Occurrence of symptoms and depressive mood among working-aged coronary heart disease patients.

Background: The typical symptoms of coronary heart disease (CHD), chest pain and breathlessness, are well-known. They are considered quite dramatic, and can thus be fairly reliably mapped by a survey. However, people might have other clearly unpleasant symptoms impairing quality of life.

Lack of association between two polymorphisms of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and response to typical neuroleptics.

Several studies have connected brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) with treatment response to neuroleptics. In recent studies, the BDNF expression was reduced by typical neuroleptics. We conducted a retrospective study on 94 patients with schizophrenia and 98 controls.

Renal impairment associated with diabetes in the elderly.

Objective: To characterize renal impairment associated with diabetes in older adults by serum markers of glomerular filtration rate and microalbuminuria tests.

Research Design And Methods: The study population consisted of 187 diabetic and 1,073 nondiabetic subjects (age range 64-100 years) participating in a cross-sectional, population-based survey in southwestern Finland. Renal function was estimated by serum cystatin C (Cys C), serum creatinine (Cr), and the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio, and determinants of elevated levels were assessed by multivariate analysis.

Severe periodontitis enhances macrophage activation via increased serum lipopolysaccharide.

Objective: In periodontitis, overgrowth of Gram-negative bacteria and access of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to circulation may activate macrophages leading to foam cell formation. We investigated whether periodontal treatment affects proatherogenic properties of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and, thus, macrophage activation.

Methods And Results: LDL was isolated and characterized before and after treatment from 30 systemically healthy patients with periodontitis.

Periodontal infections and atherosclerosis: mere associations?

Purpose Of Review: Several lines of evidence from the last few decades suggest that periodontitis is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In this review we discuss the recent findings on the systemic effects of periodontitis, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, with a special emphasis on lipoproteins.

Recent Findings: In addition to the epidemiological studies exploring the direct or indirect relationship between clinical periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases, studies utilizing serology, animal models, cell cultures, and biochemistry of lipoproteins have been published.

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism is associated with age of onset in schizophrenia.

The aims of the study were to investigate the relationship between Apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphism, risk of schizophrenia, treatment response to conventional anti-psychotics, and age of onset in schizophrenia. The sample comprised 94 Finnish patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia. Forty-three of the patients were good responders to conventional anti-psychotics and 51 were classified as non-responders.

Estimation of glomerular filtration rate in the elderly: a comparison of creatinine-based formulae with serum cystatin C.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of decreased kidney function in an elderly population and to evaluate the impact of using alternative markers of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), focusing on serum cystatin C (Cys C) and the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study prediction equation.

Design And Methods: In a cross-sectional community-based survey renal function was assessed by serum creatinine (SCreat), Cys C and GFR predicted by the Cockcroft-Gault (CG) and the MDRD Study formulae. Associations with age, gender and proteinuria were analysed by linear models.

Association of EGF polymorphism with schizophrenia in Finnish men.

Some recent data suggest that epidermal growth factor (EGF) protein levels are altered in the brain of schizophrenic patients. In addition, a novel polymorphism of the EGF gene is associated with enhanced production of EGF in vitro. We conducted a retrospective study to explore the impact of EGF polymorphism on factors associated with schizophrenia.

Secondary prevention of coronary heart disease is disappointing among patients of working age.

Background: The risk factors underlying coronary heart disease (CHD) are well known.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate risk factors related to secondary prevention of working-age CHD patients.

Methods: CHD patients with (n = 139) and without (n = 203) myocardial infarction were selected from a postal questionnaire study (n = 21 101) of randomly selected Finns aged 20-54 years (HeSSup study).

Interaction between NOTCH4 and catechol-O-methyltransferase genotypes in schizophrenia patients with poor response to typical neuroleptics.

Objective: In this study we attempted to show that the interaction between NOTCH4 and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) polymorphism predicts the response to typical neuroleptics in schizophrenia. Our sample consisted of 94 Finnish patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia and 98 controls.

Methods: Several studies have connected COMT and NOTCH4 genes to schizophrenia.

