30.10.2006

 

New articles - Uudet artikkelit 30.10.2006 - ISI Web of Knowledge & PubMed Search Alert


Effectiveness of structured questionnaires for screening heavy drinking in middle-aged women

Aalto, M., Tuunanen, M., Sillanaukee, P. and Seppa, K.

Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2006; 30(11): 1884-8. Journal Article. IF 2.636

Background: There is a need for an effective and feasible alcohol screening instrument. The aim of the study was to evaluate how the abbreviated versions of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire perform in comparison with the original AUDIT and what the optimal cutoffs are when screening for heavy drinking among women.

Methods: All the 40-year-old women in the city of Tampere, Finland, are invited yearly for a health screening. From 1 year, data from 894 women (response rate 68.2%) invited for a health screening were utilized in the study. The original 10-item AUDIT, AUDIT-C, Five Shot, AUDIT-PC, AUDIT-3, AUDIT-QF, and CAGE were evaluated against the Timeline Followback. Consumption of at least 140 g of absolute ethanol per week on average during the past month was considered heavy drinking.

Results: In the Timeline Followback, the mean+/-SD weekly reported alcohol consumption was 45+/-67 g (range 0-936 g) of absolute ethanol. Of the women, 6.2% (55/894) were heavy drinkers. The optimal combination of sensitivity and specificity was reached for the AUDIT with cutoff >/=6, for the AUDIT-C with cutoff >/=5, for the Five Shot with cutoff >/=2.0, for the AUDIT-PC with cutoff >/=4, and for the AUDIT-QF with cutoff >/=4. When choosing the optimal cutoffs, the AUDIT-C, the Five Shot, the AUDIT-PC, and the AUDIT-QF performed as well as the 10-item AUDIT. With these cutoffs, sensitivities were 0.84 to 0.93 and specificities were 0.83 to 0.90. The AUDIT-3 and the CAGE did not perform as well as the other questionnaires.

Conclusions: The 10-item AUDIT, AUDIT-C, Five Shot, AUDIT-PC, and AUDIT-QF seem to be equally effective tools in screening for heavy drinking among middle-aged women. However, their applicability is achieved only if the cutoffs are tailored according to gender.


Abuse liability of buprenorphine-naloxone tablets in untreated IV drug users

Alho, H., Sinclair, D., Vuori, E. and Holopainen, A.

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2006. Journal article. IF 2.969

Buprenorphine (Subutex((R))) is widely abused in Finland. A combination of buprenorphine plus naloxone (Suboxone((R))) has been available since late 2004, permitting a comparison of the abuse of the two products among untreated intravenous (IV) users. A survey was distributed to attendees at a Helsinki needle exchange program over 2-weeks in April, 2005, At least 30% were returned anonymously. Survey variables included: years of prior IV opioid abuse, years of buprenorphine abuse, frequency, dosage, route of administration and reasons for use, concomitant IV abuse of other substances and amount paid on the street for both buprenorphine and buprenorphine+naloxone. Buprenorphine was the most frequently used IV drug for 73% of the respondents. More than 75% said they used IV buprenorphine to self-treat addiction or withdrawal. Most (68%) had tried the buprenorphine+naloxone combination IV, but 80% said they had a "bad" experience. Its street price was less than half that of buprenorphine alone. The buprenorphine+naloxone combination appears to be a feasible tool, along with easier access to addiction treatment, for decreasing IV abuse of buprenorphine.


Two tests of neural efficiency in schizophrenia patients performing a working memory task

Bachman, P., Kim, J., Yee-Bradbury, C. M., Therman, S., Manninen, M., Lonnqvist, J., Kaprio, J., Naatanen, R. and Cannon, T. D.

Psychophysiology. 2006; 43: S21-S22. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.848


Conditioned aversive effects of the mGlur5 antagonist MPEP

Backstrom, P. and Hyytia, P.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 128A-128A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


Influence of polybrominated flame retardants on thyroid function in infants

Boas, M., Rasmussen, U. F., Toppari, J., Skakkebaek, N. E., Kiviranta, H., Vartiainen, T. and Main, K. M.

