| New articles - Uudet artikkelit
23.7.2007 - ISI Web of Knowledge & PubMed Search
Alert |
|
Primary health care physicians' definitions on when to advise a
patient about weekly and binge drinking
Aalto, M. and Seppa, K. Addictive Behaviors. 2007; 32(7): 1321-1330. Article. IF 1.849 Objective: Little is known about the level of alcohol consumption at which physicians think that they should advise their patients to reduce drinking. This is especially true concerning the amounts consumed per one drinking occasion. The aim of the present study was to examine these issues and also characteristics of physicians possibly associated with their different opinions.Method: Cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire survey to all 3193 primary health care physicians in Finland. Response rate was 61.0%. Results: The physicians reported that on average 14.8 drinks (one drink = 12 g of absolute alcohol)/week for males and 10.6 drinks/week for females to be the threshold that would cause them to advise their patients. Corresponding figures for one drinking occasion were 6.6 and 4.9 drinks/week. In linear regression analyses physicians' AUDIT scores, use of brief intervention, experience as a physician and age explained the variance of all or some reported thresholds, but all the variables explained only about 10% of the phenomena. Conclusions: Compared to the official Finnish recommendations regarding the definition of heavy drinking, the physicians reported similar levels of drinking per occasion for deciding to advise their patients, but rather low levels concerning weekly drinking. This may lead to extra workload for physicians and thus hamper implementation of brief intervention. Physicians' characteristics seem to be a decidedly minor issue in implementing drinking limits in health care. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1H NMR metabonomics of serum to identify and classsify lipoprotein subclass profiles Ala-Korpela, M., Makela, S. M., Salminen, A., Soininen, P., Suna, T., Lankinen, N., Ingman, P., Savolainen, M. J., Taskinen, M. R., Hannuksela, M. L., Jauhiainen, M. and Kaski, K. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 39-39. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Alanne, M., Kristiansson, K., Auro, K., Silander, K., Kuulasmaa, K., Peltonen, L., Salomaa, V. and Perola, M. Hum Genet. 2007. IF 3.662 Selenoprotein S (SEPS1) is a novel candidate gene involved in the regulation of inflammatory response and protection from oxidative damage. This study explored the genetic variation in the SEPS1 locus for an association with CVD as well as with quantitative phenotypes related to obesity and inflammation. We used the case-cohort design and time-to-event analysis in two separate prospectively followed population-based cohorts FINRISK 92 and 97 (n = 999 and 1,223 individuals, respectively) to study the associations of five single nucleotide polymorphisms with the risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and ischemic stroke events. We found a significant association with increased CHD risk in females carrying the minor allele of rs8025174 in the combined analysis of both cohorts [hazard ratio (HR) 2.95 (95% confidence interval: 1.37-6.39)]. Another variant, rs7178239, increased the risk for ischemic stroke significantly in females [HR: 3.35 (1.66-6.76)] and in joint analysis of both sexes and both cohorts [HR: 1.75 (1.17-2.64)]. These results indicate that variation in the SEPS1 locus may have an effect on CVD morbidity, especially in females. This observation should stimulate further investigations of the role of this gene and protein in the pathogenesis of CVD. Ankelo, M., Kleimola, V., Simell, S., Simell, O., Knip, M., Jokisalo, E., He, Q., Viander, M., Ilonen, J. and Hinkkanen, A. E. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 599-600. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 Cognitive functioning in patients with familial bipolar I disorder and their unaffected relatives Antila, M., Tuulio-Henriksson, A., Kieseppa, T., Eerola, M., Partonen, T. and Lonnqvist, J. Psychol Med. 2007; 37(5): 679-87. IF 3.816 BACKGROUND: Impairments in verbal learning and memory, executive functions and attention are manifest in some euthymic patients with bipolar disorder (BPD). However, evidence is sparse on their putative role as aetiologically important genetic vulnerability markers for the disorder. This population-based study examined the cognitive functions of affected and unaffected individuals in families with BPD. The aim was to discover whether any cognitive function would indicate genetic liability to the disorder and could thus be regarded as endophenotypes of BPD.
