Seksuaalisen ruumiin tutkimus antiikista nykypäivään

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

Muistojen Laila Kinnunen : luokka kulttuurisessa muistissa

Teema: Luokka.

The Liver Plays a Major Role in Clearance and Destruction of Blood Trypomastigotes in Trypanosoma cruzi Chronically Infected Mice

Intravenous challenge with Trypanosoma cruzi can be used to investigate the process and consequences of blood parasite clearance in experimental Chagas disease. One hour after intravenous challenge of chronically infected mice with 5610 6 trypomastigotes, the liver constituted a major site of parasite accumulation, as revealed by PCR. Intact parasites and/or parasite remnants were visualized at this time point scattered in the liver parenchyma. Moreover, at this time, many of liver-cleared parasites were viable, as estimated by the frequency of positive cultures, which considerably diminished after 48 h. Following clearance, the number of infiltrating cells in the hepatic tissue notably increased: initially (at 24 h) as diffuse infiltrates affecting the whole parenchyma, and at 48 h, in the form of large focal infiltrates in both the parenchyma and perivascular spaces. Phenotypic characterization of liver-infiltrating cells 24 h after challenge revealed an increase in Mac1(+), CD8(+) and CD4(+) cells, followed by natural killer (NK) cells. As evidence that liver-infiltrating CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells were activated, increased frequencies of CD69(+) CD8(+), CD69(+) CD4(+) and CD25(+) CD122(+) CD4(+) cells were observed at 24 and 48 h after challenge, and of CD25(-)CD122(+)CD4(+) cells at 48 h. The major role of CD4(+) cells in liver protection was suggested by data showing a very high frequency of interferon (IFN)-gamma-producing CD4(+) cells 24 h after challenge. In contrast, liver CD8(+) cells produced little IFN-gamma, even though they showed an enhanced potential for secreting this cytokine, as revealed by in vitro T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation. Confirming the effectiveness of the liver immune response in blood parasite control during the chronic phase of infection, no live parasites were detected in this organ 7 days after challenge.

Novel pathogenic mutations and skin biopsy analysis in Knobloch syndrome

Purpose: To facilitate future diagnosis of Knobloch syndrome (KS) and better understand its etiology, we sought to identify not yet described COL18A1 mutations in KS patients. In addition, we tested whether mutations in this gene lead to absence of the COL18A1 gene product and attempted to better characterize the functional effect of a previously reported missense mutation. Methods: Direct sequencing of COL18A1 exons was performed in KS patients from four unrelated pedigrees. We used immunofluorescent histochemistry in skin biopsies to evaluate the presence of type XVIII collagen in four KS patients carrying two already described mutations: c. 3277C>T, a nonsense mutation, and c. 3601G>A, a missense mutation. Furthermore, we determined the binding properties of the mutated endostatin domain p.A1381T (c.3601G>A) to extracellular matrix proteins using ELISA and surface plasmon resonance assays. Results: We identified four novel mutations in COL18A1, including a large deletion involving exon 41. Skin biopsies from KS patients revealed lack of type XVIII collagen in epithelial basement membranes and blood vessels. We also found a reduced affinity of p.A1381T endostatin to some extracellular matrix components. Conclusions: COL18A1 mutations involved in Knobloch syndrome have a distribution bias toward the coding exons of the C-terminal end. Large deletions must also be considered when point mutations are not identified in patients with characteristic KS phenotype. We report, for the first time, lack of type XVIII collagen in KS patients by immunofluorescent histochemistry in skin biopsy samples. As a final point, we suggest the employment of this technique as a preliminary and complementary test for diagnosis of KS in cases when mutation screening either does not detect mutations or reveals mutations of uncertain effect, such as the p.A1381T change.

