SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “ESTONIA”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

PubMed2006

Factors predicting suicide among Russians in Estonia in comparison with Estonians: case-control study.

AIM: To explore differences between suicide victims among Russian immigrants in Estonia and native Estonians, according to socio-demographic background, substance use pattern, and recent life events to find out immigration-specific factors predicting suicide. METHODS: The psychological autopsy study included 427 people who committed suicide in 1999 and 427 randomly selected controls matched by region, gender, age, and nationality. RESULTS: The only variable that differed significantly between Russian and Estonian suicide cases was substance use pattern. Logistic regression models showed that factors associated with suicide for both nationalities were substance dependence and abuse (Russians: odds ratio [OR], 12.9; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 4.2-39.2; Estonians: OR, 8.1; 95% CI, 3.9-16.4), economical inactivity (Russians: OR 5.5; 95% CI, 1.3-22.9; Estonians: OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.3-7.1), and recent family discord (Russians: OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.1-9.9; Estonians: OR, 4.5; 95%, CI, 2.1-9.8). The variables that remained significant in the final model were having no partner (Estonians: OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.6-5.5), being unemployed (Estonians: OR, 5.5; 95% CI, 2.0-15.4), and being an abstainer (Estonians: OR, 6.7; 95% CI, 2.5-17.6) for Estonians, and somatic illness (Russians: OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.4-11.7), separation (Russians: OR, 32.3; 95% CI, 2.9-364.1), and death of a close person (Russians: OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.04-0.7) for Russians. CONCLUSION: Although the predicting factors of suicide were similar among the Estonian Russians and Estonians, there were still some differences in the nature of recent life events. Higher suicide rate among Estonian Russians in 1999 could be at least partly attributable to their higher substance consumption.

Case-Control Studies↗

PubMed1990

Comparative study of breast cancer risk factors in Estonia and Slovakia. East-European Study Group of Breast Cancer Epidemiology.

Selected more or less known risk factors of breast cancer were investigated and compared in this case-control study in Estonian and Slovak women. The results revealed that women who gave birth to the first child before the age of 20 years had one-fifth and one-third breast cancer risk in Estonia and Slovakia, respectively, in relation to nulliparous women. Concerning subsequent births, Estonian women with two children showed the lowest relative risk, while in Slovak women this risk decreased with increasing parity. Only in women from Slovakia who gave the first birth at, and after the age of 30 years, significantly elevated breast cancer risk was observed. In this study there was no evidence of an association between breast cancer risk and the age at menarche, although an increasing trend of the variable early menarche was apparent in both female populations studied. In addition, an increase in the risk was revealed among obese Estonian women, and thyroid diseases were found to be related with a twofold excess of breast cancer risk in Slovak women. The possible existence of differences in risk factors in the populations showing similar breast cancer incidence rates is discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

[Malignant skin melanoma in Estonia: incidence and survival].

The paper discusses changes in age-standardized indexes of incidence of skin malignant melanoma in male and female population of Estonia observed within 1963-1982. In 1968-1982, the average annual increase in the tumor incidence was 6.0% for males and 7.2% for females, being the highest for melanoma of the lower limbs. The 1, 5, 10 and 14-year relative survival rates in patients with skin malignant melanoma diagnosed within 1968-1982 were 71.6, 33.2, 35.3 and 16.4% for males and 84.2, 55.6, 43.2 and 42.0% for female patients, respectively.

Estonia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Vertical distribution and the characteristics of the species composition of the microorganisms of some stratified lakes in Estonia].

The total number, vertical distribution, and special composition of microorganisms from three stratified lakes in the South-Eastern Estonia containing hydrogen sulfide and ferrous iron were studied in March, 1976. The number of bacteria was lowest in surface water samples (1.2-1.9 x 10(6) cells/ml). It increased first in the zone where oxygen disappeared (2.4-7.6 x 10(6) cells/ml), then slightly decreased, and again increased near the bottom where it became maximal (3.7-14.0 x 10(6) cells/ml). The vertical distribution of individual microbial species corresponded to ecological niches. The content of Spirillum and Flexibacter, colonies of parallel rods containing gaseous vacuoles, was highest in the zone in which oxygen was still present. Iron bacteria, purple sulfur bacteria, colourless sulfur bacteria, and green bacteria Chloronema appeared deeper, in the microaerophilic conditions. Ancalochloris perfilievil, Chloroplana vacuolata, Chlorochromatium aggregatum, Pelochromatium roseum, Hyalosoris sp., and Peloploca sp. were found in the strictly anaerobic conditions. Morphological forms of microorganisms were most versatile in the region of contact between the aerobic and anaerobic zones. Most of the morphologically peculiar species of microorganisms were detected in all three lakes, but some bacterial forms were typical of some of the lakes.

Ecology↗

PubMed1994

Post-Soviet public health administration in Estonia.

