Inconsistencies in rater-based assessments mainly affect borderline candidates: but using simple heuristics might improve pass-fail decisions.

Introduction: Research in various areas indicates that expert judgment can be highly inconsistent. However, expert judgment is indispensable in many contexts. In medical education, experts often function as examiners in rater-based assessments.

Sharp increase in gonorrhoea notifications among young people, EU/EEA, July 2022 to June 2023.

Gonorrhoea cases increased steeply in women aged 20 to 24 years across 15 EU/EEA countries in July to December 2022 and January to June 2023 with, respectively, 73% and 89% more cases reported than expected, based on historical data from 2015 to 2019. Smaller increases among men due to heterosexual transmission were observed in nine EU/EEA countries. Interventions to raise awareness among young people about sexually transmitted infection risks are needed, emphasising the benefit of safe sexual practices and testing.

Sexually transmitted infections among patients attending a sexual assault centre: a cohort study from Oslo, Norway.

Objectives: We estimate the prevalence of sexually transmitted infection (STI) among patients after sexual assault, assess the possible value of azithromycin prophylaxis, and identify risk factors for assault-related STI and for not presenting at follow-up.

Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting: Sexual assault centre in Oslo, Norway.

Genomic epidemiology and population structure of in Norway, 2016-2017.

This study presents the nationwide epidemiology of , using whole-genome sequencing of all culture-positive cases, which comprise roughly 40 % of all cases of gonorrhea reported in Norway from 2016 to 2017. Isolates were assigned to sequence types and Bayesian analysis clusters and variation in genes coding for antibiotic resistance was linked to phenotypic resistance data. The study also included isolates taken from the same patients from different anatomical sites at one or more time points.

The impact of HPV multi-cohort vaccination: Real-world evidence of faster control of HPV-related morbidity.

Background: In 2009, both Norway and Denmark initiated routine quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccination (qHPV) for 12-year-old girls; however, Denmark also introduced free-of-charge multi-cohort vaccination for older age groups in 2008. We aim to describe trends in genital warts (GWs) incidence rates (IRs) among men and women and qHPV vaccine coverage among women in Norway and Denmark in 2006-2015.

Methods: We linked multiple national health registries in Norway and Denmark via national personal identifiers to access data on GWs incidence and qHPV vaccination among women and men aged 12-35 years residing in Norway and Denmark in 2006-2015.

Mecillinam against genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection: a small-scale proof-of-concept study shows a low cure rate.

Objectives: Mecillinam is highly active in vitro against Chlamydia spp. We aimed to determine whether mecillinam should be evaluated further as treatment for genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

Patients And Methods: The study was conducted at an open-access clinic for sexually transmitted infections in Oslo, Norway.

Is the risk for sexually transmissible infections (STI) lower among women with exclusively female sexual partners compared with women with male partners? A retrospective study based on attendees at a Norwegian STI clinic from 2004 to 2014.

Background: The prevalence of and the risk for sexually transmissible infections (STIs) for women engaging in same-sex sexual behaviour was investigated among women attending an STI clinic.

Methods: Data from electronic medical records were reviewed and logistic regression used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of STIs. Women reporting life-time exclusively female partners (WSW) and women reporting female and male partners (WSWM) were compared with women reporting exclusively male partners (WSM).

Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain with high-level resistance to spectinomycin due to a novel resistance mechanism (mutated ribosomal protein S5) verified in Norway.

Gonorrhea may become untreatable, and new treatment options are essential. Verified resistance to spectinomycin is exceedingly rare. However, we describe a high-level spectinomycin-resistant (MIC, >1,024 μg/ml) Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain from Norway with a novel resistance mechanism.

DNA methylation and gene expression changes in monozygotic twins discordant for psoriasis: identification of epigenetically dysregulated genes.

Monozygotic (MZ) twins do not show complete concordance for many complex diseases; for example, discordance rates for autoimmune diseases are 20%-80%. MZ discordance indicates a role for epigenetic or environmental factors in disease. We used MZ twins discordant for psoriasis to search for genome-wide differences in DNA methylation and gene expression in CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells using Illumina's HumanMethylation27 and HT-12 expression assays, respectively.

X chromosome inactivation in cervical cancer patients.

Development of cervical carcinomas is strongly associated with presence of human papilloma virus (HPV). Recently we found that young patients with breast cancer had a higher frequency of skewed X inactivation in peripheral blood cells, indicating an effect of X-linked genes on breast cancer development. In this study, we investigated the frequency of skewed X-inactivation pattern in blood and tumor biopsies from patients with cervical cancer.