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J Mäki

Publications and source records attributed to J Mäki.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Individual-level relationships between social capital and self-rated health in a bilingual community.

BACKGROUND: Previous register studies have shown that mortality rates and disability pension statistics favor Swedish-speakers when compared to their Finnish-speaking neighbors in the same bilingual region in Finland. The purpose of the present questionnaire survey was to determine whether the Swedish-speaking community has more social capital and if the social capital is associated with health at the individual level. METHODS: The study population consisted of randomly selected samples of Finnish-speakers (N 1,000, response rate 66%) and Swedish-speakers (N 1,000, response rate 63%) representing all adults living in bilingual Ostrobothnian municipalities (75,000 Finnish-speakers and 78,000 Swedish-speakers). To inquire into social capital and health indicators, a bilingual questionnaire was composed to cover variables and indicators of sociodemography, health status, health behavior, and social capital (interpersonal trust and civic engagement). Data were analyzed with multiple logistic regression for two binary outcome variables: language group (Finnish vs Swedish) and self-rated health (good vs almost good/fair/poor/bad). RESULTS: When health-related variables (urban residence, migration, age, BMI, household income, smoking, singing in a choir, membership in any voluntary association, participation in community events, and long-term diseases) were controlled for, the Finnish-speakers were more often migrated (P = 0.0001) and mistrusting (P = 0.0001) and less active in community events (P = 0.0016) and in singing in a choir (P = 0.02) than the Swedish-speakers. After controlling for language and the above-mentioned health-related variables, the number of auxiliary (willing to help) friends (P = 0.001), mistrust (P = 0.037), and membership in any religious association (P = 0.0096) were significantly and independently associated with good self-rated health in the whole sample. CONCLUSIONS: The Swedish-speaking community seems to hold a fair quantity of social capital, which is associated with good health. Since the ecological and socioeconomic circumstances are equal for both language communities, a great deal of health inequality can be explained by differences in social capital.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Why do Swedish-speaking Finns have longer active life? An area for social capital research.

We performed ecological and individual register studies to compare disability-free life expectancies and disability pensions among Swedish-speaking and Finnish-speaking Finns residing on the western coast of Finland. The study was conducted to establish our assumption that the Swedish-speaking ethnic minority has a longer active life than the Finnish-speaking majority and to show that this disparity can be seen in a limited geographical area with similar socio-economic and health service structures. We suggest that the observed disparities in active life and in mortality depend on differences in the extent of social capital. A detailed characterization of the social capital and its impact on the health of the Swedish-speaking individuals is in progress.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Partial resistance of low density lipoprotein to oxidation in vivo after increased intake of berries.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The health-promoting effects of fruit- and vegetable-based diets are known to be associated with their antioxidative components. We found in our preliminary in vitro laboratory tests that extracts of many common Finnish edible berries are potent scavengers of peroxyl radicals and inhibitors of lipid peroxidation. We therefore designed the current study to evaluate both the long-term (8 weeks) and short-term (5 hours) effects of increased intake of three berries on antioxidant potential and lipid peroxidation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Healthy 60-year-old men were randomized to berry, supplement and control groups (20 men in each group). The berry group ate, in addition to their normal diet, a 100 g portion of deep-frozen berries (bilberries, lingonberries, or black currants) daily for 8 weeks. The other groups ingested daily 100 mg of alpha-tocopherol and 500 mg of ascorbic acid (supplement group) or 500 mg of calcium gluconate (control group). In the short-term experiment 6 men ate 80 g of each of the three berries in one go. Serum ascorbate concentrations increased significantly in both the berry and the supplement group. Serum alpha-tocopherol levels and the antioxidant potential (TRAP) in low density lipoprotein (LDL) increased in the supplement group only. In the berry group, slightly lowered LDL diene conjugation (p = 0.074) and slightly increased total serum TRAP (p = 0.084) values were observed. No changes were found in these measures in the supplement or the control group. In the short-term experiment, LDL TRAP showed a small increase (about 10%, p = 0.039) during five hours after the intake of 240 g berries. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of consumption of berries on antioxidant potential and diene conjugation in LDL particles in vivo appear to be small.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1999

Adducts of chlorohydroxyfuranones and of aldehyde conjugates.

