Kansainvälisen toiminnan kokemuksia ja tulevaisuuden näkymiä

Artikkelin johdannossa todetaan, että mukana oleminen ja vaikuttaminen integroituneessa maailmassa edellyttää osallistumista kansainvälisiin kriisinhallintatehtäviin. Toisaalta kirjoittaja toteaa, että " Uskottava puolustuskyky parantaa jo sellaisenaan mahdollisuuksiamme toimia erilaisissa kriisinhallinta- ja rauhanturvaamistehtävissä, eikä näitä toimintoja tulisi nähdä toisiaan heikentävinä vaan päinvastoin toinen toisilleen valmiuksia kehittävänä." Toisessa luvussa luodaan kansallisen toiminnan viitekehys. Siinä käsitellään muun muassa turvallisuus- ja puolustuspoliittisia selontekoja, EU:n Naton ja venäjän merkitystä, kriisien luonteen muutoksia, YK:n tukemistehtävää ja Naton rauhankumppanuustoimintaa.Kolmannessa luvussa esitellään seikkaperäisesti kokemuksia KFOR-operaatiosta. Kirjoittaja toteaa olleensa kyseisen operaation kansainvälisessä esikunnassa osastopäällikkönä vuosina 2001-2002. Hänen mukaansa " Kosovon kriisissä inhimilliset arvot kansallisten intressien ohella muodostivat ensimmäistä kertaa oikeutuksen voimankäyttöön." Henkilökohtaisena kokemuksena todetaan, että " Työskentelyn kannalta organisaation sisäisiin rakenteisiin kuuluvia esteitä ja rajoitteita sekä toimialakohtaisia rajoja hankalampia ovat sittenkin ennakkoluulot ja tiedon puute." Päätännän lopussa todetaan muun muassa, että "Puolustusvoimien kyky osallistua kriisinhallintaan on tärkeä osa turvallisuuspoliittista keinovalikoimaamme."There is summary in English at the end of the article

Serum copeptin and neuron specific enolase are markers of neonatal distress and long-term neurodevelopmental outcome

The objective of this study was to evaluate the early changes in serial serum levels of copeptin and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in neonates diagnosed with birth asphyxia, and to determine whether these biomarkers measured in the first 168 hours after birth are predictive of long-term neurodevelopmental outcome. Copeptin and NSE levels were measured from serum samples collected 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 168 hours after birth from 75 term neonates diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and treated with therapeutic hypothermia for 72 hours. In addition, serum copeptin levels after birth were measured from 10 HIE diagnosed neonates, who were randomized to the normothermic arm of the TOBY cohort. All neonates underwent neurodevelopmental assessment using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-II at two years of age. Copeptin levels were highest at 6 hours after birth and steadily decreased, whereas the highest NSE levels were measured at 24 hours after birth. The biomarker levels correlated with blood-gas parameters (base excess, pH and lactate) at 6 and 12 hours after birth. Copeptin and NSE levels in the early postnatal period were significantly higher in neonates with poor outcome compared to those with favorable outcome at two years of age. Furthermore, in the TOBY cohort, copeptin levels were significantly lower in hypothermic compared to normothermic neonates. To conclude, copeptin and NSE measured in the early postnatal period are potential prognostic biomarkers of long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in term neonates diagnosed with HIE and treated with therapeutic hypothermia.Peer reviewe

Noncanonical function of an autophagy protein prevents spontaneous Alzheimer’s disease

Noncanonical functions of autophagy proteins have been implicated in neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The WD domain of the autophagy protein Atg16L is dispensable for canonical autophagy but required for its noncanonical functions. Two-year-old mice lacking this domain presented with robust β-amyloid (Aβ) pathology, tau hyperphosphorylation, reactive microgliosis, pervasive neurodegeneration, and severe behavioral and memory deficiencies, consistent with human disease. Mechanistically, we found this WD domain was required for the recycling of Aβ receptors in primary microglia. Pharmacologic suppression of neuroinflammation reversed established memory impairment and markers of disease pathology in this novel AD model. Therefore, loss of the Atg16L WD domain drives spontaneous AD in mice, and inhibition of neuroinflammation is a potential therapeutic approach for treating neurodegeneration and memory loss. A decline in expression of ATG16L in the brains of human patients with AD suggests the possibility that a similar mechanism may contribute in human disease

