Researchers found a link between gut microbiota and Parkinson's disease, with patients having lower levels of Prevotellaceae bacteria and higher levels of Enterobacteriaceae family in their intestines. The study suggests that intestinal dysfunction may be part of the pathology and potentially related to the progression of the disease.
The study suggests that expanding protected areas by 17% could triple current protection levels and deliver a 50% more efficient result globally. However, land-use change threatens this opportunity, putting over 1,000 species at risk of losing up to 50% of their habitats.
A new gene has been identified as the genetic cause of a progressive form of epilepsy in nearly one-third of patients. The mutation affects a potassium channel encoding gene KCNC1, which disrupts signal transmission in the brain and causes epileptic seizures and myoclonus.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki have uncovered a new regulatory system that senses nutrient deprivation and inhibits growth in fruit flies. This system, which involves protein kinase ERK7, prevents secretion of insulin-like peptides during starvation.
Research reveals a new mechanism for proper sarcomere organization, controlled by protein cofilin-2 that trims actin filaments to precise lengths. This finding explains mutations in the cofilin-2 gene resulting in nemaline myopathy and highlights its importance in muscle function.
Researchers have found that bats carry the bacterial species Bartonella mayotimonensis, which causes deadly human infections in the USA. Bats are ideal reservoirs for pathogenic viruses and play a vital role in natural ecosystems.
Researchers discovered that integrin loss in dendritic cells leads to increased signaling through the GM-CSF receptor, reprogramming them into a mature phenotype. This activation triggers T cell immune response, offering insights into designing targeted therapies for autoimmunity and cancer treatments.
A legal trade in rhino horn could generate funding for conservation efforts, allowing communities to harvest horns from deceased animals with minimal risk. This could help reduce poaching demand in Asia and support local income generation, while also improving rhino population protection.
A team of scientists has uncovered a new mechanism controlling actin-rich protrusions that aid in cell migration, a process essential for development, wound healing, and immunological responses. GMF protein plays a key role in regulating these protrusions.
Researchers found that hunters reduced small animal hunting and switched to cheaper ammunition, but large animals remained threatened. Taxing gunshots is an effective conservation measure for small animals, but higher taxes are needed for large ones.
The creation of the Vuoksi River approximately 6,000 years ago led to a significant cultural shift in eastern Finland. The rapid decrease in Lake Saimaa's water level revealed fertile land, flourishing elk populations attracted innovative human settlements, and a new culture emerged.
The Glanville fritillary genome, approximately 390 million base pairs long, has been fully sequenced at the University of Helsinki. The study confirms a key hypothesis about the ancestral lepidopteran species' chromosome count, revealing stability over 140 million years.
The BitSeq method has been found to produce clearly the most reliable results in measuring gene expression, outperforming other methods in accuracy and efficiency. The approach accounts for uncertainty and error in RNA-seq data, providing a more accurate representation of gene expression levels.
A study of 2342 patients with eating disorders found an increased risk of autoimmune diseases, with 8.9% diagnosed compared to 5.4% in the general population. The findings suggest a link between immune-mediated mechanisms and development of eating disorders.
Researchers found that auxin and PLETHORA transcription factors regulate root growth by controlling cell division, elongation, and differentiation. The study reveals a graded distribution of these factors near the root tip, enabling plants to adapt to environmental conditions.
A novel decision support system combines computer vision algorithms with visualization of relevant areas to aid in malaria diagnosis. The method was shown to be accurate comparable to World Health Organization quality criteria, with over 90% of infected samples correctly diagnosed.
The researchers identified two transcription factors, NAC045 and NAC086, which are expressed in sieve element cells before enucleation. They also found a family of genes, dubbed NEN1-4, which act downstream of these factors. Additionally, the study revealed that control of choline transport is essential for phloem development.
A large-scale study of over 2,100 infants found that delaying exposure to complex foreign proteins in cow's milk does not reduce the risk of developing type 1 diabetes. The study, led by Professor Mikael Knip, explored whether an early dietary modification could affect the disease process.
A new study by University of Helsinki researchers found that brain aneurysm rupture risk is not significantly related to the aneurysm's size. Instead, smokers with high blood pressure are more at risk for rupture. The long-term study monitored patients over their entire lifetimes and contradicts previous findings on aneurysm treatment.
Researchers identified a novel antiviral agent that blocks influenza infection in cell culture without developing resistance. The study suggests the potential of small molecule MK2206 as an effective treatment option for Tamiflu-resistant pH1N1 virus infections.
A study by University of Helsinki researchers found that smartphone malware infection rates are significantly higher than previously estimated at around 0.25%. The team collected anonymized data from over 50,000 devices during a seven-month period and developed a technique to identify devices infected with previously unknown malware.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki found that vitamin B3 form, nicotinamide riboside, can delay the signs of mitochondrial myopathy in animal models. The treatment increased mitochondrial mass and function, curing structural abnormalities and providing a potential therapeutic approach for adult-onset mitochondrial muscle diseases.
Researchers have identified four biomarkers in blood samples that can predict mortality from any disease within five years. The study used NMR spectroscopy to analyze over 17,000 healthy individuals and found that these biomarkers were independent of traditional risk factors, indicating a general frailty in the body.
The FINNO Study found that women are more likely to suffer from incontinence, while men experience problems with slow or incomplete urination. The study also identified post-micturition dribble as the most common cause of bother among men.
Researchers analyzed genetic variation in the X chromosome to understand individual differences in traits such as height, BMI, and blood pressure. They identified a genetic variant near ITM2A that affects cartilage development and is more prevalent among shorter individuals, with stronger effects on women.
