| New articles - Uudet artikkelit 8.10.2007 - ISI Web of Knowledge & PubMed Search Alert |
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The development of Immoral immunity against insulin after rotavirus infection in infancy Aarnisalo, J., Makela, M., Marttila, J., Veijola, R., Simell, O., Knip, M., Vaarala, O. and Ilonen, J. Diabetologia. 2007; 50: S155-S155. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.247 Heritability of cognitive functions in families with bipolar disorder Antila, M., Tuulio-Henriksson, A., Kieseppa, T., Soronen, P., Palo, O. M., Paunio, T., Haukka, J., Partonen, T. and Lonnqvist, J. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B-Neuropsychiatric Genetics. 2007; 144B(6): 802-808. Journal Article. IF Bipolar disorder is highly heritable. Cognitive dysfunctions often observed in bipolar patients and their unaffected relatives implicate that these impairments maybe associated with genetic predisposition to bipolar disorder and thus fulfill the criteria of a valid endophenotype for the disorder. However, the most fundamental criterion, their heritability, has not been directly studied in any bipolar population. This population-based study estimated the heritability of cognitive functions in bipolar disorder. A comprehensive neuropsychological test battery and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV were administered to a population-based sample of 110 individuals from 52 families with bipolar disorder. Heritability of cognitive functions as assessed with neuropsychological. test scores were estimated using the Solar package. Significant additive heritabilities were found in verbal ability, executive functioning, and psychomotor processing speed. Genetic contribution was low to verbal learning functions. High heritability, in executive functioning and psychomotor processing speed suggest that these may be valid endophenotypic traits for genetic studies of bipolar disorder. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Operant animal models of drug-seeking behavior Backstrom, P. Planta Medica. 2007; 73(9): 819-819. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.746 Badeau, R. M., Metso, J., Tikkanen, M. J. and Jauhiainen, M. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2007. Journal Article. IF 17beta-Estradiol (E(2)) fatty acyl esters naturally incorporate into high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The objective was to elucidate mechanisms involved in HDL-associated E(2) cellular uptake and to determine the intracellular distribution of E(2) and its fatty acyl esters (E(2)-FAE) after uptake. [(3)H]E(2) or [(3)H] cholesterol was incubated with human serum for 24 h to allow for fatty acyl esterification. Total-HDL containing [(3)H]E(2)-FAE or [(3)H]cholesterol esters was isolated by sequential density ultracentrifugation and then incubated with Fu5AH rat hepatoma cells for various time points. Cellular uptake was determined by intracellular radioactivity as a percentage of total radioactivity. Chemical inhibition of scavenger receptor class B, type I and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor competition assays were performed to determine cellular uptake mechanisms. Compared to HDL-[(3)H]cholesterol, cellular uptake of HDL-[(3)H]E(2) occurred at an initially rapid rate. SR-BI inhibition resulted in a decrease in HDL-E(2) uptake and LDL impaired this uptake in a concentration-dependent manner. Accordingly, pretreatment of cells with BLT-1 combined with LDL addition significantly attenuated HDL-E(2) uptake. HDL-E(2)-FAE was hydrolyzed into free E(2) with the maximum at 24 h. Fu5AH cells facilitate HDL-E(2) uptake by at least SR-BI and LDL receptor pathways and intracellular hydrolysis of E(2)-FAE into free E(2) ensues. Evidence of still-ongoing convergence evolution of the lactase persistence T-13910 alleles in humans Enattah, N. S., Trudeau, A., Pimenoff, V., Maiuri, L., Auricchio, S., Greco, L., Rossi, M., Lentze, M., Seo, J. K., Rahgozar, S., Khalil, I., Alifrangis, M., Natah, S., Groop, L., Shaat, N., Kozlov, A., Verschubskaya, G., Comas, D., Bulayeva, K., Mehdi, S. Q., Terwilliger, J. D., Sahi, T., Savilahti, E., Perola, M., Sajantila, A., Jarvela, I. and Peltonen, L. Am J Hum Genet. 