Effectiveness of a 12-month home-based exercise program on trunk muscle strength and spine function after lumbar spine fusion surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Materials And Methods: Three months postoperatively, 98 patients were randomized either to the exercise group (EG), with a progressive 12-month home-based exercise program, or to usual care group (UCG), with one guidance session for light home-exercises. Maximal trunk muscle strength was measured by a strain-gauge dynamometer and trunk extensor endurance was measured by Biering-Sørensen's test at baseline and after the intervention.

Results: The mean change in extension strength during the intervention was 75 N in EG and 58 N in UCG.

Trunk Muscle Strength After Lumbar Spine Fusion: A 12-Month Follow-up.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate changes in trunk muscle strength 12 months after lumbar spine fusion (LSF) compared to preoperative strength.

Methods: A total of 194 patients (mean±standard deviation [SD] age, 61±21 years) who underwent LSF participated in this prospective longitudinal study. Physical measurements of the participants were made before surgery and 12 months postoperatively.

Intra- and Interrater Reliability of Sagittal Spinopelvic Parameters on Full-Spine Radiographs in Adults With Symptomatic Spinal Disorders.

Objective: To evaluate the intra- and interrater reliability (I-IR) of sagittal spinopelvic parameters from digital full-spine plain radiographs with basic software tools in an unselected adult population with degenerative spinal complaints who were evaluated for surgery.

Methods: Forty-nine adult full-spine digital radiographs were measured twice by 3 independent observers, including an experienced spine surgeon, an experienced radiologist, and a resident orthopedic surgeon. Clinical picture archiving and communication system workstations and software tools were used and landmarks were set manually.

Association of Modic changes with health-related quality of life among patients referred to spine surgery.

Background and purpose Modic changes (MC) are bone marrow and vertebral endplate lesions seen in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which have been found to be associated with low back pain (LBP), but the association between MC and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between MC and HRQoL among patients referred to spine surgery. Methods The study population consisted of 181 patients referred to lumbar spine surgery in Northern and Eastern Finland between June 2007 and January 2011.

Reliability and validity of the Finnish version of the Visual Analogue Scale Foot and Ankle (VAS-FA).

Background: There have previously been no validated foot and ankle-specific patient-reported outcome measures in Finnish.

Methods: The Visual Analogue Scale Foot and Ankle (VAS-FA) was translated and adapted into Finnish. Thereafter, 165 patients who had undergone foot and ankle surgery completed a questionnaire set on two separate occasions.

Isometric endurance test of the cervical flexor muscles - Reliability and normative reference values.

Objective: To obtain reference values for the isometric endurance test (IET) of the cervical flexor muscles, investigate its reproducibility, and compare the results with the maximal isometric strength test (MIST) of the cervical flexor muscles.

Design: Cross-sectional non-comparative study with single group repeated measurements.

Methods: Altogether 219 healthy females aged 20-59 years volunteered to participate in the study.

Reoperation Rates Following Instrumented Lumbar Spine Fusion.

Study Design: A prospective cohort study.

Objective: This study evaluated the cumulative reoperation rate and indications for reoperation following instrumented lumbar spine fusion (LSF).

Summary Of Background Data: LSF reduces disability and improves health-related quality of life for patients with several spinal disorders.

Reliability and Validity Study of the Finnish Adaptation of Scoliosis Research Society Questionnaire Version SRS-30.

Study Design: A prospective clinical study to test and adapt a Finnish version of the Scoliosis Research Society 30 (SRS-30) questionnaire.

Objective: The aim of this study was to perform cross-cultural adaptation and evaluate the validity of the adapted Finnish version of the SRS-30 questionnaire.

Summary Of Background Data: The SRS-30 questionnaire has proved to be a valid instrument in evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescent and adult population with spine deformities in the United States.

