Comparison of balloon catheter, oral misoprostol, or combination of both for cervical ripening in late-term and post-term nulliparous women: A Finnish randomized controlled multicenter pilot trial.

Introduction: Nulliparous women beyond term have high rates of induction failure. The aim of this study was to compare delivery outcomes for balloon catheter, misoprostol, and combination of both in nulliparous late- and post-term women with unfavorable cervices. We intended to explore whether the combination strategy has lower cesarean section rate and is as safe as either method alone.

Quantifying and visualizing abdominal hemodynamics in patients with Fontan circulation by 4D phase-contrast flow magnetic resonance imaging at 1.5 T.

Background: Liver fibrosis has been recognized as a long-term morbidity associated with Fontan circulation (Fontan-associated liver disease, FALD). The pathophysiology of FALD is not completely understood and abnormal flow dynamics may be associated with this condition. Liver hemodynamics can be quantitatively evaluated with four-dimensional phase-contrast flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D PC flow MRI).

Extensive coronary artery thrombosis in a paediatric patient with Kawasaki disease: a case report.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a paediatric multi-system vasculitis. Mainly, the coronary arteries become affected due to acute inflammation and formation of coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) may occur. As the size of the CAA increases, so does the risk of clinical complications and serious cardiac outcomes.

Sleep disturbances in late pregnancy: associations with induction of labor.

Purpose: Sleep disturbances, which are common during pregnancy, may compromise labor. Nevertheless, little is known about associations between sleep disturbances and the likelihood of ending up induction of labor (IOL). Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate the connections between sleep disturbances during pregnancy and IOL.

Labor induction at 41 gestational weeks or expectant management for the nulliparous woman: The Finnish randomized controlled multicenter trial.

Introduction: Neonatal and maternal risks increase in term pregnancy as gestational age advances and become increasingly evident post-term. Management practices of late- and post-term pregnancies vary, and the optimal time point for intervention by labor induction is yet to be determined.

Material And Methods: This randomized controlled trial of 381 nulliparous women with unripe cervices compared labor induction at 41 gestational weeks (early induction) with expectant management and labor induction at 41 to 42 gestational weeks (expectant management).

Depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances in late pregnancy: Associations with experience of induction of labor with a catheter.

Objective: Depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances have been found to be associated with negative labor experiences, particularly an increased level of pain. However, the associations between maternal depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances and the experience of induction of labor (IOL) remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated these associations with balloon catheter IOL.

Effect of Leisure Sports on Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients with a Fontan Circulation.

Despite improvement in survival, patients with a Fontan circulation are at risk for numerous complications, and exercise capacity and quality of life are usually reduced compared with healthy controls. However, only a few studies have assessed the impact of the amount of sporting activity on exercise capacity and health-related quality of life. We analyzed cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) in a large cohort of patients with a Fontan circulation.

Non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for characterization of Fontan associated liver disease.

Objectives: To evaluate the ability of non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to characterize Fontan associated liver disease (FALD) in adolescent and adult Fontan patients.

Methods: Fontan patients (n = 29) and healthy controls (n = 13) underwent an MRI protocol with T, T and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) mapping. Routine FALD screening included abdominal ultrasound and laboratory testing.

Surveillance of Fontan Associated Liver Disease in Childhood and Adolescence.

Fontan associated liver disease (FALD) has been recognized as a potentially serious sequela of the Fontan circulation. Prevalence of FALD among different age groups and risk factors for advanced changes were assessed. FALD screening included abdominal ultrasound and laboratory tests.

Experiences of induction of labor with a catheter - A prospective randomized controlled trial comparing the outpatient and inpatient setting.

Introduction: Approximately every fourth labor is induced. In Finland, when labor is induced, it is commonly carried out with a catheter in the inpatient (IP) setting. However, in uncomplicated, full-term pregnancies, induction of labor (IOL) in the outpatient (OP) setting is also possible.

Water-separated ion pairs cause the slow dielectric mode of magnesium sulfate solutions.

We compare the dielectric spectra of aqueous MgSO and NaSO solutions calculated from classical molecular dynamics simulations with experimental data, using an optimized thermodynamically consistent sulfate force field. Both the concentration-dependent shift of the static dielectric constant and the spectral shape match the experimental results very well for NaSO solutions. For MgSO solutions, the simulations qualitatively reproduce the experimental observation of a slow mode, the origin of which we trace back to the ion-pair relaxation contribution via spectral decomposition.

Interactions between soil- and dead wood-inhabiting fungal communities during the decay of Norway spruce logs.

We investigated the interaction between fungal communities of soil and dead wood substrates. For this, we applied molecular species identification and stable isotope tracking to both soil and decaying wood in an unmanaged boreal Norway spruce-dominated stand. Altogether, we recorded 1990 operational taxonomic units, out of which more than 600 were shared by both substrates and 589 were found to exclusively inhabit wood.

Severe Sequelae to Mold-Related Illness as Demonstrated in Two Finnish Cohorts.

