Start codon variant in LAG3 is associated with decreased LAG-3 expression and increased risk of autoimmune thyroid disease.

Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is a common autoimmune disease. In a GWAS meta-analysis of 110,945 cases and 1,084,290 controls, 290 sequence variants at 225 loci are associated with AITD. Of these variants, 115 are previously unreported.

An epidemiological and clinicopathological study of type 1 vs. type 2 morphological subtypes of papillary renal cell carcinoma- results from a nation-wide study covering 50 years in Iceland.

Introduction: Papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) is the second most common histology of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), accounting for 10-15% of cases. Traditionally, pRCC is divided into type 1 and type 2, although this division is currently debated as a prognostic factor of survival. Our aim was to investigate the epidemiology and survival of the pRCC subtypes in a whole nation cohort of patients during a 50-year period.

[Iodine intake of two-year-olds and adults in Iceland and estimation of the effect of using iodized salt in breads].

Introduction: Insufficient iodine status was recently identified in pregnant women in Iceland. Iodine fortification of salt is widely used to decrease the risk of iodine deficiency disorders, but the use of iodized salt has not been recommended in Iceland. The aim was to describe iodine intake among Icelandic adults and two-year-olds and estimate the effect of using iodized salt in bread.

Comment on van Netten, et al: Definitions and criteria for diabetic foot disease.

Objective: The International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) recently published updated definitions for the diabetic foot field. However, the suggested definitions of lower limb amputations differ from the definitions of the International Organization of Standardization (ISO), which may create problems when implementing the definitions. This paper compares and discusses the amputation definitions of IWGDF and ISO.

FLT3 stop mutation increases FLT3 ligand level and risk of autoimmune thyroid disease.

Autoimmune thyroid disease is the most common autoimmune disease and is highly heritable. Here, by using a genome-wide association study of 30,234 cases and 725,172 controls from Iceland and the UK Biobank, we find 99 sequence variants at 93 loci, of which 84 variants are previously unreported. A low-frequency (1.

Nordic clinical guidelines for orthotic treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: A systematic review using the AGREE II instrument.

Background: High-quality clinical practice guidelines are necessary for effective use of resources both at an individual patient- and national-level. Nordic clinical practice guidelines recommendations for orthotic treatment of knee osteoarthritis vary and little is known about their quality.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to critically evaluate the quality of clinical practice guidelines in orthotic management of knee osteoarthritis in the Nordic countries.

Fourteen sequence variants that associate with multiple sclerosis discovered by meta-analysis informed by genetic correlations.

A meta-analysis of publicly available summary statistics on multiple sclerosis combined with three Nordic multiple sclerosis cohorts (21,079 cases, 371,198 controls) revealed seven sequence variants associating with multiple sclerosis, not reported previously. Using polygenic risk scores based on public summary statistics of variants outside the major histocompatibility complex region we quantified genetic overlap between common autoimmune diseases in Icelanders and identified disease clusters characterized by autoantibody presence/absence. As multiple sclerosis-polygenic risk scores captures the risk of primary biliary cirrhosis and vice versa ( = 1.

A qualitative study of the challenges of providing pre-prosthetic rehabilitation in rural South Africa.

Background: There is a known shortage of rehabilitation staff in rural settings and a sharp increase in the number of lower limb amputations being performed. A lack of adequate pre-prosthetic rehabilitation will result in worse physical and psychological outcomes for a person with a lower limb amputation, and they will not be eligible to be fitted with a prosthesis.

Objective: To explore therapists' experiences with providing pre-prosthetic rehabilitation in a rural setting.

The use of a direct manufacturing prosthetic socket system in a rural community in South Africa: A pilot study and lessons for future research.

Background: Challenges exist with the provision of appropriate mobility assistive devices in rural areas. The use of the direct manufacturing prosthetic socket system is a possible solution to these challenges.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to test and explore the clients' perspectives with the application of this device.

PREDICTING WALKING ABILITY FOLLOWING LOWER LIMB AMPUTATION: .

There is not a clear clinical recommendation for the determination of prosthetic candidacy. Guidelines do not delineate which member(s) of the multidisciplinary team are responsible for prosthetic candidacy decisions and which factors will best predict a positive outcome. Also not clearly addressed is a patient-centered decision-making role.

Can physician laboratory-test requests be influenced by interventions?

Background: Laboratory tests affect healthcare costs and unnecessary test requests can thus be a concern. We studied whether it was possible to influence physician laboratory-test requests using four structured interventions: introduction of clinical guidelines, education, feedback, and reminder letters. The interventions occurred at different times at Landspítali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.

Iodine status of pregnant women in a population changing from high to lower fish and milk consumption.

Objectives: Pregnancy is one of the most critical periods for iodine deficiency. The aim of the present study was to assess the iodine status and dietary intake of pregnant women in a population changing from high to lower consumption of milk and fish.

Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Acromegaly caused by ectopic growth hormone-releasing hormone production from a bronchial carcinoid tumor.

Acromegaly is usually caused by a growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenoma. In rare cases, however, it is caused by the ectopic production of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). We report a case of acromegaly due to ectopic production of GHRH from a bronchial carcinoid in a 42-year-old female.

