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Biomedical subjects

M Olkinuora

Publications and source records attributed to M Olkinuora.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Urinary and blood manganese in occupationally nonexposed populations and in manual metal arc welders of mild steel.

To obtain reference values for blood and serum manganese levels, blood specimens were collected from 29 men and 36 women. Mn in blood showed a normal distribution; its upper 97.5% limit in blood was 0.38 mumol/l. Mn in serum showed a skewed distribution, which did not differ from the normal one after logarithmic transformation. The respective reference limit was 19 nmol/l. In both specimens, the levels of Mn were significantly lower in men than in women. To obtain reference values for Mn in urine, midday urine specimens were collected from 58 men and 96 women. Mn in urine also showed a skewed distribution, and the upper 97.5% limit was 38 nmol/l. The levels of Mn in blood and urine were statistically significantly higher in manual metal arc (MMA) welders of mild steel (MS) than in the reference populations. Five MMA/MS welders were subjected to a further study in which the ambient intramask Mn levels and urinary Mn excretion were monitored throughout a full working week. For two welders the correlation of Mn in urine specimens voided in the afternoon was good with the before noon Mn concentrations in the hygienic measurements; for the rest the correlation was minimal. Mn in diurnal urine specimens collected in six portions showed fluctuation if specific gravity or creatinine in urine was used to standardize for the urinary flow, but it was less evident for urinary Mn excretion rate. Our results seem to indicate that the measurement of Mn in urine or blood may be used for monitoring Mn exposure in MMA/MS welders only at the group level.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Stress symptoms, burnout and suicidal thoughts in Finnish physicians.

Stress symptoms, burnout and suicidal thoughts in Finnish physicians were studied using a questionnaire. The questionnaire, containing 99 questions or groups of questions, was mailed to 3,496 physicians representative, as regards age, sex, specialization and employment, of all active physicians in Finland. Altogether, 2,671 physicians (76%) responded. Stress symptoms in male physicians were similar to those in male managers. In female physicians they were slightly less than in female white-collar workers. In male specialists highest burnout indices were found in general practice and occupational health; psychiatry and child psychiatry; internal medicine, oncology, pulmonary diseases, and dermatology and venereology. In female specialists they occurred in general practice and occupational health; radiology; internal medicine, neurology, pulmonary diseases, and dermatology and venereology. Non-specialists had higher burnout scores than specialists for both sexes. Highest burnout scores in both men and women occurred in those working in municipal health centres. Lowest scores occurred in those working in private practice, universities, research institutes, and public offices and organizations. Suicidal intent tended to be commoner in physicians than in the general population. It was also commoner in female (26%) than in male (22%) physicians. The results indicate a polarization between "higher burnout specialities", often dealing with chronically ill, incurable or dying patients (e.g. specialties such as oncology, pulmonary diseases and psychiatry), on the one hand and "lower burnout specialties", often dealing with curable diseases and favourable prognoses (e.g. specialties such as obstetrics and gynaecology, otorhinolaryngology and ophthalmology), on the other.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Doctors' drinking habits and consumption of alcohol.

Alcohol consumption and drinking habits among Finnish doctors were studied as part of a survey of stress and burnout. A questionnaire containing 99 questions or groups of questions was sent to all 3496 practising doctors aged under 66 randomly selected from the registry of the Finnish Medical Association. Altogether 2671 doctors (76%) responded; this sample was representative of the Finnish medical profession. The average weekly consumption of alcohol during the past year and various aspects of drinking behaviour were assessed, and the presence or absence of symptoms and diseases often encountered among heavy drinkers and addicts was determined. The data were analysed separately for men and women, for those aged less than or equal to 40 and greater than 40, and for the men with high and low alcohol consumption and with high and low scores on the index of drinking habits. Selected variables related to work, stress, and coping were correlated with alcohol consumption and drinking behaviour. The median consumption of alcohol among male doctors was 4876 g (6.2 litres) and among female doctors 2226 g (2.8 litres) of absolute alcohol per person per year and was higher in those aged over 40. Beer was most commonly drunk by men and wine by women. Increased alcohol consumption was associated with older age, disappointment with career, heavy smoking, use of benzodiazepines, stress and burnout symptoms, suicidal thoughts, general dissatisfaction, and diseases related to alcohol. Drinking habits were heavier among doctors working in community health centres, those taking long sick leaves, younger doctors disappointed with their careers or the atmosphere at work, and older doctors immersed in their work. Alcohol consumption among doctors seems to be higher than that of the general population in Finland, and heavy drinking seems to be associated with stress and burnout.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Apolipoprotein A-I-binding protein from human term placenta. Purification and partial characterization.

