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The lung just like all other organs is affected by age. The lung matures by the age of 20 and age-related changes start around middle age, at 40-50 years. Exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) has been shown to be age, height and gender dependent. We hypothesize that the nitric oxide (NO) parameters alveolar NO (CANO), airway flux (J(aw)NO), airway diffusing capacity (DawNO) and airway wall content (CawNO) will also demonstrate this dependence. Data from healthy subjects were gathered by the current authors from their earlier publications in which healthy individuals were included as control subjects. Healthy subjects (n=433) ranged in age from 7 to 78 years. Age-stratified reference values of the NO parameters were significantly different. Gender differences were only observed in the 20-49 age group. The results from the multiple regression models in subjects older than 20 years revealed that age, height and gender interaction together explained 6% of variation in F(E)NOat 50 ml s(-1) (FENO50), 4% in JawNO, 16% inC(aw)NO, 8% in DawNO and 12% in CANO. In conclusion, in this study we have generated reference values for NO parameters from an extended NO analysis of healthy subjects. This is important in order to be able to use these parameters in clinical practice.

Serious games (SGs) provide users with valuable information in a fun, entertaining way. Due to the elements of surprise and simulation, these games potentially engage and inspire their target groups more than traditional methods. Health games are SGs that provide a new model of maintaining and developing mental and physical capabilities for all age groups. The current study focused on the use of SGs in health care. The research goal was to identify the role of multidisciplinary expertise in developing SGs. Design science research (DSR) techniques were adopted in this study to identify the role of versatile expertise in the health-care context. From the perspective of DSR, this study provides new tools and a method — a rapid prototyping workshop and an SG design canvas — that can help in providing the needed knowledge and in developing ways to communicate these ideas. In this study, the developed tools and method were applied to six case studies, and lessons learnt were evaluated and tested by participants in the workshop. The proposed SG design canvas also supports a participatory design process and invites users to contribute early in the development process. Overall, this study shows that good health game development can only occur through effective multidisciplinary cooperation.

Perusopetuksen opetussuunnitelmassa (2014) painotetaan tulevaisuuden taitojen harjoittelua ja käyttämistä niin perinteisissä kuin monimediaisissa, teknologiaa eri tavoin hyödyntävissä oppimisympäristöissä. Tämän tutkielman lähtökohtana on tutkia koulun ulkopuolisessa ympäristössä tapahtuvaa oppimista koulupäivän aikana. Tavoitteena on tarkastella sitä, miten koulun ulkopuolisia oppimisympäristöjä, etenkin tiedekeskusympäristöä, voidaan hyödyntää oppimisen tukena sekä millaisena oppilaat kokivat opiskelun dinosaurusnäyttelyssä. Suomi halutaan lasten ja nuorten tiedekasvatuksen kärkimaaksi vuoteen 2020 mennessä (Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö, 2014), joten koulun ulkopuolisten oppimisympäristöjen hyödyntäminen monin keinoin on ajankohtaista. Tutkimuksen kontekstina oli Lontoon luonnonhistoriallisen museon näyttely Age of The Dinosaur, joka oli esillä Oulun museo- ja tiedekeskus Luupissa taidemuseon tiloissa vuonna 2014. Tutkimuksen otanta koostui Oulun kaupungin yhdeksän eri alakoulun oppilaista, jotka olivat 5. ja 6. -luokkalaisia (N > 300). Heidät valittiin mukaan kouluista, joiden rehtori ja 5. luokkien opettajat olivat kiinnostuneita osallistumaan tutkimukseen. Oppilaiden tietoja ja mielipiteitä analysoitiin kvantitatiivisesti kyselylomakkeilla kerätystä aineistosta, käyttäen faktorianalyysia sekä parametrisia menetelmiä kuten riippumattomien otosten t-testiä, parittaista t-testiä ja yksisuuntaista varianssianalyysia. Tämän tutkielman empiirinen aineisto on kerätty yhteistyössä Helsingin yliopiston Opettajankoulutuslaitoksen tiedekeskuspedagogiikan tutkimusyksikön kanssa. Tutkimustulosten mukaan pojat olivat tyttöjä kiinnostuneempia luonnosta ja tiesivät enemmän dinosauruksista. Luonnosta ja dinosauruksiin liittyvistä oheistuotteista tai dinosaurusten tutkimisesta vapaa-ajalla kiinnostuneet olivat myös kiinnostuneempia biologian opiskelusta ylipäätään. Näyttely ei tilannemotivaation testillä mitattuna motivoinut oppilaita tarpeeksi vaikuttaakseen tietotestissä menestymiseen. Tutkimuksessa havaittiin oppilaiden pitäneen opiskelua dinosaurusnäyttelyssä mukavampana ja helpompana kuin koulussa opiskelua. Koulussa opiskelu miellettiin kuitenkin vuorovaikutteisemmaksi kuin näyttelyssä opiskeleminen. Tulokset ovat yhteneväisiä aikaisempien samankaltaisten tutkimusten tuloksiin, joiden mukaan vuorovaikutteisuutta ja oppilaiden osallistumista opiskeluun olisi voitu hyödyntää enemmän. Tämän tutkielman tuloksia ei pyritä yleistämään, vaan ennemminkin ne antavat tietoa juuri tässä tutkimuskontekstissa toteutettuna.

