Direct genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from clinical samples from Denmark : not only genotypes II and III

Genetic variation within Toxoplasma gondii can have both clinical and epidemiological significance, while the genotypes circulating in many parts of the world, including the Nordic country Denmark, are still unknown. We genetically characterized T. gondii strains that had been detected in human clinical samples in Denmark in 2011-2016. Samples that had tested positive for T. gondii DNA and had a quantification cycle value <33 were included in this study and subjected to direct genetic characterization of T. gondii based on length-polymorphism of 15 microsatellite markers. A total of 23 DNA samples from 22 individual patients were analyzed. The results were consistent with genotype II with 15/15 markers amplified from seven samples from the central nervous system (CNS) including two samples from one patient, four ocular samples, and one unspecified sample; with genotype III with 15/15 markers amplified from two ocular samples; with genotype Africa 1 with 15/15 markers amplified from one amniotic fluid sample and from one CNS-sample; with atypical genotype with 15/15 markers amplified from one CNS-sample and with 11/15 markers amplified from one CNS-sample; and with HG12-like genotype with 9/15 markers amplified from one CNS-sample. Genotype II, which is endemic in Europe, was predominant, but more than a third of the successfully genotyped strains were non-type-II. The possibility that clinical toxoplasmosis is caused by a strain that is not considered endemic to the region is definitely not negligible.Peer reviewe

Helvetti on vaa sana:nuorten kirosanoille antamat merkitysmääritelmät

Tiivistelmä. Pro gradu -tutkielmassani tarkastelen nuorten kirosanoille antamia merkitysmääritelmiä. Tutkimukseni asettuu sosiolingvistiseen viitekehykseen, ja metodejani ovat semanttinen komponenttianalyysi sekä kokeellinen semantiikka. Keskeisiä kirosanoja tutkimuksessani ovat helvetti, perkele, vittu, jumalauta, piru ja hitto. Käytän tutkielmassani hyödyksi kahta aineistoa, joita nimitän ensi- ja toissijaisiksi aineistoksi. Ensisijainen aineisto on kerätty huhtikuussa 2018 Oulun normaalikoulun yläkoululaisilta, ja toissijainen aineisto on kerätty elokuussa 2017 Muhoksen yläkoululaisilta. Tarkastelen informanttien edellä mainituille kirosanoille antamien merkitysmääritelmien kautta ennen kaikkea sitä, millaista kuvaa määritelmät rakentavat kirosanoista sekä sitä, ovatko nuoret tietoisia kirosanojen prototyyppisistä merkityksistä. Lisäksi tutkin, onko sosiodemografisella taustalla merkitystä sen kannalta, millaisia määritelmiä kirosanojen merkityksistä luodaan. Tutkielmassani keskeisin sosiodemografinen muuttuja on uskonnollinen tausta. Tutkimuksen tuloksista käy ilmi, että etenkin sukupuolittaiset erot annetuissa merkitysmääritelmissä voivat olla paikoin suuriakin. Tytöt ovat monisanaisempia kuvailijoita mutta suhtautuvat usein poikia häveliäämmin kiroiluun. Koko aineistossa helvetti ja vittu ovat prototyyppisiltä merkityksiltään kaikista tunnetuimmat kirosanat, kun taas perkele ja hitto tunnetaan melko heikosti. Uskonnollistaustaisten ja ei-uskonnollistaustaisten nuorten tavassa kiroilla ja käsittää kirosanoja vaikuttaisi olevan suuriakin eroavaisuuksia, mutta uskonnollistaustaisten nuorten aineiston pienuuden vuoksi tutkielmani ei sisällä aiheesta kovinkaan pitäviä päätelmiä

Global Study: Participation in One Health Networks and Involvement in COVID-19 Response Activities

PURPOSE: This global study examined whether being part of a One Health Network (OHN) was associated with being involved in COVID-19 response activities at the early stages of the pandemic. Barriers to workforce involvement in the pandemic response and the perceived value of OHN activities were studied to inform future targeted evidence-based strategies for workforce capacity-building. METHODS & MATERIALS: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study, using an online questionnaire that was globally distributed in July-August 2020. With a snowball sampling approach via OHN listservs, social media, and further sharing, we aimed to reach individuals in the global health workforce across locations, organizations, and sectors to survey their participation in OHN activities and involvement in COVID-19 response. RESULTS: The sample included 1050 respondents from various types of organizations and work sectors, from 94 countries across all WHO regions. Being part of an OHN was positively associated with involvement in the COVID-19 response (odds ratio: 1.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.3 - 2.4). The OHN activities most indicated as useful during COVID-19 pandemic by the survey respondents included 'increased public awareness of One Health' and 'networking with professionals across sectors with common interests'. Overall, 44% of survey respondents who were part of an OHN found OHN activities very or extremely helpful to their COVID-19 response. Lack of opportunities was a commonly reported barrier to involvement in COVID-19 response globally, and lack of funding was a barrier particularly in the WHO Africa region. CONCLUSION: This study provides a snapshot of the multisectoral response to COVID-19 and an assessment of the contribution of OHNs. The lessons learned during this pandemic can be used to identify measures to improve global health capacity, including OHN activities to build and strengthen workforce response to future global health challenges

Population-based data at ages 31 and 46 show decreased HRQoL and life satisfaction in women with PCOS symptoms.

