Biomedical subjects

T Rankinen

Publications and source records attributed to T Rankinen.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Nutritional status of the Finnish elite ski jumpers.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional status of Finnish elite male ski jumpers (N = 21) and age-matched controls (N = 20). METHODS: Nutritional status was assessed by estimating body composition with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), dietary intake with 4-d food records, and assessment of nutritional status was complemented with biochemical and hematological indices. RESULTS: Mean (SD) age (19.7 (3.6) vs 19.8 (3.9) yr, P = 0.675) and stature (176.4 (6.0) vs 178.5 (5.5) cm, P = 0.259) were similar in ski jumpers and in controls, respectively. However, ski jumpers had a lower mean (SD) body weight (61.9 (4.8) vs 71.5 (9.0) kg, P < 0.001) and body fat percentage (8.6 (1.9) vs 16.1 (7.2)%, P < 0.001) than controls. The amount of bone-free lean soft tissue and bone mineral content (BMC) did not differ between the groups, but age- and bone-free lean soft tissue-adjusted bone mineral density (BMD) in lumbar spine (L2-4) and in proximal femur was greater in ski jumpers. Mean (SD) energy intake was lower in ski jumpers than in controls (7.4 (3.3) vs 11.0 (2.6) MJ, P = 0.001), respectively, whereas the percentage of energy derived from carbohydrates was higher in athletes. Despite the markedly lower energy consumption, intake of thiamin, riboflavin, folate, vitamin C, calcium, and iron was similar in both groups, whereas intake of vitamins D and E, magnesium, and zinc was lower in ski jumpers than in controls (P-values range from 0.012 to 0.004). Biochemical and hematological indices showed no abnormalities in either group. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that despite the lower body weight and energy intake, nutritional status of the elite Finnish ski jumpers was not compromised as compared with that of nonathletic controls.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed1997

Relationship between changes in physical activity and plasma insulin during a 2.5-year follow-up study.

The association between changes in physical activity, body weight, and diet and fasting plasma insulin was analyzed in a 2.5-year follow-up study of 146 men aged 50 to 60 years. Physical activity was assessed by a 7-day physical activity recall interview, diet by a 4-day food record, and plasma insulin radioimmunologically. Total physical activity decreased from (mean +/- SD) 45.1 +/- 10.1 to 39.0 +/- 6.1 metabolic equivalent (MET) hours (METh).d-1 and conditioning physical activity (> 5.0 METs) from 8.0 +/- 11.2 to 2.7 +/- 5.0 METh.d-1, whereas plasma insulin increased from 8.2 +/- 5.8 to 9.2 +/- 6.7 mU.L-1 and body weight from 80.5 +/- 12.0 to 81.6 +/- 11.6 kg during the follow-up period (P < or = .001 for all). The change in conditioning physical activity correlated inversely (r = -.34, P < .001) and change in body weight positively (r = .42,P < .001) with the change in plasma insulin level. With data adjusted for the baseline insulin level, cardiovascular health status, alcohol intake, change in body weight, smoking, age, and follow-up time, the odds ratio for an increase in fasting plasma insulin was 8.9 (95% CI, 2.1 to 37.1; P = .003) for men with the greatest decrease in conditioning physical activity (< -7 METh) compared with men who reported an increase in conditioning physical activity. The same logistic regression model showed an odds ratio of 9.9 (95% CI, 2.1 to 45.4; P = .003) for the increase in plasma insulin for subjects who gained more than 3.3 kg body weight compared with subjects who lost at least 0.6 kg. Men who consumed at least 12 g.d-1 alcohol at both examinations had an odds ratio of 12.8 (95% CI, 1.7 to 94.5; P = .012) compared with nondrinkers. These data suggest that in middle-aged men, a reduction in physical activity increases the risk for increased plasma insulin independently of alcohol intake and changes in body weight.

Aging↗

PubMed1997

Social network in relation to plasma fibrinogen.

Consistent findings about the inverse association of social network level with coronary heart disease mortality and morbidity suggest the importance of investigating biological pathways of association. Differences in plasma fibrinogen level were investigated among middle-aged men with weak and strong structural and functional social network ties. Men with low scores in the adequacy of social participation variable (structural) had higher mean values of plasma fibrinogen than those with high scores. The difference remained after adjustment for age, smoking and cardiovascular health status and after possible modifying factors were taken into account, but did not remain significant after allowing for physical fitness. Men with high scores in overall support (functional) had higher plasma fibrinogen levels compared to the men with low scores. This difference persisted after age and cardiovascular health status were taken into account but was explained by smoking. The data suggest that smoking and cardiorespiratory fitness are important mediating or modifying factors between structural and functional aspects of social network ties and plasma fibrinogen.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

PubMed1997

Does aging mean a better life for women?

