Labelling the salt content in foods: a useful tool in reducing sodium intake in Finland

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the impact of choosing food products labelled either as low or high in salt on salt intake in the Finnish adult population. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: The National FINDIET 2002 survey with 48-hour recalls from 2007 subjects aged 25-64 years. Sodium intake was calculated based on the Fineli food composition database including the sodium content of natural and processed foods as well as the salt content of recipes. The distribution of salt intake was calculated in different ways: the present situation; assuming that all breads, cheeses, processed meat and fish, breakfast cereals and fat spreads consumed would be either 'lightly salted' or 'heavily salted' based on the current labelling practice; and, in addition, assuming that all foods would be prepared with 50% less or more salt. RESULTS: Excluding underreporters, the mean salt intake would be reduced by 1.8 g in men and by 1.0 g in women if the entire population were to choose lightly salted products and further by 2.5 and 1.8 g, respectively, if also salt used in cooking were halved. Choosing heavily salted products would increase salt intake by 2.1 g in men and by 1.4 g in women. In the worst scenarios, salt intake would be further increased by 2.3 g in men and by 1.6 g in women. CONCLUSIONS: These calculations show that the potential impact of labelling and giving consumers the possibility to choose products with less salt is of public health importance. In addition, strategies to reduce the salt content of all food groups are needed.     

Efficacy of different treatment regimes against setariosis (Setaria tundra,Nematoda: Filarioidea) and associated peritonitis in reindeer

Background

When a severe peritonitis outbreak in semi-domesticated reindeer was noticed in 2003 in Finland, the concerned industry urged immediate preventive actions in order to avoid detrimental effects of S. tundra and further economical losses. A research programme was swiftly initiated to study S. tundra and its impact on the health and wellbeing of reindeer.

Methods

The ultimate aim of this study was to test the efficacy of different treatment regimes against S. tundra and associated peritonitis in reindeer. The timing of the trials was planned to be compatible with the annual rhythm of the reindeer management; (1) the treatment of calves in midsummer, during routine calf ear marking, with ivermectin injection prophylaxis and deltamethrin pour-on solution as a repellent against insect vectors, (2) the treatment of infected calves in early autumn with ivermectin injection, and (3) ivermectin treatment of breeding reindeer in winter. The results were assessed using the post mortem inspection data and S. tundra detection. Finally, to evaluate on the population level the influence of the annual (late autumn-winter) ivermectin treatment of breeding reindeer on the transmission dynamics of S. tundra, a questionnaire survey was conducted.

Results

In autumn, ivermectin treatment was efficient against peritonitis and in midsummer had a slight negative impact on the degree of peritonitis and positive on the fat layer, but deltamethrin had none. Ivermectin was efficient against adult S. tundra and its smf. All the reindeer herding cooperatives answered the questionnaire and it appeared that antiparasitic treatment of reindeer population was intense during the study period, when 64–90% of the animals were treated. In the southern part of the Finnish reindeer husbandry area, oral administration of ivermectin was commonly used.

Conclusion

Autumn, and to a lesser degree summer, treatment of reindeer calves with injectable ivermectin resulted in decreased severity of peritonitis and perihepatitis in reindeer calves due to setariosis. In the case of necessity for animal welfare reasons, treatment during early autumn round ups should be considered. On the population level, massive and routinely applied antiparasitic treatments can improve the health of breeding reindeer and decrease the mortality and the number of carriers but during the outbreak could not prevent its movement and expansion to the North.     

Diet is a main source of vitamin D in Finnish pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