CONTEXT: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but longitudinal data beyond the reproductive years are lacking, and the impact of isolated PCOS symptoms is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To study generic HRQoL using 15D, life satisfaction, and self-reported health status in women with PCOS symptoms at ages 31 and 46yr. DESIGN: A longitudinal assessment using the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. SETTING: General community. PARTICIPANTS: The 15D data were available for women reporting isolated oligomenorrhea (OA;at age 31yr:214 and 46yr: 211), isolated hirsutism (H; 31yr:211 and 46yr:216), OA+H (PCOS; 31yr:74 and 46yr:75), or no PCOS symptoms (controls; 31yr:1382 and 46yr:1412). Data for life satisfaction and current health status were available for OA (31yr:329 and 46yr:247), H (31yr:323 and 46yr:238), PCOS (31yr:125 and 46yr:86), control (31yr:2182 and 46yr:1613) groups. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): 15D HRQoL, questionnaires on life satisfaction, and self-reported health status. RESULTS: HRQoL was lower at ages 31 and 46 in women with PCOS or H compared with the controls. PCOS was an independent risk factor for low HRQoL, and the decrease in HRQoL in PCOS was comparable to that of women with other chronic conditions, like asthma, migraine, rheumatoid arthritis, and depression. The risk for low HRQoL in PCOS remained significant after adjusting for BMI, hyperandrogenism, and socioeconomic status. Mental distress was the strongest contributing factor to HRQoL. PCOS was also associated with a risk for low life satisfaction and a 4-fold risk for reporting a poor health status. CONCLUSIONS: Women with PCOS present with low HRQoL, decreased life satisfaction, and a poorer self-reported health status up to their late reproductive years. Assessments and interventions aiming to improve HRQoL in PCOS should be targeted beyond fertile age

Effect And Predictive Value Of Routine Preoperative Laboratory Testing For Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Background and Aims: Several studies and guidelines are questioning routine preoperative laboratory tests in surgical and endoscopic procedures. Their effect in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is not currently known. This study was carried out to evaluate the risk of adverse effects in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and their association with preoperative lab tests. Materials and Methods: A single-center, prospective observational study on all 956 patients undergoing 1196 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies in the Endoscopy Unit of Helsinki University Central Hospital from 1 March 2012 to 28 February 2013. Routine preoperative laboratory test results (basic blood count, creatinine, potassium, sodium, international normalized ratio/thromboplastin time, and amylase), health status, medication, and demographic information of all patients were analyzed in relation to adverse effects related to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and procedural sedation. Results: Multivariate analysis showed post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (43 cases, 3.6%) to have no association with abnormal routine preoperative laboratory tests. Respiratory depression caused by sedation (128 cases, 11%) was not associated with abnormal routine preoperative laboratory tests, and anemia was found to be a slightly protecting factor. Cardiovascular depression caused by sedation was associated with thrombocytopenia (odds ratio = 1.87, p = 0.025) and, in male patients, hyponatremia (odds ratio = 3.66, p <0.001). Incidence of other adverse effects was too low for statistical analysis. Conclusion: Routine universal preoperative lab testing was not found to be successful in predicting adverse effects in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures. Laboratory testing should be done focusing on each patient's individual needs.Peer reviewe

The association between physical fitness and depressive symptoms among young adults: results of the Northern Finland 1966 birth cohort study

Background The effect of physical activity on mental health has been the subject of research for several decades. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the association between physical fitness, including both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness and depressive symptoms among general population. The aim of this study was to determine the association between physical fitness and depressive symptoms among young adults. Methods The study population consists of 5497 males and females, members of the Northern Finland birth cohort of 1966, who at age 31 completed fitness tests and filled in a questionnaire including questions about depressive symptoms (Hopkins’ Symptom Checklist-25) and physical activity. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by a 4-min step test and muscular fitness by tests of maximal isometric handgrip and isometric trunk extension. The odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for having depressive symptoms were calculated for quintiles groups of physical fitness using the third, median quintile as reference group, and the results were adjusted for potential confounding variables. Results Depressive symptoms were most common among males and females in the lowest quintile group of trunk extension test (OR 1.58 and 95% CI 1.07-2.32 in males and OR 1.43 and 95% CI 1.03-2.0 in females) and among males in the lowest quintile group of handgrip strength (OR 1.64 95% CI 1.11-2.42) compared to the reference group. Level of self-reported physical activity was inversely associated with depressive symptoms both in males (OR 1.74 95% CI 1.25-2.36) and females (OR 1.36 95% CI 1.05-1.75). The cardiorespiratory fitness was not associated with depressive symptoms (OR 1.01 95% CI 0.68-1.49 in males and 0.82 95% CI 0.57-1.16 in females). Conclusions The results indicate that low level of isometric endurance capacity of trunk extensor muscles is associated with high level of depressive symptoms in both sexes. In males, also poor handgrip strength is associated with increased levels of depressive symptoms. The physical activity level is inversely associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms among young adults

