Biomedical subjects

J Wikström

Publications and source records attributed to J Wikström.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1976

Selenium, vitamin E and copper in multiple sclerosis.

There has been accumulation of the nutritional muscular dystrophy of the cattle in a certain western district of Finland where the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) is also highest. This animal disease is due to lack of selenium (Se) and vitamin E. The Se content of whole blood was low (52.6 +/- 11.3 ng/ml) in MS patients from this high-risk area compared to the controls (68.8 +/- 11.0). The data for serum failed to confirm this tendency. All Se values appeared to be lower than international values suggested. The values for both vitamin E and copper were within the international normal range.

Copper↗

PubMed1976

Sexual problems in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis.

A questionnaire which allowed anonymous answering and which also included many other questions besides those dealing with sexual life was sent to 302 patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). Sexual life had changed for 91% of males and 72% of females. About half of the patients replied that their sexual life was unsatisfactory or had ceased altogether. These patients were as a rule in a relative poor physical condition. In males, disturbances in erection (62%) were the most common problem, erection was normal in only 20%. In females the essential figures were: loss of orgasm in 33%, loss of libido in 27% and spasticity in 12%. There was no correlation between the incidence of sexual disturbances and the duration of the MS. It seems that the neurological disturbances in sexual life depend simply on the location of the plaques in the central nervous system.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1976

Studies on the clustering of multiple sclerosis in Finland.

The epidemiological investigation of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Finland revealed a prevalence rate of 40.3 per 100.000 inhabitants. The geographic distribution of MS was uneven in the country. MS seemed to occur more often in the western and southwestern parts of the country, where the prevalences varied between 51.7 and 62.1 This phenomenon became even more pronounced when the distribution of the disease was investigated in small geographic units. Optic neuritis showed a geographic distribution similar to that of MS, with clustering in the same parts of the country and even in the same narrow districts. The correlation between the birthplaces of MS and optic neuritis patients was very significant (p less than 0.001), which suggest that they share a common aetiology. The possible aetiological role of genetic and exogenous factors was discussed in the western cluster of MS, where the percentage of familial cases was 13 and an accumulation of muscular dystrophy of cattle was observed.

Finland↗

PubMed1975

Studies on the clustering of multiple sclerosis in Finland I: Comparison between the domiciles and places of birth in selected subpopulations.

Further studies pm yjr rofr,op;phu pg ,i;yo;r dv;rtpdod (MS) IN Finland were carried out in three different types of geographical unit: in counties, combined clerical districts, and single clerical district. For longitudinal studies, the prevalence of MS by present domicile was compared to that by place of birth, and also to the number of MS cases in relation to the number of births. The analysis was based on 1,866 living MS patients. The highest prevalence by present domicile was recorded in the southwestern county of Turku and Pori (52.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants). It was 39.6 for the whole country. Two separate clusters were found at the level of combined and single clerical districts: one in the western county of Vaasa, and another in the southwestern county of Turku and Pori. The highest prevalences by present comicile were found in two clerical districts of Vaasa (83.5 and 79.7). They also had very high prevalences by place of birth. They lie close to each other, but are not immediate neighbours. Another high-risk focus was revealed in an area of the neighbouring districts of Turku and Pori. In fact, the two highest prevalences by place of birth were found in this region (123.1 and 95.0). The focus extended from the coastal area to the more central region of the county, and further to the western districts of the otherwise medium-risk county of Hme. Thus, two separate foci were found in Finland: one in the western and another in the southwestern part of the country. The clustering became even more pronounced when the prevalences by place of birth were analysed. Considering that the Finnish population still largely originates from genetic isolates of varying degrees, gene enrichment explains the clustering at least partly.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

The epidemiology of optic neuritis in Finland.

Evidence has been presented that optic neuritis partially reflects benign cases of MS which are lost in the epidemiological investigation of the disease. As part of a large epidemiological investigation of MS, 221 patients with pure optic neuritis were identified during the period from January 1, 1967 to December 31, 1971. The mean annual incidence for the whole of Finland was 0.94 per 100,000 population. The female to male ratio was 1.7. The mean age at onset was 31.2 years. The distribution of optic neuritis by counties showed the highest mean annual incidence in the southwestern county of Turku and Pori (1.69) and in the western county of Vaasa (1.68). The prevalence data for MS were highest in these counties. A highly significant deviation from a random distribution according to place at onset and place of birth was obtained. Even the geographical distribution by smaller units, i.e. the combined clerical districts, revealed a firm accumulation to the western districts in the county of Vaasa and to the southwestern districts in the county of Turku and Pori. Thus, optic neuritis showed a similar geographical distribution of Jalasjärvi with several familial cases of MS did not increase the familial percentage when both conditions were considered as a single group. The risk of getting optic neuritis seems to depend on the influence of factors present during childhood. The epidemiological data point to a common factor in the aetiology of optic neuritis and MS.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1975

The epidemiology of multiple sclerosis and tuberculosis in Finland. A study based on mortality statistics.

Mortality statistics were used to check the previously observed uneven geographical distribution of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Finland, and also to compare the distribution of tuberculosis and MS with each other. In total, 331 MS deaths which could be regarded as deaths primarily due to MS were registered during the period from 1963 to 1971. The mean age at death was 49.9 years. The mean annual mortality rate was 0.8 per 100,000 population. The highest rates due to MS were registered in the western county of Vaasa. The cumulative mortality and birth rates showed a significant accumulation of MS cases to the western county of Vaasa and the southwestern county of Turku and Pori. A previous study revealed a high percentage of familial cases of first-degree kinship in the selected district of Jalasjärvi in the county of Vaasa. The mortality material revealed one additional MS case which raised the familial percentage to 13 among the living patients in this district. Statistics of tuberculosis have shown a constant accumulation of the disease in the western part of the country for more than 100 years. The mean annual mortality rate for tuberculosis was 17.1. The highest rate (23.0) was found in the western county of Vaasa, where the mortality rate (1.34) for MS was highest. Previous immigrant studies in Finland suggest that the uneven geographical distribution of tuberculosis is due to hereditary factors. The population of Finland consists of varying degrees of isolates, and the similarity of the distributions of MS and tuberculosis may thus reflect a common genetic factor in their aetiology.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1975

Studies on the clustering of multiple sclerosis in Finland II: microepidemiology in one high-risk county with special reference to familial cases.

The epidemiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) was investigated in a small selected area within the western high-risk county of Finland. The investigation was extended to the level of single communes, villages and even houses, together with the search for all familial cases born in this district. The results were compared to those obtained for Helsinki, a city of medium-risk for MS. Prevalences by present domicile that exceeded 100 per 1000,000 inhabitants were recorded in several communes of the western high-risk county. The highest prevalence was 174.2. Seventy patients were born in the small high-risk area. This was 25% of the MS patients born in the whole county and much higher than expected (16%). A positive familial history of another MS patient was recorded in 8 cases (11%). They were all living, first-degree relatives. A similar history was found in only 2 cases (2%) among the 99 MS patients born in Helsinki. The birthplaces of the 123 parents of these 70 MS cases could be confirmed. All villages with high MS frequencies were located along the rivers, running through the area. The birthplaces of the patients showed a similar accumulation to the valleys. No conjugal cases were found. If the preponderance of familial cases in the small high-risk area reflects the role of genetic factors in the aetiology of MS, it is only of polygenic nature. The pronounced clustering of the birthplaces in the small high-risk area and, especially, along the rivers also suggests the importance of environmental influences in early childhood.

Child, Preschool↗