22 research outputs found
Characterization of low-density granulocytes in COVID-19
Author summary The emergence of SARS-COV-2 and the ensuing COVID-19 disease has revealed an unprecedented need to understand the pathological mechanisms of acute respiratory infections in more detail. Granulocytes are highly abundant cells of the innate immunity, and thus first responders towards acute infections. However, their excessive activation can cause unwanted tissue damage and detrimental effects in humans. This study identifies a population of low-density granulocytes (LDGs) in COVID-19 patient samples, which has been poorly described in the context of acute infections so far. These cells were subclassified and found to be mainly of immature phenotypes. Further characterization revealed COVID-19 LDGs as a phenotypically diverse population with immunosuppressive characteristics, which seemed to be in line with an elevated recruitment and activation of granulocytes. Altogether, these findings suggest LDG may play a role in COVID-19 disease progression. Severe COVID-19 is characterized by extensive pulmonary complications, to which host immune responses are believed to play a role. As the major arm of innate immunity, neutrophils are one of the first cells recruited to the site of infection where their excessive activation can contribute to lung pathology. Low-density granulocytes (LDGs) are circulating neutrophils, whose numbers increase in some autoimmune diseases and cancer, but are poorly characterized in acute viral infections. Using flow cytometry, we detected a significant increase of LDGs in the blood of acute COVID-19 patients, compared to healthy controls. Based on their surface marker expression, COVID-19-related LDGs exhibit four different populations, which display distinctive stages of granulocytic development and most likely reflect emergency myelopoiesis. Moreover, COVID-19 LDGs show a link with an elevated recruitment and activation of neutrophils. Functional assays demonstrated the immunosuppressive capacities of these cells, which might contribute to impaired lymphocyte responses during acute disease. Taken together, our data confirms a significant granulocyte activation during COVID-19 and suggests that granulocytes of lower density play a role in disease progression.Peer reviewe
Effects of general practitioner training and family support services on the care of home-dwelling dementia patients - Results of a controlled cluster-randomized study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>More than 90% of dementia patients are cared for by their general practitioners, who are decisively involved in the diagnosis, therapy and recommendation of support services. <it>Objective: </it>To test whether special training of general practitioners alters the care of dementia patients through their systematic recommendation of caregiver counseling and support groups.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>129 general practitioners enrolled 390 dementia patients and their informal caregivers in a prospective, three-arm cluster-randomized 2-year study. Arm A constituted usual care, in Arm B and C support groups and caregiver counseling (in Arm B one year after baseline, in Arm C at baseline) were recommended by the general practitioners. The general practitioners received arm-specific training. Diagnostic and therapeutic behavior of physicians was recorded at baseline. Informal caregivers were questioned in follow-up after 2 years about the utilization of support services.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The diagnostic behavior of the general practitioners conforms to relevant guidelines. The procedure in newly-diagnosed patients does not differ from previously diagnosed patients with the exception of the rate of referral to a specialist. About one-third of the newly-diagnosed dementia patients are given an anti-dementia drug. The utilization of support groups and counseling increased five- and fourfold, respectively. Utilization of other support services remained low (< 10%), with the exception of home nursing and institutional short-term nursing.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Trained general practitioners usually act in conformity with guidelines with respect to diagnosing dementia, and partly in conformity with the guidelines with respect to recommended drug therapy. Recommendations of support services for informal caregivers by the general practitioner are successful. They result in a marked increase in the utilization rate for the recommended services compared to offers which are not recommended by the general practitioner.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ISRCTN68329593</p
"Maailma olis tylsÀ ilman ystÀviÀ" : esikouluikÀisten eettinen kasvatus pÀivÀkodissa
Alander, Maria & Kari, Krista. âMaailma olis ihan tylsĂ€ ilman ystĂ€viĂ€.â EsikouluikĂ€isten eettinen kasvatus pĂ€ivĂ€kodissa. Diak EtelĂ€, Helsinki, kevĂ€t 2012, 86 s., 5 liitettĂ€.
Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulu, Sosiaalialan koulutusohjelma, sosionomi (AMK) + diakonin virkakelpoisuus ja lastentarhanopettajan pÀtevyys.
OpinnĂ€ytetyömme toteutettiin toiminnallisena produktina kunnallisen pĂ€ivĂ€hoidon esiopetusryhmĂ€ssĂ€. PienryhmĂ€toiminta koostui kuudesta ohjauskerrasta ja siihen osallistui kuusi 5â6-vuotiasta lasta, kolme tyttöÀ ja kolme poikaa. Toiminnan tarkoitus oli tukea taidepainotteisia toiminnallisia menetelmiĂ€ apuna kĂ€yttĂ€en lasten ryhmĂ€työskentelytaitoja ja vahvistaa erityisesti lasten tunnetaitoja sekĂ€ empatiakykyĂ€. Annoimme produktille nimen âYstĂ€vyyden taloâ, joka symboloi ystĂ€vyyttĂ€ ja siihen liittyviĂ€ eri tekijöitĂ€. Teimme siihen lasten kanssa pĂ€ivĂ€kodin seinĂ€lle yhdessĂ€ kollaasin, johon kokosimme lasten tekemĂ€t omat taideteokset.
RyhmÀnohjauskerroilla pohdimme yhdessÀ lasten kanssa ystÀvyyteen liittyviÀ aiheita, jotka olivat ystÀvyyden teemaan orientoituminen, empatia ja toisen huomioon ottaminen, kiusaaminen, yksinÀisyys ja anteeksianto. Lapset tekivÀt jokaisella kerralla oman teoksen taiteellisten menetelmien avulla. KÀytimme menetelminÀ draamaa, kuvallista ilmaisua ja askartelua. Lastensaduissa ja Raamatun tuhlaajapoikavertauksessa esiintyvien tilanteiden ja moraalidilemmojen kautta lapset saivat tilaisuuden keskustella aiheista, joiden yhteydessÀ voi oppia empatian taitoja ja toisen motiivien huomioimista.
Halusimme tuoda opinnÀytteessÀmme esiin myös lapsen oman nÀkökulman ystÀvyyteen. Siksi koimme tÀrkeÀksi, ettÀ lapset saavat itse mÀÀritellÀ, mitÀ on hyvÀ ystÀvyys ja millaisia ominaisuuksia hyvÀllÀ ystÀvÀllÀ on. KerÀsimme lasten mielipiteitÀ ryhmÀhaastattelussa ystÀvyyden teemaan orientoitumisen tuokion yhteydessÀ.
KÀytimme toiminnallisessa opinnÀytetyössÀmme tutkimusmenetelminÀ haastattelua ja osallistuvaa havainnointia. Toimintatuokioissa havainnoimme erityisesti lasten aktiivisuutta ja innostuneisuutta lÀhteÀ mukaan toimintaan. Haastattelimme lapsia yksitellen saadaksemme selville millainen kokemus YstÀvyyden talo
-toimintatuokioihin osallistuminen on lapsille ollut. Haastattelujemme perusteella jÀrjestÀmÀmme ryhmÀtoiminta oli lapsille pÀÀosin myönteinen kokemus. Lapset pitivÀt eniten toiminnallisesta osuudesta, jossa he maalaisivat, piirsivÀt ja tekivÀt osana draamatyöskentelyÀ itselleen tikkunuket haluamistaan roolihahmoista.
Lasten mielipiteissÀ ystÀvyydestÀ tuli eniten esiin aggression ja kiusaamisen puuttumiseen liittyviÀ mielipiteitÀ. Toiseksi eniten oli ystÀvyyden myönteisiin piirteisiin liittyviÀ mielipiteitÀ. Lasten mielestÀ ystÀvyyteen kuului olennaisesti leikkiminen ja yhteisen ajan viettÀminen.
Asiasanat: varhaiskasvatus, eettinen kasvatus, uskontokasvatus, tun-netaidot, luovat menetelmÀt, toiminnalliset menetelmÀtAlander, Maria & Kari, Krista.
