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PubMed1978

Dermatitis herpetiformis in Finland.

During a 3 1/2-year period, 492 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) visited the dermatological departments of Finnish hospitals. The prevalence of DH in Finland was 10.4 patients/100,000 inhabitants, or 1/10,000. About 60 patients contracted DH each year, giving an incidence of 1.3 patients/100,000 inhabitants/year. These figures show that DH is a rather common disease in Finland--much more so in Finland than in Britain. Its incidence does not differ much from that approximated for coeliac disease in Finland. DH occured in all parts of the country. The birth-places of the patients were distributed evenly over the whole country, in contrast to the distribution pattern of rare hereditary diseases in Finland. No significant difference was found in the occurrence of DH in areas with differing levels of wheat consumption or iodine intake.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Selenium and arsenic in the environment in Finland.

A characteristic feature of glaciated Precambrian environments is their low selenium content, as a chalcophile element, Se, replaces sulfur in many of the sulfide minerals, for example, pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, and pentlandite. The average Se concentration in rocks and related till deposits in Finland is in the range of 0.01 to 0.2 mg/kg. Due to geological conditions, Se concentrations in surface and ground water are low in Finland compared with other countries. In a nationwide study dealing with the hydrogeochemistry of headwater streams, the median Se concentration in streams during August to September 1990 was 30 to 180 microg/L. For comparison, Se concentrations in shallow well waters are generally in the range of 50 to 1000 microg/L. The Se concentrations in stream sediments varied from 0.03 to 3.94 mg/kg. There was a highly significant correlation between the Se concentrations in stream water and in stream sediment. The streams with Se concentrations exceeding the general level in both water and sediment were most common in southern Finland. A speciation study on Finnish stream waters revealed that there were equal proportions of Se complexed with humic substances (36%) and Se as a selenate species (36%), whereas selenite accounted for less than 10% of total Se. About 8% of the Se in stream water occurred in particulate form. In an effort to enhance the Se intake of Finns through diet, Se-supplemented fertilizers have been used nationwide since 1985. While greatly improving Se levels in the population, the measure has raised concerns about undesirable environmental effects. Therefore, the amount of Se added to fertilizers has been reduced since 1991. Differing in behavior from Se, arsenic is considered one of the most toxic metals derived from the natural environment. Alarm has been triggered in Finland by the recent lowering from 50 microg/L to 10 microg/L of the upper level of As permissible in potable water, the recent information of high As concentrations in water from drilled bedrock wells, and the findings of international medical studies suggesting that As is a carcinogen. The most important source of As is arsenopyrite (FeAsS). Hence, high As concentrations most frequently occur in areas of sulfide mineralization, often in connection with occurrences of mafic rocks such as gabbros, amphibolites, and peridotites. The As concentrations in till fines, the most common glaciogenic soil type in Finland, reflect those in bedrock. The concentrations in groundwater are controlled by the chemical composition of the bedrock and the soil and prevailing hydrogeochemical conditions, for example, pH and Eh levels. Arsenic concentrations are lowest in surface water and swiftly flowing shallow ground water discharged by springs and are somewhat higher in shallow wells dug into overburden. By far, the highest As concentrations are to be found in wells drilled into bedrock (maximum 1 to 2 mg/L), although the concentrations vary by several orders of magnitude from well to well. The highest probability of encountering deleteriously arsenious well water is in areas with characteristic As anomalies in the till and bedrock. Hence, it is important to understand local geological conditions, particularly in the case of wells drilled into bedrock. The risk of deleteriously high As concentrations occurring in captured springs and shallow wells is slight.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Association of Chlamydia pneumoniae and acute coronary heart disease events in non-insulin dependent diabetic and non-diabetic subjects in Finland.

OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that Chlamydia pneumoniae, a Gram-negative intracellular bacterium, is a risk factor for both myocardial infarction and chronic coronary heart disease. Previous studies have been done predominantly in non-diabetic subjects and thus the effect of diabetes on the association between C. pneumoniae antibodies and coronary heart disease has not been analysed. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between prior chlamydial infection and the risk of serious coronary heart disease events (myocardial infarction or coronary death) in a 7-year prospective study of cohorts of diabetic and non-diabetic subjects in two areas of Finland. RESULTS: It was found that the prevalence of elevated chlamydial antibodies at baseline was higher in nondiabetic subjects who had serious coronary heart disease events during the follow-up than in subjects without coronary heart disease events (32 vs 15%, relative risk 2.56, P = 0.013) in East Finland. In non-diabetic subjects living in West Finland we did not find this association. The association between the C. pneumoniae antibodies and coronary heart disease events did not markedly change after controlling for other risk factors for coronary heart disease (OR 2.44, P = 0.055) in non-diabetic subjects living in eastern Finland. In diabetic patients we did not find any association between chlamydial antibodies and coronary heart disease events. CONCLUSION: We found an association between C. pneumoniae antibodies and coronary heart disease events in non-diabetics living in eastern Finland. This association remained strong even after controlling for the other risk factors for coronary heart disease. In diabetic patients with high risk for coronary heart disease, C. pneumoniae was not a risk factor for coronary heart disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Viability and seasonal distribution patterns of Scots pine pollen in Finland.

Germination ability and airborne counts of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) pollen were studied during the spring of 1993 at Turku in southern Finland (60 degrees 32' N, 22 degrees 28' E) and at Utsjoki in northern Finland (69 degrees 45' N, 27 degrees 01' E). Pollen waas trapped from the beginning of May to the end of June in a high-volume air sampler. Germination tests were performed to determine the in vitro pollen viability of the trapped pollen. Airborne pine pollen counts were obtained from a continuously operating Burkard trap located near each high-volume sampler. When male flowering began, phenological observations were carried out on pollen grains collected in rotored samplers located in pine and spruce stands and open fields near Turku and Utsjoki. In southern Finland, the peak period of pine pollen production was short, lasting for only 3 days, but it accounted for about 80% of the total germinating pine pollen yield for the year. The peak count was on May 20, with over 2000 germinating pollen grains per cubic meter of air. Pollen germination rates of up to 70% were obtained during the week preceding the local pollen peak, and rates reached almost 90% on the peak day. Pollen viability remained at 45 to 65% for 1 week after the peak. There was no significant difference between the pollen counts for day and night, indicating that during the main pollen season, the pollen source was close to Turku. Before the local pollen peak, the counts of living pine pollen were low, indicating that pine pollen transported over long distances was of little ecological importance in 1993 in the Turku area. In northern Finland, the first pollen grains were caught on July 4, and the peak day was July 13. However, no viable pollen was observed during this period, indicating that there was little gene drift from southern to northern Finland in 1993.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Inbreeding in Finland.

We have compiled data on the frequency of first-cousin marriages in Finland using royal dispensation records for the time period 1810-1872 and national population statistics for the time period 1878-1920. For the earlier period, 0.315% of Finland's marriages were contracted between first cousins (2,331 of 739,387). During the second time period, 0.174% of Finland's marriages took place between first cousins (1,325 of 761,976). These figures, which yield average kinship coefficients of 0.00020 and 0.00011, respectively, show that the level of inbreeding in Finland due to first-cousin marriage has been quite low. An analysis of individual parishes shows that first-cousin marriages are, on average, substantially less frequent than predicted by a random-mating model. In order to evaluate determinants of first-cousin marriage, several predictive variables have been examined: parish ethnic composition (proportion of Swedish and Finnish speakers), husband's occupation (graded into 6 socioeconomic levels), geographic distance between spouses' premarital residences, population density, parish endogamy, and urban vs. rural residence. Various logistic and linear regression models were analyzed in which consanguinity was the dependent variable. The best predictors of consanguinity were ethnic composition and occupation. The other variables were not in general significant predictors. These results show that many of the "mate availability" factors that would be predicted theoretically to account for consanguinity variation (population density, geographic isolation, urban vs. rural residence) do not. Instead, the best predictors of consanguinity at the first-cousin level are cultural factors such as ethnicity and occupation. Evaluation of cultural variables can provide a greatly enriched interpretation of complex biosocial phenomena such as inbreeding.

