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PubMed1976

Change in hormones reflecting sympathetic activity in the Finnish sauna.

The effects of the high temperature (80-120 degrees C) of the Finnish Sauna bath on the concentrations of growth hormone, immunoreactive insulin and renin activity in plasma, on blood glucose and on the urinary excretion of aldosterone, vanilmandelic acid and sodium of 55 healthy volunteers were studied. There was a significant increase in mean heart rate (62%), serum growth hormone (142%) and plasma renin activity (95%) in the Sauna. One hour after the Sauna bath the mean serum growth hormone had returned to the control level while plasma renin activity still remained higher (p less than 0.05) than before the Sauna bath. The serum insulin, blood sugar and urinary excretion of aldosterone and VMA did not change during or after Sauna bath. The urinary sodium excretion decreased significantly after the Sauna bath and the decrease was most striking (46%) during the first 6-hour period from the beginning of Sauna bath. Plasma renin activity values correlated positively with 12-hour urinary VMA excretion (p less than 0.01) and negatively with 6-hour urinary sodium excretion (p less than 0.05) before and after Sauna, suggesting the role of catecholamines and sodium depletion in renin response in Sauna.

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1996

Cancer incidence among Finnish patients with psoriasis treated with trioxsalen bath PUVA.

BACKGROUND: Systemic methoxsalen PUVA increases nonmelanoma skin cancer risk in a dose-dependent manner, whereas trioxsalen bath PUVA treatment has been suggested to be less carcinogenic. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to study the carcinogenicity of topical trioxsalen PUVA. METHODS: We performed a record linkage study of 337 male and 190 female patients with psoriasis treated with trioxsalen bath PUVA during the period 1977 to 1988 and the Finnish Cancer Registry (cancer incidence in the period 1977 to 1993). The mean follow-up period per person was approximately 11 years. Data on the total cumulative UVA dose and other potentially carcinogenic treatments were collected from the patients' files. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was calculated, in which the expected number of cases was based on the national cancer incidence rates. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 26 cancer cases were observed in the cohort versus 30 expected (SIR, 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57-1.28). The only primary sites showing high SIRs were cancer of the kidney (SIR, 3.56; 95% CI, 0.97-9.10) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (SIR, 2.94; 95% CI, 0.36-10.6). There was only one case of nonmelanoma skin cancer; the expected number was 0.8 (SIR, 1.26; 95% CI, 0.03-7.04). The average cumulative UVA dose was 65 J/cm2; 40 patients had received more than 200 J/cm2. The average number of treatments was 112; 65 patients had received more than 200 treatments. CONCLUSION: No excess of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin was found in patients treated with trioxsalen bath PUVA. However, because of the small size of the cohort, only a sevenfold excess risk can be excluded. The possible associations between psoriasis or its treatment and kidney cancer and lymphoma need to be studied further in larger series.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Cancer incidence among Finnish psoriasis patients treated with 8-methoxypsoralen bath PUVA.

BACKGROUND: Long-term oral 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and UVA (PUVA) therapy increases the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer and possibly also of cutaneous malignant melanoma. Topical application of 8-MOP PUVA induces malignant tumors in rodent skin, but little is known about its carcinogenicity in human skin. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the carcinogenicity of 8-MOP bath PUVA in humans. METHODS: This was a cohort study of 158 patients with psoriasis, for whom 8-MOP bath PUVA had been initiated during 1979 to 1992. The average number of 8-MOP bath PUVA treatments was 36 (range, 6 to 204) and the mean cumulative UVA dose was 92 J/cm2 (range, 3 to 884 J/cm2) by the end of 1995. The patients were not treated with any other forms of PUVA. Cancer incidence subsequent to 8-MOP bath PUVA up to the end of 1995 was determined by linking the cohort with the records of the Finnish Cancer Registry. The standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated for skin cancer and some common internal cancers, using the expected numbers of cases based on the regional cancer incidence rates. RESULTS: There was one case of basal cell carcinoma, but no cases of other types of skin cancer. A total of 6 noncutaneous cancers were observed (SIR, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.5 to 2.8). CONCLUSION: No association between cutaneous cancer and 8-MOP bath PUVA was found, but the statistical power of this study alone is not adequate to warrant definite conclusions. The results can be used in a meta-analysis as soon as other studies on the carcinogenicity of 8-MOP bath PUVA are published.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1980

Immediate contact allergy to birch leaves and sap.

