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Hypertension is a risk factor for subarachnoid hemorrhage and is also considered a risk factor for saccular intracranial aneurysm (sIA) formation. However, there is little direct evidence that antihypertensive medication will reduce sIA formation.The impact of antihypertensive medication on de novo sIA formation was studied in an angiographically followed cohort of 1419 patients. Patients were identified from our population-based Kuopio Intracranial Aneurysm Database, and data on the purchases of antihypertensive medication were obtained from a national registry. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate the risk factors.Of the 966 sIA patients who were prescribed with antihypertensive medication, 841 patients used the medication regularly; 20 of them had de novo sIA. One hundred and twenty-five patients used the medication irregularly and 12 of them developed de novo sIAs. Four hundred and fifty-three patients did not use antihypertensive medication even though 27 of them had a diagnosis of hypertension, and 10 of them developed de novo sIAs. In the multivariate analysis antihypertensive medication did not significantly reduce de novo sIA formation (hazard ratio [HR] 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84-3.06). Age at primary diagnosis (HR: 0.95, 95%: CI 0.93-0.98) and smoking history (HR: 5.53, 95% CI: 2.77-11.05) were significant risk factors for de novo sIA formation. Also, irregular usage of antihypertensive medication was a significant risk factor (HR: 3.84, 95% CI: 1.59-9.29) for de novo sIA formation.Antihypertensive agents were not associated with a reduction of de novo sIA formation, but irregular use of antihypertensive agents was associated with an increased risk of de novo sIA formation.

Purpose Our review of acute brain insult articles indicated that the patients’ individual (i) timeline panels with the defined time points since the emergency call and (ii) serial brain CT/MRI slice panels through the neurointensive care until death or final brain tissue outcome at 12 months or later are not presented. Methods We retrospectively constructed such panels for the 45 aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients with a secondary decompressive craniectomy (DC) after the acute admission to neurointensive care at Kuopio University Hospital (KUH) from a defined population from 2005 to 2018. The patients were indicated by numbers (1.–45.) in the pseudonymized panels, tables, results, and discussion. The timelines contained up to ten defined time points on a logarithmic time axis until death ($$n=25$$ n = 25 ; 56%) or 3 years ($$n=20$$ n = 20 ; 44%). The brain CT/MRI panels contained a representative slice from the following time points: SAH diagnosis, after aneurysm closure, after DC, at about 12 months (20 survivors). Results The timelines indicated re-bleeds and allowed to compare the times elapsed between any two time points, in terms of workflow swiftness. The serial CT/MRI slices illustrated the presence and course of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), perihematomal edema, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), hydrocephalus, delayed brain injury, and, in the 20 (44%) survivors, the brain tissue outcome. Conclusions The pseudonymized timeline panels and serial brain imaging panels, indicating the patients by numbers, allowed the presentation and comparison of individual clinical courses. An obvious application would be the quality control in acute or elective medicine for timely and equal access to clinical care.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The aim of this study was to define the prevalence of pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension (HT), chronic HT, and gestational diabetes during pregnancy in a defined population of patients with saccular intracranial aneurysms (sIAs). METHODS We included all patients with sIA, first admitted to the Neurosurgery Department of Kuopio University Hospital from its defined catchment population between 1990 and 2015, who had given birth for the first time in 1990 or later. The patients' medical records were reviewed, and clinical data were linked with prescription drug usage, hospital diagnoses and causes of death, obtained from nationwide registries. The prevalences of pre-eclampsia, other hypertensive disorders and gestational diabetes in patients were compared with a matched control population (n = 324). In addition, the characteristics of sIA disease in patients with pre-eclampsia were compared to those of sIA patients without pre-eclampsia. RESULTS A total of 169 patients with sIA fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of these, 22 (13%) had pre-eclampsia and 32 (19%) had other hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. In 324 matched controls who had given birth, the prevalence of pre-eclampsia was 5% (n = 15) and other hypertensive disorders were diagnosed in 10% (n = 34). There was no significant difference in prevalence of gestational diabetes (12% vs. 11%). Patients with sIA with pre-eclampsia more frequently had irregularly shaped aneurysms (p = 0·003). CONCLUSIONS Pre-eclampsia was significantly more frequent in patients with sIA than in their population controls. Irregularly shaped aneurysms were more frequent in sIA patients with pre-eclampsia. Further studies are required to determine whether history of pre-eclampsia may indicate an elevated risk for sIA formation or rupture.

Objective To characterize surgical treatment and outcomes of C1 fractures in a population-based setup. Methods Patients with C1 fracture treated at Kuopio University Hospital Neurosurgery were retrospectively identified from January 1996 to June 2017. C1 fractures were classified according to the AO Spine Upper Cervical and Gehweiler classification systems. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on their treatment: group 1 (underwent C1 surgery as a primary option), group 2 (underwent C1 surgery as a secondary option after initial nonoperative treatment), group 3 (underwent surgery involving the C1 level with main indication being a concomitant cervical spine fracture), and group 4 (C1 fracture treatment was nonoperative). Results We identified 47 patients with C1 fracture (mean age, 60.3 ± 18.2 years; 83.0% men; American Society of Anesthesiologists score, 2.3 ± 0.8). Concomitant cervical spine fractures were present in 89.4% of cases, most commonly in the C2 vertebra (75.4%). In group 2, 3 of 5 fractures changed from AO Spine type A to B in control imaging after nonoperative treatment, indicating fracture instability and requiring secondary surgery. Good C1 fracture alignment was achieved for 10 of 10 followed-up patients in groups 1 and 2, and for 10 of 11 followed-up patients in group 3. Residual neck pain and stiffness were present in all groups. Neurologic symptoms were rare and mild. Conclusions For unstable C1 fractures, surgery is safe treatment with good outcomes. Fractures initially determined as stable may require surgery if alignment is worsened in follow-up imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging is recommended to better detect unstable C1 fractures in diagnostic imaging.

