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In this study, FocusBand (FocusBand Technologies, T 2 Green Pty Ltd.) textile electrodes were tested against medical-grade wet electrodes to investigate the possible differences in skin-electrode interface behavior and EEG signals’ quality. In vivo electrical impedance spectroscopy and simultaneous forehead EEG measurements were performed with ten healthy subjects. In addition, the FocusBand device was tested in a stand-alone manner against a medical-grade reference system using similar test measurements. Compared to wet electrodes, textile electrodes had higher median absolute skin-electrode impedances five minutes after the attachment, but this difference decreased to 50–55 % of the initial during the first 60 minutes on all measured frequencies (1–1000 Hz). Textile and wet electrodes produced highly consistent EEG signals at forehead Fp1 and Fp2 locations. From those, Fp1 signals were more consistent in terms of normalized cross-correlations and agreement of the relative spectral powers. A stand-alone comparison showed that the FocusBand device can be used to record forehead biopotential signals, but the quality was not as consistent as with the medical-grade system. Based on impedance characteristics, a recording made using FocusBand textile electrodes may be more susceptible to artifacts than recording made using the medical-grade wet electrodes. However, FocusBand textile electrodes can be used, after a short stabilization period, to reliably record forehead EEG signals with a quality almost equal to that reached with medical-grade wet electrodes.

The current clinically used electroencephalography (EEG) sensors are not self-applicable. This complicates the recording of the brain’s electrical activity in unattended home polysomnography (PSG). When EEG is not recorded, the sleep architecture cannot be accurately determined, which decreases the accuracy of home-based diagnosis of sleep disorders. The aim of this study was to compare the technical performance of FocusBand, an easily applicable textile electrode headband, to that of clinical EEG and electrooculography (EOG) electrodes. Overnight unattended recordings were conducted at participants’ ( $n =10$ ) homes. Signals were recorded using a portable Nox A1 PSG device. The FocusBand’s forehead EEG (Fp1-Fp2) signals contained features that are visible at both, the standard EEG (F4-M1) and EOG (E1-M2) signals. The FocusBand’s EEG signal amplitudes were significantly lower compared to standard EEG (F4-M1; average difference 98%) and EOG (E1-M2; average difference 29%) signals during all sleep stages. Despite the amplitude difference, forehead EEG signals displayed typical EEG characteristics related to certain sleep stages. However, the frequency content of the FocusBand-based signals was more similar to that of the standard EOG signals than that of standard EEG signals. The majority of the artifacts seen in the FocusBand signals were related to a loosened headband. High differences in the frequency content of the compared signals were also found during wakefulness, suggesting susceptibility of the textile electrodes to electrode movement artifacts. This study demonstrates that the forehead biopotential signals recorded using an easily attachable textile electrode headband could be useful in home-based sleep recordings.

Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis populations in the Baltic Sea have rapidly expanded since the 1990s, raising concerns about their ecosystem impacts. Nutrient runoff from colonies, as well as cormorant predation on fish, can affect surrounding producer communities. Past studies have found cormorant impacts on producers in the immediate vicinity of colonies, but the importance of cormorants over a larger spatial scale is unknown, especially compared to other environmental variables. We used an extensive underwater vegetation inventory dataset (~18000 data points along the Finnish coast) to determine the effects of cormorant colonies on macroalgae and plants. We compared community structure and species abundance/occurrence in near-colony (10 km from a colony) points, and determined the importance of cormorant influence (using an index incorporating colony size and distance from the colony) in near-colony sites. We found no significant differences in community structure between near-colony and control points in most habitats, and adding the cormorant index only infinitesimally improved statistical models after incorporating other environmental factors. However, the abundance of several species did differ; in particular, the foundation species bladderwrack Fucus vesiculosus and eelgrass Zostera marina were either less likely to occur in near-colony points or were negatively correlated with cormorant index, possibly due to the effects of nutrient enrichment from colonies. Our findings confirm that cormorants can have effects on some producer species, but highlight that these effects are negligible when taking into account the scale and magnitude of other bottom-up and top-down processes occurring in the Baltic Sea.

Selective and efficient dehydration of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) has been widely explored research problem recently, especially from the perspective of more sustainable heterogeneous catalysts. In this study, activated carbon was first produced from a lignocellulosic waste material, birch sawdust. Novel heterogeneous catalysts were then prepared from activated carbon by adding Lewis or Bronsted acid sites on the carbon surface. Prepared catalysts were used to convert glucose to HMF in biphasic water:THF system at 160 °C. The highest HMF yield and selectivity, 51% and 78%, respectively, were obtained in 8 h with a catalytic mixture containing both Lewis and Bronsted acid sites. Also, preliminary recycling experiments were performed. Based on this study, biomass-based activated carbon catalysts show promise for the conversion of glucose to HMF.

A biopharmaceutics classification system class IV drug, hydrochlorothiazide (HCT), was combined with co-formers of L-and d-arginine (ARG) and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) by cryomilling in 1:1 molar ratio. Co-amorphization was observed with L- and D-ARG. These mixtures showed a single glass transition, evidence of possible salt formation and improved physical stability at elevated temperatures and/or humidity when compared with amorphous HCT. The co-amorphous formulations, along with the combinations of HCT and HCT:L-ARG with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in 1:1 mass ratio, were investigated with a simultaneous dissolution/permeation setup using parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) or Madine Darby kidney cells (MDCKII) as the permeation barrier. It was observed that co-amorphization with L-ARG and D-ARG was able to induce a supersaturated state for HCT, possibly through intermolecular interactions, but there was virtually no difference between the dissolution properties of the mixtures formed with the 2 optical isomers of ARG. The permeability of HCT was found to be dependent on the dissolution properties of the formulations in both PAMPA and cellular barrier experiments. Thus, co-amorphization of HCT with L- and D-ARG demonstrated the possibility to enhance the dissolution and thereby the permeation potential of a BCS class IV drug.

Background and ObjectivesTo determine the genetic cause of the disease in the previously reported family with adult-onset autosomal dominant distal myopathy (myopathy, distal, 3; MPD3).MethodsContinued clinical evaluation including muscle MRI and muscle pathology. A linkage analysis with single nucleotide polymorphism arrays and genome sequencing were used to identify the genetic defect, which was verified by Sanger sequencing. RNA sequencing was used to investigate the transcriptional effects of the identified genetic defect.ResultsSmall hand muscles (intrinsic, thenar, and hypothenar) were first involved with spread to the lower legs and later proximal muscles. Dystrophic changes with rimmed vacuoles and cytoplasmic inclusions were observed in muscle biopsies at advanced stage. A single nucleotide polymorphism array confirmed the previous microsatellite-based linkage to 8p22-q11 and 12q13-q22. Genome sequencing of three affected family members combined with structural variant calling revealed a small heterozygous deletion of 160 base pairs spanning the second last exon 10 of the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (HNRNPA1) gene, which is in the linked region on chromosome 12. Segregation of the mutation with the disease was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. RNA sequencing showed that the mutant allele produces a shorter mutant mRNA transcript compared with the wild-type allele. Immunofluorescence studies on muscle biopsies revealed small p62 and larger TDP-43 inclusions.DiscussionA small exon 10 deletion in the gene HNRNPA1 was identified as the cause of MPD3 in this family. The new HNRNPA1-related phenotype, upper limb presenting distal myopathy, was thus confirmed, and the family displays the complexities of gene identification.