An ex vivo comparison of root canal length determination by three electronic apex locators at positions short of the apical foramen

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the precision of working length determination of 3 electronic apex locators (EALs): Root ZX, RomiApex D-30, and Ipex at 0.0 mm, at the apical foramen (AF), and at 1.0 mm short of the AF. Methodology. Thirty-eight mandibular premolars had their real lengths previously determined. Electronic measurements were determined at 1.0 mm, followed by measurements at 0.0 mm, performed in triplicate. Results. Precision of devices at 1.0 mm and 0.0 mm were: 94.7% and 97.4%, respectively (Root ZX); 78.9% and 97.4% (RomiApex D-30); and 76.3% and 97.4% (Ipex). Although no statistical differences were observed between the EALs at 0.0, at 1.0 mm Root ZX performed significantly better than the others. Conclusion. The EALs had acceptable precision when measuring the working length at the AF. However, when used at levels short of the AF, only Root ZX did not suffer a significant negative effect on precision. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010;110:e57-e61)

Continuous fungal treatment of non-sterile veterinary hospital effluent: pharmaceuticals removal and microbial community assessment

Source point treatment of effluents with a high load of pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs), such as hospital wastewater, is a matter of discussion among the scientific community. Fungal treatments have been reported to be successful in degrading this type of pollutants and, therefore, the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor was applied for the removal of PhACs from veterinary hospital wastewater. Sixty-six percent removal was achieved in a non-sterile batch bioreactor inoculated with T. versicolor pellets. On the other hand, the study of microbial communities by means of DGGE and phylogenetic analyses led us to identify some microbial interactions and helped us moving to a continuous process. PhAC removal efficiency achieved in the fungal treatment operated in non-sterile continuous mode was 44 % after adjusting the C/N ratio with respect to the previously calculated one for sterile treatments. Fungal and bacterial communities in the continuous bioreactors were monitored as well.

Meta-analysis identifies 13 new loci associated with waist-hip ratio and reveals sexual dimorphism in the genetic basis of fat distribution.

Waist-hip ratio (WHR) is a measure of body fat distribution and a predictor of metabolic consequences independent of overall adiposity. WHR is heritable, but few genetic variants influencing this trait have been identified. We conducted a meta-analysis of 32 genome-wide association studies for WHR adjusted for body mass index (comprising up to 77,167 participants), following up 16 loci in an additional 29 studies (comprising up to 113,636 subjects). We identified 13 new loci in or near RSPO3, VEGFA, TBX15-WARS2, NFE2L3, GRB14, DNM3-PIGC, ITPR2-SSPN, LY86, HOXC13, ADAMTS9, ZNRF3-KREMEN1, NISCH-STAB1 and CPEB4 (P = 1.9 × 10⁻⁹ to P = 1.8 × 10⁻⁴⁰) and the known signal at LYPLAL1. Seven of these loci exhibited marked sexual dimorphism, all with a stronger effect on WHR in women than men (P for sex difference = 1.9 × 10⁻³ to P = 1.2 × 10⁻&supl;³). These findings provide evidence for multiple loci that modulate body fat distribution independent of overall adiposity and reveal strong gene-by-sex interactions.

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms.

Defining the role of common variation in the genomic and biological architecture of adult human height.

Using genome-wide data from 253,288 individuals, we identified 697 variants at genome-wide significance that together explained one-fifth of the heritability for adult height. By testing different numbers of variants in independent studies, we show that the most strongly associated ∼2,000, ∼3,700 and ∼9,500 SNPs explained ∼21%, ∼24% and ∼29% of phenotypic variance. Furthermore, all common variants together captured 60% of heritability. The 697 variants clustered in 423 loci were enriched for genes, pathways and tissue types known to be involved in growth and together implicated genes and pathways not highlighted in earlier efforts, such as signaling by fibroblast growth factors, WNT/β-catenin and chondroitin sulfate-related genes. We identified several genes and pathways not previously connected with human skeletal growth, including mTOR, osteoglycin and binding of hyaluronic acid. Our results indicate a genetic architecture for human height that is characterized by a very large but finite number (thousands) of causal variants.

