Low nuclear expression of HIF-hydroxylases PHD2/EGLN1 and PHD3/EGLN3 are associated with poor recurrence-free survival in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Hypoxia inducible factors, HIF-1α and HIF-2α, and their main regulators, the prolyl hydroxylase domain proteins (PHDs), mediate cellular response to hypoxia and contribute to tumor progression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). These biomarkers may improve the value of traditional histopathological features in predicting disease progression after nephrectomy for localized ccRCC and guide patient selection for adjuvant treatments.

Patients And Methods: In this study, we analyzed the associations of PHD2 and PHD3 with histopathological tumor features and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in a retrospective cohort of 173 patients who had undergone surgery for localized ccRCC at Helsinki University Hospital (HUH), Finland.

Association of toxic indoor air with multi-organ symptoms in pupils attending a moisture-damaged school in Finland.

Background: There is an on-going debate on how best to test toxic indoor air. Toxicological methods based on condensed water samples and cell culture technique are newly introduced research tools which were tested in this study.

Methods: Pupils (n=47) from a water-damaged and (n=56) healthy schools were interviewed using a questionnaire.

Moist and Mold Exposure is Associated With High Prevalence of Neurological Symptoms and MCS in a Finnish Hospital Workers Cohort.

Background: Indoor air dampness microbiota (DM) is a big health hazard. Sufficient evidence exists that exposure to DM causes new asthma or exacerbation, dyspnea, infections of upper airways and allergic alveolitis. Less convincing evidence has yet been published for extrapulmonary manifestations of dampness and mold hypersensitivity syndrome ).

High prevalence of neurological sequelae and multiple chemical sensitivity among occupants of a Finnish police station damaged by dampness microbiota.

The aim of the study was to estimate the risks of different symptoms after the exposure to indoor air dampness microbiota (DM). This cross-sectional retrospective cohort-based study compared morbidity risks in DM exposed (n = 116) vs. unexposed cohort (n = 45).

Natural coniferous resin lacquer in treatment of toenail onychomycosis: an observational study.

In in vitro tests, natural coniferous resin from the Norway spruce (Picea abies) is strongly antifungal. In this observational study, we tested the clinical effectiveness of a lacquer composed of spruce resin for topical treatment of onychomycosis. Thirty-seven patients with clinical diagnosis of onychomycosis were enrolled into the study.

Effects of Norway spruce (Picea abies) resin on cell wall and cell membrane of Staphylococcus aureus.

Resin salve prepared from Norway spruce (Picea abies) has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat skin diseases. The authors studied with transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and with electron physiology, changes in cell wall and cell membrane of Staphylococcus aureus after exposure of the bacterial cultures to resin. After exposure, cell wall thickening, cell aggregation, changed branching of fatty acids, and dissipation of membrane potential of the bacterial cells were observed.

Occupational exposure to solvents and gasoline and risk of cancers in the urinary tract among Finnish workers.

Background: Bladder cancer (BC) is generally considered as an occupational disease, and some chemical exposures may also be associated with renal cell cancer (RCC). The aim of this study was to estimate the risk of cancers of the urinary tract in relation to occupational exposure to solvents and gasoline.

Methods: A cross-sectional cohort of all economically active Finns from the 1970 population census was followed up for BC (10,277 cases) and RCC (9,954 cases).

Effect of caffeine on simulator flight performance in sleep-deprived military pilot students.

Caffeine has been suggested to act as a countermeasure against fatigue in military operations. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the effect of caffeine on simulator flight performance was examined in 13 military pilots during 37 hours of sleep deprivation. Each subject performed a flight mission in simulator four times.

Resin-salve from Norway spruce--a potential method to treat infected chronic skin ulcers?

The home-made resin salve from Norway spruce is traditionally and widely used in folk medicine to heal various skin infections and wounds in Northern Finland. We have performed laboratory studies to solve the mechanism of resin salve. The resin salve exhibited a bacteriostatic effect against all tested Gram-positive bacteria important in human medicine including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE), but was not effective against Gram-negative bacteria.