Gestatsioondiabeet sisaldab endas vähemalt kahte tüüpi haigust – autoimmuunset ning insuliinresistentsusel põhinevat diabeeti

Gestatsioondiabeet (GDM) on rasedusaegne suhkru ainevahetuse häire, mis taandub pärast sünnitamist. See mõjutab kuni 14% kõikidest rasedusjuhtudest ning on ebasoodsa mõjuga nii emale kui tema vastsündinud lapsele. Uusim teaduskirjandus lubab arvata, et GDM on heterogeenne haigus ning praegused diagnoosikriteeriumid ei erista GDMi põhjuseid ega tuvasta kõiki hilisema diabeedi riskiga rasedaid naisi. Töö eesmärgiks oli analüüsida seda hüpoteesi

Vereseerumi D-vitamiini sisaldus raseduse teisel kolmandikul mõjutab rasedustulemust ja ema tervist

Taust. D-vitamiin mõjutab rohkem kui 200 geeni ekspressiooni, mistõttu on see vitamiin oluline paljudes füsioloogilistes protsessides. Inimene vajab D-vitamiini kogu elu vältel, ent kriitilise tähtsusega on see raseduse ajal. Rasedad naised ja nende vastsündinud moodustavad hüpo-D-vitaminoosi riskirühma ning D-vitamiini puudulikkusest on saanud ülemaailmne probleem.Eesmärk. Analüüsida Eesti naiste rasedusaegset vereseerumi D-vitamiini sisaldust, seda määravaid tegureid ning hinnata D-vitamiini vähese sisalduse mõju ema ning lapse tervisele.Meetodid. Analüüsiti TÜ Kliinikumi naistekliiniku tervete rasedate (n = 118) anamnestilisi ning kliinilisi andmeid raseduse II trimestril ja sünnitusjärgsel perioodil ning andmeid nende vastsündinute loost. Vereseerumi D-vitamiini sisaldus määrati kemoluminestsents- immuunmeetodil. Andmete analüüsiks kasutati lineaarset ja logistilist regressioonanalüüsi ning kohandamist seoseid mõjutavatele teguritele.Tulemused. Eesti rasedate D-vitamiini sisaldus seerumis oli keskmiselt 55,0 ± 22,8 nmol/l, jäädes 79,7%-l (95% uv 71,1–86,3) uuritavatest alla referentsväärtuse (75 nmol/l) ning 17,8%-l (95% uv 11,6–26,1) esines D-vitamiini puudulikkus (≤ 30 nmol/l). D-vitamiini väärtused vereseerumis sõltusid kalendrikuust ja naise raseduseelsest kehamassiindeksist. Rasedusaegne D-vitamiini vähene sisaldus oli seotud suurema rasedusaegse kaaluiibega, vajadusega sekkuda sünnitusse, makrosoomse lapse sünniga, lapse kehvema Apgarihindega, lapse sünnijärgse kohanemisraskusega ning ema rasedusjärgse arteriaalse vererõhu kätevahelise erinevusega üle 10 mm Hg.Järeldused. D-vitamiini väike sisaldus on Eesti rasedate naiste hulgas sage ning selle peamisteks riskiteguriteks on raseduse kandmine vähese päikeseintensiivsusega kalendrikuudel ning raseduseelne rasvumine. D-vitamiini väike sisaldus mõjutab ebasoodsalt raseduse kulgu ning ema ja lapse tervisenäitajaid. Eestis suvekuudel talletatud D-vitamiini varud ei ole talviseks perioodiks piisavad. Lähtudes sellest, soovitame määrata vereseerumi D-vitamiini sisaldust hüpo-D-vitaminoosi riskirühmal ehk rasedatel naistel ning vajaduse korral seda toidulisanditena juurde manustada. Kirjanduse andmetele tuginedes näeme vajadust suurendada D-vitamiini profülaktilist doosi päevas 70–80 IU/kg

Association between chemical mixtures and female fertility in women undergoing assisted reproduction in Sweden and Estonia

ObjectiveWomen of reproductive age are exposed to ubiquitous chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have potential endocrine disrupting properties and might affect fertility. Our objective was to investigate associations between potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and female fertility in two cohorts of women attending fertility clinics.MethodsIn a total population of 333 women in Sweden and Estonia, we studied the associations between chemicals and female fertility, evaluating ovarian sensitivity index (OSI) as an indicator of ovarian response, as well as clinical pregnancy and live birth from fresh and frozen embryo transfers. We measured 59 chemicals in follicular fluid samples and detected 3 phthalate metabolites, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolites, 1 paraben, and 6 PFAS in >90% of the women. Associations were evaluated using multivariable-adjusted linear or logistic regression, categorizing EDCs into quartiles of their distributions, as well as with Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression.ResultsWe observed statistically significant lower OSI at higher concentrations of the sum of DEHP metabolites in the Swedish cohort (Q4 vs Q1, β = -0.21, 95% CI: −0.38, −0.05) and methylparaben in the Estonian cohort (Q3 vs Q1, β = -0.22, 95% CI: −0.44, −0.01). Signals of potential associations were also observed at higher concentrations of PFUnDA in both the combined population (Q2 vs. Q1, β = −0.16, 95% CI -0.31, −0.02) and the Estonian population (Q2 vs. Q1, β = −0.27, 95% CI -0.45, −0.08), and for PFOA in the Estonian population (Q4 vs. Q1, β = −0.31, 95% CI -0.61, −0.01). Associations of chemicals with clinical pregnancy and live birth presented wide confidence intervals.ConclusionsWithin a large chemical mixture, we observed significant inverse associations levels of DEHP metabolites and methylparaben, and possibly PFUnDA and PFOA, with OSI, suggesting that these chemicals may contribute to altered ovarian function and infertility in women