Estonia's administrative legacy presents a number of difficult challenges for the health services. The system which was designed as part of a gigantic centrally controlled bureaucracy now has to be adapted to the needs of a small independent country.

Estonia↗

PubMed1994

The validity of survey responses on abortion: evidence from Estonia.

This paper presents results of a validation survey of abortion conducted in Tallinn, Estonia in April and May 1992. The sample was drawn from patient records in a maternity hospital. Women who had an abortion in that hospital in 1991 were asked about recent abortions as part of a survey about women's health. More than 80% of the respondents reported having a recent abortion. Some respondents misreported their abortion as a miscarriage. Moreover, some variation in reporting was associated with respondents' characteristics. Ethnic Estonians were less likely to report their abortion than were Russians, women over age 40 were less likely to report the abortion than younger women, and women who had the abortion late in the first trimester were less likely to report that abortion. There was some evidence that unmarried women were less likely than married women to report their abortion, and that women who had borne three or more children were less likely to report their abortion than women who had borne fewer children. These differences probably stem from the extent to which pregnancy or abortion is considered stigmatizing for women in different situations.

Abortion, Legal↗

PubMed1993

[Public health administration in Estonia].

All parts of the former Soviet Union experience enormous problems in their clinical health sectors. However, reforms of public health administrations are also needed. This is illustrated, using Estonia as an example, based on the author's function as a consultant to the Estonian Ministry of Health. At the local level, expertise should be concentrated in a few regional public health centres with strong laboratory support. Centrally, the new Ministry of Social Affairs must play a strong role to make sure that the traditional system is adapted. "Organization development" and postgraduate training should be useful instruments in this process. Support from the Nordic countries is encouraged.

Estonia↗

PubMed1996

Family practice training in Estonia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The collapse of the Communist regime has required many newly independent countries to reform their health care systems. This article presents the unique experience of Estonia's development of family practice training and the introduction of this specialty to the existing health care system. Family practice training programs began in 1991 and include several pathways to certification in family practice. For physicians currently working as district doctors, pediatricians, gynecologists, or emergency doctors, there is the possibility of part-time retraining while continuing their work as primary care physicians. For new graduates of the medical school, there is an internship and residency in family practice or the option of part-time or in-service vocational training while maintaining a clinical practice. An important aim of the programs is to develop the identity of family physicians. The success and the failures of the Estonian experience in launching this project may be useful to other countries facing health care reform.

Education, Medical, Continuing↗

PubMed1995

Drug-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis; some data from Sweden, Estonia and Ethiopia.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis is a threat not only to the estimated 50 million people in the world carrying resistant strains, but also to the success of national TB control programmes. In Sweden, multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis comprises around 1% of the isolated strains. Isoniazid resistance is found in 7% of strains and resistance to other drugs in < 3%. Of patients with resistant TB 70% are born outside Scandinavia. Preliminary data from Estonia show that close to 20% of the strains are resistant to each of the drugs isoniazid, rifampicin and streptomycin. MDR is seen in around 16%. In a study in Ethiopia isoniazid resistance was found in 46% and MDR in 11% among treatment failures and relapse cases.

Antitubercular Agents↗

PubMed1997

Biodosimetry of Chernobyl cleanup workers from Estonia and Latvia using the glycophorin A in vivo somatic cell mutation assay.

The reactor accident at Chernobyl in 1986 necessitated a massive environmental cleanup that involved over 600,000 workers from all 15 Republics of the former Soviet Union. To determine whether the whole-body radiation received by workers in the course of these decontamination activities resulted in a detectable biological response, over 1,500 blood samples were obtained from cleanup workers sent from two Baltic countries, Estonia and Latvia. Here we report the results of studies of biodosimetry using the glycophorin A (GPA) locus in vivo somatic cell mutation assay applied to 734 blood samples from these workers, to 51 control samples from unexposed Baltic populations and to 94 samples from historical U.S. controls. The data reveal inconsistent evidence that the protracted radiation exposures received by these workers resulted in a significant dose-associated increase in GPA locus mutations compared with the controls. Taken together, these data suggest that the average radiation exposure to these workers does not greatly exceed 10 cGy, the minimum levels at which radiation effects might be detectable by the assay. Although the protracted nature of the exposure may have reduced the efficiency of induction of GPA locus mutations, it is likely that the estimated physical doses for these cleanup worker populations (median reported dose 9.5 cGy) were too low to result in radiation damage to erythroid stem cells that can be detected reliably by this method.

Alleles↗

PubMed1996

[Occupational exposure to organic solvent vapors among workers in industrial enterprises of Estonia].

