Environmental sustainability assessment from planetary boundaries perspective - A case study of an organic sheep farm in Finland

Food production processes may have both positive and negative environmental sustainability impacts. This makes decision-making challenging in the transition towards more sustainable food production systems. In this paper, a new method for presenting environmental impacts in the context of planetary boundaries is demonstrated. This will help food and agricultural producers compare the magnitudes of various environmental impacts. The environmental sustainability impacts of an organic sheep farm in the boreal climate zone in Finland are studied herein first using a life cycle assessment method. The results are then normalized and presented in a planetary boundary framework to ascertain the extent of different environmental impacts. The results show that in the planetary boundary context, there are positive impacts of sheep grazing on biosphere integrity (genetic diversity) and biogeochemical flows and negative impacts on climate change, land use or freshwater use. Magnitudes of the impacts greatly dependent on the assumptions made especially regarding biosphere integrity impacts. In the future, it is crucial that decision-making be based on the evaluation of various environmental impacts and that the focus be more on complex sustainability thinking, rather than on one single environmental impact. This research demonstrates that results from a life cycle assessment can be modified and presented in a planetary boundaries context. A planetary boundary framework approach similar to that proposed herein could be further used to identify different environmental sustainability perspectives and to help one better recognize the multifunctional aspects of the ecosystem processes.

Solar superstorm of AD 774 recorded subannually by Arctic tree rings

Recently, a rapid increase in radiocarbon (¹⁴C) was observed in Japanese tree rings at AD 774/775. Various explanations for the anomaly have been offered, such as a supernova, a γ-ray burst, a cometary impact, or an exceptionally large Solar Particle Event (SPE). However, evidence of the origin and exact timing of the event remains incomplete. In particular, a key issue of latitudinal dependence of the ¹⁴C intensity has not been addressed yet. Here, we show that the event was most likely caused by the Sun and occurred during the spring of AD 774. Particularly, the event intensities from various locations show a strong correlation with the latitude, demonstrating a particle-induced ¹⁴C poleward increase, in accord with the solar origin of the event. Furthermore, both annual ¹⁴C data and carbon cycle modelling, and separate earlywood and latewood ¹⁴C measurements, confine the photosynthetic carbon fixation to around the midsummer.

Tree rings retain information of sudden variations of ancient radiocarbon (¹⁴C) content, however the origin and exact timing of these events often remain uncertain. Here, the authors analyze a set of Arctic tree rings and link a rapid increase in ¹⁴C to a solar event that occurred during the spring of AD 774.

Smokers and non smokers with rheumatoid arthritis have similar clinical status: data from the multinational QUEST-RA database

OBJECTIVES

To analyse clinical severity/activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) according to smoking status.

METHODS

The QUEST-RA multinational database reviews patients for Core Data Set measures including 28 swollen and tender joint count, physician global estimate, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), HAQ-function, pain, and patient global estimate, as well as DAS28, rheumatoid factor (RF), nodules, erosions and number of DMARDs were recorded. Smoking status was assessed by self-report as 'never smoked', 'currently smoking' and 'former smokers'. Patient groups with different smoking status were compared for demographic and RA measures.

RESULTS

Among the 7,307 patients with smoking data available, status as 'never smoked,' 'current smoker' and 'former smoker' were reported by 65%, 15% and 20%. Ever smokers were more likely to be RF-positive (OR 1.32;1.17-1.48, p<0.001). Rheumatoid nodules were more frequent in ever smokers (OR 1.41;1.24-1.59, p<0.001). The percentage of patients with erosive arthritis and extra-articular disease was similar in all smoking categories. Mean DAS28 was 4.4 (SD 1.6) in non-smokers vs. 4.0 (SD 1.6) in those who had ever smoked. However, when adjusted by age, sex, disease duration, and country gross domestic product, only ESR remained significantly different among Core Data Set measures (mean 31.7mm in non-smokers vs. 26.8mm in ever smoked category).

CONCLUSIONS

RA patients who had ever smoked were more likely to have RF and nodules, but values for other clinical status measures were similar in all smoking categories (never smoked, current smokers and former smokers).

Most people over age 50 in the general population do not meet ACR remission criteria or OMERACT minimal disease activity criteria for rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the proportion of individuals in the general population over age 50 who do not meet American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remission, and OMERACT criteria for minimal disease activity (MDA), and to compare results to RA patients.

METHODS

A self-report questionnaire was completed by 1400 community control subjects and 1705 RA patients, including the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), gradual rating scales for pain, fatigue and global health, duration of morning stiffness and painful joints. The prevalence of 4/6 ACR remission criteria and 4/7 OMERACT criteria for MDA was analysed in community control subjects and patients with RA over age 50.

