The Työhön Job Search Program in Finland: benefits for the unemployed with risk of depression or discouragement

The impact of preventive interventions for the unemployed may vary depending on the context of the labor policies and benefit systems of the country where it is implemented. The Työhön Job Search Program was based on a method developed in the United States for recently unemployed workers. This study examined outcomes of the intervention in the context of the European labor market for participants who had been unemployed for a longer period. A total of 1,261 unemployed Finnish job seekers participated in a randomized field study. At the 6-month follow-up, the program had a beneficial impact on the quality of reemployment, especially among those who had been unemployed for a moderate time period. The program also significantly decreased psychological distress.

Two years after a job loss: long-term impact of the JOBS program on reemployment and mental health

Analyses of data from a randomized field experiment with 1,801 participants (A.D. Vinokur, R.H. Price. & Y.Schul, 1995) examined the long-term effects of a job-search workshop (JOBS) and the independent effects of demographic and psychological factors on reemployment and mental health outcomes. Two years after the JOBS workshop, the experimental group had significantly higher levels of reemployment and monthly income, lower levels of depressive symptoms, lower likelihood of experiencing a major depressive episode in the last year, and better role and emotional functioning compared with the control group. Baseline job-search motivation and sense of mastery had both direct and interactive effects (with experimental condition) on reemployment and mental health outcomes, respectively. The interactive effects demonstrated larger benefits for those who had initial low levels of job-search motivation and mastery.

Two years after a job loss: long-term impact of the JOBS program on reemployment and mental health

Analyses of data from a randomized field experiment with 1,801 participants (A.D. Vinokur, R.H. Price. & Y.Schul, 1995) examined the long-term effects of a job-search workshop (JOBS) and the independent effects of demographic and psychological factors on reemployment and mental health outcomes. Two years after the JOBS workshop, the experimental group had significantly higher levels of reemployment and monthly income, lower levels of depressive symptoms, lower likelihood of experiencing a major depressive episode in the last year, and better role and emotional functioning compared with the control group. Baseline job-search motivation and sense of mastery had both direct and interactive effects (with experimental condition) on reemployment and mental health outcomes, respectively. The interactive effects demonstrated larger benefits for those who had initial low levels of job-search motivation and mastery.

The use of myoglobin/carbonic anhydrase III ratio as a marker for myocardial damage in patients with renal failure

To evaluate the clinical significance of myoglobin and myoglobin/CA III ratio as a biochemical marker for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with renal failure; we studied 300 patients admitted to the hospital with a history of symptoms characteristic of AMI, and 33 renal failure patients who were undergoing chronic maintenance dialysis treatment and who did not have clinical or electrocardiographic evidence of AMI. Fifteen of 300 patients admitted to the hospital had AMI based on the WHO criteria, and a concomitant value of serum creatinine concentration (S-Crea) over 140 mumol/l indicating renal failure. Fourteen of these 15 patients (93%) had serum myoglobin concentration over 70 micrograms/l and myoglobin/CA III ratio over 2.20 as measured by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA); these values were cutoff values for AMI diagnosis. Twenty-two of 300 patients admitted to the hospital had S-Crea over 140 mumol/l in the absence of myocardial injury. Sixteen of these 22 (73%) patients had increased serum myoglobin concentration, but only four of 22 (18%) had myoglobin/CA III ratio over 2.20. A positive correlation between serum myoglobin and CA III concentrations (rs = 0.933, P < 0.001) was observed in hemodialyzed patients with chronic renal failure. The values for serum myoglobin/CA III ratio observed in this group were similar to those measured in the 22 non-AMI patients with S-Crea over 140 mumol/l admitted to the hospital and differed statistically from that for patients with AMI (P < 0.001). We conclude that serum myoglobin, as well as CA III values, are elevated in patients with renal failure, and therefore S-myoglobin can not be used as a marker for AMI in these patients. Our results suggest that the serum myoglobin/CA III ratio is a reliable AMI marker even in renal failure patients, and therefore provides a tool for AMI diagnosis in this patient group.

Improved specificity of myoglobin plus carbonic anhydrase assay versus that of creatine kinase-MB for early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Carbonic anhydrase III (CA-III) is an enzyme released from skeletal muscle in a fixed ratio with myoglobin during cell injury, but unlike myoglobin it is not found in cardiac muscle. This study compared the clinical utility of serum myoglobin (S-Mgb) in conjunction with the ratio of S-Mgb to CA-III (S-Mgb/CA-III) versus creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) for the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODS

This prospective observational study set at a university teaching hospital emergency department enrolled 251 consecutive consenting patients who presented with symptoms consistent with cardiac ischemia or infarction of less than 12 hours' duration. Patients with trauma or kidney failure were excluded. Standardized history and physical examination data were recorded, as were the results of serial blood sampling for S-Mgb, CA-III, and CK-MB at 0, 1, and 3 hours after patient presentation. A positive test for the study assays was defined as an S-Mgb concentration of more than 110 ng/mL with an S-Mgb/CA-III of 3.21 or higher by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Data were analyzed with McNemar's chi 2 test for symmetry and confidence intervals (CIs), using the exact method.

