Recent studies have demonstrated that radiotherapy is able to induce anti-tumor immune responses in addition to mediating direct cytotoxic effects. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are central constituents of the tumor stroma and participate actively in tumor immunoregulation. However, the capacity of CAFs to influence immune responses in the context of radiotherapy is still poorly understood. ...

<i>Introduction</i> - The retropubic tension‐free vaginal tape procedure has been the preferred method for primary surgical treatment of stress and stress‐dominant mixed urinary incontinence in women for more than 20 years. In this study, we assessed associations between surgeon's experience with the primary tension‐free vaginal tape procedure and both perioperative complications and recurrence ...

Ledelse ved norske fastlegekontor er lite utforsket; fastleger deler ofte på ledelsesfunksjoner, og hver fastlege er i stor grad sin egen leder. Helsemyndighetene i Norge og andre land ønsker tverrfaglige team rundt utvalgte pasientgrupper, men mange fastleger er skeptiske. Artikkelen utforsker lederatferd når fastlegekontor skal utvikles fra en samling solopraksiser under samme tak til å bli ...

<i>Objectives</i> - The influence of physical activity (PA) on the immune system has emerged as a new field of research. Regular PA may promote an anti-inflammatory state in the body, thus contributing to the down-regulation of pro-inflammatory processes related to the onset and progression of multiple diseases. We aimed to assess whether overall PA levels were associated with differences in blood ...

Increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is reported in both adults and children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in high income settings and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but data from sub-Saharan Africa is lacking.<p> <p>We assessed cIMT using ultrasound in perinatally HIV-infected children aged 6 to 16 years taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) ...

The 2017 reports published by Diabetesforbundet Norway showed an estimated 378 000 people living with diabetes (28 000 with Type 1 and 350 000 with Type 2). Mealey et al. (2006) showed that diabetes increases the risk for periodontitis, influenced by inflammatory processes. The formation of inflammatory molecules (e.g. Advanced glycation end products) leads to gingival attachment loss, periodontal ...

This paper describes the extent and variation in health disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people within Alaska, Greenland and the northern regions of Canada, Russia and the Nordic countries. We accessed official health statistics and reviewed research studies. We selected a few indicators of health status, health determinants and health care to demonstrate the health disparities that ...

<p><i>Background - </i>The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, defined as no other solids or liquids besides breast milk and essential vitamins or medicines. Data about exclusive breastfeeding are limited in Georgia, and the information that exist are provided by national surveys, that present inconsistent numbers. Georgia has recently established a national ...

Surprisingly few attempts have been made to quantify the simultaneous contribution of well-established risk factors to CVD mortality differences between countries. We aimed to develop and critically appraise an approach to doing so, applying it to the substantial CVD mortality gap between Russia and Norway using survey data in three cities and mortality risks from the Emerging Risk Factor Collaboration. ...

<i>Background</i> - Recruiting and retaining a skilled health workforce is a common challenge for remote and rural communities worldwide, negatively impacting access to services, and in turn peoples’ health. The research literature highlights different factors facilitating or hindering recruitment and retention of healthcare workers to remote and rural areas; however, there are few practical tools ...