Pain tolerance after stroke: The Tromsø study

Background: Stroke lesions might alter pain processing and modulation by affecting the widely distributed network of brain regions involved. We aimed to compare pain tolerance in stroke survivors and stroke-free persons in the general population, with and without chronic pain. Methods: We included all participants of the sixth and seventh wave of the population-based Tromsø Study who had been tested with the cold pressor test (hand in cold water bath, 3°C, maximum time 106 s in the sixth wave and 120 s in the seventh) and who had information on previous stroke status and covariates. Data on stroke status were obtained from the Tromsø Study Cardiovascular Disease Register and the Norwegian Stroke Register. Cox regression models were fitted using stroke prior to study attendance as the independent variable, cold pressor endurance time as time variable and hand withdrawal from cold water as event. Statistical adjustments were made for age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, body mass index and smoking. Results: In total 21,837 participants were included, 311 of them with previous stroke. Stroke was associated with decreased cold pain tolerance time, with 28% increased hazard of hand withdrawal (hazard ratio [HR] 1.28, 95% CI 1.10–1.50). The effect was similar in participants with (HR 1.28, 95% CI 0.99–1.66) and without chronic pain (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04–1.59). Conclusions: Stroke survivors, with and without chronic pain, had lower cold pressor pain tolerance, with possible clinical implications for pain in this group. Significance: We found lower pain tolerance in participants with previous stroke compared to stroke-free participants of a large, population-based study. The association was present both in those with and without chronic pain. The results may warrant increased awareness by health professionals towards pain experienced by stroke patients in response to injuries, diseases and procedures

„Það er fróðlegt og krefjandi að vinna í teymi“- Þverfræðilegt nám á heilbrigðisvísindasviði Háskóla Íslands: þriggja ára þróunarverkefni

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Quantification of grazing efficacy, growth and health score of different lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) families: possible size and gender effects

Postponed access: the file will be available after 2022-09-12To investigate the possible family influence on sea lice grazing of lumpfish on Atlantic salmon, ten families of lumpfish (N = 480) with a mean (± SD) weight of 54.8 ± 9.2 g were distributed among ten sea cages (5 × 5 × 5 m) each stocked with 400 Atlantic salmon with a mean (± SD) weight of 621.4 ± 9.2 g. All the ten cages were stocked with 48 lumpfish (12% stocking density). The stocking of cages was such that each cage consisted of two random families where full- and paternal half-sib families were randomly allocated to the different cages. There were clear differences in sea lice grazing efficacy, growth and cataract prevalence between the ten families assessed in this study. Lumpfish from families 2, 6 and 10 had the lowest mean weights but showed comparable growth rates compared to the other families throughout the study and this may be as a direct result of genetic influence. In addition, fish from these families had a significantly higher incidence of lice grazing of both L. salmonis and C. elongatus compared to the other families. Using mixed linear model to analyse the data revealed significant family and paternal effect on sea lice grazing. There was a trend for a reduction in sea lice grazing with increased size within each family. The results indicated that it was the smallest size classes of lumpfish (40–140 g) which exhibited higher sea lice grazing potential compared to the larger size classes within families. There were no clear differences in the lice grazing potential between male and female lumpfish within and between families. Overall, present findings showed that sea lice grazing of both L. salmonis and C. elongatus can be enhanced using targeted family production and if this behaviour has a genetic basis it may further enhanced through selection and targeted breeding programs.acceptedVersio

Er þörf á sérstakri heilbrigðismóttöku fyrir háskólanemendur?

