Search

The purpose of this article is to analyse how education and schooling took part in handling the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in eight European countries (Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Poland and Sweden). The focus is on primary education and on decisions to close schools, or not. Our research was informed by assemblage theory in order to analyse how different components interacted in developing societal responses to mitigate the pandemic. The research was designed as a comparative case study of practical reasoning in diverse contexts. Data sources were the mass media and statements from governments and authorities. Our analyses showed that decisions to close schools, or not, were based on two alternative discourses on schooling. Closing primary schools was a preventive measure underlined by discourses of schools as places for infection. Keeping primary schools open was underlined by a discourse in which schools were conceived of as a place for social supportive measures and caring. Furthermore, the closing alternative was often combined with attempts to replace school practices by distance learning or computerized instruction. Legal constitutions and lawmaking were of significant importance in selecting discourses and the relative impact of different components, mostly political or medical, in responding to the pandemic.

Several factors associated with loneliness are also considered indicators of social exclusion. While loneliness has been proposed as an outcome of social exclusion, there is limited empirical evidence of a link. This study examines the associations between social exclusion indicators and loneliness in older adults (60+ years) in four Nordic countries. Data from four waves of the European Social Survey were pooled, providing a total of 7755 respondents (Denmark n = 1647; Finland n = 2501, Norway n = 1540; Sweden n = 2067). Measures of loneliness, demographic characteristics, health, and eight indicators of social exclusion were selected from the survey for analysis. Country-specific and total sample hierarchical logistic regression models of loneliness were developed. Significant model improvement occurred for all models after social exclusion indicators were added to models containing only demographic and health variables. Country models explained between 15.1 (Finland) and 21.5% (Sweden) of the variance in loneliness. Lower frequency of social contacts and living alone compared to in a two-person household was associated with a higher probability of loneliness in all countries, while other indicators were associated with loneliness in specific countries: lower neighbourhood safety (Sweden and Denmark); income concern (Sweden and Finland); and no emotional support (Denmark, Finland, and Sweden). A robust relationship was apparent between indicators of social exclusion and loneliness with the direction of associations being highly consistent across countries, even if their strength and statistical significance varied. Social exclusion has considerable potential for understanding and addressing risk factors for loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To evaluate the effect of repeating test failures using an automated, non-sequencing based non-invasive prenatal testing test on a general-risk population in Finland.Material and Methods: A total of 545 samples from women who represent the average-risk population in Oulu, Finland were analyzed with Vanadis® non-invasive prenatal testing. Repeat testing of test failures was performed using a second sample. Results before and after repeat testing were compared with the reference outcome, as determined by clinical examination of neonates.Results: There were eight test failures after first-pass analysis, representing 1.5% of samples (95% CI 0.6%-2.9%). Seven out of eight failures could be resolved by analysis of a second sample, thereby reducing the test failure rate from 1.5% to 0.2% (95% CI 0.0%-1.0%).Conclusions: Repeating test failures with a second plasma sample could significantly reduce the effective failure rate, thereby providing a way to effectively minimize test failures and further improving clinical utility and test performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY DESIGN::Retrospective register-based epidemiological study. OBJECTIVE::To estimate the prevalence rate of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) with special reference to ASIA Impairment Grade A-D. SETTING::Helsinki, Finland. METHODS::Cases were identified using the registers of the KäpyläRehabilitation Centre, Helsinki University Central Hospital and the local organization for the disabled. Local health centres were informed about the study, residential service houses were contacted, and announcements were published in patient magazines. RESULTS::A regional population was found to have a prevalence rate of 28/100?000 inhabitants with SCI (ASIA Impairment Scale A-D). CONCLUSION::The prevalence rate in this study is consistent with the data published in other Nordic countries. SPONSORSHIP::The Finnish Cultural Foundation.Spinal Cord (2005) 43, 47-50. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101616; Published online 2 November 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY DESIGN:: Individual interview and questionnaire of a regional spinal cord-injured (SCI) population. OBJECTIVE:: Local health care centres are mainly responsible for the SCI patients health care and rehabilitation after initial hospitalization in Finland. The purpose of the present study was to study aspects of the SCI patients life situation and their opinion of the health care services after 1 year since the injury. SETTING:: Regional study in Central Finland. METHODS:: Subjects were individually interviewed in their homes using a semi-structured questionnaire, the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS:: The female/male ratio was 1:4. The mean age at the time of injury was 34 years in female and 40 in male. Traffic accidents accounted for 46% of the injuries. In all, 48 subjects (63%) used electrical or manual wheelchair or both. Most subjects regarded their living conditions as good having enough personal assistance in their everyday life. Only 10% of the subjects were employed. Half of the subjects had had out-patient physiotherapy, but no other therapies after 1 year since the injury. More than half of the subjects were dissatisfied with the current health care services. Many had experienced complications after the initial hospitalization, especially urinary tract infections, decubitus ulcers and neurogenic-type pain. FIM classified well according to the disability groups. The motor complete tetraplegic group had the lowest mean scores (63) and the recovered group the highest ones (122). There was no association between the FIM and the BDI results. There was a correlation between the BDI and the subject's age at the time of the injury and the year of the injury. The older the subjects were when injuried, the higher were the BDI scores, that is, they had more depressive symptoms. Those injuried in the 1990s had the highest BDI scores. Nearly one-third of the subjects had mild, moderate or severe depression. CONCLUSIONS:: The reported medical complications, depression and dissatisfaction with the health care services support a life-long care for SCI patients in Jyväskylä Central hospital, not in the local health care centres. The psychological services, for example, prevention and treatment of depression, in particular, require more attention.Spinal Cord (2004) 42, 459-465. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101618; Published online 27 April 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the functional independence of persons with spinal cord injury according to the Functional Independence Measure motor items. Design: The study design was cross-sectional. Subjects: All adult citizens of Helsinki with traumatic spinal cord injury were identified. The final study group consisted of 121/152 subjects (80%). Methods: Functional Independence Measure assessments and American Spinal Cord Association examinations were performed on all subjects by the same experienced group including a physician and a physiotherapist. Results: The most assistance-craving items were climbing stairs and bladder management. There were no significant differences between the genders. Subjects with tetraplegia needed significantly more assistance in all motor items except walking/wheelchair locomotion, where there was no significant difference. Subjects with tetraplegia in American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale D had higher Functional Independence Measure scores, more functional independence, than subjects in American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A-C, the difference being significant. Conclusion: Because of new information, the results of this study may provide better possibilities for planning and co-ordinating rehabilitation measures and social services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on bulges in buccal cusps in the premolars of Skolt Laplanders in Finland. These bulges are related to the lingual aspects of the premolars and the mesio-buccal cusps of molars. It is not known what percentage of the population has this anomaly, but it is believed that other northern people groups have similar bulges.

