Effect of smoking cessation on cardiac troponin I concentrations.

Chronic elevation of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is associated with heart failure and cardiovascular death. Paradoxically, observational studies have indicated that current smokers have lower cTnI concentrations than non-smokers. We examined determinants of cTnI in smokers and the effect of smoking cessation on cTnI.

A novel intragastric balloon for treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. A two-center pilot trial.

Background And Aims: Obesity with type-2 diabetes is a global challenge. Lifestyle interventions have limited effect for most patients. Bariatric surgery is highly effective, but resource-demanding, invasive and associated with serious complications.

Diet, eating behaviour and weight gain in men and women with overweight/obesity receiving varenicline for smoking cessation.

Because trying to quit smoking and not gain weight requires changes in two major behaviours simultaneously we explored eating behaviour in smokers with overweight/obesity making a quit attempt using guideline-based treatment. Participants were randomized to a carbohydrate-reduced or fat-reduced diet. The Three Factor Eating Questionnaire and Binge Eating Scale were completed by 48 of 64 participants in the low-carbohydrate and 47 of 58 in the fat-reduced group at randomization, after 6 and 14 weeks.

[Prescribing of opioids for chronic pain on reimbursable prescription].

Background: In 2008 the reimbursable prescription scheme was amended so that patients with severe, chronic pain could be prescribed opioids on reimbursable prescription. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prescribing of opioids on reimbursable prescription, the proportion of patients who started opioid treatment on reimbursable prescription who became long-term users, and the number of patients in 2018 who received higher dosages than the reimbursable prescription scheme permits.

Material And Method: Data were retrieved from the Norwegian Prescription Registry.