Biomedical subjects

H Helenius

Publications and source records attributed to H Helenius.

156 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

PubMed1983

Ultrasonic scanning after percutaneous renal biopsy.

Renal ultrasonic scanning was performed before and after 57 consecutive kidney biopsies in order to assess the value of this method in the diagnosis of complications. One large and six small perirenal haematomas were found, corresponding to an incidence of 13%. This figure is considerably larger than the incidence found with conventional diagnostic methods, but smaller than with computed tomography. One hydronephrosis and a blood clot in the urinary bladder were also diagnosed. No clinically significant complications were missed. We recommend ultrasonography as the first diagnostic procedure when biopsy complications are suspected.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cardiovascular and cancer morbidity and mortality and sudden cardiac death in postmenopausal women on oestrogen replacement therapy (ERT)

BACKGROUND: Advantages and disadvantages of postmenopausal oestrogen replacement therapy (ERT) are still not clear. We aimed to analyse the relation between postmenopausal oestrogen replacement therapy (ERT), cardiovascular disease, and cancer. METHODS: We examined 7944 women born between 1923 and 1930, who participated in a mammography screening for breast cancer, and who were followed up from 1987 to 1995. The follow-up consisted of 53,305 person-years. 988 women were current users and 757 were former users of ERT. Information about hormone use and health events was obtained through biennial questionnaires and recording and linking information from the hospital discharge registers of the region, the national cancer register, the social insurance reimbursement register, and the national death register. We used proportional-hazards models to calculate risk ratios and 95% CIs, adjusted for eight confounding variables. FINDINGS: Current ERT was associated with decreased cardiovascular mortality and a decrease in sudden cardiac death. Adjusted risk ratio (RR) for cardiovascular mortality in current users was 0.21 (95% CI 0.08-0.59) and in former users 0.75 (0.41-1.37). Absolute risk per 1000 person-years for deaths from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was 1.1 in never users, 1.2 in former users, and 0.45 in current users (p=0.197). Corresponding absolute risk for other coronary-artery-disease (CAD) deaths was 1.0, 0.81, and 0 (p=0.009), and for deaths from stroke 1.2, 1.0, and 0.15 (p=0.012). Absolute risk for sudden cardiac death was 1.6 in never users, 1.0 in former users, and 0 in current users (p<0.001). Cardiovascular morbidity was not decreased by ERT: the RR for current use was 1.07 (0.86-1.32) and for former use 1.11 (0.89-1.39). Incidence of cardiovascular disease per 1000 person-years was 24.9 in never users, 23.4 in former users, and 20.9 in current users (p=0.153). Breast-cancer morbidity did not increase with current ERT--the RR was 0.57 (0.27-1.20). Incidence of breast cancer was 1.8, 1.6, and 1.0 in never, former, and current users (p=0.242). Endometrial cancer increased with current ERT--the RR was 5.06 (2.47-10.41). Incidence of endometrial cancer was 0.52 in never users, 0.51 in former users, and 2.1 in current users (p<0.001). INTERPRETATION: Current ERT reduced primarily sudden cardiac death and predicted reduced cardiovascular mortality, but did not reduce morbidity. ERT did not increase the risk of breast cancer, but was associated with increased risk of endometrial cancer.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Age-related dopamine D2/D3 receptor loss in extrastriatal regions of the human brain.

Loss of dopamine D2-like receptors in the striatum has been associated with both normal human aging and impairment of cognitive and motor functions in the elderly. To investigate whether there are age-associated changes in dopamine D2 and D3 receptor subtypes (D2/3Rs) outside the striatum, a D2/3R selective high-affinity radioligand [11C]FLB 457 was used in positron emission tomography (PET) examinations for 24 normal healthy male subjects (age range 19-74 years). Significant age-related declines of D2/3Rs were detected in all the brain regions studied: the anterior cingulate cortex (decline of 13% per increase of a decade in age, P < 0.001). the frontal cortex (11%, P < 0.001), the lateral temporal cortex (10%, P < 0.001), the hippocampus (10%, P < 0.01), the medial temporal cortex (9%, P < 0.001), the amygdala (7%, P < 0.01), the medial thalamus (6%, P < 0.001) and the lateral thalamus (5%, P < 0.01). The rate of D2/3R decline was significantly faster in the frontal cortex as compared to the medial temporal cortex (P < 0.05, Bonferroni corrected) and as compared to the medial thalamus (P < 0.05, Bonferroni corrected). These results indicate that the previously demonstrated age-related decline in striatal dopamine D2 receptors extends to several extrastriatal regions in normal human males. Further, the rate of D2/3R decline may be faster in the frontal cortex as compared to the temporal and thalamic regions.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prepregnancy headache and the well-being of mother and newborn.

