Membrane-associated collagens with interrupted triple-helices (MACITs):evolution from a bilaterian common ancestor and functional conservation <i>in C. elegans</i>

Protein sequence alignment of human collagens XIII, XXIII, XXV and six alternative spliced variants of COL-99. The protein sequence of the newly identified COL-99f was compared with the other COL-99 variants and human collagens XIII, XXIII and XXV. Putative furin cleavage residues in these proteins and the peptides for producing the COL-99 antibodies AB5625.11 and AB693 are highlighted in the sequence. (PDF 22 kb

Dynamic Integrated Backscatter Detects Radiotherapy-induced Cardiac Changes Better than Strain Analysis - A Prospective Three-year Study

Background/Aim: Radiotherapy (RT) related myocardial changes were analyzed by deformation imaging echocardiography in this study. Patients and Methods: Ninety-nine breast cancer patients were studied at baseline, after chemotherapy, after RT, and three years after RT (3Y). Eighty patients received RT only, and twenty patients had right-sided breast cancer. Echocardiography included cyclic variation of the integrated backscatter in the septum (sCV) and posterior wall (pCV), global longitudinal strain (GLS), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Results: In patients with left-sided breast cancer, sCV declined from 11.3??3.3 dB at baseline to 10.3??2.9 dB after RT (p=0.001). No changes were observed after chemotherapy (p=0.211) or in patients with right-sided breast cancer after RT (p=0.977). No other parameters declined after RT. The decline in sCV was independently associated with the left anterior descending coronary artery radiation dose (??=???0.290, p=0.020). Conclusion: In contrast to other parameters, sCV correlated with heart radiation dose.Peer reviewe

3-Year Follow-Up of Radiation-Associated Changes in Diastolic Function by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography

BACKGROUND Radiation therapy (RT) results in myocardial changes consisting of diffuse fibrosis, which may result in changes in diastolic function. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to explore RT-associated changes in left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. METHODS Sixty chemotherapy-naive patients with left-sided, early-stage breast cancer were studied with speckle tracking echocardiography at 3 time points: prior to, immediately after, and 3 years after RT. Global and regional early diastolic strain rate (SRe) were quantified, as were parameters of systolic function. RESULTS Regional changes in SRe, particularly the apical and anteroseptat segments, were observed over time and were more evident than global changes. The apical SRe declined from a median of 1.24 (interquartile range: 1.01 to 1.39) s(-1) at baseline to 1.02 (interquartile range: 0.79 to 1.15) s(-1) at 3 years of follow-up (p < 0.001). This decline was associated with the left ventricular maximal radiation dose (beta = 0.36, p = 0.007). The global SRe was CONCLUSIONS RT resulted in changes in the SRe in the apical and anteroseptat segments over 3 years of follow-up. Changes in SRe apical segments were present even in patients with preserved systolic function and were independently associated with RT dose and cardiovascular comorbidities. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation.Peer reviewe

Associations between ECG changes and echocardiographic findings in patients with acute non-ST elevation myocardial infarction

Background: ST segment depression (STD) and T wave inversion (TWI) are typical electrocardiographic (ECG) findings in non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). In ST elevation myocardial infarction, ST changes represent transmural ischemia. The pathophysiological mechanisms of the ECG changes in NSTEMI are unclear. Purpose: We studied the associations between ECG and the echocardiographic findings in NSTEMI patients. Methods: Twenty patients with acute NSTEMI were recruited during their hospital stay. A comprehensive echocardiography study was performed. The findings were compared with blinded ECG analyses. Results: Nine (45%) patients had STD, and 16 (85%) patients had TWI. In multivariable analysis, STD was independently associated with a lower global early diastolic strain rate (beta=-5.061, p=0.033). TWI was independently associated with lower circumferential strain (beta=0.132, p =0.032). Conclusions: The typical ECG changes in NSTEMI patients were associated with subtle echocardiographic changes. STD was related to changes in diastolic function, and TWI was associated with systolic deterioration. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

A Higher Mean Heart Radiation Dose Induces Higher Frequency of Multiple Cardiac Changes

Background/Aim: Radiotherapy (RT) induces late changes in all cardiac structures. Most studies of early changes focus on individual parameters. Patients and Methods: Data from eighty early-stage breast cancer patients at baseline, post-RT and three-year follow-up visit were assessed prospectively. Changes in ten cardiac parameters were collected including electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography, and biomarkers. A percentage of abnormal changes was calculated. Results: The mean heart radiation dose (Dmean) was independently associated with the increased incidence of changes post-RT (?? =0.403, pPeer reviewe

Hiki, ähky ja loikka - Osallistujien pedagogisia mietteitä ja ideoita hankkeen varrelta

