Pain in intensive care unit patients-A longitudinal study.

Aim: To assess occurrence of pain during the first 6 days of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and evaluate associations between occurrence of pain and selected patient-related variables.

Design: A longitudinal study.

Methods: Adult ICU patients from three units were included.

A preliminary study of cortical morphology in schizophrenia patients with a history of violence.

Clinical studies of patients with schizophrenia and a history of violence are challenging both from an ethical and practical perspective, and the neurobiological underpinnings remain largely unknown. We here present a comprehensive account of the brain cortical characteristics associated with violence in schizophrenia. We obtained 3T MRI scans and thorough clinical characterization of schizophrenia patients with a history of violence (murder, attempted murder, criminal assault, SCZ-V, n = 11), schizophrenia patients with no history of violence (SCZ-NV, n = 17), and healthy controls (HC, n = 19).

Validation of the Vascular quality of life questionnaire - 6 for clinical use in patients with lower limb peripheral arterial disease.

Background: The VascuQoL-6 (VQ-6) health-related quality of life questionnaire, a short version of the disease-specific VascuQoL-25, was developed for clinical practice and use in vascular registries. The study purpose was to evaluate the validity and reliability of VQ-6.

Methods: VQ-6 was translated to Norwegian with linguistic validation and face value evaluation, and consecutive patients with intermittent claudication (IC) or critical limb ischemia (CLI) were included.

Experiences with 99mTc-HMPAO in a Diagnostic Pathway for Violent Patients with Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders.

Background And Objective: In a security ward we assessed the diagnostic contribution of single photon scintigraphy [SPECT] in our diagnostic pathway for patients with serious mental disease and a history of violence.

Methods: Twenty patients were examined between 2012 and 2015 and the findings compared to those in nine patients with the same diagnosis, but no history of violence.

Results: All violent patients had areas with reduced accumulation of 99mTc-HMPAO frontally and in the temporal lobe, in the non-violent group only two patients demonstrated these findings.

The Soil Bacterium Bath Interacts with Human Dendritic Cells to Modulate Immune Function.

The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has increased in Western countries during the course of the twentieth century, and is evolving to be a global disease. Recently we showed that a bacterial meal of a non-commensal, non-pathogenic methanotrophic soil bacterium, Bath prevents experimentally induced colitis in a murine model of IBD. The mechanism behind the effect has this far not been identified.

Additional functional outcomes after endovascular treatment for intermittent claudication.

Background Endovascular treatment (EVT) for intermittent claudication (IC) is performed in selected patients where conservative treatment and training fail. Treatment outcomes reported in vascular registries (survival, limb-survival, and re-intervention rate) are inadequate for low-risk patients with IC. Additional measurements of blood flow reduction and functional impairment clarify the indication for treatment and facilitate outcome evaluation.

A retrospective analysis of cardiovascular outcomes in patients treated with ASV.

Objectives: The effect of long-term adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) on cardiovascular mortality and admission rates in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) has not been much studied. The aim of this study was primarily to investigate whether ASV therapy significantly reduced these parameters.

Design: We included 75 CHF patients on optimal medication and CSR ≥25% of sleeping time, in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes II-IV and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 45%.

Results of implementing a pain management algorithm in intensive care unit patients: The impact on pain assessment, length of stay, and duration of ventilation.

Purpose: This study aimed to measure the impact of implementing a pain management algorithm in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients able to express pain. No controlled study has previously evaluated the impact of a pain management algorithm both at rest and during procedures, including both patients able to self-report and express pain behavior, intubated and nonintubated patients, throughout their ICU stay.

Materials And Methods: The algorithm instructed nurses to assess pain, guided them in pain treatment, and was implemented in 3 units.

Quality of life improves in patients with chronic heart failure and Cheyne-Stokes respiration treated with adaptive servo-ventilation in a nurse-led heart failure clinic.

Aims And Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate if quality of life improved in chronic heart failure patients with Cheyne-Stokes respiration treated with adaptive servo-ventilation in nurse-led heart failure clinic.

Background: Cheyne-Stokes respiration is associated with decreased quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure. Adaptive servo-ventilation is introduced to treat this sleep-disordered breathing.

Development of a pain management algorithm for intensive care units.

Objectives: To develop a pain management algorithm for intensive care unit (ICU) patients and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the translated tools used in the algorithm.

Background: Many ICU patients experience pain. However, an evidence-based algorithm for pain management does not exist.

Implementation of a pain management algorithm in intensive care units and evaluation of nurses' level of adherence with the algorithm.

Objectives: To implement a pain management algorithm in intensive care units (ICU) and to evaluate nurses' level of adherence with the algorithm.

Background: Many ICU patients experience pain. Therefore, an evidence-based algorithm for pain management was developed.

Effects of the non-commensal Methylococcus capsulatus Bath on mammalian immune cells.

Dietary inclusions of a bacterial meal consisting mainly of the non-commensal, methanotrophic bacteria Methylococcus capsulatus Bath have been shown to ameliorate symptoms of intestinal inflammation in different animal models. In order to investigate the molecular mechanisms causing these effects, we have studied the influence of this strain on different immune cells central for the regulation of inflammatory responses. Effects were compared to those induced by the closely related strain M.

Computational and experimental analysis of the secretome of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath).

