Cardiac troponin T associates with left ventricular function and synchrony assessed by CMR in the general population: results from the Akershus Cardiac Examination 1950 Study.

Background And Aim: Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is a blood biomarker of myocardial injury that is associated with future adverse cardiovascular events in the general population. Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) and mechanical dispersion (MD) are metrics of systolic function and synchrony that can be obtained from cardiac imaging. Studies suggest an association between cTnT and echocardiographically assessed GLS and MD, but it is unknown whether cTnT relates to these metrics when assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels vary by ethnicity and are associated with insulin sensitivity after gestational diabetes mellitus.

Background: Individuals of South Asian origin have a greater risk of cardiovascular disease after gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) than European individuals. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the amino-terminal fragment of its prohormone (NT-proBNP) are commonly used for heart failure screening and diagnosis, but biologically BNP exerts several beneficial cardiovascular effects primarily by counteracting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system. We asked whether ethnic differences in circulating NT-proBNP levels could be explained by the differences in cardiometabolic and inflammatory risk markers?

Methods: We examined 162 South Asian and 107 Nordic women in Norway 1-3 years after GDM with a clinical examination, fasting blood samples and an oral glucose tolerance test.

The breast cancer coagulome in the tumor microenvironment and its role in prognosis and treatment response to chemotherapy.

Background: The procoagulant phenotype in cancer is linked to thrombosis, cancer progression, and immune response. A novel treatment that reduces the risk of both thrombosis and cancer progression without excess bleeding risk remains to be identified.

Objectives: Here, we aimed to broadly investigate the breast tumor coagulome and its relation to prognosis, treatment response to chemotherapy, and the tumor microenvironment.

Chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for acute neck pain: A 4-arm clinical placebo randomized controlled trial. A prospective study protocol.

Introduction: Neck pain poses enormous individual and societal costs worldwide. Spinal manipulative therapy and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug treatment are frequently used despite a lack of compelling efficacy data. This protocol describes a multicentre 4-arm, clinical placebo randomized controlled trial (RCT), investigating the efficacy of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy (CSMT) versus sham CSMT, ibuprofen, and placebo medicine for acute neck pain.

Transcranial Doppler during the first week after cardiac arrest and association with 6-month outcomes.

Background: Early prediction of outcomes in comatose patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is challenging. Prognostication tools include clinical examination, biomarkers, and neuroradiological and neurophysiological tests. We studied the association between transcranial Doppler (TCD) and the outcome.

Human Cytomegalovirus Protein Expression Is Correlated with Shorter Overall Survival in Breast Cancer Patients: A Cohort Study.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is increasingly suggested to be involved in human carcinogenesis and onco-modulation due to its ability to contribute to all hallmarks of cancer. Growing evidence demonstrates a link between HCMV infection and various malignancies, including breast cancer, which incidence and mortality are still on the rise. The etiology of breast cancer remains mostly unclear, leaving 80% of breast cancer cases considered to be sporadic.

Clinical characteristics and proteome modifications in two Charcot-Marie-Tooth families with the AARS1 Arg326Trp mutation.

Background: Aminoacyl tRNA-synthetases are ubiquitously-expressed enzymes that attach amino acids to their cognate tRNA molecules. Mutations in several genes encoding aminoacyl tRNA-synthetases, have been associated with peripheral neuropathy, i.e.

Detection of Human Cytomegalovirus Proteins in Paraffin-Embedded Breast Cancer Tissue Specimens-A Novel, Automated Immunohistochemical Staining Protocol.

Emerging evidence supports a significant association between human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and human malignancies, suggesting HCMV as a human oncomodulatory virus. HCMV gene products are found in >90% of breast cancer tumors and seem to be correlated with more aggressive disease. The definitive diagnosis of HCMV relies on identification of virus inclusions and/or viral proteins by different techniques including immunohistochemical staining.

Remission of Primary Headache Associated With Sexual Activity in a Woman After Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation: A Case Study.

Objective: Primary headache associated with sexual activity (PHASA) is rare but recognized by the International Classification of Headache Disorders. Although triptans and indomethacin have been suggested as a pharmacological treatment option for acute treatment, indomethacin can be administered preemptively, and β-blockers has been proposed as a treatment option for prophylactic management, pharmacologic efficacy remains uncertain. Manual therapy for PHASA has not been studied and thus has no scientifically proven effect.

Cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure in clinical practice - a prospective study.

Background: Measurement of CSF opening pressure (CSFOP) is valuable and much used in the investigation of several neurological conditions. However, there are different opinions regarding reference values and influence of age, gender and body mass index (BMI). We have, in a previous study, noted possible differences in CSFOP between gender and age groups.

Late awakening, prognostic factors and long-term outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest - results of the prospective Norwegian Cardio-Respiratory Arrest Study (NORCAST).