A protein that binds to the main apoprotein, apoA-I, of human high density lipoprotein (HDL) has been isolated from human placenta. Ligand blotting after SDS gel electrophoresis indicated that the 120 kDa protein in the absence of reducing agents binds apoA-I. If gel electrophoresis was performed under reducing conditions two main bands, approx. 50 and 30 kDa that did not bind apoA-I, were evident. In an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay the binding protein specifically bound apoA-I, delipidated or as HDL. ApoA-II, apo E and LDL did not compete with apoA-I for binding to this protein.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗
PubMed1984

Alcoholism and occupation.

Occupational roles are a dominant force in many aspects of social life. Occupation signifies a complex of social and psychological factors that reflect intelligence, education, personality, ambition, social status, and life-style. The consumption of alcohol and alcoholism have many correlations with occupational roles. Mortality from cirrhosis of the liver reflects the per capita consumption of alcohol. In certain occupations such mortality rates are clearly above average. The highest risk is found in occupations associated with the serving of food and beverages. A Finnish study has shown that the alcohol-related use of health services among males is the highest among unskilled workers, painters, seamen, and construction workers and the lowest among executives and farmers. Many population studies have shown that blue-collar workers and laborers have the highest level of drinking. This pattern is not necessarily true among females. The risk factors associated with occupation include the availability of alcohol at work, social pressure to drink on the job, separation from normal social relationships, and freedom from supervision. The opportunity to obtain alcoholic beverages relatively inexpensively, when combined with social pressure by peers to drink heavily, is an especially powerful explanation for high rates of alcoholism within an occupation.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1984

Psychogenic epidemics and work.

Psychogenic epidemics cover various forms of collective behavior and include mass hysteria, mass psychogenic illness, and hysterical contagion for which no physical explanation can be found. The typical course of a psychogenic epidemic at a workplace progresses from sudden onset, often with dramatic symptoms, to a rapidly attained peak that draws much publicity and is followed by quick disappearance of the symptoms. Over 90% of the affected persons are women, and the symptoms range from dizziness, vomiting, nausea, and fainting to epileptic-type seizures, hyperventilation, and skin disorders. The background mechanisms are thought to be generalized beliefs and triggering events which create a sense of threat that leads to a physiological state of arousal. This state, in turn, creates new beliefs which give meaning to the sense of arousal. The new belief spreads through sociometric channels. Predisposing factors include boredom, pressure to produce, physical stressors, poor labor-management relations, and impaired interpersonal communications, and lack of social support. It is important that a thorough investigation be carried out in all instances. Investigation is not only necessary for diagnosis, but it also reassures the management, the employees, and the press that physical factors are unlikely to be responsible for the disease.

Cultural Characteristics↗
PubMed1984

Kinetics of nickel and chromium in rats exposed to different stainless-steel welding fumes.