Mixed Brain Pathologies in Dementia: The BrainNet Europe Consortium Experience

Background: Dementia results from heterogeneous diseases of the brain. Mixed disease forms are increasingly recognized. Methods: We performed a survey within brain banks of BrainNet Europe to estimate the proportion of mixed disease forms underlying dementia and age- and gender-specific influences. Results: Data collected in 9 centres from 3,303 individuals were analysed. The proportion of patients with mixed diagnoses among all cases with Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular pathology (VP), argyrophilic grain dementia (AGD), and synucleinopathies, such as Lewy body dementia (LBD), Parkinson disease (PD) and synuclein pathology only in the amygdala, was 53.3%. Mixed pathology was more frequently reported with LBD, PD, AGD, and VP than with AD. The percentage of mixed diagnoses for AGD and VP significantly differed between centres. In patients younger than 75 years, synucleinopathies, and pure forms of AD, VP, and AGD were more frequent in men. Above 75 years of age, more women had pure AD and pure AGD. Conclusions: The most obvious neuropathological alteration should not terminate the diagnostic procedure since copathology is likely to be found. Neuropathological interpretation of AGD and VP has not been sufficiently established in a consensus. Pure forms of synucleinopathies are unlikely sole substrates for dementia. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Base

Assessment of β-amyloid deposits in human brain: a study of the BrainNet Europe Consortium

β-Amyloid (Aβ) related pathology shows a range of lesions which differ both qualitatively and quantitatively. Pathologists, to date, mainly focused on the assessment of both of these aspects but attempts to correlate the findings with clinical phenotypes are not convincing. It has been recently proposed in the same way as ι and α synuclein related lesions, also Aβ related pathology may follow a temporal evolution, i.e. distinct phases, characterized by a step-wise involvement of different brain-regions. Twenty-six independent observers reached an 81% absolute agreement while assessing the phase of Aβ, i.e. phase 1 = deposition of Aβ exclusively in neocortex, phase 2 = additionally in allocortex, phase 3 = additionally in diencephalon, phase 4 = additionally in brainstem, and phase 5 = additionally in cerebellum. These high agreement rates were reached when at least six brain regions were evaluated. Likewise, a high agreement (93%) was reached while assessing the absence/presence of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and the type of CAA (74%) while examining the six brain regions. Of note, most of observers failed to detect capillary CAA when it was only mild and focal and thus instead of type 1, type 2 CAA was diagnosed. In conclusion, a reliable assessment of Aβ phase and presence/absence of CAA was achieved by a total of 26 observers who examined a standardized set of blocks taken from only six anatomical regions, applying commercially available reagents and by assessing them as instructed. Thus, one may consider rating of Aβ-phases as a diagnostic tool while analyzing subjects with suspected Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Because most of these blocks are currently routinely sampled by the majority of laboratories, assessment of the Aβ phase in AD is feasible even in large scale retrospective studies

Mast Cell Accumulation in Glioblastoma with a Potential Role for Stem Cell Factor and Chemokine CXCL12

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant form of glioma with high mortality and no cure. Many human cancers maintain a complex inflammatory program triggering rapid recruitment of inflammatory cells, including mast cells (MCs), to the tumor site. However, the potential contribution of MCs in glioma has not been addressed previously. Here we report for the first time that MCs infiltrate KRas+Akt-induced gliomas, using the RCAS/TV-a system, where KRas and Akt are transduced by RCAS into the brains of neonatal Gtv-a- or Ntv-a transgenic mice lacking Ink4a or Arf. The most abundant MC infiltration was observed in high-grade gliomas of Arf−/− mice. MC accumulation could be localized to the vicinity of glioma-associated vessels but also within the tumor mass. Importantly, proliferating MCs were detected, suggesting that the MC accumulation was caused by local expansion of the MC population. In line with these findings, strong expression of stem cell factor (SCF), i.e. the main MC growth factor, was detected, in particular around tumor blood vessels. Further, glioma cells expressed the MC chemotaxin CXCL12 and MCs expressed the corresponding receptor, i.e. CXCR4, suggesting that MCs could be attracted to the tumor through the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis. Supporting a role for MCs in glioma, strong MC infiltration was detected in human glioma, where GBMs contained significantly higher MC numbers than grade II tumors did. Moreover, human GBMs were positive for CXCL12 and the infiltrating MCs were positive for CXCR4. In conclusion, we provide the first evidence for a role for MCs in glioma

Using Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation to Sense Abstract Data

