Novel bioactive seaweed based ingredients and products

Marine seaweeds are a highly underutilized resource in the Nordic region with great potential. Seaweeds are known to contain unique compounds that can find many uses in consumer products. The Nordic countries have a unique position to create significant value from its very abundant seaweed resources. Previous research has demonstrated that the seaweed species bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) contains extremely bioactive antioxidants, more than any other seaweed researched. Bladderwrack was therefore the focus of this project. The overall objective of the project was to create new high value ingredients and products from a highly underutilized Nordic resource, marine seaweeds. The projectperiod was from January 2012 to December 2014. The specific objectives were:a. Development of extraction, fractionation and concentration techniques to producehigh value bioactive ingredients from marine seaweeds (bladderwrack)b. Characterize and define the bioactivity and properties of the extracted ingredientsc. Develop and produce new products containing the bioactive marine seaweed basedingredients with active participation of target consumers and usersd. Investigate the market for the ingredients and products and establish a marketingand sales plane. Scale-up production processes to produce bioactive marine seaweed basedingredient on a large scal

Acetylsalicylic acid use is associated with improved survival in bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia : A long-term nationwide study

© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Internal Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Association for Publication of The Journal of Internal Medicine. Funding Information: The Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannís, grant number 217716‐051), The Doctoral Grants of The University of Iceland Research Fund, The Scientific Fund of Landspitali—The National University Hospital of Iceland, The Scandinavian Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Foundation and the Foundation of St. Josef´s Hospital funded Kristján Godsk Rögnvaldsson´s work on this project. The funding sources had no role in the study's design, conduct, or reporting. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Internal Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Association for Publication of The Journal of Internal Medicine.BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is commonly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and associated with subsequent cardiovascular complications and increased mortality. Potential short-term survival benefits conferred by acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) use in pneumonia remain controversial, and long-term outcomes have not been studied. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between ASA use and survival for up to 1 year following bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia. METHODS: All bacteremic pneumococcal episodes in Iceland from 1975 to 2019 were reviewed. The study cohort consisted of individuals at least 18 years of age with symptoms and imaging results consistent with pneumonia. Differences in survival were assessed at 30 days, 90 days and 1 year using propensity score weighting (inverse probability weighting). Splitting and stratifying on survival at 7 days was done for the 30-day survival, because of nonproportionality. RESULTS: In total, 815 bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia episodes (median age 67 years, females 48%) were identified. Cox regression using propensity score weighting on the association of ASA with survival at 30 days showed an average hazard ratio (HR) of 0.60 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.34-1.05). A significantly improved survival was observed within 7 days (HR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.19-0.92) but not during days 7-30 (HR = 1.08, 95% CI 0.46-2.55). ASA was associated with survival at 90 days (HR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.32-0.87) and 1 year (HR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.31-0.75). CONCLUSION: Use of ASA upon admission for bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia is associated with significantly reduced mortality for up to 1 year after diagnosis. ASA therapy in patients with pneumonia and other infectious syndromes warrants further study.Peer reviewe

Future Opportunities for Bioeconomy : Focus on the West Nordic Region

This final report provides an overview of bioresources in the West Nordic region focusing on Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, their utilisation and future opportunities based on green growth. The report provides good basis for strategic identification of beneficial projects in the region. Based on the results, a specific action plan has been formed consisting of four main actions; 1. Create a West Nordic Bioeconomy panel, 2. Establish an interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence (CoE) for the West Nordic region, 3. Arctic bioeconomy II – Project focusing on opportunities in biotechnology and 4. Program focusing on “The Blue Bioeconomy”