Ethnic differences in seasonal affective disorder and associated factors among five immigrant groups in Norway

Background

Research studies on seasonal affective disorder (SAD) among immigrant populations are scarce. The objective of this article was to explore the associated risk and protective factors on prevalence of winter SAD (W-SAD), sub syndromal SAD (S-SAD) and Summer-SAD among five immigrant groups living in Oslo, Norway.

Methods

The Oslo Immigrants Health study (innvandrer HUBRO, 2002), is a large cross sectional epidemiological survey conducted among five of the largest immigrant groups living in Oslo. 1047 subjects were included in the analysis out of 3019 who participated in the survey. Mailed questionnaire which included selected items of the seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire (SPAQ), Hopkins symptom check list (HSCL) and other variables were used in the analysis.

Results

The lowest levels of W-SAD were found among Sri Lankan men and women and the highest among Iranians. W-SAD was significantly associated with country of birth, younger age, smoking, presence of mental distress, frequent visits to general practitioner or psychiatrist, self reported poor health and presence of chronic disorders. S-SAD was significantly associated with country of birth, smoking and higher levels of alcohol consumption.

Limitations

SPAQ was not culturally validated. Poor response rate (39.7%) can also be considered as a limitation.

Conclusions

Ethnic differences in W-SAD and S-SAD were observed. Sri Lankans had the lowest levels of W-SAD. However, there is a need for culturally validated instruments and further research must focus on exploring protective factors for SAD.     

Severity of COVID-19 among Hospitalized Patients: Omicron Remains a Severe Threat for Immunocompromised Hosts

The Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in the general population in the context of a relatively high immunity gained through the early waves of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), and vaccination campaigns. Despite this context, a significant number of patients were hospitalized, and identifying the risk factors associated with severe disease in the Omicron era is critical for targeting further preventive, and curative interventions. We retrospectively analyzed the individual medical records of 1501 SARS-CoV-2 positive hospitalized patients between 13 December 2021, and 13 February 2022, in Belgium, of which 187 (12.5%) were infected with Delta, and 1036 (69.0%) with Omicron. Unvaccinated adults showed an increased risk of moderate/severe/critical/fatal COVID-19 (crude OR 1.54; 95% CI 1.09–2.16) compared to vaccinated patients, whether infected with Omicron or Delta. In adults infected with Omicron and moderate/severe/critical/fatal COVID-19 (n = 323), immunocompromised patients showed an increased risk of in-hospital mortality related to COVID-19 (adjusted OR 2.42; 95% CI 1.39–4.22), compared to non-immunocompromised patients. The upcoming impact of the pandemic will be defined by evolving viral variants, and the immune system status of the population. The observations support that, in the context of an intrinsically less virulent variant, vaccination and underlying patient immunity remain the main drivers of severe disease.     

国人胫骨的测量

本文对四川地区成人干燥胫骨240例进行了测量,经统计学处理结果如下:胫骨各项测值侧别比较,均无显著性差异,但存在着明显的性别差异。按胫骨指数分级,男性多属中胫型和宽胫型,女性多属宽胫型;按胫骨指数分型,男女多属短胫型。     

Kidney transplantation in the elderly--the Norwegian experience.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients are the fastest growing population requiring renal replacement therapy. With increasing scarcity of organs, old patients are likely to remain in dialysis. We have had an active transplant program with elderly patients (i.e. > or = 70 years) and present results from our experiences. METHODS: From 1990 throughout 2005, we performed 301 first kidney transplantations in elderly patients. Data were compared with 513 senior patients aged 60-69 years and 512 control patients, aged 45-54 years, transplanted during the same time period. Time in dialysis prior to transplantation, number of patients receiving a living donor (LD) kidney, donor age, HLA mismatch, rejections, patient- and graft survival data were collected. RESULTS: The 5-year actuarial patient survival was 56% in elderly patients, 72% in senior patients; P < 0.001 versus elderly and 91% in control patients; P < 0.001 versus elderly. Death censored graft survival was similar in the different groups, 89% in elderly, 88% in senior and 90% in control patients. LD was used in 35%; 17% in elderly patients, 34% in senior patients; P < 0.001 and 47% in control patients; P < 0.001. Pre-emptive transplantation was performed in 19% of the patients; 10% in elderly patients, 18% in senior patients; P = 0.003 and 25% in control patients; P < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show no difference in death censored graft survival between the age groups. Given the poor prognosis during dialysis treatment, selected elderly patients may successfully be offered a kidney transplant.     

Unusual pox lesions found in Chinese jungle mynahs (Acridotheres cristatellus).

Pox lesions involving feathered and unfeathered skin, the oral cavity and the uropygial gland were found in Chinese jungle mynahs. Characteristic intracytoplasmic inclusions were detected in the proliferative cells of all lesions. Ultrastructurally, the virus particles consisted of a convoluted outer membrane enclosing lateral bodies and a biconcave central core, typical for poxvirus. The nucleotide sequences of the amplicon obtained with a set of primers for the 4b core protein of fowl poxvirus revealed that the mynah poxvirus was phylogenetically related to wood pigeon poxvirus. This is the first report of poxvirus infection affecting the uropygial gland.     

Radio-guided sentinel lymph node biopsy using periareolar injection technique for patients with early breast cancer.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Sentinel lymph node (LN) biopsy has been widely adopted in the axillary staging of clinical node-negative breast cancer patients. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of radio-guided sentinel LN (SLN) biopsy (SLNB) using the periareolar injection technique for predicting the histopathologic status of axillary LNs in early breast cancer patients. METHODS: Between November 2003 and November 2004 in the National Taiwan University Hospital, radio-guided SLNB using the periareolar injection technique was consecutively performed in 213 female patients with early breast cancer (stage T1 and T2) but without clinically palpable axillary LN and previous chemotherapy. Two mCi of filtered (0.22 microm) (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid were injected in the afternoon 1 day before surgery (2-day protocol) or 1 mCi of the same radiopharmaceutical was injected on the morning of the surgery (1-day protocol). During surgery, a handheld gamma probe was used to identify the LNs with radioactivity in the axilla. A node was deemed a SLN if its radioactivity was >10% of the hottest node. All the SLNs identified were removed for histology. RESULTS: Radioactive SLN was identified at surgery in 207 patients. The SLN identification rate was 97.2% (207/213). Of these 207 patients, 163 patients had received both SLNB and axillary LN dissection. Among these 163 patients, 77 patients had LN metastases and four had negative SLN but positive non-SLN. The false-negative rate of SLNB for the detection of axillary LN metastases was 5.2% (4/77). There were no statistical differences between false-negative and SLN positive groups for all factors. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that SLNB with periareolar injection of radiocolloid provides valuable information on the axillary nodal status in patients with early breast cancer.