Life-history Traits of Charr, Salvelinus alpinus, from a High Arctic Watercourse on Svalbard

Three arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) morphs coexist within the Dieset watercourse (79°10'N, 11°20'E) on Spitsbergen, Svalbard. Small freshwater resident charr exhibited a very slow growth rate, while large freshwater resident charr grew at a rate comparable to that reported for cannibalistic charr elsewhere. First-time sea migrants of the anadromous charr were similar in size to their more southern-living Norwegian conspecifics, but on average two years older. The average number of sea runs before first-time spawning was 3.6 for males and 4.4 for females. Veteran migrants displayed growth comparable to that of anadromous charr from more southern populations. In all three morphs, sex ratio did not differ from unity. The short-lived small residents matured from an age of 4 years, 3 to 4 years earlier than did large residents and anadromous charr. The majority of small resident and anadromous charr spawn a maximum of three times, while large resident charr may spawn up to seven times. Although 69% of large resident charr were older than 15 years, only 5.7% of reproductive anadromous charr exceeded this age. This divergence may indicate different reproductive strategies between the two morphs. There was no evidence of reproductive isolation between these High Arctic charr morphs. Trois variétés d'omble chevalier (Salvelinus alpinus) coexistent à l'intérieur du cours d'eau Dieset (79° 10' de latit. N., 11° 20' de long. E.) au Spitzberg, dans l'archipel du Svalbard. Le petit omble d'eau douce résident affichait un taux de croissance très lent, tandis que le gros omble d'eau douce résident grossissait à une vitesse comparable à celle rapportée ailleurs pour l'omble cannibale. Les spécimens d'omble anadrome qui migraient pour la première fois vers la mer avaient une taille analogue à celle de leurs congénères norvégiens vivant plus au sud, mais avaient en moyenne deux ans de plus. Le nombre moyen une croissance comparable à celle de l'omble anadrome appartenant à des populations plus méridionales. Chez les trois variétés, la proportion des sexes ne différait pas de la valeur 1. Les petits résidents ne vivaient pas longtemps et devenaient adultes à partir de l'âge de 4 ans, c'est-à-dire 3 ou 4 ans plus tôt que ne le faisaient les plus gros résidents et l'omble anadrome. La plupart des petits résidents et de l'omble anadrome frayaient un maximum de trois fois, tandis que le gros omble résident peut frayer jusqu'à sept fois. Si 69 p. cent des gros ombles résidents avaient plus de 15 ans, seulement 5, 7 p. cent des ombles anadromes reproducteurs dépassaient cet âge - divergence qui pourrait indiquer des stratégies de reproduction différentes pour chaque variété. Rien ne semblait indiquer un isolement reproducteur entre ces variétés d'omble de l'Extrême-Arctique.

Determinants of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in northwest Russia : a 10-year follow-up study

This article is part of Oleg Sidorenkov's doctoral thesis available in Munin at http://hdl.handle.net/10037/3589Abstract PURPOSE: To study conventional and novel risk factors associated with high cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in Russia. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 3704 adults was performed in Arkhangelsk. The baseline examination was conducted in 1999-2000. The average follow-up was 10.2 years. Information on lifestyle and marital, educational, and psychosocial status was self-reported in a questionnaire. Data on risk factors were collected in a medical examination that included the drawing of blood samples. RESULTS: By October 2010 a total of 147 male and 95 female deaths had occurred. In 59 male and 20 female deaths in which a diagnosis was made by a forensic pathologist, the autopsy data were studied to extract information on post-mortem blood alcohol concentration. A positive blood alcohol concentration was found in 21 (36%) male and 6 (30%) female forensic autopsies. Women reporting consumption of at least 80 g of alcohol monthly and consumption of 5 or more alcohol units during one drinking episode had a greater risk of cardiovascular death than abstainers; relative risk (RR) was 5.06 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.54-16.7) and 3.21 (95% CI, 1.07-9.58), respectively. ApoB/ApoA1-ratio was the strongest predictor of CVD and all-cause death in men (RR, 7.62; 95% CI, 3.15-18.4; and RR, 4.39; 95% CI, 2.22-8.68, respectively) and CVD death in women (RR 3.12; 95% CI, 1.08-8.98). Men who were obese and had obtained a university education had a 40% lower risk of all-cause death. Low serum albumin was associated with high mortality in both genders. CONCLUSIONS: Hazardous alcohol consumption is an independent risk factor of CVD mortality in women. The mechanisms behind its damaging effect are not yet clear. Nutritional factors such as serum albumin are important predictors of all-cause mortality in both genders

