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J Pikkarainen

Publications and source records attributed to J Pikkarainen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Fatal poisonings in young drug addicts in the Nordic countries: a comparison between 1984-1985 and 1991.

Fatal poisonings among young drug addicts (15-34 years) in the five Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in 1991 were investigated and compared to a similar investigation for 1984-1985 (Sweden for 1984 only). A common definition of 'drug addict' has been applied by the participating countries. In both investigations, the greatest number of drug addict deaths was seen in Denmark calculated per 10(5) inhabitants, followed in descending order by Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. An increased number of deaths was observed from 1984-1985 to 1991 in all five countries. The increase in Denmark and Sweden was small while the number of deaths was more than doubled in Norway and Finland. The increased number of cases in Norway and Sweden in 1991 is mainly due to a greater number of deaths in the age group 25-34 years. In Finland, the increased number was seen mainly in the age group 15-24 years. In the two investigations heroin/morphine caused most of the fatal poisonings in Norway and Sweden. In Denmark, heroin/morphine caused about half of the fatal poisonings only, and strong analgesics other than heroin/morphine caused about one third of the deaths. In 1984-1985 it was methadone, propoxyphene and ketobemidone and in 1991 mostly methadone. The number of heroin/morphine related deaths in Finland increased from 1984-1985 to 1991, but other drugs and poisons caused a much higher proportion of the deaths. Pentobarbital caused the only fatal poisoning in Iceland in 1991.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Drugs usage of drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. A study of one week's samples in 1979 and 1993 in Finland.

The extent of drug use among drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs in Finland was studied. All blood samples submitted to the laboratory during 1 week in two study periods, in 1979 (n = 298) and 1993 (n = 332), were analyzed for alcohol and psychotropic drugs. Drugs classified as hazardous to traffic safety were detected in 7.0% of the samples in 1979 and 26.8% in 1993. Benzodiazepines were the most frequently found drugs in both years: 6.0% of the cases in 1979 and 22.9% in 1993. Illegal drugs were found in 4% of the cases in 1993. Of the samples tested, 296 in 1979 and 317 in 1993 were from drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol only. In 1979 every fourteenth and in 1993 every fourth of these suspected drunken drivers had drugs in their blood. Drugs, other than alcohol, were found six times more often than expected by the police. The results indicate that the trend of drug use, multidrug use and drug abuse is increasing among cases suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1996

Drug addict deaths in the Nordic countries: a study based on medicolegally examined cases in the five Nordic countries in 1991.

The study includes medicolegally examined deaths among drug addicts in 1991 in the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. A common definition of 'drug addict' was applied by the participating countries. The greatest number of drug addict deaths per 10(5) inhabitants was observed in Denmark followed, in descending order by Norway, Sweden, Finland and finally Iceland with only four deaths. The main difference between the countries was found in the number of fatal poisonings. The distribution according to geographical regions showed that about half of all drug addict deaths occurred in the metropolitan areas. Of the capitals, the greatest number of fatal poisonings per 10(5) inhabitants was seen in Oslo, followed by Copenhagen with a similar number, Stockholm with only the half, and Helsinki with a quarter. Heroin/morphine dominated as cause of death in fatal poisonings in Norway and Sweden. In Denmark, heroin/morphine caused about half of the fatal poisonings only, and nearly one third of the fatal poisonings was caused by methadone. Except for two cases in Sweden, methadone deaths were not seen in the other Nordic countries. Amphetamine caused one tenth of the fatal poisonings in Sweden. In Finland only one tenth of the deaths were caused by heroin/morphine and more by codeine, ethylmorphine and different drugs and poisons not classified in Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961 or the International Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971. A widespread use of alcohol, cannabis and benzodiazepines, diazepam especially, was seen in all the countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Seasonal variation in high density lipoprotein cholesterol.

