The composition of the perinatal intestinal microbiota in horse

The establishment of the intestinal microbiota is critical for the digestive and immune systems. We studied the early development of the rectal microbiota in horse, a hindgut fermenter, from birth until 7 days of age, by qPCR and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. To evaluate initial sources of the foal microbiota, we characterised dam fecal, vaginal and oral microbiotas. We utilised an amplicon sequence variant (ASV) pipeline to maximise resolution and reproducibility. Stringent ASV filtering based on prevalence and abundance in samples and controls purged contaminants while preserving intestinal taxa. Sampled within 20 minutes after birth, rectal meconium contained small amounts of diverse bacterial DNA, with a profile closer to mare feces than mouth. 24 hours after birth, rectum was colonised by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, some foals dominated by single genera. At day 7, the rectal genera were still different from adult feces. The mare vaginal microbiota contributed to 24 h and 7 day microbiotas. It contained few lactobacilli, with Corynebacterium, Porphyromonas, Campylobacter and Helcococcus as the most abundant genera. In the oral mucosa, Gemella was extremely abundant. Our observations indicate that bacteria or bacterial components are present in the intestine immediately after birth, but the newborn microbiota changes rapidly.Peer reviewe

A comparison of methods for purification and concentration of norovirus GII-4 capsid virus-like particles

Noroviruses (NoVs) are one of the leading causes of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. NoV GII-4 VP1 protein was expressed in a recombinant baculovirus system using Sf9 insect cells. Several methods for purification and concentration of virus-like particles (VLPs) were evaluated. Electron microscopy (EM) and histo-blood group antigen (HBGA) binding assays showed that repeated sucrose gradient purification followed by ultrafiltration resulted in intact VLPs with excellent binding to H type 3 antigens. VLPs were stable for at least 12 months at 4°C, and up to 7 days at ambient temperature. These findings indicate that this method yielded stable and high-quality VLPs

Systematic review with meta-analysis of the epidemiological evidence relating smoking to COPD, chronic bronchitis and emphysema

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Smoking is a known cause of the outcomes COPD, chronic bronchitis (CB) and emphysema, but no previous systematic review exists. We summarize evidence for various smoking indices.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Based on MEDLINE searches and other sources we obtained papers published to 2006 describing epidemiological studies relating incidence or prevalence of these outcomes to smoking. Studies in children or adolescents, or in populations at high respiratory disease risk or with co-existing diseases were excluded. Study-specific data were extracted on design, exposures and outcomes considered, and confounder adjustment. For each outcome RRs/ORs and 95% CIs were extracted for ever, current and ex smoking and various dose response indices, and meta-analyses and meta-regressions conducted to determine how relationships were modified by various study and RR characteristics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 218 studies identified, 133 provide data for COPD, 101 for CB and 28 for emphysema. RR estimates are markedly heterogeneous. Based on random-effects meta-analyses of most-adjusted RR/ORs, estimates are elevated for ever smoking (COPD 2.89, CI 2.63-3.17, n = 129 RRs; CB 2.69, 2.50-2.90, n = 114; emphysema 4.51, 3.38-6.02, n = 28), current smoking (COPD 3.51, 3.08-3.99; CB 3.41, 3.13-3.72; emphysema 4.87, 2.83-8.41) and ex smoking (COPD 2.35, 2.11-2.63; CB 1.63, 1.50-1.78; emphysema 3.52, 2.51-4.94). For COPD, RRs are higher for males, for studies conducted in North America, for cigarette smoking rather than any product smoking, and where the unexposed base is never smoking any product, and are markedly lower when asthma is included in the COPD definition. Variations by sex, continent, smoking product and unexposed group are in the same direction for CB, but less clearly demonstrated. For all outcomes RRs are higher when based on mortality, and for COPD are markedly lower when based on lung function. For all outcomes, risk increases with amount smoked and pack-years. Limited data show risk decreases with increasing starting age for COPD and CB and with increasing quitting duration for COPD. No clear relationship is seen with duration of smoking.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results confirm and quantify the causal relationships with smoking.</p