To ascertain the overall picture of occupational exposure to benzene, styrene, acetone and ethanol in workers employed in the industrial enterprises of Estonia, the concentration of solvent vapours in the workers' breathing zone was determined, applying passive monitors. The correlation between urine mandelic acid concentration and that of styrene in the workers' breathing zone was estimated: r = 0.7055; p = 0.02. The results obtained showed that the concentration of benzene, styrene, acetone and ethanol vapours in the workers' breathing zone exceeded in many cases maximum permissible levels (5 mg/m3, 10 mg/m3, 200 mg/m3, 1000 mg/m3).

Acetone↗

PubMed1997

Acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in Central Finland Province, Finland, and in Tartu County, Estonia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A comparative study of the epidemiology of acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage (UGIH) was carried out in Central Finland province (CF), Finland, and in Tartu county (TC), Estonia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients from CF and TC aged > or = 15 who were treated in the Central Hospital of Central Finland and in Tartu University Hospital for UGIH, entered the prospective study during 1 August 1992-31 July 1994. Altogether 298 patients (198 men, 100 women) were treated in CF and 270 patients (159 men, 104 women) in TC. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of UGIH was 68.3/100,000 adults per year in CF and 98.6 in TC. The incidence increased considerably with age: from 3.1 in those aged 20-29 to 314.1 in those > or = 80 in CF, and from 13.2 to 299.1 in TC, respectively. Incidence rates were twice as low in younger age groups in CF compared to TC, almost equalized in those > or = 60 and became even higher in those > or = 80. 63% of the patients (55% men, 79% women) in CF and 49% (35% men, 70% women) in TC were > or = 60. NSAID use before UGIH was equally common (46%) in both regions. Peptic ulcer accounted for over 50% of UGIH cases both in CF and TC. Mortality rate was 8.1% in CF and 9.9% in TC. The main epidemiological differences between the regions are the lower overall incidence of UGIH, due to the lower incidence of haemorrhage in the younger age groups, and the higher proportion of the elderly patients in CF compared to TC.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1998

Prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in 2 ethnic groups in the general population of Estonia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in 2 genetically different ethnic groups in Estonia: Estonians, who are Finno-Ugric people, and Slavs, who are Indo-European people, and to investigate the risk factors of RP. METHODS: A random sample of 5248 Estonians and 4341 Slavs were surveyed by mail questionnaire (Phase I) for suspected RP. A subsample of 1739 subjects was interviewed and examined (Phase II) to make a formal diagnosis of RP, using the color charts, and to collect additional pertinent information. RESULTS: Of these 1739 subjects examined in Phase II, 226 women and 162 men were diagnosed to have RP. The age adjusted prevalence of RP was significantly higher among Slavs (women 11.4 +/- 1.3%, men 13.0 +/- 1.6%) compared to Estonians (women 7.8 +/- 1.0%, p = 0.023; men 8.2 +/- 1.5%, p = 0.031). Based on logistic regression analysis, the diagnosis of RP among women was associated with a Slavic ethnic origin, the presence of connective tissue disorders or cardiovascular diseases, a family history of RP, a history of dysphagia and frostbite, smoking, and a lower body mass index (BMI). Among men RP was associated with manual work, vibrating tool use, a history of frostbite and injuries to the fingers. older age, and a lower BMI. CONCLUSION: Our results revealed a significant difference in the prevalence of RP between 2 ethnic groups living in the same geographic region. The risk factors associated with RP show considerable sex differences, RP being mostly constitutional in women and occupational in men.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Debrisoquine and S-mephenytoin hydroxylation polymorphisms in a Russian population living in Estonia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 phenotypes and genotypes in a Russian population of Estonia. METHODS: Two hundred and eighteen unrelated healthy subjects of Russian origin were studied. All participants took 10 mg debrisoquine and 100 mg S/R-mephenytoin for phenotyping. The CYP2D6 genotype was analysed by PCR amplification for the CYP2D6*3 and CYP2D6*4 alleles and subjects with S/R-mephenytoin ratios of greater than 0.5 were genotyped with respect to CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3 alleles. RESULTS: Seventeen subjects (7.8%) were classified as poor metabolisers of debrisoquine and 5 (2.3%) as poor metabolisers of S-mephenytoin. The frequency of CYP2D6*4 was 14.4% and that of CYP2D6*3 1.4%. Seven of 15 poor metabolisers of debrisoquine (47%) carried two defective CYP2D6 alleles (CYP2D6*3 or CYP2D6*4). Six of the 10 S-mephenytoin poor-metaboliser alleles (60%) carried either the CYP2C19*2 or CYP2C19*3. CONCLUSION: The frequencies of poor metabolisers of debrisoquine and S-mephenytoin among Russians were similar to those in other Caucasian populations. The CYP2D6 poor-metaboliser phenotype was predicted by PCR-based amplification for the CYP2D6*3 and CYP2D6*4 alleles with 47% accuracy. The frequency of the CYP2D6*4 allele was lower in Russians than in other Caucasian populations studied so far.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Ordovician eunicid polychaetes of Estonia and surrounding areas: review of their distribution and diversification.

