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Biomedical subjects

M Rimpelä

Publications and source records attributed to M Rimpelä.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Detection of exposure to mutagenic compounds in low-tar and medium-tar cigarette smokers.

A volunteer study was carried out on groups smoking low-tar (5.4 mg/cig.) and medium-tar (16.3 mg/cig.) cigarettes and on non-smokers. The number of cigarettes smoked was recorded daily throughout a 51-day study period, and the effects of smoking were measured in the beginning and after 3-week terms of smoking medium-tar or low-tar cigarettes. The parameters measured were blood carboxyhemoglobin concentration, thioethers excreted into the urine, mutagenic activity in the urine, and the frequency of sister-chromatid exchanges in blood lymphocytes. For all four parameters, the differences between the smokers and the non-smokers were significant. However, within the study design no differences could be detected between low-tar or medium-tar cigarette smoking in the biological-monitoring tests used.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Attendance pattern and continuity of dental care of Finnish adults over a 5 year period.

The study deals with the frequency of using dental services and continuity of visting the same dentist by adults in Finland during the 5 years up to 1981. A representative sample of 17-65 year old Finnish adults was interviewed by telephone or when this was not possible, personally. The data were collected by the Central Statistical Office of Finland in autumn 1981. Twenty-two per cent of the subjects had not visited a dentist during the past 5 years. One-third had had more than three treatment courses during the same period. The number of treatment periods increased with higher educational and professional status. Half of the subjects who had had more than one treatment period had continued to attend the same dentist during different treatment periods. Young persons had changed dentist more often than older ones. The most common reason for changing dentist was change of residence. Nine percent did not wish to continue treatment with the same dentist. Income, age, profession and region of living accounted for 10% of the number of changes of dentist.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Trends in the development of oral hygiene habits in Finnish adolescents from 1977 to 1981.

The aim of this study (part of the Juvenile Health Habit Study) was to analyze changes in how frequently certain oral hygiene measures are used, namely toothbrushing and dental flossing in 1977-81. A representative sample of Finnish adolescents aged 12, 14, 16 and 18 yr old, were sent a postal questionnaire in February 1977 (n = 3209), another in February 1979 (n = 4953), and a third one in February 1981 (n = 4705). The response rates for the three questionnaires were 88%, 86% and 88%, respectively. During the years studied no systematic changes occurred in the toothbrushing frequency. When the background factors that are highly correlated with toothbrushing frequency (school career or school success of adolescents, householder's occupation and education, place of residence) were studied, no consistent changes were observed from 1977 to 1981. The percentage of adolescents who used dental floss daily did not change. However, the proportion of sporadic users of dental floss increased from 13% in 1979 to 24% in 1981. Dental health education had little effect on toothbrushing habits and its background variables, although the amount of time spent in dental health education during the same period had increased significantly. Programs of dental health education should be evaluated so that the situation can be improved in the future.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Occupation and smoking as risk determinants of lung cancer.

The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of lung cancer was determined for different occupational groups in Finland. The data on all cases of lung cancer diagnosed in Finland in age groups of 35-69 years in 1971-1975 were supplemented by information on occupation from the 1970 census (Central Statistical Office). The expected numbers of cases were based on the sex, age and occupation-specific numbers of person-years computed in the Central Statistical Office, and sex- and age-specific incidence rates of lung cancer among the economically active population (as defined 1 January 1971). Compared with the risk of the total economically active population, the relative risk of those not active (SIR) was 1.69 for men and 0.86 for women. Lower than expected relative risks were encountered among highly educated and white-collar male workers (religious, legal, pedagogical, medical, technical and administrative work), in sales work, transport service work and among farmers. High SIRs were found in mining and quarrying, forestry, woodworking (joiners), construction, painting and among unskilled workers. Among women the numbers of cases were small and only one significant SIR was obtained; the risk was lower than expected in farming. Data on the smoking habits of males in different main occupational categories in Finland show that variation between different occupational groups in the prevalence of smoking closely corresponds to that in the SIR for lung cancer (R = 0.96).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Consumption of sweet foods among adolescents in Finland.