Systematic review of the evidence relating FEV1 decline to giving up smoking

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The rate of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) decline ("beta") is a marker of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk. The reduction in beta after quitting smoking is an upper limit for the reduction achievable from switching to novel nicotine delivery products. We review available evidence to estimate this reduction and quantify the relationship of smoking to beta.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Studies were identified, in healthy individuals or patients with respiratory disease, that provided data on beta over at least 2 years of follow-up, separately for those who gave up smoking and other smoking groups. Publications to June 2010 were considered. Independent beta estimates were derived for four main smoking groups: never smokers, ex-smokers (before baseline), quitters (during follow-up) and continuing smokers. Unweighted and inverse variance-weighted regression analyses compared betas in the smoking groups, and in continuing smokers by amount smoked, and estimated whether beta or beta differences between smoking groups varied by age, sex and other factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Forty-seven studies had relevant data, 28 for both sexes and 19 for males. Sixteen studies started before 1970. Mean follow-up was 11 years. On the basis of weighted analysis of 303 betas for the four smoking groups, never smokers had a beta 10.8 mL/yr (95% confidence interval (CI), 8.9 to 12.8) less than continuing smokers. Betas for ex-smokers were 12.4 mL/yr (95% CI, 10.1 to 14.7) less than for continuing smokers, and for quitters, 8.5 mL/yr (95% CI, 5.6 to 11.4) less. These betas were similar to that for never smokers. In continuing smokers, beta increased 0.33 mL/yr per cigarette/day. Beta differences between continuing smokers and those who gave up were greater in patients with respiratory disease or with reduced baseline lung function, but were not clearly related to age or sex.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The available data have numerous limitations, but clearly show that continuing smokers have a beta that is dose-related and over 10 mL/yr greater than in never smokers, ex-smokers or quitters. The greater decline in those with respiratory disease or reduced lung function is consistent with some smokers having a more rapid rate of FEV₁decline. These results help in designing studies comparing continuing smokers of conventional cigarettes and switchers to novel products.</p

Incidence Trends for SARS-CoV-2 Alpha and Beta Variants, Finland, Spring 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Alpha and Beta variants became dominant in Finland in spring 2021 but had diminished by summer. We used phylogenetic clustering to identify sources of spreading. We found that outbreaks were mostly seeded by a few introductions, highlighting the importance of surveillance and prevention policies