The work reported here concerned the structural determination of adducts formed in reactions of nucleosides with chlorohydroxyfuranones and with conjugates of malonaldehyde and acetaldehyde. The chlorohydroxyfuranones are bacterial mutagens produced during chlorine disinfection of drinking-water, malonaldehyde is the major end-product of lipid peroxidation, and acetaldehyde is the major metabolite of ethanol. Exogenous sources of acetaldehyde are, for example, tobacco smoke and automobile emissions. The chlorohydroxyfuranones were found to form substituted and unsubstituted cyclic etheno adducts with adenosine, cytidine and guanosine and substituted cyclic propeno adducts with adenosine. The malonaldehyde-acetaldehyde conjugates reacted with adenosine to produce a strongly fluorescent dihydropyridine purine derivative and a substituted propenoformyl adenosine derivative. Most of the adducts identified in this study are new, and their mutagenic properties are as yet unknown.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1996

Reaction of mucochloric and mucobromic acids with adenosine and cytidine: formation of chloro- and bromopropenal derivatives.

Mucochloric (MCA) and mucobromic acid (MBA)--bacterial mutagens and water disinfection byproducts--were reacted with adenosine, cytidine, and guanosine in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). In the MCA reaction with adenosine and cytidine and in the MBA reaction with adenosine one major product was formed. In the reactions of MBA with cytidine and in the reactions of MCA and MBA with guanosine only trace levels of products could be detected, and these were not further characterized. The products from the adenosine and cytidine reactions were isolated by preparative chromatography on octadecylsilane columns and structurally characterized by UV absorbance, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The products were identified as 3-(N6-adenosinyl)-2-chloro-2-propenal (MClA), 3-(N6-adenosinyl)-2-bromo-2-propenal (MBrA), and 3-(N4-cytidinyl)-2-chloro-2-propenal (MClC). The yields of MClA, MBrA, and MClC were 19, 4 and 7 mol %, respectively. These halopropenal derivatives were formed also in reactions carried out in aqueous solutions at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C at low yields, about 5 x 10(-3)%. The mechanism of formation of the halopropenal derivatives and of the previously identified etheno and ethenocarbaldehyde derivatives was elucidated by reacting 13C-3 labeled MCA with adenosine in DMF and in water. The location of the labeled carbon in the products was determined from the 13 C NMR spectra. It was concluded that the halopropenal derivatives were formed by mechanisms that differ completely from the one responsible for the formation of the propenal adducts (M1A and M1C) previously reported to be formed in reactions of malonaldehyde with adenosine and cytidine.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1996

Radiographic small lung opacities and pleural abnormalities in relation to smoking, urbanization status, and occupational asbestos exposure in Finland.

The role of smoking and an urban living environment in the etiology of radiographic pleural and pulmonary abnormalities was studied in a population sample that was representative of the Finnish adult population. A total of 7095 full-size chest radiographs were classified according to the International Labor Organization's 1980 classification of radiographs of pneumoconioses, with some modifications. The risk of bilateral pleural plaques was significantly higher among urban men (RR, 2.0) and women (RR, 3.8), even when adjusted for age and probability of occupational asbestos exposure and smoking. The risks of small lung opacities and abnormalities of the visceral pleura were not higher in urban areas. Risks of small lung opacities and thickening of the visceral pleura were positively associated with smoking, and the risk of small lung opacities was also higher among smokers than never-smokers in the population fraction with unlikely occupational asbestos exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Persistent cutaneous pseudolymphoma after intradermal gold injection.