Objective: To estimate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of persons with spinal cord lesion., Design: The study design was cross-sectional., Subjects: All adult citizens in Helsinki with traumatic spinal cord lesion were identified. The final study group comprised 117 subjects, corresponding to a participation rate of 77%., Methods: HRQoL was assessed by a generic 15-dimensional self-administered instrument (15D). Clinical examination was based on the manual of the American Spinal Injury Association. Examinations were performed on all subjects by the same experienced physician and physiotherapist., Results: The average 15D score of the study group was significantly lower (p<0.001) than that measured in the age-matched general population sample. Subjects with spinal cord lesion had significantly more problems due to the neurological lesion but also on the dimensions of sleeping, discomfort and symptoms and vitality. In regression analysis of the study group the only variable explaining HRQoL was the neurological level of the lesion. Spinal cord lesion caused more depression and distress in persons with motor incomplete lesion than those with motor complete lesion., Conclusion: Persons with spinal cord lesion had lower HRQoL than the population in general. The results indicate that spinal cord lesion may cause problems in the areas of sleeping, discomfort and symptoms or vitality, in particular. More attention should be paid to finding ways of improving the situation of persons with motor incomplete lesion, especially in terms of psychological function.

Study Design: Cross-sectional clinical descriptive prevalence study., Objective: To evaluate the methods of self-reported bladder management, the frequency of urinary tract infection (UTI) and subjective disturbance of bladder problems of all those individuals with traumatic spinal cord lesion (SCL) living in Helsinki area., Setting: : Helsinki, Finland., Methods: A total of 152 persons with SCL were found in the Helsinki area (546 000 inhabitants). A structured questionnaire was sent to all subjects and they were invited to a clinical visit., Results: The final study-group consisted of 129 (85%) subjects. They were defined into seven specific subgroups of bladder management: 14 (11%) subjects in the normal voiding group, 15 (12%) in the controlled voiding group, 16 (12%) in the clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) group, 30 (23%) in the mixed group, 31 (24%) in the suprapubic tapping group, 16 (12%) in the compression or straining group and seven (5%) in the catheter or conduit group. The frequency of UTI was highest in the mixed group. The bladder management was a biggest bother to the subjects in the compression or straining group., Conclusions: This prevalence study assesses the self-reported bladder management methods in all the persons with traumatic SCL in the Helsinki area. The subjects who used CIC and other methods for bladder management had more problems than others. These subjects might manage better by using either CIC or suprapubic tapping as the only method for bladder emptying.

The genetic population structure of the postfire ascomycete Daldinia loculata was studied to test for differentiation on a continental scale. Ninety-six samples of spore families, each comprising mycelia from six to 10 spores originating from single perithecia, were sampled from one Russian and six Fennoscandian forest sites. Allelic distribution was assayed for six nuclear gene loci by restriction enzyme analyses of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified gene fragments. In addition, the full sequence of the gene fragment was analysed for a subset of haploid single-ascospore isolates in a multiallelic approach. A third data set was generated by using arbitrary-primed PCR with the core sequence of the phage M13 as primer. Although there was a reduction in heterozygosity in the total population from what would have been expected at random mating, the levels of genetic differentiation among the Eurasian subpopulations of D. loculata were low. All subpopulations were found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and gametic equilibrium was observed between all investigated nuclear gene loci. The results obtained by the different markers were consistent; we confirmed low levels of genetic differentiation among the Eurasian subpopulations of D. loculata. The differentiation did not increase with distance; the Russian subpopulation, sampled more than 7000 km from the Fennoscandian subpopulations, was only moderately differentiated from the others (FST = 0.00-0.14). In contrast, one of the Swedish populations was the most highly differentiated from the others, with FST and GST values of 0.10-0.16. The results suggest that D. loculata consists of a long-lived background Eurasian population of latent mycelia in nonburned forests, established by sexual ascospores dispersed from scattered burned forest sites. Local differentiation is probably due to founder effects of populations in areas with low fire frequency. A tentative life cycle of D. loculata is presented.