The importance of sugar in the etiology and dental caries is well known but only a few representative studies at population level have been carried out to analyze nutritional factors related to dentistry. As the main exposure to caries the frequency of the use of sugar-products should be known more exactly than we do. The purpose of this study was to analyze the frequency of consumption of sugar-containing products among Finnish adolescents. A representative sample of 3209 Finnish adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19 was drawn. The data were obtained by mail questionnaire in February and September 1977, and in February and September 1979. The separate sample was drawn in February 1978 to analyze the changes with time during 1977-79. The response rate to all the mailed questionnaires was close to 90%. The sugar-containing foods included in the study were sugar in coffee or tea, hot chocolate, pastries and cookies, soft drinks, chewing gums, sweets and pastries. In addition, the data on the consumption of artificial sweeteners were collected. According to current health behavior dogma, girls behaved better than boys. A clear relationship was observed between a householder's educational and occupational status and the children's sugar consumption. Children from homes of low social status consumed more sugar than others. The percentage of children frequently consuming sugary products decreased with improved school success. It can be concluded that the use of sugar-containing products is especially frequent among young age groups, particularly among boys from low social background and children with poor school success. Health education should be especially directed towards them.

Achievement↗
PubMed1981

Oral hygiene habits among adolescents in Finland.

The aim of this study was to analyze oral hygiene habits among Finnish adolescents with regard to age, sex, residence, socioeconomic factors, school career and success. A representative sample of 3209 Finnish adolescents, 13-19 years of age, was drawn. The data were collected by mail surveys in February and September 1977. Participation percentages were 88 and 79. The proportions of daily brushers were 89% in girls and 57% in boys. Toothpicks were used sporadically by every second adolescent but daily by 3% only. Dental floss was used sporadically by 10% of the adolescents but daily by 1% only. In this respect girls were more assiduous than boys. Frequency of toothbrushing clearly increased with age. Girls brushed their teeth significantly more often than boys. The influence of socioeconomic factors was consistent in boys but almost nonexistent in girls. Children of white-collar workers reported better oral hygiene habits than children of blue-collar workers and farmers. Urban adolescents reported better habits than rural adolescents. School success correlated positively with toothbrushing frequency in the younger age groups. Dental health education given by a dentist, a teacher, a hygienist or a nurse had poor correlation with the oral hygiene habits of Finnish adolescents. It was concluded that dental health education should be more directed towards boys, especially at ages 13-15. The education should be planned so that the dental health education better reaches youth of rural areas and lower social classes.

Achievement↗
PubMed1980

Toothbrushing in relation to other health habits in Finland.

The dimensionality of health behavior is disputable. In the present study an effort was made to shed more light on this problem. Interview data were obtained from 3209 13--19-year-old Finnish adolescents concerning the subjects' smoking habits, use of alcohol, physical activity, toothbrushing and dietary habits. A clear positive relationship was observed between toothbrushing and the use of sugar-containing snacks. Use of alcohol seemed to have slight adverse effect on toothbrushing. Smoking was also weakly related with sporadic toothbrushing. Sports-oriented girls seemed to be regular toothbrushers. It was concluded that the possible comprehensive nature of health behavior should be more appreciated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Biological age, health, and health-risk indicators among 25-57-year-old men in two parts of Finland.

Biological age, health, and health-risk indicators were examined among 460 systematically chosen men, aged 25-57 years, in two parts of Finland. Morbidity rates and the prevalence of some health-risk indicators were higher and the standard of living lower in North Karelia than in South-West Finland. The index of biological age (IBA) did not show significant differences between the districts and did not correlate with health-risk indicators. People working in physically hard occupations (industrial and mining workers) were found to have more diseases and had higher IBA values than had workers in lighter occupations. The results suggest that both ageing and morbidity are regulated by occupational status and social conditions connected with it.

Adult↗