Preliminary Normative Study of ImPACT® in Finnish Professional Male Ice Hockey Players

Assessment of cognition is an important part of concussion management. The common paradigm of baseline and postinjury evaluations is recommended but due to the often lacking baseline data, reliable normative values are needed. The Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT®) battery is a widely used method of cognitive assessment offering several language options. There are few comparative studies between language groups on this test battery. ImPACT was administered at baseline to 184 Finnish male Professional Ice Hockey league players. The performance of the Finnish sample differed from previously published English and Czech language samples on the Visual Motor Speed and Reaction Time composites with medium effect-sizes (d = 0.38–0.52). Age, but not education or prior concussions, was associated with ImPACT performance. ImPACT performance is not uniform across language and culture groups and the findings highlight the need for language-specific norms. Finnish reference values for ImPACT for ages 26 are presented. A similar approach is encouraged for other languages.Peer reviewe

Genome-wide association study identifies loci influencing concentrations of liver enzymes in plasma

Concentrations of liver enzymes in plasma are widely used as indicators of liver disease. We carried out a genome-wide association study in 61,089 individuals, identifying 42 loci associated with concentrations of liver enzymes in plasma, of which 32 are new associations (P = 10−8 to P = 10−190). We used functional genomic approaches including metabonomic profiling and gene expression analyses to identify probable candidate genes at these regions. We identified 69 candidate genes, including genes involved in biliary transport (ATP8B1 and ABCB11), glucose, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (FADS1, FADS2, GCKR, JMJD1C, HNF1A, MLXIPL, PNPLA3, PPP1R3B, SLC2A2 and TRIB1), glycoprotein biosynthesis and cell surface glycobiology (ABO, ASGR1, FUT2, GPLD1 and ST3GAL4), inflammation and immunity (CD276, CDH6, GCKR, HNF1A, HPR, ITGA1, RORA and STAT4) and glutathione metabolism (GSTT1, GSTT2 and GGT), as well as several genes of uncertain or unknown function (including ABHD12, EFHD1, EFNA1, EPHA2, MICAL3 and ZNF827). Our results provide new insight into genetic mechanisms and pathways influencing markers of liver function

Sleep improvement intervention and its effect on patients' sleep on the ward

Aim and objectiveThe aim of the study was to investigate how the sleep improvement interventions developed for the wards were associated with patients’ sleep. The objective was to promote patients’ sleep.BackgroundThe quality of sleep is vital for patients’ health and recovery from illness. However, patients generally sleep poorly during hospitalisation. Sleep-disturbing factors are connected to the hospital environment, patients’ physical illness, emotional state and the activities of the staff. Many sleep-disturbing factors can be influenced by appropriate nursing interventions.DesignA two-group intervention study including the development of nursing interventions aimed at supporting patients’ sleep. One group received a sleep promotion intervention and the other received standard care. Both groups evaluated their sleep in the morning.MethodsA survey of participants’ sleep evaluations was collected with the five-item Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire. The data were analysed statistically. The STROBE checklist was used to report the study.ResultsFrom the participants’ perspective, sleep was better in the intervention group, even though statistically significantly only among men. The pain intensity correlated with sleep quality. The number of patients in the room or whether participants had had an operation had no effect on their sleep evaluations.ConclusionsInterventions targeted at supporting and promoting the sleep quality of hospital inpatients may be effective. They should be developed in collaboration with patients and nurses. Several nursing interventions can be proposed to promote better sleep among patients; however, more research is needed to confirm the results. Sleep promotion should include both standardised protocols and individualised sleep support.Relevance to clinical practiceInvesting in nursing interventions to promote patients’ sleep is important. Patients’ individual sleep-related needs should be part of their care plan. Training programmes that support nurses’ knowledge and skills of patients’ sleep promotion should be part of nursing education in healthcare organisations.</p

Coping of persons with disabilities and migrant origin populations in serious disruptions and emergencies : Emergency action plans supporting preparedness

Operating models that support the coping of people with disabilities and immigrants in serious disruptions and emergency conditions has been developed in Building the Future based on COVID-19 Experiences project. Emergency action plans in this publication contain concrete tasks, operating methods and suggestions for supporting coping and developing preparedness. Co-creaton methods and research data on the effects of the coronavirus epidemic on the lives and services of people with disabilities and migrant origin populations has been utilised. The publication is aimed at people responsible for preparedness and emergency planning in cooperation areas, wellbeing service counties and municipalities, as well as social work, health and communication professionals in their different operating environments. This publication has been produced in Building the Future based on Covid-19 Experiences project, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) in 2021 2023. The project was carried out jointly by the Finnish Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the Association of Finnish Municipalities and wellbeing services company Hyvil Oy

Comparative genomics of Lactobacillus crispatus suggests novel mechanisms for the competitive exclusion of Gardnerella vaginalis

Peer reviewe

Diketo acids inhibit the cap-snatching endonuclease of several Bunyavirales

Several fatal bunyavirus infections lack specific treatment. Here, we show that diketo acids engage a panel of bunyavirus cap-snatching endonucleases, inhibit their catalytic activity and reduce viral replication of a taxonomic representative in vitro. Specifically, the non-salt form of L-742,001 and its derivatives exhibited EC50 values between 5.6 to 6.9 μM against a recombinant BUNV-mCherry virus. Structural analysis and molecular docking simulations identified traits of both the class of chemical entities and the viral target that could help the design of novel, more potent molecules for the development of pan-bunyavirus antivirals

Vammaisten ja maahanmuuttaneiden ihmisten selviytyminen vakavissa häiriötilanteissa ja poikkeusoloissa : Varautumista tukevat toimintakortit

Tulevaisuutta luomassa -hankkeessa kehitetyt toimintamallit tukevat vammaisten ja maahanmuuttaneiden ihmisten selviytymistä vakavissa häiriötilanteissa ja poikkeusoloissa. Tämän julkaisun varautumista tukevat toimintakortit sisältävät konkreettisia tehtäviä, toimintatapoja ja ehdotuksia, jotka tukevat hyvinvointialueiden ja kuntien varautumista ja valmiussuunnittelua. Toimintakorttien kehittämistyössä on hyödynnetty tutkimustietoa koronaepidemian vaikutuksista vammaisten ja maahanmuuttaneiden ihmisten elämään ja palveluihin sekä yhteiskehittämisen menetelmiä. Julkaisu on suunnattu varautumisesta ja valmiussuunnittelusta vastaaville henkilöille yhteistoiminta-alueilla, hyvinvointialueilla ja kunnissa sekä sosiaalityön, terveysalan ja viestinnän ammattilaisille eri toimintaympäristöissään. Julkaisu on tuotettu Tulevaisuutta luomassa covid-19-kokemusten pohjalta hankkeessa, jonka rahoittajana oli Euroopan sosiaalirahasto (ESR) vuosina 2021 2023. Hanketta toteutettiin Kehitysvammaliitto ry:n, Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitoksen (THL) ja Suomen Kuntaliiton sekä Hyvinvointialueyhtiö Hyvil Oy:n yhteistyönä