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Biomedical subjects

M Uhari

Publications and source records attributed to M Uhari.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. I. General description of the cross-sectional study of 1980, and an account of the children's and families' state of health.

The paper describes the general outline of a multicentre study on the risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHD) and their determinants in children of various ages in different parts of Finland. The study was a cross-sectional one, and was carried out in 1980 in five university cities of Finland with medical schools and in 12 rural communities in their vicinity. The randomized sample included an equal number of boys and girls, aged 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 years, and an equal number of urban and rural population in each area. The total sample size was 4,320 subjects, and of these 3,596 participated (83.1%). The families received before the medical examination of the child, questionnaires on the socioeconomic background the child's general health and development, the parents' and grandparents' health status, and the child's food and exercise habits. At the physical examination also a fasting blood sample (lipids, insulin, trace elements) was taken, a bundle of hair was cut for trace element analysis, and a 48-hour recall on food intake was obtained from every second subject. 19.5% of the children had in their history some long-term disease, allergic diseases being the most common. CHD and other cardiovascular diseases were significantly more frequent among the grandparents and parents in eastern than in western Finland. The study is meant to be a basis for a longitudinal study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. II. Height, weight, body mass index, and skinfolds, and their correlation to metabolic variables.

In a Finnish Multicentre Study, height, weight and skinfold thicknesses were measured in 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 15-, and 18-year-old children (N = 3,596). Height and weight percentiles superimposed on the current Finnish growth charts were above the standards in 6-15-year-old boys and 3-12-year-old girls. Triceps skinfold thickness percentiles (10% and 90%) appeared to be closest to British values and below American values. Weight, body mass index (BMI) and skinfold thicknesses showed good intercorrelations (up to .90) except in young boys. Height had a low positive correlation with BMI (.28 to .36) and with skinfold thickness (.23 to .36) in the age groups 6-12 years. BMI and subscapular skinfold seem to be useful obesity indicators. No consistent correlations were seen between physical variables and serum LDL- or total cholesterol and apoprotein B concentrations. There was a slight negative correlation between the physical variables and serum HDL-cholesterol. Apoprotein A1 correlated negatively to all obesity indicators in 12-year-old girls. Serum triglycerides showed slight positive correlation to physical variables. BMI and skinfolds had a low to moderate correlation with insulin (.21-.51) mainly in the three oldest age groups. On the ground of BMI and skinfold measurements we have reason to believe that the prevalence of obesity at 3-18 years of age is similar in Finland as in other countries in Europe.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Evaluation of the measurement of children's blood pressure in an epidemiological multicentre study.

Reliability and repeatability of blood pressure (BP) measurements performed by both a local nurse and a control nurse visiting all five study areas in the Finnish Multicentre Study were analysed. As an objective control, Rose's tape recordings were played at least three times during the study period to each nurse. It was found that the nurses differed from each other with variations of 2.5 mm Hg, 54.6 mm Hg and 17.9 mm Hg in the recordings of systolic, diastolic Korotkoff's IV (KIV) phase and diastolic KV phase sounds respectively, in assessing the tape. Correlation coefficients between the systolic BP and diastolic BP measurements made by the local and control nurses in 3-year-old children varied from 0.10 to 0.72 and from -0.16 to 0.46 respectively. Correlation coefficients in 6-18-year-old subjects between systolic, diastolic KIV and diastolic KV BP measurements made by the control and local nurses varied from 0.69 to 0.81, from 0.42 to 0.63 and from 0.38 to 0.58 respectively. All of the nurses had a significant terminal digit preference and it was pronounced in two of them. Because of these findings it was concluded that comparisons of BP values in different areas should be done cautiously.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. III. Blood pressure.

