Prostate Biopsies Can Be Omitted in Most Patients with a Positive Stockholm3 Test and Negative Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with the Stockholm3 test can be used to inform biopsy decision-making in patients with a suspicion of prostate cancer.

Objective: To determine the consequence of omitting biopsies in men with a positive Stockholm3 test and a negative MRI.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In a real-life setting, 438 men with a positive Stockholm3 test and a negative MRI underwent systematic biopsies from 2017 to 2020.

Re-admission and quality of life among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after telemedicine video nursing consultation - a randomized study.

Background: Our previous study showed a reduced cumulative length of re-admission stays due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations during one year after telemedicine video consultation (TVC). The current study evaluated the effects of TVC on the length of re-admission stays within 12 months follow up post-TVC compared to phone call follow up or COPD usual care in a randomized study. Our secondary aim was to assess the impact of TVC on the frequency of re-admissions within 12 months of follow up.

Effect of a telemedicine intervention for diabetes-related foot ulcers on health, well-being and quality of life: secondary outcomes from a cluster randomized controlled trial (DiaFOTo).

Background: Follow-up care provided via telemedicine (TM) is intended to be a more integrated care pathway to manage diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFU) than traditionally-delivered healthcare. However, knowledge of the effect of TM follow-up on PROMs including self-reported health, well-being and QOL in patients with DFUs is lacking and often neglected in RCT reports in general. Therefore, in this study of secondary outcomes from the DiaFOTo trial, the aim was to compare changes in self-reported health, well-being and QOL between patients with DFUs receiving telemedicine follow-up care in primary healthcare in collaboration with specialist healthcare, and patients receiving standard outpatient care.

Effects of replacing PSA with Stockholm3 for diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer in a healthcare system - the Stavanger experience.

Objective: To describe early experience of replacing PSA with Stockholm3 for detection of prostate cancer in primary care.

Design And Methods: Longitudinal observations, comparing outcome measures before and after the implementation of Stockholm3.

Setting: Stavanger region in Norway with about 370,000 inhabitants, 304 general practitioners (GPs) in 97 primary care clinics, and one hospital.

The Effect of Telemedicine Follow-up Care on Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcers: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Noninferiority Trial.

Objective: To evaluate whether telemedicine (TM) follow-up of patients with diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFUs) in primary health care in collaboration with specialist health care was noninferior to standard outpatient care (SOC) for ulcer healing time. Further, we sought to evaluate whether the proportion of amputations, deaths, number of consultations per month, and patient satisfaction differed between the two groups.

Research Design And Methods: Patients with DFUs were recruited from three clinical sites in western Norway (2012-2016).

Type 2 diabetes in general practice in Norway 2005-2014: moderate improvements in risk factor control but still major gaps in complication screening.

Objective: To assess the status of type 2 diabetes care in general practice and changes in the quality of care between 2005 and 2014, and to identify areas of diabetes care requiring improvement.

Research Design And Methods: Two cross-sectional surveys were performed that included patients with type 2 diabetes in selected areas (n=9464 in 2014, n=5463 in 2005). Quality of care was assessed based on key recommendations in national guidelines.

Shared Electronic Health Record Systems: Key Legal and Security Challenges.

Use of shared electronic health records opens a whole range of new possibilities for flexible and fruitful cooperation among health personnel in different health institutions, to the benefit of the patients. There are, however, unsolved legal and security challenges. The overall aim of this article is to highlight legal and security challenges that should be considered before using shared electronic cooperation platforms and health record systems to avoid legal and security "surprises" subsequent to the implementation.

Severity and duration of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) before seeking care as predictors of healing time: A retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To investigate whether A) duration of ulcer before start of treatment in specialist health care, and B) severity of ulcer according to University of Texas classification system (UT) at start of treatment (baseline), are independent predictors of healing time.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study, based on electronic medical record data, included 105 patients from two outpatient clinics in Western Norway with a new diabetic foot ulcer during 2009-2011. The associations of duration of ulcer and ulcer severity with healing time were assessed using cumulative incidence curves and subdistribution hazard ratio estimated using competing risk regression with adjustment for potential confounders.

An integrated wound-care pathway, supported by telemedicine, and competent wound management-Essential in follow-up care of adults with diabetic foot ulcers.

Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcers are a feared complication of diabetes. Care delivered via telemedicine is suggested to be a more integrated care pathway to manage diabetic foot ulcers than traditionally delivered healthcare. Our aim was to explore patients' experiences with telemedicine follow-up care as compared to traditional care.

Telemedicine Versus Standard Follow-Up Care for Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcers: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Noninferiority Trial (DiaFOTo).

Background: This paper presents the protocol for an ongoing study to evaluate a telemedicine follow-up intervention for patients with diabetes-related foot ulcers. Diabetes-related foot ulcers represent challenges for patients and the health services. The large increase in the prevalence of diabetes, combined with the aging population, means that the absolute number of patients with diabetes-related foot ulcers is likely to continue to increase.

Cross-border flow of health information: is 'privacy by design' enough? Privacy performance assessment in EUBIROD.

Background: The EUBIROD project aims to perform a cross-border flow of diabetes information across 19 European countries using the BIRO information system, which embeds privacy principles and data protection mechanisms in its architecture (privacy by design). A specific task of EUBIROD was to investigate the variability in the implementation of the EU Data Protection Directive (DPD) across participating centres.