Consanguinity↗
PubMed2006

Environmental factors as predictors of smoking among ninth-grade adolescents in Pitkäranta (Russian Karelia) and in eastern Finland.

The purpose of this study was to assess whether similar environmental factors predict adolescents' smoking in two different cultures: in the Pitkäranta district in Russian Karelia and in eastern Finland. The data were gathered by self-administered questionnaires from ninth-grade students in 10 comprehensive schools in Pitkäranta (n = 385) and from age-matched students in 24 schools in eastern Finland (n = 2,098). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test whether similar path structures fit for boys and for girls in Pitkäranta and in eastern Finland, and to test whether regression coefficients were similar between the cultures by sex. Smoking by family members and best friends was positively related to adolescents' smoking both directly and indirectly. Environmental factors were similar predictors of smoking between the cultures for boys. For girls, different regression coefficients in Pitkäranta and in eastern Finland were found. Best friend's smoking was the most important predictor of adolescents' own smoking in every sub-sample. When indirect relationships were identified, the significance of parents' and siblings' smoking, in addition to smoking by best friends, was strongly supported.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Cystic fibrosis in a low-incidence population: two major mutations in Finland.

The incidence of cystic fibrosis (CF) in Finland, 1:25,000 newborn, is one of the lowest in Caucasian populations. The delta F508 mutation accounts for 18/40 (45%) of CF chromosomes in Finland. Other mutations were therefore sought among the remaining 55%. Twelve out of 40 chromosomes (30%) were found to carry 394delTT, whereas G542X and 3732delA were each detected in one chromosome. Eight mutations remained unidentified using a testing panel for 26 mutations. Mutation 394delTT was associated exclusively with haplotype 23-36-13. Five unknown mutations were associated with different haplotypes for microsatellite markers, whereas three shared the same haplotype. Most delta F508 mutations and all unidentified mutations originated from regions of old and dense settlement in the coastal regions, whereas 394delTT was geographically clustered and enriched in a rural location, consistent with a local founder effect. The remote location of Finland and her population history give a plausible explanation for the rarity of CF in Finland.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Cystic fibrosis in Finland: a molecular and genealogical study.

The incidence of cystic fibrosis (CF) in Finland is one tenth that in other Caucasian populations. To study the genetics of CF in Finland, we used a combined molecular and genealogical approach. Out of the 20 Finnish families with a living CF patient, 19 were typed for eight closely linked restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) at the MET, D7S8, and D7S23 loci. The birthplaces of the parents and grandparents were traced using population registries. Allele and haplotype frequencies in Finland are similar to those of other European and North American populations, but are modified by sampling: two regional CF gene clusters, evidently the results of a founder effect, were identified. Generally, the gene was evenly distributed over the population, carrier frequency being estimated at approximately 1.3%. We conclude that CF in Finland is caused by the common Caucasian mutation(s), and that the low frequency of the gene can be explained by a negative sampling effect and genetic drift.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Recent trends in mortality from peptic ulcer disease in Finland.

