Kultur i kraftformat

Det har vært spennende å få anledning til å pløye inn i et felt som er så tidsaktuelt, men likevel lite dokumentert og analysert, som festivaler. Festivalene preger mediebildet, det engasjerer mennesker til en dugnadsinnsats som vi knapt har sett siden Gerhardsens glansdager og til en publikumstilstrømning som gir håp til både lokal, velkjent kultur og til mer innovativ, eksperimentell og internasjonal kunst. Festivalene har i seg kraft til å bevege mennesker fysisk og mentalt. De har styrke til å endre steders selvforståelser og til å gi nytt innhold til gamle og ofte utdaterte myter. Med hele 94 festivaler på Sørlandet blir behovet for en ytterligere profesjonalisering av festivalene tydelig. Denne rapporten har fanget opp noen viktige innspill fra festivalene selv i forhold til deres livsløp, deres investeringsbehov og nødvendigheten av en klarere festivalpolitikk knyttet til videreutvikling av dem

The Finnish Canine Stifle Index : responsiveness to change and intertester reliability

Background The responsiveness and the intertester reliability of the Finnish Canine Stifle Index (FCSI) were tested, and a cut-off between compromised and severely compromised performance level was set. Methods Three groups of dogs were used, 29 with any stifle dysfunction (STIF), 17 with other musculoskeletal disease except stifle (OTHER) and 11 controls (CTRL). All dogs were tested with the FCSI by the same physiotherapist at three occasions, at baseline, at six weeks and 10 weeks, and once also by another physiotherapist. Results Dogs in the STIF group demonstrated significantly higher (P<0.001) FCSI scores than in OTHER or CTRL groups at baseline. Only the STIF group showed a significant (P<0.001) change in FCSI score at all time points, indicating responsiveness to change. There were no significant differences between the evaluators (P=0.736), showing good intertester reliability, supported by moderate to good (0.78) intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The evaluator performing the FCSI did not have a significant effect when comparing the groups of dogs (P=0.214). The 95 per cent confidence intervals of the ICC per group were 0.79 (0.60, 0.91) for STIF, 0.83 (0.53, 0.96) for OTHER 0.78 (0.64, 0.88) for all dogs. A cut-off differentiating a severely compromised from a compromised performance was set at 120, having sensitivity of 83 per cent and specificity of 89 per cent. Conclusion The FCSI is a recommendable measure of dogs' stifle functionality.Peer reviewe

Genome-wide meta-analysis of 241,258 adults accounting for smoking behaviour identifies novel loci for obesity traits

Few genome-wide association studies (GWAS) account for environmental exposures, like smoking, potentially impacting the overall trait variance when investigating the genetic contribution to obesity-related traits. Here, we use GWAS data from 51,080 current smokers and 190,178 nonsmokers (87% European descent) to identify loci influencing BMI and central adiposity, measured as waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio both adjusted for BMI. We identify 23 novel genetic loci, and 9 loci with convincing evidence of gene-smoking interaction (GxSMK) on obesity-related traits. We show consistent direction of effect for all identified loci and significance for 18 novel and for 5 interaction loci in an independent study sample. These loci highlight novel biological functions, including response to oxidative stress, addictive behaviour, and regulatory functions emphasizing the importance of accounting for environment in genetic analyses. Our results suggest that tobacco smoking may alter the genetic susceptibility to overall adiposity and body fat distribution.Peer reviewe

The genetics of blood pressure regulation and its target organs from association studies in 342,415 individuals

To dissect the genetic architecture of blood pressure and assess effects on target-organ damage, we analyzed 128,272 SNPs from targeted and genome-wide arrays in 201,529 individuals of European ancestry and genotypes from an additional 140,886 individuals were used for validation. We identified 66 blood pressure loci, of which 17 were novel and 15 harbored multiple distinct association signals. The 66 index SNPs were enriched for cis-regulatory elements, particularly in vascular endothelial cells, consistent with a primary role in blood pressure control through modulation of vascular tone across multiple tissues. The 66 index SNPs combined in a risk score showed comparable effects in 64,421 individuals of non-European descent. The 66-SNP blood pressure risk score was significantly associated with target-organ damage in multiple tissues, with minor effects in the kidney. Our findings expand current knowledge of blood pressure pathways and highlight tissues beyond the classic renal system in blood pressure regulation

