Risk of venous thromboembolism in COVID-19 infection.

The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) for non-hospitalised patients with coronavirus disease-2019 infection has not been very widely studied. 13 019 persons with a positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification test were identified. In total, 447 (0.

Long-term follow up of families with pathogenic NFKB1 variants reveals incomplete penetrance and frequent inflammatory sequelae.

Nuclear factor κ light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) family of evolutionarily conserved transcription factors are involved in key cellular signaling pathways. Previously, hypogammaglobulinemia and common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)-like phenotypes have been associated with NFKB1 variants and loss-of-function NFKB1 variants have been reported as the most common monogenic cause for CVID among Europeans. Here, we describe a Finnish cohort of NFKB1 carriers consisting of 31 living subjects in six different families carrying five distinct heterozygous variants.

Population-Based Assessment of Contact Tracing Operations for Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Finland.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic overwhelmed local contact tracing (CT) efforts in many countries. In Finland, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 incidence and mortality were among the lowest in Europe during 2020-2021. We evaluated CT efficiency, effectiveness, and transmission settings.

Nasal nitric oxide is decreased in acute mild COVID-19 and related to viral load.

Gaseous nitric oxide levels from the lungs (FeNO) and from the nose (nNO) have been demonstrated to react to acute infection or influenza vaccination. There are no published data on nNO levels during acute COVID-19, but normal levels of FeNO have been reported in one study. Our aim was to assess if acute mild COVID-19 alters nasal or bronchial NO output at the time of acute infection and at a two-month follow up, and if this is related to symptoms or viral load.

Lung function during and after acute respiratory infection in COVID-19 positive and negative outpatients.

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Sampling site for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR-An intrapatient four-site comparison from Tampere, Finland.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis relies on the performance of nasopharyngeal swabs. Alternative sample sites have been assessed but the heterogeneity of the studies have made comparing different sites difficult.

Objectives: Our aim was to compare the performance of four different sampling sites for SARS-CoV-2 samples with nasopharynx being the benchmark.

Liver Fat, Adipose Tissue, and Body Composition Changes After Switching from a Protease Inhibitor or Efavirenz to Raltegravir.

Integrase inhibitors appear to increase body weight, but paradoxically some data indicate that raltegravir (RAL) may decrease liver fat. Our objective was to study the effects of switching from a protease inhibitor (PI) or efavirenz (EFV) to RAL on liver fat, body composition, and metabolic parameters among people living with HIV (PLWH) with high risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We randomized overweight PLWH with signs of metabolic syndrome to switch a PI or EFV to RAL ( = 19) or to continue unchanged antiretroviral therapy (control,  = 24) for 24 weeks.

Mutation Is Associated with Increased STAT1 and STAT5 Activation in Two Family Members with Inflammatory Conditions and Lymphopenia.

Interferon regulatory factor 2 binding protein 2 (IRF2BP2) is a transcriptional coregulator that has an important role in the regulation of the immune response. IRF2BP2 has been associated with the Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathway, but its exact role remains elusive. Here, we identified a novel clinical variant, c.

SARS-CoV-2 late shedding may be infectious between immunocompromised hosts.

Background: Immunocompromised patients shed SARS-CoV-2 for extended periods, but to our knowledge person-to-person transmission from late shedding has not been reported.

The Case: We present a case in which a COVID-19 patient infected another over 28 days after the patient's initial symptoms, past current guideline recommendations of 20 days for length of isolation in immunocompromised patients. Whole genome sequencing of their viruses was performed to ascertain the transmission.

Effects of Chloride Concentration on the Water Disinfection Performance of Silver Containing Nanocellulose-based Composites.

The availability of microbially-safe drinking water is a challenge in many developing regions. Due to the well-known antibacterial effect of silver ions, materials used for their controlled release have been widely studied for point-of-use water disinfection. However, even if it is in principle known that chloride anions can suppress the antibacterial efficiency of silver, the majority of previous studies, surprisingly, have not focused on chloride concentrations relevant for freshwaters and thus for practical applications.

Nature-derived microbiota exposure as a novel immunomodulatory approach.

Aim: Current attempts to modulate the human microbiota and immune responses are based on probiotics or human-derived bacterial transplants. We investigated microbial modulation by soil and plant-based material.

Materials & Methods: We performed a pilot study in which healthy adults were exposed to the varied microbial community of a soil- and plant-based material.

Live attenuated enterovirus vaccine (OPV) is not associated with islet autoimmunity in children with genetic susceptibility to type 1 diabetes: prospective cohort study.

Aims/hypothesis: Animal and human studies have implied that enterovirus infections may modulate the risk of islet autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes. We set out to assess whether serial administration of live oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) in early life can influence the initiation of islet autoimmunity in a cohort of genetically predisposed children.

Methods: OPV was administered to 64 children and a further 251 children received inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV).

Detection of enteroviruses in stools precedes islet autoimmunity by several months: possible evidence for slowly operating mechanisms in virus-induced autoimmunity.

