COVID-19 vaccination among health care workers in Finland: coverage, perceptions and attitudes.

Aims: In this study, we examined the voluntary COVID-19 vaccine coverage among health care workers (HCWs) working in close patient contact. HCWs' beliefs about COVID-19 infection, their opinions of vaccination and reasons for having or declining the COVID-19 vaccination were also evaluated.

Methods: In October 2021, a cross-sectional observational study was carried out in five hospitals in Central and Eastern Finland.

Cross-sectional analysis of depressive symptom profiles and serum C-reactive protein levels: data from the Northern Finland 1966 birth cohort.

Purpose: Individuals with depression exhibit significantly higher levels of systemic inflammation than those without depression, particularly among those with atypical depression. However, this association has been less convincing at the population level among individuals without a formal depression diagnosis but with suggestive symptoms. Our aim was to clarify this association.

CD34 Cell Mobilization, Autograft Cellular Composition and Outcome in Mantle Cell Lymphoma Patients.

Backgound: Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a standard treatment in transplant-eligible mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) patients after first-line chemoimmunotherapy.

Study Design And Methods: This prospective multicenter study evaluated the impact of CD34 cell mobilization and graft cellular composition analyzed by flow cytometry on hematologic recovery and outcome in 42 MCL patients.

Results: During CD34 cell mobilization, a higher blood CD34 cell count (>30 × 10/L) was associated with improved overall survival (median not reached [NR] vs.

Comparison of CD34 cell mobilization, blood graft cellular composition, and post-transplant outcome in myeloma patients mobilized with filgrastim or pegfilgrastim added to low-dose cyclophosphamide: A prospective multicenter study.

Background: Scarce data exist on the impact of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) type on the mobilizing capacity of CD34 cells, graft cellular composition, and outcome in myeloma (MM) patients.

Patients And Methods: In this prospective multicenter study, 70 patients with MM received filgrastim (FIL) and 20 patients received pegfilgrastim (PEG) as a G-CSF after low-dose cyclophosphamide. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the mobilization of CD34 cells and cellular composition of blood grafts, hematologic recovery, and survival after auto-SCT according to the G-CSF choice.

Autograft cellular composition and outcome in myeloma patients: Results of the prospective multicenter GOA study.

Background: Autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) is a widely used treatment option in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. The optimal graft cellular composition is not known.

Study Design And Methods: Autograft cellular composition was analyzed after freezing by flow cytometry in 127 MM patients participating in a prospective multicenter study.

Impact of Mesh and Fixation on Chronic Inguinal Pain in Lichtenstein Hernia Repair: 5-Year Outcomes from the Finn Mesh Study.

Objective: To find out the mesh fixation technique that minimises chronic pain in Lichtenstein hernioplasty. Mesh fixation may affect chronic pain and recurrence after inguinal hernia surgery, but long-term results of comparative trials are lacking.

Methods: Lichtenstein hernioplasty was performed under local anaesthesia on 625 patients in day care units.

Autograft cellular composition and outcome in NHL patients: results of the prospective multicenter GOA study.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) is an established treatment option in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). In this prospective multicenter study, the effect of infused blood graft cellular composition on post-transplant outcome was analyzed in 129 NHL patients. Higher graft CD34 cell content (>2.

CD34+ cell mobilization, blood graft composition, and posttransplant recovery in myeloma patients compared to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients: results of the prospective multicenter GOA study.

Background: Autologous stem cell transplantation is an established treatment option for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Study Design And Methods: In this prospective multicenter study, 147 patients with MM were compared with 136 patients with NHL regarding the mobilization and apheresis of blood CD34+ cells, cellular composition of infused blood grafts, posttransplant recovery, and outcome.

Results: Multiple myeloma patients mobilized CD34+ cells more effectively (6.

Automatic hemodialysis prescriptions by urea kinetic modeling.

Introduction Guidelines on hemodialysis (HD) dosing are based on urea kinetics, which can be modeled mathematically. Different schedules can be compared by equivalent continuous clearance. Methods A computer program generating HD prescriptions automatically was developed.

Genetic basis and outcome in a nationwide study of Finnish patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Nationwide large-scale genetic and outcome studies in cohorts with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have not been previously published.

Methods And Results: We sequenced 59 cardiomyopathy-associated genes in 382 unrelated Finnish patients with HCM and found 24 pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutations in six genes in 38.2% of patients.

Characterization of inflammatory bowel disease management by vedolizumab and concomitant treatments in real-life clinical practice.

Limited data is available on vedolizumab combination therapies in real-world clinical practice. Here, we evaluated the concomitant corticosteroid, immunosuppressive, and 5-aminosalicylic acid utilization of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients treated with vedolizumab in a nationwide, retrospective, non-interventional, multi-centre chart review study. All adult patients from 27 Finnish gastroenterology centres with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) who had at least one vedolizumab infusion since it's availability in Finland were included in the study.

Residual renal function in incremental haemodialysis.

Background: Equivalent renal clearance (EKR) and standard clearance (stdK) are continuous-equivalent measures of urea clearance and include residual renal function (RRF), if calculated appropriately. RRF is qualitatively better than dialysis with equivalent urea clearance. Instructions for calculating stdKt/ (stdK scaled by urea distribution volume) and its target value (2.

Correction to: Factors predicting chronic pain after open inguinal hernia repair: a regression analysis of randomized trial comparing three different meshes with three fixation methods (FinnMesh Study).

In the original publication, co-authors affiliations were incorrect.

Continuing education: online monitoring of haemodialysis dose.