In connection with the Finnish Multicentre Study on the precursors of atherosclerosis in 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 15- and 18-year-old children and adolescents, blood pressure was measured in 3,596 subjects in the five university hospital areas. Blood pressure was measured with an ultrasound device (Arteriosonde 1020, Roche) in the 3-year-old children, and an ordinary mercury sphygmomanometer was used in the rest of the subjects. The systolic and diastolic values increased with age as has been shown earlier. There were no significant differences in the values between boys and girls except that the 15- and 18-year-old boys had values a little higher than girls of the same age. Weight and height correlated well to both systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Physical maturation also correlated to blood pressure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. IV. Serum lipids in newborns, children and adolescents.

A multicentre study on atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents was carried out in five urban and 12 rural areas in the autumn of 1980 and spring of 1981. Serum lipids, i.e. cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations were determined and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated in 630 newborns and 3,596 children aged 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 years. In the newborns the mean serum TC concentration was 1.50 mmol/l, and the ratio of HDL-C to TC was 0.44. Newborn boys had lower mean TC, HDL-C and LDL-C values than the girls. In 3 to 18-year-old children the mean TC, LDL-C and HDL-C concentrations were 4.83 mmol/l, 3.09 mmol/l and 1.38 mmol/l, respectively. During puberty, TC mean values decreased, more so in boys. The serum levels of HDL-C also decreased, especially in boys, and after passing puberty boys had lower mean HDL-C levels than girls (1.26 vs. 1.39 mmol/l, p less than 0.001). The HDL-C/TC ratio was similar in all age groups (0.29). The mean TG value increased with age, being 0.88 mmol/l at the age of 18 yr. During sexual maturation, TG levels increased, more clearly in boys. There were no regional differences in serum lipid concentrations in the newborns, but in 3- to 18-year-old children the mean TC, LDL-C and TG values were lower in western than in eastern Finland. Mean TC and LDL-C values were lower in urban than in rural areas, but there was no difference in TG concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. VI. Serum apolipoproteins A-I and B.

The concentrations of apolipoproteins A-I and B were determined in 1,341 3- to 18-year-old children and adolescents from five urban and 12 rural communities. The analyses were made with radial immunodiffusion. The mean concentrations (+/- S.D.) of apo A-I and apo B were 152 +/- 25 and 94 +/- 22 mg/100 ml, respectively. 3-year-old children had the highest apo B levels which then decreased with advancing age in both sexes. Boys tended to have lower levels of apo B than girls. Apo A-I concentration was significantly higher in the 9- and 12-year-old boys than in the other age groups but showed no age-bound trend in girls. The apo A-I to apo B ratio increased with age in both sexes. The concentration of apo A-I was significantly lower, and that of apo B higher, in children living in eastern Finland in comparison with those from the western part of the country. This difference and a higher HDL-cholesterol to apo A-I ratio in both sexes in eastern Finland may be associated with the regional differences in the prevalence of coronary heart disease in this country.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. VII. Serum immunoreactive insulin.

In the Finnish Multicentre Study of the risk factors of coronary heart disease serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI) was measured in 3,486 children and adolescents aged 3-18 years. Serum IRI increased with age till the age of 15 years in both sexes. The increase in serum IRI levelled off with the progression of pubertal development. Serum IRI levels were higher in girls than in boys from the age of 6 years onwards. Comparison of serum IRI gave identical results from eastern and western parts of the country. Serum IRI correlated positively with skinfold thickness, weight, relative weight and body mass index in all age groups except the 3-year-old children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. VIII. Food consumption and nutrient intakes.

A dietary survey was conducted in 1980 in connection with the Multicentre Study on Atherosclerosis Precursors in Finnish Children in five urban and 12 rural communes in various parts of Finland. 1,768 children aged 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 years were interviewed using the 48 hour recall method. Food consumption, and the intakes of energy and 49 nutrients were calculated. The intakes of energy and most nutrients increased in the successive age groups until the age of 15 years. There were only small differences in the diet of children belonging to different social classes. Protein accounted for 14% of total energy intake, fat for 38%, total carbohydrate for 48%, and sucrose for 10%. The ratio of polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids in the diet (P/S) was 0.24 for the whole material, which is higher than found in previous studies in Finland. The P/S ratio was higher in urban areas and West Finland than in rural areas and in East Finland. The share of fat of energy intake exceeded the recommendation given by the Ministry of Health and the P/S ratio was lower than recommended. The mean daily intakes of energy and vitamins met the recommendations. Of the mineral elements, the intakes of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and manganese were abundant. The intakes of iron, copper, zinc, molybdenum and chromium were lower than recommended in most age groups and the intakes of selenium and fluorine in all age groups. The large share of refined foods in the children's diet was the main reason for the low nutrient densities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. IX. Socioeconomic status and risk factors of coronary heart disease.

