A case control study of the relationship between persistent serum creatine kinase elevation and polyneuropathy.

Creatine kinase (CK) has been associated with neuropathy, but the mechanisms are uncertain. We hypothesized that peripheral nerve function is impaired in subjects with persistent CK elevation (hyperCKemia) compared to age- and sex matched controls in a general population. The participants were recruited from the population based Tromsø study in Norway.

Creatine kinase is associated with glycated haemoglobin in a nondiabetic population. The Tromsø study.

Background: Creatine kinase (CK) has been associated with insulin resistance and identified as a risk marker of cardiovascular disease largely by its relationship with hypertension and increased body mass index. This study determined whether CK is a predictor of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C) in a nondiabetic general population.

Methods: Associations between CK and the outcome variable HbA1C (%) were performed by variance and multivariate analyses in 11662 nondiabetic subjects defined as HbA1C (%) <6.

One-Year Remission Rate of Chronic Headache Comparing Video and Face-to-Face Consultations by Neurologist: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Chronic headache causing severe headache-related disability for those affected by the disease is under- or misdiagnosed in many cases and therefore requires easy access to a specialist for optimal health care management.

Objective: The goal of the research is to determine whether video consultations are noninferior to face-to-face consultations in treating chronic headache patients referred to a specialist in Northern Norway.

Methods: Patients included in the study were recruited from general practice referrals to a specialist at a neurological department in Northern Norway (Tromsø) and diagnosed according to the International Headache Society classification system.

Serum alanine aminotransferase activity and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in a Caucasian population: the Tromsø study.

Background: High and low levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) are both associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risks especially in elderly, but the mechanisms are less known. This study investigated associations between ALT and CVD risk factors including effects of sex and age in a Caucasian population.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were analysed sex-stratified in 2555 men (mean age 60.

Leisure physical exercise and creatine kinase activity. The Tromsø study.

Creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme catalyzing energy reaction in muscle cells and has proven to modify cardiovascular risks. The influence of skeletal muscle activity on CK concentrations is a potential study confounder but is mainly reported in connection with sport activities. This study investigated the association between leisure physical exercise and CK and estimated the effect of physical exercise on the CK values.

Alanine Aminotransferase and Body Composition in Obese Men and Women.

There is a known relationship between serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and obesity in humans, but the mechanism(s) are not clarified. This study investigated the associations between serum ALT and body composition in an overweight and obese population. The results are based on data from a previous randomized controlled trial treating obesity with vitamin D.

Video consultations in medication overuse headache. A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the effect of video consultations is noninferior to traditional consultations in managing patients with overuse headache (MOH).

Materials And Methods: Patients were recruited from referrals to a neurological clinic. In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), headache burden measured by headache impact test (HIT-6) and frequency of headache days <15 per month and visual analogue pain scale (VAS) at baseline, 3 months and 1 year were compared between groups consulted by video- (n = 51) and traditional consultations (n = 51) in a post hoc analysis.

Creatine kinase is associated with reduced inflammation in a general population: The Tromsø study.

Background: Creatine kinase (CK) has been associated with reduced inflammation in obesity while inflammation is associated with obesity-related cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the relationship between CK and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in a general population.

Methods: CK and hs-CRP were measured in the population-based Tromsø study that included entire birth cohorts and random samples of citizens between 30-87 years of age.

Creatine kinase in relation to body fat in a Caucasian overweight and obese population.

We investigated the association between serum creatine kinase (CK) and body fat mass in an overweight and obese population. In this cross-sectional study, 454 Caucasian overweight and obese individuals recruited from a medical outpatient clinic and via newspaper advertising underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Serum CK was obtained along with supplementary blood samples.

Detecting At-Risk Alzheimer's Disease Cases.

While APOEɛ4 is the major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyloid dysmetabolism is an initial or early event predicting clinical disease and is an important focus for secondary intervention trials. To improve identification of cases with increased AD risk, we evaluated recruitment procedures using pathological CSF concentrations of Aβ42 (pAβ) and APOEɛ4 as risk markers in a multi-center study in Norway. In total, 490 subjects aged 40-80 y were included after response to advertisements and media coverage or memory clinics referrals.

Lean body mass and creatine kinase are associated with reduced inflammation in obesity.

Background: Obesity is associated with inflammation, but the role of lean mass and creatine kinase (CK) on the inflammatory process is less known. We investigated the associations between lean mass, CK and fat mass upon inflammatory parameters in an overweight and obese adult population.

Material And Methods: Body composition examined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), CK and supplementary clinical parameters were measured in 454 overweight and obese individuals.

Photophobia and Seasonal Variation of Migraine in a Subarctic Population.

