Finnish children who experienced narcolepsy after receiving the Pandemrix vaccine during the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic demonstrated high level of psychosocial problems

https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.16233ABSTRACT Aim We assessed psychosocial burdens in children who developed narcolepsy after receiving the Pandemrix H1N1 vaccine during the 2009-2010 pandemic. Parental quality of life was also assessed. Methods This multicentre study covered four of the five Finnish University Hospital Districts, which dealt with about 90% of the paediatric narcolepsy cases after the Pandemrix vaccination. The medical records of children diagnosed from 2010-2014 were reviewed. The questionnaires included the Youth Self Report (YSR), Children?s Depression Inventory (CDI), the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and questions on parental resources, stress and quality of life. Results We obtained the medical records of 94 children who were aged 5-17 years at the time of their narcolepsy diagnosis and questionnaire data for 73 of those children. Most children had strong narcolepsy symptoms 25% had CDI scores that suggested depression. In addition, 41% had total CBCL problem scores above the clinically significant limit and 48% were anxious, withdrawn and had somatic complaints. Sleep latency was weakly associated with the CBCL total problem score. Half of the children needed psychiatric interventions and parental stress was common. Conclusion Depression and behavioural problems were common in children with narcolepsy after the Pandemrix vaccination and their parents frequently reported feeling stressed.Peer reviewe

The activity of signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) in relation to thermal and hydraulic dynamics of an alluvial stream, UK

Signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) are an invasive species of global significance because of their detrimental impacts on freshwater environments and native organisms. The movement of signal crayfish was continuously monitored for 150-days through a 20-m reach of an alluvial stream in the UK. Passive integrated transponder-tags were attached to crayfish, allowing their location to be monitored relative to 16 antennae which were buried beneath the river bed. The activity of crayfish was related to water depth and temperature, which were continuously monitored within the instrumented reach. Crayfish were highly nocturnal, with less than 6% of movements recorded during daylight hours. Activity declined from September and was minimal in November when water temperature was low and flow depth was high. However, relations between environmental parameters and crayfish activity had poor explanatory power which may partly reflect biological processes not accounted for in this study. Water depth and temperature had a limiting relationship with crayfish activity, quantified using quantile regression. The results extend existing data on signal crayfish nocturnalism and demonstrate that, although signal crayfish can tolerate a range of flows, activity becomes limited as water temperature declines seasonally and when water depth remains high in autumn and winter months

A Computational and Experimental Study of the Regulatory Mechanisms of the Complement System

The complement system is key to innate immunity and its activation is necessary for the clearance of bacteria and apoptotic cells. However, insufficient or excessive complement activation will lead to immune-related diseases. It is so far unknown how the complement activity is up- or down- regulated and what the associated pathophysiological mechanisms are. To quantitatively understand the modulatory mechanisms of the complement system, we built a computational model involving the enhancement and suppression mechanisms that regulate complement activity. Our model consists of a large system of Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) accompanied by a dynamic Bayesian network as a probabilistic approximation of the ODE dynamics. Applying Bayesian inference techniques, this approximation was used to perform parameter estimation and sensitivity analysis. Our combined computational and experimental study showed that the antimicrobial response is sensitive to changes in pH and calcium levels, which determines the strength of the crosstalk between CRP and L-ficolin. Our study also revealed differential regulatory effects of C4BP. While C4BP delays but does not decrease the classical complement activation, it attenuates but does not significantly delay the lectin pathway activation. We also found that the major inhibitory role of C4BP is to facilitate the decay of C3 convertase. In summary, the present work elucidates the regulatory mechanisms of the complement system and demonstrates how the bio-pathway machinery maintains the balance between activation and inhibition. The insights we have gained could contribute to the development of therapies targeting the complement system.Singapore. Ministry of Education (Grant T208B3109)Singapore. Agency for Science, Technology and Research (BMRC 08/1/21/19/574)Singapore-MIT Alliance (Computational and Systems Biology Flagship Project)Swedish Research Counci

Vacuum ultraviolet photon-mediated production of [F-18]F-2

The chemistry of F-2 and its derivatives are amenable to facile aliphatic or aromatic substitution, as well as electrophilic addition. The main limitation in the use of [F-18]F-2 for radiopharmaceutical synthesis is the low specific activity achieved by the traditional methods of production. The highest specific activities, 55GBq/mol, for [F-18]F-2 have been achieved so far by using electrical discharge in the post-target production of [F-18]F-2 gas from [F-18]CH3F. We demonstrate that [F-18]F-2 is produced by illuminating a gas mixture of neon/F-2/[F-18]CH3F with vacuum ultraviolet photons generated by an excimer laser. We tested several illumination chambers and production conditions. The effects of the initial amount of [F-18]F-, amount of carrier F-2, and number of 193-nm laser pulses at constant power were evaluated regarding radiochemical yield and specific activity. The specific activity attained for [F-18]F-2-derived [F-18]NFSi was 10.3 +/- 0.9GBq/mol, and the average radiochemical yield over a wide range of conditions was 6.7% from [F-18]F-. The production can be improved by optimization of the synthesis device and procedures. The use of a commercially available excimer laser and the simplicity of the process can make this method relatively easy for adaptation in radiochemistry laboratories