Scolecodonts, the jaws of polychaete worms, are common and diverse palynomorphs in the Ordovician rocks of Estonia and surrounding areas. Some 120 apparatus-based species representing about 40 genera have been recorded thus far. Relatively long stratigraphical ranges of the majority of species reflect a low rate of evolution of jawed polychaetes. However, some individual species, as well as structural changes in the assemblages, appear to be useful for stratigraphical purposes. Environmental events like those in the middle Caradoc and late Ashgill had some impact on polychaete faunas, but less than on several other groups. In order to study the spatial distribution of eunicids, faunas of particular intervals of the Ordovician were investigated. Quantitative analysis revealed that polychaete assemblages with a very consistent qualitative and quantitative composition were widespread over long distances within the belts of similar facies conditions in the Baltoscandian Palaeobasin. On the other hand, it appears that species of Ordovician jawed polychaetes were strongly influenced by particular facies, and accordingly well differentiated along the palaeobasin gradient. The decrease in diversity and abundance towards the deeper-water part of the palaeobasin indicates that the majority of Ordovician eunicids preferred relatively shallow-water conditions. The increase in differentiation of environments is accompanied by an increase in differentiation of polychaete assemblages.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Antibiotic susceptibility of clinically relevant anaerobes in Estonia from 1999 to 2001.

At present little or no data is available regarding the resistance profiles of anaerobic bacteria in relation to the general usage of antibiotics. The objective of this study was to assess whether any potential relationship exists between the dynamics of antibiotic resistance of anaerobic bacteria and the consumption of antibiotics during the last 3 years within the Estonian population. In total, 416 anaerobic isolates were investigated from various clinical samples. The anaerobes were isolated on Wilkins-Chalgren Agar, incubated in an anaerobic glove box and identified by standard methods. beta-lactamase negative strains were tested against metronidazole, clindamycin, benzylpenicillin and the positive strains were further tested against metronidazole, clindamycin, and ampicillin/sulbactam by E-tests. The results of the susceptibility tests were interpreted according to the current criteria of NCCLS. Data from the Estonian State Agency of Medicines was used to assess the antibiotic consumption rate in the population (Defined Daily Doses per 1000 inhabitants annually). The following species of anaerobes were isolated: B. fragilis group, Bacteroides sp., Fusobacterium sp., Porphyromonas sp., Prevotella sp., Peptostreptococcus sp., in addition to various unidentified Gram-positive rods. Metronidazole resistance was not found among Gram-negative bacteria despite a relatively high consumption of this antimicrobial agent in Estonia. Only ampicillin/sulbactam demonstrated excellent in vitro activity against all anaerobes. Unexpectedly despite a relatively low rate of consumption of clindamycin a high rate of resistance to this agent occurred; a similar situation was noted for penicillin. In the present study we did not observe a relationship between the changes in antibiotic consumption (DDD/1000) rate and the resistance pattern of anaerobic bacteria to metronidazole, clindamycin, penicillin and ampicillin/sulbactam during a 3-year follow-up period. High resistance to penicillin among some species and also to clindamycin is similar to the global trend and argues for limited use of these antibiotics in empirical treatment. We would suggest that monitoring of local susceptibility pattern is necessary for the selection of initial empirical therapy.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

40 years of tissue banking in Estonia.

A survey is given of the development of tissue banking in Estonia during 40 years, in which we address methods of tissue preservation, application of preserved skeletal tissues in orthopaedics as well as issues of clinical and experimental research in this area. Preparation and use of demineralized and morselized bone allografts has been significant during the last ten years. Progress of endoprosthetic joint surgery has essentially increased the need for bone transplantation in orthopaedics.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Risk Assessment in the Working Environment in Estonia.

The first step to chart hazards in the working environment in Estonia (labour force: 0.65 million) was taken by the National Board of Health Protection in the beginning of 1996. The existing chemical, physical, and biological agents in the working environment were investigated with the help of local health inspectors in all counties. An identification of hazards and workers at risk was carried out. The results of the analysis showed that 16% of Estonian industrial workers are exposed to different hazards: 20,000 persons are exposed to noise, 11,000 are working in the conditions of vibration, 10,000 are affected by unsatisfactory microclimate, 6,000 complain about long-lasting work in a compulsory posture, the overexertion of eyes is suffered by 5,500 persons, and physical overload by 3,500 workers. In the group of chemical hazards the greatest numbers of workers are exposed to organic dust (6,500) and welding aerosols (5,400), followed by petroleum products (2,700), and oil-shale dust (4,300). The measurements of working conditions showed that an average of 30.3% of the results are above the standards. Proposals for the improvement of the situation in occupational safety and health are presented.

chemicals↗