Background: Human-animal interactions are known to have many beneficial psychosocial and psychophysiological effects on persons with and without medical health conditions. There are no previous prospective studies with long follow-up times on the effects of domestic pets on the persons with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) living at home. Objective: To investigate the effects of pets on the activities of daily living (ADL), disease progression, and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) during a five-year follow-up on the persons with AD. Methods: Altogether 223 home-dwelling persons (mean age 75.2 years) with very mild (CDR 0.5) or mild (CDR 1) AD at baseline were included for this study. ADCS-ADL, NPI, MMSE, and CDR-SOB were measured at baseline, annually for three years and after five years. Results: Totally 40 (17.9%) participants had a pet. At the baseline, pet owners and non-pet owners had no significant differences in age, gender, or the ADCS-ADL, NPS, and CDR-SOB scores, while MMSE was lower in pet owners than non-pet owners (20.2 versus 21.7; p = 0.009). Over the follow-up, pet owners had significantly better mean ADCS-ADL (57.5 versus 54.0; p = 0.031), NPI (9.3 versus 13.0; p = 0.038), and CDR-SOB scores (5.7 versus 6.6; p = 0.004) compared to non-pet owners. The differences in the MMSE scores between the groups detected at baseline attenuated over time. Conclusion: Significant positive effects of the pets on ADL functions, NPS, and disease progression were detected over the whole follow-up suggesting that having a pet may support daily activity and slow the disease progression in AD.

Background and Purpose: For prevention of cerebrovascular diseases, it is important to understand the risk factors occurring early in life. The aim was to investigate the relationship of maternal and offspring anthropometrics and pregnancy complications with offspring’s risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and transient ischemic attack in adulthood. Methods: Within the population-based prospective Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, 11 991 persons were followed from early pregnancy to 52 years of age. Information on pregnancy and birth complications were collected starting between 24th and 28th gestational week and at birth. Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes of the offspring were identified from national registers in Finland. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the association of pregnancy and birth complications with incidence of cerebrovascular disease in the offspring, with adjustments for sex, family socioeconomic status, mother’s age, and smoking during pregnancy. Results: During 568 821 person-years of follow-up, 453 (3.8%) of the offspring had a stroke or transient ischemic attack. Small and large gestational weight gain among normal weight mothers were associated with increased ischemic stroke risk in offspring (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.93 [95% CI, 1.28–2.90] and aHR, 1.54 [95% CI, 1.02–2.31], respectively). Small birth weight for gestational age and small ponderal index were associated with increased risk for ischemic stroke (aHR, 1.95 [CI, 1.21–3.13] and aHR, 1.36 [CI, 1.04–1.77], respectively). Threatening miscarriage was also associated with increased risk of any stroke (aHR, 1.64 [CI 1.14–2.37]). Maternal smoking, hypertension, or birth complications were not associated with increased risk of cerebrovascular disease in the offspring. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that disturbances in maternal and fetal growth during pregnancy may predispose offspring to developing cerebrovascular diseases in adulthood.

Background The genetics of cerebellar ataxia is complex. Hundreds of causative genes have been identified, but only a few cause more than single cases. The spectrum of ataxia-causing genes differs considerably between populations. The aim of the study was to investigate the molecular epidemiology of ataxia in the Finnish population. Patients and methods All patients in hospital database were reviewed for the diagnosis of unspecified ataxia. Acquired ataxias and nongenetic ataxias such as those related to infection, trauma or stroke were excluded. Sixty patients with sporadic ataxia with unknown etiology and 36 patients with familial ataxia of unknown etiology were recruited in the study. Repeat expansions in the SCA genes (ATXN1, 2, 3, 7, 8/OS, CACNA1A, TBP), FXN, and RFC1 were determined. Point mutations in POLG, SPG7 and in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were investigated. In addition, DNA from 8 patients was exome sequenced. Results A genetic cause of ataxia was found in 33 patients (34.4%). Seven patients had a dominantly inherited repeat expansion in ATXN8/OS. Ten patients had mitochondrial ataxia resulting from mutations in nuclear mitochondrial genes POLG or RARS2, or from a point mutation m.8561C > G or a single deletion in mtDNA. Interestingly, five patients were biallelic for the recently identified pathogenic repeat expansion in RFC1. All the five patients presented with the phenotype of cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, and vestibular areflexia (CANVAS). Moreover, screening of 54 patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy revealed four additional patients with biallelic repeat expansion in RFC1, but none of them had cerebellar symptoms. Conclusions Expansion in ATXN8/OS results in the majority of dominant ataxias in Finland, while mutations in RFC1 and POLG are the most common cause of recessive ataxias. Our results suggest that analysis of RFC1 should be included in the routine diagnostics of idiopathic ataxia and Charcot-Marie-Tooth polyneuropathy.