The enormous change of medical therapy of peptic ulcer disease in the 1970s has resulted in a significant decrease of elective ulcer surgery. It has been speculated whether this might be reflected in the mortality of the disease. Therefore, in the present study, the mortality rate of the disease was evaluated in Finland during the past 17 years covering the dramatic change in the medical therapy: the introduction of H2-receptor antagonists. This was done with a population-based epidemiological study by analyzing 1262 death certificates of people dying from peptic ulcer disease in Finland between 1972 and 1989. The study showed that there has been almost twofold increase in the mortality of the disease between 1972 and 1989 in Finland. This was mainly due to the significantly increased number of fatal ulcer hemorrhages in older people, but also mortality from ulcer perforations increased. This unfavorable epidemiological progress was most striking among elderly women and became manifest during the 1980s. We conclude that mortality from peptic ulcer disease has significantly increased in Finland due to fatal ulcer hemorrhages and perforations. This epidemiological change became manifest in the 1980s, concurrently with the dramatic change in the medical therapy of peptic ulcer disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Influenza A/Fujian/411/02(H3N2)-lineage viruses in Finland: genetic diversity, epidemic activity and vaccination-induced antibody response.

The first sporadic cases of Fujian/411/02-lineage viruses were recorded in Finland in winter 2001-2002. The first protracted but low-intensity outbreak occurred here during the first half of 2003, and the second outbreak early in autumn 2003, after detection of sporadic influenza A cases in the summer. The calculated incidence of influenza A in the Finnish army was 515/10000 during the first outbreak and 2066/10000 during the second outbreak. During the 2003-2004 epidemic season, the isolates fell into three groups for their haemagglutinin (HA1) sequences. In groups I and II, the strains were reassortants which differed for their neuraminidase (NA) sequences from the viruses of the previous spring. Group II viruses, which predominated in Finland during the 2003-2004 season, were characterized by loss of the glycosylation site at position 126 in HA1. The relevance of this loss to the epidemiology is discussed, as well as the frequent appearance of codominant amino acid mixtures at position 151 lining the catalytic cavity of the NA. Group III viruses, genetically related to Wellington/1/2004, the drift variant predominant in 2004 in the southern hemisphere, caused some localized outbreaks in Finland towards the end of the 2003-2004 epidemic. The antigenic match between the vaccine virus (Panama/2007/99) and the Fujian-lineage epidemic viruses in winter 2003-2004 was far from optimal. Nevertheless, high levels of prevaccination and postvaccination antibodies to the predomi- nant group II virus were recorded. Lower antibody levels were detected to the group III virus, which turned out to be a herald strain that reappeared in Finland during the following epidemic season.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed2006

Water quality monitoring using remote sensing in support of the EU water framework directive (WFD): a case study in the Gulf of Finland.

Water quality monitoring using remote sensing has been studied in Finland for many years. But there are still few discussions on water quality monitoring using remote sensing technology in support of water policy and legislation in Finland under the WFD. In this study, we present water quality monitoring using remote sensing in the Gulf of Finland, and focus on the spatial distribution of water quality information from satellite-based observations in support of water policy by a case study of nitrate concentrations in surface waters. In addition, we briefly describe instruments using a system of river basin districts (RBD), highlighting the importance of integrated water resources and river-basin management in the WFD, and discuss the role of water quality monitoring using remote sensing in the implementation of water policy in Finland under the WFD.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed1985

Status of the toxicity reports of pesticides for their registration in Finland.

Recently, attention has centered on the validity of toxicity reports for the registration of pesticides. In Finland, a study was conducted to evaluate the validity of the toxicity reports of pesticides done in U. S. laboratories. Twenty-seven pesticide formulations of the 230 on the market in Finland were selected for the study. The material contained 61 toxicity reports of 16 pesticide formulations done in U. S. laboratories considered questionable, 64 reports from U. S. laboratories considered reliable, and 142 reports originating from European laboratories, totally 267 reports. These reports were divided into valid according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines, and included those with minor discrepancies but in compliance with the good laboratory practice at the time of the study (group I), and and invalid according to the OECD guidelines (group II). After a closer evaluation of the 125 U. S. reports, 85 reports were considered valid and 40 invalid. As a function of time, the proportion of valid studies of all studies on pesticides for the registration purposes in Finland increased during 1961-1981 from 47 to 93%, being 100% at the present time. The lack of information of pesticide formulations registered earlier creates a problem to be solved in the future in Finland, rather than the lack of the validity of toxicity reports.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Socio-economic conditions in childhood and mortality and morbidity caused by coronary heart disease in adulthood in rural Finland.