2007; 81(3): 615-25. Journal Article. IF A single-nucleotide variant, C/T(-13910), located 14 kb upstream of the lactase gene (LCT), has been shown to be completely correlated with lactase persistence (LP) in northern Europeans. Here, we analyzed the background of the alleles carrying the critical variant in 1,611 DNA samples from 37 populations. Our data show that the T(-13910) variant is found on two different, highly divergent haplotype backgrounds in the global populations. The first is the most common LP haplotype (LP H98) present in all populations analyzed, whereas the others (LP H8-H12), which originate from the same ancestral allelic haplotype, are found in geographically restricted populations living west of the Urals and north of the Caucasus. The global distribution pattern of LP T(-13910) H98 supports the Caucasian origin of this allele. Age estimates based on different mathematical models show that the common LP T(-13910) H98 allele (approximately 5,000-12,000 years old) is relatively older than the other geographically restricted LP alleles (approximately 1,400-3,000 years old). Our data about global allelic haplotypes of the lactose-tolerance variant imply that the T(-13910) allele has been independently introduced more than once and that there is a still-ongoing process of convergent evolution of the LP alleles in humans. Complement factor H variant Y402H shows decreased binding to Streptococcus pyogenes Haapasalo, K., Jarva, H., Meri, T., Vuopio-Varkila, J., Tewodros, W. and Jokiranta, T. S. Molecular Immunology. 2007; 44(16): 3977-3977. Meeting Abstract. IF 4.768 Hassinen, M., Lakka, T. A., Komulainen, P., Haapala, I., Nissinen, A. and Rauramaa, R. International Journal of Obesity. 2007; 31(9): 1406-1411. Journal Article. IF 4.055 Objective: To test the hypothesis that waist and hip circumferences together provide additional information on the progression of preclinical atherosclerosis beyond either of them alone in elderly women. Design: A 12-year follow-up study. Subjects: A population-based sample of 102 women 60-70 years of age at baseline. Measurements: Waist and hip circumferences and body mass index (BMI) were assessed and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was quantified noninvasively by ultrasonography. Results: There was a significant increase in the 12-year carotid IMT progression across the thirds of waist circumference (0.080, 0.277, 0.279 mm, P=0.02 for difference) and hip circumference (0.030, 0.342, 0.260mm, P=0.001 for difference) adjusted for conventional risk factors (age, smoking, systolic blood pressure, serum low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood glucose). The association of waist circumference with IMT progression was not significant after further adjustment for hip circumference or BMI. Further adjustment for waist circumference and BMI did not change the association of hip circumference with IMT progression. The IMT progression was greatest in women with waist circumference >83 cm and hip circumference <= 98 cm adjusted for conventional risk factors (P=0.003 for interaction). Conclusion: Not only waist circumference but also hip circumference is associated with the progression of carotid atherosclerosis during 12 years in elderly women. Women with both a larger waist circumference and a smaller hip circumference had the greatest progression of carotid atherosclerosis. Development of a model for optimal food fortification: vitamin D among adults in Finland Hirvonen, T., Sinkko, H., Valsta, L., Hannila, M. L. and Pietinen, P. European Journal of Nutrition. 2007; 46(5): 264-270. Journal Article. IF 2.356 Background: Average vitamin D intake is low in Finland. Even though almost all retail milk and margarine are fortified with vitamin D, the vitamin D intake is inadequate for a significant proportion of the population. Consequently, expanded food fortification with vitamin D would be motivated. However, there is a risk of unacceptably high intakes due to the rather narrow range of the adequate and safe intake. Therefore, a safe and efficient food fortification practice should be found for vitamin D. Aim of the study To develop a model for optimal food fortification and apply it to vitamin D. Method: The FINDIET 2002 Study (48-h recall and data on supplement use (n = 2007), and 3 + 3 days' food records, n = 247) was used as the test data. The proportion of the population whose vitamin D intake is between the recommended intake ( RI) and the upper tolerable intake level (UL) was plotted against the fortification level per energy for selected foods. The fortification level that maximized the proportion of the population falling between RI and UL was considered the optimal fortification level. Results: If only milk, butter