Navigated ultrasound bronchoscopy with integrated positron emission tomography-A human feasibility study.

Background And Objective: Patients suspected to have lung cancer, undergo endobronchial ultrasound bronchoscopy (EBUS) for the purpose of diagnosis and staging. For presumptive curable patients, the EBUS bronchoscopy is planned based on images and data from computed tomography (CT) images and positron emission tomography (PET). Our study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a multimodal electromagnetic navigation platform for EBUS bronchoscopy, integrating ultrasound and segmented CT, and PET scan imaging data.

Trans-Cardiac Gradient of Secretoneurin in Patients with Takotsubo Syndrome.

Introduction: Secretoneurin (SN) is a novel biomarker that provides prognostic information in patients with cardiovascular disease. In experimental models, SN production is increased in the failing myocardium. Currently, no information is available on SN production in human myocardium.

Accuracy of instrument tip position using fiber optic shape sensing for navigated bronchoscopy.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a method for estimating the tip position of a fiber optic shape-sensing (FOSS) integrated instrument being inserted through a bronchoscope. A modified guidewire with a multicore optical fiber was inserted into the working channel of a custom-made catheter with three electromagnetic (EM) sensors. The displacement between the instruments was manually set, and a point-based method was applied to match the position of the EM sensors to corresponding points on the shape.

Microvascular function and inflammatory activation in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine microvascular function in the acute phase of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) and to identify inflammatory mediators that could reflect TTS-induced pathology.

Methods And Results: The study included 20 females [median age 65 years; interquarile range (IQR) = 58-70 years] with TTS according to the Mayo diagnostic criteria. During heart catheterization, we determined the index of microvascular resistance (IMR) and drew blood samples almost simultaneously from the aorta and coronary sinus.

Effects of high-intensity interval training on cardiac remodelling, function and coronary microcirculation in de novo heart transplant patients: a substudy of the HITTS randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: High-intensity interval training (HIT) improves peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) in de novo heart transplant (HTx) recipients. It remains unclear whether this improvement early after HTx is solely dependent on peripheral adaptations, or due to a linked chain of central and peripheral adaptations. The objective of this study was to determine whether HIT results in structural and functional adaptations in the cardiovascular system.

Exploring cardiac effects after oxytocin 2.5 IU or carbetocin 100 μg: A randomised controlled trial in women undergoing planned caesarean delivery.

Background: Oxytocin can stimulate release of myocardial biomarkers troponin I and T, prolong QTc and induce ST-depression.

Objective: To explore cardiac changes after either intravenous carbetocin or oxytocin.

Study Design: Exploratory phase 4 randomised controlled trial.

Mental health in refugee children.

Almost half of the world's forcibly displaced population are children, most commonly originating from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Health disparities are well documented, especially for mental health, but not consistent across groups, time or context. Despite high exposure to trauma and stress, refugee children also show remarkable resilience.

A study protocol for the cardiac effects of a single dose of either oxytocin 2.5 IU or carbetocin 100 µg after caesarean delivery: a prospective randomized controlled multi-centre trial in Norway.

: Both oxytocin and carbetocin are used to prevent uterine atony and post-partum haemorrhage after caesarean delivery in many countries, including Norway. Oxytocin causes dose-dependent ST-depression, troponin release, prolongation of QT-time and arrythmia, but little is known about myocardial effects of carbetocin. We have previously demonstrated comparable vasodilatory effects of oxytocin and carbetocin and are now undertaking a Phase 4 trial to investigate whether carbetocin causes similar changes to myocardial markers compared with oxytocin.

Post-Migration Stressors and Health-Related Quality of Life in Refugees from Syria Resettled in Sweden.

The link between post-migration stressors and mental ill health is well documented in refugees resettled in high-income host countries, but the consequences of these stressors on refugees' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are less known. This study examined the association between post-migration stressors and HRQoL among Syrian adult refugees resettled in Sweden using a preference-based value set obtained from the general Swedish population. A total of 1215 Syrian adults, ages 18-64 years, granted residency in Sweden, responded to a postal questionnaire in 2016 regarding various aspects of their resettlement.

Mental health in adult refugees from Syria resettled in Norway between 2015 and 2017: a nationwide, questionnaire-based, cross-sectional prevalence study.

