Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis doubles the risk for incident asthma – Results from a population study in Helsinki, Finland

SummaryObjectiveTo examine the incidence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma, and to assess allergic rhinoconjunctivitis as a risk factor for incident asthma, we performed a 11-year follow-up postal survey.MethodsThe original study population was a random population sample of 8000 inhabitants of Helsinki aged 20–69 years in 1996. Participants in the first postal questionnaire survey, 6062 subjects, were invited to this follow-up study, and provided 4302 (78%) answers out of 5484 traced subjects in 2007.ResultsCumulative incidence of asthma from 1996 to 2007 was 4.0% corresponding to an annual incidence rate of 3.7/1000/year. After exclusion of those with asthma medication or physician-diagnosed chronic bronchitis or COPD at baseline in 1996, the cumulative incidence decreased to 3.5% (incidence rate 3.2/1000/year), and further to 2.7% (2.5/1000/year) when also those reporting recurrent wheeze or shortness of breath during the last year in 1996 were omitted from the population at risk. Remission of asthma occurred in 43 subjects and was 16.9% over 11 years. Cumulative 11-year incidence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis was 16.9% corresponding to 16.8/1000/year, and cumulative remission was 18.1%. Incidence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis was significantly lower among those who had lived in the countryside or on a farm during the first 5 years of life, but this was not true for asthma. In multivariate analysis, farm living during the first 5 years of life was protective for the development of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, OR 0.75 (95%CI 0.57–0.99). Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis was a significant independent risk factor for incident asthma, OR 2.15 (95%CI 1.54–3.02). In the cohort, the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis increased from 38.0% in 1996 to 40.9% in 2007, physician-diagnosed asthma from 6.8% to 9.4%, while current smoking decreased from 31.3% to 23.3%.ConclusionIncidence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis was higher than in earlier studies, while asthma incidence remained on similar level, both being significantly higher in women. Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis doubled the risk for incident asthma

European randomized study of prostate cancer screening: first-year results of the Finnish trial

Approximately 20 000 men 55–67 years of age from two areas in Finland were identified from the Population Registry and randomized either to the screening arm (1/3) or the control arm (2/3) of a prostate cancer screening trial. In the first round, the participation rate in the screening arm was 69%. Of the 5053 screened participants, 428 (8.5%) had a serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration of 4.0 ng/ml or higher, and diagnostic examinations were performed on 399 of them. A total of 106 cancers were detected among them corresponding to a positive predictive value of 27%, which is comparable with mammography screening for breast cancer. The prostate cancer detection rate based on a serum PSA concentration of 4.0 ng ml−1 or higher was 2.1%. Approximately nine out of ten screen-detected prostate cancers were localized (85% clinical stage T1–T2) and well or moderately differentiated (42% World Health Organization (WHO) grade I and 50% grade II), which suggests a higher proportion of curable cancers compared with cases detected by other means. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Business models for rolling out Positive Energy Buildings

Positive Energy Buildings (PEBs) present a promising solution for the battle against the climate change. A PEB is a building that produces more energy with renewables than it uses. A good variety of technologies exist for realizing the PEB, and integrated concepts are emerging. Well-designed business models are recognized as a crucial element needed for a wider roll-out of PEBs, but they are largely missing. This article will look at potential business models for PEBs and their contribution to the different PEB elements, while also pointing out some aspects that need to be considered when setting up the business model. A selection of interesting or emerging business models are described, concentrating on the typical customer segments, typical value propositions, potential life-cycle phases, benefits and challenges.</p

Entrainment of a two-layer liquid through a taphole

Entrainment through a taphole of a two-layer system has been investigated. The results showed that for liquids with low viscosities, the minimum dimensionless clearance from the taphole before entrainment occurs can be predicted theoretically and was related to the Froude number as Fr0.4. At low Froude numbers less than 1, fluids with low viscosities resulted in the entrainment showing a positive deviation from the critical Froude number. This allowed tapping to be carried out without entrainment occurring, even when the liquid-liquid interface was within the region of the taphole diameter. For liquids with appreciable viscosities, the entrainment showed a negative deviation from the critical Froude number. This occurs for the tapping of slag and results in entrainment at a higher liquid-liquid interface height than is predicted theoretically. Entrainment was more likely to happen for slag tapping than for matte tapping. A ledge below the taphole was found to reduce entrainment, enabling the liquid-liquid interface to be closer to the taphole during tapping. This resulted in improved slag removal efficiencies and reduced matte or metal entrainment, coupled with less slag left in the furnace after tapping. The length of the ledge from the taphole into the slag was found to be the controlling parameter for entrainment, while the ledge thickness had no effect on entrainment