Effects of usual nutrient intake and vitamin D status on markers of bone turnover in Swiss adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of nutrient intake and vitamin D status on markers of type I collagen formation and degradation in adolescent boys and girls. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Canton of Vaud, West Switzerland. SUBJECTS: A total of 92 boys and 104 girls, aged 11-16 y. Data were collected on height, weight, pubertal status (self-assessment of Tanner stage), nutrient intake (3-day dietary record) and fasting serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), and markers of collagen formation (P1NP) and degradation (serum C-terminal telopeptides: S-CTX). RESULTS: Tanner stage was a significant determinant of P1NP in boys and girls and S-CTX in girls. Of the nutrients examined, only the ratio of calcium to phosphorus (Ca/P) was positively associated with P1NP in boys, after adjustment for pubertal status. 25OHD decreased significantly at each Tanner stage in boys. Overall, 15% of boys and 17% of girls were identified as being vitamin D insufficient (serum 25OHD <30 nmol/l), with the highest proportion of insufficiency at Tanner stage 4-5 (29%) in boys and at Tanner stage 3 (24%) in girls. A significant association was not found between 25OHD and either bone turnover marker, nor was 25OHD insufficiency associated with higher concentrations of the bone turnover markers. CONCLUSIONS: The marked effects of puberty on bone metabolism may have obscured any possible effects of diet and vitamin D status on markers of bone metabolism. The mechanistic basis for the positive association between dietary Ca/P ratio and P1NP in boys is not clear and may be attributable to a higher Ca intake per se, a critical balance between Ca and P intake or higher dairy product consumption. A higher incidence of vitamin D insufficiency in older adolescents may reflect a more sedentary lifestyle or increased utilisation of 25OHD, and suggests that further research is needed to define their requirements. SPONSORSHIP: Nestec Ltd and The Swiss Foundation for Research in Osteoporosis.

The N-terminal domain of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein represents a target of protective immunity.

The N-terminal domain of the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) has been largely neglected in the search for a malaria vaccine in spite of being a target of inhibitory antibodies and protective T cell responses in mice. Thus, in order to develop this region as a vaccine candidate to be eventually associated with other candidates and, in particular, with the very advanced C-terminal counterpart, synthetic constructs representing N- and C-terminal regions of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium berghei CSP were administered as single or combined formulations in mice. We show that the antisera generated against the combinations inhibit sporozoite invasion of hepatocytes in vitro better than antisera against single peptides. Furthermore, two different P. falciparum CSP N-terminal constructs (PfCS22-110 and PfCS65-110) were recognized by serum samples from people living in malaria-endemic regions. Importantly, recognition of the short N-terminal peptide (PfCS65-110) by sera from children living in a malaria-endemic region was associated with protection from disease. Taken together, these results underline the potential of using such fragments as malaria vaccine candidates.

Improved detection of Rhodococcus coprophilus with a new quantitative PCR assay.

Agricultural practices, such as spreading liquid manure or the utilisation of land as animal pastures, can result in faecal contamination of water resources. Rhodococcus coprophilus is used in microbial source tracking to indicate animal faecal contamination in water. Methods previously described for detecting of R. coprophilus in water were neither sensitive nor specific. Therefore, the aim of this study was to design and validate a new quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to improve the detection of R. coprophilus in water. The new PCR assay was based on the R. coprophilus 16S rRNA gene. The validation showed that the new approach was specific and sensitive for deoxyribunucleic acid from target host species. Compared with other PCR assays tested in this study, the detection limit of the new qPCR was between 1 and 3 log lower. The method, including a filtration step, was further validated and successfully used in a field investigation in Switzerland. Our work demonstrated that the new detection method is sensitive and robust to detect R. coprophilus in surface and spring water. Compared with PCR assays that are available in the literature or to the culture-dependent method, the new molecular approach improves the detection of R. coprophilus.

Teknologisoitunutta arkea merkityksellistämässä

Kirja-arvio

Kehä III:n varrelta : 20 vuotta vantaalaista ammattiteatteria

Vantaan ensimmäinen, ja edelleen ainoa ammattimainen puheteatteri Teatteri Kehä III perustettiin vuonna 1986. Teatteri Kehä III on ensimmäisiä ns. vapaita teatteriryhmiä, jotka halusivat itse päättää mitä esitetään, missä ja kenelle. Tärkeää oli, että jokainen teatterissa toimiva voi taiteellisesti sitoutua lopputulokseen. Pienen teatterin pyörittäminen on vaatinut sinnikkyyttä, kekseliäisyyttä, ja uskoa teatterin tarpeellisuuteen. Pienuudestaan huolimatta Teatteri Kehä III ei ole pelännyt ottaa suuria taiteellisia ja taloudellisia riskejä. Oman tilan kunnostaminen vuonna 1995 tyhjillään olleeseen Tikkurilan Silkkitehtaaseen ilman yhteiskunnallista tukea oli rohkea, ja ihailua herättävä kulttuuriteko. Teatteri Kehä III on kantaesittänyt suuren joukon eurooppalaisia näytelmiä, ja ollut usein aikaansa edellä mitä esitysten teemoihin tulee. Yhtenä motiivina kokeellisillekin tuotannoille on ollut apurahojen saanti; uudet tekstit ja ideat kun ovat saaneet helpommin tukea. Pienten teattereiden suurin ongelma on ainainen rahanpuute. Tämän historiikin kokoamista varten olen käynyt läpi Teatteri Kehä III:n arkistoja: lukenut kokousten pöytäkirjoja ja toimintasuunnitelmia, sekä tutkinut teatterin vuosikirjoja ja esitysten käsiohjelmia. Olen myös haastatellut vuosien varrella Teatteri Kehä III:ssa toimineita ihmisiä. Teatteri Kehä III:n tuottamien esitysten määrä suuri ja hyvin monipuolinen, siksi keskityn käsittelemään teatterin elinkaarta sen ohjelmiston kautta. Teatteri Kehä III juhli 20-vuotista taivaltaan marraskuussa 2006, ja vaihtoi samalla nimensä Teatteri Vantaaksi.

The p22phox C242T gene polymorphism is associated with a reduced risk of angiographically verified coronary artery disease in a high-risk Finnish Caucasian population. The Finnish Cardiovascular Study.

American Heart Journal Vol. 152, Issue 3, pp 538-542, 2006