RESULTS

Thirty (12%) of the 251 patients were found to have AMI by World Health Organization criteria. Mean time from symptom onset to presentation was 3.2 hours. The use of S-Mgb plus S-Mgb/CA-III compared with CK-MB for identification of AMI in patients presenting within 3 hours of symptom onset yielded respective sensitivities of 47.8% versus 17.4% (P = .02); specificities of 98.9% versus 100% (P = NS); positive predictive values of 84.6% (95% CI, 54.6% to 98.1%) versus 100% (95% CI, 39.8% to 100%); and negative predictive values of 93.5% (95% CI, 90.0% to 96.6%) versus 90.0% (95% CI, 84.8% to 93.9%).

CONCLUSION

S-Mgb in conjunction with S-Mgb/CA-III was significantly more sensitive than CK-MB yet equally as specific for the early diagnosis of patients with AMI.

Effect of concentric exercise on serum muscle and collagen markers

The effect of an acute bout of high-intensity concentric exercise on serum muscle and collagen marker proteins was studied in nine male students. The muscle-derived serum carbonic anhydrase III, myoglobin, and creatine kinase all increased as a result of the exercise. Serum type I procollagen carboxyterminal propeptide decreased at first but started to increase 2 days after the exercise. Serum galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase was elevated immediately after the exercise. No significant changes were seen in the concentrations of serum amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen or 4-hydroxyproline. It seems that a single bout of heavy concentric exercise causes protein leakage from muscles and probably from the collagen-synthesizing cells of the connective tissue, which may be accompanied by an initial decrease and a subsequent increase in type I collagen production. The activation of type I collagen production seems to depend on the strain and damage of the musculoskeletal system.

Psychosocial factors in youth and at working age as predictors of blood pressure. A prospective study

This prospective study focused on childhood and adult psychosocial determinants of blood pressure (BP) measured at working age, including work factors, individual characteristics and socioeconomic factors. Data had been collected over 20 years ago from a sample representative of Finnish children. For this follow-up, 150 subjects responded to a questionnaire and attended a personal examination at the mean age of 37 yr. Hierarchical regression analyses were made for women and men. A split half procedure was applied for the control of possible chance associations. Work conditions and perceived health were not associated with BP. Social conditions in youth were powerful predictors of high adult BP for men. Poor living conditions in youth explained 16% of their diastolic BP and 9% of their systolic BP. The result may be regarded as strong evidence for early determinants of hypertension.

Effects of systemic isotretinoin on serum markers of collagen synthesis and degradation

In the present investigation, collagen synthesis and degradation were studied by measuring the carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP), the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) and a type I collagen-specific degradation peptide (ICTP) in the sera of 43 male patients, treated for acne with isotretinoin or with tetracycline. The values were compared with those observed in 24 acne patients without treatment and in healthy controls. The treatment with isotretinoin did not seem to affect these parameters in a cross-sectional setting, whereas tetracycline treatment was associated with slightly decreased levels of ICTP. Since there were marked variations in the PICP, PIIINP and ICTP levels between individual subjects, a follow-up study, including male and female patients, others than in the first part of the study, was conducted. Two other biochemical markers of bone metabolism, osteocalcin, reflecting osteoblastic activity, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), reflecting osteoclastic activity, were also analyzed. In females, all these parameters were lower than in males. In addition, the changes in females were more pronounced; in particular, PIIINP and TRAP were significantly increased in females during retinoid treatment (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Importantly, no increase was found in the synthesis of type I collagen during retinoid treatment, suggesting that the commonly used retinoid dosages do not stimulate the synthesis of type I collagen in vivo.

Comparison of muscle-derived serum carbonic anhydrase III and myoglobin in dermatological patients: effects of isotretinoin treatment

The serum levels of muscle-specific serum carbonic anhydrase III (S-CAIII) and myoglobin (S-Myo) were analyzed in various male dermatological patients of the same age. The mean levels of S-CAIII and S-Myo were essentially similar in patients with acne, psoriasis vulgaris, atopic eczema and tinea, suggesting that common dermatological diseases do not affect the serum levels of the muscle markers. Increased levels of S-CAIII, which is specific for skeletal muscle cells, were found in the acne patients who had been treated with isotretinoin. However, when S-CAIII and S-Myo were studied in 24 patients (16 males, 8 females) before and during isotretinoin treatment, no constant increases in these markers could be observed. When individual patients were followed for several months, transient increases or decreases could be observed. The changes in S-CAIII, or S-Myo, did not correlate with the dose of isotretinoin, nor with the duration of the treatment. The results suggest that systemic isotretinoin does not specifically affect skeletal or myocardial muscles. The increases in these markers observed in the course of dermatological diseases and isotretinoin treatment are obviously due to other factors, such as exercise.