milk, yoghurt and margarine were fortified, it would be impossible to find a fortification level by which the intake of the whole population would lie within the RI-UL range. However, if all potentially fortifiable foods were fortified with vitamin D at level 1.2-1.5 mu g/100 kcal, the intake of the whole adult population would be between the currently recommended intake of 7.5 mu g/d and the current tolerable upper intake level of 50 mu g/day (model 1). If the RI was set to 40 mu g/day and UL to 250 mu g/day, the optimal fortification level would be 9.2 mu g/100 kcal in the scenario where all potentially fortifiable foods were fortified ( model 2). Also in this model the whole population would fall between the RI-UL range. Conclusions: Our model of adding a specific level of vitamin D/100 kcal to all potentially fortifiable foods (1.2-1.5 mu g/100 kcal in model 1 and 9.2 mu g/100 kcal in model 2) seems to be an efficient and safe food fortification practise. Hiukka, A., Leinonen, E., Jauhiainen, M., Sundvall, J., Ehnholm, C., Keech, A. C. and Taskinen, M. R. Diabetologia. 2007; 50(10): 2067-2075. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.247 Aims/hypothesis: Low HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) is frequently accompanied by high triacylglycerol levels in diabetic dyslipidaemia, increasing the risk of CHD. In the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) study, fenofibrate treatment lowered triacylglycerol levels, but the initial 5% increase in HDL-C attenuated over 5 years. We explored the changes in VLDL and HDL subspecies during fenofibrate treatment in a statin-free FIELD cohort. Methods: We randomised 171 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who had been recruited to the FIELD study in Helsinki, to micronised fenofibrate (200 mg/day) or placebo in double-blind study design. VLDL and HDL subspecies were separated by ultracentrifugation at baseline and at the second and fifth year. Apolipoprotein (apo)A-I and apoA-II were measured by immunoturbidometric methods and lipoprotein (Lp)A-I and LpAI-AII particles by differential immunoassay. Results: Fenofibrate reduced plasma triacylglycerol levels by 26%, resulting from a marked reduction in VLDL1 triacylglycerol (0.62 vs 0.29 mmol/l, p < 0.001). Fenofibrate caused an increase in LDL size (Delta 0.80 nm, p < 0.001). HDL-C was similar between the groups. HDL2-C was decreased by fenofibrate (-27.5% at 5th year, p < 0.001) and HDL3-C increased (13.0% at 5th year, p < 0.001). Fenofibrate had no effect on apoA-I, whereas apoA-II increased. Thus, LpA-I decreased while LpAI-AII increased. Activities of cholesteryl ester transfer protein, phospholipids transfer protein and lecithin:cholesterylacyl transferase were unchanged by fenofibrate. High homocysteine levels were associated with a slight decrease in HDL-C and apoA-I. Conclusion/interpretation: Fenofibrate markedly reduced large VLDL particles and produced a clear shift in HDL subspecies towards smaller particles. The HDL3-C increase in conjunction with unchanged apoA-II levels is a dilemma with regard to cardiovascular disease. Impact of postdischarge surveillance on the rate of surgical site infection after orthopedic surgery Huotari, K. and Lyytikainen, O. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. 2006; 27(12): 1324-1329. Journal Article. IF 2.236 Objective. To evaluate the impact of postdischarge surveillance on surgical site infection (SSI) rates after orthopedic surgery. setting. Nine hospitals participating in the Finnish Hospital Infection Program. Patients. All patients who underwent hip or knee arthroplasty or open reduction of a femur fracture during 1999-2002. results. The date of discharge was available for 11,812 procedures (90%). The median length of hospital stay was 8 days ( range per hospital, 6-9 days). The overall SSI rate was 3.3% ( range, 0.8%-6.4%). Of 384 SSIs detected, 216 (56%; range, 28%-90%) were detected after discharge: 93 (43%) were detected on readmission to the hospital, 73 (34%) at completion of a postdischarge questionnaire, and 23 (11%) at a follow-up visit. For 27 postdischarge SSIs (13%), the location of detection was unknown. Altogether, 32 (86%) of 37 of organ/space SSIs, 57 (80%) of 71 deep incisional SSIs, and 127 (46%) of 276 superficial incisional SSIs were detected after discharge. Most SSIs (70%) detected on readmission were severe (organ/ space or deep incisional), whereas most SSIs ( 86%) detected at follow-up visits or at completion of a postdischarge questionnaire were superficial. Of all SSIs, 78% ( range, 48%-100%) were microbiologically confirmed. Microbiologic confirmation was less common after discharge than during postoperative hospital stay (66% vs 93%; P < .001). Conclusions. Postdischarge surveillance had a large impact on the rate of SSI detected after orthopedic surgery. However, postdischarge surveillance conducted by means of a questionnaire detected only a minority of deep incisional and organ/ space SSIs. Cellular immunity to mumps virus in young adults 21 years after measles-mumps-rubella vaccination Jokinen, S., Osterlund, P., Julkunen, I. and Davidkin, I. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2007; 196(6): 861-867. Journal Article. IF 5.363 Background. Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination has decreased the incidence of measles, Mumps, and rubella virus infections in several countries. However, the persistence of MMR vaccine-induced immunity in the absence of endemic infection has remained unknown. Methods. The persistence of cellular and Immoral immunity to mumps virus was studied in 50 individuals (group A) who had been vaccinated twice with MMR vaccine during early childhood and were followed up for 21 years after their first vaccination. Eleven individuals (group B) with naturally acquired immunity to mumps virus were studied for comparison. Results. Anti-mumps virus IgG antibodies were detectable (titer >= 230) in 72% of the vaccinces. A mumps antigen-specific lymphoproliferative response (defined as a stimulatory index [SI] >= 3) was observed in 98% of group A subjects (mean +/- SD SI, 26 +/- 30 [range, 0.5-252]) and in 100% of group B subjects (mean +/- SD SI, 22 27 [range, 5-123]). Significant mumps antigen-specific interferon-gamma production was detected in 73% of subjects in both groups A and B, and interleukin-10 production was detected in 40% and 36% of group A and B subjects, respectively. Conclusions. All presently seronegative vaccinees (n = 14) had mumps antigen-specific lymphoproliferative responses, and only I of the seropositive vaccinees (n = 36) was devoid of detectable cellular immunity. The results suggest a very long persistence of vaccine-induced anti-mumps virus cellular immunity. Kankaanpaa, A., Liukkonen, R. and Ariniemi, K. Forensic Science International. 2007; 170(2-3): 133-138. Journal Article. IF 1.397 gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is an increasingly popular drug of abuse that causes stimulation, euphoria, anxiolysis or hypnosis, depending on the dose used. Low doses of the drug are used recreationally, and also implicated in drug-facilitated sexual assaults. Because of the unusually steep dose-response curves, accidental GHB overdosing, leading to coma, seizures or death can occur. Being a controlled substance, GHB is often substituted with its non-scheduled precursors gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (131)), which are rapidly metabolized into GHB in the body. Here we describe an assay for GHB, GBL and BD in blood and/or urine samples. GHB and BD were extracted from diluted 200 mu L aliquots of samples with t-butylmethylether (plus internal standard benzyl alcohol) in test tubes preloaded with NaCl. After acidification and centrifugation the solvent phase was transferred to a test tube preloaded with Na2SO4, incubated for 30 min, centrifuged again, and evaporated in vacuum. The residue was mixed with N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA) in acetonitrile, and injected into a GC-MS. When analyzing GBL, the salting-out step was omitted, and analysis was performed with a GC-FID apparatus. As revealed by the validation data this procedure is suitable for quantitative determination of GHB and its precursors in blood and/or urine samples. (0 2007 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Kankaanpaa, A., Turtiainen, S., Meririnne, E., Arinierm, K., Ristola, M. and Kuoppasalmi, K. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring. 2007; 29(4): 513-514. Meeting Abstract. IF 3.032 Differences in Smoking Habits of MZ and DZ Twins: A Commentary on Tishler and Carey Kaprio, J. Twin Res Hum Genet. 