OBJECTIVE: To study 10-year changes in selected quality of life dimensions in a cohort of aging Eastern Finnish women. DESIGN: Ten-year follow-up of a representative population sample. SETTING: The county of Kuopio in Eastern Finland. PARTICIPANTS: In 1982, a representative sample (n = 296) of 50 to 60-year-old women was examined in the FIN-MONICA study. Ten years later, 241 of the participants were re-examined. MEASUREMENTS: Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data. Self-rated health, self-rated physical fitness, frequency of leisure time physical activity, functional capacity, reported symptoms, occurrence of diseases, and satisfaction with family life and economic situation were measured. In 1992, total life satisfaction at that moment and 5 years earlier were also assessed. RESULTS: The self-rated health assessment remained unchanged. During the 10 years from 1982 to 1992, the proportion of women who reported diagnosed cardiopulmonary diseases increased; angina pectoris, in particular, increased from 6% to 20%. However, even though their running ability had decreased, the number of women rating their physical fitness as good or fairly good increased from 23% to 32%. The participants reported significantly less headache and feelings of exhaustion than they had 10 years earlier. Average satisfaction with their economic situation increased, and satisfaction with family life remained the same. Thirty-seven percent of the women rated their current life situation as better than 5 years previously, 29% felt that it had remained the same, and 34% indicated that it had become worse during the past 5 years. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that some quality of life dimensions may improve during aging in postmenopausal women.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1997

Variation in plasma fibrinogen over one year: relationships with genetic polymorphisms and non-genetic factors.

We analyzed plasma fibrinogen level in relation to genetic polymorphisms in the alpha- and beta-fibrinogen gene loci. Furthermore, the association of other CVD risk markers with fibrinogen was studied twice, with a time interval of one year in 50 to 60 year old men (n = 183). DNA polymorphisms were detected by PCR and digestion with Taq I (alpha-fibrinogen), Hind III and Bcl I (beta-fibrinogen) restriction enzymes. The correlation coefficient between fibrinogen measurements was 0.48 (p < 0.001). Blood leucocytes and waist-to-hip circumference ratio were the strongest correlates of fibrinogen level in both examinations, and the changes in leucocyte count and plasma fibrinogen correlated positively (r = 0.40, p < 0.001). In Eastern Finnish men, the Taq I, Hind III or Bcl I restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the alpha- or beta-fibrinogen gene loci did not associate with fibrinogen level, either cross-sectionally or longitudinally.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed1997

Physical activity, fibrinogen plasma level and gene polymorphisms in postmenopausal women.

The relations between habitual physical activity (PA), fibrinogen gene polymorphisms and plasma fibrinogen were investigated in 191 postmenopausal women. Subjects who reported PA at least 4 times/week had lower fibrinogen level (3.19 g/l; 95% CI 3.10; 3.27) than women reporting PA 2-3 times/week (3.43 g/l; 3.29; 3.58) or sedentary subjects (3.64 g/l; 3.33; 3.94). There were no differences in plasma fibrinogen across the alpha-fibrinogen (RsaI, TaqI) or beta-fibrinogen (MnlI, BclI, HindIII) genotypes, the frequencies of which were in a Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. An interaction between RsaI, which was in complete linkage disequilibrium with TaqI, and PA on plasma fibrinogen was observed, even after adjustments for BMI, smoking and medication (p = 0.024). Among women homozygous for the common RsaI allele, the physically most active had lower fibrinogen level (p <0.001) compared to the physically less active subjects. These results suggest that, in postmenopausal women, the relation between physical activity and plasma fibrinogen is modulated by genetic variation in the alpha-fibrinogen gene.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Small, dense LDL particle concentration correlates with plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) activity.

The relation between LDL subfractions and fibrinolytic activity was studied in 150 men aged 53 to 63 years. Apolipoprotein B (apoB) concentration in the most dense LDL-5 (r = 0.39, p <0.001) and LDL-6 (r = 0.43, p <0.001) subfractions associated with plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) activity. Subjects in the highest LDL-6 apoB tertile had higher PAI-1 (24.7 vs. 13.1 AU/ml, p <0.001) and lower t-PA (0.26 vs. 0.54 IU/ml, p <0.001) activities than men in the lowest tertile. The difference in PAI-1 remained after adjusting for either triglycerides (p = 0.039) or insulin (p = 0.015) with cardiorespiratory fitness as an additional covariate, and history of cardiovascular disease and smoking as factors. In a regression analysis, plasma insulin and LDL-6 apoB, but not plasma triglycerides and body mass index, entered the model, and explained 30.6 and 3.9% of the variance in PAI-1 activity, respectively. The novel finding of the present study was the independent association between small, dense LDL particles and PAI-1 activity in middle-aged men.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1996

Physical activity, fitness, and plasma fibrinogen with reference to fibrinogen genotypes.