Background: Outcome prediction after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) may lead to withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy if the prognosis is perceived negative. Single use of uncertain prognostic tools may lead to self-fulfilling prophecies and death. We evaluated prognostic tests, blinded to clinicians and without calls for hasty outcome prediction, in a prospective study.

A Review of the Potential Role of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) Infections in Breast Cancer Carcinogenesis and Abnormal Immunity.

Previously recognized classical human onco-viruses can regulate complex neoplastic events, and are estimated to play a role during carcinogenesis in 15-20% of cancer cases. Although the DNA and gene products of several viruses have been found in breast tumors, none of the classical onco-viruses have definitely been linked to the initiation of breast cancer. However, recent evidence shows that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) gene products are found in >90% of tumors and metastases of breast cancers, and their increased expression can be correlated to a more aggressive breast cancer phenotype.

Effect of Clinical Geriatric Assessments and Collaborative Medication Reviews by Geriatrician and Family Physician for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life in Home-Dwelling Older Patients Receiving Polypharmacy: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Polypharmacy and inappropriate drug regimens are major health concerns among older adults. Various interventions focused on medication optimization strategies have been carried out, but the effect on patient-relevant outcomes remains uncertain.

Objective: To investigate the effect of clinical geriatric assessments and collaborative medication reviews by geriatrician and family physician (FP) on health-related quality of life and other patient-relevant outcomes in home-dwelling older patients receiving polypharmacy.

Validity of self-reported assessment of Severity of Dependence Scale in Medication-Overuse Headache.

The interview-based Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) predicts the outcome of withdrawal therapy in Medication-Overuse Headache (MOH). We aimed to compare the interview-based SDS with a self-administrated written version. Fifty-three MOH patients, 19 chronic headache patients without medication overuse and 25 population controls were recruited from a previous randomized controlled trial.

Epidemiology and management of medication-overuse headache in the general population.

Medication-overuse headache is a worldwide challenge as it affects 1-2% of the general population. Some people are more prone to medication overuse, which can be ascertained by applying five simple questions about dependence. Detoxification of the overused medication is a cheap and effective treatment strategy.

Severity of Analgesic Dependence and Medication-overuse Headache.

Background And Aims: Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a common chronic headache caused by overuse of headache analgesics. It has similarities with substance dependence disorders. The treatment of choice for MOH is withdrawal of the offending analgesics.

Impact of chronic headache on workdays, unemployment and disutility in the general population.

Background: Data on the socioeconomic burden of chronic headache (≥15 days/last month or 180 days/year) is lacking. This study investigated the impact of chronic headache on sickness absence, unemployment and disutility in the general population in Norway.

Methods: 30 000 persons aged 30-44 from the general population were screened for chronic headache by a screening questionnaire.

Illness perception in people with primary and secondary chronic headache in the general population.

Background: Chronic headache (headache ≥15 days/month) is a leading cause of disability. Illness perception, beliefs and cognitive models are likely central for patient understanding of their chronic pain condition and are associated with treatment outcome. However, these factors are insufficiently described in chronic headache.

Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome in female migraineurs with and without menstrual migraine.

Background: Menstrual migraine (MM) and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are two conditions linked to specific phases of the menstrual cycle. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms are not fully understood, but both conditions are hypothesized to be triggered by female sex hormones. Co-occurrence of MM and PMS is controversial.

Psychological distress, neuroticism and disability associated with secondary chronic headache in the general population - the Akershus study of chronic headache.

Background: Primary headaches are associated with psychological distress, neuroticism and disability. However, little is known about headache-related disability and psychological distress among people with secondary chronic headaches.

Methods: 30,000 persons aged 30-44 from the general population was screened for headache by a questionnaire.

Patterns of genomic evolution in advanced melanoma.

Genomic alterations occurring during melanoma progression and the resulting genomic heterogeneity between metastatic deposits remain incompletely understood. Analyzing 86 metastatic melanoma deposits from 53 patients with whole-exome sequencing (WES), we show a low branch to trunk mutation ratio and little intermetastatic heterogeneity, with driver mutations almost completely shared between lesions. Branch mutations consistent with UV damage indicate that metastases may arise from different subclones in the primary tumor.

Medication-overuse headache detoxification reduces headache disability - the Akershus study of chronic headache.

Background And Purpose: Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a chronic headache (≥15 days/month) associated with overuse of acute headache medication. The objective was to investigate headache-related disability before and after self-detoxification from MOH in the general population, as well as possible predictors for successful outcome.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study.

Health status in subjects with suspected obstructive sleep apnea and comparison with a general population.

The purpose of this study was to assess health status (HS) in patients with clinical suspicion of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in order to estimate the dose response relationship between HS and OSA severity, and to compare HS in this clinical cohort with a general population sample (N = 5000). Patients referred to an overnight sleep study due to suspected OSA, whom also responded to the SF-36 questionnaire, were included (N = 418). Of these, 194 showed normal findings, while 111, 60 and 53 demonstrated mild, moderate and severe OSA, respectively.