Marja-Terttu Saha

Three factor eating questionnaire-R18 as a measure of cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating in a sample of young Finnish females

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to examine the construct validity of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire -R18 (TFEQ-R18), a measure of eating behaviour, and to evaluate cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating in a sample of adolescent and young adult females of different weights.MethodsSubjects were 2 997 females, aged 17 to 20 years, who participated in a phase III human papillomavirus vaccination trial in Finland in 2004 – 2009.Self-administered questionnaires and weight and height measurements were used. The factor structure of the TFEQ-R18 was verified by factor analysis. Connections between measured eating behaviour and Body Mass Index (BMI) were tested using analysis of variance.ResultsThe original factor structure of the TFEQ-R18 was replicated: six of the eighteen items measured cognitive restraint, nine measured uncontrolled eating, and three measured emotional eating. On average, higher BMI was associated with higher levels of cognitive restraint (p < 0.001) and emotional eating (p < 0.001), but not with uncontrolled eating.ConclusionStructural validity of the TFEQ-R18 was good in this sample of young Finnish females with a varying range of body weights. Use of the instrument as a measure of eating behaviour was thus corroborated. Connections of restrained and emotional eating with BMI were in accordance with previous findings from young females.

Virus Antibody Survey in Different European Populations Indicates Risk Association Between Coxsackievirus B1 and Type 1 Diabetes

Enteroviruses (EVs) have been connected to type 1 diabetes in various studies. The current study evaluates the association between specific EV subtypes and type 1 diabetes by measuring type-specific antibodies against the group B coxsackieviruses (CVBs), which have been linked to diabetes in previous surveys. Altogether, 249 children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and 249 control children matched according to sampling time, sex, age, and country were recruited in Finland, Sweden, England, France, and Greece between 2001 and 2005 (mean age 9 years; 55% male). Antibodies against CVB1 were more frequent among diabetic children than among control children (odds ratio 1.7 [95% CI 1.0–2.9]), whereas other CVB types did not differ between the groups. CVB1-associated risk was not related to HLA genotype, age, or sex. Finnish children had a lower frequency of CVB antibodies than children in other countries. The results support previous studies that suggested an association between CVBs and type 1 diabetes, highlighting the possible role of CVB1 as a diabetogenic virus type.

Time Course of Serum Prolactin and Sex Hormones following Successful Renal Transplantation

Background: Chronic renal failure is commonly associated with disturbances in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal function. Methods: The gonadotrophins, prolactin and estradiol or testosterone levels were measured immediately before renal transplantation, at discharge from the transplantation unit (19 ± 8 days after Tx) and 6 months after transplantation in 21 patients, 7 females and 14 males, age range 21–60 years. Results: The mean prolactin level was high during uremia and decreased rapidly after transplantation, from 441 to 167 mU/l in males and from 1,057 to 521 mU/l in females. Hypergonadotrophism was seen in most uremic patients, with the mean LH and FSH levels of 14.2 and 6.0 U/l in males and 14.7 and 4.0 U/l in females, respectively. A temporary change to hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism took place 2–3 weeks after transplantation and was followed by normalization of the hypothalamic-gonadal function. The levels of circulating sex steroids were suppressed when the patients were discharged from the transplantation unit but returned to the normal range at 6 months. Conclusions: We conclude that renal transplantation corrects the hyperprolactinemia induced by uremia and is followed by rapid onset of restoration of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.

Bone mass and structure in adolescents with type 1 diabetes compared to healthy peers

SummaryWe measured bone mass and structure using pQCT and DXA in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes and compared the results with those of healthy peers. Our results showed that diabetes is associated with reduced bone mass and smaller bones. The diabetes-associated deficits seemed to concern male adolescents more than females.IntroductionThe aim of this study was to compare bone mass and structure between adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their healthy peers.MethodsPeripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) at radius and tibia, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at lumbar spine and proximal femur were performed for 48 adolescents, 26 girls and 22 boys, with type 1 diabetes, and for healthy peers matched for age, sex, body height and weight, and pubertal maturity.ResultsDiabetes was associated with reduced bone mineral content (BMC) and smaller bone cross-sectional size. Diabetic boys seemed to be more affected than diabetic girls. Among the boys, the mean deficit in BMC of all measured skeletal sites was more than 10%, while among the girls it was less than 5%.ConclusionIn conclusion, type 1 diabetes is associated with reduced BMC and appears to affect bone cross-sectional size and cortical rigidity. The diabetes-related skeletal deficits seemed to concern male adolescents more than females. Whether diabetes-related deficits would contribute to an increased risk of fractures in adulthood or later in life remains to be confirmed.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in 5- and 12-year-old Finnish children in 1986 and 2006.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and the trends of overweight and obesity in Finnish 5‐ and 12‐year‐old children in 1986 and 2006.

