Prevalence assessment of the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis across two habitat types in East Tennessee

In light of the biodiversity crisis facing amphibian populations globally, studies investigating the pathogenic amphibian fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) are a foremost priority for biologists. Understanding effects of habitat variation on Bd prevalence is important for identifying populations that are most at risk and can help to inform management decisions. Using American Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) and Green Frogs (Lithobates clamitans) as study organisms, this research sought to investigate how prevalence of Bd varies between natural wetlands and urban retention ponds in East Tennessee while also examining relevant habitat factors and morphometrics. A total of 373 frogs were sampled across six retention ponds and six wetlands distributed evenly between two basin level hydrologic unit codes. Of the frogs sampled, 11 tested positive for Bd. These data provide new insights into the status of Bd prevalence and distribution in Tennessee and provide information useful in future conservation and remediation efforts

Norwegian - American trade, postwar development.

Typescript. Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston University Includes bibliographical references

A new treatment for eating disorders combining physical exercise and dietary therapy (the PED-t): experiences from patients who dropped out

publishedVersio

A validation of register-derived diagnoses of interstitial lung disease in patients with inflammatory arthritis: data from the NOR-DMARD study

OBJECTIVE There is a lack of knowledge concerning the validity of the interstitial lung disease (ILD) diagnoses used in epidemiological studies on rheumatic diseases. This paper seeks to verify register-derived ILD diagnoses using chest computed tomography (CT) and medical records as a gold standard. METHOD The Norwegian Anti-Rheumatic Drug Register (NOR-DMARD) is a multicentre prospective observational study of patients with inflammatory arthritis who start treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. NOR-DMARD is linked to the Norwegian Patient Registry (NPR) and Cause of Death Registry. We searched registers for ILD coded by ICD-10 J84 or J99 among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or spondyloarthritis. We extracted chest CT reports and medical records from participating hospitals. Two expert thoracic radiologists scored examinations to confirm the ILD diagnosis. We also searched medical records to find justifications for the diagnosis following multidisciplinary evaluations. We calculated the positive predictive values (PPVs) for ILD across subsets. RESULTS We identified 71 cases with an ILD diagnosis. CT examinations were available in 65/71 patients (91.5%), of whom ILD was confirmed on CT in 29/65 (44.6%). In a further 10 patients, medical records confirmed the diagnosis, giving a total of 39/71 verified cases. The PPV of a register-derived ILD diagnosis was thus 54.9%. In a subset of patients who had received an ILD code at two or more time-points and had a CT scan taken within a relevant period, the PPV was 72.2%. CONCLUSION The validity of register-based diagnoses of ILD must be carefully considered in epidemiological studies

A zinc oxide-modified hydroxyapatite-based cement facilitated new crystalline-stoichiometric and amorphous apatite precipitation on dentine.

Aim: To evaluate the remineralization ability of two dentin canal sealer cements. Methodology: Dentin surfaces were subjected to: i) 37% phosphoric acid (PA) or ii) 0.5 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) conditioning prior to the application of two experimental hydroxyapatite-based cements, containing sodium hydroxide (calcypatite) or zinc oxide (oxipatite), respectively. Samples were stored in simulated body fluid during 24 h or 21 d. Remineralization of the dentin surfaces were studied by Raman spectroscopy, mapping with K-means cluster and hierarchical cluster analysis were done. Nano-roughness and collagen fibrils width measurements were performed by means of an atomic force microscopy. Results: PA+oxipatite promoted both the highest dentin mineralization and crystallographic maturity at the dentin surface. Non-crystalline amorphous-like apatites were also formed. Dentin treated with PA+calcypatite attained the roughest surface with minimal fibril width. Crosslinking of collagen only raised in the group PA+oxipatite, after 21 d. The maximum relative mineral concentration and structure of collagen referred to amide I and ratio amide III/AGEs was achieved after using PA+calcypatite at 21 d time point. EDTA produced a lower stoichiometric hydroxyapatite with decreased maturity, at the expense of the carbonate band widening, though it favored the nucleation of carbonated calcium phosphate. Conclusions: Surfaces treated with PA+oxipatite attained the highest dentin remineralization with both crystalline-stoichiometric and amorphous apatites, at long term. EDTA conditioning facilitated amorphous-bulk mineral precipitation. This amorphization, more intense after using oxipatite, provided an ion-rich environment favoring in situ dentin remineralization.This work was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) [Project MAT2014-52036-P] and European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)

Apparent diffusion coefficient values in Modic changes – interobserver reproducibility and relation to Modic type

