Biomedical subjects

Svetlana Solovieva

Publications and source records attributed to Svetlana Solovieva.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Radiographic 2D:4D index in females: no relation to anthropometric, behavioural, nutritional, health-related, occupational or fertility variables.

BACKGROUND: The ratio of index finger to ring finger length (2D:4D index) may be an indicator of gonadal hormone exposure, because the differentiation of gonads, fingers and toes is influenced by the same HOXA and HOHD genes. Some previous studies have found significant associations between the 2D:4D index and sexual, psychological or behavioural variables. We studied the usability of the radiographic 2D:4D index as a potential predictor of several features in a large female sample. METHODS: 271 female dentists and 219 teachers (age 45 - 63 years) had their hands radiographed and their right 2nd and 4th fingers measured from the base of the bony proximal phalanxes to the tip of the distal phalanxes to define the radiographic 2D:4D index. The study subjects were classified into two distinctly separate clusters (by using cluster analysis with the K-means algorithm) in each of the following dimensions: anthropometric (including four items), behavioural (five items), nutritional (five items), health-related (seven items), occupational (Karasek job control and job demand scores) and fertility (four items). RESULTS: The radiographic 2D:4D index ranged from 0.845 to 0.981 (mean 0.925, SD 0.021). The intraclass correlation between three radiographers' measurements (31 cases) was 0.971. No differences concerning the 2D:4D index were found between clusters 1 and 2 in any studied dimension, nor did any of the items in clusters have relations with the 2D:4D index when tested separately with bivariate tests. CONCLUSION: Despite the ideal set-up of the measuring possibilities in a relatively large radiographic material the variables currently studied were not dependent on the length of finger bones. It can therefore be questioned whether any real associations between the bony 2D:4D index in adult life and (direct or indirect) hormone dependent effects exist. There may be a publication bias explaining that mostly positive findings have been the previously reported. However, the associations of the 2D:4D index with various features, if present, may be related to the soft parts of fingers rather than to the length of bones.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Co-occurrence of musculoskeletal pain among female kitchen workers.

OBJECTIVES: The co-occurrence of musculoskeletal pain symptoms in seven body sites and their combinations among women in kitchen work were studied. METHODS: Data on musculoskeletal pain during the past 3 months in the neck, shoulders, forearms/hands, low back, hips, knees and ankles/feet were gathered by questionnaire from 495 female workers (mean age 45 years) in connection with an ergonomic intervention study in municipal kitchens of four cities in Finland. Altogether 122 kitchens (60% of those eligible) participated in the study. The response rate in the participating kitchens was 98%. RESULTS: The 3-month prevalence of any musculoskeletal pain was 87%, the most common sites being the neck (71%), low back (50%) and forearms/hands (49%). About 73% of the subjects had pain in at least two, 36% in four or more, and 10% in 6-7 sites. In pair wise comparisons, e.g. neck pain was associated with pain in other sites with prevalence ratios (PR) varying from 1.3 to 1.6, and ankle or foot pain with ratios between 1.9 and 2.4. The seven pain symptoms occurred in more than 80 different combinations. When the co-occurrence of pain was studied in three larger anatomical areas, i.e. any pain in the axial (neck and low back), upper limb and lower limb areas, subjects reporting concurrent pain in all three were the largest category (36% of the respondents). Altogether 53% of the workers reported pain in at least the axial and upper limb areas, and 48% in at least the axial and lower limb areas. CONCLUSIONS: Widespread co-occurrence of musculoskeletal pain symptoms was common among female kitchen workers with slight predominance in the upper body.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Serum lipids and low back pain: an association? A follow-up study of a working population sample.

STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study with 5-, 10-, and 28-year follow-up. OBJECTIVES: To examine associations between baseline serum lipid concentrations and later low back pain (LBP). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Atherosclerosis of the lumbar vessels has been suggested as a mechanism leading to disc degeneration and LBP. Cholesterol is considered essential for atherosclerosis development. METHODS: A sample (n = 902) of employees in an engineering company was examined for serum total cholesterol and triglycerides, body mass index (BMI), smoking, exercise, work history, and LBP in 1973. By November 2000, 232 subjects had died. In 1978, 748 (84% of the survivors), in 1983, 654 (76%), and in 2000, 546 (81%) responded to a follow-up questionnaire. RESULTS: In men, baseline serum total cholesterol predicted new cases of radiating LBP in the 5-year follow-up (highest tertile vs. lowest: odds ratio [OR], 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-5.9) and in the 10-year follow-up (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.3-6.1), adjusted for age, occupational class, work history, BMI, smoking and exercise. Also, serum triglycerides predicted new cases in the latter examination (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.2-5.8). In women, no associations were seen until the 10-year follow-up, when their results were similar to those in men. In the total material, serum total cholesterol predicted radiating LBP reported both at the 10- and the 28-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: High serum lipids predicted incident radiating LBP, consistent with the atherosclerosis-LBP hypothesis.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Plasticity in the composition of the light harvesting antenna of higher plants preserves structural integrity and biological function.

