Coffee, tea and caffeine intake and the risk of severe depression in middle-aged Finnish men: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77500/1/Coffee tea and caffeine intake and the risk of severe depression_2010.pd

Spin polarization of the Ar* 2p−11/2 4s and 2p−11/2 3d resonant Auger decay

The spin-resolved Auger decay of the Ar 2p−11/2 3d state was measured at moderate energy resolution and compared with the decay of the 2p−11/2 4s. The former shows a lower transferred spin polarization and a similar, if not higher, dynamical spin polarization, supporting the statement that a fully resolved spectrum is not a necessary condition for observing dynamical spin polarization. An interpretation of the spin polarization as configuration interaction induced effect in the final ionic state leads to partial agreement with our relativistic distorted wave calculation utilizing a 36 configuration state function basis set. Comparison of the experimental and numerical results leads to ambiguities for at least one Auger line. A hypothetical, qualitative interpretation is discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/58121/2/b7_17_012.pd

Serum homocysteine, folate and risk of stroke: Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor (KIHD) Study

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/51490/1/Virtanen JK, Serum Homocysteine, Folate and Risk of Stroke, 2005.pd

Vitamin D supplementation and prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer in the Finnish Vitamin D Trial-a randomized controlled trial

Background: Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer in observational studies, but evidence for benefits with vitamin D supplementation is limited.Objectives: To investigate the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on CVD and cancer incidence.Design: The study was a 5-year randomized placebo-controlled trial among 2495 male participants ≥ 60 years and post-menopausal female participants ≥ 65 years from a general Finnish population who were free of prior CVD or cancer. The study had three arms: placebo, 1600 IU/day or 3200 IU/day vitamin D3. Follow-up was by annual study questionnaires and national registry data. A representative sub-cohort of 551 participants had more detailed in-person investigations. The primary endpoints were incident major CVD and invasive cancer. Secondary endpoints included the individual components of the primary CVD endpoint (myocardial infarction, stroke, and CVD mortality), site-specific cancers and cancer death.Results: During the follow-up, there were 41 (4.9%), 42 (5.0%) and 36 (4.3%) major CVD events in the placebo, 1600 IU/d (vs. placebo: hazard ratio (HR), 0.97;95% CI, 0.63,1.49; P = 0.89), and 3200 IU/d (HR, 0.84;95% CI, 0.54,1.31; P = 0.44) arms, respectively. Invasive cancer was diagnosed in 41 (4.9%), 48 (5.8%) and 40 (4.8%) participants in the placebo, 1600 IU/d (HR, 1.14;95% CI, 0.75,1.72; P = 0.55), and 3200 IU/d (HR, 0.95;95% CI, 0.61,1.47; P = 0.81) arms, respectively. There were no significant differences in the secondary endpoints or total mortality. In the sub-cohort, the mean (standard deviation) baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was 75 (18) nmol/L. After 12 months, the concentrations were 73 (18) nmol/L, 100 (21) nmol/L and 120 (22) nmol/L in the placebo, 1600 IU/d and 3200 IU/d arms, respectively.Conclusions: Vitamin D3 supplementation did not lower the incidence of major CVD events or invasive cancer among older adults, possibly due to sufficient vitamin D status in most participants at baseline. Clinical Trial Registry number: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01463813, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01463813.</p

Re-evaluation of diagnostic parameters is crucial for obtaining accurate data on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Background: The FinnishIPF registry is a prospective, longitudinal national registry study on the epidemiology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). It was designed to describe the characteristics, management and prognosis of prevalent and incident IPF patients. The study was initiated in 2012. Methods: We present here results limited to five university hospitals. Patients with IPF were screened from hospital registries using ICD-10 diagnosis codes J84.1 and J84.9. All patients who gave informed consent were included and evaluated using novel diagnostic criteria. Point prevalence on the 31st of December in 2012 was calculated using the reported population in each university hospital city as the denominator. Results: Patients with ICD-10 codes J84.1 and J84.9 yielded a heterogeneous group - on the basis of patient records assessed by pulmonologists only 20-30 % of the cases were IPF. After clinical, radiological and histological re-evaluation 111 of 123 (90 %) of patients fulfilled the clinical criteria of IPF. The estimated prevalence of IPF was 8.6 cases/100 000. 60.4 % were men. Forty four percent of the patients were never-smokers. At diagnosis, the patients' mean age was 73.5 years and mean FVC was 80.4 % and DLCO 57.3 % of predicted. Conclusions: Our results suggest that hospital registries are inaccurate for epidemiological studies unless patients are carefully re-evaluated. IPF is diagnosed in Finland at a stage when lung function is still quite well preserved. Smoking in patients with IPF was less common than in previous reports.Peer reviewe

