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Metabolic syndrome and epigenetic aging: a twin study
No full textBackground: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with premature aging, but whether this association is driven by genetic or lifestyle factors remains unclear.Methods: Two independent discovery cohorts, consisting of twins and unrelated individuals, were examined (N = 268, aged 23-69 years). The findings were replicated in two cohorts from the same base population. One consisted of unrelated individuals (N = 1 564), and the other of twins (N = 293). Participants' epigenetic age, estimated using blood DNA methylation data, was determined using the epigenetic clocks GrimAge and DunedinPACE. The individual-level linear regression models for investigating the associations of MetS and its components with epigenetic aging were followed by within-twin-pair analyses using fixed-effects regression models to account for genetic factors.Results: In individual-level analyses, GrimAge age acceleration was higher among participants with MetS (N = 56) compared to participants without MetS (N = 212) (mean 2.078 [95% CI = 0.996,3.160] years vs. -0.549 [-1.053,-0.045] years, between-group p = 3.5E-5). Likewise, the DunedinPACE estimate was higher among the participants with MetS compared to the participants without MetS (1.032 [1.002,1.063] years/calendar year vs. 0.911 [0.896,0.927] years/calendar year, p = 4.8E-11). An adverse profile in terms of specific MetS components was associated with accelerated aging. However, adjustments for lifestyle attenuated these associations; nevertheless, for DunedinPACE, they remained statistically significant. The within-twin-pair analyses suggested that genetics explains these associations fully for GrimAge and partly for DunedinPACE. The replication analyses provided additional evidence that the association between MetS components and accelerated aging is independent of the lifestyle factors considered in this study, however, suggesting that genetics is a significant confounder in this association.Conclusions: The results of this study suggests that MetS is associated with accelerated epigenetic aging, independent of physical activity, smoking or alcohol consumption, and that the association may be explained by genetics.</p
Assessing the bond strength of short fiber composites to dentin using various air abrasion particles
No full textPurpose: This study investigated the bond strength between short fiber-reinforced resin composite (SFC) and dentin following air abrasion with various types of abrasive particles.Methods: A total of 120 human molars were prepared for a shear bond strength (SBS) test of the resin composite. The teeth were divided into 12 groups (n = 10/group) based on the air abrasion particle used. Half of the groups underwent phosphoric acid etching (10 s) prior to air abrasion, while the other half received no pretreatment. Air abrasion was performed using five types of particles, after which a two-part adhesive (G2 Bond) and SFC were applied on the treated surfaces. The SBS test was performed using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/min until failure. Two additional specimens from each group were prepared to evaluate the air abraded surface using scanning electron microscopy after being stored in simulated body fluid (SBF) for two weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way analysis of variance and the Tukey test (α = 0.05).Results: The highest SBS values were observed in the control group (18.9 MPa), which did not undergo air abrasion. The use of different air abrasion particles affected the SBS of SFC to dentin (P Conclusions: Air abrasion with various particles did not improve the bond strength between the SFC and dentin.</p
Proceedings of the 2016 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play Companion Extended Abstracts
No full textNew Insights on the Progesterone (P4) and PGRMC1/NENF Complex Interactions in Colorectal Cancer Progression
No full textThe literature data regarding the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the context of hormone therapy (HT), including both estrogen–progestogen combinations and estrogen alone, are inconclusive. The precise relationship underlying the action of progesterone (P4) and progesterone receptors in CRC has yet to be determined. We characterized the expression profiles of both nuclear and membrane progesterone receptors and their potential cofactors in CRC tissues. Additionally, we analyzed the P4 and NENF treatment effects on the cell proliferation and invasion of DLD-1 and HT-29 colorectal cancer cells. We observed a weak expression of the nuclear P4 receptor (PGR), but an abundant expression of the P4 receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) and neuron-derived neurotrophic factor (NENF) in the CRC tissues. P4 treatment stimulated the proliferation of the DLD-1 and HT-29 CRC cells. The co-treatment of P4 and NENF significantly increased the invasiveness of the DLD-1 and HT-29 cells. A functional analysis revealed that these effects were dependent on PGRMC1. AN immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated a cytoplasmic co-localization of PGRMC1 and NENF in the CRC cells. Moreover, the concentration of serum NENF was significantly higher in CRC patients, and P4 treatment significantly increased the release of NENF in the DLD-1 cells. P4 or NENF treatment also significantly increased the IL-8 release in the DLD-1 cells. Our data may provide novel insights into the action of P4 and PGRMC1/NENF in CRC progression, where NENF may act as a potential PGRMC1 co-activator in non-classical P4 signaling. Furthermore, NENF, as a secreted protein, potentially could serve as a promising circulating biomarker candidate for distinguishing between colorectal cancer patients and healthy individuals, although large-scale extensive studies are needed to establish this.</p