Systemic glucocorticoid treatment decreases serum concentrations of carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen

The effect of systemic glucocorticoid treatment on collagen synthesis in patients with various dermatoses was studied by measuring the carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) in serum. Changes in the propeptide concentrations were compared with those of osteocalcin, which reflects osteoblastic activity, and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), which reflects osteoclastic activity. The treatment caused significant decreases in levels of PICP, PIIINP and osteocalcin of 38, 34 and 49%, respectively (P less than 0.001). For TRAP, both increases and decreases were seen. The effects on PICP and PIIINP were evident 2-4 days after the onset of steroid therapy. The decrease in PICP was dose-related (r = 0.470, P less than 0.005) but even relatively small doses (0.1 mg of prednisone/kg/1 day) caused a significant reduction in PICP. After cessation of treatment, the levels of PICP returned to the pretreatment level in 1 week. The present study demonstrates that systemic glucocorticoid therapy in humans suppresses the synthesis of type I and III collagens and also non-collagenous bone matrix proteins.

The treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy by dexamethasone

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether dexamethasone suppression of fetoplacental oestrogen production can reduce obstetric cholestasis.

DESIGN

Observational study.

SETTING

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Tampere, Finland.

SUBJECTS

10 women, at between 28 and 37 weeks gestation, with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

INTERVENTIONS

Treatment with 12 mg oral dexamethasone daily for 7 days, after which the therapy was gradually discontinued over 3 days.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Serum oestriol, oestradiol, total bile acids and ALAT were measured before and during therapy and on days 4 and 7 and ALAT also on day 12. Differences were tested by paired t test.

RESULTS

Itching disappeared or was relieved in all patients. Serum oestriol level fell significantly by day 1 of treatment, serum oestradiol and total bile acid levels by day 4 and ALAT by day 12 from the beginning of the therapy.

CONCLUSION

Dexamethasone is a drug of choice in the treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Quantification of carbonic anhydrase III and myoglobin in different fiber types of human psoas muscle

Carbonic anhydrase (CA III) and myoglobin contents from isolated human muscle fibers were quantified using a sensitive time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay. Human psoas muscle specimens were freeze-dried, and single fibers were dissected out and classified into type I, IIA and IIB by myosin ATPase staining. Fiber typing was further confirmed by SDS-PAGE. CA III and myoglobin were found in all fiber types. Type I fibers contained higher concentrations of CA III and myoglobin than type IIA and IIB fibers. The relative concentrations of CA III in type IIA and IIB fibers were respectively 24% and 10% of that in type I fibers. The relative concentrations of myoglobin in type IIA and IIB fibers were 60% and 28% of that in type I fibers. Anti-CA III immunoblotting results from fiber-specific pooled samples agreed well with quantitative measurements. The results indicate that CA III is a more specific marker than myoglobin for type I fibers.

Dual-label time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for simultaneous detection of myoglobin and carbonic anhydrase III in serum

We developed a dual-labeled time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for simultaneous quantification of myoglobin (Mb) and carbonic anhydrase III (CA III) in serum involving polyclonal antibodies and the fluorescent lanthanides europium (Eu3+) and samarium (Sm3+). This solid-phase immunoassay is based on competition between Eu(3+)- or Sm(3+)-labeled antigen and the sample antigen for polyclonal rabbit antibodies. Standards and patients' samples containing antigen inhibit binding of the lanthanide-labeled antigen to the antibody. A second antibody directed against rabbit IgG is coated on a solid phase and binds the IgG-antigen-lanthanide complex, giving rapid and complete separation of antibody-bound and free antigen. The assay requires only one incubation step. An enhancement solution dissociates Eu3+ and Sm3+ ions from the labeled CA III and Mb, respectively, into a solution where they form highly fluorescent chelates. Spectra of the fluorescent chelates in the microtitration-strip wells were run on a time-resolved fluorometer equipped with filters for Eu3+ (613 nm) and Sm3+ (643 nm), the fluorescence from each sample being inversely proportional to the concentration of antigens. The measurement range for both analytes is from 5 to 1500 micrograms/L. The mean within- and between-assay precisions (CV) were 4.6% and 6.2% for CA III and 5.9% and 7.3% for Mb, respectively. Good correlations were obtained with the results of CA III RIA and a commercial myoglobin RIA kit.