During the winter time in Finland, sunlight is inadequate for vitamin D synthesis. Many pet rabbits live as house rabbits with limited outdoor access even during summer and may therefore be dependent on dietary sources of vitamin D. The aims of this study were to report the serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in Finnish pet rabbits and to identify factors that influence vitamin D status. Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations from 140 pet rabbits were determined using a vitamin D enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit. Eleven rabbits were excluded from the statistical analysis because of unclear dietary data. The remaining 129 rabbits were divided into groups depending on outdoor access during summer (no access n = 26, periodic n = 57, regular n = 46) as well as daily diet: little or no hay and commercial rabbit food ≤1/2 dl (n = 12); a lot of hay and no commercial food daily (n = 23); a lot of hay and commercial food <1 dl (n = 59); a lot of hay and commercial food ≥1 dl (n = 35). The range of serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentration was from 4.5 to 67.5 ng/ml with a mean of 26.1 ng/ml. Statistical general linear model adjusted for weight, age and season indicated that diet was associated with vitamin D concentrations (p = 0.001), but outdoor access during summer was not (p = 0.41). Mean 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentration was significantly higher in the rabbits receiving a lot of hay and commercial food ≥1 dl (33.9 ± 13.2 ng/ml) than in rabbits in other diet groups (24.0 ± 8.5 ng/ml, 21.7 ± 8.1 ng/ml, and 22.2 ± 18.0 ng/ml, respectively). This investigation showed wide variation in 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations among Finnish pet rabbits. Diet remains a main source since outdoor access seems to be too limited to provide adequate vitamin D synthesis for most of them, and the use of vitamin D supplements is rare.     

Reproductive success of farmed blue foxes

SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to provide basic data for the different components of reproductive performance of blue foxes under farm conditions. The foxes were mated naturally and the perinatal mortality of cubs was carefully recorded. This data allowed the evaluation of the effect of females' age and differences between years, and the maternal and paternal components of reproductive success. Generally the results were similar for all four years of the study. Altogether 2047 females (84.8 % of the total) gave birth to 22 941 cubs, of which 5.9% were stillborn and 11.4% died before weaning. Only in a very few cases (1.3%) was it the whole litter that was lost, and more commonly, there were some cub losses in almost one-half of the litters (46.9%). Abnormal birth and abortion of a part of a litter contributed most to reproductive failure of the vixen. Infanticide played a minimal role as a cause of postnatal cub mortality (0.3%). Death of the vixen was extremely rare. One half of all parturitions were dated between May 14 and May 28 and May 8 and May 20, for primiparous and multiparous vixens, respectively. Thus the parturitions peaked 5 days earlier (p < 0.001, median test) for multiparous vixens. The litter size was smaller and cub losses were higher for primiparous vixens than for multiparous ones. With a few exceptions, the age of the father or date of birth did not affect litter size or cub mortality. Postnatal cub mortality (y, %) decreased with age of the cub (x, days) and can be described by a simple equation: y = 15.3 - 11.2 log x, r(2) = 0.933. Fractional cub mortality increased with increasing litter size. Despite being significant, this increase was modest in extent. Low h(2) -values were observed for litter size at birth. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Der Zweck dieser Untersuchung war es, Basisinformation über verschiedene Komponenten der Reproduktion bei farmgezüchteten Blaufüchsen zu gewinnen. Die F?hen wurden naturlich gepaart. Eine besondere Aufmerksamkeit wurde der perinatalen Jungsterblichkeit gewidmet. Im allgemeinen waren die Ergebnisse für alle vier Jahre der Untersuchung gleich. Insgesamt 2 047 F?hen (84.8% von) warfen 22 941 Jungen. Von diesen wurden 5.6% totgeboren, und 11.4% starben sp?ter. Nur sehr selten war der ganze Wurf verloren (1.3%), aber Verluste fanden fast in der H?lfte der Würfe (46.9%) statt. Abnormale Geburt und Abort waren die h?ufigsten Ursachen der Geburtsprobleme der F?hen. Nur sehr selten brachte die F?he ihre Jungen um (0.3%). Ebenso selten war ein Tod der F?he. Eine H?lfte der Geburten fanden zwischen 14 und 28 Mai, bei Jungf?hen und zwischen 8 und 20 Mai bei ?lteren statt. Die Jungf?hen hatten kleinere Würfe und h?here Jungverluste als die Altf?hen, wobei die Rüden fast keinen Einflu? hatten. Die postnatale Jungsterblichkeit (y, %) nahm mit Alter der Jungen (x, Tage) rasch ab, und kann mit einer einfachen Gleichung dargestellt werden: y = 15.3 - 11.2 log x, r(2) = 0.933. Jungsterblichkeit nahm mit der Gr?sse des Wurfes zu. Diese Wirkung war statistisch significant, zwar klein in Quantit?t. Die Heritabilit?tswerte (h(2) ) der Wurfgr?sse waren klein.     

