Publications by authors named "Grundt H"

Background: Emerging knowledge about supportive neurodevelopmental neonatal care shows the need for an individual approach to establish breastfeeding. However, evidence on how cue-based breastfeeding is supported in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is scarce. Therefore, the aim was to describe supporting practices for cue-based breastfeeding.

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Introduction: Chemokines mediate recruitment and activation of leucocytes. Chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18) is mainly expressed by monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells. It is highly expressed in chronic inflammatory diseases, and locally in atherosclerotic plaques, particularly at sites of reduced stability, and systemically in acute coronary syndrome patients.

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Introduction: SERPINA3 is an acute-phase protein triggered by inflammation. It is upregulated after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Data on its long-term prognostic value in MI patients are scarce.

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Background: Our previous study showed a reduced cumulative length of re-admission stays due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations during one year after telemedicine video consultation (TVC). The current study evaluated the effects of TVC on the length of re-admission stays within 12 months follow up post-TVC compared to phone call follow up or COPD usual care in a randomized study. Our secondary aim was to assess the impact of TVC on the frequency of re-admissions within 12 months of follow up.

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Background: Extracellular matrix (ECM) is an integral player in the pathophysiology of a variety of cardiac diseases. Cardiac ECM is composed mainly of collagen, of which type 1 is the most abundant with procollagen type 1 N-terminal Propeptide (P1NP) as a formation marker. P1NP is associated with mortality in the general population, however, its role in myocardial infarction (MI) is still uncertain, and P1NP has not been investigated in acute chest pain.

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Background: A man in his fifties with hypertension and no other previous health problems was admitted to the hospital after frequent episodes of retrosternal squeezing chest pain, and an episode of syncope. A recent computer tomography coronary angiography demonstrated normal coronary arteries with no atherosclerosis.

Case Presentation: During admission, the patient developed several episodes of chest pain lasting five to fifteen minutes followed by non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, and initially no ST elevation in the electrocardiogram (ECG).

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Aim: We compared milk volumes, skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding by the mothers of very preterm twins and singleton infants born at 28-32 weeks of gestation.

Methods: This Norwegian longitudinal prospective comparative study was carried out in two neonatal intensive care units: one with single family rooms and one open bay unit. It comprised 49 singleton infants, 28 twins and their mothers.

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Background: Preterm birth increases the risk for postpartum depression in both mothers and fathers, calling for strategies to alleviate and prevent depressive symptoms in parents of preterm infants. The aim of this study was to assess the association between early parent-infant closeness and later depressive symptoms among parents of preterm infants. We hypothesized that longer duration of closeness associate with fewer depressive symptoms in both parents.

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Background: Markers of bone and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling may be associated with adverse outcomes in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Podocan is a newly discovered ECM glycoprotein, previously not studied in a chest pain population. We wanted to study the association between Podocan levels on admission and the risk of adverse outcomes in a chest pain population with suspected acute coronary syndromes.

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Background: Complement activation has been associated with atherosclerosis, atherosclerotic plaque destabilization and increased risk of cardiovascular events. Complement component 7 (CC7) binds to the C5bC6 complex which is part of the terminal complement complex (TCC/C5b-9). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is a sensitive marker of systemic inflammation and may reflect the increased inflammatory state associated with cardiovascular disease.

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Background: Plasma levels of angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2) and angiopoietin-like 4 protein (ANGPTL4) reflect different pathophysiological aspects of cardiovascular disease. We evaluated their association with outcome in a hospitalized Norwegian patient cohort (n = 871) with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and validated our results in a similar Argentinean cohort (n = 982).

Methods: A cox regression model, adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, was fitted for ANGPT2 and ANGPTL4, respectively, with all-cause mortality and cardiac death within 24 months and all-cause mortality within 60 months as the dependent variables.

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Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis is a major public health issue worldwide and is frequently overlooked, particularly in our part of the world. More caution with regard to symptoms could facilitate faster diagnosis, better treatment, and decreased morbidity and mortality.

Case Presentation: We describe the disease course in a middle-aged man presenting with non-productive cough, right-sided pleural effusion and fatigue.

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Background: Hospitalization in neonatal intensive care units with a single-family room design enables continuous maternal presence, but less is known regarding the association with milk production and breastfeeding.

Research Aim: To compare maternal milk production, breastfeeding self-efficacy, the extent to which infants received mother's milk, and rate of direct breastfeeding in a single-family room to an open bay neonatal intensive care unit.

