Effect of liming on yield and quality of peppermint and Sachalin mint in fine sand soil of Northern Finland

Soil acidity commonly limits plant production in the fine sand soil of Northern Finland, which often has a low pH (5.5-6.5) and contains low levels of Ca and Mg. The effect of five liming (10% Mg and 19% Ca) levels, 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 tons ha -1 , on the herb and essential oil yield and menthol and menthone content of two mint species (peppermint, Mentha x piperita, a variety of Black Mitcham and Sachalin mint, Mentha arvensis var. sacchalinensis) cultivated in fine sand soil in Northern Finland (6440’N and 2505’E) was studied during 1998-2000. Liming clearly increased the pH levels and the Ca and Mg content of the soil. The dry matter content, essential oil quantity, and the menthol or menthone content in mints were not affected by liming. In comparison with no liming however, liming at a rate of 4 t ha -1 doubled the herb yield. The highest yield was achieved in Sachalin mint by liming at 4 or 8 t ha -1 in the second and third year (soil pH 6-6.5) (Ca 725-871 mg l -1 and Mg 122- 219 mg l -1 ), and in peppermint by liming at 4, 8 or 16 t ha -1 (soil pH 6-6.6) (Ca 725-1272 mg l -1 and Mg 122-245 mg l -1 ). Therefore, we conclude that a higher peppermint and Sachalin mint yield is achieved by increasing soil pH to values above 6.0 in the fine sand soil of Northern Finland

A combined continuous and interval aerobic training improves metabolic syndrome risk factors in men.

Individuals with metabolic syndrome have significantly higher risk for cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes leading to premature death mortality. Metabolic syndrome has a complex aetiology, thus it may require a combined and multi-targeted aerobic exercise regimen to improve risk factors associated with the metabolic syndrome. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of combined continuous and interval aerobic training on patients with metabolic syndrome. Thirty adult male with metabolic syndrome (54±8 years) were randomly divided into two groups: Test Training Group (TTG; n=15) or Control Group (CG; n=15). Subjects in TTG group performed combined continuous and interval aerobic training using a motorised treadmill three times per week for 16 weeks. Subjects in CG group were advised to continue with their normal activities of life. Twenty-two men completed the study (11 men in each group). At the end of the study, in TTG group, there were significant (for all, P<0.05) reductions in total body weight (-3.2%), and waist circumference (-3.43 cm), blood pressure (BP; up to -12.7 mmHg), plasma insulin, glucose and triacylglycerides levels. Moreover, there were significant (for all, P<0.05) increases in VO2max (-15.3%) and isometric strength of thigh muscle (28.1%) and HDL in TTG group. None of the above indices were changed in CG group at the end of 16 week study period. Our study suggests that adoption of a 16 week combined continuous and interval aerobic training regimen in men with metabolic syndrome could significantly reduce cardiovascular risk factors in these patients

Türkiye’de bulunan yoğun bakımlarda sabun, kağıt havlu ve alkol bazlı el dezenfektanı yeterli mi?: Phokai çalışması sonuçları

Introduction: Hand hygiene is one of the most effective infection control measures to prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HCAI). Water, soap, paper towel and hand disinfectant must be available and adequate in terms of effective hand hygiene. The adequacy of hand hygiene products or keeping water-soap and paper towel is still a problem for many developing countries like Turkey. In this multicenter study, we analyzed the adequacy in number and availability of hand hygiene products.Materials and Methods: This study was performed in all intensive care units (ICUs) of 41 hospitals (27 tertiary-care educational, 10 state and four private hospitals) from 22 cities located in seven geographical regions of Turkey. We analyzed water, soap, paper towel and alcohol-based hand disinfectant adequacy on four different days, two of which were in summer during the vacation time (August, 27th and 31st 2016) and two in autumn (October, 12th and 15th 2016).Results: The total number of ICUs and intensive care beds in 41 participating centers were 214 and 2357, respectively. Overall, there was no soap in 3-11% of sinks and no paper towel in 10-18% of sinks while there was no alcohol-based hand disinfectant in 1-4.7% of hand disinfectant units on the observation days. When we compared the number of sinks with soap and/or paper towel on weekdays vs. weekends, there was no significant difference in summer. However, on autumn weekdays, the number of sinks with soap and paper towel was significantly lower on weekend days (p<0.0001, p<0.0001) while the number of hand disinfectant units with alcohol-based disinfectant was significantly higher (p<0.0001).Conclusion: There should be adequate and accessible hand hygiene materials for effective hand hygiene. In this study, we found that soap and paper towels were inadequate on the observation days in 3-11% and 10-18% of units, respectively. Attention should be paid on soap and paper towel supply at weekends as well