RESULTS: Unaffected first-degree relatives showed impairment in psychomotor performance speed and slight impairment in executive function. Bipolar patients were impaired in verbal learning and memory compared with unaffected relatives and controls. They also differed from controls in tasks of executive functions. There were no difference between the groups in simple attention and working memory tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Impaired psychomotor performance speed and executive function may represent endophenotypes of BPD, reflecting possible underlying vulnerability to the disorder. Verbal memory impairments appear to be more related to the fully developed disorder. Bour, S., Prevot, D., Guigne, C., Stolen, C., Jalkanen, S., Valet, P. and Carpene, C. Journal of Neural Transmission. 2007; 114(6): 829-833. Article. IF 2.938 Substrates of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidases (SSAO) stimulate glucose transport in adipocytes. To definitively demonstrate the involvement of SSAO in this insulin-like effect, glucose transport has been studied in fat cells from mice with a targeted deletion of AOC3, a gene encoding a SSAO called vascular adhesion protein-1. SSAO activity was present in white adipose tissues of wild type (WT) but was absent in AOC3KO mice. The SSAO-substrates benzylamine and methylamine were unable to stimulate hexose transport in adipocytes isolated from AOC3KO mice while they were active in WT adipocytes, especially in combination with vanadate. Impairment of amine-dependent glucose uptake was also observed with tyramine while there was no change in insulin responsiveness. These observations prove that the effects of exogenous or biogenic amines on glucose transport are not receptor-mediated but are oxidation-dependent. They also confirm that the major SSAO form expressed in mouse adipocytes is encoded by the AOC3 gene. Effect of apolipoprotein M on modulation of HDL in APOM transgenic and APOM deficient mice Christoffersen, C., Jauhiainen, M., Moser, M., Porse, B., Ehnholm, C., Fassler, R., Dahlback, B. and Nielsen, L. B. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 211-212. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Eklund, C. M., Kivimaki, M., Islam, M. D. S., Inonala, M., Kahonen, M., Marniemi, J., Lehtimaki, T., Viikari, J., Raitakari, O. T. and Hurme, M. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 58-58. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Searching for PV-1 counter-receptors using phage display Elima, K., Kivi, E., Koivunen, E., Salmi, M. and Jalkanen, S. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 594-594. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 The effects of point mutations on the substrate specificity of vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) Elovaara, H., Kidron, H., Salminen, T., Salmi, M. and Jalkanen, S. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 595-595. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 Driving under the influence of drugs-amphetamine concentrations in oral fluid and whole blood samples Engblom, C., Gunnar, T., Rantanen, A. and Lillsunde, P. Journal of Analytical Toxicology. 2007; 31(5): 276-280. Article. IF 1.242 http://gateway.isiknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=Alerting&SrcApp=Alerting&DestApp=WOS&DestLinkType=FullRecord;KeyUT=ISI:000247295200005 Childhood growth and hypertension in later life Eriksson, J. G., Forsen, T. J., Kajantie, E., Osmond, C. and Barker, D. J. P. Hypertension. 2007; 49(6): 1415-1421. Article. IF 6.007 Few studies have examined the effects of both prenatal and postnatal growth on hypertension. We report on hypertension in 2003 people aged 62 years who were randomly selected from the Helsinki birth cohort and examined in a clinic. Their heights and weights had been recorded serially up to age 11 years. A total of 644 had already been diagnosed with hypertension. Compared with normotensive people, they were obese and insulin resistant. At birth they were thin and short, and they gained weight slowly up to age 2 years; thereafter they grew rapidly so that at age 11 years their body size was around the average. The odds ratio associated with each kilogram of birthweight was 0.42 ( 95% CI: 0.32 to 0.56); with each 10 kg of current weight it was 1.85 ( 95% CI: 1.66 to 2.05). The blood pressures of another 802 people were classified as hypertensive under current definitions. They were overweight and had an atherogenic lipid profile. At birth they were short, and after birth they grew slowly so that at age 11 years they were short and thin. The odds ratio associated with each kilogram of weight at age 2 years was 0.75 ( 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.84); with each 10 kg of current weight it was 1.42 ( 95% CI: 1.28 to 1.57). We conclude that 2 different paths of childhood growth precede the development of hypertension. We suggest that they lead to hypertension through different biological mechanisms and may respond differently to medication. Fan, M., Raitakari, O. T., Kahonen, M., Juonala, M., Hutri-Kahonen, N., Marniemi, J., Rontu, R., Porsti, I., Viikari, J. and Lehtimaki, T. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 48-48. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Freysdottir, J., Omarsdottir, S., Ingolfsdottir, K., Vikingsson, A. and Olafsdottir, E. S. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 596-596. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 Ge, S., Danino, V., He, Q., Hinton, J. C. D. and Granfors, K. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 596-597. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 Graner, M., Kahri, J., Varpula, M., Salonen, R. M., Nyyssonen, K., Jauhiainen, M., Nieminen, M. S., Syvanne, M. and Taskinen, M. R. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 137-137. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Complement factor H variant Y402H shows decreased binding to Streptococcus pyogenes Haapasalo, K., Jarva, H., Vuopio-Varkila, J., Tewodros, W. and Jokiranta, T. S. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 598-598. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 Harald, K., Pajunen, P., Jousilahti, P., Koskinen, S., Vartiainen, E. and Salomaa, V. Scand Cardiovasc J. 2006; 40(2): 87-95. IF 1.037 OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of socio-economic status, defined by occupational class, income and education, with coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity and mortality, and further to analyse to which extent modifiable risk factors may explain socio-economic differences in CHD risk. DESIGN: A population-based prospective cohort study including 9,061 men and 10,211 women aged 35-64 at baseline who participated in a cardiovascular risk factor survey in 1982, 1987, 1992 or 1997 in Finland. The subjects were followed for CHD events up till the end of 2001. Cox's proportional hazards model was used in the analysis. RESULTS: Male manual workers had a double risk of CHD death compared with upper-level employees (HR=2.00, 95% CI 1.35-2.97). This excess risk was reduced by 31% when adjusted for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and most of this reduction was due to smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Modifiable risk factors explained about a third of the excess CHD mortality between manual workers and upper-level employees in men. Among women the differences between socio-economic groups were not statistically significant. Hennah, W., Tomppo, L., Hiekkalinna, T., Palo, O. M., Kilpinen, H., Ekelund, J., Tuulio-Henriksson, A., Silander, K., Partonen, T., Paunio, T., Terwilliger, J. D., Lonnqvist, J. and Peltonen, L. Hum Mol Genet. 2007; 16(5): 453-62. IF 8.099 We have previously reported a robust association between an allelic haplotype of 'Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1' (DISC1) and schizophrenia in a nationwide collection of Finnish schizophrenia families. This specific DISC1 allele was later identified to associate with visual working memory, selectively in males. DISC1 association to schizophrenia has since been replicated in multiple independent study samples from different populations. In this study, we conditioned our sample of Finnish families for the presence of the Finnish tentative risk allele for DISC1 and re-analyzed our genome-wide scan data of 443 markers on the basis of this stratification. Two additional loci displayed an evidence of linkage (LOD > 3) and included a locus on 16p13, proximal to the gene encoding NDE1, which has been shown to biologically interact with DISC1. Although none of the observed linkages remained significant after multiple test correction through simulation, further analysis of NDE1 revealed an association between a tag-haplotype and schizophrenia (P = 0.00046) specific to females, which proved to be significant (P = 0.011) after multiple test correction. Our finding would support the concept that initial gene findings in multifactorial diseases will assist in the identification of other components of complex genetic etiology. Notably, this and other converging lines of evidence underline the importance of DISC1-related functional pathways in the etiology of schizophrenia. Hernesniemi, J. A., Karhunen, P. J., Rontu, R., Ilveskoski, E., Kajander, O., Goebeler, S., Viiri, L. E., Pessi, T., Perola, M., Hurme, M. and Lehtimaki, T. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 45-45. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Hoefle, G., Muendlein, A., Saely, C. H., Risch, L., Rein, P., Koch, L., Schmid, F., Aczel, S., Marte, T., Langer, P. and Drexel, H. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 56-56. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Chronic chlamydia pneumoniae infection induues liver steatosis in Apoe-deficient mice Hyvarinen, K., Tuomainen, A. M., Laitineril, S., Bykov, I. L., Tormakangas, L., Jauhiainen, M., Kovanen, P. T., Leinonen, M., Saikku, P. and Pussinen, P. J. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 23-23. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 CETP activity is increased in persons with impaired glucose tolerance Julius, U. A., Jauhiainen, M., Ehnholm, C. and Pietzsch, J. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 28-28. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Juonala, M., Viikari, L., Alfthan, G. and Raitakari, O. T. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 119-119. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Vascular adhesion protein-1 and aminoglycosides Kaitaniemi, S., Algars, A., Karikoski, M., Salmi, M., Ristamaki, R., Elima, K. and Jalkanen, S. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 604-604. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 Bacterial homologues of VAP-1 amine oxidase Kilpelainen, T., Salmi, M. and Jalkanen, S. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 605-605. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 Characterization of ligands for VAP-1 using phage display Kivi, E., Elima, K., Koivunen, E., Salmi, M. and Jalkanen, S. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 605-605. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 Regulation of endothelial selectins during human ontogeny Koskinen, K., Jalkanen, S. and Salmi, M. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 606-606. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 New insights into lymphocyte response during experimental Chlamydia pneumoniae infection Kylaniemi, M., Haveri, A., Vuola, J. M., Puolakkainen, M. and Lahesmaa, R. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 606-607. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 Latvala, S., Pietila, T., Kekkonen, R., Korpela, R. and Julkunen, I. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 607-607. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 Alcohol intake and renal cell cancer in a pooled analysis of 12 prospective studies Lee, J. E., Hunter, D. J., Spiegelman, D., Adami, H. O., Albanes, D., Bernstein, L., van den Brandt, P. A., Buring, J. E., Cho, E. Y., Folsom, A. R., Freudenheim, J. L., Giovannucci, E., Graham, S., Horn-Ross, P. L., Leitzmann, M. F., McCullough, M. L., Miller, A. B., Parker, A. S., Rodriguez, C., Rohan, T. E., Schatzkin, A., Schouten, L. J., Virtanen, M., Willett, W. C., Wolk, A., Zhang, S. M. and Smith-Warner, S. A. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2007; 99(10): 801-810. Article. IF 15.271 Background The association between alcohol intake and risk of renal cell cancer has been inconsistent in case-control studies. An inverse association between alcohol intake and risk of renal cell cancer has been suggested in a few prospective studies, but each of these studies included a small number of cases. Methods We performed a pooled analysis of 12 prospective studies that included 530469 women and 229575 men with maximum follow-up times of 7-20 years. All participants had completed a validated food-frequency questionnaire at baseline. Using the primary data from each study, the study-specific relative risks (RRs) for renal cell cancer were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models and then pooled using a random-effects model. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results A total of 1430 (711 women and 719 men) cases of incident renal cell cancer were identified. The study-standardized incidence rates of renal cell cancer were 23 per 100000 person-years among nondrinkers and 15 per 100000 person-years among those who drank 15 g/day or more of alcohol. Compared with non-drinking, alcohol consumption (>= 15 g/day, equivalent to slightly more than one alcoholic drink per day) was associated with a decreased risk of renal cell cancer (pooled multivariable RR = 0.72, 95% confidence interval = 0.60 to 0.86; P-trend <.001); statistically significant inverse trends with increasing intake were seen in both women and men. No difference by sex was observed (P-heterogeneity = .89). Associations between alcohol intake and renal cell cancer were not statistically different across alcoholic beverage type (beer versus wine versus liquor) (P = .40). Conclusion Moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a lower risk of renal cell cancer among both women and men in this pooled analysis. Lee-Rueckert, M., Metso, J., Vikstedt, R., Jauhiainen, M. and Kovanen, P. T. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 26-26. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Lehtonen, A., Ahlfors, H., Veckman, V., Miettinen, M., Lahesmaa, R. and Julkunen, I. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 608-608. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 Magnussen, C. G., Raitakari, O. T., Thomson, R., Juonala, M., Viikari, J. S., Marniemi, J., Dwyer, T. and Venn, A. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 222-222. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Makela, S., Strengell, M., Pietila, T. and Julkunen, I. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 609-609. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 Meririnne, E., Mykkanen, S., Lillsunde, P., Kuoppasalmi, K., Lerssi, R., Laaksonen, I., Lehtomaki, K. and Henriksson, M. Forensic Sci Int. 2007. IF 1.397 In the military environment drug abuse is a particular risk for occupational safety. In the Finnish Defence Forces a drug testing program was conducted in 2002-2005; soldiers, professional civilians, and military students were tested when applying for a work or right to study; furthermore, annually 5% of the personnel were subjected to random testing. In total, over 2000 urine samples were analyzed in an accredited laboratory for cannabis, opiates, amphetamines, or cocaine. In this article, the drug testing program as a part of the anti-drug strategy of the Finnish Defence Forces is described, and the findings including practical experiences and financial expenses are reported. Only one person applying for a civilian post tested positive for amphetamine and cannabis. In seven other samples codeine and morphine were detected; these were, however, due to prescribed medication, not drug abuse. In the execution of the program, no particular difficulties were reported. In conclusion, it seems that the use of illicit drugs in the Finnish military is extremely rare, at least partly due to the successful anti-drug strategy. After an elaborate planning, even an extensive drug testing program can be executed without substantial setbacks. In the future, the effectiveness of drug testing programs as a means of improving occupational safety needs to be investigated in controlled studies using comparative design. Development and application of a novel mouse apoE elisa method Muilu, M. J., Nuutinen, S., Metso, J., Pussinen, P., Enholm, C. and Jauhiainen, M. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 28-29. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Naukkarinen, J., Kristiansson, K., Nilsson, E., Koistinen, H. A., Lyssenko, V., Karhunen, P. J., Perola, M., Taskinen, M. R. and Peltonen, L. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 228-228. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Niiranen, T. J., Jula, A. M., Kantola, I. M., Karanko, H. and Reunanen, A. J Hum Hypertens. 2007. IF 2.960 Electrocardiographic evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG-LVH) has a grave prognostic significance in hypertensive patients. The purpose of our study was to assess whether ECG-LVH is more strongly associated with home-measured blood pressure (BP) than with clinic BP, and whether the correlation between home BP and ECG-LVH increases with the number of home measurements performed. We studied a representative sample of the general adult population (1989 subjects 45-74 years of age) in Finland. Subjects included in the study underwent a clinical interview, electrocardiography and measurement of clinic BP (mean of two clinic measurements) and home BP (mean of 14 duplicate home measurements performed during 1 week). Home BP correlated significantly better than clinic BP with the Sokolow-Lyon voltage (home/clinic systolic: r=0.23/0.22, P=0.60; diastolic: r=0.17/0.12, P=0.009), Cornell voltage (systolic: r=0.30/0.25, P=0.004; diastolic: r=0.21/0.12, P<0.001) and Cornell product (systolic: r=0.30/0.24, P=0.001; diastolic r=0.22/0.14, P<0.001) criteria of ECG-LVH. The correlation between home BP and ECG-LVH increased slightly with the number