Methods: Compliance with privacy requirements was assessed by means of a specific questionnaire administered to all participating diabetes registers.

Within-subject biological variation of glucose and HbA(1c) in healthy persons and in type 1 diabetes patients.

Background: Several articles describing within-subject biological variation of fasting glucose and HbA(1c) in healthy populations have been published, but information about biological variation of glucose and HbA(1c) in patients with type 1 diabetes is scarce. It is reasonable to assume that type 1 diabetics differ from their healthy counterparts in this matter. The aim of our study was to estimate the biological variation of glucose and HbA(1c) in healthy subjects and in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Six-month preoperative octreotide treatment in unselected, de novo patients with acromegaly: effect on biochemistry, tumour volume, and postoperative cure.

Objective: Treatment with somatostatin analogues is the primary medical treatment of acromegaly. Controversies still exist whether acute octreotide effect predicts long-term biochemical effects, tumour regression or surgical cure. This prospective study investigates effect of 6-month treatment with octreotide long-acting repeatable (LAR) on insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and growth hormone (GH) levels, pituitary function, tumour regression and postoperative cure in de novo acromegalic patients.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose in type 1 diabetes patients with insufficient metabolic control: focused self-monitoring of blood glucose intervention can lower glycated hemoglobin A1C.

Objective: Little attention has been given and few studies have been published focusing on how to optimize self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) use to monitor daily therapy for persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus. This study was designed to evaluate the effect on glycated hemoglobin (A1C) of a structured intervention focused on SMBG in type 1 diabetes patients with insufficient metabolic control (A1C ≥8%) using a randomized clinical trial design.

Method: One hundred fifty-nine outpatients with type 1 diabetes on multiple injection therapy with insulin and A1C ≥8% were recruited and randomized to one group receiving a focused, structured 9-month SMBG intervention (n=59) and another group receiving regular care based on guidelines (n=64).

Six months of diazoxide treatment at bedtime in newly diagnosed subjects with type 1 diabetes does not influence parameters of {beta}-cell function and autoimmunity but improves glycemic control.

OBJECTIVE Continuous beta-cell rest with diazoxide preserves residual endogenous insulin production in type 1 diabetes. However, side effects have hampered therapeutic usefulness. In a double-blind study, we tested whether lower, intermittent dosing of diazoxide had beneficial effects on insulin production, metabolic control, and autoimmunity markers in the absence of side effects.

Standardized evaluation of nine instruments for self-monitoring of blood glucose.

Background: Instruments for self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) should undergo a standardized evaluation including a user-test before being marketed. In this study the results from standardized evaluations of nine different SMBG instruments are presented, and the standardized evaluation is discussed.

Methods: Approximately 80 diabetes patients using three lots of test strips participated in each evaluation.

[Insulin infusion for critically ill patients].

Background: Stress, acute illness and surgery are known to increase blood sugar. Hyperglycaemia in critically ill patients is associated with increased mortality irrespective of diabetes status. The effect of treating critically ill patients with insulin infusions has been assessed in many randomised trials in recent years.

Postanalytical external quality assessment of blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c: an international survey.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is diagnosed and monitored worldwide by blood glucose (BG) and glycohemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) testing, respectively. Methods for quality assessment of clinician interpretations of changes in these laboratory results have been developed. This study uses survey responses from general practitioners (GPs) in different countries to investigate possible differences in interpretation of results, as well as the feasibility of performing international postanalytical external quality assessment surveys (P-EQAS).

[Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Norway].

Background: Our aim was to combine several regional studies in order to estimate the prevalence of diabetes in Norway.

Material And Methods: We used data from a nation-wide registration of type 1 diabetes in the age group < 30 years. Data for other age groups were taken from nine regional surveys, of which six were repeated.

Insulin detemir is associated with more predictable glycemic control and reduced risk of hypoglycemia than NPH insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes on a basal-bolus regimen with premeal insulin aspart.

Objective: Insulin detemir is a soluble basal insulin analog with a unique mechanism of protracted action designed to reduce the variability associated with conventional basal insulins. This trial compared the glycemic control, risk of hypoglycemia, and effect on body weight of insulin detemir and NPH insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes treated with rapid-acting insulin aspart at meals.

Research Design And Methods: This study was a 6-month multinational open parallel-group comparison conducted at 46 centers in five countries and included 448 patients with type 1 diabetes randomized 2:1 to insulin detemir or NPH insulin, respectively.

Predictors of outcome and comparison of different drug regimens for the prevention of relapse in patients with Graves' disease.

Objective: To investigate the effect of different antithyroid drug (ATD) regimens on relapse rates of Graves' disease, and to look for predictors of relapse.

Design And Methods: In a prospective two-way factorial randomized clinical trial, 218 patients with Graves' disease were assigned to ATD combined with l-thyroxine (l-T(4)) or ATD alone for 12 Months. After discontinuation of antithyroid therapy, each group was stratified to either 12 Months further treatment with l-T(4) or no treatment.

Instruments for self-monitoring of blood glucose: comparisons of testing quality achieved by patients and a technician.

Background: Instruments for self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) are increasingly used by patients with diabetes. The analytical quality of meters in routine use is poorly characterized.

Methods: We compared SMBG performance achieved by patients and by a medical laboratory technician.