In this study, the hypothesis that bad socio-economic conditions in childhood may increase the probability of coronary heart disease in adulthood is examined. The study is based partly on the data of the East-West Study in Finland, which is part of the Seven Countries Study. The study began with 823 men in Eastern Finland and 888 men in Western Finland in 1959. The mortality and morbidity of the cohorts were followed from 1959 to 1974. Risk factors were measured in medical examinations in 1959, 1964, 1969 and 1974. Parents of those included in the sample were traced by using parish registers from 1900 to 1919. Over 90% of those in the East-West Study were found. The parents' socio-economic position (socio-economic conditions in childhood) was determined. According to our findings, the relative risks of coronary death, myocardial infarction and ischemic heart disease are systematically increased for those born landless in East Finland. Variables partly explaining the increased risk were body height and smoking. The effect of cholesterol was negligible.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Health inequalities in early adulthood: a comparison of young men and women in Britain and Finland.

Several studies have recently reported that social class differences in ill-health during adolescence are almost non-existent or invisible. The aims of this comparative study of two different welfare states are first, to compare whether the relationship between social class and health is similar among young men and women at different age groups in these two welfare states; second, to examine at what age social class differences in self-reported health and illness among young adults emerge in these two countries; and third, to find out whether class of origin (i.e. parental social class) or class of destination (i.e. individual's achieved social class) have greater explanatory power in studies of health among young adults. We used comparable nationally representative interview surveys from Britain and Finland. The British data is derived from the General Household Survey for 1988 and 1989, and the Finnish data from the 1986 Level of Living Survey. We analysed five year age groups between 16 and 39 years in Britain (N = 16,626) and 15 and 39 years in Finland (N = 5950). Two health indicators (limiting long-standing illness and self-assessed health), and several indicators for social class were compared. The best discriminator of differences in ill-health among young adults both in Finland and Britain was education. Social class differences by own occupation (achieved class) emerged soon after the age of 20 among men and women in both countries and strengthened with increasing age. There was a weaker but consistent association with class of origin in both countries. Housing tenure is strongly associated with young adults' health in Britain but not Finland.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Multiple sclerosis in western Finland: evidence for a founder effect.

We have previously demonstrated that there is a high-risk focus for multiple sclerosis (MS) in the southern Ostrobothnian region of western Finland (population 376121 in 1993). Of the two southern Ostrobothnian health-care districts, Vaasa and Seinäjoki, the incidence and prevalence of MS were especially high in the latter. In recent genetic studies, we identified haplotypes of the myelin basic protein (MBP) gene in a group of MS patients originating from southern Ostrobothnia, suggesting a founder effect. This finding led us to explore the population history of the southern Ostrobothnia and correlate it with MS epidemiology. Southern Ostrobothnia can be divided into three distinct regions with respect to its historical settlement: Vaasa, Seinäjoki-south, and Seinäjoki-north. Vaasa, the coastal region was settled by Swedes, who immigrated during the 13th century. In Vaasa, the prevalence of clinically definite MS (CDMS) in 1993 was 107/10(5) (95% CI 90-124). Seinäjoki-south was populated from the 13th century onwards from southwestern Finland, a region which has been recognised as a high-risk focus of MS. In Seinäjoki-south, the prevalence of CDMS in 1993 was 219/10(5) (95% CI 190-247). Seinäjoki-north was inhabited rather late starting in the 16th century from eastern Finland. In Seinäjoki-north the prevalence of CDMS in 1993 was 136/10(5) (95% CI 108-164). The historical settlement pattern of the southern Ostrobothnia indicates that its population is quite heterogeneous. Seinäjoki-south has a very high prevalence of MS, significantly higher than its two neighbouring regions. The distinctive settlement history of Seinäjoki-south, the historical link with the other southwestern high-risk foci and molecular genetic evidence, suggest that a founder effect plays an important role in the high-risk of MS in western Finland.