Fresh sap and crushed leaf of birch (Betula verrucosa) were tested with the scratch chamber method in 117 atopic persons, 74 of whom were allergic and 43 nonallergic to birch pollen, and in 33 control patients. Immediate positive reactions to birch sap were seen in 39% and to leaf in 28% of the patients allergic to birch pollen, in one of the birch pollen-negative patients, but in none of the control patients. Birch leaves may cause contact urticaria in the Finnish sauna, where bath whisks made of birch sprigs are traditionally used.

Dermatitis, Atopic↗
PubMed1988

The sauna and children.

In Finland sauna bathing by infants and children is guided by an empirically acquired parental understanding of the limits of safe heat "exposure". Finnish children are rarely allowed into a sauna alone before they are 7 years old. Finnish parents observe the post sauna bathing behaviour of their children, and this helps them to establish safe limits of exposure and avoid any adaptation problems. The after effects of sauna bathing of children reported in this study are substantial enough to warrant clinical paediatric involvement in unravelling the relation between the psychosomatic symptoms reported by children and their exposure to the raised temperature. There is also the need, even in Finland, of investigating the sauna bathing of children to establish objective criteria for promoting safe sauna bathing habits. Sauna bathing is a centuries old family tradition in Finland. There are 1.4 million saunas in a country with population of some 4.8 million people. Most families either have their own sauna or one close to where they live. In addition, Finnish children have access to sauna facilities at local sporting, recreation and swimming centres. Sauna bathing often takes place in connection with physical education (PE) lessons or sporting club activities for those over the age of 7 years. The average Finnish family takes a sauna bath once a week, and Finnish children are introduced to sauna bathing in early infancy. Although exposure to the raised temperatures normally encountered in a sauna can cause thermoregulatory imbalances in children there are no established guidelines for the safe use of saunas by infants and children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The Finnish sauna and cardiovascular diseases.

From time to time it has been claimed that the thermal stress caused by sauna bathing can be harmful to persons with cardiovascular disorders. Furthermore, elderly persons in general, who have experienced no symptoms from bathing, have also been cautioned. However, several studies carried out in Finland did not confirm the adverse effects of bathing on the elderly and cardiovascular patients. The controversial results obtained in Finnish and in some foreign studies are at least partly due to the different test conditions. The typical Finnish sauna bath is safe, and even patients who have recovered from acute myocardial infarction can enjoy the sauna without incurring any harmful cardiovascular effects.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed1999

Trioxsalen bath PUVA did not increase the risk of squamous cell skin carcinoma and cutaneous malignant melanoma in a joint analysis of 944 Swedish and Finnish patients with psoriasis.

It has been suggested that trioxsalen bath and ultraviolet (UV) A (PUVA) is associated with a very low or no risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, but the numbers of patients in individual studies have been limited. In order to attain statistically relevant information about the cancer risk associated with trioxsalen bath PUVA, two follow-up studies were combined and the joined cancer incidence was analysed among 944 Swedish and Finnish patients with psoriasis. The mean follow-up time for skin cancer was 14.7 years. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated as a ratio of observed and expected numbers of cases. The expected numbers of cases were based on the national cancer incidence rates in the respective countries. There was no excess of squamous cell skin carcinoma [SIR 1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2-3.2] or malignant melanoma (SIR 0.9, 95% CI 0.1-3.2) in the combined cohort. Basal cell skin carcinoma was not studied. The incidence of all non-cutaneous cancers was not increased (SIR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8-1.4). A threefold excess risk of squamous cell skin carcinoma after trioxsalen bath PUVA could therefore be excluded, which is a markedly lower risk than that associated with oral 8-methoxypsoralen PUVA. The result needs to be confirmed in a future follow-up, however, as the number of patients with high PUVA exposures was low.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Acute bilateral corneal hydrops caused by high temperature and high moisture in the Finnish sauna. A clinical and histological case report of a patient with keratoconus.

