Dentale erosjoner. Barn og unges kunnskap om dentale erosjoner

This study aimed to investigate the knowledge about dental erosion (DE) among children and adolescents 13 – 20 years. The study was based on a questionnaire regarding knowledge of DE, oral symptoms, soft drink consumption and oral hygiene habits, and was implemented at three different schools in Troms county: one occupational school (n=42) and one study specialized school (n=64) both in Sør-Troms 16-20 yrs, and one “youth-school” in Tromsø 13 yrs (n=116). The analyzes were done in SPSS using crosstabs and frequencies tables. In total 222 (n) questionnaires were answered at the three different schools. 51.8 % (n=115) of the students were boys and 48.2 % (n=107) were girls. Children and adolescents have in general little knowledge about DE. There were no significant differences when we compared age, sex and education level. The school that had most knowledge was the “study specialized school”, and the school with the poorest knowledge was the “occupational school”, although the “study specialized school” was the school that had the least amount of knowledge about etiology of DE. There were no significant differences regarding sex in our results. We found a positive correlation between consumption of soft drinks and age, with older boys having the highest consumption, and a negative correlation between oral hygiene and age

En casestudie om forebyggende mobbearbeid

Hva gjør skoler som har lykkes med å etablere en mobbeforebyggende praksis, og bidrar til et trygt og godt læringsmiljø? Innsikt i suksessfaktorer kan inspirere andre skoler i hvordan de organisererer sitt forebyggende mobbearbeid. Gjennom et casestudie belyser denne artikkelen hva som kjennetegner arbeidet til to skoler som har etablert et systematisk og forebyggende arbeid med læringsmiljøet. Dette sees i lys av teori og forskning om mobbing som argumenterer for at et godt læringsmiljø har størst betydning for å forebygge mobbing, og at faktorer på ulike nivå påvirker læringsmiljøet. Artikkelen viser at spesielt fem områder fremstår som viktige: langsiktig satsing på læringsmiljø, gjennomgående vekt på forebygging, informasjonsflyt mellom ansatte, fokus på å bygge tillit mellom lærer og elev og på brukerinvolvering.publishedVersio

A randomized controlled trial of Goal Management Training for executive functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorders or psychosis risk syndromes

Background Executive functioning is essential to daily life and severely impaired in schizophrenia and psychosis risk syndromes. Goal Management Training (GMT) is a theoretically founded, empirically supported, metacognitive strategy training program designed to improve executive functioning. Methods A randomized controlled parallel group trial compared GMT with treatment as usual among 81 participants (GMT, n = 39 versus Wait List Controls, n = 42) recruited from an early intervention for psychosis setting. Computer generated random allocation was performed by someone independent from the study team and raters post-intervention were unaware of allocation. The primary objective was to assess the impact of GMT administered in small groups for 5 weeks on executive functioning. The secondary objective was to explore the potential of the intervention in influencing daily life functioning and clinical symptoms. Results GMT improved self-reported executive functioning, measured with the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function – Adult version (BRIEF-A), significantly more than treatment as usual. A linear mixed model for repeated measures, including all partial data according to the principle of intention to treat, showed a significant group x time interaction effect assessed immediately after intervention (post-test) and 6 months after intervention (follow-up), F = 8.40, p .005, r .37. Improvement occurred in both groups in objective executive functioning as measured by neuropsychological tests, functional capacity, daily life functioning and symptoms of psychosis rated by clinicians. Self-reported clinical symptoms measured with the Symptoms Check List (SCL-10) improved significantly more after GMT than after treatment as usual, F = 5.78, p .019, r .29. Two participants withdrew due to strenuous testing and one due to adverse effects. Conclusions GMT had clinically reliable and lasting effects on subjective executive function. The intervention is a valuable addition to available treatment with considerable gains at low cost. Trial registration Registered at clinicaltrials.gov NCT03048695 09/02/2017.publishedVersio

Cumulus Cell and Oocyte Gene Expression in Prepubertal Gilts and Sows Identifies Cumulus Cells as a Prime Informative Parameter of Oocyte Quality