Hormone Research. 2006; 65: 50-51. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.386


Role of the HPG axis in alcohol drinking and addiction

Eriksson, C. J. P., Apter, S., Sarkola, T., Makisalo, H. and Seppa, K.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 54A-54A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


ALDH1A1 polymorphism and alcohol addiction in Finnish populations

Eriksson, C. J. P., Lind, P. A., Carr, L. G., Spence, J. P. and Wilhelmsen, K. C.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 123A-123A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


Early postnatal growth and cardiovascular reactivity to psychological stressors in late adulthood

Feldt, K., Raikkonen, K., Eriksson, J., Andersson, S., Osmond, C., Barker, D. J. P., Phillips, D. I. W. and Kajantie, E.

Early Human Development. 2006; 82(8): 533-533. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.282


Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG modulates toxicity and kinetics of orally administered AFB(1) in rats

Gratz, S., Taubel, M., Juvonen, R. O., Viluksela, M., Turner, P. C., Mykkanen, H. and El-Nezami, H.

Toxicology Letters. 2006; 164: S153-S153. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.430


Body size at birth is associated with pessimistic life orientation at late adulthood:
longitudinal study among women and men born at term in Helsinki 1934-1944

Heinonen, K., Raikkonen, K., Pesonen, A. K., Lahti, J., Kajantie, E., Forsen, T. and Eriksson, J.

Early Human Development. 2006; 82(8): 509-509. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.282


Low lean-body-mass in young adults with very low birth weight

Hovi, P., Kajantie, E., Strang, S., Makitie, O., Jarvenpaa, A. L., Eriksson, J. G. and Andersson, S. H. M.

Early Human Development. 2006; 82(8): 510-510. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.282


ERP correlates of working memory dysfunction in schizophrenia patients, their non-schizophrenic co-twins, and controls

Jetton, C. L., Bachman, P., Kim, J., Yee-Bradbury, C. M., Therman, S., Manninen, M., Lonnqvist, J., Kaprio, J., Naatanen, R. and Cannon, T. D.

Psychophysiology. 2006; 43: S49-S49. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.848


Temperament, character and symptoms of anxiety and depression in the general population

Jylha, P. and Isometsa, E.

European Psychiatry. 2006; 21(6): 389-395. Article. IF 1.273

Few studies have investigated the relationship of temperament and character, as conceptualized in the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R), to symptoms of depression and anxiety in the general population. In this study a random sample of subjects (20 to 70 years), in two Finnish cities, were surveyed with the TCI-R, Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories, plus questions related to diagnosed lifetime mental disorders, health care use for psychiatric reasons during the past 12 months, and history of mental disorders in first-degree relatives. Altogether 347 subjects (38.6%) responded. Of the TCI-R dimensions, Harm Avoidance correlated with symptoms of depression (r(s) = 0.555, p < 0.001), anxiety (r (s) = 0.560, p < 0.001), self-reported lifetime mental disorder (r(s) = 0.272, p < 0.001), health care use for psychiatric reason during the past 12 months (r(s) = 0.241, p < 0.001) and family history of mental disorder (r(s) = 0.202, p < 0.001). Self-directedness correlated negatively with symptoms of depression (r(s) = -0.495, p < 0.001), anxiety (r(s) = -0.458, p < 0.001), lifetime mental disorder (r(s) =0.225, p < 0.001) and healthcare use (r(s) = -0.135, p = 0.013). Overall, Harm Avoidance and Self-directedness seem to associate moderately with depressive and anxiety symptoms, and somewhat predict self-reported use of health services for psychiatric reasons, and lifetime mental disorder. High harm avoidance may associate with a family history of mental disorder. (c) 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.


