11 research outputs found

    A molecular-based identification resource for the arthropods of Finland

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    Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. Molecular Ecology Resources published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.To associate specimens identified by molecular characters to other biological knowledge, we need reference sequences annotated by Linnaean taxonomy. In this study, we (1) report the creation of a comprehensive reference library of DNA barcodes for the arthropods of an entire country (Finland), (2) publish this library, and (3) deliver a new identification tool for insects and spiders, as based on this resource. The reference library contains mtDNA COI barcodes for 11,275 (43%) of 26,437 arthropod species known from Finland, including 10,811 (45%) of 23,956 insect species. To quantify the improvement in identification accuracy enabled by the current reference library, we ran 1000 Finnish insect and spider species through the Barcode of Life Data system (BOLD) identification engine. Of these, 91% were correctly assigned to a unique species when compared to the new reference library alone, 85% were correctly identified when compared to BOLD with the new material included, and 75% with the new material excluded. To capitalize on this resource, we used the new reference material to train a probabilistic taxonomic assignment tool, FinPROTAX, scoring high success. For the full-length barcode region, the accuracy of taxonomic assignments at the level of classes, orders, families, subfamilies, tribes, genera, and species reached 99.9%, 99.9%, 99.8%, 99.7%, 99.4%, 96.8%, and 88.5%, respectively. The FinBOL arthropod reference library and FinPROTAX are available through the Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility (www.laji.fi) at https://laji.fi/en/theme/protax. Overall, the FinBOL investment represents a massive capacity-transfer from the taxonomic community of Finland to all sectors of society.Peer reviewe

    The prognostic significance of grade of ischemia in the ECG in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction : A substudy of the randomized trial of primary PCI with or without routine manual thrombectomy (TOTAL trial)

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    BACKGROUND: The importance of the grade of ischemia (GI) ECG classification in the risk assessment of patients with STEMI has been shown previously. Grade 3 ischemia (G3I) is defined as ST-elevation with distortion of the terminal portion of the QRS complex in two or more adjacent leads, while Grade 2 ischemia (G2I) is defined as ST-elevation without QRS distortion. Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic impact of the GI classification on the outcome in patients with STEMI. METHODS: 7,211 patients from the TOTAL trial were included in our study. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), cardiogenic shock, or New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV heart failure within one year. RESULTS: The primary outcome occurred in 153 of 1,563 patients (9.8%) in the G3I group vs. 364 of 5,648 patients (6.4%) in the G2I group (adjusted HR 1.27; 95% CI, 1.04 - 1.55; p=0.022). The rate of cardiovascular death (4.8% vs. 2.5%; adjusted HR 1.48; 95% CI 1.09 - 2.00; p=0.013) was also higher in patients with G3I. CONCLUSIONS: G3I in the presenting ECG was associated with an increased rate of the composite of cardiovascular death, recurrent MI, cardiogenic shock, or NYHA class IV heart failure within one year compared to patients with G2I. Patients with G3I also had a higher cardiovascular death compared to patients with G2I.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

    The prognostic significance of Q waves and T wave inversions in the ECG of patients with STEMI : A substudy of the TOTAL trial

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    Background: The prognostic significance of Q waves and T-wave inversions (TWI) combined and separately in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI has not been well established in previous studies. Methods: We included 7,831 patients from the TOTAL trial and divided the patients into categories based on Q waves and TWIs in the presenting ECG. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), cardiogenic shock or new or worsening NYHA class IV heart failure within one year. The study evaluated the effect of Q waves and TWI on the risk of primary outcome and all-cause death, and whether patient benefit of aspiration thrombectomy differed between the ECG categories. Results: Patients with Q+TWI+ (Q wave and TWI) pattern had higher risk of primary outcome compared to patients with Q-TWI- pattern [33 (10.5%) vs. 221 (4.2%); adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.10; 95% CI, 1.45-3.04; p<0.001] within 40-days’ period. When analyzed separately, patients with Q waves had a higher risk for the primary outcome compared to patients with no Q waves in the first 40 days [aHR 1.80; 95% CI, 1.48-2.19; p<0.001] but there was no additive risk after 40 days. Patients with TWI had a higher risk for primary outcome only after 40 days when compared to patients with no TWI [aHR 1.63; 95% CI, 1.04-2.55; p=0.033]. There was a trend towards a benefit of thrombectomy in patients with the Q+TWI+ pattern. Conclusions: Q waves and TWI combined (Q+TWI+ pattern) in the presenting ECG is associated with unfavourable outcome within 40-days. Q waves tend to affect short-term outcome, while TWI has more effect on long-term outcome.Peer reviewe