A 44-year-old healthy male with bilateral keratoconus developed acute hydrops of both his corneas with an interval of 3 years. On both occasions he had bathed in a hot, humid Finnish sauna the preceding evening. Penetrating keratoplasty had to be performed in the acute stage in both instances, as medical therapy brought no improvement. The contributory role of hot, moist air to the development of acute hydrops is discussed. Histopathological examination of the corneal buttons revealed clear-cut breaks in Descemet's membrane with marked posterior stromal oedema.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

Sauna-bathing with sutures. A prospective and randomised study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Bathing in sauna is a Finnish habit with numerous beliefs and traditions. One belief has been that one is not allowed to go to sauna postoperatively with sutures. This belief is in practically every patient information sheet in Finland on postoperative wound care. There is no scientific proof of the harmfulness of sauna-bathing with sutures and no articles on the matter, either. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether sauna-bathing has a negative impact on wound healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective, randomised study with 79 patients scheduled for an elective hernioplasty in a day care surgical department. The other group was advised to go to sauna from 3rd postoperative day on, and for the other group, sauna was prohibited until sutures were removed. RESULTS: There was no differences in wound healing between two groups. CONCLUSION: There is no reason to prohibit sauna-bathing with sutures in this patient group.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Sauna-related burns: a review of 154 cases treated in Kuopio University Hospital Burn Center 1994-2000.

Bathing in sauna has been customary for Finnish people for centuries. However, there are no actual reviews on sauna-related burns in the literature. This 7-year retrospective analyses of 598 burn patients treated in Kuopio University Hospital Burn Unit revealed that every fourth burn in our unit was sauna-related, giving a total of 154 cases. Most of these burns were minor but 54% required operative treatment. A total of 71% of patients were male and 40% of all patients were under the influence of alcohol. The incidence of sauna-related burns in Finland according to our material is 7/100,000, giving a total of 357 patients annually. Hence, there is one sauna-related burn per day requiring hospitalization in Finland.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Some cardiovascular and metabolic effects of repeated sauna bathing.

Ten healthy male volunteers were exposed to the dry heat of a Finnish sauna (+80 degrees C) for 1 h twice a day for a period of 7 days. After each exposure rectal temperature rose by 0.8-1.1 degrees C and body weight dropped by 0.7-0.9 kg. The systolic blood pressure recorded 3-5 min after the sauna did not change during the experiments but the diastolic blood pressure decreased by 7-37 mmHg (P less than 0.05). The pulse rate rose from 75-80 to 106-116 beats min-1 (P less than 0.05) after the sauna. The increased responses of pulse and temperature adapted to heat exposures so that they were significantly lower after the 3rd day (rectal temperature) or after 6th day (pulse). Metabolic rate increased by 25-33% (P less than 0.01) after the first day. Serum total proteins, Hb and Htc were significantly increased on the 1st and 3rd days but not later, although the dehydration in response to sauna was unchanged as judged from the weight losses. Serum K, Na and Fe were significantly decreased on the 3rd and 7th day indicating that special attention should be given to the electrolyte balance in long-lasting intense heat exposure. No ECG changes were found in recordings taken on the 7th day.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[The effect of the Finnish dry sauna on bronchial asthma in childhood].

More than 400,000 sauna baths have been built in Germany. Frequently, children with bronchial asthma and their parents raise the question whether sauna bathing might be hazardous for the lungs. In present study the effects of sauna bathing on the ventilation have been evaluated by use of peak-flow meters. Only one 12-years old girl suffered an attack of bronchial asthma while using a cold shower, probably as a result of breathing cold air. No other complications have been observed. Sauna bathing can be recommended for children with bronchial asthma, since advantages in the resistance against infections and in psychosocial development can be expected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Endocrine effects of repeated sauna bathing.

Ten healthy male and seven female volunteers were exposed to dry heat (in a Finnish sauna 80 degrees C) 1 h twice a day for 7 days. The levels of ACTH in plasma, cortisol, TSH, thyroid hormones, testosterone, gonadotropins, prolactin and GH in serum and urinary excretion of catecholamines were determined before the experiment, and on the first, third and seventh days. Females participated only in prolactin studies. During the experiments there were no statistically significant changes in serum thyroid hormones, TSH, testosterone, FSH and LH levels. Serum cortisol and plasma ACTH decreased and urinary catecholamine increased slightly at the end of the experiment (P less than 0.05). Serum GH and prolactin in males exhibited 16- and 2.3-fold increases (P less than 0.01), respectively. In females serum prolactin rose over four-fold (P less than 0.01). The GH rise in response to hyperthermia declined after the third day but prolactin remained elevated at the end of the experiments in males. The release of prolactin in females was also high and may be associated with the transient amenorrhoea that occurred in five out of seven subjects after the experiment. The increased release of prolactin and perhaps that of GH may be associated to the heat-exposure-induced dehydration.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1997

Hand dermatitis and allergic patch test reactions caused by nickel in electroplaters.

