When will Helicobacter pylori gastritis disappear in history in Finland?

Objectives To predict how the10-year birth cohort specific prevalence rates of chronic non-atrophic (CG) and atrophic gastritis (AG), related to Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, will decline during the 21(st) century among the native adult Finns. Materials and methods The predictions are based as continuums of our earlier observations of gradual and significant declines in birth cohort specific prevalence rates of CG and AG in endoscopic biopsies from gastric antrum and corpus of 2298 adult dyspeptic outpatients or asymptomatic volunteers born 1890-1977 that were endoscopied in 1972-1997 in Finland. Results and discussion We could predict that the Hp related CG and AG will gradually disappear in history among the native Finns during the 21(st) century. From the 2020s onward, the CG and AG would decrease with time in prevalence rate, cohort-by-cohort, and would be more and more highlighted in the middle aged or elderly age groups only. Finally, since all birth cohorts (generations) infected with Hp have passed away by 2080, the Hp related gastrites would not appear anymore in notable counts among the native Finns. Correspondingly, gastric cancers and peptic ulcers (both duodenal and gastric), which are etiopathogenetically linked with Hp gastrites, would similarly become gradually more and more infrequent and rare disorders among native Finns during the 21(st) century.Peer reviewe

Mortality and health-related habits in 900 Finnish former elite athletes and their brothers

Background There is conflicting evidence on the associations between participation in vigorous sports, health habits, familial factors and subsequent mortality. We investigated all-cause mortality and health-related behaviour among former elite athletes and their brothers. Methods The mortality of Finnish male former elite athletes, who had represented Finland between 1920 and 1965 (n=900) and their age-matched brothers (n=900), was followed from the time when athlete started an elite athlete career until 31 December 2015. The age-adjusted HRs were calculated by a paired Cox proportional hazards model. In 2001, surviving participants (n=199 athletes and n=199 age-matched brothers) reported their self-rated health (SRH), physical activity, alcohol consumption and smoking habits in the questionnaire. Results During the total follow-up period, 1296 deaths (72% of the cohort) occurred. The age-adjusted HRs for all-cause mortality in former athletes was 0.75 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.87, P Conclusions Former elite athletes are more physically active, smoke less, have better self-rated health and live longer than their brothers. Genetic differences between athletes and brothers, aerobic training for endurance elite sports and a healthier lifestyle may all contribute to reduced mortality.Peer reviewe

Responses of FEV6, FVC, and FET to inhaled bronchodilator in the adult general population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The assessment of bronchodilator-induced change in forced vital capacity (FVC) is dependent on forced expiratory time (FET) in subjects with airflow limitation. Limited information is available on the concurrent responses of FVC, forced expiratory volume in six seconds (FEV₆), and FET in the bronchodilation test among patients with obstructive airways disease or in the general population. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in FEV₆, FVC, and FET, and their relationships in a standardized bronchodilation test in the general population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied bronchodilation response in a general adult population sample of 628 individuals (260 men, 368 women) with flow-volume spirometry. The largest FVC, the corresponding FET and the largest FEV₆both at the baseline and after 0.4 mg of inhaled salbutamol were selected for analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After administration of salbutamol FEV₆decreased on average -13.4 (95% CI -22.3 to -4.5) ml or -0.2% (-0.4% to 0.0%) from the baseline. The 95^thpercentile of change in FEV₆was 169.1 ml and 5.0%. FVC decreased on average -42.8 (-52.4 to -33.3) ml or -1.0% (-1.2% to -0.7%). Concurrently FET changed on average -0.2 (-0.4 to 0.0) seconds or 0.4% (-1.4% to 2.3%). There were four subjects with an increase of FVC over 12% and only one of these was associated with prolonged FET after salbutamol. Changes in FEV₆and FVC were more frequently positive in subjects with reduced FEV₁/FVC in baseline spirometry.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In general adult population, both FEV₆and FVC tended to decrease, but FET remained almost unchanged, in the bronchodilation test. However, those subjects with signs of airflow limitation at the baseline showed frequently some increase of FEV₆and FVC in the bronchodilation test without change in FET. We suggest that FEV₆could be used in assessment of bronchodilation response in lieu of FVC removing the need for regulation of FET during bronchodilation testing.</p

COPD in Helsinki, Finland: socioeconomic status based on occupation has an important impact on prevalence

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The balance of serum matrix metalloproteinase-8 and its tissue inhibitor in acute coronary syndrome and its recurrence

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) is involved in the breakdown of the extracellular matrix increasing the vulnerability of atherosclerotic lesions. We analysed the diagnostic value of serum MMP-8 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) concentrations in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and their prognostic value in ACS recurrence. Methods: The population comprised 343 patients with ACS [including 108 unstable angina pectoris and 235 acute myocardial infarctions (AMI)] and 326 healthy controls. Additionally, 157 (45.8%) patients were resampled during the recovery. The ACS patients were followed up for 6 years. Results: MMP-8, TIMP-1, and their molar ratio distinguished the cases from the controls; C-statistic of the multivariate model (95% CI, p-value) including the MMP-8/TIMP-1 ratio regarding its discriminating ability for AMI was 0.922 (0.893-0.950, p < 0.001). After the acute phase of ACS, median MMP-8 and TIMP-1 concentrations decreased (p < 0.001) by 34.5 and 28.7%, respectively, but ended up on a different level than those found in the controls. In the follow-up, acute phase and recovery period TIMP-1 concentrations associated with cardiovascular death with hazard ratios 4.31 (2.00-9.26, p < 0.001) and 4.69 (1.10-20.01, p = 0.037), respectively. Conclusions: The increase of serum MMP-8 and TIMP-1 concentrations may reflect plaque instability and tissue damage. TIMP-1 concentrations are associated with poor outcome in patients with ACS. The findings may have practical implications in both diagnostics and therapeutics. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Campylobacter jejuni isolates in Finnish patients differ according to the origin of infection