    Can health kiosks be used to identify oral health care needs?:a pilot study

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    Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of digital imaging for detecting restorative treatment need among individuals in their 20s by comparing the outcome of digital imaging with clinical caries findings at the patient level. Material and methods: Five intraoral clinical daylight and digital fluorescence images were taken extraorally of 21 patients. A clinical examination was then performed by a trained and calibrated dentist. Additionally, the patients answered a multiple-choice questionnaire about their health habits. The images were analysed and caries findings were recorded. For statistical analysis, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results were shown as ROC curves and AUC values. All analyses were done using SPSS (version 24.0, Chicago, IL). Results: Caries lesions were most often detected in molars and least often in canines. When using the clinical status as gold standard, digital imaging gave an AUC value of 0.617, whereas the outcome by questionnaire gave an AUC value of 0.719. When using the combined outcome of digital imaging and the questionnaire, the AUC value was 0.694 with clinical validation. Conclusions: It can be concluded that health kiosks may help to reduce the number of patients waiting for dental treatment; more specifically, the questionnaire with individual feedback may provide a new instrument for providing instructions for homecare online. However, the camera system must be developed further, and dentists and dental hygienists require training to analyse the images

    The prognostic significance of single-lead ST-segment resolution in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients treated with primary PCI – A substudy of the randomized TOTAL trial

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    BACKGROUND: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Simple electrocardiogram (ECG) tools, including ST-segment resolution (STR) have been developed to identify high-risk STEMI patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We evaluated the prognostic impact of STR in the ECG lead with maximal baseline ST-segment elevation (STE) 30-60 minutes after primary PCI in 7,654 STEMI patients included in the TOTAL trial. Incomplete or no STR was defined as < 70% STR and complete STR as ≄ 70% STR. The primary outcome was the composite of cardiovascular death, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), cardiogenic shock, or new or worsening New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV heart failure at 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: Of 7,654 patients, 42.9% had incomplete or no STR and 57.1% had complete STR. The primary outcome occurred in 341 patients (10.4%) in the incomplete or no STR group and in 234 patients (5.4%) in the complete STR group. In Cox regression analysis, adjusted hazard ratio for STR < 70% to predict the primary outcome was 1.56 (95% confidence interval 1.32-1.89; P < .001) (model adjusted for all baseline comorbidities, clinical status during hospitalization, angiographic findings, and procedural techniques). CONCLUSION: In a large international study of STEMI patients, STR < 70% 30-60 minutes post primary PCI in the ECG lead with the greatest STE at admission was associated with an increased rate of the composite of cardiovascular death, recurrent MI, cardiogenic shock, or new or worsening NYHA class IV heart failure at 1-year follow-up. Clinicians should pay attention to this simple ECG finding.Peer reviewe

    A molecular‐based identification resource for the arthropods of Finland

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    To associate specimens identified by molecular characters to other biological knowledge, we need reference sequences annotated by Linnaean taxonomy. In this paper, we 1) report the creation of a comprehensive reference library of DNA barcodes for the arthropods of an entire country (Finland), 2) publish this library, and 3) deliver a new identification tool for insects and spiders, as based on this resource. The reference library contains mtDNA COI barcodes for 11,275 (43%) of 26,437 arthropod species known from Finland, including 10,811 (45%) of 23,956 insect species. To quantify the improvement in identification accuracy enabled by the current reference library, we ran 1,000 Finnish insect and spider species through the Barcode of Life Data system (BOLD) identification engine. Of these, 91% were correctly assigned to a unique species when compared to the new reference library alone, 85% were correctly identified when compared to BOLD with the new material included, and 75% with the new material excluded. To capitalize on this resource, we used the new reference material to train a probabilistic taxonomic assignment tool, FinPROTAX, scoring high success. For the full-length barcode region, the accuracy of taxonomic assignments at the level of classes, orders, families, subfamilies, tribes, genera, and species reached 99.9%, 99.9%, 99.8%, 99.7%, 99.4%, 96.8%, and 88.5%, respectively. The FinBOL arthropod reference library and FinPROTAX are available through the Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility (www.laji.fi). Overall, the FinBOL investment represents a massive capacity-transfer from the taxonomic community of Finland to all sectors of society.peerReviewe

    Evidence of a causal effect of genetic tendency to gain muscle mass on uterine leiomyomata

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    Uterine leiomyomata (UL) are the most common tumours of the female genital tract and the primary cause of surgical removal of the uterus. Genetic factors contribute to UL susceptibility. To add understanding to the heritable genetic risk factors, we conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of UL in up to 426,558 European women from FinnGen and a previous UL meta-GWAS. In addition to the 50 known UL loci, we identify 22 loci that have not been associated with UL in prior studies. UL-associated loci harbour genes enriched for development, growth, and cellular senescence. Of particular interest are the smooth muscle cell differentiation and proliferation-regulating genes functioning on the myocardin-cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A pathway. Our results further suggest that genetic predisposition to increased fat-free mass may be causally related to higher UL risk, underscoring the involvement of altered muscle tissue biology in UL pathophysiology. Overall, our findings add to the understanding of the genetic pathways underlying UL, which may aid in developing novel therapeutics.Peer reviewe
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