| 1. |
- Johansson, Anna L., V, et al.
(författare)
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Were cancer patients worse off than the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic? : A population-based study from Norway, Denmark and Iceland during the pre-vaccination era
- 2023
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Ingår i: The Lancet Regional Health. - : Elsevier. - 2666-7762. ; 31
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background In a population-based setting, we investigated the risks of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 and developing severe COVID-19 outcomes among cancer patients compared with the general population.Methods In nationwide cohorts, we identified all individuals in Norway, Denmark and Iceland who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 or had a severe COVID-19 outcome (hospitalisation, intensive care, and death) from March until December 2020, using data from national health registries. We estimated standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) comparing cancer patients with the general population.Findings During the first wave of the pandemic, cancer patients in Norway and Denmark had higher risks of testing SARS-CoV-2 positive compared to the general population. Throughout 2020, recently treated cancer patients were more likely to test SARS-CoV-2 positive. In Iceland, cancer patients experienced no increased risk of testing positive. The risk of COVID-19-related hospitalisation was higher among cancer patients diagnosed within one year of hospitalisation (Norway: SIR = 2.43, 95% CI 1.89-3.09; Denmark: 2.23, 1.96-2.54) and within five years (Norway: 1.58, 1.35-1.83; Denmark: 1.54, 1.42-1.66). Risks were higher in recently treated cancer patients and in those diagnosed with haematologic malignancies, colorectal or lung cancer. Risks of COVID-19-related intensive care and death were higher among cancer patients. Interpretation Cancer patients were at increased risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the first pandemic wave when testing availability was limited, while relative risks of severe COVID-19 outcomes remained increased in cancer patients throughout 2020. Recent cancer treatment and haematologic malignancy were the strongest risk factors.
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| 2. |
- Korkalainen, Henri, et al.
(författare)
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Review and perspective on sleep-disordered breathing research and translation to clinics
- 2024
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Ingår i: SLEEP MEDICINE REVIEWS. - 1087-0792 .- 1532-2955. ; 73
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sleep-disordered breathing, ranging from habitual snoring to severe obstructive sleep apnea, is a prevalent public health issue. Despite rising interest in sleep and awareness of sleep disorders, sleep research and diagnostic practices still rely on outdated metrics and laborious methods reducing the diagnostic capacity and preventing timely diagnosis and treatment. Consequently, a significant portion of individuals affected by sleep-disordered breathing remain undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed. Taking advantage of state-of-the-art scientific, technological, and computational advances could be an effective way to optimize the diagnostic and treatment pathways. We discuss state-of-the-art multidisciplinary research, review the shortcomings in the current practices of SDB diagnosis and management in adult populations, and provide possible future directions. We critically review the opportunities for modern data analysis methods and machine learning to combine multimodal information, provide a perspective on the pitfalls of big data analysis, and discuss approaches for developing analysis strategies that overcome current limitations. We argue that large-scale and multidisciplinary collaborative efforts based on clinical, scientific, and technical knowledge and rigorous clinical validation and implementation of the outcomes in practice are needed to move the research of sleep-disordered breathing forward, thus increasing the quality of diagnostics and treatment.
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| 3. |
- Olafsdottir, Elinborg J., et al.
(författare)
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Breast cancer survival in Nordic BRCA2 mutation carriers—unconventional association with oestrogen receptor status
- 2020
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Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 123:11, s. 1608-1615
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The natural history of breast cancer among BRCA2 carriers has not been clearly established. In a previous study from Iceland, positive ER status was a negative prognostic factor. We sought to identify factors that predicted survival after invasive breast cancer in an expanded cohort of BRCA2 carriers. Methods: We studied 608 women with invasive breast cancer and a pathogenic BRCA2 mutation (variant) from four Nordic countries. Information on prognostic factors and treatment was retrieved from health records and by analysis of archived tissue specimens. Hazard ratios (HR) were estimated for breast cancer-specific survival using Cox regression. Results: About 77% of cancers were ER-positive, with the highest proportion (83%) in patients under 40 years. ER-positive breast cancers were more likely to be node-positive (59%) than ER-negative cancers (34%) (P < 0.001). The survival analysis included 584 patients. Positive ER status was protective in the first 5 years from diagnosis (multivariate HR = 0.49; 95% CI 0.26–0.93, P = 0.03); thereafter, the effect was adverse (HR = 1.91; 95% CI 1.07–3.39, P = 0.03). The adverse effect of positive ER status was limited to women who did not undergo endocrine treatment (HR = 2.36; 95% CI 1.26–4.44, P = 0.01) and patients with intact ovaries (HR = 1.99; 95% CI 1.11–3.59, P = 0.02). Conclusions: The adverse effect of a positive ER status in BRCA2 carriers with breast cancer may be contingent on exposure to ovarian hormones.
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| 4. |
- Ågerstrand, Marlene, et al.
(författare)
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A call for action : Improve reporting of research studies to increase the scientific basis for regulatory decision-making
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Applied Toxicology. - : Wiley. - 0260-437X .- 1099-1263. ; 38:5, s. 783-785
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This is a call for action to scientific journals to introduce reporting requirements for toxicity and ecotoxicity studies. Such reporting requirements will support the use of peer-reviewed research studies in regulatory decision-making. Moreover, this could improve the reliability and reproducibility of published studies in general and make better use of the resources spent in research.