2007; 10(5): 718-20. Journal Article. IF 1.481 Tishler and Carey (this issue, 2007) have analyzed the difference in ever smoking prevalence between monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins in 8 published twin studies. They conclude that the lower prevalence in MZ twins might invalidate conclusions from classic twin models. I critique the conducted meta-analysis and suggest additional analyses to be conducted. A reanalysis of the Finnish Twin Cohort 1975 questionnaire data (included in Tisher and Carey) indicates that when intrapair correlations are correctly taken into account, the MZ-DZ difference in that study is no longer statistically significant. Even if the Tisher/Carey finding holds up in further analyses, it pertains only to the observed trait, the effect is small in size, and the mechanism underlying it needs to be explored. Karden-Lilja, M., Ibrahem, S., Vuopio-Varkila, J., Salmenlinna, S., Lyytikainen, O., Siira, L. and Virolainen, A. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. 2007; 26(10): 729-733. Journal Article. IF 2.330 Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains from Finland covering years 1997-1999 were studied for the presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene loci, and the clinically well-defined community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) strains (n=108) also for staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) and multilocus sequence types (MLST). Only a minority (12%) of the CA-MRSA strains contained the PVL gene loci and possessed genotypes formerly described as typical to CA-MRSA strains. The majority of these strains were heterogenous by MLST and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis but, however, harboured the SCCmec cassette type IV. In conclusion, it seems doubtful to consider only molecular characteristics such as the presence of PVL genes as definite markers for CA-MRSA strains. Kilpelainen, T. O., Lakka, T. A., Laaksonen, D. E., Jaana, L., Eriksson, J. G., Valle, T. T., Hamalainen, H., Ilanne-Parikka, P., Keinanen-Kiukaanniemi, S., Lindi, V., Tuomilehto, J., Uusitupa, M. and Laakso, M. Diabetologia. 2007; 50: S139-S139. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.247 Serum selenium and serum alpha-tocopherol predict asthma risk Knekt, P., Heliovaara, M., Aromaa, A. and Marniemi, J. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. 2007; 51: 286-287. IF 1.616 Lindgren, M., Jalava, J., Rantakokko-Jalava, K. and Meurman, O. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2007; 39(6-7): 508-513. Journal Article. IF 1.560 We studied in vitro activity against invasive viriclans group streptococci (VGS) of penicillin and 4 newer antibiotics, i.e. telithromycin, linezolid, levofloxacin and quinupristin-dalfopristin. Also 7 other antibiotics were tested. Antibiotic susceptibility of 263 VGS blood isolates, collected from southwest Finland during a 12-y period was determined. We wished to discover whether there is an increasing trend of antimicrobial resistance among VGS in Finland. Our results showed that penicillin is still a good choice for treating VGS infections based on the considerably low resistance percentage, 2.3%. Also newer antibiotics showed good in vitro activity: susceptibilities for telithromycin, linezolid and levofloxacin were 100%, 98.9% and 94.6%, respectively. However, quinupristin-dalfopristin was not as effective as described in previous studies, with only 57% susceptibility. Ranking cancer risks of organic hazardous air pollutants in the United States Loh, M. M., Levy, J. I., Spengler, J. D., Houseman, E. A. and Bennett, D. H. Environ Health Perspect. 2007; 115(8): 1160-8. Journal Article. IF 5.861 BACKGROUND: In this study we compared cancer risks from organic hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) based on total personal exposure summed across different microenvironments and exposure pathways. METHODS: We developed distributions of personal exposure concentrations using field monitoring and modeling data for inhalation and, where relevant, ingestion pathways. We calculated risks for a nonoccupationally exposed and nonsmoking population using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) unit risks. We determined the contribution to risk from indoor versus outdoor sources using indoor/outdoor ratios for gaseous compounds and the infiltration factor for particle-bound compounds. RESULTS: With OEHHA's unit risks, the highest ranking compounds based on the population median are 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, benzene, and dioxin, with risks on the order of 10(-4)-10(-5). The highest risk compounds with the U.S. EPA unit risks were dioxin, benzene, formaldehyde, and chloroform, with risks on a similar order of magnitude. Although indoor exposures are responsible for nearly 70% of risk using OEHHA's unit risks, when infiltration is accounted for, inhalation of outdoor sources contributed 50% to total risk, on average. Additionally, 15% of risk resulted from exposures through food, mainly due to dioxin. