Background: The gut microbiota in patients with chronic heart failure (HF) is characterized by low bacterial diversity and reduced ability to synthesize beneficial metabolites. These changes may facilitate leakage of whole bacteria or bacterial products from the gut into the bloodstream, which may activate the innate immune system and contribute to the low-grade inflammation seen in HF. In this ...

Different screening strategies for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) exist. Despite screening efforts, cases of late presentation continue to occur, often necessitating surgery. This systematic review and meta-analysis assess the effect of newborn selective ultrasound screening for DDH on the incidence of late presentation in infants and children, compared to a universal ultrasound strategy. ...

Background - Oxygen inhalation aborts cluster headache attacks, and case reports show the effect of continuous positive airway pressure. The aim of this study was to investigate the prophylactic effect of continuous positive airway pressure in chronic cluster headache.<p> <p>Methods - This was a randomized placebo-controlled triple-blind crossover study using active and sham continuous positive ...

Background To our current understanding, solid tumors depend on suppressed local immune reactions, often elicited by the interaction between tumor cells and tumor microenvironment (TME) components. Despite an improved understanding of anti-cancer immune responses in the TME, it is still unclear how immuno-suppressive TME are formed and how some cancer cells survive and metastasize.<p> <p>Methods ...

Background - There is limited information on the relationship between muscle strength and recurrence and mortality after incident venous thromboembolism (VTE).<p> <p>Objectives - To investigate whether weak hand grip strength (HGS) was associated with risk of recurrence and mortality in patients with VTE recruited from the general population.<p> <p>Methods - Participants from the Tromsø Study ...

Introduction - Patient-reported measures (PRMs) are becoming popular as they might influence clinical decisions, help to deliver patient-centered care, and improve health care quality. However, the limited knowledge and consensus about the acceptability of implementing PRMs in maternity care hinder their widespread use in clinical practice, and evidence-based recommendations are lacking. This ...

Background: In line with international trends, initial treatment of trauma patients has changed substantially over the last two decades. Although trauma is the leading cause of death and disability in children globally, in-hospital pediatric trauma related mortality is expected to be low in a mature trauma system. To evaluate the performance of a major Scandinavian trauma center we assessed treatment ...

Aim - Organisation of care, perinatal and neonatal management of very preterm infants in the Nordic regions were hypothesised to vary significantly. The aim of this observational study was to test this hypothesis.<p> <p>Methods - Information on preterm infants in the 21 greater healthcare regions of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden was gathered from national registers in 2021. Preterm ...

Background and purpose - A heart age biomarker has been developed using deep neural networks applied to electrocardiograms. Whether this biomarker is associated with cognitive function was investigated.<p> <p>Methods - Using 12-lead electrocardiograms, heart age was estimated for a population-based sample (N = 7779, age 40–85 years, 45.3% men). Associations between heart delta age (HDA) and ...

Acute brain injury (ABI) covers various clinical entities that may require invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) in the intensive care unit (ICU). The goal of MV, which is to protect the lung and the brain from further injury, may be difficult to achieve in the most severe forms of lung or brain injury. This narrative review aims to address the respiratory issues and ventilator management, specific ...