Length at birth predicts hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) responsiveness to psychosocial stress at age 60

Kajantie, E., Feldt, K., Raikkonen, K., Phillips, D. I. W., Barker, D. J. P., Osmond, C. and Eriksson, J. G.

Early Human Development. 2006; 82(8): 534-534. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.282


Lower number of sex partners in young adults born with very low birth weight

Kajantie, E., Hovi, P., Raikkonen, K., Pesonen, A. K., Heinonen, K., Jarvenpaa, A. L., Eriksson, J. G. and Andersson, S.

Early Human Development. 2006; 82(8): 535-535. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.282


Quality of life in treated patients with acromegaly

Kauppinen-Makelin, R., Sane, T., Sintonen, H., Markkanen, H., Valimaki, M. J.,
Loyttyniemi, E., Niskanen, L., Reunanen, A. and Stenman, U. H.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2006; 91(10): 3891-3896. Article. IF 6.020

Context: It is not known to what extent quality of life of patients treated for acromegaly is dependent on levels of GH and IGF-I attained.

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its dependence on treatment outcome and modality in a nationwide survey of acromegalic patients.

Design, Setting, and Patients: All eligible patients with acromegaly, diagnosed from January 1980 through December 1999 in Finland, were invited to a follow-up study, carried out 11.4 +/- 5.7 (mean +/- SD) yr after initial treatment. HRQoL of the patients, measured by the generic 15D instrument, was compared with that of the general population. Factors related to HRQoL were analyzed by logistic regression.

Main Outcome Measure: HRQoL was the main outcome measure. Results: Of 277 eligible patients, 231 (83.4%) participated in the follow-up study. Of them, 51.1% were in remission according to consensus criteria. The patients reported reduced HRQoL in comparison to the age- and gender-standardized general population (P < 0.001). HRQoL was related to nadir GH in oral glucose tolerance test (GHOGTT) in an inverted U-shaped fashion (overall P = 0.021). Patients with GHOGTT nadir values between 0.3-1.0 mu g/liter had a better HRQoL than those with lower or higher values. A normal IGF-I (P = 0.038) and not having had radiotherapy (P = 0.004) were also associated with a better HRQoL.

Conclusions: HRQoL is reduced in treated patients with acromegaly. The best HRQoL may be achieved by normalization of IGF-I and by targeting the GHOGTT nadir to levels between 0.3 and 1.0 mu g/liter. Radiotherapy is associated with adverse HRQoL.


Factors associated with difference between self-reported and clinically measured weight and height

Kautiainen, S., Laitinen, J., Sovio, U., Virtanen, S. M. and Jarvelin, M. R.

International Journal of Obesity. 2006; 30: S8-S8. Meeting Abstract. IF 4.482


Use of antimicrobials and risk of type 1 diabetes in a population-based mother-child cohort

Kilkkinen, A., Virtanen, S. M., Klaukka, T., Kenward, M. G., Salkinoja-Salonen, M., Gissler, M., Kaila, M. and Reunanen, A.

Diabetologia. 2006; 49(1): 66-70. Journal Article. Multicenter Study. IF 5.337

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of antimicrobials is associated with the risk of childhood type 1 diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population included all children born in Finland between 1996 and 2000 who were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes by the end of 2002. For each case (n=437), four matched controls were selected. Data on diabetes and the maternal use of antimicrobials was derived from nationwide registries.

RESULTS: Maternal use of phenoxymethyl penicillins (odds ratio [OR]=1.70, 95% CI 1.08-2.68, p=0.022) or quinolone antimicrobials (OR=2.43, 95% CI 1.16-5.10, p=0.019) before pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of type 1 diabetes in the child, whereas the use of other specific antimicrobials was not related to the risk. The risk was also higher among mother-child pairs where macrolides were used both by the mother before pregnancy and by the child, compared with pairs where neither used macrolides (OR=1.76, 95% CI 1.05-2.94, p=0.032). Maternal use of antimicrobials during pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk. The high use of antimicrobials by the child (more than seven vs seven or less purchases) was related to greater risk (OR=1.66, 95% CI 1.24-2.24, p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Overall, the use of antimicrobials before pregnancy, during pregnancy or during childhood was not related to the risk of childhood type 1 diabetes. However, the use of some specific antimicrobials by the mother before pregnancy and by the child may be associated with an increased risk. Further studies are needed to confirm these associations and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action.


