Identification of cystatin C as a new marker of glomerular filtration rate, and of shrunken pore syndrome - a new kidney disorder defining selective glomerular hypofiltration syndromes - calls for expansion of the international KDIGO guidelines.

Cystatin C was identified as a marker of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in 1979, and the parallel analysis of cystatin C and creatinine led to the identification of shrunken pore syndrome (SPS) - a new kidney disorder - in 2015. Since then, it has been shown that cystatin C in many aspects is superior to creatinine as a marker of GFR and cardiovascular risk. SPS, an entity within the selective glomerular hypofiltration syndromes (SGHS), has been demonstrated to be associated with a strong increase in morbidity and mortality in several populations.

Can Self-Reported Seasonality Predict Prospectively Assessed Seasonal Changes of Self-Reported Mood, Food Cravings, Body Weight, Insomnia, and Physical Activity?

Controversy about seasonal affective disorder lies in the poor match between its definition and the available screening methods, as well as little knowledge about the predictive value of specific seasonal symptoms assessed by those methods. We examined whether the overall score as well as sub-domains of the seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire can predict seasonal changes in mood, sleep, appetite, weight, and physical activity in a one-year prospective study. In a sample of 336 Icelandic residents, we administered an online questionnaire once in each season, including the seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire, the depression, anxiety, and stress scale, the Questionnaire on Cravings for Sweet or Rich Foods, the Bergen Insomnia scale, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and surveyed body height and weight.

Elements of burden among informal caregivers of community-dwelling older adults receiving home care nursing: a cross-sectional study on health status, well-being, and gender differences.

Background: With increasing longevity, more caregiving responsibilities fall on fewer family members, potentially impacting their well-being. This study investigates the health status, well-being, and elements of burden among informal caregivers of community-dwelling older adults receiving home care nursing in Iceland, including how burden may be related to well-being, gendered differences, and the complex nature of caregiving.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in four municipalities.

The mobile health intervention for rural patients with atrial fibrillation a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Rural individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF) experience challenges to anticoagulation adherence and self-management of the condition. We tested an intervention to improve anticoagulation adherence, quality of life, and health care utilization in rural individuals with AF.

Methods: We randomized rural patients with AF receiving anticoagulation to receive a smartphone-based relational agent (for disease education and adherence guidance) and a heart rate and rhythm monitor for 4 months or a smartphone-based health education app.

Motivation, meaning and well-being: Exploring gender differences and associations in participants from Iceland.

Unlabelled: This paper examines personal motivational factors: passion, grit, mindset and self-efficacy. The paper did also measure holistic well-being factors as: meaning in life, psychological well-being, and positive and negative affect in a population from Iceland. The sample consisted of 479 participants, including 336 females and 143 males, with an average age of 32.

[Vaccination behaviour of immigrants and native Icelanders during COVID-19].

Introduction: This article examines the COVID-19 vaccination behaviour of immigrants in Iceland by comparing it to the behaviour of native Icelanders. Little to no information has previously been available on this subject in Iceland. However, mapping the situation is an important prerequisite for guiding further research in this field, as well as providing insight into whether and to what extent vaccine hesitancy among immigrants constitutes a public health issue in Iceland.

A mobile relational agent to enhance atrial fibrillation self-care: Primary and secondary outcomes of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) requires long-term adherence to oral anticoagulation and self-care.

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial of a smartphone-based relational agent and heart rhythm monitor with the primary outcome of anticoagulation adherence and secondary outcomes of quality of life (QOL) and health care utilization. The trial enrolled individuals with Atrial fibrillation (AF) taking anticoagulation.

Clinically Important Decrease in Liver Stiffness Following Treatment for Hepatitis C: Outcome of the TraP HepC Nationwide Elimination Program.

Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy has been highly successful in treating chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The nationwide Treatment as Prevention of Hepatitis C (TraP HepC) initiative that was launched in Iceland in 2016 utilized liver stiffness measurements (LSM) to assess liver fibrosis at baseline and follow-up. We aimed to determine changes in liver stiffness among patients following treatment with DAAs and evaluate risk factors associated with hepatic fibrosis.

New Definition of Light Chain Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance.

Importance: Recent studies suggest standard reference intervals for serum free light chains (FLC) are inaccurate and that this problem can only be partially remedied by using separate reference intervals for individuals with impaired kidney function. This decreases the utility of FLC testing in the clinical evaluation and follow-up of plasma cell disorders, particularly affecting the diagnosis of light chain (LC) monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).

Objective: To evaluate the distribution of serum FLC and FLC ratios in individuals with preserved kidney function and to propose revised reference intervals and a new definition of LC-MGUS.

Sequence diversity lost in early pregnancy.

