Physiological shedding and C-terminal proteolytic processing of TMEM106B.

Genetic variants in TMEM106B, coding for a transmembrane protein of unknown function, have been identified as critical genetic modulators in various neurodegenerative diseases with a strong effect in patients with frontotemporal degeneration. The luminal domain of TMEM106B can form amyloid-like fibrils upon proteolysis. Whether this luminal domain is generated under physiological conditions and which protease(s) are involved in shedding remain unclear.

Impact of urban biodiversity and climate change on children's health and well being.

In recent decades, biodiversity loss has greatly impacted planetary and human health. Children are at additional risk of adverse effects due to unique biological, developmental, and behavioral factors, as well as their longer exposure to an altered planet as a function of their young age. These effects are heightened for children living in vulnerable socioeconomic conditions.

Relational anonymity in reducing the harms of illicit drug use: accounts of users of dark web- and street-based services in Finland.

Background: Protecting individual anonymity is a common practice in harm reduction (HR), as it can mitigate the fears that may prevent people from accessing services. Protecting anonymity usually means applying for services with a pseudonym. However, anonymity protection practices have diversified in current HR environments, for example, on the streets or in the Tor network, which relies on technology to guarantee exceptionally strong anonymity.

The importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance.

Microbiology reference laboratories perform a crucial role within public health systems. This role was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Viewpoint, we emphasise the importance of microbiology reference laboratories and highlight the types of digital data and expertise they provide, which benefit national and international public health.

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.

HPV vaccination and anal HPV infection in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.

Background: Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) have a higher risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and related diseases and would benefit from preventive measures such as HPV vaccination. We assessed the association between HPV vaccination and anal HPV infection in HIV-negative gbMSM and gbMSM living with HIV from the Lubricant Investigation in Men to Inhibit Transmission of HPV Infection study.

Methods: Participants attended 7 visits over 12 months where they provided a nurse-collected anal sample and self-completed a questionnaire on risk factors and HPV vaccination.

Associations of gestational anxiety and depression with neonatal hair steroid levels.

Objective: To investigate the association prenatal maternal depression and anxiety may have on the levels of neonatal hair steroids (i.e. cortisol, cortisone, and the cortisol/cortisone ratio) at birth.

An expert consensus statement on biomarkers of ageing for use in intervention studies.

Biomarkers of ageing serve as important outcome measures in longevity-promoting interventions. However, there is limited consensus on which specific biomarkers are most appropriate for human intervention studies. This work aimed to address this need by establishing an expert consensus on biomarkers of ageing for use in intervention studies via the Delphi method.

Brain MRI volumetry and atrophy rating scales as predictors of amyloid status and eligibility for anti-amyloid treatment in a real-world memory clinic setting.

Predicting amyloid status is crucial in light of upcoming disease-modifying therapies and the need to identify treatment-eligible patients with Alzheimer's disease. In our study, we aimed to predict CSF-amyloid status and eligibility for anti-amyloid treatment in a memory clinic by (I) comparing the performance of visual/automated rating scales and MRI volumetric analysis and (II) combining MRI volumetric data with neuropsychological tests and APOE4 status. Two hundred ninety patients underwent a comprehensive assessment.

Temporal changes and correlates of tobacco and E-cigarettes use among school-going students in Albania: insights from global youth tobacco surveys (2015-2020).

Tobacco use often starts during adolescence, with many adults beginning before 21. This study investigated the patterns and factors associated with tobacco and e-cigarette use among school-aged adolescents in Albania. Data were analyzed from two Albania Global Youth Tobacco Surveys (GYTS) conducted in 2015 and 2020.

Temporal Trends of Ischemic Stroke Risk in Patients With Incident Atrial Fibrillation Before Anticoagulation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for ischemic stroke (IS), but whether the magnitude of this risk has changed over time is unknown.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate temporal trends in IS rates in patients with incident AF before oral anticoagulant agent (OAC) therapy.

Methods: The nationwide FinACAF (Finnish Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation) study covers patients with AF at all levels of care in Finland from 2007 to 2018.

International Multicenter Cohort Study on Beta-Blocker-Free Treatment Strategies for Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia Patients.

Background: Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a rare, potentially life-threatening genetic heart disease. Nonselective beta-blockers (BBs) are highly effective in reducing CPVT-triggered arrhythmic events. However, some patients suffer from unacceptable BB side effects and might require strategies without a BB.

De-escalating and discontinuing disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis.