Catchment Area, Health↗
PubMed2006

Nitrogen in river basins: sources, retention in the surface waters and peatlands, and fluxes to estuaries in Finland.

Nitrogen export from diffuse and point sources and its retention in the major river basins of Finland is quantified and discussed. The estimated total export from river-basins in Finland was 119,000 tonnes N a(-1) for the period 1993 to 1998 based on N export from different land use types defined in a GIS-based assessment model, incorporated with estimates of N inputs from atmospheric deposition and point sources. Agriculture contributes 38% of the total export, varying in the range 35-85% in the south-western basins and 0-25% in the northern basins. This estimate of N export from agriculture was based on regional N balances together with data from small agricultural research catchments. Forestry contributes on average 9%, with increasing dominance towards eastern and northern parts of the country: from 2% to 15% in the southern-mid-western Finland basins to 10-30% in the large northern basins. 'Background' N export from forests on both mineral and organic soils contributes 27% on average; in the northern basins it may contribute from 40% up to 90% of the total load. The estimate was calculated based on practically all data available from 42 small, experimental catchments in Finland. Of the total N input to Finnish river-systems, 0% to 68% was retained in surface waters and/or peatlands, with a mean retention of 22%. The highest retention of N (36-61%) was observed in the basins with the highest lake percentages. The lowest retention (0-10%) of N was in the coastal basins with practically no lakes. In the national N mass balance, 38,000 tonnes N a(-1) (32%) was estimated as lake retention and 4,000 tonnes N a(-1) (3%) as retention in peatlands. On the basis of mass balances and sensitivity analysis, retention was in most cases estimated to be in the range of 7.5-12.5 kg ha(-1)a(-1) in lakes and 0-1.5 kg ha(-1)a(-1) in peatlands. The model results were tested using the split-sample technique and uncertainty estimates for different data sources are provided and discussed.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2004

A comparison of socioeconomic differences in physical functioning and perceived health among male and female employees in Britain, Finland and Japan.

We compared the pattern of socioeconomic inequalities in physical functioning and perceived health among male and female employees in Britain, Finland and Japan. Participants were male and female public sector employees in Britain, Finland and Japan, who were economically active and 40-60 year-olds at the time of data collection. We measured perceived health and physical functioning (SF-36 physical component summary) with standardized health questionnaires. The results obtained here reconfirm the similarity of the patterns of ill-health of those with lower socioeconomic status among non-manual men and women in Britain and Finland. These data also provide good evidence for a socioeconomic gradient in ill-health among Japanese non-manual men, although this gradient was less systematic. For Japanese men poorer health of manual workers as compared to non-manual workers was well demonstrated. However, among Japanese women socioeconomic differences in health were small and inconsistent. In conclusion, Britain, Finland and Japan--representing 'liberal', 'Nordic' and 'conservative' welfare state regimes--produce broadly similar patterns of socioeconomic differences in health among men. However, different patterns of labour force participation and welfare provision in different welfare regimes may bring about different patterns of socioeconomic differences in health for working women. This is exemplified by the lack of health inequalities among employed Japanese women.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2005

Genetic background of type I protein C deficiency in Finland.

In contrast to other populations the usually rare type II form of protein C deficiency is as common in Finland as type I deficiency. We recently reported that a single mutation explained virtually all cases of type II protein C deficiency in Finland, indicating strong founder effect. We now investigated in the same population the genetic background of type I protein C deficiency. Thirty-eight apparently unrelated families were studied. They represent the vast majority of all families with type I deficiency in Finland. A genetic defect was identified in 23 (61%) families who carried 13 different mutations. Only three of the 13 mutations have been reported in other populations. Unlike in type II deficiency, considerable heterogeneity in mutations was found in type I deficiency. Our results indicate interesting differences in mutational histories of these two different forms of protein C deficiency in Finland.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