The mother's bond to her baby starts to develop during pregnancy, and it is related to the baby's attachment. We study how the mother's prenatal expectations of her unborn baby, the mother's adult relationships, and postnatal psycho-social factors (stress, depression, and anxiety) are related to the risk of bonding disturbance. The study comprised 1398 mothers and their unborn babies assessed both during pregnancy and when the babies were 3 months old (47.7% girls). The mother's risk of bonding disturbance was investigated using Brockington's Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire. According to the results, 71 (5.1%) of all the mothers in the study had a risk of a bonding disturbance. In a final adjusted logistic regression model, the most important risk factors were the mother's inability to form positive expectations about relationships with the baby during the third trimester of pregnancy (AOR = 7.78, p ≤ .001), maternal postnatal stress (AOR = 4.95, p ≤ .001) and maternal postnatal depression (AOR = 3.46, p ≤ .01). The results challenge healthcare professionals to screen pregnant mothers to identify at-risk groups for post-partum bonding disturbances. Intervention programs to prevent the development of bonding disturbances, and thus their possible serious consequences for children's development, should be considered.La unión afectiva entre la madre y su bebé comienza a desarrollarse durante el embarazo y está relacionado a la afectividad del bebé. Estudiamos cómo las expectativas prenatales que la madre tenía de su bebé aún no nacido, las relaciones adultas de la madre, así como los factores sicosociales (estrés, depresión y ansiedad) están relacionados con la alteración de la unión afectiva. El estudio incluyó a 1,398 madres y sus no nacidos bebés evaluados ambos durante el embarazo y cuando los bebés tenían tres meses de nacidos (47.7% niñas). El riesgo de la madre de alteraciones en la unión afectiva fue investigado usando el Cuestionario Brockington sobre la Unión Afectiva Posterior al Parto. De acuerdo con los resultados, 71 (5.1%) de todas las madres en el estudio presentaban un riesgo de alteración de la unión afectiva. En un modelo final de regresión logístico ajustado, los más importantes factores de riesgo fueron la inhabilidad de la madre de formar expectativas positivas acerca de las relaciones con el bebé durante el tercer trimestre del embarazo (AOR = 7.78, p.001), el estrés materno postnatal (AOR = 4.95, p.001) y la depresión materna postnatal (AOR = 3.46, p.01). Los resultados presentan un reto a los profesionales del cuidado de la salud para examinar a mujeres embarazadas con el fin de identificar grupos bajo riesgo de alteraciones en la unión afectiva posterior al parto. Se deben considerar programas de intervención para prevenir el desarrollo de alteraciones en la unión afectiva y, por tanto, posibles serias consecuencias para el desarrollo de los niños.Le lien de la mère avec son bébé commence à se développer durant la grossesse, et est lié à l'attachement du bébé. Nous étudions la manière dont les attentes prénatales que la mère se fait de son bébé à naître, les relations adultes de la mère, et les facteurs postnatals psycho-sociaux (stress, dépression, anxiété) sont liés au risque de trouble du lien. L’étude a compris 1398 mères et leurs bébé à naître évalués à la fois durant la grossesse et quand les bébés avaient trois mois (47,7% de filles). Le risque de trouble du lien de la mère a fait l'objet de l’étude, au moyen du Questionnaire du Lien Postpartum de Brockington. Selon les résultats, 71 (soit 5,1%) de toutes les mères de l’étude avaient un risque de trouble du lien. Dans un modèle de régression logistique ajusté final les facteurs de risque les plus importants étaient l'incapacité de la mère à former des attentes positives sur les relations avec le bébé durant le troisième trimestre de la grossesse (AOR - 7,78, p ≤,001), le stress postnatal maternel (AOR = 4,95, p ≤,001) et la dépression postnatale maternelle (AOR = 3,46, p ≤,01). Les résultats défient les professionnels de la santé de dépister les mères enceintes afin d'identifier les groupes à risque de troubles du lien postpartum. Des programmes d'intervention destinés à prévenir le développement de troubles du lien ainsi que leurs conséquences sévères pour le développement des enfants devraient être considérés.Pränatale Erwartungen und andere psychosoziale Faktoren als Risikofaktoren für postnatale Bindungsstörungen Die Beziehung der Mutter zu ihrem Baby entwickelt sich bereits während der Schwangerschaft und steht im Zusammenhang mit der Bindung des Babys. Wir untersuchen, wie die pränatalen Erwartungen der Mutter an ihr ungeborenes Kind, die Beziehungen der Mutter zu Erwachsenen und postnatale psychosoziale Faktoren (Stress, Depression und Angst) mit dem Risiko einer Bindungsstörung zusammenhängen. Die Studie umfasste 1.398 Mütter und ihre ungeborenen Babys (47,7 % Mädchen), die sowohl während der Schwangerschaft als auch im Alter von drei Monaten untersucht wurden. Das Risiko der Mütter für eine Bindungsstörung wurde mit Hilfe des Brockington-Fragebogens zur postpartalen Bindung untersucht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass 71 (5,1 %) der Mütter in der Studie ein Risiko für eine Bindungsstörung hatten. In einem endgültigen bereinigten logistischen Regressionsmodell waren die wichtigsten Risikofaktoren die Unfähigkeit der Mutter, während des dritten Trimesters der Schwangerschaft positive Erwartungen an die Beziehung zum Baby zu entwickeln (AOR = 7,78, p ≤ .001), mütterlicher postnataler Stress (AOR = 4,95, p ≤ .001) und mütterliche postnatale Depression (AOR = 3,46, p ≤ .01). Die Ergebnisse zeigen auf, wie wichtig es ist, schwangere Mütter zu untersuchen, um Risikogruppen für postpartale Bindungsstörungen zu identifizieren. Interventionsprogramme zur Vorbeugung von Bindungsstörungen und deren möglichen schwerwiegenden Folgen für die Entwicklung der Kinder sollten in Betracht gezogen werden.出生後のボンディング (情緒的絆の) 障害のリスク因子としての出生前の期待やその他の心理社会的要因 母親のおなかの子への絆は妊娠中に芽生え始め、そして、そのことは生れくる赤ちゃんのアタッチメントに関係する。おなかの中の赤ちゃんへの母親の出生前の期待、母親の対人関係、そして出生後の心理社会的要因 (ストレス、抑うつ、不安) が、ボンディング障害のリスクとどのように関連しているかを研究する。この研究は、1,398人の母親とおなかの子 (女児47.7％) を対象とし、妊娠中と生後3か月の2回に評価を行った。母親のボンディング障害のリスクは、ブロッキントン産後ボンディング質問票を使用して調査した。 結果によると、研究に参加したすべての母親のうち71人 (5.1％) にボンディング障害のリスクを認めた。最終調整後のロジスティック回帰モデルでは、最も重要なリスク因子は、母親が妊娠後期に赤ちゃんとの関係性に前向きな期待を形成できないこと (AOR = 7.78、p≤.001) 、母親の産後ストレス (AOR = 4.95、p≤.001) および、母親の産後うつ病 (AOR = 3.46、p≤.01) であった。この結果は、健康保健専門家の課題として、妊娠中の母親をスクリーニングし、産後のボンディング障害のリスク群を特定することを求めている。ボンディング障害が進行し、例えば子どもの発達に起こりえる深刻で重要な結果を予防する介入プログラムが課題である。.母亲与婴儿的关系在怀孕期间就开始发展, 这与婴儿的依恋有关。我们研究了母亲对未出生婴儿的产前期望、母亲的成人关系以及产后心理社会因素 (压力、抑郁和焦虑) 与亲子关系障碍的风险之间的关系。这项研究包含了1,398名母亲及其未出生的婴儿, 并对他们在怀孕期间和婴儿三个月大 (47.7% 是女孩) 时进行了评估。采用Brockington的“产后连结问卷”调查了母亲发生亲子关系障碍的风险。根据研究结果, 在所有参与研究的母亲中, 有71人 (5.1%) 存在发生亲子关系障碍的风险。在最终调整后的逻辑回归模型中, 最重要的危险因素是母亲在妊娠晚期不能对与婴儿的关系形成积极的期望 (AOR = 7.78, p ≤ .001) , 进而造成母亲产后压力 (AOR = 4.95, p ≤ .001) 和产后抑郁 (AOR = 3.46, p ≤ .01) 。研究结果提议医护人员对孕妇进行筛查, 以确定产后亲子关系障碍的高危人群。应考虑采取干预计划, 以防止亲子关系障碍的发展, 以及其对儿童发展可能产生的严重后果。.توقعات ما قبل الولادة وغيرها من العوامل النفسية والاجتماعية كعوامل خطر لاضطراب الترابط بعد الولادة يبدأ ارتباط الأم بطفلها في التطور أثناء الحمل ، ويرتبط ذلك بتعلق الطفل. نتناول في هذه الدراسة كيف ترتبط توقعات الأم قبل الولادة لطفلها ، وعلاقات الأم البالغة، والعوامل النفسية والاجتماعية بعد الولادة (الإجهاد والاكتئاب والقلق) بخطر اضطراب الترابط. شملت الدراسة 398 1 أما وأطفالهن الذين لم يولدوا بعد. وتم تقييمهم أثناء الحمل وعندما كان عمر الأطفال ثلاثة أشهر (47.7 من الإناث). تم التحقيق في خطر اضطراب الترابط عند الأمهات باستخدام استبيان بروكينغتون الخاص بالترابط بعد الولادة. ووفقا للنتائج، فإن 71 (5.1 في المائة) من بين جميع الأمهات في الدراسة كان لديهن خطر اضطراب الترابط. ومن خلال نموذج انحدار لوجستي معدل ، كانت أهم عوامل الخطر هي عدم قدرة الأم على تكوين توقعات إيجابية حول العلاقات مع الطفل خلال الثلث الثالث من الحمل (78AOR = 7.، p ≤.001)، إجهاد الأمومة بعد الولادة (AOR = 4.95، p ≤.001) واكتئاب ما بعد الولادة الأمومي (AOR = 3.46، p ≤.01). تتحدى النتائج أخصائيي الرعاية الصحية لفحص الأمهات الحوامل لتحديد الفئات المعرضة لخطر اضطرابات الترابط بعد الولادة. وينبغي النظر في برامج التدخل لمنع حدوث اضطرابات الترابط، وبالتالي تفادي عواقبها الخطيرة المحتملة على نمو الأطفال.