The Gram-negative methanotroph Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) was recently demonstrated to abrogate inflammation in a murine model of inflammatory bowel disease, suggesting interactions with cells involved in maintaining mucosal homeostasis and emphasizing the importance of understanding the many properties of M. capsulatus. Secreted proteins determine how bacteria may interact with their environment, and a comprehensive knowledge of such proteins is therefore vital to understand bacterial physiology and behavior.

Three-month treatment with adaptive servoventilation improves cardiac function and physical activity in patients with chronic heart failure and cheyne-stokes respiration: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Background: Cheyne-Stokes respiration frequently occurs in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Adaptive servoventilation (ASV) is a novel therapy with potential benefits. This prospective randomized trial investigated the effects of ASV on myocardial function and physical capacity.

The value of mucosal allergen challenge for the diagnosis of food allergy.

Purpose Of Review: The incidence of food allergy is increasing. Correct diagnosis is dependent on food challenges, which are not always performed, but more often based on history, skin prick test and specific IgE, leading to possible misdiagnoses. Mucosal provocation tests have been proposed as possible new diagnostic tools during recent decades.

Draft genome sequence of the methane-oxidizing bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus (Texas).

Methanotrophic bacteria perform major roles in global carbon cycles via their unique enzymatic activities that enable the oxidation of one-carbon compounds, most notably methane. Here we describe the annotated draft genome sequence of the aerobic methanotroph Methylococcus capsulatus (Texas), a type strain originally isolated from sewer sludge.

The noncommensal bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) ameliorates dextran sulfate (Sodium Salt)-Induced Ulcerative Colitis by influencing mechanisms essential for maintenance of the colonic barrier function.

Dietary inclusion of a bacterial meal has recently been shown to efficiently abolish soybean meal-induced enteritis in Atlantic salmon. The objective of this study was to investigate whether inclusion of this bacterial meal in the diet could abrogate disease development in a murine model of epithelial injury and colitis and thus possibly have therapeutic potential in human inflammatory bowel disease. C57BL/6N mice were fed ad libitum a control diet or an experimental diet containing 254 g/kg of body weight BioProtein, a bacterial meal consisting of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath), together with the heterogenic bacteria Ralstonia sp.

Probiotics, symptoms, and gut microbiota: what are the relations? A randomized controlled trial in subjects with irritable bowel syndrome.

Introduction. Knowledge of the mechanism of action of probiotics in subjects with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is imperfect. Objective.

Human Gastrointestinal Juices Intended for Use in In Vitro Digestion Models.

The aim of this study was to characterise the individual human gastric and duodenal juices to be used in in vitro model digestion and to examine the storage stability of the enzymes. Gastroduodenal juices were aspirated, and individual variations in enzymatic activities as well as total volumes, pH, bile acids, protein and bilirubin concentrations were recorded. Individual pepsin activity in the gastric juice varied by a factor of 10, while individual total proteolytic activity in the duodenal juice varied by a factor of 5.

mRNA expression of adipocytokines and glucocorticoid-related genes are associated with downregulation of E-cadherin mRNA in colorectal adenocarcinomas.

Background: There is a consistently reported relationship between the incidence of colon cancer and obesity. It is thought that adipose tissue, particularly visceral fat, which secretes systemic factors that alter immunological, metabolic and endocrine milieu and promotes insulin resistance by producing adipocytokines, is important in cancer progression. Systemic high concentrations of adipocytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and glucocorticoid metabolism-related genes have been associated with gastrointestinal cancer.

In vitro comparison of commensal, probiotic and pathogenic strains of Enterococcus faecalis.

In vivo studies have provided evidence that micro-organisms have important roles in immunological, digestive and respiratory functions, conferring health benefits on the host. Several in vitro methods have been advised for the initial screening of microbes with potential health effects. The objective of the present study was to employ such in vitro methodology to characterise different strains of Enterococcus faecalis.

Construction of an evidence-based, graduated training curriculum for D-box, a webcam-based laparoscopic basic skills trainer box.

Background: Surgical training programs are now including simulators as training tools for teaching laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this study was to develop a standardized, graduated, and evidence-based curriculum for the newly developed D-box (D-box Medical, Lier, Norway) for training basic laparoscopic skills.

Methods: Eighteen interns with no laparoscopic experience completed a training program on the D-box consisting of 8 sessions of 5 tasks with assessment on a sixth task.

EP receptor expression in human intestinal epithelium and localization relative to the stem cell zone of the crypts.

There is substantial evidence for PGE2 affecting intestinal epithelial proliferation. PGE2 is also reported to be involved in the regulation of growth and differentiation in adult stem cells, both effects mediated by binding to EP-receptors. We have used the Lgr5 as a marker to scrutinize EP-receptor and COX expression in human intestinal epithelial cells with focus on the stem cell area of the crypts.

Antibacterial peptides derived from caprine whey proteins, by digestion with human gastrointestinal juice.

Peptides in caprine whey were identified after in vitro digestion with human gastrointestinal enzymes in order to determine their antibacterial effect. The digestion was performed in two continuing steps using human gastric juice (pH 2·5) and human duodenal juice (pH 8) at 37°C. After digestion the hydrolysate was fractionated and 106 peptides were identified.

The endothelin axis in the metastatic process of colon carcinoma.

Background: The endothelin axis has recently emerged as an important factor in tumour metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the endothelin axis and its downstream pathways related to metastasis in colon carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: mRNA expression of 36 genes associated with the endothelin axis in 18 non-metastatic and 20 metastatic colon carcinomas with individual-matched normal mucosa were evaluated using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.