We investigated the seasonal variation in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) in 142 dyslipidemic (non-HDL-cholesterol > or = 5.2 mmol/l) middle-aged men in the placebo group of the Helsinki Heart Study over the 5-year trial period. A seasonal pattern was found in HDL fluctuation, with a 4.5% drop during mid-winter (5-year mean 1.192 +/- 0.265 mmol/l) compared with a stable level (5-year mean 1.248 +/- 0.281 mmol/l) during the rest of the year (P < 0.001). A less pronounced seasonal variation in HDL was observed in 85 subjects receiving gemfibrozil. Although affecting pretrial HDL level in cross-sectional analyses, age, alcohol consumption, dietary adherence, physical activity and serum triglycerides had no influence on the seasonality of HDL variation. Smoking had a slight attenuating effect on the variation pattern. Pretrial HDL was influenced by relative weight, but there was also an inverse relationship between HDL and body weight variations, i.e. the annual drop in HDL coincided with the annual peak in body weight. However, seasonal HDL variation was not directly reflected in the annual variation in CHD incidence.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Objectively measured tobacco exposure during pregnancy: neonatal effects and relation to maternal smoking.

OBJECTIVES: To measure quantitatively and objectively the maternal and fetal tobacco exposure during pregnancy and its neonatal effects. DESIGN: Tobacco exposure was assessed from maternal serum samples, obtained during the first half of pregnancy and from umbilical serum samples obtained at delivery, by measuring the concentration of nicotine metabolite, cotinine. Data on the respective pregnancies and neonates were collected from the Finnish Medical Birth Registry. SETTING: Finland. SUBJECTS: One thousand two hundred and thirty-seven pregnancies and newborns, representing all pregnancies resulting in a liveborn infant during one week in one country. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gestational age, birthweight and crown-heel length of newborns. RESULTS: Cotinine (> 6 micrograms/l) was detected in either maternal or umbilical serum in 300 pregnancies, and these mothers and newborns were classified as exposed. Important differences occurred between measured exposure and reported smoking behaviour. Of the exposed mothers, 38% were nonsmokers and 3.4% of the nonexposed mothers were smokers. Tobacco exposure was associated with shorter gestational age, reduced birthweight and shorter crown-heel length of the newborns. After correction for parity, gender, and gestational age, the exposed newborns were on average 188 g (95% confidence interval (CI) 123-253 g) lighter and 10 mm (95% CI 7-13 mm) shorter than the nonexposed newborns. One micrograms/ml of cotinine in maternal serum resulted in a mean decrease of 1.29 g (95% CI 0.55-2.02 g) in birthweight and in a mean decrease of 0.059 mm (95% CI 0.035-0.083 mm) in birth length. Maternal cotinine concentrations better explained the neonatal findings than the reported smoking habits. CONCLUSIONS: There is a quantitative dose and effect relation between tobacco exposure and a decrease in the gestational age at birth and size of the neonate. The smoking habit reported by mothers themselves is not an accurate measure of fetal tobacco exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Conventional laboratory tests as indicators of heavy drinking in young university students.

Conventional laboratory tests: gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) were studied as possible markers of heavy drinking in a sample of 1,619 first-year university students in Helsinki. Alcohol consumption was measured on a frequency-volume scale. No significant (p < 0.001) correlation between the laboratory tests and reported drinking was found. However, significant differences between different drinking groups were found in GGT, MCV, and HDL-cholesterol in both female and male students and in cholesterol in male students. We conclude that, even if alcohol drinking has some impact on GGT, MCV, HDL-cholesterol, and cholesterol (males), these tests are neither specific nor sensitive enough to be used as screening tests for heavy drinking in young students.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Alcohol screening with the Alcoscan test strip in forensic praxis.

The Alcoscan test strip was applied as an assay for the screening of alcohol in vitreous humor and urine samples in autopsy cases and in saliva from drunken drivers. The method gives instant and reliable semi-quantitative information on the presence of alcohol and is valuable when considering the necessity of chemical sampling especially during autopsy.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1990

[Accidents with fatal outcome in Finnish leisure boating 1986-1988].

All 291 fatal accidents (510 persons on board, 318 drowned) in water traffic in Finland in 1986-1988 were investigated by specific teams. Only some data of this extensive investigation are presented in this study. Staggering and falling in boat because of drunkenness, falling over and sinking of boat were the main causes of getting into water of the people aboard. Only 3.5% of the drowned had used life jackets and 9.7% of them could not swim. The reduced ability to swim because of alcohol and the exhaustion were in about half of the drowned the actual cause and the cold water in one third the background factor for drowning. The results indicate that fatal accidents in water traffic are a major problem of males (95.9%) and give important information for countermeasures.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1990

[Occasion and risk for detecting driving in alcoholic intoxication].