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, benzene, acetaldehyde, and 1,3-butadiene risk came from outdoor sources, whereas indoor sources were primarily responsible for chloroform, formaldehyde, and naphthalene risks. The infiltration of outdoor pollution into buildings, emissions from indoor sources, and uptake through food are all important to consider in reducing overall personal risk to HAPs. Variation in interleukin 7 receptor a chain (IL7R) influences risk of multiple sclerosis Lundmark, F., Duvefelt, K., Iacobaeus, E., Kockum, I., Wallstrom, E., Khademi, M., Oturai, A., Ryder, L. P., Saarela, J., Harbo, H. F., Celius, E. G., Salter, H., Olsson, T. and Hillert, J. Nature Genetics. 2007; 39(9): 1108-1113. Journal Article. IF 24.176 Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling, disease of the central nervous system affecting more than 1 in 1,000 people in most western countries. The inflammatory lesions typical of multiple sclerosis show autoimmune features and depend partly on genetic factors. Of these genetic factors, only the HLA gene complex has been repeatedly confirmed to be associated with multiple sclerosis, despite considerable efforts. Polymorphisms in a number of non- HLA genes have been reported to be associated with multiple sclerosis, but so far confirmation has been difficult. Here, we report compelling evidence that polymorphisms in IL7R, which encodes the interleukin 7 receptor a chain ( IL7R alpha), indeed contribute to the non- HLA genetic risk in multiple sclerosis, demonstrating a role for this pathway in the pathophysiology of this disease. In addition, we report altered expression of the genes encoding IL7R alpha and its ligand, IL7, in the cerebrospinal fluid compartment of individuals with multiple sclerosis. Surveillance of injury-related deaths: medicolegal autopsy rates and trends in Finland Lunetta, P., Lounamaa, A. and Sihvonen, S. Inj Prev. 2007; 13(4): 282-4. Journal Article. IF 1.844 Medicolegal autopsies are a vital tool for obtaining reliable injury mortality data. In Finland, medicolegal autopsies have increased from 13.6% of all deaths in 1970 to 23.8% in 2004. In fact, medicolegal autopsies are performed in 87.2% of all unintentional injury deaths, 98.3% of homicides and 99.5% of suicides. Finland has exceedingly high medicolegal autopsy rates compared with other countries. Autopsy rates should be appropriately considered when performing international comparisons of injury-related deaths. Defining the population-based burden of nosocomial pneumococcal bacteremia Lyytikainen, O., Klemets, P., Ruutu, P., Kaijalainen, T., Rantala, M., Ollgren, J. and Nuorti, J. P. Arch Intern Med. 2007; 167(15): 1635-40. Journal Article. IF 7.920 BACKGROUND: The characteristics, risk factors, and outcome of patients with nosocomial pneumococcal bacteremia (NPB) have not been described in large, population-based studies. METHODS: All episodes of invasive pneumococcal infections reported by Finnish clinical microbiology laboratories (positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture) from January 1, 1995, through December 31, 2002, were linked to data in national health care registries and vital statistics to obtain information on the patient's preceding hospitalizations, comorbidities, and outcome of illness. Pneumococcal bacteremia was defined as nosocomial if the first positive blood culture was obtained more than 2 days after hospital admission, or if the patient had been hospitalized for more than 2 days within 7 days of the first positive blood culture. RESULTS: Information on hospital admission was available for 4217 of 4357 persons (96.8%) with invasive pneumococcal infections. We identified 387 NPBs (9.7%) among 3973 pneumococcal bacteremias. Patients with NPB were older (median age, 67 years vs 52 years; P < .001) and were more likely to have at least 1 high-risk condition (other than age > or = 65 years), for which 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is recommended (59.2% vs 34.6%; P < .001), compared with patients who had community-associated pneumococcal bacteremias. The case fatality proportion at 28 days was higher in patients with NPB than in those with community-associated pneumococcal bacteremias (23.8% vs 10.8%; P < .001). Pneumococcal serotypes included in 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine and 7-valent conjugate vaccine caused 71.5% and 46.1% of NPBs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of pneumococcal bacteremias are health care associated. The high prevalence of conditions for which pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is recommended provides opportunities for strengthening prevention efforts in these patients at high risk of illness and death. Mager, U., Pulkkinen, L., Kolehmainen, M., Lindstrom, J., Tuomilehto, J. and Uusitupa, M. International Journal of Obesity. 