Researchers used DNA barcoding to dissect the complex interactions between predators and prey in a simple food web, finding three times as many interactions than previously thought. The study revealed that most predator-prey relationships are less specialized and more interconnected than initially believed.
A year after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, patients showed equally low incidence of symptoms and were satisfied with their knee. The study suggests that surgery is not an effective form of treatment for degenerative meniscal tears, and instead recommends exercise and rehabilitation as a more effective approach.
In a study, researchers found that dogs can perceive faces in images and differentiate between familiar and strange faces. Dogs preferred viewing conspecific faces over human faces, gazing more at the eye area of familiar faces.
Researchers develop individualized systems medicine strategy to select effective cancer therapies for patients, understanding and predicting drug resistance. The approach aids in optimizing patient therapies, with promising results in treating chemoresistant adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients.
Researchers transformed a $10 webcam into a mini-microscope to detect parasitic infections at the point-of-care. The device uses image recognition software to automatically identify parasite eggs in urine and stool samples.
A recent study by Finnish scientists found that smaller island areas support fewer species and shorter food chains. The research team analyzed 20 islands off the Finnish coast and discovered that top predators were often missing from small islands, leading to a loss of control functions in local ecosystems.
Researchers from the University of Helsinki have developed a method to extract information about vehicular movement patterns from smartphone accelerometer measurements. The technique can detect most common public transportation types with over 80% accuracy, making it suitable for daily monitoring and fine-grained modeling of human tran...
A team of scientists collaborated with local volunteers to measure dung decomposition across Finland. Large tunnelling Dor beetles were found to remove dung twice as fast as smaller dung-dwelling beetles and earthworms. Climate also played a significant role in dung disappearance.
University of Helsinki researchers have developed photochemically active polymers that can switch from a trans conformation to a cis conformation using light. This phenomenon allows for the creation of complex patterns and designs in liquids, opening up new possibilities for materials science and optics.
A study of 24 pregnant women found that fetuses who heard Twinkle Twinkle Little Star reacted strongly to the melody both immediately and four months after birth. This suggests that fetuses can recognize and remember sounds from the outside world, with potential implications for early rehabilitation.
Researchers discovered that sleep loss affects specific genes involved in the regulation of the immune system, triggering an inflammatory response. This link was confirmed in a population study, suggesting that chronic sleep deprivation may contribute to the development of inflammatory diseases.
A Finnish study found that women with eating disorders have lower pregnancy rates and increased risk of miscarriage compared to their peers. The likelihood of abortion was more than double for bulimics and nearly half of pregnancies ended in miscarriage among women with binge-eating disorder.
A new mutation in the ITGA10 gene has been identified as a cause of dwarfism in two dog breeds, Norwegian Elkhounds and Karelian Bear Dogs. The study reveals that the mutation affects bone growth and can lead to skeletal abnormalities.
Researchers discovered that BAR domain proteins induce strong clustering of phosphoinositides, generating extremely stable protein-lipid scaffolds on the membrane. These scaffolds may contribute to diverse cellular processes by creating lipid phase boundaries and trapping membrane-associated receptor and cargo molecules.
A Finnish population-based study found that hypertensive smoking women have an exceptionally high risk of a fatal brain bleeding, with a rate 20 times higher than never-smoking men. The study identified new risk factors for Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (SAH), including previous myocardial infarction and elevated cholesterol levels in men.
A new PRA gene has been identified in the Phalene and Papillon dog breeds, causing progressive blindness in dogs. The CNGB1 mutation is linked to human retinitis pigmentosa, highlighting the shared genetic etiology of canine and human diseases. Genetic testing can help breeders avoid affected puppies and provide a diagnostic tool.
Researchers found that beetles living in cow pats can reduce methane emissions from cattle farming. This discovery has significant implications for the climate impact of dairy and beef farming. The study suggests that if beetles can keep methane emissions down, it could lead to a smaller global warming effect.
Researchers have identified a key proteasome regulatory mechanism that affects cellular protein balance and may hold promise for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Decreased insulin/IGF-1 signalling increases proteasome activity, accelerating protein degradation and cell death.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki have found that high doses of famotidine can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and affect the histamine system in the brain. After four weeks of treatment, symptoms of schizophrenia decreased statistically significantly in patients who received famotidine.
Researchers at University of Helsinki and ETH Zurich have solved the three-dimensional structure of RSV, a common cause of respiratory infection. The structural model provides valuable information for intelligent vaccine design, targeting the virus's fusion protein and matrix protein.
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction affects 10% of the population, causing symptoms like cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Vitamin C has been shown to halve the FEV1 decline caused by exercise in three randomized trials, indicating a potential benefit against this condition.
Mutations in lamin genes cause hereditary diseases like Emery-Dreifuss Muscular dystrophy and dilated cardiomyopathy by altering nuclear structure and gene expression. Restoring MKL1 activity may be a productive intervention mechanism for these devastating diseases.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki discovered that the Myc oncoprotein makes cancer cells vulnerable to cell death by activating AMPK, a biochemical sensor. This leads to the activation of tumor suppressor protein p53, which promotes apoptosis in cancer cells.
Researchers have uncovered the microscopic atomic structure of water at high temperatures and pressures, revealing a homogeneous molecular arrangement throughout. The findings provide insights into the unique properties of supercritical water, which may play a key role in geological processes such as ore deposits and volcanic activity.
Researchers have developed a method to measure nanoparticles as small as 1 nm in diameter using the Particle Size Magnifier (PSM) instrument. The study reveals that sulphuric acid, amines, and oxygenated organics are necessary for nanoparticle growth.