Genome-wide association identifies nine common variants associated with fasting proinsulin levels and provides new insights into the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Proinsulin is a precursor of mature insulin and C-peptide. Higher circulating proinsulin levels are associated with impaired β-cell function, raised glucose levels, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Studies of the insulin processing pathway could provide new insights about T2D pathophysiology. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We have conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association tests of ∼2.5 million genotyped or imputed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and fasting proinsulin levels in 10,701 nondiabetic adults of European ancestry, with follow-up of 23 loci in up to 16,378 individuals, using additive genetic models adjusted for age, sex, fasting insulin, and study-specific covariates. RESULTS: Nine SNPs at eight loci were associated with proinsulin levels (P < 5 × 10(-8)). Two loci (LARP6 and SGSM2) have not been previously related to metabolic traits, one (MADD) has been associated with fasting glucose, one (PCSK1) has been implicated in obesity, and four (TCF7L2, SLC30A8, VPS13C/C2CD4A/B, and ARAP1, formerly CENTD2) increase T2D risk. The proinsulin-raising allele of ARAP1 was associated with a lower fasting glucose (P = 1.7 × 10(-4)), improved β-cell function (P = 1.1 × 10(-5)), and lower risk of T2D (odds ratio 0.88; P = 7.8 × 10(-6)). Notably, PCSK1 encodes the protein prohormone convertase 1/3, the first enzyme in the insulin processing pathway. A genotype score composed of the nine proinsulin-raising alleles was not associated with coronary disease in two large case-control datasets. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified nine genetic variants associated with fasting proinsulin. Our findings illuminate the biology underlying glucose homeostasis and T2D development in humans and argue against a direct role of proinsulin in coronary artery disease pathogenesis

Coping in times of disruption and deprivation—Experiences of family members during COVID‐19 patients' critical illness: A qualitative study

Abstract Aim To explore the experiences and needs of family members during the course of COVID‐19 critical illness from onset to rehabilitation. Design An exploratory qualitative study. Methods Twelve family members of surviving critically ill COVID‐19 patients and restricted from visiting the patients, were interviewed digitally. Reflexive thematic analysis was used. Results Three themes were generated from the data; ‘Experiencing a double burden’, ‘Becoming an insignificant other’ and ‘Regaining significance’. Family members were often ill themselves, which represented an extra burden when the patient deteriorated. From admission, the family members became bystanders, deprived of most contact with the patients, as communication and information from the intensive care unit appeared unstructured and haphazard. However, when patients were discharged, great responsibility was placed on the family members

Overestimation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Load Caused by the Presence of Cells in Plasma from Plasma Preparation Tubes▿

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) load is an important marker of disease progression and treatment efficacy in patients with HIV-1 infection. In recent years, an increase in the number of samples with detectable HIV-1 RNA has been reported among patients with previously suppressed viral loads, affecting clinical patient care and leading to repeat measurements of viral load and drug resistance. This rise seems to have coincided with the increased use of plasma preparation tubes (PPTs) for sample collection, and we have aimed to explain why PPTs might yield elevated HIV-1 RNA levels. The impacts of different sample-processing procedures on HIV-1 RNA levels were compared retrospectively. Prospectively, the presence of different cells and cell-associated HIV-1 nucleic acids in paired plasma samples from PPTs centrifuged before (PPT1) and after (PPT2) transportation to the laboratory was compared. A retrospective analysis of 4,049 patient samples with <1,000 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml showed elevated HIV-1 RNA levels in plasma from PPT1 compared with the levels from PPT2 and standard EDTA-containing tubes. Prospective data revealed cell-associated HIV-1 nucleic acids and abundant blood cells in plasma from PPT1 but not from the corresponding PPT2. The levels of HIV-1 RNA correlated with the lymphocyte counts in plasma in PPT1. Cells could be removed by the recentrifugation of PPT1 before analysis. In conclusion, the transportation of PPTs after centrifugation may render cells in the plasma fraction containing cell-associated HIV-1 nucleic acids that contribute significantly to the HIV-1 RNA copy numbers in patients with low viral loads

Rapid SARS-CoV-2 variant monitoring using PCR confirmed by whole genome sequencing in a high-volume diagnostic laboratory

Objectives The emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoC), B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and P.1, with increased transmission and/or immune evasion, emphasise the need for broad and rapid variant monitoring. Our high-volume laboratory introduced a PCR variant assay (Variant PCR) in January 2021 based on the protocol by Vogels et al. Study design To assess whether Variant PCR could be used for rapid B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and P.1 screening, all positive SARS-CoV-2 airway samples were prospectively tested in parallel using both the Variant PCR and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Results In total 1,642 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples from individual patients were tested within a time span of 4 weeks. For all samples with valid results from both Variant PCR and WGS, no VoC was missed by Variant PCR (totalling 399 VoC detected). Conversely, all of the samples identified as “other lineages” (i.e., “non-VoC lineages”) by the Variant PCR, were confirmed by WGS. Conclusions The Variant PCR based on the protocol by Vogels et al., is an effective method for rapid screening for VoC, applicable for most diagnostic laboratories within a pandemic setting. WGS is still required to confirm the identity of certain variants and for continuous surveillance of emerging VoC

PPI-network analysis.

<p>Significant PPI-network (p-value <0.0001) containing 17 proteins associated with disc degeneration (red circles) and 76 interaction partners (white circles).</p