âThe world would be so boring without friends.â Ethical education of the pre-school aged children. 86 pages, 5 appendices. Language: Finnish. Helsinki, Spring 2012.
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences. Degree Programme in Social Services, Option in Diaconal Social Work, Social Services and Education. Degree: Bachelor of Social Services.
The aim of our product was to support children`s group working skills, strength-en their emotional skills and their ability to experience empathy. We also aimed at disclosing the childrenÂŽs point of view on what good friendship is and what characteristics a good friend has. The opinions of the children were collected in a group interview. Children described good friendship firstly with opinions that emphasized the lack of aggressive behavior and bullying. Playing and spending time together had a substantial role in friendship. In their answers the children brought up the meaning of friendship for example with the following expression: âThe world would be so boring place without friends.â
Our study was carried out as a functional product in a Finnish communal day-care centre. It consists of both theory and the functional part that was imple-mented as art oriented group activities for six children. The subject in this study was ethical and religious education for 5â6-year-old children in preschool. We organised six meetings under the theme of friendship and named the product as âThe house of friendshipâ. Building friendship was also symbolized as a collage on the wall of the daycare centre. The artwork of the children was attached to the collage.
Method of our study was participatory observation. We observed mainly the activities of the children and their commitment to the activities. We collected feedback from the children who participated in âThe House of Friendshipâ small group activities in order to find out what kind of experience it had been to them. We interviewed the children individually.
The theme of friendship consisted of different aspects on each meeting. The topics were orientation to the theme of friendship, empathy and considering the other, bullying, loneliness and forgiveness. Children had the opportunity to ponder these subjects by using art oriented methods such as drama and painting. By means of storytelling and a parable of the Prodigal Son from the Bible the children had an opportunity to discuss the moral dilemmas and were able to learn the skills of empathy and consider the motives of other people. The results showed that it had mainly been a positive experience to the children and that they enjoyed the functional parts of the meetings the most.
Keywords: early education, ethical and religious education, emotional skills, art activity
Suomen Toiminnallisen Urheilun, Finland Functional Fitness (FIN2F) kehitystyö
TÀmÀn opinnÀytetyön tavoitteena oli luoda Suomeen toiminnallisen urheilun laji irrottaen toiminnallinen urheilu CrossFit-brÀndistÀ, ja luoda jaosto lajille Suomen Painonnostoliiton alaisuuteen.
Taustalla oli halu vaikuttaa yritystoiminnan kautta toimivaan urheilulajiin ja muuttaa kilpailukulttuuria eettisempÀÀn suuntaan. Toiminnallisella urheilulla on kansainvÀlisesti kasvava toiminta ja laji haluttiin virallistaa myös Suomessa. NÀin voidaan kruunata lajin suomenmestarit ja saada maalle edustusta Maailmanmestaruuskilpailuihin.
Toiminnallinen opinnÀytetyö aloitettiin virallisten asiakirjojen hoitamisella katto-organisaatioiden kanssa. Toimintaa luodessa haastateltiin katto-organisaatiossa toimivia henkilöitÀ sekÀ oltiin yhteydessÀ muihin Pohjoismaisiin lajiliittoihin. NÀin saatiin kuvaa siitÀ mitÀ vaatimuksia toiminnalle oli ja miten muissa maissa toimitaan. TyötÀ tehdessÀ osallistettiin lajin parissa toimivia henkilöitÀ ja urheilijoita kyselyiden muodossa. Toiminta luotiin tarpeiden, odotusten sekÀ Suomen Painonnostoliiton ja International Functional Fitnessin laatimien asetusten mukaisesti.
Toiminta julkaistiin kesÀllÀ 2020 ja jaoston virallinen jÀrjestÀytyminen pidettiin marraskuussa 2020. KilpailusÀÀnnöt ja liikestandardit hyvÀksytetÀÀn Suomen Painonnostoliiton syyskokouksessa marraskuun 2020 lopulla, jonka jÀlkeen hyvÀksytyt dokumentit lisÀtÀÀn nettisivuille