Efficacy of a TNF inhibitor in chronic low back pain with Modic changes type 1: The BackToBasic study A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The efficacy of TNF inhibitors for treating chronic low back pain with Modic changes is uncertain. This study investigated the superiority of infliximab over placebo in patients with Modic changes type 1.

Methods: In this multicenter, randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients aged 18-65 with moderate to severe chronic low back pain and Modic changes type 1 were enrolled from five Norwegian public hospitals between January 2019 and October 2022.

The effect of enzymatic and viability dye treatment in combination with long-range PCR on assessing Tulane virus infectivity.

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is regularly involved in food-borne infections. To detect infectious HuNoV in food, RT-qPCR remains state of the art but also amplifies non-infectious virus. The present study combines pre-treatments, RNase and propidium monoazide, with three molecular analyses, including long-range PCR, to predominantly detect infectious Tulane virus (TuV), a culturable HuNoV surrogate.

Genomic insights into isolates from marine bivalves highlight One Health concerns and healthcare linkages.

Enterococci, especially , are one of today's leading causes of multidrug-resistant infections in hospital settings. The marine environment may harbour enterococci, but its role as an evolutionary niche and as a vector for the spread of enterococci is sparsely investigated. Hence, by applying enterococci in bivalves as a sentinel tool, this study aimed to describe the prevalence of enterocooci along the Norwegian coast and in addition the phylogeny of in particular.

From tide to table: A whole-year, coastal-wide surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli from marine bivalves.

This work is the first of its kind to report a whole-year and coastal-wide surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Escherichia coli with samples from the EU imposed Norwegian surveillance programme for marine bivalves. In total, 390 bivalve samples collected from January to December in 2016 at 59 different harvest locations, were examined. The occurrence of resistant E.

Co-localization of clinically relevant antibiotic- and heavy metal resistance genes on plasmids in Klebsiella pneumoniae from marine bivalves.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen frequently associated with antibiotic resistance and present in a wide range of environments, including marine habitats. However, little is known about the development, persistence, and spread of antibiotic resistance in such environments. This study aimed to obtain the complete genome sequences of antibiotic-resistant K.

Seawater from Bergen harbor is a reservoir of conjugative multidrug-resistance plasmids carrying genes for virulence.

Aquatic environments play important roles in the dissemination of clinically-relevant antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and pathogens. Limited knowledge exists about the prevalence of clinically-relevant acquired resistance genes in the marine environment, especially in Norway. The aim of the current study was to investigate the presence of and characterize self-transmissible resistance plasmids from Bergen harbor seawater, with exogenous-plasmid capture, using a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged Escherichia coli strain as a recipient.

Temperature Dependent Depuration of Norovirus GII and Tulane Virus from Oysters (Crassostrea gigas).

Raw oysters are considered a culinary delicacy but are frequently the culprit in food-borne norovirus (NoV) infections. As commercial depuration procedures are currently unable to efficiently eliminate NoV from oysters, an optimisation of the process should be considered. This study addresses the ability of elevated water temperatures to enhance the elimination of NoV and Tulane virus (TuV) from Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas).

Sewage-based surveillance shows presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant against last resort antibiotics in the population in Bergen, Norway.

The aim of this study was to understand the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae present in the population in Bergen city, Norway using city-scale sewage-based surveillance, as well as the potential spread of K. pneumoniae into the marine environment through treated sewage. From a total of 30 sewage samples collected from five different sewage treatment plants (STPs), 563 presumptive K.

The effect of food processing factors on the growth kinetics of Aeromonas strains isolated from ready-to-eat seafood.

Aeromonas are ubiquitous aquatic bacteria and frequently isolated from seafood. There is growing awareness of Aeromonas as foodborne pathogens, particularly in connection with consumption of ready-to-eat (RTE) seafood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of food processing factors on the growth kinetics of eight Aeromonas strains (representing seven species) isolated from RTE seafood.

Insights into the genetic diversity, antibiotic resistance and pathogenic potential of Klebsiella pneumoniae from the Norwegian marine environment using whole-genome analysis.

Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) can cause hospital- and community acquired infections. Although, Kp is widespread in the environment, very little is known about the genetic diversity and pathogenicity of Kp from the marine environment. The aim of our study was to understand the genetic diversity, resistome and pathogenic potential of 87 Kp isolates from the Norwegian marine environment, using whole-genome sequencing.

Microbiological Food Safety of Seaweeds.

The use of seaweeds in the human diet has a long history in Asia and has now been increasing also in the western world. Concurrent with this trend, there is a corresponding increase in cultivation and harvesting for commercial production. Edible seaweed is a heterogenous product category including species within the green, red, and brown macroalgae.

Draft Genome Sequence of Hafnia paralvei Strain VBC_1714, Isolated from Frozen Cod Fillet Imported from Russia to Norway.

spp. have the potential to cause opportunistic infections in humans and animals. This announcement describes the draft genome sequence of an HS-positive Hafnia paralvei strain that was isolated as a presumptive Salmonella sp.

Draft Genome Sequence of Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas protegens Strain 11HC2, Isolated from Marine Plastic Collected from the West Coast of Norway.