Purpose This study aims to elucidate the incidence of and independent risk factors for spinal cord stimulator implantations for patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery. Methods The PERFormance, Effectiveness, and Cost of Treatment (PERFECT) episodes database, which was established for selected diseases and procedures in Finland, includes all patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery for degenerative spine conditions or spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in Finland from 1986 to 2018. The data on age, sex, hospital diagnoses, surgical procedures, and causes of death were imported from the Finnish national registers into the PERFECT database. Results Between 1986 and 2018, 157,824 patients had their first lumbar spine procedure and for 1769 (1.1%) of them, a subsequent SCS procedure was observed during the follow-up. The cumulative incidence of SCS for persistent or recurrent pain after lumbar disk herniation, spinal stenosis, degenerative disk disease, and spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis surgery at 15 years was 1.2%, 1.0%, 2.7%, and 2.6% respectively. At 15 years, the cumulative incidence of SCS for persistent or recurrent pain after lumbar spine surgery after five or more lumbar spinal operations was 11.9%. Conclusion Repeated surgery was the most prominent significant risk factor for SCS for persistent or recurrent pain after lumbar spine surgery. The risk of SCS for persistent or recurrent pain after lumbar spine surgery increases significantly along with the number of lumbar spine procedures. When considering repeated lumbar spine surgery, careful evaluation of treatment options should take place to ensure good patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment in failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). The effect of neuropathic pain medication use on SCS outcome is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE To study the effect of gabapentinoid use on SCS outcome measured by trial success, explantation rate and opioid dose reduction during a 2-yr follow-up. METHODS The study cohort included 203 consecutive FBSS patients who underwent SCS in a single tertiary center during January 1997 to March 2014. Purchase data of gabapentinoids, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, and benzodiazepines during January 1995 to March 2016 were retrieved from national registries. RESULTS In multivariate Cox regression analysis, patients using gabapentinoids had significantly fewer explantations during the 2-yr follow-up (hazard ratio [HR] 0.2, 95% CI 0.04-0.81, P = .03). In contrast, patients with opioid use of >40 morphine milligram equivalent before implantation had significantly more explantations (HR 6.7, 95% CI 2.5-18, P 50% dose reduction. This indicates that patients with SCS could benefit from concomitant use of gabapentinoids. Prospective randomized trials are warranted to verify this hypothesis.

BACKGROUND Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment in chronic neuropathic pain, but its efficacy in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) needs to be proven. OBJECTIVE To study the outcome of SCS in CRPS as measured by trial success, explantation rate, complications, and changes in opioid and neuropathic pain medication use over a 4-yr follow-up. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all medical records of 35 consecutive CRPS patients who underwent SCS trials at 2 hospitals during January 1998 to December 2016. The purchase data of opioids and neuropathic pain medication during January 1995 to March 2016 were retrieved from national registries. RESULTS Based on a 1-wk trial, permanent SCS was implanted in 27 (77%) patients. During the median follow-up of 8 yr, 8 (30%) SCS devices were explanted, of which 7 were because of inefficient pain relief. Complications leading to revision occurred in 17 (63%) patients: 8 electrode migrations or stimulation to the wrong area, 1 deep infection, 9 hardware malfunctions, 2 pulse generator discomforts, and 2 SCS replacements. None of the 6 patients using strong opioids discontinued their use during the 2-yr follow-up. The mean opioid dose increased nonsignificantly both in patients with SCS in permanent use (53 ± 150 morphine milligram equivalents morphine milligram equivalent (MME)/day to 120 ± 240 MME/day) and in patients who had SCS explanted (27 ± 72 MME/day to 57 ± 66 MME/day). CONCLUSION Despite the fact that CRPS patients were not able to discontinue or reduce their strong opioid or neuropathic pain medication use, 70% continued to use their SCS device during a median 8-yr follow-up.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment for failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). In patients with FBSS, opioids have often been initiated, even before SCS is trialed.We studied the effect of retirement on opioid use in patients with chronic pain after failed back surgery.A retrospective study design.The study was conducted at Kuopio University Hospital.The study group consisted of all 230 patients with SCS trialed or implanted for FBSS at Kuopio University Hospital Neurosurgery from January 1, 1996 through December 31, 2014. All purchases of prescribed opioids and their daily defined doses, as well as data on working ability, were obtained from the Social Insurance Institution. Patients were divided into 3 groups: SCS trial only, SCS implanted permanently, and SCS implanted but later explanted. We analyzed the differences in opioid use among these groups 2 years before and 2 years after the start of their disability pension (DP).During the follow-up period, a total of 60 patients received a DP. One year before DP, the majority of patients used opioids (n = 43, 72%), and throughout the one-year follow-up after retirement, the number of users increased slightly (n = 46, 77%). In the permanently implanted SCS group, the number of strong opioid users decreased after retirement. Most patients used a moderate dose (0.1-10.5 morphine milligram equivalent/d). Retirement appeared to interrupt dose escalation in all groups, but doses increased further as the follow-up continued.No structured questionnaires were used in this study. Also, many underlying factors contributing to chronic pain were missing.DP did not reduce the use of opioids in patients with FBSS. Opioid doses were lower and dose escalation less steep with continuous SCS therapy.

Purpose To study the effect of antithrombotic therapy (ATT) on the outcome of operatively treated chronic subdural hematomas (CSDH). Methods A retrospective population-based cohort study from Eastern Finland including all adult patients who underwent a burr-hole craniostomy (BHC) for CSDH during 2016 and 2017. The follow-up time for recurrence was 6 months and for mortality 3 years. Results A total of 301 CSDH patients were included in the study. ATT (antithrombotic therapy; antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication) was used by 164 patients (54.5%) at the time of diagnosis. The hematoma was bilateral in 102 patients (33.9%). Forty-seven patients (15.8%) encountered hematoma recurrence. Bilateral CSDHs required reoperations more often than unilateral hematomas (12.6% vs. 22.0%; p = 0.036) regardless of the primary operation (uni- or bilateral). A bivariate logistic regression analysis showed that bilateral hematoma (OR 1.918; 95% CI 1.013–3.630; p = 0.045) and male gender (OR 2.363; 95% CI 1.089–5.128; p = 0.030) independently predicted hematoma recurrence. The overall three-year mortality was 27.9%. The use of ATT was not associated with CSDH recurrence, and the length of the temporary postoperative ATT discontinuation did not correlate with the rate of thromboembolic events. Conclusions ATT did not affect CSDH recurrence in our study population, and the duration of the temporary postoperative ATT discontinuation was not associated with the rate of thromboembolic complications. Male gender and bilateral hematomas were more frequently associated with recurrences.

