Repeated centralized multidisciplinary team assessment of resectability, clinical behavior, and outcomes in 1086 Finnish metastatic colorectal cancer patients (RAXO): A nationwide prospective intervention study.

Background: Resection of colorectal cancer (CRC) metastases provides good survival but is probably underused in real-world practice.

Methods: A prospective Finnish nationwide study enrolled treatable metastatic CRC patients. The intervention was the assessment of resectability upfront and twice during first-line therapy by the multidisciplinary team (MDT) at Helsinki tertiary referral centre.

Development of otology specific outcome measure: Ear Outcome Survey-16 (EOS-16).

Purpose: An important outcome measure of patient care is the impact on the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Current ear-specific HRQoL instruments are designed for one diagnosis and emphasize different subdivisions such as symptoms, hearing problems, psychosocial impact, and the need for care. The optimal length of the recall period has not been studied.

Outcome of octogenarians with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: insights from the AFCAS registry.

Background: More evidence is needed on the optimal antithrombotic regimen in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Hypothesis: Octogenarian patients (aged ≥80 years) with AF who underwent PCI have worse 12-month clinical outcome, compared with younger patients.

Methods: We performed a post-hoc analysis of data from the prospective, multicenter AFCAS registry, which enrolled consecutive patients with AF who underwent PCI and stenting.

Outcome of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Finland: A nationwide study.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is uncommon in western countries and data on the outcome and histological presentation are scarce in nonendemic areas. We report here the outcome on all patients with NPC treated in Finland between 1990 and 2009.

Material And Methods: The Finnish Cancer Registry database was used to identify the patients.

Laryngeal cancer in Finland: A 5-year follow-up study of 366 patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to acquire nationwide data on the management and outcome of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in Finnish university hospitals over a 5-year posttreatment follow-up.

Methods: All records of patients diagnosed and treated for primary laryngeal SCC during 2001 to 2005 were reviewed.

Results: Three hundred sixty-six patients with laryngeal cancer were identified, 360 of whom had laryngeal SCC.

N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide reflects cardiac remodelling in stage 1 hypertension.

Early detection of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is beneficial, since treatment-induced regression of LVH has been unequivocally associated with a better prognosis. Our aim was to study the relation of cardiac remodelling and natriuretic peptides (NPs) in stage 1 hypertension. We studied 175 (46±7 years, 87 women and 88 men) apparently healthy middle-aged that had never been treated for hypertension.

Treatment of follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with or without rituximab: cost-effectiveness and value of information based on a 5-year follow-up.

Background: Rituximab induction together with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) and rituximab maintenance (RCHOP-R) resulted to significant progression-free survival (PFS) benefit in comparison to RCHOP in the EORTC20981 trial of relapsed/refractory follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (FL). However, the overall survival (OS) difference between RCHOP-R and RCHOP was insignificant. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of RCHOP, RCHOP-R, and CHOP in the treatment of relapsed/refractory FL.

A brief intervention is sufficient for many adolescents seeking help from low threshold adolescent psychiatric services.

Background: There has been a considerable increase in the need for psychiatric services for adolescents. Primary health care practitioners have a major role in detecting, screening and helping these adolescents. An intervention entitled SCREEN is described in this article.

Treatment of lymphatic malformations of head and neck with OK-432 sclerotherapy induce systemic inflammatory response.

Systemic immune responses after OK-432 (Picibanil) sclerotherapy in patients with head and neck lymphatic malformations (LM) were examined to achieve a better understanding of the mechanism of OK-432 sclerotherapy and to evaluate the long-term treatment outcome. Serum samples from 17 consecutive patients with head and neck LMs were collected during a total of 26 OK-432 treatment episodes. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukins (IL) 1β, 6, 8, 10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, RANTES, immune protein (IP)-10 and macrophage chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 as well as blood leukocyte counts were determined.

The activation of the inflammatory cytokines in overweight patients with mild obstructive sleep apnoea.

It is widely accepted that obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is linked with cardiovascular diseases. The relationship is complex and remains still poorly understood. The presence of chronic systemic inflammation has been connected with pathogenesis of both OSA and cardiovascular diseases.

Atrophic enlargement of CSF volume after subarachnoid hemorrhage: correlation with neuropsychological outcome.

Background And Purpose: Ventricular dilation and sulcal enlargement are common sequelae after aSAH. Our aim was to quantify the late ventricular dilation and volumes of the CSF spaces after aSAH and to determine if they correlate with neurologic and cognitive impairments frequently detected in these patients.

Materials And Methods: 3D T1-weighted images needed for volumetry were available in 76 patients 1 year after aSAH, along with 75 neuropsychological assessments.

ADMA concentration changes across the menstrual cycle and during oral contraceptive use: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels during different menstrual cycle phases in young adult women with or without oral contraceptive (OC) use.

Design And Methods: The subjects (n=1079) originated from a large population-based, prospective cohort study conducted in Finland. Plasma ADMA, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), L-arginine, C-reactive protein, creatinine, and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) were measured.

Surgical intervention represents a feasible option for patients with mild obstructive sleep apnoea.

Conclusions: Patients with mild obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) depict the disease as being detrimental to their health, causing significant symptoms. These patients were found to achieve significant improvements in OSA-related symptoms after surgical intervention.

Objectives: Although the effects of surgical treatment on OSA have been encouraging in many previous studies, little is known about its effects in patients with mild OSA.

