Identification of potential biomarkers in active Lyme borreliosis.

Objectives: Lyme serology does not readily discriminate an active Lyme borreliosis (LB) from a previous Borrelia infection or exposure. Here, we aimed to investigate a large number of immunological protein biomarkers to search for an immunological pattern typical for active LB, in contrast to patterns found in healthy blood donors, a proportion of whom were previously exposed to Borrelia.

Methods: Serum samples from well-characterised adult patients with ongoing LB and healthy blood donors were included and investigated using a proximity extension assay (provided by Olink®) by which 92 different immune response-related human protein biomarkers were analysed simultaneously.

Prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in questing Ixodes ricinus nymphs in southern Scandinavia and the possible influence of meteorological factors.

Ixodes ricinus ticks are Scandinavia's main vector for tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), which infects many people annually. The aims of the present study were (i) to obtain information on the TBEV prevalence in host-seeking I. ricinus collected within the Øresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak (ØKS) region, which lies in southern Norway, southern Sweden and Denmark; (ii) to analyse whether there are potential spatial patterns in the TBEV prevalence; and (iii) to understand the relationship between TBEV prevalence and meteorological factors in southern Scandinavia.

Cytokine responses of immunosuppressed and immunocompetent patients with Neoehrlichia mikurensis infection.

Purpose: The tick-borne bacterium Neoehrlichia mikurensis causes the infectious disease neoehrlichiosis in humans. Vascular endothelium is one of the target cells of the infection. Neoehrlichiosis patients with compromised B cell immunity present with more severe inflammation than immunocompetent patients.

A scoping review to map the concept, content, and outcome of wilderness programs for childhood cancer survivors.

Objectives: Systematic mapping of the concept, content, and outcome of wilderness programs for childhood cancer survivors.

Design: Scoping review.

Search Strategy: Searches were performed in 13 databases and the grey literature.

Spatial patterns of pathogen prevalence in questing Ixodes ricinus nymphs in southern Scandinavia, 2016.

Tick-borne pathogens cause diseases in animals and humans, and tick-borne disease incidence is increasing in many parts of the world. There is a need to assess the distribution of tick-borne pathogens and identify potential risk areas. We collected 29,440 tick nymphs from 50 sites in Scandinavia from August to September, 2016.

Author Correction: Spatial data of Ixodes ricinus instar abundance and nymph pathogen prevalence, Scandinavia, 2016-2017.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Spatial data of Ixodes ricinus instar abundance and nymph pathogen prevalence, Scandinavia, 2016-2017.

Ticks carry pathogens that can cause disease in both animals and humans, and there is a need to monitor the distribution and abundance of ticks and the pathogens they carry to pinpoint potential high risk areas for tick-borne disease transmission. In a joint Scandinavian study, we measured Ixodes ricinus instar abundance at 159 sites in southern Scandinavia in August-September, 2016, and collected 29,440 tick nymphs at 50 of these sites. We additionally measured abundance at 30 sites in August-September, 2017.

Tick-borne Pathogens Detected in the Blood of Immunosuppressed Norwegian Patients Living in a Tick-endemic Area.

Background: The knowledge regarding the occurrence and the clinical implications of tick-borne infections in immunosuppressed patients living in tick-endemic areas is limited.

Methods: Adult patients with autoimmune conditions requiring immunosuppressive treatment such as infliximab and rituximab were invited to participate in the study when they attended the hospital for treatment and/or control of the disease. Whole-blood samples were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp.

Tick-borne pathogens in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from migratory birds in southern Norway.

Birds are important hosts for the first life stages of the Ixodes ricinus tick and they can transport their parasites over long distances. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis and Rickettsia helvetica in ticks collected from migratory birds in Norway. A total of 815 Ixodes ricinus ticks from 216 birds trapped at Lista Bird Observatory in southern Norway during spring and autumn migration in 2008 were analysed by real-time PCR.

Predicting the spatial abundance of Ixodes ricinus ticks in southern Scandinavia using environmental and climatic data.

Recently, focus on tick-borne diseases has increased as ticks and their pathogens have become widespread and represent a health problem in Europe. Understanding the epidemiology of tick-borne infections requires the ability to predict and map tick abundance. We measured Ixodes ricinus abundance at 159 sites in southern Scandinavia from August-September, 2016.

What are constructive anxiety levels in wilderness therapy? An exploratory pilot study.

