Suberin of Potato (Solanum tuberosum Var. Nikola): Comparison of the Effect of Cutinase CcCut1 with Chemical Depolymerization

Chemical and enzymatic depolymerizations of suberin isolated from potato peel (Solanum tuberosum var. Nikola) were performed under various conditions. Enzymatic hydrolysis with cutinase CcCut1 and chemical methanolysis with NaOMe of suberin yielded monomeric fragments, which were identified as TMS derivatives with GC-MS and GC-FID. The solid, hydrolysis-resistant residues were analyzed with solid state (13)C CPMAS NMR, FT-IR, and microscopic methods. Methanolysis released more CHCl(13)-soluble, material than the cutinase treatment when determined gravimetrically. Interestingly, cutinase-catalyzed hydrolysis produced higher proportions of aliphatic monomers than hydrolysis with the NaOMe procedure when analyzed by GC in the form of TMS derivatives. Monomers released by the two methods were mainly alpha,omega-dioic acids and omega-hydroxy acids, but the ratios of the detected monomers were different, at 40.0 and 32.7% for methanolysis and 64.6 and 8.2% for cutinase, respectively. Thus, cutinase CcCut1 showed higher activity toward ester bonds of alpha,omega-dioic acids than toward the bonds of omega-hydroxy acids. The most abundant monomeric compounds were octadec-9-ene-1,18-dioic acid and 18-hydroxyoctadec-9-enoic acid, which accounted for ca. 37 and 28% of all monomers, respectively. The results of the analyses of the chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis products were supported by the spectroscopic analyses with FT-IR and CPMAS (13)C NMR together with the analysis of the microstructures of the hydrolysis residues by light and confocal microscopy

Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Finland

Background Ticks are responsible for transmitting several notable pathogens worldwide. Finland lies in a zone where two human-biting tick species co-occur: Ixodesricinus and Ixodespersulcatus. Tick densities have increased in boreal regions worldwide during past decades, and tick-borne pathogens have been identified as one of the major threats to public health in the face of climate change. Methods We used species distribution modelling techniques to predict the distributions of I.ricinus and I.persulcatus, using aggregated historical data from 2014 to 2020 and new tick occurrence data from 2021. By aiming to fill the gaps in tick occurrence data, we created a new sampling strategy across Finland. We also screened for tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Borrelia from the newly collected ticks. Climate, land use and vegetation data, and population densities of the tick hosts were used in various combinations on four data sets to estimate tick species' distributions across mainland Finland with a 1-km resolution. Results In the 2021 survey, 89 new locations were sampled of which 25 new presences and 63 absences were found for I.ricinus and one new presence and 88 absences for I.persulcatus. A total of 502 ticks were collected and analysed; no ticks were positive for TBEV, while 56 (47%) of the 120 pools, including adult, nymph, and larva pools, were positive for Borrelia (minimum infection rate 11.2%, respectively). Our prediction results demonstrate that two combined predictor data sets based on ensemble mean models yielded the highest predictive accuracy for both I.ricinus (AUC = 0.91, 0.94) and I.persulcatus (AUC = 0.93, 0.96). The suitable habitats for I.ricinus were determined by higher relative humidity, air temperature, precipitation sum, and middle-infrared reflectance levels and higher densities of white-tailed deer, European hare, and red fox. For I.persulcatus, locations with greater precipitation and air temperature and higher white-tailed deer, roe deer, and mountain hare densities were associated with higher occurrence probabilities. Suitable habitats for I.ricinus ranged from southern Finland up to Central Ostrobothnia and North Karelia, excluding areas in Ostrobothnia and Pirkanmaa. For I.persulcatus, suitable areas were located along the western coast from Ostrobothnia to southern Lapland, in North Karelia, North Savo, Kainuu, and areas in Pirkanmaa and Paijat-Hame. Conclusions This is the first study conducted in Finland that estimates potential tick species distributions using environmental and host data. Our results can be utilized in vector control strategies, as supporting material in recommendations issued by public health authorities, and as predictor data for modelling the risk for tick-borne diseases.Peer reviewe

Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodesricinus and Ixodespersulcatus ticks in Finland

Background Ticks are responsible for transmitting several notable pathogens worldwide. Finland lies in a zone where two human-biting tick species co-occur: Ixodesricinus and Ixodespersulcatus. Tick densities have increased in boreal regions worldwide during past decades, and tick-borne pathogens have been identified as one of the major threats to public health in the face of climate change. Methods We used species distribution modelling techniques to predict the distributions of I.ricinus and I.persulcatus, using aggregated historical data from 2014 to 2020 and new tick occurrence data from 2021. By aiming to fill the gaps in tick occurrence data, we created a new sampling strategy across Finland. We also screened for tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Borrelia from the newly collected ticks. Climate, land use and vegetation data, and population densities of the tick hosts were used in various combinations on four data sets to estimate tick species' distributions across mainland Finland with a 1-km resolution. Results In the 2021 survey, 89 new locations were sampled of which 25 new presences and 63 absences were found for I.ricinus and one new presence and 88 absences for I.persulcatus. A total of 502 ticks were collected and analysed; no ticks were positive for TBEV, while 56 (47%) of the 120 pools, including adult, nymph, and larva pools, were positive for Borrelia (minimum infection rate 11.2%, respectively). Our prediction results demonstrate that two combined predictor data sets based on ensemble mean models yielded the highest predictive accuracy for both I.ricinus (AUC = 0.91, 0.94) and I.persulcatus (AUC = 0.93, 0.96). The suitable habitats for I.ricinus were determined by higher relative humidity, air temperature, precipitation sum, and middle-infrared reflectance levels and higher densities of white-tailed deer, European hare, and red fox. For I.persulcatus, locations with greater precipitation and air temperature and higher white-tailed deer, roe deer, and mountain hare densities were associated with higher occurrence probabilities. Suitable habitats for I.ricinus ranged from southern Finland up to Central Ostrobothnia and North Karelia, excluding areas in Ostrobothnia and Pirkanmaa. For I.persulcatus, suitable areas were located along the western coast from Ostrobothnia to southern Lapland, in North Karelia, North Savo, Kainuu, and areas in Pirkanmaa and Paijat-Hame. Conclusions This is the first study conducted in Finland that estimates potential tick species distributions using environmental and host data. Our results can be utilized in vector control strategies, as supporting material in recommendations issued by public health authorities, and as predictor data for modelling the risk for tick-borne diseases.</p

The Finnish Cardiovascular Study (FINCAVAS): characterising patients with high risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the Finnish Cardiovascular Study (FINCAVAS) is to construct a risk profile – using genetic, haemodynamic and electrocardiographic (ECG) markers – of individuals at high risk of cardiovascular diseases, events and deaths. METHODS AND DESIGN: All patients scheduled for an exercise stress test at Tampere University Hospital and willing to participate have been and will be recruited between October 2001 and December 2007. The final number of participants is estimated to reach 5,000. Technically successful data on exercise tests using a bicycle ergometer have been collected of 2,212 patients (1,400 men and 812 women) by the end of 2004. In addition to repeated measurement of heart rate and blood pressure, digital high-resolution ECG at 500 Hz is recorded continuously during the entire exercise test, including the resting and recovery phases. About 20% of the patients are examined with coronary angiography. Genetic variations known or suspected to alter cardiovascular function or pathophysiology are analysed to elucidate the effects and interactions of these candidate genes, exercise and commonly used cardiovascular medications. DISCUSSION: FINCAVAS compiles an extensive set of data on patient history, genetic variation, cardiovascular parameters, ECG markers as well as follow-up data on clinical events, hospitalisations and deaths. The data enables the development of new diagnostic and prognostic tools as well as assessments of the importance of existing markers

Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in Parkinsonian syndromes

Abstract Autonomic nervous system (ANS) disturbances are common in Parkinson's disease (PD), but also in other Parkinsonian syndromes, especially in multiple system atrophy (MSA). The differentiation between various Parkinsonian syndromes may be difficult, but it is important for prognostic and therapeutic purposes. The aim of this study was to determine the ability of different analysis methods to reveal cardiovascular regulation disturbances in PD and to evaluate the diagnostic capacity of autonomic tests to differentiate between various Parkinsonian syndromes. Furthermore, this study aimed to evaluate the relationships between ANS disturbances and the clinical characteristics of PD. In addition, the cardiac autonomic function was evaluated during various sleep stages for the first time in untreated PD patients by using spectral heart rate variability (HRV) measures to determine possible sleep stage specific cardiovascular regulation disturbances. Cardiovascular autonomic reflexes were evaluated in 62 untreated and newly diagnosed PD patients, 34 PD patients under antiparkinsonian medication, 47 MSA patients and 15 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). The usefulness of different analysis methods was evaluated in a subgroup of 32 untreated PD patients. A further 21 untreated PD patients underwent one-night polysomnography for nocturnal heart rate variability analysis. PD patients with hypokinesia/rigidity as their initial onset sign had a significantly lower max-min ratio in the deep breathing test than those patients with tremor as the initial sign. MSA patients showed significant reductions in both HRV and blood pressure responses during orthostatic provocation, whereas PSP patients had normal results. Absolute spectral measures yielded the clearest indicators separating the PD patients from the controls, while the cardiovascular reflexes proved more useful than the normalised spectral HRV measures in revealing the differences between the two groups. HRV was abnormally decreased during non-REM sleep in PD patients but not during REM sleep or the S1 sleep stage. The normalized high frequency power was significantly decreased in PD patients during sleep stages S2-4, while the standard deviation of the R-R intervals was increased during the same sleep stages, possibly corresponding to the increased motility of PD patients during these sleep stages. The clinical characteristics of PD deserve particular attention in connection with ANS disturbances, since autonomic failure seems to be more pronounced in PD patients with hypokinesia/rigidity as their initial sign. The evaluation of the autonomic function may also be helpful in the differential diagnosis of Parkinsonian syndromes. Spectral analysis methods should be implemented in the evaluation of ANS dysfunction to achieve the best possible efficacy in the differentiation of pathological responses from normal ones. Nocturnal analysis of cardiovascular regulation revealed new and interesting features of pathologic HRV in PD patients, thus when HRV is evaluated, the different sleep stages should be analysed separately

Phenotype of patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth with the p.His123Arg mutation in GDAP1 in northern Finland

Abstract Background and Objectives:Mutations in the ganglioside-induced differentiation-associated protein 1 (GDAP1) gene cause autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive forms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). Our aim was to study the clinical phenotype of patients with CMT caused by heterozygous p.His123Arg in GDAP1. Methods:Twenty-three Finnish patients were recruited from a population-based cohort and through family investigation. Each patient was examined clinically and electrophysiologically. The Neuropathy Symptom Score and the Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS) were used in clinical evaluation. Results:The median age at onset of symptoms was 17 years among patients with p.His123Arg in GDAP1. Motor symptoms were markedly more common than sensory symptoms at onset. All patients had distal weakness in lower extremities, and 17 (74%) patients had proximal weakness. Muscle atrophy and pes cavus were also common. Nineteen (82%) patients had sensory symptoms such as numbness or pain. The disease progressed with age, and the NDS increased 8.5 points per decade. Electrodiagnostic testing revealed length-dependent, sensory and motor axonal polyneuropathy. EDx findings were asymmetrical in 14 patients. Genealogic study of the families suggested a founder effect. Discussion:We found that CMT in patients with p.His123Arg in GDAP1 is relatively mild and slow in progression