The kinetics of nickel and chromium from welding fumes were studied in the rat. To study the retention, the duration of exposure was one hour per working day for one, two, three, and four weeks. For the clearance study the follow-up period after four weeks' exposure was 106 days. Multi-element chemical analysis of the fumes and dried lungs was done using instrumental neutron activation analysis, and the concentrations in the body fluids were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The maximum lung retention of metal inert-gas (MIG) welding fumes was somewhat higher than that of manual metal arc (MMA) welding fumes. The estimated maximum concentrations in the lungs were 9.5 micrograms/g and 150 micrograms/g for nickel after four weeks' exposure to MMA and MIG welding fumes. The corresponding concentrations of chromium were 78 micrograms/g and 310 micrograms/g. The measured concentrations were lower, however. The amounts of nickel cleared from the lungs during the MMA and MIG exposures were 0.9 microgram and 8 micrograms. The corresponding amounts of chromium were 9.6 micrograms and 2 micrograms. Practically all of the lost metals were found in the urine, in which the excretion rates were 0.07 microgram/d (MMA) and 0.39 microgram/d (MIG) for nickel and 0.23 microgram/d (MMA) and 0.11 microgram/d (MIG) for chromium.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1982

Organic brain syndromes from a psychiatric point of view: diagnostic and nosological aspects.

Organic brain syndromes constitute increasing public health, social and economic problems. In the diagnosis of organic brain syndrome no single symptom is pathognomonic. The core features of organic brain syndrome are disturbances in cognitive functions (memory, thinking, perception, and attention). The expression of emotions is altered, and alertness and vigilance are disturbed. The clinical picture is confused by compensatory, protective, and reactive symptoms. The most important psychopathogenetic mechanisms of organic brain syndrome are impaired cerebral function and the subjective meaning of the illness to the individual. According to American Psychiatric Association's classification (DSM-III), organic brain syndromes can be divided into seven purely descriptive clusters; subdivisions into psychotic and nonpsychotic syndromes and into acute and chronic brain syndromes have been omitted. The organic brain syndromes are delirium, dementia, amnestic syndrome, organic delusional syndrome, organic hallucinosis, organic affective syndrome and organic personality syndrome. The differential diagnostic aspects are discussed. Organic brain syndromes caused by industrial chemicals are nonspecific and multifactorial. When long term exposure to organic solvents occurs, the clinical picture is often characterized by tiredness and astheno-emotional or neurasthenic syndrome resembling neurotic states, depressive states, or presenile dementia.

Alcohol Amnestic Disorder↗
PubMed1979

Ability of calf brain synaptic membranes to bind [35S]taurine to their triton X-100 and chloroform extracts.

A protein fraction containing reducing sugars was prepared from calf brain synaptic membranes with 0.5% Triton X-100, and another fraction containing bound phosphorus with a 2 : 1 chloroform--methanol mixture. Both protein fractions bound small amounts of [35S]taurine, the first fraction about 25 pmol/g protein and the second about 220 pmol/g protein. The Triton X-100 extract represented 13.8% of the membrane proteins, but the chloroform--methanol extract only 0.9%. The binding of taurine to the Trition X-100 extract was temperature sensitive, but was only slightly inhibited by hypotaurine and beta-alanine.

Alanine↗
PubMed1977

Agranulocytosis during treatment with chlozapine.

Within six months of the introduction of the new antipsychotic drug clozapine in Finalnd, 17 cases of neutropenia or agranulocytosis were recorded amongst about 3000 patients treated. Agranulocytosis was fatal in eight patients, and in addition, two patients developed thrombocytopenia, and one patient leukaemia. As additional cases might well have been overlooked as banal infections, the risk of developing agranulocytosis during clozapine treatment was at least 0.5%. Impaired elimination of the drug or increased susceptibility of granulocyte precursors to clozapine, possibly due to some inherited characteristic, might explain the high incidence of complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

The effect of psychotropic drugs on the TSH-response to thyroliberin (TRH).

The effect of chlorpromazine (CPZ), thioridazine (TR), L-dopa, fusaric acid (FA), pimozide (PZ) and propranolol (P) in the i.v. thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test was studied in 75 subjects. It was found that chronic treatment with CPZ, TR and L-dopa inhibits the response to TRH. FA may to some extent counteract the effect of L-dopa. The results indicate that the response of the pituitary to TRH as regards the secretion of TSH is mainly regulated by norepinephrinergic alpha-receptors.

Chlorpromazine↗