Fatal poisoning in drug addicts in the Nordic countries in 2017

This study is the seventh report on fatal poisonings among drug addicts in the Nordic countries. In this report, we analyse data from the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Data on gender, number of deaths, places of deaths, age, main intoxicants and substances detected in blood were recorded to obtain national and comparable Nordic data, and to allow comparison with earlier studies conducted in 1984, 1991, 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2012. The death rate (number of deaths per 100,000 inhabitants) was highest in Iceland (6.58) followed closely by Sweden (6.46) and then lowest in Denmark (4.29). The death rate increased in Finland (5.84), Iceland and Sweden and decreased in Denmark compared to earlier studies. The death rate in Norway, which has decreased since 2002, has stabilised around 5.7 as of 2017. Women accounted for 7-23% of the fatal poisonings. The percentage was lowest in Iceland and highest in Finland and Norway. The age range was 14-70 years. The median age (41 years) was highest in Denmark and Norway. The other countries had a median age between 33 and 35 years. Opioids were the main cause of death. Methadone remained the main intoxicant in Denmark, while heroin/morphine was still the main intoxicant in Norway, as was buprenorphine in Finland. However, the picture has changed in Sweden compared to 2012, where heroin/morphine caused most deaths in 2017. Sweden also experienced the highest number of deaths from fentanyl analogues (67 deaths) and buprenorphine (61 deaths). Deaths from fentanyl analogues also occurred in Denmark, Finland and Norway, but to a smaller extent. Over the years, the proportion of opioid deaths has decreased in all countries except Sweden, which has experienced an increase. This decline has been replaced by deaths from CNS stimulants like cocaine, amphetamine and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Cocaine deaths have occurred in all countries but most frequently in Denmark. MDMA deaths have increased in all countries but mostly in Finland. Poly-drug use was widespread, as seen in the earlier studies. The median number of detected drugs per case varied from 4-6. Heroin/morphine, methadone, buprenorphine, cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and benzodiazepines were frequently detected. Pregabalin and gabapentin were detected in all countries, especially pregabalin, which was detected in 42% of the Finnish cases. New psychoactive substances (NPS) occurred in all countries except Iceland. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Optimal methodology for lid wiper epitheliopathy identification

Purpose: Lid wiper epitheliopathy (LWE) is a clinical sign that has been associated with dry eye disease. This study used a semi-automated method to identify the effect of drop instillation and post-dye viewing time on the absorption of lissamine green (LG) and sodium fluorescein (NaFl) on the upper eyelid in order to ascertain the optimal identification for LWE assessment. Methods: In 37 participants with LWE, 1-drop of 1% LG (10 μL) was applied to the superior bulbar conjunctiva in the right eye, and photographs of the lid margin were taken 1, 3, and 5 min after instillation. Measurements were repeated in the same eye following instillations of 2-drops of 1% LG. The same procedures were followed for application of 2% NaFl (2 μL) to the left eye. Staining area was determined using software to detect and measure dye-stained images. Analysis used a linear mixed model with fixed effects of time, number of drops and their interaction. Results: For LG, multivariate analysis showed that time of drop instillation was significant (p = 0.0091) as was the area of staining in the 2-drop versus 1-drop condition (p < 0.0001). For NaFl, there was a significant effect of time (p < 0.0001), drops (p < 0.0001), and a time/drops interaction (p < 0.0134), suggesting that both time and number of drops are important. Conclusion: A single drop of dye is insufficient to reveal the full extent of LWE staining. A 2-drop instillation is recommended and observation is recommended between 1 and 5 min (LG) and between 3 and 5 min (NaFl)

Modulation of Immune Cell Reactivity with Cis-Binding Siglec Agonist

Primary inflammatory pathologies caused by phagocytes lead to numerous debilitating conditions, including chronic pain and blindness due to age-related macular degeneration. Many members of the sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin (Siglec) family are immunoinhibitory receptors whose agonism is an attractive approach to for anti-inflammatory therapy. Here, we show that synthetic lipid-conjugated glycopolypeptides can insert into cell membranes and engage Siglec receptors in cis, leading to inhibitory signaling. Specifically, we construct a cis-binding agonist of Siglec-9 and show that it modulates MAPK signaling in reporter cell lines, immortalized macrophage and microglial cell lines, and primary human macrophages. These cis-binding agonists of Siglecs present a new modality for therapeutic suppression of immune cell reactivity

Membrane-Tethered Mucin-like Polypeptides Sterically Inhibit Binding and Slow Fusion Kinetics of Influenza A Virus

