| Abstract: | Increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR), also called hyperfiltration, is a proposed mechanism for renal injury in diabetes. The causes of hyperfiltration in individuals without diabetes are largely unknown, including the possible role of borderline hyperglycemia. We assessed whether impaired fasting glucose (IFG; 5.6–6.9 mmol/L), elevated HbA1c, or hyperinsulinemia are associated with hyperfiltration in the general middle-aged population. A total of 1,560 individuals, aged 50–62 years without diabetes, were included in the Renal Iohexol Clearance Survey in Tromsø 6 (RENIS-T6). GFR was measured as single-sample plasma iohexol clearance. Hyperfiltration was defined as GFR >90th percentile, adjusted for sex, age, weight, height, and use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors. Participants with IFG had a multivariable-adjusted odds ratio of 1.56 (95% CI 1.07–2.25) for hyperfiltration compared with individuals with normal fasting glucose. Odds ratios (95% CI) of hyperfiltration calculated for a 1-unit increase in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA1c, after multivariable-adjustment, were 1.97 (1.36–2.85) and 2.23 (1.30–3.86). There was no association between fasting insulin levels and hyperfiltration. A nonlinear association between FPG and GFR was observed (df = 3, P < 0.0001). GFR increased with higher glucose levels, with a steeper slope beginning at FPG ≥5.4 mmol/L. Borderline hyperglycemia was associated with hyperfiltration, whereas hyperinsulinemia was not. Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate whether the hyperfiltration associated with IFG is a risk factor for renal injury in the general population. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/4113 |
| Abstract: | Background: In three previous Norwegian studies conducted between 1974 and 1993, the annual
incidence rates of hospital admitted head injuries were 236, 200 and 169 per 100,000 population.
The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of head injury in the Stavanger region and to
compare it with previous Norwegian studies.
Methods: All head injured patients referred to Stavanger University Hospital during a one-year period (2003) were registered in a partly prospective and partly retrospective study. The catchment area for the hospital is strictly defined to a local population of 283,317 inhabitants (2003). Results: The annual incidence rate was 207/100,000 population for hospital referred head injury and 157/100,000 population for hospital admitted head injury. High age- and sex specific incidence rates were observed among the oldest, and the highest rate (882/100,000) among men above 90 years. More than 50% of the injuries were caused by falls. Conclusion: Comparison with previous Norwegian studies indicates decreasing annual incidence rates for hospital admitted head injury during the last 30 years. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/2194 |
| Abstract: | Objective To compare the incidence of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) in two time periods, before and after implementing a training programme for improved perineal support aimed at reducing the incidence of obstetric anal sphincter injuries. The secondary aim was to study incidence of obstetric anal sphincter injuries in subgroups defined by risk factors for OASIS. Design Population-based cohort study. Setting University hospital setting in Oslo, Norway. Participants Two cohorts of all delivering women in the largest hospital in Norway during two time periods (2003–2005 and 2008–2010) were studied. After excluding caesarean sections and preterm deliveries (< week 32), the study population consisted of 31 709 deliveries, among which 907 women were identified with obstetric anal sphincter injury. Primary and secondary outcome measures Incidence of OASIS in two time periods. Maternal, obstetrical and foetal risk factors for OASIS were collected from the hospital obstetric database. Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression analyses, presenting adjusted ODs for OASIS, were performed. Results The OASIS incidence was significantly reduced by 50%, from 4% (591/14787) in the first time period to 1.9% (316/16 922) in the second. This reduction could not be explained by changes in population characteristics or OASIS risk factors during the study years. The reduction of incidence of OASIS between the two study periods was consistent across subgroups of women; regardless of parity, delivery method and infant birth weight. Conclusions A marked reduction in the incidence of OASIS was observed in all studied subgroups of women after implementing the training programme for perineal protection. Further, this reduction could not be explained by the differences in patient characteristics across the study period. These findings indicate that the training programme with improved perineal protection markedly reduced the risk of OASIS. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/4938 |