Predicting lumber grade and by-product yields for Scots pine trees

The purpose of this study was to develop models for estimating yields of lumber grades and by-products of individual Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees using stem and crown dimensions as explanatory variables. Two separate data sets were used: (1) one simulated by the process-based growth model, PipeQual, which provides information about stem form and branch properties. The model was used to predict the 3D structure of Scots pine stems from thinning regimes of varying intensity and rotation periods and (2) an empirical data set with detailed 3D measurements of stem structure. The stems were sawn using the WoodCim sawing simulator and the yields and grades of the individual sawn pieces, as well as by-products, were recorded. The sawn timber was classified on A, B, C and D-grades for side and centre boards separately (Nordic Timber grading). By-products were pulpwood, sawmill chips, sawdust and bark.     

Release of Carbon in Different Molecule Size Fractions from Decomposing Boreal Mor and Peat as Affected by Enchytraeid Worms

Terrestrial export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to watercourses has increased in boreal zone. Effect of decomposing material and soil food webs on the release rate and quality of DOC are poorly known. We quantified carbon (C) release in CO₂, and DOC in different molecular weights from the most common organic soils in boreal zone; and explored the effect of soil type and enchytraeid worms on the release rates. Two types of mor and four types of peat were incubated in laboratory with and without enchytraeid worms for 154 days at +?15 °C. Carbon was mostly released as CO₂; DOC contributed to 2–9% of C release. The share of DOC was higher in peat than in mor. The release rate of CO₂ was three times higher in mor than in highly decomposed peat. Enchytraeids enhanced the release of CO₂ by 31–43% and of DOC by 46–77% in mor. High molecular weight fraction dominated the DOC release. Upscaling the laboratory results into catchment level allowed us to conclude that peatlands are the main source of DOC, low molecular weight DOC originates close to watercourse, and that enchytraeids substantially influence DOC leaching to watercourse and ultimately to aquatic CO₂ emissions.     

Effect of tree-level airborne laser-scanning measurement accuracy on the timing and expected value of harvest decisions

The objective was to compare tree-level airborne laser-scanning (ALS) data accuracy with standwise estimation data accuracy as input data for forest planning, using tree- and stand-level simulators. The influence of the input data accuracy was studied with respect to (1) timing of the next thinning or clear-cutting and (2) the relative variation in the predicted income of the next logging expressed as the net present value (NPV). The timing and predicted NPV of thinning and clear-cutting operations were considered separately. The research was based on Monte Carlo simulations carried out with the tree- and stand-level simulators using a simulation and optimisation (SIMO) framework. The simulations used treewise measurements taken on 270 circular plots measured at the Evo Field Station, Finland, as input data. Deviations in the tree data measured were generated according to the mean standard errors found in standwise field estimation and tree-level ALS. The accuracy factors of ALS individual tree detection were based on the EUROSDR/ISPRS Tree Extraction Project. The results show that input data accuracy significantly affects both the timing and relative NPV of loggings. Tree-level ALS produces more accurate simulation results than standwise estimation with the error levels assumed. Diameter-based characteristics are the most important input data in all simulations. Accurate tree height estimates cannot be fully utilised in current simulators.     

Comparing model-based approaches with bucking simulation-based approach in the prediction of timber assortment recovery

The aim of the study was to compare model-based approaches inthe prediction of timber assortment recovery with bucking simulationbased on detailed stem data. A correction function for the totallength of saw log fragments and two optional saw log reductionmodels, that is, the MELA96 version and MELA05 version, wereapplied. In the bucking simulation, the volumes by timber assortmentswere calculated using a bucking-to-value simulator. The predictionof saw log recoveries varied between the bucking simulationand different versions of saw log reduction models. The levelof the reduction from the MELA96 version was at the same levelas from the bucking simulation where defects were taken intoaccount, but the saw log reduction had a very low variance dueto a small amount of independent variables. The saw log reductionof the MELA05 version included more variation although the levelof the reductions was higher and the variation did not meetwith the bucking simulation. As a conclusion, the model-basedapproaches seem applicable at least for the prediction of sawlog recovery in the large area forest inventories where thevariance of the standwise timber assortment recoveries neednot be predicted.