Gene Polymorphisms of TLR4 and TLR9 and Haemophilus influenzae Meningitis in Angolan Children

Bacterial meningitis (BM) is a severe disease caused by various bacterial pathogens. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) protect humans from invading pathogens. In this study, we determined whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TLR4 and TLR9 are associated with susceptibility to and outcome of BM in Angolan children. Samples were taken from 241 patients and 265 age-matched ethnic controls. The SNPs TLR4 rs4986790 (896A > G) and TLR9 rs187084 (−1486T > C) were determined by high-resolution melting analysis (HRMA). The frequency of variant genotypes in TLR4 was significantly higher in patients with Haemophilus influenzae meningitis than controls (odds ratio (OR), 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2–5.4; p = 0.021), whereas the frequency of variant genotypes in TLR9 was significantly lower in patients with H. influenzae meningitis than controls (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2–0.9; p = 0.036). No such differences were found with other causative pathogens, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis. At the time of discharge, patients with meningitis caused by Gram-negative bacteria who were carriers of variant TLR4 genotypes had a higher risk of ataxia (OR, 12.91; 95% CI, 1.52–109.80; p = 0.019) and other neurological sequelae (OR, 11.85; 95% CI, 1.07–131.49; p = 0.044) than those with the wild-type TLR4 genotype. Our study suggests an association between H. influenzae meningitis and genetic variation between TLR4 and TLR9 in Angolan children

Gene Polymorphisms of TLR4 and TLR9 and Haemophilus influenzae Meningitis in Angolan Children

Bacterial meningitis (BM) is a severe disease caused by various bacterial pathogens. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) protect humans from invading pathogens. In this study, we determined whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) ofTLR4andTLR9are associated with susceptibility to and outcome of BM in Angolan children. Samples were taken from 241 patients and 265 age-matched ethnic controls. The SNPsTLR4rs4986790 (896A > G) andTLR9rs187084 (-1486T > C) were determined by high-resolution melting analysis (HRMA). The frequency of variant genotypes inTLR4was significantly higher in patients withHaemophilus influenzaemeningitis than controls (odds ratio (OR), 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2-5.4;p= 0.021), whereas the frequency of variant genotypes inTLR9was significantly lower in patients withH. influenzaemeningitis than controls (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.9;p= 0.036). No such differences were found with other causative pathogens, such asStreptococcus pneumoniaeandNeisseria meningitidis. At the time of discharge, patients with meningitis caused by Gram-negative bacteria who were carriers of variantTLR4genotypes had a higher risk of ataxia (OR, 12.91; 95% CI, 1.52-109.80;p= 0.019) and other neurological sequelae (OR, 11.85; 95% CI, 1.07-131.49;p= 0.044) than those with the wild-typeTLR4genotype. Our study suggests an association betweenH. influenzaemeningitis and genetic variation betweenTLR4andTLR9in Angolan children.Peer reviewe

Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of tea-type infusions processed from sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides) leaves

Sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides, SB) leaves contain wide-ranging bioactive compounds. Processing of the leaves into beverages/food presents great potential for supporting human health. The research aimed to investigate the impact of different processing methods on phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of tea type infusions prepared from SB leaves. Leaves of two SB cultivars, ‘Terhi’ and ‘Tytti’, were processed with different methods commonly used for tea processing. Phenolic compounds in the infusions were analyzed with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode-Array Detection and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside-7-O-rhamnoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside and kaempferol-3-O-hexoside-7-O-rhamnoside were the three major flavonol glycosides, stachyurin and casuarinin were the most abundant ellagitannins. The infusions of ‘Tytti’ contained more total phenolics than those of ‘Terhi’ (p </p

Gene Polymorphisms of TLR4 and TLR9 and Haemophilus influenzae Meningitis in Angolan Children