Fetal programming of big five-personality traits: a longitudinal follow-up of 60 years

Komsi, N., Raikkonen, K., Lahti, J., Pesonen, A. K., Heinonen, K., Kajantie, E., Forsen, T. and Eriksson, J.

Early Human Development. 2006; 82(8): 535-535. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.282


Cost-effectiveness of implementing national guidelines in the treatment of acute otitis media in children

Koskinen, H., Rautakorpi, U. M., Sintonen, H., Honkanen, P., Huikko, S., Huovinen, P., Klaukka, T., Palva, E., Roine, R. P., Sarkkinen, H., Varonen, H. and Makela, M.

International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care. 2006; 22(4): 454-459. Article. IF 0.725

Objectives: Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common diseases of childhood, representing a major disease burden on the society. New evidence-based guidelines for AOM, focusing on children under 7 years of age, were introduced in Finland in 1999. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of implementing those guidelines in Finland.

Methods: A 5-year prospective trial was conducted in thirty community primary healthcare centers in Finland. All AOM patients between 0 and 6 years of age visiting the study health centers for the first time, for this episode of illness, during 1 week in November 1998 (n = 579) and November 2002 (n = 369) were included in this study. The outcome measure was the percentage of symptom-free patients.

Results: The mean direct cost of an AOM episode per patient stayed almost the same after implementing the guidelines, E152 in 1998 and E150 in 2002. After implementing the guidelines, the percentage of symptom-free patients was 10 percentage points higher than before the guidelines. The treatment after the implementation of the guidelines, thus, was a dominant strategy.

Conclusions: Implementing the guidelines to the treatment of AOM in children was associated with extra health benefits at slightly lower direct costs and, thus, is a dominant strategy The focus of this study was on the short-term effects of the treatment; including long-term effects in the analysis might affect the results.


Do prenatal factors predict our temperaments? 60 to 70 years follow-up study in the Helsinki cohort

Lahti, J., Raikkonen, K., Heinonen, K., Pesonen, A. K., Kajantie, E., Forsen, T. and Eriksson, J.

Early Human Development. 2006; 82(8): 535-536. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.282


Assessment by c-Fos immunostaining of changes in brain neural activity induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and leptin in rats

Lensu, S., Miettinen, R., Pohjanvirta, R., Linden, J. and Tuomisto, J.

Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2006; 98(4): 363-71. Journal Article. IF 1.489

The environmental toxicant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) causes multiple effects in laboratory animals. One of these is a wasting syndrome (a dramatic loss of body weight over 2-5 weeks) whose mechanism is still largely unknown. We exploited the over 1000 times difference in TCDD sensitivity between Long-Evans (Turku/AB); (L-E) and Han/Wistar (Kuopio); (H/W) rats to reveal brain areas that might be activated by a single dose of TCDD (50 microg/kg) given 24 hr previously. Leptin (1.3 mg/kg intraperitoneally 2 hr before tissue harvest) was used as a reference compound, as its neural pathway for decreasing food intake in the control of energy homeostasis is fairly well known. Serial sections of the brains were immunostained with an antibody for the activity marker c-Fos, and selected areas -- primarily in the hypothalamus -- were analysed with a computer-assisted microscope. Given alone, TCDD did not elicit any major alterations in c-Fos protein levels in the hypothalamic nuclei at the early time-point studied (24 hr after administration), neither in pooled data nor in individual strains. The control substance leptin proved that the method is valid as it increased the number of c-Fos-immunopositive cells in the hypothalamic ventromedial and arcuate nuclei. Although the present findings are not suggestive of a primary role for the hypothalamus in the wasting syndrome, a time-course study covering also the feeding-active dark hours is warranted for their verification.