RESULTS

For ACR criteria, 76% of control subjects reported painful joints, 37% morning stiffness, 62% pain and 66% fatigue, vs 94, 65, 84 and 84% of patients with RA. MDA criteria were not met by 64% of control subjects for painful joints, 38% for pain, 45% for global health and 18% for HAQ, vs 89, 60, 69 and 52% of RA patients. The four ACR remission criteria were met by only 15% of control subjects over age 50 and 3% of RA patients, and MDA criteria by 28% of controls and 7% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of community population over age 50 did not meet criteria for remission or MDA in RA. Although a self-report format may differ from results involving an assessor, the current criteria may not be accurate to identify remission or MDA in people with RA who are older than age 50.

The utility of QTL-Linked markers to detect selective sweeps in natural populations--a case study of the EDA gene and a linked marker in threespine stickleback

Sequence polymorphisms in coding genes and variability in quantitative trait loci (QTL)-linked markers can be used to uncover the evolutionary mechanisms of traits involved in adaptive processes. We studied sequence variation in the EDA gene and allelic variation in 18 microsatellites - one of which (Gac4174) is linked with the EDA QTL - in low, partially and completely plated morphs from eight threespine stickleback European populations. The results agree with previous studies in that EDA polymorphism is closely related to plate number variation: EDA sequences grouped populations into low and completely plated morphs, whereas microsatellites failed to do so. Furthermore, partially plated fish were heterozygous with respect to the distinctive EDA alleles for completely and low plated morphs, indicating that completely plated morph alleles are not entirely dominant in controlling the expression of lateral plate number. An examination of population differentiation in plate number with quantitative genetic methods revealed that the degree of differentiation exceeded that expected from genetic drift alone (Q(ST) > F(ST)). Our results support the adaptive genetic differentiation of plate morphs and the view that distinctive EDA gene polymorphism occurs in similar sites across the distribution range of this species. Yet, allele frequency differentiation in the Gac4174 microsatellite locus, informative in experimental crosses for plate number variation, did not differ from that of neutral markers and, was therefore unable to detect the signature of natural selection responsible for population divergence.

Definitions of remission for rheumatoid arthritis and review of selected clinical cohorts and randomised clinical trials for the rate of remission

Various definitions of remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been proposed. The ACR (American College of Rheumatology--formerly ARA, American Rheumatism Association) remission criteria are strict and include nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue. More recently remission according to the Disease Activity Index (DAS) and DAS28 has been described. However, patients who meet the DAS28 remission cut point of < 2.6 may nonetheless have tender and/or swollen joints. The ACR remission criteria are more rigorous than the requirement of DAS28 <2.6. Newer tools for evaluation of RA activity include the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), and cut points for remission according to these new indices have been defined. However, all available remission criteria may ignore important aspects of RA, including physical function and radiographic damage.

Contrasting patterns of body shape and neutral genetic divergence in marine and lake populations of threespine sticklebacks

Comparisons of neutral marker and quantitative trait divergence can provide important insights into the relative roles of natural selection and neutral genetic drift in population differentiation. We investigated phenotypic and genetic differentiation among Fennoscandian threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) populations, and found that the highest degree of differentiation occurred between sea and freshwater habitats. Within habitats, morphological divergence was highest among the different freshwater populations. Pairwise phenotypic and neutral genetic distances among populations were positively correlated, suggesting that genetic drift may have contributed to the morphological differentiation among habitats. On the other hand, the degree of phenotypic differentiation (PST) clearly surpassed the neutral expectation set by FST, suggesting a predominant role for natural selection over genetic drift as an explanation for the observed differentiation. However, separate PST/FST comparisons by habitats revealed that body shape divergence between lake and marine populations, and even among marine populations, can be strongly influenced by natural selection. On the other hand, genetic drift can play an important role in the differentiation among lake populations.

Remission as the treatment goal--the FIN-RACo trial

The Finnish Rheumatoid Arthritis Combination Therapy (FIN-RACo) trial is the first rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical trial in which remission served as the primary outcome measure. This chapter reviews the philosophical background, study design, and results of the FIN-RACo trial. The study showed that a third of patients with active early RA may achieve remission with a combination of methotrexate (MTX), sulfasalazine (SSZ), hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), and prednisolone.

High prevalence of asymptomatic cervical spine subluxation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis waiting for orthopaedic surgery

OBJECTIVE

To study the prevalence of cervical spine subluxation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis waiting for orthopaedic surgery, and symptoms that might be associated with the disorders.

METHODS

194 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were referred for orthopaedic surgery at Jyväskylä Central Hospital, 154 (79%) of whom volunteered for the present study including clinical examination, laboratory tests, radiographs of the cervical spine, hands, and feet, and self report questionnaires. Definition of anterior atlantoaxial subluxation (aAAS) was >3 mm and of subaxial subluxation (SAS)>or=3 mm. Atlantoaxial impaction (AAI) was analysed following to the Sakaguchi-Kauppi method.

