Reduction in metabolic syndrome among obese young men is associated with exercise-induced body composition changes during military service.

Aims: A population-based study of 1046 young Finnish men was performed to evaluate whether body composition changes observed during military service are associated with a reduction in prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), and whether the effect is body mass index (BMI)-dependent.

Methods: A prospective study of 1046 men (mean age 19.2 years, SD 1.

Aerobic performance and body composition changes during military service.

Objective: To examine the association between aerobic performance and body composition changes by body mass index (BMI).

Design: 6-12 months' follow-up during military service.

Setting: Conscripts entering military service in 2005 in Sodankylä Jaeger Brigade (Finland).

Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of carriage and invasive disease isolates of Neisseria meningitidis in Finland.

The relationship between carriage and the development of invasive meningococcal disease is not fully understood. We investigated the changes in meningococcal carriage in 892 military recruits in Finland during a nonepidemic period (July 2004 to January 2006) and characterized all of the oropharyngeal meningococcal isolates obtained (n = 215) by using phenotypic (serogrouping and serotyping) and genotypic (porA typing and multilocus sequence typing) methods. For comparison, 84 invasive meningococcal disease strains isolated in Finland between January 2004 and February 2006 were also analyzed.

Association of IL-6 and IL-6R gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to respiratory tract infections in young Finnish men.

Interleukin-1 (IL-6) is an important mediator of inflammatory response in the respiratory tract during an infection, and the action of IL-6 is mediated by an IL-6 receptor. Several polymorphisms in the IL-6 and IL-6R genes have been associated with different inflammatory disease states. We studied the association between 2 IL-6 (IL6A and IL6B) and 5 IL-6R gene polymorphisms (IL6R1 to IL6R5) and respiratory infections in 511 Finnish military recruits whose respiratory infectious episodes were followed during 6 months of service.

Pneumococcal carriage is more common in asthmatic than in non-asthmatic young men.

Introduction:   The aim was to investigate the prevalence of oropharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Neisseria meningitidis and beta-haemolytic streptococci among asthmatic and non-asthmatic young Finnish men and to identify putative risk factors.

Objectives:   A total of 224 asthmatics and 668 non-asthmatic men (mean age 19.6 years) from two intakes of conscripts to the Kainuu Brigade, Finland in July 2004 and January 2005 were enrolled upon entering military service.

The effect of cold protective clothing on comfort and perception of performance.

The physiological properties of clothing designed to provide protection against cold, windy and damp conditions affect comfort. The weight, thickness, stiffness of the fabrics and friction between the clothing layers affect physical performance. The comfort and perception of performance associated with 3 military winter combat clothing systems from different decades (the new M05 system, the previous M91 system and traditional clothing) were observed during a winter military manoeuvre.

Smoking status interacts with the association between mannose-binding lectin serum levels and gene polymorphism and the carriage of oropharyngeal bacteria.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) role in the carriage of oropharyngeal bacteria is not known. We investigated the association of smoking, MBL2 polymorphisms, and MBL concentrations with oropharyngeal carriage of respiratory bacteria in young men. Oropharyngeal specimens, MBL concentrations, and MBL2 gene polymorphisms were measured in 124 asthmatic and 394 nonasthmatic Finnish military recruits.

Low mannose-binding lectin levels and MBL2 gene polymorphisms associate with Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies.

Objective: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) has been shown to inhibit infection of host cells by Chlamydia pneumoniae in vitro. We studied if MBL levels and MBL2 polymorphisms associate with the presence of C. pneumoniae antibodies in vivo.

All known human rhinovirus species are present in sputum specimens of military recruits during respiratory infection.

Human rhinoviruses (HRV) are known to cause common cold as well as more complicated respiratory infections. HRV species -A, -B and -C have all been associated with lower respiratory infections and exacerbations of asthma. However, the type distribution of strains connected to different kinds of lower respiratory conditions is not clearly known.

Physical activity and body composition changes during military service.

Purpose: To examine how body composition changes in different body mass index (BMI) categories among young Finnish men during military service, which is associated with marked changes in diet and physical activity. In addition, this study examined how reported previous physical activity affected the body composition changes.

Methods: Altogether 1003 men (19 yr) were followed throughout their military service (6-12 months).

Cold temperature and low humidity are associated with increased occurrence of respiratory tract infections.

Objective: The association between cold exposure and acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs) has remained unclear. The study examined whether the development of RTIs is potentiated by cold exposure and lowered humidity in a northern population.

Methods: A population study where diagnosed RTI episodes, outdoor temperature and humidity among conscripts (n=892) were analysed.

Mannose-binding lectin concentrations, MBL2 polymorphisms, and susceptibility to respiratory tract infections in young men.

Background: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is an important component of innate immunity, and its deficiency is associated with susceptibility to recurrent infections.

Methods: This exploratory study investigated the association of serum MBL concentrations and MBL2 gene polymorphisms with respiratory tract infections in young men. We genotyped 6 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region (alleles H/L, X/Y, and P/Q) and exon 1 (variant alleles B, C, and D and wild-type allele A) of the MBL2 gene by real-time polymerase chain reaction and measured serum MBL concentrations in 111 Finnish military recruits with asthma and 362 without.

Risk factors for acute respiratory tract illness in military conscripts.

Background And Objective: Acute respiratory tract infections are the leading cause of missed service days among military conscripts. The aim of this study was to identify factors that possibly predicted and contributed to frequent respiratory tract infections among military conscripts.

Methods: Data on episodes of respiratory illness were collected during the 180-day period of military service in Kajaani, Finland, between July 2004 and July 2005.

Training improves physical fitness and decreases CRP also in asthmatic conscripts.

To study the respiratory and physical health of young men, 224 asthmatic and 668 non-asthmatic military conscripts were recruited from the intake groups of July 2004 and January 2005 in Kajaani, Finland. Factors affecting respiratory health were elicited by a questionnaire at the beginning of the service, and results of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) determination, peak expiratory flow (PEF), and 12-minute running test were collected at the beginning and the end of the service. Respiratory infections were diagnosed by a study physician.

Insulin resistance and depressive symptoms in young adult males: findings from Finnish military conscripts.

Objective: To investigate whether the association between insulin resistance (IR) and depressive symptoms is present already in young adult males. The association between IR and depression has been poorly studied, although the existence of a connection of Type II diabetes with depression is well established. We previously demonstrated at epidemiological level in two groups of men aged 31 years and 61 to 63 years that IR is linked with depressive symptoms.

Metabolic syndrome in connection with BMI in young Finnish male adults.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in relation to different Body Mass Index (BMI) categories in young Finnish males. Different components of MetS were assessed in 1099 healthy Finnish male military conscripts of about 19 years of age. Prevalence of MetS and its components, according to criteria given by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATPIII), were calculated for different BMI categories.