Autochthonous Angiostrongylus vasorum in Finland.

Angiostrongylus vasorum has spread farther north in Europe. In this study, two autochthonous findings from dogs from Finland are described: in February 2014, the infection was diagnosed in a 10-month-old labrador retriever, and in February 2017, in a three-year-old French bulldog. These diagnoses were based on direct detection of the larvae from faeces of the dogs. The dogs had no history of travel to or import from abroad; the first lived in Southern Finland and the other in Western Finland, about 150 km apart. The dogs had no clinical signs attributable to angiostrongylosis. An online questionnaire was used to survey the extent to which veterinarians in Finland have self-reportedly observed canine A vasorum infections. A total of 38 veterinarians authorised to work in Finland answered the questionnaire in December 2017, and 9 (24%) of them reported having seen one or more dogs with A vasorum infection in Finland. The results suggest that at least five individual dogs with A vasorum infection would have been seen in Finland, three of which had an apparently autochthonous infection. While the geographical distribution of A vasorum in Finland remains largely unknown, findings have started to appear from domestic dogs. It remains possible that some veterinarians could have misdiagnosed, for example, Crenosoma vulpis larvae as those of A vasorum, and the findings without confirmation using antigen test could be due to coprophagy and passage of ingested larvae; however, this does not change the main conclusion that can be made: A vasorum is already multifocally present in Finland. Increasing awareness about A vasorum is important in areas where it is emerging and spreading.

[Immediate and delayed outcomes after electrical injury. A guide for clinicians]. / Elolyckor kan ge skador som visar sig efter lång tid - Det akuta omhändertagandet kan vara avgörande på sikt.

Immediate and delayed outcomes after electrical injury. A guide for clinicians In Sweden about 300 electrical injuries are recorded each year at the Swedish National Electrical Safety Board. Most of our knowledge of the health consequences of these arise from clinical case series. Severe electrical injuries have direct thermal effects and may result in ventricular fibrillation, skin burns, as well as muscular and nerve affection. Long-term consequences include pain, vascular symptoms, cognitive and neurological symptoms and signs. These sequelae may occur even though the initial symptoms were relatively modest. Mechanisms are better understood for the immediate symptoms, compared to long-term and delayed non-thermal medical consequences. Attention to and treatment of patients with electrical injury needs to be improved to minimize long-term consequences. Good medical care in the acute phase and early multidisciplinary follow-up of severe cases will likely reduce associated morbidity. Each electrical injury should result in an inquiry to identify the cause of the accident in order to suggest actions to prevent new incidents.

Urinary levels of thymine dimer as a biomarker of exposure to ultraviolet radiation in humans during outdoor activities in the summer.

The incidence of skin cancer is rising rapidly in many countries, presumably due to increased leisure time exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). UVR causes DNA lesions, such as the thymine dimer (T=T), which have been causatively linked to the development of skin cancer. T=T is clearly detectable in urine and may, thereby, be a potentially valuable biomarker of UVR exposure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between UVR exposure and urinary levels of T=T in a field study involving outdoor workers. Daily ambient and personal exposure of 52 beach lifeguards and agricultural workers to UVR were determined (employing 656 personal polysulphone dosimeters). In 22 of these subjects, daily urinary T=T levels (120 samples) were measured, the area of skin exposed calculated and associations assessed utilizing mixed statistical models. The average daily UVR dose was approximately 600 J/m(2) (7.7 standard erythemal doses), i.e. about 20% of ambient UVR. T=T levels were correlated to UVR dose, increasing by about 6 fmol/µmol creatinine for each 100 J/m(2) increase in dose (average of the three preceding days). This is the first demonstration of a relationship between occupational UVR exposure and urinary levels of a biomarker of DNA damage. On a population level, urinary levels of T=T can be used as a biomarker for UVR exposure in the field.

The identification of allergen proteins in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) pollen causing occupational allergy in greenhouses.

BACKGROUND: During production of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) seeds in greenhouses, workers frequently develop allergic symptoms. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize possible allergens in sugar beet pollen. METHODS: Sera from individuals at a local sugar beet seed producing company, having positive SPT and specific IgE to sugar beet pollen extract, were used for immunoblotting. Proteins in sugar beet pollen extracts were separated by 1- and 2-dimensional electrophoresis, and IgE-reactive proteins analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: A 14 kDa protein was identified as an allergen, since IgE-binding was inhibited by the well-characterized allergen Che a 2, profilin, from the related species Chenopodium album. The presence of 17 kDa and 14 kDa protein homologues to both the allergens Che a 1 and Che a 2 were detected in an extract from sugar beet pollen, and partial amino acid sequences were determined, using inclusion lists for tandem mass spectrometry based on homologous sequences. CONCLUSION: Two occupational allergens were identified in sugar beet pollen showing sequence similarity with Chenopodium allergens. Sequence data were obtained by mass spectrometry (70 and 25%, respectively for Beta v 1 and Beta v 2), and can be used for cloning and recombinant expression of the allergens. As for treatment of Chenopodium pollinosis, immunotherapy with sugar beet pollen extracts may be feasible.