Arabidopsis plants in which the major trimeric light harvesting complex (LHCIIb) is eliminated by antisense expression still exhibit the typical macrostructure of photosystem II in the granal membranes. Here the detailed analysis of the composition and the functional state of the light harvesting antennae of both photosystem I and II of these plants is presented. Two new populations of trimers were found, both functional in energy transfer to the PSII reaction center, a homotrimer of CP26 and a heterotrimer of CP26 and Lhcb3. These trimers possess characteristic features thought to be specific for the native LHCIIb trimers they are replacing: the long wavelength form of lutein and at least one extra chlorophyll b, but they were less stable. A new population of loosely bound LHCI was also found, contributing to an increased antenna size for photosystem I, which may in part compensate for the loss of the phosphorylated LHCIIb that can associate with this photosystem. Thus, the loss of LHCIIb has triggered concerted compensatory responses in the composition of antennae of both photosystems. These responses clearly show the importance of LHCIIb in the structure and assembly of the photosynthetic membrane and illustrate the extreme plasticity at the level of the composition of the light harvesting system.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2006

Hand-arm vibration exposure of dentists.

OBJECTIVES: The use of dental handpieces exposes the dental personnel to high-frequency vibration. Dentists have been shown to have a high frequency of finger-related and other upper limb symptoms and a high prevalence of osteoarthrosis in the distal interphalangeal joints. METHODS: The vibration of 22 dental handpieces was measured during normal work with accelerometer. The weighted vibration according to the standard ISO 5349-1 and the total acceleration of high frequency vibration ("ultravibration") in the frequency range of 1.6-10 kHz were analyzed. In order to compare non-contact vibration measurement method for dental handpieces, vibration of 12 handpieces was measured during idling with Portable Digital Vibrometer and simultaneously with the accelerometer. A group of 295 female dentists aged 45-63 years responded to a questionnaire on working conditions, lifestyle, and health. RESULTS: The vibration measurements of air-turbine and micromotor handpieces showed that daily vibration exposure of dentists was below the exposure action value of the Vibration Directive of European Union. The highest vibration levels of the handpieces exist in the frequency range above 1,250 Hz. The traditional method and the laser method gave highly similar values. A long work history in dental filling and root treatment as well as high BMI seem to be associated with frequent finger symptoms perceived as vibration-related by the dentists. CONCLUSIONS: The vibration exposure of dentists is low determined according to European legislation. However, a long work history in dental filling and root treatment seems to be associated with the risk of frequent finger symptoms of dentists. Therefore, when "pinch-gripping" is used, the effects of vibration on fingers should be comprehensively studied.

Dental High-Speed Equipment↗

PubMed2006

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and susceptibility of hand osteoarthritis in Finnish women.

We examined whether polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene was associated with individual risk of hand osteoarthritis (OA). Radiographs of both hands of 295 dentists and of 248 teachers were examined and classified for the presence of OA using reference images. The VDR ApaI and TaqI genotypes were determined by PCR-based methods. No association was observed between the VDR polymorphisms and the odds of overall hand OA. However, the carriers of the VDR t allele or At haplotype were at almost half the odds of symmetrical hand OA (odds ratio [OR] = 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.38-0.94 and OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.38-0.93, respectively) compared with the carriers of the T allele and of the non-At haplotype, respectively. Increased odds of this disease, on the contrary, was observed for women with two copies of the VDR a allele (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.99-3.70) compared with women with the AA genotype. Conversely, the VDR a allele carriage was associated with a tendency of lowered odds of osteophyte (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.25-1.03). When the genotype data were used to construct haplotypes, the VDR AaTt joint genotype appeared to pose a remarkably lower odds (OR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.08-0.91) of osteophyte compared with the AAtt joint genotype. As a novel finding we observed a joint effect of a low calcium intake and VDR polymorphisms on symmetrical OA; the OR was 2.64 (95% CI = 1.29-5.40) for carriers of the aT haplotype with low daily calcium intake compared with non-carriers of the haplotype with high daily calcium intake. Our results suggest that VDR gene polymorphisms play a role in the etiology of symmetrical hand OA. Moreover, the association between the VDR gene and OA may be modified by calcium intake.

Female↗

PubMed2006

Cardiovascular risk factors and low-back pain in a long-term follow-up of industrial employees.