After intradermal testing with goldsodiumthiomalate (GSTM), 5 out of 8 patients developed skin papules at the test sites, which persisted up to 20 months. The lesions were surgically excised. Histology revealed pseudolymphoma of B and T cell type containing follicular structures and occasional small granulomas. The amount of histiocytic cells among B and T lymphocytes was pronounced, including acid cysteine proteinase inhibitor (ACPI) positive follicular dendritic cells, CD68 positive macrophages, factor XIIIa positive dermal dendrocytes and S-100 positive cells. By electron microscopy, the macrophages contained endosomes loaded with crystalloid material which contained gold in X-ray microanalysis. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry also confirmed the presence of gold in one specimen. Thus GSTM seemed to accumulate in tissue macrophages leading to constant immunologic activation with lymphoid proliferation and histiocytic response.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Serum calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc and risk of cardiovascular death.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association of serum calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc concentrations with cardiovascular mortality. DESIGN: A nested case-control study within a prospective population study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 230 men dying from cardiovascular diseases and 298 controls matched for age, place of residence, smoking and follow-up time. Mean follow-up time was 10 years. Serum calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc concentrations were determined from samples kept frozen at -20 degrees C. RESULTS: High serum copper and low serum zinc concentrations were significantly associated with an increased mortality from all cardiovascular diseases and from coronary heart disease in particular. The relative risk of coronary heart disease mortality between the highest and lowest tertiles of serum copper and zinc were 2.86 (P = 0.03) and 0.69 (P = 0.04), respectively. Adjustment for social class, serum cholesterol, body mass index, hypertension and known heart disease at baseline examination did not materially alter the results. No significant differences were observed in concentrations of serum calcium and magnesium between cases and controls. CONCLUSIONS: High serum copper and low serum zinc are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality whereas no association was found with serum calcium and magnesium and mortality risk.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Poor applicability of the Friedewald formula in the assessment of serum LDL cholesterol for clinical purposes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of the estimation of serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration by the Friedewald formula. METHODS: Modifications of the calculation formula are presented on the basis of ultracentrifugal separation of serum high-density lipoprotein and LDL cholesterol in the specimens collected (n = 1215) in a nationwide health survey. RESULTS: The formulas obtained from different subject groups differed relatively little from each other. The accuracy of the original Friedewald formula was poor; in about 36% of the subjects the error was more than 5% compared with ultracentrifugally obtained results. By applying the currently recommended coronary heart disease (CHD) risk categorizations, high proportions (5%-28%) of the subjects were classified into wrong CHD risk categories when LDL cholesterol was calculated with any of the formulas. At high serum triglyceride levels, misclassifications were especially common. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that even the most accurate LDL cholesterol calculation methods should be used with caution while classifying subjects into categories of CHD risk. In hypertriglyceridemic subjects, the calculation formulas probably should not be used at all.

Cholesterol, LDL↗
PubMed1995

Health-based reference intervals for ALAT, ASAT and GT in serum, measured according to the recommendations of the European Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (ECCLS).

The reference intervals for the activities of L-alanine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2, ALAT), L-aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1, ASAT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (EC 2.3.2.2, GT) in serum were determined according to the recommendations of the European Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (ECCLS). Serum specimens from 954 subjects were analysed for ALAT and ASAT and from 794 subjects for GT. The subjects, aged 27-67 years, were participants in general health surveys. The reference population was formed by excluding subjects with any disease, or on any medication, affecting the liver, and also those consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. The 95% inner reference intervals for ALAT and ASAT were 9-50 (n = 189) and 15-36 U l-1 (n = 192) in men and 8-38 (n = 270) and 13-33 U l-1 (n = 270) in women. For GT the reference interval was 11-58 in men (n = 165) and 8-42 U l-1 in women (n = 220). Serum GT levels correlated clearly with alcohol consumption. Serum ALAT and ASAT were only slightly associated with alcohol consumption at levels less than 280 g per week in men and 190 g per week in women. There were modest positive associations between the three enzyme levels and body mass index. None of the enzymes correlated significantly with age.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Radiographic small lung opacities and pleural abnormalities as a consequence of asbestos exposure in an adult population.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to estimate the role of past asbestos exposure as a cause of radiographic small lung opacities and pleural abnormalities in the Finnish adult population. METHODS: The study was conducted in 1978-1981 and was based on a population sample (N = 8000) representative of the Finnish population aged 30 years or over. Full-size chest radiographs and a complete job title history were available for 3811 women and 3274 men. The radiographs were classified according to the 1980 classification of radiographs of pneumoconioses published by the International Labour Office and the work histories according to the probability of occupational asbestos exposure. Age- and smoking-adjusted relative risks of radiographic parenchymal and pleural abnormalities were calculated with the analysis of covariance according to the probability of asbestos exposure. RESULTS: About 13% of the men and 0.8% of the women were classified as probably exposed to asbestos. There was more than 90% agreement in the repeated work history evaluations. The risk of small lung opacities was significantly increased among the probably exposed men [risk ratio (RR) 1.7 for ILO profusion category 1/1 or more and RR 1.6 for profusion category 1/0]. The risk of pleural plaques was increased both among the men (RR 3.0) and the women (RR 4.8) with probable exposure. The risk of thickened horizontal interlobar fissure was also increased among the probably exposed men (RR 1.7). Among the men, the etiologic fraction attributable to occupational asbestos exposure was about 30% for small lung opacities, about 40% for pleural plaques, and about 20% for thickened horizontal fissure. Among the women the etiologic fractions for asbestos were similar for pleural abnormalities, but much lower for parenchymal ones. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational asbestos exposure has been common among Finnish men, and it plays a significant role in the etiology of both pleural and parenchymal abnormalities also at the level of the general population.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A critical look at the treatment of maxillary sinusitis with long-term draining tubes.

