The 5th Nordic toxicology meeting, NORDTOX/NordEMS-98, was organized jointly by the Finnish Society of Toxicology (FST) and the Nordic Environmental Mutagen Society (NordEMS). The meeting was the 15th NordEMS meeting, and the 19th annual meeting of FST. It took place in the Unitas Congress Center Helsinki, Finland, 24-26 May, 1998.

The scientific programme included lectures given by invited key note speakers and plenary speakers, who provided an up-to-date overview of exciting current topics. The sessions represented both basic and applied science. Participants were invited to introduce their scientific work in the poster session.

LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Dr. Tuula Heinonen, Orion Pharma, Chair
Dr. Päivi Heino, Santen OY, Secretary
Dr. Jan Eriksson, Åbo Akademi University
Dr. Eino Hietanen, University of Turku
Dr. Kirsi Husgafvel-Pursiainen, Institute of Occupational Health
Dr. Riitta Mustonen, Finnish Centre for Radiation and Nuclear Safety
Dr. Kai Savolainen, University of Kuopio
Dr. Hanna Tähti, University of Tampere
Dr. Kirsi Vähäkangas, University of Oulu

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
Dr. Tuula Heinonen, Orion Pharma, Finland, Chair
Professor Herman Autrup, University of Aarhus, Denmark
Professor Erik Dybing, National Institute of Public Health, Norway
Professor Olavi Pelkonen, University of Oulu, Finland
Dr. Christer Säfholm, Astra Safety Assessment, Sweden

FINAL PROGRAMME

 

Sunday, May 24
9.00 - 11.30	Workshop on Molecular epidemiology - Nordic experience and prospectives Coordinators: Herman Autrup and Kirsti Husgafvel-Pursiainen
12.00 - 14.00	The Annual Meeting of the Finnish Society of Toxicology
14.15 - 14.30	Opening of the meeting Chairman of the Finnish Society of Toxicology
14.30 - 15.15	Key note lecture: In vitro studies for understanding toxic mechanisms in vivo. Jan-Åke Gustafsson, Huddinge, Sweden
15.15 - 15.30	Coffee break
	Session 1. Quality in toxicological research Chair: Marja Sorsa and Kari Lehmussaari
15.30- 16.00	Researcher training and education in EU Finland Marja Sorsa, Helsinki, Finland
16.00 - 16.30	Validation of in vitro methods - the value in toxicological risk assessment Hanna Tähti, Tampere, Finland
16.30 - 17.00	GLP for research and regulatory toxicology Tuula Heinonen, Espoo, Finland
17.00 - 17.30	Total quality control in research Christer Säfholm, Södertälje, Sweden
17.30 - 18.00	General discussion
18.00	Get-together party
Monday, May 25
8.00 - 9.00	NordEMS General Assembly
	Session 2. Genetically modified models in toxicology Chair: David Kirkland and Riitta Mustonen
9.00 - 9.30	The power and pitfalls of various transgenic techniques Hannu Sariola, Helsinki, Finland
9.30 - 10.00	Transgenic animals in carcinogenicity testing David Kirkland, Harrogate, U.K.
10.00 - 10.30	Coffee break and Poster viewing
10.30 - 11.00	Pharmacogenetically determined metabolism of toxic compounds Magnus Ingelman-Sundberg, Stockholm, Sweden
11.00 - 11.30	Transgenic animal models in atherosclerosis research Kristiina Aalto-Setälä, Tampere, Finland
11.30 - 12.00	Short-term in vitro models for drug testing Markku Pasanen, Helsinki, Finland
12.00 - 12.30	General discussion
12.30 - 13.30	Lunch (Nordtox Board Meeting)
13.30 - 14.30	Poster viewing
	Session 3. Toxicant-induced alterations in cell signalling and gene expression Chair: Jan-Åke Gustafsson and John Eriksson
14.30 - 15.00	Oxidative stress alters signalling and transscriptional processes Ian Cotgreave, Stockholm, Sweden
15.00 - 15.30	Changes in gene expression Jari Koistinaho, Kuopio, Finland
15.30 - 16.00	Coffee break and Poster viewing
16.00 - 16.30	Transscriptional regulation of heat shock protein gene expression Lea Sistonen, Turku, Finland
16.30 - 17.00	Toxins as modifiers of phosphorylation-based signalling John Eriksson, Turku, Finland
17.00 - 17.30	UV-induced oxidative stress and its effects on cells´ life and death Dariusz Leszczynski, Boston, USA
17.30 - 18.30	Poster Discussion Session Chair: Erik Dybing, Oslo, Norway and Harri Vainio, Lyon, France
20.00	Congress Dinner
Tuesday, May 26
	Session 4. Biomarkers in molecular epidemiology Chair: John Ashby and Harri Vainio
8.30 - 9.00	P53 as a marker of human exposure Kirsi Vähäkangas, Oulu, Finland
9.00 - 9.30	Genetic biomarkers for lung cancer Kirsti Husgafvel-Pursiainen, Helsinki, Finland
9.30 - 10.00	Coffee break and Poster viewing
10.00 - 10.30	Oxidated proteins as markers of exposure Lars Dragsted, Copenhagen, Denmark
10.30 - 11.00	Chromosomal changes as predictors for human disease Lisbeth E Knudsen, Copenhagen, Denmark
11.00 - 11.30	Immunological biomarkers as predictors for human disease Martinus Lövik, Oslo, Norway
11.30 - 12.00	General discussion
12.00 - 13.00	Lunch
	Session 5. Endocrine disruptors Chair: Erik Dybing and Kai Savolainen
13.00- 13.30	Endocrine disruptors and testing strategy John Ashby, Macclesfield, U.K.
13.30 - 14.00	Endocrine disruptors and male reproduction Jorma Toppari, Turku, Finland
14.00 - 14.20	Coffee break
14.20 - 14.40	Short-term test to evaluate hormone-like activity Helle Raun Andersen, Odense, Denmark
14.40 - 15.00	Characterization of the potential for estrogen-like effects of phenolic substances Jørn A. Holme, Oslo, Norway
15.00 - 15.20	Nordic Task Group for test guideline development of endocrine disruptors Kimmo Louekari, Helsinki, Finland
15.20 - 15.50	General discussion
	Closing of the meeting

REGISTRATION FEE
The registration fee was 1600 FIM (incld. VAT). 1750 FIM after May 1, 1998 . The fee included admission to all scientific arrangements, book of abstracts, get-together party, coffees and lunches except the lunch on Sunday 24 May. Refunds (minus a handling fee of 400 FIM) were made for cancellations received in writing before May 15, after which there was no refunding.

GRANTS
NordEMS travel grant: NordEMS supported financially a few younger members who wished to participate and present data in the meeting. NordEMS contact person was Prof. Herman Autrup (Dept. Environmental and Occupational Medicine, University of Aarhus, Universitetsparken Bldg. 180, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; fax. +45 89 42 29 70; e-mail ha@mil.aau.dk.

SOCIAL PROGRAMME
The social programme consisted of a Get-together party on Sunday May 24, and Gongress Dinner on Monday 25. The fee for the Congress Dinner (200 FIM) was not included in the registration fee