We report the draft genome sequence of multidrug-resistant strain 11HC2, isolated from polypropylene collected from the water column near a beach in Øygarden, Norway. The genome sequence is 6,861,219 bp long, with a G+C content of 63.4%.

Antibiotic Sensitivity Screening of spp. and spp. Isolated from Marine Bivalve Molluscs Reveal Presence of CTX-M-Producing .

spp. are a major cause of both nosocomial and community acquired infections, with being responsible for most human infections. Although spp.

Aeromonas spp. isolated from ready-to-eat seafood on the Norwegian market: prevalence, putative virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance.

Aims: We aim to investigate the prevalence, putative virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of mesophilic Aeromonas isolated from ready-to-eat (RTE) seafood available on the Norwegian market, and to assess the potential risks by consuming RTE seafood to consumers.

Methods And Results: The prevalence of mesophilic Aeromonas in 148 RTE seafood was investigated and the highest prevalence was found in retail sushi (17%), followed by oysters (10%), fresh salmon loins (10%) and scallops (4%). Among 43 Aeromonas isolates, 75% of them were identified as A.

Vibrios from the Norwegian marine environment: Characterization of associated antibiotic resistance and virulence genes.

A total of 116 Vibrio isolates comprising V. alginolyticus (n = 53), V. metschnikovii (n = 38), V.

Pharmacokinetic Data Show That Oxolinic Acid and Flumequine Are Absorbed and Excreted Rapidly From Plasma and Tissues of Lumpfish.

This study examined the uptake, tissue distribution and elimination of the antibacterial agents oxolinic acid and flumequine in lumpfish ( L.) by use of LC-MS/MS following a single oral administration of 25 mg/kg fish given in feed. Lumpfish are increasingly used as cleaner fish for removal of sea lice on commercially farmed salmon.

Isolation and characterisation of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli from Norwegian bivalves.

Only a few studies concerning Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) detection in bivalves and their harvesting areas have been reported, and to the best of our knowledge there are no outbreaks associated with STEC from bivalves described. The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of STEC in Norwegian bivalves, and to characterize potential STEC isolated from the samples.

Whole-animal accumulation, oxidative stress, transcriptomic and metabolomic responses in the pink shrimp (Pandalus montagui) exposed to teflubenzuron.

The benzoylurea chitin synthesis inhibitor teflubenzuron, widely used against sea lice in North Atlantic aquaculture, may pose an environmental threat to non-targeted crustaceans. In this experiment, laboratory acclimated pink shrimp (Pandalus montagui), a species found in fjords with Atlantic salmon farming, were exposed to dietary teflubenzuron for 46 days (control; low dose: 0.01 μg/g; high dose: 0.

Assessment of food quality and microbial safety of brown macroalgae (Alaria esculenta and Saccharina latissima).

Background: There has been a rapid increase in the number of seaweed farms in the Western world, and it is crucial for these companies and their customers to have standardized methods for quality assessment and optimization. The aim of this study was to adapt known methods for food-quality determination for the analysis of seaweed quality, including color, texture, and microbiology, and to discuss optimal heat treatments for the popular macroalgae Saccharina latissima and Alaria esculenta.

Results: The development of an attractive, green color during heating was highly specific to species, freezing history, and part of the thallus.

Impact of teflubenzuron on the rockpool shrimp (Palaemon elegans).

Concerns have been raised over the environmental impacts of antiparasitic drugs used to delouse farmed salmon. Released into the marine environment, some of these drugs can have negative impact on non-targeted crustaceans in the vicinity of farming facilities. In this study, we examined the molecular effect of the insecticide teflubenzuron on a shrimp species inhabiting the littoral zone, the rockpool shrimp (Palaemon elegans).

A comparative study of quality and safety of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) fillets during cold storage, as affected by different thawing methods of pre-rigor frozen headed and gutted fish.

Background: The catch of marine whitefish is typically seasonal, whereas the land-based processing industry has a need for all-year stable supply of raw materials. This challenge can be met by applying fish frozen at sea. When using frozen fish, the methods employed for thawing may influence the safety and quality of the final product.

Introducing a Novel Media to Improve the Recovery of Culturable Bacteria from the Fish Parasite Anisakis spp. larvae (Nematoda: Anisakidae).

This paper describes a cultivation method to increase the recovery of bacteria from the marine muscle-invading parasitic nematode larvae of Anisakis spp. These larvae hold a high and complex population of accumulated bacteria, originating from seawater, crustaceans, fish, and marine mammals, all involved in the lifecycle of Anisakis. Two in-house agars based on fish juice prepared by either mechanical or enzymatic degradation of the fish tissue, were made.

Marine Bivalve Mollusks As Possible Indicators of Multidrug-Resistant and Other Species of the Enterobacteriaceae Family.

The mechanisms for the development and spread of antibacterial resistance (ABR) in bacteria residing in environmental compartments, including the marine environment, are far from understood. The objective of this study was to examine the ABR rates in and other Enterobacteriaceae isolates obtained from marine bivalve mollusks collected along the Norwegian coast during a period from October 2014 to November 2015. A total of 549 bivalve samples were examined by a five times three tube most probable number method for enumeration of in bivalves resulting in 199 isolates from the positive samples.