Objective Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment in failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). We studied the effect of preimplantation opioid use on SCS outcome and the effect of SCS on opioid use during a two‐year follow‐up period. Materials and methods The study cohort included 211 consecutive FBSS patients who underwent an SCS trial from January 1997 to March 2014. Participants were divided into groups, which were as follows: 1) SCS trial only (n = 47), 2) successful SCS (implanted and in use throughout the two‐year follow‐up period, n = 131), and 3) unsuccessful SCS (implanted but later explanted or revised due to inadequate pain relief, n = 29). Patients who underwent explantation for other reasons (n = 4) were excluded. Opioid purchase data from January 1995 to March 2016 were retrieved from national registries. Results Higher preimplantation opioid doses associated with unsuccessful SCS (ROC: AUC = 0.66, p = 0.009), with 35 morphine milligram equivalents (MME)/day as the optimal cutoff value. All opioids were discontinued in 23% of patients with successful SCS, but in none of the patients with unsuccessful SCS (p = 0.004). Strong opioids were discontinued in 39% of patients with successful SCS, but in none of the patients with unsuccessful SCS (p = 0.04). Mean opioid dose escalated from 18 ± 4 MME/day to 36 ± 6 MME/day with successful SCS and from 22 ± 8 MME/day to 82 ± 21 MME/day with unsuccessful SCS (p

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in children and youth. Effective screening methods are needed to identify children in need of treatment. The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) questionnaire is a widely used tool to assess childhood anxiety. We aim toevaluate the psychometric properties of the SCARED questionnaire, test the SCARED factor structure, and evaluate the prevalence of anxiety symptoms in a community sample of Finnish elementary school children, based on both a child and parent report. The sample included all pupils (n = 1,165) in grades 2 through 6 (ages 8-13) in four elementary schools in the city of Turku, Finland. Children completed a Finnish translation of the SCARED questionnaire at school, with one parent report questionnaire per child completed at home. In total, 663 child-parent dyads (56.9%) completed the questionnaire. Internal consistency was high for both child and parent reports on all subscales (0.71-0.92), except for school avoidance (0.57 child, 0.63 parent report). Inter-rater reliability ranged from poor to fair across subscales (intraclass correlation 0.27-0.47). Self-reported anxiety scores were higher than the parent reported scores. Females had significantly higher total scores than males based on the child reports (p = 0.003), but not the parent reports. In the confirmatory factor analysis, hypothesized models did not have a good fit with the data, and modification was needed. The Finnish SCARED questionnaire has good internal consistency. Low child-parent agreement calls for the importance of including both child and parental reports in the assessment of anxiety symptoms.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study is to investigate whether benzodiazepine use differs between patients with favorable and unfavorable spinal cord stimulation (SCS) treatment outcome. We hypothesize that the patients with unfavorable SCS outcome would exhibit a higher level of benzodiazepine use. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using a case-control study setting, we examined benzodiazepine use in SCS patients and in matched population controls as a potential risk factor poor SCS outcome. A total of 373 consecutive SCS patients treated in Kuopio University Hospital between 1997 and 2014 and their 1117 matched population controls were followed until patient death or the end of March 2016. RESULTS Benzodiazepines were used during the 24-month period before or after SCS implantation by 42.3% of the SCS patients who had the device explanted, 39.5% who had an unsuccessful trial stimulation, 28.0% who still had the device at the end of the follow-up period, and 8.0% of the controls. Diazepam use before SCS increased the odds for explanting of SCS by 2.4-fold (95% Cl: 1.0-5.4). Starting clonazepam use after SCS was associated with a 5.2-fold (95% CI: 1.5-18.9) increase in the odds of unsuccessful trial stimulation. CONCLUSION The benzodiazepine use in patients with poor SCS outcome illustrates the role of anxiety in SCS outcomes and the need for multidisciplinary treatment of pain.

Background: Spinal cord stimulation is an efficient treatment for selected patients with chronic neuropathic pain. Since 2015, neuromodulation nurses at Kuopio University Hospital have been responsible for patient education and stimulator adjustments. Aims: The purpose is to determine what factors professionals perceived to affect patients' wellbeing in the neuromodulation process for chronic neuropathic pain. Methods: Four nurses and four physicians on the neuromodulation team performed a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis of the operational environment. All evaluated the attributes independently, and a multiple-criteria analysis was performed based on the results. Findings: The most important factors were excellent or good treatment results, having neuromodulation nurses, having a well-functioning neuromodulation team, vulnerability because of the limited number of specialists, and the establishment of a pain centre. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of neuromodulation nurses and teamwork in chronic pain neuromodulation. The establishment of a multidisciplinary pain centre is strongly recommended.

Background and purpose: Pathophysiological studies of saccular intracranial aneurysm (sIA) disease have shown that inflammation plays a crucial role in sIA development. Pharmaceutical inhibition of COX-2–PGE2–NF-κB signaling (COX-2, cyclooxygenase-2; PGE2, prostaglandin E2; NF-κB, nuclear factor κB) has been shown in animal models to inhibit sIA formation and progression suggesting that use of medication inhibiting COX-2 could reduce intracranial aneurysm formation also in patients. Methods: The impact of COX-2 inhibition on de novo sIA formation was studied in two cohorts: in a previously described angiographically followed cohort of 1419 sIA patients and in a cohort of 117 sIA patients treated with stenting or stent-assisted embolization. Patients were identified from our population-based Kuopio Intracranial Aneurysm Database. Data on the use of anti-inflammatory medications and hospital diagnoses were obtained from national registries. Risk factors were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: De novo sIA patients were younger and more often smokers. Use of COX-2 selective inhibitors or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs did not significantly reduce de novo sIA formation, but the percentage of patients with de novo sIA formation was smaller in patients with prescribed regular acetylsalicylic acid medication (1.1% vs. 3.6%). In the multivariate analysis, however, neither acetylsalicylic acid use nor other type of pharmaceutical inhibition of COX-2 reduced the formation of de novo sIAs. The risk was mostly affected by age, smoking history and irregular usage of antihypertensive medication regardless of used COX-2 inhibition level. Conclusions: For the prevention of de novo sIA formation, risk factor management with focus on cessation of smoking and treating hypertension adequately seems more important than pharmaceutical COX-2 inhibition.

Objective: We conducted an open-label cross-over study assessing the global effect of two high-frequency protocols of electric-field navigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeted to functional facial motor cortex and comparing their efficacy and tolerability in patients with chronic facial pain. Outcome predictors were also assessed. Methods: We randomized twenty consecutive patients with chronic facial pain (post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathic pain, n=14; persistent idiopathic facial pain, n=4; secondary trigeminal neuralgia, n=2) to receive two distinct 5-day rTMS interventions (10Hz, 2400 pulses and 20Hz, 3600 pulses) separated by six weeks. The target area was assessed by mapping of lower face representation. The primary endpoint was the change in weekly mean of pain intensity (numeric rating scale, NRS) between the baseline and therapy week (1st week), and follow-up weeks (2nd and 3rd weeks) for each rTMS intervention. Response was defined using a combination scale including the patient’s global impression of change and continuance with maintenance treatment. Results: Overall, pain intensity NRS decreased from 7.4 at baseline to 5.9 ten weeks later, after the second rTMS intervention (p=0.009). The repetition of the treatment had a significant effect (F=4.983, p=0.043) indicating that the NRS scores are lower during the second four weeks period. Eight (40%) patients were responders, 4 (20%) exhibited a modest effect, 4 (20%) displayed no effect, and 4 (20%) experienced worsening of pain. High disability and high pain intensity (>7) predicted a better outcome (p=0.043 and p=0.045). Female gender, shorter duration of pain and low Beck Anxiety Inventory scores showed a trend towards a better outcome (p=0.052, 0.060 and 0.055, respectively). Conclusions: High-frequency rTMS targeted to face M1 alleviates treatment resistant chronic facial pain. Repeated treatment improves the analgesic effect. A protocol with higher frequency (above 10Hz), longer session duration (more than 20 minutes) and higher number of pulses (above 2400 pulses/session) did not improve the outcome. The results support early consideration of rTMS.

