Hemostatic Factors and Renin in Greenland Eskimos on a High Eicosapentaenoic Acid Intake

ABSTRACT. The Fifth UmanaK expedition compared the fatty acid composition of platelets, bleeding times before and after ingestion of acetylsalicylic acid, 24-hour urinary tetranorpros-tanedioate, creatinine and Na output, as well as plasma renin, serum electrolytes and anti-thrombin III in 20 Greenland Eskimos and 20 Danes. The results indicate that the prostaglandin production was not inhibited in the Eskimos, and that the antiaggregatory prostanoids predominate in Eskimos compared to Danes. Although blood pressure and 24-hour urinary Na output were similar, the plasma renin level was significantly higher in the Eskimos on a high eicosapentaenoic acid intake. Acta Med Scand 1986; 219: 473–9.     

Twenty year smoking trends in a community-based cardiovascular diseases prevention programme: Results from the North Karelia Project

Objectives: to evaluate long-term changes associated with acommunity-based cardiovascular disease prevention programmeon smoking. Methods: the North Karelia Project was started in1972 to carry out a comprehensive community-based programmeto reduce the exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular diseases(CVD) in North Karelia, an eastern province in Finland. Amongthe main intermediate objectives was the reduction of smokingrates, particularly among the male population. The programmewas evaluated by standardized examinations of large representativecross-sectional population samples in 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987and 1992 in North Karelia and in the Kuopio province, anotherprovince in eastern Finland, which was initially chosen as referencearea for the first project period. Results: in men the percentageof current smokers decreased during the 20 years from 52 to32% in North Karelia and from 50 to 37% in the initial referencearea (p<0.05). Smoking declined faster in the first 10 years(from 1972 to 1982) than in the last 10 years. During the first10 years the decline was more remarkable in North Karelia thanin the reference area. The main reason for the decline in smokingduring the first 10 years was smoking cessation and during thelast 10 years the increase in the number of people who had neversmoked regularly. Among women the proportion of smokers increasedin both areas from approximately 10 to approximately 20%. Thisincrease was greatest in the youngest age group. Conclusions:the community-based cardiovascular disease prevention programmewas an effective way to reduce smoking in the general populationin men and sustained decline could be achieved.     

Platelet Function in Patients with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome

ABSTRACT. Platelet function tests were performed in 15 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and in 15 normal controls. Platelet counts were within the normal range in all except two patients in whom they were only slightly decreased. P-β-thromboglobulin was increased in several patients compared to controls, although not significantly (p < 0.1). Platelet aggregation was enhanced in patients when measured upon stimulation with epinephrine (p < 0.05), ADP (p < 0.01) and collagen (p < 0.01). No correlation was found between enhanced platelet activity and sex, age, duration of disease, extraglandular manifestations, positive ANA test, elevated P-IgG or P-immune complexes. Enhanced platelet activity in patients with primary SS is a new observation. Future studies are needed to elucidate the pathogenetic background.     

Regional cerebral blood flow during experimental phobic fear

Positron emission tomographic measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were used to investigate central nervous system correlates of fear and anxiety. Volunteers with symptomatic snake phobia were studied while exposed to visual phobogenic, aversive, and neutral stimuli. Anxiety ratings and the number of nonspecific electrodermal fluctuations increased as a function of phobic stimulation. Phobic, compared to neutral and aversive, stimulation elevated rCBF in the visual associative cortex. The basal ganglia were not activated more by phobic than aversive or neutral stimulation. However, cortical and thalamic rCBF were always correlated during phobic but not aversive or neutral stimulation. This indicates that the thalamus could be a relay station for phobic stimulus processing and affect.     

One-year Sequential Follow-up of Venous Emptying Rate and Leg Temperature Profiles after Acute Deep Vein Thrombosis

Abstract. In order to study the natural course of venous flow and temperature reaction in the legs after symptomatic first episode of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), 65 patients (57 with proximal DVT) without further thromboembolic complications during the observation period were followed for 1 year by repeated plethysmography (PG) and thermography (TG). Regarding the non-invasive parameters substantial individual variations were observed during the observation period. After 1 year pathologic PG and TG were still demonstrated in 39% (I_μ (95%) = /0.43±0.05/) and 65% (I_μ (95%) = /1.18±0.11/), respectively, of the patients after proximal DVT. Only a minority of the patients were normalized permanently in both PG and TG during the first year. The high frequency of remaining venous obstruction and especially, persistent thermoactivity is notable and may be of clinical importance.     

Sex and age differences in bone morphology of mandibles

abstract — Histomorphometric analysis of mandibular specimens has been performed in order to demonstrate possible sex and age differences in percent bone mass and bone activity in the mandible. The material consisted of 32 autopsy specimens from the right premolar region of the mandibular body in subjects with sudden unexpected death and without known bone disease. The subjects were divided in a young group (20–43 years of age) and an old group (60–90 years of age); each group consisted of eight females and eight males. Microradiograms of buccolingual ground sections of 100 μm were used. Quantitation of (1) percent bone area of cortical and trabecular bone and (2) total bone surface/bone area and resorption surfaces/total bone surface in trabecular bone, were done by electronic point-counting. The analysis did not reveal any significant sex or age differences in the trabecular bone with respect to percent bone mass, trabecular coarseness and bone activity. In the buccal and lingual cortices a significant age difference was demonstrated, but there was no sex difference in percent bone mass. Cortical porosity in mandibles clearly increases with increasing age, but seems to be independent of sex.     

Ultrastructural features of the epithelial-mesenchymal interface in an ameloblastic fibro-odontoma

The ultrastructural features of the epithelial-mesenchymal interface in a case of an ameloblastic fibro-odontoma was studied with special reference to possible signs of “inductive” processes. In most parts of the tumor, the odontogenic epithelium was separated from the connective tissue by a thick rim of a finely filamentous mesh work in which a basal lamina was occasionally observed. Mesenchymal cells were seen to touch the filamentous mesh work but no membrane bound matrix vesicles were recorded. Small areas of dentin-like tissue were found in the juxtaepithelial connective tissue while enamel-like areas and spherical calcified masses were encountered in epithelial islands. The organic matrix in relation to the enamel-like tissue consisted of either tubular fibers or a fine-granular material. It was assumed that the tubular matrix component directed the formation of long enamel-like crystals, and that the fine-granular matrix was degraded tubular fibers in which spherical calcified masses might arise. Spherical calcified masses could be found in separate follicles also where they were related to a fine-fibrillar matrix or collagenous material. The cell layers forming the wall of the islands had a great resemblance to those of an enamel organ, but the findings of dentin-free, enamel-like areas are not compatible with the inductive theory of normal odontogenesis.