RESULTS

67 patients (44%) had cervical spine subluxation or previous surgical fusion. The prevalence of aAAS, AAI, SAS, or previous fusion was 27 (18%), 24 (16%), 29 (19%), and 8 (5%), respectively; 69% of patients with cervical spine subluxations (those with fusions excluded) reported neck pain, compared with 65% of patients without subluxations (p=0.71). The prevalence of occipital, temporal, retro-orbital, and radicular pain in upper extremities was similar in patients with or without cervical spine subluxations (54% v 43%; 17% v 31%; 25% v 24%; 47% v 48%, respectively). However, patients with subluxations were older, had longer disease duration, more active disease, poorer function according to the Health Assessment Questionnaire, and had more often erosive disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Asymptomatic cervical spine subluxation is common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis waiting for orthopaedic surgery. Regardless of symptoms, the possibility of cervical spine subluxation in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis should be considered in preoperative evaluation.

Is DAS28 an appropriate tool to assess remission in rheumatoid arthritis?

OBJECTIVES

To study which cut off point of DAS28 corresponds to fulfilment of the American Rheumatism Association (ARA) preliminary remission criteria, and clinical remission criteria in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

All adult patients diagnosed with RA at Jyväskylä Central Hospital 1997-98 were assessed for remission at 5 years. Remission was defined as (a) ARA remission; (b) clinical remission (defined as no tender or swollen joints and normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate). DAS28 was used to measure disease activity. A receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was performed to calculate a cut off point of DAS28 that best corresponds to the ARA remission criteria and the clinical remission criteria.

RESULTS

161 patients (mean age 57 years, 107 (66%) female, 98 (61%) with positive rheumatoid factor, and 51 (32%) with erosions) were studied. At 5 years, 19 (12%) patients met the ARA remission criteria, and 55 (34%) met the clinical remission criteria. The cut off value of DAS28 was 2.32 for the ARA remission criteria, and 2.68 for the clinical remission criteria. In patients with DAS28 <2.32, 11/57 (19%) had tender joints, 6/57 (11%) had swollen joints, and 4/57 (7%) had both tender and swollen joints (66 joint count).

CONCLUSION

In this study the DAS28 cut off point for the ARA remission was lower than in previous studies. The cut off point for DAS28 remission remains controversial. A substantial proportion of patients below the DAS28 cut off point for remission have tender or swollen joints, or both. DAS28 may not be an appropriate tool for assessment of remission in RA.

Muscle strength, pain, and disease activity explain individual subdimensions of the Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index, especially in women with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To study the extent to which muscle strength and performance, pain, and disease activity are associated with the total Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) disability index and its subdimensions in male and female patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS

HAQ for functional capacity was completed by 135 patients with rheumatoid arthritis referred for orthopaedic surgery (74% women; mean (SD) age 62 (10) years; disease duration 19 (13) years, 70% positive for rheumatoid factor). Knee extension, trunk extension and flexion, grip strength, walking speed, and sit-to-stand test were measured to mirror physical function. Radiographs of hands and feet, pain, and the modified 28 joint disease activity score (DAS28) were also assessed.

RESULTS

Mean total HAQ was 1.08 (0.68) in women and 0.67 (0.70) in men (p = 0.0031). Women had greater disability than men in five of the eight subdimensions of the HAQ. Grip strength was 48%, knee extension strength 46%, trunk extension strength 54%, and trunk flexion strength 43% lower in women than in men. Knee extension strength was inversely correlated with walking time (r = -0.63 (95% confidence interval, -0.73 to -0.51)) and with sit-to-stand test (r = -0.47 (-0.60 to -0.31)). In an ordered logistic regression analysis in female rheumatoid patients, DAS28, pain, knee extension strength, and grip strength were associated with the total HAQ disability index.

CONCLUSIONS

Women reported greater disability than men both in the total HAQ and in the majority of its eight subdimensions. In addition to disease activity and pain, muscle strength has a major impact on disability especially in female rheumatoid patients.

Maximal physical work performance with European standard based fire-protective clothing system and equipment in relation to individual characteristics

Every fire fighter needs to wear fire-protective clothing and a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) several times a year while carrying out various fire-fighting and rescue operations in hazardous work environments. The aim of the present study was to quantify the effects of a multilayer turnout suit designed to fulfil European standard EN 469 used over standardized (Nordic) clothing and with SCBA (total mass 25.9 kg) on maximal physical work performance, and to evaluate the relationship between individual characteristics and power output with the fire-protective clothing system and SCBA. The subjects were 12 healthy firemen aged 26-46 years. The range of their body mass, body fat and maximal oxygen consumption was 69-101 kg, 10-20% and 2.70-5.86 l.min-1, respectively. The maximal tests without (control) and with the fire-protective clothing system and SCBA were carried out on a treadmill in a thermoneutral environment. When compared to the control test, the decrease in the maximal power output in terms of maximal working time and walking speed averaged 25% (P < 0.001) varying from 18% to 34% with the fire-protective clothing system and SCBA. At maximum, no significant differences were found in pulmonary ventilation, absolute oxygen consumption, the respiratory exchange ratio, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, the rate-pressure product, mechanical efficiency, and the rating of perceived exertion between the tests with and without the fire-protective clothing system and SCBA. The reduction of the power output was related to the extra mass of the fire protective clothing and SCBA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Epilepsy and associated handicaps in a 1 year birth cohort in northern Finland