Background Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a benign tumor originating from the vestibulocochlear nerve. The optimal treatment strategy is debated, since surgery may result in iatrogenic facial nerve injury. We report the results of VS surgery in a population-based unselected cohort in a center with access to Cyber Knife (CK) radiosurgery. Methods We reviewed 117 consecutive operations and found 95 patients who had their primary operation due to vestibular schwannoma between 2001 and 2017. Facial nerve function was evaluated with the House-Brackmann (HB) scale and hearing with the EU classification. Results The population consisted of 37 males and 58 females with a median age of 54 years (range 19–79). One year after surgery 67% of patients had a good outcome (HB 1–2). The rate of good outcome was 90% if no facial nerve damage was observed during intraoperative monitoring, the size of the tumor was under 30 mm and no hydrocephalus was present. During the study period, the treatment strategy changed from total to near-total resection after the introduction of CK radiosurgery, which could be used as a second-line treatment in case of residual tumor regrowth. This resulted in an improvement of outcomes (0% HB 5–6) despite the larger tumor sizes (25 ± 14 mm vs. 31 ± 9 mm, p

Background and Purpose— At acute phase and neurointensive care, patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) may become agitated or delirious. We found no previous studies on psychotic disorders or antipsychotic drug (APD) use by long-term aSAH survivors. We defined the APD use and its risk factors among 12-month survivors of aSAH in an Eastern Finnish population–based cohort with long-term follow-up. Methods— We analyzed APD use in 1144 consecutive patients with aSAH alive at 12 months of the Kuopio intracranial aneurysm patient and family database and their age, sex, and birth municipality matched controls (3:1; n=3432) from 1995 to 2013 and median follow-up of 9 years. Using the Finish nationwide health registries, we obtained drug purchase and hospital discharge data. Results— In total, 140 (12%) of the 1144 patients started APD use first time after aSAH (index date), in contrast to 145 (4%) of the 3432 matched population controls. The cumulative rate of starting APD was 6% at 1 year and 9% at 5 years, in contrast to 1% and 2% in the controls, respectively. The rates at 1 and 5 years were only 1% and 2% in the 489 patients with a good condition (modified Rankin Scale score, 0 or 1 at 12 months; no shunt, intracerebral hemorrhage, or intraventricular hemorrhage). Instead, the highest rate of APD use, 23% at 5 years was among the 192 patients shunted for hydrocephalus after aSAH. Eighty-eight (63%) of the 140 aSAH patients with APD use had also concomitant antidepressant or antiepileptic drug use. Conclusions— The 12-month survivors of aSAH were significantly more likely to be started on APD after aSAH than their matched population controls. These patients often used antidepressant and antiepileptic drugs concomitantly. The use of APDs strongly correlated with signs of brain injury after aSAH, with low use if no signs of significant brain injury were present.

The purpose of this population-based case-control study was to evaluate analgesic use after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) caused by rupture of a saccular intracranial aneurysm (sIA).The study consisted of 1187 patients alive 12 months after an sIA-SAH who were admitted to Kuopio University Hospital (KUH) between 1995 and 2014. Three controls, matched with age, sex, and birthplace, were included for each patient. Data on ruptured sIA cases admitted to KUH from a defined catchment population in Eastern Finland were obtained from the KUH intracranial aneurysm database. Analgesics were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification system. Data on analgesic medication were retrieved from the Finnish national registry of prescribed medicines of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland.Among 1187 patients with sIA-SAH who were alive 12 months after admission, 83 (7.0%) commenced analgesics use within 12 months after the sIA-SAH versus 53 (1.5%) of the 3561 population controls. The results revealed significantly greater initiation rate of analgesic use among patients with sIA-SAH within a year after sIA-SAH as compared with that of matched population controls (odds ratio 5.0; 95% confidence interval 3.5-7.0; P0.001). Analgesic use commencement within 12 months of an sIA-SAH was independently associated with the presence of an intracerebral hematoma. Among patients, commencing analgesic use increased 11% when we compared a year before and a year after sIA-SAH.Our results indicate that patients with sIA-SAH had an increased risk for new pain after sIA-SAH as compared with that of matched control population.

BackgroundShunt-dependent hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a common sequelae leading to poorer neurological outcomes and predisposing to various complications.MethodsA total of 2191 consecutive patients with aSAH were acutely admitted to the Neurointensive Care at the Kuopio University Hospital between 1990 and 2018 from a defined population. A total of 349 (16%) aSAH patients received a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, 101 with an adjustable valve (2012–2018), 232 with a fixed pressure valve (1990–2011), and 16 a valveless shunt (2010–2013). Clinical timelines were reconstructed from the hospital records and nationwide registries until death (n = 120) or June 2019.ResultsComparing the adjustable valves vs. the fixed pressure valves vs. the valveless shunts, intraventricular hemorrhage was present in 61%, 44% and 100%, respectively. The median times to the shunt were 7 days vs. 38 days vs. 10 days. The rates of the first revision were 25% vs. 32% vs. 69%. The causes included infection in 11% vs. 7% vs. 25% and overdrainage in 1% vs. 4% vs. 31%. The valveless shunt was the only independent risk factor (HR 2.9) for revision. After the first revision, more revisions were required in 48% vs. 52% vs. 45%.ConclusionsThe protocol to shunt evolved over time to favor earlier shunt. In post-aSAH hydrocephalus, adjustable valve shunts, without anti-siphon device, can be installed at an early phase after aSAH, in spite of intraventricular blood, with a modest risk (25%) of revision. Valveless shunts are not recommendable due to high risk of revisions.