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components in Northwest Russia: the Arkhangelsk study

Background: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors associated with morbidity from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated mortality. Russia has one of the highest CVD mortality rates in the world. However, the prevalence of MetS in Russia remains largely unknown. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of MetS and its components in an urban Russian setting. Methods: Altogether, 3705 Russian adults aged 18-90 years were enrolled in a cross-sectional study in Arkhangelsk (Northwest Russia). All subjects completed a questionnaire and underwent a physical examination. Blood samples were taken and analyzed in Tromsø, Norway. Three separate modified definitions of MetS were used, namely, the National Education Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP), the American Heart Association / National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). To ensure comparability of the findings, the prevalence data were standardized using world and European standard populations and Russian population. Results: The age-standardized (Segi’s world standard population) prevalence rates of the MetS among women were 19.8% (95% CI: 18.1-21.5), 20.6% (95% CI: 18.9- 22.3) and 23.1% (95% CI: 21.3-24.9) by the NCEP, AHA/NHLBI and IDF criteria, respectively. The corresponding rates for men were 11.5% (95% CI: 10.1-12.9), 13.7% (95% CI: 12.2-15.2) and 11.0% (95% CI: 9.7-12.4). Among subjects with MetS, central obesity was more common among women, while elevated triglycerides and blood glucose were more common among men. Almost perfect agreement was found between the NCEP and AHA/NHLBI criteria (ĸ=0.94). There was less agreement between the used definitions of MetS in men than in women. Conclusions: While the prevalence of MetS among Russian women is comparable to the data for Europe and the U.S., the prevalence among Russian men is considerably lower than among their European and North-American counterparts. Our results suggest that MetS is unlikely to be a major contributor to the high cardiovascular mortality among Russian men. Further studies of MetS determinants and associated cardiovascular risk are needed for a better understanding of the mechanisms leading to the exceptionally high cardiovascular mortality in Russia

Time trends in smoking in Russia in the light of recent tobacco control measures: synthesis of evidence from multiple sources

Background - The study aims at identifying long-term trends and patterns of current smoking by age, gender, and education in Russia, including the most recent period from 2008 during which tobacco control policies were implemented, and to estimate the impact on mortality of any reductions in prevalence. We present an in-depth analysis based on an unprecedentedly large array of survey data. Methods - We examined pooled micro-data on smoking from 17 rounds of the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Study of 1996–2016, 11 other surveys conducted in Russia in 1975–2017, and two comparator surveys from England and the USA. Standardization by age and education, regression and meta-analysis were used to estimate trends in the prevalence of current smoking by gender, age, and educational patterns. Results - From the mid-1970s to the mid-2000s smoking prevalence among men was relatively stable at around 60%, after which time prevalence declined in every age and educational group. Among women, trends in smoking were more heterogeneous. Prevalence more than doubled above the age of 55 years from very low levels ( Conclusions - The implementation of an effective tobacco control strategy in Russia starting in 2008 coincided with a decline in smoking prevalence among men from what had been stable, high levels over many decades regardless of age and education. Among women, the declines have been more uneven, with young women showing recent downturns, while the smoking prevalence in middle age has increased, particularly among those with minimal education. Among men, these positive changes will have made a small contribution to the reduction in mortality seen in Russia since 2005

Long-term trends in blood pressure and hypertension in Russia: an analysis of data from 14 health surveys conducted in 1975-2017

