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PubMed2002

Late response and item nonresponse in the Finbalt Health Monitor survey.

BACKGROUND: The Finbalt Health Monitor is a collaborative system for monitoring the health-related behaviour, practices and lifestyles in Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania. This system is based on nationally representative samples and self-administered mailed questionnaires. In comparing the results of national surveys, the awareness of the direction and socioeconomic patterning of the response bias is essential. METHODS: The data were gathered from the cross-sectional surveys conducted in 1998 from Estonia (n = 1362), Finland (n = 3504), Latvia (n = 2322) and Lithuania (n = 1874). An analysis was made of the prevalence of late response, completeness of information obtained from respondents and the magnitude of response bias on the prevalence estimates of health behaviour indicators. RESULTS: The response rates were comparatively high: 68% in Estonia, 70% in Finland, 77% in Latvia and 62% in Lithuania. Late response was weakly related to age, education or place of residence. The total proportion of missing information was below 10% and the sociodemographic patterning for this missing information was similar in all countries. Thus, older and less-educated respondents had more missing information on their questionnaires. Response bias of the prevalence estimates was minimal when it was calculated by using information obtained from late respondents. CONCLUSIONS: The level of nonresponse and missing information was comparable in different countries, not information on health behaviour. Therefore special efforts are needed to design a questionnaire form which appears equally relevant to all respondent groups. The follow-up mailings were an effective way to increase the total response rate, but it was unlikely that they provided an effective way to reach the 'hard core' nonrespondents.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Trends in drinking habits among adolescents in the Baltic countries over the period of transition: HBSC survey results, 1993-2002.

BACKGROUND: The Baltic countries--Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania--are considered to be an example of regional homogeneity over the period of transition. The World Health Organization cross-national study on Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) allows a comparison and time trends analysis of behavioral patterns among adolescents in this region. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and trends of alcohol consumption and drunkenness among adolescents of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in 1993/94, 1997/98, and 2001/02. METHODS: Representative samples of 5286 boys and 6485 girls aged 15 from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were surveyed in 1993/94, 1997/98, and 2001/02 school-year within the framework of HBSC study. The standardized survey methods were applied. The research focused on the following outcome variables: i) frequency of drinking beer, wine, and spirits; and ii) frequency of drunkenness. The same wording of questions on the consumption of alcohol was retained in each survey. RESULTS: Beer was the most frequently used alcoholic beverage across the Baltic countries among adolescents. The rate of weekly drinking of any alcoholic beverage increased considerably during the eight years of observation, especially among Estonian and Lithuanian students. In 2001/02, 25% of boys and 12.5% of girls have reported drinking alcohol at least weekly. The rate of regular alcohol drinking was two times higher in boys, while irregular drinking was more prevalent in girls. Two or more episodes of drunkenness in the lifespan were reported by 30% of boys and 15% of girls in 1993/94 and by 52% of boys and 36% of girls in 2001/02. The use of alcoholic beverages was related to the perceived family wealth: the students from the families perceived by them as wealthy were more likely to drink weekly as compared to the students from the families perceived by them as not wealthy. CONCLUSION: Over the period between 1993 and 2002 the prevalence of alcohol consumption among adolescents increased considerably across the Baltic countries. The efforts of dealing with this problem should employ a combination of measures, including the strategies relevant for the period of transition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Academician Vladas Lasas -- distinguished Lithuanian scientist, organizer and educator].

The material of this publication is dedicated to the memory of Professor Vladas Lasas, honored scientist of Lithuania, member of Lithuanian Academy of Sciences and corresponding member of the Academy of Medicine of the USSR. V. Lasas was born on January 13th, 1892, on a farmstead in Rokiskis region, Lithuania. He died on January 2nd, 1966 in Kaunas. V. Lasas studied medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of Tartu (Dorpat) University and graduated from it in 1918. In 1921 he was invited to deliver lectures on physiology at the newly organized Higher Courses in Kaunas. During 1920-1924 he attended higher educational establishments of Prague, Berlin, Lausanne and Paris. In 1924 V. Lasas worked on probation in Lausanne under supervision of famous scientist M. Arthus, the founder of experimental allergy--anaphylaxis, in the field of experimental anaphylaxis, desensibilization, enteral sensibilization and resorption of native albumins, transfer of allergic state from mother to fetus, the role of interoceptors and biologically active substances in the formation and development of anaphylaxis. Over 40 scientific papers were published and 12 doctoral these were maintained, dealing with these problems. From 1924 to 1940 and from 1944 to 1946 V. Lasas acted as dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Kaunas University. During this period he displayed great organizational talent, and on his initiative three basic clinical buildings were built for the Faculty of Medicine. In 1946 V. Lasas was elected as academician and appointed as secretary-in-charge of natural mathematical and applied science of the Academy of Sciences of Lithuania. V. Lasas was the founder and longstanding chairman of the Lithuanian Physiological Society. Alone and with coauthors he has published 16 original textbooks. The list of his bibliography accounts to 229 publications.

