Individual variation and intraclass correlation in arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in chicken muscle

Chicken meat with reduced concentration of arachidonic acid (AA) and reduced ratio between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids has potential health benefits because a reduction in AA intake dampens prostanoid signaling, and the proportion between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids is too high in our diet. Analyses for fatty acid determination are expensive, and finding the optimal number of analyses to give reliable results is a challenge. The objective of the present study was i) to analyse the intraclass correlation of different fatty acids in five meat samples, of one gram each, within the same chicken thigh, and ii) to study individual variations in the concentrations of a range of fatty acids and the ratio between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid concentrations among fifteen chickens. Fifteen newly hatched broilers were fed a wheat-based diet containing 4% rapeseed oil and 1% linseed oil for three weeks. Five muscle samples from the mid location of the thigh of each chicken were analysed for fatty acid composition. The intraclass correlation (sample correlation within the same animal) was 0.85-0.98 for the ratios of total omega-6 to total omega-3 fatty acids and of AA to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). This indicates that when studying these fatty acid ratios, one sample of one gram per animal is sufficient. However, due to the high individual variation between chicken for these ratios, a relatively high number of animals (minimum 15) are required to obtain a sufficiently high power to reveal significant effects of experimental factors (e.g. feeding regimes). The present experiment resulted in meat with a favorable concentration ratio between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. The AA concentration varied from 1.5 to 2.8 g/100 g total fatty acids in thigh muscle in the fifteen broilers, and the ratio between AA and EPA concentrations ranged from 2.3 to 3.9. These differences among the birds may be due to genetic variance that can be exploited by breeding for lower AA concentration and/or a more favorable AA/EPA ratio to produce meat with health benefits

Moving from information provision to co-careering: Integrated guidance as a new approach to e-guidance in Norway

Norway has invested heavily in its career guidance system. This has allowed it to move rapidly from a relatively weak guidance system to an innovative and emergent one. One of the advantages of the historic lack of development of career guidance in the country has been the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of others and to try out new and innovative approaches. A key opportunity that the country is keen to make the most of is the potential to use digital technologies to support guidance. Following a process of exploration of this issue the government has resolved to establish an e-guidance service located in Tromsø. However, at present the nature of this service is unclear. In this article we argue that that the concepts of (1) integrated guidance, (2) instructional design and (3) co-careering should be at the heart of the new service and indeed at the heart of the delivery of guidance across Norway.Non

Chemical and Enzyme-Assisted Extraction of Fucoidan from two Species of Brown Macroalgae (Ascophyllum nodosum and Saccharina latissima)

Poster presentation at the 4th SEAWEED FOR HEALTH conference, Ourense, Galicia, Spain, 24.08.22 - 26.08.22, arranged by DIS Congress Cervice A/S. https://www.seaweed4health.org/.Macroalgae are vital species and are known to produce a wide range of bioactive compounds including polysaccharides, such as fucoidan. Traditionally, these compounds are extracted using hazardous solvents that leads to environmental pollution and waste. Considering this, more sustainable technologies are being investigated as greener alternatives. The main goal of this study was to compare the fucoidan yield of a conventional extraction (CE) with a new, greener extraction method (enzyme-assisted extraction, EAE) from two species commonly found in Norway: Ascophyllum nodosum and Saccharina latissim

Chemical and Enzyme-Assisted Extraction of Fucoidan from two Species of Brown Macroalgae (Ascophyllum nodosum and Saccharina latissima)

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Hospital physicians' experiences with procalcitonin - implications for antimicrobial stewardship; a qualitative study.

Background. Procalcitonin is an inflammatory biomarker that is sensitive for bacterial infections and a promising clinical decision aid in antimicrobial stewardship programs. However, there are few studies of physicians’ experiences concerning the use of PCT. The objective of this study was to investigate whether hospital physicians’ experience with procalcitonin after 18 months of use can inform the PCT implementation in antimicrobial stewardship programs. Materials/methods. We deployed a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with 14 hospital physicians who had experience with procalcitonin in clinical practice. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results. Physicians reported a knowledge gap, which made them uncertain about the appropriate procalcitonin use, interpretation, and trustworthiness. Simultaneously, the physicians experienced procalcitonin as a useful clinical decision aid but emphasised that their clinical evaluation of the patient was the most important factor when deciding on antibiotic treatment. Conclusions. Procalcitonin was regarded a helpful clinical tool, but the physicians called for more knowledge about its appropriate uses. Active implementation of unambiguous procalcitonin algorithms and physician education may enhance the utility of the test as an antimicrobial stewardship adjunct.publishedVersio

Tilgjengelig og samordnet : Rapport fra en kartleggings- og evalueringsundersøkelse av elevtjenesten i de videregående skolene i Oppland – med et spesielt blikk på Utdannings- og yrkesrådgivning

