A novel POT1-TPD presentation: A germline pathogenic POT1 variant discovered in a patient with newly diagnosed posterior fossa ependymoma.

Introduction: POT1 tumor predisposition (POT1-TPD) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by increased lifetime malignancy risk. Melanoma, angiosarcoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia are the most frequently reported malignancies [1]. Protection of telomeres protein 1 (POT1) is part of the shelterin protein complex to maintain/protect telomeres [2].

Dental Caries, Erosive Tooth Wear, and Periodontal Status of Military Student Pilots in Finland: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Oral health is a crucial factor for service safety among military pilots, but studies specifically on pilots are still very few in Finland. The aim of this study was to assess the oral health status of military student pilots compared to other conscripts of the same age group.

Materials And Methods: The data were collected during the oral health examinations of the annual class of the Pilot Reserve Officer Course students at the beginning of their duty at the Air Force Academy (N = 38).

Disability Benefit and Gambling Disorder: A Longitudinal Study Based on National Registry Data.

Rates of gambling disorder (GD) have been found to be higher among people receiving disability benefit, but few studies have investigated whether receiving disability benefit prospectively actually increases the risk of GD. The present study investigated whether those with a disability benefit had an increased risk of developing GD using a case-control design. The study sample was retrieved from the Norwegian Patient Registry (NPR, N = 5,131) and consisted of all adults in Norway (18 years and older) who had received a GD diagnosis (F63.

Prothrombin prevents fatal T cell-dependent anemia during chronic virus infection of mice.

Thrombin promotes the proliferation and function of CD8+ T cells. To test if thrombin prevents exhaustion and sustains antiviral T cell activity during chronic viral infection, we depleted the thrombin-precursor prothrombin to 10% of normal levels in mice prior to infection with the clone 13 strain of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Unexpectedly, prothrombin insufficiency resulted in 100% mortality after infection that was prevented by depletion of CD8+ T cells, suggesting that reduced availability of prothrombin enhances virus-induced immunopathology.

Direct measurement of three different deformations near the ground state in an atomic nucleus.

Atomic nuclei serve as prime laboratories for investigations of complex quantum phenomena, where minor nucleon rearrangements cause significant structural changes. Pb is the heaviest known neutron-deficient Pb isotope that can exhibit three distinct shapes: prolate, oblate, and spherical, with nearly degenerate excitation energies. Here we report on the combined results from three state-of-the-art measurements to directly observe these deformations in Pb.

Policies on Pulmonary Screening and Management of Respiratory Conditions in Military Pilots.

Introduction: Military pilots are subjected to unique pulmonary demands, particularly in high performance jets. The hypobaric environment necessitates use of on-board oxygen, breathing masks, and regulators to increase oxygen pressure, affecting ventilation and breathing responses. Safety features like pilot flight equipment and strapping into an ejection seat further impact pilot pulmonary function.

New saga in Finland: The rise of Diplodia sapinea in Scots pine.

The intensity of fungal virulence is likely to increase in northern forests as climate change alters environmental conditions, favoring pathogen proliferation in existing ecosystems while also facilitating their expansion into new geographic areas. In Finland, Diplodia sapinea, the causal agent of disease called "Diplodia tip blight", has emerged as a new pathogen within the past few years. To reveal the current distribution of the novel fungal pathogen, and the effect of temperature and rainfall on its distribution, we utilized citizen science for the detection and collection of symptomatic Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) shoots.

The symptom profile of people with whiplash-associated disorder - A mixed-method systematic review.

Background: Several studies have shown that people with whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) may experience diverse symptoms, and social, activity and participation limitations. However, the symptom profile of WAD is still unclear. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to identify the symptoms, impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions of people with WAD to construct a symptom profile.

Sensory variation of landrace peas ( L.): Impacts of variety, location, and harvest year.

The transition to more diversified protein sources presents legumes, such as peas, as excellent alternatives to animal protein. In light of this shift, understanding the sensory variation of pea genetic resources becomes crucial in broadening their appeal and promoting greater consumption. This study aimed to identify key factors influencing the sensory attributes of landrace peas, including variety (accession), location (geographical area of cultivation), and harvest year.

The Norwegian Counties Public Health Survey (NCPHS): a design study.

Background: Effective public health initiatives should be founded on a comprehensive and robust understanding of health-related factors including societal and community contexts. The Norwegian Counties Public Health Survey (NCPHS) aims for insights into the adult population on topics relevant for planning public health practices at county and municipality levels.

Methods: The NCPHS includes a core questionnaire on public health-related topics and demographics, including indicators of socio-economy, with additional optional questions and scales varying across data collections.

Normobaric Hypoxia Symptom Recognition in Three Training Sessions.

Introduction: Hypoxia training is mandatory for military pilots, but variability in hypoxia symptoms challenges the training. In a previous study we showed that 64% of pilots recognized hypoxia faster in their second normobaric hypoxia session conducted 2.4 yr after the first.

Proximal humeral fractures in Finland: regional differences in incidence and methods of treatment.

Background: Proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) are one of the most common fragility fractures and there is accumulating evidence that even displaced PHFs should be treated conservatively. The treatment should be as effective and standardized as possible regardless of the hospital district of the patient. The aim of this study was to describe possible regional variation in incidence and treatment methods of PHFs in Finland.