| Abstract: | In acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) the recruitment maneuver (RM) is used to reexpand atelectatic areas of the lungs aiming to improve arterial oxygenation. The goal of our paper was to evaluate the response to RM, as assessed by measurements of extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) in ARDS patients. Materials and Methods. Seventeen adult ARDS patients were enrolled into a prospective study. Patients received protective ventilation. The RM was performed by applying a continuous positive airway pressure of 40 cm H2O for 40sec. The efficacy of the RM was assessed 5 min later. Patients were identified as responders if PaO2/FiO2 increased by >20% above the baseline. EVLWI was assessed by transpulmonary thermodilution before the RM, and patients were divided into groups of low EVLWI (<10 mL/kg) and high EVLWI (≥10 mL/kg). EVLWI was increased in 12 patients. Following RM, PaO2/FiO2 increased by 33 (4–65) % in the patients with low EVLWI, whereas those in the high EVLWI group experienced a change by only −1((−13)–(+5)) % (P = 0.035). Conclusion. In ARDS, the response to a recruitment maneuver might be related to the severity of pulmonary edema. In patients with incresed EVLWI, the recruitment maneuver is less effective. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/4927 |
| Abstract: | Objectives. To determine whether increased levels of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) in patients with SLE are due to disease activity or genetic variations in the promoter region of the BAFF gene and BAFF gene expression. Methods. The case-control study included 101 SLE patients and 111 healthy controls. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the BAFF promoter region were investigated by melting point analysis: c.-2841 (T > C), c.-2704 (T > C), c.-2701 (A > T), c.-871 (C > T) and c.-514 (A > G). BAFF mRNA levels were determined by real-time PCR (BAFF-RQ) and serum BAFF (s-BAFF) levels were measured by ELISA. Independent predictors that might be correlated with increased s-BAFF in SLE patients were analysed by multivariate regression methods. Results. Although s-BAFF levels were increased in SLE patients (1.73 vs 0.98 ng/μl, P < 0.001), no specific BAFF genotype was found to associate with SLE. The different genotypes defined by the investigated SNPs were identified both in SLE patients and healthy controls with similar frequencies. No association was found between BAFF genotype and BAFF-RQ. s-BAFF was independent of other factors, correlated with CRP (β = 0.40, P < 0.001) and physician's visual analogue score (R = 0.21, P = 0.046) and inversely with haemoglobin (β = -0.32, P < 0.001) and IgA (β = -0.33, P = 0.001). Conclusions. Increased s-BAFF levels in SLE patients are associated with the acute-phase responses, CRP and haemoglobin, but probably not dependent on BAFF genotype or expression. This indicates that s-BAFF production occurs at sites of inflammation. |
| Description: | This article is part of Gro Østli Eilertsen's doctoral thesis. Available in Munin at http://hdl.handle.net/10037/3594 |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/3837 |
| Abstract: | Background: Hemodynamic changes in the liver remnant following partial hepatectomy (PHx) have been suggested to be a primary stimulus in triggering liver regeneration. We hypothesized that it is the increased
sinusoidal flow per se and hence the shear-stress stimulus on the endothelial surface within the liver remnant which is the main stimulus to regeneration. In order to test this hypothesis we wanted to increase the sinusoidal flow without performing a concomitant liver resection. Accordingly, we constructed an aorto-portal shunt to the
left portal vein branch creating a standardized four-fold increase in flow to segments II, III and IV. The impact of
this manipulation was studied in both an acute model (6 animals, 9 hours) using a global porcine cDNA microarray
chip and in a chronic model observing weight and histological changes (7 animals, 3 weeks).
