Lipid trajectories as predictors of depressive symptoms: The Young Finns Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify common trajectories of lipid levels across childhood and early adulthood life span. Design: The sample was a subpopulation of 824 young adults (3 to 9 years of age at baseline in 1980) of the ongoing population-based prospective Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Lipid levels were determined in 1980, 1983, 1986, and 2001. Main Outcome Measures: Depressive symptoms were assessed using a modified version of Beck's Depression Inventory (Beck, 1967) in 1992 and 2001. Results: The 2 triglycerides trajectories (steeply vs. moderately increasing) were differently related to depressive symptoms in adulthood. The trajectory showing steep increase over time was associated with higher level of depressive symptoms (M 2.18, 95% CI [2.08, 2.28] vs. 1.99, [1.95, 2.04]). This relationship persisted after adjustments for various risk factors. These triglycerides trajectories accounted for part of the association between high body mass index and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: A pattern of steeply increasing triglyceride levels throughout childhood and adulthood may be associated with increased the risk of depressive symptoms in adulthood. This pattern may also be one link between obesity and depressive symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Design and development of the THYROID system

This paper discusses the design and development of our decision support system for thyroid function diagnostics, named Thyroid. The objective of our work has been to develop a decision support system for practical use. The Thyroid system has been designed to utilize the existing laboratory test results of the patient. The task of the system is to produce interpretative reports for the clinicians. The system is integrated with the laboratory information system of University Central Hospital of Turku. It has been under clinical testing for more than 2 years with over 1600 actual cases. The system has produced promising results and it has also shown the limitations of the knowledge-based systems in this infrastructure environment.     

Depressive symptoms and the metabolic syndrome in childhood and adulthood: A prospective cohort study.

Objective: To examine the reciprocal associations between depressive symptoms and clinical definitions of the metabolic syndrome in childhood and adulthood. Design: Population-based prospective cohort study of 921 participants (538 women and 383 men) in Finland. The components of the metabolic syndrome were measured in childhood (mean age 12 years) and again in adulthood (mean age 33 years). A revised version of the Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess depressive symptoms at the mean ages of 24 and 33. Main Outcome Measures: Metabolic syndrome defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP), the European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance, and the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Results: In women, depressive symptoms were associated with increased risk of the metabolic syndrome in adulthood (odds ratio for NCEP metabolic syndrome per 1 SD increase in depressive symptoms 1.40, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.85). The metabolic syndrome in childhood, in turn, predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms in adulthood (p = .03). In men, no associations were found between depressive symptoms and the clinical definitions of the metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: The process linking depressive symptoms with the metabolic syndrome may go into both directions and may begin early in life. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)