Efst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinnTilgangur: Víða erlendis hafa háskólanemendur aðgang að heilbrigðisþjónustu sem er sérstaklega ætluð þeim. Tilgangur þessarar könnunar meðal nemenda við Háskóla Íslands var að skoða þörf þeirra fyrir sérstaka heilbrigðismóttöku. Aðferð: Rafræn könnun var lögð fyrir 9744 nemendur við háskólann vorið 2011 sem voru á póstlista. Spurningalistinn var saminn af vinnuhópi sem í voru fulltrúar frá öllum deildum Heilbrigðisvísindasviðs Háskóla Íslands. Stuðst var við lýsandi tölfræði við gagnagreiningu. Niðurstöður: Alls bárust svör frá 1487 þátttakendum, 1427 íslenskumælandi og 60 enskumælandi, og gefa svörin því mynd af viðhorfum 15,2% nemenda við skólann. Úrtakið endurspeglar einkum viðhorf kvenstúdenta og nema í grunnnámi. Tæplega 40% íslensku nemanna og um 70% þeirra erlendu höfðu ekki heimilislækni á höfuðborgarsvæðinu. Niðurstöður sýndu að meirihluti þeirra þurfti á heilbrigðisþjónustu að halda á árinu fyrir könnunina en rúmlega helmingur beið með að leita eftir heilbrigðisþjónustu og var meginástæða þess kostnaður. Um þriðjungur íslensku nemanna og fimmtungur þeirra erlendu sögðust eiga í fjárhagsvanda. Um 92% þeirra íslensku og allir erlendu nemarnir sögðust mundu leita á móttöku þar sem þjónustan væri veitt af nemendum skólans undir leiðsögn kennara. Báðir hóparnir vildu hafa aðgang að fjölbreyttri heilbrigðisþjónustu. Ályktanir: Niðurstöðurnar gefa til kynna að þeir háskólanemendur, sem þátt tóku í könnuninni, hafi mikla þörf fyrir sérstaka heilbrigðismóttöku. Kostnaður hefur hvað mest hindrað þá í að leita eftir heilbrigðisþjónustu. Jafnframt er stór hópur án heimilislæknis, einkum sá erlendi, og hefur því ekki greiðan aðgang að heilbrigðisþjónustu á heilsugæslustöðvum.Purpose: In many neighbouring countries university students have access to health services which are specially geared to their needs. The purpose of this survey among university students at the University of Iceland was to explore their need for a special health service. Method: The online survey was administered to 9744 students at the university in the spring of 2011 who were registered e-mail recipients, both Icelandic and English-speaking. The questionnaire was developed by a working group which consisted of representatives from all the faculties at the School of Health Sciences. Data were analysed by descriptive statistical methods. Results: There were 1487 participants who responded, 1427 Icelandic and 60 English-speaking representing 15,2% of the university student population. The sample represents especially the attitudes of undergraduate and female students. Almost 40% of the Icelandic students and nearly 70% of the English-speaking students did not have a family practitioner in the capital area. The results showed that the great majority of respondents had needed health services in the year before the study took place. More than half of them reported that they had postponed seeking health services citing cost as the main reason. About 92% of the Icelandic students and all of the foreign students reported that they would attend a health clinic which was provided by university students under supervision. Both groups would like to have access to various health care services. Conclusions: The results indicate that university students who answered the questionnaire had a great need for special health clinic. Costs of service had mainly prevented them from seeking health care services. Additionally, the proportion of students without a family practitioner is high, especially among the foreign students, which is a further hindrance regarding access to primary health care services.Heilbrigðisvísindasvið Landspítal

Skrif Íslendinga um verki og verkjameðferð á árunum 1908-2003

Neðst á síðunni er að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinn View/OpenHér er ætlunin að fjalla stuttlega um niðurstöður skýrslu um skrif Íslendinga á árunum 1980 - 2003 um verki og verkjameðferð. Markmið skýrsluhöfunda var að komast að því hve mikið hefur verið skrifað um þetta efni á þessu tímabili, hvar efnið hefur birst, hvenær það var skrifað, hverjir skrifuðu um þetta efni og hvað helst var skrifað um á þessu sviði