Results: Gene expression profiling from the shunted segments does not suggest that increased sinusoidal flow per se results in activation of genes promoting mitosis. Hyperperfusion over three weeks results in the whole liver gaining a supranormal weight of 3.9% of the total body weight (versus the normal 2.5%). Contrary to our hypothesis, the weight gain was observed on the non-shunted side without an increase in sinusoidal flow. Conclusions: An isolated increase in sinusoidal flow does not have the same genetic, microscopic or macroscopic impact on the liver as that seen in the liver remnant after partial hepatectomy, indicating that increased sinusoidal flow may not be a sufficient stimulus in itself for the initiation of liver regeneration. |
| Description: | This article is part of Kim Erlend Mortensen's doctoral thesis, which is available in Munin at http://hdl.handle.net/10037/2893 |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/2895 |
| Abstract: | Angiogenesis is pivotal in tumor development. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is considered one of the most important angiogenic factors, but lately several microRNAs (miRs) have been associated with vascular development. miR-126 has been related to tumor angiogenesis and in the regulation of VEGF-A. The authors aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of miR-126 and its co-expression with VEGF-A in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Tumor tissue samples from 335 resected stage I to IIIA NSCLC patients were obtained and tissue microarrays (TMAs) were constructed with 4 cores from each tumor specimen. VEGF-A expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization was used to evaluate the expression of miR-126. In the total material, miR-126 was a significant negative prognostic factor in both univariate (P = .005) and multivariate analyses (hazard ratio [HR] 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-2.8, P = .01). Stratified by histology, miR-126 was only significant in squamous cell carcinomas (univariate: P < .001; multivariate: HR 3.1, CI 95% 1.7-5.6, P<.001). Stratified by lymph node status, miR-126 was significant only in the lymph node-positive subgroup (univariate: P<.001; multivariate: HR 4.1, CI 95% 2.0-8.4, P < .001). High miR-126 expression correlated significantly with high VEGF-A expression (P = .037). The co-expression of miR-126 and VEGF-A had a significant prognostic impact (P = .002), with 5-year survival rates of 68%, 51%, and 42% for low/low (n = 150), mixed combinations (n = 129), and high/high (n = 35) expression, respectively. miR-126 is a strong and independent negative prognostic factor in NSCLC, and its prognostic impact appears related primarily to histology and nodal status. Cancer 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/4072 |
| Abstract: | Systemic inflammation and elevated circulating levels of the endogenous nitric oxide inhibitor asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) have been associated with increased risk in cardiogenic shock (CS). In this prospective study, we assessed, over 4 consecutive days, the changes and possible associations between vascular function, markers of inflammation, and circulating ADMA levels in patients with CS (n = 12) and postcardiotomy heart failure (n = 12, PC-HF). Vasodilator function was measured as a reactive hyperemia index (RH-index) using a finger plethysmograph. Blood samples were analyzed for plasma ADMA, interleukine-6, interleukine-8, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, and vascular adhesion molecule-1. Baseline RH-index was significantly attenuated compared with healthy controls (2.28) for both CS and PC-HF (1.35 and 1.45, respectively, P = 0.001). Although vasodilator function improved in PC-HF patients, it remained attenuated in CS. Inflammatory markers were markedly elevated followed by a significant fall during the observation period in both groups. ADMA levels increased significantly during the observation period for PC-HF, whereas no pattern of change was observed for CS. No association was found between the longitudinal changes in RH-index, markers of inflammation, or ADMA in CS. However, an improved RH-index was associated with decreasing inflammatory markers in PC-HF. ADMA correlated to arterial lactate levels and the degree of organ dysfunction in CS. In conclusion, CS and PC-HF were characterized by a marked inflammatory activation accompanied by an attenuated vasodilator function. ADMA was related to organ dysfunction and degree of hypoperfusion during CS but showed no correlations to inflammation or hampered vasodilator function. The pathogenic significance of these responses needs clarification |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/4112 |
| Abstract: | The knowledge about the relationship between health-related activities on the Internet (i.e. informed citizens) and individuals’ control over their own experiences of health or illness (i.e. empowered citizens) is valuable but scarce. In this paper, we investigate the correlation between four ways of using the Internet for information on health or illness and citizens attitudes and behaviours toward health professionals and health systems and establish the profile of empowered eHealth citizens in Europe. Data was collected during April and May 2007 (N = 7022), through computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI). Respondents from Denmark, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Norway, Poland and Portugal participated in the survey. The profiles were generated using logistic regressions and are based on: a) socio-demographic and health information, b) the level of use of health-related online services, c) the level of use of the Internet to get health information to decide whether to consult a health professional, prepare for a medical appointment and assess its outcome, and d) the impact of online health information on citizens’ attitudes and behavior towards health professionals and health systems. Citizens using the Internet to decide whether to consult a health professional or to get a second opinion are likely to be frequent visitors of health sites, active participants of online health forums and recurrent buyers of medicines and other health related products online, while only infrequent epatients, visiting doctors they have never met face-to-face. Participation in online health communities seems to be related with more inquisitive and autonomous patients. The profiles of empowered eHealth citizens in Europe are situational and country dependent. The number of Europeans using the Internet to get health information to help them deal with a consultation is raising and having access to online health information seems to be associated with growing number of inquisitive and self-reliant patients. Doctors are increasingly likely to experience consultations with knowledgeable and empowered patients, who will challenge them in various ways. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/3862 |
| Abstract: | Introduction We recently demonstrated that intravenously
infused recombinant human activated protein C (APC)
attenuates ovine lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury.