Allergy and Immunology↗
PubMed2002

[Prof. Alfonsas Kaikaris -- the founder of the Lithuanian Pharmacy Museum: his personality and scientific activities].

Alfonsas Kaikaris (1922-1997) was a professor of pharmacy at the Kaunas Medical Institute (now University), historian, museologist, founder of the Lithuanian Pharmacy Museum and of the field of pharmacy history in Lithuania. A. Kaikaris was born in Zagare in 1922. He received his pharmacy diploma in 1947 and began work at the university. Following the reorganization of the university into two institutes, he went to work in the Medical Institute, where he served as the vice dean of the Pharmacy and Stomatology Department from 1957 until 1963. He began to collect pharmaceutical artifacts in 1957. In 1973, the Institute provided a small room in the attic for these objects and so a small pharmacy museum, the first in Lithuania, was born. Thanks to the hard work of A. Kaikaris and others, today this museum has grown into the Pharmacy and Medical History Center of Lithuania, whose work is widely known throughout Europe. A. Kaikaris was also a member of the board of the Lithuanian Scientific Society and head of the Society's Pharmaceutical History Section from 1964 until he retired in 1987. He is the author of 67 scholarly papers and numerous popular articles and conference presentations. In 1988, he received the Paul Stradins Award from the Paul Stradins Medical History Museum in Riga, Latvia, and until his death in 1997 worked as a consultant to the Lithuanian Museum of the History of Medicine and Pharmacy.

History of Pharmacy↗
PubMed2003

From classical epidemiological research to health policy formulation: contribution of Kaunas-Rotterdam Intervention Study.

The aim of the article is to review the contribution of WHO coordinated Kaunas-Rotterdam Intervention Study (KRIS) to the development of epidemiological research in cardiovascular and other noncommunicable diseases at Kaunas University of Medicine and in Lithuania at large. KRIS impact on broadening international collaboration with and through WHO at Kaunas University of Medicine and Lithuania at large is presented. KRIS contribution to the development of scientific basis for cardiovascular risk assessment as well as backing-up the concept of integrated prevention of noncommunicable diseases is highlighted. Its role as a bridging agent between research, education and public health development in Lithuania as well as internationally is being discussed. The road that KRIS experience based team underwent from executors of classical epidemiological studies to generation of new concepts in noncommunicable disease prevention as well as contribution to national health policy formulation is presented.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Some issues concerning the use of firearms with Flobert cartridges].

The aim of the work is to analyze and evaluate legal, criminalistic and criminological problematic issues appearing in Lithuania due to circulation of firearms designed for the Flobert cartridge. The purpose of guns with the Flobert cartridge is shooting training in closed areas. Provided the kinetic energy of Flobert cartridge is not bigger that 7.5 J. the guns meant for those bullets have been classified to unlimited circulation of guns since 1999 in Lithuania. Now these firearms can be purchased by anyone over 18. Due to this reason the demand for these firearms has increased. The sale of these firearms amounts to several thousands (the population of Lithuania is more than 3.5 million). The analyses of the authors show that these firearms are not used in accordance with their purpose. Experimental practice and experimental research proved that these firearms can cause serious bodily injuries. The latter fact allowed the authors to formulate propositions regarding legal regulation of circulation of these firearms.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed2004

[Common perilla (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton.) as a perspective immunomodulator].

Common perilla (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton) is a new perspective annual medicinal dead-nettle family (Lamiaceae Lindl.) plant in Lithuania. Its medicinal raw material and preparations produced of it are characterised by the variety of pharmacological effects: desensitizing, antimicrobial, anti tumorous, and antioxidative. This species was introduced from the East Asia and cultivated in many European, Asian, and North American countries. The common perilla has been cultivated in Lithuania as a decorative plant in parks and squares since 1990. This plant has been introduced in the collection and exposition of medicinal plants in Kaunas Botanical Garden of Vytautas Magnus University since 1998 with the purpose to analyze biological and pharmacological properties of plants and to assess the quality and quantity of the raw herb. It would be reasonable to carry out experimental research on biological qualities and raw material of the common perilla in Lithuania in accordance with the contemporary technologies and requirements of the European Union standards.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2004

[150th birth anniversary of Izidor Brennsohn, Latvian historian of medicine and researcher of Lithuanian anthropology].