Decreased occipital alpha oscillation in children who stutter during a visual Go/Nogo task

Abstract Objective: Our goal was to discover attention- and inhibitory control-related differences in the main oscillations of the brain of children who stutter (CWS) compared to typically developed children (TDC). Methods: We performed a time-frequency analysis using wavelets, fast Fourier transformation (FFT) and the Alpha/Theta power ratio of EEG data collected during a visual Go/Nogo task in 7–9 year old CWS and TDC, including also the time window between consecutive tasks. Results: CWS showed significantly reduced occipital alpha power and Alpha/Theta ratio in the “resting” or preparatory period between visual stimuli especially in the Nogo condition. Conclusions: The CWS demonstrate reduced inhibition of the visual cortex and information processing in the absence of visual stimuli, which may be related to problems in attentional gating. Significance: Occipital alpha oscillation is elementary in the control and inhibition of visual attention and the lack of occipital alpha modulation indicate fundamental differences in the regulation of visual information processing in CWS. Our findings support the view of stuttering as part of a wide-ranging brain dysfunction most likely involving also attentional and inhibitory networks

Combined surface electromyography, near-infrared spectroscopy and acceleration recordings of muscle contraction:the effect of motion

Abstract Noninvasive techniques, surface electromyography (sEMG) in particular, are being increasingly employed for assessing muscle activity. In these studies, local oxygen consumption and muscle metabolism are of great interest. Measurements can be performed noninvasively using optics-based methods such as near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). By combining energy consumption data provided by NIRS with muscle level activation data from sEMG, we may gain an insight into the metabolic and functional characteristics of muscle tissue. However, muscle motion may induce artifacts into EMG and NIRS. Thus, the inclusion of simultaneous motion measurements using accelerometers (ACMs) enhances possibilities to perceive the effects of motion on NIRS and EMG signals. This paper reviews the current state of noninvasive EMG and NIRS-based methods used to study muscle function. In addition, we built a combined sEMG/NIRS/ACM sensor to perform simultaneous measurements for static and dynamic exercises of a biceps brachii muscle. Further, we discuss the effect of muscle motion in response of NIRS and EMG when measured noninvasively. Based on our preliminary studies, both NIRS and EMG supply specific information on muscle activation, but their signal responses also showed similarities with acceleration signals which, in this case, were supposed to be solely sensitive to motions

Median nerve ultrasound cross sectional area and wrist-to-forearm ratio in relation to carpal tunnel syndrome related axonal damage and patient age

Abstract Objective: Primary objective was to retrospectively examine the effects of patient age and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) related axon loss on median nerve (MN) high resolution ultrasound (HRUS) in younger and older patients. HRUS parameters evaluated in this study were MN cross sectional area at the wrist (CSA) and wrist-to-forearm ratio (WFR). Methods: The material comprised 467 wrists of 329 patients. The patients were categorized into younger (&lt;65 years) and older (≥65 years) groups. Patients with moderate to extreme CTS were included in the study. Axon loss of the MN was assessed by needle EMG and graded by the interference pattern (IP) density. The association between axon loss and CSA and WFR was studied. Results: The older patients had smaller mean CSA and WFR values compared to the younger patients. CSA correlated positively to the CTS severity only in the younger group. However, WFR correlated positively to CTS severity in both groups. In both age groups, CSA and WFR correlated positively with IP reduction. Conclusions: Our study complemented recent findings on the effects of patient age on the CSA of the MN. However, although the MN CSA did not correlate with the CTS severity in older patients, the CSA increased in respect to the amount of axon loss. Also, as a new result, we presented the positive association of WFR with CTS severity among older patients. Significance: Our study supports the recently speculated need for different MN CSA and WFR cut-off values for younger and older patients in assessing the severity of CTS. With older patients, WFR may be a more reliable parameter to assess the CTS severity than the CSA. CTS related axonal damage of the MN is associated to additional nerve enlargement at the carpal tunnel intel site