The mechanism(s) by which cell-tethered mucins modulate infection by Influenza A viruses (IAVs) remains an open question. Mucins form both a protective barrier that can block virus binding and recruit IAVs to bind cells via the sialic acids of cell-tethered mucins. To elucidate the molecular role of mucins in flu pathogenesis, we constructed a synthetic glycocalyx to investigate membrane-tethered mucins in the context of IAV binding and fusion. We designed and synthesized lipid-tethered glycopolypeptide mimics of mucins and added them to lipid bilayers, allowing chemical control of length, glycosylation, and surface density of a model glycocalyx. We observed that the mucin mimics undergo a conformational change at high surface densities from a compact to an extended architecture. At high surface densities asialo mucin mimics inhibited IAV binding to underlying glycolipid receptors and this density correlated to the mucin mimic’s conformational transition. Using a single virus fusion assay, we observed that while fusion of virions bound to vesicles coated with sialylated mucin mimics was possible, the kinetics of fusion were slowed in a mucin density-dependent manner. These data provide a molecular model for a protective mechanism by mucins in IAV infection, and therefore this synthetic glycocalyx provides a useful reductionist model for studying the complex interface of host-pathogen interactions. </div

Prevalence of myopia among disadvantaged Australian schoolchildren: A 5-year cross-sectional study.

PurposeMyopia prevalence is influenced by environmental factors including heritability and social disadvantage. The current prevalence of myopia among disadvantaged school children in Australia has not been reported. Therefore, this study analyses refractive data for children from rural and outer suburban areas.MethodsThe records of 4,365 children aged 6-15 visiting a city-based government-school respite care center during the years 2014/2016/2018 were analyzed for right eye non-cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (SER). The prevalence of myopia (SER≤-0.50D) was compared with historical data.ResultsThe prevalence of myopia was 3.5%, 4.4% and 4.3% in 2014, 2016 and 2018, respectively. The prevalence of myopia increased with age (P0.05). The overall mean SER was 0.89±0.86D, 0.62±0.89D and 0.56±0.95 in 2014, 2016 and 2018, respectively. Mean SER was associated with year of testing, age (all P ConclusionsMyopia prevalence increased with age. The mean SER decreased slightly from 2014 to 2018. Sex differences in the rate of change with age was observed. Compared with 40 years ago, the prevalence of myopia has doubled, but it remains significantly lower than in school children of a similar age living in established urban areas that are regarded as having a higher socioeconomic status

Repensando las tecnologías empleadas por los orfebres de los Andes centrales: producciones de las culturas Inca, Huari y Tiwanaku

International audienc

Vestlandsk fjordfe i grasfôra kjøttproduksjon. 2. Levendevekt og brystmål

Vestlandsk fjordfe er en av de mest populære evaringsverdige storferasene1. Rasen har økt fra ca 50 kyr rundt 1990 til over 800 kyr i 2019. Det er stor etterspørsel etter informasjon om produksjon på denne rasen fra bønder, rådgivere og tilsynsmyndigheter. I en serie på tre NIBIO-POPer publiseres resultater fra et treårig studie om 1) Tilvekst, voksenvekt og slakteresultater, 2) Levendevekt og brystmål og 3) Holdvurdering gjennom året. Her er den andre.publishedVersio

Vestlandsk fjordfe i grasfôra kjøttproduksjon. 3. Holdvurdering gjennom året

Vestlandsk fjordfe er en av de mest populære evaringsverdige storferasene1. Rasen har økt fra ca 50 kyr rundt 1990 til over 800 kyr i 2019. Det er stor etterspørsel etter informasjon om produksjon på denne rasen fra bønder, rådgivere og tilsynsmyndigheter. I en serie på tre NIBIO-POPer publiseres resultater fra et treårig studie om 1) Tilvekst, voksenvekt og slakteresultater, 2) Levendevekt og brystmål og 3) Holdvurdering gjennom året. Her er den tredje.publishedVersio

Vestlandsk fjordfe i grasfôra kjøttproduksjon

Vestlandsk fjordfe er en av de mest populære evaringsverdige storferasene1. Rasen har økt fra ca 50 kyr rundt 1990 til over 800 kyr i 2019. Det er stor etterspørsel etter informasjon om produksjon på denne rasen fra bønder, rådgivere og tilsynsmyndigheter. I en serie på tre NIBIO-POPer publiseres resultater fra et treårig studie om 1) Tilvekst, voksenvekt og slakteresultater, 2) Levendevekt og brystmål og 3) Holdvurdering gjennom året. Her er den tredje

Repensando las tecnologías empleadas por los orfebres de los Andes centrales: producciones de las culturas Inca, Huari y Tiwanaku

International audienc