Background And Purpose: Participant state anxiety in outdoor therapeutic practices continues to raise many questions. To help inform this important topic we present and discuss the results of an exploratory pilot study on participant day-to-day state anxiety throughout a Norwegian wilderness therapy intervention.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-three adolescents from six groups completed a total of 251 state sections of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.

A large-scale screening for the taiga tick, Ixodes persulcatus, and the meadow tick, Dermacentor reticulatus, in southern Scandinavia, 2016.

The taiga tick, Ixodes persulcatus, has previously been limited to eastern Europe and northern Asia, but recently its range has expanded to Finland and northern Sweden. The species is of medical importance, as it, along with a string of other pathogens, may carry the Siberian and Far Eastern subtypes of tick-borne encephalitis virus. These subtypes appear to cause more severe disease, with higher fatality rates than the central European subtype.

Predicting and mapping human risk of exposure to nymphs using climatic and environmental data, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, 2016.

BackgroundTick-borne diseases have become increasingly common in recent decades and present a health problem in many parts of Europe. Control and prevention of these diseases require a better understanding of vector distribution.AimOur aim was to create a model able to predict the distribution of nymphs in southern Scandinavia and to assess how this relates to risk of human exposure.

Serological reactivity to Anaplasma phagocytophilum in neoehrlichiosis patients.

The tick-borne bacterium Candidatus (Ca.) Neoehrlichia (N.) mikurensis is a cause of "fever of unknown origin" because this strict intracellular pathogen escapes detection by routine blood cultures.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from recreational islands in southern Norway.

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens of medical importance in questing ticks collected from five recreationally used islands along the Norwegian coastline. Furthermore, since coinfection may affect the disease severity, this study aimed to determine the extent of coinfection in individual ticks or co-localization of tick-borne pathogens. In all, 4158 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks were analyzed.

Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato detected in the blood of Norwegian patients with erythema migrans.

The most common tick-borne human disease in Norway is Lyme borreliosis. Ticks in Norway also harbour less known disease-causing agents such as Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia miyamotoi and Rickettsia helvetica. However, human infections caused by these pathogens have never been described in Norway.

Validate or falsify: Lessons learned from a microscopy method claimed to be useful for detecting Borrelia and Babesia organisms in human blood.

Background: A modified microscopy protocol (the LM-method) was used to demonstrate what was interpreted as Borrelia spirochetes and later also Babesia sp., in peripheral blood from patients. The method gained much publicity, but was not validated prior to publication, which became the purpose of this study using appropriate scientific methodology, including a control group.

Tick-borne bacteria in Ixodes ricinus collected in southern Norway evaluated by a commercial kit and established real-time PCR protocols.

Ticks are important vectors of human pathogens. The knowledge of disease causing agents harboured by ticks in Norway is limited. The focus of this study was (a) to detect the bacteria of medical importance in ticks collected from the vegetation at locations in the southern part of the country and (b) to evaluate a novel commercially available multiplex PCR based method by comparing results with conventional established real-time PCR protocols.

Borrelia miyamotoi is widespread in Ixodes ricinus ticks in southern Norway.

From April to October 2007, host-seeking Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected from four locations in southern Norway; Farsund, Mandal, Søgne and Tromøy, respectively. Larvae (n=210), nymphs (n=1130) and adults (n=449) were investigated for infection with Borrelia miyamotoi by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of part of the 16S rRNA gene. Results were verified by direct sequencing of the PCR amplicon generated from the rrs (16S)-rrl (23S) intergenetic spacer.

Exploring the relationship between physical activity, life goals and health-related quality of life among high school students: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Two models were developed to increase high school students' participation in physical education (PE): "motion enjoyment" and "sport enjoyment". The first model focuses on increasing knowledge about the health benefits of a physically active lifestyle and thereby promoting a positive attitude towards physical activity, whereas the second model focuses on techniques and practices for enhancing athletic performance. The aims of the present study are to investigate and understand the similarities and differences between students selecting "motion enjoyment" vs.

Differences on adolescent life goal profile scale between a clinical and non-clinical adolescent sample.

Objective: This study aimed to determine similarities and differences on perceived importance and perceived attainability of life goals between a clinical and non-clinical adolescent sample.

Method: 244 students and 54 adolescent patients completed the Adolescent Life Goal Profile Scale (ALGPS). The ALGPS measures perceived importance and perceived attainability of four main life goal categories: Relations, Generativity, Religion, and Achievements.