OBJECTIVES: Atherosclerosis of the lumbar vessels has been suggested as a mechanism leading to low-back pain (LBP). We studied whether seven cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors predict LBP. METHODS: A sample (N=902) stratified by gender, age, and occupational class was drawn from employees in an engineering company in 1973 and examined for body mass index (BMI), smoking, exercise, serum total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and LBP. By November 2000, 232 persons had died, 108 from cardiovascular causes. In 2000, 546 (81% of the survivors) responded to a follow-up questionnaire on, for example, LBP. RESULTS: Among the men, frequent local LBP at follow-up was predicted by high triglyceride and DBP levels and being a past smoker at baseline, adjusted for age, occupational class and frequent local LBP at baseline. In analogous models, high triglyceride and SBP levels and smoking (past and current) predicted frequent radiating LBP. An increased LBP score was predicted by a high BMI, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, SBP and DBP levels, and smoking status at baseline. When BMI was allowed for, the associations between triglyceride level and all LBP outcomes persisted, as well as the association between SBP and frequent radiating LBP and an increased LBP score. An overall score of CVD risk factors showed a graded association with increased LBP. Among the women, a high BMI predicted frequent local and radiating LBP, and smoking at baseline predicted frequent radiating LBP and an increased LBP score. CONCLUSIONS: The study adds to the evidence supporting the atherosclerosis-LBP hypothesis particularly for men.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Intervertebral disc degeneration in relation to the COL9A3 and the IL-1ss gene polymorphisms.

Disc degeneration is a complex condition in which environmental factors and multiple genes are expected to act together to determine the degenerative phenotype. Recently associations of COL9A2 (Trp2 allele) and COL9A3 (Trp3 allele) polymorphisms with lumbar disc disease characterized by sciatica have been reported. However, it is not known whether the Trp2 or Trp3 alleles contribute to disc degeneration (DD). In this study, the association between the collagen genes polymorphisms and lumbar DD was investigated. Furthermore, the influence of the IL-1beta(C(3954)-T) polymorphism on the association of collagen genes polymorphisms with DD was examined. Lumbar intervertebral discs of 135 middle-aged occupationally active men were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging, using decreased signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus, disc bulges, and decreased disc height as signs of degeneration. Blood samples were analysed for the presence of COL9A3 and COL9A2 tryptophan alleles (Trp3 and Trp2 alleles). The COL11A2, COL2A1 and IL-1beta(C(3954)-T) polymorphisms were also analysed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis allowing for occupation and body mass index showed that the carriage of the Trp3 allele in the absence of the IL-1betaT(3954) allele increased the risk of dark nucleus pulposus (OR 7.0, 95% CI 1.3-38.8) and joint occurrence of degenerative changes (OR 8.0, 95% CI 1.4-44.7). There was no effect of the Trp3 allele on DD in the presence of the IL-1betaT(3954) allele. The carriers of the COL11A2 minor allele had an increased risk of disc bulges (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.0-4.2) as compared with non-carriers. The results suggest that the effect of the COL9A3 gene polymorphism on DD might be modified by the IL-1beta gene polymorphism.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Vibrational spectra, co-operative intramolecular hydrogen bonding and conformations of calix[4]arene and thiacalix[4]arene molecules and their para-tert-butyl derivatives.

The IR and Raman spectra and conformations of calix[4]arene, thiacalix[4]arene and their p-tert-butyl derivatives have been analysed within the framework of scaled quantum mechanics (SQM). It is shown that the introduction of four p-tert-Bu groups into the calixarene molecules influences the relative energies of their conformers and the enthalpy of the cooperative intramolecular H-bonding (DeltaH(intra)) almost negligibly. DeltaH(intra), evaluated from Iogansen's rule, amounts to approximately 26-28 kcal mol(-1) for the calixarenes and approximately 20-21 kcal mol(-1) for the thiacalixarenes, which essentially exceeds the enthalpies of non-cooperative H-bonds formed by related phenols. As a result of this strong bonding, bands of stretching, bending and torsion vibrations of an eight-membered cyclic system (OH...)4 arise, e.g., two delta(OH)4 bands are observed in the IR spectra of the most highly symmetric C4 cone conformations of calix[4]arene and thiacalix[4]arene. The "duplication" of the number of OH infrared bands is a good new indicator of cooperativity of intramolecular H-bonding of the calixarenes.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Hand workload and the metacarpal cortical index. a study of middle-aged teachers and dentists.