Bacterial meningitis (BM) is a severe disease caused by various bacterial pathogens. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) protect humans from invading pathogens. In this study, we determined whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TLR4 and TLR9 are associated with susceptibility to and outcome of BM in Angolan children. Samples were taken from 241 patients and 265 age-matched ethnic controls. The SNPs TLR4 rs4986790 (896A > G) and TLR9 rs187084 (−1486T > C) were determined by high-resolution melting analysis (HRMA). The frequency of variant genotypes in TLR4 was significantly higher in patients with Haemophilus influenzae meningitis than controls (odds ratio (OR), 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2–5.4; p = 0.021), whereas the frequency of variant genotypes in TLR9 was significantly lower in patients with H. influenzae meningitis than controls (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2–0.9; p = 0.036). No such differences were found with other causative pathogens, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis. At the time of discharge, patients with meningitis caused by Gram-negative bacteria who were carriers of variant TLR4 genotypes had a higher risk of ataxia (OR, 12.91; 95% CI, 1.52–109.80; p = 0.019) and other neurological sequelae (OR, 11.85; 95% CI, 1.07–131.49; p = 0.044) than those with the wild-type TLR4 genotype. Our study suggests an association between H. influenzae meningitis and genetic variation between TLR4 and TLR9 in Angolan children

Mixed-Monolayer-Protected Au 25

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Spelttivehnän aistinvaraiset ominaisuudet ja miellyttävyystutkimus

Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli määrittää spelttivehnän aistinvaraiset ominaisuudet ja miellyttävyys. Speltti- ja vehnälajikkeiden aistinvaraisen laadun vertailu tehtiin leipomalla sämpylöitä yksinkertaisella reseptillä, jolla pyrittiin saamaan lajikkeiden erot esiin peittämättä ominaisuuksia liikaa erilaisilla leivonnan ainesosilla. Speltin aistinvaraiset ominaisuudet määritettiin kuvailevin menetelmin ja miellyttävyys aistinvaraisella kuluttajatutkimuksella. Kuvailevia menetelmiä varten koulutettiin raati, joka arvioi spelttisämpylöiden aistinvaraisia ominaisuuksia, jotka olivat spelttisämpylöiden hajun kokonaisvoimakkuus, hiivainen haju, viljainen haju, sisuksen tummuus, sisuksen tasaisuus, maun kokonaisvoimakkuus, hiivainen maku, viljainen maku, suolaisuus, makeus, karvaus, happamuus, pehmeys, kosteus ja kokonaishajoavuus pureskeltaessa. Spelttisämpylöiden hajun, ulkonäön, maun ja suutuntuman miellyttävyys määritettiin aistinvaraisella kuluttajatutkimuksella. Tutkimuksessa käytettiin kahta spelttilajiketta ja kahta tavanomaista vehnälajiketta sekä kaupasta saatavaa täysjyvävehnälajiketta. Sämpylöiden aistinvaraisten ominaisuuksien arviointi oli haastavaa pienten ominaisuuserojen vuoksi. Eniten eroavaisuuksia syntyi sisuksen tummuudessa. Kuluttajatutkimuksessa miellyttävimmiksi sämpylöiksi nousi pienellä erolla spelttisämpylät verrattuna vehnäsämpylöihin.The purpose of this study was to determine the sensory characteristics and agreeability of spelt wheat. Comparison of the wheat cultivar’s sensory quality was made by baking bread rolls according to simple recipe, which sought to highlight the differences between the cultivars. The sensory characteristics of spelt were determined by descriptive methods and pleasantness was determined by a sensory consumer survey. A panel was trained for the descriptive methods. The panel evaluated the sensory characteristics of bread rolls. In the study, 15 properties were used, which were total strength of the smell, yeasty smell, smell of grain, the crumb darkness, the crumb smoothness, the total strength of the taste, yeasty flavor, grain taste, saltiness, sweetness, bitterness, acidity, softness, moisture and total disintegration during chewing. The wheat properties in the sensory consumer survey were smell, appearance, taste and texture pleasantness of wheat. In the study two varieties of spelt wheat, two common wheat varieties and a commercially available whole wheat variety were used. The study revealed that evaluation of bread rolls was challenging because of small differences between the samples. Most differences between samples were to do with crumb darkness. The consumer survey revealed that spelt bread rolls were slightly more pleasant than common wheat rolls

Tyrnin lehdistä valmistettu haudukejuoma : prosessoinnin vaikutus fenolisiin yhdisteisiin