Methods: A longitudinal, prospective observational study comparing 77 infants born at 28- 32° weeks gestational age and their 66 mothers ( = 35 infants of = 30 mothers in single family room and = 42 infants of = 36 mothers in open bay).

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Background: Studies of parents' psychological well-being in single-family rooms in neonatal intensive care units have shown conflicting results.

Aims: To compare emotional distress in the form of depression, anxiety, stress and attachment scores among parents of very preterm infants cared for in a single-family rooms unit vs an open bay unit.

Study Design: Prospective survey design.

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Aim: The aim was to compare growth in very premature infants cared for in a single-family room (SFR) and an open-bay (OB) unit. We recorded duration of parental presence and skin-to-skin contact as proxies for parental involvement in care of their infants.

Methods: We consecutively included infants with gestational ages 28 + 0 through 32 + 0 weeks at two hospitals in Norway, one SFR unit (n = 35) and one OB unit (n = 42).

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This was a prospective survey study, comparing parent-infant closeness, parents' perceptions of nursing support, and participation in medical rounds in single-family room (SFR) and an open bay (OB) neonatal intensive care units. Nurses' assessments of provided support were also measured. In total, 115 parents of 64 preterm infants less than 35 weeks' gestational age and 129 nurses participated.

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Background: We previously investigated the prognostic utility of red blood cell (RBC) n-3 fatty acids (FAs) in survivors of an acute myocardial syndrome (ACS) but found no relationship with all-cause mortality and cardiac death or MI after two years. Here we extend our follow-up to 7years, focusing on the potential predictive power of RBC n-6 FAs.

Methods: We included 398 ACS patients presenting with increased troponin-T (TnT) levels for whom baseline RBC FA data were available.

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Background: Fish is the natural dietary source of vitamin D. Reports on the influence of purified omega-3 fatty acids on its uptake are scarce.

Objectives: We investigated the impact of a purified high-dose omega-3 compound compared to corn oil on 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels following an acute myocardial infarction.

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Background: Several studies have demonstrated an association between low vitamin D levels and cardiovascular risk. Vitamin D cut-off levels are still under debate.

Objectives: To assess two cut-off levels, 40 and 70 nmol/L, respectively, for vitamin D measured as 25-hydroxyvitamin D in chest pain patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome.

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Background: Troponin-T (TnT), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) have been shown to be independent prognostic indicators of total and cardiac death during short- and long-term follow-up.

Methods: We investigated prospectively the prognostic value of admission samples of TnT, hsCRP, and BNP in 871 chest-pain patients from South-Western Norway and 982 patients from Northern Argentina, based on a similar protocol and database setup. Follow-up was 2 years for the pooled population.

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Background: Vascular inflammation plays a key role in the development of atherosclerosis and acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is one of several novel, promising markers of inflammation. In addition, D-dimer might serve as a marker of thrombogenesis and a hypercoagulable state following plaque rupture. The present study assesses the prognostic utility of these two biomarkers as compared to high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), in addition to conventional clinical risk factors for coronary heart disease in patients with suspected ACS.

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Background: An inverse relationship between cardiovascular risk and levels of vitamin D and omega-3 index may exist.

Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic utility of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in 871 patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to assess the seasonal correlation between 25(OH)D and the omega-3 index in 456 ACS patients from southwestern Norway.

Results: In the univariate analysis the hazard ratio (HR) at 2-year follow-up for all-cause mortality in the highest as compared to the lowest quartile of 25(OH)D in the total population was 0.

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Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of acute hospital admissions. The main object of our study was to evaluate the effects of telemedicine video-consultation (TVC) on the frequency of hospital re-admissions due to COPD exacerbations. Our secondary aim was to assess the impact of TVC on the length of re-admission stays within 6 and 12 months follow up after TVC.

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Background: Vascular inflammation plays a key role in the development of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and calprotectin are two of several novel promising markers of inflammation. The present study evaluates the prognostic utility of these two biomarkers in patients with suspected ACS.

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This paper reviews the current evidence regarding long-chained marine omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), their possible mechanisms of action, and results of clinical trials. Also, primary and secondary prevention trials as studies on antiarrhythmic effects and meta-analyses are summarized. However, the individual bioavailability of n-3 PUFAs along with the highly different study designs and estimations of FAs intake or supplementation dosages in patient populations with different background intake of n-3 PUFAs might be some of the reasons for the inconsistent findings of the studies evaluating the impact of n-3 PUFAs on CVD.

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