Relationship between BMI and emotion-handling capacity in an adult Finnish population: the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966

Background Alexithymia, a difficulty in identifying and expressing emotions, has been associated with obesity and eating disorders in small-scale cross-sectional studies. Here, we assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and alexithymia in a large cohort of free-living Finnish adults over a 15-year period. Methods Participants were drawn from the Northern Finnish Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966). The 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was used as a measure of alexithymia and was completed at the age of 31 years (31y: n = 4841), and 46 years (46y: n = 5404). BMI was recorded at both time points. Where data at both time points were available (n = 3274), the relationship between changes in BMI and TAS-20 over this time period was also investigated. Results BMI was significantly and positively associated with TAS-20 score (p<0.0001, both at 31 years and at 46 years of ages). The association remained statistically significant after adjustment for potential confounders (sex, marital status and several socio-economic indicators). In individuals who experienced the greatest change in BMI (in either direction) over the 15-year period, there was a modest mean increase in TAS-20 score. Conclusions Our data revealed that TAS-20 score was correlated with and co-varied with body mass status. We suggest that future clinical research should consider the role of alexithymia in obesity. Further investigation of this relationship is warranted to ensure that the needs of obese subjects with undiagnosed alexithymia are considered in the design of weight management programmes

DNA content of a functioning chicken kinetochore

© The Author(s) 2014. In order to understand the three-dimensional structure of the functional kinetochore in vertebrates, we require a complete list and stoichiometry for the protein components of the kinetochore, which can be provided by genetic and proteomic experiments. We also need to know how the chromatin-containing CENP-A, which makes up the structural foundation for the kinetochore, is folded, and how much of that DNA is involved in assembling the kinetochore. In this MS, we demonstrate that functioning metaphase kinetochores in chicken DT40 cells contain roughly 50 kb of DNA, an amount that corresponds extremely closely to the length of chromosomal DNA associated with CENP-A in ChIP-seq experiments. Thus, during kinetochore assembly, CENP-A chromatin is compacted into the inner kinetochore plate without including significant amounts of flanking pericentromeric heterochromatin. © 2014 The Author(s).Wellcome Trust [grant number 073915]; Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology (core grant numbers 077707 and 092076); Darwin Trust of Edinburg

Circulating metabolites and the risk of type 2 diabetes: a prospective study of 11,896 young adults from four Finnish cohorts

Aims/hypothesis Metabolomics technologies have identified numerous blood biomarkers for type 2 diabetes risk in case−control studies of middle-aged and older individuals. We aimed to validate existing and identify novel metabolic biomarkers predictive of future diabetes in large cohorts of young adults. Methods NMR metabolomics was used to quantify 229 circulating metabolic measures in 11,896 individuals from four Finnish observational cohorts (baseline age 24–45 years). Associations between baseline metabolites and risk of developing diabetes during 8–15 years of follow-up (392 incident cases) were adjusted for sex, age, BMI and fasting glucose. Prospective metabolite associations were also tested with fasting glucose, 2 h glucose and HOMA-IR at follow-up. Results Out of 229 metabolic measures, 113 were associated with incident type 2 diabetes in meta-analysis of the four cohorts (ORs per 1 SD: 0.59–1.50; p< 0.0009). Among the strongest biomarkers of diabetes risk were branched-chain and aromatic amino acids (OR 1.31–1.33) and triacylglycerol within VLDL particles (OR 1.33–1.50), as well as linoleic n-6 fatty acid (OR 0.75) and non-esterified cholesterol in large HDL particles (OR 0.59). The metabolic biomarkers were more strongly associated with deterioration in post-load glucose and insulin resistance than with future fasting hyperglycaemia. A multi-metabolite score comprised of phenylalanine, non-esterified cholesterol in large HDL and the ratio of cholesteryl ester to total lipid in large VLDL was associated with future diabetes risk (OR 10.1 comparing individuals in upper vs lower fifth of the multi-metabolite score) in one of the cohorts (mean age 31 years). Conclusions/interpretation Metabolic biomarkers across multiple molecular pathways are already predictive of the long-term risk of diabetes in young adults. Comprehensive metabolic profiling may help to target preventive interventions for young asymptomatic individuals at increased risk