The influence of cross-border mobility on the COVID-19 epidemic in Nordic countries.

Restrictions of cross-border mobility are typically used to prevent an emerging disease from entering a country in order to slow down its spread. However, such interventions can come with a significant societal cost and should thus be based on careful analysis and quantitative understanding on their effects. To this end, we model the influence of cross-border mobility on the spread of COVID-19 during 2020 in the neighbouring Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Efficacy and effectiveness of case isolation and quarantine during a growing phase of the COVID-19 epidemic in Finland.

Based on data collected as part of the contact tracing activity of the City of Helsinki Epidemiological Operations Unit, we evaluated the efficacy and effectiveness of isolating SARS-CoV-2 cases and quarantining their exposed contacts during a mildly growing phase of the COVID-19 epidemic in Finland in autumn 2020. Based on the observed symptom-to-symptom intervals in 1016 pairs of primary and secondary cases, we estimated that without case isolation or quarantine 40[Formula: see text] (90[Formula: see text] credible interval, CI 25-59) of transmission would have occurred on the day of or after symptom onset. One third of SARS-CoV-2 cases (N = 1521) had initially been quarantined, with a self-reported time until isolation (quarantine) of 0.

Social Distancing and SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Potential Early in the Epidemic in Finland.

Background: Information about social mixing patterns under heavy social distancing is needed to model the impact of nonpharmaceutical interventions on SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Methods: We conducted a survey on daily person-to-person contacts during the early phase of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Finland, one month after strong social distancing measures had been introduced nationwide. We defined a contact as exchange of at least a few words in proximity of another person.

Contrasting the impact of cytotoxic and cytostatic drug therapies on tumour progression.

A tumour grows when the total division (birth) rate of its cells exceeds their total mortality (death) rate. The capability for uncontrolled growth within the host tissue is acquired via the accumulation of driver mutations which enable the tumour to progress through various hallmarks of cancer. We present a mathematical model of the penultimate stage in such a progression.

Identifying Multiple Potential Metabolic Cycles in Time-Series from Biolog Experiments.

Biolog Phenotype Microarray (PM) is a technology allowing simultaneous screening of the metabolic behaviour of bacteria under a large number of different conditions. Bacteria may often undergo several cycles of metabolic activity during a Biolog experiment. We introduce a novel algorithm to identify these metabolic cycles in PM experimental data, thus increasing the potential of PM technology in microbiology.

Revealing the True Incidence of Pandemic A(H1N1)pdm09 Influenza in Finland during the First Two Seasons - An Analysis Based on a Dynamic Transmission Model.

The threat of the new pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 imposed a heavy burden on the public health system in Finland in 2009-2010. An extensive vaccination campaign was set up in the middle of the first pandemic season. However, the true number of infected individuals remains uncertain as the surveillance missed a large portion of mild infections.

The impact of host metapopulation structure on the population genetics of colonizing bacteria.

Many key bacterial pathogens are frequently carried asymptomatically, and the emergence and spread of these opportunistic pathogens can be driven, or mitigated, via demographic changes within the host population. These inter-host transmission dynamics combine with basic evolutionary parameters such as rates of mutation and recombination, population size and selection, to shape the genetic diversity within bacterial populations. Whilst many studies have focused on how molecular processes underpin bacterial population structure, the impact of host migration and the connectivity of the local populations has received far less attention.

Novel R pipeline for analyzing Biolog Phenotypic MicroArray data.

Data produced by Biolog Phenotype MicroArrays are longitudinal measurements of cells' respiration on distinct substrates. We introduce a three-step pipeline to analyze phenotypic microarray data with novel procedures for grouping, normalization and effect identification. Grouping and normalization are standard problems in the analysis of phenotype microarrays defined as categorizing bacterial responses into active and non-active, and removing systematic errors from the experimental data, respectively.

Parallel independent evolution of pathogenicity within the genus Yersinia.

The genus Yersinia has been used as a model system to study pathogen evolution. Using whole-genome sequencing of all Yersinia species, we delineate the gene complement of the whole genus and define patterns of virulence evolution. Multiple distinct ecological specializations appear to have split pathogenic strains from environmental, nonpathogenic lineages.

Estimating the burden of A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza in Finland during two seasons.