Women (n = 1443) expecting their first child were studied to examine whether prepregnancy headache predicts problems in the well-being of pregnant women and new-borns. Subject collection was based on stratified randomized cluster sampling. Impairment of health during the first trimester was more often reported by women with frequent prepregnancy headache than by nonsufferers. They also made more visits to a doctor and had more pregnancy symptoms during the third trimester. Use of any medication during the first trimester was also more common in the headache group. Mental health status was worse, fatigue and depression increased during pregnancy more often, and stress and anxiety about delivery were more common in this group. The relationship with spouses worsened during pregnancy in the headache group and seemed to be predicted by impairment of somatic health during the first trimester and increasing depression during pregnancy. No statistical differences between groups were found in variables measuring the well-being of the newborns. Frequent prepregnancy headache proved to be a strong predictor of ill-being in pregnant women. This result should find practical applications in the preventive work of maternity health care clinics.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Participation in prenatal screening tests and intentions concerning selective termination in Finnish maternity care.

AIMS: The study examined how prenatal screening tests are presented to women, factors associated with women's participation in screening, their experience of decision-making and intentions concerning pregnancy termination, and hospital data on rates of selective terminations. METHODS: Questionnaires were given to pregnant women visiting maternity centres in two Finnish towns in which serum screening was offered (n = 1,035) and in one town where midtrimester ultrasound screening was offered (n = 497). Response rates to the questionnaires were 88 and 85%, respectively. Other questionnaires asking about selective terminations following detected fetal disorders were sent in 1993 to all public hospitals with obstetrics or gynaecology departments (response rate 100%). RESULTS: The serum screening test had usually been offered to women as a free choice, but for 22% of them it was presented as a routine procedure. Most women (92%) underwent serum screening and most (86%) found the decision to participate or not easy. In almost every aspect of presentation and participation studied, serum and ultrasound screening differed from each other. 85% of respondents to ultrasound screening answered that it was offered as a routine procedure. Close acquaintance with a person with congenital disability was negatively associated with participation in serum screening and with the intention to terminate pregnancy in case of a detected disability. 27% of women in the serum screening survey and 22% in the ultrasound survey declared that they would have declined pregnancy termination if a fetal disorder had been detected. However, according to the hospitals' data, only 13% of pregnancies with a serious fetal disorder detected were continued. CONCLUSIONS: All prenatal screening tests, including ultrasound examinations, require an adequate process of informed consent. Because the aim of such tests is to detect fetal malformations and syndromes, health care professionals should discuss the implications with women before they decide. Because acquaintance with a disabled person was found to associate with participation in screening and with intentions about selective termination, women's perceptions of lives of the disabled should receive more attention in future studies.

Abortion, Induced↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Dental amalgam fillings and the amount of organic mercury in human saliva.

We studied differences in the amounts of organic and inorganic mercury in saliva samples between amalgam and nonamalgam human study groups. The amount of organic and inorganic mercury in whole saliva was measured in 187 adult study subjects. The mercury contents were determined by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. The amount of organic and inorganic mercury in paraffin-stimulated saliva was significantly higher (p<0.001) in subjects with dental amalgam fillings (n = 88) compared to the nonamalgam study groups (n = 43 and n = 56): log(e) (organic mercury) was linearly related to log(e) (inorganic mercury, r(2) = 0.52). Spearman correlation coefficients of inorganic and organic mercury concentrations with the number of amalgam-filled tooth surfaces were 0.46 and 0.27, respectively. Our results are compatible with the hypothesis that amalgam fillings may be a continuous source of organic mercury, which is more toxic than inorganic mercury, and almost completely absorbed by the human intestine.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Caries experience and caries increments at 10 years of age.

The aim of the study was to examine the caries experience of 10-year-olds as measured with dmft/DMFT, to explain how caries increases by the age of 10 years, and which factors would explain caries increments. The setting was a representative population sample of first-born children in southwestern Finland. Dental health at 10 years of age was found to be good in 45%, fairly good in 40% and poor in 15% of the children. The caries index remained stable in 23% of carious children from 7 to 10 years of age. Daily consumption of sweets at the age of 3 years (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.5-4.8; p < 0.001) was associated with a caries increment between 7 and 10 years of age (both deciduous and permanent teeth). This daily consumption of sweets and a child's late bedtime (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.1--3.1; p = 0.023) were explanatory factors in the permanent teeth alone. In the deciduous teeth, mother's previous caries and child's earlier tooth brushing habits were explanatory factors of caries. As hypothesized, all five significant factors remaining in the final logistic regression analysis were family-related. Parental ability to care for and educate a child could be seen in dental health still at the age of 10 years. The family-related factors which were associated with caries should be emphasized much more comprehensively in everyday dental health care practice.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Behavioural and demographic factors during early childhood and poor dental health at 10 years of age.