Background: Recently, the importance of light physical activity (LPA) for health has been emphasized, and residential greenness has been positively linked to the level of LPA and a variety of positive health outcomes. However, people spend less time in green environments because of urbanization and modern sedentary leisure activities. Aims: In this population-based study, we investigated the association between objectively measured residential greenness and accelerometry measured physical activity (PA), with a special interest in LPA and gender differences. Methods: The study was based on the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (5433 members). Participants filled in a postal questionnaire and underwent clinical examinations and wore a continuous measurement of PA with wrist-worn Polar Active Activity Monitor accelerometers for two weeks. The volume of PA (metabolic equivalent of task or MET) was used to describe the participant&rsquo, s total daily activity (light: 2&ndash, 3.49 MET, moderate: 3.5&ndash, 4.99 MET, vigorous: 5&ndash, 7.99 MET, very vigorous: &ge, 8 MET). A geographic information system (GIS) was used to assess the features of each individual&rsquo, s residential environment. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was used for the objective quantification of residential greenness. Multiple linear regression and a generalized additive model (GAM) were used to analyze the association between residential greenness and the amount of PA at different intensity levels. Results: Residential greenness (NDVI) was independently associated with LPA (unadjusted &beta, = 174, CI = 140, 209) and moderate physical activity (MPA) (unadjusted &beta, = 75, CI = 48, 101). In the adjusted model, residential greenness was positively and significantly associated with LPA (adjusted &beta, = 70, CI = 26, 114). In men, residential greenness was positively and significantly associated with LPA (unadjusted &beta, = 224, CI = 173, 275), MPA (unadjusted &beta, CI = 48, 101), and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (unadjusted &beta, = 89, CI = 25, 152). In women, residential greenness was positively related to LPA (unadjusted &beta, = 142, CI = 96, 188) and inversely associated with MPA (unadjusted &beta, = &minus, 22, CI = &minus, 36, &minus, 8), vigorous/very vigorous physical activity (VPA/VVPA) (unadjusted &beta, 49, 84, &minus, 14), and MVPA (unadjusted &beta, 71, 113, &minus, 29). In the final adjusted models, residential greenness was significantly associated only with the amount of LPA in men (adjusted &beta, = 140, CI = 75, 204). Conclusions: Residential greenness was positively associated with LPA in both genders, but the association remained significant after adjustments only in men. Residential greenness may provide a supportive environment for promoting LPA.

Accurate and rapid diagnostic tools are needed for management of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Antibody tests enable detection of individuals past the initial phase of infection and will help to examine possible vaccine responses. The major targets of human antibody response in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are the spike glycoprotein (S) and nucleocapsid protein (N). We have developed a rapid homogenous approach for antibody detection termed LFRET (protein L-based time-resolved Förster resonance energy transfer immunoassay). In LFRET, fluorophore-labeled protein L and antigen are brought to close proximity by antigen-specific patient immunoglobulins of any isotype, resulting in TR-FRET signal generation.We set up LFRET assays for antibodies against S and N and evaluated their diagnostic performance using a panel of 77 serum/plasma samples from 44 individuals with COVID-19 and 52 negative controls. Moreover, using a previously described S construct and a novel N construct, we set up enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 S and N. We then compared the LFRET assays with these enzyme immunoassays and with a SARS-CoV-2 microneutralization test (MNT).We found the LFRET assays to parallel ELISAs in sensitivity (90-95% vs. 90-100%) and specificity (100% vs. 94-100%). In identifying individuals with or without a detectable neutralizing antibody response, LFRET outperformed ELISA in specificity (91-96% vs. 82-87%), while demonstrating an equal sensitivity (98%).In conclusion, this study demonstrates the applicability of LFRET, a 10-minute ‘mix and read’ assay, to detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is common in Northern Europe; this infection is usually self-limited and severe complications are uncommon. PUUV and other hantaviruses, however, can rarely cause encephalitis. The pathogenesis of these rare and severe events is unknown. In this study, we explored the possibility that genetic defects in innate anti-viral immunity, as analogous to Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) mutations seen in HSV-1 encephalitis, may explain PUUV encephalitis. We completed exome sequencing of seven adult patients with encephalitis or encephalomyelitis during acute PUUV infection. We found heterozygosity for the TLR3 p.L742F novel variant in two of the seven unrelated patients (29%, p = 0.0195). TLR3-deficient P2.1 fibrosarcoma cell line and SV40-immortalized fibroblasts (SV40-fibroblasts) from patient skin expressing mutant or wild-type TLR3 were tested functionally. The TLR3 p.L742F allele displayed low poly(I:C)-stimulated cytokine induction when expressed in P2.1 cells. SV40-fibroblasts from three healthy controls produced increasing levels of IFN-λ and IL-6 after 24 h of stimulation with increasing concentrations of poly(I:C), whereas the production of the cytokines was impaired in TLR3 L742F/WT patient SV40-fibroblasts. Heterozygous TLR3 mutation may underlie not only HSV-1 encephalitis but also PUUV hantavirus encephalitis. Such possibility should be further explored in encephalitis caused by these and other hantaviruses. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s10875-020-00834-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

In this study, conversion of xylose to furfural was studied using lignin-based activated carbon-supported iron catalysts. First, three activated carbon supports were prepared from hydrolysis lignin with different activation methods. The supports were modified with different metal precursors and metal concentrations into five iron catalysts. The prepared catalysts were studied in furfural production from xylose using different reaction temperatures and times. The best results were achieved with a 4 wt% iron-containing catalyst, 5Fe-ACs, which produced a 57% furfural yield, 92% xylose conversion and 65% reaction selectivity at 170 &deg, C in 3 h. The amount of Fe in 5Fe-ACs was only 3.6 &micro, mol and using this amount of homogeneous FeCl3 as a catalyst, reduced the furfural yield, xylose conversion and selectivity. Good catalytic activity of 5Fe-ACs could be associated with iron oxide and hydroxyl groups on the catalyst surface. Based on the recycling experiments, the prepared catalyst needs some improvements to increase its stability but it is a feasible alternative to homogeneous FeCl3.

Background: The prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms is higher in population with other vascular comorbidities, especially among men. Utility of screening among patients with cerebrovascular disease is unclear. Objective: To determine the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm in male patients with diagnosed cerebrovascular disease manifested by transient ischemic attack or stroke. Methods: Between May 2013 and May 2014, all consecutive male patients undergoing carotid ultrasound in single tertiary center with a catchment area of 179,000 inhabitants were evaluated for ultrasound screening of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Abdominal aortic aneurysm was defined as maximum diameter of infrarenal aorta 30 mm or more. Results: Of 105 (n = 105) consecutively evaluated male patients, only 69% (n = 72) were eligible for the study and underwent aortic screening. Reason for ineligibility was most often poor general medical condition (n = 29). Mean age of screened patients was 66 years (SD 9.8 years). Half of the screened patients suffered stroke (n = 36). The incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysm was 5.6% (n = 4). All found abdominal aortic aneurysms were small and did not require immediate surgical intervention. During a follow-up period of over 4 years, none of the aneurysms exhibited tendency for growth. Conclusions: The male population with cerebrovascular disease is comorbid and frail. Only, moderate prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms can be found in this subpopulation.

Objective: The maternal representations of an unborn baby begin to develop during pregnancy. However, the factors that moderate them are not well identified. The objective of this study was to jointly explore supportive and undermining factors in the maternal representations of an unborn baby and motherhood. Methods: Cross-sectional data comprising 1646 women studied during the third trimester of pregnancy. Maternal expectations were measured using a 12-item self-report questionnaire, Mother's Representations about an Unborn Baby. Depression, anxiety, family atmosphere and adult attachment were measured using standardised questionnaires. Statistical analysis is based on multivariate linear regression analysis. Results: The most powerful predictors of a mother's prenatal expectations were the mother's educational status, age, closeness in adult relationships, higher levels of depressive symptoms and family atmosphere. In accordance with our hypothesis, depression was related to the mother's more negative expectations on their relationship with the unborn baby and on regularity in the baby's sleeping and eating patterns. A positive family atmosphere and the mother's ability for closeness and dependence (i.e. confidence) in adult relationships were related to more positive expectations of the mother-unborn baby relationship. On the other hand, stress, anxiety and adverse life events were not related to the mother's expectations of her unborn baby. Conclusions: The results may be helpful in identifying families who need early professional support and call for studies where the prenatal phase is explored as a proactive phase for the development of the child-parent relationship.

The diagnosis of celiac disease (CD) is currently based on serology and intestinal biopsy, with detection of anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) IgA antibodies recommended as the first-line test. Emphasizing the increasing importance of serological testing, new guidelines and evidence suggest basing the diagnosis solely on serology without confirmatory biopsy. Enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) are the established approach for anti-tTG antibody detection, with the existing point-of-care (POC) tests lacking sensitivity and/or specificity. Improved POC methods could help reduce the underdiagnosis and diagnostic delay of CD. We have previously developed rapid homogenous immunoassays based on time-resolved Förster resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET), and demonstrated their suitability in serodiagnostics with hanta- and Zika virus infections as models. In this study, we set out to establish a protein L -based TR-FRET assay (LFRET) for the detection of anti-tTG antibodies. We studied 74 patients with biopsy-confirmed CD and 70 healthy controls, with 1) the new tTG-LFRET assay, and for reference 2) a well-established EIA and 3) an existing commercial POC test. IgG depletion was employed to differentiate between anti-tTG IgA and IgG positivity. The sensitivity and specificity of the first-generation tTG-LFRET POC assay in detection of CD were 87.8% and 94.3%, respectively, in line with those of the reference POC test. The sensitivity and specificity of EIA were 95.9% and 91.9%, respectively. This study demonstrates the applicability of LFRET to serological diagnosis of autoimmune diseases in general and of CD in particular.

Objective As no causal treatment for dementia is available yet, the focus of dementia research is slowly shifting towards prevention strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the predictive accuracy of the "LIfestyle for BRAin Health" (LIBRA) score, a weighted compound score of 12 modifiable risk and protective factors, for dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in midlife and late-life, and in individuals with high or low genetic risk based on presence of the apolipoprotein (APOE) epsilon 4 allele. Methods The LIBRA score was calculated for participants from the Finnish Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) population-based study examined in midlife (n = 1024) and twice in late-life (n = 604) up to 30 years later. Diagnoses of MCI and dementia were made according to established criteria. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between LIBRA and risk of dementia and MCI in models adjusted for sex and education (age as timescale). Results Higher midlife LIBRA scores were related to higher risk of dementia (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-1.43) and MCI (unadjusted model: HR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03-1.22) up to 30 years later. Higher late-life LIBRA scores were related to higher risk of MCI (HR = 1.11; 95% CI, 1.00-1.25), but not dementia (HR = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.84-1.24). Higher late-life LIBRA scores were related to higher dementia risk among apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 non-carriers. Conclusions Findings emphasize the importance of modifiable risk and protective factors for dementia prevention.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between p53 expression and microbial acetaldehyde production in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Study design: Oral mucosal biopsies from 22 patients with OSCC and 24 healthy controls (HCs) were collected. p53 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Microbial samples were collected from the mucosa and microbial acetaldehyde production from ethanol was measured by gas chromatography. Results: The majority of all OSCC (77%) and HC samples (67%) produced mutagenic levels of acetaldehyde (>100 µM). A significant positive correlation between microbial acetaldehyde production and p53 expression levels in OSCC samples was seen in the intermediate and superficial layers of the epithelium of the infiltrative zone (P = .0005 and P = .0004, respectively) and in the superficial layer of the healthy appearing mucosa next to the tumor (P = .0391). There was no significant correlation between acetaldehyde levels and p53 expression in HC samples. Conclusions: Our results show an association between microbial acetaldehyde production and immunostaining of p53 in OSCC samples.

Background In the past two decades, the number of maternity hospitals in Finland has been reduced from 42 to 22. Notwithstanding the benefits of centralization for larger units in terms of increased safety, the closures will inevitably impair geographical accessibility of services. Methods This study aimed to employ a set of location-allocation methods to assess the potential impact on accessibility, should the number of maternity hospitals be reduced from 22 to 16. Accurate population grid data combined with road network and hospital facilities data is analyzed with three different location-allocation methods: straight, sequential and capacitated p-median. Results Depending on the method used to assess the impact of further reduction in the number of maternity hospitals, 0.6 to 2.7% of mothers would have more than a two-hour travel time to the nearest maternity hospital, while the corresponding figure is 0.5 in the current situation. The analyses highlight the areas where the number of births is low, but a maternity hospital is still important in terms of accessibility, and the areas where even one unit would be enough to take care of a considerable volume of births. Conclusions Even if the reduction in the number of hospitals might not drastically harm accessibility at the level of the entire population, considerable changes in accessibility can occur for clients living close to a maternity hospital facing closure. As different location-allocation analyses can result in different configurations of hospitals, decision-makers should be aware of their differences to ensure adequate accessibility for clients, especially in remote, sparsely populated areas.

OBJECTIVES We examined longitudinal associations between late-life personality traits and cognitive impairment, dementia, and mortality in the population-based Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) Study. METHODS Anger expression and trait anger (State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and sense of coherence (Sense of Coherence Scale) were assessed at the 1998 CAIDE visit (1266 cognitively normal individuals, mean age 71.0 years). Totally, 582 participants had complete re-examination in 2005-2008 (105 mild cognitive impairment, MCI; and 29 dementia). National registers data until 2008 were also used for both participants and nonparticipants to ascertain incident dementia (96 cases) and mortality (227 died). Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, education, follow-up time, cardiovascular and lifestyle factors, and depressive symptoms. RESULTS Higher anxiety was associated with higher risk of MCI/dementia (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.07-2.63) and death (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.08-1.98). High sense of coherence was associated with lower mortality (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.45-0.93). These associations were attenuated after accounting for depressive symptoms (OR 1.57, 95% CI 0.96-2.58 for anxiety-MCI/dementia; HR 1.35, 95% CI 0.97-1.86 for anxiety-mortality; and HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.45-1.04 for sense of coherence-mortality). Trait anger was associated with higher dementia risk even after adjustments (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.14-3.18). CONCLUSIONS Anxiety was linked to worse cognitive outcome and mortality and sense of coherence to lower mortality. Depressive symptoms attenuated the associations. As a novel finding, trait anger was connected to dementia risk. These findings emphasize the importance of personality-related risk factors for dementia and mortality. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:-, 2020.

Background and Purpose: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is an established treatment of acute anterior circulation stroke caused by large vessel occlusion (LVO). We compared the clinical outcome (3-month modified Rankin Scale, mRS) in hyperacute (Methods: We prospectively reviewed 67 patients who underwent MT with newer-generation stent retrievers. The IVT cohort consisted of 98 patients who received IVT without MT. We recorded baseline clinical, procedural and imaging variables, technical outcome, 24-h imaging outcome, and the clinical outcome. Differences between the groups were studied with theoretically appropriate statistical tests and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The proportion of patients who had a proximal LVO and experienced good (mRS ≤2) or excellent (mRS ≤1) clinical outcome was significantly larger in the MT group (62 vs. 7%, p < 0.001; 47 vs. 3%, p < 0.001, respectively). In a regression model including relevant confounding variables, good clinical outcome was seen significantly more often among patients with proximal occlusions (OR = 6.0, CI 95% 1.9-18.3, p = 0.002). In a similar model, no statistically significant differences were observed in patients with more distal occlusions. Conclusions: MT is superior to IVT in achieving good clinical outcome in hyperacute anterior circulation stroke in the most proximal occlusions (ICA and proximal M1 segment). In the distal M1 and M2 segments neither of these therapies clearly outperforms the other.

Background: In general, nature relatedness is positively associated with physical activity, health, and subjective well-being. However, increased residence in urban areas, and the decrease in natural spaces, may affect the younger generation most adversely. The associated environmental changes can increase youths&rsquo, risk of spending most of their time indoors, and weaken their nature relatedness, making them less likely to enjoy nature&rsquo, s health benefits. This is a serious public health issue, since inadequate physical activity, combined with minimum time spent in green space, can affect health across the whole lifespan. Thus, to develop effective interventions for physical activation and promote health and well-being among young men, further knowledge of the determinants of their nature relatedness is necessary. Aims: To explore factors related to nature relatedness, including physical activity, physical activity with parents, and residential environment. Methods: The study population consisted of all 914 young men (mean&mdash, 17.8 years, SD&mdash, 0.5) who participated in mandatory call-ups for military service and completed the study questionnaire in 2013. The questionnaire inquired about their nature relatedness, demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, physical activity, health, and subjective well-being. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to assess the features of their residential environments. Multivariable linear regression was used to analyze the data. Results: Physical activity (p = 0.021) and physical activity with parents at primary school age (p = 0.007), and currently (p = 0.001) as well as good self-rated health (p = 0.001), and father&rsquo, s higher socioeconomic status (p = 0.041), were positively connected to nature relatedness. Conclusions: Physical activity in general, physical activity with parents, and nature relatedness were positively related. This knowledge can be utilized in promoting physical activity and health among young men.

Purpose The aim of this study was to examine the association of serum glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance with cognitive functioning 7 years later in a longitudinal population-based study of Finnish older adults. Methods Serum glucose and insulin were measured at baseline in 269 dementia-free individuals aged 65-79 years, from the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia (CAIDE) study. Insulin resistance was estimated with the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Participants were reexamined 7 years later, and global cognition, episodic memory, executive functioning, verbal expression, and psychomotor speed were assessed, both at baseline and at follow-up. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate the associations with cognitive performance at follow-up, after adjusting for several potential confounders, including common vascular risk factors. Results In the multivariable-adjusted linear regression models, no associations of insulin resistance with cognitive functioning were observed. After excluding 19 incident dementia cases, higher baseline HOMA-IR values were related to worse performance in global cognition (β [standard error (SE)] -.050 [0.02]; P = .043) and psychomotor speed (β [SE] -.064 [.03]; P = [.043]) 7 years later. Raised serum insulin levels were associated with lower scores on global cognition (β [SE] -.054 [.03]; P = .045) and tended to relate to poorer performance in psychomotor speed (β [SE] -.061 [.03]; P = .070). Conclusions Serum insulin and insulin resistance may be independent predictors of cognitive performance 7 years later in elderly individuals without dementia. Randomized controlled trials are needed to determine this issue.

The aim was to evaluate the relationships of changes in facial pain, temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and oral health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL) in adults who underwent orthodontic or orthodontic/surgical treatment.Sixty-four patients (46 women, 18 men, range 18-64 years) with severe malocclusion and functional problems were treated in Oulu University Hospital. Of these, 44 underwent orthodontic-surgical and 20 orthodontic treatment. Data were collected with questionnaires and clinical stomatognathic examinations before and on average 3 years after treatment. The OHRQoL was measured with OHIP-14 (The Oral Health Impact Profile), the intensity of facial pain with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the severity of TMD with the Helkimo's anamnestic (Ai) and clinical (Di) dysfunction indices.A significant improvement was found in facial pain, signs and symptoms of TMD and OHRQoL after the treatment (p0.05). The decrease in VAS was associated with improvement in OHIP-14 severity (r = 0.296, p = 0.019). The correlations between changes in OHIP-14 severity and Ai and Di were not statistically significant.Treatment of severe malocclusion seemed to improve OHRQoL via decreased facial pain. Decreased facial pain was associated especially with improved OHRQoL dimensions of physical pain, physical disability and social disability.

Background The incidence of invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS) infections varies in time and geographically for unknown reasons. We performed a nationwide survey to assess the population-based incidence rates and outcomes of children with iGAS infections. Methods We collected data on patients from hospital discharge registries and the electronic databases of microbiological laboratories in Finland for the period 1996-2010. We then recorded the emm types or serotypes of the strains. The study physician visited all university clinics and collected the clinical data using the same data entry sheet. Results We identified 151 children with iGAS infection. Varicella preceded iGAS infection in 20% of cases and fasciitis infection in 83% of cases. The annual incidence rate of iGAS infection was 0.93 per 100,000 in 1996-2000, 1.80 in 2001-2005 and 2.50 in 2006-2010. The proportion of emm 1.0 or T1M1 strains peaked in 1996-2000 and again in 2006-2010, to 44% and 37% of all typed isolates. The main clinical diagnoses of the patients were severe soft-tissue infection (46%), sepsis (28%), empyema (10%), osteoarticular infection (9%) and primary peritonitis (5%). Severe pain was the most typical symptom for soft-tissue infections. More than half of the patients underwent surgery and received clindamycin. The readmission rate was 7%, and the case fatality rate was 2%. Conclusions The incidence rate of pediatric iGAS infections tripled during our study. The increase was not, however, the result of a change in the strain types causing iGAS. Varicella immunization would likely have prevented a significant number of the cases.

Background: Despite the recent developments in physically and chemically based analysis of atmospheric particles, no models exist for resolving the spatial variability of pollen concentration at urban scale. Objectives: We developed a land use regression (LUR) approach for predicting spatial fine-scale allergenic pollen concentrations in the Helsinki metropolitan area, Finland, and evaluated the performance of the models against available empirical data. Methods: We used grass pollen data monitored at 16 sites in an urban area during the peak pollen season and geospatial environmental data. The main statistical method was generalized linear model (GLM). Results: GLM-based LURs explained 79% of the spatial variation in the grass pollen data based on all samples, and 47% of the variation when samples from two sites with very high concentrations were excluded. In model evaluation, prediction errors ranged from 6% to 26% of the observed range of grass pollen concentrations. Our findings support the use of geospatial data–based statistical models to predict the spatial variation of allergenic grass pollen concentrations at intra-urban scales. A remote sensing–based vegetation index was the strongest predictor of pollen concentrations for exposure assessments at local scales. Conclusions: The LUR approach provides new opportunities to estimate the relations between environmental determinants and allergenic pollen concentration in human-modified environments at fine spatial scales. This approach could potentially be applied to estimate retrospectively pollen concentrations to be used for long-term exposure assessments. Citation: Hjort J, Hugg TT, Antikainen H, Rusanen J, Sofiev M, Kukkonen J, Jaakkola MS, Jaakkola JJ. 2016. Fine-scale exposure to allergenic pollen in the urban environment: evaluation of land use regression approach. Environ Health Perspect 124:619–626; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1509761

