Maria Averina - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Maria Averina

Endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism, Feb 11, 2022

Identification of individuals at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is impor... more Identification of individuals at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is important for early prevention of the disease. Once T2DM is established, it is difficult to treat and is associated with cardiovascular complications and increased mortality. We aimed to describe pre‐ and post‐diagnostic changes in blood biomarker concentrations over 30 years in individuals with and without T2DM, and to determine the predictive potential of pre‐diagnostic blood biomarkers.

Lupus, Nov 26, 2015

Introduction: Correct interpretation of lupus anticoagulant (LA) tests is crucial for diagnosis o... more Introduction: Correct interpretation of lupus anticoagulant (LA) tests is crucial for diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). This study assessed diagnostic accuracy of the SCT method in a clinical population with various symptoms of APS. Material and methods: Altogether 60 APS patients were consecutively recruited from a relevant clinical population. All cases had stable positivity of at least one of the reference tests (two other LA methods; anticardiolipin- and anti-β2-glycoprotein-I antibodies). Controls ( n = 62) with negative reference tests were also consecutively recruited from the same clinical population. Results and conclusions: Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis for the SCT test to identify the APS cases showed area under the curve of 0.82 (95% CI 0.75–0.90). The positive cut-off defined by a non-parametric method (99 percentile in a healthy population) had specificity of 92%, but low sensitivity of 53%. The optimal cut-off corresponded to the 97.5 percentile (67% sensitivity and 92% specificity). Combined sensitivity of the positive diluted Russell Viper Venom time (dRVVT) and SCT tests was 73%, while specificity remained 92%. The sensitivity of the SCT method varied in different clinical subgroups and was highest in patients with rheumatic diseases and in patients with triple positivity of three reference methods.

Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening

Acta Diabetologica

Aim We aimed to investigate the relationship between pre- and post-diagnostic 25-hydroxyvitamin D... more Aim We aimed to investigate the relationship between pre- and post-diagnostic 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) over a period of 30 years in individuals who developed T2DM compared to healthy controls. Methods This case–control study included 254 participants with blood samples collected at five different time-points (T1–T5) between 1986 and 2016. Of the 254 participants, 116 were diagnosed with T2DM between T3 and T4, and were considered cases; the remaining 138 were controls. Linear mixed regression models were used to examine pre- and post-diagnostic changes in 25(OH)D concentrations, and logistic regression was used to examine associations between these concentrations and T2DM at each time-point. Results 25(OH)D concentrations at different time-points and the longitudinal change in concentrations differed between cases and controls, and by sex. For women, each 5-nmol/l increase in 25(OH)D concentrations was inversely associated with T2DM at ...

Tidsskrift for Den norske lægeforening, Sep 1, 2022

Høyt nivå av tungmetaller i krabbe Krabber er populaer sjømat, men kan inneholde til dels store m... more Høyt nivå av tungmetaller i krabbe Krabber er populaer sjømat, men kan inneholde til dels store mengder miljø gifter. Innholdet er mange steder i Norge så høyt at inntak av brunmaten generelt bør frarådes.

BMC Nephrology

Background Little data exists on the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Russian po... more Background Little data exists on the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Russian population. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of CKD in a population-based study in Russia, compare with a similar study in Norway, and investigate whether differences in risk factors explained between-study differences in CKD. Methods We compared age- and sex-standardised prevalence of reduced eGFR (

Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, 2022

Open Heart, 2021

ObjectiveThe aim of the study is to assess changes in heart structure and function associated wit... more ObjectiveThe aim of the study is to assess changes in heart structure and function associated with heavy alcohol use by comparing echocardiographic indices in a population-based sample to those in patients admitted to an inpatient facility with severe alcohol problems.Methods and resultsWe used data from the Know Your Heart study (2015–2017) which is a cross-sectional study that recruited 2479 participants aged 35–69 years from the general population of the city of Arkhangelsk in Northwest Russia and 278 patients from the Arkhangelsk Regional Psychiatric Hospital with a primary diagnosis related to chronic alcohol use (narcology clinic subsample). The drinking patterns of the population-based sample were characterised in detail. We used regression models controlling for age, sex, smoking, education and waist to hip ratio to evaluate the differences in echocardiographic indices in participants with different drinking patterns. The means of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and ...