Parents underestimate their child`s overweight.

Aim:  The aim of this study was to evaluate parents’ ability to perceive the weight status of their children.

Change in prevalence of overweight and obesity in Finnish children – comparison between 1974 and 2001

Objective:  To analyse the possible changes in the prevalence of overweight and obesity comparing birth cohorts from four different decades in Finland.

Association of immune mediators at diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes with later clinical remission

Aims  We tested the hypothesis that systemic concentrations of cytokines, chemokines or soluble cytokine receptors predict or accompany clinical remission in Type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in the treatment of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) with a portable insulin pump has been used for several years in the treatment of adult patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). This treatment, however, has rarely been utilised in children and adolescents. We studied the use of CSII in 16 children and adolescents with type 1 DM at Tampere and Kuopio University Hospitals between 1992 and 1997. The longest treatment periods are more than 4 years. The reasons for switching to CSII treatment and the goals achieved were evaluated. Glycaemic control before and during CSII treatment and the occurrence of hypoglycaemia and ketoacidosis were analysed. Compared with conventional insulin treatment, improved glycaemic control and a reduced frequency of hypoglycaemic events were achieved with CSII in those with particularly poor initial metabolic control (HbA1c >10.0%). The overall satisfaction with pump therapy was high in both patients and their families. According to our experience, CSII may be of benefit, especially in young infants with type 1 DM, but also in affected adolescents with unacceptable glycaemic control.

LINDA – a solution-focused low-intensity intervention aimed at improving health behaviors of young females: a cluster-randomized controlled trial

BackgroundWe aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an individualized, long-term support lifestyle counseling approach in promoting healthy physical activity, improving dietary and sleeping behaviors, and preventing weight gain in young females. The counseling approach’s intensity was designed to be low enough to be implementable in primary health care.MethodsYoung women (n = 3,059, age at baseline 17–21 years) attending a population-based human papilloma virus vaccination trial (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00122681) in 15 vaccination centers in different communities across Finland, were cluster-randomized into intervention and control arms of the LINDA intervention. Both intervention and control arms received counseling on sexual health and contraception from the study nurses as part of the vaccination trial. Additionally, the LINDA intervention arm (n = 1,537) received a 20-minute individualized lifestyle counseling session followed by further support at the six-monthly follow-up visits of the vaccination trial, in total for 1.5–2.5 years.The LINDA solution-focused brief therapy intervention focused on healthy physical activity, and dietary and sleeping behaviors, based on the needs and interests of the participants. Anthropometrics were measured, and data on health-related behaviors were collected using self-report questionnaires at baseline and after the intervention at 1.5–2.5 years.ResultsIn the intervention arm, 37% vs. 31% in the control arm made an overall improvement in their health behaviors concerning physical activity, meal regularity and/or earlier bedtime (NNT = 18, 95% CI = 11–50). The per-protocol analysis further revealed that 30% of those who actually received lifestyle change support on healthy physical activity behaviors improved their physical activity level vs. 23% in the control group (NNT = 15, 95% CI = 9–38). Respectively, 36% of those who received support on healthy sleeping behaviors went to sleep earlier before school-/work-days after the intervention vs. 28% in the control group (NNT = 13, 95% CI = 7–61). Dinner irregularity increased in both groups, but less in the intervention group among those who received support on healthy dietary behaviors (NNT = 15, 95%CI = 9–46). There was no effect on weight gain between baseline and study end-point.ConclusionsThe solution-focused brief therapy intervention, with individually tailored content, helped to make small, long-term overall improvements in health behaviors concerning physical activity, meal regularity and/or earlier bedtime.