Complement C3 contributes to ethanol-induced liver steatosis

Lindros, K. O., Bykov, I. L., Jauhiainen, M., Olkkonen, V. and Meri, S.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 66A-66A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


High-fibre, low-fat diet predicts long-term weight loss and decreased type 2 diabetes risk: the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study

Lindstrom, J., Peltonen, M., Eriksson, J. G., Louheranta, A., Fogelholm, M., Uusitupa, M. and Tuomilehto, J.

Diabetologia. 2006; 49(5): 912-20. Journal Article. Multicenter Study. Randomized Controlled Trial. IF 5.337

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of dietary macronutrient composition and energy density with the change in body weight and waist circumference and diabetes incidence in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Overweight, middle-aged men (n=172) and women (n=350) with impaired glucose tolerance were randomised to receive either 'standard care' (control) or intensive dietary and exercise counselling. Baseline and annual examinations included assessment of dietary intake with 3-day food records and diabetes status by repeated 75-g OGTTs. For these analyses the treatment groups were combined and only subjects with follow-up data (n=500) were included.

RESULTS: Individuals with low fat (median) intakes lost more weight compared with those consuming a high-fat (>median), low-fibre ( low-fibre, high-fat high-fibre, low-fat for 1.09-3.30) CI (95% 1.89 1.40-5.10), 2.68 0.98-4.02), 1.98 were ratios hazard category, high-fibre the with Compared investigated. being nutrient of intake glucose plasma 2-h baseline activity, physical change, weight assignment, intervention sex, adjustment after intake, saturated-fat 0.89-3.38) 1.73 fat 1.16-3.92) 2.14 0.19-0.77) 0.38 quartile) lowest compared (highest years 4.1 follow-up mean a during incidence diabetes models, separate In years). 3 kg 0.7 vs (3.1 diet>

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Dietary fat and fibre intake are significant predictors of sustained weight reduction and progression to type 2 diabetes in high-risk subjects, even after adjustment for other risk factors.


Molecular mechanisms of altered brain histaminergic system in alcohol preference

Lintunen, M., Kiianmaa, K. and Panula, P.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 146A-146A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


Regional patterns of gene expression in alcohol-preferring and -nonpreferring rats

Lourdusamy, A. A., Ubaldi, M., Soverchia, L., Ciccocioppo, R., Hyytia, P. and Sommer, W.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 153A-153A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


Batten disease (JNCL) is linked to disturbances in mitochondrial, cytoskeletal, and synaptic compartments

Luiro, K., Kopra, O., Blom, T., Gentile, M., Mitchison, H. M., Hovatta, F., Tornquist, K. and Jalanko, A.

Journal of Neuroscience Research. 2006; 84(5): 1124-1138. Article. IF 3.239

Intracellular pathways leading to neuronal degeneration are poorly understood in the juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL, Batten disease), caused by mutations in the CLN3 gene. To elucidate the early pathology, we carried out comparative global transcript profiling of the embryonic, primary cultures of the Cln3(-/-) mouse neurons. Statistical and functional analyses delineated three major cellular pathways or compartments affected: mitochondrial glucose metabolism, cytoskeleton, and synaptosome. Further functional studies showed a slight mitochondrial dysfunction and abnormalities in the microtubule cytoskeleton plus-end components. Synaptic dysfunction was also indicated by the pathway analysis, and by the gross upregulation of the G protein beta 1 subunit, known to regulate synaptic transmission via the voltage-gated calcium channels. Intracellular calcium imaging showed a delay in the recovery from depolarization in the Cln3(-/-) neurons, when the N-type Ca2+ channels had been blocked. The data suggests a link between the mitochondrial dysfunction and cytoskeleton-mediated presynaptic inhibition, thus providing a foundation for further investigation of the disease mechanism underlying JNCL disease. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.