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Campylobacter jejuni </it>is a significant cause of bacterial enteritis worldwide. Very little is known about the pathogenicity mechanisms and virulence factors of this important enteropathogen. <it>C. jejuni </it>isolates from 166 Finnish patients, collected from July to December in 2006, were studied for the presence of putative virulence factors and susceptibility to antimicrobials. Isolates were tested for production of γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) as well as the presence of genes <it>ceuE</it>, <it>cgtB</it>, <it>ciaB</it>, <it>cj0486</it>, <it>pldA</it>, <it>virB11</it>, <it>wlaN</it>, and the gene cluster <it>cdtABC</it>. Bacterial characteristics were compared to information on foreign travel history as well as information on the course and the symptoms of disease obtained from questionnaires returned by patients.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Except for one domestic isolate, antimicrobial resistance was only detected in isolates of foreign origin. Univariate analyses showed association between bloody stools and both GGT production (p = 0.025) and the presence of <it>cgtB </it>(p = 0.034). Multivariate analysis verified that GGT production was more prevalent in domestic isolates (p < 0.0001), while the genes <it>cj0486 </it>(p < 0.0001) and <it>ceuE </it>(p < 0.0001) were associated with <it>C. jejuni </it>isolates of foreign origin.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results indicate that imported and domestic <it>C. jejuni </it>isolates differ significantly in several aspects from each other.</p

Immunohistology and remodeling in fatal pediatric and adolescent asthma

Background: Thickening of reticular basement membrane, increased airway smooth muscle mass and eosinophilic inflammation are found in adult fatal asthma. At the present study the histopathology of fatal paediatric and adolescent asthma is evaluated. Methods: Post-mortem lung autopsies from 12 fatal asthma cases and 8 non-asthmatic control subjects were examined. Thickness of reticular basement membrane (RBM) and percentage of airway smooth muscle (ASM%) mass area were measured and inflammatory cells were counted. Patient records were reviewed for clinical history. Results: The age range of the cases was from 0.9 to 19.5 years, eight were males and five had received inhaled corticosteroids. Thickened RBM was detected in majority of the cases without any correlation to treatment delay, age at onset of symptoms or diagnosis. In the large airways ASM was clearly increased in one third of the cases whereas the median ASM% did not differ from that in healthy controls (14.0% vs. 14.0%). In small airways no increase of ASM was found, instead mucous plugs were seen in fatal asthma. The number of eosinophils, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, macrophages, and B-cells were significantly increased in fatal asthma cases compared with controls and the two latter correlated with the length of the fatal exacerbation. Conclusions: The findings highlight the strong presence of eosinophils and mucous plugs even in small airways in children and adolescents with fatal asthma. Thickened RBM was obvious in majority of the patients. Contrary to our hypothesis, increased ASM% was detected in only one third of the patients.Peer reviewe

Ura huippu-urheilijana suojaa kardiometabolisilta häiriöiltä

Eetti­sesti ter­veellä poh­jalla oleva huippu-ur­heilu nuo­rena näyt­tää olevan yhtey­dessä keski­ver­to­väestöä ter­veempään ja ­lii­kun­nal­li­sempaan van­huuteen. Eri­tyisen suo­tuisa vai­kutus ­huip­pu-ur­hei­lulla on kardio­me­ta­bo­listen häi­riöiden esiin­ty­miseen

Longitudinal Associations of High-Volume and Vigorous-Intensity Exercise With Hip Fracture Risk in Men

Maintenance of vigorous exercise habits from young to old age is considered protective against hip fractures, but data on fracture risk in lifelong vigorous exercisers are lacking. This longitudinal cohort study examined the hazard of hip fractures in 1844 male former athletes and 1216 population controls and in relation to exercise volume and intensity in later years. Incident hip fractures after age 50 years were identified from hospital discharge register from 1972 to 2015. Exercise and covariate information was obtained from questionnaires administered in 1985, 1995, 2001, and 2008. Analyses were conducted using extended proportional hazards regression model for time-dependent exposures and effects. During the mean +/- SD follow-up of 21.6 +/- 10.3 years, 62 (3.4%) athletes and 38 (3.1%) controls sustained a hip fracture. Adjusted hazard ratio (HR) indicated no statistically significant difference between athletes and controls (0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55-1.29). In subgroup analyses, adjusted HRs for athletes with recent high (>= 15 metabolic equivalent hours [MET-h]/week) and low (= 6 METs at least 75 minutes/week) had initially 77% lower hazard rate (adjusted HR 0.23; 95% CI, 0.06-0.86) than controls. However, the HR was time-dependent (adjusted HR 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07); by age 75 years the HRs for the athletes with vigorous-intensity exercise reached the level of the controls, but after 85 years the HRs for these athletes increased approximately 1.3-fold annually relative to the controls. In conclusion, these data suggest that continuation of vigorous-intensity exercise is associated with lower HR of hip fracture up to old age. (c) 2022 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).Peer reviewe