The aim was to elucidate whether variables recorded in early childhood would have a long-lasting predictive value of poor dental health at the age of 10 years in a prospectively followed Finnish population-based cohort setting. The second aim was to find new tools for preventive work in order to improve dental health among children. Poor dental health (dmft + DMFT >or= 5) at 10 years of age was associated with child's nocturnal juice drinking at 18 months. It was associated with the following factors at age 3 years: frequent consumption of sweets; infrequent tooth brushing; plaque and caries on teeth. Of family factors, the following were significant: father's young age at birth of the child; mother's basic 9-year education; mother's caries (i.e. several carious teeth per year), and father's infrequent tooth brushing. Early childhood risk factors of poor dental health seem to be stable even after 10 years of life and the changing of teeth from primary to permanent ones. In preventive work, dental health care staff could offer support to those parents with risk factors in their child rearing tasks.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Reduced fluoroquinolone susceptibility in Salmonella enterica serotypes in travelers returning from Southeast Asia.

During 1995 to 1999, we collected 1,210 Salmonella isolates; 629 were from Finnish travelers returning from abroad. These isolates were tested for susceptibility by determining MICs to ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, and seven additional antimicrobial agents. From 1995 to 1999, the annual proportion of reduced ciprofloxacin susceptibility (MIC > 0.125 microg/mL) among all travelers' isolates increased from 3.9% to 23.5% (p<0.001). The increasing trend was outstanding among the isolates from Southeast Asia; isolates from Thailand alone increased from 5.6% to 50.0% (p<0.001). The reduced fluoroquinolone susceptibility was nonclonal in character and significantly associated with multidrug resistance. A point mutation in the quinolone resistance-determining region of gyrA was present in all isolates with reduced susceptibility. These data provide further evidence for the rapid spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens from one continent to another.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical survey of acrylic resin removable denture repairs with glass-fiber reinforcement.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical usefulness and durability of continuous glass-fiber reinforcement in repair of acrylic resin removable dentures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fractured removable dentures without reinforcement, with conventional metal-wire reinforcement, or with mesh reinforcement were collected from two dental schools in Finland. The total number of dentures was 51 and the number of patients was 48. During the repair, the dentures were reinforced with a polymer-preimpregnated E-glass fiber at the region of the fracture. The fibers were used as partial fiber reinforcement, i.e., only the weakest part of the denture was reinforced. Follow-up time varied from 4 months to 4.1 years. After the follow-up period, possible fractures and discoloring were visually inspected. Possible irritation of oral mucosa by glass fibers and the general shape of the denture were also evaluated. RESULTS: In 88% of the cases, there was no need for adjustment at the region of partial fiber reinforcement, and the clinical condition of the dentures was good. Glass fibers did not irritate the oral mucosa. In the case of refracture or hairline fracture, positioning of the partial fiber reinforcement was incorrect or the reinforcement had been used incorrectly (the wetting of the reinforcement with denture base resin was inadequate). CONCLUSION: Polymer-preimpregnated partial fiber reinforcement seems to be useful in eliminating fractures of acrylic resin removable dentures. However, this study emphasizes the importance of correct positioning and accurate laboratory technique when partial fiber reinforcement is used.

Acrylic Resins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serum TRACP 5b and ICTP as markers of bone metastases in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the value of serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP 5b) and carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) separately and in combination as markers of bone metastases compared to total alkaline phosphatase (tALP) in breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two groups of patients were studied, one with verfied bone metastases (N=46) and one without bone metastases (N=141). Bone marker levels were correlated with the presence or absence of bone metastases. RESULTS: Serum TRACP 5b concentrations exhibited the largest area under the receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve (AUC=0.845), followed by ICTP (0.818) and tALP (0.814) when all patients were included in the analysis. With the combination of TRACP 5b and ICTP, the AUC increased to 0.881. In multivariate regression analysis, all three markers were significant predictors of bone metastases. CONCLUSION: Serum TRACP 5b, ICTP and tALP exhibited equal performances in the detection of bone metastases. The combination of TRACP with ICTP did not significantly improve the detection of bone metastases over tALP.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

ITI titanium plasma-sprayed screw implants in the treatment of edentulous mandibles: a follow-up study of 39 patients.

The outcomes of 153 ITI titanium plasma-sprayed screw implants were studied in 39 patients. Four implants were placed in the edentulous mandible between the mental foramina and used as support for a denture prosthesis. Thirteen implants in six patients had been lost during the follow-up time of 3 to 10 years (mean 5.6 years). The mean annual bone resorption was 0.25 mm (SD 0.29 mm; range 0 to 1.37 mm). Bone loss was smaller in patients with prosthetic loading applied within 7 postoperative days than in those with delayed prosthetic treatment. No evidence of bone loss was seen around 37 (26.4%) implants. The cumulative and overall success rates for titanium plasma-sprayed implants were 80.8% and 91.5%, respectively. The corresponding figures for the patients were 86.8% and 94.9%.

Adult↗