University of Helsinki

Neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage correlates with cardiovascular disease risk. However, its relationship with subclinical atherosclerosis from childhood to midlife is not well-defined. We examined whether cumulative neighbourhood disadvantage is associated with carotid artery plaques, a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis. We analysed data from 1998 participants in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, a cohort followed from childhood (mean age 10.7years in 1980) to adulthood (mean age 48.6years in 2018-2020). Neighbourhood disadvantage was derived from national grid-based socioeconomic data and computed cumulatively across the life course. The number of carotid artery plaques (mean plaque count) was assessed by standardized ultrasound imaging. Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to evaluate the associations. Mediation analyses were used to assessed the role of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics. Higher cumulative neighbourhood disadvantage from childhood to mid-adulthood was associated with a 1.24-fold increase in mean plaque count for every 1 standard deviation increase in cumulative disadvantage. This relationship persisted after controlling for parental carotid artery plaques, polygenic coronary artery disease risk score, and Framingham risk score. The association was partially explained by ideal CVH metrics, particularly smoking and blood pressure, which collectively accounted for almost half of the association. Long-term exposure to neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage beginning in childhood is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in midlife, independently of achieved socioeconomic position. These findings highlight the importance of cumulative socioeconomic environments across the life course and suggest that behavioural risk factors may partly explain observed neighbourhood-level associations with atherosclerosis.

The aim of the study was to determine the exposure to subcutaneously administered butorphanol in horses pre-treated with intravenous (IV) detomidine, with or without vatinoxan, a peripherally selective alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist. Five healthy, adult horses received three IV treatments 7 days apart, in a randomized, cross-over design: detomidine 20 μg/kg (DET-B), detomidine 20 μg/kg with vatinoxan 200 μg/kg (DETVAT-B) and saline (S-B), all followed by 0.1 mg/kg of butorphanol administered subcutaneously 30 min later. Venous samples were collected between 10 and 270 min after butorphanol administration. Butorphanol concentrations in plasma were analyzed with liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadruple mass spectrometry. Data were analyzed with non-compartmental methods. The observed areas under plasma butorphanol concentration-time curves were 8104 ± 2590, 7042 ± 2628 and 5996 ± 1670 ng·min/mL for DET-B, DETVAT-B and S-B, respectively. There were no significant differences between treatments. Pre-treatment with detomidine, with or without vatinoxan, did not significantly affect the exposure to subcutaneously administered butorphanol in this study.

We appreciate the thoughtful feedback from Shu Song, Xiaomei Zhu on our study regarding neonatal gene expression patterns associated with delivery mode [1]. The commendations are valued, and we agree that understanding the biological impact of labour associated procedures on neonatal development is crucial. As correctly pointed out by Shong et al., the upregulation of genes involved in stress and immune-response pathways, such as NF-κB signalling and cytokine production, highlights significant biological processes influenced by vaginal delivery. We acknowledge the limitation Song and Zhu mentioned regarding the absence of detailed perioperative intervention data. The influence of pharmacological agents, like antibiotics and anaesthetics, on neonatal physiology is indeed a critical factor that could confound the observed differences in gene expression. The impact of intrapartum and early childhood exposure to antibiotics on a child's future health is well-established in prior research [2]. In contrast, there is limited evidence regarding the effects of anaesthetic agents on a child's long-term health. In our study, all performed caesarean sections were elective and performed under either spinal or epidural anaesthesia. The antibiotic used before incision was cefuroxime. The transcriptional variations observed in genes such as IL1B and TNF are likely influenced by a combination of mechanical stress and hormonal factors. Although our protein-level findings did not retain statistical significance after correction, they do suggest a regulated inflammatory transition. With these changes to our interpretation, the fetus prepares to face the outside world. Research has indicated that the mode of delivery can impact the likelihood of various conditions, including allergies, asthma and autoimmune diseases in later life [3]. The activation of the immune system linked to vaginal birth observed in the study could offer protective advantages against such conditions. We concur with your advocacy for future investigations to include detailed perioperative protocols. Incorporating obstetric covariates with multi-omics approaches will undoubtedly enhance our ability to distinguish labour-specific effects from potential iatrogenic influences. Thank you for your valuable insights, which will guide future research in this important area. Noora Carpén: writing – original draft. Otto Helve: writing – review and editing. Sture Andersson: writing – review and editing. Emmi Helle: writing – review and editing. Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

How communities are structured into functional groups and trophic layers is key to understanding ecosystem functioning. Nonetheless, we lack insights about spatiotemporal variation in guild composition of communities and its causes. To investigate spatial and temporal patterns and drivers of variation in insect feeding guilds, we combined data from a nationwide survey of Swedish insects using Malaise traps and DNA metabarcoding with a comprehensive trait database. We assigned species into one of three feeding guilds (phytophages, saprophages, predators) or into one of three associated parasitoid guilds. We then analysed patterns in species richness for each guild. Species richness declined with latitude in all guilds. Beyond this gradient, local variation in species richness matched between hosts and their parasitoids. Yet, hosts and their parasitoids responded differently to habitat. The phenological peak of parasitoid species richness appeared later than the peak of their hosts, but the length of time lags varied among guilds. Spatiotemporal patterns were driven by guild-specific responses to temperature, though much variation remained between seasons and locations even when controlling for temperature. Overall, these patterns suggest that shifts in both climate and land use may alter the synchrony of insect trophic layers, with unknown consequences.

This study presents a green, integrated strategy for valorizing fungal mycelium from Phellinus linteus (PL) and Cordyceps sinensis (CS) into functional yogurt alternatives. The effects of high-pressure homogenization (HPH), thermal pasteurization, and microbial fermentation on structural constituents and rheological properties were systematically investigated. HPH reduced particle size (by 77% in PL, 67% in CS) and increased protein solubility (35.7% in PL, 42.7% in CS), promoting the transition from a liquid-like system to a viscoelastic network. Prolonged pasteurization (85°C, 30min) enhanced starch gelatinization compared to shorter treatment (5min), improving viscosity, water-binding capacity, and microbial safety. Fermentation with commercial yogurt starters reached pH 4.5 within 7h and probiotic levels of 8-9 log colony-forming units (CFU)/g. In situ production of dextran and β-glucan by Weissella confusa VIII40 and Pediococcus claussenii 55T, respectively, significantly enhanced viscosity, viscoelastic moduli, and creep-recovery behavior. Notably, high dextran yields (2.6-3.1%) significantly reduced syneresis to below 10%. Overall, the integrated mechanical and microbial processing demonstrates a clean-label method for converting underutilized fungal biomass into high fiber yogurt alternatives with improved rheological and textural quality.