Glycoprotein YKL-40 Is Elevated and Predicts Disease Severity in Puumala Hantavirus Infection

Most cases of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Europe are caused by the Puumala hantavirus (PUUV). Typical features of the disease are increased vascular permeability, acute kidney injury (AKI), and thrombocytopenia. YKL-40 is an inflammatory glycoprotein involved in various forms of acute and chronic inflammation. In the present study, we examined plasma YKL-40 levels and the associations of YKL-40 with disease severity in acute PUUV infection. A total of 79 patients treated in Tampere University Hospital during 2005–2014 were studied. Plasma YKL-40 was measured in the acute phase, the recovery phase, and one year after hospitalization. Plasma YKL-40 levels were higher during the acute phase compared to the recovery phase and one year after hospitalization (median YKL-40 142 ng/mL, range 11–3320, vs. 45 ng/mL, range 15–529, vs. 32 ng/mL, range 3–213, p < 0.001). YKL-40 level was correlated with the length of hospital stay (r = 0.229, p = 0.042), the levels of inflammatory markers—that is, blood leukocytes (r = 0.234, p = 0.040), plasma C-reactive protein (r = 0.332, p = 0.003), and interleukin-6 (r = 0.544, p < 0.001), and maximum plasma creatinine level (r = 0.370, p = 0.001). In conclusion, plasma YKL-40 levels were found to be elevated during acute PUUV infection and correlated with the overall severity of the disease, as well as with the degree of inflammation and the severity of AKI

Glycoprotein YKL-40 Is Elevated and Predicts Disease Severity in Puumala Hantavirus Infection

Most cases of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Europe are caused by the Puumala hantavirus (PUUV). Typical features of the disease are increased vascular permeability, acute kidney injury (AKI), and thrombocytopenia. YKL-40 is an inflammatory glycoprotein involved in various forms of acute and chronic inflammation. In the present study, we examined plasma YKL-40 levels and the associations of YKL-40 with disease severity in acute PUUV infection. A total of 79 patients treated in Tampere University Hospital during 2005–2014 were studied. Plasma YKL-40 was measured in the acute phase, the recovery phase, and one year after hospitalization. Plasma YKL-40 levels were higher during the acute phase compared to the recovery phase and one year after hospitalization (median YKL-40 142 ng/mL, range 11–3320, vs. 45 ng/mL, range 15–529, vs. 32 ng/mL, range 3–213, p < 0.001). YKL-40 level was correlated with the length of hospital stay (r = 0.229, p = 0.042), the levels of inflammatory markers—that is, blood leukocytes (r = 0.234, p = 0.040), plasma C-reactive protein (r = 0.332, p = 0.003), and interleukin-6 (r = 0.544, p < 0.001), and maximum plasma creatinine level (r = 0.370, p = 0.001). In conclusion, plasma YKL-40 levels were found to be elevated during acute PUUV infection and correlated with the overall severity of the disease, as well as with the degree of inflammation and the severity of AKI

Glycoprotein YKL-40 Levels in Plasma Are Associated with Fibrotic Changes on HRCT in Asbestos-Exposed Subjects

YKL-40 is a chitinase-like glycoprotein produced by alternatively activated macrophages that are associated with wound healing and fibrosis. Asbestosis is a chronic asbestos-induced lung disease, in which injury of epithelial cells and activation of alveolar macrophages lead to enhanced collagen production and fibrosis. We studied if YKL-40 is related to inflammation, fibrosis, and/or lung function in subjects exposed to asbestosis. Venous blood samples were collected from 85 men with moderate or heavy occupational asbestos exposure and from 28 healthy, age-matched controls. Levels of plasma YKL-40, CRP, IL-6, adipsin, and MMP-9 were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma YKL-40 levels were significantly higher in subjects with asbestosis (n=19) than in those with no fibrotic findings in HRCT following asbestos exposure (n=66) or in unexposed healthy controls. In asbestos-exposed subjects, plasma YKL-40 correlated negatively with lung function capacity parameters FVC (Pearson’s r −0.259, p=0.018) and FEV1 (Pearson’s r −0.240, p=0.028) and positively with CRP (Spearman’s rho 0.371, p<0.001), IL-6 (Spearman’s rho 0.314, p=0.003), adipsin (Spearman’s rho 0.459, p<0.001), and MMP-9 (Spearman’s rho 0.243, p=0.025). The present finding suggests YKL-40 as a biomarker associated with fibrosis and inflammation in asbestos-exposed subjects

Sosiaalityöntekijöiden hyvinvointi: Sosiaalityön kuormittavuus, voimavaratekijät ja sosiaalityöntekijöiden mielenterveys

Työterveyslaitoksen Kunta10-tutkimuksessa on havaittu, että sosiaalityöntekijöillä sairauspoissaolot johtuvat mielenterveyden ongelmista useammin kuin muilla ammattiryhmillä. Vaikka useita sosiaalityöhön liittyviä kuormitustekijöitä on tunnistettu, niiden yhteyttä psyykkiseen hyvinvointiin ja työssä jaksamiseen ei ole tarkemmin tutkittu. Tämän tutkimushankkeen tavoitteena oli selvittää tarkemmin mielenterveyden häiriöistä johtuvan työkyvyttömyyden kehityskulkuja sosiaalityöntekijöillä ja verrokkiammattiryhmillä Suomessa ja Ruotsissa. Tavoitteena oli myös tutkia, mitkä tekijät sosiaalityössä vaikuttavat mielenterveyden häiriöistä johtuvan työkyvyttömyyden riskiin. Lisäksi mallinnettiin sosiaalityöhön liittyviä kuormitus- ja voimavaratekijöitä sekä sosiaalityöntekijöillä laajemmin että lastensuojelun sosiaalityöntekijöillä tarkemmin