Objective: To investigate associations between photophobia and seasonal variation of migraine.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, migraineurs consecutively recruited were referred to a specialist center located above the Arctic Circle at 68-71 degrees North during a 2.5-year period.

A randomized trial of telemedicine efficacy and safety for nonacute headaches.

Objective: To evaluate long-term treatment efficacy and safety of one-time telemedicine consultations for nonacute headaches.

Methods: We randomized, allocated, and consulted nonacute headache patients via telemedicine (n = 200) or in a traditional manner (n = 202) in a noninferiority trial. Efficacy endpoints, assessed by questionnaires at 3 and 12 months, included change from baseline in Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) (primary endpoint) and pain intensity (visual analogue scale [VAS]) (secondary endpoint).

Headache patients' satisfaction with telemedicine: a 12-month follow-up randomized non-inferiority trial.

Background And Purpose: We investigated non-acute headache patients' long-term satisfaction with a telemedicine consultation and consultation preferences in northern Norway. We hypothesized that patients were not less satisfied with telemedicine than traditional consultations. We also examined the influence of gender, age and education on satisfaction.

Telemedicine in the management of non-acute headaches: A prospective, open-labelled non-inferiority, randomised clinical trial.

Objectives We determined headache patients' satisfaction with telemedicine and assessed how telemedicine influenced headache burden, compliance with diagnosis and treatment, and need for follow-up consultations. Methods During 2.5 years, patients from Northern Norway referred with non-acute headaches for a specialist consultation at Tromsø University Hospital were consecutively randomised to either telemedicine or traditional visits.

Acceptability, Feasibility, and Cost of Telemedicine for Nonacute Headaches: A Randomized Study Comparing Video and Traditional Consultations.

Background: The feasibility of telemedicine in diagnosing and treating nonacute headaches, such as primary headaches (migraine and tension-type) and medication-overuse headaches has not been previously investigated. By eliminating the need of travel to specialists, telemedicine may offer significant time and money savings.

Objectives: Our objective was to estimate the acceptance of telemedicine and investigate the feasibility and cost savings of telemedicine consultations in diagnosing and treating nonacute headaches.

Creatine kinase as predictor of blood pressure and hypertension. Is it all about body mass index? A follow-up study of 250 patients.

The correlation between creatine kinase (CK) and blood pressure (BP) was examined prospectively in 120 patients with persistent high CK and 130 individuals with normal CK. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP (SBP) ≥ 140 mm Hg or diastolic BP (DBP) ≥ 90 mm Hg or current use of antihypertensive medication. Baseline CK was weakly correlated with SBP (r = 0.

Patient satisfaction with conventional, complementary, and alternative treatment for cluster headache in a Norwegian cohort.

Objective: Cluster headache (CH) may cause excruciating pain and not all patients get satisfactory help. Patient dissatisfaction with general practitioners (GPs) and neurologists, and use of complementary and alternative treatment (CAM) may reflect this. The authors studied patient satisfaction with doctors' treatment and use of CAM in a Norwegian CH cohort.

Insomnia and periodicity of headache in an arctic cluster headache population.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of chronic insomnia and the periodicity of headache attacks in an Arctic cluster headache population.

Background: Cluster headache is a sleep-related disorder, and attacks have both circadian and circannual rhythmicity.

Methods: Through a retrospective hospital chart review, we identified all subjects diagnosed with episodic cluster headache (ICD-10 G 44.

Visual impairment and posterior cortical atrophy preceding rapid progressive dementia.

Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), also known as Benson's disease, has been previously reported as a variant of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We present a clinical picture and MRI findings of a patient with PCA who developed early right-sided homonymous haemianopia and marked atrophy of parieto-occipital regions of the brain before a cognitive decline appeared. This case demonstrates that PCA may appear with advanced brain atrophy at the onset of focal visual deficits before the development of progressive dementia, and adds to the knowledge of dementias with rapid progression.

Clinical impact of persistent hyperCKemia in a Norwegian general population: a case-control study.

In this case-control study we assessed the clinical impact of persistent hyperCKemia in a Norwegian general population. HyperCKemia was defined according to the NORIP- references (women 35-210 U/L, men <50 years 50-400 U/L, and men ≥50 years 40-280 U/L). We compared the frequency of muscular symptoms and function, neuromuscular diseases and risk factors between 120 cases with persistent hyperCKemia and 130 age- and sex-matched controls with normal CK values, all recruited from the single-centre, population-based prospective Tromsø Study.

Are the currently used reference intervals for creatine kinase (CK) reflecting the general population? The Tromsø Study.

Background: Laboratory reference intervals are not necessarily reflecting the range in the background population. This study compared creatine kinase (CK) reference intervals calculated from a large sample from a Norwegian population with those elaborated by the Nordic Reference Interval Project (NORIP). It also assessed the pattern of CK-normalization after standardized control analyses.