Background: The number of forcibly displaced people globally has never been higher, with refugees from Syria constituting the largest displaced population worldwide. Many studies have documented elevated levels of mental health problems in refugee populations, though prevalence estimates of common mental disorders vary considerably between studies, explained both by methodological and contextual factors.

Objective: Using questionnaire-based screening checklists to approximate the prevalence of and investigate risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression among adult refugees from Syria resettled in Norway and to compare estimates with a sister-study in Sweden.

Microcirculatory Resistance Predicts Allograft Rejection and Cardiac Events After Heart Transplantation.

Background: Single-center data suggest that the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) measured early after heart transplantation predicts subsequent acute rejection.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to validate whether IMR measured early after transplantation can predict subsequent acute rejection and long-term outcome in a large multicenter cohort.

Methods: From 5 international cohorts, 237 patients who underwent IMR measurement early after transplantation were enrolled.

Health-related quality of life in Norwegian adults with Fabry disease: Disease severity, pain, fatigue and psychological distress.

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is reduced in Fabry disease (FD) and associated with clinical disease manifestations, but few have used Fabry-specific severity scores to study how disease burden interferes with quality of life. We investigated how the Fabry DS3, consisting of four somatic domains and one patient-reported item, associates with HRQOL, while also evaluating fatigue, pain and psychological distress as possible predictors. Thirty-six adults with FD completed the Short-form Health Survey (SF-36), the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), the brief pain inventory (BPI) and reported fatigue on a visual analog scale.

A randomized clinical study using optical coherence tomography to evaluate the short-term effects of high-intensity interval training on cardiac allograft vasculopathy: a HITTS substudy.

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) remains a leading cause of long-term mortality after heart transplantation. Both preventive measures and treatment options are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of high-intensity interval training (HIT) on CAV in de novo heart transplant (HTx) recipients as assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Prognostic value of comprehensive intracoronary physiology assessment early after heart transplantation.

Aims: We evaluated the long-term prognostic value of invasively assessing coronary physiology after heart transplantation in a large multicentre registry.

Methods And Results: Comprehensive intracoronary physiology assessment measuring fractional flow reserve (FFR), the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR), and coronary flow reserve (CFR) was performed in 254 patients at baseline (a median of 7.2 weeks) and in 240 patients at 1 year after transplantation (199 patients had both baseline and 1-year measurement).

The impact of demographic and clinical characteristics on the trajectories of health-related quality of life among patients with Fabry disease.

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder characterized by multiorgan dysfunction. Since individuals with FD usually experience progressive clinical disease manifestations, their health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is expected to change over time. However, there is limited longitudinal research examining HRQOL outcomes in individuals with FD.

Syrian Refugee Youth Resettled in Norway: Mechanisms of Resilience Influencing Health-Related Quality of Life and Mental Distress.

The importance of resilience factors in the positive adaptation of refugee youth is widely recognised. However, their actual mechanism of impact remains under-researched. The aim of this study was therefore to explore protective and promotive resilience mechanisms to inform future interventions and policy.

Investigating the frequency of intrusive memories after 24 hours using a visuospatial interference intervention: a follow-up and extension.

Background: There is a need for effective, low-cost, readily available measures for reducing trauma symptoms so that people exposed to potentially traumatic events can receive help more quickly. A previous study reported that performing an intervention including a visuospatial task shortly after a reminder of a series of unpleasant film clips seen 24 hours earlier reduced the number of intrusive memories over the following week.

Objective: This study reports a follow-up and extension of the earlier promising finding.

Health-related quality of life in refugee minors from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan resettled in Sweden: a nation-wide, cross-sectional study.

Purpose: To examine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in refugee minors resettled in Sweden and compare results to a European reference population, while exploring associations between sociodemographic factors and HRQoL dimensions.

Methods: A cross-sectional, nation-wide study was conducted with a stratified sample of refugee minors ages 12-15 and 16-18 from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, resettled in Sweden between 2014 and 2018. HRQoL was measured using KIDSCREEN-27.

Health-related quality of life in refugee youth and the mediating role of mental distress and post-migration stressors.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to explore how potentially traumatic events (PTEs) from war and flight influence health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in young refugees after recent resettlement. In a model based on earlier theory, we tested if post-migration stressors and mental distress mediated the effect of PTEs on HRQoL, individually and in serial. We also explored how different types of post-migration stressors influenced different dimensions of HRQoL.