Water quality and zoobenthos at the fish farms Solvik fisk, Andersö and Ålands forell, Järsö in the summer of 1995

Water quality and bottom fauna was investigated in June-August 1995 at the fishfarms Solvik fisk, Andersö and Ålands forell, Järsö on Åland. Husö biological station has carried out investigations at these fishfarms since they were started. 'Solvik fisk' begun produktion in 1986 and 'Ålands forell' in 1981. Water quality (temperature, pH, S‰, oxygen, chl. a, total-P, total-N, secchi) was measured three times during the investigated period. Samples for bottom fauna and organic content analysis were taken in June and August. Dominant species in the plankton was determined in July at Solvik fisk and in July and August at Ålands forell. The oxygen content was good at both localities during the summer. At Solvik fisk the oxygen saturation varied between 88 and 109% on one meters depth and 75- 102% in the bottom water. At Ålands forell the same values were 94-116% and 83-106%. At both localities the total phosphorus values indicated eutrophic areas (i. e. 23-80 µg/l). The chlorophyll-a-content was also high, especially in July and August at Atands forell. The bivalve Macoma balthica was the dominant species in abundance and biomass at all the stations at Solvik fisk. At Ålands forell Chironomidae dominated stations 1 and 2 (nearest the fish farm) and stations 3-5 were dominated by M. balthica. In July and August Heterocapsa triquetra dominated the plankton at Ålands forell. The water was colored brown by this species. H. triguetra is favoured by high nutrient levets

Health, functioning and accessibility among spinal cord injury population in Finland:protocol for the FinSCI study

Abstract Background and purpose: The purpose of the Finnish Spinal Cord Injury Study (FinSCI) is to identify factors related to the health and functioning of people with spinal cord injury, their challenges with accessibility, and how such factors are interconnected. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is used as a structured framework in the study. Design: Protocol of mixed methods study. Results: Study participants were recruited from all 3 SCI outpatient clinics in Finland. The final target group consists of 1,789 subjects with spinal cord injury. The final questionnaire was formed from 5 different patient-reported instruments. The spinal cord injury-specified instruments are the Spinal Cord Injury Secondary Condition Scale, the Spinal Cord Independence Measure, and the Nottwil Environmental Factors Inventory Short Form. In addition, questions from the following generic instruments were chosen after a selection process: the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System, PROMIS®, and the National Study of Health, Well-being and Service, FinSote. Altogether, the final questionnaire covers 64 ICF categories and consists of 151 ICF-linked questions. Conclusion: The formulated questionnaire covers widely different aspects of health, functioning and accessibility. The questionnaire results and subsequent interviews will help in developing care and rehabilitation policies and services for people with spinal cord injury

Prevalence of comorbidities and secondary health conditions among the Finnish population with spinal cord injury

Abstract Study design: A cross-sectional study. Objectives: To explore the prevalence of comorbidities, secondary health conditions (SHCs), and multimorbidity in the Finnish population with spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting: The data were collected from the Finnish Spinal Cord Injury Study (FinSCI). Participants were identified from three SCI outpatient clinics responsible for the lifelong follow-up of persons with SCI in Finland, (n = 884 participants, response rate; 50%). Methods: The FinSCI-questionnaire included a question from the National Study of Health, Well-being, and Service (FinSote) for screening 12 comorbidities. The reference data of the general population for that question were received from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. The Spinal Cord Injury Secondary Condition Scale (SCI-SCS) was used to screen 16 SHCs. The data were analysed with univariate testing and multivariable negative binomial regression modelling. Results: The most common comorbidities were high blood pressure/hypertension (38%), back problems (28%), and high cholesterol (22%). The most common SHCs were joint and muscle pain (81%), muscle spasms (74%), chronic pain (71%), and bowel problems (71%). The prevalence of comorbidities was highest among persons aged ≥76 years (mean; 2.0; scale range; 0–12). The prevalence of SHCs was highest in the severity of SCI group C1–4 AIS A, B, and C (mean; 8.9; scale range; 0–16). Conclusions: Further research on geriatrics in SCI, non-traumatic SCI, and knowledge of the needs of persons with cervical lesion AIS A, B, or C is required, due to the fact that the prevalence of multimorbidity is high in these groups

Functional independence in the Finnish spinal cord injury population

Abstract Study design: A cross-sectional survey of the Finnish population with spinal cord injury (FinSCI database). Objectives: To describe the functional independence of the population with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Finland and to identify how generic and lesion characteristics affect their functional independence. Setting: The participants were recruited from the registers of three SCI outpatient clinics responsible for lifelong follow-up and care for people with SCI in Finland. Methods: The data were retrieved from FinSCI (n = 1772). The response rate was 50% (n = 884). The Spinal Cord Independence Measure-Self Report (SCIM-SR) was used. The data were analyzed with univariate testing, factor analyses, and multiple linear regression models. Results: The median (percentiles 25; 75) SCIM-SR total score was 76.0 (58.8; 89.0), and the score was 18.0 (13.0; 20:0) for the self-care sub-scale, 33.0 (25.0; 39.0) for the respiration and sphincter management sub-scale and 29.0 (16.0; 36.8) for the mobility sub-scale. The higher the neurological level in groups AIS A, B, and C, the lower the functional ability. Group AIS D at any injury level had the highest level of functional ability. Age and the number of years since injury negatively influenced the SCIM-SR scores for every sub-scale. Conclusion: Based on the International Spinal Cord Injury Core Data Set, the severity of SCI can differentiate persons with SCI according to their functional ability. The results suggest that SCI affects individuals’ health more than ageing alone does, thereby reducing the functional ability and independence of persons with SCI over time