Persistent pro-inflammatory trait in elderly patients following treatment-resistant major depressive disorder: a longitudinal exploratory study.

Objectives: Considering that the remission rate for major depressive disorder (MDD) in elderly patients is below 50%, there is a compelling requirement for an enhanced comprehension of the underlying mechanisms. Chronic low-grade inflammation has been posited as one potential contributor to treatment-resistant MDD in the elderly. Accordingly, the objective of our study was to explore the longitudinal trends of systemic immune markers in elderly inpatients referred to electroconvulsive therapy due to an episode of treatment resistant unipolar MDD.

Collagenase Versus Needle Fasciotomy for Primary Metacarpophalangeal Dupuytren Contracture: Five-Year Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Collagenase (CCH) and percutaneous needle fasciotomy (PNF) are 2 treatment options for Dupuytren disease. The purpose of this study was to compare these 2 methods in terms of clinical and patient-reported outcomes.

Methods: Eighty patients (median age, 72 years; 83% male) with a single-digit primary metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint contracture of ≥30° were randomized to either CCH or PNF and followed for 5 years.

Patients with Opioid Use Disorder Choosing Treatment with Extended-Release Naltrexone: A 6-Month Naturalistic Study.

Introduction: The treatment efficacy of extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) for opioid use disorder (OUD) has been demonstrated in several studies, but not in naturalistic settings where opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is freely accessible. This study aimed to examine the different treatment outcomes of XR-NTX in a setting where the participants freely chose XR-NTX as a treatment option instead of OAT.

Methods: This was a 24-week open-label clinical prospective cohort study conducted in an outpatient setting at five hospitals in Norway.

Self-reported health, function, and use of health care services in older prostate cancer survivors compared to matched controls: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: Information about outcomes of particular relevance to older prostate cancer survivors is limited. This study aimed to compare health, activities of daily living (ADL), and use of health care services between survivors and matched controls.

Methods: A single-centre study on men treated for prostate cancer with curative intent at the age ≥ 70 years 2 to 7 years earlier.

Effect of radiotherapy on long-term quality of life in recurrence-free rectal cancer survivors (LaTE study): nationwide inverse probability of treatment-weighted registry-based cohort study and survey.

Background: Radiotherapy reduces local recurrence in locally advanced rectal cancer, but may cause harm in patients who do not experience recurrence. The aim was to investigate the impact of radiotherapy on long-term quality of life after curative treatment for rectal cancer, i.e.

Normative Scores on the Clock Drawing Test Among Older Adults from a Large Population Survey in Norway: The HUNT Study.

Background: The Clock Drawing Test (CDT) is used to screen for Alzheimer's disease and other dementia disorders. Normative scores on the version from the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) do not exist in the Nordic countries.

Objective: To examine the normative scores of the CDT among adults aged 70 years and older.

Pelvic floor symptoms according to the severity of second-degree perineal tears within 12 months post-partum: A longitudinal prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Second-degree perineal tears following vaginal birth are common and presumed to be of little clinical importance. However, the extent of damage to the perineal body varies widely, and there is reason to believe that larger second-degree tears may be associated with more pelvic floor symptoms, compared to lesser form. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess differences in pelvic floor symptoms according to the severity of second-degree perineal tears up to 12 months post-partum, stratified by parity.

Individual Trajectories of Specialist Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Treatment Utilization Among Young Adults With Substance Use Problems: A Cohort Study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to identify groups of young adults with distinct longitudinal patterns of use of treatment for substance use disorders and mental health (MH) problems and to investigate potential explanatory factors for different patterns of treatment use over time, including sociodemographic factors.

Methods: The sample consisted of 447 young adults aged 16-29 years who entered long-term residential substance use disorder treatment facilities in Norway from 2011 to 2016. In this study, we obtained data collected by the Norwegian Patient Registry and Statistics Norway.

Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Is Not Better Than Arthroscopic Debridement for the Treatment of Symptomatic Cartilage Lesions of the Knee: Two-Year Results From a Randomized-Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To compare the functional and patient-reported outcome measures after autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) and arthroscopic debridement (AD) in symptomatic, isolated cartilage injuries larger than 2 cm in patients aged 18 to 50 years.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients were included and randomized to ACI (n = 15) or AD (n = 13) and followed for 2 years. The primary outcome was the change in the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Quality of Life (QoL) subscale.

Mortality and health-related quality of life in older adults with long-term use of opioids, z-hypnotics or benzodiazepines: a prospective observational study at 5 years follow-up.

Objectives: Disease and medication use in older age is a consequence of age-related declining health. Multimorbidity followed by polypharmacy is common. Central nervous system depressing (CNSD) drugs such as opioids, benzodiazepines and z-hypnotics are not recommended for long-term use in older adults but are in use by many.

Brief Intervention as a Method to Reduce Z-Hypnotic Use by Older Adults: Feasibility Case Series.