This publication is dedicated to the 150th birth anniversary of a famous German-writing Latvian physician, historian of medicine, and anthropologist of Jewish descent Izidor Brennsohn, and to his ties with Lithuania. I. Brennsohn's works on physicians and the development of health care in Kurland, Livland, and Estland laid the foundations for the contemporary historiography of medicine in Latvia and Estonia. To a certain extent, these works could also be viewed as a digest of the sources of Lithuanian history of medicine, especially in regard to the regions on the boarder with Latvia, as well as to various personalities. However, Brennsohn's most important link with Lithuania was his doctoral thesis "On Lithuanian anthropology" ("Zur Anthropologie der Litauer"), defended at Dorpat (Tartu) University in 1883. It was one of the first works dealing with Lithuanian ethnic anthropology as a whole. Although, material of thesis could not be used for wider generalizations, still, it is one of rare and valuable 19th century sources of Lithuanian anthropology. Brennsohn's legacy deserves greater attention from people researching medical history in Lithuania.

Anthropology↗
PubMed2004

Prevalence of hypertension in Lithuanian mariners.

Several international studies from Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Croatia, and Finland indicate contradicting findings regarding cardiovascular dysfunction among seamen, deep sea fishermen, and harbor workers. The purpose of the present survey was to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension in a selected group of Lithuanian seamen. The survey was conducted during a one year period and involved sailors from commercial, passenger, and fishing boats. The survey took into account the sailors' marital status, education, professional rank and duty, and length of stay at sea. It also included demographical data, complete family health history, the sailor's awareness about their health in general, and awareness about their blood pressure in particular. Their dietary habits, changes in body weight, the history of alcohol intake and tobacco usage were also recorded. Analysis of our data indicates that 44.9% of Lithuanian mariners suffer from a clinically significant elevation of blood pressure, as compared to 53% of the general population of Lithuania. Some of the leading risk factors are: a high cholesterol diet and increased body mass index (BMI), smoking, alcohol abuse, family situation and level of education. The high prevalence of the cardiovascular risk factors was to be found related to ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular illness. This may be influenced by poor eating habits, poor health awareness and other social and environmental factors which are common to seamen. Increased blood pressure is a widespread condition that affects a large portion of the population in developed countries. It is an important risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, as well as a significant preventable cause of mortality. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which accounts for an estimated 17 million deaths each year. With hypertension, the risk of stroke increases 2.6-3.8 times, the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD)--2.0-2.2 times, and that of congestive heart failure (CHF)--3.0-4.0 times. Hypertension is often accompanied by other cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia, smoking, diabetes and increased body mass index (BMI). When hypertension is present in conjunction with other risk factors, the risk of mortality associated with IHD can increase tenfold. On the other hand, risk factors such as an increased BMI, smoking, alcohol abuse, lack of exercise and a diet high in salt and fatty foods can themselves play an instrumental role in the etiology of hypertension. Several studies have been performed on the prevalence of hypertension among the general population in Lithuania, which is higher than that of most other European countries. Reviews performed by the programs CINDI (Countrywide Integrated Noncommunicable Disease Intervention) and MONICA (MONItoring CArdiovascular Disease) determined that about half of all studied persons of middle age in Lithuania were hypertensive. Our work is the first study seeking to examine the prevalence of hypertension among Lithuanian seamen, as well as its association with various risk factors and dependence on demographic indices.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Medicosocial care for persons suffering from Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

Lithuania, like many European countries, is facing the problem of ageing population. The ageing society is accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of the disorders that are characteristic for old age. This article presents an overview of the current situation with respect to care of patients with dementia in Lithuania. Calculations based on epidemiological studies in other countries reveal that at least 31,000 persons may be suffering from dementia in Lithuania, with 6407 new cases occurring each year. Management of persons with dementia is mainly conducted by psychiatrists and neurologists with a few geriatricians. Mental health centers with interdisciplinary teams assure medical treatment, primary diagnosis of dementia, family consultations, managing of social and psychological problems and visits to homes when needed. Institutional services and home help services for persons with dementia are scarce and underdeveloped. Our future priorities in developing care for people with dementia are to improve the timely diagnosis and comprehensive management of dementia with the establishment of a continuity of high quality social services with special emphasis on home help and the support of family members.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

Bullying in Lithuanian schools in 1994-2002.