Relationships between parental socioeconomic status and CHD risk factors were examined in the Finnish Multicentre Study on Atherosclerosis Precursors comprising a material of 3,596 study subjects aged 3-18 years in five university cities and 12 rural communes. The work is based on the hypothesis that socioeconomic status has associations with important lifestyle factors related to the evolution of CHD risk factors. Although there is some indication that parental status variables correlate with CHD risk factors, the majority of the data point to the conclusion that socioeconomic status indicators have little relevance for children's CHD risk factor levels. The main exceptions to the above stated were the lower P/S ratio of the diet in farmers' children compared to the other socioeconomic groups in all age cohorts, and the higher serum total and LDL-cholesterol levels in the farmers' children as compared to the others in some age cohorts. The explanation to these findings is the dietary practice in farmers' households, full milk and butter being favoured instead of other milk types and vegetable margarine, respectively. Our findings illustrate the importance of the families' dietary habits with regard to certain CHD risk factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. X. Leisure-time physical activity.

As part of the more extensive project concerned with atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children, this article aims at describing the method developed for epidemiological estimation of habitual physical activity, discussing the reliability and validity of the method and reporting the results of the application of this strategy in the measurement of habitual physical activity among 3 to 18-year-old Finnish boys and girls. The questionnaire for the measurement of physical activity was addressed to the parents of 3- and 6-year-old subjects (younger group) and to the subjects themselves in 9- to 18-year-olds (older group). Using four variables in the younger group and nine variables in the older group, sum indices of physical activity were made. Internal consistency coefficients (Kuder--Richardson) varied in the younger group from .57 to .63 and in the older group from .56 to .79. Most Finnish children and adolescents were physically active during their leisure-time. For comparison of passive and active children, screening for passive ones was difficult. Differences between East and West Finland associated with many risk factors, were not detected in the physical activity patterns of children and adolescents. On the other hand, the physical activity pattern was significantly determined by the local environment. In sparsely populated areas, young people were more inactive than in densely populated areas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. XI. Psychological aspects.

The role of psychic risk factors in the early history of atherosclerosis was studied in 3,596 Finnish children and adolescents, aged 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 years. The family atmosphere, behavioural pattern and self-esteem were tested. The results showed that the abuse of alcohol by the parents and daily smoking by the child were the factors most clearly indicating the existence of psychic problems. The results showed that boys manifested in every age group behaviour most disposed to coronary heart disease (CHD). Furthermore, low serum HDL-cholesterol, high serum triglycerides, thick triceps skinfold and self-esteem problems coexisted and they can be supposed to independently contribute to the aetiology of CHD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. XIII. Serum and hair copper and zinc concentrations.

The copper and zinc status of 3-18-year-old Finnish children was estimated by analysing 3,480 serum copper and zinc concentrations, 853 hair copper and 868 hair zinc concentrations. Both copper and zinc have been proposed to be connected with the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, zinc is essential for normal growth and development. The mean serum copper concentration of 3-year-old children was 21.2 mumol/l and the concentration was significantly lower in older age groups. The average serum zinc concentration showed a narrow variation between 14.1 and 15.0 mumol/l in all age groups, nevertheless girls had significantly lower and boys higher values with increasing age. The distribution of hair copper concentration was skewed within the age groups; the median varied between 9.7 micrograms/g and 29.8 micrograms/g for 3-year-old urban girls and 18-year-old rural girls, respectively. Some rural girls had exceptionally high hair copper levels. Hair zinc concentrations increased with age. In the three youngest age groups (3, 6 and 9 years) the distribution was skewed and the levels low compared with results from the USA where a zinc concentration below 30 micrograms/g is found to be associated with the zinc deficiency syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Renal structure and function in chronic experimental aortic coarctation in dogs treated with antihypertensive drugs.