Association of immunoglobulin A deficiency and elevated thyrotropin-receptor autoantibodies in two Nordic countries.

Immunoglobulin A deficiency (IgAD) is the most common primary immunodeficiency, with suggested association with various types of autoimmunity, including Graves' disease. This study investigated the association of IgAD with elevated thyrotropin-receptor autoantibodies (TRAb). IgA was measured in TRAb-seropositive individuals from both Iceland (N = 299] and Sweden (N = 841].

Iodine status of adolescent girls in a population changing from high to lower fish consumption.

Objectives: During the last decades, fish and milk consumption has decreased considerably in Iceland, especially among adolescents. As these food items are important dietary iodine (I) sources, the aim of the study was to assess the iodine status and dietary pattern of adolescent girls in a population changing from a high to lower consumption of milk and fish.

Subjects/methods: Subjects were randomly selected adolescent girls (16-20 years old, n=112).

Calcipotriol plus betamethasone dipropionate gel compared with its active components in the same vehicle and the vehicle alone in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris: a randomised, parallel group, double-blind, exploratory study.

A two-compound ointment containing calcipotriol plus betamethasone dipropionate is an effective treatment for psoriasis vulgaris. The same active ingredients have now been combined in a gel formulation. Our objective was to compare the efficacy and safety of once daily treatment of the two-compound gel with the single components in the same gel vehicle and the gel vehicle alone, in patients with psoriasis vulgaris on the trunk and/or limbs.

Outcomes of a standardized surgical and rehabilitation program in transtibial amputation for peripheral vascular disease: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To study the outcomes of a new surgical and rehabilitation program for initial unilateral transtibial amputation in patients with peripheral vascular disease. The program consists of sagittal incision, rigid dressing, compression therapy using silicone liner, and direct manufacturing prosthetic technique.

Design: A prospective cohort study with 1-yr follow-up.

Treatment with a barrier-strengthening moisturizing cream delays relapse of atopic dermatitis: a prospective and randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Standard treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) is based on topical glucocorticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors to treat flares combined with moisturizer treatment to alleviate dry skin symptoms. Patients with AD have an abnormal skin barrier function, and strategies for reducing the risks for eczema would be to repair the barrier or prevent barrier dysfunction.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore the time to relapse of eczema during a 26-week maintenance treatment with a urea containing moisturizer compared to no treatment (neither medical nor non-medicated preparations) after successful clearing of atopic lesions.

The Locomotor Capabilities Index; validity and reliability of the Swedish version in adults with lower limb amputation.

Background: The Locomotor Capabilities Index (LCI) is a validated measure of lower-limb amputees' ability to perform activities with prosthesis. We have developed the LCI Swedish version and evaluated its validity and reliability.

Methods: Cross-cultural adaptation to Swedish included forward/backward translations and field testing.

Incidence of lower-limb amputation in the diabetic and nondiabetic general population: a 10-year population-based cohort study of initial unilateral and contralateral amputations and reamputations.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of vascular lower-limb amputation (LLA) in the diabetic and nondiabetic general population.

Research Design And Methods: A population-based cohort study was conducted in a representative Swedish region. All vascular LLAs (at or proximal to the transmetatarsal level) performed from 1997 through 2006 were consecutively registered and classified into initial unilateral amputation, contralateral amputation, or reamputation.

The combination of etanercept and methotrexate increases the effectiveness of treatment in active psoriasis despite inadequate effect of methotrexate therapy.

Many patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis do not respond adequately to methotrexate monotherapy. This pilot study, with a small patient population, was performed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of etanercept and methotrexate combination in patients with plaque psoriasis and inadequate response to methotrexate. Outpatients with plaque psoriasis (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index > or = 8 and/or body surface area > 10%), despite methotrexate treatment (> or = 3 months; > or = 7.

Comparison of vacuum-formed removable rigid dressing with conventional rigid dressing after transtibial amputation: similar outcome in a randomized controlled trial involving 27 patients.

Background And Purpose: Following transtibial amputation, a rigid dressing of plaster of Paris has been reported to have advantages over a soft dressing regarding wound healing and reduction of edema, but use of the former may be limited by difficulties in application and in gaining access to the wound. An easily applicable and removable vacuum-formed rigid dressing (ORD) has recently been introduced. We compared the ORD with a conventional rigid plaster of Paris dressing with regard to wound healing, time to fitting of a prosthesis, and function with the prosthesis.

Psoriasis patients with diabetes type 2 are at high risk of developing liver fibrosis during methotrexate treatment.

Background/aims: We investigated the impact of diabetes mellitus type 2, overweight, alcohol over-consumption, and chronic hepatitis B or C as risk factors, for liver fibrosis in psoriasis patients treated with methotrexate.

Methods: One hundred and sixty-nine liver biopsies from 71 patients who underwent liver biopsies as part of the monitoring of methotrexate treatment for psoriasis were reviewed. Fibrosis, steatosis and inflammation were staged according to the NAFLD activity score.