This study provides overview of the extent of bullying in Lithuanian primary and secondary schools using findings from the 2002 Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC): WHO Collaborative Cross-National Study. This study examined the prevalence of being bullied and bullying others among 11-, 13- and 15-year-old children. The study was based on the data of three surveys conducted in Lithuania in 1994, 1998 and 2002. The results showed that 36% of boys and 32% of girls were bullied and 40% of boys and 28% of girls were bulling others at least two times a month in the previous couple of months. There was a significant difference in responses according to the living place - higher percentage of pupils living in village reported being bullied as compared with pupils living in town. The extent of bullying among school pupils was similar in 1994-2002. This study showed that the highest percentage of bullying was in Lithuania. CONCLUSION. This study showed that the highest percentage of bullying was in Lithuania. Thus, bullying is a psychological and pedagogical problem connected with public health. It must be solved by various professionals immediately.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Body mass index and overweight in adolescents in 13 European countries, Israel, and the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) and the prevalence of BMI at or above the 85th centile and 95th centile (overweight) in adolescents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, nationally representative school-based surveys in 1997-1998 by means of identical data collection methods. SETTING: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Flemish Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Ireland, Israel, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United States. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 29 242 boys and girls, aged 13 and 15 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The BMI, BMI at or above the 85th centile, and BMI at or above the 95th centile (overweight) from self-reported height and weight. RESULTS: The highest prevalence of overweight was found in the United States and the lowest in Lithuania. On the basis of the study reference standard, the prevalence of overweight (percentage) in the United States was 12.6% in 13-year-old boys, 10.8% in 13-year-old girls, 13.9% in 15-year-old boys, and 15.1% in 15-year-old girls, all significantly increased. Prevalence of overweight in Lithuania was significantly below the expected 5%, with 1.8% in 13-year-old boys, 2.6% in 13-year-old girls, 0.8% in 15-year-old boys, and 2.1% in 15-year-old girls. Relative rankings among countries were similar for BMI at or above the 85th centile, although there were less dramatic differences at this level. CONCLUSIONS: The highest prevalences of overweight were found in the United States, Ireland, Greece, and Portugal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Predicting CO2 and SO2 emissions in the Baltic States through reorganization of energy infrastructure.

The paper deals with predicting carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide emissions generated by power production sector in the Baltic States in period up to year 2020. The economies of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are rapidly growing therefore forecast of emissions related with this occurrence becomes very important. The Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP), one of the largest in the world, is situated in the region. Two power production scenarios are modelled to investigate changes in power sector's emissions expected as the consequences of the coming closure of Ignalina NPP. Power market was assumed to be common for all three Baltic countries and was modelled by applying the Balmorel model. The planned closure of Ignalina NPP will bring restructuring of Lithuania power production sector and will change also power transmission between countries. Predictive identified the potential of investments for new modern power generation technologies. At the same time, modelling results show in both scenarios that CO(2) and SO(2) emissions from power production in the Baltic region will increase. The increment of emissions is discussed in the context of meeting requirements of UNFCCC Kyoto protocol and EC Directives. Despite of CO(2) emissions increase the Kyoto protocol's requirements may be expected. At the same time, SO(2) formation in Lithuania power sector may exceed the limits of the EU Council Directive 2001/80/EB therefore the additional measures to control SO(2) emissions have to be investigated.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2001

Macronutrient and food intake in the Baltic republics.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe mean macronutrient and food intakes in the Baltic republics, with a particular focus on fat, vegetable and fruit consumption. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Data from surveys conducted in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the summer of 1997 were used. Information was collected using a 24 h recall of dietary intake and an interviewer-administered questionnaire. SUBJECTS: Representative national samples of adults were selected. All those with information from the dietary recall were included in the study (Estonia: n = 2015; Latvia: n = 2300; Lithuania: n = 2094). RESULTS: The mean proportion of energy from fat was high in each country, but particularly in Lithuania (44%) and Latvia (42%) compared with Estonia (36%). In contrast, percentage energy from carbohydrate, protein and alcohol was higher in Estonia. Mean protein intake was generally sufficient if not high in some population sub-groups. Median vegetable intakes were very low (<200 g/day) in each country, particularly in Latvia. While 78% of the Lithuanian respondents consumed vegetables daily, this was the case in only 60% of the Latvian and 48% of the Estonian respondents. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that there is a pressing need to replace high-fat energy dense foods by foods rich in complex carbohydrates and dietary fibre, such as vegetables and fruits, in the Baltic republics. This could provide the populations with a reduced risk and increased protection against non-communicable diseases. These issues will need to be tackled through comprehensive food and nutrition policies and health promotion campaigns.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Immune response to diphtheria booster vaccine in the Baltic states.