We have shown previously that detectable serum concentration of p53 protein is associated with poor prognosis in multiple myeloma (MM). In this study, we studied p53 gene mutations in 29 bone marrow samples of MM patients using polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and direct sequencing. No p53 mutations were found in these patients although 41% of the patients had an elevated serum p53 protein concentration. This result indicates that the detectable serum level of p53 protein is not associated with p53 mutations. In addition, we have also analysed three MM cell lines established from bone marrow samples. All the cell lines contained p53 mutations in exon 5. However, bone marrow samples of the patients associated with the cell lines did not have these mutations at the time of diagnosis, nor did the original samples which were used to establish the cell lines. This indicates that p53 mutations can arise during the cell passages.

This paper reports the main findings of the research conducted in the Department of Marketing during Rotuaari -research project. Rotuaari was a three-year (2003–2006) multidisciplinary research project, which focused on the development and testing of technologies and business models for mobile multimedia services of the future. Key components included service and testing environments, wireless technologies, new kinds of value chains and numerous field trials. The actual research in this project was divided into so-called work packages (WP), in which mobile multimedia services were approached from several intercomplementary perspectives. The work packages of the Department of Marketing focused on the value creating networks and consumer behavior.

We describe a patient with multiple myeloma who was treated with intensive therapy and autologous blood cell transplantation as her first-line treatment. The disease relapsed 3 months after the transplant as plasma cell leukemia and the patient succumbed in 4 weeks. We suggest that an aggressive plasma cell clone may be selected during the course of intensive treatment. Complex karyotypic findings are also presented.

To evaluate the basic structures and processes of asthma care 6 years after the launch of the Finnish Asthma Programme. The evaluation will serve as the baseline for the implementation of the evidence-based guidelines for asthma published in 2000.A descriptive type-2 evaluation (managerial monitoring of a policy implementation), based on operationalised statements of the Asthma Programme.A co-ordinating doctor for asthma, usually a general practitioner (GP), was interviewed in 248 (91%) health centres; 83% of the health centres have at least one GP nominated as the local asthma co-ordinator and 94% have a nurse. Asthma education for the professionals had been organised in 71% of the health centres in the previous 2 years. First-line treatment consists of an inhaled corticosteroid. Guided self-management is used in 98% of the health centres, but its components were not clear to the doctors.The basic structure of equipment and organisation for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma has been set up in the primary health care services.

A comprehensive community programme to control cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in North Karelia, Finland, was carried out during 1972-7. The central intermediate objective of the programme was to reduce the prevalence of smoking, the serum cholesterol concentration, and raised blood-pressure values among the population of the area. The effect was evaluated by examining independent representative population samples in 1972 and 1977 in both the county of North Karelia and a matched control county. Over 10 000 subjects were studied each time, the participation rate being around 90%. The decrease that occurred in the risk factors, especially in men, was in general greater in North Karelia compared with the control county. When a multiple logistic function was used for the three risk factors an overall mean net reduction of 17% among men and 12% among women was observed in the estimated risk for coronary heart disease in North Karelia. This community programme effectively reduced the levels of the three main risk factors for CVD in the population, and thus mortality and morbidity from CVD should fall. This is assessed in further studies.

A comprehensive community based programme to control cardiovascular diseases was started in North Karelia, Finland, in 1972. Reductions in smoking, serum cholesterol concentrations, and blood pressure were among the central intermediate objectives. The effect of the programme during the 10 year period 1972-82 was evaluated by examining independent random population samples at the outset (1972) and five (1977) and 10 (1982) years later both in the programme and in a matched reference area. Over 10 000 subjects were studied in 1972 and 1977 (participation rate about 90%) and roughly 8000 subjects in 1982 (participation rate about 80%). Analyses were conducted of the estimated effect of the programme on the risk factor population means by comparing the baseline and five year and 10 year follow up results in the age range 30-59 years. The effect of the programme (net reduction in North Karelia) at 10 years among the middle aged male population was estimated to be a 28% reduction in smoking (p less than 0.001), a 3% reduction in mean serum cholesterol concentration (p less than 0.001), a 3% fall in mean systolic blood pressure (p less than 0.001), and a 1% fall in mean diastolic blood pressure (p less than 0.05). Among the female population the reductions were respectively, 14% (NS), 1% (NS), 5% (p less than 0.001), and 2% (p less than 0.05). During the first five years of the project (1972-7) the programme effectively reduced the population mean values of the major coronary risk factors. At 10 years the effects had persisted for serum cholesterol concentrations and blood pressure and were increased for smoking.

A series of televised risk reduction and health promotion programs have been broadcast in Finland since 1978. The five series of programs were the product of a cooperative effort by Finland's television channel 2 and the North Karelia Project. The series has featured a group of volunteers who are at high risk of diseases because of their unhealthful habits and two health educators who counsel the studio group and the viewers to make changes in health behaviors. The "Keys to Health 84-85" was the fifth of the series and consisted of 15 parts, 35 minutes viewing time each. Results of the evaluation surveys, which are presented briefly, indicate that viewing rates were high. Of the countrywide sample, 27 percent of men and 35 percent of women reported that they had viewed at least three parts of the series. Reported changes in behaviors were substantial among the viewers who had seen several parts of the series and were meaningful, overall, for the entire population. Of the countrywide sample, 7.1 percent of smoking viewers reported an attempt to stop smoking--this number was 3.6 percent of all smokers. The percentages of weight loss among viewers and the total population sample were 3.9 for men and 2.1 for women. The reported reductions in fat consumption were 27.2 percent for men and 15.0 percent for women. The reported effects in the demonstration area of North Karelia were even higher, mainly because of higher viewing rates.