Clinical Importance of Temporal Bone Features for the Efficacy of Contrast-Enhanced Sonothrombolysis: a Retrospective Analysis of the NOR-SASS Trial.

Contrast-enhanced sonothrombolysis (CEST) seems to be a safe and promising treatment in acute ischemic stroke. It remains unknown if temporal bone features may influence the efficacy of CEST. We investigated the association between different temporal bone features on admission computed tomography (CT) scan and the outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients included in the randomized Norwegian Sonothrombolysis in Acute Stroke Study (NOR-SASS).

Prevention of Legionnaires' disease in hospitals.

Background: The first instance of Legionella infection in a Norwegian hospital was confirmed in 2005. We describe the best-known methods of eradicating Legionella in hospitals.

Materials And Method: The article is based on the authors' experience of measures to prevent Legionnaires' disease in hospitals and on a non-systematic search in PubMed.

Design, organization and management of a controlled population screening study for detection of colorectal neoplasia: attendance rates in the NORCCAP study (Norwegian Colorectal Cancer Prevention).

Background: In the past three decades, the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Norway has doubled, surpassing all other Nordic countries for both men and women to become the most frequently diagnosed cancer. A small-scale, randomized study on flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) screening in Telemark, Norway, has shown a reduction in accumulated CRC incidence after 13 years. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect on CRC mortality and morbidity by screen detection of CRC and removal of precursor lesions (polypectomy), and to test out the management and organization mimicking a countrywide screening service.

NORCCAP (Norwegian colorectal cancer prevention): a randomised trial to assess the safety and efficacy of carbon dioxide versus air insufflation in colonoscopy.

Background: To eliminate the risk of combustion during electrosurgical procedures and to reduce patient discomfort, carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation has been recommended during colonoscopy. However, air insufflation is still the standard method, perhaps due to the lack of suitable equipment and shortage of randomised studies.

Aims: This randomised controlled trial was conducted to assess patient tolerance and safety when using CO2 insufflation during colonoscopy.

Patient satisfaction and ward atmosphere during a crisis in an open psychiatric ward.

Background: There is great need for useful indicators of quality of care for inpatient psychiatric treatment. The study examines whether patient satisfaction and ward atmosphere can be used as a means of evaluating an assumed decline in quality of care during a crisis in an open psychiatric ward.

Methods: Twice a year for 2 years ten patients filled out a standardized patient satisfaction questionnaire developed by the Swedish Institute for Health Services Development (SPRI) on their day of departure.

Understanding chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Patients with non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome, the largest group of prostatitis patients according to the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases classification, are characterized by the absence of objective findings. Nothing thus links the symptoms of this disease to the prostate or other male organs in particular. For this reason, observations on interstitial cystitis in women are of interest to understand the chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Diagnosis and imaging in urinary tract infections.

The aim of imaging in urinary tract infection is to detect conditions that must be treated in order to avoid immediate deterioration or recurrences, and probable long-term kidney damage. In newborns identified with hydronephrosis during pregnancy or by neonatal screening, vesicoureteral reflux and renal scarring are congenital and not caused by infection. Most of these patients are male and the vesicoureteral reflux is of a higher grade than that detected in girls having had urinary tract infection.

Placenta percreta--two cases and review of the literature.

Two cases of placenta pecreta confirmed histologically were treated conservatively with retention of the uterus. Both later went on to have successful pregnancies.

The effect of attending a flexible sigmoidoscopic screening program on the prevalence of colorectal adenomas at 13-year follow-up.

Objectives: Understanding the epidemiology of colorectal adenomas is a prerequisite for designing follow-up programs after polypectomy. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of polypectomy on the long-term prevalence of adenomas.

Methods: In 1983, a total of 799 men and women aged 50-59 yr were drawn from the general population register.

Do undesirable effects of screening affect all-cause mortality in flexible sigmoidoscopy programmes? Experience from the Telemark Polyp Study 1983-1996.

There is substantial evidence for the beneficial effect of screening programmes aimed at reducing mortality from colorectal cancer (CRC). The effect on all-cause mortality, however, may not necessarily be beneficial. In the present study we used the follow-up results 13 years after a flexible sigmoidoscopy screening to evaluate the long-term effects of informing participants about findings at flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) screening.

The distribution of hypopnoeic events in relation to apnoeic events in patients with sleep-induced upper airway narrowing.

The purpose of this study was to investigate patients with sleep-induced upper airay narrowing to see if: (1) apnoeic and hypopnoeic events regularly coexist; (2) if sleep-induced upper airway narrowing usually involves more than one level; and (3) whether the distribution of hypopnoeic events reflects that of apnoeic events. A retrospective review of 50 patients with sleep-induced upper airway narrowing was conducted. Recordings were made with a solid-state microtransducer pressure-catheter and an external thermistor for assessment of the distribution and number of obstructive events.

Incidence of cancer among welders and other shipyard workers with information on previous work history.

