Cardiac arrhythmia assessment with patch electrocardiogram versus insertable cardiac monitor: a cohort study in endurance athletes with atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the quality of ECG recordings and the concordance between the automatic detection of cardiac arrhythmia episodes by a patch ECG and an insertable cardiac monitor.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting And Participants: Endurance athletes diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and no other relevant comorbidities participating in a randomised controlled trial on the effects of training adaption.

Associations between Growth Differentiation Factor 15, Cardiac Troponin T, and N-terminal pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide, and Future Myocardial Fibrosis Assessed by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Data from the Akershus Cardiac Examination 1950 Study.

Background: Myocardial fibrosis is associated with a poor outcome for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) concentrations predict the risk of death in patients with CVD, but the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly understood. We aimed to assess the associations between biomarkers of cellular stress and inflammation (GDF-15), cardiac injury (cardiac troponin T [cTnT]), and stretch (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP]), and subsequent focal and diffuse myocardial fibrosis assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.

Steaming soil is effective in eliminating invasive alien plants (IAPs) - part I: effect of exposure method.

Background: As regulations on pesticides become more stringent, it is likely that there will be interest in steam as an alternative approach for soil disinfestation. This study investigates the feasibility of utilizing a soil steaming device for thermal control of invasive plants.

Results: Seeds of Echinochloa crus-galli, Impatiens glandulifera, Solidago canadensis, and rhizome fragments of Reynoutria × bohemica were examined for thermal sensitivity through two exposure methods: (1) steam treatment of propagative material in soil; (2) exposure of propagative material to warm soil just after heated by steam.

Cardiac troponin T associates with left ventricular function and synchrony assessed by CMR in the general population: results from the Akershus Cardiac Examination 1950 Study.

Background And Aim: Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is a blood biomarker of myocardial injury that is associated with future adverse cardiovascular events in the general population. Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) and mechanical dispersion (MD) are metrics of systolic function and synchrony that can be obtained from cardiac imaging. Studies suggest an association between cTnT and echocardiographically assessed GLS and MD, but it is unknown whether cTnT relates to these metrics when assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

Systolic blood pressure at age 40 and 30-year stroke risk in men and women.

Background: American and European guidelines define hypertension differently and are sex agnostic. Our aim was to assess the impact of different hypertension thresholds at the age of 40 on 30-year stroke risk and to examine sex differences.

Methods: We included 2608 stroke-free individuals from the Akershus Cardiac Examination 1950 Study, a Norwegian regional study conducted in 2012-2015 of the 1950 birth cohort, who had previously participated in the Age 40 Program, a nationwide health examination study conducted in 1990-1993.

Sleep Duration and Cognitive Function: The Akershus Cardiac Examination 1950 Study.

Introduction: Sleep duration is proposed as a lifestyle-related risk factor for cognitive impairment. We investigated the association between sleep duration and cognitive function in a large population-based cohort aged 62-65 years.

Methods: Cross-sectional analyses from the Akershus Cardiac Examination 1950 Study.

Left atrial function in middle-aged men and women with and without paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: Data from the Akershus Cardiac Examination (ACE) 1950 study.

Purpose: To assess left atrial (LA) function in individuals with known paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) compared with healthy and nonhealthy individuals without atrial fibrillation.

Methods: The Akershus Cardiac Examination 1950 Study included 3,706 individuals all born in 1950. LA strain assessment of reservoir (LASr), conduit (LAScd) and contractile (LASct) functions were performed in all participants by investigators blinded to clinical data.

Screening for Atrial Fibrillation by Digital Health Technology in Older People in Homecare Settings: A Feasibility Trial.

Aims: Users of homecare services are often excluded from clinical trials due to advanced age, multimorbidity, and frailty. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common and frequently undiagnosed arrhythmia in the elderly and is associated with severe mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs. Timely identification prevents associated complications through evidence-based treatment.

Evidence for minimally invasive treatment-A systematic review on surgical management of disc displacement.

Background: Surgical treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc displacement (DD) has been established in different forms since over a century. Ther is a consensus to perform minimal invasive interventions as first-line surgical treatment since there are no evidence on best surgical practice yet.

Objective: The aim was to perform a complex systematic review (SR) on the topic-is there evidence for surgical treatment of TMJ DD?

Methods: The PICO was defined as DD patients (population), treated with different surgical interventions including arthrocentesis (intervention), compared with other or no treatment (control) regarding the outcome variables mandibular function, mouth opening capacity, TMJ pain, etcetera (outcome).

Clinical care advice for monitoring of islet autoantibody positive individuals with presymptomatic type 1 diabetes.

Background/aim: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that involves the development of autoantibodies against pancreatic islet beta-cell antigens, preceding clinical diagnosis by a period of preclinical disease activity. As screening activity to identify autoantibody-positive individuals increases, a rise in presymptomatic type 1 diabetes individuals seeking medical attention is expected. Current guidance on how to monitor these individuals in a safe but minimally invasive way is limited.

Towards scaling up the sonochemical synthesis of Pt-nanocatalysts.