Karibialaisen kirjallisuuden trendit ja niiden vaikutukset käännöskirjallisuuteen
No full text Heterolingualism has long been an integral part of Caribbean literatures. The trends of how different heterolingual practices are used in the literary works have changed over the decades. This has also influenced how the works are translated. This article discusses the ways in which the trends seen in original Caribbean literary production impact how these works are translated into Finnish and what kinds of works are selected for translation. Special focus is given to the trend of renouncing the use of italics as a marker for code-switching in Caribbean literary works. Although this trend has spread quickly in original works, it has not been as readily adopted in Finnish translations. The article focuses mainly on the translations of works whose primary language is English. </p
Factors associated with the development of severe asthma
No full textBackground: Severe asthma presents a major challenge to health care and negatively affects the quality of life of patients. Understanding the factors predicting the development of severe asthma is limited.Objective: To characterize patients with severe asthma and establish risk factors for the development of severe asthma in a Finnish sample with a nationwide coverage of population, health care, and drug register data.Methods: We used data between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2020. Pooled data over the years were used to identify characteristics of patients with severe asthma. Annual data were used in machine learning methods and logistic regression to identify factors predicting the development of severe asthma.Results: Analysis of pooled data including 242,164 individuals revealed that patients with severe asthma were more often women, slightly older, multimorbid, and had higher body mass index values compared with patients with nonsevere asthma. They also had higher use of nonasthma-related medications, manifesting as polypharmacy. Annual data from 6908 patients revealed that the most significant predictors of the development of severe asthma were being aged 51 to 60 years (odds ratio [OR] 3.90 [95% CI: 3.42-4.47]), chronic sinusitis (OR 2.48 [95% CI: 2.12-2.89]), and higher blood eosinophil counts (≥600 cells/μL, OR 2.10 [95% CI: 1.56-2.28]). Increases in all medications (nonasthma and asthma medications) were observed in the year before the onset of severe asthma.Conclusion: The results provide a clinically relevant risk factor profile for early identification of the patients at risk of developing severe asthma.</p
Evidence of Jet Activity from the Secondary Black Hole in the OJ 287 Binary System
No full textWe report the study of a huge optical intraday flare on 2021 November 12 at 2 a.m. UT in the blazar OJ 287. In the binary black hole model, it is associated with an impact of the secondary black hole on the accretion disk of the primary. Our multifrequency observing campaign was set up to search for such a signature of the impact based on a prediction made 8 yr earlier. The first I-band results of the flare have already been reported by Kishore et al. (2024). Here we combine these data with our monitoring in the R-band. There is a big change in the R-I spectral index by 1.0 +/- 0.1 between the normal background and the flare, suggesting a new component of radiation. The polarization variation during the rise of the flare suggests the same. The limits on the source size place it most reasonably in the jet of the secondary BH. We then ask why we have not seen this phenomenon before. We show that OJ 287 was never before observed with sufficient sensitivity on the night when the flare should have happened according to the binary model. We also study the probability that this flare is just an oversized example of intraday variability using the Krakow data set of intense monitoring between 2015 and 2023. We find that the occurrence of a flare of this size and rapidity is unlikely. In machine-readable Tables 1 and 2, we give the full orbit-linked historical light curve of OJ 287 as well as the dense monitoring sample of Krakow
Tulevaisuuden oppimisympäristöä tislaamassa
No full textTurun kauppakorkeakoulun organisaatioennakoinnin tutkimusryhmä Tulevaisuustislaamo sai elokuussa 2023 toimeksiannon Tampereen seudun ammattiopisto Tredulta. Tehtävänä oli selvittää oppimisympäristöjen mahdollisia tulevaisuuksia. Työn tarkoitus oli tukea paitsi uuden Hepolammin kampuksen suunnittelua, myös auttaa tunnistamaan ja ymmärtämään oppimisen toimintaympäristön potentiaalisia muutoksia ja mahdollisuuksia.</p