Background Hypertension is recognized as an important contributor to high cardiovascular mortality in Russia. A comprehensive analysis of data from Russian studies that measured blood pressure in population-based samples has not been previously undertaken. This study aims to identify trends and patterns in mean blood pressure and the prevalence of hypertension in Russia over the most recent 40 years. Methods We obtained anonymized individual records of blood pressure measurements from 14 surveys conducted in Russia in 1975-2017 relating to a total of 137,687 individuals. For comparative purposes we obtained equivalent data from 4 surveys in the USA and England for 23,864 individuals. A meta-regression on aggregated data adjusted for education was undertaken to estimate time trends in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, the prevalence of elevated blood pressure (> 140/90 mmHg), and hypertension (defined as elevated blood pressure and/or the use of blood pressure-lowering) medication. A meta-analysis of pooled individual-level data was used to assess male-female differences in blood pressure and hypertension. Results During the period 1975-2017 mean blood pressure, the prevalence of elevated blood pressure and hypertension remained stable among Russian men. Among Russian women, mean systolic blood pressure decreased at an annual rate of 0.25 mmHg (p < 0.1) at age 35-54 years and by 0.8 mmHg (p < 0.01) at ages 55 and over. The prevalence of elevated blood pressure also decreased by 0.8% per year (p < 0.01), but the prevalence of hypertension remained stable. Mean blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension were higher in Russia compared to the USA and England at all ages and for both sexes. Conclusions In contrast to the generally observed downward trend in elevated blood pressure in many other countries, levels in Russia have changed little over the past 40 years, although there are some positive trends among women. Improved strategies to bring down the high levels of mean blood pressure and hypertension in Russia compared to countries such as England and the USA are important to further reduce the high burden of CVD in Russia

Helseundersøkelsen i Arkhangelsk 2000

Odd Nilssen, med bidrag fra flere.Institutt for samfunnsmedisin ved Universitetet i Tromsø har siden slutten av 1980-tallet hatt samarbeide med klinikere og forskere fra Universitetet i Arkhangelsk. Dette samarbeidet har resultert i utveksling av helsepersonell og studenter, flere utviklings- og forskningsprosjekter har blitt igangsatt og avsluttet, og en rekke felles møter og konferanser om situasjonen for folkehelsen i Russland har blitt avholdt. Russiske fagfolk har senere år i økende grad uttrykt bekymring for den generelle helsetilstand i Russland. Spesielt har situasjonen endret seg dramatisk til det verre i nordområdene. Den forventede levealder i Russland har sunket slik at den i dag er lavere enn i noe armet land i Europa, og for enkelte etniske grupper rapporteres forventet levealder å være under 40 år (1-3). Spedbarnsdødeligheten har steget og er 4-5 ganger høyere enn i resten av Europa (4), og på Kola er den 3-4 ganger høyere enn i Norge (5). Forekomsten av hjerte- og karsykdom har hatt en dramatisk økning (6-8). Samtidig rapporteres det om en ytterligere økning i alkoholkonsumet, et konsum som fra før var blant de høyeste i Europa (9). Som en følge av dette har også de alkohol-relaterte sykdommer økt i omfang (10). Thelle (11) antyder at den eneste måte den dramatiske økning i hjerte- og karsykdom over et såpass kort tidsspenn kan forklares på er gjennom den store økning man har sett i alkoholkonsumet. Både utenlandske og russiske forskere har påpekt den foruroligende økning man har sett i forekomsten av smittsomme sykdommer (12). I særdeleshet gjelder dette TBC, men også for HIV/Aids og farlige tarminfeksjoner har lignende økning vært rapportert (13). Den lave offentlige innsatsen i helsevesenet og den generelt vanskelige økonomiske situasjonen blant russere flest har også bidratt i negativ retning. På en konferanse i Arkhangelsk i 1997 ble det opplyst at fatale alkoholforgiftninger hadde økt 10 ganger over en periode på syv år (14). Rettspsykiatere har registrert en enorm økning i drap begått av personer under innflytelse av alkohol eller andre rusmidler (15). På denne bakgrunn anmodet russiske forskere om bistand til å gjennomføre en undersøkelse med tanke på å kartlegge den generelle helsesituasjonen i Arkhangelsk. Man var spesielt interessert i alkoholkonsumets betydning for helsen, men man ønsket også å se på den generelle helsesituasjonen, og om mulig, få hjelp til å foreta enkle intervensjoner med tanke på å redusere risiko for utvikling av sykdom. Etter et pilotprosjekt med 400 undersøkte i 1997 fikk vi i 1999 midler fra Norges forskningsråd til å gjennomføre studien med tittel “Alcohol drinking and its impact on health in the north of Russia”. Etter at Regional etisk komité for helseregion V hadde godkjent undersøkelsen høsten 1999, startet datainnsamlingen opp i november samme år