Background To study the clinical condition of poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients alive at 3 years after neurointensive care. Methods Of the 769 consecutive aSAH patients from a defined population (2005–2015), 269 (35%) were in poor condition on admission: 145 (54%) with H&H 4 and 124 (46%) with H&H 5. Their clinical lifelines were re-constructed from the Kuopio Intracranial Aneurysm Database and Finnish nationwide registries. Of the 269 patients, 155 (58%) were alive at 14 days, 125 (46%) at 12 months, and 120 (45%) at 3 years. Results The 120 H&H 4–5 patients alive at 3 years form the final study population. On admission, 73% had H&H 4 but only 27% H&H 5, 59% intracerebral hematoma (ICH; median 22 cm3), and 26% intraventricular blood clot (IVH). The outcome was favorable (mRS 0–1) in 45% (54 patients: ICH 44%; IVH clot 31%; shunt 46%), moderate (mRS 2–3) in 30% (36 patients: ICH 64%; IVH clot 19%; shunt 42%), and unfavorable (mRS 4–5) in 25% (30 patients: ICH 80%; IVH clot 23%; shunt 50%). A total of 46% carried a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. ICH volume was a significant predictor of mRS at 3 years. Conclusions Of poor-grade aSAH patients, 45% were alive at 3 years, even 27% of those extending to pain (H&H 5). Of the survivors, 75% were at least in moderate condition, while only 2.6% ended in hospice care. Consequently, we propose non-selected admission to neurointensive care (1) for a possibility of moderate outcome, and (2), in case of brain death, possibly improved organ donation rates.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has proven to be a cost-effective treatment for failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). However, the effect on patients' working capability remains unclear.To evaluate the impact of SCS on working capability and to identify the factors behind permanent disability in FBSS patients.The study group consisted of 198 working-age patients with SCS trialed or implanted for FBSS in a single center between 1996 and 2014. For each patient, 3 living controls, matched by age, gender, and birthplace, were otherwise randomly selected by the Population Register Center. The data on working ability were obtained from the Social Insurance Institution. Patients were divided into 3 groups: SCS trial only, SCS implanted permanently, and SCS implanted but later explanted.A rehabilitation subsidy was given to 68 patients and 8 controls for a mean of 5.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.4-8.2) and 0.2 (95% CI 0.05-0.6) days per month (P .05). At the end of follow-up, 16 (37%), 13 (33%), 25 (22%), and 27 (5%) subjects were on disability pension (DP) in the SCS trial, SCS explanted, SCS permanent, and control groups. Patients in the SCS trial-only group were significantly more often on DP than were patients with permanent SCS (odds ratio 2.6; 95% CI 1.2-5.9; P = .02).Permanent SCS usage was associated with reduced sick leave and DP. Prospective study will be required to assess possible predictive value.

Background To analyze the organ donation action in population-based neurointensive care of acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and to seek factors that would improve the identification of potential organ donors (PODs) and increase the donor conversion rate (DCR) after aSAH. Methods The Kuopio Intracranial Aneurysm Database, prospective since 1995, includes all aSAH patients admitted to the Kuopio University Hospital (KUH) from its defined Eastern Finnish catchment population. We analyzed 769 consecutive acute aSAH patients from 2005 to 2015, including their data from the Finnish Transplantation Unit and the national clinical registries. We analyzed PODs vs. actual donors among the 145 (19%) aSAH patients who died within 14 days of admission. Finland had implemented the national presumed consent (opt-out) within the study period in the end of 2010. Results We retrospectively identified 83 (57%) PODs while only 49 (34%) had become actual donors (total DCR 59%); the causes for non-donorship were 15/34 (44%) refusals of consent, 18/34 (53%) medical contraindications for donation, and 1/34 (3%) failure of recognition. In 2005–2010, there were 11 refusals by near relatives with DCR 52% (29/56) and only three in 2011–2015 with DCR 74% (20/27). Severe condition on admission (Hunt and Hess grade IV or V) independently associated with the eventual POD status. Conclusions Nearly 20% of all aSAH patients acutely admitted to neurointensive care from a defined catchment population died within 14 days, almost half from cardiopulmonary causes at a median age of 69 years. Of all aSAH patients, 11% were considered as potential organ donors (PODs). Donor conversion rate (DCR) was increased from 52 to 74% after the national presumed consent (opt-out). Implicitly, DCR among aSAH patients could be increased by admitting them to the intensive care regardless of dismal prognosis for the survival, along a dedicated organ donation program for the catchment population.

Background Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a challenging condition that lacks a curative treatment. In selected patients, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has provided a satisfactory outcome. Objective To evaluate the long-term outcome of SCS in FBSS, as measured by (1) the explantation rate, (2) complications, and (3) patient satisfaction with the global perceived effect (GPE). Methods We studied 224 consecutive FBSS patients who underwent an SCS trial with surgically implanted leads at our hospital between January 1996 and December 2014. The patients' satisfaction with the GPE of treatment was measured through a postal questionnaire at the end of follow-up. Results Based on a 1-wk trial, permanent SCS was implanted in 175 (78%) patients. Out of these patients, 153 (87%) reported satisfactory outcomes after 2 mo. During the mean follow-up of 6 yr, 34 (19%) of SCS devices were permanently explanted due to inadequate pain relief, and 11 (6%) were explanted for other reasons.Electrode revision due to inadequate pain relief was done for 22 patients. In total, 26 complications were reported due to: 7 deep infections, 11 hardware malfunctions, 1 subcutaneous hematoma, 4 instances of discomfort due to the pulse generator, and 3 electrode migrations.One hundred thirty patients (74%) continued with SCS until the end of follow-up. Of them, 61 (47%) returned the questionnaire, and 42 (69%) reported substantially improved or better GPE. Conclusion SCS can provide a good outcome in the treatment of FBSS. Patient selection could be further improved by developing novel predictive biomarkers.

Objective:To define the association of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) with the characteristics of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and unruptured intracranial aneurysm (IA) disease.Methods:We fused data from the Kuopio Intracranial Aneurysm database (n = 4,436 IA patients) and Finnish nationwide registries into a population-based series of 53 IA patients with ADPKD to compare the aneurysm- and patient-specific characteristics of IA disease in ADPKD and in the general IA population, and to identify risks for de novo IA formation.Results:In total, there were 33 patients with ADPKD with aSAH and 20 patients with ADPKD with unruptured IAs. The median size of ruptured IAs in ADPKD was significantly smaller than in the general population (6.00 vs 8.00 mm) and the proportion of small ruptured IAs was significantly higher (31% vs 18%). Median age at aSAH was 42.8 years, 10 years younger than in the general IA population. Multiple IAs were present in 45% of patients with ADPKD compared to 28% in the general IA population. Cumulative risk of de novo IA formation was 1.3% per patient-year (vs 0.2% in the general IA population). Hazard for de novo aneurysm formation was significantly elevated in patients with ADPKD (Cox regression hazard ratio 7.7, 95% confidence interval 2.8–20; p < 0.0005).Conclusions:Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs at younger age and from smaller IAs in patients with ADPKD and risk for de novo IAs is higher than in the general Eastern Finnish population. ADPKD should be considered as an indicator for long-term angiographic follow-up in patients with diagnosed IAs.