In this study, we describe a competitive homogeneous immunoassay that makes use of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) in rapid detection of pathogen-specific antibodies. The assay principle is based on competition between a monoclonal antibody (MAb) and serum antibodies to a given antigen. In the assay, named competitive FRET immunoassay (CFRET-IA), the FRET signal is induced if MAb carrying a donor label binds to an acceptor-labeled antigen. Specific antibodies in serum compete for antigen binding, resulting in reduced FRET signal. The proof-of-principle for the assay was obtained using donor-labeled Puumala virus nucleocapsid protein (PUUV-N) and acceptor-labeled anti-PUUV-N MAb. The assay was evaluated by analyzing 329 clinical samples comprising 101 from individuals with acute PUUV infection, 42 from individuals with past infection, and 186 from individuals with PUUV-seronegative sera, and the results were compared to those of reference tests. The rapid serodiagnostic test we introduced herein performed with 100% sensitivity and 99% specificity for diagnosing acute hantavirus disease.

Background The impact of lacunar and cortical chronic ischemic lesions (CILs) on the clinical outcome of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has been little studied. Clinical trials suggest that older patients benefit from MT. We investigated the effect of CILs on the clinical outcome of sexagenarian and older patients with acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) or distal internal carotid artery (ICA) stroke who received MT to treat large-vessel occlusion (LVO). Methods We prospectively collected the clinical and imaging data of 130 consecutive MT patients of which 68 met the inclusion criteria. We limited the analysis to sexagenarian and older subjects and occlusions no distal than the M2 segment. Baseline clinical, procedural and imaging variables, technical outcome, 24-hour imaging outcome, and the clinical outcome were recorded. Differences between patients with and without CILs were studied with appropriate statistical tests and binary logistic regression analysis. Results Twenty-one patients (31%) had at least 1 CIL. Thirty-eight percent of patients with CIL(s) compared with 62% without (P = .06) experienced good clinical outcome (3-month modified Rankin Scale ≤ 2). A similar nonsignificant trend was seen when lacunar lesions, lesion multiplicity, and chronic white matter lesions were examined separately. Absence of CIL increased the odds of good clinical outcome 3.7-fold (95% confidence interval 1.0-10.7, P = .05) in logistic regression modeling. Conclusions Chronic cortical and lacunar infarcts in admission imaging are associated with poor clinical outcome in sexagenarian and older patients treated with MT for LVO of the MCA or distal ICA.

The bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) has become a common model animal in the study of various aspects of vision and visually guided behavior. Although the bumblebee visual system has been studied to some extent, little is known about the functional role of the first visual neuropil, the lamina. In this work, we provide an anatomical and electrophysiological description of the first-order visual interneurons, lamina monopolar cells (LMCs), of the bumblebee. Using intracellular recording coupled with dye injection, we found that bumblebee LMCs morphologically resemble those found in the honeybee, although only the LMC type L1 cells could be morphologically matched directly between the species. LMCs could also be classified on the basis of their light response properties as spiking or non-spiking. We also show that some bumblebee LMCs can produce spikes during responses to stimulation with naturalistic light contrasts, a property unusual for these neurons.

Adoptive cell therapy holds much promise in the treatment of cancer but results in solid tumors have been modest. The notable exception is tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy of melanoma, but this approach only works with high-dose preconditioning chemotherapy and systemic interleukin (IL)-2 postconditioning, both of which are associated with toxicities. To improve and broaden the applicability of adoptive cell transfer, we constructed oncolytic adenoviruses coding for human IL-2 (hIL2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), or both. The viruses showed potent antitumor efficacy against human tumors in immunocompromised severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. In immunocompetent Syrian hamsters, we combined the viruses with TIL transfer and were able to cure 100% of the animals. Cured animals were protected against tumor re-challenge, indicating a memory response. Arming with IL-2 and TNF-alpha increased the frequency of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) TILs in vivo and augmented splenocyte proliferation ex vivo, suggesting that the cytokines were important for T cell persistence and proliferation. Cytokine expression was limited to tumors and treatment-related signs of systemic toxicity were absent, suggesting safety. To conclude, cytokine-armed oncolytic adenoviruses enhanced adoptive cell therapy by favorable alteration of the tumor microenvironment. A clinical trial is in progress to study the utility of Ad5/3-E2F-d24-hTNFa-IRES-hIL2 (TILT-123) in human patients with cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between satisfaction with dental esthetics and quality of life, and esthetics satisfaction in relation to esthetic evaluations of three panel groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients (36 women, 16 men; age 18–61 years) with severe malocclusion were treated in Oulu University Hospital. Of these, 38 and 14 patients underwent orthodontic/surgical treatment and orthodontic treatment, respectively. A questionnaire and dental photographs were collected before and after treatment. The 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was used to measure oral health-related quality of life. Satisfaction with dental esthetics was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale. Dental photographs were presented to three panel groups: 30 laypersons, 30 dental students, and 10 orthodontists, who rated the photographs using the Aesthetic Component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need. RESULTS: Oral health–related quality of life (OHIP-14 severity score) and esthetic satisfaction (according to the Visual Analogue Scale) improved after the treatment (P < .001). The most unsatisfied patients reported oral effects more often both before and after treatment. Changes in oral health–related quality of life components of severity, psychological discomfort, and psychological disability correlated positively with the changes in esthetic satisfaction. Orthodontists graded the situation before treatment as worse and the outcome as better than the laypersons; the level of grading by dental students fell between these two groups. CONCLUSION: Improvement in esthetic satisfaction due to the treatment of severe malocclusion improves oral health–related quality of life, particularly by decreasing psychological discomfort and psychological disability.

Objective: We investigated the association between late-life cynical distrust and incident dementia and mortality (mean follow-up times of 8.4 and 10.4 years, respectively) in the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia Study. Methods: Cynical distrust was measured based on the Cook-Medley Scale and categorized into tertiles. Cognitive status was evaluated with a 3-step protocol including screening, clinical phase, and differential diagnostic phase. Dementia was diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria. Complete data on exposure, outcome, and confounders were available from 622 persons (46 dementia cases) for the dementia analyses and from 1,146 persons (361 deaths) for the mortality analyses. Age, sex, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, fasting glucose, body mass index, socioeconomic background, smoking, alcohol use, self-reported health, and APOE genotype were considered as confounders. Results: Cynical distrust was not associated with dementia in the crude analyses, but those with the highest level of cynical distrust had higher risk of dementia after adjusting for confounders (relative risk 3.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15–8.55). Higher cynical distrust was associated with higher mortality in the crude analyses (hazard ratio 1.40; 95% CI 1.05–1.87) but the association was explained by confounders (adjusted hazard ratio 1.19; 95% CI 0.86–1.61). Conclusions: Higher cynical distrust in late life was associated with higher mortality, but this association was explained by socioeconomic position, lifestyle, and health status. Association between cynical distrust and incident dementia became evident when confounders were considered. This novel finding suggests that both psychosocial and lifestyle-related risk factors may be modifiable targets for interventions. We acknowledge the need for larger replication studies.

