(5): 281-289. Article. IF 1.975

Few studies have investigated the relationship of the personality dimensions of neuroticism and extraversion to the symptoms of depression and anxiety in the general population. A random general population sample (ages 20-70 years), from two Finnish cities was surveyed with the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). In addition, questions regarding diagnosed lifetime mental disorders, health care use for psychiatric reasons in the past 12 months, and history of mental disorders in first-degree relatives were posed.

Among the 441 subjects who participated, neuroticism correlated strongly with symptoms of depression (r(s) = .71, P <.001) and anxiety (r(s) = .69, P <.001), and somewhat with self-reported lifetime mental disorder (r(s) = .30, P <.001) and health care Use for psychiatric reasons in the past 12 months (r(s) = .24, P <.001). Extraversion correlated negatively with symptoms of depression (r(s) = -.47, P <.001), anxiety (rs = -.36, P <.001), self-reported lifetime mental disorder (r(s) = -.17, P <.001), and health care use for psychiatric reasons in the past 12 months (r(s) = -.14, P=.004).

In multiple regression models, even after adjusting for gender, age, and education, BDI scores were significantly associated with neuroticism, extraversion, and age, whereas BAI scores were associated only with neuroticism. Neuroticism is strongly associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms, and intraversion is moderately associated with depressive symptoms in the urban general population. The relationship of these personality dimensions to both self-reported lifetime mental disorders and use of health services for psychiatric reasons strengthens the clinical validity of these personality dimensions.

The effect of eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection on the incidence of gastric and other cancers

Kosunen, T. U., Pukkala, E., Seppala, K., Sipponen, P., Aromaa, A., Knekt, P., Vainio, U., Sarna, S. and Rautelin, H.

Helicobacter. 2006; 11(4): 362-362. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.584

Studies to assess the long-term efficacy and effectiveness of HPV vaccination in developed and developing countries

Lehtinen, M., Herrero, R., Mayaud, P., Barnabas, R., Dillner, J., Paavonen, J. and Smith, P. G.

Vaccine. 2006; 24: 233-241. Article. IF 2.822

We review studies of the implementation of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes in developed and developing countries. The review spans the period from establishment of long-term vaccine efficacy follow-up studies, operational research on issues of vaccine preparedness, and relevant predictive modelling studies during the pre-licensure phase to plans of phase IV effectiveness trials, forms of epidemiological surveillance, and further operational research in the post-licensure phase. Much of the research is already ongoing. Depending on the results of the planned immuno bridging studies among HIV-negative and HIV-positive women, further phase III and/or phase IV trials may be warranted. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Past chlamydial infection is not associated with primary fallopian tube carcinoma

Riska, A., Finne, P., Alfthan, H., Anttila, T., Jalkanen, J., Sorvari, T., Stenman, U. H., Paavonen, J. and Leminen, A.

European Journal of Cancer. 2006; 42(12): 1835-1838. Article. IF 3.706

We conducted a retrospective seroepidemiological study to evaluate the relationship between past chlamydial infection and primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC). Postoperative serum samples were drawn from 79 consecutive patients treated for PFTC in 1985-2000. For each case two controls were selected. Serum samples were analysed for IgG antibodies to different C. trachomatis serotype pools and to C. pneumoniae. Seropositivity in general or serum antibody levels to different C. trachomatis serovars or C. pneumoniae did not differ between PFTC patients and controls. The lack of association between anti-chlamydial antibodies and PFTC suggests that past chlamydial infection does not play a role in the etiopathogenesis of PFTC. However, because chlamydial infection is common at young age and PFTC develops decades later, we cannot definitively exclude the possibility that C.trachomatis contributes to the development of PFTC.

Changes in cardiovascular risk factors among adolescents from 1995 to 2004 in the Republic of Karelia, Russia

Rogacheva, A., Laatikainen, T., Tossavainen, K., Vlasoff, T., Panteleev, V. and Vartiainen, E.

Eur J Public Health. 2006. Journal article. IF 1.118

Background: In Russia, cardiovascular mortality is among the highest in the world. Behaviours related to the development of cardiovascular disease are usually adopted in childhood and adolescence. Very little information exists on prevalence and trends of risk factors among Russian youth. This study aims to investigate changes in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among adolescents in the Republic of Karelia, Russia, from 1995 to 2004.

