A posterior pericardial chest tube is associated with reduced incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: A propensity score-matched study.

Objective: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery that is associated with other adverse outcomes. Recent studies have shown that drainage of pericardial effusion by a posterior pericardial incision reduces the incidence of POAF. An alternative approach is a chest tube placed posteriorly in the pericardium.

Comparison of Two Chelator Scaffolds as Basis for Cholecystokinin-2 Receptor Targeting Bimodal Imaging Probes.

: Dual-modality probes, combining positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorescence imaging (FI) capabilities in a single molecule, are of high relevance for the accurate staging and guided resection of tumours. We herein present a pair of candidates targeting the cholecystokinin-2 receptor (CCK2R), namely [Ga]Ga-CyTMG and [Ga]Ga-CyFMG. In these probes, the SulfoCy5.

Long-term Satisfaction with CO2 Laser Treatment for Moderate to Major Rhinophyma: A Single-centre Study.

Rhinophyma, a severe manifestation of rosacea, predominantly affects Caucasian males aged 50-70 and is characterized by thickening and enlargement of the nasal skin. The condition can seriously both impact cosmetic appearance and obstruct nasal breathing. While its appearance is distinct, conditions such as basal cell carcinoma can mimic it, complicating diagnosis.

[Termination of pregnancy. Methods, results, and complications].

Introduction: Medical treatment for termination of pregnancy in the first trimester of pregnancy was first introduced in 2006 at Landspitali. This new method, which replaced surgery, slowly gained ground and now most abortions in Iceland are medically induced. It is therefore appropriate to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this method.

A genome-wide association meta-analysis links hidradenitis suppurativa to common and rare sequence variants causing disruption of the Notch and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways.

Background: The contributions of genetic and environmental risk factors to hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are both poorly understood.

Objective: To identify sequence variants that associate with HS and determine the contribution of environmental risk factors and inflammatory diseases to HS pathogenesis.

Methods: A genome-wide association meta-analysis of 4814 HS cases (Denmark: 1977; Iceland: 1266; Finland: 800; UK: 569; and US: 202) and 1.

Objects, faces, and spaces: Organizational principles of visual object perception as evidenced by individual differences in behavior.

What are the diagnostic dimensions on which objects differ visually? We constructed a two-dimensional object space based on such attributes captured by a deep convolutional neural network. These attributes can be approximated as stubby/spiky and animate-/inanimate-looking. If object space contributes to human visual cognition, this should have a measurable effect on object discrimination abilities.

Sequence variants associated with BMI affect disease risk through BMI itself.

Mendelian Randomization studies indicate that BMI contributes to various diseases, but it's unclear if this is entirely mediated by BMI itself. This study examines whether disease risk from BMI-associated sequence variants is mediated through BMI or other mechanisms, using data from Iceland and the UK Biobank. The associations of BMI genetic risk score with diseases like fatty liver disease, knee replacement, and glucose intolerance were fully attenuated when conditioned on BMI, and largely for type 2 diabetes, heart failure, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, and hip replacement.

Graft detachment rates in surgeon-cut and pre-cut tissue for DSAEK transported in different mediums.

Purpose: To analyse graft detachment rates after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) using surgeon-cut grafts and pre-cut grafts transported in different mediums.

Methods: A retrospective study of graft detachment rates including 265 surgeries (240 patients) performed between 2019 and 2023. The DSAEK grafts were either surgeon-cut (n = 135) or pre-cut and transported in a dextran-containing medium (n = 82) or in a dextran-free medium (n = 48).

Temporal and sleep stage-dependent agreement in manual scoring of respiratory events.

Obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis is based on the manual scoring of respiratory events. The agreement in the manual scoring of the respiratory events lacks an in-depth investigation as most of the previous studies reported only the apnea-hypopnea index or overall agreement, and not temporal, second-by-second or event subtype agreement. We hypothesized the temporal and subtype agreement to be low because the event duration or subtypes are not generally considered in current clinical practice.

Biological Characteristics of the Glacier Lantern Fish (Myctophidae) in Icelandic Waters and the Irminger Sea During Summer.