Helseundersøkelsen i Arkhangelsk 2000

Institutt for samfunnsmedisin ved Universitetet i Tromsø har siden slutten av 1980-tallet hatt samarbeide med klinikere og forskere fra Universitetet i Arkhangelsk. Dette samarbeidet har resultert i utveksling av helsepersonell og studenter, flere utviklings- og forskningsprosjekter har blitt igangsatt og avsluttet, og en rekke felles møter og konferanser om situasjonen for folkehelsen i Russland har blitt avholdt. Russiske fagfolk har senere år i økende grad uttrykt bekymring for den generelle helsetilstand i Russland. Spesielt har situasjonen endret seg dramatisk til det verre i nordområdene. Den forventede levealder i Russland har sunket slik at den i dag er lavere enn i noe armet land i Europa, og for enkelte etniske grupper rapporteres forventet levealder å være under 40 år (1-3). Spedbarnsdødeligheten har steget og er 4-5 ganger høyere enn i resten av Europa (4), og på Kola er den 3-4 ganger høyere enn i Norge (5). Forekomsten av hjerte- og karsykdom har hatt en dramatisk økning (6-8). Samtidig rapporteres det om en ytterligere økning i alkoholkonsumet, et konsum som fra før var blant de høyeste i Europa (9). Som en følge av dette har også de alkohol-relaterte sykdommer økt i omfang (10). Thelle (11) antyder at den eneste måte den dramatiske økning i hjerte- og karsykdom over et såpass kort tidsspenn kan forklares på er gjennom den store økning man har sett i alkoholkonsumet. Både utenlandske og russiske forskere har påpekt den foruroligende økning man har sett i forekomsten av smittsomme sykdommer (12). I særdeleshet gjelder dette TBC, men også for HIV/Aids og farlige tarminfeksjoner har lignende økning vært rapportert (13). Den lave offentlige innsatsen i helsevesenet og den generelt vanskelige økonomiske situasjonen blant russere flest har også bidratt i negativ retning. På en konferanse i Arkhangelsk i 1997 ble det opplyst at fatale alkoholforgiftninger hadde økt 10 ganger over en periode på syv år (14). Rettspsykiatere har registrert en enorm økning i drap begått av personer under innflytelse av alkohol eller andre rusmidler (15). På denne bakgrunn anmodet russiske forskere om bistand til å gjennomføre en undersøkelse med tanke på å kartlegge den generelle helsesituasjonen i Arkhangelsk. Man var spesielt interessert i alkoholkonsumets betydning for helsen, men man ønsket også å se på den generelle helsesituasjonen, og om mulig, få hjelp til å foreta enkle intervensjoner med tanke på å redusere risiko for utvikling av sykdom. Etter et pilotprosjekt med 400 undersøkte i 1997 fikk vi i 1999 midler fra Norges forskningsråd til å gjennomføre studien med tittel “Alcohol drinking and its impact on health in the north of Russia”. Etter at Regional etisk komité for helseregion V hadde godkjent undersøkelsen høsten 1999, startet datainnsamlingen opp i november samme år

Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase: Determinants and diagnostic Characteristicsin relation to interventionon risk drinkers

Papers in this thesis: 1. Odd Nilssen, Olav Helge Førde, and Tormod Brenn: ‘THE TROMSØ STUDY: DISTRIBUTION AND POPULATION DETERMINANTS OF GAMMA GLUTAMYLTRANSFERASE’. Am. J. Epidemiol. (1990) 132 (2): 318-326 2. Odd Nilssen and Olav Helge Førde: ‘Seven year Longitudinal Population Study of Change in Gamma-glutamyltransferase: The Tromsø’. (Manuscript). This is the manuscript version of the article. Published version in StudyAm. J. Epidemiol. (1994) 139 (8): 787-792 3. O. Nilssen and O. H. Førde: ‘The Tromsø Study: the positive predictive value of gamma-glutamyltransferase and an alcohol questionnaire in the detection of early-stage risk drinkers’. Journal of Internal Medicine, 1991, Volume 229, Issue 6, pages 497–500 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2796.1991.tb00384.x) 4. Tormod Brenn, Helge Schirmer and Olav Helge Førde: ‘New Alcohol Markers—How Useful Are They in Population Studies: The Svalbard Study 1988–89’. This is the accepted manuscript version of the article. Published version available in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 1992, Volume 16, Issue 1, pages 82–86 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-0277.1992.tb00641.x) 5. Odd Nilssen: ‘The Tromsø study: Identification of and a controlled intervention on a population of early-stage risk drinkers’. Preventive Medicine, 1991, Volume 20, Issue 4, Pages 518–528 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0091-7435(91)90049-A