Rewarding properties of 1-benzylpiperazine, a new drug of abuse, in rats

Meririnne, E., Kajos, M., Kankaanpaa, A. and Seppala, T.

Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2006; 98(4): 346-50. Journal Article. IF 1.489

1-Benzylpiperazine (also known as 'Legal X', 'Legal E', or 'A2') is a psychoactive compound increasingly encountered on the clandestine market. Previous experimental data suggest that the compound possesses addictive properties. In the present study, we used the conditioned place preference method in the rat to test whether 1-benzylpiperazine possesses rewarding properties. Furthermore, the mechanisms of the 1-benzylpiperazine reward were investigated using selected dopamine and serotonin receptor antagonists. 1-Benzylpiperazine (1.25, 5, and 20 mg/kg) induced dose-dependently place preference. This place preference was attenuated by the antagonists SCH23390 (0.2 mg/kg; dopamine D1-like receptors) and MDL72222 (1.0 mg/kg; serotonin3 receptors), but not by raclopride (0.8 mg/kg; dopamine D2-like receptors) or ketanserin (2 mg/kg; preferentially serotonin2 receptors). Our results show that 1-benzylpiperazine possesses rewarding properties in the rat, which suggests the compound to be susceptible to human abuse. The brain dopaminergic and serotonergic systems appear to be involved in the 1-benzylpiperazine reward.


The expression of genes encoding superoxide dismutase in alcohol-exposed Type I and Type II muscle

Nakahara, T., Hashimoto, K., Hirano, M., Hunter, R., Bykov, I., Lindros, K. and Preedy, V. R.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 148A-148A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


The mRNA levels of p22phox, p47phox, p67phox and gp91phox subunits of NADPH oxidase in heart of alcohol-exposed rats

Nakahara, T., Hashimoto, K., Hirano, M., Hunter, R., Bykov, I., Lindros, K. and Preedy, V. R.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 148A-148A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


Morphine elevates extracellular glutamate in the VTA in alcohol-preferring AA but not in alcohol-avoiding ANA rats treated repeatedly with morphine

Ojanen, S. P., Palmen, M., Hyytia, P. and Kiianmaa, K.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 131A-131A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


Sleep quality in young adults born severely preterm

Paavonen, J., Strang, S., Hovi, P., Andersson, S., Jarvenpaa, A. L., Eriksson, J. and Kajantie, E.

Early Human Development. 2006; 82(8): 541-541. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.282


Relation between beverage and cardiovascular diseases in the Finnish population

Pakarinen, K., Eriksson, C. J. P. and Vartiainen, E.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 105A-105A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


The brain histaminergic system and alcohol-related behavior

Panula, P., Loada, A., Hyytia, P., Kiianmaa, K. and Lintunen, M.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 78A-78A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


Exposure to ultrafine particles and respiratory health effects

Pekkanen, J.

Toxicology Letters. 2006; 164: S33-S33. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.430


WHO Director-General election: public-health infrastructures

Puska, P.

Lancet. 2006; 368(9545): 1401-3. Journal Article. IF 23.878


Sodium in the Finnish diet: II. Trends in dietary sodium intake and comparison between intake and 24-h excretion of sodium

Reinivuo, H., Valsta, L. M., Laatikainen, T., Tuomilehto, J. and Pietinen, P.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2006; 60(10): 1160-1167. Article. IF 2.163

Objective: To estimate cross-sectional and long-term dietary sodium intakes and sources in Finland, and to evaluate the validity of 48-h recall to assess sodium intake. Design: Cross-sectional dietary surveys and food availability data (Food Balance Sheets). Setting: Dietary surveys were carried out in Finland in 1992, 1997 and 2002. Food availability data were collected from 1980 to 1999.

Subjects: A stratified random sample was drawn from the population register. The total number of participants in the three dietary surveys was 6730. In the subsample for urine collection, the number of participants was 879.