Proceedings of the 2nd World Congress on New Technologies, 2017

The aim of the study was to measure PFAS concentrations in serum of schoolchildren in northern No... more The aim of the study was to measure PFAS concentrations in serum of schoolchildren in northern Norway and to assess possible associations with dietary variables. Materials and methods Altogether 1038 schoolchildren aged 15-19 years were invited to participate in the Fit Futures 1 study in 2010-11 in the Troms arctic district of northern Norway. 93% of those invited have participated in the study. All the participants completed the questionnaire including questions about dietary and lifestyle variables. Blood tests were sampled from 940 participants in special glass vials for pollutant analyses and were kept in a biobank at-40 °C before the analyses. Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluoropentane sulfonate (PFPS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononane sulfonate (PFNS), perfluorodecane sulfonate (PFDS), perfluorododecane sulfonate (PFDoDS), perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA), perfluorohexanoate (PFHxA), perfluoroheptanoate (PFHpA), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorodecanoate (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA), perfluorododecanoate (PFDoDA), perfluorotridecanoate (PFTrDA) and perfluorotetradecanoate (PFTeDA) were measured by ultra high pressure liquid chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupol mass spectrometer (UHPLC-MS/MS). Results and conclusions Several PFAS were found in serum of schoolchildren in the arctic Troms region of Norway. PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA and PFDA were the most usual PFAS found in this population, they were detected in more than 99% of the samples. Even though PFOS has been phased out from most producers in 2000 and has been forbidden for use in Norway since 2007, it is still found in highest serum concentrations among all measured PFAS due to its continued presence in the environment and micro-environments of households. PFOA showed the highest concentration within the group of perfluorocarboxylic acids.PFUnDA and PFHpS were found in more than 95% of the samples, while PFHpA, PFHxA and PFNS were found in respectively 75%, 22% and 14% of all participants. PFDoDA and PFTrDA were found in <10% of the samples. PFTeDA, PFPS, PFDoDS, PFDS, PFOSA concentrations were under LOD in 100% of the study population. Associations of different PFAS with food variables were assessed by multiple regression analyses with adjustment for age, gender and BMI. The strongest positive associations were observed with intake of fat fish, fish liver, seagull eggs and reindeer meat.

Environmental Research, 2021

BACKGROUND Positive associations have been reported between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) ... more BACKGROUND Positive associations have been reported between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, causality has not been established. Over the last decades, environmental exposure to legacy POPs has decreased, complicating epidemiological studies. In addition, physiological risk factors for T2DM may also influence POP concentrations, contributing to a complex network of factors that could impact associations with T2DM. Longitudinal studies on this topic are lacking, and few have assessed prospective and cross-sectional associations between repeated POP measurements and T2DM in the same individuals, which may shed light on causality. OBJECTIVES To compare longitudinal trends in concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in T2DM cases and controls, and to examine prospective and cross-sectional associations between PCBs, OCPs and T2DM at different time-points before and after T2DM diagnosis in cases. METHODS We conducted a longitudinal, nested case-control study (1986-2016) of 116 T2DM cases and 139 controls from the Tromsø Study. All participants had three blood samples collected before T2DM diagnosis in cases, and up to two samples thereafter. We used linear mixed-effect models to assess temporal changes of POPs within and between T2DM cases and controls, and logistic regression models to investigate the associations between different POPs and T2DM at different time-points. RESULTS PCBs, trans-nonachlor, cis-nonachlor, oxychlordane, cis-heptachlor epoxide, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDT declined more slowly in cases than controls, whereas β-HCH and HCB declined similarly in both groups. Most POPs showed positive associations between both pre- and post-diagnostic concentrations and T2DM, though effect estimates were imprecise. These associations were most consistent for cis-heptachlor epoxide. DISCUSSION The observed positive associations between certain POPs and T2DM may be because of higher POP concentrations within prospective T2DM cases, due to slower temporal declines as compared to controls.

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2020

BackgroundRussia has one of the highest rates of mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD). At ... more BackgroundRussia has one of the highest rates of mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD). At age 35–69 years, they are eight times higher than in neighbouring Norway. Comparing profiles of blood-based CVD biomarkers between these two populations can help identify reasons for this substantial difference in risk.MethodsWe compared age-standardised mean levels of CVD biomarkers for men and women aged 40–69 years measured in two cross-sectional population-based studies: Know Your Heart (KYH) (Russia, 2015–2018; n=4046) and the seventh wave of the Tromsø Study (Tromsø 7) (Norway, 2015–2018; n=17 646). A laboratory calibration study was performed to account for inter-laboratory differences.ResultsLevels of total, low-density lipoprotein-, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides were comparable in KYH and Tromsø 7 studies. N-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) w...

Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening, 2021

Anne-Lise Bjørke-Monsen er førsteamanuensis ved Universitetet i Bergen, overlege ved Laboratorium... more Anne-Lise Bjørke-Monsen er førsteamanuensis ved Universitetet i Bergen, overlege ved Laboratorium for klinisk biokjemi, Haukeland universitetssykehus, og spesialist i barnesykdommer og medisinsk biokjemi. Forfatter har fylt ut ICMJE-skjemaet og oppgir ingen interessekonflikter.

BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 2020

ObjectivesTo examine concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and lifestyle factors th... more ObjectivesTo examine concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and lifestyle factors that may contribute to higher levels of pollutants in never-pregnant women of fertile age.DesignObservational cross-sectional study.SettingParticipants were recruited among employees and students at Haukeland University Hospital and the University of Bergen, Norway.ParticipantsHealthy, never-pregnant Norwegian women (n=158) of fertile age (18–39 years).OutcomesConcentrations of 20 different PFASs, mercury (Hg), lead, cadmium, total, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, in addition to self-reported data on dietary intake.ResultsSeven PFASs were detected in more than 95% of the women. Women aged 30–39 years had higher concentrations of sum PFAS compared with younger women. Serum PFASs were significantly intercorrelated (rho: 0.34–0.98, p<0.001) and six of them were significantly correlated to whole blood Hg (rho: 0.21–0.74, p<0.01). Fish consumption w...

BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, 2021

IntroductionCompared with many other countries Russia has a high prevalence of diabetes in men an... more IntroductionCompared with many other countries Russia has a high prevalence of diabetes in men and women. However, contrary to what is found in most other populations, the risk is greater among women than men. The reasons for this are unclear.Research design and methodsPrevalence and risk factors for diabetes at ages 40–69 years were compared in two population-based studies: Know Your Heart (KYH) (Russia, 2015–2018, n=4121) and the seventh wave of the Tromsø Study (Tromsø 7) (Norway, 2015–2016, n=17 649). Diabetes was defined by the level of glycated hemoglobin and/or self-reported diabetes and/or diabetes medication use. Marginal structural models were used to estimate the role of key risk factors for diabetes in differences between the studies.ResultsAge-standardized prevalence of diabetes was higher in KYH compared with Tromsø 7 in men (11.6% vs 6.2%) and in women (13.2% vs 4.3%). Age-adjusted ORs for diabetes in KYH compared with Tromsø 7 were 2.01 (95% CI 1.68 to 2.40) for men ...

Oral Presentations, 2019

two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis; an instrumental variable approach more robust t... more two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis; an instrumental variable approach more robust to bias from confounding and reverse causation. Methods Individual level data from UK Biobank (N=217 013) was used for multivariable analyses and one-sample MR. Summary statistics from genome-wide association studies were used in two-sample MR. The total effect of education on risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), CVD (all subtypes), myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke (all measured in odds ratio, OR) was assessed using multivariable regression and univariable Mendelian randomization (MR). The degree to which this effect is mediated through BMI, SBP and smoking respectively (the indirect effect and proportion mediated) was estimated using the product of coefficients method, where the effect of education on each mediator, and each mediator on each outcome was assessed using multivariable regression and Network MR. The joint contribution of all three risk factors was assessed via the difference method, using multivariable regression or multivariable MR. Results Each additional standard deviation of education (3.6 years) associated with 13% lower risk of coronary heart disease (OR 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84 to 0.89) in observational analysis and 37% lower risk (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.67) in MR analysis. As a proportion of the total risk reduction, BMI mediated 15% (95% CI 13% to 17%) and 18% (95% CI 14% to 23%) in the observational and MR estimates respectively. Corresponding estimates for SBP were 11% (95% CI 9% to 13%) and 21% (95% CI 15% to 27%), and for smoking, 19% (15% to 22%) and 34% (95% CI 17% to 50%). All three risk factors combined mediated 42% (95% CI 36% to 48%) and 36% (95% CI 16% to 63%) of the effect of education on CHD in observational and MR respectively. Similar results were obtained for risk of stroke, MI and all-cause CVD. Conclusion BMI, SBP and smoking mediate a substantial proportion of the protective effect of education on risk of cardiovascular outcomes. Intervening on these would reduce cases of CVD attributable to lower education. However, more than half of the protective effect of education remains unexplained.

Journal of the American Heart Association, 2020

Background Alcohol drinking is an increasingly recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease.... more Background Alcohol drinking is an increasingly recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, there are few studies of the impact of harmful and hazardous drinking on biomarkers of myocardial health. We conducted a study in Russia to investigate the impact of heavy drinking on biomarkers of cardiac damage and inflammation. Methods and Results The Know Your Heart study recruited a random sample of 2479 participants from the population of northwest Russia (general population) plus 278 patients (narcology clinic subsample) with alcohol problems. The general population sample was categorized into harmful drinkers, hazardous drinkers, nonproblem drinkers, and nondrinkers, according to self‐reported level of alcohol consumption, whereas the narcology clinic sample was treated as the separate group in the analysis. Measurements were made of the following: (1) high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T, (2) NT‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide), and (3) hsCRP (high‐sen...

