Liennytyksen varjossa:Suomen ja Puolan väliset suhteet 1970-luvulla Varsovan suurlähetystön näkökulmasta

Tiivistelmä. Pro gradu -tutkielmassani tutkin Suomen ja Puolan kansantasavallan välisiä suhteita ja niiden kehitystä vuosina 1970–1980 Suomen suurlähetystön raportointiin pohjautuen. Tutkimus keskittyy Puolan yhtyneen työväenpuolueen johdossa toimineen Edward Gierekin ajanjaksoon. Ajanjaksoa leimasi pyrkimys reaalisosialismin rakentamiseen, minkä epäonnistuminen johti lopulta ensimmäisen sitoutumattoman ja riippumattoman ammattiliiton syntymiseen Neuvostoliiton johtamissa Euroopan sosialistisissa maissa vuonna 1980. Tutkimuksen pääaineistona ovat ulkoasiainministeriön arkiston tarjoamat Suomen suurlähetystön raportit ja vuosikertomukset, joiden avulla on tarkoitus selvittää millaisina Suomen suhteet Puolaan nähtiin ja miten ne kehittyivät. Pyrin myös selvittämään suurlähettiläiden ja väliaikaisten asiainhoitajien suhtautumista Puolan harjoittamaan politiikkaan niin ulkopolitiikan kuin sisäpolitiikan saralla ja niiden heijastumista Suomeen. Lisäksi tutkin Neuvostoliiton vaikutusta Suomen Puolan-suhteisiin ja missä määrin Neuvostoliiton-suhteet olivat ylipäätään eroteltavissa suhteissa Puolaan. Tutkimusmenetelmän puolesta käytössäni on kansainvälisten suhteiden lähdekriittinen metodi, jolla pyritään kiinnittämään huomiota raportoinnissa esiintyviin korostuksiin ja puutteisiin. Aineiston pohjalta on nähtävissä, että vuosikymmenen alussa Suomella koettiin olevan erikoisasema Puolassa Suomen idänsuhteiden ja Etykin vuoksi, mutta Euroopassa yleisesti vallinnut liennytyskehitys jätti Suomen varjoonsa. Suhteiden lakikorkeus saavutettiin 1974, jolloin Puola tunnusti Suomen puolueettomuuden ja kaupan kehittymiselle oli korkeat toiveet. Maiden suhteita kuitenkin rasitti vuosikymmenen läpi jatkunut pääasiassa kivihiilen tuonnista johtunut kaupan alijäämäisyys Suomelle, joka pyrki osittain presidenttijohtoisesti solmimaan kauppoja suurista erillisprojekteista taseen korjaamiseksi siinä kuitenkaan onnistumatta. Niin ikään myös vuonna 1978 ratifioitu KEVSOS-sopimus tuotti pettymyksen Suomelle. Puolalla oli myös arvoa Itämeren turvallisuuspoliittisen tilanteen kannalta, vaikka maan sisäisen tilanteen kehittymistä seurattiin huolestuneesti sen Euroopan liennytykseen ja turvallisuuteen mahdollisesti vaikuttavien seurausten vuoksi. Neuvostoliittoon verrattuna Puolan johto painotti vähemmän ideologiaa, mutta tarpeen vaatiessa se oli myös valmis toimimaan Neuvostoliiton ja proletaarisen internationalismin tukena. Puolan nähtiin toteuttavan itsenäisesti omaa ulkopolitiikkaansa Neuvostoliiton antamissa raameissa, mutta aloitteita ei nähty tulevan ainoastaan Puolasta, vaan myös sen kautta. Suhde Puolaan oli alisteinen Neuvostoliiton-suhteille, jonka kautta suurlähetystössä Puolan tapahtumia ja johtoa analysoitiin. Tutkimus on ensimmäisiä lajissaan Suomen ja Euroopan sosialististen maiden suhteiden historian alalla, joka ei keskity Neuvostoliittoon. Suomen kansainvälisten suhteiden historian tutkimuksella tältä osin on vielä paljon tutkittavaa

Calcium:Magnesium Ratio in Local Groundwater and Incidence of Acute Myocardial Infarction among Males in Rural Finland

Several epidemiologic studies have shown an association between calcium and magnesium and coronary heart disease mortality and morbidity. In this small-area study, we examined the relationship between acute myocardial infarction (AMI) risk and content of Ca, Mg, and chromium in local groundwater in Finnish rural areas using Bayesian modeling and geospatial data aggregated into 10 km × 10 km grid cells. Data on 14,495 men 35–74 years of age with their first AMI in the years 1983, 1988, or 1993 were pooled. Geochemical data consisted of 4,300 measurements of each element in local groundwater. The median concentrations of Mg, Ca, and Cr and the Ca:Mg ratio in well water were 2.61 mg/L, 12.23 mg/L, 0.27 μg/L, and 5.39, respectively. Each 1 mg/L increment in Mg level decreased the AMI risk by 4.9%, whereas a one unit increment in the Ca:Mg ratio increased the risk by 3.1%. Ca and Cr did not show any statistically significant effect on the incidence and spatial variation of AMI. Results of this study with specific Bayesian statistical analysis support earlier findings of a protective role of Mg and low Ca:Mg ratio against coronary heart disease but do not support the earlier hypothesis of a protective role of Ca

The influence of calcium and magnesium in drinking water and diet on cardiovascular risk factors in individuals living in hard and soft water areas with differences in cardiovascular mortality