The presence of toxic indoor molds with accompanying bacterial growth is clearly detrimental to human health. The pathophysiological and toxicological effects of toxins and structural components of molds and bacteria have been clarified in experiments conducted in tissue culture and animals, and there is convincing epidemiologic evidence; nonetheless their implications for human health are either ignored or denied, at least in Finland. In this communication, we describe two cohorts suffering severe sequelae to mold-related illness.

Characterization of plastic blends made from mixed plastics waste of different sources.

This paper studies the recyclability of construction and household plastic waste collected from local landfills. Samples were processed from mixed plastic waste by injection moulding. In addition, blends of pure plastics, polypropylene and polyethylene were processed as a reference set.

The impact of an inverse climate-isotope relationship in soil water on the oxygen-isotope composition of Larix gmelinii in Siberia.

Stable oxygen isotope ratios (δ(18) O) in trees from high latitude ecosystems are valuable sources of information for recent and past environmental changes, but the interpretation is hampered by the complex hydrology of forests growing under permafrost conditions, where only a shallow layer of soil thaws in summer. We investigated larch trees (Larix gmelinii) at two sites with contrasting soil conditions in Siberia and determined δ(18) O of water from different soil depths, roots, twigs, and needles as well as δ(18) O of soluble carbohydrates regularly over two growing seasons. A comparison of results from the 2 yrs revealed an unexpected 'inverse' climate-isotope relationship, as dry and warm summer conditions resulted in lower soil and root δ(18) O values.

The relationship between needle sugar carbon isotope ratios and tree rings of larch in Siberia.

Significant gaps still exist in our knowledge about post-photosynthetic leaf level and downstream metabolic processes and isotopic fractionations. This includes their impact on the isotopic climate signal stored in the carbon isotope composition (δ(13)C) of leaf assimilates and tree rings. For the first time, we compared the seasonal δ(13)C variability of leaf sucrose with intra-annual, high-resolution δ(13)C signature of tree rings from larch (Larix gmelinii Rupr.

Malate as a key carbon source of leaf dark-respired CO2 across different environmental conditions in potato plants.

Dissimilation of carbon sources during plant respiration in support of metabolic processes results in the continuous release of CO2. The carbon isotopic composition of leaf dark-respired CO2 (i.e.

Impact of secondary structure and hydration water on the dielectric spectrum of poly-alanine and possible relation to the debate on slaved versus slaving water.

Using extensive molecular dynamics simulations of a single eight-residue alanine polypeptide in explicit water, we investigate the influence of α-helix formation on the dielectric spectrum. For this, we project long equilibrium trajectories into folded and unfolded states and thereby obtain dielectric spectra representative for disordered as well α-helical conformations without the need to change any other system parameter such as pH or temperature. The absorption spectrum in the α-helical state exhibits a feature in the sub-GHz range that is significantly stronger than in the unfolded state.

Examining the response of needle carbohydrates from Siberian larch trees to climate using compound-specific δ(13) C and concentration analyses.

Little is known about the dynamics of concentrations and carbon isotope ratios of individual carbohydrates in leaves in response to climatic and physiological factors. Improved knowledge of the isotopic ratio in sugars will enhance our understanding of the tree ring isotope ratio and will help to decipher environmental conditions in retrospect more reliably. Carbohydrate samples from larch (Larix gmelinii) needles of two sites in the continuous permafrost zone of Siberia with differing growth conditions were analysed with the Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA).

LA-ICP-MS-derived U-concentrations and microstructural domains within biogenic aragonite of Arctica islandica shell.

Understanding of the uranium uptake processes (both in vivo and post-mortem) into the skeletal structures of marine calcifiers is a subject of multi-disciplinary interest. U-concentration changes within the molluscan shell may serve as a paleoceanographic proxy of the pH history. A proxy of this type is needed to track the effects of fossil fuel emissions to ocean acidification.

Dissecting ion-specific dielectric spectra of sodium-halide solutions into solvation water and ionic contributions.

Using extensive equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations we determine the dielectric spectra of aqueous solutions of NaF, NaCl, NaBr, and NaI. The ion-specific and concentration-dependent shifts of the static dielectric constants and the dielectric relaxation times match experimental results very well, which serves as a validation of the classical and non-polarizable ionic force fields used. The purely ionic contribution to the dielectric response is negligible, but determines the conductivity of the salt solutions.

Ion-specific solvation water dynamics: single water versus collective water effects.

Recent femtosecond-resolved spectroscopy experiments demonstrate the single-water orientational dynamics in the first solvation shell around monatomic ions to be slowed down. In contrast, dielectric spectroscopy experiments exhibit a blue shift of the water dielectric relaxation time with rising salt concentration, indicative of faster water dynamics. Using molecular dynamics simulations employing nonpolarizable and thermodynamically optimized ion force fields, we reproduce both experimental trends and resolve these conflicting experimental findings by the simultaneous analysis of single-water and collective-water dynamics in the ion solvation shells.

Five-year results of a randomized trial comparing retropubic and transobturator midurethral slings for stress incontinence.

Background: Midurethral slings have become the most preferred surgical treatment for female urinary incontinence.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of two midurethral sling procedures with a different technique of sling insertion 5 yr after intervention.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Multicenter randomized clinical trial conducted in seven public hospitals in Finland including primary cases of stress urinary incontinence.