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Biomedical subjects

J Hassi

Publications and source records attributed to J Hassi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Blood mercury and serum selenium concentrations in reindeer herders in the arctic area of northern Finland.

163 healthy reindeer herders living in the arctic area of northern Finland were investigated for blood mercury and serum selenium concentrations. More than ten percent of the subjects had blood mercury above the upper normal limit. High organic and total organic mercury levels were most common in the northeastern part of the country. High organic and total mercury and selenium values were more common in the Lapps than the Finns. Blood mercury levels increased with increasing fish consumption. The pollution in the northeastern part of this country probably leads to the increased formation of organic mercury, and its enrichment in the food chain. The association of high selenium with high mercury probably reduces the toxicity of the latter.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1992

Rewarming of feet by lower and upper body exercise.

The capacity of different types of exercise to rewarm the body, especially the feet, was studied. Six healthy male subjects wearing winter clothing (2.4 clo, 0.37 degrees C.m2.W-1) were exposed on three occasions to -15 degrees C for 120 min. For the first 60 min the subjects were cooled while sitting motionless and for the latter 60 min they were submitted to cycle ergometer exercise (CE), arm ergometer exercise (AE) or step exercise (ST). The rate of work in CE (about 350 W) served as a reference value for AE and ST. The cooling resulted in an average 1.7 (SEM 0.03) degrees C decrease in mean body temperature (Tb) corresponding to a 425 (SEM 9) kJ heat debt. The ST increased most effectively mean skin, rectal and lower body skin temperatures as well as dry heat loss. The ST increased Tb by 0.83 (SEM 0.16) degrees C, CE by 0.10 (SEM 0.11) degrees C and AE by only 0.07 (SEM 0.12) degrees C. At the end of the exercise the foot temperature was approximately 6 degrees C higher in ST than in CE. The superior rewarming by ST was apparently due to its low mechanical efficiency. Because the increase in Tb could not explain all the changes in foot temperatures, increased circulation and metabolism of the feet would also appear to have been involved.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Alcohol consumption among male reindeer herders of Lappish and Finnish origin.

Ethnic differences in alcohol intake among male reindeer herders were studied, since historical evidence suggests that Lapps drink more than Finns and since the considerable freedom of the herding occupation may imply a high risk for alcohol problems. In 1988, 2001 men answered a mail questionnaire including questions on alcohol intake over the past 12 months. The mean alcohol intake was 22.3 g/day among the Lapps and 13.2g/day among the Finns (P less than 0.001). The percentage of heavy drinkers (20 g or more daily) was 33.9 among the Lapps and 19.1 among the Finns. The mean frequency of getting drunk was 35 occasions/year among both Lapps and Finns. An analysis of variance showed that alcohol intake was significantly related to age, marital status, region and being of Lappish origin, but not to being a full-time reindeer herder. A significant interaction between region and marital status was also detected. The Lappish reindeer herders drink more than their Finnish counterparts. The ethnic difference is not, however, very large when compared with the stereotypic view of the drunken Lapp.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Detection of airborne reindeer epithelial antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay inhibition.

Hypersensitivity reactions to reindeer epithelial (RE) allergens have been recently demonstrated among reindeer herders. To determine the concentration of airborne RE antigens a method based on inhibition of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed. Dust samples were collected in workshops where reindeer leather was processed and the workers had inhaled dry epithelial dust during their working shifts. Specific IgE to RE allergen could be detected in one of 5 workers. RE antigen concentrations varied from 0.01 microgram to 3.9 micrograms/m3 in the air of the workshop. All workers except one claimed work-associated respiratory symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Prevention of accidents in reindeer herding work.

In the northern part of Finland we have about 450,000 reindeer and their raising gives work to about 3,500 reindeer herders. In this study data on the occupational accidents of herders were collected by two questionnaires with an interval of 2 years. Based on the surveys of accident risks in various work phases 34 preventive measures were developed and information about them was passed on to the herders between the questionnaires. Most of the accidents occurred in the late autumn during slaughtering, gathering for separation and during separation work. The main causes of accidents were the slaughtering knife (30%) and the reindeer itself (25%). The most serious accidents were caused by snowmobiles and other terrain vehicles. The recommended preventive measures mostly dealt with the environment of permanent working places, personal protection and working habits. The follow-up questionnaire showed that the herders had implemented on an average 5.8 preventive measures. The incidence rate of accidents also decreased during the 2 years from 21 to 12 accidents/1000 working days. In conclusion these results show that it is possible to develop measures preventing accidents and to improve the safety in reindeer herders' work.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1991

Specific IgE to reindeer epithelium in Finnish reindeer herders.

Reindeer herding is a major source of living for more than 4200 inhabitants in northern Finland. To determine the prevalence of allergic symptoms among reindeer herders clinical examinations and skin prick tests (SPT) with nine inhalant allergens were performed in 211 randomly selected men from 21 to 69 (mean 45) years. Specific IgE antibodies to reindeer epithelium (RE) and total serum IgE were evaluated in 99 herders, five persons who handled reindeer leather indoors, 21 atopic patients with cow allergy and another 20 subjects with specific IgE to other inhalant allergens. Positive SPT to RE was detected in one and specific IgE by using enzyme allergosorbent test (EAST) (greater than or equal to 0.8 PRU/ml) in seven herders. Specific IgE to RE was also demonstrated in one control. Using RAST inhibition a patient with cow allergy did not show cross-reactivity between cow and RE while another patient did. Thus, RE should be included in the allergy test panel when hypersensitivity to RE is suspected.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Plasma levels of endothelin-1 and atrial natriuretic peptide in men during a 2-hour stay in a cold room.