Quality of life and disability: can they be improved by active postoperative rehabilitation after spinal fusion surgery in patients with spondylolisthesis? A randomised controlled trial with 12-month follow-up.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the postoperative 12-month exercise program compared to usual care on disability and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients after lumbar spine fusion surgery (LSF).

Methods: Altogether, 98 patients with isthmic (31) or degenerative (67) spondylolisthesis were randomised to exercise therapy group (EG) (n = 48) or usual care group (UCG) (n = 50) 3 months after LSF. EG patients had home-based progressive strength and aerobic training program for 12 months.

Reliability and validity of the Finnish version of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS).

Purpose: The present study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Finnish version of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) among foot and ankle patients.

Methods: The LEFS was translated and cross-culturally adapted to Finnish. We assessed the test-retest reliability, internal consistency, floor-ceiling effect, construct validity and criterion validity in patients who underwent surgery due to musculoskeletal pathology of the foot and ankle (N = 166).

Reduced severity and improved control of self-reported asthma in Finland during 2001-2010.

Background: Asthma and allergies are common and cause substantial burden in symptoms and suffering, hospitalizations and medication costs. However, despite the high prevalence, asthma burden has already decreased in Finland in 2000s.

Objective: We carried out an asthma barometer survey in all Finnish pharmacies to study changes in asthma severity and control, and use of health care services from 2001 to 2010.

Failure in longterm treatment is rare in actively treated patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but may be predicted by high health assessment score at baseline and by residual disease activity at 3 and 6 months: the 5-year followup results of the randomized clinical NEO-RACo trial.

Objective: With modern initial aggressive combination treatments with synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (sDMARD), most patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) achieve remission, have marginal radiographic progression, and sustain normal function. Here we aim to identify the patients failing these targets even after aggressive treatment.

Methods: Ninety-nine patients with early, active RA were treated with a combination of 3 sDMARD and prednisolone (PRD), and either infliximab or placebo infusions during the first 6 months, aiming at strict remission.

Quality of life of recently treated patients with breast cancer.

Aim: To investigate whether the negative quality of life result of a large randomized exercise intervention study (BREX) was due to considerable spontaneous recovery after adjuvant treatments.

Patients And Methods: The change in QoL was studied in the control patients of the BREX study (Group 1) and a group of similar follow-up patients that did not participate in any intervention study (Group 2). QoL was measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 with the breast cancer module supplement 6 and 12 months after surgery.

Primary care-based, targeted screening programme to promote sustained weight management.

Objective: To identify overweight and obese subjects at increased cardiovascular risk in the community, and provide them with lifestyle counselling that is possible to implement in real life.

Design: Longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: The communities of Harjavalta and Kokemäki in south-western Finland.

Disability pensions due to spinal disorders: nationwide Finnish register-based study, 1990-2010.

Study Design: A register-based national study.

Objective: To describe the occurrence of spinal disorders (SDs) resulting in disability pension (DP) in Finland during 1990-2010.

Summary Of Background Data: The indirect cost of SD is excessive.

Electrocardiography changes during adjuvant breast cancer therapy: incidence and risk factors.

Background/aim: Breast cancer survivors have a higher cardiovascular morbidity/mortality rate, when compared with healthy age-matched general population. Electrocardiography (ECG) changes have been found to be associated with chemo- and radiation therapy. In the present study we investigated changes in ECG patterns following modern adjuvant therapy for breast cancer.

Weight change and health related quality of life: population-based longitudinal study of the effects of health related quality of life on the success of weight management.

Our aim was to investigate how health related quality of life (HRQoL) influence on the success of weight management and how to utilize this information. Population-based longitudinal study. A community sample of apparently healthy middle-aged individuals living in Western Finland were invited to clinical survey in order to assess total cardiovascular risk among people who had at least one cardiovascular risk factor but no previous diagnoses of any long-lasting disease.

The use of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and viral findings in the nasopharynx of children attending day care.