Tyrnin lehdistä voidaan valmistaa haudukejuomaa, joka on teen kaltainen juoma. Tyrni ja erityisesti sen lehdet sisältävät paljon fenolisia yhdisteitä, kuten kversetiinin ja isoramnetiinin johdannaisia, joilla on havaittu olevan terveydelle hyödyllisiä antioksidatiivisia ja antimikrobisia vaikutuksia. Tyrnin lehden fenoliset yhdisteet vähenevät korkeissa lämpötiloissa (80–100 °C) ja kuivatusajan pidentyessä. Toisaalta flavonolit, kuten kversetiini ja isoramnetiini kestävät paremmin kuumennusprosesseja, kuin antosyaanit. Työn tavoitteena oli tunnistaa ja määrittää minkälaisia fenolisia yhdisteitä uuttuu lehdistä haudukkeisiin ja kuinka paljon hyödyntäen erilaisia lehtien kuivaustekniikoita. Tyrnilehdet kuivattiin kylmäkuivaimessa, huoneenlämmössä sekä lämpökaapissa korkeissa, alhaisissa ja vaihtuvissa lämpötiloissa. Lisäksi osa lehdistä höyrytettiin, jonka tarkoituksena oli estää hapettavien entsyymien toiminta lehdissä. Tutkimuksessa oli mukana Terhi ja Tytti tyrnilajikkeet ja näytteinä olivat hauduke, sen jäännös ja tuoreet lehdet. Fenoliset yhdisteet eristettiin uuttamalla näytteet vesiasetoniliuoksessa. Näytteet analysoitiin HPLC-DAD-laitteistolla. Kuivausmenetelmät vaikuttavat odotetusti tyrnin lehden fenolisiin yhdisteisiin. Jäännökset sisältävät enemmän fenolisia yhdisteitä, kuin haudukkeet, joten jäännökset voidaan jälkeenpäin käyttää hyödyksi toisissa prosesseissa. Työssä tunnistetut flavonolit ovat kversetiini-3-O-rutinosidi ja -3-O-galaktosidi sekä isoramnetiini-3-O-rutinosidi ja -3-O-glukosidi. Tunnistettujen näytteiden lisäksi näytteistä havaittiin kuusi flavonolia ja kaksi fenolista happoa UV-spektrien avulla. Kaikissa näytteissä on havaittavissa samat fenoliset yhdisteet, mutta eri pitoisuuksina. Terhi ja Tytti sisältävät yhtä paljon fenolisia yhdisteitä, mutta niiden koostumus on eri. Terhi sisältää enemmän isoramnetiini-3-O-rutinosidia ja Tytti kversetiini-3-O-rutinosidia. Lisää tutkimusta tarvitaan erilaisista haudukejuomien prosessointimenetelmistä, jotta saataisiin selville miten fenolisia yhdisteitä uuttuu enemmän tai haluttu määrä tyrnin lehdistä

Mixed-Monolayer-Protected Au25 Clusters with Bulky Calix[4]arene Functionalities

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Effect of Immunization During Pregnancy and Pre-existing Immunity on Diphtheria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Responses in Infants

AbstractImmunization during pregnancy (IP) against pertussis is recommended in many countries to protect infants. Although maternal antibodies can influence the infants’ antibody responses to primary vaccinations, their effect on the development of functional antibodies and B cells remain poorly studied. We investigated the maternal immune response to IP and the effect of IP and pre-existing antibodieson infants’ primary vaccine responses in an open-label, non-randomized trial. Forty-seven mothers received tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine during pregnancy, and 22 mothers were included as controls. Sixty-nine infants received primary doses of DTaP at three and five months of age. Geometric mean concentrations of antibodies to pertussis toxin, filamentous haemagglutinin, pertactin, diphtheria, and tetanus toxins, pertussis toxin neutralizing antibodies (PTNAs), and plasma and memory B-cell frequencies were studied at delivery, and at three, five and six months. Levels of antibodies, PTNAs, and frequencies of memory B-cells were significantly increased at delivery and up to six months after in mothers with IP compared to those without IP (all p < 0.05, except for PT-specific memory B-cells). In vaccinated pregnant women, high pre-existing antibody levels were positively correlated with higher antibody responses after IP. IP blunted the infants’ antibody and plasma B-cell responses to all vaccine antigens, except for tetanus toxin. This blunting effect was the strongest in infants with high concentrations of maternal antibodies. In conclusion, IP resulted in significantly higher concentrations of antibodies in infants up to three months of age (all p < 0.05); but was associated with blunting of various infants’ vaccine responses