Large scale production of electrocatalysts for electrochemical energy conversion devices such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells must be developed to reduce their cost. The current chemical reduction methods used for this synthesis suffer from problems with achieving similar particle properties such as particle size and catalytic activity when scaling up the volume or the precursor concentration. The continuous production of reducing agents through the sonochemical synthesis method could help maintain the reducing conditions (and also the particle properties) upon increasing the reactor volume.

Multiscale networks in multiple sclerosis.

Complex diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) cover a wide range of biological scales, from genes and proteins to cells and tissues, up to the full organism. In fact, any phenotype for an organism is dictated by the interplay among these scales. We conducted a multilayer network analysis and deep phenotyping with multi-omics data (genomics, phosphoproteomics and cytomics), brain and retinal imaging, and clinical data, obtained from a multicenter prospective cohort of 328 patients and 90 healthy controls.

Predicting disease severity in multiple sclerosis using multimodal data and machine learning.

Background: Multiple sclerosis patients would benefit from machine learning algorithms that integrates clinical, imaging and multimodal biomarkers to define the risk of disease activity.

Methods: We have analysed a prospective multi-centric cohort of 322 MS patients and 98 healthy controls from four MS centres, collecting disability scales at baseline and 2 years later. Imaging data included brain MRI and optical coherence tomography, and omics included genotyping, cytomics and phosphoproteomic data from peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The feasibility of a multidimensional intervention in lymphoma survivors with chronic fatigue.

Purpose: Chronic fatigue (CF) affects 25-30% of lymphoma survivors, but interventions designed to reduce fatigue are lacking. The main aim of this study was to test the feasibility of a multidimensional intervention study in lymphoma survivors with CF. Secondary aims were to describe individual changes in fatigue, quality of life (QoL) and physical performance from pre (T0) to post (T1) intervention.

Levamisole Modulation of Podocytes' Actin Cytoskeleton in Nephrotic Syndrome.

Podocytes play a central role in glomerular diseases such as (idiopathic) nephrotic syndrome (iNS). Glucocorticoids are the gold standard therapy for iNS. Nevertheless, frequent relapses are common.

Stroke and bleeding risk in atrial fibrillation with CHA2DS2-VASC risk score of one: the Norwegian AFNOR study.

Background And Aims: The benefit of oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy in atrial fibrillation (AF) and intermediate stroke risk is debated. In a nationwide Norwegian cohort with a non-sex CHA2DS2-VASc risk score of one, this study aimed to investigate (i) stroke and bleeding risk in AF patients with and without OAC treatment, and (ii) the risk of stroke in non-anticoagulated individuals with and without AF.

Methods: A total of 1 118 762 individuals including 34 460 AF patients were followed during 2011-18 until ischaemic stroke, intracranial haemorrhage, increased CHA2DS2-VASc score, or study end.

Carotid Plaque Score for Stroke and Cardiovascular Risk Prediction in a Middle-Aged Cohort From the General Population.

Background We aimed to explore the predictive value of the carotid plaque score, compared with the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation 2 (SCORE2) risk prediction algorithm, on incident ischemic stroke and major adverse cardiovascular events and establish a prognostic cutoff of the carotid plaque score. Methods and Results In the prospective ACE 1950 (Akershus Cardiac Examination 1950 study), carotid plaque score was calculated with ultrasonography at inclusion in 2012 to 2015. The largest plaque diameter in each extracranial segment of the carotid artery on both sides was scored from 0 to 3 points.

Immune cell subpopulations and serum neurofilament light chain are associated with increased risk of disease worsening in multiple sclerosis.

Changes is lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood have been proposed as biomarkers for evaluation of disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) is a biomarker reflecting neuro-axonal injury in MS that could be used to monitor disease activity, response to drugs and to prognosticate disease course. Here we show a moderate correlation between sNfL and lymphocyte cell subpopulations, and our data furthermore suggest that sNfL and specific immune cell subpopulations together could predict future disease worsening in MS.

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements and risk of atrial fibrillation and 'micro-atrial fibrillation': A secondary analysis from the OMEMI trial.

Background & Aims: Recent randomized clinical trials have raised concerns regarding potential off target adverse effects from supplementation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on atrial fibrillation (AF) risk. We aimed to assess risk and potential mediators of AF and 'micro-AF' from n-3 PUFA in post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients.

Methods: In the OMEMI trial, 70-82 y.

Feasibility of Patient-Managed ECG Recordings to Detect the Time of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence after Electrical Cardioversion: Results from the PRE-ELECTRIC Study.

Background: Electrical cardioversion (ECV) is a common procedure to terminate persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). The recurrence rate is high, and the patients often fail to recognize AF recurrence.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of patient-managed electrocardiography (ECG) to detect the time to AF recurrence after ECV.

Fully digital self-screening for atrial fibrillation with patch electrocardiogram.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide. The AF is associated with severe mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs, and guidelines recommend screening people at risk. However, screening methods and organization still need to be clarified.