Environment International, 2019

Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are found in several consumer goods. Exposure to PF... more Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are found in several consumer goods. Exposure to PFASs in children has been associated with alteration in thyroid hormones, which have critical roles in brain function. Objective: In 2015, 198 children and youth (3-19 y) were recruited as part of the pilot project Jeunes, Environnement et Santé/Youth, Environment and Health (JES!-YEH!), realized in collaboration with four First Nation communities in Quebec. We aimed to evaluate serum concentrations of PFASs in relation to concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (T4) and thyroglobulin while adjusting for relevant confounders. Methods: PFASs (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA), 2,2′,4,4′-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE-47) thyroid parameters (TSH, free T4, and thyroglobulin) were measured in serum samples of 186 participants. Iodine, creatinine, and cotinine were measured in urine samples. Serum levels of PFASs were compared to those measured in the general Canadian population and elsewhere. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to determine associations between PFASs and TSH, free T4 and thyroglobulin. Results: PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS serum concentrations were low. However, PFNA concentrations among participants aged 12 to 19 years old from Anishinabe communities were three times higher than those measured in the Canadian Health Measures Survey (2009-2011) for the same age group (Geometric Means: 3.01 μg/L and 0.71 μg/L, respectively) and were particularly higher in the Anishinabe participants aged 6 to 11 years old (GM: 9.44 μg/L). Few participants had levels of TSH, free T4, and thyroglobulin outside age-specific paediatric ranges. When adjusted for relevant covariates and other contaminants, PFNA serum concentrations were positively associated with free T4 levels (Adjusted β = 0.36; p = 0.0014), but not with TSH and thyroglobulin levels. No association was observed between the other PFAS and thyroid hormones parameters. Conclusion: This pilot project reveals among the highest exposure to PFNA in children reported until today, and suggests effects of PFNA as an endocrine disruptor, highlighting the importance of investigating the sources and effects of disproportionate exposure to emerging contaminants in some indigenous communities and ban all PFAS at the international scale.

Environment International, 2018

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are environmentally persistent chemicals widely used in many co... more Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are environmentally persistent chemicals widely used in many consumer products due to water and oil proofing and fire-resistant properties. Several PFASs are recognized as environmental pollutants. This study investigated serum concentrations of 18 different PFASs and their associations with diet and lifestyle variables in 940 adolescents (age 15-19 years) who participated in the Fit Futures 1 study in the Troms arctic district of Norway. Serum concentrations of PFASs were analyzed by ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UHPLC-MS/MS). The most abundant PFASs in this population were perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorononanoate (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) that were found in 99% of the participants. Perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS) was found in 98% of the participants. Median concentrations were: PFOS 6.20 ng/mL, PFOA 1.92 ng/mL, PFHxS 0.71 ng/mL, PFNA 0.50 ng/mL, PFDA 0.21 ng/mL and PFHpS 0.15 ng/mL. Median of PFASs sum concentration (∑PFAS) was 10.7 ng/mL, the concentration range was 2.6-200.8 ng/mL. Intake of fat fish, fish liver, seagull eggs, reindeer meat and drinks with sugar were the main dietary predictors of several PFASs. Intake of junk food (pizza, hamburger, sausages) was positively associated with PFNA, intake of canned food was positively associated with PFHxS. Intake of fruits and vegetables, milk products, snacks and candy was not associated with PFASs concentrations. Lean fish intake was positively associated with PFUnDA, but not with other PFASs. There was a positive association of ∑PFAS, PFHxS, PFOA, PFNA and PFDA with chewed tobacco use.

Wellcome open research, 2018

Russia has one of the highest rates of cardiovascular disease in the world. The International Pro... more Russia has one of the highest rates of cardiovascular disease in the world. The International Project on Cardiovascular Disease in Russia (IPCDR) was set up to understand the reasons for this. A substantial component of this study was the Know Your Heart Study devoted to characterising the nature and causes of cardiovascular disease in Russia by conducting large cross-sectional surveys in two Russian cities Novosibirsk and Arkhangelsk. The study population was 4542 men and women aged 35-69 years recruited from the general population. Fieldwork took place between 2015-18. There were two study components: 1) a baseline interview to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors, usually conducted at home, and 2) a comprehensive health check at a primary care clinic which included detailed examination of the cardiovascular system. In this paper we describe in detail the rationale for, design and conduct of these studies.

European Journal of Epidemiology, 2003

Since the beginning of the 1990s the public health situation in Russia has been characterized by ... more Since the beginning of the 1990s the public health situation in Russia has been characterized by an extremely high mortality and a significant reduction in life expectancy. Cardiovascular diseases remained the major cause of death. Only a few large population studies were conducted in Russia during this period. A total of 1968 men and 1737 women aged 18–75 years participated