We studied load-related predictors (handedness, occupation and workload history) of cortical bone mass as estimated by the metacarpal cortical index (MCI). After being randomly selected from trade-union registers, 295 female dentists and 248 teachers, aged 45-63 years (mean 54 years), participated in the study. The MCI was defined from the second metacarpal of both hands by analogue radiographs. Data regarding anthropometric measures, handedness, occupational exposure, number of pregnancies, hormonal therapy and contraceptive use, the presence of chronic diseases, dietary factors, smoking and leisure time physical activity were collected by questionnaire. Weight was measured. The dentists' workload was assessed in detail in 10-year periods. Multivariate methods were used in the statistical analysis. The metacarpal index averaged 0.62 in the right hand and 0.61 in the left hand (P = 0.02) among the right-handed subjects, while no differences by hand were observed among the left-handed or mixed-handed. The MCI of the teachers and dentists did not differ from each other, when we controlled for potential confounders. The MCI decreased similarly by age in both occupational groups. Among the dentists, workload history was inversely associated with the MCI in multivariate analyses by age group. Computer use was a positive predictor for MCI among dentists aged 55-63 years. Occupational factors seem to have contradictory effects on the MCI. Too heavy or one-sided manual work may be deleterious for cortical bone mass.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2004

Interleukin 1 polymorphisms and intervertebral disc degeneration.

BACKGROUND: Enzymatic breakdown of the extracellular matrix, and possibly local inflammation, contributes to intervertebral disc degeneration. We investigated whether polymorphisms within the IL-1 gene locus are associated with lumbar disc degeneration and whether the effect of occupational physical load on disc degeneration is modified by the polymorphisms. METHODS: Genotypes were determined from 133 middle-aged men who underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine. The participants represented 3 occupations: 40 were machine drivers, 42 carpenters, and 51 office workers. We evaluated decreased signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus, disc bulges, and decreased disc height as signs of degeneration in the L2/L3-L5/S1 discs. RESULTS: The odds ratio for disc bulges was 2.4 (95% confidence interval = 1.2-4.8) and 1.9 (1.0-3.7), in carriers of the IL-1alphaT or IL-1betaT alleles, respectively. The TT genotype of the IL-1alpha gene carried more than 3-fold risk of disc bulges as compared with the CC genotype. CONCLUSIONS: IL-1 gene cluster polymorphisms could affect the risk of disc degeneration. The effect of physical workload seems to be modified by the IL-1 gene polymorphisms.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Thermal sensation and pain in oral lichen planus and lichenoid reaction.

BACKGROUND: Our previous findings in oral lichen planus (OLP) and lichenoid reactions (LR) raised the question whether the histopathological changes observed in sensory and autonomic innervation produce oral sensory disorders. METHODS: Spontaneous pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Thermal pain thresholds were measured with a contact thermostimulator and mechanical pain thresholds with an electronic algometer. RESULTS: Patients with OLP reported a higher intensity of spontaneous pain than LR patients (P = 0.001). Even erosive LRs were relatively painless. No thermal or mechanical hyperalgesia was detected in oral lesions. Highest separate cold pain threshold was measured in lesions affected by intense Candida growth. CONCLUSION: Together with previous histological findings, the present data suggest that increased somatic innervation and sympathetic denervation do not promote clinical pain sensitivity or hyperalgesia in oral mucosa and that these sensory functions are not affected by OLP and LR. Candida growth may function as secondary irritant modulating the pain responses.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2002

COL9A3 gene polymorphism and obesity in intervertebral disc degeneration of the lumbar spine: evidence of gene-environment interaction.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the interaction between the COL9A3 gene polymorphism and persistent obesity in relation to lumbar disc degeneration. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Obesity has been suggested to be a risk factor for disc degeneration. There is some indication for an association between collagen IX genes and lumbar disc disease characterized by sciatica. However, the interaction between those factors in their influences on the risk of disc degeneration has not been studied. METHODS: Blood samples from 135 middle-aged men who had undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine were analyzed for the presence of an arginine to tryptophan change in the COL9A3 gene (Trp3 allele). The men represented three occupations: 41 were machine drivers, 42 were carpenters, and 52 were office workers. The discs L2/L3-L5/S1 were evaluated on MRI, using decreased signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus, posterior disc bulges, and decreased disc height as signs of disc degeneration. Based on self-reports on body height and weight currently and at the age of 25 years, obesity history was classified as no obesity, persistent obesity, and other. Rothman's synergy index was used as a measure of interaction between two factors. RESULTS: The Trp3 allele and persistent obesity acted synergistically to increase the risk of dark nucleus pulposus, posterior disc bulge, and decreased disc height at L4/L5; of multilevel posterior disc bulges; and of decreased disc height. From 45% to 71% of disc degeneration among persistently obese individuals with the Trp3 allele could be attributed to the synergism of these two factors. CONCLUSION: The effect of obesity on lumbar disc degeneration seems to be modified by the collagen IX gene polymorphism, so that people who carry the Trp3 allele are at increased risk if they are persistently obese.

Alleles↗