The development of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been highly successful in recent decades. It is now widely accepted that early initiation of DMTs after disease onset is associated with a better long-term prognosis. However, the question of when and how to de-escalate or discontinue DMTs remains open and critical.

Psychometric properties of Persian version of health literacy for Iranian school-age children scale.

Health literacy may play an important role in the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian version of Health Literacy for School-Aged Children (P-HLSAC) employing data that covered the entire school path. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023-24 among 605 school-aged students in Isfahan, Iran.

Evidence-Based Leadership in Nursing: An Evolutionary Concept Analysis.

Aim: To conduct a concept analysis of evidence-based leadership in a nursing context.

Methods: Rodgers' evolutionary method was employed to identify attributes, antecedents, consequences, definitions and surrogate and related terms.

Data Source: We systematically searched three databases (PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Scopus) for relevant publications.

Exploiting NRF2-ARE pathway activation in papillary renal cell carcinoma.

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) is the second most frequent renal cancer subtype but has no indicated targeted treatments. MET inhibition may be a treatment for MET-driven pRCC, but there is a large group of non-MET-driven pRCC without targeted therapy. Activation of NRF2-ARE pathway has been suggested to be involved in pRCC.

Heterogeneity of the rearing environment enhances diversity of microbial communities in intensive farming.

Heterogeneity of the rearing environment in farmed animals can improve welfare and stocking success by enhancing natural behaviours, reducing stress, and decreasing pathogen occurrence. Although microbial diversity is often associated with well-being, their direct and indirect effects on health of farmed animals remain underexplored. We examined the impact of structural heterogeneity of aquaculture tanks on microbial communities in tank biofilm and fish gut microbiome.

Association of intravitreal and topical anti-inflammatory therapies on short-term anatomical and functional outcomes following epiretinal membrane surgery.

Purpose: Here we examine the association of anti-inflammatory therapy with anatomical and functional outcomes of epiretinal membrane surgery.

Methods: The study included consecutive patients having gone through epiretinal membrane surgery at Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, between 2017 and 2021. The association of perioperative intravitreal and postoperative topical anti-inflammatory therapies with surgical outcomes was assessed.

High prevalence of pancreatic steatosis in pancreatic cancer patients: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Objective: In the last decade there has been increasing interest in defining pancreatic steatosis (PS) and establishing its association with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, no consensus guidelines have yet been published on the management of PS. In this systematic review and meta-analysis performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we investigated the association between PS and PDAC.

Performance of Hemochron ACT-LR and ACT+ Test Cuvettes in Monitoring Low to Moderate Heparin Concentrations: An In Vitro Study.

Objectives: According to the manufacturer, the Hemochron ACT-LR cuvette is designated for heparin concentrations of 0 to 2.5 IU/mL, while the optimal concentration range for the ACT+ cartridge is 1 to 6 IU/mL. We hypothesized that at low to moderate heparin concentrations, the ACT-LR is more reliable than the ACT+.

Assessment of potential ecological risk for microplastics in freshwater ecosystems.

Microplastics (MPs) are one of the most widespread environmental pollutants, but their risk assessment to freshwater ecosystems has not been clearly investigated. Risk assessment has been constrained by the absence of MP concentration in some environment, the diverse types and shapes of MPs, and limitations of polystyrene (PS)-biased toxicity studies. This study examined exposure to MPs in rivers and lakes worldwide, including China (the Three Gorges Dam & Yangtze River (TGD & YR) and the lakes of Wuhan city (WL)), Vietnam (seven lakes of Da Nang city (7UL)), Europe (the Rhine River (RR)), Finland (Kallavesi Lake (KL)), Argentina (nine lakes in the Patagonia region (9LP)), Brazil (Guaiba Lake (GL)), and South Korea (Nakdong River (NR), Han River (HR), and Anyang Stream (AS)), and assessed the risks to aquatic ecosystems based on the toxicity information and morphology of MPs.

ADP-ribosyltransferase-based biocatalysis of non-hydrolyzable NAD+ analogs.

Enzyme promiscuity is the ability of an enzyme to catalyze an unexpected side reaction in addition to its main reaction. Here, we describe a biocatalytic process to produce non-hydrolyzable NAD+ analogs based on the ADP-ribosyltransferase (ART) activity of pertussis toxin PtxS1 subunit. First, in identical manner to normal catalysis, PtxS1 activates NAD+ to form the reactive oxocarbenium cation.