Evaluation of cefuroxime axetil and cefadroxil suspensions for treatment of pediatric skin infections.

A randomized, single-blind, multicenter study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cefuroxime axetil and cefadroxil suspensions for the treatment of skin or skin structure infections in 287 children. Each drug was given at a dosage of 30 mg/kg of body weight per day in two divided doses. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, or a combination of the two, were the primary pathogens isolated from infected skin lesions. A satisfactory bacteriological response (cure or presumed cure) was obtained in 97.1 and 94.3% of children in the cefuroxime axetil and cefadroxil groups, respectively (P greater than 0.05). Satisfactory clinical responses (cure or improvement) were more likely to occur in cefuroxime axetil recipients than in cefadroxil recipients (97.8 versus 90.3%; P less than 0.05). Both regimens were equally well tolerated, with adverse events occurring in 7.9 and 6.1% of cefuroxime axetil and cefadroxil recipients, respectively. There were more patients who refused to take cefuroxime axetil (7 of 189) than there were who refused to take cefadroxil (0 of 98), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.1). In this study, cefuroxime axetil was at least as effective as cefadroxil in resolving skin and skin structure infections in children.     

Surface labeling of semliki forest virus glycoproteins using galactose oxidase exposure of E3-glycoprotein

Intact Semliki Forest virus grown in BHK 21 cells was treated with neuraminidase (EC 3.2.1.18) and galactose oxidase (EC 1.1.3.9) and subsequently reduced with tritiated sodium borohydride. This treatment led to a significant labeling of the glycoprotein E₃, whereas E₁ and E₂ were not markedly labeled. When the virus was disrupted with Triton X-100 also E₁ became significantly labeled. This suggests that the carbohydrate moiety of E₃ is more exposed than that of E₁ in the intact virion.     

Progress of work career, retirement-orientation and health in middle-aged workers

A lifelong work career has been stated to have an influenceon a worker's health and ability to work. Nevertheless, thesignificance of the work career has been neglected in most retirement-studies.The aim of the present study was to describe the associationsbetween progress of the work career, the retirement-orientation,health and ability to work among aged workers. The data wasobtained by a postal questionnaire and clinical examinations.The study group consisted of 706 (70%) middle-aged urban persons(383 women and 323 men), who were 55 years old and who livedin northern Finland. The state of health and ability to workwere significantly better among the work-oriented than amongthe retirement-oriented workers and the health of the retiredwas the worst. Correspondingly, the state of health and abilityto work were estimated to be better among the participants whoadvanced during their work career than among the other participants.     

Sociodemographic and socioeconomic differences in sleep duration and insomnia-related symptoms in Finnish adults

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Poor sleep tends to be patterned by sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors with sleep duration and insomnia-related symptoms across life course. METHODS: We used cross-sectional Health 2000 Survey (2000-2001) among a total of 5,578 adult Finns, aged 30-79 years, representative of adult Finnish population. Data about sociodemographic and socioeconomic circumstances, insomnia-related symptoms over the previous month as well as average sleep duration were collected by questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regression models were adjusted first for gender and age, second for sociodemographic factors, and third for all covariates simultaneously. RESULTS: On average 70% of Finnish adults slept 7-8 hours a day. Frequent insomnia-related symptoms were more prevalent among women (14%) than men (10%). Not being married, not having children, having low education, low income, being unemployed, and being a disability retiree were associated with frequent insomnia-related symptoms. Similar factors were associated with short and long sleep duration. However, childhood socioeconomic position was mostly unrelated to sleep in adulthood except parental education had some associations with short sleep duration. CONCLUSIONS: Disadvantaged socioeconomic position in adulthood, in particular income and employment status, is associated with poorer sleep. When promoting optimal sleep duration and better sleep quality, families with low incomes, unemployed people, and disability retirees should be targeted. Key words: marital status; parental status; education; employment status; household income; residential area; insomnia-related symptoms; sleep duration; life course; self-perceived health.     

Sleep problems and disability retirement: a register-based follow-up study

Among aging employees, sleep problems are prevalent, but they may have serious consequences that are poorly understood. This study examined whether sleep problems are associated with subsequent disability retirement. Baseline questionnaire survey data collected in 2000-2002 among employees of the city of Helsinki, Finland, were linked with register data on disability retirement diagnoses by the end of 2008 (n = 457) for those with written consent for such linkages (74%; N = 5,986). Sleep problems were measured by the Jenkins Sleep Questionnaire. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for disability retirement. Gender- and age-adjusted frequent sleep problems predicted disability retirement due to all causes (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.22, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.26, 4.60), mental disorders (HR = 9.06, 95% CI: 3.27, 25.10), and musculoskeletal disorders (HR = 3.27, 95% CI: 1.91, 5.61). Adjustments for confounders, that is, baseline sociodemographic factors, work arrangements, psychosocial working conditions, and sleep duration, had negligible effects on these associations, whereas baseline physical working conditions and health attenuated the associations. Health behaviors and obesity did not mediate the examined associations. In conclusion, sleep problems are associated with subsequent disability retirement. To prevent early exit from work, sleep problems among aging employees need to be addressed.     

Changes in occupational class differences in leisure-time physical activity: a follow-up study

Background  

Physical activity is known to have health benefits across population groups. However, less is known about changes over time in socioeconomic differences in leisure-time physical activity and the reasons for the changes. We hypothesised that class differences in leisure-time physical activity would widen over time due to declining physical activity among the lower occupational classes. We examined whether occupational class differences in leisure-time physical activity change over time in a cohort of Finnish middle-aged women and men. We also examined whether a set of selected covariates could account for the observed changes.