The possible damaging effect on the kidneys of antihypertensive therapy in aortic coarctation was evaluated experimentally in eighteen canine puppies. Aortic coarctation was carried out in 13 puppies at the age of two months while sham-surgery was carried out on five control puppies. Six coarctated dogs were treated with hydrochlorothiazide, propranolol and prazosin. Antihypertensive therapy was started two months after the operation. Seven coarcted puppies did not receive any treatment. The dogs were followed up for 7 months after which fixation of the kidneys was performed. Antihypertensive therapy decreased blood pressure significantly although the level seen in the control dogs was not attained. There were no signs of deterioration of renal function. Neither light microscopic analysis nor electron microscopy revealed morphological abnormalities in the kidneys of any of the dogs. The present results show that active antihypertensive therapy in experimental coarctation, although not resulting in a normalization but in a significant lowering of blood pressure, is safe and does not cause any morphologic damage in the kidney before corrective surgery. The absence of juxtaglomerular hypertrophy supports the hypothesis that the renin-angiotensin system is not activated in chronic coarctation of aorta.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

A study of cardiovascular risk factors and their determinants in finnish children.

This report describes the results of a cross-sectional study of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and their determinants among Finnish children. A random sample of 634 subjects (three- and 12-year-old girls and boys, and 17-year-old boys) was selected, and 72% of the subjects invited participated. The children were from five cities and their rural surroundings, representing various parts of Finland. Of the total energy intake, 14% was obtained from protein, 36% and 38-39% from fat, and 50% and 47-48% from carbohydrate by the three- and 12-year-old children, respectively. The mean polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids (P/S) ratio for the whole series was 0.21, rural children having a lower ratio than urban children. In the three- and 12-year-old children the mean plasma cholesterol concentrations were 4.8 and 4.9 mmol/l, HDL-cholesterol 1.3 and 1.5 mmol/l and triglycerides 0.83 and 0.87 mmol/l, respectively. These plasma cholesterol concentrations are high by international standards. In the 17-year-old boys the mean plasma cholesterol was 4.3, and HDL-cholesterol 1.2 mmol/l, respectively. Plasma cholesterol values were higher in eastern than in western Finland in the older children. The relationship between plasma lipid concentrations and the composition of the diet was apparent in the 12-year-old group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Serum iron, copper, zinc, ferritin, and ceruloplasmin after intense heat exposure.

Twelve voluntary adult subjects twice took a 30-min sauna bath, at a temperature of 80 degrees C with a 30-min rest between each, every 12 h for 1 week. Measurements of serum iron, copper, zinc, ferritin and ceruloplasmin were performed before the experiment, after the first and second 30 min in the sauna and at the end of the week. The first two sauna baths did not significantly change the concentrations of the trace elements measured. After the week the mean serum copper concentration had decreased from 15.0 (SD 1.7) mumol x 1-1 to 13.5 (SD 2.0) mumol x 1-1 (p less than 0.02). The mean zinc concentration decreased from 13.8 (SD 2.4) mumol x 1-1 to 9.8 (SD 1.8) mumol x 1-1 (p less than 0.001) during the week of the experiment. At the beginning of the study period two subjects had zinc concentrations below the reference values and after the week nine subjects had zinc concentrations below the reference values. The concentration of serum ferritin decreased from 142.2 (SD 103) micrograms x 1-1 to 111.3 (SD 89) micrograms x 1-1 (p less than 0.02) whereas the values of ceruloplasmin remained unchanged. Our findings confirm the earlier suggestion that heavy exposure to heat can cause a loss of some trace elements, especially zinc.

Adolescent↗