Associations between cognitive test scores and pain tolerance: The Tromsø study

The aim of this study is to assess this relationship in a large population-based sample. Methods ‒ We included 5,753 participants (aged 40–84 years) from the seventh wave of the population-based Tromsø Study who had been examined with cognitive tests and experimental pain assessments, and for whom informa tion on covariates were available. Cox regression models were fitted using standardized scores on cognitive tests (12- word immediate recall test, digit symbol coding test, and Mini-Mental State Examination [MMS-E]) as the independent variable and cold pressor or cuff pressure pain tolerance as the dependent variables. Statistical adjustment was made for putative confounders, namely, age, sex, education, smoking, exercise, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, symptoms indicating anxiety or depression, analgesic use, and chronic pain. Results ‒ In multivariate analysis, cold pressor tolerance time was significantly associated with test scores on the 12- word immediate recall test (hazard ratio [HR] 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.90–0.97, p < 0.001), the digit symbol coding test (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.89–0.98, p = 0.004), and the MMS-E (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90–0.96 p < 0.001). Tolerance to cuff pressure algometry was significantly associated with 12-word immediate recall (HR 0.94–0.97, p < 0.001) and Digit Symbol Coding test scores (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89–0.96, p < 0.001) while there was no significant association with Mini Mental State Examination test score (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.95–1.00, p = 0.082). Conclusion ‒ Lower pain tolerance was associated with poorer performance on cognitive tests

Oral health problems in nursing homes, revision of oral health care delivery is needed

Lýðheilsusjóður og Rannsóknarsjóður Hrafnistu fá þakkir fyrir styrki vegna rannsóknar, starfsfólk fyrir aðstoð á vettvangi og þátttakendur fyrir framlag sitt til rannsóknar. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Laeknafelag Islands. All rights reserved.INTRODUCTION: Prevalence of oral health problems among nursing home residents is common, they suffer from oral diseases and need dental service. The aim of this study was to examine clinical oral health of Icelandic nursing home residents and their oral health quality of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Total (N=82) residents in two nursing homes in Reykjavik gave their consent to be involved in this descriptive cross-sectional study. Residents participated in a clinical oral health examination at site and answered oral health quality of life questionnaire. RESULTS: Total 89% (N=73) residents completed the study, mean age 86.8 years (SD=5.7, range 73-100 years), of whom third had their own teeth and like had teeth, and partial dentures, while 41.1% were completely edentulous. The clinical oral health examination showed high prevalence of untreated oral health problems (67%). Residents with the worst oral health scored significantly higher than those who were better dentate, affecting their oral health quality of life (p=0.014), functional limitation (p=0.002) and physical disability (p=0.000). Most oral health problems interrelated to chewing, eating and limited ability to eat certain foods affecting their capability of food intake. CONCLUSION: Current administration of oral health care in nursing home needs alteration and the qualification in geriatric oral health and oral health care must be guaranteed among nursing staff in these settings. The public and health professions should work together in oral care matters in nursing homes to maintain oral health and lifelong oral health quality of life among residents.Peer reviewe

Investigating the Burden of Chronic Pain: An Inflammatory and Metabolic Composite

BACKGROUND. Chronic pain is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, predominated by cardiovascular disease and cancer. Investigating related risk factor measures may elucidate the biological burden of chronic pain. OBJECTIVES. We hypothesized that chronic pain severity would be positively associated with the risk factor composite. METHODS. Data from 12,982 participants in the 6th Tromsø study were analyzed. Questionnaires included demographics, health behaviors, medical comorbidities, and chronic pain symptoms. The risk factor composite was comprised of body mass index, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, and triglycerides. Chronic pain severity was characterized by frequency, intensity, time/duration, and total number of pain sites. RESULTS. Individuals with chronic pain had a greater risk factor composite than individuals without chronic pain controlling for covariates and after excluding inflammation-related health conditions (). A significant “dose-response” relationship was demonstrated with pain severity (). In individuals with chronic pain, the risk factor composite varied by health behavior, exercise, lower levels and smoking, and higher levels. DISCUSSION. The risk factor composite was higher in individuals with chronic pain, greater with increasing pain severity, and influenced by health behaviors. CONCLUSIONS. Identification of a biological composite sensitive to pain severity and adaptive/maladaptive behaviors would have significant clinical and research utility