Human globin chain separation by isoelectric focusing in ultrathin polyacrylamide gels

We describe three basic modifications of our previous method for thalassemia screening by isoelectric focusing of heme-free globin chains: the gel thickness is reduced from 2 mm to 240 μm; the level of the detergent Nonidet P-40 in the gels is decreased from 3% to 0.5%; the polyacrylamide slab is covalently fixed to the supporting glass plate by treatment with silane A-174. By the present method the entire focusing process, starting from gel moulding up to gel destaining and drying, is completed within 4 h, a fraction of the time needed in our previous technique. More than a 100 samples can be analyzed per working day. The present technique also affords increased sensitivity: less than l μg protein/band is detected and less than 200 picomol of hemoglobin are needed for each analysis. Band sharpness and resolution in our ultrathin gels is also considerably increased.     

Together at school intervention programme. A pilot study on the feasibility and perceived benefits of a programme focusing on improving socio-emotional skills among schoolchildren in Finland

The aim of the Together at School Intervention Programme developed for the Finnish school system was to improve socio-emotional skills and prevent psychosocial problems among children (7?12 years). The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety and perceived benefits of the programme in order to justify its large-scale implementation for a randomized controlled study. Altogether, 23 classrooms from Grades 1–6 (N = 549, n = 451 children) in four schools participated in the study. Informants were teachers (n = 23), head masters (n = 4), children (n = 451) and their parents. Data were collected by questionnaires at three time points. The different tools assessed were considered to be beneficial for the children by 92?100% of the teachers, and pleasant to participate in by 73?89% of the children. During the follow-up, emotional symptoms reduced significantly among boys. Bullying behaviour was significantly reduced according to both teachers and children. The findings of this pilot study were encouraging.     

Molecularly defined adult-type hypolactasia among working age people with reference to milk consumption and gastrointestinal symptoms

AIM: To study milk consumption and subjective milk- related symptoms in adults genotyped for adult-type hypolactasia. METHODS: A total of 1900 Finnish adults were genotyped for the C/T-13910 variant of adult-type hypolactasia and filled in a structured questionnaire concerning milk consumption and gastrointestinal problems. RESULTS: The C/C-13910 genotype of adult-type hypolactasia was present in 18% of the study population. The prevalence of the C/C-13910 genotype was higher among subjects who were undergoing investigations because of abdominal symptoms (24%, P < 0.05). Those with the C/C-13910 genotype drank less milk than subjects with either the C/T-13910 or the T/T-13910 genotype of lactase persistence (18% vs 38%; 18% vs 36%, P < 0.01). Subjects with the C/C-13910 genotype had experienced more gastrointestinal symptoms (84%) during the preceding three-month period than those with the C/T-13910 (79%, P < 0.05) or the T/T-13910 genotype (78 %, P < 0.05). Only 9% (29/338) of the subjects with the C/C-13910 genotype consumed milk and reported no symptoms from it.CONCLUSION: Gastrointestinal symptoms are more common among adults with the C/C-13910 genotype of adult-type hypolactasia than in those with genotypes of lactase persistence.     

Global Family Concerns and the Role of Family Life Education: An Ecosystemic Analysis

We surveyed colleagues from 4 international professional organizations involved with families in order to examine global family concerns and the role of family life education from an ecosystemic perspective. Our sample represented 6 continents and 50 countries. Survey results indicated that family education and related coursework were available in all continents along with considerable public interest in family education. International public concern about family issues was related to population characteristics, values related to parenting and childrearing, interest in family and health legislation/regulations, and public interest in family, parent, and marriage education.     

Primary health care physicians' definitions on when to advise a patient about weekly and binge drinking

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the level of alcohol consumption at which physicians think that they should advise their patients to reduce drinking. This is especially true concerning the amounts consumed per one drinking occasion. The aim of the present study was to examine these issues and also characteristics of physicians possibly associated with their different opinions. METHOD: Cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire survey to all 3193 primary health care physicians in Finland. Response rate was 61.0%. RESULTS: The physicians reported that on average 14.8 drinks (one drink=12 g of absolute alcohol)/week for males and 10.6 drinks/week for females to be the threshold that would cause them to advise their patients. Corresponding figures for one drinking occasion were 6.6 and 4.9 drinks/week. In linear regression analyses physicians' AUDIT scores, use of brief intervention, experience as a physician and age explained the variance of all or some reported thresholds, but all the variables explained only about 10% of the phenomena. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the official Finnish recommendations regarding the definition of heavy drinking, the physicians reported similar levels of drinking per occasion for deciding to advise their patients, but rather low levels concerning weekly drinking. This may lead to extra workload for physicians and thus hamper implementation of brief intervention. Physicians' characteristics seem to be a decidedly minor issue in implementing drinking limits in health care.     

Determinants for preventive oral health care need among community‐dwelling older people: a population‐based study

The aim was to study the determinants of preventive oral health care need among community‐dwelling old people. The study population consisted of 165 participants, a subpopulation in the Geriatric Multidisciplinary Strategy for Good Care of Elderly People (GeMS) study. Fifty‐five percent of the edentate participants with full dentures and 82% of the dentate had a need for preventive oral health care. In the total study population, the need for preventive care was associated with co‐morbidity (measured by means of the Modified Functional Co‐morbidity Index) odds ratios (OR) 1.2 (confidence intervals [CI] 1.0–1.5), being pre‐frail or frail, OR 2.5 (CI 1.2–5.1), presence of natural teeth, OR 4.8 (CI 2.2–10.4), and among dentate participants, the use of a removable partial denture, OR 12.8 (CI 1.4–114.4). Primary care clinicians should be aware of the high need for preventive care and the importance of nonoral conditions as determinants of preventive oral health care need.     

Global estimates of fatal work-related diseases

BACKGROUND: Work-related mortality is a relatively new concept which aims to widen occupational health and safety; to take into account not only recognized fatal occupational accidents and diseases but also other work-related deaths. Few countries in the world have a register for work-related diseases. METHODS: Estimates are calculated using baseline world mortality scenarios of all diseases for the year 2000 and attributable fractions made for work-related diseases in Finland, as adjusted. RESULTS: It is estimated that about 2 million work-related deaths take place annually. Men suffer two thirds of those deaths. The biggest groups of work-related diseases are cancers, circulatory diseases and communicable diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Information about work-related diseases is needed for prevention, as people in developed countries are working longer, and the age of retirement is being raised in many countries. As a result, workers are being exposed to different kinds of substances and working conditions for a longer time. In developing countries, work exposures may already start in infancy. Due to industrialization, workers in developing countries are facing new conditions with a lack of relevant knowledge and skills. With the help of information, nations can direct resources and skills for appropriate purposes such as regulatory measures on health and safety at work.     

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in chemically induced and toremifene-treated mammary tumors in rats

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and NADPH-cyto-chrome P450 reductase (NCR) activity of microsomes from liver, lungs, uterus and mammary tumors in dimethylbenz-antrachene-induced and torem'rfene-treated female Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. AHH and NCR activity in tumors and uteri was low compared with that in livers and lungs. The distribution of AHH in tumors was wide and skewed. It varied in different tumors of the same animal as widely as between different animals. The enzyme activity in tumors did not correlate with that in the liver, lungs or uterus of the same animal. Toremifene had no effect on AHH or NCR in tumor or liver, but it decreased them in lungs. Tumor AHH activity correlated with its overall growth rate and development stage. The results suggest that malignant transformation leading to the defect in growth regulation also confuses the complex regulatory system of AHH activity.