The relation of extraarticular tenderness to inflammatory joint disease and personality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

We measured the pain tenderness threshold at 16 fibrositic tender points in 44 consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) attending the outpatient rheumatology clinic of a university hospital. Pressure threshold measurements were transformed to z units to equalize the weights of the values at different anatomic sites and were then summed. This pain tenderness score correlated with the joint score index (p less than 0.02, r = -0.363), signifying a low pain threshold in the patients with a high joint score index. In contrast to this, the pain tenderness score was not explained by either personality factors or the generalized disease activity measuring variables (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein). Our results show that the fibrositic point tenderness is real in RA, and that the tenderness is augmented near the active joints. The pain tenderness score of patients with RA is not affected by the subject's personality but may relate to sensitization of the pain fibers in arthritic joints.

Rorschach movement responses and the TAT Transcendence Index in physically handicapped children.

It has been supposed that those who give many Rorschach movement responses and score high on the TAT Transcendence Index are more inhibited in their motor activity. In previous studies motor inhibition was investigated by experimentally preventing motor activity. In the present study the effects of long-term motor inhibition on movement perception and fantasy level were explored in 19 physically handicapped children, ages 11 to 15 years. Analysis showed that the physically handicapped children produced more (both human and animal) movement responses than the 19 normal children. Fantasy in the TAT was also higher in the former group. The theoretical basis of projective movement responses and fantasy in physical handicap needs more clarification. A more detailed approach in qualitative analysis of the movement responses is also important.

The isotopic composition of lead in man and the environment in Finland 1966-1987: isotope ratios of lead as indicators of pollutant source.

The isotopic composition of lead was determined in samples collected between 1966 and 1987, mainly from the Helsinki area, in emission sources (gasoline, incinerator and lead smelter emissions, coal), air, in samples representing long-term deposition (lichen, soil, lake sediments), and in human tissue. Isotope ratios were determined by thermal ionization mass spectrometry after chemical separation of lead by anion exchange and cathodic electrodeposition. The origin of lead in man and the environment in the Helsinki area was evaluated by using the differences in the measured isotope ratios as an indicator. The mean of the ratio in gasoline (206Pb/207Pb 1.124 +/- 0.026) and the ratios in other emission sources in Helsinki (1.149-1.226) were significantly different. However, the wide range of isotope ratios in gasoline (1.063-1.173) reduced the accuracy when assessing the contribution of the different sources. Lead in air samples from Helsinki (1.123 +/- 0.013) could be attributed to gasoline, as could lead in soil near a highway (1.136 +/- 0.003). By contrast, isotope ratios measured in lichen (1.148 +/- 0.006) indicated considerable amounts of lead from sources with higher 206Pb abundances, evidently industrial sources. The isotope ratios in human liver, lung, and bone from individuals dying between 1976-79 (206Pb/207Pb ratio 1.142 +/- 0.015, 1.151 +/- 0.011, and 1.156 +/- 0.013, respectively) reflect the large lead emissions from the incinerators and lead smelters in the Helsinki area in the 1960s and 1970s. In lake sediment cores a correlation was found between the isotope ratios, lead concentration, and depth. The nonanthropogenic lead of high isotope ratios from bedrock was the major component at depths dated older than 100 years. At the surface of the sediment atmospheric lead prevailed, with ratios similar to those of gasoline, air samples and lichen. In the post-1900 layers, anthropogenic lead made up about 40-95% of the total sedimentary lead.

The structured nonverbal assessment of personality.

This article describes the development of a structured nonverbal measure of personality based on Murray's (1938) system of needs. The items of the Nonverbal Personality Questionnaire consist of line drawings of a central figure performing trait-relevant behaviors in specific situations; respondents are asked to indicate the likelihood of engaging in similar behaviors. The nonverbal form was administered to three Canadian samples of respondents and one Finnish sample. Reliability and validity data for the initial item pool and for a revised form are reported. The utility of the nonverbal inventory for cross-cultural and theoretical work in personality is discussed.

Subjective disease experience in Sjögren's syndrome. A computerized discrimination analysis.