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| 5. |
- Berggren, Linda, et al.
(författare)
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Nordic children's conceptualizations of healthy eating in relation to school lunch
- 2017
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Ingår i: Health Education. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 0965-4283 .- 1758-714X. ; 117:2, s. 130-147
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Pupils' perspective should be better taken into account when developing nutrition education at school. The purpose of this paper is to explore Nordic children's perspectives on the healthiness of meals in the context of school lunches.Design/methodology/approach: In total, 78 focus group discussions were conducted with 10-11-year-old girls and boys (n=457) from schools in Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, which were participating in the Nordic school meal project ProMeal during the school year 2013-2014. A flexible discussion guide and stimulus material in the form of 14 photographs displaying different school lunch contexts were used. The discussions were analyzed using thematic analysis.Findings: These Nordic children seem to share the adult-set aim of healthy eating in the school context as a socio-cultural norm. Although healthy eating was constructed as a rational, normative and acceptable way to eat at school, unhealthy eating was emphasized as negotiably acceptable when eaten occasionally and under certain circumstances (e.g. at special occasions). Unhealthy eating also comprised emotionally laden descriptions such as enjoyment and disgust. Practical implications: Children's conceptualizations of healthy eating are connected to nutritional, socio-cultural, emotional and normative dimensions, which should be reflected also when developing nutrition education in school.Originality/value: The need for research exploring children's experiences of, and understandings about, school lunch motivated this unique multicenter study with a large number of participating children. In the focus groups a child-oriented, photo-elicitation method was used.
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| 6. |
- Berggren, Linda, et al.
(författare)
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Perspectives about health outcomes related to food among Nordic children
- 2016
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Perspectives about health outcomes related to food among Nordic childrenLinda Berggren* 1, Sanna Talvia2, Eldbjørg Fossgard3, Unnur Björk Arnfjörð4, Agneta Hörnell 1, Anna Ólafsdóttir 4,Ingibjörg Gunnarsdóttir 5, Hege Wergedahl 3, Hanna Lagström 6, Maria Waling1, Cecilia Olsson11Umeå University, Department of food and nutrition, Umeå, Sweden, 2Child and Youth Research institute, Turku, Finland,3Faculty of Education, Bergen University College, Bergren, Norway, 4School of Education, University of Iceland, 5TheNational University Hospital of Iceland , Unit for Nutrition Research, Reykjavik, Iceland, 6University of Turku, TurkuInstitute of Child and Youth Research, Turku, FinlandPreferred presentation type: Only PosterBackground and aims: Dietary intake in school has previously been studied but little is known about Nordic children’sperspectives on food healthiness in the school lunch context. This study aims to explore 10-year-old Nordic children’sperspectives on outcomes of healthy eating in the school lunch context.Methods: Seventy-two focus groups were conducted in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland with a total of 423participants. A flexible topic guide and 14 preselected photos displaying different school lunch contexts were used asstimuli material. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis.Results: Children reasoned that school lunch are and should be healthy since the food eaten at school has short andlong term outcomes related to cognitive and physical health. It was commonly expressed that food eaten in school affectsschool work and functioning in learning activities. It was also stated that food eaten in school can have negative andpositive effects on your mood, e.g. eating unhealthy food or an insufficient amount of food, puts you in a bad mood whichcan affect the rest of the school day. The discussions mainly relied on negative short term effects such as feeling ill andreduced stamina. Some food and food groups such as vegetables, milk and fish, were mentioned in a more positivesense highlighting the positive short- and long term outcomes on health. When describing the long-term outcomes ofeating, children mentioned that healthy eating helps to build muscles, grow and prevent diseases, such as cancer anddiabetes. Sugar and fat was frequently mentioned as being the cause of overweight and some other diseases.Conclusion: In general, Nordic children have an adequate understanding of established relations between food andhealth. Yet, we know that many pupils do not eat according to recommendations. This highlights the importance of takingthe complexity of food choice into consideration in nutritional education.Disclosure of Interest: None to declare
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| 7. |
- Birgisson, Helgi, et al.
(författare)
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Skimun fyrir krabbameinum í ristli og endaþarmi : Yfirlitsgrein um nýgengi, dánartíðni, kostnað og árangur
- 2021
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Ingår i: Laeknabladid. - : LAEKNAFELAG ISLANDS-ICELANDIC MEDICAL ASSOC. - 0023-7213 .- 1670-4959. ; 107:9, s. 398-405
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this article the incidence and mortality for cancer of the colon and rectum in Iceland is discussed. The two most common screening methods, faecal immunochemical test (FIT) and colonoscopy are compared and an estimate of cost and benefits for the Icelandic society will be made. The incidence of cancer of the colon and rectum has been increasing in Iceland in last decades but mortality has decreased and survival improved. However, more individuals die from cancer of the colon and rectum than from both breast-and cervical cancer added together. It is likely that screening for cancer of the colon and rectum, could prevent at least 6 of the 28 deaths related to those cancers, occurring yearly in Iceland in screening age, given a screening ages of 50-74 years. The extra cost for the Icelandic community due to the implementation of screening for cancer of the colon and rectum will be acceptable due to the lower cost of simpler treatments, lower cancer incidence and reduced mortality.