Background: Kt/V reflects the efficacy of haemodialysis scaled to patient size (urea distribution volume). The guidelines recommend monthly Kt/V measurements based on blood samples. Modern haemodialysis machines are equipped with accessories monitoring the dose online at every session without extra costs, blood samples and computers.

High treatment persistence rate and significant endoscopic healing among real-life patients treated with vedolizumab - a Finnish Nationwide Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort Study (FINVEDO).

Objectives: The efficacy and tolerability of vedolizumab in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) has been demonstrated in an extensive GEMINI clinical trial programme. Clinical trials represent highly selected patient populations and, therefore, it is important to demonstrate effectiveness in real-life clinical practice. We set out to assess real-world treatment outcomes of vedolizumab in a nationwide cohort of treatment refractory Finnish Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.

How to Assess Sensory Recovery After Breast Reconstruction Surgery?

Background: We evaluated clinical against psychophysical (tactile and thermal quantitative sensory test [QST]), neurophysiologic (somatosensory evoked potential [SEP]), and epithelial nerve fiber density (ENFD) examinations in detection and follow-up of sensory alterations after breast reconstruction done with or without nerve anastomoses.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective 2-year follow-up design, 56 breast cancer patients underwent innervated and 20 patients noninnervated free rectus abdominis muscle-sparing flap (ms-TRAM) breast reconstruction. Healthy contralateral breasts (36 patients) and 20 healthy volunteer women served as control participants.

Are products with an orphan designation for oncology indications different from products for other rare indications? A retrospective analysis of European orphan designations granted between 2002-2012.

Background: Orphan designated medicinal products benefit from regulatory and economic incentives for orphan drug development. Approximately 40% of orphan designations target rare neoplastic disorders, referring to rare cancers. In order to provide more insights in drugs for rare neoplastic disorders that are under development and to better understand the role of orphan designation in the development of oncology drugs, this study investigates the characteristics of the product, the indication and the applicants as well as the stage of development of products with an orphan designation for rare neoplastic disorders and compares them with products with an orphan designation for other rare indications.

Electrocardiographic findings during balloon angioplasty of the left circumflex coronary artery - influence of location of the ischemic segments with respect to the obtuse margin of the left ventricle.

Background: Acute left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) occlusion is not easily detected by the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG).

Methods: In 16 patients continuous ECG recording was performed during balloon occlusion. The treated lesions were divided into proximal and distal based on the location of the ischemic segments with respect to the left obtuse margin of the heart.

Improved sensory recovery with a novel dual neurorrhaphy technique for breast reconstruction with free muscle sparing TRAM flap technique.

Background: We describe a new dual neurorrhaphy method for a free abdominal-based flap and compare sensory recovery with this novel technique to that with conventional neurorrhaphy technique for breast reconstruction.

Methods: 70 breast cancer patients underwent muscle sparing innervated transversal rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap (neuro ms-TRAM) breast reconstruction with either a novel dual neurorrhaphy technique (N = 41) or single (N = 29) neurorrhaphy only. Dual neurorrhaphy was performed on both sides and single neurorrhaphy on one side of the flap, using the end-to-end or end-to-side technique.

Randomized Multicenter Trial Comparing Glue Fixation, Self-gripping Mesh, and Suture Fixation of Mesh in Lichtenstein Hernia Repair (FinnMesh Study).

Objective: Three different mesh fixation techniques were compared to find out how to perform a safe and cost-effective open inguinal hernioplasty in day-case setting with the best outcomes with regard to chronic pain.

Summary Background Data: Mesh fixation method may influence on the incidence of chronic pain after Lichtenstein hernioplasty.

Methods: Lichtenstein hernioplasty was performed under local anesthesia in 625 patients as day-case surgery in 8 Finnish hospitals.

Is interpersonal counselling (IPC) sufficient treatment for depression in primary care patients? A pilot study comparing IPC and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT).

Background: Psychotherapeutic treatment is underused in primary care, where even short-term psychotherapy can be perceived as too lengthy and labour-intensive. We tested here for the first time the preliminary efficacy of seven sessions of interpersonal counselling (IPC) by comparison with sixteen sessions of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) in regular clinical settings.

Methods: Patients seeking treatment for the first time who met the DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD, mild/moderate) were randomized to either IPC (n=20) or IPT (n=20).

Blood graft cellular composition and posttransplant recovery in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients mobilized with or without plerixafor: a prospective comparison.

Background: Autologous stem cell transplantation is commonly used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs). Cellular composition of the blood grafts apparently has a role in the posttransplant hematologic and immune recovery. Plerixafor increases the mobilization of CD34+ cells and higher amounts of various lymphocyte subsets have been reported in the grafts.

Adjusting hemodialysis dose for protein catabolic rate.

Background: Patients dialyzed with equal eKt/V may have huge variations in their urea concentrations.

Methods: Urea generation rate, distribution volume and renal clearance were determined in 205 hemodialysis sessions of 33 patients with double pool urea kinetic modeling using dialyzer clearance from online monitoring. From these data, optimized prescriptions were computed.

Urea concentration and haemodialysis dose.

Background. Dialysis dose is commonly defined as a clearance scaled to some measure of body size, but the toxicity of uraemic solutes is probably associated more to their concentrations than to their clearance. Methods.

Intravascular ultrasound assessed incomplete stent apposition and stent fracture in stent thrombosis after bare metal versus drug-eluting stent treatment the Nordic Intravascular Ultrasound Study (NIVUS).

Background: This prospective multicenter registry used intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in patients with definite stent thrombosis (ST) to compare rates of incomplete stent apposition (ISA), stent fracture and stent expansion in patients treated with drug-eluting (DES) versus bare metal (BMS) stents. ST is a rare, but potential life threatening event after coronary stent implantation. The etiology seems to be multifactorial.