Predicting eye and hair colour in a Norwegian population using Verogen’s ForenSeqTM DNA Signature Prep Kit

Abstract Background The parasitic fauna of beavers (Castor fiber and C. canadensis) has been well studied in many parts of their respective areas of distribution. In Scandinavia there have, however, been limited investigations conducted on the parasites of beavers in recent times. The present study is the first quantitative survey of parasites on beavers living in Sweden and elsewhere in Scandinavia. We investigated the parasitic fauna of the Eurasian beaver (C. fiber) in a North–South gradient in Sweden. The aim of the study was to investigate parasite distribution and prevalence in particular, related to average yearly air temperature and different age groups of beavers. A total of 30 beavers were sampled at eight localities, spanning a 720 km North–South gradient during the springs of 1997 and 1998. Results Five parasite taxa were identified. Four of these were present in all of the examined beavers, Stichorchis subtriquetrus (trematode), Travassosius rufus (nematode), Platypsyllus castoris (coleopteran), and Schizocarpus spp. (arachnid). A higher number of new infections of S. subtriquetrus, and more adults of T. rufus, were seen in beavers in southern Sweden where temperatures are higher. One-year old beavers had a higher infestation of S. subtriquetrus, but not of T. rufus, than older individuals. Conclusions The parasite fauna of Swedish beavers mirrored the impoverished parasite fauna of the original Norwegian population, and the high prevalence of parasites could be due to low major histocompatibility complex (MHC) polymorphism. Young beavers had a higher load of trematodes, probably depending on behavioural and ecological factors. Warmer temperatures in southern localities likely contributed to increased endoparasite loads.

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Concerns Related to the COVID-19 in Adult Norwegians during the First Outbreak in 2020: A Qualitative Approach

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18084312 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 4312

Author(s):

Laila Skogstad ◽

Inger Schou-Bredal ◽

Tore Bonsaksen ◽

Trond Heir ◽

Øivind Ekeberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Analysis ◽

Educational Level ◽

Qualitative Approach ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Response Options ◽

Serious Illness ◽

Additional Information ◽

Qualitative Thematic Analysis ◽

Norwegian Population ◽

Shed Light

Concerns related to the first outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Norwegian population are studied in a cross-sectional web-survey conducted between 8 April and 20 May 2020. The qualitative thematic analysis of the open-ended question “Do you have other concerns related to the pandemic?”, followed a six-step process. Concerns from 1491 informants were analyzed, 34% of women and 30% of men (p = 0.05) provided concerns. Respondents with higher educational level reported concerns more often (86% vs. 83%, p = 0.022). The qualitative analysis revealed five themes—society, health, social activities, personal economy and duration—and 13 sub-themes, mostly related to the themes “society” and “health” (724 and 704, respectively). Empathy for others was prominent, for society (nationally and globally), but also concerns related to infecting others and family members at risk for developing serious illness if infected. The responses to the open-ended question yielded additional information, beyond the information obtained from questions with pre-categorized response options, especially related to concerns about society and health. Themes arising from the qualitative analysis shed light on what are important concerns for people during the pandemic and this may serve as targeted measures for the authorities.

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Self-reported Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis or Ankylosing Spondylitis Has Low Accuracy: Data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study

The Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3899/jrheum.161396 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 44 (8) ◽

pp. 1134-1141 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Vibeke Videm ◽

Ranjeny Thomas ◽

Matthew A. Brown ◽

Mari Hoff

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Ankylosing Spondylitis ◽

Population Based ◽

Self Report ◽

Health Study ◽

Primary Study ◽

Case File ◽

Norwegian Population ◽

Case Files ◽

Accuracy Data

Objective.Self-reported diagnoses of inflammatory arthritis are not accurate. The primary study aim was to ascertain self-reported diagnoses of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in the Norwegian population-based Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) using hospital case files. The secondary aim was to provide updated estimates of the prevalence and incidence of RA and AS.Methods.All inhabitants ≥ 20 years old from the county of Nord-Trøndelag were invited. Data from 70,805 unique participants from HUNT2 (1995–1997) and HUNT3 (2006–2008) were included. For participants who self-reported RA or AS, case files from all 3 hospitals in the catchment area were evaluated using standardized diagnostic criteria.Results.Of 2703 self-reported cases of RA, 19.1% were verified in hospital files. Of 1064 self-reported cases of AS, 15.8% were verified. Of 259 cases self-reporting both RA and AS, 8.1% had RA and 5.4% had AS. Overall, a self-report of 1 or both diagnoses could not be verified in 82.1%, including 22.8% with insufficient information or no case file. The prevalence of RA was 768 (95% CI 705–835) per 100,000. The incidence of RA from HUNT2 to HUNT3 was 0.48 (0.41–0.56) per 1000 per year. The prevalence of AS was 264 (228–305) per 100,000. The incidence of AS from HUNT2 to HUNT3 was 0.19 (0.15–0.24) per 1000 per year.Conclusion.Self-reported diagnoses of RA and AS are often false-positive. The prevalence and incidence of RA were comparable to reports from similar populations. The incidence of AS was higher than previously reported in a mixed population from Norway.

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Palatine and mandibular tori: A morphologic study in the current Norwegian population

Acta Odontologica Scandinavica ◽

10.3109/00016359209012748 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 65-77 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

Ludvig K. Haugen

Keyword(s):

Morphologic Study ◽

Norwegian Population ◽

Mandibular Tori

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Quality of Life in the General Norwegian Population, Measured by the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS-N)

Quality of Life Research ◽

10.1023/b:qure.0000025583.28948.5b ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 1001-1009 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Astrid K. Wahl ◽

Tone Rustøen ◽

Berit R. Hanestad ◽

Anners Lerdal ◽

Torbjørn Moum

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Norwegian Population ◽

Quality Of Life Scale ◽

Life Scale

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Are the currently used reference intervals for creatine kinase (CK) reflecting the general population? The Tromsø Study

Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM) ◽

10.1515/cclm.2011.776 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 50 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Hallvard Lilleng ◽

Stein Harald Johnsen ◽

Tom Wilsgaard ◽

Svein Ivar Bekkelund

Keyword(s):

Creatine Kinase ◽

General Population ◽

Reference Interval ◽

Reference Intervals ◽

Control Analysis ◽

Age Group ◽

Background Population ◽

Norwegian Population ◽

Reference Limits ◽

Laboratory Reference

AbstractLaboratory reference intervals are not necessarily reflecting the range in the background population. This study compared creatine kinase (CK) reference intervals calculated from a large sample from a Norwegian population with those elaborated by the Nordic Reference Interval Project (NORIP). It also assessed the pattern of CK-normalization after standardized control analyses.New upper reference limits (URL) CK values were calculated after exclusion of individuals with risk of hyperCKemia and including individuals with incidentally detected hyperCKemia after they had completed a standardized control analysis. After exclusion of 5924 individuals with possible causes of hyperCKemia, CK samples were analyzed in 6904 individuals participating in the 6th survey of The Tromsø Study. URL was defined as the 97.5 percentile.New URL in women was 207 U/L. In men <50 years it was 395 U/L and in men ≥50 years 340 U/L. In individuals with elevated CK, normalization grade after control analysis was inversely correlated to the CK level (p<0.04).URL CK values in women and in men <50 years of age were in accordance with URL CK values given by the NORIP. In men ≥50 years, a higher URL was found and the findings suggest an upward adjustment of URL in this age group.

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