Estimation of the patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) threshold for the Banff Patellofemoral Instability Instrument 2.0.

Purpose: There is a paucity of studies reporting patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) thresholds for patient reported outcome measures validated for patellar instability. The aim of this study was to determine the PASS threshold for the Banff Patellofemoral Instability Instrument 2.0 (BPII) following surgery for recurrent patellar instability.

Biofeedback therapy using Cerebri for the prevention of migraine attacks in adults with episodic migraine (BioCer): a randomized, wait-list controlled trial - the study protocol.

Introduction: Biofeedback is a non-pharmacological treatment option valued for its minimal risk of adverse events and offers a safe alternative for individuals seeking preventive care for migraine. Despite level A evidence for migraine prevention, biofeedback treatment is still unavailable to most patients. We developed a novel medical device (Cerebri) for multimodal biofeedback treatment that omits the need for healthcare personnel involvement.

Treating rheumatoid arthritis in Zanzibar: a cost effectiveness study comparing conventional, biologic, and targeted-synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory joint disease with low treatment coverage in sub-Saharan Africa. Effective treatment strategies are available. We aimed to evaluate the cost effectiveness of six disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) treat-to-target treatment strategies for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Zanzibar.

Diagnostic Accuracy of a Host Response Test in Suspected Community-Acquired Pneumonia During the COVID-19 Era.

Community-acquired pneumonia [CAP] is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, often complicated by diagnostic uncertainty and antibiotic overuse. This study evaluated the MeMed BV® host-response test in adults with suspected CAP, using clinical management and molecular detection as reference standards. Among 744 patients presenting with suspected CAP at Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway (2019-2023), across three prospective studies, 453 were included in the present study.

Response to biologics along a gradient of T2 involvement in patients with severe asthma: a data-driven biomarker clustering approach.

Background: Asthma with low levels of T2-biomarkers is poorly understood.

Objective: To characterize severe asthma phenotypes and compare pre- to post-biologic change in asthma outcomes along a gradient of T2-involvement.

Methods: This was a registry-based, cohort study including data from 24 countries.

Diversity of domestic and imported assemblages of Giardia in Norway and multi-locus sequence typing of domestic assemblage A isolates.

Giardia duodenalis is a gastrointestinal parasite and one of the most frequently reported parasitic infections associated with contaminated water. This study investigated the diversity of domestic and imported Giardia assemblages in Norway, with a focus on the genetic characterization of domestic assemblage A isolates using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) targeting six genome markers. We analysed 340 human, and 40 animal faecal samples collected between February 2022 and January 2024 from six medical microbiology laboratories and one veterinary diagnostic center across four Norwegian health regions.

Inflammation awakens dormant cancer cells by modulating the epithelial-mesenchymal phenotypic state.

The awakening of dormant disseminated cancer cells appears to be responsible for the clinical relapses of patients whose primary tumors have been successfully cured months and even years earlier. In the present study, we demonstrate that dormant breast cancer cells lodged in the lungs reside in a highly mesenchymal, nonproliferative phenotypic state. The awakening of these cells is not triggered by a cancer cell-autonomous process.

Paternal prepubertal passive smoke exposure is related to impaired lung function trajectories from childhood to middle age in their offspring.

Introduction: Paternal prepubertal passive smoke exposure may increase the risk of childhood asthma. However, its association with impaired lung function trajectories at risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in offspring was not investigated. We assessed the association between paternal prepubertal passive smoke exposure and lung function from childhood to middle age in their offspring.

Risk of acute somatic hospital admissions among seafarers: a registry-based study in Norway.

Objectives: To investigate whether seafarers in Norway who were declared unfit for service at sea or received a time-limited health certificate had a higher risk of acute somatic hospital admissions compared with those who received a full health certificate.

Design: Registry-based cohort study.

Setting: Seafarers in Norway who presented to a seafarer's doctor to obtain a health certificate between 2018 and 2019, as required for work aboard Norwegian vessels.

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) alleles suggested to be associated with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic and debilitating disease with unknown cause. Involvement of infection and immune dysregulation has been suggested, including changes in immune cell subsets and abnormal functions of natural killer (NK) cells. The regulatory NK cell receptors, killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) have previously been investigated in small cohorts of ME/CFS patients with conflicting results regarding gene content.

Measuring pain intensity in categories through a novel electronic device during experimental cold-induced pain.

Objectives: Pain assessment is challenging given its subjective nature, and existing assessment tools have limitations, especially for patients having problems with verbal communication. A prior study evaluated the Grasp, a handheld device for assessing pain intensity through squeezing, showing a moderate association with the numeric rating scale (NRS). This study examined an improved version of the Grasp with instant visual feedback through color-coded categories and compared it to NRS.

Proposal of a new visual analogue scale to describe the extent of lymphadenectomy in right-sided colectomy for cancer-a prospective observational study.

Background: Lymphadenectomy in right-sided colon cancer lacks standardized reporting. The aim was to develop a visual analogue scale (VAS) based on mesenteric vessels to describe the extent of lymphadenectomy.

Methods: We included patients undergoing surgery for right-sided colon cancer from January 2021 to September 2024.

Patellofemoral arthroplasty-patient demographics and revision causes compared with total and medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: long-term follow-up data from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register.

Background And Purpose:  Patellofemoral arthroplasty (PFA) is a rare surgical procedure for isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA). This study compares patient demographics, long-term survival rates, revision risks, and causes of revision in PFA with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA).