Obesity has been consistently associated with dementia. The role of certain risk factors of dementia may change during life, and the importance of having a life-course perspective has been acknowledged.The aim of this study was to investigate the association of midlife and late-life body mass index (BMI) with late-life dementia/Alzheimer's disease (AD) and whether the association was independent of other obesity-related co-morbidities.The association between midlife BMI (mean age 50.2, SD 6.0) and late-life BMI (mean age 71.2, SD 4.0) and incident dementia later in life (mean age 75.7, SD 5.0) were investigated among 1,304 participants of the longitudinal population-based Cardiovascular risk factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) study, conducted in Eastern Finland. The duration of follow-up was 26 years. The diagnosis of dementia was based on DSM-IV criteria and the probable and possible AD on the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria.Higher midlife BMI was associated with higher risk of incident dementia (adjusted HR, 95% CI 1.07, 1.00-1.14). However, decrease in BMI from midlife to late-life was associated with higher risk of dementia (1.14, 1.03-1.25 for one-unit decrease) and AD (1.20, 1.09-1.33). High late-life BMI was associated with lower risk of AD (0.89, 0.81-0.98) but the association with dementia was less evident (0.94, 0.86-1.03).Higher midlife BMI is related to higher risk of dementia and AD, independently of obesity-related risk factors and co-morbidities. Steeper decrease of BMI and low late-life BMI are associated with higher risk of dementia and AD. These findings highlight the importance of life-course perspective when assessing the association between BMI and cognition.

Objective. The main aim of this prospective study was to explore the ability of the oral microbiome to produce acetaldehyde in ethanol incubation. Study Design. A total of 90 patients [30 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC); 30 oral lichenoid disease (OLD); 30 healthy controls (CO)] were enrolled in the study. Microbial samples were taken from the mucosa using a filter paper method. The density of microbial colonization was calculated and the spectrum analyzed. Microbial acetaldehyde production was measured by gas chromatography. Results. The majority (68%) of cultures produced carcinogenic levels of acetaldehyde (>100 mM) when incubated with ethanol (22 mM). The mean acetaldehyde production by microbes cultured from smoker samples was significantly higher (213 mM) than from non-smoker samples (141 mM) (P ¼ .0326). Conclusions. The oral microbiota from OSCC, OLD patients and healthy individuals are able to produce carcinogenic levels of acetaldehyde. The present provisional study suggests smoking may increase the production of acetaldehyde. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2013;116:61-68)

Background: Previous research indicates that persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma may have more cognitive impairment compared to persons without these diseases. However, there are no previous studies regarding long-term effects of these diseases on the risk of clinically diagnosed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. We examined the association between midlife and late-life self-reported COPD and asthma and the lifelong risk of cognitive impairment (MCI/dementia) in a population-based study with a follow-up of over 25 years. Methods: Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) study includes 2000 participants who were randomly selected from four separate, population-based samples originally studied in midlife (1972, 1977, 1982 or 1988). Re-examinations were carried out in 1998 and 2005-8 (N=1511, 75.6 %) during which 172 persons were diagnosed with MCI and 117 with dementia. Results: Midlife COPD (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.05 – 3.28), asthma (HR 1.88, 95% CI 0.77 – 4.63) and both pulmonary diseases combined (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.16 – 3.27) increased the later risk of cognitive impairment even after full adjustments. However, pulmonary diseases diagnosed later in life seemed to be inversely related to cognitive impairment (fully adjusted model for both pulmonary diseases combined HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.19 – 0.93). Conclusions: In this population-based study, with more than 25 years of follow-up, midlife COPD and asthma were associated with an almost two-fold risk of MCI and dementia later in life. Pulmonary diseases diagnosed later in life seemed to have an inverse relationship with cognitive impairment probably reflecting survival bias.

The aim of this study is to explore the relationships between early dental wear patterns and preschool IQ (Intelligence Quotient, by Stanford-Binet) of the child to illuminate the historic relationship of mental queries and bruxism.The dental study participants were 864 Euro-American preschool and school children whose IQs were tested for school maturity purposes at the age of 4 years, followed by dental data in a cross-sectional manner at the mean age of 7.8 years. Worn dentitions were classified as "symmetric" or "right-" and "left-sided," based on the faceting of the teeth.In general, the relationships of tooth wear and intelligence were scarce, reflecting social background factors. Statistically significant results between asymmetric wear and gender groups suggest that direction of jaw function has a role in the regulation of processes responsible for individual mental performance in childhood.Increased left-side tooth wear and early advantage in the intelligence test in girls is intriguing due to the fact that they reach maturity earlier than boys in verbal articulation, controlled in most cases by the limited area on the left side of the brain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The location of the clot is a major determinant of ischemic stroke outcome. We studied the impact of the location (ICA, proximal M1 segment of the MCA, distal M1 segment, and M2 segment and more distally) of the clot on the CT perfusion parametric maps, the mismatch ratio, the amount of salvaged brain tissue, and the imaging and clinical outcomes in a retrospective acute (

Background and purpose: We studied the impact of the location of the thrombus (internal carotid artery, proximal M1 segment, distal M1 segment, M2 segment, and M3 segment of the middle cerebral artery) in predicting the clinical outcome of patients treated with intravenous thrombolytic therapy (

The aim of this study was to examine the pathways between temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), occlusal characteristics, facial pain, and oral health-related quality of life in patients with severe malocclusion. The study comprised 94 (34 men and 60 women, mean age 38 years) adult patients who were referred for orthodontic or surgical-orthodontic treatment. All the patients had severe malocclusion. Oral health-related quality of life was measured with the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 scale (OHIP-14), the intensity of facial pain using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), TMD with Helkimo's clinical dysfunction index (Di), and occlusal characteristics with the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR). A hypothetical model of the interrelationships between these factors was constructed based on the conceptual model of biological, behavioural, and psychosocial consequences of oral diseases. The associations were studied with path analysis. Women reported poorer oral health-related quality of life, higher pain levels, and had more severe TMD than men, but the gender difference was statistically significant only in pain and TMD. In contrast to the hypothetical model, among women the occlusal characteristics were not directly associated with oral health-related quality of life or facial pain. Among men, the occlusal characteristics were directly associated with oral health-related quality of life. In conclusion, patients with severe malocclusion who also have TMD and facial pain more often have impaired oral health-related quality of life. The associations of the occlusal characteristics with oral health-related quality of life differ between genders. Therefore, these associations should be studied separately among genders.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between occlusal characteristics and oral health-related quality of life in adults who underwent orthodontic or orthodontic-surgical treatment. The study group consisted of 51 adult patients (35 women, 16 men) with severe malocclusion and considerable functional disorders. Thirty-six of the patients underwent combined orthodontic-surgical treatment, while 15 underwent orthodontic treatment. Data were collected before and after treatment. Mean follow-up period was 5.0 years (range 2.2-6.7 years). Occlusal characteristics were measured from dental casts by using Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index. A self-completed Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was used to measure oral impacts. The changes in PAR and OHIP-14 were measured, and correlation between PAR and OHIP tested before and after treatment and in the changes during the follow-up. Statistical significance was evaluated with the paired samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test, and the correlation between PAR and OHIP scores assessed using Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficient. The occlusion was significantly improved in all subjects, mean PAR reduction being 78.1 per cent. The prevalences of oral impacts at threshold `fairly often' or `very often' before and after treatment were 70.6 per cent and 9.8 per cent, respectively (P < 0.001). The PAR and OHIP scores correlated after treatment but not before treatment or in the changes. The treatment of severe malocclusion reduced the reported oral impacts to the level of general population and significantly improved oral health-related quality of life.

Objectives: To examine the associations between serum homocysteine (tHcy), holotranscobalamin (holoTC, the biologically active fraction of vitamin B12) and folate and cognitive functioning in a lon ...