Every generation, the human genome is shuffled during meiosis and a single fertilized egg gives rise to all of the cells of the body. Meiotic errors leading to chromosomal abnormalities are known causes of pregnancy loss, but genetic aetiologies of euploid pregnancy loss remain largely unexplained. Here we characterize sequence diversity in early pregnancy loss through whole-genome sequencing of 1,007 fetal samples and 934 parental samples from 467 trios affected by pregnancy loss (fetus, mother and father).

IRE1α promotes phagosomal calcium flux to enhance macrophage fungicidal activity.

The mammalian endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) is essential for cellular homeostasis and plays key roles in infection responses, including innate immunity and microbicidal activity. While IRE1α functions through the IRE1α-XBP1S axis are known, its XBP1S-independent roles are less well understood, and its functions during fungal infection are still emerging. We demonstrate that Candida albicans activates macrophage IRE1α via C-type lectin receptor signaling independent of protein misfolding, suggesting non-canonical activation.

Genome-wide analyses identify 25 infertility loci and relationships with reproductive traits across the allele frequency spectrum.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) may help inform the etiology of infertility. Here, we perform GWAS meta-analyses across seven cohorts in up to 42,629 cases and 740,619 controls and identify 25 genetic risk loci for male and female infertility. We additionally identify up to 269 genetic loci associated with follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol and testosterone through sex-specific GWAS meta-analyses (n = 6,095-246,862).

Probabilistic ranking of plant cultivars: stability explains differences from mean rank.

An alternative to ranking cultivars based on mean and stability of phenotype is evaluating pairs of cultivars and for each pair estimating which cultivar is more likely to perform better across a random subset of target environments. Such pairwise probabilistic order can then be translated into probabilistic ranking of all cultivars that accounts for both mean and stability in a single metric. Mean and probabilistic order will be the same for most cultivar pairs; but the pairs that differ reflect differences in stability and should thus be at least partially explained by existing stability measures.

Metabolic adaptability and nutrient scavenging in : insights from ingestion pathway-deficient mutants.

Unlabelled: The obligate intracellular parasite replicates within a specialized compartment called the parasitophorous vacuole (PV). Recent work showed that despite living within a PV, endocytoses proteins from the cytosol of infected host cells via a so-called ingestion pathway. The ingestion pathway is initiated by dense granule protein GRA14, which binds host endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) machinery to bud vesicles into the lumen of the PV.

The association between elevated preoperative red cell distribution width and worsening kidney function after noncardiac operation. A propensity score and competing risk weighted retrospective cohort study.

Background: Elevated red cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with increased postoperative mortality, but less is known about kidney outcomes. This study investigated the association between elevated preoperative RDW and postoperative worsening of long-term kidney function and incidence of acute kidney injury.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients ≥18 yr undergoing noncardiac operation at Landspitali-The National University Hospital of Iceland between 2005 and 2018.

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula: review of clinical presentation, prognosis and imaging findings.

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVF) are rare vascular lesions in the spine. Misdiagnosis is frequent due to non-specific symptoms, which leads to delayed treatment and poorer prognosis. This study reviews the clinical presentation, diagnosis and outcomes of SDAVF cases in Iceland to raise awareness of this rare, but potentially debilitating condition.

Maximizing Collagen Yield from Underutilized Lumpfish () Skins by Optimizing Pre-Cleaning and Extraction Methods.

Female lumpfish () are a primary target of commercial fishery for their roe, a substitute for caviar. The remaining carcasses are underutilized rest raw material. The pre-treatment and acid extraction conditions of collagen from lumpfish skins were optimized.

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and the risk of thrombotic events: Results from iStopMM, a prospective population-based screening study.

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is the asymptomatic precursor of multiple myeloma and related diseases but has also been associated with thrombosis. Prior studies have not been based on screened cohorts leading to bias. We assessed the risk of thrombosis in a cohort of 75 422 individuals over 40 years old who were screened for MGUS in Iceland.

Approaching hypercalcemia in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance: insights from the iStopMM screening study.

Hypercalcemia in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) presents a clinical challenge because it may indicate progression to multiple myeloma (MM) but could also be due to a multitude of unrelated disorders. To inform the approach to this clinical challenge, we conducted a nested cohort study within the Iceland Screens, Treats, or Prevents Multiple Myeloma screening study. Of the 75 422 Icelanders aged 40 years and above who underwent screening for MGUS, we included 2546 with MGUS who were in active follow-up, including regular serum calcium measurements.

The significance of free light-chain ratio in light-chain monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance: a flow cytometry sub-study of the iStopMM screening study.

Light-chain (LC) monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a precursor of multiple myeloma (MM) and related conditions. LC-MGUS is characterized by free light-chain (FLC) levels outside defined reference intervals, indirectly indicating underlying plasma cell (PC) monoclonality. Next-generation flow cytometry (NGF) was used to evaluate clonal PC presence in bone marrow (BM) samples from individuals with LC-MGUS in the iStopMM study, aiming to assess the predictive value of the FLC ratio for clonal PC presence and its prognostic implications.