Background Varying degrees of co‐occurrence of intracranial aneurysms ( IA ) and aortic aneurysms ( AA ) have been reported. We sought to compare the risk for AA in fusiform intracranial aneurysms ( fIA ) and saccular intracranial aneurysms ( sIA ) disease and evaluate possible genetic connection between the fIA disease and AA s. Additionally, the characteristics and aneurysms of the fIA and sIA patients were compared. Methods and Results The Kuopio Intracranial Aneurysm Database includes all 4253 sIA and 125 fIA patients from its Eastern Finnish catchment population, and 13 009 matched population controls and 18 455 first‐degree relatives to the IA patients were identified, and the Finnish national registers were used to identify the individuals with AA . A total of 33 fIA patients were studied using an exomic gene panel of 37 genes associated with AA s. Seventeen (14.4%) fIA patients and 48 (1.2%) sIA patients had a diagnosis of AA . Both fIA and sIA patients had AA s significantly more often than their controls (1.2% and 0.5%) or relatives (0.9% and 0.3%). In a competing risks Cox regression model, the presence of fIA was the strongest risk factor for AA (subdistribution hazard ratio 7.6, 95% CI 3.9–14.9, P COL 5A2 and 3 variants of unknown significance were identified in MYH 11 , COL 11A1 , and FBN 1 in 4 fIA patients. Conclusions The prevalence of AA s is increased slightly in sIA patients and significantly in fIA patients. fIA patients are older and have more comorbid diseases than sIA patients but this alone does not explain their clinically significant AA risk.

Background and Purpose— Shunt dependent hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a common sequela that may lead to poor neurological outcome and predisposes to various interventions, admissions, and complications. We reviewed post-aSAH shunt dependency in a population-based sample and tested the feasibility of a clinical risk score to identify subgroups of aSAH patients with increasing risk of shunting for hydrocephalus. Methods— A total of 1533 aSAH patients from the population-based Eastern Finland Saccular Intracranial Aneurysm Database (Kuopio, Finland) were used in a recursive partitioning analysis to identify risk factors for shunting after aSAH. The risk model was built and internally validated in random split cohorts. External validation was conducted on 946 aSAH patients from the Southwestern Tertiary Aneurysm Registry (Dallas, TX) and tested using receiver-operating characteristic curves. Results— Of all patients alive ≥14 days, 17.7% required permanent cerebrospinal fluid diversion. The recursive partitioning analysis defined 6 groups with successively increased risk for shunting. These groups also successively risk stratified functional outcome at 12 months, shunt complications, and time-to-shunt rates. The area under the curve–receiver-operating characteristic curve for the exploratory sample and internal validation sample was 0.82 and 0.78, respectively, with an external validation of 0.68. Conclusions— Shunt dependency after aSAH is associated with higher morbidity and mortality, and prediction modeling of shunt dependency is feasible with clinically useful yields. It is important to identify and understand the factors that increase risk for shunting and to eliminate or mitigate the reversible factors. The aSAH-PARAS Consortium (Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients’ Risk Assessment for Shunting) has been initiated to pool the collective insights and resources to address key questions in post-aSAH shunt dependency to inform future aSAH treatment guidelines.

Background and Purpose— To elucidate the predictors of antidepressant use after subarachnoid hemorrhage from saccular intracranial aneurysm (sIA-SAH) in a population-based cohort with matched controls. Methods— The Kuopio sIA database includes all unruptured and ruptured sIA cases admitted to the Kuopio University Hospital from its defined catchment population in Eastern Finland, with 3 matched controls for each patient. The use of all prescribed medicines has been fused from the Finnish national registry of prescribed medicines. In the present study, 2 or more purchases of antidepressant medication indicated antidepressant use. The risk factors of the antidepressant use were analyzed in 940 patients alive 12 months after sIA-SAH, and the classification tree analysis was used to create a predicting model for antidepressant use after sIA-SAH. Results— The 940 12-month survivors of sIA-SAH had significantly more antidepressant use (odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 2.2–3.1) than their 2676 matched controls (29% versus 14%). Classification tree analysis, based on independent risk factors, was used for the best prediction model of antidepressant use after sIA-SAH. Modified Rankin Scale until 12 months was the most potent predictor, followed by condition (Hunt and Hess Scale) and age on admission for sIA-SAH. Conclusions— The sIA-SAH survivors use significantly more often antidepressants, indicative of depression, than their matched population controls. Even with a seemingly good recovery (modified Rankin Scale score, 0) at 12 months after sIA-SAH, there is a significant risk of depression requiring antidepressant medication.

Background and Purpose— Formation of new (de novo) aneurysms in patients carrying saccular intracranial aneurysm (sIA) disease has been published, but data from population-based cohorts are scarce. Methods— Kuopio sIA database ( http://www.uef.fi/ns ) contains all unruptured and ruptured sIA patients admitted to Kuopio University Hospital from its Eastern Finnish catchment population. We studied the incidence and risk factors for de novo sIA formation in 1419 sIA patients with ≥5 years of angiographic follow-up, a total follow-up of 18 526 patient-years. Results— There were 42 patients with a total of 56 de novo sIAs, diagnosed in a median of 11.7 years after the first sIA diagnosis. The cumulative incidence of de novo sIAs was 0.23% per patient-year and that of subarachnoid hemorrhage from a ruptured de novo sIA 0.05% per patient-year. The risk of de novo sIA discovery per patient-year increased with younger age at the first sIA diagnosis: 2.2% in the patients aged Conclusions— Patients aged < 40 years at the first sIA diagnosis are in a significant risk of developing de novo sIAs, and they should be scheduled for long-term angiographic follow-up. Smoking increases the risk of de novo sIA formation, suggesting long-term follow-up for smokers. Antismoking efforts are highly recommended for sIA patients.

