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The notion of toxin-free food may be more of a fantasy than a factual reality. To help identify and prioritize health risks associated with long-term consumption of harmful substances and especially of natural toxins through food, a dedicated study was conducted. We assessed the safety of our food supply by examining over 100 risk evaluations carried out at the European level, primarily by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). We analysed in depth the potentially hazardous natural toxins in food that European consumers are chronically exposed to. In this review, the health implications of these contaminants, their potential risk for average consumers in Europe and the findings from our study regarding individual toxins are discussed. We have also made an attempt to rank the risks posed through chronical exposure to chemical food contaminants that are of concern for public health. Aflatoxins are ranked as the third most important chemical contaminant in our food since they pose a high risk due to their significant carcinogenic potency causing liver cancer in humans coupled with the high consumption of cereal-based foods in Europe. Despite their genotoxic and carcinogenic effects, pyrrolizidine alkaloids occupy only the fifth position due to their limited sources – tea, honey, or herbs – of human exposure to this group of plant toxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increasing numbers of children are facing health problems as a result of physical inactivity. Besides the home, school is a natural place to promote children’s daily physical activity (PA). Knowledge about factors promoting or preventing children’s PA at school, from the perspective of children, is limited. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to learn the factors that eight- and nine-year-old schoolchildren identify from their school environment related to physical activity during their school day. This study was established as a sub-project within a larger, sixteen-country collaboration project by HEPCOM (Promoting Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in Local Communities) and reports on a piloting phase. Sample: Finnish second-graders (age 8-9 years, n = 22) from one primary school participated in the study. Method: A photo-elicitation methodology was used, including photographs taken by children and interviews in groups based on the photographs. The data were analysed qualitatively by inductive content analysis. Results: The children described factors appearing in the physical environment, such as the playground, and those in the nonmaterial, abstract environment, such as the weather. According to the findings, three categories emerged: (1) personal and economic, related to children’s individual preferences and opportunities; (2) sociocultural, related to friends and belonging in a group; and (3) environmental, related to physical and political outdoor and indoor solutions at the school, as well as to policies and rules in the school community. Children emphasised the importance of friends and games, but play areas were also experienced as significant. Based on children’s experiences, rules and laws direct all activities at school, which was not always perceived as a positive thing. Conclusions: Although the findings of this small-scale study cannot be generalised, the children’s perceptions suggest some crucial areas for future research. Playing and exercising during the school day are important in fulfilling the recommendations for daily PA for children, as well as in promoting their mental and social health. To enable equal possibilities for an active lifestyle for all children at school, positive and encouraging adults, as well as age-appropriate and safe infrastructure, are needed. The children’s day should be viewed as a whole, not as single situations, where physical activities are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the implication of the European economic and social integration on culture and literature. It mentions the growing concerns over the potential of the European economic and political integration to diminish national and local cultures, particularly in Finland. It adds that Finnish researchers are considering economic, cultural and social development of European countries, relative to the integration research programme by the Academy of Finland.

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the standard treatment for revascularisation in patients with left main coronary artery disease, but use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for this indication is increasing. We aimed to compare PCI and CABG for treatment of left main coronary artery disease.Methods: In this prospective, randomised, open-label, non-inferiority trial, patients with left main coronary artery disease were enrolled in 36 centres in northern Europe and randomised 1:1 to treatment with PCI or CABG. Eligible patients had stable angina pectoris, unstable angina pectoris, or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Exclusion criteria were ST-elevation myocardial infarction within 24 h, being considered too high risk for CABG or PCI, or expected survival of less than 1 year. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events (MACCE), a composite of all-cause mortality, non-procedural myocardial infarction, any repeat coronary revascularisation, and stroke. Non-inferiority of PCI to CABG required the lower end of the 95% CI not to exceed a hazard ratio (HR) of 1·35 after up to 5 years of follow-up. The intention-to-treat principle was used in the analysis if not specified otherwise. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, number NCT01496651.Findings: Between Dec 9, 2008, and Jan 21, 2015, 1201 patients were randomly assigned, 598 to PCI and 603 to CABG, and 592 in each group entered analysis by intention to treat. Kaplan-Meier 5 year estimates of MACCE were 29% for PCI (121 events) and 19% for CABG (81 events), HR 1·48 (95% CI 1·11-1·96), exceeding the limit for non-inferiority, and CABG was significantly better than PCI (p=0·0066). As-treated estimates were 28% versus 19% (1·55, 1·18-2·04, p=0·0015). Comparing PCI with CABG, 5 year estimates were 12% versus 9% (1·07, 0·67-1·72, p=0·77) for all-cause mortality, 7% versus 2% (2·88, 1·40-5·90, p=0·0040) for non-procedural myocardial infarction, 16% versus 10% (1·50, 1·04-2·17, p=0·032) for any revascularisation, and 5% versus 2% (2·25, 0·93-5·48, p=0·073) for stroke.Interpretation: The findings of this study suggest that CABG might be better than PCI for treatment of left main stem coronary artery disease.Funding: Biosensors, Aarhus University Hospital, and participating sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]