Reduced gamma-catenin expression and poor survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To investigate whether reduced expression of alpha-, beta-, or gamma-catenin predicts poor survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Design: Immunohistochemical analyses of a retrospective cohort.

Setting: University-affiliated hospital.

No association between high temperature requirement 1 (HTRA1) gene polymorphisms and Alzheimer's disease.

High temperature requirement 1 (HTRA1) gene is a plausible risk factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD) as it encodes a protease known to degrade amyloid-β peptide. Here we have studied whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the HTRA1 gene or its nearby regions associated with AD in a large clinic-based case-control cohort originating from Finland. We did not observe significant association of the HTRA1 SNPs with AD among the whole case-control cohort or age-at-onset risk effect among AD patients.

Women with hypertensive pregnancies have difficulties in regaining pre-pregnancy weight and show metabolic disturbances.

The aim was to determine maternal weight gain and body composition during pregnancy and 3 months postpartum in women with uncomplicated singleton and twin pregnancies and in women with gestational diabetes (GDM) and gestational hypertension (GH). This prospective study includes four groups of subjects: those with an uncomplicated pregnancy (n = 32), those with a diagnosis of GH (n = 28), those with a diagnosis of GDM (n = 52), and those with twin pregnancy (n = 11). Their body compositions were estimated by a bioimpedance analysis and fasting lipids and glucose levels were determined during the pregnancy and 3 months after pregnancy.

Serum adiponectin and resistin levels in major depressive disorder.

Objective: To examine the role of the adipose-tissue-derived low-grade inflammation markers adiponectin and resistin in major depressive disorder (MDD) in a population-based sample.

Method: Serum levels of adiponectin and resistin were measured from 70 DSM-IV MDD subjects and 70 healthy controls. Depression severity was assessed with the 29-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.

Cardiac sympathetic activity is associated with inflammation and neurohumoral activation in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) is characterized by sympathetic nervous overactivity, inflammation and neurohumoral activation; however, their interrelationships are poorly understood.

Methods And Results: We studied 99 patients with IDC (age 54 +/- 1 years, left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) 40 +/- 1%, maximum oxygen uptake (VO(2)max) 20 +/- 1 ml kg(-1) min(-2), mean +/- SEM) by using (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) imaging. MIBG washout and MIBG heart/mediastinum (H/M)-ratio at 4 h postinjection were calculated.

Serum chemokine levels in major depressive disorder.

Objective: To examine the role of chemokines of two major chemokine families, CC and CXC, in major depressive disorder (MDD) in a population-based sample.

Method: The serum levels of CC chemokines MCP-1 and MIP-1beta, and CXC chemokine IL-8 were measured from 122 participants (MDD group, n=61; controls, n=61). Depression severity was assessed with the 29-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.

Brain atrophy and neuropsychological outcome after treatment of ruptured anterior cerebral artery aneurysms: a voxel-based morphometric study.

Introduction: Cognitive impairment after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is frequently detected. Here, we describe the pattern of cerebral (gray matter) atrophy and its clinical relevance after treatment of aSAH caused by a ruptured anterior cerebral artery (ACA) aneurysm.

Methods: Thirty-seven aSAH patients with ACA aneurysm (17 surgical, 20 endovascular treatment) and a good or moderate clinical outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale V or IV) and 30 controls underwent brain MRI.

Altered cortical inhibition in Unverricht-Lundborg type progressive myoclonus epilepsy (EPM1).

Purpose: Progressive myoclonus epilepsies (PMEs) comprise a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neuronal mechanisms. The aim of this study was to assess the function of the motor cortex in Unverricht-Lundborg disease (ULD), progressive myoclonus epilepsy type 1 (EPM1).

Methods: Genetically verified EPM1 patients (n=24) were studied and compared with healthy subjects (n=24).

Heat shock proteins as gatekeepers of proteolytic pathways-Implications for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the major diagnosis for severe and irreversible central loss of vision in elderly people in the developed countries. The loss of vision involves primarily a progressive degeneration and cell death of postmitotic retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE), which secondarily evokes adverse effects on photoreceptor cells. The RPE cells are exposed to chronic oxidative stress from three sources: their high levels of oxygen consumption, their exposure to the high levels of lipid peroxidation derived from the photoreceptor outer segments and their exposure to constant light stimuli.

Maternal serum ADMA is not associated with proinflammatory cytokines or C-reactive protein during normal pregnancy.

Normal pregnancy is associated with changes in the immune system. We studied whether asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) is associated with this immune system change by assaying high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The cytokine and dimethylarginine serum concentrations were determined from women with normal pregnancy (n=77) and healthy non-pregnant controls (n=61) matched for age and smoking status as a part of a large population-based, prospective cohort study conducted in Finland.

Update on the role of aromatase inhibitors in growth disorders.

Background: Without oestrogen action, the fusion of the growth plates is postponed and longitudinal growth continues for an exceptionally long period of time. Aromatase inhibitors that block oestrogen biosynthesis have therefore emerged as a new potential treatment option for children with short stature. Results from three prospective randomised controlled trials using potent third-generation aromatase inhibitors have recently been published.

An association study between granulin gene polymorphisms and Alzheimer's disease in Finnish population.

Granulin protein plays an important role in neurite outgrowth and neuronal survival. Recently, it was shown that mutations in granulin (GRN) gene cause tau-negative frontotemporal dementia supporting the idea that granulin is involved in neurodegeneration. Here we have investigated whether genetic variability in the GRN gene influences also the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD).