Liikunta kuntoutuksen tukena neurologista sairautta sairastavilla : Kelan vaativaan lääkinnälliseen kuntoutukseen osallistuneiden liikuntatottumukset ja avoterapiastandardiin liittyvä liikuntakokeilu

Tausta: Väestön fyysisen aktiivisuuden ja liikunnan vähäisyys aiheuttaa haasteita suomalaiselle yhteiskunnalle. Liikkumaton elämäntapa lisää monia kansansairauksia ja kansantalouden kustannuksia ja on yhteydessä väestöryhmien välisiin terveys- ja hyvinvointieroihin. Neurologista sairautta sairastaville kuntoutujille arjen fyysinen aktiivisuus ja liikunnan harrastaminen saattaa olla ongelmallista. Kun fyysisen aktiivisuuden ja liikunnan toteuttamisen edellytykset ovat kunnossa, edistetään terveyttä ja hyvinvointia, vähennetään eriarvoisuutta sekä tuetaan ihmisten vastuuta omasta terveydentilasta ja elämäntavoista. Tutkimuksessa Liikunta kuntoutuksen tukena selvitettiin Kelan vaativan lääkinnällisen kuntoutuksen fysioterapiaa saavien kuntoutujien liikunnan harrastamista edistäviä ja rajoittavia tekijöitä sekä Kelan avoterapiastandardin sisältämää liikuntakokeilumahdollisuuden käyttöä. Menetelmät: Tutkimuksen kohderyhmänä olivat Kelan vaativan lääkinnällisen kuntoutuksen fysioterapiaa saavat neurologista sairautta sairastavat suomen- ja ruotsinkieliset kuntoutujat Varsinais-Suomen alueella (N = 564), Kelan järjestämän fysioterapian palveluntuottajat, joilla on vaikeavammaisia neurologisia kuntoutujia (Loimaa, Paimio, Turku ja Uusikaupunki) (n = 59) sekä näiden kuntien erityisliikunnasta vastaavat työntekijät (n = 4). Kuntoutujien aineisto poimittiin Kelan rekisteristä. Tutkimukseen vastasi 219 kuntoutujaa (38,8 %), 22 fysioterapeuttia (37,2 %) ja 2 kahden kunnan erityisliikunnasta vastaavaa työntekijää. Tutkimus toteutettiin kyselynä kuntoutujille sekä puhelinhaastatteluna ja sähköpostikyselynä fysioterapeuteille ja kunnan liikuntatoimen työntekijöille. Tulokset: Kyselyyn vastanneet kuntoutujat harrastivat eniten kävelyä tai juoksua, uintia tai vesijuoksua, luonnossa liikkumista ja kuntosaliharjoittelua. Luonnossa liikkumista, uintia tai vesijuoksua, kuntosaliharjoittelua ja tanssia sekä keilailua ja ratsastusta halusivat harrastaa myös ne kuntoutujat, jotka eivät aikaisemmin olleet harrastaneet näitä lajeja. Avoterapiastandardiin kuuluvaa liikuntakokeilumahdollisuutta oli hyödynnetty 58 vastaajan (26,7 %) fysioterapiassa. Nykyistä liikunnan harrastamista kohtalaisesti edistivät vastaajan tietämys liikunnan ja terveyden välisistä yhteyksistä sekä perheenjäsenten asenteet ja rajoitti merkittävästi neurologinen oire. Liikunnan harrastamista lievästi edistävät oma motivaatio liikkua ja oma asenne, avustaja, asiantuntijoiden ohjaus, kuljetusjärjestelyt ja liikuntakaveri. Lievästi nykyistä liikunnan harrastamista rajoittivat vastaajan liikunnalliset taidot sekä taloudellinen tilanne. Fysioterapeutit ja liikuntatoimi halusivat kehittää neurologista sairautta sairastavien kuntoutujien liikuntamahdollisuuksia ja toivoivat lisää tiedottamista kunnan liikuntapalveluista ja Kelan avoterapiastandardin käytöstä. Johtopäätökset: Neurologista sairautta sairastavat kuntoutujat, fysioterapeutit ja kunnan erityisliikunnan työntekijät kannattivat avoterapiastandardin liikuntakokeilumahdollisuuden käyttöä, mikäli liikuntatoiminnan edellytykset ovat kunnossa. Hyvin toteutettuna liikunta tukee kuntoutumista