The relation of daily energy expenditure (EE) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) to plasma fibrinogen with reference to DNA polymorphism was analyzed in a random sample of men (N = 189), age 50-60. Fibrinogen polymorphism was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and digestion with HindIII and BclI (beta-fibrinogen), and TaqI (alpha-fibrinogen) restriction enzymes. Mean VO2max was 29.4 ml.kg-1.min-1 (95%CI 28.5; 30.2) and mean daily EE was 179 kJ.kg-1.d-1 (173; 186) and were similar in all fibrinogen genotypes. Plasma fibrinogen was 3.26 g.1-1 (3.18; 3.34) and did not associate with fibrinogen polymorphisms. Both EE and VO2max related inversely to fibrinogen level (r = -0.24, P < 0.001). Strongest predictors of plasma fibrinogen were VO2max in TaqI 800 bp homozygotes, and EE together with smoking in TaqI 900 bp homozygotes. The predictive role of VO2max was marginal in the common beta-fibrinogen genotypes, whereas physical activity level explained up to 9% of the variance in the less frequent genotypes. These data suggest that the association of VO2max and EE with plasma fibrinogen varies across the fibrinogen genotypes.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗

PubMed1995

Inverse relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and carotid atherosclerosis.

The association between cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) and carotid atherosclerosis was analyzed in 163 men, aged 50 to 60 years. VO2max was assessed using breath-by-breath respiratory gas analyses during maximal exercise stress test. Atherosclerosis was evaluated quantitatively as intima-media thickness (IMT) of the right and left carotid arteries by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Mean VO2max was 29.6 ml/kg per min (95%CI 28.7;30.5), common carotid IMT 1.04 mm (95%CI 1.01;1.07) and carotid bifurcation IMT 1.73 mm (95%CI 1.66;1.81). VO2max correlated inversely with carotid bifurcation IMT (r = -0.31, P < 0.001), but not with common carotid IMT (r = -0.13, P = 0.102). Men in the highest quartile of VO2max had lower (P < 0.001) bifurcation IMT 1.51 mm (95%CI 1.41;1.61) than men in the lowest (1.95 mm (95%CI 1.75;2.16)) and in the second lowest VO2max quartile (1.79 mm (1.63; 1.95)). The difference persisted (P = 0.014) after controlling for age, LDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, saturated fat intake, current health status and exercise-induced ST-segment depression. These data suggest that cardiorespiratory fitness is an important independent predictor of carotid atherosclerosis in middle-aged men.

Arteriosclerosis↗

PubMed1995

The effect of N-acetylcysteine on exercise-induced priming of human neutrophils. A chemiluminescence study.

The effect of strenuous aerobic exercise on the liberation of reactive oxygen species production by human granulocytes was investigated in 9 untrained healthy men. The influence of supplementation with N-acetylcysteine, a pro-glutathione free radical scavenger, on this was also investigated. Subjects performed two identical maximal exercise tests (mean time 14.06 +/- SD 0.84 min) on a bicycle ergometer. Venous blood samples were taken before and after maximal exercise, with and without N-acetylcysteine supplementation (total dose 2400 mg within three days). Isolated granulocytes were stimulated in vitro with phorbol myristate acetate or zymosan particles coated with autologous serum. The production of reactive oxygen species was measured by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence. An enhancement (priming) by 52% in the production of reactive oxygen species, as measured by the AUC, occurred after exercise when zymosan was used as stimulant. This priming effect was abolished following N-acetylcysteine supplementation. In contrast, phorbol myristate acetate stimulation did not show any influence of exercise in the chemiluminescence reaction without or with N-acetylcysteine supplementation. In conclusion, priming of granulocytes could be induced by a relative short bout of exercise. The priming of granulocytes due to exercise could be measured in this study by zymosan-stimulated luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed1995

Dietary intake and nutritional status of athletic and nonathletic children in early puberty.

