Effects of Analysis Delay on pH, pO, pCO, Bicarbonate, Glucose, Lactate, Electrolytes, and Other Arterial Blood Gas Variables.

Background: One of the preanalytical factors that can affect the results of arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis is the time from sample collection to analysis. A delay in analysis may affect the results due to factors such as ongoing cellular metabolism within the blood sample, gas exchange between the blood sample and the environment, and temperature changes. ABG analysis can be delayed for various reasons, for instance, due to long transport distances between the collection site and the analyzer.

Extreme overvalued beliefs and identities: revisiting the drivers of violent extremism.

Recent efforts to understand violent extremism have appealed to the concept of as a way of explaining fixation and extremist commitments. Extreme overvalued beliefs refer to an ego-syntonic fixation that grows more intense, absolute and emotional over time and is shared with a sub-community. However, while extreme overvalued beliefs precede many targeted attacks, most people who hold them do not resort to violence.

Endoscopic Prediction of Achalasia: Putting the CART Before the CARS.

Background And Aims: Endoscopy can detect features indicative of esophageal dysmotility, but standardized approaches for diagnosing achalasia based on these findings remain limited. Recently, the CARS score was developed to address this gap. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of endoscopy in identifying achalasia, using the STARD framework and current reference standards.

Prevalence and Predictors of Caregiver Distress in Six European Communities: Data From the IBenC Study, Using interRAI-Home Care Assessments.

Background: In a changing world where populations are ageing and older people need assistance to live at home, caring for an older relative can be challenging and have various consequences for caregivers.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, caregiver distress in six European countries-Iceland, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands-was examined and compared. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of distress among caregivers of older people receiving home care in these six countries and identify if factors related to the older person's condition, such as health or function, predict it.

A Striking Increase in Carriage Among Young Children in Iceland Paralleled the Unprecedented Increase of Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infection From 2022 to 2023.

Background: An unprecedented increase in pediatric invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections was observed in most countries, including Iceland, in early 2023. The reasons for this rise are largely unknown. The aim of the study was to describe the parallel between nasopharyngeal (NP) carriage of group A streptococcal (GAS) in Icelandic children and the incidence of invasive disease.

Enzymatic assembly for CRISPR split-Cas9 system: The emergence of a Sortase-based split-Cas9 technology.

CRISPR-Cas9 has been widely used in research and medical investigations as a pioneering technology. However, challenges such as the large size of the Cas9 sequence and the need for precise control over its activity in specific cell types have impeded its widespread adoption. Various alternatives, such as split-Cas9 technology, have emerged.

Assessing neuromuscular system via patellar tendon reflex analysis using EMG in healthy individuals.

Patellar tendon reflex tests are essential for evaluating neuromuscular function and identifying abnormalities in nerve conduction and muscle response. This study explored how age, height, weight, and gender influence reflex response times in healthy individuals, providing a reference for future research on different neuromuscular conditions. We analyzed reflex onset, endpoint, and total duration of reflexes using electromyography (EMG) recordings from 40 healthy participants.

Changes in cancer incidence and stage during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021 in the Nordic countries.

Background And Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted substantially on cancer healthcare, including the temporary suspension of screening activities. We compared cancer incidence rates and stage during 2020-2021 to pre-pandemic rates in the Nordic countries.

Material And Methods: Using data from the national cancer registries in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, we estimated age-, sex-, and period-adjusted incidence rate ratios, expressed as relative percentage change (%) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), comparing rates in 2020-2021 to those in 2017-2019 (pre-pandemic).

[Prediction of cancer incidence and prevalence in Iceland up to the year 2040 - Icelandic Cancer Registry and Research Center].

Introduction: A large increase in new cancer cases is predicted worldwide, due to population growth, ageing and increased cancer risk. The age distribution of the Icelandic population is different from the other Nordic countries. The purpose of this study was to predict the number of new cancer cases in Iceland and other Nordic countries, and cancer survivors in Iceland, up to the year 2040.

Tonsillectomies are associated with an increased risk of meningococcal carriage.

Background: is a commensal organism with the potential to cause life-threatening disease. Colonisation is most common in adolescence and young adulthood. Various social factors have been associated with an increased risk of meningococcal carriage, but less is known about host factors that may influence the carriage status.

Comparing the symptom presentation similarities and differences of complex posttraumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder: A systematic review.

Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) is characterized in the by affect dysregulation, negative self-concept, and relationship impairments, symptoms also presented in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Some research shows CPTSD as a distinct disorder, others as a subgroup or a replacement for BPD. No review currently amalgamates the findings on whether CPTSD presents too similarly to BPD to be a standalone disorder.

