CiteULike: Author Blomgren

Hopping behavior in the Kuramoto--Sivashinsky equation

Peter Blomgren — 2008-05-23T00:10:57-00:00

Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science, Vol. 15, No. 1. (2005)

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Regulation of autophagy by cytoplasmic p53.

Ezgi Tasdemir — 2008-05-09T20:16:01-00:00

Nature cell biology (4 May 2008)

Multiple cellular stressors, including activation of the tumour suppressor p53, can stimulate autophagy. Here we show that deletion, depletion or inhibition of p53 can induce autophagy in human, mouse and nematode cells subjected to knockout, knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of p53. Enhanced autophagy improved the survival of p53-deficient cancer cells under conditions of hypoxia and nutrient depletion, allowing them to maintain high ATP levels. Inhibition of p53 led to autophagy in enucleated cells, and cytoplasmic, not nuclear, p53 was able to repress the enhanced autophagy of p53(-/-) cells. Many different inducers of autophagy (for example, starvation, rapamycin and toxins affecting the endoplasmic reticulum) stimulated proteasome-mediated degradation of p53 through a pathway relying on the E3 ubiquitin ligase HDM2. Inhibition of p53 degradation prevented the activation of autophagy in several cell lines, in response to several distinct stimuli. These results provide evidence of a key signalling pathway that links autophagy to the cancer-associated dysregulation of p53.

The effects of migration on the relationship between area socioeconomic structure and mortality.

Pekka Martikainen — 2007-10-12T10:19:13-00:00

Health Place (9 August 2007)

We studied whether migration influences the relationship between area socioeconomic structure and mortality. We used data on Finns aged 25-64 that are linked to information on proportions of manual workers in 85 functional regions in 1987 and 1997, and on deaths in 1998-2004. Participants aged 25-44 moving to areas with a lower proportion of manual workers had lower mortality and those moving to areas with a higher proportion of manual workers had mortality similar to those residing in these areas at both time points. Among the 45-64-year-olds, all migrants between areas had increased mortality. However, because these mortality differences and the migratory flows were relatively small, their effects on area socioeconomic differences in mortality were also small.

Primary photoprocess in vision: minimal motion to reach the photo- and bathorhodopsin intermediates.

F Blomgren — 2007-07-30T15:59:00-00:00

J Phys Chem B, Vol. 109, No. 18. (12 May 2005), pp. 9104-9110.

According to time-resolved spectroscopic measurements, the initial step of the photoreaction of rhodopsin occurs with a time constant of approximately 200 fs. The whole or a part of the retinal molecule cannot move any significant distance in such a short time. In this paper, we propose instead a minimal motion that accomplishes the important task of guiding the molecule to a configuration where it can decay to the ground-state surface, with a minimal loss of strain energy. This motion is proposed to involve a -90 degrees twisting of the C11=C12 double bond and a simultaneous twisting around two other double bonds in retinal to minimize the geometrical changes along the reaction path. The ONIOM method (complete active space self-consistent field for retinal and AMBER for the peptides) is used in a chromophore-cavity model to elucidate and confirm important features of the mechanism. The potential energy surface (PES) obtained according to the proposed mechanism show all of the characteristics of a fast photoreaction, meaning a downhill reaction path from the Franck-Condon point to an avoided crossing between S(1) and S(0). In this motion, only a few carbon and hydrogen atoms move more than 0.3 A, and the retinal structure is conserved in the protein cavity. We propose that the photorhodopsin intermediate is a retinal molecule formed on the excited-state PES. Bathorhodopsin, however, is a ground-state intermediate, still located inside the protein cavity.

Change in the total and independent effects of education and occupational social class on mortality: analyses of all Finnish men and women in the period 1971-2000.

P Martikainen — 2007-05-16T07:18:58-00:00

J Epidemiol Community Health, Vol. 61, No. 6. (June 2007), pp. 499-505.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate changes in the total and independent effects of education and occupational social class on mortality over 30 years, and to assess the causes of changes in the independent effects. METHODS: Census records linked with death records for 1971-2000 for all Finns aged 30-59 years were studied. The total and independent effects of education and social class on mortality were calculated from relative risks in nested Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Among men and women, the model shows that the total effects of education, and particularly occupational social class on mortality, have increased over time. Among 40-59-year-old people, the effects of education are currently less independent of social class than in the 1970s, but among younger Finns the independent effects have remained stable. The effects of social class on mortality that are independent of education have grown among people of older ages, particularly among men. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in the independent effects of socioeconomic measures on mortality are determined by changes in their associations with mortality, and distributional changes that affect the strength of the associations between these measures. Distributional changes are driven by changes in educational systems and labour markets, and are of major importance for the understanding of socioeconomic inequalities in mortality.