In Finland, the pandemic influenza virus A(H1N1)pdm09 was the dominant influenza strain during the pandemic season in 2009/2010 and presented alongside other influenza types during the 2010/2011 season. The true number of infected individuals is unknown, as surveillance missed a large portion of mild infections. We applied Bayesian evidence synthesis, combining available data from the national infectious disease registry with an ascertainment model and prior information on A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza and the surveillance system, to estimate the total incidence and hospitalization rate of A(H1N1)pdm09 infection.

[Results of an endoscopic study in patients with long-term tubal dysfunction].

Basing on the findings of a comprehensive endoscopic examination of 121 patients with tubal dysfunction, a clinicoanatomic systematization was made of pathologic changes in the area of the pharyngeal opening of the auditory tube. A correlation was found between long-lasting tubal dysfunction and diseases of the nose, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx and pharynx.

[Remote postoperative results of various surgical methodologies and the postop status of maxillary sinuses].

The paper presents a comparative analysis of surgical outcomes in chronic maxillary ethmoiditis for radical and endonasal endoscopic operations in 85 patients. Objective control was performed with morphological, endoscopic and functional methods.

[Prevention of postoperative scars in otorhinolaryngology: experimental rationale].

It is demonstrated that in vitro inhibition of fibroblasts proliferation is feasible with the use of 5-fluorouracil. In stimulated growth of fibroblasts, the antiproliferative effect of 5-fluorouracil manifests even in a minimal concentration (2 mcg/ml). Recovery of fibroblast proliferative activity after elimination of 5-fluorouracil occurs in concentration under 63 mcg/ml.

[Prevention of postoperative scar processes in otorhinolaryngology experimental rationale].

It is shown in vitro that fibroblast proliferation may be inhibited by 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu). In stimulated growth of the fibroblasts the 5-Fu antiproliferative effect takes place even in minimal concentration (2 mcg/ml). Fibroblastic proliferative activity recovers after elimination of 5-Fu from the medium at concentration under 63 mcg/ml.

[Dysfunction of eustachian tube. New aspects of diagnostics and treatment].

The authors review and provide a comparative assessment of diagnostic and treatment methods in acoustic tube dysfunction. New etiopathologically sound methods of treating long-term acoustic tube dysfunction are proposed. Therapeutic results are analysed for 36 patients with tuber dysfunction.

[Pilot experience with radio-knife "Surgitron"].

A new radiosurgical knife Surgitron is described in terms of its application in ENT operations. Surgical procedures, indications, operative regimes are detailed. Advantages and disadvantages of the device design are outlined.

[Ligenten treatment of sinusitis].

Efficacy of local treatment with ligenten which was introduced after irrigation of the nasal sinuses was tried versus control intranasal introduction of 1% dioxidin solution. 35 and 25 patients with acute sinusitis or aggravation of chronic purulent sinusitis were treated, respectively. Subjective and objective responses in the study and control groups assessed with the use of sensor-analogue and visual-analogue scale demonstrated higher efficacy of ligenten.

[Characteristics of lymphocyte-monocyte-neutrophil interactions during varied-severity course of leptospirosis (a cytochemical study)].

Correlations between neutrophilic enzymes (acid and alkaline phosphatases, myeloperoxidase, NBT test) and lymphocyte and monocyte enzymes (acid phosphatase, nonspecific esterase) were studied in 110 patients with icterohemorrhagic leptospirosis. These correlations were changing, depending on the disease severity and period. In case of a favorable course of leptospirosis in the initial period and at the peak a great number of intercellular correlations are formed between neutrophilic, lymphocytic, and monocytic enzymes.

[Temperature-dependent functional changes in sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes].

Temperature effect on changes in calcium ion transport and activity of Ca-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles (SRV) was studied. Several temperature intervals of the change of SRV functional activity parameters were found: 8-12 degrees C-beginning of accumulation of SRV Ca2+, 12-19 degrees sharp activation of Ca2+ accumulation, 27-32 degrees-activation of passive yield, 36-43 degrees-reversible change of the activity of the accumulation system and activation of Ca yield, 48 degrees and higher--irreversible denaturation of transport Ca-ATPase. Coincidence of temperature intervals of SRV structural reconstructions, detected by means of fluorescent probes and functional changes points to a close relationship between structural reconstructions and functional responses of biological membranes.