Interventions: Nutrient intakes were estimated on the basis of a 3-day food diary in 1992, a 24-h recall in 1997 and a 48-h recall in 2002. The 24-h urinary excretion of sodium was used to validate sodium intake. In addition, salt intake was estimated based on Food Balance Sheets.

Results: Sodium intake has slowly decreased since the early 1980s. Reported daily sodium intake correlated significantly with sodium excretion.

Conclusions: Sodium intake has decreased during the last two decades, but is still higher than the recommended daily intake. Sodium intake estimation based on dietary surveys and food availability data is a valid method provided that the food composition database is up to date and of good quality.

Sponsorship: All surveys were funded by the National Public Health Institute in Finland and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.


Different behavioral profiles in male ethanol-preferring AA and ethanol- avoiding ANA rats

Roman, E., Meyerson, B. J., Hyytia, P. and Nylander, I.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 134A-134A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


Testosterone and alcohol use in adolescent twin brothers: Associations between and within families and over time

Rose, R., Kaprio, J. and Eriksson, C. J. P.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 54A-54A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


GABRA1 and GABRA2 gene polymorphisms among alcoholics, controls and alcohol-intolerant individuals

Saarikoski, S. T., Palmen, M., Husgafvel-Pursiainen, K. and Eriksson, C. J. P.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 155A-155A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


The effect of correcting for troponins on trends in coronary heart disease events in Finland during 1993-2002: the FINAMI study

Salomaa, V., Ketonen, M., Koukkunen, H., Immonen-Raiha, P., Lehtonen, A., Torppa, J., Kuulasmaa, K., Kesaniemi, Y. A. and Pyorala, K.

European Heart Journal. 2006; 27(20): 2394-2399. Article. IF 7.341

Aims The object of this study is to analyse the trends in coronary events in Finland during 1993-2002, correcting for the effect of troponins.

Methods and results A population-based myocardial infarction register recorded all coronary events (n=14 782) in four geographical areas of Finland during 1993-2002. Correction coefficients for the effect of troponins were calculated on the basis of 4359 coronary events, with simultaneous determination of troponins and the 'old' enzymatic markers of myocardial injury. Coronary mortality declined steeply, except in women aged >= 75 years. The incidence of first coronary events declined 2.0% (95% confidence interval -3.0, -0.9%) per year among men and 1.0% (-2.7, 0.6%) per year among women aged 35-74 years. After correcting for the effect of troponins, also the decline among women became statistically significant: 2.7% (-4.5, -0.8%) per year. The effect of troponins tended to be stronger in women and older individuals than in men and younger individuals. The 28-day case fatality declined among men, but not among women. The effect of troponins on case fatality trends was weak.

Conclusion Declining trends in the incidence of coronary events in Finland during 1993-2002 were partly hidden by the effect of troponins. Both incidence and case fatality declines have contributed to the decline in mortality.


Quantitative and statistical analysis of differences in sensitivity between Long-Evans and Han/Wistar rats following long-term exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

Sand, S., Fletcher, N., von Rosen, D., Victorin, K., Viluksela, M., Tuomisto, J. T., Tuomisto, J., Filipsson, A. F. and Hakansson, H.

Toxicology Letters. 2006; 164: S74-S74. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.430


A role for beta-arrestin 2 in mediating the rewarding properties of ethanol

Sommer, W. H., Bjork, K., Rimondini, R., Hansson, A. C., Hyytia, P., Lefkowitz, R. F. and Heilig, M.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 156A-156A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


Severe prematurity is not associated with increased ADHD symptoms in young adulthood

Strang, S., Raikkonen, K., Andersson, S., Lahti, J., Hovi, P., Pesonen, A. K., Jarvenpaa, A. L., Eriksson, J. and Kajantie, E.

Early Human Development. 2006; 82(8): 540-541. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.282


Use of intake fraction to improve dioxin risk assessment

Tuomisto, J., Leino, O., Kiviranta, H. and Tuomisto, J. T.