Background Modic Changes (MCs) in the vertebral bone marrow were related to back pain in some studies but have uncertain clinical relevance. Diffusion weighted MRI with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)-measurements can add information on bone marrow lesions. However, few have studied ADC measurements in MCs. Further studies require reproducible and valid measurements. We expect valid ADC values to be higher in MC type 1 (oedema type) vs type 3 (sclerotic type) vs type 2 (fatty type). Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to evaluate ADC values in MCs for interobserver reproducibility and relation to MC type. Methods We used ADC maps (b 50, 400, 800 s/mm2) from 1.5 T lumbar spine MRI of 90 chronic low back pain patients with MCs in the AIM (Antibiotics In Modic changes)-study. Two radiologists independently measured ADC in fixed-sized regions of interests. Variables were MC-ADC (ADC in MC), MC-ADC% (0% = vertebral body, 100% = cerebrospinal fluid) and MC-ADC-ratio (MC-ADC divided by vertebral body ADC). We calculated mean difference between observers ± limits of agreement (LoA) at separate endplates. The relation between ADC variables and MC type was assessed using linear mixed-effects models and by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results The 90 patients (mean age 44 years; 54 women) had 224 MCs Th12-S1 comprising type 1 (n = 111), type 2 (n = 91) and type 3 MC groups (n = 22). All ADC variables had higher predicted mean for type 1 vs 3 vs 2 (p  50% of their mean value was less frequent for MC-ADC (9% of MCs) vs MC-ADC% and MC-ADC-ratio (17–20%). Conclusions The MC-ADC variable (highest mean ADC in the MC) had best interobserver reproducibility, discriminated between MC type groups, and may be used in further research. ADC values differed between MC types as expected from previously reported MC histology.publishedVersio

Norwegian society of rheumatology recommendations on diagnosis and treatment of patients with giant cell arteritis

ObjectiveTo provide clinical guidance to Norwegian Rheumatologists and other clinicians involved in diagnosing and treating patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA).MethodsThe available evidence in the field was reviewed, and the GCA working group wrote draft guidelines. These guidelines were discussed and revised according to standard procedures within the Norwegian Society of Rheumatology. The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations for imaging and treatment in large vessel vasculitis and the British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) guidelines for diagnostics and treatment in GCA informed the development of the current guidelines.ResultsA total of 13 recommendations were developed. Ultrasound is recommended as the primary diagnostic test. In patients with suspected GCA, treatment with high doses of Prednisolone (40–60 mg) should be initiated immediately. For patients with refractory disease or relapse, Methotrexate (MTX) should be used as the first-line adjunctive therapy, followed by tocilizumab (TCZ).ConclusionNorwegian recommendations for diagnostics and treatment to improve management and outcome in patients with GCA were developed

Follow-Up of Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis in Specialist Health Care With Remote Monitoring and Self-Monitoring Compared With Regular Face-to-Face Follow-Up Visits (the ReMonit Study) : Protocol for a Randomized, Controlled Open-Label Noninferiority Trial

Funding Information: The ReMonit study and the qualitative substudy received funding from the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority (funding number 2021062) and the Centre for Treatment of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (REMEDY), Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Norway (funding number 328657).Peer reviewe

"Eksistensiell omsorg" i bachelorutdanningen i sykepleie - En dokumentanalyse

Bakgrunn: Sykepleiere møter pasienter der kunnskaper og ferdigheter innen eksistensiell omsorg kan utgjøre en stor forskjell i hvordan pasientene håndterer eksistensielle utfordringer. Både helse- og utdanningsmyndigheter har klare forventninger om at sykepleiere har den nødvendige kompetansen til å ivareta pasientenes eksistensielle behov. En viktig forutsetning er da at undervisningstilbudet ved de utdanningsinstitusjonene som tilbyr norsk bachelorutdanning i sykepleie, svarer til slike forventninger. Hensikt: Studiens hensikt er å beskrive i hvilken grad eksistensiell omsorg er konkretisert i studieplaner, emneplaner og pensumlister i norsk bachelorutdanning i sykepleie. Metode: Vi gjennomførte en summativ innholdsanalyse av studie- og emneplanene til de 13 utdanningsinstitusjonene som tilbyr bachelorgrad i sykepleie, for å undersøke forekomsten av temaet «eksistensiell omsorg» og hvordan det uttrykkes i dokumentene. Resultat: Eksistensiell omsorg var tematisert i ni av de tretten utdanningene (69 prosent). Åtte utdanninger (67 prosent) hadde temaet «eksistensiell omsorg» og/eller «åndelig omsorg» i pensumlistene, mens en langt lavere andel hadde det i studieplanene (15 prosent) og læringsutbyttebeskrivelsene (8 prosent). En overordnet tendens var at kompetansekravene var forankret i praktiske ferdigheter, og i mindre grad også som «kunnskap» og «generell kompetanse». Konklusjon: Eksistensiell omsorg er godt integrert i studieplaner, emneplaner og pensumlister i norsk sykepleierutdanning. Læringsutbyttebeskrivelsene kan likevel bli enda mer presise og etterprøvbare. Kunnskaps- og ferdighetsdimensjonen i kompetansekravene bør også likestilles. Dette er det rom for i de nye nasjonale retningslinjene for sykepleierutdanningen, som gir enda tydeligere signaler om at eksistensiell omsorg skal integreres i utdanninge