Methods: Data from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register (NAR) (1994-2022) included 725 PFA, 102,135 TKA, and 14,315 UKA procedures.

The Relation Between Auditory Cognitive Control and Vagally-Mediated Heart Rate Variability in and Outside the Lab: Differential Effects of Circadian Rhythm?

Auditory cognitive control is crucial for filtering relevant information from irrelevant distractions, a frequent challenge in noisy everyday environments. This study investigates the association between vagally mediated heart rate variability (HRV) and auditory cognitive control, employing the Bergen Dichotic Listening (BDL) task. We hypothesized that higher HRV would be associated with enhanced performance in the cognitively demanding forced-left (FL) condition of the BDL, which is a validated measure of auditory cognitive control.

Oral Characteristics in Individuals With PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome.

Aim: To describe the oral characteristics and evaluate the oral health status of patients with PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome (PHTS).

Materials And Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study enrolled participants diagnosed with PHTS at Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. A comprehensive oral investigation was performed, including clinical dental and periodontal examination, assessments of gingival overgrowth and palate architecture, intraoral radiographs, orthopantomogram and intraoral optical scanning.

Ticagrelor and Aspirin or Aspirin Alone after Coronary Surgery for Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background: Patients benefit from antiplatelet therapy after coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) for an acute coronary syndrome. Whether the addition of ticagrelor to aspirin, as compared with aspirin alone, further reduces the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes is unclear.

Methods: In this open-label, registry-based, clinical trial conducted at 22 Nordic cardiothoracic surgery centers, we randomly assigned patients in a 1:1 ratio to receive either ticagrelor plus aspirin or aspirin alone for 1 year after CABG for an acute coronary syndrome.

Beta-Blockers after Myocardial Infarction in Patients without Heart Failure.

Background: The evidence supporting beta-blocker therapy after myocardial infarction was established before the introduction of modern coronary reperfusion therapy and secondary prevention strategies.

Methods: In an open-label, randomized trial with blinded end-point evaluation, conducted in Denmark and Norway, we assigned patients who had had a myocardial infarction and who had a left ventricular ejection fraction of at least 40%, in a 1:1 ratio, to receive long-term beta-blocker therapy within 14 days after the event or no beta-blocker therapy. The primary end point was a composite of death from any cause or major adverse cardiovascular events (new myocardial infarction, unplanned coronary revascularization, ischemic stroke, heart failure, or malignant ventricular arrhythmias).

Periprosthetic femoral fracture following hip arthroplasty : which component design and fixation method has the lowest risk of reoperation?

Aims: Periprosthetic femoral fracture (PPFF) is a major complication following hip arthroplasty. This study examined the influence of femoral component design and fixation method on the risk of reoperation for PPFF.

Methods: We analyzed data on femoral component type use for primary hip arthroplasty stems reported to the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register and the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2023.

Effect of early highly effective treatment compared to an escalating treatment strategy in multiple sclerosis.

Background: In this project we evaluate the effectiveness of preferentially initiating highly effective treatment vs. an escalating treatment strategy at time of diagnosis in a real-world clinical setting. We compare treatment outcomes before and after the implementation of new guidelines in a Norwegian MS-clinic in 2017.

Three-Year-Follow-Up of the NOTION-2 Trial: TAVR Versus SAVR to Treat Younger Low-Risk Patients with Tricuspid or Bicuspid Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is increasingly performed in younger, low surgical risk patients. This NOTION-2 study reports mid-term outcomes in low-risk patients aged 60-75 years with severe tricuspid or bicuspid aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing TAVR or surgical valve replacement.

Methods: A total of 370 patients (mean age 71.

Folate supplement dosage for pregnant people with epilepsy: Survey of international experts recommendation and current practices.

Objective: Folic acid supplementation is recommended by WHO for all pregnancies to reduce the risk of neural tube defects and improve neurodevelopmental outcomes. No study to date directly compares the effects on children's outcomes for different folic acid dosages taken by pregnant people with epilepsy. Thus, the optimal folic acid dosing remains unclear, with current guidelines recommending a wide range of doses (.

Student perspectives on AI-supported formative assessment in pharmacology.

Aims: High-quality feedback is crucial for helping medical students understand and apply core concepts of pharmacology, yet personalized feedback is resource-intensive to produce. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers a potential solution, but little is known about students' perspectives on AI-generated feedback. This study investigated how medical students perceived and made use of AI feedback in a formative assessment while studying fundamental pharmacology.

The effect of fruit smoothie supplementation on psychological distress and biomarkers among people with opioid dependence receiving opioid agonist therapy: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Unhealthy diets are common among individuals with opioid dependence. While fruit- and vegetable-rich diets have shown mental health benefits, evidence is limited for those receiving opioid agonist therapy (OAT). This trial evaluated the effectiveness of fruit smoothie supplementation for people receiving OAT compared to standard treatment without fruit smoothie supplementation.

Advancing Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis Diagnosis: Potential of MPT64 Immunochemistry-Based Antigen Detection Test in a High-TB, Low-HIV Endemic Setting.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) remains diagnostically challenging due to its paucibacillary nature and variable presentation. Xpert and culture are limited in EPTB diagnosis due to sampling challenges, low sensitivity, and long turnaround times. This study evaluated the performance of the MPT64 antigen detection test for diagnosing EPTB, particularly tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBLN) and tuberculous pleuritis (TBP), in a high-TB, low-HIV setting.