A 1 year birth cohort in the provinces of Oulu and Lapland in the Northern part of Finland consisted of 12058 live-born infants, this being 96% of all children born in 1966 in this area. Information on morbidity up to the age of 14 years was collected prospectively by means of questionnaires, special examinations and from national and regional registers of hospital admissions and social services contacts. The total number of children with epilepsy, defined as the occurrence of at least one afebrile epileptic seizure, was 208, 113 boys and 95 girls. The cumulative incidences for epilepsy up to the age of 14 years was 17.3 per 1000. Primary generalised epilepsy was present in 63% and partial seizures in 37%. At least one additional handicapping condition, such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and visual or auditory defect was present in 74 children (35.5%). Mental retardation was the most frequent additional handicap, being present in 28%, whereas 16% of the children had cerebral palsy. A total of 75% of the children were able to attend an ordinary school. The high frequency of epilepsy in this study, as compared to other studies, is explained by the cumulative registration of the cases and a high degree of ascertainment of cases with epilepsy.

Influence of social background on psychomotor development in the first year of life and its correlation with later intellectual capacity: a prospective cohort study

The effect of the sex of the child, somatic growth and five family background variables upon psychomotor development during the first year of life was studied by regression analysis in a Northern Finland birth cohort (n = 12 058) for 1966. Children with mental retardation and cerebral palsy were excluded from the series. The significant explanatory variables for the age of learning to stand and to walk without support were gestational age, birth weight, sex and maternal age. The girls and children of young mothers revealed a faster pattern of development. Urban residence enhanced learning to walk with support, an ability which was attained at the same age in both sexes. Female sex was the most powerful explanatory variable for early development of speech, the other significant variable being height at one year, birth weight, low parity of the mother and urban place of the residence. The social class and marital status of the mother proved insignificant for the developmental milestones studied here. The fast learners during their first year of life were superior to the others in their educational capacity at the age of 14 years. The prognosis in this respect was independent of social class.

Psychomotor development in the first year and mental retardation--a prospective study

The psychomotor development of mentally retarded children (IQ less than or equal to 85) in their first year is compared here with that of healthy children on the basis of a 1-year birth cohort (1966) from northern Finland which comprised a total of 12 058 live-born children. Data on the age of reaching the main developmental milestones in the first year, standing without support, walking with and without support and speech at 12 months were obtained by means of information collected prospectively in the children's welfare centres for this purpose. Detailed information on mental retardation covering the age group 0-14 years was obtained from the school health authorities, the national hospital discharge register and other regional or national registers. The results show that mental retardation is associated with subnormal motor development in the first year, as this finding persists even after the exclusion of children with a CP syndrome. Children who could neither walk with support nor speak by the age of 12 months constituted a high-risk group for mental retardation, the risk being 14-fold higher in this group than among the other children. Even so, only 65.2% of the children with severe mental retardation and 38.2% of those with mild mental retardation fulfilled these criteria, demonstrating that psychomotor development in the first year can be apparently normal in these groups.

Number of teeth at the age of one year in relation to maternal smoking

The mean number of deciduous teeth at the age of 1 year was investigated in the 10 499 children comprising a birth cohort from 1966 in Northern Finland. The 1563 children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy had on average 0.3 tooth more than the children of the control mothers. Highly significant explanatory variables in a regression analysis on the number of teeth at the age of one were weight at one year, maternal smoking, height at one year and birthweight, whereas gestational age and place of residence on a north-south axis were significant. Differences in cumulative percentages of eruption of the first tooth between the children of smokers and their controls were seen from the age of 4 months, with a maximal difference at 5 months: 30.0% versus 25.6%. The discrepancy was less that 1% by the age of 12 months.

The effect of maternal smoking on the timing of deciduous tooth eruption

The mean age at the eruption of the first deciduous tooth was calculated for the 10,443 children of a birth cohort in 1966 in Northern Finland. Eruption was advanced by one week on average in the 1,559 children whose mothers had smoked during pregnancy, the difference between these and their controls being statistically significant. A regression analysis on the age at tooth eruption showed highly significant "explanatory" variables, in addition to maternal smoking, to be weight and height at birth and at 6 months, and gestational age, while place of residence on a north-south axis was of lesser significance.