Changes in gut bacterial populations and their translocation into liver and ascites in alcoholic liver cirrhotics

Background The liver is the first line of defence against continuously occurring influx of microbial-derived products and bacteria from the gut. Intestinal bacteria have been implicated in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Escape of intestinal bacteria into the ascites is involved in the pathogenesis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, which is a common complication of liver cirrhosis. The association between faecal bacterial populations and alcoholic liver cirrhosis has not been resolved. Methods Relative ratios of major commensal bacterial communities (Bacteroides spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Clostridium leptum group, Enterobactericaea and Lactobacillus spp.) were determined in faecal samples from post mortem examinations performed on 42 males, including cirrhotic alcoholics (n = 13), non-cirrhotic alcoholics (n = 15), non-alcoholic controls (n = 14) and in 7 healthy male volunteers using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Translocation of bacteria into liver in the autopsy cases and into the ascites of 12 volunteers with liver cirrhosis was also studied with RT-qPCR. CD14 immunostaining was performed for the autopsy liver samples. Results Relative ratios of faecal bacteria in autopsy controls were comparable to those of healthy volunteers. Cirrhotics had in median 27 times more bacterial DNA of Enterobactericaea in faeces compared to the healthy volunteers (p = 0.011). Enterobactericaea were also the most common bacteria translocated into cirrhotic liver, although there were no statistically significant differences between the study groups. Of the ascites samples from the volunteers with liver cirrhosis, 50% contained bacterial DNA from Enterobactericaea, Clostridium leptum group or Lactobacillus spp.. The total bacterial DNA in autopsy liver was associated with the percentage of CD14 expression (p = 0.045). CD14 expression percentage in cirrhotics was significantly higher than in the autopsy controls (p = 0.004). Conclusions Our results suggest that translocation of intestinal bacteria into liver may be involved as a one factor in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver cirrhosis.BioMed Central open acces

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Imeväisikäisen unta tukevan palvelun kehittäminen palvelumuotoilulla

Opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena oli tuottaa imeväisikäisen unta tukeva palvelu Vantaan kaupungin Pakkalan avoimen kohtaamispaikan asiakkaiden ja henkilökunnan käyttöön. Opinnäytetyössä kehitettävän palvelun tavoitteena oli helpottaa imeväisikäisen ja hänen perheensä elämää. Opinnäytetyön tavoitteena oli myös edistää työelämäkumppani Pakkalan Olkkarin toimintaa. Opinnäytetyönä kehitettävää äänikirjaa voidaan tulevaisuudessa käyttää henkilökunnan apuvälineenä imeväisikäisen perheelle annettavassa uniohjauksessa tai luovuttaa palvelu imeväisikäisen vanhemmalle itsenäisesti käytettäväksi. Opinnäytetyön teoreettinen tietoperusta koostui imeväisikäisen eli alle vuoden ikäisen lapsen normaalin unen rakenteesta ja kehityksestä, unen kokonaismäärästä ja sen vaihtelusta, uni- ja vuorokausirytmistä, unen vakautumisesta ja unen vaikutuksesta imeväisikäisen perheeseen. Opinnäytetyön kehittämisen menetelmänä käytettiin palvelumuotoilua. Palvelu kehitettiin yhteistyönä palvelun tilaajan, Pakkalan Olkkarin avoimen kohtaamispaikan henkilökunnan ja asiakasperheiden kanssa. Kehittämisprosessin alussa hankittiin asiakasymmärrystä kerryttämällä teoriatietoa ja ryhmähaastattelemalla avoimen kohtaamispaikan henkilökuntaa ja asiakasperheitä. Haastateltavina oli seitsemän yhteiskehittämisestä kiinnostunutta vauvaperhettä sekä yksi Pakkalan Olkkarin työntekijä. Teemahaastattelun pohjalta lähdettiin konseptoimaan palvelua. Haastattelumateriaali analysoitiin ajatuskartan avulla ja kehitettävän palvelun keskeiseksi sisällöksi osoittautui teoriatieto imeväisikäisen unesta sekä unta tukevat keinot. Seuraavaksi Olkkarin asiakkaat ja henkilökunta äänestivät palvelun tuotantomuotoa. Konseptointivaiheessa palvelun prototyypiksi tuotettiin äänestystuloksen perusteella äänikirjan ensimmäinen luku ja sitä testautettiin kohderyhmällä. Äänikirja sai hyvää ja kannustavaa palautetta. Tuotantoon saattamisen vaiheessa prototyypistä kehitettiin palautteiden pohjalta parempi palvelu. Jalkauttamisvaiheessa se lanseerattiin vauvatreffeillä Pakkalan Olkkarin asiakkaiden ja henkilökunnan käyttöön. Opinnäytetyön tuloksena valmistui kuusiosainen digitaalinen äänikirja ja sen tekstiversio, jotka olivat käyttäjilleen maksuttomia. Ne sisälsivät teoreettista tietoa imeväisikäisen unesta ja unta tukevista keinoista, jotka hyödyttivät imeväisikäisten ja heidän perheidensä elämää sekä vahvistivat työelämäkumppanin antamaa uniohjausta ja neuvontaa. Palvelu koettiin onnistuneeksi ja sitä oli mahdollista hyödyntää sellaisenaan myös Vantaan kaupungin muissa toimipisteissä. Kehittämisehdotuksina imeväisikäisen unen tukemiseksi ovat äänikirjan sekä sen tekstiversion kääntäminen eri kielille ja niiden jakaminen oikea-aikaisesti ja kustannustehokkaasti neuvolaverkoston kautta laajemmalle käyttäjäkunnalle ennen unipulmien kehittymistä, jopa ennen lapsen syntymää.The purpose of this thesis was to create a service that would aid in the establishment of healthy sleeping habits for infants, which could be utilized by both customers and staff of the Pakkala open meeting place, maintained by the City of Vantaa. The objective of the service was to make life easier for infants and their families while also promoting the activities of Pakkala Olkkari, the working life partner. The thesis project involved designing an audiobook, which could be utilized as a tool for sleep guidance by the staff or given to parents for independent use. The theoretical framework of the thesis comprised the structure and development of infants’ normal sleep, the total amount and variability of sleep, sleep patterns and circadian rhythm, the consolidation of sleep, and the impact of sleep on the families of infants. The service design approach was employed as the development method in this thesis. The service was created as a co-creation process with both the staff and client families of the service comissioner, Pakkala Olkkari open meeting place. Initially, customer understanding was established by gathering theoretical information and conducting group interviews with the staff and customers of the open meeting place. The interviewees were seven infant families interested in co-creation and one employee of Pakkala Olkkari. The semi-structured interview was used as the basis for conceptualizing the service, and the interview data was analyzed with a mind map. The research phase revealed theoretical information about infant sleep and ways to support it as a focus point. In the next phase, Olkkari staff and customers voted on the form of the service’s production. Based on the poll, the first chapter of the audiobook was created as a prototype and tested on the target group. The audiobook received positive and encouraging feedback, and the product was developed further based on the feedback. In the implementation phase, the product was launched in a baby meet for the use of Pakkala Olkkari customers and staff. As a result of this thesis project, a six-part digital audiobook and its text version, which are free of charge for their users, was created. They contain theoretical information about infant sleep and ways to support it, which can benefit both infants and their families while reinforcing the sleep guidance and advice provided by the working life partner. The service was deemed a success and could be used as is in other City of Vantaa service points. Future development ideas include translating the audiobook and its text version into different languages and sharing them through the children's health clinic network in a well-timed and cost-effective manner to reach a broader user base before sleep problems develop, possibly even before the baby is born