Treatment of acute otitis media with probiotics in otitis-prone children-A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised study.

Katja Hatakka — 2007-03-15T10:48:44-00:00

Clin Nutr (10 March 2007)

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To examine whether probiotics would reduce the occurrence or duration of acute otitis media (AOM), or the nasopharyngeal carriage of otitis pathogens in otitis-prone children. METHODS: During this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, 24-week intervention, 309 otitis-prone children (10 months-6 years) consumed either one probiotic capsule (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and LC705, Bifidobacterium breve 99 and Propionibacterium freudenreichii JS) (n=155) or placebo (n=154) daily. Clinical examinations were carried out and nasopharyngeal samples taken three times. Parents recorded the symptoms of upper respiratory infection (URI) in a diary. RESULTS: Probiotic treatment did not reduce the occurrence (probiotic vs. placebo: 72% vs. 65%, OR=1.48, 95% CI 0.87-2.52, p=n.s.) or the recurrence ( three) of AOM episodes (18% vs. 17%, OR=1.04, 95% CI 0.55-1.96, p=n.s.). The median duration of AOM episodes was 5.6 (IQR 3.5-9.4) vs. 6.0 (IQR 4.0-10.5) days, respectively (p= n.s.). There was a tendency showing a reduction in the occurrence of recurrent (4 to 6) respiratory infections in the probiotic group (OR for 4 URIs: 0.56, 95%CI 0.31-0.99, p=0.046; OR for 6 URIs: 0.59, 95% CI 0.34 to 1.03, p=n.s.). Probiotics did not affect the carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae, but increased the prevalence of Moraxella catarrhalis (OR=1.79, 95% CI 1.06-3.00, p=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Probiotics did not prevent the occurrence of AOM or the nasopharyngeal carriage of otitis pathogens in otitis-prone children. A tendency showing a reduction in recurrent respiratory infections must be confirmed in further studies.

Tympanometry by nurses-Can allocation of tasks be optimised?

Karin Blomgren — 2006-09-18T09:34:35-00:00

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol (11 September 2006)

OBJECTIVE: Acute otitis media and secretory otitis media are the most common pediatric infectious disease with a substantial impact on especially primary health care. If nurses could perform and interpret tympanometries, family practitioners workload could be reduced. We wanted to investigate the ability of nurses to perform tympanometry and evaluate the amount of training required. METHODS: Prospective study comparing results from tympanometry with results at myringotomy at a University Central Hospital was conducted. Nurses at the Paediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat Department performed tympanometry prior to myringotomy. Sensitivity and specificity of tympanometries versus myringotomy were calculated. Nurses' opinions about tympanometry and training required were evaluated. RESULTS: During a 1-year period, 199 children were enrolled in the study and 392 tympanograms were analyzed. Sensitivity of tympanograms to detect middle-ear fluid was 0.54, and specificity 0.82. Secretion occurred in 22.5% of children with type A curves and 45.3% of those with type C curves. Nurses evaluated their training in tympanometry as adequate. CONSCLUSIONS: A single training session in tympanometry is inadequate to qualify nurses to perform tympanometry independently. Thorough research and testing to evaluate the quality of such training is required to produce reliable tympanograms.

How we do it: Septoplasties under local anaesthetic are suitable for short stay surgery; the clinical outcomes.

M Hytönen — 2006-02-01T09:58:18-00:00

Clin Otolaryngol, Vol. 31, No. 1. (February 2006), pp. 64-68.

Keypoints * Septoplasties can be performed under local anaesthesia. However, careful prevention and treatment of pain during the operation is essential. * Septoplasties are suitable operations for short-stay surgery. * Two-years post-operative, septoplasty relieved the symptoms well or excellently in 55% and moderately in 27% of the cases. * Specialists prescribe more prophylactic antibiotics than residents (47%versus 29%P = 0.02). * Post-operative antibiotics do not appear to prevent the development of post-operative infections.

Presence of viral and bacterial pathogens in the nasopharynx of otitis-prone children A prospective study.