Detection of offenders driving while intoxicated (DW) (mandatory BAC limit at 0.50%) in Finland was investigated. Almost every fifth offender was detected at road blocks and every tenth of them because of abnormal driving. Compared to the local police the national traffic police had arrested much more offenders for traffic violation (38% vs. 11%) but much less because of accidents (12% vs. 23%). The reason of detection was in a significant way dependent on the following variables: BAC, stage of inebriation, vehicle, day of week and hour of day. The risk of detection is very low, i.e. about 1 to 300. However, the risk has doubled from 1979 to 1984, but thereafter slightly declined. The study provides information for the strategy of the police in traffic supervision.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1989

Fatal intoxications in the Nordic countries. A forensic toxicological study with special reference to young drug addicts.

Fatal intoxications in the 15-34 age group in the five Nordic countries during the years 1984 and 1985 (Sweden only in 1984) were investigated. The known drug addicts were studied separately. The highest incidence of intoxications, calculated per 10(5) population, was found in Finland (11.3), followed by Denmark (10.3), Sweden (8.5), Iceland (7.2) and Norway (6.6). The percentage of intoxications caused by drugs was 92 in Denmark, 71 in Norway, 66 in Sweden, 50 in Finland and 17 in Iceland. Ethanol intoxications were seen 5-7 and 2-3 times as frequently in Finland and in Iceland, respectively, than in the other three countries. Carbon monoxide intoxications accounted for two-thirds of all fatal intoxications in Iceland. Drug addicts accounted for 62% of all fatal intoxications in the Danish material. The corresponding figures were 33% in the Norwegian, 16% in the Swedish and 5% in the Finnish material. No deaths in drug addicts were found in Iceland. Most drug addicts in Denmark, Norway and Sweden died of hard drugs and most in Norway and Sweden, from heroin or morphine, whereas in Denmark other strong analgesics, such as methadone, dextropropoxyphene and ketobemidone, accounted for 40% of all hard-drug-related fatal intoxications. To a certain extent the results reflect differences in the legal autopsy routines in the various Nordic countries. However, the ascertainment of drug addicts is assumed to be near-complete in each country.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Aetiology of congenital hypothyroidism in Finland.

In Finland a nationwide screening programme for congenital hypothyroidism (CHT) has operated since 1980 with complete coverage. Among the total of 307,000 newborns screened, the incidence per 100,000 was 24.6 for thyroid dysgenesis and 4.0 for dyshormonogenesis. We conclude that, when screening is based on cord serum TSH, the false-positive results are caused mainly by difficult delivery. The most important factors associated with dyshormonogenesis were CHT in the family, origin from a geographic risk area, and origin of both mother and father from the same community. These reflect the autosomal recessive inheritance. The risk factors for dysgenesis were female gender, CHT in the family, birth in a geographic risk area, and birth during a risk period of the year.

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗
PubMed1989

Isolation of silica-dependent protein from rat lung with special reference to development of fibrosis.

Silicosis was produced experimentally in rats by single intratracheal injections of various doses of SiO2 dust. The weight of the lungs as well as the contents of total nitrogen, collagen, nucleic acids (especially RNA), and lipids increased in accordance with the dose and the time interval. Fibrogenic stimulation in vitro was shown by the supernatant of the homogenized lung in the incorporation of proline into incubated granulation tissue or lung fibroblasts. The fibrogenic factor-activity depended more on the time interval after the injection than on the SiO2 dose. Electrophoresis of the soluble proteins in the silicotic rat lungs showed a protein of 16,000 Da, which was dependent on the time interval following SiO2 administration as well as on the dose itself, and which originated from macrophages. This protein was purified by repeated gel-filtration chromatography. It stimulated collagen synthesis in granulation-tissue cells at a concentration of about 10(-10) M in a dose-dependent way. It was acidic by amino acid composition but differed from calmodulin which also increased collagen synthesis in granulation-tissue cells in vitro. The ability of non-fractionated macrophage preparations to stimulate the incorporation of proline into collagen correlated inversely with the gross alkaline RNase activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Fatal poisoning in Scandinavia--narcotic addicts are a high-risk group].

