Spatial and temporal trends of mercury in freshwater fish in Fennoscandia (1965-2015)

Source at http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2467116Mercury (Hg) emissions to the atmosphere cause elevated Hg levels in fish, even in many remote regions of the world. Here we present an extensive database of more than 50 000 measurements of Hg in fish, including 2 775 individual water bodies in Fennoscandia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russian part of Kola Peninsula) sampled between 1965 and 2015. The data have been analysed for spatial patterns and temporal trends, on raw and weight-adjusted data. The database presents a useful reference for assessment of impacts of environmental policy on Hg in freshwater fish (i.e. Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution and The Minamata Convention on Mercury)

Positivity for Zinc Transporter 8 Autoantibodies at Diagnosis Is Subsequently Associated With Reduced β-Cell Function and Higher Exogenous Insulin Requirement in Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We set out to define the relationship between autoantibodies against zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8) and other diabetes-associated autoantibodies, HLA DR-DQ alleles and metabolic status in Finnish children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes (n=723). Metabolic status was monitored by plasma glucose and pH at diagnosis, and through a 2-year follow-up of C-peptide concentrations, daily insulin dose and GHb levels. RESULTS ZnT8A-positivity was detected in 530 children (73%). Positivity for ZnT8A was associated with older age (median 8.9 vs. 8.2 years, P=0.002) and more frequent ketoacidosis (24% vs. 15%; P=0.013). Children carrying the HLA DR3 allele were less often ZnT8A-positive (66% vs. 77%, P=0.002) than others. ZnT8A-positive children had lower serum C-peptide concentrations (P=0.008) and higher insulin doses (P=0.012) over time than their ZnT8A-negative peers. CONCLUSIONS Positivity for ZnT8A at diagnosis seems to reflect a more aggressive disease process both before and after diagnosis

Growth Differences Between North American and European Children at Risk for Type 1 Diabetes

Aim: To evaluate the relationships between early growth and regional variations in type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence in an international cohort of children with familial and genetic risk for T1D. Methods: Anthropometric indices between birth to 5 yr of age were compared among regions and T1D proband in 2160 children participating in the Trial to Reduce Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in the Genetically at Risk study. Results: Children in Northern Europe had the highest weight z-score between birth to 12 months of age, while those in Southern Europe and USA had the lowest weight and length/height z-scores at most time points (p \u3c 0.005 to p \u3c 0.001). Few differences in z-score values for weight, height, and body mass index were found by maternal T1D status. Using International Obesity Task Force criteria, the obesity rates generally increased with age and at 5 yr were highest in males in Northern Europe (6.0%) and in females in Canada (12.8%). However, no statistically significance difference was found by geographic region. In Canada, the obesity rate for female children of mothers with and without T1D differed significantly at 4 and 5 yr (6.0 vs. 0.0% and 21.3 vs. 1.9%, respectively; p \u3c 0.0125) but no differences by maternal T1D status were found in other regions. Conclusions: There are regional differences in early childhood growth that are consistent with the higher incidence of T1D in Northern Europe and Canada as compared to Southern Europe. Our prospective study from birth will allow evaluation of relationships between growth and the emerging development of autoimmunity and progression to T1D by region in this at-risk population of children

Spatial and temporal trends of mercury in freshwater fish in Fennoscandia (1965-2015)

Mercury (Hg) emissions to the atmosphere cause elevated Hg levels in fish, even in many remote regions of the world. Here we present an extensive database of more than 50 000 measurements of Hg in fish, including 2 775 individual water bodies in Fennoscandia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russian part of Kola Peninsula) sampled between 1965 and 2015. The data have been analysed for spatial patterns and temporal trends, on raw and weight-adjusted data. The database presents a useful reference for assessment of impacts of environmental policy on Hg in freshwater fish (i.e. Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution and The Minamata Convention on Mercury).publishedVersio