AIM: There are few population-based studies on bullying behaviour among preschool children. The aims of the study were to investigate the prevalence of bullying behaviour among four-year-old children, as reported by their parents, the prevalence of types of bullying behaviour and the associations between bullying behaviour and psychosocial factors. METHODS: This study was based on a population-based study sample of 931 children who attended their check-up at a child health clinic at four years of age. Parents completed the questionnaire about their child's bullying behaviour and risk factors during the check-up. RESULTS: Bullying behaviour, especially being both a bully and a victim, was a common phenomenon among four-year-old children. Being a bully or both a bully and victim were most strongly associated with conduct problems, while being a victim was associated with somatic symptoms and peer problems. CONCLUSION: Bullying behaviour was frequently found in preschool children and associated with a wide range of other problems, which indicate that routine checking of bullying behaviour should be included in child health clinic check-ups. Bullying prevention programmes are usually targeted at school-aged children, but this study highlights the importance of focusing already on preschool children. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Language: en

BACKGROUND Parent training is the most effective approach to the psychosocial treatment of disruptive behavioral problems in childhood. However, no studies exist on how well Web-based training programs work when they make the transition from the research setting to implementation in primary health care. OBJECTIVE The study aimed to examine how the randomized controlled trial (RCT) and implementation study groups of the Strongest Families Smart Website (SFSW) intervention differed in child psychopathology, family demographics and treatment-related factors, such as therapeutic alliance and parents’ satisfaction rates. The intervention was conducted in the pediatric primary health care in Finland. METHODS The study focused on 232 parents who had taken part in the SFSW intervention, which formed part of a 2-arm RCT study, and 882 families that would participate in the subsequent SFSW implementation study group. Both groups comprised parents whose children displayed high levels of parent-reported disruptive behavioral problems when they were screened in child health clinics at 4 years of age. Parents in both groups were provided with the SFSW intervention, which consisted of a Web-based training program with 11 weekly themes and associated telephone sessions. RESULTS Demographic factors or duration of behavioral problems did not differ statistically or clinically between the RCT and implementation groups. Overall, 42.0% (362/862) of children in the implementation group and 35.4% (80/226) in the RCT intervention group had suffered from behavioral difficulties more than 1 year before the screening phase (χ1 2=3.2; P=.07). The mean duration of telephone coaching calls was very similar in the implementation and RCT intervention groups, that is, 38 and 37 min per call, respectively (t279.5=0.26; P=.79). The total time spent on the website of the program was 451 min in the implementation group and 431 min in the RCT intervention group (t318.8=1.38; P=.17). In the RCT intervention group, 52 of the 232 participants (22.4%) discontinued the program before the tenth week, whereas in the implementation group, 109 of the 882 participants (12.4%; odds ratio 2.05, 95% CI 1.4-3.0; P CONCLUSIONS The implementation of population-based screening of Web-based parent training intervention with telephone coaching resulted in good feasibility, fidelity, accessibility, and similar satisfaction level post treatment when compared with intervention in RCT research setting. The discontinuation of treatment in the implementation group was exceptionally low.

BACKGROUND: Research studies exploring the determinants of disease require sufficient statistical power to detect meaningful effects. Sample size is often increased through centralized pooling of disparately located datasets, though ethical, privacy and data ownership issues can often hamper this process. Methods that facilitate the sharing of research data that are sympathetic with these issues and which allow flexible and detailed statistical analyses are therefore in critical need. We have created a software platform for the Virtual Pooling and Analysis of Research data (ViPAR), which employs free and open source methods to provide researchers with a web-based platform to analyse datasets housed in disparate locations.METHODS: Database federation permits controlled access to remotely located datasets from a central location. The Secure Shell protocol allows data to be securely exchanged between devices over an insecure network. ViPAR combines these free technologies into a solution that facilitates 'virtual pooling' where data can be temporarily pooled into computer memory and made available for analysis without the need for permanent central storage.RESULTS: Within the ViPAR infrastructure, remote sites manage their own harmonized research dataset in a database hosted at their site, while a central server hosts the data federation component and a secure analysis portal. When an analysis is initiated, requested data are retrieved from each remote site and virtually pooled at the central site. The data are then analysed by statistical software and, on completion, results of the analysis are returned to the user and the virtually pooled data are removed from memory.CONCLUSIONS: ViPAR is a secure, flexible and powerful analysis platform built on open source technology that is currently in use by large international consortia, and is made publicly available at [http://bioinformatics.childhealthresearch.org.au/software/vipar/].

Recent studies have shown an increasing incidence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children diagnosed in specialized services. This study aims to describe children with ADHD in Finnish specialized healthcare by reporting the demographic characteristics, time trends in diagnosis, psychiatric comorbidity, and the validity of register-based diagnoses. All the singletons born in Finland between 1991 and 2005 and diagnosed with ADHD by 2011 were identified and their psychiatric comorbidity data was obtained from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register (FHDR). Parents of 69 patients were interviewed via telephone for a diagnostic validation. A total of 10,409 children were identified with ADHD, with a male: female ratio of 5.3:1 and a psychiatric comorbidity rate of 76.7 %. Of the validation sample 88 % met the diagnostic criteria of ADHD for DSM-IV. There is an increasing trend of ADHD diagnosis among both males and females. Psychiatric comorbidity is common and includes a wide range of disorders among children with ADHD. There was an increase of ADHD diagnoses especially among boys. More attention is needed to detect ADHD among girls in health services. Diagnoses in the FHDR show diagnostic validity and their sociodemographic patterns are in line with previous studies.

Background It is not yet definitively known whether dynamic features of head circumference growth are associated with autism. To address this issue, we carried out a nested matched case-control study using data from national well baby clinics in Finland; autism cases were identified from the Finnish Hospital and Outpatient Discharge Registry. Methods A nonparametric Bayesian method was used to construct growth velocity trajectories between birth and 2 years of age in autism cases and matched control subjects ( n = 468 in main analyses, 1:1 matched control subjects). Estimates of odds ratios for autism risk in relation to the growth velocities were obtained using conditional logistic regression. Results Growth velocity of head circumference at 3 months of age, adjusting for gestational age at birth and maternal age, is significantly associated with autism ( p = .014); the finding was observed in subjects with comorbid intellectual disability (ID) ( p = .025) but not in those without ID ( p = .15). Height growth velocity among subjects with autism and without ID is significantly associated with autism at 6 months ( p = .007), and weight growth velocity at 18 months without ID ( p = .02) and 24 months without ID ( p = .042) and with ID ( p = .037). Conclusions Acceleration in head circumference growth is associated with autism with comorbid ID at 3 months but not subsequently. This association is unrelated to acceleration in height and weight, which are not strongly associated with autism until after 6 months.