This study on fatal intoxications in the Nordic countries indicates an over-representation of drug addicts in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. All cases of fatal intoxications in persons 15-34 years of age submitted to medicolegal autopsy and subsequent toxicological examination in the Nordic countries during 1984-1985 included in the study. A comparison between the Nordic countries is possible because the same definition of a drug addict and classification of drugs are used. The numbers of fatal intoxications among drug addicts per 10(5) population were 6.3 in Denmark, 2.1 in Norway, 1.3 in Sweden, 0.6 in Finland and none in Iceland. About 70 per cent of the drug addicts in Norway and Sweden died from heroin/morphine intoxication. In Denmark only 55 per cent of the drug addicts died from heroin/morphine and 36 per cent died from overdoses of the legal drugs methadone, dextropropoxyphene and ketobemidone.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Unexpected natural death in street traffic].

All natural deaths of motor vehicle drivers and bicyclists in traffic were retrospectively studied from the police and forensic autopsy protocols in the province Uusimaa in 1982-1985. Of the cases 57 were males and 3 females. The annual prevalence of natural deaths at wheel greatly increased with the age and was 260 and 231 per 1 million drivers and bicyclists aged 60-69 years, respectively. The most common underlying cause of death was chronic ischaemic heart disease, often known before (42%), and often combined with acute myocardial infarction (62%). In about half of the cases there were injuries. However, only in 5 cases the injuries had contributed so death. The presence of alcohol and drugs did not play any role. These deaths differed significantly by the event and demography of the parties from those killed in traffic accidents. The results suggest that sudden deaths at wheel are not very common in Finland. However, in all kinds of traffic deaths the police investigation should be completed by the forensic autopsy.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1988

Increased serum acetate as a marker of problem drinking among drunken drivers.

727 consecutive drunken drivers were studied for laboratory markers of excessive alcohol consumption. Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase and alanine aminotransferase showed no differences and aspartate aminotransferase and blood alcohol concentration only small differences between groups of first and repeating drunk driving offenders. The best laboratory test to differentiate the repeating offenders with probably more serious alcohol problems from the first offenders was in our material serum acetate, the mean serum acetate level of the repeating offenders being highly significantly (P less than 0.001) higher than that of the first offenders or nonalcoholic controls. Serum acetate also differentiated first offenders from nonalcoholic controls (P less than 0.001). Our results suggest that serum acetate could be used for the screening of problem drinking among drunken drivers.

Acetates↗
PubMed1987

Drinking and driving: choosing the legal limits.

The legal limit for drinking and driving in Britain is 80 mg/dl (17.4 mmol/l) of alcohol in the blood. This was chosen 20 years ago on the basis of studies that have recently been reanalysed. Changes in public opinion, the results of recent research, and the evaluation of other countermeasures, such as random breath testing, show that there are good grounds for revising the legal limit downwards. It is suggested that the legal limit should be reduced from 80 mg/dl to 50 mg/dl (10.9 mmol/l) and random breath testing introduced as in most Nordic countries. A zero limit is proposed for learner and first year drivers, who are likely to have accidents even with low concentrations of alcohol in their blood.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1987

Blood and liver selenium concentrations in patients with liver diseases.

To study the relation between blood and liver selenium levels in hepatic disorders we measured the selenium concentrations of whole blood, serum and liver tissue obtained at laparoscopy in 17 patients with different kinds of liver diseases. As compared to healthy controls the mean concentration of selenium was decreased by 24% (p less than 0.001) in the whole blood of the patients (n = 15). Similarly, the mean concentration of selenium in serum was 35% lower in the patients than in the controls (p less than 0.001). As compared to the control samples obtained at autopsy the selenium content of liver was decreased by 13% (p less than 0.05) in the patients. Significant positive correlations were found between the selenium content of the liver and the whole blood (r = 0.62, p less than 0.05) as well as also between liver and serum (r = 0.52, p less than 0.05) selenium concentrations. In conclusion, the present study suggests that in patients with liver disorders the selenium concentrations are decreased not only in the blood but also in the liver tissue. Whether this means a decreased activity of hepatic glutathione peroxidase and, further, an increased possibility of oxidative cell injury, remains open.

Adult↗