<i>Objective</i>: Caesarean section (CS) rates vary significantly worldwide. ,e World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended a maximum CS rate of 15%. Norwegian hospitals are paid per CS (activity-based funding), employing the diagnosis-related group (DRG) system. We aimed to document how financial incentives can be affected by reduced CS rates, according to the WHO’s recommendation. <p> <p> ...

<p><i>Introduction</i> Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a potentially deadly disease and significant efforts have been concentrated on improving hospital performance. A 30-day survival rate has become a key quality of care indicator. In Northern Norway, some patients undergoing AMI are directly transferred to the Regional Cardiac Intervention Center at the University Hospital of North Norway ...

We evaluated the performance of the new 4-tiered melanoma-specific graded prognostic assessment (GPA) score and the previously published general GPA score in patients with brain metastases from malignant melanoma managed with different approaches including best supportive care. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of 51 patients. Compared with the original analysis of the melanoma-specific ...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a possible cause of secondary osteoporosis. In this phase II trial we assessed whether a weekly dose of 20,000 IU vitamin D3 prevents bone loss in ambulatory persons with MS age 18–50 years. ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT00785473. All patients managed at the University Hospital of North Norway who fulfilled the main inclusion criteria were invited to participate in this ...

Aim: Humour is seen as a health-promoting coping strategy when dealing with life stress. The aim is to elucidate how adult cancer survivors experience and evaluate the significance of humour in daily life, from diagnosis through their entire illness trajectory, and to gain a broader understanding of humour as part of stress-coping processes during the experience of cancer as a life-threatening ...

Accumulating evidence supports the notion that high-dose (>5 Gy) radiotherapy (RT) regimens are triggering stronger pro-immunogenic effects than standard low-dose (2 Gy) regimens. However, the effects of RT on certain immunoregulatory elements in tumors remain unexplored. In this study, we have investigated the effects of high-dose radiotherapy (HD-RT) on the immunomodulating functions of cancer-associated ...

<i>Background</i>: With recent changes in legislation regulating recreational and medical cannabis use around the globe, increased use in pregnancy is to be expected.<p> <p><i>Objectives</i>: To investigate the association between cannabis use during pregnancy and birth outcomes. <p> <p><i>Method</i>: Data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), a prospective pregnancy cohort, ...

Keratinocytes and remnant of keratinocytes in nodules, abscesses, and sinus tracts are radically removed in surgical treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa.1 We are now using methylene blue in carbon dioxide laser surgery for patients with moderate to severe hidradenitis lesions (Hurley stage II-III). Methylene blue stains active inflammatory nodules and sinus tracts. We use a modified methylene blue ...

<i>Background</i> - Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a strong predictor of future arterial cardiovascular disease and premature mortality. However, there are limited data on the association between CRF and the risk of incident venous thromboembolism (VTE).<p><p> <i>Objectives</i> - To investigate whether estimated CRF (eCRF) was associated with the risk of incident VTE in a cohort recruited ...

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore experiences with overnight respite care (ORC) of Norwegian carers who provided care to frail elderly awaiting nursing home placement. <br> Background: In many Western countries respite care has become part of health care service provision, and various types of respite care are available. The intent with respite care can be twofold; caring for the care ...