DIGIJOUJOU-hankkeessa työskennelleet opettajat ovat hankkeen toimintavuosien 2017-2019 aikana pohtineet opetuksen ja oppimisen digitaalisuutta ja joustavuutta eri näkökulmista: mitä digitaalisuus ja joustavuus suomen ja ruotsin opiskelussa tarkoittaa, miten soveltaa, lisätä ja kehittää digitaalisuutta ja joustavuutta omassa opetuksessa ja opiskelijoiden oppimisessa. Hankelaisten blogikirjoituksissa näemme askeleita opettajien omasta ja yhdessä muiden kanssa oppimisesta hankkeen edetessä; epävarmuus muuttuu varmuudeksi, ajoittainen digiähky oman asiantuntijuuden kasvuksi ja joustavuus osaksi opettajan arkipedagogiikkaa. Antoisia ja inspiroivia lukuhetkiä! Lisätietoa: https://digijoujou.aalto.fi/Lärarna i DIGIJOUJOU-projektet har under projektets verksamhetsår 2017-2019 reflekterat över digitalisering och exibilitet från olika perspektiv; vad betyder digitalisering och exibilitet i lärandet av finska och svenska, hur ska man implementera, öka och utveckla dessa i den egna undervisningen och i hur studerande lär sig finska och svenska. I projektdeltagarnas bloginlägg får vi inblick i hur allas lärandeprocess i projektet framskrider; osäkerhet utvecklas till säkerhet, digikaoset får ordning och exibilitet blir en del av den egna sakkunnigheten och pedagogiken. Med önskan om givande och inspirerande läsning! Mer information: https://digijoujou.aalto.fi

Radiotherapy-induced global and regional differences in early-stage left-sided versus right-sided breast cancer patients : speckle tracking echocardiography study

Radiotherapy (RT) to the thoracic region increases late cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The impact of breast cancer laterality on cardiac function is largely unknown. The aim of this prospective study was to compare RT-induced changes in left-sided and right-sided breast cancer patients using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Sixty eligible patients with left-sided breast cancer and 20 with right-sided breast cancer without chemotherapy were evaluated prospectively before and early after RT. A comprehensive echocardiographic examination included three dimensional measurements and STE of the left ventricle (LV). The global longitudinal strain (GLS) was reduced from -18.3 +/- 3.1 to -17.2 +/- 3.3% (p = 0.003) after RT in patients with left-sided breast cancer. Similarly, regional analysis showed a reduction in the apical strain from -18.7 +/- 5.3 to -16.7 +/- 4.9% (p = 0.002) and an increase in basal values from -21.6 +/- 5.0 to -23.3 +/- 4.9% (p = 0.024). Patients with right-sided breast cancer showed deterioration in basal anterior strain segments from -26.3 +/- 7.6 to -18.8 +/- 8.9% (p <0.001) and in pulsed tissue Doppler by 0.825 [0.365, 1.710] cm/s (p <0.001). In multivariable analysis, the use of aromatase inhibitor (beta = -2.002, p = 0.001) and decreased LV diastolic volume (beta = -0.070, p = 0.025) were independently associated with the decrease in GLS. RT caused no changes in conventional LV systolic measurements. RT induced regional changes corresponded to the RT fields. Patients with left-sided breast cancer experienced apical impact and global decline, whereas patients with right-sided breast cancer showed basal changes. The regional differences in cardiac impact warrant different methods in screening and in the follow-up of patients with left-sided versus right-sided breast cancer.Peer reviewe

Risk factors of readmission after geriatric hospital care : An interRAI-based cohort study in Finland

Purpose: To identify risk factors for readmission after geriatric hospital care. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 1,167 community-dwelling patients aged ≥70 years who were hospitalised in two geriatric hospitals and discharged to their homes over a three-year period. We combined the results of the interRAI-post acute care instrument (interRAI-PAC) with hospital discharge records. Factors associated with readmissions within 90 days following discharge were analysed using logistic regression analysis. Results: The patients' mean age was 84.5 (SD 6.2) years, and 71% (n = 827) were women. The 90-day readmission rate was 29.5%. The risk factors associated with readmission in the univariate analysis were as follows: age, admission from home vs. acute care hospital, Alzheimer's disease, unsteady gait, fatigue, unstable conditions, Activities of Daily Living Hierarchy Scale (ADLH) score, Cognitive Performance Scale (CPS) score, body mass index (BMI), frailty index, bowel incontinence, hearing difficulties, and poor self-rated health. In the multivariable analysis, age of ≥90 years, ADLH ≥1, unsteady gait, BMI <25 or ≥30 kg/m 2, and frailty remained as risk factors for readmission. Surgical operation during the treatment period was associated with a lower readmission risk. Conclusions and implications: InterRAI-PAC performed upon admission to geriatric hospitals revealed patient-related risk factors for readmission. Based on the identified risk factors, we recommend that the patient's functional ability, activities of daily living (ADL) needs, and individual factors underlying ADL disability, as well as nutritional and mobility problems should be carefully addressed and managed during hospitalization to diminish the risk for readmission.publishedVersionPeer reviewe