Association Between Cumulative G-force Exposure and Cervical Spine Degenerative Changes.

Introduction: Fighter pilots work in a unique environment and are subject to high G-force loads under simultaneous head movements. Neck pain is reported to be a common health problem among fighter pilots leading to time lost flying and flight duty limitations. The present study aimed to find out if differences in early military flight career G-force exposure levels could increase the risk for degenerative changes in the cervical spine.

Unemployment as a risk factor for gambling disorder: A longitudinal study based on national registry data.

Background And Aims: Unemployment rates are elevated among individuals with disordered gambling, yet the directionality of the relationship remains unclear. The present study investigated paid and unpaid unemployment as risk factors for future gambling disorder (GD).

Methods: The study employed a case-control design, including all adult Norwegians receiving a GD diagnosis within specialist health services from January 2008 to December 2018 (n = 5,131).

Deep learning-based prediction of the dose-volume histograms for volumetric modulated arc therapy of left-sided breast cancer.

Background: The advancements in artificial intelligence and computational power have made deep learning an attractive tool for radiotherapy treatment planning. Deep learning has the potential to significantly simplify the trial-and-error process involved in inverse planning required by modern treatment techniques such as volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). In this study, we explore the ability of deep learning to predict organ-at-risk (OAR) dose-volume histograms (DVHs) of left-sided breast cancer patients undergoing VMAT treatment based solely on their anatomical characteristics.

Comparative effectiveness of bivalent BA.4-5 or BA.1 mRNA booster vaccines among immunocompromised individuals across three Nordic countries: A nationwide cohort study.

Objectives: To estimate the effectiveness and waning of the bivalent BA.4-5 or BA.1 mRNA booster vaccine against Covid-19-related hospitalization and death in immunocompromised individuals.

Changing treatment of hip fractures in Finland.

Introduction: Hip fracture treatment should be as standardized and effective as possible, with emphasis on fast recovery and avoidance of complications, especially those leading to reoperations. There is accumulating evidence regarding the optimal treatment of hip fractures but reports of whether this has influenced treatment in the clinical setting are sparse. The objective of this study was to determine the trends of hip fracture incidence and treatment in Finland, with special regard to how we treat older patients compared to younger ones.

Cardiac autonomic responses in relation to cognitive workload during simulated military flight.

Understanding the operator's cognitive workload is crucial for efficiency and safety in human-machine systems. This study investigated how cognitive workload modulates cardiac autonomic regulation during a standardized military simulator flight. Military student pilots completed simulated flight tasks in a Hawk flight simulator.

Estimated number of lives directly saved by COVID-19 vaccination programmes in the WHO European Region from December, 2020, to March, 2023: a retrospective surveillance study.

Background: By March, 2023, 54 countries, areas, and territories (hereafter CAT) in the WHO European Region had reported more than 2·2 million COVID-19-related deaths to the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Here, we estimated how many lives were directly saved by vaccinating adults in the WHO European Region from December, 2020, to March, 2023.

Methods: In this retrospective surveillance study, we estimated the number of lives directly saved by age group, vaccine dose, and circulating variant-of-concern (VOC) period, regionally and nationally, using weekly data on COVID-19 mortality and infection, COVID-19 vaccination uptake, and SARS-CoV-2 virus characterisations by lineage downloaded from The European Surveillance System on June 11, 2023, as well as vaccine effectiveness data from the literature.

Clinical validation of two volumetric absorptive microsampling devices to support home-based therapeutic drug monitoring of immunosuppression.

Aims: Dried blood volumetric absorptive microsamples (VAMS) may facilitate home-based sampling to enhance therapeutic drug monitoring after transplantation. This study aimed to clinically validate a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay using 2 VAMS devices with different sampling locations (Tasso-M20 for the upper arm and Mitra for the finger). Patient preferences were also evaluated.

Pollution-related changes in nest microbiota: Implications for growth and fledging in three passerine birds.

Non-ferrous smelters emit toxic metals into the environment, posing a threat to wildlife health. Despite the acknowledged role of microbes in host health, the impact of such emissions on host-associated microbiota, especially in wild birds, remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the associations of metal pollution, fitness, and nest microbiota (serving as a proxy for early-life microbial environment) which may influence the nestling health and development.

Immunomodulatory Synthetic Glycocluster Molecule Prevents Melanoma Growth In Vivo.

Triacedimannose (TADM) is a synthetic trivalent acetylated glycocluster and a transmembrane macrophage activator independent of the mannose receptor. TADM induces Th1-type immune responses and suppresses Th2-type cytokines in acute and chronic allergic inflammation models in vivo. We, therefore, wanted to test whether TADM could also facilitate anti-tumour tissue responses similar to what has been observed for the immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4.

Clinical Characteristics of HLA-B27-Associated Anterior Uveitis in a Finnish Population-Based Cohort.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes and ocular complications in patients with HLA-B27-associated AU compared to those without HLA-B27.

Methods: From the population-based data of all adult patients with AU during 2009-2020 ( = 413), 241 patients tested for HLA-B27 were included. Age of the initial onset, gender, etiology, course of uveitis, visual outcomes and complications were studied.