Animal models and epidemiologic studies suggest that prenatal maternal infection, and sexually transmitted infection (STI) in particular, is associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia in the offspring. However, findings from prior research studies on common infections, including herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) have been inconsistent. To investigate these associations, we conducted a case-control study nested in the population-based Finnish Prenatal Study of Schizophrenia. Using linked national registries, 963 cases with schizophrenia (ICD-10 F20) or schizoaffective disorder (ICD-10 F25), and 963 matched controls were identified from among all persons born between 1983 and 1998 in Finland. HSV-2 IgG antibody levels were quantified in archived maternal serum samples drawn during pregnancy. Mothers of 16.4% of cases versus 12.6% of controls were HSV-2 seropositive. Mean levels of maternal HSV-2 IgG were marginally higher among cases than controls (index values of 0.98 versus 0.86; p=0.06). The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) of maternal HSV-2 IgG seropositivity was 1.33 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.03-1.72, p=0.03). Following adjustment for covariates, the relationship was attenuated (OR=1.22, CI=0.93-1.60; p=0.14). In an exploratory analysis of another STI, C. trachomatis antibodies were measured in a subsample of 207 case-control pairs drawn from the cohort. The proportions of subjects that were seropositive and the mean levels of C. trachomatis antibodies were similar for cases and controls. This study does not support a strong association of HSV-2 or C. trachomatis IgG antibodies in maternal serum during early to mid-gestation with the development of schizophrenia in the offspring.

Background Saccular intracranial aneurysm (sIA) growth during follow-up is associated with high risk for subsequent rupture. Finnish patients have been suggested to have higher risk for subarachnoid hemorrhage, but follow-up studies of sIA growth in the Finnish population are scarce. Objective To identify the strongest risk factors for sIA growth in Eastern Finnish population by studying 205 patients with 350 unruptured sIAs with angiographic follow-up imaging. Methods In this population-based cohort study, we included unruptured sIA patients from the Kuopio University Hospital Intracranial Aneurysm Patient and Family database with at least 6 mo of angiographic follow-up after the diagnosis of sIAs. Angiograms were re-evaluated to detect aneurysms with growth of at least 1.0 mm. Cox regression analysis with patient- and aneurysm-related risk factors was used to calculate hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals for growth. In addition, we tested the diagnostic value of previously introduced PHASES score for the prediction of sIA growth in Eastern Finnish population. Results Of the 350 unruptured aneurysms, 36 (10.3%) showed growth during median follow-up of 1.7 yr and total follow-up of 790 yr. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, sIA size and location in the middle cerebral artery were significant risk factors for sIA growth. In receiver operator characteristic curves, both PHASES score and sIA size had relatively low areas under the curve. Conclusion Our study indicates that aneurysm size is the strongest risk factor for aneurysm growth in Eastern Finnish population. Further studies are required to identify new risk factors for aneurysm growth.

We describe the epidemiology of crime between ages 15 and 30 in a population-based sample. We received police register data for 5405 males and females, representing the children born in Finland in 1981. We classified crimes into drug, violent, property, traffic, drunk driving, and sexual crimes, excluding minor traffic offenses. Of males, 60% and of females, 25% were registered for offending. For males, prevalence peaked in late adolescence, while for females, there was no peak age. Offending frequency remained stable for male offenders but was lower among adolescent female offenders. All crime types overlapped each other. Crime accumulated: 1% committed 34% of male and 56% of female offenses. In conclusion, the adolescent peak in offending reflects peaking prevalence among males, not females, nor frequency of offending among offenders. The crime problem is focused on two key groups: late adolescent males and the few males and females in whom crime concentrates.

Aim The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and incidence rates of diagnosed tic disorders in the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register, including changing incidence rates between 1991 and 2010. We also aimed to validate the diagnoses of Tourette's syndrome recorded in the register. Methods Children born between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 2010, who were diagnosed with tic disorders, were identified from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register (n = 3003). We studied the validity of the Tourette's syndrome diagnoses by reviewing the medical charts of 88 children born since 1997 and carrying out telephone interviews with 55 of their guardians. Results The incidence rates of all diagnosed tic disorders increased during the study period. A comorbid diagnosis of hyperkinetic disorder diagnosis was recorded in 28.2% of the children with Tourette's syndrome, and the validity of the register-based Tourette's syndrome diagnosis was approximately 95%. Conclusion This is the first nationwide study to demonstrate the increasing incidence of all register-based tic disorder diagnoses. The validity of the Tourette's syndrome diagnoses in the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register was good, and the data provided are suitable for use in further register-based studies of tic disorders.

This study determined the correlation between uptake of the amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent [(18) F]flutemetamol and amyloid-β measured by immunohistochemical and histochemical staining in a frontal cortical biopsy.Fifteen patients with possible normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and previous brain biopsy obtained during intracranial pressure monitoring underwent [18F]flutemetamol PET. Seven of these patients also underwent [11C] Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) PET. [18F]Flutemetamol and [11C]PiB uptake was quantified using standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) with the cerebellar cortex as a reference region. Tissue amyloid-β was evaluated using the monoclonal antibody 4G8, Thioflavin-S and Bielschowsky silver stain.[18F]Flutemetamol and [11C]PiB SUVRs correlated with biopsy specimen amyloid-β levels contralateral (r = 0.86, P 0.0001; r = 0.96, P = 0.0008) and ipsilateral (r = 0.82, P = 0.0002; r = 0.87, P = 0.01) to the biopsy site. Association between cortical composite [(18) F]flutemetamol SUVRs and [11C]PiB SUVRs was highly significant (r = 0.97, P = 0.0003).[18F]Flutemetamol detects brain amyloid-β in vivo with moderate to high sensitivity and high specificity. This agent, therefore, represents a valuable new tool to study and verify the presence of amyloid-β pathology, both in patients with possible NPH and among the wider population.

Objective: To elucidate the epilepsy-associated causes of death and subsequent excess long-term mortality among 12-month survivors of subarachnoid hemorrhage from saccular intracranial aneurysm (SIA-SAH). Methods: The Kuopio SIA Database (kuopioneurosurgery.fi) includes all SIA-SAH patients admitted to the Kuopio University Hospital from its defined catchment population in Eastern Finland. The study cohort consists of 779 patients, admitted from 1995 to 2007, who were alive at 12 months after SIA-SAH. Their use of reimbursable antiepileptic drugs and the causes of death (ICD-10) were fused from the Finnish national registries from 1994 to 2014. Results: The 779 12-month survivors were followed up until death (n = 197) or December 31, 2014, a median of 12.0 years after SIA-SAH. Epilepsy had been diagnosed in 121 (15%) patients after SIA-SAH, and 34/121 (28%) had died at the end of follow-up, with epilepsy as the immediate cause of death in 7/34 (21%). In the 779 patients alive at 12 months after SIA-SAH, epilepsy was an independent risk factor for mortality (hazard ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.1–3.0). Conclusions: Comorbid epilepsy in 12-month survivors of SIA-SAH is associated with increased risk of death in long-term follow-up. Survivors of SIA-SAH require long-term dedicated follow-up, including identification and effective treatment of comorbid epilepsy to prevent avoidable deaths., published version, peerReviewed