Background: Z-hypnotics or z-drugs are commonly prescribed for insomnia and sleep difficulties in older adults. These drugs are associated with adverse events and dependence and are not recommended for long-term use. Despite evidence of older adults being more sensitive to a wide array of adverse events and clinical guidelines advocating limiting use, inappropriate use in this population is still prevalent.

Measuring pain intensity in older adults. Can the visual analogue scale and the numeric rating scale be used interchangeably?

Objectives: Visual analogue scale (VAS) and numeric rating scale (NRS) are two commonly used instruments for measuring pain intensity. Both instruments are validated for use in both clinical and research settings, and share a range of similar aspects. Some studies have shown that the two instruments may be used interchangeably, but the results are conflicting.

Premorbid lipid levels and long-term risk of ALS-a population-based cohort study.

Objective: To assess the temporal relationship between premorbid lipid levels and long-term amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) risk.

Methods: From Norwegian cardiovascular health surveys (1974-2003), we collected information on total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), glucose, and other cardiovascular risk factors. ALS incidence and mortality were identified through validated Norwegian health registries.

Chemotherapy reduces long-term quality of life in recurrence-free colon cancer survivors (LaTE study)-a nationwide inverse probability of treatment-weighted registry-based cohort study and survey.

Aim: Stage III colon cancer is routinely treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, which causes significant short-term morbidity. Its effect on long-term quality of life (QoL) is poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate long-term QoL after curative treatment for colon cancer and explore the impact of chemotherapy on general and disease-specific QoL.

Outcome prediction in comatose cardiac arrest patients with initial shockable and non-shockable rhythms.

Background: Prognosis after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is presumed poorer in patients with non-shockable than shockable rhythms, frequently leading to treatment withdrawal. Multimodal outcome prediction is recommended 72 h post-arrest in still comatose patients, not considering initial rhythms. We investigated accuracy of outcome predictors in all comatose OHCA survivors, with a particular focus on shockable vs.

Risk of relapse to non-opioid addictive substances among opioid dependent patients treated with an opioid receptor antagonist or a partial agonist: A randomized clinical trial.

Background And Objective: First study to assess any compensatory increase in use of non-opioid illicit substances and alcohol in opioid dependent patients randomized to treatment with extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) or buprenorphine-naloxone (BP-NLX) and in longer term treatment with extended-release naltrexone.

Method: A multicenter, outpatient, open-label randomized clinical trial where patients received intramuscular extended-release naltrexone hydrochloride, 380 mg/month, or daily sublingual buprenorphine-naloxone 8-24/2-6 mg for 12 weeks, and an option to continue with extended-release naltrexone for an additional 36 week follow-up. The study was conducted at five urban addiction clinics and detoxification units in Norway between November 2012, and July 2016.

Shared decision making and associated factors among patients with psychotic disorders: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Shared decision making is a process where patients and clinicians collaborate to make treatment choices based on the patients' preferences and best available evidence. The implementation of shared decision making remains limited for patients with psychotic disorders despite being recommended at policy level, being advocated as ethical right and wanted by the patient's. A barrier to implementation that is often mentioned is reduced decision-making capacity among patients.

Criminal thinking and psychosocial characteristics among young adults entering residential substance use treatment.

Young adults with substance use (SU) problems face a high risk of co-occurring problems, including criminality. The aim of the present study was to assess the psychosocial characteristics, SU problems, and criminal thinking young adults entering SU treatment have, and whether the SU characteristics, sex and age are associated with criminal thinking scores. The sample was 407 young adults aged 16-29 years who underwent an entry assessment between January 2011 and December 2016 at a residential SU treatment institution in Norway.

Increased incidence and reduced mortality after first attack of acute pancreatitis over an 18-year period.

Aims: To determine time trends in the incidence and etiology of acute pancreatitis and identify predictors for in-hospital mortality.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective study of 1722 patients with acute pancreatitis admitted to Akershus University Hospital between January 2000 and December 2017. Data were obtained from electronic patient files and computed tomography scans.

Personal recovery among people with opioid use disorder during treatment with extended-release naltrexone.

Background And Aims: Recovery from substance use disorders (SUD) has traditionally been equated with abstinence. "Personal recovery" however emphasizes recovery as a unique and personal process, supported by changes in connectedness, hope, identity, meaning and empowerment. This study aimed to examine personal recovery in people receiving extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX); specifically investigate changes in personal recovery during treatment, identify groups of participants following distinct trajectories of recovery, and characteristics predicting group-belonging.

Norwegian health personnel's contacts and referrals for children of ill parents: an exploratory cross-sectional multi-centre study.

Background: In 2010, changes were made to the Norwegian Health Personnel Act. This led to all health personnel being obliged to support the patients' children and families. The aims of this study were to investigate whether health personnel contacted or referred the patients' children to family/friends or public services.