Myctophids are one of the most diverse and abundant fish families in the mesopelagic zone, making them a key component in the marine pelagic community. In the North Atlantic, (glacier lantern fish) is considered the most abundant myctophid north of 35° N, yet some regions within its extensive range lack information on its basic biological parameters. We investigated the growth and described the distribution of in Icelandic waters, including the southern continental shelf, Iceland Basin, and Irminger Sea.

A partial loss-of-function variant in STAT6 protects against type 2 asthma.

Background: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) is central to type 2 (T2) inflammation, and common noncoding variants at the STAT6 locus associate with various T2 inflammatory traits, including diseases, and its pathway is widely targeted in asthma treatment.

Objective: We sought to test the association of a rare missense variant in STAT6, p.L406P, with T2 inflammatory traits, including the risk of asthma and allergic diseases, and to characterize its functional consequences in cell culture.

Molecular Pathology of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 in Iceland.

Background: Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an autosomal dominant disease with anticipation due to increased number of CTG repeats in the DMPK gene.

Methods: This retrospective, cohort study in Iceland assessed prevalence of DM1, molecular pathology, and patient ascertainment. Data was collected from all major hospitals in Iceland, Medical Director of Health, and independent clinics.

Federated analysis of autosomal recessive coding variants in 29,745 developmental disorder patients from diverse populations.

Autosomal recessive coding variants are well-known causes of rare disorders. We quantified the contribution of these variants to developmental disorders in a large, ancestrally diverse cohort comprising 29,745 trios, of whom 20.4% had genetically inferred non-European ancestries.

Parallel maturation of rodent hippocampal memory and CA1 task representations.

Hippocampal-dependent memory is known to emerge late in ontogeny, and its full development is protracted. Yet the changes in hippocampal neuronal function that underlie this delayed and gradual maturation remain relatively unexplored. To address this gap, we recorded ensembles of CA1 neurons while charting the development of hippocampal-dependent spatial working memory (WM) in rat pups (∼2-4 weeks of age).

Levels and trends of persistent organic pollutants in human populations living in the Arctic.

The Arctic Monitoring Assessment Program (AMAP) is tasked with monitoring and assessing the status of environmental contaminants in the Arctic, documenting levels and trends, and producing science-based assessments. The objectives of this paper are to present the current levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) across the Arctic, and to identify trends and knowledge gaps as detailed in the most recent AMAP Human Health Assessment Report. Many Arctic populations continue to have elevated levels of these contaminants, and the highest levels of POPs were observed in populations from Greenland, Faroe Islands, and Nunavik (Canada), as well as populations in the coastal Chukotka district (Russia) for legacy POPs only.

Levels and trends of metals in human populations living in the Arctic.

The 2021 Arctic Monitoring Assessment Program (AMAP)'s Human Health Assessment report presents a summary of the presence of contaminants in human populations across the circumpolar Arctic and provides an update to the previous assessment released in 2015. The primary objective of this paper is to summarise some of these findings by describing the current levels of metals across the Arctic, including key regional and temporal trends based on available national data and literature, and highlight knowledge gaps. Many Arctic populations continue to have elevated levels of these contaminants, and the highest levels of mercury (Hg) were observed in populations from Greenland, Faroe Islands, and Nunavik (Canada).

Feasibility and usability of three consecutive nights with self-applied, home polysomnography.

In-laboratory polysomnography, the gold-standard for diagnosing sleep disorders, is resource-demanding and not conducive to multiple night evaluations. Ambulatory polysomnography, especially when self-applied, could be a viable alternative. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and reliability of self-applied polysomnography over three consecutive nights in untrained participants, assessing: technical success rate; comparing sleep diagnostic variables from single and multiple nights; and evaluating participants' subjective experience.

The correlation between CpG methylation and gene expression is driven by sequence variants.

Gene promoter and enhancer sequences are bound by transcription factors and are depleted of methylated CpG sites (cytosines preceding guanines in DNA). The absence of methylated CpGs in these sequences typically correlates with increased gene expression, indicating a regulatory role for methylation. We used nanopore sequencing to determine haplotype-specific methylation rates of 15.

Updated review on contaminant communication experiences in the circumpolar Arctic.

Arctic populations are amongst the highest exposed populations to long-range transported contaminants globally, with the main exposure pathway being through the diet. Dietary advice is an important immediate means to address potential exposure and help minimize adverse health effects. The objective of this work is to enable easier access to dietary advice and communication guidance on contaminants with a focus on the Arctic.

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.