In this study, our aim was to find out whether treatment with
inhaled aerosolised APC (inhAPC) prevents formation of
increased lung densities and oedema and derangement of
oxygenation during exposure to LPS.
Methods: Sheep were anaesthetised during placement of intravascular introducers. After one to four days of recovery from instrumentation, the animals were re-anaesthetised, endotracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated throughout a six-hour experiment where the sheep underwent quantitative lung computed tomography. Sheep were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a sham-operated group (n = 8) receiving inhaled aerosolised saline from two hours after the start of the experiment; a LPS group (n = 8) receiving an intravenous infusion of LPS 20 ng/kg per hour and, after two hours, inhaled aerosolised saline over the next four hours; a LPS+inhAPC group (n = 8) receiving an intravenous infusion of LPS 20 ng/kg per hour and, after two hours, aerosolised APC 48 µg/kg per hour inhaled throughout the experiment. Data were analysed with analysis of variance; P less than 0.05 was regarded as significant. Results: An infusion of LPS was associated with a reduction of well-aerated lung volume and a rapid fall in arterial oxygenation that were both significantly antagonised by inhaled APC. Pulmonary vascular pressures and extravascular lung water index increased significantly during exposure to LPS, but inhaled APC had no effect on these changes. Conclusions: Inhalation of aerosolised APC attenuates LPSinduced lung injury in sheep by preventing a decline in the volume of aerated lung tissue and improving oxygenation. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/2171 |
| Abstract: | Mechanical ventilation with high tidal volumes may cause ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) and enhanced generation of nitric oxide (NO). We demonstrated in sheep that pneumonectomy followed by injurious ventilation promotes pulmonary edema. We wished both to test the hypothesis that neuronal NOS (nNOS), which is distributed in airway epithelial and neuronal tissues, could be involved in the pathogenesis of VILI and we also aimed at investigating the influence of an inhibitor of nNOS on the course of VILI after pneumonectomy. Anesthetized sheep underwent right pneumonectomy, mechanical ventilation with tidal volumes (VT) of 6 mL/kg and FiO2 0.5, and were subsequently randomized to a protectively ventilated group (PROTV; n = 8) keeping VT and FiO2 unchanged, respiratory rate (RR) 25 inflations/min and PEEP 4 cm H2O for the following 8 hrs; an injuriously ventilated group with VT of 12 mL/kg, zero end-expiratory pressure, and FiO2 and RR unchanged (INJV; n = 8) and a group, which additionally received the inhibitor of nNOS, 7-nitroindazole (NI) 1.0 mg/kg/h intravenously from 2 hours after the commencement of injurious ventilation (INJV + NI; n = 8). We assessed respiratory, hemodynamic and volumetric variables, including both the extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) and the pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI). We measured plasma nitrite/nitrate (NOx) levels and examined lung biopsies for lung injury score (LIS). Both the injuriously ventilated groups demonstrated a 2–3-fold rise in EVLWI and PVPI, with no significant effects of NI. In the INJV group, gas exchange deteriorated in parallel with emerging respiratory acidosis, but administration of NI antagonized the derangement of oxygenation and the respiratory acidosis significantly. NOx displayed no significant changes and NI exerted no significant effect on LIS in the INJV group. Inhibition of nNOS improved gas exchange, but did not reduce lung water extravasation following injurious ventilation after pneumonectomy in sheep. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/4889 |
| Abstract: | We describe a psychoeducational program integrated in a basic computer skills course for participants suffering from social anxiety. The two main aims of the course were: that the participants learn basic computer skills, and that the participants learn to cope better with social anxiety. Computer skills were taught by a qualified teacher. Psychoeducation and cognitive therapy skills, including topics such as anxiety coping, self-accept, and self-regulation, were taught by a clinical psychologist. Thirteen of 16 participants completed the course, which lasted 11 weeks. A qualitative analysis was performed, drawing on observations during the course and on interviews with the participants. The participants were positive about the integration of psychoeducation sessions in the computer course, and described positive outcomes for both elements, including improved computer skills, improved self-esteem, and reduced social anxiety. Most participants were motivated to undertake further occupational rehabilitation after the course. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/3593 |