Children with palliative care needs - the landscape of the nordic countries.

Background: To strengthen palliative care for children in the Nordic countries, an updated status of current needs, resources, clinical services, education, and research is necessary to align and consolidate future research. A Nordic research collaboration initiative for children with palliative care needs was assembled in 2023. Building on this initiative, this paper presents an overview of pediatric palliative care (PPC) in the Nordic countries' (a) population characteristics, (b) care models and setting of care, (c) education and training, and (d) research.

A comparison of methods for detecting DNA methylation from long-read sequencing of human genomes.

Background: Long-read sequencing can enable the detection of base modifications, such as CpG methylation, in single molecules of DNA. The most commonly used methods for long-read sequencing are nanopore developed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) and single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing developed by Pacific Bioscience (PacBio). In this study, we systematically compare the performance of CpG methylation detection from long-read sequencing.

Influenza vaccination in pregnant women in Iceland 2010-2020 and the burden of influenza in pregnant women and their infants.

Introduction: Influenza vaccinations are recommended in pregnancy to protect both the pregnant woman and the unborn baby. The aim of this study was to assess the influenza vaccine uptake among pregnant women in Iceland in ten influenza seasons and to estimate the influenza disease burden on pregnant women and their infants.

Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive study on influenza vaccine uptake among pregnant women and the burden of influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI) among pregnant women and their infants in ten influenza seasons.

Meningococcal carriage in children and young adults: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study, Iceland, 2019 to 2021.

Background is a commensal bacterium which can cause invasive disease. Colonisation studies are important to guide vaccination strategies.AimThe study's aim was to determine the prevalence of meningococcal colonisation, duration of carriage and distribution of genogroups in Iceland.

Histopathology and levels of proteins in plasma associate with survival after colorectal cancer diagnosis.

Background: The TNM system is used to assess prognosis after colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis. Other prognostic factors reported include histopathological assessments of the tumour, tumour mutations and proteins in the blood. As some of these factors are strongly correlated, it is important to evaluate the independent effects they may have on survival.

Out-of-hospital multimodal seizure detection: a pilot study.

Background: Out-of-hospital seizure detection aims to provide clinicians and patients with objective seizure documentation in efforts to improve the clinical management of epilepsy. In-patient studies have found that combining different modalities helps improve the seizure detection accuracy. In this study, the objective was to evaluate the viability of out-of-hospital seizure detection using wearable ECG, accelerometry and behind-the-ear electroencephalography (EEG).

Physical and cognitive impact following SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large population-based case-control study.

Background: Persistent symptoms are common after SARS-CoV-2 infection but correlation with objective measures is unclear.

Methods: We invited all 3098 adults who tested SARS-CoV-2 positive in Iceland before October 2020 to the deCODE Health Study. We compared multiple symptoms and physical measures between 1706 Icelanders with confirmed prior infection (cases) who participated, and 619 contemporary and 13,779 historical controls.

Obesity in adolescents does not influence early immune responses to influenza vaccination.

Background: Obesity has been linked to reduced vaccine responses against tetanus, hepatitis B and influenza. Data on the influence of paediatric obesity on influenza vaccine response is still lacking and this study aims to fill the gap.

Methods: A total of 30 children with obesity and 30 children with normal weight, aged 12-18 years, were recruited.

Risk factors and outcome due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli in community-onset bloodstream infections: A ten-year cohort study in Sweden.

Objective: To study clinical outcome and risk factors associated with extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) in community-onset bloodstream infections (CO-BSI).

Methods: This was a population-based cohort study including patients with pheno- and genotype-matched ESBL-producing E. coli and non-ESBL- E.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Methoxylated Ether Lipids: A Glyceryl Glycidyl Ether Key Building Block Design, Preparation, and Synthetic Application.

The report describes the preparation and use of a double-C3 building block intended as a head group synthon in the synthesis of saturated, mono-, and polyunsaturated 1--alkyl--glycerol type methoxylated ether lipids (MELs). The resulting head piece, an enantiopure isopropylidene-protected glyceryl glycidyl ether diastereomer, was accomplished in 49% yield (max 50%) from a 1:1 diastereomeric mixture obtained from -solketal and racemic epichlorohydrin after treatment with the Jacobsen (,)-Co(III)salen catalyst for the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of terminal epoxides. The diol hydrolytic product obtained in 47% yield from the unwanted diastereomer was reconverted into epoxide with an inversion of configuration in a three-step operation involving a highly regioselective lipase.