Dietary intakes, trace element status, and anthropometric measures were studied in 12- to 13-year-old boys (n = 49) playing ice hockey (AB) and in 11- to 12-year-old girls who were gymnasts, figure skaters, and runners (AG; n = 43). Thirty-five boys (CB) and 53 girls (CG) not involved in supervised sports were controls. After adjustment for sexual maturation, ABs had larger upper arm muscle circumference than CBs. The sum of four skinfolds was smaller in AGs than in CGs. The intake of energy and all micronutrients examined was higher in ABs than in CBs. Micronutrient intakes were not different between AGs and CGs. Compared to CBs, serum ferritin and copper concentrations were lower, but serum zinc concentration was higher in ABs. No differences in trace element status were found between AGs and CGs. Blood investigations did not indicate inadequate trace element status in any of the groups studied.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Validity assessment of a social support index.

The purpose of this study was to reevaluate the psychometric properties of the social support sumindex used earlier in a Swedish longitudinal study. The results based on the data of a cross-sectional survey in 1992. A randomly selected cohort consisted of 212 men, aged 50 to 60 years. The population sample (n = 4853) was resident in Kuopio Province, Eastern Finland. The 34-item-index was stable. Item-total and item-item coefficients showed low internal consistency of the overall index and of most of the subindices. The index had good content validity. Limited evidence of construct validity was noticed. Index assessed well person's social network and support level, and association between the blood pressure and some of the subindices was noticed. The eight underlying subindices did not emerge in factor analysis. Before further using this index we propose its shortening with six items and re-grouping items into subindices.

Arteriosclerosis↗

PubMed1995

Carotid atherosclerosis in middle-aged men. Relation to conjugal circumstances and social support.

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of conjugal circumstances and social support with carotid atherosclerosis. The subjects were 212 men randomly selected from those (N = 4,853) aged 50-60 years, living in Kuopio and a nearby residental area in eastern Finland. Social network and support levels were assessed with a structured 34-item questionnaire. Conjugal circumstances were constituted by cohabition or otherwise. Intima media thickness of the carotid artery (IMT) was chosen to designate atherosclerosis, and determined by quantitative B-mode ultrasonography. The analyses showed that the men living alone had greater common carotid (p = 0.008) and carotid bifurcation (p = 0.011) IMT values than their cohabiting counterparts. The differences remained significant even when the confounding factors (age, health status and education level) and potential intervening factors (saturated fat consumption and smoking) were allowed for. Of the social support subindices, strong adequacy of emotional support (p < 0.001) and of the social network subindices, strong social anchorage (p = 0.031) were correlated to increased common carotid IMT. The present data suggest that conjugal circumstances are an independent social factor predicting carotid atherosclerosis.

Arteriosclerosis↗

PubMed1995

Factor VII coagulant activity in relation to serum lipoproteins and dietary fat in middle-aged men.

The associations of serum lipoproteins and habitual diet to factor VII coagulant activity (FVIIc) were analysed in 119 middle-aged men. FVIIc was measured by one-stage clotting assay, cholesterol and triglycerides enzymatically, serum apolipoproteins (apo) immunoturbidimetrically and habitual diet using four-day food records. ApoB, cholesterol, triglycerides, apoA-II, LDL cholesterol and dietary fat correlated directly to FVIIc (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis apoB, dietary fat and apoA-II explained 35.3% of the variance in FVIIc. In the lowest apoB tertile FVIIc was increased only when fat intake was high (> 38 E%), in the middle tertile FVIIc increased gradually from low to high fat intake, whereas in the highest apoB tertile FVIIc was not related to dietary fat (p = 0.038 for age-adjusted interaction). The present data demonstrate a direct relation between apoB and FVIIc in middle-aged men. Low fat diet seem to associate to decreased FVIIc especially in subjects in the lower end of the apoB distribution.

Antigens↗

PubMed1995

Physical activity and health-related fitness in middle-aged men.

The relation of habitual physical activity to various components of health-related fitness as well as the 12-month repeatability of the measurements were investigated in middle-aged men. Physical activity was assessed by 7-d recall interview. In the men with cardiopulmonary or musculoskeletal diseases total energy expenditure (TEE) correlated directly with maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and inversely with the sum of skinfolds, serum triglycerides, and plasma fibrinogen. Energy expenditure at rest (REE) associated inversely to VO2max and directly to skinfolds. In the healthy men REE correlated inversely with VO2max and HDL-cholesterol, and directly with skinfolds. TEE correlated directly with skinfolds but was not associated with VO2max. The associations were similar at both examinations. Correlation coefficients between baseline and follow-up examinations of TEE, REE, VO2max, and sum of skinfolds were 0.60, 0.84, 0.88, and 0.87 for the diseased men, and 0.52, 0.70, 0.86, and 0.91 for the healthy men, respectively (P < 0.001). Habitual physical activity associate beneficially to cardiorespiratory fitness, body fatness and CHD risk factors, essential components of health-related fitness, in middle-aged men with chronic diseases.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1995

Inverse relation of physical activity and apolipoprotein AI to blood pressure in elderly women.