Association of apolipoprotein E genotypes, blood pressure, blood lipids and ECG abnormalities in a general population aged 85+.

Background: Several studies have linked apolipoprotein E (ApoE) epsilon4 allele with elevated cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Data on the association of APOE genotypes with blood pressure, lipids, atrial fibrillation and ECG abnormalities in individuals aged 85 years and over is sparse.

Methods: This cross sectional study consisted of all residents of the city of Vantaa (N = 601) aged 85 years or over of whom 505 participated in the study.

Echovirus type 4 as a probable cause of meningitis associated with bilateral optic neuritis: a case report.

A 30-year-old man developed bilateral optic neuritis 1 week after acute viral meningitis caused by echovirus type 4. He received a high-dose steroid treatment combined with intravenous gamma -globulin. His visual recovery was good, and there was no sign of a primary demyelinating disease.

Precision measurements of the RSA method using a phantom model of hip prosthesis.

Radiostereometric analysis (RSA) has become one of the recommended techniques for pre-market evaluation of new joint implant designs. In this study we evaluated the effect of repositioning of X-ray tubes and phantom model on the precision of the RSA method. In precision measurements, we utilized mean error of rigid body fitting (ME) values as an internal control for examinations.

Periodontal disease and mortality in an aged population.

We investigated the relationship between periodontitis and mortality in home-dwelling individuals aged (75+ years), considering potential confounders including C-reactive protein levels. This study involved 364 individuals, originally part of the Helsinki Ageing Study cohort, who underwent medical and dental examinations in 1990 and were followed for five years. After five years, 52 of the 175 dentate subjects had died.

Verification of adolescent self-reported smoking.

Smoking and the validity of information obtained on it is often questioned in view of the widespread belief that adolescents tend to under- or over-report the habit. The aim here was to verify smoking habits as reported in a questionnaire given in conjunction with dental examinations by asking participants directly whether they smoked or not and performing biochemical measurements of thiocyanate in the saliva and carbon monoxide in the expired air. The series consisted of 150 pupils in the ninth grade (age 15 years).

Managerial skills of principal physicians assessed by their colleagues. A lesson from Finland.

The purpose of this paper was to discover the views of doctors regarding the managerial skills of their principal physicians and the views of doctors of their postgraduate specialist training in management. This was done by sending out a questionnaire to every second physician registered in 1977-1986 in Finland. They were asked to evaluate their principal physician's managerial skills using a visual analogue scale.

Survival of Listeria monocytogenes on sliced cooked sausage after treatment with pediocin AcH.

A preparation with pediocin AcH bound to its heat-killed producer cells Lactobacillus plantarum WHE 92 (starter culture ALC01, Wisby, Denmark) by adjusting the pH of the preparation to 6.0 was studied for its effects against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644 and (spoilage) lactic acid bacteria on sliced cooked sausage. The pediocin AcH preparation or 0.

Dopamine receptor D2 -141C Insertion/Deletion polymorphism in a Finnish population with schizophrenia.

We examined the occurrence of the -141C Ins/Del polymorphism in 93 Finnish patients with schizophrenia. In comparison with previous studies with Japanese and Caucasian populations, the incidence of this polymorphism was unexpectedly low. The findings suggest that the frequency of the -141C Ins/Del polymorphism is lower in Northern Europe compared to other Caucasian and Japanese populations.

Child psychiatric networks of health centre doctors.

Objective: To ascertain the personal networks GPs use when managing children with psychiatric problems.

Design: Cross-sectional postal study.

Setting: Health centres in the catchment area of Tampere University Hospital, Finland.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase and monoamine oxidase A genotypes and drug response to conventional neuroleptics in schizophrenia.

Biogenic amine synthesis and degradation are involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Catechol-O-methyltransferase and monoamine oxidase enzymes are important agents in the metabolic inactivation of these neurotransmitters (ie, dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine). Functional polymorphism in the catechol-O-methyltransferase and monoamine oxidase A genes causes variation in enzyme activities.