A study was made of the ability of a computerized discrimination analysis to distinguish between primary or secondary Sjögren's syndrome on the one hand and, on the other, various rheumatic diseases which may be, but in this study were not, complicated by Sjögren's syndrome. The analysis was based on a questionnaire including 76 two- or three-scale items. Among these 76 questions, five with a maximum potential for distinguishing between various subgroups were selected and obviously represent the questions for the physician to ask when taking the patient's history. As shown by classification matrix tables, computerized analysis of questionnaires might represent a useful way to assess the prevalence of clinical cases of Sjögren's syndrome and to aid health care administrators in assessing the extent of the Sjögren's syndrome problem. In contrast, manual analysis of patients' graded answers did not provide any simple or practicable method for the diagnostic work-up of cases. Therefore it seems that subjective symptoms should not be included in the diagnostic criteria for Sjögren's syndrome, which in clinical work should be based on objective evidence alone.

Anti-oxidant supplementation decreases TBA reactants in serum of elderly.

An "anti-oxidant cocktail" consisting of betacarotene, vitamins B6, C, E, zinc, and selenium or corresponding placebos were given for one y as daily dietary supplements to 45 elderly residents of a nursing home. Initially, the serum TBA reactant levels were higher (2.7 +/- 0.7 mumol/L) than those of an ad hoc control group of healthy younger adults (2.3 +/- 0.6 mumol/L), p less than 0.01. After three mo supplementation, the levels among the verum elderly had decreased to 2.2 +/- 0.6 mumol/L, and they remained at this lower level until the end of the study period, whereas the placebo group showed no change. A significant inverse correlation (r = -0.428, p less than 0.01) existed between the concentrations of serum TBA reactants and whole blood selenium (B-Se), but only B-Se levels above 200 micrograms/L were associated with a decrease in serum lipid peroxides. Serum alpha-tocopherol concentration also correlated inversely with serum TBA reactants but this correlation (r = -0.273, p less than 0.76) was not as strong as that of B-Se. Deficient vitamin B6 status, in biochemical terms, was observed in 25% of the elderly; a daily supplement of 2 mg B6 fully cured all cases of deficiency. The verum group improved slightly in several psychological tests, whereas subjects on placebo remained unchanged or deteriorated during the follow-up period. Clinical amelioration among the verum subjects was reported by the nurses; no toxic side effects were reported. In conclusion, the elderly benefited biochemically and clinically of dietary antioxidant supplements.

Vitamin B6 status of Finnish elderly. Comparison with Dutch younger adults and elderly. The effect of supplementation.

About 25% of Finnish and Dutch elderly appeared to be more or less deficient in vitamin B6 as compared to younger adults. Deficiency was observed at the cellular (PLP, EGOT and alpha-EGOT) as well as at the plasma level (PLP). The benefit of a one-year daily supplementation with 2 mg of pyridoxine-HCl was investigated at the biochemical and psychological level as compared to a placebo group. After one year, none of the supplemented elderly was deficient in biochemical terms. At the psychological level and at the level of general well-being, the elderly supplemented with vitamin B6 showed slight improvements. However, for the psychological variables significant correlations with the vitamin B6 parameters were not observed. Plasma fatty acids (e.g. gamma-linolenic acid) showed no correlation with the vitamin B6 status.

The use and the attributions of some sweet foods.

The attributes people give to certain sweet foods and the connections between these attributes and the use of food were assessed in 515 men and women from different age, educational and social groups. The foods specifically named were: ice cream, sweetened yogurt, and soft drinks. The subjects were classified according to their reported consumption frequency of the sweet foods. The attributes of foods were assessed by the semantic differential technique. On the basis of factor analysis of the attributions, four meaning dimensions were identified for each food. The dimensions for ice cream and sweetened yogurt were labelled 'personal use', 'healthfulness', 'nutritiveness', and 'psychosocial meaning'. The mean dimensions of soft drinks were labelled 'emotional meaning', 'social meaning', 'healthfulness', and 'personal use'. These meanings of the foods correlated with their reported frequency of use: those who associated positive attributes to a particular food also used that food more often than the others.