Long-term draining tubes (LTD) have become a common treatment in complicated and prolonged forms of maxillary sinus empyema. Since not all patients show good recovery with this treatment we used sinus-manometry, mathematical calculations, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to critically analyze 6 cases with a prolonged history of the disease. Five out of the 6 patients recovered quickly after removal of the LTDs, normally performed sinus punctures, and an appropriate antibacterial treatment. One patient underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Two of the 6 patients had uncommon bacterial cultures (Pseudomonas mirabilis, Klebsiella oxytoga) in their sinus secreta. Two of the removed LTDs were examined with SEM. The porous polyethylene was shown to have absorbed bacterial plague which, besides narrowing the lumen, can cause recurrent infections. In 5 other patients, the draining pressure (DP) was 0.9 +/- 0.16(M +/- SD) kg/cm2, as measured during irrigation with a No. 2 Lichtwitz needle (1.8 mm, i.d). Mathematical calculation using the Hagen-Boisseouille equation indicated that with our LTDs (0.7 mm, i.d.) the DP needs to be 40 times greater than the DP when using an ordinary Lichtwitz needle to get equal flushing capacity. We recommend i) LTD treatment of maxillary sinus empyema be closely followed up ii) that, in prolonged cases, the LTDs should be removed and the sinuses repeatedly irrigated with an ordinary needle or antrostomy, and iii) that a more suitable tubing material and insertion system (to allow a larger radius of the tube) be developed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Health-based reference values of the Mini-Finland Health Survey: 2. Cholesterol in total serum and in different lipoprotein fractions.

The reference values for cholesterol concentrations in the whole serum and in its VLDL, LDL and HDL fractions have been produced based on the data obtained in the Mini-Finland Health Survey. The lipoprotein fractions were separated with ultracentrifugation. The aim was to obtain reference values for the apparently healthy, ambulatory population. Two health-derived criteria were used to select subjects for reference populations: those based on the literature available and those based on the recommendations published by the Committee on Reference Values of the Scandinavian Society for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Physiology, with slight modifications. The 95% inner reference intervals of total serum cholesterol in all the subjects and in the two selection groups were 4.2-9.0, 4.2-8.4, and 4.2-8.5 mmol l-1 for men, and 4.2-9.4, 4.1-8.6, and 4.2-9.0 mmol l-1 for women, respectively. The corresponding medians were 6.3, 6.2 and 6.2 mmol l-1 in men, and 6.4, 6.0 and 6.1 mmol l-1 in women, respectively. Frequency distribution curves showed clear skewness to the right in VLDL cholesterol and slight skewness in LDL and HDL cholesterol. In women there was a clear rise in total, VLDL and LDL cholesterol after the early middle age, whereas HDL cholesterol was lower in the older age groups. In men the age dependency was not as prominent; total cholesterol levels showed lower levels in older men. Of the background lifestyle factors alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity and physical exercise had negligible associations with total, VLDL, LDL and HDL cholesterol reference intervals.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Health-based reference values of the Mini-Finland Health Survey: 3. Triglycerides in total serum and in different lipoprotein fractions.