Male volunteers were exposed to +10 degrees C ambient temperature for 2 hours while they were sitting undressed. The levels of endothelin-1 and atrial natriuretic peptide were determined by radioimmunoassays. Control samples were obtained at thermoneutrality. The cold exposure resulted in lowering of the mean skin temperature (from 31.2 +/- 0.3 degrees C-22.6 +/- 2.5 degrees C, mean +/- SEM), which indicates that a marked vasoconstriction took place, as well as a decrease of the body heat content (by 11.2 +/- 0.7 kJ kg-1). However, plasma endothelin-1 levels did not change significantly during the exposure. Thus circulating endothelin-1 does not seem to be responsible for the vasoconstriction associated with cold air exposure. The plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels exhibited a slight increase towards the end of the cold exposure. This finding is in accord with the notion that atrial natriuretic peptide might contribute to the diuresis frequently observed in the cold.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Prevalence of low back pain and other musculoskeletal symptoms and their association with work in Finnish reindeer herders.

The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was determined in a population-based sample of 2720 male reindeer herders in Finland by postal questionnaires sent out in 1986 and 1988. Sixty per cent reported back pain, 32% sciatica, 51% neck-shoulder pain, and 49% pain, aching or tenderness in at least one joint during the past 12 months. The neck-shoulder and joint symptoms increased with the annual amount of reindeer herding work done in persons below 50 years of age. The association of back pain with the amount of work was weak, and no consistent association was found for sciatica. Neck-shoulder and joint symptoms were most frequently exacerbated by physically heavy work such as slaughtering the reindeer. It is suggested that self-reported neck-shoulder and joint symptoms are associated with reindeer herding, but that the association is partly biased due to selection of disease-prone older individuals for less demanding tasks.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Frostbite in reindeer herders.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of frostbite among reindeer herders and to clarify the co-factors that may relate to these injuries. 2081 (60%) male reindeer herders in Finland were asked information on frostbite. Logistic regression analysis was used for studying the effect of potential co-factors. 453 men (22% of the respondents) reported frostbites during the last twelve months, the areas most affected being the face, fingers and toes. The amount of time spent in snowmobile driving, white finger symptom and the area of reindeer herding proved to be significant explanatory factors. Since the majority of frostbites were associated with snowmobile driving in spite of protection and adaptation to cold, it seems that new technology has not solved all the problems of the working conditions in a cold environment.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory function among Finnish reindeer herders.

Prevalence of respiratory symptoms in relation to occupation and smoking habits were evaluated in 211 randomly selected male reindeer herders in Northern Finland. Clinical examination with skin prick tests (SPT) and spirometry was conducted in 23 local health centers. No significant differences could be determined in respiratory symptoms, smoking habits or ventilatory function between full-time reindeer herders and their controls. Positive SPT reactions to common allergens in reindeer herders were to some extent lower than expected. Only one test subject had positive SPT to reindeer epithelium. 35% were non-smokers, 32% smokers and 33% ex-smokers. Prevalence of chronic bronchitis was 10% in non-smokers and 28% in regular smokers, while the prevalence of cough was 18% and 23%, and that of the phlegm 10% and 34%, respectively. 14% had dyspnoea caused by cold air inhalation. In the age groups of 21-39 FVC and FEV1 increased by age in ex- and non-smokers but decreased in smokers. The mean FEV1% was lowest in regular smokers. Further studies are needed to establish the possible disadvantage of cold air to reindeer herder's working capacity.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Cold weather work].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Body Temperature Regulation↗
PubMed1988

Serum levels of thyroid and adrenal hormones, testosterone, TSH, LH, GH and prolactin in men after a 2-h stay in a cold room.

Twenty healthy male volunteers, dressed in shorts, stayed for 30 min in a room with an ambient temperature of 28 degrees C followed by a stay in a room with a temperature of 10 degrees C for 120 min. The mean skin temperature fell rapidly during the first minutes in the cold but the rectal temperature began to fall as late as at 60 min (0.1 degree C) and was 0.4 degrees C lower at the end of the cold exposure than before it. The metabolic rate, and the systolic and diastolic blood pressures, increased, and the pulse rate fell, in the cold. Serum samples were taken before moving to the cold (10 degrees C) room and after the 2-h stay and assayed for 11 hormones. There were no significant changes in the serum concentration of adrenalin, T3, T4, testosterone, TSH or LH. The serum level of noradrenaline increased from 4.5 to 6.3 nmol l-1 (P less than 0.01) and those of cortisol, GH and prolactin fell by 20, 87 and 48% (all P less than 0.01). The total serum proteins increased by 11% and free fatty acids by 28% (P less than 0.01). Our results show that the short-term exposure of adult man to low ambient temperature does not have any effect on the pituitary-thyroid and pituitary-testis axes and adrenal medulla. The increase of noradrenaline is probably due to general activation of the sympathetic nerves at low temperatures. The decreases in the serum levels of GH and prolactin reflect a true decrease in their secretions and may be mediated by inhibitory hypothalamic mechanisms.

Adult↗