Rapporten sammenfatter og diskuterer funn fra en kartleggings- og evalueringsundersøkelse av status for elevtjenesten, og elevers opplevelse av utdannings- og yrkesrådgivningen i de videregående skolene i Oppland. Rapporten er basert på følgende tre forskningsspørsmål: (1) Hvordan opplever elever i videregående opplæring i Oppland skolenes utdannings- og yrkesrådgivning? Framstår elevtjenestens tjenestetilbud helhetlig for elevene? (2) Hva er status for organiseringen av elevtjenesten i Oppland? Kompetanse, ressursbruk, tidsressurs, organisering, samhandling, samarbeid, rutiner. (3) Hvilke fremtredende funn om rådgivningens effekt, organisering og innhold finner man i gjeldende forskningsbasert kunnskap? Undersøkelsen er basert på intervjuer hos et utvalg elever og utdannings- og yrkesrådgivere og dokumentstudier. Basert på en drøfting av innsikten fra undersøkelsen knyttet til disse tre spørsmålene, gis det anbefalinger for en videreutvikling av elevtjenesten og utdannings- og yrkesrådgivningen ved de videregående skolene i Oppland. Et sentralt funn i undersøkelsen er at det er utviklet gode systemer og organiseringsformer for elevtjenesten i Oppland. Det kan imidlertid synes som at skolene har et potensial i å gjøre de ulike veiledningsformene i elevtjenesten mer tilgjengelige og synlige for elevene. I rapporten foreslås ulike tiltak for å øke tilgjengeligheten. Anbefalingene relateres til en tydeliggjøring av hva som skal være målsetningen for tjenesten, mulige grep som kan bedre koordinering og samarbeid, og tiltak knyttet til kompetanseutvikling og kompetansedeling

The Role of Procalcitonin as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Tool in Patients Hospitalized with Seasonal Influenza

Background: Up to 60% of the antibiotics prescribed to patients hospitalized with seasonal influenza are unnecessary. Procalcitonin (PCT) has the potential as an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) tool because it can differentiate between viral and bacterial etiology. We aimed to explore the role of PCT as an ASP tool in hospitalized seasonal influenza patients. Methods: We prospectively included 116 adults with seasonal influenza from two influenza seasons, 2018–2020. All data was obtained from a single clinical setting and analyzed by descriptive statistics and regression models. Results: In regression analyses, we found a positive association of PCT with 30 days mortality and the amount of antibiotics used. Influenza diagnosis was associated with less antibiotic use if the PCT value was low. Patients with a low initial PCT (<0.25 µg/L) had fewer hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) days and fewer positive chest X-rays. PCT had a negative predictive value of 94% for ICU care stay, 98% for 30 days mortality, and 88% for bacterial coinfection. Conclusion: PCT can be a safe rule-out test for bacterial coinfection. Routine PCT use in seasonal influenza patients with an uncertain clinical picture, and rapid influenza PCR testing, may be efficient as ASP tools.publishedVersio

Postpartum lifestyle behaviour among women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus : evidence from the HUNT study

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A seven-year longitudinal study of the association between neurocognitive function and basic self-disorders in schizophrenia

IntroductionBasic self-disorders (SDs) and neurocognitive impairments are fundamental trait-like aspects of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. There has been little research on the association between SDs and neurocognitive impairments in schizophrenia, and no longitudinal studies have investigated if they are related. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between SDs and neurocognitive function in a follow-up study of patients with schizophrenia.MethodsSDs and neurocognition were examined in 35 patients with schizophrenia during their first treatment and 7 years later (mean 7.1, SD 0.42). SDs were examined with the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience (EASE) instrument. The neurocognitive examination included assessments of psychomotor speed, executive- and memory functions.ResultsPoorer executive functions at baseline were significantly associated with more SDs 7 years later and smaller reductions in SDs over time. There were no significant associations between other neurocognitive functions and SDs.DiscussionExecutive functions are important for self-regulation, and impairments in these functions in everyday life may have an impact on the development and/or persistence of SDs

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Short Analogues of the Marine Antimicrobial Peptide Turgencin A: Effects of SAR Optimizations, Cys-Cys Cyclization and Lipopeptide Modifications

We have synthesised short analogues of the marine antimicrobial peptide Turgencin A from the colonial Arctic ascidian Synoicum turgens. In this study, we focused on a central, cationic 12-residue Cys-Cys loop region within the sequence. Modified (tryptophan- and arginine-enriched) linear peptides were compared with Cys-Cys cyclic derivatives, and both linear and Cys-cyclic peptides were N-terminally acylated with octanoic acid (C8 ), decanoic acid (C10) or dodecanoic acid (C12). The highest antimicrobial potency was achieved by introducing dodecanoic acid to a cyclic Turgencin A analogue with low intrinsic hydrophobicity, and by introducing octanoic acid to a cyclic analogue displaying a higher intrinsic hydrophobicity. Among all tested synthetic Turgencin A lipopeptide analogues, the most promising candidates regarding both antimicrobial and haemolytic activity were C12-cTurg-1 and C8-cTurg-2. These optimized cyclic lipopeptides displayed minimum inhibitory concentrations of 4 µg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and the fungus Rhodothorula sp. Mode of action studies on bacteria showed a rapid membrane disruption and bactericidal effect of the cyclic lipopeptides. Haemolytic activity against human erythrocytes was low, indicating favorable selective targeting of bacterial cells