Extensive neuroadaptive changes in cortical gene-transcript expressions of the glutamate system in response to repeated intermittent MDMA administration in adolescent rats.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have focused on the implication of the serotonin and dopamine systems in neuroadaptive responses to the recreational drug 3,4-methylenedioxy-metamphetamine (MDMA). Less attention has been given to the major excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate known to be implicated in schizophrenia and drug addiction. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of repeated intermittent MDMA administration upon gene-transcript expression of the glutamate transporters (EAAT1, EAAT2-1, EAAT2-2), the glutamate receptor subunits of AMPA (GluR1, GluR2, GluR3), the glutamate receptor subunits of NMDA (NR1, NR2A and NR2B), as well as metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR1, mGluR2, mGluR3, mGluR5) in six different brain regions. Adolescent male Sprague Dawley rats received MDMA at the doses of 3 x 1 and 3 x 5 mg/kg/day, or 3x vehicle 3 hours apart, every 7th day for 4 weeks. The gene-transcript levels were assessed using real-time PCR validated with a range of housekeeping genes. RESULTS: The findings showed pronounced enhancements in gene-transcript expression of GluR2, mGluR1, mGluR5, NR1, NR2A, NR2B, EAAT1, and EAAT2-2 in the cortex at bregma +1.6. In the caudate putamen, mRNA levels of GluR3, NR2A, and NR2B receptor subunits were significantly increased. In contrast, the gene-transcript expression of GluR1 was reduced in the hippocampus. In the hypothalamus, there was a significant increase of GluR1, GluR3, mGluR1, and mGluR3 gene-transcript expressions. CONCLUSION: Repeated intermittent MDMA administration induces neuroadaptive changes in gene-transcript expressions of glutamatergic NMDA and AMPA receptor subunits, metabotropic receptors and transporters in regions of the brain regulating reward-related associative learning, cognition, and memory and neuro-endocrine functions.

Airways symptoms, immunological response and exposure in powder painting.

OBJECTIVES: Powder painting is an alternative to solvent-based spray painting. Powder paints may contain organic acid anhydrides (OAAs), which are irritants to the airways and may cause sensitisation. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and immunological response among powder painters and to describe the exposure to OAAs. METHODS: In all, 205 subjects in 32 enterprises participated: 93 exposed and 26 formerly exposed workers in 25 powder paint shops and 86 unexposed workers. They completed a questionnaire about working conditions and symptoms and took part in a medical examination, which included a lung function test. Urine samples, for determination of two OAAs, and blood samples, for analysis of specific antibodies against the OAAs, were taken. In addition, 33 paint samples were analysed for nine OAAs. RESULTS: The powder painters reported more work-related respiratory symptoms than unexposed subjects did. The prevalence of three or more symptoms was 24% in subjects with low exposure, 44% in highly exposed individuals, 46% in formerly exposed subjects and 19% in unexposed workers. Asthma symptoms were frequent, 7%, 40%, 15% and 2%, respectively. Regression analyses of the lung volumes did not show any influence of exposure. IgG, but not IgE, against the OAAs and metabolites of OAAs was found in some subjects, but no associations with the exposure could be observed. OAAs were found in only small amounts in the paint samples. CONCLUSIONS: The exposure to organic acid anhydrides was estimated to be low, and yet, IgG antibodies to OAA were observed in some subjects. The prevalence of work-related symptoms from the eyes and the airways was relatively high among the powder painters, and these symptoms, but not the lung volumes, were clearly related to exposure. The symptoms were probably caused by irritative properties of the powder paint dust.

Occupational therapy adaptation of the home environment in Sweden for people with asthma.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes of lung function, respiratory symptoms and indoor air quality after reducing allergens and indoor pollutants in the home environment of people with asthma (n = 21). A quasi-experimental pre-/post-test design with one group of participants was implemented. The interventions included removal of wall-to-wall carpets (n = 14) or improvement of indoor air exchange (n = 7). Participants' lung function, symptoms, medication and type-1 allergy were recorded before and after the intervention. The indoor environment was monitored at house calls by an occupational therapist using conventional physical, biological and chemical methods. There was an improvement of lung function evidenced by an increased mean Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV(1) %) and a reduction of airway obstruction (reversibility, % of baseline value), which indicate an improved asthmatic condition. Lung function assessed by vital capacity, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, mean of Peak Expiratory Flow, symptom score and medicine consumption did not change significantly. There was a tendency that the amount of airborne dust (p=0.06) was reduced in the indoor environment. Relative humidity, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde and house dust mite levels had decreased after the intervention, but not significantly. Asthma symptoms related to the home environment are probably caused by several factors. When people with asthma suffer from increased symptoms in the home, house calls should be performed routinely. Dust samples from beds and carpets for analysis of allergens give information about exposure, and environmental assessments should be performed before interventions. Occupational therapists can make a valuable contribution in evaluating the home environment and suggesting ergonomic adaptations for individuals with asthma.