The reference values for triglyceride concentrations in total serum and in its VLDL, LDL and HDL fractions have been produced based on the data obtained in the Mini-Finland Health Survey. The lipoprotein fractions were separated with ultracentrifugation. Efforts were made to obtain reference values for the healthy ambulatory population. Two health-derived selection criteria were used for inclusion of persons into the reference population: those based on the literature available and those based on the recommendations published by the Committee on Reference Values of the Scandinavian Society for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Physiology, with minor modifications. The frequency distributions of triglycerides especially in total serum and in VLDL fraction were very skewed. Because of that the data were transformed before the calculation of the reference ranges according to the method of Box and Cox [1]. This transformation method appeared to be the best one of many tested methods in obtaining the distributions closer to the normal ones. The 95% inner reference intervals of total serum triglycerides in all subjects and in the two selection groups were 0.5-4.0, 0.5-2.8, and 0.5-3.2 mmol l-1 for men and 0.5-3.4, 0.5-2.3, and 0.5-2.4 mmol l-1 for women, respectively. The age dependence of triglyceride level was prominent in women after the early middle age. The distribution and age dependence of VLDL triglycerides resembled those of total triglycerides. In LDL and HDL fractions the skewness was not as clear as in the whole serum or in VLDL fraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Abnormal pulmonary macrophages in lysinuric protein intolerance. Ultrastructural, morphometric, and x-ray microanalytic study.

Pediatric patients with lysinuric protein intolerance are predisposed to develop alveolar hemorrhage and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. We evaluated the ultrastructural features of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and the potential abnormality of pulmonary macrophages in lysinuric protein intolerance. Lung tissue specimens obtained at autopsy were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Pulmonary macrophages from bronchoalveolar lavages were studied by electron microscopy, morphometry, and x-ray microanalysis and compared with control cells. The macrophages of patients with lysinuric protein intolerance contained significantly more multilamellar structures than did control cells and showed electron-dense material identified to contain excess iron. The predisposition to develop alveolar proteinosis and the abnormal ultrastructure of pulmonary macrophages suggest altered phospholipid metabolism in patients with lysinuric protein intolerance. The marked intramacrophageal accumulations of iron might indicate altered iron metabolism or subclinical hemorrhages in lung tissue.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Missing teeth and ischaemic heart disease in men aged 45-64 years.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between number of missing teeth (expressing sustained oral infections) and diagnosed ischaemic heart disease using cross-sectional data from 1384 men aged 45-64 years. The study population was derived from a representative sample of adult Finns. Ischaemic heart disease was considered to be present in those with angina pectoris or previous myocardial infarction, whether definite or possible. A tooth was recorded as missing if none of it was visible or could be felt with an instrument. According to multiple linear analyses, the variation in ischaemic heart disease was independently explained by age, clinical diagnosis of arterial hypertension, geographical area, educational level and number of missing teeth. Smoking and cholesterol were not significant explanatory factors. The explanation for the observed association between missing teeth and ischaemic heart disease is that they may share a common behavioural background factor. There may also be a more direct causal relationship between the phenomena.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

Immunochemical analysis of the extracellular slime substance of Staphylococcus epidermidis.

To analyze immunochemically the extracellular slime substance of Staphylococcus epidermidis, rabbits were repeatedly immunized with the crude slime extract isolated from an adherent, slime-producing clinical Staphylococcus epidermidis strain. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that the target antigens of the resulting antibodies were located in the extracellular slime-like layer of bacterial cells. When these target antigens were characterized by immunoblotting, a variety of antigens were detected, including many with molecular masses higher than 80 kilodaltons and also a predominant one with a molecular mass of 30 kilodaltons. No characteristic differences were observed between the tube adherence test positive and negative Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates. Although there was variation in the number and intensity of high molecular mass antigens, such variations did not correlate with the tube adherence test. Of the 110 Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates studied, 106 (96%) expressed the 30-kilodalton antigen. This component was found in no other Staphylococcus spp. examined in the study. The bacterial component was not only easily detached from bacterial cells but also water-soluble, characteristics implicating a slime-like nature. Further studies are needed to definitively establish the origin and nature of the 30-kilodalton Staphylococcus epidermidis-specific component, and determine its potential benefit as a diagnostic tool.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