Tuotehallinta STERIS Finn-Aqualla

Tässä tutkimustyössä käytettiin kirjallisuuden teorioita ja empiiristä analyysia kohdeyrityksen tilasta tehdäksemme parannusehdotuksia tulevaisuuden tuotehallintaan. Nykytilan ymmärtäminen (avainhenkilöiden haastattelut ja laajempi kysely ovat suuressa roolissa sekä tutkimustyön tekijän oma rooli yrityksessä) ja teorioiden soveltaminen olivat avainroolissa parannusehdotusten tekemisessä. Kyselyjen suuri vastausprosentti (91%) kertoo asian tärkeydestä kohdeyrityksessä ja siitä, että tuotehallinnan nykytilaan halutaan muutosta. Ensimmäisessä tutkimuskysymyksessä pohdittiin, mitkä asiat tulee ottaa huomioon hyvässä tuotehallinnassa? Kirjallisuuden perusteella asiaa tutkittiin ja voidaankin todeta, että hyvä tuotehallinta on erittäin laaja ja vaativa asia. Siinä tulee asioita pohtia hyvinkin laajasti alkaen yrityksen visiosta strategian kautta yksittäisiin toimenpiteisiin. Tiivistettynä hyvän tuotehallinnan piirteinä voidaan esittää; yrityksen mission määrittävät avainasiat määriteltynä, tuotehallinnan tavoitteet asetettuna kolmelle ydinalueelle, määritetyt osatuoteportfoliot tuotteen elinkaaren mukaan ja jatkuva avaintavoitteiden seuranta. Kohdeyrityksen tuotehallinnan nykytilaa (tutkimuskysymys 2) analysoitiin laajasti luvussa 3, missä tiivistettiin kohdeyrityksen avainhenkilöstölle tehty kirjallinen kysely. Yleisesti tunnettu SWOT-analyysi toimi tähän työhön erinomaisena työkaluna, jotta saatiin selville kohdeyrityksen vahvuudet, heikkoudet, mahdollisuudet ja uhat. Tämän lisäksi analyyseissa on mukana muutamalle tuotepäällikölle tehty kysely ja haastattelu. Yhteenvedoista käy ilmi, että kohdeyrityksellä on monta asiaa hyvällä tasolla; hajautettu riskien hallinta, nykyisistä tuotteista voittoa, hyvin määritellyt asiakassegmentit sekä saatavilla oleva tuotehallinnan aineisto oli pääosin hyvälaatuista. Kehityskohteina löytyy; johtamiskulttuurina tuotehallinnan toiminta on pitkälti kulttuurin ja jopa henkilöiden mukaista, selkeää strategiaa tuotehallinnan johtamiseen ei ole, eikä selkeitä operatiivisia suunnitelmia sekä vajaa mittaristo. Luvussa 4 tehtiin ehdotus kohdeyritykselle tuotehallinnan kehityskohteiksi (tutkimuskysymys 3) tuleville vuosille. Listauksessa käytettiin hyväksi tutkimustyön esille nostamia teorioita sekä analyysin mukaisia kehityskohteita. Kehityskohteista rajattiin tarkoitukselle pois tuotetietojärjestelmät ja tekniset/kaupalliset tuoteportfoliot tämän työn rajaamiseksi. Yleisesti voidaan todeta, että kohdeyrityksen suurimpana kehityskohteena todettiin tuotehallinnan organisointi ja aidot omistajuudet, jotka tulisi tunnistaa johtoryhmätasolla. Kun tuotehallinnan johtaminen olisi selvää, myös tavoiteasetanta ja mittariston rakentaminen helpottuisi ja saattaisi olla koko kohdeyritystä palveleva. Näiden muutosten myötä kohdeyrityksen vision viestiminen koko henkilöstölle helpottuisi. Myös uusien tuotteiden markkinoille tulo voisi olla tehokkaampaa tuotteen elinkaariajattelu huomioiden, kun tuotehallinta tunnistettaisiin kohdeyrityksen yhtenä tärkeimmistä prosesseista. Se kannattaisi!This research drew from literature and empirical analysis of the current state of the examined company with a view to providing proposals for improving product management. The proposals were thus based on an understanding of the current state (interviews with key personnel as well as broader surveys and the author’s own role in the company) and the application of theories. The high response rate of the surveys (91%) shows that the issue is important to the company and there is a desire to introduce changes in product management. The first research question examined which issues should be considered in good product management. The question was investigated based on literature, and good product management was found to be an extensive and demanding topic. It requires broad-based analysis, starting from the company’s vision, through its strategy to individual measures. As a summary of good product management could be considered the situation when following topics would be implemented in the company; company vision defined and communicated for the organization, key success components are analyzed and recognized, objectives are set and measured for all focus areas and finally all targets are continuously measured. The current state of product management in the company (research question 2) is explored extensively in Chapter 3, which was used to draw up a written questionnaire for the company’s key personnel. The well-known SWOT analysis provided an excellent tool for determining the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. In addition, the analyses included questionnaires and interviews with several product managers. Based on questionnaires and interviews, it is obvious that company have many product management related topics in good level like risk management, healthy profit levels and attractive customer segments. In addition to this data available was reliable and good level although the volume was not so wide one. But there are plenty of development areas too; the whole product management culture is based on local practices and even individual view of the topic. Secondly, the direction from the top management is missing and naturally supportive measures are missing in this situation too. Chapter 4 contains a proposal on development measures for product management (research question 3) for the coming years. They are based on theories drawn from research as well as development areas identified in the analysis. Production information systems and technical/commercial product portfolios were intentionally excluded to restrict the scope of the research. As a general finding, it emerged that the most important issues in need of improvement were the organization of product management on one hand and genuine ownership on the other hand, which should be determined at the executive management level. Clarifying the leadership of product management would facilitate goal-setting and creating a set of indicators and could benefit the company as a whole. These changes would also help effectively communicate the company’s vision to all personnel. Further, when product management is recognized as one of the key processes, new products could also be launched more efficiently, considering the life cycle approach. This would be highly beneficial