of home measurements, but even the mean of the initial two home BP measurements correlated equally well (systolic BP), or better (diastolic BP) with ECG-LVH than did clinic BP. In conclusion, home BP measurement allows us to obtain a large number of measurements that have a strong association with ECG-LVH. Our data support the application of home BP measurement in clinical practice.Journal of Human Hypertension advance online publication, 19 July 2007; doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1002192. Proatherogenic bacteria induce an inflammatory response in cultured mast cells Oksaharju, A., Lappalainen, J., Puolakkainen, M., Pussinen, P. J., Kovanen, P. T. and Lindstedt, K. A. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 83-84. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Periodontopathogen- and host-derived immune response in acute coronary syndrome Paju, S., Sinisalo, J., Nieminen, M. S., Valtonen, V., Saikku, P., Leinonen, M. and Pussinen, P. J. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 68-68. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Pehrsson, A., Gunnar, T., Engblom, C., Seppa, H., Jama, A. and Lillsunde, P. Forensic Sci Int. 2007. IF 1.397 Drugged drivers pose a serious threat to other people in traffic as well as to themselves. Reliable oral fluid screening devices for on-site screening of drugged drivers would be both a useful and convenient means for traffic control. In this study we evaluated the appropriateness of Drugwipe 5 and Drugwipe Benzodiazepines oral fluid on-site tests for roadside drug screening. Drivers suspected of driving under the influence of drugs were screened with the Drugwipe tests. Oral fluid and whole blood samples were collected from the drivers and tested for amphetamine-type stimulant drugs, cannabis, opiates, cocaine and benzodiazepines by immunological methods, GC and GC-MS. The performance evaluations of the tests were made by comparing the results of the Drugwipe tests with laboratory GC-MS confirmation results of oral fluid or whole blood. In addition to the performance evaluations of the Drugwipe tests based on laboratory results, a questionnaire on the practical aspects of the tests was written for the police officers who performed the tests. The aim of the questionnaire was to obtain user comments on the practicality of the tests as well as the advantages and weak points of the tests. The results of the performance evaluations were: for oral fluid (sensitivity; specificity; accuracy) amphetamines (95.5%; 92.9%; 95.3%), cannabis (52.2%; 91.2%; 85.1%), cocaine (50.0%; 99.3%; 98.6%), opiates (100%; 95.8%; 95.9%), benzodiazepines (74.4%; 84.2%; 79.2%) and for whole blood accordingly, amphetamines (97.7%; 86.7%; 95.9%), cannabis (68.3%; 87.9%; 84.9%), cocaine (50.0%; 98.5%; 97.7%), opiates (87.5%; 96.9%; 96.6%) and benzodiazepines (66.7%; 87.0%; 74.4%). Although the Drugwipe 5 successfully detected amphetamine-type stimulant drugs and the police officers were quite pleased with the current features of the Drugwipe tests, improvements must still be made regarding the detection of cannabis and benzodiazepines. Pietila, T. E., Veckman, V., Lehtonen, A. and Julkunen, I. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 611-612. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 IFN-alpha regulates toll-like receptor-mediated IL-27 gene expression in human macrophages Pirhonen, J., Siren, J., Julkunen, I. and Matikainen, S. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 612-612. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 Systemic markers of periodontitis and inflammation in combination predict incident CVD events Pussinen, P. J., Tuomisto, K., Jousilahti, P., Havulinna, A., Sundvall, J. and Salomaa, V. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 69-69. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease Qiao, Q., Gao, W. G., Zhang, L., Nyamdorj, R. and Tuomilehto, J. Annals of Clinical Biochemistry. 2007; 44: 232-263. Review. IF 1.741 The clustering of metabolic and pathophysiological cardiovascular risk factors has long been recognized but it was Reaven who popularized the syndrome in the Banting lecture of 1988. Since 1999, several major international or national organizations proposed their own definitions for the syndrome, named the metabolic, syndrome. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome varies according to definition, ethnicity and gender. The prevalence is under 20% among Chinese and Korean people but over 50% among Maori and Pacific Islanders in New Zealand. People with the metabolic syndrome have 50-60% higher cardiovascular risk than those without. The absolute cardiovascular risk of the metabolic syndrome, however, is not necessarily higher than those of its individual components. The pathogenesis underlying the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors remains unclear. Factors including genetic disposition, obesity, insulin resistance and inflammation have been suggested as being involved. Since the metabolic syndrome is multifactorial in origin, strategies for reducing cardiovascular risk in individuals with the metabolic syndrome involve the management of multiple risks. Lifestyle changes are an effective first-line management; pharmacological interventions for hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia are in accordance with established guidelines. Pharmacological and surgical therapies for obesity are effective in selected patients. In this article we discuss the definitions, prevalence, pathogenesis and management of the metabolic syndrome in relation to cardiovascular risk. Rantala, A., Lajunen, T., Juvonen, R. and Leinonen, M. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 613-614. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 Sahlberg, A. S., Penttinen, M. A., Heiskanen, K. M., Colbert, R. A., Sistonen, L. and Granfors, K. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 614-614. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 Common ABCA1 variants, HDL levels, and cellular cholesterol efflux in subjects with familial low HDL Soro-Paavonen, A., Naukkarinen, J., Lee-Rueckert, M., Watanabe, H., Rantala, E., Soderlund, S., Hiukka, A., Kovanen, P. T., Jauhiainen, M., Peltonen, L. and Taskinen, M. R. Journal of Lipid Research. 2007; 48(6): 1409-1416. Article. IF 4.357 HDL promotes cholesterol efflux from peripheral cells via ABCA1 in the first step of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). We investigated whether the early steps of RCT were disturbed in subjects with familial low HDL and an increased risk for early atherosclerosis. Cholesterol efflux from monocyte-derived macrophages to lipid-free apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I; %) was measured in 22 patients with familial low HDL without Tangier disease mutations and in 21 healthy controls. In addition, we defined the different alleles of ABCA1 using single-nucleotide polymorphism haplotypes and measured ABCA1 and ABCG1 mRNA transcript levels in cholesterol-loaded macrophages. Similar ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux levels were observed for macrophages derived from control subjects and from low-HDL subjects. However, when efflux of cholesterol was estimated as cholesterol efflux to apoA-I (%)/relative ABCA1 mRNA expression level, cholesterol removal was significantly (P = 0.001) lower in the low-HDL group. Cholesterol-loaded macrophages from low-HDL subjects showed significantly increased levels of ABCA1 mRNA but not of ABCG1 mRNA and were more often carriers of the rare ABCA1 alleles L158 and R219K. These results suggest that defective ABCA1 function in cholesterol-loaded macrophages is one potential contributor to the impaired RCT process and the increased coronary heart disease risk in subjects with familial low HDL. Uronen, R. L., Lundmark, P., Ikonen, E., Linder, M. D., Jauhiainen, M., Larsson, K., Siegbahn, A., Wallentin, L., Zethelius, B. and Syvanen, A. C. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 24-24. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Weissglas-Volkov, D., Lee, J. C., de Bruin, T. W., Peltonen, L., van der Kallen, C. J., Taskinen, M. R. and Pajukanta, P. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 15-15. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Viiri, L. E., Raitakari, O. T., Huhtala, H., Kahonen, M., Rontu, R., Juonala, M., Hutri-Kahonen, N., Marniemi, J., Viikari, J. S., Karhunen, P. J. and Lehtimaki, T. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 46-46. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Vikstedt, R., Metso, J., Ye, D., Hildebrand, R., Van Berkel, T., Ehnholm, C., Jauhiainen, M. and Van Eck, M. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 25-26. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Yan, D., Jauhiainen, M., Hildebrand, R., van Dijk, K. W., Ehnholm, C., van Eck, M. and Olkkonen, V. M. Atherosclerosis Supplements. 2007; 8(1): 5-5. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.875 Yegutkin, G. G., Henttinen, T., Mikhailov, A., Samburski, S. and Jalkanen, S. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. 2007; 65(6): 620-620. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.090 |