A worksite survey was conducted in all 38 Finnish electroplating plants. All workers (n = 163) who worked with nickel plating (bath workers, hangers and solution makers) were interviewed with a questionnaire about symptoms of nickel dermatitis, hand dermatitis, and about protective measures, atopy, etc. Patch testing with nickel sulfate was done with the TRUE TestTM method. All the workers, 94 men and 69 women, answered the questionnaire. The mean age of women was 41.1 years, and of men 43.1 years, respectively. Men had longer occupational exposure to nickel (14 years) than women (10 years). Most workers used protective gloves. 35% of women and 30% of men reported present or past hand dermatosis. 19% reported a history of atopic dermatitis. 15% of women (n = 8) and 4% (n = 2) of men had an allergic patch test reaction to nickel sulfate. 70% of those with an allergic patch test reaction to nickel reported past or present hand eczema. The prevalence of nickel allergy among the electroplaters was similar to that of patients in patch test clinics in Finland. An allergic patch test reaction to nickel sulfate does not necessarily oblige an electroplater to change jobs.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Human thermoregulation in sauna.

Finnish sauna is heated by the radiation energy of an electrical or wood burning stove resulting in high air temperature, 80-100 degrees C, and low air humidity levels, 50-60 g/kg of air. Sauna bathing is divided into several 5-20 min sessions and between the sessions several minutes are spent at normal room temperature. Finnish sauna presents a heat load of 300-600 W/m2 of skin surface area. This increases mean skin temperature to 40-41 degrees C, causes strong heat sensations and starts thermoregulatory mechanisms. Evaporative heat transfer by sweating is the only effective channel dissipating heat from the body in sauna. Sweating is usually 0.6-1 kg/h and represents a heat loss of about 200 W/m2. The body cannot compensate for the heat load of sauna and the temperature of viscera begins to increase. A 30-minute stay in a sauna with a temperature of 80 degrees C increases rectal temperature by about 0.9 degrees C in adults whereas in children less intensive sauna (10 min at 70 degrees C) increases rectal temperature by 1.5 degrees C. The subjective feelings after Finnish sauna are usually described in positive terms such as "calm" and "pleasant".

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The effect of transforming growth factor beta1 gene polymorphisms in ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether genetic polymorphisms in or near the transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFB1) locus were associated with susceptibility to or severity of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: Five intragenic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and three microsatellite markers flanking the TGFB1 locus were genotyped. Seven hundred and sixty-two individuals from 184 multiplex families were genotyped for the microsatellite markers and two of the promoter SNPs. One thousand and two individuals from 212 English and 170 Finnish families with AS were genotyped for all five intragenic SNPs. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the age of symptom onset, disease duration and disease severity scores, including the BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) and BASFI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index). RESULTS: A weak association was noted between the rare TGFB1 +1632 T allele and AS in the Finnish population (P = 0.04) and in the combined data set (P = 0.03). No association was noted between any other SNPs or SNP haplotype and AS, even among those families with positive non-parametric linkage scores. The TGFB1 +1632 polymorphism was also associated with a younger age of symptom onset (English population, allele 2 associated with age of onset greater by 4.2 yr, P = 0.05; combined data set, allele 2 associated with age of onset greater by 3.2 yr, P = 0.02). A haplotype of coding region SNPs (TGFB1 +869/+915+1632 alleles 2/1/2) was associated with age of symptom onset in both the English parent-case trios and the combined data set (English data set, haplotype 2/1/2 associated with age of onset greater by 4.9 yr, P = 0.03; combined data set, haplotype 2/1/2 associated with greater age of onset by 4.2 yr, P = 0.006). Weak linkage with AS susceptibility was noted and the peak LOD score was 1.3 at distance 2 cM centromeric to the TGFB1 gene. No other linkage or association was found between quantitative traits and the markers. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the polymorphisms within the TGFB1 gene play at most a small role in AS and that other genes encoded on chromosome 19 are involved in susceptibility to the disease.

Adult↗