University of Turku

About: University of Turku is a education organization based out in Turku, Finland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Galaxy. The organization has 16296 authors who have published 45124 publications receiving 1505428 citations. The organization is also known as: Turun yliopisto & Åbo universitet.

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b: a novel serum marker of bone resorption.

Abstract: Human serum contains two forms of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), 5a and 5b. Of these, 5a contains sialic acid and 5b does not. We show here that antigenic properties and pH optimum of TRAP purified from human osteoclasts are identical to those of serum TRAP 5b and completely different from those of serum TRAP 5a, suggesting that 5b would be derived from osteoclasts and 5a from some other source. We developed a novel immunoassay specific for 5b using a monoclonal antibody O1A as capture antibody. O1A did not bind acid phosphatase derived from platelets and erythrocytes. Western analysis showed that O1A was specific for TRAP in both human bone and serum. We measured bound TRAP activity at pH 6.1, where 5b is highly active and 5a almost completely inactive. The immunoassay detected more than 90% of the initial TRAP 5b activity after 8-h incubation of serum samples at 25 degrees C and after 3 days incubation at 4 degrees C. Serum TRAP 5b activity decreased significantly after 6 months of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) of postmenopausal women compared with the change observed in postmenopausal women receiving placebo (p < 0.0001). Instead, no significant differences were observed between the changes in the placebo and HRT groups in total serum TRAP amount. These results show that serum TRAP 5b is a specific and sensitive marker for monitoring antiresorptive treatment. Instead, total serum TRAP cannot be used for that purpose. These findings may turn out to be a significant improvement in using serum TRAP as a resorption marker.

Genetic associations at 53 loci highlight cell types and biological pathways relevant for kidney function

Abstract: Reduced glomerular filtration rate defines chronic kidney disease and is associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), combining data across 133,413 individuals with replication in up to 42,166 individuals. We identify 24 new and confirm 29 previously identified loci. Of these 53 loci, 19 associate with eGFR among individuals with diabetes. Using bioinformatics, we show that identified genes at eGFR loci are enriched for expression in kidney tissues and in pathways relevant for kidney development and transmembrane transporter activity, kidney structure, and regulation of glucose metabolism. Chromatin state mapping and DNase I hypersensitivity analyses across adult tissues demonstrate preferential mapping of associated variants to regulatory regions in kidney but not extra-renal tissues. These findings suggest that genetic determinants of eGFR are mediated largely through direct effects within the kidney and highlight important cell types and biological pathways.

Effects of sevoflurane, propofol, and adjunct nitrous oxide on regional cerebral blood flow, oxygen consumption, and blood volume in humans

Abstract: Background: Anesthetic agents, especially volatile anesthetics and nitrous oxide (N2O), are suspected to perturb cerebral homeostasis and vascular reactivity. The authors quantified the effects of sevoflurane and propofol as sole anesthetics and in combination with N2O on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), metabolic rate of oxygen (rCMRO2), and blood volume (rCBV) in the living human brain using positron emission tomography. Methods: 15 O-labeled water, oxygen, and carbon monoxide were used as positron emission tomography tracers to determine rCBF, rCMRO2 and rCBV, respectively, in eight healthy male subjects during the awake state (baseline) and at four different anesthetic regimens: (1) sevoflurane alone, (2) sevoflurane plus 70% N2 O( SN), (3) propofol alone, and (4) propofol plus 70% N2 O( PN). Sevoflurane and propofol were titrated to keep a constant hypnotic depth (Bispectral Index 40) throughout anesthesia. End-tidal carbon dioxide was strictly kept at preinduction level. Results: The mean SD end-tidal concentration of sevoflurane was 1.5 0.3% during sevoflurane alone and 1.2 0.3% during S N( P < 0.001). The measured propofol concentration was 3.7 0.7 g/ml during propofol alone and 3.5 0.7 g/ml during PN (not significant). Sevoflurane alone decreased rCBF in some (to 73‐ 80% of baseline, P < 0.01), and propofol in all brain structures (to 53‐70%, P < 0.001). Only propofol reduced also rCBV (in the cortex and cerebellum to 83‐ 86% of baseline, P < 0.05). Both sevoflurane and propofol similarly reduced rCMRO2 in all brain areas to 56 ‐70% and 50 ‐ 68% of baseline, respectively (P < 0.05). The adjunct N2O counteracted some of the rCMRO2 and rCBF reductions caused by drugs alone, and especially during SN, a widespread reduction (P < 0.05 for all cortex and cerebellum vs. awake) in the oxygen extraction fraction was seen. Adding of N2O did not alter the rCBV effects of sevoflurane and propofol alone. Conclusions: Propofol reduced rCBF and rCMRO2 comparably. Sevoflurane reduced rCBF less than propofol but rCMRO2 to an extent similar to propofol. These reductions in flow and metabolism were partly attenuated by adjunct N2O. SN especially reduced the oxygen extraction fraction, suggesting disturbed flow‐activity coupling in humans at a moderate depth of anesthesia. KNOWLEDGE about the effects of different anesthetics and anesthetic regimens on cerebral circulation and brain metabolism is of vital clinical importance. Improper use of anesthetic techniques may have deleterious effects on the compromised brain. The current understanding of the effects of general anesthetics on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and metabolism is largely based on laboratory data using a variety of different animal species and methods. In spite of partly