A life-long prospective study on the role of psychosocial factors in neck-shoulder and low-back pain

The predictive value of psychosocial factors in the development of neck--shoulder and low-back symptoms was investigated in a life-long follow-up study of 154 subjects. Measurements taken in adolescence, such as intelligence, alexithymia (low verbal productivity in projective personality tests), social confidence, hobbies, and the socioeconomic status of the family, showed no consistent associations with neck--shoulder or low-back symptoms in adulthood. Of the variables recorded in adulthood, weak mental resources for promoting health (poor sense of coherence) were consistently associated with neck--shoulder pain, whereas low fundamental education predicted low-back symptoms. The results suggest that psychosocial factors in childhood have a minor role as direct predictors of later symptoms.

Use of various epithelial tumor markers and a stromal marker in the assessment of cervical carcinoma

The epithelial cell tumor markers squamous cell carcinoma antigen, CA 125, CA 15-3, and TAG 72, and the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen, an indicator of collagen metabolism, were evaluated in 111 cervical carcinoma patients. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen was pathologic in 47%, aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in 40%, CA 125 in 13%, CA 15-3 in 30%, and TAG 72 in 9% of the 91 patients with squamous cell carcinoma. The squamous cell carcinoma antigen, aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen, and CA 125 correlated with the clinical stage. The predictive value of a pathologic squamous cell carcinoma antigen was 78% and that of a negative result 68%. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen further increased the detection rate by approximately 20% from that obtained by squamous cell carcinoma antigen alone. In 16 patients with advanced disease, squamous cell carcinoma antigen correlated with the behavior of the disease in eight, aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in nine, and CA 125 in six patients. Pathologic squamous cell carcinoma antigen, CA 125, CA 15-3, TAG 72, and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen appeared in 11, 32, 31, 31, and 47% of 19 patients with adenocarcinoma, respectively. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen is clinically useful in squamous cell carcinoma but poor in adenocarcinoma, for which the other markers are better. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen, CA 125, and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen may be used for monitoring the behavior of advanced squamous cell carcinoma.

Moderate exercise does not enhance the positive effect of estrogen on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women

We studied the effects of physical activity and two types of estrogen treatment in a prospective study in 78 healthy postmenopausal women. A control group and two treatment groups receiving estradiol valerate and medroxyprogesterone acetate in 1- or 3-month cycles were monitored for 1 year. Half of each group took part in an exercise program. Lumbar and femoral bone mineral density increased in both of the estrogen-treatment groups. Physical exercise with estrogen treatment did not result in further increases in bone mineral densities.

Serum concentrations of CA 125 and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) in patients with endometrial carcinoma

Serum CA 125 (a marker of coelomic epithelial cells) and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP; an indicator of collagen metabolism) concentrations were measured in 148 patients with endometrial carcinoma. An initial serum concentration of CA 125 was pathologic in 17% of the patients, the frequency of abnormal values being higher (P = 0.0001) in advanced (63%) than in early disease (10%). The serum PIIINP concentration was increased in 35% of the patients and more often (P less than 0.05) so in advanced (63%) than in early disease (31%). Among all the patients, at least one of the tumor markers was increased in 43% of the cases. In early disease 12 of 108 patients contracted recurrent cancer. The accuracy of the pathologic CA 125 (9%) and PIIINP (18%) concentrations in their prediction was poor. In the total material, pathologic CA 125 and PIIINP concentrations appeared simultaneously in 11 patients, of whom eight had poor prognoses. In monitoring of treatment response of 24 patients, regression was accompanied by normal or decreasing CA 125 and PIIINP values. The persistence of pathologic CA 125 and/or PIIINP concentration predicted relapse of the malignancy. In progressive disease, CA 125 and PIIINP concentrations together or separately remained at a pathologic level or increased continuously. In clinically stable endometrial carcinoma, CA 125 gave false-negative results in 71% of the determinations and PIIINP only in 12%. The current results suggest the use of CA 125 and PIIINP, simultaneously, in monitoring the clinical course of advanced endometrial carcinoma.

Serum carbonic anhydrase III and myoglobin concentrations in acute myocardial infarction

Serum concentrations of myoglobin (S-Myo) and carbonic anhydrase III (S-CA III; EC 4.2.1.1), a skeletal muscle-specific protein, were measured by RIA in 26 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 14 patients with neuromuscular diseases, and six healthy subjects before and after physical exercise. S-Myo was increased in infarct patients, whereas S-CA III was not altered. In patients with neuromuscular diseases and in healthy subjects after physical exercise, both S-Myo and S-CA III were significantly increased. S-CA III and S-Myo also showed identical peak times, 2 h postexercise. The S-Myo/S-CA III ratio was always higher in infarct patients than in the other groups. Thus, the combination of S-CA III and S-Myo determinations is useful to differentiate whether serum myoglobin is originating from myocardium or from skeletal muscle.