A study was done to measure baseline levels of immunity to diphtheria and antibody responses to different doses of diphtheria vaccine in study participants in the three Baltic states. Diphtheria booster vaccines containing either 3 (Estonia and Lithuania), 6 (Latvia), or 12 (Latvia) limit of flocculation units of diphtheria toxoid were administered to 2315 adults. Diphtheria antibody levels were tested before and 1-2 months after vaccination. Before vaccination, 40% of the participants in Estonia, 32% in Lithuania, and 38% in Latvia had antibody levels <0.01 IU/mL, the level for minimum protection. After vaccination, 79% of the participants in Estonia, 83% in Lithuania, and 81% in Latvia had antibody levels >0. 1 IU/mL, the minimum level for full protection. However, in each of the countries, about one-third of the 40- to 49-year-old participants would have benefited from additional doses of vaccine. There was not a significantly different antibody response among persons receiving the three different doses. Age and the level of prevaccination immunity had a modifying effect on the response to vaccination; however, sex did not.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in childhood among five Baltic populations during 1983-1988.

We have carried out a comparison of the incidence of childhood onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) between five populations around the Baltic Sea. These were Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The risk of IDDM is highest in the world in Finland and also very high in Sweden, on the western and northern side of the Baltic Sea. The risk of IDDM in children on the eastern side of the Baltic Sea has not been known before. The data collection period covered the years 1983-1988. A marked variation in incidence was seen within this relatively small geographical area. Among these five populations, the incidence increased with the latitude. Our present results confirmed the very high incidence of IDDM in Finland. The average age-standardized yearly incidence of IDDM/100,000 was in males under 15 years of age 36.9 in Finland, 10.7 in Estonia, 6.4 in Latvia, 6.5 in Lithuania and 6.0 in Poland. In females the incidence was 31.6, 10.0, 6.9, 7.0 and 6.4 in these five populations, respectively. The differential in incidence in Estonia as compared with Latvia, Lithuania and Poland was statistically significant (P = 0.0002). A slight male excess in incidence was found in countries with higher incidence--Finland and Estonia, but in lower incidence countries the sex ratio was opposite (P = 0.019 for the interaction sex-population). During 1983-1988 the incidence increased significantly in Finland but not in other populations although a large year-to-year variation in incidence was observed in each country, particularly in males. We recorded a peak in IDDM incidence in most of these populations around 1986.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Genetic characterization of HIV-1 strains in the Baltic countries and Russia.

Proviral nucleotide sequences from the p7 region of the gag gene were compared among 40 Baltic and Russian HIV-1 strains. 33 of the infected persons carried a virus belonging to subtype B. Thus subtype B, which is most prevalent in Western Europe, was the most common subtype in all 3 Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and Russia, and was associated with homosexual transmission. It also seemed that viruses of the same origin have been circulating in these countries; most of the subtype B viruses studied (n = 22) belonged to a closely related virus pool with average inter-nucleotide sequence distances of 2.7%. In 7 cases, viruses of non-B subtypes were found (1 subtype D from Estonia, 1 subtype C from Latvia, 1 subtype A from Lithuania and 1 subtype G from Russia). Three closely related viruses (1 from Lithuania and 2 from Russia) remained unclassified.

Baltic States↗
PubMed1995

Clinical cosmobiology: the Lithuanian study 1990-1992.

The numbers of deaths from ischaemic heart disease (IHD), stroke (CVA), all accidents except vehicular, vehicular accidents and suicide (overall total, totals for men and women) per month for 36 months (1990-1992) in Lithuania were analysed in relation to: (1) month of the year (1-12); (2) geomagnetic activity; and (3) solar activity. A total of 122227 deaths (64490 men and 57737 women) was studied, and the results compared with those obtained in an earlier study in Israel, differing geographically and climatically from Lithuania. It was shown that the time of year, solar activity, and geomagnetic activity were related to the monthly death distribution, especially regarding death from IHD and suicide. Age and gender differences were apparent in the relationship between death distribution and physical environmental factors. At age > 70 years, many of these relationships change. The monthly distribution of deaths from IHD and suicide are adversely correlated with solar activity and with each other. Differences are presumed in serotoninergic effects as caused by environmental influences.

Accidents↗