Showing papers by "Hannu Vanhanen published in 2001"

Birth Outcome in Relation to Licorice Consumption during Pregnancy

Abstract: A role for glucocorticoids is suspected in the etiology of low birth weight. The authors tested whether maternal consumption of glycyrrhizin (an inhibitor of cortisol metabolism) in licorice affects birth weight in humans. A sample of 1,049 Finnish women and their healthy singleton infants was studied in 1998. Glycyrrhizin intake was calculated from detailed questionnaires on licorice consumption. Glycyrrhizin exposure was grouped into three levels: low ( or =500 mg/week; n = 110). Birth weight and gestational age (from ultrasound measurements) were obtained from hospital records. Babies with heavy exposure to glycyrrhizin were not significantly lighter at birth, but they were significantly more likely to be born earlier: The odds ratio for being born before 38 weeks' gestation was 2.5 (95% confidence interval: 1.1, 5.5; p = 0.03). Although the effect of heavy glycyrrhizin intake on mean duration of gestation was small (2.52 days) when expressed as an effect on the mean, this shift to the left of the distribution of duration of gestation was sufficient to double the risk of being born before 38 weeks. The association remained in multivariate analyses. In conclusion, heavy glycyrrhizin exposure during pregnancy did not significantly affect birth weight or maternal blood pressure, but it was significantly associated with lower gestational age.

Blood pressure and mortality during an up to 32-year follow-up.

Abstract: BACKGROUND Elevated blood pressure is an established risk factor of cardiovascular diseases, but there is a constant debate whether the association is continuous or with a threshold. METHODS During the 1960s (1964 onwards), 3,267 initially healthy male business executives (born 1919-1934) participated in voluntary health check-ups with measurements of cardiovascular disease risk factors. At baseline none of the men were on antihypertensive medication. Mortality follow-up was performed using national registers up to 31 December, 1995. Follow-up total and cardiovascular mortality was related to systolic (by 10 mmHg) and diastolic (by 5 mmHg, Korotkoff's 4th phase) blood pressure at baseline. Analyses were adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking and serum cholesterol. RESULTS During an up to 32-year follow-up, there were 701 deaths, 234 (33.4%) of them due to coronary heart disease, 49 (7.0%) to stroke, 42 (6.0%) to other cardiovascular diseases and 204 (29.1%) to cancer. Total mortality curves of the whole cohort (all age groups) were flat until 131-140 mmHg (systolic) and 81-85 (diastolic) and increased thereafter. Among men who smoked and had baseline serum cholesterol > 6.5 mmol/l (n = 986), the risk of death increased progressively with systolic blood pressure, whereas among non-smoking normocholesterolaemic men (n = 504) the association was J-shaped, i.e. higher mortality at < or = 110 mmHg than between 111-150 mmHg and a more consistent rise from 151-160 mmHg. The curves were essentially similar for cardiovascular mortality. The results were supported by analyses where major cardiovascular risk factors were controlled. CONCLUSION During a truly long-term follow-up, the relationship between systolic blood pressure and mortality was initially flat up to 131-140 mmHg although a linear relationship is suggested in men with other cardiovascular risk factors.

The problem-based learning tutorial laboratory - a method for training medical teachers.

Abstract: An extensive staff development program was started in 1998 in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Helsinki. A problem-based learning method was introduced as a new style of teaching in the curriculum reform. This paper describes a teaching method 'Problem-based learning - tutorial laboratory' for training medical teachers to act as tutors and to understand their roles as facilitators of learning and the dynamics of a small group. The method was based on learning cycles: teachers had a possibility to experience tutoring, to get feedback about it from an educational expert and from a peer teacher and also they were able to reflect on their views in the group. The teachers were content with the training. Sessions improved teacher cooperation across the departments and brought new teaching ideas for shared use. It also helped to cope with the resistance related to the curriculum change process.

Effects of atorvastatin (and blood pressure lowering comparing amlodipide-based therapy with beta-blocker-based therapy) on serum variables of cholesterol synthesis and absorption, thrombogenicity and on low-density lipoprotein oxidation in vivo.

Abstract: Effects of atorvastatin (and blood pressure lowering comparing amlodipide-based therapy with beta-blocker-based therapy) on serum variables of cholesterol synthesis and absorption, thrombogenicity and on low-density lipoprotein oxidation in vivo