2007; 31(9): 1487-1487. Meeting Abstract. IF 4.055 Meririnne, E., Mykkanen, S., Lillsunde, P., Kuoppasalmi, K., Lerssi, R., Laaksonen, I., Lehtomaki, K. and Henriksson, M. Forensic Science International. 2007; 170(2-3): 171-174. Journal Article. 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. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Gestational hypertension and the offspring's manifestations of metabolic syndrome Miettola, S., Hartikainen, A. L., Bloigu, A., Ruokonen, A., Jarvelin, M. R. and Pouta, A. Diabetologia. 2007; 50: S151-S151. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.247 Body iron stores and the risk of type 2 diabetes Montonen, J., Knekt, P. and Reunanen, A. Diabetologia. 2007; 50: S373-S373. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.247 Morin-Papunen, L. C., Torvinen, A., Bloigu, A., Franks, S., Ruokonen, A., Tormakangas, L., Jarvelin, M. R., Paldanius, M., Leinonen, M., Saikku, P. and Pouta, A. Diabetologia. 2007; 50: S164-S164. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.247 Comparison of anthropometric indicators for obesity as predictors of diabetes incidence in Mauritius Nyamdorj, R., Qiao, Q., Soderberg, S., Pitkaniemi, J., Zimmet, P., Shaw, J., Alberti, G., Pauvaday, V., Chitson, P. and Tuomilehto, J. Diabetologia. 2007; 50: S119-S119. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.247 Nyberg, S. D., Osterblad, M., Hakanen, A. J., Lofmark, S., Edlund, C., Huovinen, P. and Jalava, J. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2007; 39(6-7): 514-520. Journal Article. IF 1.560 The aim of this study was to gain better knowledge of how the intestinal microbiota are affected over time after administration of an antimicrobial agent. This study monitored the prevalence and frequencies of antibiotic resistance in Enterobacteriaceae against 17 antimicrobial agents, during a 2-y period, in consecutive faecal samples collected from 8 healthy volunteers. Four subjects had received 150 mg clindamycin perorally for 7 d, while 4 non-exposed subjects served as a control group. The samples from both groups were cultured and screened for Enterobacteriaceae. The highest incidence of resistance observed was to ampicillin. The ampicillin resistance is due to production of the beta-lactamase TEM-1. The administration of clindamycin had a prolonged impact on the composition of the microbiota, even though enterobacteria are intrinsically resistant to clindamycin; the level of resistance in Escherichia coli isolates was elevated after administration and persisted up to 9 months after administration. After 9 months the susceptibility levels in the exposed group were similar to those at d 0. Ottelin, A. M., Lindstrom, J., Peltonen, M., Martikainen, J., Uusitupa, M., Gylling, H., Poutanen, K. and Tuomilehto, J. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. 2007; 51: 344-344. Meeting Abstract. IF 1.616 Smura, T., Blomqvist, S., Paananen, A., Vuorinen, T., Sobotova, Z., Bubovica, V., Ivanova, O., Hovi, T. and Roivainen, M. Journal of General Virology. 2007; 88: 2520-2526. Journal Article. IF 3.110 Human enteroviruses are currently grouped into five species Human enterovirus A (HEV-A), HEV-B, HEV-C, HEV-D and Poliovirus. During surveillance for enteroviruses serologically non-typable enterovirus strains were found from acute flaccid paralysis patients and healthy individuals. In this study, we report isolates of recently described enterovirus types EV76 and EV90 of HEV-A species and characterize two new enterovirus type candidates, EV96 and EV97, to species HEV-C and HEV-B, respectively. Analysis of partial 3D regions of EV96 strains revealed sequence divergence consistent with Several recombination events between EV96, other HEV-C viruses and polioviruses. Phylogenetic analysis of all available 5'-untranslated region sequences of human entero- and rhinovinus prototype strains and 10 simian enterovirus strains suggested interspecies recombination involving this region. Suvisaari, J. M., Saarni, S. I., Perala, J., Suvisaari, J. V. J., Harkanen, T., Lonnqvist, J. and Reunanen, A. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2007; 68(7): 1045-1055. Journal Article. IF 5.533 Objective: To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and investigate its components in individuals with psychotic disorders and individuals using antipsychotic medication in a general population study. Method. The study population was a nationally representative, 2-stage cluster sample of 8028 persons aged 30 years or over from Finland. The field work for this study took place between September 2000 and June 2001. Laboratory and other measurements related to metabolic syndrome were taken in a health examination. We used the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I) and case note data when making diagnostic assessments according to DSM-IV-TR criteria. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Subjects who had not fasted the required 4 hours were excluded from the analysis. Prevalences of metabolic syndrome, adjusting for age, sex, and hours of fasting, were estimated by calculating predicted marginals, evaluated at 8 hours of fasting. Results: The prevalence estimates of metabolic syndrome were 36.2% (SE = 7.3), 41.4% (SE = 6.3), and 25.0% (SE = 8.6) among subjects with schizophrenia, other nonaffective psychosis, and affective psychosis, respectively, compared with 30.1% (SE = 0.8) in subjects without psychotic disorders. Subjects with schizophrenia had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and higher triglyceride and glucose levels and larger waist circumference, but also lower systolic blood pressure, than the remaining study population (all p values <.05). While all markers of metabolic syndrome were elevated among subjects with other nonaffective psychotic disorders, only the difference in waist circumference was statistically significant (p <.05). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly elevated among users of high-potency (52.1% [SE = 6.6]; p <.001) but not low-potency (39.0% [SE = 6.9]) and atypical (23.4% [SE = 10.8]) antipsychotic medication. Conclusion: Nonaffective psychotic disorders are associated with abdominal obesity and glucose and lipid abnormalities. Regular monitoring and active treatment of metabolic abnormalities are essential in this patient population. Tolppanen, A. M., Pulkkinen, L., Herder, C., Konig, W., Lindstrom, J., Tuomilehto, J. and Uusitupa, M. Diabetologia. 2007; 50: S166-S166. Meeting Abstract. IF 5.247 Birth size, adult body composition and muscle strength in later life Yliharsila, H., Kajantie, E., Osmond, C., Forsen, T., Barker, D. J. P. and Eriksson, J. G. International Journal of Obesity. 2007; 31(9): 1392-1399. Journal Article. IF 4.055 Objective: Low birth weight has been linked to lower lean body mass and abdominal obesity later in life, whereas high birth weight has been suggested to predict later obesity as indicated by high body mass index (BMI). We examined how birth weight was related to adult body size, body composition and grip strength. Design/subjects: Cross-sectional study on 928 men and 1075 women born in 1934-1944, with measurements at birth recorded. Measurements: Height, weight, waist and hip circumference and isometric grip strength were measured. Lean and fat body mass were estimated by bioelectrical impedance with an eight-polar tactile electrode system. Results: A 1 kg increase in birth weight corresponded in men to a 4.1 kg (95% CI: 3.1, 5.1) and in women to a 2.9 kg (2.1, 3.6) increase in adult lean mass. This association remained significant after adjustment for age, adult body size, physical activity, smoking status, social class and maternal size. Grip strength was positively related to birth weight through its association with lean mass. The positive association of birth weight with adult BMI was explained by its association with lean mass. Low birth weight was related to higher body fat percentage only after adjustment for adult BMI. Abdominal obesity was not predicted by low birth weight. Conclusions: Low birth weight is associated with lower lean mass in adult life and thus contributes to the risk of relative sarcopenia and the related functional inability at the other end of the lifespan. At a given level of adult BMI, low birth weight predicts higher body fat percentage. |