Työterveyshoitajan puhelinpalvelu asiakkaiden kokemana

Opinäytetyön tarkoituksena on kuvata työterveyshoitajan antamaa puhelinpalvelun laatua asiakkaiden näkökulmasta. Aineisto kerättiin teemahaastatteluilla. Haastattelujen kohdejoukon muodostivat Helsingin kaupungin Työterveyskeskuksen asiakkaat (n=10). Haastateltavat valittiin Työterveyskeskuksen terveydenhoitajien antamista yhteystiedoista. Yhteystiedot oli kerätty asiakkaista, jotka olivat ainakin kaksi kertaa olleet kuluvan vuoden aikana puhelimitse yhteydessä työterveyshoitajaan. Aineisto analysoitiin käyttämällä sisällön analyysia. Työterveyshoitajilta saatiin yhteystiedot kahdella eri listalla, joista haastateltavat valittiin tasapuolisesti. Tulosten mukaan osa piti soittoaikoja epäsopivana ja soittoaikojen pituutta osa haastateltavista olisi halunnut muuttaa ja pidentää. Haastateltavat arvostivat kiireetöntä puhelinpalvelua ja heidän ongelmansa huomioimista. Haastateltavat kokivat työterveyshoitajien ammattitaidon hyväksi. Terveysneuvontaa haastateltavat olivat saaneet niukasti, mutta eivät toisaalta sitä ongelmiensa luonteen vuoksi kaivanneet, koska saivat nopeasti ajan lääkärille. Opinnäytetyö antaa tietoa työterveyshoitajien puhelinpalvelun hyvästä laadusta ja asiakkaiden tyytyväisyydestä. Tuloksia voidaan pitää haastavina laadun ylläpitämisessä ja kehittämisessä.

Kohti muutosta : työterveyshoitaja elintapamuutoksen tukijana

Opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena oli kehittää elintapoja kartoittava neuvontalomake työterveyshoitajan käyttöön. Tavoitteena oli kehittää elintapaneuvontaa lisäämällä työterveyshoitajan tietoja elintapojen muutosta tukevan terveysneuvonnan rakentumisesta. Opinnäytetyö oli kehittämistyö Diacor terveyspalvelut Oy:n työterveyshuoltoon. Opinnäytetyön aineistona käytettiin ajankohtaista kirjallisuutta ja tutkimuksia terveysneuvonnan toteutumisesta, suomalaisten työikäisten elintavoista ja työterveyshoitajan työstä. Teoreettisena pohjana elintapojen muutokselle toimi transteoreettinen muutosvaihemalli, joka erottaa asiakkaan elintapamuutoksen eri vaiheet. Kerätyn aineiston pohjalta tehtiin elintapoja kartoittava neuvontalomake sekä koottiin elintapaneuvonnan tueksi voimavaralähtöisiä kysymyksiä. Neuvontalomakkeessa yhdistyvät työikäisen terveyden edistämisen kannalta tärkeimmät elintavat, kansalliset elintapasuositukset sekä elintapamuutoksen vaiheet. Voimavaralähtöiset kysymykset laadittiin koskemaan kutakin elintapamuutoksen vaihetta. Neuvontalomakkeella saadaan esille asiakkaan itsensä ilmoittamat elintapojen muutostarpeet. Yhdessä asiakkaan kanssa työterveyshoitaja voi lomaketta apunaan käyttäen kartoittaa asiakkaan muutosvalmiuden elintapamuutokseen. Muutosvalmiuden kartoittamisen jälkeen elintapaneuvonta voidaan kohdentaa elintapamuutoksiin sitoutuneisiin ja motivoituneisiin asiakkaisiin. Muutokselle asetetaan tavoite ja seurataan tavoitteen saavuttamista. Voimavaralähtöisten kysymykset antavat työterveyshoitajalle apuvälineen tukea eri muutosvaiheissa olevia asiakkaita. Elintapoja kartoittava neuvontalomake soveltuu käytettäväksi työikäisten elintapojen kartoitukseen ja elintapaneuvontaan. Lomaketta voidaan käyttää osana terveystarkastusta, terveyden seurantatarkastusta sekä todettaessa tarve elintapojen muutokseen. Elintapoja kartoittava neuvontalomake tulee pilotoida ennen sen varsinaista käyttöön ottamista.

Kissan miliaarinen bronkolitiaasi

Taina Kivistö ja Elise Saario