Limited data are available on the effects of probiotics on the nasopharyngeal presence of respiratory viruses in children attending day care. In this substudy of a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled 28-week intervention study, nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected, on visits to a physician due to symptoms of infection, from children receiving control milk (N = 97) and children receiving the same milk supplemented with probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (N = 97). The presence of 14 respiratory viruses was assessed by PCR methods, and viral findings were compared with symptom prevalences in the intervention groups.

Body mass index and health-related quality of life in apparently healthy individuals.

Purpose: Obesity is known to be associated with a range of chronic medical comorbidities, but little is known about the impact of overweight and obesity on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in persons without chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to assess HRQoL, body mass index (BMI) and health behavior patterns in a community sample of subjects who had no long-lasting medical comorbidities

Methods: We assessed HRQoL in 1,187 apparently healthy individuals (mean age 57 ± 7 years), of whom 24 % were classified as normal weight, 49 % as overweight, 20 % as obese and 7 % as very obese. Two different instruments of HRQoL were used: the generic Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire and the preference-based instrument EuroQol (EQ-5D).

Impaired glucose metabolism and health related quality of life.

Aims: We aimed at investigating whether different categories of glucose tolerance have any effect on a person's HRQoL.

Methods: Population-based cross-sectional study conducted as a community sample of apparently healthy middle-aged individuals living in Western Finland. The subjects of the study, 1383 individuals, aged 45-70 years, had at least one cardiovascular risk factor but no previous diagnoses of either diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

Obesity and physical inactivity are related to impaired physical health of breast cancer survivors.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of obesity and physical activity on the health and wellbeing of patients with breast cancer shortly after the adjuvant treatments.

Patients And Methods: A total of 537 women aged 35 to 68 years with newly-diagnosed breast cancer were enrolled into the exercise intervention study. The physical activity, physical performance (2-km walking test), cardiovascular risk factors, quality of life (EORTC-QoL-C30), co-morbidities and body-mass index (BMI) were measured after the adjuvant treatments.

Target organ damage and cardiovascular risk factors among subjects with previously undiagnosed hypertension.

Background: Little is known about the prevalence of target organ damage in previously undiagnosed hypertension.

Design: Cross-sectional population survey.

Methods: We measured ankle-brachial index (ABI), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), electrocardiographically determined left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG-LVH), and cardiometabolic risk factors in subjects with previously undiagnosed hypertension (n = 138) and normotensive (n = 440) risk subjects, who had metabolic syndrome, glucose disorders, body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m(2) or a 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease death of 5% or more according to the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) system.

Antihypertensive effects of bioactive tripeptides-a random effects meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis of possible antihypertensive effects of small doses of bioactive tripeptides isoleucine-proline-proline and valine-proline-proline in commercial milk products or tablets was carried out. A random effects model was used on 19 randomized, placebo-controlled clinical intervention trials (published 1996-October 2010) consisting of about 1500 prehypertensive or mildly hypertensive subjects.The overall blood pressure lowering for systolic blood pressure was -4.

Recovery of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in tonsil tissue after oral administration: randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial.

The present randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to determine whether consumption of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (GG) would lead to the recovery of GG in tonsil tissue. After 3 weeks’ daily consumption of GG as a single strain (n 20), GG as a part of a multispecies combination (n 17) or placebo (n 20), tonsil tissue samples were collected from fifty-seven young adults during tonsillectomy due to chronic or recurrent tonsillitis. Strain-specific real-time PCR was used to detect GG in the tonsil tissue.

Effectiveness of a 12-month exercise program on physical performance and quality of life of breast cancer survivors.

Aim: The study aimed at determining whether physical exercise training improves the quality of life (QoL) and physical fitness of breast cancer survivors.

Patients And Methods: A total of 573 breast cancer survivors were randomized into an exercise or a control group, 12-months after adjuvant treatments. EORTC QLQ-C30 and BR-23 questionnaires were used for evaluation of QoL, FACIT-F for fatigue and the Finnish modified version of Beck's 13-item depression scale (RBDI) for depression.