Toxicology Letters. 2006; 164: S148-S149. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.430


Effects of cis-9,trans-11 CLA in rats at intake levels reported for breast-fed infants

Turpeinen, A. M., von Willebrand, E., Salminen, I., Linden, J., Basu, S. and Rai, D.

Lipids. 2006; 41(7): 669-677. Article. IF 1.905

CLA intake in exclusively breast-fed infants is close to levels found to have physiological effects in animals. However, in the majority of studies mixtures of CLA isomers have been used and the independent effects of the major CLA isomer in human milk, cis-9, trans-11 CLA, at the intake level in exclusively breast-fed infants have hardly been studied. We therefore studied the effects of cis-9,trans-11 CLA on plasma lipids and glucose, immune function, and bone metabolism in growing rats. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 10/group) were fed either 20 mg/kg/d cis-9,trans-11 CLA and 20 mg/kg/d sunflower oil (CLA20), 40 mg/kg/d cis-9,trans-11 CLA (CLA40), or 40 mg/kg/d sunflower oil (placebo) for 8 wk. No significant differences between groups were found in plasma lipids, glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein, or lipid peroxidation. Liver fat content was lowest in the CLA20 group. In vitro interleukin 2 (IL-2) production increased, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-1 beta, prostaglandin E-2, and leukotriene 134 production decreased in the CLA20 group. No differences between groups were detected in IL-4, IL-6, or interferon gamma production, plasma osteocalcin, insulin-like growth factor, or urinary deoxypyridinoline crosslinks. Plasma tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b activity was significantly increased in the CLA40 group. The results indicate anti-inflammatory effects and enhanced T-cell function for the CLA20 group. No adverse effects were seen in the CLA20 group, whereas indications of increased bone resorption rate were observed in the CLA40 group.


Dietary factors of one-carbon metabolism and prostate cancer risk

Weinstein, S. J., Stolzenberg-Solomon, R., Pietinen, P., Taylor, P. R., Virtamo, J. and Albanes, D.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2006; 84(4): 929-935. Article. IF 5.853

Background: Folate is hypothesized to be inversely associated with the risk of several cancers, but such a potential association has not been well studied for prostate cancer. Vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, methionine. and alcohol can influence folate-related metabolism.

Objective: The objective was to investigate the associations between dietary factors of one-carbon metabolism and prostate cancer risk within the alpha-Tocopherol, beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study.

Design: Of the cohort's 27 111 Finnish male smokers aged 50-69 y who had complete dietary data, 1270 had a diagnosis of incident prostate cancer between 1985 and 2002. Folate, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, methionine, and alcohol intakes were estimated from a 276-item modified dietary history questionnaire. Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for age and vitamin supplement use, estimated relative risks (RR) and 95% CIs.

Results: Vitamin B-6 intake was inversely associated with prostate cancer risk (RR for highest versus lowest quintile: 0.88; 95% Cl: 0.72. 1.07; P for trend = 0.045), whereas vitamin B-12 intake was associated with significantly increased risk (RR = 1.36; 95% Cl: 1.14. 1.96: P for trend = 0.01). No association between folate or alcohol intake and prostate cancer risk was observed. No differences were found in the above associations according to stage of disease or subgroups of several potential effect modifiers.

Conclusions: We found no convincing evidence for a protective role of one-carbon metabolism against prostate cancer, although these observations can be generalized only to smokers. The possible modest protective association with vitamin B-6 and the significantly elevated risk with vitamin B-12 intake warrant further investigation.


Alcohol use and aggressive behavior among adolescents

von der Pahlen, B. E., Kaltiala-Heino, R. and Marttunen, M.

Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 2006; 30(9): 173A-173A. Meeting Abstract. IF 2.636


Birth size, adult body composition, and muscle strength in later life

Yliharsila, H., Kajantie, E., Osmond, C., Forsen, T. and Barker, D. J. P.

Early Human Development. 2006; 82(8): 515-516. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.282

Effectiveness of structured questionnaires for screening heavy drinking in middle-aged women