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| 8. |
- Brantsaeter, Anne Lise, et al.
(författare)
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Does milk and dairy consumption during pregnancy influence fetal growth and infant birthweight? A systematic literature review
- 2012
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Ingår i: Food & Nutrition Research. - : Co-Action Publishing. - 1654-6628 .- 1654-661X. ; 56
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is increasingly acknowledged that the maternal diet influences fetal development and health of the child. Milk and milk products contribute essential nutrients and bioactive substances; they are of ample supply and have a long tradition in Nordic countries. To revise and update dietary guidelines for pregnant women valid in Nordic countries, the Pregnancy and Lactation expert group within the NNR5 project identified a need to systematically review recent scientific data on infant growth measures and maternal milk consumption. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of milk and dairy consumption during pregnancy on fetal growth through a systematic review of studies published between January 2000 and December 2011. A literature search was run in June 2011. Two authors independently selected studies for inclusion from the 495 abstracts according to predefined eligibility criteria. A complementary search in January 2012 revealed 64 additional abstracts published during the period June to December 2011, among them one study of interest previously identified. Of the 33 studies extracted, eight were relevant research papers. Five were prospective cohort studies (including a retrospective chart review), one was a case-control study, and two were retrospective cohort studies. For fetal length or infant birth length, three studies reported no association and two reported positive associations with milk or dairy consumption. For birthweight related outcomes, two studies reported no associations, and four studies reported positive associations with milk and/or dairy consumption. There was large heterogeneity in exposure range and effect size between studies. A beneficial fetal growth-increase was most pronounced for increasing maternal milk intake in the lower end of the consumption range. Evidence from prospective cohort studies is limited but suggestive that moderate milk consumption relative to none or very low intake, is positively associated with fetal growth and infant birthweight in healthy, Western populations.
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| 9. |
- Forsum, Elisabet, et al.
(författare)
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Weight loss before conception: A systematic literature review
- 2013
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Ingår i: Food & Nutrition Research. - : Co-Action Publishing. - 1654-6628 .- 1654-661X. ; 57
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The prevalence of overweight and obesity in women has increased during the last decades. This is a serious concern since a high BMI before conception is an independent risk factor for many adverse outcomes of pregnancy. Therefore, dietary counseling, intended to stimulate weight loss in overweight and obese women prior to conception has recently been recommended. However, dieting with the purpose to lose weight may involve health risks for mother and offspring. We conducted a systematic literature review to identify papers investigating the effects of weight loss due to dietary interventions before conception. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of weight loss prior to conception in overweight or obese women on a number of health-related outcomes in mother and offspring using studies published between January 2000 and December 2011. Our first literature search produced 486 citations and, based on predefined eligibility criteria, 58 were selected and ordered in full text. Two group members read each paper. Fifteen studies were selected for quality assessment and two of them were considered appropriate for inclusion in evidence tables. A complementary search identified 168 citations with four papers being ordered in full text. The two selected studies provided data for overweight and obese women. One showed a positive effect of weight loss before pregnancy on the risk of gestational diabetes and one demonstrated a reduced risk for large-for-gestational-age infants in women with a BMI above 25 who lost weight before pregnancy. No study investigated the effect of weight loss due to a dietary intervention before conception. There is a lack of studies on overweight and obese women investigating the effect of dietary-induced weight loss prior to conception on health-related variables in mother and offspring. Such studies are probably lacking since they are difficult to conduct. Therefore, alternative strategies to control the body weight of girls and women of reproductive age are needed.
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| 10. |
- Hardarson, A, et al.
(författare)
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Adrenocorticotrophic hormone exerts marked lipid-lowering effects in simvastatin-treated patients
- 2001
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Ingår i: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 1365-2796 .- 0954-6820. ; 250:6, s. 530-534
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. Recently, it was reported that treatment with adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) has a strong lipid-lowering effect in healthy individuals. The mechanism behind this has not been established. The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of ACTH on the plasma lipoprotein pattern in patients treated with a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor. Design. The ACTH treatment was given to 10 patients who were on long-term treatment with simvastatin 40 mg daily. ACTH1-24 was administered at the dose of 1 mg daily for four consecutive days. Blood samples for analyses of lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins were collected before and after treatment. Second baseline was obtained 2 weeks after the end of treatment. Results. The serum concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a) fell significantly by 16, 23, 23, 10 and 38%, respectively. The serum apolipoprotein E concentration increased significantly by 39%; the fraction that was not associated with apolipoprotein B increased by 47% whereas the fraction that was did not change significantly. There were no changes in the serum concentrations of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein AI. At the second baseline, the lipid variables had generally returned to previous levels. Conclusions. In patients on long-term simvastatin treatment, ACTH had marked lowering effects on the lipoproteins that contain apolipoprotein B. Moreover, the serum apolipoprotein E concentration increased significantly in response to ACTH treatment.
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