Association between chemical mixtures and female fertility in women undergoing assisted reproduction in Sweden and Estonia

Objective Women of reproductive age are exposed to ubiquitous chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have potential endocrine disrupting properties and might affect fertility. Our objective was to investigate associations between potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and female fertility in two cohorts of women attending fertility clinics. Methods In a total population of 333 women in Sweden and Estonia, we studied the associations between chemicals and female fertility, evaluating ovarian sensitivity index (OSI) as an indicator of ovarian response, as well as clinical pregnancy and live birth from fresh and frozen embryo transfers. We measured 59 chemicals in follicular fluid samples and detected 3 phthalate metabolites, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolites, 1 paraben, and 6 PFAS in >90% of the women. Associations were evaluated using multivariable-adjusted linear or logistic regression, categorizing EDCs into quartiles of their distributions, as well as with Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression. Results We observed statistically significant lower OSI at higher concentrations of the sum of DEHP metabolites in the Swedish cohort (Q4 vs Q1, β = -0.21, 95% CI: −0.38, −0.05) and methylparaben in the Estonian cohort (Q3 vs Q1, β = -0.22, 95% CI: −0.44, −0.01). Signals of potential associations were also observed at higher concentrations of PFUnDA in both the combined population (Q2 vs. Q1, β = −0.16, 95% CI -0.31, −0.02) and the Estonian population (Q2 vs. Q1, β = −0.27, 95% CI -0.45, −0.08), and for PFOA in the Estonian population (Q4 vs. Q1, β = −0.31, 95% CI -0.61, −0.01). Associations of chemicals with clinical pregnancy and live birth presented wide confidence intervals. Conclusions Within a large chemical mixture, we observed significant inverse associations levels of DEHP metabolites and methylparaben, and possibly PFUnDA and PFOA, with OSI, suggesting that these chemicals may contribute to altered ovarian function and infertility in women

Metabolic shift underlies recovery in reversible infantile respiratory chain deficiency.

Reversible infantile respiratory chain deficiency (RIRCD) is a rare mitochondrial myopathy leading to severe metabolic disturbances in infants, which recover spontaneously after 6-months of age. RIRCD is associated with the homoplasmic m.14674T>C mitochondrial DNA mutation; however, only ~ 1/100 carriers develop the disease. We studied 27 affected and 15 unaffected individuals from 19 families and found additional heterozygous mutations in nuclear genes interacting with mt-tRNAGlu including EARS2 and TRMU in the majority of affected individuals, but not in healthy carriers of m.14674T>C, supporting a digenic inheritance. Our transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of patient muscle suggests a stepwise mechanism where first, the integrated stress response associated with increased FGF21 and GDF15 expression enhances the metabolism modulated by serine biosynthesis, one carbon metabolism, TCA lipid oxidation and amino acid availability, while in the second step mTOR activation leads to increased mitochondrial biogenesis. Our data suggest that the spontaneous recovery in infants with digenic mutations may be modulated by the above described changes. Similar mechanisms may explain the variable penetrance and tissue specificity of other mtDNA mutations and highlight the potential role of amino acids in improving mitochondrial disease

Plant trait and vegetation data along a 1314 m elevation gradient with fire history in Puna grasslands, Perú

Alpine grassland vegetation supports globally important biodiversity and ecosystems that are increasingly threatened by climate warming and other environmental changes. Trait-based approaches can support understanding of vegetation responses to global change drivers and consequences for ecosystem functioning. In six sites along a 1314 m elevational gradient in Puna grasslands in the Peruvian Andes, we collected datasets on vascular plant composition, plant functional traits, biomass, ecosystem fluxes, and climate data over three years. The data were collected in the wet and dry season and from plots with different fire histories. We selected traits associated with plant resource use, growth, and life history strategies (leaf area, leaf dry/wet mass, leaf thickness, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf C, N, P content, C and N isotopes). The trait dataset contains 3,665 plant records from 145 taxa, 54,036 trait measurements (increasing the trait data coverage of the regional flora by 420%) covering 14 traits and 121 plant taxa (ca. 40% of which have no previous publicly available trait data) across 33 families

Intellectual capital analysis as a strategic tool

The intellectual capital literature has concentrated on issues of defining, measuring, and reporting intellectual capital. The underlying thesis is that as the economy becomes more reliant on intellectual assets management and measurement processes need to focus more on these types of assets to redress an overemphasis on monetary and physical assets. This article discusses intellectual capital concepts as a mechanism for strategic analysis and facilitator of the strategy-formulation process. It briefly considers the nature of strategy, two major strands of strategic thinking, the external view and the resource-based view, and the advantages of the intellectual capital approach. The authors argue that the intellectual capital approach has a number of advantages leading to more effective implementation and strategic performance measurement

Towards improved information disclosure on intellectual capital

Information disclosure to capital markets is based on and evolves around accounting based financial information. As the drivers of future earnings are becoming increasingly reliant on intangible assets that are not captured by the accounting framework, the value relevance of financial information has been decreasing for the past decades. This paper reviews recent approaches aiming to extend or complement the accounting framework to incorporate intellectual capital into business reporting, both from a financial and a non-financial perspective. An alternative approach is presented: reporting on the contribution of intangible as well as tangible resources to value creation. This approach is based on the needs of the users of business reporting for assessing the firm's future earnings potential rather than attempting to amend the transactions-based accounting system, apparently unsuitable for reporting on intellectual capital. Finally, the paper offers recommendations for further research on intellectual capital disclosure to capital markets and for companies aspiring to improve their communication with capital markets regarding their intellectual capital