Aims/hypothesis: This case-control study was nested in a prospective birth cohort to evaluate whether the presence of enteroviruses in stools was associated with the appearance of islet autoimmunity in the Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention study in Finland.

Methods: Altogether, 1673 longitudinal stool samples from 129 case children who turned positive for multiple islet autoantibodies and 3108 stool samples from 282 matched control children were screened for the presence of enterovirus RNA using RT-PCR. Viral genotype was detected by sequencing.

Enrichment of rare variants in population isolates: single AICDA mutation responsible for hyper-IgM syndrome type 2 in Finland.

Antibody class-switch recombination and somatic hypermutation critically depend on the function of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID). Rare variants in its gene AICDA have been reported to cause autosomal recessive AID deficiency (autosomal recessive hyper-IgM syndrome type 2 (HIGM2)). Exome sequencing of a multicase Finnish family with an HIGM2 phenotype identified a rare, homozygous, variant (c.

Maternal enterovirus infection as a risk factor for type 1 diabetes in the exposed offspring.

Objective: Maternal enterovirus infections during pregnancy have been linked to an increased risk of type 1 diabetes in the offspring. The aim of this study was to evaluate this association in a unique series of pregnant mothers whose child progressed to clinical type 1 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: Maternal and in utero enterovirus infections were studied in 171 offspring who presented with type 1 diabetes before the age of 11 years and in 316 control subjects matched for date and place of birth, sex, and HLA-DQ risk alleles for diabetes.

Role of enterovirus infections in IgE sensitization.

Among other infectious agents, enteroviruses have been associated with protection against allergic diseases. The aim of the present study was to confirm these findings using a highly sensitive and specific neutralization antibody assay and to investigate whether the protective effect is related to certain enterovirus serotypes. Antibodies against 12 enterovirus serotypes were measured in 60 children who were positive for allergen-specific IgE and in 190 control children.

Lethal evolution of a newborn with consistent features of hydrolethalus syndrome--Romanian patient.

Hydrolethalus syndrome is a severe lethal disorder most commonly found in Finland. We present a lethal case of complex congenital malformation in a Romanian family who showed multiple signs described in hydrolethalus syndrome. Our case presented the specific characteristics: macrocephaly, midline cleft-lip, cleft palate, polydactyly of both hands and feet but without occipitoschisis, considered as the pathognomonic sign of the syndrome.

Viral interference induced by live attenuated virus vaccine (OPV) can prevent otitis media.

Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate whether a live attenuated poliovirus vaccine (OPV) has clinically relevant interfering effect with non-polio infections causing otitis media in young children.

Methods: Open trial in which the intervention group (64 children) received OPV at the age of 2, 3, 6 and 12 months. The control group (250 children) received IPV (inactivated polio vaccine) at the age of 6 and 12 months.

Mutant CHUK and severe fetal encasement malformation.

We report an autosomal recessive lethal syndrome characterized by multiple fetal malformations, the most obvious anomalies being the defective face and seemingly absent limbs, which are bound to the trunk and encased under the skin. We identified the molecular defect that causes this syndrome, using a combined strategy of gene-expression arrays, candidate-gene analysis, clinical studies, and genealogic investigations. A point mutation in two affected fetuses led to the loss of the conserved helix–loop–helix ubiquitous kinase (CHUK), also known as IκB kinase α.

Co-occurrence of allergic sensitization and type 1 diabetes.

Background: The mechanisms leading to abnormal immune regulation in type 1 diabetes and allergic diseases may be partly overlapping. If so, these diseases should co-occur more often than expected. We investigated this phenomenon in two contrasting socio-economic environments, Finland and Russian Karelia.

Time trends in allergic sensitisation and Helicobacter pylori prevalence in Finnish pregnant women.

Background: An increase in the prevalence of allergic conditions has been documented in Finland, correlating with the diminishing prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infections. We investigated whether the increase of allergic sensitisation still continues and correlates with the prevalence of H. pylori infections.

PCR inhibition in stool samples in relation to age of infants.

Background: PCR is rapidly replacing traditional methods in diagnostic virus laboratories. PCR inhibitors, which are often present in clinical samples, may lead to false negative test results.

Objectives: The aim was to study the presence of PCR inhibitors in stool samples collected from 3- to 24-month old children.

Lower economic status and inferior hygienic environment may protect against celiac disease.

Background: The populations in adjacent Russian Karelia and Finland are equally exposed to grain products and share partly the same ancestry, but live in completely different socioeconomic environments.

Aim: This creates an ideal epidemiological setting to study gene-environmental interactions in pathogenesis of celiac disease.

Methods: The prevalence of celiac disease and predisposing human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles was compared between Russian Karelia and Finland.

Serological evidence of thyroid autoimmunity among schoolchildren in two different socioeconomic environments.

Context: The mechanisms leading to thyroid autoimmunity are largely unknown.

Objective: Our objective was to assess the role of environment in the development of thyroid autoimmunity.

Design: Prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in two neighboring populations living in completely different socioeconomic circumstances (Russian Karelia and Finland) was studied.