Cocoa, Hazelnuts, Sterols and Soluble Fiber Cream Reduces Lipids and Inflammation Biomarkers in Hypertensive Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Cocoa, mixed with other food ingredients, intake can have beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) biomarkers. We compared the effects of 4 cocoa cream products on some of these biomarkers.In this multi-centered, randomized, controlled, double-blind, parallel trial, volunteers (n = 113; age range: 43-65 years) who were pre-hypertensive, stage-1 hypertensive and hypercholesterolemic received one of 4 cocoa cream products (13 g/unit; 1 g cocoa/unit, 6 units/d; 465 Kcal/d) added to a low saturated fat diet for 4 weeks. The groups were: A) (n = 28), cocoa cream considered as control; B) (n = 28), cocoa+hazelnut cream (30 g/d hazelnuts); C) (n = 30), cocoa+hazelnuts+phytosterols (2 g/d); and D) (n = 27), cocoa+hazelnuts+phytosterols+soluble fiber (20 g/d) the patented "LMN product". Primary outcome measures were BP, LDL-c, apolipoprotein B-100 (Apo B), ApoB/ApoA ratio, oxidized LDL (oxLDL) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) determined at baseline and post-cocoa cream product intake. Statistical analysis used was ANCOVA or mixed models (in case of repeated measurements), with baseline observation included as a covariate. After 4 weeks, compared to product A, product C reduced LDL-c by 11.2%, Apo B by 8.1% and ApoB/ApoA ratio by 7.8% (P = 0.01). LMN decreased LDL-c by 9.2%, Apo B-100 by 8.5%, ApoB/ApoA ratio by 10.5%, hsCRP by 33.4% and oxLDL by 5.9% (P = 0.01). Surprisingly, even "control" product A reduced systolic BP (-7.89 mmHg; 95%CI: -11.45 to -4.3) and diastolic BP (-5.54 mmHg; 95%CI: -7.79 to -3.29). The BP reductions were similar with the other 3 products. Limitations of the study are that the trial period was relatively short and that a better "BP control" product would have been preferable.The creams (particularly the LMN) have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in addition to lowering LDL-c, Apo B and ApoB/ApoA ratio. Thus, the soluble fiber effects amplified with sterols (as contained in the cocoa creams) provide new dietary therapeutic perspectives.Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00511420

The risk of lung cancer related to dietary intake of flavonoids

It has been hypothesized that flavonoids in foods and beverages may reduce cancer risk through antioxidation, inhibition of inflammation, and other antimutagenic and antiproliferative properties. We examined associations between intake of five flavonoid subclasses (anthocyanidins, flavan-3-ols, flavones, flavonols, flavanones) and lung cancer risk in a population-based case-control study in Montreal, Canada (1,061 cases and 1,425 controls). Flavonoid intake was estimated from a food frequency questionnaire that assessed diet two years prior to diagnosis (cases) or interview (controls). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression. Overall, total flavonoid intake was not associated with lung cancer risk, the effect being similar regardless of sex and smoking level. However, low flavonoid intake from food, but not from beverages, was associated with an increased risk. The adjusted ORs (95% CIs) comparing the highest versus the lowest quartiles of intake were 0.63 (0.47-0.85) for total flavonoids, 0.82 (0.61-1.11) for anthocyanidins, 0.67 (0.50-0.90) for flavan-3-ols, 0.68 (0.50-0.93) for flavones, 0.62 (0.45-0.84) for flavonols, and 0.70 (0.53-0.94) for flavanones. An inverse association with total flavone and flavanone intake was observed for squamous cell carcinoma but not adenocarcinoma. In conclusion, low flavonoid intake from food may increase lung cancer risk

Milk and dairy products: good or bad for human health? An assessment of the totality of scientific evidence

Background: There is scepticism about health effects of dairy products in the public, which is reflected in an increasing intake of plant-based drinks, for example, from soy, rice, almond, or oat. Objective: This review aimed to assess the scientific evidence mainly from meta-analyses of observational studies and randomised controlled trials, on dairy intake and risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, cancer, and all-cause mortality. Results: The most recent evidence suggested that intake of milk and dairy products was associated with reduced risk of childhood obesity. In adults, intake of dairy products was shown to improve body composition and facilitate weight loss during energy restriction. In addition, intake of milk and dairy products was associated with a neutral or reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly stroke. Furthermore, the evidence suggested a beneficial effect of milk and dairy intake on bone mineral density but no association with risk of bone fracture. Among cancers, milk and dairy intake was inversely associated with colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, gastric cancer, and breast cancer, and not associated with risk of pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, or lung cancer,while the evidence for prostate cancer risk was inconsistent.Finally,consumption of milk and dairy products was not associated with all-cause mortality. Calcium-fortified plant-based drinks have been included as an alternative to dairy products in the nutrition recommendations in several countries. However, nutritionally, cow’s milk and plant-based drinks are completely different foods,and an evidence-based conclusion on the health value of the plant-based drinks requires more studies in humans. Conclusion: The totality of available scientific evidence supports that intake of milk and dairy products contribute to meet nutrient recommendations, and may protect against the most prevalent chronic diseases, whereas very few adverse effects have been reported

Blood n-3 fatty acid levels and total and cause-specific mortality from 17 prospective studies.

The health effects of omega-3 fatty acids have been controversial. Here we report the results of a de novo pooled analysis conducted with data from 17 prospective cohort studies examining the associations between blood omega-3 fatty acid levels and risk for all-cause mortality. Over a median of 16 years of follow-up, 15,720 deaths occurred among 42,466 individuals. We found that, after multivariable adjustment for relevant risk factors, risk for death from all causes was significantly lower (by 15-18%, at least p < 0.003) in the highest vs the lowest quintile for circulating long chain (20-22 carbon) omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids). Similar relationships were seen for death from cardiovascular disease, cancer and other causes. No associations were seen with the 18-carbon omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid. These findings suggest that higher circulating levels of marine n-3 PUFA are associated with a lower risk of premature death.The EPIC Norfolk study (DOI 10.22025/2019.10.105.00004) has received funding from the Medical Research Council (MR/N003284/1 and MC-UU_12015/1) and Cancer Research UK (C864/A14136). NJW, NGF, and FI were supported by the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit core funding [MC_UU_12015/1 and MC_UU_12015/5]. NJW and NGF acknowledge support from the National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre [IS-BRC-1215-20014] and NJW is an NIHR Senior Investigator