Initial treatment strategy and clinical outcomes in Finnish MS patients : a propensity-matched study

Background The optimal treatment strategy with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) remains uncertain. Objective To compare outcomes of initial treatment with infusion therapies and starting therapy with medium efficacy therapy in a propensity-matched cohort of Finnish RRMS patients. Methods A total of 154 RRMS patients initiating natalizumab, alemtuzumab, ocrelizumab or rituximab as first DMT (high efficacy DMT, heDMT group) and 1771 patients initially treated with injectable therapies, teriflunomide or dimethylfumarate and escalated based on disease activity (moderate efficacy DMT, meDMT group) were identified from the Finnish MS registry. Nearest neighbor propensity matching (1:1, caliper 0.1) was performed for age, sex, baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), annual relapse rate (ARR) one year prior DMT and time since MS symptom onset. Primary outcome was time to 6-month confirmed EDSS progression and the secondary outcome time to first relapse. Results In the propensity-matched group comparisons, the probability of 6-month confirmed disability progression (CDP) at 5 years after DMT start was 28.4% (95% CI 15.7-39.3) in the heDMT group (n = 66) and 47.0% (95% CI 33.1-58.1) in meDMT group (n = 66), p = 0.013. Probability of relapse at 5 years was 34.6% (95% CI 24.1-43.6) for heDMT (n = 105) and 47.2% (95% CI 36.6-56.1) for meDMT (n = 105), p = 0.019. Conclusions Initiating MS-therapy with heDMT significantly reduced the risk of 5-year disability progression and relapse compared to using meDMT as first DMT choice in propensity-matched groups of Finnish MS-patients.Peer reviewe

Counter Machines and Distributed Automata: A Story about Exchanging Space and Time

We prove the equivalence of two classes of counter machines and one class of distributed automata. Our counter machines operate on finite words, which they read from left to right while incrementing or decrementing a fixed number of counters. The two classes differ in the extra features they offer: one allows to copy counter values, whereas the other allows to compute copyless sums of counters. Our distributed automata, on the other hand, operate on directed path graphs that represent words. All nodes of a path synchronously execute the same finite-state machine, whose state diagram must be acyclic except for self-loops, and each node receives as input the state of its direct predecessor. These devices form a subclass of linear-time one-way cellular automata.Comment: 15 pages (+ 13 pages of appendices), 5 figures; To appear in the proceedings of AUTOMATA 2018

Can processes make relationships work? The Triple Helix between structure and action

This contribution seeks to explore how complex adaptive theory can be applied at the conceptual level to unpack Triple Helix models. We use two cases to examine this issue – the Finnish Strategic Centres for Science, Technology & Innovation (SHOKs) and the Canadian Business-led Networks of Centres of Excellence (BL-NCE). Both types of centres are organisational structures that aspire to be business-led, with a considerable portion of their activities driven by (industrial) users’ interests and requirements. Reflecting on the centres’ activities along three dimensions – knowledge generation, consensus building and innovation – we contend that conceptualising the Triple Helix from a process perspective will improve the dialogue between stakeholders and shareholders

Generation of a human induced pluripotent stem cell line from a patient with a rare A673T variant in amyloid precursor protein gene that reduces the risk for Alzheimer's disease

An amyloid precursor protein (APP) A673T mutation was found to be protective against Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cognitive decline in the Icelandic population and to associate with decreased levels of plasma β-amyloid in a Finnish population-based cohort. Human fibroblasts from a Finnish male individual carrying the protective mutation were used to generate integration-free induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs) line by Sendai virus technology. The iPSC line retained the mutation and expressed pluripotency markers, had a normal karyotype and differentiated into all three germ layers.Peer reviewe

Generation of a human induced pluripotent stem cell line (UEFi003-A) carrying heterozygous A673T variant in amyloid precursor protein associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease

A673T mutation in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a rare variant associated with a reduced risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-related cognitive decline. The A673T mutation decreases beta-amyloid (A beta) production and aggregation in neuronal cultures in vitro. Here we have identified a Finnish non-diseased male individual carrying a heterozygous A673T mutation, obtained a skin biopsy sample from him, and generated an iPSC line using commercially available integration-free Sendai virus-based kit. The established iPSC line retained the mutation, expressed pluripotency markers, had a normal karyotype, and differentiated into all three germ layers in vitro.Peer reviewe

Initial treatment strategy and clinical outcomes in Finnish MS patients: a propensity-matched study

BackgroundThe optimal treatment strategy with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) remains uncertain.ObjectiveTo compare outcomes of initial treatment with infusion therapies and starting therapy with medium efficacy therapy in a propensity-matched cohort of Finnish RRMS patients.MethodsA total of 154 RRMS patients initiating natalizumab, alemtuzumab, ocrelizumab or rituximab as first DMT (high efficacy DMT, heDMT group) and 1771 patients initially treated with injectable therapies, teriflunomide or dimethylfumarate and escalated based on disease activity (moderate efficacy DMT, meDMT group) were identified from the Finnish MS registry. Nearest neighbor propensity matching (1:1, caliper 0.1) was performed for age, sex, baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), annual relapse rate (ARR) one year prior DMT and time since MS symptom onset. Primary outcome was time to 6-month confirmed EDSS progression and the secondary outcome time to first relapse.ResultsIn the propensity-matched group comparisons, the probability of 6-month confirmed disability progression (CDP) at 5 years after DMT start was 28.4% (95% CI 15.7–39.3) in the heDMT group (n = 66) and 47.0% (95% CI 33.1–58.1) in meDMT group (n = 66), p = 0.013. Probability of relapse at 5 years was 34.6% (95% CI 24.1–43.6) for heDMT (n = 105) and 47.2% (95% CI 36.6–56.1) for meDMT (n = 105), p = 0.019.ConclusionsInitiating MS-therapy with heDMT significantly reduced the risk of 5-year disability progression and relapse compared to using meDMT as first DMT choice in propensity-matched groups of Finnish MS-patients.</p

Effects of low temperature on photoinhibition and singlet oxygen production in four natural accessions of Arabidopsis

Main conclusionsLow temperature decreases PSII damage in vivo, confirming earlier in vitro results. Susceptibility to photoinhibition differs among Arabidopsis accessions and moderately decreases after 2-week cold-treatment. Flavonols may alleviate photoinhibition.AbstractThe rate of light-induced inactivation of photosystem II (PSII) at 22 and 4 degrees C was measured from natural accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana (Rschew, Tenela, Columbia-0, Coimbra) grown under optimal conditions (21 degrees C), and at 4 degrees C from plants shifted to 4 degrees C for 2 weeks. Measurements were done in the absence and presence of lincomycin (to block repair). PSII activity was assayed with the chlorophyll a fluorescence parameter F-v/F-m and with light-saturated rate of oxygen evolution using a quinone acceptor. When grown at 21 degrees C, Rschew was the most tolerant to photoinhibition and Coimbra the least. Damage to PSII, judged from fitting the decrease in oxygen evolution or F-v/F-m to a first-order equation, proceeded more slowly or equally at 4 than at 22 degrees C. The 2-week cold-treatment decreased photoinhibition at 4 degrees C consistently in Columbia-0 and Coimbra, whereas in Rschew and Tenela the results depended on the method used to assay photoinhibition. The rate of singlet oxygen production by isolated thylakoid membranes, measured with histidine, stayed the same or slightly decreased with decreasing temperature. On the other hand, measurements of singlet oxygen from leaves with Singlet Oxygen Sensor Green suggest that in vivo more singlet oxygen is produced at 4 degrees C. Under high light, the PSII electron acceptor Q(A) was more reduced at 4 than at 22 degrees C. Singlet oxygen production, in vitro or in vivo, did not decrease due to the cold-treatment. Epidermal flavonols increased during the cold-treatment and, in Columbia-0 and Coimbra, the amount correlated with photoinhibition tolerance