To study the relation of habitual physical activity, diet, and serum lipoproteins to blood pressure, a cross-sectional study was carried out in a cohort of 202 women, age 60-69 yr. Sitting, supine, and standing blood pressure was measured with a standard sphygmomanometer. Physical activity was assessed by questionnaire, diet by food records, serum lipoprotein cholesterol enzymatically, and apolipoprotein AI turbidimetrically. Among the women not taking antihypertensive medication (N = 127), the physically most active (physical activity 5 times per week or more) had sitting diastolic blood pressure of 86 mm Hg (adjusted for high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, and cardiovascular health status), which was 8 mm Hg lower (P = 0.007) than in the least active (physical activity twice per week or less) women. Subjects in the highest tertile of apolipoprotein AI (> 1.46 g.l-1) had a mean sitting systolic blood pressure of 147 mm Hg (adjusted for age, body mass index, and cardiovascular health status), which was 16 and 13 mm Hg lower (P = 0.001) than in women in the middle and lowest tertiles (< 1.32 g.l-1), respectively. The present data suggest that, in elderly women, regular physical activity is associated with a clinically significant lowering of diastolic blood pressure. Moreover, a higher level of serum apolipoprotein AI, the major protein component of high-density lipoprotein particles, is inversely associated with systolic blood pressure.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Acute dynamic exercise increases fibrinolytic activity.

The influence of acute bouts of dynamic exercise on plasma tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) and fibrinogen was investigated on nine healthy non-smoking men aged 23 to 37 years. Subjects performed maximal and two submaximal (duration 30 min, intensity 50% [aerobic threshold] and 78% [anaerobic threshold]VO2max) bicycle ergospirometry tests separated by seven days. The order of the submaximal tests was randomized. Blood samples were drawn before, immediately after and 24 h after each test. Plasma tPA and PAI activities were measured amidolytically, and fibrinogen concentration by thrombin method. All postexercise values were corrected for the change in plasma volume. The pre-exercise tPA and PAI activities and fibrinogen concentration were similar in each tests. tPA activity increased during each test (from 2.0 [SEM 0.24] IU/ml to 20.3 [3.14] during maximal, 2.0 [0.22] to 19.0 [2.59] during anaerobic threshold test, 1.8 [0.22] to 5.5 [0.82] during aerobic threshold; p < 0.001 during all tests, p = 0.01 aerobic threshold vs maximal and anaerobic threshold). PAI activity decreased during maximal (from 6.6 [2.51] AU/ml to 2.0 [2.00], p < 0.05) and anaerobic threshold (5.0 [2.07] to 0.2 [0.22], p < 0.01) tests but not during aerobic threshold test (7.0 [3.69] to 4.5 [2.93], p = 0.123). One subject had clearly higher pre-exercise PAI activity and smaller tPA response to exercise as compared to other subjects. All 24 h post-exercise activities were similar to pre-exercise values. Plasma fibrinogen concentration did not change during any tests.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Association of risk factors and body iron status to carotid atherosclerosis in middle-aged eastern Finnish men.

High body iron stores have been proposed as a risk factor for advanced atherosclerosis. We investigated the prevalence of early atherosclerotic changes, and their relation to conventional CHD risk factors and body iron status. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 206 men aged 50 to 60 years (6% random population sample). Intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery was evaluated with high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Statistical analyses were performed separately for men with and without cardiovascular disease (CVD). Among all the study participants, 6.6% had IMT > 1.3 mm in the common carotid artery, whereas 53.8% had IMT > 1.5 mm in the carotid bifurcation. Respective values were 4.8% and 46.8% for those without CVD, and 8.5% and 62.2% for those with CVD. Mean IMT in the carotid bifurcation, the predilection site for atherosclerosis, was 1.85 mm (95% CI 1.72; 1.98) in the men with CVD, as compared to 1.65 mm (95% CI 1.56; 1.73) in the men free of CVD. Serum LDL cholesterol (beta = 0.26), saturated fat intake (beta = 0.20), blood haemoglobin (beta = -0.29), systolic blood pressure (beta = 0.21) and smoking (beta = 0.19), jointly explained 23% of the variance in the carotid bifurcation IMT in the men without CVD. Neither serum ferritin, transferrin nor dietary iron levels were associated with carotid bifurcation atherosclerosis. On the other hand, in the men with CVD, age (beta = 0.34) and physical activity (beta = -0.25) jointly explained 16.5% of the IMT variance in the carotid bifurcation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Carotid Stenosis↗