Anne Pitkäranta — 2005-10-05T10:45:42-00:00

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol (26 September 2005)

OBJECTIVE:: The purpose of the present study was to examine and follow up the presence of respiratory viral and bacterial pathogens in the nasopharynx of otitis-prone children during the cold season and compare the findings with the child's respiratory symptoms. METHODS:: We enrolled 121 otitis-prone children, aged 10 months to 4 years for a prospective study. The nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) were studied at the baseline and after 12 and 24 weeks for respiratory viruses and at the baseline and after 24 weeks for bacteria. Presence of picorna(rhino-entero-parecho)-, influenza-, adenoviruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae was detected by PCR. NPS specimens were cultured for Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis. Clinical data (the rate of respiratory symptom days, otitis media, tympanometry findings, day-care attendance and the number of siblings) were compared with microbiological data. RESULTS:: Rhinovirus was found in 30% of the samples at the baseline, in 8% and in 19% of the samples after 12 and 24 weeks, respectively. Enterovirus was detected in 19% of the samples, in 21% and in 12% of samples after 12 and 24 weeks, respectively. Picornavirus positivity correlated with the respiratory symptoms but not with the number of otitis media or with abnormal tympanometry. Two samples were adeno- and three samples influenzavirus positive. Parechovirus and M. pneumoniae were negative in all samples. Rhinovirus positivity correlated with that of M. catarrhalis and S. pneumonia but not with H. influenzae. Microbiological positivity was not significantly associated with the type of day-care. CONCLUSIONS:: Picornaviruses as well as bacteria were commonly found in the nasopharynx of otitis-prone children during the cold season, even in the absence of clinical symptoms.

Acute sinusitis: Finnish clinical practice guidelines.

K Blomgren — 2005-05-09T10:45:18-00:00

Scand J Infect Dis, Vol. 37, No. 4. (2005), pp. 245-250.

These clinical practice guidelines aim at providing assistance mainly to primary health care physicians for the diagnosis and management of acute sinusitis. Despite the huge impact of upper respiratory infections, criteria for diagnoses are often vague, and physicians are often uncertain of their diagnoses. This is not surprising, as the sole definition of acute sinusitis is somewhat confusing, not to mention the existing discrepancies between treatments, even among specialists. The Finnish Society of Otorhinolaryngology has set up a committee to evaluate existing data on acute sinusitis and to formulate these guidelines. The committee comprised Finnish experts in adult and paediatric otorhinolaryngology, clinical microbiology, radiology, paediatrics, and epidemiology. Recommendations given are based on the principles of evidence-based medicine, with the level of evidence presented.

Patients' preferences for length of stay: valuable in day-case tonsillectomy planning.

Karin Blomgren — 2005-03-21T07:55:11-00:00

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol (17 March 2005)

Day-case tonsillectomy is becoming more common, but patient satisfaction varies. Before beginning day-case tonsillectomies, we evaluated patients' wishes as to optimal discharge timing. We conducted a prospective study of all 294 patients undergoing elective tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy at a tertiary care clinic for 1 year. At discharge, patients received a questionnaire on their preferred length of stay. Of the 236 (80.3%) patients returning the questionnaire, 94 (39.8%) preferred discharge on the 1st, 141 (59.7%) on the 2nd postoperative day or later, and only one patient (0.4%) would have wished day-case tonsillectomy. Patients with postoperative fever, older patients and those discharged on the 2nd postoperative day or later were more likely to prefer a longer postoperative stay. Patients rejected the idea of day-case tonsillectomy after in-patient operation. Day-case tonsillectomies should be begun only after careful preparation of the staff, in children, and preferably in a day-surgery unit.

Current challenges in diagnosis of acute otitis media.

K Blomgren — 2005-03-03T11:25:48-00:00

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, Vol. 69, No. 3. (March 2005), pp. 295-299.

Diagnosis of acute otitis media is difficult: circumstances and equipment for diagnosis are often compromised, the child may be uncooperative, signs and symptoms of acute otitis media and those of the common cold are mostly the same, and parents appear to have strong opinions concerning correct diagnosis and treatment. Many clinicians have received inadequate pre- and postgraduate education about diagnosis. On the other hand, they are aware of the worldwide problem of antimicrobial resistance resulting from antibiotics unwisely prescribed for viral infections. We performed a systematic search to summarize what is known about diagnosis of acute otitis media and suggest ways to improve one's diagnostic skills. With the combination of appropriate and well-maintained diagnostic equipment for tympanometry and pneumatic otoscopy, strict diagnostic criteria, and open communication with each child's parents it is possible to increase accuracy in acute otitis media diagnosis. Recent public health campaigns both among clinicians and parents, plus increased knowledge of diagnostics reveal the possibility of significantly decreasing the number of acute otitis media diagnoses in children which will lead to reduced prescription of antibiotics.