The incidence of cancer among 4480 shipyard workers, including 861 welders, was investigated for a potential relationship between exposure to welding fumes and lung cancer. A subcohort of 3150 workers with information on previous work history was studied separately. This investigation is a historical prospective cohort study.

Study of cancer incidence among 8530 male workers in eight Norwegian plants producing ferrosilicon and silicon metal.

Objectives: To examine the association between cancer incidence, in particular incidence of lung cancer, and duration of work among employees in eight Norwegian plants producing ferrosilicon and silicon metal.

Methods: Among men first employed during 1933-91 and with at least 6 months in these plants, the incident cases of cancer during 1953-91 were obtained from The Cancer Registry of Norway. The numbers of various cancers were compared with expected figures calculated from age and calendar time specific rates for Norwegian men during the same period.

Study of cancer incidence among 6363 male workers in four Norwegian ferromanganese and silicomanganese producing plants.

Objectives: Little has been known about the risk of cancer associated with occupational exposure to manganese. The objective of this study was therefore to examine the associations between duration of specific work and cancer incidence among employees in four Norwegian ferromanganese and silicomanganese producing plants.

Methods: Among men first employed in 1933-91 and with at least 6 months in these plants, the incident cases of cancer during 1953-91 were obtained from The Cancer Registry of Norway.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy as a screening modality for colorectal adenomas in older age groups? Findings in a cohort of the normal population aged 63-72 years.

Background: Most cases of colorectal cancer originate from adenomas. Removing adenomas has been shown to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer. The design of cost effective endoscopic screening programmes requires a knowledge of the distribution of adenomas in different age groups.

Neuropsychological effects associated with exposure to mercury vapor among former chloralkali workers.

Objectives: This investigation studied possible neuropsychological effects among former chloralkali workers with past exposure to mercury vapor.

Methods: Seventy-five formerly exposed workers who had been examined with an extensive neuropsychological test battery were compared with 52 referents frequency-matched for age. The tests measured general cognitive function, motor and psychomotor function, attention, memory, and learning.

Population-based surveillance by colonoscopy: effect on the incidence of colorectal cancer. Telemark Polyp Study I.

Background: Most cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) develop from adenomas. Polypectomy is believed to reduce the incidence of CRC, but this effect has never been explored in prospective controlled studies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of polypectomy on colorectal cancer incidence in a population-based screening program.

The psychologic effect of attending a screening program for colorectal polyps.

Background: Participation in screening programs for malignant disease may have negative psychologic health effects that could outweigh the beneficial effects of the screening itself. The present study was designed to investigate the psychologic effect of attending a screening program for detection and removal of colorectal adenomas, which are precursors to colorectal cancer.

Method: In 1983 a prospective.

Birth weight and environmental pollution in the county of Telemark, Norway.

The possible effect of environmental pollution on fetal growth was examined in 3,231 consecutively liveborn single infants (>/=37 weeks' gestation) of Caucasian parents born between 1986 and 1988. The parents lived in an industrial area or in less polluted urban and rural residential areas. Information about lifestyle, health, and work exposures was collected from the parents.

Costoclavicular pinching: a complication of long-term central venous catheters. A report of three cases.

In the course of 1994-1995 we found three nearly identical cases involving fracture of polyurethane catheters from subcutaneous implantable vascular ports. This resulted in complications: leakage of drugs and infusions and thereby soft tissue damage. The leakage occurred in the costoclavicular space in all instances.

Mortality from nonmalignant respiratory diseases among male workers in Norwegian ferroalloy plants.

Objectives: This study examined mortality from nonmalignant respiratory diseases among ferroalloy workers.

Methods: The cohort comprised 14730 men employed for the first time in 1933-1990 and for at least 6 months in 1 of 12 plants. The duration of work in specific departments and exposure to amorphous silica in the ferrosilicon/silicon-metal (FeSi/Si-met) plants, estimated from a job-exposure matrix, were the main exposure variables.

Mortality from cardiovascular diseases and sudden death in ferroalloy plants.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine mortality from circulatory diseases and sudden death among workers in 12 Norwegian ferroalloy plants.

Methods: The cohort comprised 14730 men employed for the first time during 1933-1990 and for at least 6 months. Deaths observed during 1962-1990 were compared with expected figures calculated from national mortality rates.

Cadmium and selenium in blood and urine related to smoking habits and previous exposure to mercury vapour.

The object of this work was to investigate possible interactions of mercury, cadmium and selenium in humans. Selenium and cadmium in blood and urine were determined in this cross-sectional study of 130 males, of whom 77 had been previously exposed to mercury vapour at a chloralkali plant. Of the participants, 61.

Smoking intervention in subjects at risk of asbestos-related lung cancer.

A smoking intervention counseling program was applied among asbestos-exposed male smokers younger than 65 years of age to examine the effect of an intervention based on risk communication. Intervention subjects (n = 431) were invited to a health status checkup combined with physician-delivered smoking intervention counseling. Control subjects (n = 141) received no intervention.