BACKGROUND: The role of water hardness as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease has been widely investigated and evaluated as regards regional differences in cardiovascular disease. This study was performed to evaluate the relation between calcium and magnesium in drinking water and diet and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in individuals living in hard and soft water areas with considerable differences in cardiovascular mortality. METHODS: A random sample of 207 individuals living in two municipalities characterised by differences in cardiovascular mortality and water hardness was invited for an examination including a questionnaire about health, social and living conditions and diet. Intake of magnesium and calcium was calculated from the diet questionnaire with special consideration to the use of local water. Household water samples were delivered by each individual and were analysed for magnesium and calcium. RESULTS: In the total sample, there were positive correlations between the calcium content in household water and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and negative correlations with s-cholesterol and s-LDL-cholesterol. No correlation was seen with magnesium content in household water to any of the risk factors. Calcium content in diet showed no correlation to cardiovascular risk factors. Magnesium in diet was positively correlated to diastolic blood pressure (DBP). In regression analyses controlled for age and sex 18.5% of the variation in SBP was explained by the variation in BMI, HbA1c and calcium content in water. Some 27.9% of the variation in s-cholesterol could be explained by the variation in s-triglycerides (TG), and calcium content in water. CONCLUSIONS: This study of individuals living in soft and hard water areas showed significant correlations between the content of calcium in water and major cardiovascular risk factors. This was not found for magnesium in water or calcium or magnesium in diet. Regression analyses indicated that calcium content in water could be a factor in the complexity of relationships and importance of cardiovascular risk factors. From these results it is not possible to conclude any definite causal relation and further research is needed

Feasibility and antihypertensive effect of replacing regular salt with mineral salt -rich in magnesium and potassium- in subjects with mildly elevated blood pressure

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>High salt intake is linked to hypertension whereas a restriction of dietary salt lowers blood pressure (BP). Substituting potassium and/or magnesium salts for sodium chloride (NaCl) may enhance the feasibility of salt restriction and lower blood pressure beyond the sodium reduction alone. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and effect on blood pressure of replacing NaCl (Regular salt) with a novel mineral salt [50% sodium chloride and rich in potassium chloride (25%), magnesium ammonium potassium chloride, hydrate (25%)] (Smart Salt).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted with an intervention period of 8-weeks in subjects (n = 45) with systolic (S)BP 130-159 mmHg and/or diastolic (D)BP 85-99 mmHg. During the intervention period, subjects consumed processed foods salted with either NaCl or Smart Salt. The primary endpoint was the change in SBP. Secondary endpoints were changes in DBP, daily urine excretion of sodium (24-h dU-Na), potassium (dU-K) and magnesium (dU-Mg).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>24-h dU-Na decreased significantly in the Smart Salt group (-29.8 mmol; p = 0.012) and remained unchanged in the control group: resulting in a 3.3 g difference in NaCl intake between the groups. Replacement of NaCl with Smart Salt resulted in a significant reduction in SBP over 8 weeks (-7.5 mmHg; p = 0.016). SBP increased (+3.8 mmHg, p = 0.072) slightly in the Regular salt group. The difference in the change of SBP between study groups was significant (p < 0.002).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The substitution of Smart Salt for Regular salt in subjects with high normal or mildly elevated BP resulted in a significant reduction in their daily sodium intake as well as a reduction in SBP.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ISRCTN: <a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN01739816">ISRCTN01739816</a></p

Dietary sodium intake and overweight and obesity in children and adults: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity in children and adults is a major public health concern. Emerging evidence suggests dietary sodium intake may be associated with obesity. This systematic review and meta-analysis will aim to (i) assess the relation between dietary sodium intake and measures of adiposity in children and adults and (ii) examine the relation between sodium intake and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption, which is a known risk factor for obesity. METHODS/DESIGN: An electronic search will be conducted using Medline Complete, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase and Cochrane central register of controlled trials (CENTRAL). The search strategy will identify published peer-reviewed articles that report on dietary sodium and either a marker of adiposity or SSB consumption. Only human studies (ages >1 year) in English will be included, and no limits will be placed on publication date. No restrictions will be placed on the method of sodium intake assessment. Cross-sectional, prospective studies, and randomised controlled trials with a duration of ≥ 3 months will be included. Studies with participants with renal disease, cancer, type 1 diabetes or heart failure or who are pregnant will be excluded. To assess the quality of studies, the Cochrane's Collaboration tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials will be used for randomised controlled trials (RCTs), and the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale will be used for cross-sectional and prospective studies. Meta-analysis will be used to assess the relation of sodium intake with two primary outcomes: (i) BMI and body weight in adults and BMI z-score in children and (ii) weight category (i.e. healthy weight vs. overweight/obese). For any outcomes in which meta-analysis is not possible, we will present data as a systematic review. Findings will be grouped and reported separately for children and adolescents (ages 1-17 years) and adults (ages >18 years). DISCUSSION: This review and meta-analysis will provide insight into the relation between dietary sodium intake and overweight and obesity. This information can be used to inform public health policies which target population sodium consumption. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: Prospero CRD42015016440.CG is supported by a National Heart Foundation of Australia Postdoctoral Fellowship (Award ID: 100155)

Role of salt intake in prevention of cardiovascular disease: controversies and challenges.

Strong evidence indicates that reduction of salt intake lowers blood pressure and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The WHO has set a global target of reducing the population salt intake from the current level of approximately 10 g daily to 85 categories of food; many other developed countries are following the UK's lead. In developing countries where most of the salt is added by consumers, public health campaigns have a major role. Every country should adopt a coherent, workable strategy. Even a modest reduction in salt intake across the whole population can lead to a major improvement in public health and cost savings