Cumulus cells (CCs) are pivotal during oocyte development. This study aimed to identify novel marker genes for porcine oocyte quality by examining the expression of selected genes in CCs and oocytes, employing the model of oocytes from prepubertal animals being of reduced quality compared to those from adult animals. Total RNA was extracted either directly after follicle aspiration or after in vitro maturation, followed by RT-qPCR. Immature gilt CCs accumulated BBOX1 transcripts, involved in L-carnitine biosynthesis, to a 14.8-fold higher level (p < 0.05) relative to sows, while for CPT2, participating in fatty acid oxidation, the level was 0.48 (p < 0.05). While showing no differences between gilt and sow CCs after maturation, CPT2 and BBOX1 levels in oocytes were higher in gilts at both time points. The apparent delayed lipid metabolism and reduced accumulation of ALDOA and G6PD transcripts in gilt CCs after maturation, implying downregulation of glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway, suggest gilt cumulus–oocyte complexes have inadequate ATP stores and oxidative stress balance compared to sows at the end of maturation. Reduced expression of BBOX1 and higher expression of CPT2 in CCs before maturation and higher expression of G6PD and ALDOA after maturation are new potential markers of oocyte quality.publishedVersio

Environmental factors during adolescence associated with later. Development of psychotic disorders: a nested case-control study

-Etiologies of psychotic disorders (schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) are conceptualized as interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The adolescent period is characterized by changes in social roles and expectations that may interact with biological changes or psychosocial stressors. Few studies focus on the adolescents’ own reports of perceived risk factors. To assess differences at age 16 between persons who later develop psychotic disorders (“Confirmed Psychosis”, CP) and their class-mates (“Population Controls”, PC) we collected information on: (1) Social support factors (size of social network and expectancies of social support from friends), (2) Cognitive functioning (concentrating in the classroom, actual grades and expectancies of own academic achievements) and (3) Problems and stressors in families (illness or loss of work for parents), and in relationship with others (exposure to bullying, violence or sexual violation). Self-reported data from students at 15–16 years of age were linked to the case-registers from the “Thematically Organized Psychosis (TOP) Study”. The CP group reported more economic problems in their families, smaller social network and lower academic expectation than the PC group. The results support the notion that long-term socioeconomic stressors in adolescence may serve as risk factors for the development of psychotic disorder

Quality of clinical management of cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with severe mental illness in a specialist mental health care setting

Purpose Cardiometabolic disease in patients with severe mental illness is a major cause of shortened life expectancy. There is sparse evidence of real-world clinical risk prevention practice. We investigated levels of assessments of cardiometabolic risk factors and risk management interventions in patients with severe mental illness in the Norwegian mental health service according to an acknowledged international standard. Methods We collected data from 264 patients residing in six country-wide health trusts for: (a) assessments of cardiometabolic risk and (b) assessments of levels of risk reducing interventions. Logistic regressions were employed to investigate associations between risk and interventions. Results Complete assessments of all cardiometabolic risk variables were performed in 50% of the participants and 88% thereof had risk levels requiring intervention according to the standard. Smoking cessation advice was provided to 45% of daily smokers and 4% were referred to an intervention program. Obesity was identified in 62% and was associated with lifestyle interventions. Reassessment of psychotropic medication was done in 28% of the obese patients. Women with obesity were less likely to receive dietary advice, and use of clozapine or olanzapine reduced the chances for patients with obesity of getting weight reducing interventions. Conclusions Nearly nine out of the ten participants were identified as being at cardiometabolic high risk and only half of the participants were adequately screened. Women with obesity and patients using antipsychotics with higher levels of cardiometabolic side effects had fewer adequate interventions. The findings underscore the need for standardized recommendations for identification and provision of cardiometabolic risk reducing interventions in all patients with severe mental illness.publishedVersio

Inside the clockwork of the ECHO factorial trial: A conceptual model with proposed mediators for prevention of emotional problems in children

Having interventions that are not only evidence-based and effective but also cost-effective and efficient is important for the prevention and treatment of child and adolescent emotional problems. A randomized clinical trial (RCT) tests the totalinterventions effect but does not address specific components of the intervention. In this article the hypothesis and a conceptual model of the ECHO study are presented and discussed. The ECHO intervention consists of three different components each containing two levels of intervention. By using a cluster randomized factorial design, children aged 8–12 at 40 schools across Norway will be randomized to eight different experimental conditions investigating the optimal balance between effect, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency. The article presents the design and the different components being tested and discusses how optimalization can be reached through this innovative design. The article also discusses how interventions can be improved by investigating and understanding the mechanisms of change within psychological interventions. For each of the three components in the study we consider the mediators that could be active within the intervention and how the study investigates such mediation. The results will contribute to a better understanding of how psychological interventions work and how we intend to optimize the EMOTION intervention