Methods: Cross-sectional surveys on chronic disease risk factors were carried out among 15-year-old adolescents in Pitkaranta region, in the Republic of Karelia. The surveys were conducted in all 10 secondary schools in the Pitkaranta region. All ninth-grade students in 1995 (N = 385, response rate 95%) and in 2004 (N = 395, response rate 85%) were included in the survey samples.

Results: Systolic blood pressure decreased statistically significantly among boys (from 119 to 116 mmHg). Diastolic blood pressure decreased statistically significantly among both girls (from 64 to 59 mmHg) and boys (from 62 to 59 mmHg). Total cholesterol increased statistically significantly only among girls (from 3.9 to 4.1 mmol/l). Body mass index did not exhibit any significant changes in both genders. Daily smoking rate doubled statistically significantly among girls from 7% to 15%.

Conclusion: The study results show changes in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among adolescents in the Republic of Karelia occurring over the last decade. Active measures need to be taken to prevent the increase in smoking prevalence, especially among girls, and to avert the unfavourable development of other risk factors in the future.

Availability and comparability of information for ECHI indicators in European health surveys

Sihvonen, A. P., Hakulinen, K., Natunen, S., Koponen, P. and Aromaa, A.

European Journal of Epidemiology. 2006; 21: 140-140. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.361

Aspergillus fumigatus challenge increases cytokine levels in nasal lavage fluid

Stark, H., Roponen, M., Purokivi, M., Randell, J., Tukiainen, H. and Hirvonen, M. R.

Inhalation Toxicology. 2006; 18(13): 1033-1039. Article. IF 1.886

Several studies have shown an association between exposure in moisture- damaged buildings and adverse health effects. There are several indicator microbes of moisture damage, but Aspergillus fumigatus is one of the best- documented molds provoking health problems in different occupational conditions. We assessed whether inhalation of a commercial A. fumigatus solution would affect cytokine levels ( tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, interleukin [IL]-1 beta, IL- 4, IL- 6, interferon [ IFN-gamma) in nasal lavage fluid ( NAL) compared with that evoked by placebo challenge. Twenty- seven subjects were studied: 13 had occupational exposure in a moisture- damaged building, 4 were atopic, and 10 were considered as controls. In all the subjects, the IL-1 beta levels were increased significantly both at 6 (p = 0.013) and 24 h ( p=. 005) after the A. fumigatus challenge compared to placebo. In subjects with previous occupational exposure in a moisturedamaged building, IL- 4 concentrations were increased significantly both at 6 ( p=. 046) and 24 h ( p=. 008) after the A. fumigatus challenge compared with placebo. Furthermore, in the control group, TNF-alpha levels were significantly increased at 6 h after the A. fumigatus challenge compared to placebo ( p=. 028). Thus, these data show a link between markers of inflammation in NAL and experimental A. fumigatus challenge.

Fine particle emissions from milled peat production

Tissari, J. M., Yli-Tuomi, T., Raunemaa, T. M., Tiitta, P. T., Nuutinen, J. P., Willman, P. K., Lehtinen, K. E. J. and Jokiniemi, J. K.

Boreal Environment Research. 2006; 11(4): 283-293. Article. IF 0.838

Peat dust emissions and particle concentrations at different distances from a milled peat production field were studied for two different harvesting methods. The dust emissions were found to be sporadic. The momentary PM2.5 concentrations, which varied up to 5 mg m(-3) near the operation area, depended on the operation and weather conditions as well as peat composition. By using the Fugitive Dust Model, PM2.5, emission rates were estimated to range from 0.3 to 43 g s(-1). Wind erosion increased the PM2.5 concentrations remarkably at wind speeds over 4 m s(-1). Using time activity data of the different operational phases the lowest fine particle emissions were observed from the milling phase and the highest in the harvesting phases, respectively. As compared with the present EU daily limit value, the concentrations further from the peat production field were estimated to be low. However, short term negative influences on living conditions in the neighbourhood of peat production areas may be possible under certain environmental conditions.