The academic–vocational divide in three Nordic countries : implications for social class and gender

In this study we examine how the academic–vocational divide is manifested today in Finland, Iceland and Sweden in the division between vocationally (VET) and academicallyoriented programmes at the upper-secondary school level. The paper is based on a critical re-analysis of results from previous studies; in it we investigate the implications of this divide for class and gender inequalities. The theoretical lens used for the synthesis is based on Bernstein´s theory of pedagogic codes. In the re-analysis we draw on previous studies of policy, curriculum and educational praxis as well as official statistics. The main conclusions are that contemporary policy and curriculum trends in all three countries are dominated by a neo-liberal discourse stressing principles such as “market relevance” and employability. This trend strengthens the academic–vocational divide, mainly through an organisation of knowledge in VET that separates it from more general and theoretical elements. This trend also seems to affect VET students’ transitions in terms of reduced access to higher education, particularly in male-dominated programmes. We also identify low expectations for VET students, manifested through choice of textbooks and tasks, organisation of teacher teams and the advice of career counsellors.Peer reviewe

The role of Probiotics in allergic diseases

Allergic disorders are very common in the pediatric age group. While the exact etiology is unclear, evidence is mounting to incriminate environmental factors and an aberrant gut microbiota with a shift of the Th1/Th2 balance towards a Th2 response. Probiotics have been shown to modulate the immune system back to a Th1 response. Several in vitro studies suggest a role for probiotics in treating allergic disorders. Human trials demonstrate a limited benefit for the use of probiotics in atopic dermatitis in a preventive as well as a therapeutic capacity. Data supporting their use in allergic rhinitis are less robust. Currently, there is no role for probiotic therapy in the treatment of bronchial asthma. Future studies will be critical in determining the exact role of probiotics in allergic disorders

The Transition to Upper Secondary Level After Basic Education for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Finland

This chapter provides an exploration of the preparation of pupils with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for transition to upper secondary level after Finnish basic education. It also examines the importance of supports required during the transition phase. Two examples of pupils with ASD (Kalle and Maija) are utilized to illustrate how to plan and support pupils with ASD during their initial post-school transition. Transitions are defined, after which education opportunities after basic education for pupils with ASD in Finland are examined. This is followed by a brief illustration of the Finnish comprehensive school system to provide context with a focus on support arrangements and the preparation of support for transition. Then, the individual transition-planning documents are examined, after which the two cases of Kalle and Maija are introduced. This is followed by an illustration of the use of the documents in practice for the two pupils. The summary includes a discussion of implications for future directions.Peer reviewe

Validation of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose and positron emission tomography (PET) for the measurement of intestinal metabolism in pigs, and evidence of intestinal insulin resistance in patients with morbid obesity

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Towards practical typology of energy communities : main differentiating elements and examples of promising implementations

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Radiosynthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of an α2A-Adrenoceptor Tracer Candidate, 6-[18F]Fluoro-marsanidine

Purpose: The α2-adrenoceptors mediate many effects of norepinephrine and epinephrine, and participate in the regulation of neuronal, endocrine, cardiovascular, vegetative, and metabolic functions. Of the three receptor subtypes, only α2A and α2C are found in the brain in significant amounts. Subtype-selective positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of α2-adrenoceptors has been limited to the α2C subtype. Here, we report the synthesis of 6-[18F]fluoro-marsanidine, a subtype-selective PET tracer candidate for α2A-adrenoceptors, and its preclinical evaluation in rats and mice.Procedures: 6-[18F]Fluoro-marsanidine was synthesized using electrophilic F-18 fluorination with [18F]Selectfluor bis(triflate). The tracer was evaluated in Sprague Dawley rats and in α2A-knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice for subtype selectivity. In vivo PET imaging and ex vivo brain autoradiography were performed to determine the tracer distribution in the brain. The specificity of the tracer for the target was determined by pretreatment with the subtype-non-selective α2-agonist medetomidine. The peripheral biodistribution and extent of metabolism of 6-[18F]fluoro-marsanidine were also analyzed.Results: 6-[18F]Fluoro-marsanidine was synthesized with [18F]Selectfluor bis(triflate) in a radiochemical yield of 6.4 ± 1.7 %. The molar activity was 3.1 to 26.6 GBq/μmol, and the radiochemical purity was > 99 %. In vivo studies in mice revealed lower uptake in the brains of α2A-KO mice compared to WT mice. The results for selectivity were confirmed by ex vivo brain autoradiography. Blocking studies revealed reduced uptake in α2A-adrenoceptor-rich brain regions in pretreated animals, demonstrating the specificity of the tracer. Metabolite analyses revealed very rapid metabolism of 6-[18F]fluoro-marsanidine with blood-brain barrier-permeable metabolites in both rats and mice.Conclusion: 6-[18F]Fluoro-marsanidine was synthesized and evaluated as a PET tracer candidate for brain α2A-adrenoceptors. However, rapid metabolism, extensive presence of labeled metabolites in the brain, and high non-specific uptake in mouse and rat brain make 6-[18F]fluoro-marsanidine unsuitable for α2A-adrenoceptor targeting in rodents in vivo.</p