Determinants of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in northwest Russia : a 10-year follow-up study

Abstract PURPOSE: To study conventional and novel risk factors associated with high cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in Russia. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 3704 adults was performed in Arkhangelsk. The baseline examination was conducted in 1999-2000. The average follow-up was 10.2 years. Information on lifestyle and marital, educational, and psychosocial status was self-reported in a questionnaire. Data on risk factors were collected in a medical examination that included the drawing of blood samples. RESULTS: By October 2010 a total of 147 male and 95 female deaths had occurred. In 59 male and 20 female deaths in which a diagnosis was made by a forensic pathologist, the autopsy data were studied to extract information on post-mortem blood alcohol concentration. A positive blood alcohol concentration was found in 21 (36%) male and 6 (30%) female forensic autopsies. Women reporting consumption of at least 80 g of alcohol monthly and consumption of 5 or more alcohol units during one drinking episode had a greater risk of cardiovascular death than abstainers; relative risk (RR) was 5.06 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.54-16.7) and 3.21 (95% CI, 1.07-9.58), respectively. ApoB/ApoA1-ratio was the strongest predictor of CVD and all-cause death in men (RR, 7.62; 95% CI, 3.15-18.4; and RR, 4.39; 95% CI, 2.22-8.68, respectively) and CVD death in women (RR 3.12; 95% CI, 1.08-8.98). Men who were obese and had obtained a university education had a 40% lower risk of all-cause death. Low serum albumin was associated with high mortality in both genders. CONCLUSIONS: Hazardous alcohol consumption is an independent risk factor of CVD mortality in women. The mechanisms behind its damaging effect are not yet clear. Nutritional factors such as serum albumin are important predictors of all-cause mortality in both genders

Metabolic syndrome in Russian adults: associated factors and mortality from cardiovascular diseases and all causes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of four major obesity-related risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Russia has one of the highest CVD mortality in the world, but its association with MetS remains unknown. Also little is known about factors associated with MetS and its components in Russia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data on 3555 adults aged 18-90 years were collected in a cross-sectional study in 2000. MetS was defined by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria. Sex-specific associations between the IDF-defined MetS, its components, and life-style, socio-economic factors and laboratory indicators, were analysed using multivariable Poisson regression. Vital status of the study participants was identified by July 2009. Sex-specific associations between MetS and stroke, Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), CVD and all-cause death, were studied by Poisson regression adjusted for age, smoking, alcohol and history of CVDs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After adjustment for all studied factors except BMI, age, serum GGT, C-reactive protein and AST-to-ALT ratio were associated with MetS in both genders. Additionally, MetS was associated with sedentary lifestyle in women and with smoking in men. In the same regression model drinking alcohol 2-4 times a month and consumption of five or more alcohol units at one occasion in men, and drinking alcohol 5 times or more a month in women were inversely associated with MetS. After a 9-year follow-up, MetS was associated with higher risk of death from stroke (RR = 3.76, 95% CI:1.35-10.46) and from either stroke or myocardial infarction (MI, RR = 2.87, 95% CI:1.32-6.23) in men. No associations between MetS and any of the studied causes of death were observed in women.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Factors associated with MetS in both genders were age, GGT, C-reactive protein, and AST-to-ALT ratio. Moderate frequency of alcohol consumption and binge drinking in men and higher leisure time physical activity in women, were inversely associated with MetS.</p> <p>Positive associations between MetS and mortality were only observed for deaths from stroke and either stroke or MI in men.</p