We propose using galvanic vestibular stimulation for presenting abstract data, for instance stock market trends. Using galvanic vestibular stimulation, data is felt directly as a perturbation in the sense of balance. This work is showcased as an art performance, where stock market fluctuations cause a person to maintain or lose balance. We present the artistic and technical principles underlying the performance and describe the technical implementation of a working system. The work shows how abstract data can be presented in a way that is not limited to visual, auditory, olfactory, or tactile sensing.Peer reviewe

Govorit Moskva – Moskova puhuu : Venäjän strategisen viestinnän erityispiirteet

Selvityksessä käsitellään Venäjän strategista viestintää ja sen erityispiirteitä. Selvityksessä on keskitytty ylimmän valtiojohdon viestintään erotuksena alemman tason informaatiovaikuttamisesta. Siinä ei ole käsitelty viestintäalan teknologiakehitystä eikä syvennetty alalla esiintyviin uusiin lieveilmiöihin. Pääpaino on ollut venäläisen strategisen tason viestinnän ymmärtämisen lisäämisessä. Selvityksessä analysoidaan valikoituja aihealueita, kuten kieli ja kulttuuri, tärkeät historialliset tapahtumat, yhteiskunnalliset valtarakenteet sekä informaatiopolitiikan normatiiviset lähtökohdat. Selvitys pyrkii myös selvittämään ja lisäämään ymmärrystä sosiaalisista ja yhteiskunnallisista taustatekijöistä sekä niiden yhteyksistä laajempaan kansainväliseen kokonaisuuteen ja viestintään. Selvitys eroaa monesta lännestä tuotetusta tutkimuksesta siinä, että se perustuu suurelta osin venäjänkielisiin alkuperäislähteisiin. Lisäksi on haastateltu Venäjän viranomaisia, asiantuntijoita ja korkean tason vaikuttajia. Strateginen viestintä on kamppailua vaikutusvallasta ja narratiiveista, joilla pyritään vaikuttamaan toisten valtioiden ajatteluun ja toimintaan. Putinin Venäjän narratiivissa Venäjä kokee olevansa suurvalta, joka on pettynyt sääntöpohjaisen kansainvälisen järjestelmän epäonnistumiseen. Selvitystyön valossa Venäjän strateginen sanoma on säilytyt lähes muuttumattomana Putinin vuoden 2007 Münchenin puheen jälkeen. Loukattuna olemisen ja petetyksi tulemisen kokemuksella on hyvin keskeinen osa venäläisessä ajattelussa. Näitä yhdistää suvereniteetin ja koskemattomuuden ja ennen kaikkea itsenäisen ja vapaan päätöksenteon äärimmäinen korostaminen. Suomen kannalta Venäjän strateginen ajattelu on Neuvostoliiton romahtamisen jälkeen muuttunut merkittävästi. Suomi on EU:n jäsenmaa, demokraattinen oikeusvaltio ja hyvä naapuri. Venäjä ei koe Suomea vaikutusvaltaiseksi EU:n jäsenvaltioksi. Siksi ei Suomi myöskään ole Venäjän strategisen viestinnän tärkeäksi koettu kohde

Postmortem examination of vascular lesions in cognitive impairment: A survey among neuropathological services

Background and Purpose - A full appreciation of the presence of cerebral vascular lesions in cognitively impaired patients can be ultimately reached at the neuropathological level. However, there are no detailed guidelines regarding what neuropathologists should look for at autopsy in cases of suspected vascular dementia or vascular cognitive impairment. We aimed at surveying the postmortem neuropathological procedures used in different centers in examining brain lesions of presumable or possible vascular origin in cognitively impaired patients. Methods - Thirteen laboratories participated in the survey by filling in a semistructured questionnaire. We reviewed sampling and histology procedures in use and the neuropathological definitions of some of these lesions. Neuropathological criteria for the definition of a vascular origin of the dementing process were also surveyed. Results - A large variability across centers was observed in the procedures used for the neuropathological examination and the histology techniques. Heterogeneity existed also in the definition of commonly found lesions (eg, white matter alterations, small vessel disease), interpretation of whether or not the lesions were reputed to be of vascular origin, and consequently in the interpretation of the cause of cognitive decline. Conclusions - The appreciation of the presence of neuropathologically verified vascular lesions in cognitively impaired cases may be heavily influenced by the laboratory tools used and also by the heterogeneity of the criteria applied in different centers. Harmonization of neuropathological procedures is badly needed in the field of vascular dementia and vascular cognitive impairment to better understand the association between various vascular lesions and clinical symptoms such as cognitive impairment