| Abstract: | Background: Poxvirus-vectored vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer are currently under
development. We hypothesized that the extensive use of poxvirus-vectored vaccine in future might result
in co-infection and recombination between the vaccine virus and naturally occurring poxviruses, resulting
in hybrid viruses with unpredictable characteristics. Previously, we confirmed that co-infecting in vitro a
Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) strain engineered to express influenza virus haemagglutinin (HA) and
nucleoprotein (NP) genes with a naturally occurring cowpox virus (CPXV-NOH1) resulted in recombinant
progeny viruses (H Hansen, MI Okeke, Ø Nilssen, T Traavik, Vaccine 23: 499–506, 2004). In this study we
analyzed the biological properties of parental and progeny hybrid viruses.
Results: Five CPXV/MVA progeny viruses were isolated based on plaque phenotype and the expression of influenza virus HA protein. Progeny hybrid viruses displayed in vitro cell line tropism of CPXV-NOH1, but not that of MVA. The HA transgene or its expression was lost on serial passage of transgenic viruses and the speed at which HA expression was lost varied with cell lines. The HA transgene in the progeny viruses or its expression was stable in African Green Monkey derived Vero cells but became unstable in rat derived IEC-6 cells. Hybrid viruses lacking the HA transgene have higher levels of virus multiplication in mammalian cell lines and produced more enveloped virions than the transgene positive progenitor virus strain. Analysis of the subcellular localization of the transgenic HA protein showed that neither virus strain nor cell line have effect on the subcellular targets of the HA protein. The influenza virus HA protein was targeted to enveloped virions, plasma membrane, Golgi apparatus and cytoplasmic vesicles. Conclusion: Our results suggest that homologous recombination between poxvirus-vectored vaccine and naturally circulating poxviruses, genetic instability of the transgene, accumulation of non-transgene expressing vectors or hybrid virus progenies, as well as cell line/type specific selection against the transgene are potential complications that may result if poxvirus vectored vaccines are extensively used in animals and man. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/2191 |
| Abstract: | Every year a large number of children around the world are removed from their homes because they are maltreated. Child welfare agencies are responsible for placing these children in out-of-home settings that will facilitate their safety, permanency, and well-being. However, children in out-of-home placements typically display more educational, behavioral, and psychological problems than do their peers, although it is unclear whether this results from the placement itself, the maltreatment that precipitated it, or inadequacies in the child welfare system. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/2756 |
| Abstract: | Hensikten med artikkelen er å belyse lokale kvinneforeningers innsats som institusjonsbyggere, hvilke samarbeidsrelasjoner og politiske maktforhold de inngikk i, og hvilken betydning deres innsats kan ha fått for utformingen av den norske velferdsstaten. Rettighetsaspektet i form av trygder og ytelser og den partipolitiske debatten rundt dette har fått stor plass i deler av den skandinaviske velferdsforskningen, mens tjeneste- eller praksisaspektet har fått tilsvarende mindre plass. Dermed blir også kvinnenes bidrag fraværende. Det er sjelden nok å rette blikket mot emner og felt som har vært forsømt uten samtidig å utvikle analysemåter som forandrer selve blikket. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/1217 |
| Abstract: | I 1902 ble byen Narvik en realitet, og som så mange andre byer var veksten stor på den tiden. Byene i Norge økte ikke bare i areal og folketall, men også i sine velferdsproblemer. Hvordan Narvik fikk løst noen av oppgavene knyttet til helse og sykdom og hvem som gjorde hva innenfor kommunens grenser, er tema her. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/1732 |
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